Backpack for semi-frozen particulate products

Abstract

A backpack for dispensing a semi-frozen material comprising discrete granules by gravity flow comprising; a) an insulated hopper for storage of the material before it is dispensed which includes in its operative position i) a housing for receiving the granular material and ii) a funnel disposed to receive the granular material from the housing under the action of gravity; b) mounting means for mounting the hopper on a person in said operative position; c) an insulated valve operative to control release of the granular material from an opening in the funnel; d) an elongate flexible feed tube having in operative connection with the funnel opening such that when the valve allows release of the granular material form the opening, the material falls under gravity into the feed tube, and e) an outlet port at end of the feed tube and configured to allow directed dispensing of the granular material.

1 . A backpack for storing and dispensing a semi-frozen material comprised of discrete granules comprising; 
 a) an insulated hopper for storage of the material before it is dispensed, said hopper including in its operative position 
 i) a housing for receiving granular material;  
 ii) a funnel disposed to receive the granular material from the housing under the action of gravity, the funnel tapering downwardly to an opening having a cross-section sufficient to allow the granular material to pass therethrough under the action of gravity;  
   b) mounting means for mounting the hopper on a person in said operative position;    c) an insulated valve operative to control release of the granular material from the funnel opening;    d) an elongate feed tube having 
 i) a smooth inner surface;  
 ii) a proximal end in operative connection with the funnel opening, such that when the valve allows release of the granular material, this material moves under gravity into the feed tube;  
 iii) a distal end positionable beneath the proximal end to allow movement of granular material under gravity towards the distal end of the feed tube; and  
   e) an outlet port at the distal end of the feed tube configured to confine the dispensing of the granular material dispensed therefrom.    
     
     
         2 . A backpack according to  claim 1 , wherein the hopper comprises at least one wall, said wall comprised of at least two layers, an inner layer of food grade material, and an outer layer of insulating material.  
     
     
         3 . A backpack according to  claim 2 , wherein the hopper further comprises a plurality baffles.  
     
     
         4 . A backpack according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the funnel of the hopper has an excentric shape.  
     
     
         5 . A backpack according to anyone of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the valve is manually controlled by the person on whom the backpack is mounted.  
     
     
         6 . A backpack according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the hopper further comprises a receiving tube positioned at the funnel opening.  
     
     
         7 . A backpack according to  claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the feed tube extends at least partially into the receiving tube.  
     
     
         8 . A backpack according to  claim 7 , wherein the proximal end of the feed tube is connected to the receiving tube by a resilient means.  
     
     
         9 . A backpack according to  claim 7  or  claim 8 , wherein the feed tube is provided at its proximal end with an aperture of sufficient cross-section to allow granular material to pass therethrough and whereby the valve of the backpack is provided by movement of the feed tube within the receiving tube by definition of; 
 a) an open valve position whereby the aperture of the feed tube is directly adjacent the funnel opening; and  
 b) a closed valve position whereby the feed tube aperture is completely removed from the funnel opening.  
 
     
     
         10 . A backpack according to  claim 9 , wherein the movement between open and closed positions is provided by rotation of the feed tube within the receiving tube.  
     
     
         11 . A backpack according to  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein the movement between open and closed positions is provided by longitudinal movement of the feed tube within the receiving tube.  
     
     
         12 . A backpack according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , wherein the feed tube is at least partially flexible.  
     
     
         13 . A backpack according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the mounting means includes a frame to which at least the hopper is secured and at least one strap for securing the frame to the back of the person bearing the backpack.  
     
     
         14 . A backpack according to any of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein the mounting means further comprises a flange enabling the backpack to be free standing in its operative position when not mounted on the person.  
     
     
         15 . A method for dispensing a semi-frozen material comprised of discrete granules, comprising the steps of; 
 a) feeding a volume of the semi-frozen granular material into a insulating hopper;    b) mounting the hopper for transportation by a person;    c) transporting the granular material within the hopper to a location remote from the point of refrigeration;    d) controlling the release of the granular material under gravity from the hopper by means of a valve and elongate feed tube;    e) confining the dispensing the granular material by means of an outlet port disposed at the end of the elongate feed tube; and    characterised in that said step of transporting the granular material in the hopper comprises minimising agitation of the granular material in the hopper.