Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A device for incrementally dispensing a spreadable foodstuff comprising: a. an elongate housing defining a chamber open at both ends and having interior dimensions sufficient to matingly enclose a conventional stick of butter or similar spreadable foodstuff therein; b. wall means projecting longitudinally from a portion of the perimeter of one of said open ends of said chamber for defining the side of an exterior space having a width greater than the corresponding interior width of said open end of said chamber, said space having an opening in at least one side thereof which is also wider than the corresponding interior width of said open end of said chamber; c. means for advancing said stick of spreadable foodstuff through said chamber until a predetermined quantity of said foodstuff protrudes from said chamber into said open-sided space; and d. spatula means having a blade insertable into said opening, said blade being of a width greater than the corresponding interior width of said chamber, for slicing said quantity of protruding foodstuff from said stick.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A device for incrementally dispensing a spreadable foodstuff comprising: a. an elongate housing defining a chamber open at both ends and having interior dimensions sufficient to matingly enclose a conventional stick of butter or similar spreadable foodstuff therein; b. wall means projecting longitudinally from a portion of the perimeter of one of said open ends of said chamber for defining the side of an exterior space having a width greater than the corresponding interior width of said open end of said chamber, said space having an opening in at least one side thereof which is also wider than the corresponding interior width of said open end of said chamber; c. means for advancing said stick of spreadable foodstuff through said chamber until a predetermined quantity of said foodstuff protrudes from said chamber into said open-sided space; and d. spatula means having a blade insertable into said opening, said blade being of a width greater than the corresponding interior width of said chamber, for slicing said quantity of protruding foodstuff from said stick.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said projecting wall means is generally U-shaped, defining an enclosed space open on one side having a width greater than the corresponding interior width of said chamber, said blade of said spatula means having a width less than said width of said enclosed space and greater than said interior width of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said foodstuff advancing means includes a vertically self-supporting base member, the upper end of which includes a piston movably disposed within said chamber, for supporting said housing in a vertically upright position and for supporting said stick of butter in said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is vertically self-supporting and wherein said foodstuff advancing means includes an elongate piston movably disposed within said chamber and piston actuating means mounted on said housing for imparting upward vertical movement to said piston relative to said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said piston has a multi-toothed ratchet strip formed along its length and wherein said piston actuating means includes a hand-operable lever pivotally mounted on said housing and having a springbiased pawl for engaging said ratchet strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said housing has a multi-toothed ratchet strip formed along one side of said chamber and wherein said piston has a spring-biased pawl for engaging said ratchet strip to prevent the downward movement of said piston through said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 including graduated indicia formed on said device for indicating the quantity of said foodstuff protruding from said chamber into said space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said graduated indicia are formed on said projecting wall means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is of sufficient length to define a chamber capable of enclosing more than one stick of said foodstuff disposed end to end in a line therein.