Abstract:
A two-part dispenser for attachment to the bottom of a cylindrical container for dispensing a pre-calibrated amount of powdered or granular product from the container by twisting or rotating one part of the dispenser with respect to the container. The dispenser comprises a generally cup-shaped member adapted to engage the bottom of the container in fixed relationship therewith and a chambered member that fits within the cup-shaped member and can be rotated with respect to the cup-shaped member to dispense product.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This patent relates to a device for dispensing powdered or granular product. More particularly, this patent relates to a two-piece device that can dispense a pre-calibrated amount of powdered or granular product by twisting or rotating one piece with respect to the other piece. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many powdered or granular products are sold in paperboard containers having metal or plastic bottoms and removable metal or plastic lids. Typically the powdered or granular product is removed from the container with a spoon or scoop after the lid has been entirely or partly removed. Many scoops have been designed to hold a predetermined volume of material to allow the consumer to use the proper amount of product. Often the scoop is stored inside the container. 
     A disadvantage of such containers is that the lid has to be at least partly removed, which exposes the product to ambient air, which can cause the product to deteriorate. While many such containers are equipped with an inner seal to prevent exposure during shipping and handling, the inner seal is removed before the first use and not replaced. 
     Moreover, removing the lid can cause contaminates to fall into the product from the air. Contaminates can also be introduced into the product from the consumer&#39;s fingers while “searching” for the scoop buried under the product. 
     Another disadvantage of such containers is that product can be spilled while using the scoop to transfer the product from the container to a vessel for use. Multiple transfers, such as might be required when using several teaspoons of product, increase the chances of spillage. 
     Other containers for products such as salt, pepper or spices usually do not incorporate any means of dispensing a premeasured amount of the product. Instead, the product is usually poured, sifted or removed with a spoon. In each case a secondary device must be used to measure the desired amount. Again, transferring the product can cause spillage. 
     Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can dispense a pre-calibrated amount of powdered or granular product from a container by twisting or rotating one part of the device with respect to the container. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a container for dispensing product in which the lid need not be removed. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container that does not require a scoop or other measuring device to remove product. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device that attaches to the bottom of a container. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device for a container that dispenses product without inverting the container. 
     Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a two-part dispenser for use with an open bottom container for dispensing a precalibrated amount of powdered or granular product from the container by twisting or rotating one part of the dispenser with respect to the part of the dispenser fixedly attached to the container. The dispenser comprises a generally cup-shaped member adapted to engage the bottom of the container in fixed relationship therewith and a chambered member that fits within the cup-shaped member and can be rotated with respect to the cup-shaped member to dispense product. 
     The cup-shaped member is so-named because it resembles an inverted cup, having a substantially planar top and a sidewall extending downward from the periphery of the planar top. The planar top becomes the bottom of the container when the cup-shaped member is installed. The cup-shaped member has one dispensing opening located in the sidewall and a number of fill openings located in the planar top, the number of fill openings corresponding to the number of chambers located in the chambered member. 
     The chambered member has a top, a bottom and a sidewall connecting the top and bottom, all of which define a cavity. Preferably the cavity is divided into at least two chambers by internal walls, each chamber having a defined volume, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon. Each chamber has a fill opening in the chambered member top corresponding to an opening in the cup-shaped member such that when the chambered member fill openings are aligned with the cup-shaped member fill openings product is transferred from the container to the chambers. 
     Each chamber also has an outlet opening in the chambered member sidewall. The chamber outlet openings are arranged such that when any one chamber outlet opening is aligned with the cup-shaped member outlet opening the fill openings are not aligned. This arrangement allows for the controlled dispensing of powdered product located in the desired chamber. Preferably, the chambered member has a recessed handle integrally formed with the chambered member bottom for easy rotation of the chambered member. 
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a twist bottom dispenser according to the present invention attached to a cylindrical container, the dispenser shown in the FILL position; 
     FIG. 2 is a top perspective exploded view of the twist bottom dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective exploded view of the twist bottom dispenser and container of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a horizontal cutaway view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1 showing the dispenser in the FILL position; 
     FIG. 5 is a horizontal cutaway view of the twist bottom dispenser of FIG. 1 shown in the DISPENSING position; 
     FIG. 6 is a horizontal cutaway view of the twist bottom dispenser of FIG. 1 shown in the CLOSED position; 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical cutaway view taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of the twist bottom dispenser. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 one embodiment of the present invention, a two-part molded plastic twist bottom dispenser  10  for use with an open bottom cylindrical container body  12 . The dispensing bottom  10  is attached to the container body  12  by friction fit, adhesive or any other suitable means. 
     The dispensing bottom  10  has two parts, a cup-shaped member  20  and a chambered member  30 . The cup-shaped member  20  and the chambered member  30  form a snap fit with each other. The cup-shaped member  20  is affixed to the container body  12  and is held stationary with respect to the container body  12 . The chambered member  30  is rotatable relative to the cup-shaped member  20 , preferably with the aid of a recessed handle  46  (FIGS. 3-6) integrally formed with the chambered member  30 . 
     The cup-shaped member  20  has a substantially planar top  22  and a peripheral skirt or sidewall  23  extending downward therefrom. The planar top  22  serves as the bottom of the container and has at least one hole (preferably two) disposed therein to allow product to flow into the chambered member  30  when the hole is aligned with a corresponding hole in the chambered member  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cup-shaped member  20  has two fill holes  24 ,  25  which, when the twist bottom dispenser is in the FILL position (FIG. 4) align with corresponding fill holes  34 ,  35  in the chambered member  30 . 
     The cup-shaped member  20  also has a single side opening  26  disposed in its sidewall  23 . As explained below, this side opening  26  allows product to be dispensed when the opening  26  is aligned with one of the side openings in the chambered member  30 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 7, the cup-shaped member  20  also has a ridge  29  formed around the lower periphery of the sidewall  23  on the inside (the side toward the chambered member  30 ). The diameter of the circular opening defined by the ridge  29  is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the chambered member sidewall  32 . However, the cup-shaped member sidewall  23  is sufficiently resilient so that when the chambered member  30  is inserted inside the cup-shaped member  20  the sidewall expands to accommodate the larger-diameter chambered member  30 , then contracts to its original shape, thereby holding the chambered member  30  inside the cup-shaped member, as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The cup-shaped member  20  also has an optional hollow rivet housing  28  mounted at the center of the planar top  22  and preferably formed integrally therewith (FIGS.  2  and  7 ). In the assembled dispenser  10  an optional rivet  38  mounted on top of the chambered member  30  snaps inside the rivet housing  28  to help hold the two components together in rotatable fashion. 
     The outer diameter of the cup-shaped member sidewall  23  is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the container body  12  so as to provide the container assembly with a smooth outer contour. The cup-shaped member planar top  22 , however, has a diameter approximating that of the inner diameter of the container body  12  so that the planar top  22  fits snugly inside the container body  12 . The top of the sidewall  23  forms an annular shoulder  21  which engages the bottom rim  13  of the container body in the assembled container. 
     The cup shaped member  20  may be affixed to the container body  12  in a number of ways. For example, adhesive may be used to affix the shoulder  21  to the container body rim  13  (and to affix the periphery of the planar top  22  to the container body  12 ). Alternatively or in addition to the adhesive, the twist bottom dispenser  10  and container body  12  may be held together with a friction fit. In another embodiment, the cup shaped member  20  is made of heat sealable plastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) and the container body  12  is coated or lined with HDPE. The cup shaped member  20  may then be heat sealed to the container body coating or liner at the shoulder  21  and/or the periphery of the planar top  22 . 
     The chambered member  30  has a substantially planar top  31 , a peripheral sidewall  32  extending downward from the planar top  31 , and a central cylindrical hub  33  extending downward from the center of the planar top  31 . A groove  40  located near the bottom of the sidewall  32  on the inside accommodates a circular disk  50  in snap fit fashion which serves as the bottom of the chambered member  30 . 
     The hub  33  has a resilient outwardly extending annular ridge  39  near its base (FIG. 7) which helps hold the circular disk  50  in place. The circular disk  50  has a central opening  52  (FIG. 3) which allows the disk  50  to snap over the hub ridge  39  and fit snugly around the central hub  33 . 
     The chambered member top  31 , sidewall  32  and bottom disk  50  together define a cavity. A plurality of interior walls  42  extending radially from the central hub  33  to the sidewall  32  divide the cavity into two or more chambers or compartments having predetermined volumes. For example, in the illustrated embodiment chamber (T) has a volume equivalent to a tablespoon and chamber (t) has a volume equivalent to a teaspoon. 
     As already explained, the chambered member  30  has a hole located in the planar top  31  over each chamber and an opening located along that part of the sidewall  32  defining each chamber. Thus, the teaspoon chamber (t) has a hole  34  located above the chamber (t) and an opening  36  located in the sidewall forming part of the teaspoon chamber (t), and the tablespoon chamber (T) has a hole  35  on top and an  25  opening  37  in the sidewall forming part of the tablespoon chamber (T). As will be explained, the side openings are used to dispense product. 
     The twist bottom dispenser  10  may be assembled by first snapping into place the circular disk  50  into the groove  40  to create the chambered member  30 . Next, the chambered member  30  may be inserted into the cup-shaped member  20  until the chambered member  30  is locked in place by the ridge  29  on the cup-shaped member  20  and the chambered member center rivet  38  is forced inside the rivet housing  28  on top of the chambered member  30 . When the chambered member  30  is fully inserted into the cup-shaped member  20  the tops of each are in abutting relationship. Finally, the assembled dispenser may be affixed to the container cylindrical body  12 . An optional piece of recloseable tape or other cover means (not shown) with barrier properties to air and moisture may be placed over the dispenser sidewall opening  26 . 
     The twist bottom dispenser  10  may be used in the following manner. First, the user twists or rotates the chambered member  30  with respect to the cup-shaped member  20  until the holes above the chambers are aligned with the corresponding holes in the cup-shaped member  20 . This is typically accomplished by grasping the container body  12  with one hand and turning the chambered member  30  with the other hand using the recessed handle  46  until some indicia, such as the word FILL, appears in side opening  26  of the cup-shaped member  20 . This allows product to flow into the chambers. 
     Next, the user further rotates the chambered member  30  until the appropriate sidewall opening in the chambered member  30  and the sidewall opening  26  in the cup-shaped member  20  align. By tilting the container so that the aligned side openings are facing downward the desired amount of product can be dispensed. Thus the consumer can hold the container directly over a cooking container or a plate, turn the handle or otherwise rotate the chambered member  30  once to fill and a second time to dispense a premeasured amount of product without the need for measuring spoons or other external means of measurement. 
     For example, beginning with the twist bottom dispenser  10  in the closed position (FIG.  6 ), a teaspoon of product can be dispensed by turning the chambered member approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise (as viewed from below) until the fill holes are aligned (FIG.  4 ), then turning the chambered member  30  approximately 30-45 degrees clockwise until the side opening  36  in the teaspoon chamber (t) is aligned with the side opening  26  in the cup-shaped member (FIG. 5) and tilting the container until product is dispensed. 
     Likewise, beginning at the closed position shown in FIG. 6, a tablespoon of product can be dispensed by  25  rotating the chambered member  30  clockwise approximately 90 degrees until the fill holes align, then further clockwise approximately 135 degrees until the side opening in the tablespoon chamber is aligned with the side opening in the cup-shaped member (not shown). Significantly, when product is filling the chambers, neither of the openings  36 ,  37  in the sidewall of the chambered member is aligned with the opening  26  in the sidewall of the cup-shaped member, thus preventing product from spilling inadvertently. 
     Having the dispensing openings  36 ,  37  in the chambered member sidewall  32  instead of the bottom is a key aspect of the invention because it eliminates the need for a third structural member to block the dispensing openings during the fill step. 
     An optional feature is the placement of a detent  27  on the cup-shaped member sidewall  23  and a second corresponding detent  47  on the chambered member sidewall  32 . When the twist bottom dispenser  10  is in the closed position (FIG. 6) the detentes fit together to prevent accidental turning of the chambered member  30  and thus accidental spilling of product. 
     In another optional modification the fill holes  24 ,  25  located on the cup-shaped member are configured such that only one fill hole at a time is aligned with a fill hole in the chambered member. In this configuration, only one chamber is filled at a time. 
     In another anticipated modification the cup-shaped member  20  has only one fill hole, and thus product can fill only one chamber at a time. 
     In still another anticipated modification the chambered member has three or more chambers, each having a distinct volume. The cup-shaped member may have one or more fill holes. 
     In still another modification of the present invention the chambered member has only a single chamber having a predetermined volume. In this embodiment there is only one set of fill holes and one set of sidewall openings. The sidewall openings and the fill holes do not both align at the same time. 
     In yet another modification, shown in FIG. 8, portions of the substantially planar top  22  of the cup-shaped member  20  are downwardly sloped toward the fill holes  25  so that product is guided to the holes. This modification is intended to make it easier to dispense product when the container is almost empty. 
     Other modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications that fall within their scope.