U.S. patent number RE33,083 [Application Number 07/154,402] was granted by the patent office on 1989-10-10 for controlled dispensing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Raymond W. Pellegrino.
United States Patent |
RE33,083 |
Pellegrino |
October 10, 1989 |
Controlled dispensing apparatus
Abstract
A measuring and dispensing apparatus is provided for securing a
container of granular, powdered, or other fluidic material thereto,
and dispensing pre-determined quantities of the contained material.
A dispensing barrel having a known volume is implemented to
alternatively receive and dispense the contained material. A
volumetric reduction insert is removably insertable into the
dispensing barrel to alter the amount of contained material being
received and dispensed. The open-ended construction of the
dispensing barrel facilitates the removal and insertion of the
volume reduction insert therein. A variety of inserts may be
provided to increase the gradations of material to be dispensed. A
pair of rings are provided for supporting the dispensing barrel for
stable operation.
Inventors: |
Pellegrino; Raymond W.
(Coatesville, PA) |
Family
ID: |
26851418 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/154,402 |
Filed: |
February 9, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
578811 |
Feb 10, 1984 |
04569463 |
Feb 11, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/288; 222/434;
222/185.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
19/34 (20130101); B67D 3/047 (20130101); G01F
11/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
19/00 (20060101); B67D 3/04 (20060101); B67D
3/00 (20060101); A47G 19/34 (20060101); G01F
11/10 (20060101); G01F 11/20 (20060101); B67D
005/06 (); G01F 011/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/180-181,185,288,305-306,434,173,282,287,424.5,425,438,444,452,367,368 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Huppert; Michael S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak &
Seas
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for dispensing granular or
liquid materials from a removable container, comprising:
a funnel-shaped member having a first end adapted sealingly and
releasably to engage a container and a second end of smaller
diameter than said first end having a dispensing head unitarily
connected thereto;
said dispensing head comprising two rings extending in a direction
opposite from said funnel-shaped member, a first of said rings
being open at the center thereof and a second of said rings being
closed at the center thereof;
a hollow cylindrical dispensing barrel having a closed end and an
open end, said barrel being rotatably and removably supported
within said rings such that said closed center of said second ring
forms a closed end for said open end of said barrel;
a volumetric reduction means comprising a solid partially
cylindrical member having an exterior surface corresponding in
shape to an interior surface of said dispensing barrel and an
interior surface which cooperates with said interior surface of
said dispensing barrel to define therebetween a dispensing volume,
said volumetric reduction means being removably secured within said
dispensing barrel and removable through said open end of said
dispensing barrel such that said dispensing volume can be varied by
placing within said dispensing barrel volumetric reduction means
having differing interior surfaces; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.
an opening on a longitudinal side of said barrel adjacent to said
dispensing volume, such that when said opening is turned upwardly
toward said container, some of said material within said container
will fill said dispensing volume, and when said opening
subsequently is turned downwardly, said material within said
dispensing volume will be dispensed from said dispensing volume.[.;
and
a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said
yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending
neck.]..
2. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said first end of said funnel-shaped member further
comprises an annular ring disposed inside the periphery thereof for
receiving a rim of said container, thereby sealingly and securely
to engage said container.
3. A measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said first end of said funnel-shaped member further
comprises screw-thread means disposed inside the periphery thereof
for engaging screw-thread means on said container, thereby
sealingly and securely to engage said container.
4. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said volumetric reduction means further comprises at least
one flexible cylindrical projection formed on an end thereof to
engage corresponding recesses formed in said closed end of said
dispensing barrel.
5. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said dispensing barrel further comprises on the closed end
thereof a knob for rotating said dispensing barrel, and a notch for
engaging a projection formed on said first ring of said dispensing
head to limit rotational movement of said dispensing barrel.
6. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for dispensing granular or
liquid materials from a removable container, comprising:
a funnel-shaped member having a first end adapted sealingly and
releasably to engage a container and a second end of smaller
diameter than said first end having a dispensing head unitarily
connected thereto, said first end of said funnel-shaped member
further comprising an annular ring disposed inside the periphery
thereof for sealingly and releasably receiving, by snap action, an
outwardly extending rim of said container;
said dispensing head comprising two rings extending in a direction
opposite from said funnel-shaped member, a first of said rings
being open at the center thereof and a second of said rings being
closed at the center thereof;
a hollow cylindrical dispensing barrel having a closed end and an
open end, said barrel being rotatably and removably supported
within said rings such that said closed center of said second ring
forms a closed end for said open end of said barrel;
a volumetric reduction means comprising a solid partially
cylindrical member having an exterior surface corresponding in
shape to an interior surface of said dispensing barrel and an
interior surface which cooperates with said interior surface of
said dispensing barrel to define therebetween a dispensing volume,
said volumetric reduction means being removably secured within said
dispensing barrel and removable through said open end of said
dispensing barrel such that said dispensing volume can be varied by
placing within said dispensing barrel volumetric reduction means
having differing interior surfaces; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.
an opening on a longitudinal side of said barrel adjacent to said
dispensing volume, such that when said opening is turned upwardly
toward said container, some of said material within said container
will fill said dispensing volume, and when said opening
subsequently is turned downwardly, said material within said
dispensing volume will be dispensed from said dispensing volume.[.;
and
a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said
yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending
neck.]..
7. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for dispensing granular or
liquid materials from a removable container, comprising:
a funnel-shaped member having a first end adapted sealingly and
releasably to engage a container and a second end of smaller
diameter than said first end having a dispensing head unitarily
connected thereto, said first end of said funnel-shaped member
further comprising thread means disposed inside the periphery
thereof for sealingly and releasably engaging thread means on an
outside of said container;
said dispensing head comprising two rings extending in a direction
opposite from said funnel-shaped member, a first of said rings
being open at the center thereof and a second of said rings being
closed at the center thereof;
a hollow cylindrical dispensing barrel having a closed end and an
open end, said barrel being rotatably and removably supported
within said rings such that said closed center of said second ring
forms a closed end for said open end of said barrel;
a volumetric reduction means comprising a solid partially
cylindrical member having an exterior surface corresponding in
shape to an interior surface of said dispensing barrel and an
interior surface which cooperates with said interior surface of
said dispensing barrel to define therebetween a dispensing volume,
said volumetric reduction means being removably secured within said
dispensing barrel and removable through said open end of said
dispensing barrel such that said dispensing volume can be varied by
placing within said dispensing barrel volumetric reduction means
having differing interior surfaces; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.
an opening on a longitudinal side of said barrel adjacent to said
dispensing volume, such that when said opening is turned upwardly
toward said container, some of said material within said container
will fill said dispensing volume, and when said opening
subsequently is turned downwardly, said material within said
dispensing volume will be dispensed from said dispensing volume.[.;
and
a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said
yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck.]..
.Iadd.
8. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising a yoke for releasably supporting said
funnel-shaped member said yoke in turn being supported by a
longitudinally extending neck. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The measuring and
dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a
yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke
in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set
forth in claim 7, further comprising a yoke for releasably
supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke in turn being
supported by a longitudinally extending neck. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to dispensing devices and, more
particularly, to a dispensing device which can engage the rim of
containers containing granulated or liquid material and dispense
the material within the containers in a plurality of different
pre-determined quantities.
With the increase in the variety of packaged foods and commercial
products that are in granulated or liquid form, there has developed
an increased need for a dispenser by which items, such as powdered
artificial creams, powdered hot chocolate, tea, nuts, sugar,
instant or ground coffee, as well as vitamins, soup, detergents,
cleaners, chemicals, etc., can easily be dispensed in predetermined
quantities directly from their original containers. For many of the
products, the dispenser should include a means wherein the contents
can be extracted from their respective jars or containers under an
air-tight sealed condition in order to preserve the freshness and
thereby prolong the life of the product. Presently, in order to
extract an ingredient, the lid or top must be removed or opened and
a spoon or other measuring device must be inserted into the
container to remove the desired quantity of material; this quantity
will vary depending upon the product and container and one will
seldom be able to extract the exact quantity each time.
To overcome this problem, the dispenser should also include means
to easily change the desired quantity of material being
dispensed.
Since there are great differences in the size and shape of the
containers in which materials are packaged, the dispenser should
additionally have the versatility to accommodate different
containers.
There have been numerous prior dispensing devices; however, each
have deficiencies which are overcome by the present invention. U.S.
Pat. No. 1,772,377 to Whittle discloses one such prior dispensing
device. However, the device has limited utility because it cannot
accommodate different containers and has no means to dispense more
than one discrete quantity of material from the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides means for discharging pre-determined
quantities of material. The dispenser eliminates the need for using
a measuring cup, spoon or other similar measuring device. The
invention has a simple design with relatively few parts so it can
quickly and easily be disassembled and reassembled for
cleaning.
The funnel-shaped member of the invention, which supports the
containers, can be easily disassembled and replaced to support
different shape containers, thus allowing great versatility, and
thereby enabling the use of containers of a variety of sizes and
shapes, such as cans, cardboard containers, different glass or
plastic tubes, containers which hold food products and non-edible
soap products, cleaners, chemicals, medicine, etc. The
funnel-shaped member can also have a threaded base to secure
bottles with threads or other twist-on devices to hold the
container in a vertical position.
The dispenser and container comprise a base plate for supporting
the device, a stand having a yoke at the upper end thereof which is
designed to support a dispensing head. A rotatable open-ended
barrel is mounted near the lower portion of the dispensing head.
The open-ended barrel can selectively receive and discharge
materials from the container. The barrel, being open-ended, allows
for the insertion of a volumetric reduction means therein.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser which can store and dispense a plurality of predetermined
quantities of granular or liquid substances in an airtight
container.
Another object of the present invention provides a measuring and
dispensing device which is easily assembled and disassembled
allowing the device to be easily cleaned.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser which can accommodate containers having different shapes
and sizes.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser having relatively few operating parts which is thus less
prone to breakage.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser which is extremely economical to manufacture due to the
simplicity of design.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser which can alternately be used for left-handed or
right-handed dispensing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser in which the quantity of material to be dispensed is
easily altered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, with a
container mounted thereto;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the dispenser in an inverted,
non-dispensing mode; and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded view taken along the longitudinal
axis of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally in
FIGS. 1 and 2. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container or canister 1,
containing material 1c with a lid 1a attached to the top of
container 1 and handle 1b secured to the lid. The container 1 is
supported by a funnel-shape member 2. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,
material 1c of container 1 flows by gravity into dispensing head 3.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown container 1 with lid 1a and
lid handle 1b. Container 1 is secured to funnel-shaped member 2 by
friction so that the contents of the container 1 may flow by
gravity into dispensing head 3. Although a funnel-shaped member 2
is shown in the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that
different shaped members more suitable to the product being
dispensed and the specific container being dispensed from could be
used. For example, it has been found that in coffee cans and the
like, the manufacturer of the container provides the bottom rim of
the can with a metal lip. With these containers, it is preferred to
utilize the manufacturer's lip by providing the funnel-shaped
member 2 with a corresponding annular groove so that the bottom of
the can snaps into the top of the funnel. For another example, if
the container being dispensed from is a bottle, the dispensing head
could include a nipple which would correspond to the spout portion
of a bottle and thereby allow dispensing when the nipple and spout
of the inverted bottle are connected. In a still further
embodiment, the funnel-shaped member could have a horizontal
surface affixed to an end adjacent to the container. This
horizontal surface provides a supporting face when the container is
of the rectangular cardboard type. Clips or the like may be
provided to secure the cardboard container against the horizontal
surface.
Unitarily attached to funnel-shaped member 2 is dispensing head 3.
The dispenser head 3 includes two rings, 3b and 3c, extending
downwardly from funnel-shaped member 3. As best seen in FIG. 3,
ring 3c has an open central area while 3b is closed off to provide
an end face for an open-ended barrel 4. The openened barrel 4
includes an indentation 4f which must be aligned with notch 3a of
the dispensing head 3 for insertion therein. Notch 3a functions to
stabilize the barrel 4 from wobbling and allows the barrel to turn
smoothly. The rings 3b and 3c provide additional support for barrel
4. Barrel 4 is unitarily attached to an end face 4b which in turn
is unitarily connected to handle 4e by stem 4d. The end face 4b is
provided with a transverse rib 4c which engages projection 3a,
thereby acting as a stop to limit the rotation of the barrel 4 and
thereby allow proper alignment of the open-ended section 4f of the
cylindrical barrel 4 with the bore of the dispensing head.
Because of the open-ended design of barrel 4a, a sleeve 5 is
insertable to modify the amount of material being dispensed. The
sleeve is secured within the barrel by a pair of outwardly
extending cylindrical projections 5a which mate, when inserted,
with corresponding indentations (not shown in figures) formed in
the end face 4b of the barrel. The projections frictionally engage
the indentations so as to fixedly secure the sleeve within the
barrel, while still providing for easy removal.
Great versatility of the instant apparatus is obtained by
selectively employing a variety of inserts, each occupying a
different volume. By supplying several sleeves in incremental
sizes, virtually any desired amount of material, within the limits
of the minimum and maximum volumes of the barrel, may be
dispensed.
The sleeves, as well as the barrel, may be provided in a variety of
materials, so that caustic or other reactive materials will not
react with the barrel or sleeves, themselves.
The dispensing head 3 is secured to yoke 6 through a pair of
diametrically opposed partial turn female-male couplings. The head
3 is secured to yoke 6 by a projection 6a which fits into a
depression 3d located on the dispensing head. Only one male and one
female of the pair of male-female couplings are visible in FIG. 3,
as depicted. Additionally, an "O" ring may be provided on either
the yoke or the dispensing head to ensure a firm fit therebetween.
The yoke 6 is located substantially horizontal to support neck 7.
The neck 7 is secured to a base support 8 by screw 7a and support
groove 7b which engage the two limbs 7c and 7d of neck 7. If
needed, additional support can be provided, for use with heavier
canisters, by implementing a wider neck arranged with three or more
groove supports in corresponding base grooves. For a three groove
piece, two screws provide adequate support.
In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated in the figures,
liquid is dispensable in an apparatus, modified to provide
liquid-tight dispensing. A gasket or other seal is formed around
the periphery of the dispensing barrel, as well as at the location
where the container abuts the dispensing head.
It will be appreciated that the instant invention is not limited to
the specific embodiments described herein and is intended to
encompass those embodiments within the scope and spirit of the
appended claims.
* * * * *