Patent US3783820A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3783820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus
Assignee: BUTTERMIST Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus, comprising a hopper for popped popcorn, an opening in the bottom of the hopper, a valve in the opening to control dispensing of popcorn through the opening, and a spray nozzle closely adjacent the opening to spray liquid butter or other flavoring uniformly and positively onto the popped popcorn as it is dispensed through the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hautly
- 👤 S Echols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:52
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23L; A23L27/00; A23L27/70; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/161; A23L7/191
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus, comprising a hopper for storage of popped popcorn, said hopper having a dispensing opening in the bottom thereof for dispensing popcorn from said hopper, valve means in said opening, valve operating means connected with said valve means to operate said valve means for selectively controlling dispensing of popcorn through said opening, a container for liquid flavoring for said popcorn, liquid spraying means closely adjacent the dispensing opening and connected with the container to receive said flavoring therefrom, and means connected with the spraying means to operate the spraying means to spray said liquid flavoring uniformly onto said popcorn as the popcorn is dispensed through said opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus, comprising a hopper for storage of popped popcorn, said hopper having a dispensing opening in the bottom thereof for dispensing popcorn from said hopper, valve means in said opening, valve operating means connected with said valve means to operate said valve means for selectively controlling dispensing of popcorn through said opening, a container for liquid flavoring for said popcorn, liquid spraying means closely adjacent the dispensing opening and connected with the container to receive said flavoring therefrom, and means connected with the spraying means to operate the spraying means to spray said liquid flavoring uniformly onto said popcorn as the popcorn is dispensed through said opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein heating means is closely adjacent said hopper for heating popped popcorn stored in said hopper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A popcorn buttering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for maintaining the popped popcorn warm is a heat lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said container for liquid flavoring is supported adjacent said hopper and a heating element is positioned within said container and said flavoring to maintain said butter in liquid form and to maintain the temperature of said liquid butter at a temperature of between 130* and 190* F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said spraying means comprises a spray nozzle positioned beneath said dispensing opening in the path of popcorn falling through said opening and in a position to spray liquid flavoring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of travel of the popcorn, pump means connected with the spray nozzle and conduit means connected with the container of liquid flavoring and with the pump means for conveying liquid flavoring to the pump means, said pump means operable to spray said liquid flavoring onto said popcorn under pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 5, wherein a shield means is supported beneath said dispensing opening and opposite said spray nozzle for constraining the popcorn to move in a substantially verticle path and to confine said sprayed liquid flavoring to the area within said shield means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said pump means comprises an elongate housing having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough, a piston slideably and sealably received in said bore, check valve means in said bore between said piston and said spray nozzle to prevent reverse flow of liquid flavoring from said spray nozzle into said bore, and means operably connected with said piston to reciprocate said piston in said bore to pump said liquid flavoring through said spray nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said means for reciprocating said piston comprises a cam means engaged with an end portion of the piston extended outwardly of the housing to forcibly push the piston toward the spray nozzle to dispense liquid flavoring from said bore through said nozzle, and spring means engaged between the extension and the end of the housing to return said piston in said bore and maintain it in engagement with said cam means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 8, wherein electric motor means is connected with said cam means to rotate said cam means, said motor means connected in a circuit which is removably connected to a power source, and heating element means fOr said flavoring in said circuit with said motor means, said heating element means for said flavoring controlled by a thermostat connected in said circuit and disposed in the liquid flavoring in said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
Popcorn flavoring and dispensing apparatus as in claim 8, wherein an externally accessible manually operable handle means is mounted on said apparatus and is operatively connected with a switch means to control energization of said motor means and said heating element means for said flavoring, said handle means also operatively connected with said valve means to operate said valve means so that upon operation of said handle means said popcorn is dispensed through said opening and said flavoring is sprayed onto dispensed popcorn.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |