Device to Inject Foods with Solid Objects

Abstract

A device to inject solid materials into foods comprising a piston, a sleeve, and a penetrating tip. Embodiments are described with both segmented and unitary sleeves. Deformation of the tip during storage is minimized by biasing members which withdraw the piston from the tip when an embodiment is not in use. A method is described for flavoring foods with solid objects.

1 . A method for injecting objects into a food article comprising the steps of:
 loading an injection device with a volume of desired objects, the device comprising:
 a hollow sleeve; 
 a penetrating tip at an end of the sleeve, the tip having a first closed position and a second open position with the open position allowing materials within the sleeve to exit the hollow sleeve through the tip; and 
 a piston slidably disposed within the sleeve, wherein the piston displaces solid materials within the sleeve to move the tip into the second open position to enable the solid materials to exit through the tip; and 
   inserting the device into the food article and displacing the piston to displace the volume of desired objects disposed within the sleeve into the food article.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the objects comprise solid materials. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the device and comprises a biasing member urging movement of the piston away from proximity of the tip when the piston is positioned within the sleeve to move the tip into the second open position. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the device includes one or more features positioned along an outside surface to enable holding the device by hand. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4  wherein the features are positioned along an outside surface of the sleeve and comprise one or more finger holds projecting outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the piston includes an end that projects outwardly from the sleeve for manual operation by hand contact. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the tip comprises a segmented conical point. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sleeve has two different cross sections. 
     
     
         9 . A food injection device for introducing food objects into a food article, the device comprising:
 a first plunger;   a second plunger slidably disposed in a hollow sleeve, wherein the second plunger is in contact with the first plunger; and   a penetrating tip disposed on an end of the sleeve, the tip being configured to both pierce a food article being injected and pass food objects from the sleeve through the tip and into the pierced food article.   
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 9  wherein the first plunger is pushed by hand against the second plunger to displace food objects within the sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The device as recited in  claim 9  wherein the tip comprises a movable member for retaining food objects within the sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 9  further comprising an additional hollow sleeve having the first plunger slidably displaced therein. 
     
     
         13 . A device for injecting food objects into a food article comprising:
 a first hollow sleeve accommodating a volume of food objects therein;   a tip positioned at one end of the sleeve and comprising a moving member to control the passage of the food objects therethrough;   a first plunger disposed in the first hollow sleeve to push food objects through the sleeve and through the tip; and   activation means to move the first plunger through the first hollow sleeve.   
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 13  wherein the activation means includes a second plunger in contact with the first plunger. 
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 13  wherein the tip is configured to pierce a food article.