All The Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a dry, pourable material, the dispenser comprising:
a canister body having a closed end, an open end and a cavity of a predetermined volume and shape;
a replaceable and disposable cartridge prefilled with a predetermined quantity of the dry, pourable material received within the cavity, the replaceable and disposable cartridge having a predetermined volume and shape corresponding to that of the canister body, the replaceable and disposable cartridge including a dispensing end sealed with a flexible membrane, where the entire replaceable and disposable cartridge, including the flexible membrane, is fabricated from a biodegradable material;
a pouring spout cap attached proximate the open end of the canister body, the pouring spout cap movable between an open position and closed position, wherein the pouring spout cap sealingly engages the open end of the canister body and encloses the replaceable and disposable cartridge within the cavity when the pouring spout cap is in the closed position, the pouring spout cap further comprising an upper surface defining a first lower portion of a dispensing chamber and a spout;
a pierce pin forming a conduit in communication with the dispensing chamber and the replaceable and disposable cartridge depending from the lower surface of the pouring spout cap and disposed to pierce the flexible membrane of the replaceable and disposable cartridge when the pouring spout cap is in the closed position; and
a cap lid attached to the upper surface of the pouring spout cap, the cap lid defining a second upper portion of the dispensing chamber, wherein the first lower portion of the dispensing chamber and the second upper portion of the dispensing chamber define the dispensing chamber from which the dry, pourable material is dispensed from the replaceable and disposable cartridge, through the pierce pin and the dispensing chamber, and out of the dispensing chamber through the spout for dispensing the dry, pourable material from the dispenser.
2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a continuous membrane.
3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the flexible membrane is fabricated from cellulose acetate.
4. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a spring loaded lock having a locked position and a released position for retaining the pouring spout cap in the closed position and releasing the pouring cap spout when the lock is in the released position.
5. The dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a ridge on the pouring spout cap, the lock further having a notch engaging the ridge when the lock is in the locked position and the pouring cap spout is in the closed position to restrain the pouring cap spout in the closed position.
6. The dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a resilient spring mounted on an outer wall of the canister body proximate a first portion of the lock and the notch formed on a second portion of the lock, wherein the lock is pivotably mounted between the first portion and the second portion to the outer wall of the canister body proximate the open end of the canister body.
7. The dispenser of claim 6, further comprising an opening in the outer wall of the canister body within which the resilient spring is mounted.
8. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a ring topper mounted about the open end of the canister body, the ring topper having a first hinge member and the pouring spout cap having a second hinge member rotatably coupled with the first hinge member for rotating the pouring spout cap between the open position and the closed position.
9. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a door hingedly attached to an upper portion of the cap lid attached to the upper surface of the pouring spout cap proximate the spout, the door rotating between a closed position when the dispenser is upright and an open position when the dispenser is tilted relative a horizontal ground for dispensing the dry, pourable material from the dispenser.
10. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a cap liner attached to and substantially covering the lower surface of the pouring spout cap, the cap liner having an opening through which the pierce pin depends and disposed to otherwise seal the cavity of the canister body when the pourable spout cap is in the closed position.
11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the lower surface of the pouring spout cap further comprises a depending lip forming an opening within which the pierce pin is attached and through which the pierce pin depends.
12. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the lower surface of the pouring spout cap further comprises a recess into which an anchor extending upwardly from the cap liner is received to attach the cap liner to the pouring spout cap.
13. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the replaceable and disposable cartridge is a tube having a first and a second sealed end, and wherein at least the first sealed end comprises an open rim on the tube and the flexible membrane disposed over and around the open rim, the flexible membrane having an exposed surface and a surface adjacent to and in contact with the open rim.
14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the flexible membrane is sealingly attached to the open rim of the tube by an adhesive disposed on the surface adjacent to and in contact with the open rim.
15. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the open rim has a first diameter and the flexible membrane has a central portion having a second diameter, the second diameter exceeding the first diameter, and a plurality of radially extending legs extending outwardly from the central portion and along a longitudinal axis of the replaceable and disposable cartridge when disposed over and around the open rim.
16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the flexible membrane has twelve radially extending legs.
17. A dispenser for dispensing a dry, pourable material, the dispenser comprising:
a canister body having a closed end, an open end and a cavity;
a replaceable and disposable cartridge prefilled with a predetermined quantity of the dry, pourable material received within the cavity, the replaceable and disposable cartridge fabricated from a biodegradable material and having a dispensing end sealed with a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane having a central portion sealing the dispensing end of the replaceable and disposable cartridge and plurality of radially extending legs extending outwardly from the central portion and along a longitudinal axis of the replaceable and disposable cartridge;
a pouring spout cap attached to the canister body, the pouring spout cap movable between an open position and closed position, wherein the pouring spout cap sealingly engages the open end of the canister body and encloses the replaceable and disposable cartridge within the cavity when the pouring spout cap is in the closed position, the pouring spout cap further comprising an upper surface defining a first lower portion of a dispensing chamber and a spout;
a pierce pin forming a conduit in communication with the dispensing chamber and the replaceable and disposable cartridge depending from a lower surface of the pouring spout cap and disposed to pierce the flexible membrane of the replaceable and disposable cartridge when the pouring spout cap is in the closed position; and
a cap lid attached to the upper surface of the pouring spout cap, the cap lid defining a second upper portion of the dispensing chamber, wherein the first lower portion of the dispensing chamber and the second upper portion of the dispensing chamber define the dispensing chamber from which the dry, pourable material is dispensed from the replaceable and disposable cartridge, through the pierce pin, into the dispensing chamber, and out of the dispensing chamber through the spout for dispensing the dry, pourable material from the dispenser.
18. A replaceable and disposable cartridge for use in a dispenser for dispensing a dry, pourable material, the dispenser comprising a canister body, a pouring spout cap attached to an open end of the canister body, the pouring spout cap movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the pouring spout cap sealingly engages the open end of the canister body when the pouring spout cap is in the closed position, a pouring spout, and a pierce pin depending from a lower surface of the pouring spout cap in communication with the pouring spout, the replaceable and disposable cartridge comprising:
a tube adapted for insertion within a cavity in the canister body having an interior and a first sealed end comprising an opening at a first end of the tube and a flexible membrane disposed over and around the opening to seal the opening, wherein the flexible membrane is pierced by the pierce pin when the pouring spout cap is moved to the closed position to provide communication between the interior of the tube and the pouring spout, wherein both the tube and the flexible membrane are fabricated from a biodegradable material; and
a predetermined quantity of the dry, pourable material prefilled into the tube for dispensing from the interior of the tube, through the piecing pin and out of the dispenser through the pouring spout.
19. The replaceable and disposable cartridge of claim 18, wherein the flexible membrane is fabricated from cellulose acetate.
20. The replaceable and disposable cartridge of claim 18, wherein the flexible membrane has an exposed surface and a surface adjacent to the opening, and wherein the flexible membrane is sealingly attached to the opening of the tube by an adhesive disposed on the surface adjacent to the opening.
21. The replaceable and disposable cartridge of claim 18, wherein the tube further comprises a second sealed end, the second sealed end comprising an opening at the second end of the tube and a flexible membrane disposed over and around the second opening to seal the second opening.
22. The replaceable and disposable cartridge of claim 18, wherein the canister body has a cavity of a predetermined volume and shape and the replaceable and disposable cartridge has a predetermined volume and shape corresponding to the volume and shape of the canister body and is received within the cavity.
23. The replaceable and disposable cartridge of claim 18, wherein the pouring spout cap encloses the replaceable and disposable cartridge within the cavity when the pouring spout cap is in the closed position.
24. The replaceable and disposable cartridge of claim 22, wherein the pouring spout cap further comprises an upper surface defining a first lower portion of a dispensing chamber and a spout, a cap lid attached to the upper surface of the pouring spout cap defining a second upper portion of the dispensing chamber, wherein the first lower portion of the dispensing chamber and the second upper portion of the dispensing chamber define the dispensing chamber from which the dry, pourable material is dispensed from the replaceable and disposable cartridge, through the pierce pin into the dispensing chamber, and out of the dispensing chamber through the spout for dispensing the dry, pourable material from the dispenser.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A packaging container having a beaker-shaped bottom part intended to hold packag goods and having an upper edge defining a beaker opening and a lid which closes said beaker opening, characterized in that said bottom part is a deep-drawn plastics beaker having a top edge which is formed by deep drawing so as to have a calibrated wall thickness and which forms a substantially no-play receiver for the lid.
2. A packaging container as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the beaker-shaped bottom part is of plastics material and is capable of being stacked.
3. A packaging container as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the plastics beaker-shaped bottom part is made of a sterilizable plastics material.
4. A packaging container as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that calibration of the wall thickness of the upper edge of the beaker-shaped bottom part guarantees a tolerance of 0.03 mm or less, based on a thickness of the edge of 0.4 mm.
5. A packaging container as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the beaker-shaped bottom part is made of a translucent or transparent plastics material.
6. A process for the production of a packaging container as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a deep-drawable plastics sheet is deep-drawn by means of a deep-drawing die which comprises a top ram and a depresser exhibiting a circumferential shoulder which presses said deep-drawing sheet against a seat and fixes it in position during the deep-drawing operation, and the deep-drawing die further comprises a circumferential ring-shaped projection disposed radially inwardly of said shoulder and extending downwardly, which is moved beyond the shoulder of the depresser to project into the beaker space of the deep-drawing die, the wall thickness of the edge of the beak r-shaped bottom part being calibrated thereby to a specific thickness, whilst the beaker space of the bottom part is formed by the top ram in a manner known per se.
7. A process as defined in claim 6, characterized in that said d press r and said ring-shaped, downwardly projecting projection are moved to their respective working positions for calibrating the thickness of the edge of said beaker-shaped bottom part, after which the top ram shapes the deep-drawing sheet to form said beaker-shaped bottom part.
8. A process as defined in claim 7, characterized in that said depresser and said ring-shaped, downwardly projecting projection are moved together and simultaneously to their respective working positions.
9. A process as defined in claim 8, characterized in that a depresser is used which forms a single unit with said downwardly projecting molded-on annular projection serving to determine the thickness of the edge of the beaker-shaped bottom part.
10. A process as defined in any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the ring-shaped, downwardly projecting projection provided for calibrating purposes is cooled.

1. A process for the preparation of chocolate crumb which comprises mixing and heating milk solids, sugar, in the absence or presence of cocoa solids and from 1.2 to 8% by weight of water based on the weight of the mixture in a mixer to a temperature of 85 to 120 C., reacting at a temperature of 85 to 180 C. for a period of from 2.5 to 25 minutes followed by drying to a moisture content of less than 3% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the milk solids comprise whole milk powder, whey proteins or low fat milk solids.
3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the low fat milk solids consists of skimmed milk powder, or ingredients thereof or recombined dairy solids.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the amount of milk solids is from 20 to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture.
5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sugar used is in the form of a dry powder or a slurry.
6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sugar used is sucrose, glucose, dextrose, lactose, fructose, invert sugar, corn syrup solids, solids or sugar replacers or mixtures thereof.
7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the sugar replacer is sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol or polydextrose.
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the the ratio of milk solids to sugar is from 1:3 to 1:1.5.
9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of milk solids to sugar is between 1:1.5 and 1:0.1.
10. A process according to claim 1 wherein when the process is carried out in the presence of cocoa solids, the solids are in the form of cocoa liquor, cocoa powder, cocoa butter equivalents (CBE) or cocoa butter substitutes (CBS).
11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the amount of cocoa solids used in the process of the present invention is from 3 to 20% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture.
12. A chocolate crumb comprising low fat milk solids, sugar and from 3 to 20% by weight of cocoa butter alternatives based on the total weight of the crumb.
13. A chocolate crumb comprising low fat milk solids, sugar, cocoa solids and cocoa butter alternatives.
14. A chocolate crumb obtainable by a process according to claim 1 which contains sugar replacers, carob or soya protein isolate.
15. A concentrated chocolate crumb comprising low fat milk solids, sugar and optionally cocoa solids wherein the ratio of milk solids to sugar is between 1:1.5 and 1:0.1.
16. A concentrated chocolate crumb according to claim 12 wherein the amount of cocoa solids in the concentrated chocolate crumb is from 10 to 15% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture.
17. A method of making a milk chocolate which comprises mixing a chocolate crumb prepared by a process of the present invention with the remainder of the chocolate ingredients (cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and butter oil) and processing into milk chocolate.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the chocolate crumb is mixed with the remainder of the chocolate ingredients and the mixture is then refined by means of refining rollers, conched and then tempered.
19. Milk chocolate whenever prepared from a chocolate crumb according to claim 1 together with other chocolate ingredients.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An extension cordset assembly comprising:
a receptacle comprising a receptacle main body, a receptacle connecting interface and first and second spade mating holes extending into said receptacle main body from said receptacle connecting interface, said receptacle configured to mate with a plug having a standard spade configuration; and
a sealing gasket positioned on said receptacle connecting interface, said sealing gasket configured to provide a water-resistant seal between said receptacle and the plug.
2. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first connecting nut rotatably secured to said receptacle main body, said connecting nut configured to threadably secure to a portion of the plug in order to secure said receptacle to the plug.
3. The extension cordset assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second connecting nut configured to threadably secure to said receptacle main body, said second connecting nut ensuring said first connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
4. The extension cordset assembly of claim 3, wherein said receptacle main body further comprises a backstop that ensures said second connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
5. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealing gasket comprises first and second spade openings aligned with said first and second spade mating holes, respectively,
6. The extension cordset assembly of claim 5, wherein said receptacle connecting interface comprises first and second spade rims surrounding said first and second spade mating holes, respectively, said first and second spade rims being positioned within said first and second spade openings, respectively.
7. The extension cordset assembly of claim 5, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises first and second sealing rims surrounding said first and second spade openings, respectively.
8. The extension cordset assembly of claim 5, wherein said receptacle further comprises a ground pin mating hole extending into said receptacle main body from said receptacle connecting interface, and wherein said sealing gasket further comprises a ground pin opening aligned with said ground pin mating hole.
9. The extension cordset assembly of claim 8, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises a rim surrounding said ground pin opening.
10. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises a sealing ridge about a periphery of said sealing gasket.
11. An extension cordset assembly comprising:
a plug comprising a plug main body, a plug connecting interface and first and second spades extending from said plug connecting interface, wherein said first and second spades are in a standard configuration;
a receptacle connected to said plug through an insulated cord, said receptacle comprising a receptacle main body, a receptacle connecting interface and first and second spade mating holes extending into said receptacle main body from said receptacle connecting interface; and
a sealing gasket configured to be compressively sandwiched between another plug connecting interface and said receptacle connecting interface, said sealing gasket comprising first and second spade openings aligned with said first and second spade mating holes, respectively, said sealing gasket configured to provide a water-resistant seal between said receptacle and another plug.
12. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, further comprising a first connecting nut rotatably secured to said receptacle main body, said connecting nut configured to threadably secure to another plug main body in order to secure said receptacle to the other plug.
13. The extension cordset assembly of claim 12, further comprising a second connecting nut configured to threadably secure to said receptacle main body, said second connecting nut ensuring said first connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
14. The extension cordset assembly of claim 13, wherein said receptacle main body further comprises a backstop that ensures said second connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
15. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, wherein said plug further comprises an upstanding rim surrounding said plug connecting interface.
16. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, wherein said plug further comprises a ground pin extending from said plug connecting interface, said receptacle further comprises a ground pin mating hole extending into said receptacle connecting interface, and said sealing gasket further comprises a ground pin opening aligned with said ground pin mating hole.
17. The extension cordset assembly of claim 16, wherein said receptacle connecting interface comprises first and second spade rims surrounding said first and second spade mating holes, respectively, and a ground pin rim surrounding said ground pin opening, said first and second spade rims being positioned within said first and second spade openings, respectively, and said ground pin rim being positioned within said ground pin opening.
18. The extension cordset assembly of claim 16, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises first and second sealing rims surrounding said first and second spade openings, respectively, and a third sealing rim surrounding said ground pin opening.
19. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises a sealing ridge about a periphery of said sealing gasket.
20. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, wherein said sealing gasket is attached to said receptacle.
21. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, wherein said sealing gasket is attached to said plug.
22. An extension cordset assembly configured to provide electrical power from a standard outlet to an electrical device, the extension cordset assembly comprising:
a plug comprising a plug main body, a plug connecting interface and a first spade, a second spade and a ground pin extending from said plug connecting interface;
a receptacle comprising a receptacle main body, a receptacle connecting interface and a first spade mating hole, a second spade mating hole and a ground pin mating hole extending into said receptacle main body from said receptacle connecting interface;
a sealing gasket configured to be compressively sandwiched between another plug connecting interface and said receptacle connecting interface, said sealing gasket comprising first and second spade openings aligned with said first and second spade mating holes, respectively, and a ground pin opening aligned with said ground pin mating hole;
a first connecting nut rotatably secured to said receptacle main body, said connecting nut configured to threadably secure to a portion of another plug in order to secure said receptacle to the other plug; and
a second connecting nut configured to threadably secure to said receptacle main body, said second connecting nut ensuring said first connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
23. The extension cordset assembly of claim 22, wherein each of said plug main body, said receptacle main body and said securing gasket are triangular.
24. The extension cordset assembly of claim 22, wherein said receptacle main body further comprises a backstop that ensures said second connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
25. The extension cordset assembly of claim 22, wherein said plug further comprises an upstanding rim surrounding said plug connecting interface.
26. The extension cordset assembly of claim 22, wherein said receptacle connecting interface comprises first and second spade rims surrounding said first and second spade mating holes, respectively, and a ground pin rim surrounding said ground pin opening, said first and second spade rims being positioned within said first and second spade openings, respectively, and said ground pin rim being positioned within said ground pin opening.
27. The extension cordset assembly of claim 22, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises a sealing ridge about a periphery of said sealing gasket.
28. The extension cordset assembly of claim 22, wherein said sealing gasket further comprises first and second sealing rims surrounding said first and second space openings, respectively, and a third sealing rim surrounding said ground pin opening.
29. An electrical plug, comprising:
a main body having a connecting interface; and
a pair of electrical spades extending from said connecting interface,
wherein said main body comprises threads on an outer surface thereof, said threads configured to threadably engage reciprocal threads formed within a connecting nut of a receptacle in order to securely connect the electrical plug to the receptacle.
30. The electrical plug of claim 29, wherein an axial cross section of said main body is triangular.
31. The electrical plug of claim 29, wherein said main body comprises a plurality of apexes, wherein said threads are located at said plurality of apexes.
32. The electrical plug of claim 29, wherein said main body further comprises a rim surrounding said connecting interface.
33. The electrical plug of claim 29, further comprising a ground pin extending from said connecting interface.
34. An extension cordset assembly comprising:
a plug comprising a plug main body, a plug connecting interface and a first spade and a second spade extending from said plug connecting interface;
a receptacle connected to said plug through an insulated cord, said receptacle comprising a receptacle main body, a receptacle connecting interface and first and second spade mating holes extending into said receptacle main body from said receptacle connecting interface; and
a first connecting nut rotatably secured to said receptacle main body, said connecting nut configured to threadably secure to another plug main body in order to secure said receptacle to the other plug.
35. The extension cordset assembly of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of said plug main body is threaded in order to threadably secure to another first connecting nut.
36. The extension cordset assembly of claim 34, further comprising a second connecting nut configured to threadably secure to said receptacle main body, said second connecting nut ensuring said first connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
37. The extension cordset assembly of claim 36, wherein said receptacle main body further comprises a backstop that ensures said second connecting nut remains on said receptacle main body.
38. The extension cordset assembly of claim 34, wherein said plug further comprises an upstanding rim surrounding said plug connecting interface.
39. The extension cordset assembly of claim 34, wherein said receptacle further comprises an upstanding rim surrounding said receptacle connecting interface.
40. An extension cordset assembly comprising:
a plug comprising a plug main body, a plug connecting interface and first and second spades extending from said plug connecting interface, wherein said first and second spades are in a standard configuration; and
a receptacle connected to said plug through an insulated cord, said receptacle comprising a receptacle main body, a receptacle connecting interface and first and second spade mating holes extending into said receptacle main body from said receptacle connecting interface,
wherein one or both of said plug connecting interface and said receptacle connecting interface are configured to provide a water-resistant seal with respect to another receptacle connecting interface or another plug interface, respectively.