Dispensing – Supply containers with traps – With trap chamber cutoffs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-26
2001-08-07
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Supply containers with traps
With trap chamber cutoffs
C222S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269983
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a dispenser for sprinkling a preset amount of granulated material, such as table salt, ground pepper, table sugar and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of dispensers are commonly used to add seasonings and flavorings to foods and beverages. Typically, for example, seasonings such as table salt and ground pepper are dispensed from shakers comprising single-chamber containers having top walls containing a plurality of apertures to allow the contained material to be dispensed upon inverting and shaking the shakers. The number and sizes of the apertures generally vary with the type of material to be dispensed.
Many prior dispensers address the problem of over-dispensing or, more particularly, the need to dispense a controlled amount when desired. Some of the prior dispensers comprise two chambers and a delivery tube. The first chamber forms a material reservoir. The second chamber is calibrated for measuring the material. One chamber is located above the other. The delivery tube communicates with the measuring chamber at one end, extends through the reservoir chamber, and at the opposite end communicates with the exterior of the dispenser. Bettman U.S. Pat. No. 1,084,530; Buckland U.S. Pat. No. 1,270,262; Abbott U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,967; Cagliostro U.S. Pat. No. 1,877,808; Trautvetter U.S. Pat. No. 1,763,449; Gordon U.S. Pat. No. 2,644,616; and Feuerstein et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,921 are exemplary of this type of construction.
Eckman U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,521 discloses an adjustable metered dispenser that is capable of dispensing seasonings such as salt and pepper. Eckman's dispenser comprises two chambers arranged in series. The first chamber is a material reservoir and the second chamber is a measuring chamber. Eckman's dispenser includes the ability to shut off the metering chamber from the reservoir chamber when the material is dispensed. Thus, in order avoid over-dispensing, the user must be sure that the passageway between the two chambers is closed.
Krupic, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,049 also discloses a shaker for dispensing seasonings such as salt and pepper. The device comprises three chambers: a material reservoir chamber, a measuring chamber and a dispensing chamber. The reservoir chamber is disposed between the measuring chamber and the dispensing chamber and a delivery tube communicates with the measuring chamber and the dispensing chamber. When the dispenser is in the non-use position, the measuring chamber is on the bottom. Upon use, the dispenser is inverted, and the dispensing chamber is filled with the material from the measuring chamber. The material must then be dispensed by shaking the dispenser in the inverted position to evacuate the material from the dispensing chamber via a plurality of apertures. In order to prevent over dispensing, one embodiment of the device includes shake-back guards within the reservoir chamber.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a granulated material reservoir having side, top and bottom walls, an outer enclosure, a cap, a metering cup, a collector and a diffuser. The enclosure encases the sidewall of the reservoir and is closed on one end with a cap. Located within the cap is the metering cup for receiving a quantity of granulated material. The metering cup determines the amount of material that will be dispensed. In its upright position, an opening in the bottom wall of the reservoir fills the metering cup with the granulated material to be dispensed. Upon inverting the dispenser, the granulated material in the metering cup flows into a passageway defined by the space between the enclosure and the reservoir. The passageway communicates with the metering cup and the collector, allowing delivery of the granulated material from the metering cup to the collector. While the dispenser is inverted, the granulated material flows through the collector opening onto the diffuser that is supported adjacent to the collector opening and opposite the collector. The diffuser spreads the preset quantity of granulated material over the desired area. Returning the dispenser to the upright position refills the metering cup for the next use.
For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects obtained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 576241 (1897-02-01), van Ame
patent: 897453 (1908-09-01), Byam
patent: 1084530 (1914-01-01), Bettman
patent: 1270262 (1918-06-01), Buckland
patent: 1618688 (1927-02-01), Tempest
patent: 1707967 (1929-04-01), Abbott
patent: 1763449 (1930-06-01), Trautvetter
patent: 1877808 (1932-09-01), Cagliostro
patent: 1891787 (1932-12-01), Swartz
patent: 2423784 (1947-07-01), Mackey
patent: 2644616 (1953-07-01), Gordon
patent: 2704623 (1955-03-01), Yasso
patent: 3172580 (1965-03-01), Mackey
patent: 3229856 (1966-01-01), Jungmann
patent: 3323683 (1967-06-01), Cianciolo
patent: 4424921 (1984-01-01), Feuerstein et al.
patent: 4961521 (1990-10-01), Eckmann
patent: 5024616 (1991-06-01), Ogle, II
patent: 5169049 (1992-12-01), Krupic et al.
Baranov Fedor
Couchey Brian P.
DesRosiers Victor
Johanson James E.
Jones Clint M.
Bui Thach H
Seidel Gonda Lavorgna & Monaco, PC
Shaver Kevin
Sonoco Development Inc.
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