Abstract:
A popcorn dispenser for use with a popcorn maker. The dispenser includes a hopper having two openings, the first opening larger than the second opening and sides tapering from the first opening to the second opening. A kernel catcher is located in the bottom of the dispenser adjacent to the second opening. There is a paddle wheel including a shaft and paddle blades below the kernel catcher. A turn dial is operationally coupled to the shaft so that when rotated, the shaft and paddle wheels rotate caused kernels in the hopper to be moved from the hopper to a bowl below the hopper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to the field of kettle popcorn makers and specifically, dispensers associated with such popcorn makers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a popcorn dispenser for use with a popcorn maker to allow popcorn to be easily moved to a bowl under the dispenser. The popcorn dispenser includes a hopper having two openings. The first opening is larger than the second opening and is closest to the mechanism used to make the popcorn. The hopper has sides tapering from the first opening to the second opening which is located above the bowl into which popcorn is moved by operation of a turn dial of the dispenser. The dispenser includes a kernel catcher disposed adjacent to the second opening for catching un-popped and partially popped kernels to prevent them from being moved from the hopper to the bowl. A paddle wheel including a shaft and paddle blades is located below the kernel catcher. The turn dial operationally is coupled to the shaft and configured, when rotated, to rotate the shaft. Preferably, there is a gear mechanism including a first gear coupled to the shaft and a second gear operationally coupled to the first gear and to the turn dial. The paddle blades are configured so that when in a fixed position, popped kernels are prevented from being discharged from the hopper. However, when rotated, the paddle blades allow popped kernels to be moved from the hopper to the bowl. 
     The dispenser is for use with a popcorn machine such as a kettle popper. The popcorn dispenser is located below the kettle and positioned so that popcorn made by the kettle falls into the hopper. When the paddle wheels are rotated, the popcorn is moved from the dispenser to the bowl positioned below the popcorn dispenser. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top, side perspective view of the invented popcorn dispenser. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation partial cutaway view showing a detailed view of a turn dial, gear mechanism and paddle wheel elements of the invented popcorn dispenser. 
         FIG. 3  is a top, side perspective partial cutaway view showing the kernel catcher mechanism of the invented popcorn dispenser. 
         FIG. 4  is a front, side perspective view showing the invented popcorn dispenser installed as part of a complete popcorn maker. 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view showing the paddle wheel of the invented popcorn dispenser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the invented popcorn dispenser  11  includes a hopper  13 , kernel catcher  15 , turn dial  17 , gear mechanism  19  and paddle wheel  21 . 
     In operation, the invented popcorn dispenser  11  is used in conjunction with a popcorn maker of the type shown in  FIG. 4 . As popcorn is produced by the popcorn maker, the popcorn, and un-popped, or partially popped kernels fall into hopper  13 . 
     Due to the presence of paddle wheel  21 , popcorn and any un-popped kernels tend to accumulate in hopper  13  which should be sized so as to hold at least one full batch of popcorn being popped. 
     When it is desired to remove popcorn from the dispenser  13 , turn dial  17  is rotated which, by operation of gears inside gear mechanism  19  cause paddle wheel  21  to rotate thereby enabling popped kernels to be moved from dispenser  13  into a bowl (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) which are then removed from the popcorn maker. Kernel catcher  15  includes slots  15   a  which are sized so that a fully popped kernel is too large to fit inside one of the slots  15   a , but un-popped kernels, or partially popped kernels are captured by slots  15   a  at the time kernels are being moved from dispenser  13  to the bowl by operation of turn dial  17 . That is, any particles which are smaller than a fully popped kernel such as oil or other particles resulting from operation of the popcorn machine as well as un-popped/partially popped kernels are captured by slots  15   a  as the popcorn moves from hopper  13  by rotation of paddle wheel  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , hopper  13  includes a relatively wide opening at one end for receiving popcorn produced by the popcorn machine. The other end is a relatively narrow opening with the two ends connected by tapered sides which taper from the large opening at one end to the smaller opening at the other end. In this manner, popcorn from a popcorn popper falls into hopper  13 , and is held in the hopper until turn dial  17  is rotated which causes the blades of the paddle wheel to rotate which in turn cause popcorn to be removed from hopper  13  and fall into the bowl below the paddle wheel blades. The taper of the hopper causes popcorn in hopper  13  to fall by gravity down to the smaller end at the bottom side of the hopper. Due to their smaller size, un-popped and partially popped kernels tend to accumulate along the sides of dispenser  13  so that as popcorn is removed from the dispenser the un-popped and partially popped kernels fall into the slots  15   a  of kernel catcher  15  since slot  15   a  is sized to be too small to hold fully popped popcorn. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , gear mechanism  19  is connected to the dispenser by paddle wheel shaft  27  which connects the gear mechanism to paddle wheel blades  29 . Dispenser  13  includes a flange  13   a  which extends from its bottom and includes a mechanism for holding shaft  27  in place which in turn holds gear mechanism  19  in place relative to dispenser paddle blades  29 . The specifics of the connection of the shaft to flange  13   a  are not important for a proper understanding of the invention. 
     As turn dial  17  is manually rotated, it causes gear  23  to rotate in the same direction that turn dial  17  rotates. Gear  23  in turn engages gear  25  causing gear  25  to rotate in the opposite direction. As gear  25  rotates, shaft  27  which is connected to gear  25  in turn rotates thereby causing blades  29  to rotate as well. Of course, gear  23  can be sized to have a diameter smaller than that of gear  25  which would cause gear  25  to rotate at a slower speed than gear  23 , but provide more torque. Similarly, gear  23  can be sized so as to have a diameter larger than gear  25  which would cause gear  25  to rotate at a faster speed, but with less torque. Additionally, internal gearing (not shown) enables turn dial  17  to be off set from the axis of rotation of gear  23 . The specifics of the gear mechanism, and various diameter ratios are not important to an understanding of the invention, and are well within the abilities of persons having ordinary skill in the art to determine the best gear sizes and ratios. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , further details regarding kernel catcher  15  will be described. As shown, kernel catcher  15  includes a ring of slots  15   a  which encircle the kernel catcher. Each slot  15   a  includes a back wall  15   b , side walls  15   c  and small raised lip  15   d . Kernel catcher  15  fits into a recessed area in the bottom of hopper  13  and is removable for cleaning. Although illustrated as forming a circular-shaped opening surrounded by the ring of slots  15   a , other shapes may be used to form the opening. For example, a square or rectangular shaped opening as part of the tapering sides of the hopper may be used. 
     As previously noted, sidewalls  15   c  are arranged so that each slot  15   a  is sized so that fully popped kernels cannot fit into slot  15   a . Each slot  15   a  includes a back wall  15   b  and sidewalls  15   c . Un-popped, and partially popped kernels as well as other debris will tend to be captured by slots  15   a  as paddle wheel blades  29  rotate. As un-popped or partially popped kernels fall into slots  15   a , raised lips  15   d  prevent the captured particles from moving from slot  15   a  onto paddle wheel blades  29 . Of course, as slots  15   a  become filled with un-popped kernels and the like, once a slot  15   a  is full, it will no longer be able to capture additional debris. Thus, kernel catcher  15  is easily removable for cleaning purposes. 
       FIG. 4  shows the invented popcorn dispenser  11  installed in a popcorn maker  31 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a self-standing bowl or bucket  33  is below the popcorn dispenser to receive popcorn dispensed by the dispenser when turn dial  17  is rotated. The popcorn maker includes a stand  35  having three sides for supporting the popcorn making mechanism. The popcorn making mechanism includes a kettle  37 , turn handle  39  and door  41 . Although not important for an understanding of the invention, popcorn maker  31  operates in a manner well known in the art in that when door  41  is opened, handle  39  is rotated so as to facilitate the loading of kettle  37  with popcorn kernels. After kettle  37  is loaded with kernels, door  41  is closed, the kettle is returned to its operating position as shown in  FIG. 4 , and the machine is turned on so that popcorn is produced. As the popcorn is produced, it falls into hopper  13  so that popcorn can be dispensed by rotating dial  17  as described above. 
     Further details regarding paddle wheel  21  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . A set of half-moon shaped paddles  29  made of a flexible material such as silicone are installed on shaft  27 . The size and shape of the flexible material is such that when the wheel is in a stationary position, popcorn accumulates in hopper  13 . Popcorn continues to accumulate until such time that it is desired to dispense some of the popcorn from hopper  13  into bowl  33  shown in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , as turn dial  17  is rotated, gear  23  which is connected to dial  17  rotates. The teeth of gear  23  engage the teeth of gear  25  which in turn is coupled to shaft  27  of paddle wheel  21 . Although gear mechanism  19  is not necessary since turn dial  17  could be coupled directly to shaft  21 , gear mechanism  19  is provided so that the position of turn dial  17  is in a more convenient position for operating the dispenser when in use.