Device for dispensing dry ice

Abstract

A hand held dry ice dispensing device. The device includes a handle, which may include two hand grip portions, and a canister attached to the handle. The canister has an open bottom end wherein dry ice flows outward there from. A valve is disposed in the canister and produces a vortex discharge of CO 2 gas flow which sublimes and forms dry ice. The device may also include an actuating mechanism, as well as, a safety mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dry ice dispensing device for use with a CO 2  source, the device comprising:
 a canister having a top end, an open bottom end, an exterior surface, and an interior chamber;   a handle associated with the canister, wherein the handle includes a first hand grip portion and a second hand grip portion, the first hand grip portion being fixed in relation to the second hand grip portion;   a connection tube passing through the exterior surface and into the interior chamber and being associated with a CO 2  source; and,   a discharge valve operatively associated with the connection tube, wherein the discharge valve includes an end having a plurality of apertures for creating a vortex discharge.   
     
     
         2 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein each aperture of the end of the discharge valve is disposed on a circumference of a circle. 
     
     
         3 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 2  wherein the apertures are disposed substantially equidistance to each other on the circumference of the circle. 
     
     
         3 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein each aperture includes a horizontal angle. 
     
     
         4 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 3  wherein the horizontal angle is approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein each aperture includes a vertical angle. 
     
     
         6 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 5  wherein the vertical angle is approximately 5 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein valve includes a threaded shaft and the connection tube includes a threaded aperture for receiving the threaded shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the first hand grip portion is fixed at an approximately 90 degree angle to the second hand grip portion. 
     
     
         9 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1  wherein the apertures have a diameter of approximately 50/1000 of an inch (or approximately 1.25 mm) 
     
     
         10 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the open bottom end has a circumference greater than a circumference of the top end. 
     
     
         11 . A dry ice dispensing device for use with a CO 2  source, the device comprising:
 a canister having a top end, an open bottom end, an exterior surface, and an interior chamber;   a connection tube passing through the exterior surface and into the interior chamber and being associated with a CO 2  source; and,   a discharge valve operatively associated with the connection tube, wherein the discharge valve includes an end having a plurality of apertures for creating a vortex discharge and each aperture includes a horizontal angle and a vertical angle.   
     
     
         12 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein the horizontal angle is approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 12  wherein the vertical angle is approximately 5 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 11  wherein the vertical angle is approximately 5 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 11  wherein the apertures are disposed substantially equidistance to each other on a circumference of a circle. 
     
     
         16 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 15  further comprising a handle associated with the canister, wherein the handle includes a first hand grip portion and a second hand grip portion, the first hand grip portion being fixed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the second hand grip portion. 
     
     
         17 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 16  wherein the exterior surface includes a flat portion and a chamfered portion. 
     
     
         18 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 17  further comprising a bag removable attached about the canister such that the chamfered portion cooperates with the bag to retain the bag on the dry ice dispensing device. 
     
     
         19 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 16  further comprising a removable insulated grip disposed about the canister. 
     
     
         20 . The dry ice dispensing device of  claim 11  further comprising an actuating mechanism for controlling a flow of CO 2  to the discharge valve.