U.S. patent application number 09/907069 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-16 for condiment grinder residue catch.
Invention is credited to Holcomb, David A., Ryding, Peter A..
Application Number | 20030010855 09/907069 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25423466 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030010855 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holcomb, David A. ; et
al. |
January 16, 2003 |
CONDIMENT GRINDER RESIDUE CATCH
Abstract
A condiment grinder is provided with a residue catch or door
that closes the discharge opening of the grinder, the catch is
connected to the movable handle that actuates the grinder so that
the catch closes and opens in response to movement of the movable
handle. The handle is connected to the residue catch through the
grinding mechanism that includes a movable rasp retainer coupled to
the residue catch.
Inventors: |
Holcomb, David A.; (Seattle,
WA) ; Ryding, Peter A.; (Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP PLLC
701 FIFTH AVE
SUITE 6300
SEATTLE
WA
98104-7092
US
|
Family ID: |
25423466 |
Appl. No.: |
09/907069 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
241/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 42/34 20130101;
A47J 42/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
241/169 |
International
Class: |
A47J 042/34 |
Claims
1. A condiment grinder comprising a housing having a compartment
for holding the condiment to be ground; a grinding mechanism for
grinding the condiment, the grinding mechanism having a discharge
opening from which residue to fall; and a residue catch fastened to
the housing to cover the discharge opening, the residue catch being
movable from an open position for allowing ground condiment to fall
from the housing to a closed position, which closes the discharge
opening preventing the ground condiment from falling from the
housing; said housing including a movable handle for actuating the
grinding mechanism, and wherein movement of the residue catch
between its open and closed positions is responsive to movement of
the movable handle.
2. The grinder of claim 1, wherein the grinding mechanism includes
a reciprocally mounted rasp retainer and wherein movement of the
handle moves the rasp retainer to cause the residue catch to move
between its open position and its closed position.
3. The grinder of claim 2, wherein the residue catch is a pivotally
mounted door, pivoted to the housing and having slots, said rasp
retainer having pins that fit into the slots, and wherein
reciprocal movement of the rasp retainer pivots the door between
the open and closed positions.
4. A condiment grinder comprising a housing having a compartment
for holding the condiment to be ground; a grinding mechanism for
grinding the condiment, the grinding mechanism having a discharge
opening from which residue can fall; a residue catch pivotally
fastened to the housing to cover the discharge opening, the residue
catch being movable from an open position for allowing ground
condiment to fall from the housing to a closed position which
closes the discharge opening preventing the ground condiment from
falling from the housing; said housing including a movable handle,
and wherein movement of the residue catch between its open and
closed positions is responsive to movement of the movable
handle.
5. The grinder of claim 4, wherein the grinding mechanism includes
a reciprocally mounted rasp retainer engageable by the movable
handle and wherein movement of the handle moves the rasp retainer
to cause the residue catch to move between its open position and
its closed position, wherein the residue catch is a pivotally
mounted door, pivoted to the housing and having slots, said rasp
retainer having pins that fit into the slots, and wherein
reciprocal movement of the rasp retainer moves the pins in the
slots to pivot the door between the open and closed positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to condiment grinders and more
particularly to closures for sealing off the discharge end of a
grinder at the completion of a grinding operation. This invention
is particularly useful for salt or pepper grinders or for any other
condiment that needs to be ground.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,244 shows a condiment grinder in which
the ground condiment, pepper for example, is discharged at the
bottom of the grinder. When the user is finished grinding, the user
sets the grinder on the table or on a shelf. Often when the grinder
is set onto the table or shelf, residual ground condiment is
sticking to the bottom of the grinding mechanism and will fall onto
the table or shelf. This residue then must be cleaned up.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention relates to placing a closing device on the
bottom of the grinder to seal off the grinder discharge when the
user is finished grinding. The closure is a catch or door that is
pivotally mounted to the bottom of the grinder that closes
automatically when the last actuation of the grinding mechanism of
the grinder is completed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a typical grinder
showing the inventive residue catch in the closed position.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the grinder showing the
catch open.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the grinder in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the grinder
showing the catch or door that seals the grinder discharge opening
to prevent the residue from falling out of the grinder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a typical condiment grinder
for pepper, salt, seeds, etc. has a housing 10 formed of two halves
10a and 10b and has a condiment compartment 12. Condiment to be
ground, for example peppercorns, are placed into the compartment
through side door 13 [FIG. 3]. The basic grinder shown in the
drawings is of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,244 but other
types of grinders that have a handle or triggering device to
actuate the grinding mechanism and have the same residue dropping
condition can also be used. For example, design patent No. 370,160,
issued May 28, 1996 shows a spherical grinder. Patent application
Ser. No. 09/656,498, filed Sep. 7, 2000, shows a dual compartment
grinder and all of these can be used with a residue catch of this
invention. In the case of the dual condiment grinder two residue
catches would be employed. The disclosures of these patents and
pending application are also incorporated herein by reference
thereto.
[0011] A handle or trigger 14 pivots about a pin 16 and an end 18
of the handle pushes against a rasp retainer 20 having a metal rasp
22. Downward movement of the rasp retainer grinds the peppercorns
against a shear block 24 to produce ground pepper or other ground
condiment. The ground condiment falls out of the discharge opening
between the rasp and the shear block. When the user squeezes the
handle 14, the rasp is pushed down. When the handle is released, a
spring 26 pushes the handle back into the extended initial
position.
[0012] When the handle is released and the grinder is placed on a
surface, residue grind often falls from the rasp or shear block
through the discharge opening there between and falls onto the
supporting surface. As best shown in FIG. 2 a catch or door 28 is
pivotally connected to the end of the housing by a pivot pin 30
fixed into the housing. The door has a set of slots 34 on either
side of the door. Pins 36 are attached to opposite sides of the
rasp retainer and these pins fit into the slots 34. As best shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door is pivoted downwardly to open when the
rasp retainer is lowered by the handle 14, the pins 36 siding along
the slots 34. When the handle is released, the spring 26 raises the
rasp retainer, which causes the pins to slide up in the slots, thus
raising the door to a closed position. As best shown in the bottom
view of FIG. 3, the closed door seals the entire area of the
discharge opening of the grinder when in the closed position.
[0013] The residue catch is assembled by fitting pins 36 through
slots 34 in door 28 into holes in rasp retainer 20. The two halves
10a and 10b of the housing are then fitted together encapsulating
rasp retainer 20 and door 28. Pin 30 in housings 10a and 10b
connects the door to the housing and acts as the door pivot
point.
[0014] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
example, other types of grinders can be provided with an
automatically closing residue catch actuated by the actuating
handle or trigger. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except
as by the appended claims.
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