Powder dispenser

Details Powder dispenser Powder dispenser

2001-03-21

2002-11-26

Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)

Dispensing

Inspection devices

Graduated transparent container or trap

C222S461000, C222S568000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06484905

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to powder dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the difficulties with dispensing powder is that the powder being dispensed tends to get caught in the creases, cracks or grooves on the interior surfaces of the dispenser. Also, to powder often collects on the interior surface of the dispenser resulting in incomplete dispensing of the powder. Problems with dispensing powder using conventionally know dispensers is exasperated when the powder is extremely fine, such as in the case of powdered milk or baby formula. As is known, baby formula is sold in a multi-serving container with a dispensing Scoop. Unfortunately, the multi-serving containers are considered too large to conveniently carry around.
FIG. 1A
shows a perspective view of a prior art powdered milk dispenser
100
with a plurality of dispensing compartments. The prior art powdered milk dispenser
100
has a body section
101
and a top section
107
. The top section
107
is configured with a spout
104
and a cap
111
. Typically, the art powdered milk dispenser
100
has three compartments
102
,
103
and
105
, with the third compartment
102
being adjacent to compartments
103
and
105
. The compartments
102
,
103
and
105
are separated by walls
122
,
123
and
125
. In use, the spout
104
is aligned over one of the compartments
102
,
103
or
105
containing powdered milk. After the spout
104
is aligned over one of the compartments
102
,
103
or
105
, then the dispenser
100
is placed in an inverted dispensing direction
117
with the cap
111
off of the spout
104
and with the spout
104
over a mouth portion
115
of a baby bottle, as shown in FIG.
1
B.
FIG. 1B
shows a cross-sectional view of the powdered milk dispenser
100
inverted and dispensing powdered milk. Because the interior surfaces of the cap portion
107
are at an angle &thgr; that is approximately 90 degrees relative to the inverted dispensing direction
117
, a significant amount of powder residue
114
powder is collected and retained on the interior surfaces of the cap
107
. Generally, even knocking the dispenser fails to completely remove all residue
114
. This can be problematic, especially for powdered milk, since retention of the powdered milk in humid or moist conditions can lead to spoilage and bacteria formation. Thus, the powdered milk dispenser
100
needs to be thoroughly washed after each use to remove the retained portions of the powdered milk. Because of the numerous compartments and surfaces of the powdered milk dispenser
100
, cleaning is laborious. Further, because the width W of the body
101
is wider than a standard baby bottle, the dispenser
100
can not be stored in compartments of a tote-bag or other storage compartments that are designed or sized to hold baby bottles. Yet a further shortcoming of the prior powdered milk dispenser
100
, is that the user must properly gauge the rotation of the top section
107
such that the spout
104
is directly over the appropriate compartment
102
,
103
or
105
. In the event that the spout
104
is positioned between any two of the compartments
102
,
103
or
105
, inaccurate or incomplete dispensing of the powdered will result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The current invention is for an improved powder dispensing system. The system has a dispenser body with a dispenser orifice through which powder is dispensed. The dispenser preferably has a cap that removably covers the dispenser orifice by snugly fitting around a lip section of the orifice and is attached to the dispenser body through strap element.
The dispenser orifice is preferably round and between 1 and 3 cm in diameter, such that the lip section of the dispenser orifice fits into a top portion of a baby bottle. The interior surfaces of the dispenser body are smooth and are angled less than 90 degrees relative to the inverted dispensing direction such that a powder is capable of being fully dispensed by inverting the dispenser and without significant collection or retention of the powder on interior surfaces of the dispenser.
Preferably, the dispenser body is formed from a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has the dispenser orifice and a top brim section with a predetermined geometry. Preferably, the predetermined geometry of the top brim section is round. Alternatively, the geometry is square or any other suitable geometry. The bottom portion has a bottom brim section that is geometrically matched with the top brim section, whereby the top brim section and the bottom brim section are capable of being detachably coupled to each other to form a dispenser body with smooth interior dispensing surfaces.
The top brim and the bottom brim section are detachably coupled with pressure snap features, wherein one of the top or the bottom brim fits over the other brim and snaps securely into position. Alternatively, the top brim and the bottom brim are configured with complimentary twist threads and the top portion and the bottom portion of the dispenser are detachably coupled by aligning the top brim section to the bottom brim section and twisting the top and the bottom portions in opposite directions relative to each other.
In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is formed from a plastic or polymer material and the bottom portion is sufficiently transparent such that the quantity of powder within the dispenser is visible. The bottom portion is also preferably cylindrical and the top portion is preferably funnel-shaped. Further, the dispenser is preferably in the range of 5-15 cm tall and 3-7 cm wide. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the powder dispenser is configured to hold 1 to 4 serving of powdered milk, equaling approximately 2 to 8 ounces of liquid formula, and has dimensions such that the dispenser can be readily stored within a compartment sized to hold a baby bottle. Also, the bottom section preferably has graduated marks to indicate the amount of powder that is dispensed.


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