U.S. patent application number 13/777168 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-06 for dry goods portion control container.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUIRKY, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is QUIRKY, INC.. Invention is credited to Tim Connelly, Jan Habraken, Aaron Saxton.
Application Number | 20140033658 13/777168 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50024117 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140033658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Habraken; Jan ; et
al. |
February 6, 2014 |
DRY GOODS PORTION CONTROL CONTAINER
Abstract
An exemplary aspect comprises a container apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing forming a reservoir; (b) a cover configured to fit on
the top of the housing, and comprising a first door; (c) a first
divider having at least one point in contact with the inner surface
of the housing; and (d) a second divider having at least one point
in contact with the inner surface of the housing; wherein the first
divider and the second divider divide the reservoir into three
joined compartments: a first compartment between the first divider
and an inner surface of the housing, a second compartment between
the first divider and the second divider, and a third compartment
between the second divider and an inner surface of the housing.
Inventors: |
Habraken; Jan; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Saxton; Aaron; (New York, NY) ;
Connelly; Tim; (Brooklyn, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUIRKY, INC. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
QUIRKY, INC.
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
50024117 |
Appl. No.: |
13/777168 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61677527 |
Jul 31, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/467 ;
220/502 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20130101; B65D
25/04 20130101; A47J 47/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/467 ;
220/502 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. A container apparatus comprising a housing having a bottom, a
sidewall, and an open top, said bottom and said sidewall each
having an inner surface, said inner surfaces of said bottom and
said sidewall forming a reservoir; a cover configured to fit on
said top of said housing, and comprising a first door; a first
divider having an outer perimeter comprising a top and a bottom,
and a first side and a second side, each of said first side and
said second side of said outer perimeter of said first divider
having at least one point in contact with said inner surface of
said sidewall ; and a second divider having an outer perimeter
comprising a top and a bottom, and a first side and a second side,
each of said first side and said second side of said outer
perimeter of said second divider having at least one point in
contact with said inner surface of said sidewall; wherein said
first divider and said second divider divide said reservoir into
three joined compartments: a first compartment between said first
divider and an inner surface of said sidewall, a second compartment
between said first divider and said second divider, and a third
compartment between said second divider and an inner surface of
said sidewall, wherein said bottom of said outer perimeter of said
first divider is in contact with said inner surface of said bottom
of said housing, wherein said first divider is a first nonzero
distance from said second divider, and wherein said bottom of said
outer perimeter of said second divider is a second nonzero distance
from said inner surface of said bottom of said housing.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first nonzero distance
and said second nonzero distance are such that material flowing
from said second compartment, under said second divider, and into
said third compartment, has a substantially predetermined
volume.
3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said cover is attachable to
said housing using hinged clamps.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said cover is attachable to
said housing using a press lock fit.
5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first door in said
cover is located above said third compartment.
6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said second divider is
slidably attached to said inner surface of said sidewall of said
housing.
7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a
second door, located above at least one of said first and second
compartments.
8. A method of using an apparatus as in claim 1, comprising: (a)
placing a sufficient volume of dry goods in said first or second
compartments such that the height of a portion of said dry goods in
said second compartment exceeds said second nonzero distance; (b)
closing said cover; and (c) pouring from said reservoir through
said first door a substantially predetermined volume of said dry
goods which has passed from said second compartment into said third
compartment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/677,527, filed Jul. 31, 2012, entitled "Dry
Goods Portion Control Container." The entire contents of the
above-referenced application are incorporated herein by
reference.
INTRODUCTION
[0002] A first aspect and exemplary embodiments comprise one or
more portion control containers. A user may simply fill one of the
containers with dry ingredients, and each pour will measure out
exactly the portion desired. In an exemplary embodiment comprising
a set of containers, the set comes with 3 quart, 1.5 quart and 12
ounce containers, allowing a user to measure out 1 cup, 1/2 cup, or
1 teaspoon respectively.
[0003] A second aspect and exemplary embodiments comprise one or
more portion control containers, each container having at least one
adjustable divider. The at least one adjustable divider allows a
user to pour out, for example, either a half cup or a full cup of
ingredients at a time.
[0004] An exemplary aspect comprises a container apparatus
comprising: (a) a housing having a bottom, a sidewall, and an open
top, the bottom and the sidewall each having an inner surface, the
inner surfaces of the bottom and the sidewall forming a reservoir;
(b) a cover configured to fit on the top of the housing, and
comprising a first door; (c) a first divider having an outer
perimeter comprising a top and a bottom, and a first side and a
second side, each of the first side and the second side of the
outer perimeter of the first divider having at least one point in
contact with the inner surface of the sidewall ; and (d) a second
divider having an outer perimeter comprising a top and a bottom,
and a first side and a second side, each of the first side and the
second side of the outer perimeter of the second divider having at
least one point in contact with the inner surface of the sidewall;
wherein the first divider and the second divider divide the
reservoir into three joined compartments: a first compartment
between the first divider and an inner surface of the sidewall, a
second compartment between the first divider and the second
divider, and a third compartment between the second divider and an
inner surface of the sidewall, wherein the bottom of the outer
perimeter of the first divider is in contact with the inner surface
of the bottom of the housing, wherein the first divider is a first
nonzero distance from the second divider, and wherein the bottom of
the outer perimeter of the second divider is a second nonzero
distance from the inner surface of the bottom of the housing.
[0005] In one or more exemplary embodiments: (1) the first nonzero
distance and the second nonzero distance are such that material
flowing from the second compartment, under the second divider, and
into the third compartment, has a substantially predetermined
volume; (2) the cover is attachable to the housing using hinged
clamps; (3) the cover is attachable to the housing using a press
lock fit; (4) the first door in the cover is located above the
third compartment; (5) the second divider is slidably attached to
the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing; and (6) the cover
comprises a second door, located above at least one of the first
and second compartments.
[0006] A method aspect comprises a method of using an apparatus
aspect, comprising: (a) placing a sufficient volume of dry goods in
the first or second compartments such that the height of a portion
of the dry goods in the second compartment exceeds the second
nonzero distance; (b) closing the cover; and (c) pouring from the
reservoir through the first door a substantially predetermined
volume of the dry goods which has passed from the second
compartment into the third compartment.
[0007] Other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those
skilled in the art after reviewing the description and drawings
provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. 1-5 depict exemplary usage of one or more exemplary
embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 6 depicts a top view of an exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary embodiment comprising an
adjustable divider.
[0012] FIGS. 9 and 10 depict exemplary embodiments comprising a
plurality of different sized containers.
[0013] FIGS. 11-13 depict containers of exemplary dimensions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0014] FIGS. 1-5 depict exemplary construction and usage of certain
exemplary embodiments of a dry goods portion control container. In
the embodiments depicted, the container comprises a top component
comprising a flip-open door for pouring contents into the container
and a smaller flip-open door for dispensing, and two internal
dividing components.
[0015] Regarding exemplary usage, and referring to FIG. 1: a user
adds contents to the container by opening the top component (either
by opening a hinged door (see FIG. 5) or by removing the top
component entirely (see FIG. 3)) and pouring dry contents (e.g.,
oatmeal, breakfast cereal, sugar, flour, etc.) into the compartment
on the right side of the container (i.e., to the right of the
left-most divider). Sufficient contents are added to the container
so that a portion of the contents enters the left-most region of
the container (i.e., to the left of the left-most divider) by
passing under the left-most divider.
[0016] Pouring contents from an opening above the left-most region
results in a pre-determined amount of the contents being dispensed
from the container (see FIGS. 4 and 5). After the container is
placed on a horizontal surface, a portion of the contents again
enters under the left-most divider, readying the container for the
next use (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0017] The above details and others are explained more precisely
below.
[0018] FIG. 6 depicts certain components of an exemplary
embodiment. Divider 620 extends from the bottom of the container
but does not reach the top. Divider 630 extends from the top of the
container but does not reach the bottom. That is, divider 630
typically is not attached to the top (not shown in FIG. 6, but
depicted as item 640 in FIG. 7), but rather divider 630 is attached
to the sides of the container and extends upward to touch, or at
least be close to touching, the top of the container. Divider 620
preferably is fixed to the container. Divider 630 may also be fixed
to the sides of the container, or it may be slidably adjustable
(see FIG. 6) to account for measuring out different quantities. In
the latter case, top 640 may comprise a slot that allows a user to
raise or lower divider 630 to as to select different dispensation
amounts. See FIG. 8, which depicts a divider 630 being raised, to
switch from a 1/2 cup dispensation to a 1 cup dispensation. In an
embodiment wherein top 640 is fixed to the container (and has one
lid only--component 610), divider 630 may also be affixed to top
640.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 7, dividers 620 and 630 divide the
internal portion of the container into three regions: 710, 720, and
730. When a dry material is placed into the container, it is placed
only into regions 720 and 730--not into region 710. On the other
hand, when the dry material is dispensed from the container, it is
dispensed only from region 710. Consequently, dispensing lid 610
(shown in action in FIG. 5) is placed only over region 710. When a
separate lid is used to place contents into the container (as
opposed to just having the entire top 640 being removable, and no
separate lid for loading contents), that lid is located only over
regions 720 and/or 730.
[0020] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various
materials may be used in constructing different embodiments.
Exemplary materials comprise: SAN (styrene acrylonitrile) for the
body of the container (providing a transparent body); ABS plastic
for the top components 610 and 640; and SAN for the dividers 620
and 630.
[0021] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various
embodiments may comprise containers of different sizes. Each
different size may correspond to a specific dispensation quantity
(for embodiments wherein divider 630 is not adjustable), or to a
range of dispensation quantities (for embodiments wherein divider
630 is adjustable).
[0022] Three exemplary sizes are depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. For an
exemplary "large" size container, exemplary dimensions are as
follows: height=276 mm, width (front to back)=203 mm, and depth
(side to side)=109 mm (see container 1010 in FIG. 10). For the
dividers, exemplary dimensions are: divider 620: height=78 mm;
divider 630: height=204 mm (height from base=62 mm). In the case of
a fixed divider 630, the dispensation amount of this container
would be one cup.
[0023] For an exemplary "medium" size container, exemplary
dimensions are as follows: height=145 mm, width (front to back)=203
mm, and depth (side to side)=109 mm (see container 1020 in FIG.
10). For the dividers, exemplary dimensions are: divider 620:
height=49 mm; divider 630: height=100 mm (height from base=30 mm).
In the case of a fixed divider 630, the dispensation amount of this
container would be 1/2 cup.
[0024] For an exemplary "small" size container, exemplary
dimensions are as follows: height=141 mm, width (front to back)=97
mm, and depth (side to side)=65 mm (see container 1030 in FIG. 10).
For the dividers, exemplary dimensions are: divider 620: height=39
mm; divider 630: height=103 mm (height from base=30 mm). In the
case of a fixed divider 630, the dispensation amount of this
container would be one teaspoon (up to one tablespoon for a sliding
divider 630).
[0025] In another aspect and exemplary embodiments, the dividers in
each container are stationary (i.e., not adjustable). For example,
a large container may pour exactly one cup; a medium container may
pour exactly one half of a cup; and a small container may pour
exactly one teaspoon.
[0026] In another aspect and exemplary embodiments, there is no
secondary hinged door to fill the container. A lid may be removed
by lifting up ears on either side, then a user fills the container.
A small container may have a press fit lock on either side of the
container. The method for filling the container remains the same as
described above: pour contents into the larger section, avoiding
the small area on the other side of the divider.
[0027] In another aspect and exemplary embodiments, exemplary
dimensions are as follows:
[0028] Large size: H=274.5 mm; W=175 mm; and D=85.39 mm.
[0029] Medium size: H=217.66 mm; W=138 mm; and D=67.24 mm.
[0030] Small size: H=139.3 mm; W=84.8 mm; and D=53.4 mm.
[0031] FIG. 11 depicts exemplary dimensions for components of
another "small size" embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, a
small container 1130 contains a divider 1110 and a divider 1120.
Small container 1130 has internal dimensions of 131.75 mm height,
76.4 mm width, and 45 mm depth at the top and about 49 mm depth at
the bottom. Divider 1110 is 125 mm high, 2 mm thick, about 45 mm
wide at the top and about 49 mm wide at the bottom, and located
12.8 mm from the front of container 1130, thereby forming a region
1140 between divider 1110 and the front of container 1130 over
which a dispensing lid will be placed. The distance, in this
example, between the bottom of divider 1110 and the bottom of
container 1130 is 6.75 mm. The distance between divider 1110 and
divider 1120 is 6 mm. Divider 1110 and divider 1120 form a region
1150 within container 1130.
[0032] Divider 1120 is 49 mm wide and 38 mm high, and connected at
the bottom to container 1130. Divider 1120 is approximately 2 mm
thick, slightly thicker at the bottom.
[0033] Divider 1120 is 57.6 mm from the back of container 1130, and
divider 1120 and the back of container form a region 1160 within
container 1130.
[0034] When dry material is placed into region 1150, up to at least
the bottom of divider 1110, a quantity having a volume of
approximately one teaspoon flows into region 1140, ready for
pouring.
[0035] FIG. 12 depicts exemplary dimensions for components of a
"medium size" embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, a medium
container 1230 contains a divider 1210 and a divider 1220. Medium
container 1230 has internal dimensions of 211.4 mm height, 126.9 mm
width, and 69.5 mm depth at the top and about 59 mm depth at the
bottom. Divider 1210 is 162.4 mm high, 2 mm thick, about 69.5 mm
wide at the top and about 59 mm wide at the bottom, and located
21.4 mm from the front of container 1230, thereby forming a region
1240 between divider 1210 and the front of container 1230 over
which a dispensing lid will be placed. The distance, in this
example, between the bottom of divider 1210 and the bottom of
container 1230 is 49 mm. The distance between divider 1210 and
divider 1220 is 20 mm. Divider 1210 and divider 1220 form a region
1250 within container 1230.
[0036] Divider 1220 is 59 mm wide and 66.5 mm high, and connected
at the bottom to container 1230. Divider 1220 is approximately 2 mm
thick, slightly thicker at the bottom.
[0037] Divider 1220 is 85.5 mm from the back of container 1230, and
divider 1220 and the back of container form a region 1260 within
container 1230.
[0038] When dry material is placed into region 1250, up to at least
the bottom of divider 1210, a quantity having a volume of
approximately 1/2 cup flows into region 1240, ready for
pouring.
[0039] FIG. 13 depicts exemplary dimensions for components of a
"large size" embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, a large
container 1330 contains a divider 1310 and a divider 1320. Large
container 1330 has internal dimensions of 265.5 mm height, 161.95
mm width, and 88 mm depth at the top and about 77 mm depth at the
bottom. Divider 1310 is 203 mm high, 2 mm thick, about 88 mm wide
at the top and about 77 mm wide at the bottom, and located 25.45 mm
from the front of container 1330, thereby forming a region 1340
between divider 1310 and the front of container 1330 over which a
dispensing lid will be placed. The distance, in this example,
between the bottom of divider 1310 and the bottom of container 1330
is 62.5 mm. The distance between divider 1310 and divider 1320 is
24.5 mm. Divider 1310 and divider 1320 form a region 1350 within
container 1330.
[0040] Divider 1320 is 77 mm wide and 78.7 mm high, and connected
at the bottom to container 1330. Divider 1320 is approximately 2 mm
thick, slightly thicker at the bottom.
[0041] Divider 1320 is 112 mm from the back of container 1330, and
divider 1320 and the back of container form a region 1360 within
container 1330.
[0042] When dry material is placed into region 1350, up to at least
the bottom of divider 1310, a quantity having a volume of
approximately one cup flows into region 1340, ready for
pouring.
[0043] While certain exemplary aspects and embodiments have been
described herein, many alternatives, modifications, and variations
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,
exemplary aspects and embodiments set forth herein are intended to
be illustrative, not limiting. Various modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *