Patent ID: 6315174
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A portable dispensing apparatus for dispensing a particulate material, which comprisesa container for containing the particulate material, the container having an outlet defined in an operative lower region thereof, through which particulate material contained in the container can be dispensed, under the force of gravity, therefrom;a valve arrangement including a valve member located in a configuration in which it is displaceable between a first position, in which it blocks the outlet of the container, and a second position, in which the outlet is open and it permits dispensing of the particulate material, under the force of gravity, from the container, and a displacement mechanism that can be acted upon for displacing the valve member between its first and second positions; anda handle formation by which the container can be carried in a configuration in which particulate material can be dispensed, under the force of gravity, therefrom, the handle formation including a gripping handle secured to an inverted cup formation, that fits slidably over an operative top region of the container to permit displacement of the handle formation with respect to the container between first and second positions and that carries an actuating member that operatively links the handle formation and the displacement mechanism of the valve arrangement to provide for the displacement mechanism to be acted upon by the displacement of the handle formation between its first and second positions with respect to the container and for the valve member to be simultaneously displaced between its first and second positions.