Condiment dispenser

Abstract

A condiment dispenser includes a holder, and a condiment container adapted to be positioned in the holder and containing a quantity of an edible food condiment. The condiment container is provided with a dispensing nozzle through which the condiment in the condiment container is dispensed from the condiment container. The condiment container is adapted to be wound on a shaft that is rotatably supported on the holder so that rotation of the shaft applies pressure to the condiment in the condiment container to dispense the condiment through the dispensing nozzle.

1 . A condiment dispenser comprising: 
 a holder having walls which together define an interior of the holder, one of the walls of the holder being provided with a through opening;    a condiment container having an interior containing a quantity of an edible food condiment, the condiment container being provided with a dispensing nozzle through which the condiment in the condiment container is dispensed from the condiment container, the condiment container being adapted to be positioned in the interior of the holder with the dispensing nozzle accessible from outside the holder so that the condiment can be dispensed from the condiment container;    a shaft on which the condiment container is adapted to be wound to apply pressure to the condiment in the condiment container to dispense the condiment through the dispensing nozzle.    
   
   
       2 . The condiment-dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the edible food condiment in the condiment container is one of ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, tartar sauce and barbecue sauce.  
   
   
       3 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the condiment container is a flexible condiment containing bag positioned in the interior of the holder with an upper portion of the condiment containing bag wound around the shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein an end portion of the shaft extends through a slot in one of the walls of the holder, and including a handle connected to the end portion of the shaft to rotate the shaft and wind the condiment containing bag around the shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder has angled lower side walls.  
   
   
       6 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing nozzle is accessible from outside the holder by virtue of the dispensing nozzle being positioned in a vertically extending through slot in one of the walls of the holder.  
   
   
       7 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein opposite end portions of the shaft are supported in respective brackets which are slidably supported in slots formed in the holder.  
   
   
       8 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the condiment container is comprised of a flexible plastic bag sealed along its peripheral edge, the flexible plastic bag having a plurality of corners the dispensing nozzle being positioned in one of the corners of the flexible plastic bag.  
   
   
       9 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the condiment container is comprised of a flexible plastic bag having angled seals and a bottom seal, the dispensing nozzle being positioned adjacent the bottom seal between the two angled seals.  
   
   
       10 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing nozzle comprises a flange fixed to the condiment container and a spout extending from the flange, the spout communicating with the interior of the condiment container.  
   
   
       11 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the dispensing nozzle is made of plastic material.  
   
   
       12 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the spout is provided with a valve which prevents the condiment in the condiment container from being dispensed upon application of a pressure less than a predetermined pressure and permits the condiment in the condiment container to be dispensed upon application of a pressure exceeding the predetermined pressure and.  
   
   
       13 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve is comprised of a plastic membrane provided with intersecting slits forming flaps in the plastic membrane.  
   
   
       14 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 13 , wherein the plastic membrane is made of silicon.  
   
   
       15 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 12 , further comprising a peelable seal on the spout covering the valve to prevent exposure of the valve prior to use.  
   
   
       16 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet fixed to the shaft to rotate together with the shaft, and a pawl positioned to engage the ratchet to permit rotation of the pawl in one direction while preventing rotation of the pawl in an opposite direction.  
   
   
       17 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein opposite end portions of the shaft are supported in respective brackets which are slidably supported in respective slots in the holder, the pawl being fixed to one of the brackets.  
   
   
       18 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the condiment container is a flexible condiment containing bag containing at least one gallon of the edible food condiment.  
   
   
       19 . A condiment dispenser for dispensing condiment from a condiment containing bag through a dispensing nozzle provided on the condiment containing bag, the condiment dispenser comprising: 
 a holder having a plurality of upright walls surrounding an enclosed space in the holder which is adapted to receive the condiment containing bag so that the dispensing nozzle of the condiment containing bag is accessible rom outside the holder;    a shaft rotatably mounted at the holder and on which the condiment containing bag is adapted to be wound to apply pressure to the condiment in the condiment containing bag and thereby dispense the condiment in the condiment containing bag through the dispensing nozzle; and    a handle connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft so as to wind the condiment containing bag on the shaft and apply pressure to the condiment in the condiment containing bag causing the condiment to be dispensed from the dispensing nozzle.    
   
   
       20 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 19 , including means for fixing a rotational position of the shaft after the shaft has been rotated to wind condiment containing bag on the shaft and apply pressure to the condiment in the condiment containing bag causing the condiment to be dispensed from the dispensing nozzle.  
   
   
       21 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 20 , wherein the means for fixing includes a ratchet fixed to the shaft and a pawl engageable with the ratchet to permit rotation of the pawl in one direction while preventing rotation of the pawl in an opposite direction.  
   
   
       22 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein the handle is connected to an end portion of the shaft which extends through a slot in one of the walls of the holder.  
   
   
       23 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein the holder has angled lower side walls.  
   
   
       24 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein the opening in the holder that is adapted to receive the dispensing nozzle of the condiment containing bag forms a part of a vertically extending through slot in the holder.  
   
   
       25 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein the shaft includes opposite end portions, each of the end portions of the shaft being rotatably supported in a bracket that is slidably mounted on one of the walls of the holder.  
   
   
       26 . The condiment dispenser according to  claim 25 , further comprising a ratchet fixed to the shaft to rotate together with the shaft and a pawl engageable with the ratchet to permit rotation of the pawl in one direction while preventing rotation of the pawl in an opposite direction, the pawl being mounted on one of the brackets.