US3768699A — Squeeze dispenser for flexible packages

Claim 1

Independent Claim 146 words

A dispenser utensil for dispensing material from a flexible container, comprising a pair of squeeze plates including a bottom plate and a top plate, and a linkage assembly of lever arms connecting said plates for relative movement; said linkage assembly comprising a back plate attached to the bottom squeeze plate and formed with a pair of slots therein, and a pair of lever members having projections formed for sliding movement in said slots, said lever members being pivotally attached to the upper squeeze plate at a middle position thereon, and said upper squeeze plate having stop-means for limiting the pivot with respect to the lever members of the linkage assembly at a location juxtaposed to the sliding attachments of the levers within the slots, with the slots and pivots being formed and positioned to provide a rear-to-front dispensing pressure on relative movement of the squeeze plates.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 146 words

A dispenser utensil for dispensing material from a flexible container, comprising a pair of squeeze plates including a bottom plate and a top plate, and a linkage assembly of lever arms connecting said plates for relative movement; said linkage assembly comprising a back plate attached to the bottom squeeze plate and formed with a pair of slots therein, and a pair of lever members having projections formed for sliding movement in said slots, said lever members being pivotally attached to the upper squeeze plate at a middle position thereon, and said upper squeeze plate having stop-means for limiting the pivot with respect to the lever members of the linkage assembly at a location juxtaposed to the sliding attachments of the levers within the slots, with the slots and pivots being formed and positioned to provide a rear-to-front dispensing pressure on relative movement of the squeeze plates.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 1, which also comprises a pair of standards extending upwardly from the bottom plate at the front end thereof, said standards having guide means formed to cooperate with the forward portion of the linkage assembly for guiding the movement of the linkage assembly in a forward and downward direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 2, in which closure means are provided at the forward end of the bottom squeeze plate and formed for effecting closure of a flexible package held in dispensing position in the device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 80 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 3, in which the closure means comprises a bar mounted for clamping against the bottom plate at the mouth of the flexible container, and spring means for normally urging the top bar into a clamped position and yieldably effect a closure, whereby fluid will be dispensed from the package upon exertion of sufficient internal pressure within the package to exceed the spring pressure, and automatic closing is effected upon release of said pressure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 111 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 3, in which the closure means comprises a pressure bar mounted for positioning adjacent the bottom squeeze plate, said pressure bar and bottom squeeze plate having the flat areas and open areas for accommodating a container having a mouth including flat closed areas and at least one open area, said areas of the closure means and flexible container being formed for effecting closure in one lateral position of the flexible package and for providing an opening in a second lateral position, whereby opening and closure of the package may be effected by movement of the package laterally between a closed and an opened position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 81 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 3, in which the closure means comprises a top pressure bar formed with a cam for clamping against the bottom squeeze plate and effecting closure, said bottom plate including a cam seat formed for allowing fluid to pass therethrough when the cam is out of the seat and for closure when the cam is in the seat, and handle means for moving the top pressure bar between a closure position and an open position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

A dispenser unit as defined in claim 6, in which the top pressure bar is rotatably mounted in the standards, and the top pressure bar is slightly arcuate and formed with sufficient resiliency that the bar acts as a leaf spring when the bar is rotated and the cam is seated in closure position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 73 words

A dispenser unit as defined in claim 7, in which the cam of the top pressure bar is eccentrically mounted to pass a dead-center position at a complete closure point, and in which stop means are provided for stopping the rotation of the pressure bar at a point slightly beyond the dead-center position of the eccentric whereby the yieldable action of the eccentric holds the cam in said stop position and retains closure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 160 words

A dispenser utensil for dispensing material from a flexible container, comprising a bottom squeeze plate, a back plate attached to the bottom squeeze plate at one end thereof, a pair of standards extending upwardly from the bottom plate at the other end thereof, a linkage assembly of frame-like construction extending between the back plate and the standards, a first guide means formed on the back plate and on the linkage assembly for allowing the linkage assembly to move slidably and pivotally with respect to the back plate, a second guide means formed on the standards and on said linkage assembly for accommodating pivotal movement of the linkage assembly and sliding movement in a forward and downward direction with respect to the standards, and a top squeeze plate attached to said linkage for operative movement generally corresponding to the movement of the linkage assembly and formed to hold a flexible container between the top squeeze plate and the bottom squeeze plate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 160 words

A dispenser utensil for dispensing material from a flexible container, comprising a bottom squeeze plate, a back plate attached to the bottom squeeze plate at one end thereof, a pair of standards extending upwardly from the bottom plate at the other end thereof, a linkage assembly of frame-like construction extending between the back plate and the standards, a first guide means formed on the back plate and on the linkage assembly for allowing the linkage assembly to move slidably and pivotally with respect to the back plate, a second guide means formed on the standards and on said linkage assembly for accommodating pivotal movement of the linkage assembly and sliding movement in a forward and downward direction with respect to the standards, and a top squeeze plate attached to said linkage for operative movement generally corresponding to the movement of the linkage assembly and formed to hold a flexible container between the top squeeze plate and the bottom squeeze plate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 97 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 9, in which the second guide means is formed to favor a pivot of the top squeeze plate at its initial position and accommodate movement of the rear ends of the squeeze plates relatively together at first, and then guide the upper squeeze plate in a forward direction as the two plates are pressed relatively together, said forward movement being accommodated by the pivot and slot construction on the back plate so as to allow the entire upper squeeze plate to move forward with respect to the lower squeeze plate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 79 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 9, in which the top squeeze plate is pivotally attached to the linkage assembly at each side within the rear end thereof, and in which stop-means are provided to prevent the rear end of the top squeeze plate from pivoting above the rear of said linkage assembly, whereby downward forces on the rear end of the linkage assembly positively forces the rear end of the top squeeze plate in a downward direction.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 9, in which the bottom squeeze plate and top squeeze plate are formed with opposing relatively convex surfaces so that one plate rocks forward on the other when the plates are pressed relatively together to move the contents in the flexible package toward the front end outlet thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

A dispenser utensil as described in claim 12, in which the curved squeeze plate is made sufficiently flexible to conform with the shape of the other squeeze plate when the squeeze plates are pressed toward each other.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 9, in which the bottom squeeze plate is rigid and the back plate is formed to provide a base on which the dispenser can be stored upright.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 64 words

A dispenser utensil as defined in claim 14, in which lock means are provided to hold the movable back plate against pivoting and in fixed approximately perpendicular position with respect to the bottom squeeze plate when the back plate is to serve as a base for storage upright, said lock means being formed for remaining in unlocked position during normal use of the device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-10-29	1977-04-30	1977-10-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-10-29	1981-04-30	1981-10-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-10-29	1985-04-30	1985-10-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Squeeze dispenser for flexible packages

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