Patent ID: 7726595
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
1. A pepper mill comprising: a receiving unit defining a receiving space adapted for receiving peppercorns; a grinding unit disposed in said receiving unit at one end of said receiving space and adapted for grinding the peppercorns in said receiving space; and a stop unit disposed in said receiving space, spaced apart from said grinding unit, and dividing said receiving space into first and second space portions that are respectively distal from and proximate to said grinding unit, said stop unit being formed with a passage to permit the peppercorns retained in said first space portion to fall into said grinding unit so as to be ground thereby through said second space portion when said pepper mill is disposed at a dispensing position where said grinding unit faces downwardly, and being configured to stop at least a portion of residual ground pepper in said second space portion from reaching said first space portion via said passage when said pepper mill is disposed at a non-dispensing position where said grinding unit faces upwardly; wherein said stop unit includes a surrounding wall that defines said passage, said passage having a first opening that is in spatial communication with said first space portion, and a second opening that is in spatial communication with said second space portion, said stop unit further including a cover member that is pivoted to said surrounding wall, that uncovers said second opening when said pepper mill is at the dispensing position, and that covers said second opening when said pepper mill is at the non-dispensing position.