Abstract:
Fixed amounts of granular and granulated seasonings are dispensed from a rotatable disc that lies flat or horizontal and which includes a through-hole or void. The void is gravity-filled with granulated seasonings from a hole in the bottom of a hopper. A screen below the disc is formed to have open, through-holes and a solid land. The void in the disc fills with granules when the void is beneath a hole in the hopper but over a solid land thus preventing granules to spill through the disc. Rotation of the disc moves the void away from the land, allowing granules in the void to fall through holes in the screen. A gasket provides a seal between the disc and the hopper. The disc is rotated back and forth around its axis by vertical movement of an actuator about the horizontal hinge.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a dispenser for food seasonings that include but which are not limited to salt, pepper, grated onion and grated cheeses, garlic and others. More particularly, this invention relates to dispensing and dispensers for granular seasonings. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is well known that most restaurants and food services strive to maintain product consistency, reduce preparation time and control production costs. It is also well known that many of the products produced in restaurants and food services are prepared using various types of seasonings. 
         [0003]    Some seasonings are applied simply by tossing them onto the food product. Other seasonings are applied using hand-held shakers. In either case, the amount of the seasoning applied is inconsistent and the seasoning distribution across a food product is not uniform. Stated another way, seasoning application is highly operator-dependant. Product consistency inevitably varies depending on who prepares a seasoned food product. 
         [0004]    Varying and/or uncontrollable food quality is anathema to most restaurants, but especially so to restaurant chains, which strive for consistent product characteristics and quality from outlet to outlet. A seasoning dispenser able to provide consistent and controllable seasoning applications would be an improvement over the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a seasoning dispenser; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bottom of the seasoning dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the seasoning dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 , looking into the top of the hopper; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the seasoning dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a second exploded view of the seasoning dispenser shown in  FIG. 1  viewed from below the bottom of the dispenser; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rotatable measuring disc used in the seasoning dispenser depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the disc shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of a disc for use in the seasoning dispenser depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a seasoning dispenser  10 . The dispenser  10  is comprised of a hopper  12  which preferably has an open top covered by a removable lid  14 . The hopper  12  is removably attached to a dispenser body or base, identified by reference numeral  15 . The attachment of the hopper  12  to the base  15  is best seen in the exploded views, which are described below. 
         [0014]    The lid  14  is preferably attached to the hopper  12  through a hinge, not shown in  FIG. 1  because of the angle from which the dispenser  10  is viewed in the figure. The lid hinge allows the lid  14  to be opened and closed in order to permit the hopper  12  to be re-filled with seasoning. In alternate embodiments, the lid  14  is snapped into place over a lip formed into or along the top edge (not shown) of the hopper  12 . In yet another embodiment, the lid  14  is hingedly attached to the dispenser handle  16 . In yet another embodiment, a single-use hopper  12  is filled once and the top is sealed. When seasoning in the single-use hopper  12  is consumed or if it loses flavor, a new single-use sealed hopper  12  or a re-usable hopper  12  can be installed into the base  15  and the single-use hopper discarded. 
         [0015]    Seasonings are dispensed from the dispenser  10  by a user operating an L-shaped actuator  20 , best seen in  FIG. 2 . The vertex  19  of the actuator  20  is provided with a pair of hinge pins  29  (See  FIG. 4 .) that extend outwardly from the body of the actuator and which ride in actuator hinge pin receptacles  28 . Neither the L-shape of the actuator  20 , the hinge pins  29  nor the receptacles  28  are visible in  FIG. 1  but can be seen in the other figures described below. 
         [0016]    The actuator  20  is preferably molded plastic. The hinge pins  29 , which extend outwardly from the sides of the actuator  20  and which allow the actuator to rotate are preferably formed during the same molding process and in a sense, become part of the actuator  20 . 
         [0017]    The handle  16  and the dispenser base  15 , which are also best seen in the exploded figures are also preferably molded plastic. The aforementioned actuator hinge receptacles are therefore also preferably formed during the same molding process. In a sense, the receptacles become part of the molded handle/base structure. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the seasoning dispenser  10  looking upward toward the bottom of the dispenser  10  including a granular dispensing screen  22  through which dispensed seasonings pass. The terms, granular dispensing screen, dispensing screen and screen are used interchangeably. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows that the overall shape of the actuator  20  can be seen to resemble the upper case letter L, the long arm of which is beneath the handle  16 , the short arm of which extends downward. In addition to showing the granule dispensing screen  22 ,  FIG. 2  also shows an actuator return spring  30 , and a torque arm  36  coupled to the bottom end  31  through a connecting rod  33 . 
         [0020]    The torque arm  36  is connected to the spindle, which is also referred to interchangeably herein as an axis or central axis  34 , of a rotatable, seasoning-measuring disc, not seen in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2  because it is above the screen  22 . The axis  34  extends downwardly from the seasoning measuring disc and through the screen  22  as shown. Rotation of the torque arm thus effectuates a corresponding rotation of the seasoning measuring disc. 
         [0021]    The dispensing screen  22  is preferably formed as part of the base  15  and handle  16 , to reduce manufacturing costs, simplify assembly of the dispenser  10  and improve reliability. In an alternate embodiment the dispensing screen  22  can be formed as a separate part that fits inside the dispenser base  15 . 
         [0022]    The dispensing screen  22  has several round seasoning-dispensing through-holes  24 . The terms seasoning-dispensing through-holes, dispensing through-holes and holes are used interchangeably. 
         [0023]    Seasoning dispensing through-holes  24  are grouped or clustered together between un-perforated areas referred to herein as “lands” that are identified in the FIGS. by reference numeral  26 . Granules from the seasoning measuring disc fall through the seasoning dispensing through-holes  24  and onto a food product. The lands  26  are preferably solid to strengthen the screen  22  but more importantly to stop granules from flowing out of the dispenser  10  when the actuator  20  is “down,” at its initial or starting position. 
         [0024]    Some granules from the seasoning-measuring disc can migrate to the disc&#39;s perimeter and cause the disc to bind. The screen  22  is therefore also provided with additional by-pass dispensing holes  25  that are formed into the screen  22  and located just inside the perimeter  27  of the screen  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the by-pass holes  25  are the same size and shape as the seasoning dispensing through-holes  24 . As described below, the screen perimeter-located by-pass holes  25  provide an exit pathway for granules that miss one of the seasoning dispensing through-holes  24 . The bypass holes thus reduce the likelihood that granules will accumulate above the screen  22  and jam the rotating dispensing disc. In an alternate embodiment, the bypass holes  25  are larger than the seasoning-dispensing through-holes  24 . In yet another embodiment, the by-pass holes  25  are not holes per se but are formed as open slots, not shown, or sections of an arc that are open and which follow the curvature of the inside of the body  15 , also not shown. The width of the slots or of the open arc sections, are selected to allow granules to fall through them. For purposes of claim construction, by-pass holes should be considered to include at least holes of all cross sectional shapes and diameters as well as straight slots and arcuate-shaped slots. 
         [0025]    It can be seen from  FIG. 2  that when the long arm of the L-shaped handle actuator  20  is pulled upwardly, the actuator  20  pivots on the hinge pins  29  located at the vertex  19 . Translation of the bottom end  31  of the short arm of the actuator  20  away from the base  15  and the screen  22  causes the connecting rod  33  to pull the torque arm  36 . Rotation of the torque arm  36  around the axis  34  rotates a seasoning-measuring disc, described below and depicted in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 . Squeezing the handle actuator  20  upwardly thus causes the seasonings to be dispensed by causing the aforementioned disc to rotate from a starting position, through an angle to a second position. The return spring  30  in the handle  16  causes the actuator  20  to move back, downwardly from the handle  16 , causing the bottom end  31  of the short end of the actuator  20  to move back toward the base  15  and toward the screen  22  and axis  34 . The force provided by an operator and the return force provided by the return spring  30  thus enable the actuator to oscillate up and down, which causes the torque arm  36  to oscillate back and forth between a starting and ending position, which causes the disc, not shown in  FIG. 2  to rotate between a starting and an ending position. 
         [0026]    Controlled measurement and distribution of seasonings from the dispenser  10  can be better understood by starting the description of the dispenser&#39;s operation with an inspection of  FIG. 3 , which is a bottom view of the hopper  12  showing several elongated openings  38  formed into the bottom of the hopper  12 . The elongated openings  38  shown in  FIG. 3  are substantially “pie-shaped” and the dimensions and shapes of them are empirically determined to allow granules stored in the hopper  12  to freely pass through the elongated openings  38  of the hopper  12 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the seasoning dispenser  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , taken from above the hopper and looking downward toward the screen  22 . The lands  26  between the groups of holes  24  can be seen in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 4 , the hopper  12  is shown with the lid  14  in place.  FIG. 4  also shows one of at least two engagement tabs  13  that are formed as part of the hopper  12  and which are sized and arranged to lockingly engage mating slots  9  formed into the interior of the base  15  and handle  16 . One of the slots  9  in the base  15  that mate with a tab  13 , is visible in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0029]    The dispenser bottom or base  15  and the handle  16  are preferably molded at the same time to form a single unitary structure. The two actuator hinge pin receptacles  28  that receive the hinge pins  29  are also formed at the same time such that they are part of the body/handle structure. In an alternate embodiment, the base  15  and the handle  16  are formed separately and fastened together by an adhesive or other fastening mechanism, many of which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is another exploded view of the seasoning dispenser  10  albeit looking up toward the bottom of the body and the lower side of the screen  22  and lands  26 . The elongated openings  38  in the bottom of the hopper  12  allow granules to pass from the hopper  12  and fall into voids  46  formed in the disc  40 .  FIG. 5  also shows the torque arm  36  depicted in  FIG. 2  and which is attached to the axis  34  of the disc  40 . In one embodiment, a U-shaped hook at the distal end of the connecting rod  33  engages a pivot hole  47  in the torque arm  36 . Other embodiments use a threaded rod, one or more clevis pins and/or cotter pins, to attach the connecting rod  33  to appropriate holes formed into the torque arm  36 . Oscillating angular movement of the torque arm  36  caused by the oscillating translation of the actuator bottom end  31  of the actuator  20 , causes the seasoning-measuring disc  40  to oscillate around the axis  34 . 
         [0031]    It is important to note that the actuator  20  is depicted in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  as being above the handle  16  and above the base  15  whereas in  FIG. 1 and 2 , the actuator  20  is below the handle  16  and the short arm of the actuator  20  is outside the base  15 . When the seasoning dispenser  10  is assembled, as it is in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the hinge pins  29  are in the receptacles  28  but the long part of the actuator  20  is below the handle  16 ; the short arm of the actuator  20  and its bottom end  31  is outside the base  15  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  both show that seasoning measurement and seasoning dispensing is effectuated by the rotatable seasoning measuring member, preferably embodied as the disc  40  shown in the figures. The disc  40  shown in the figures is provided with several voids  46  that extend between the disc&#39;s top and bottom opposing surfaces. A filler portion or gasket  39  is attached to the top or upper surface of the disc  40 . The gasket  39  is formed to have its own holes or voids  46 A, which are aligned with the voids  46  in the disc  40  when the gasket  39  is installed in and affixed to the top surface  41  of the disc  40 . As described below, the voids  46  in the disc  40  and the matching voids  46 A in the gasket  39  effectively determine how much of a seasoning in the hopper  12  will be dispensed with each operation of the actuator  20 . 
         [0033]    When the dispenser  10  is assembled, the disc  40  with the gasket  39  attached thereto, are in the base  15  above the screen  22  but beneath the hopper  12 . When the hopper  12  is in place in the base  15  and the disc  40  is at its starting, initial position, voids  46 A in the gasket  39  and voids  46  in the disc  40  should be directly below the elongated openings  38  in the hopper  12  but also directly above the lands  26 . Granules in the hopper  12  will thus fall through the elongated openings  38  in the bottom of the hopper  12  and fill voids  46  in the disc  40  and the voids  46 A in the gasket  39 . Since the bottom of the voids  46  and  46 A are above the lands  26  when they are below the elongated openings  38 , the voids  46  and  46 A fill with granules, which are prevented from falling out of the voids  46  and  46 A by the lands  26 . 
         [0034]    Pulling the actuator  20  upward causes the disc  40  and the granule-filled voids  46  and  46 A therein to rotate away from the elongated openings  38  in the hopper  12  and away from the lands  26 . As the disc  40  rotates away from its starting position, granules in the voids  46  and  46 A fall through the holes  24  in the screen  22 . Rotation of the disc  40  back and forth around its axis exerts centrifugal force on granules in the voids  46  and  46 A. Centrifugal force on granules urges them outward. Granules that miss one of the holes  24  in the screen fall out one of the by-pass holes  25 . 
         [0035]    The top surface of the gasket  39  abuts extrusions that surround the elongated openings  38  in the hopper  12 . The gasket  39  thus prevents granules from leaking out of the hopper  12  when the disc  40  is rotated away from its starting position. Granules are thus permitted to fall out of the hopper  12  only when the voids  46  are below the elongated openings  38 . 
         [0036]    Repeated actuation of the actuator  20  causes the disc  40  to rotate back and forth around axis  34 . As voids  46  in the disc  40  pass underneath the elongated openings  38 , they fill with granules, which then fall from the voids as the disc is rotated away from the disc&#39;s starting location. Repeated actuation of the actuator  20  will thus dispense the same or substantially the same amount of seasoning each time the disc  40  rotates. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the rotatable disc  40 . It shows that the disc has a first, top surface  41  and a second, bottom surface  43 , which is not visible in  FIG. 6 . The disc  40  has a rim  48  at the perimeter, which extends upwardly from the top surface  41  of the disc  40 . The rim  48  provides a relatively wide surface for the disc  40  to engage the interior of the base  15 . The rim  48  also provides a structure that retains in place, the aforementioned pliable gasket  39 . 
         [0038]    The disc  40  can be seen to have a thickness, defined as the distance between the top surface  41  and the bottom surface  43 . The thickness of the disc  40  and the area of a void  46  in the disc  40  determine the volume of seasoning that a void  46  can hold. Similarly, the thickness of the gasket  39  and the area of each void  46 A in the gasket determine the volume of seasoning that a void  46 A in the gasket  39  can hold. Thickness of the disc  40 , thickness of the gasket  39 , area of the disc void  46  and area of the gasket void  46 A thus determine the volume of the granulated seasoning dispensed with each actuation of the actuator  20 . 
         [0039]    The gasket  39  is preferably formed from a soft or pliable material, such as neoprene rubber. The gasket  39  is also provided with holes that align with the voids  46  in the disc  40  to determine dispense volume. The gasket  39  is sized, shaped and arranged such that its top surface just meets the bottoms of the elongated openings  38  in the hopper  12  in order to close off the elongated openings  38  when the disc  40  rotates the voids  46  and  46 A away from the openings  38 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the disc  40  shown in  FIG. 6 . This view shows the bottom or second side of the disc  40  as well as the bottom or opposing side of the voids  46 .  FIG. 7  also shows the axis  34  and the torque arm  36 , depicted in  FIG. 5 . The pivot hole  47  in the torque arm  36 , which receives the connecting rod  33 , is also clearly shown. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of the disc  40  that is identical to the disc shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  except that the voids  46  shown in the disc  40  of  FIG. 8  are of circular cross section. Voids  46  in the disc  40  and voids  46 A in the gasket  39  can also be shaped as ovals, squares, triangles or other regular or irregular polygons. 
         [0042]    For purposes of claim construction, the term rotatable seasoning measuring member includes the disc  40  depicted in the figures, however, the term should also be considered to include square, rectangular, elliptical or other planar bodies formed to have at least one void that can be filled with granules as described above. The rotatable seasoning member whether it is a disc, wheel, or other planar body, has an outer edge corresponding to a “circumference.” 
         [0043]    The hopper  12  is depicted in the figures as having substantially oval or “pie-shaped” elongated openings that are identified by reference numeral  38 . Alternate equivalent embodiments include a hopper having only a single elongated opening as well as one or more round, oval, rectangular or other shaped holes. For claim construction purposes, terms that identify hopper openings that allow granules to pass through should be construed to include all of the above. 
         [0044]    The screen  22  is depicted in the figures as having a hole pattern that is essentially the same. Alternate embodiments of the invention include screens having varying hole patterns as well as screens having different hole sizes. The dispensing holes  24  can also have more than one diameter. Different hole locations can also effectuate different granule distribution patterns, e.g., square, rectangular or circular granule distribution patterns. The term, “screen” should be construed to include at least all of the above alternate embodiments. 
         [0045]    The lands  26  depicted in the figures are un-perforated sections separating or between clusters or groups of through-holes  24 , however, in an alternate embodiment, the lands  26  are embodied as holes having much smaller diameters, i.e., holes too small for the nominal-sized granules in the hopper to pass through them. In yet another embodiment, the lands  26  are embodied as narrow slots, whose widths are too small for granules to fall through. For purposes of claim construction, the lands, should be construed to include not only the un-perforated areas shown in the figures but any other structure that does not allow at least the nominally-sized seasoning or seasoning granules to pass through the disc or other seasoning-measuring member, when it is being filled with granules from the hopper  12 . 
         [0046]    In a preferred embodiment, the return spring  30  is embodied as a flat or leaf-type spring. Alternate equivalent embodiments use a coil spring as well as a torsion spring and a constant-force spring to return the actuator  20  to its starting location. 
         [0047]    While the foregoing description is of a preferred embodiment, the invention should not be construed to be limited to that which is described above. The true scope of the invention is defined by the appurtenant claims.