Syrup dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser according to one example includes a container portion, a collar base portion and a lever portion. The container portion includes a sidewall, a bottom surface, a hollow interior and an open top. The open top includes an upwardly extending neck. The collar base portion includes a neck receiving recess defined therein, a flow aperture defined therein, a receiving cavity defined therein, a dispensing edge defined in a forward portion thereof, an upwardly extending first pivot member, and a handle portion extending from a rearward portion thereof. The lever portion includes an elongated body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a dispensing end and an actuating end. The lever portion defines a cutoff edge adjacent the dispensing end, a second pivot member extending downwardly from the lower surface, and a biasing member extending generally downwardly from the bottom surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a container portion, the container portion including a sidewall, a bottom surface, a hollow interior and an open top, the open top including an upwardly extending neck;   a single-piece collar base portion, the collar base portion including a neck receiving recess defined therein, a flow aperture defined therein, a receiving cavity defined therein, a dispensing edge defined in a forward portion thereof, an upwardly extending first pivot member, and a handle portion extending from a rearward portion thereof; and   a single-piece lever portion, the lever portion including an elongated body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a dispensing end and an actuating end, the lever portion defining a cutoff edge adjacent the dispensing end, a second pivot member extending downwardly from the lower surface, and a biasing member extending generally downwardly from the bottom surface.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a front surface, an opposing back surface, side edges spanning between the front and back surfaces, a fixed end and an opposing engagement end, the engagement end including a securing flange extending outwardly from one of the front and back surfaces and defining an abutting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion of the container portion includes half-turn threads and the neck receiving recess of the collar base portion includes corresponding half-turn grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a thumb grip is defined in the actuating end of the lever portion. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a vent aperture is defined in the collar base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing edge is generally U-shaped in a front view. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion includes a sideways width that is greater than its front-to-back depth. 
     
     
         8 . A method of dispensing viscous liquids from a container, the method comprising:
 inserting a biasing member of a lever portion of a dispenser into a corresponding receiving aperture defined in a collar base portion of the dispenser until a securing flange extending from the biasing member engages the collar base portion and a first pivot member of collar base portion contacts a second pivot member of the lever portion, the biasing member maintaining the lever portion in a closed position unless an actuation portion of the lever portion is pressed by a user;   securing the collar base portion to a receptacle portion of dispenser, the receptacle having a hollow interior containing the viscous liquid to be dispensed.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of securing comprises making a half-turn rotation of the collar base portion with respect to the receptacle portion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising pressing downward with the user's thumb on an actuating end to impart a pivoting movement to the lever portion and cause a dispensing end of the lever portion to rise upwards away from a dispensing edge of the collar base portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising tilting the receptacle portion forwardly away from the user until the viscous liquid exits the dispenser. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising releasing the downward pressing to allow the lever portion to return to the closed position, thereby causing a cutoff edge to cut off the flow of viscous fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the lever portion, the collar base portion and the receptacle portion are molded of a plastic as single pieces. 
     
     
         14 . A syrup dispensing system, comprising:
 a receptacle configured to retain the syrup, the receptacle including a generally flat bottom for maintaining the receptacle in an upright orientation when placed on a flat surface;   a collar assembly comprising a base portion securable to the receptacle and a lever portion securable to the base portion, wherein the lever portion includes a biasing member extending outwardly therefrom and the base portion includes a receiving aperture for receiving a portion of the biasing member, the biasing member arranged to maintain the collar assembly in a closed position when no force is applied to the lever portion.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the receptacle, base portion and lever portion are formed as single plastic pieces. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the base portion includes a handle portion extending therefrom and the handle portion having a sideways width dimension and a front-to-back depth dimension, the width dimension being greater than the depth dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the receptacle includes a neck having half-turn rotational threads and the base portion includes a neck receiving recess defined therein having corresponding half-turn rotational grooves. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the base potion defines a dispensing edge opposite the handle, the dispensing edge being generally U-shaped in front view. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the lever portion defines a cutoff edge on a first end thereof and a thumb grip adjacent an opposing second end thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing member includes a biasing flange extending therefrom and configured to engage the receiving aperture to resist upward movement of the lever portion with respect to the base portion.