Dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A container for product to be dispensed takes the form a body defining a compartment for storing frozen confection such as ice cream and sorbet, and a receptacle releasably coupled with the body. The body has a lower region with an outlet through which the frozen confection to be dispensed from the compartment. The receptacle defines an open chamber, when decoupled from the container, for receiving frozen confection dispensed through said outlet. An external profile of the body is configured to nest with internal profile of the receptacle, with the outlet of the body covered by the receptacle when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body. An internal surface of the receptacle is configured to engage an external surface of the body, for releasably coupling the receptacle with the body.

1 . A container for product to be dispensed, the container comprising:
 a body defining a compartment for storing product to be dispensed, the body having an upper region and a lower region, wherein an outlet is provided in said lower region, and wherein product is intended to be dispensed from the compartment through the outlet, in use;   wherein a receptacle is releasably coupled with the body, said receptacle defining an open chamber, when decoupled from the body, for receiving product dispensed through said outlet;   wherein the lower region of the body extends into the chamber of the receptacle when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body;   wherein the outlet of the body is covered by the receptacle when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body;   wherein an internal surface of the receptacle is configured to engage an external surface of the body, for releasably coupling the receptacle with the container body; and wherein the container further comprises a part configured to move or deform in the direction of the outlet, in order to reduce volume within the compartment, for dispensing product through the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises separate first and second parts configured to cooperate with one another (e.g. by fitting together) in order to define said compartment; wherein the first part defines a lower region of the compartment and includes said outlet, and wherein said second part defines an upper region of the compartment (e.g. wherein each of said first and second parts defines 50% of the capacity of the compartment); and wherein said second part is configured to deform in the direction of the outlet, for reducing volume within the compartment and dispensing product through the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the first part defines a concavity for receiving product to be dispensed during a charging operation, and wherein the second part defines a lid for enclosing charged product in the first part (e.g. with a snap fit or interference fit of said second part on said first part). 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the second part is configured to nest in said first part when the first and second parts cooperate with one another to define said compartment. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein the first part has an internal surface with a step or shoulder onto which a lower end of the second part is received when the second part is nested in said first part. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower region of the compartment nests within the chamber of the receptacle when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal surface of the receptacle is configured to engage the external surface of the body in a snap fit and/or interference fit, for releasably coupling the receptacle with the body. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured so that an internal profile of the receptacle provides a circumferential engagement with an external profile of the body when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein said internal profile of the receptacle has a diameter in the range of 70 to 100 mm and wherein the circumferential engagement between said internal profile of the receptacle and said external profile of the body extends in an axial direction along a distance in the range of 10 to 20 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein said circumferential engagement extends axially along complimentary tapered side wall portions of said internal profile of the receptacle and said external profile of the body. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein the internal profile of the receptacle comprises a shoulder portion at an upper end of the open chamber and a collar projecting in an axially upward direction from the shoulder portion, optionally wherein a rim projects radially outwardly from an upper end of the collar. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 11 , wherein the container is configured so that there is a snap fit or interference fit between a radially internal surface of the collar and a portion of the external profile of the container body, when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has an external circumferential protrusion, and the receptacle includes an internal circumferential recess, or vice versa, wherein the protrusion is configured for snap-fitting or interference-fitting cooperation with the recess, for providing a mechanical locking arrangement between the body and the receptacle; optionally, wherein the body defines a bottom surface, which includes said outlet, and a further side wall extending away from said bottom surface, wherein said protrusion or recess is provided on said side wall. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement between the receptacle and the container body is configured so that a seal is created between the receptacle and the container body. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has an internal profile which includes a base surface at the bottom of the chamber; and wherein the container is configured such that said base surface is in contact with an underside of the body when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 15 , wherein said base surface is in contact with a circumferential periphery of the outlet (e.g. in order to seal the outlet) when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the base surface defines a projection configured to engage said circumferential periphery of the outlet when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body, in order to prevent leakage from the outlet; optionally wherein said projection defines a convex profile; further optionally, wherein said convex profile is the result of a concavity formed in an underside of the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartment contains a frozen confection such as ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt. 
     
     
         19 . A container for product to be dispensed, the container comprising:
 a body defining a compartment containing a frozen confection selected from one of ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt, the body having an upper region and a lower region, wherein an outlet is provided in said lower region, and wherein said frozen confection is intended to be dispensed from the compartment through the outlet, in use;   wherein a receptacle is releasably coupled with the body, said receptacle defining an open chamber, when decoupled from the body, for receiving frozen confection dispensed through said outlet;   wherein the lower region of the body extends into the compartment of the receptacle when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body; wherein the outlet of the body is covered by the receptacle when the receptacle is releasably coupled with the body;   wherein an internal surface of the receptacle is configured to engage an external surface of the body, for releasably coupling the receptacle with the container body; and wherein the container further comprises a part configured to move or deform in the direction of the outlet, in order to reduce volume within the compartment, for dispensing said frozen confection through the outlet.   
     
     
         20 . A container for product to be dispensed, the container comprising:
 a body defining a compartment containing a frozen confection selected from one of ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt, the body having an upper region and a lower region, wherein an outlet is provided in said lower region, and wherein said frozen confection is intended to be dispensed from the compartment through the outlet, in use;   wherein a closure is releasably coupled with the body;   wherein the lower region of the body extends into the closure when the closure is releasably coupled with the body;   wherein the outlet of the body is covered by the closure when the closure is releasably coupled with the body;   wherein an internal surface of the closure is configured to engage an external surface of the body, for releasably coupling the closure with the container body; and wherein the container further comprises a part configured to move or deform in the direction of the outlet, in order to reduce volume within the compartment, for dispensing said frozen confection through the outlet.