Abstract:
A bulk dispensing apparatus uses a number of storage units for dispensing granular food products, i.e. candy, coffee, sugar, food supplements, etc. Each storage unit has a discharge hole with a valve operatively connected to the hole. The valve is attached at a dispensing station above a catch basin, which catches the minimal spillage. By using a number of variously colored and flavored granular products, specifically candy, a creative, decorative, edible art form in a clear container is easily fashioned and saved.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of dispensing granular products, and more particularly, to devices for dispensing a user-determined amount of granular products stored in bulk in a plurality of individual, removable storage bottles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a unique apparatus for filling receptacles with granular products, which may flow from single source containers. Dispensing mechanisms have long been known. They range from open containers that are common in bulk stores to coin-operated machines such as candy machines. Both of the above mentioned utilities are prone to contamination—especially the bulk container where the end users manipulate the product with a scoop. The handling of the food products by the public submits the enclosed product to contaminants. The gumball machine is much more difficult to sanitize than the bulk containers, but it is also a mechanically complex machine making it difficult to maintain for the personal user. For that reason, the end user can be deprived of any amusement, fun, and even candy from such dispensing machines. 
     The idea of candy art is similar to that referred to in Green, U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,746. That particular mechanism is used to create sand art. Candy art, although similar in idea, is much better because the kids have art they can eat. This mechanism is interactive, involving the users&#39; creativity, imagination, and playfulness. It brings back a sense of nostalgia for adult users similar to other powder products that have been around for years. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a granular products dispenser that is easy, fun, user-friendly, owner-friendly, interactive, and that amuses the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful apparatus for filling receptacles or containers with granular products is herein provided. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an easy, clean, fun, and entertaining way to dispense granular products. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide controlled flow of the granular products, thereby reducing waste. 
     These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the use of a plurality of storage containers for the granular product, a discharge orifice and a valve connected to the orifice for each container. The present invention provides a bulk dispensing apparatus for dispensing user-determined amounts of granular products stored in bulk in a plurality of individual, removable storage bottles. Each bottle is connected to a dispensing mechanism containing a manually-operated valve. In non-dispensing mode a spring slide is relaxed, and in dispensing mode it is stressed. The valve is positioned such that the user-defined amount of product passes through the discharge orifice upon compression of the push shaft, which opens the valve. The dispensing apparatus is attached to a main body, from which the storage bottles can be quickly removed to sanitize. The main body is generally upright, and mounted to another surface, i.e. walls, tables, cabinets, mobile cart, storage case/cart, etc. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A granular products dispensing apparatus embodying the features of the present invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a five push button mechanism dispensing machine; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a five vertical dispense mechanism dispensing machine; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a five push button mechanism dispensing machine including the catch bin; 
     FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a five vertical dispense mechanism dispensing machine including the catch bin; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the dispensing machines. Shown is the vertical dispense mechanisms, but note the mechanisms are interchangeable therefore the exploded view of the push button mechanism would be the same. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the main frame of the dispensing machine and its relationship with the attachment of the dispensing mechanisms. 
     FIG. 5A is another exploded perspective view of the main frame of the dispensing machine and its relationship with the attachment of the mechanisms. 
     FIG. 6 are two side elevational views of the push button dispensing mechanism. 
     FIG. 6A are two bottom plan views of the push button dispensing mechanism showing the closed and open positions of this particular mechanism. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the vertical dispense mechanism in the closed position, with a bottle of granular material attached. 
     FIG. 7A is a side elevational view of the vertical dispense mechanism in the open position allowing the granular material to be dispensed. 
     FIG. 7B is an exploded side elevational view of the vertical dispense mechanism depicting the features of this mechanism and the necessary components needed for the use of this mechanism. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the FIGS. 1-7 for a clearer understanding of the invention, it may be seen that the invention contemplates a granular products dispensing apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a candy dispensing machine with round top  2  of the machine, bottom channel  41  of the top catch bin  15 , and dispensing mechanisms  11 ,  16 . Shown is the five transparent dispensing mechanism machine. Each mechanism has an inverted bottle  4  or container such that the open hole in the bottle is fitted into the large hole  11 A in the top of the dispensing mechanism. This bottle  4  is in a snug fit with the dispensing mechanism, and it shall be filled with granular and powdered products such as candy, gum, nutritional products or any similar edible granular product. The other end of the bottle or closed side is held in place by fitted piece  3 . This fitted piece  3  restricts movement of the bottle  4  and its non-intentional removal. Granular material flows from bottle  4  through dispenser by mechanism  11  or mechanism  16 . The end user typically will fill up some sort of receptacle, tube or container, by standing in front of a chosen dispensing mechanism  11 ,  16  and activating the dispenser as shown in FIGS. 6A,  7 , and  7 A. They may move from one dispensing mechanism to another choosing different colors or flavors of granular products. Spillage is caught by the removable catch bin  15 . The catch bin  15  attaches quickly and easily to the main frame by hole  23  and secured with screw  5  and can be removed for cleaning and emptying. Edible granular products removed from catch bin  15  are not re-used. 
     Displayed in FIGS. 3 and 3A are side views of five dispensing mechanism dispensing machines. Shown in FIG. 3 is push button dispensing mechanism  11 , and shown in FIG. 3A is vertical dispense mechanism  16 , mounting shaft  17  of mechanisms, removable grid  19  to clean catch bin  15  in place, insertion point  20  in the mainframe of the machine, and front surface  11  of catch bin  15 . Note that the user or owner of the machine will choose one of these two styles (push button mechanism, vertical dispense mechanism) of dispensing mechanisms for their machine. 
     Displayed in FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded side views of five dispensing mechanism dispensing machines. Catch bin  15  and the attachment end  40  of the catch bin  15  are formed for easy installation and removal from the bottom channel slots  23 . Bottom channel has numerous features important for the use of the dispensing machine and its relationship between the catch bin  15 , dispensing mechanism  11 ,  16 , mounting surface, and signage. The dispensing mechanisms are inserted into the hole opening  39  in the bottom front side of the bottom channel. A corresponding lip  21  to the hole opening  39  can be seen attached to the inside of the bottom channel. The relationship between the hole  39  and lip  21  keep the inserted piece  17  of FIG. 3 of the mechanism lined up perpendicular to the container  4  full of granular material. Once inserted in bottom channel, the dispensing mechanisms are held in place by the action of hinge piece  13  or similar holding plate attached on opposite side of slot  50 . Once hinged piece  13  is pressing up against support shaft  17 , the slide piece  44  with attached threaded piece  14  and adjustable clamping piece  12 , and  12 A is slid into gap on hinge piece  13 . Once slide piece  44  and threaded piece  14  are in gap, clamping piece  12  and  12 A is tightened against hinge piece  13 . In the tightened mode the dispensing mechanism is held firmly in place. 
     The top channel  25  has permanently attached curved pieces  43  and removable container end holders  3  of FIG.  1 . When dispensing mechanism is in place with attached container  4 , the container is held in the correct position and unable to be removed without removing the mechanism. Sign brackets in FIG. 1 are used to mount removable and optional signage from top of round top  43 . 
     Push Button Mechanism 
     FIGS. 6 and 6A show two sectional views of the push button dispensing mechanism  11 . FIG. 6A depicts a bottom view of push button mechanism in both a closed and an open position. The push button is held in the closed position by spring  27  and action between stop piece  28 , slot  17 A, pin  18 A in stop piece  28 , and screw  28 A in end of push piece  18 . In closed position, the spring  27  is held in place on one side by end of push piece  18  and screw  28 A attached near the end of push button going through slot  17 A in attached piece  17 . The spring  27  is held on its other side by stop  28  with pin  18 A. In the open position the push button  18  is depressed laterally compressing spring  27 , and shown in  27 A to full compression against stop  28 . When push button  18  is fully depressed, a through hole  18 B in push button  17  aligns with holes  11 A,  11 B,  11 C,  11 D in transparent material  11 . This action allows for granular product in bottle or container  4  to flow out of opening in transparent material  11 B. Attached piece  17  is a non-removable component. 
     Vertical Dispense Mechanism 
     FIGS. 7,  7 A and  7 B show sectional views of a vertical dispense mechanism  16 . This mechanism has similar attached piece  30  inserted in hole  16 C in transparent material  16 . This attached piece  30  is the same as  17  on the push button dispenser  11  except it functions without the slot  17 A. The transparent material  16  has five holes  16 A,  16 B,  16 C,  16 D, and  16 E. Two holes,  16 B and  16 E are perpendicular to the other three. These holes extend through the entire transparent piece  16  from top to bottom. The hole on the top of the piece  16 B opens large enough to accept the bottle  4  of granular material, from this point the hole is cone shaped to allow for gravity feed movement of dispensed granular material. The remainder of the hole  16 E is consistent in size and extends through the rest of the transparent material and out the bottom. 
     The first hole  16 D from the bottom is threaded to allow for a threaded piece  33  to be inserted into the hole at a pre-determined distance. Threaded piece  33  is used as stop for the vertical push piece  34 . The middle or second hole  16 C from the bottom extends less than one third the distance across the transparent piece. It accepts the permanently mounted attached piece  30 . The third or final hole  16 A on the back side of the transparent piece is the smallest hole and it extends crossways two thirds of the distance. Placed in this hole is rod  31 . Rod  31  holds the large side of conical spring  32 . This spring  32  is held in place under slight tension by stated rod  31  and vertical push piece  34 . The tension holding spring  32  in place also keeps the vertical push piece  34  in a closed position. 
     Dispenser  16  is activated by the user by the action of pushing upward on the vertical push piece  34  allowing angular holes  35  to be exposed in the larger area of the through hole  16 B. This action opens the valve and allows for product to flow through angular holes  35  and out straight through hole  16 E in the vertical push piece  34 . Vertical push piece&#39;s  34  movement in fully open/closed position is restricted by action of notch  36 B for closed position and threaded piece  33 . In open position bottom of notch  36 A is stopped by threaded piece  33 . FIG. 7A shows compression  38  of spring  32  and the release of granular product. 
     The present invention provides a bulk dispensing apparatus for dispensing a user-determined amount of granular product stored in bulk comprising storage bottles  4 , means for confining a supply of a flowable granular material, such as candy, coffee, nutritional supplements, sugars, drink mixes, for selective discharge, and means for controlling the release of the flowable product into a receptacle. The means for controlling the release of the flowable granular product includes a push mechanism  11  or a vertical dispense mechanism  16 . 
     The push mechanism  11  has a slide member  17  mounted for horizontal movement between a closed position and an open position. The slide member  17  has a perforate therethrough  18 B. The push mechanism  11  further comprises a transparent (pellucid) unit having a recess  11 A formed on an upper portion thereof and holes  11 C,  11 D,  11 B extending from the recess  11 A through the pellucid unit. The dispensing apparatus further comprises an entrant bottle  4  having a lower discharge opening, and.extending vertically above the slide member  18  and sliding adjacent the slide member  18  such that the discharge orifice is open by slide member  18  when the slide is displaced from its rest position. The entrant bottle  4  terminates within the recess  11 A of the pellucid unit, and allows for connecting the entrant bottle  4  to the confining means for providing a constant supply of flowable granular product. 
     The vertical dispense mechanism  16  comprises a slide member  34  mounted for vertical movement between a closed and an open position. The slide member  34  has an aperture therethrough. The vertical dispense mechanism  16  includes a pellucid unit having a recess  16 B formed on an upper portion thereof, and a hole  16 E extending from the recess  16 B through the pellucid unit. The dispensing apparatus further comprises an entrant bottle  4  having a lower discharge opening, and extending vertically above the slide member  34  and slightly adjacent the slide member  34  such that the discharge orifice is open by slide member  34  when the slide member is displaced from its rest position. The entrant bottle  4  terminates within the recess  16 B of the pellucid unit, and allows for connecting the entrant bottle  4  to the confining means for providing a constant supply of flowable granular product. 
     The dispensing apparatus further comprises a plurality of sections assembled on a shaft and main body of one of two dispensing styles. The means for conducting flowable granular products released from the bottle  4  through a pellucid unit to a receptacle or container comprises a tube spout. The slide member comprises an external shaft portion connected to the apparatus, whereby compression of the shaft opens the orifice of the apparatus to dispense granular products. The bulk dispensing apparatus may further comprise a removable bottle, which may be removed, disposed, and replaced with a refill. 
     The present invention relies on gravity to move or dispense granular products. Further, the apparatus may be attached to a main body, such as by means of a molded rubber gasket. The apparatus may also be attached to a main body by means of the sliding member clamping to the main body. The apparatus may also be unique to the shape of its gaskets and bottles. The main body of the present invention may further comprise a removable catch basin  15  for means of capturing spillage. Such catch basin  15  may be easily cleaned out and sanitized. 
     It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown is a preferred embodiment thereof and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope as defined in the following claims.