Abstract:
A dispensing system comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a channel, and a slide mechanism configured to extend through the channel, where the slide mechanism comprises a first end configured to extend out of a first opening of the channel, a second end that having at least one stop component and being configured to extend out of the second opening of the channel, and a plurality of volume chambers configured to be at least partially accessible to the inlet opening of the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/207,732, filed on Feb. 13, 2009, and entitled “Bottomless Drawer, Variable Measuring, Dry Flowable Material Quick Pull Dispenser”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to dispensing systems. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems for measuring and dispensing particulate materials, such as food based grains, powders and the like. 
         [0003]    For years people have struggled measuring spices, flour and sugars from their storage containers using measuring spoons and cups. Common problems are contamination and cross contamination that may occur when a person digs a spoon or cup into a sugar or spice container and something falls from their hand into the container such as a hair or dead skin cells or when the same spoon or cup is used with different spice containers and not properly washed in between. 
         [0004]    Another problem with current measuring practices is that it takes a lot of time to scoop and properly level a spoon or cup and in some restaurants it takes time just to locate the spoon or cup or wait for another employee to be done using it. As such, there is an ongoing need for systems and methods for dispensing particulate materials. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a dispensing system that includes a housing configured to engage with a storage container, and a slide mechanism. The housing includes an inlet opening configured to receive particulate materials from the storage container, and a channel extending through the housing and having opposing openings, the channel being accessible to the inlet opening at a location between the opposing ends. The slide mechanism includes a first end configured to extend out of a first opening of the channel, and a second end having at least one stop component, and being configured to extend out of the second opening of the channel. The slide mechanism also includes a plurality of volume chambers extending through the slide mechanism between the first end and the second end, and configured to be at least partially accessible to the inlet opening of the housing. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a dispensing system that includes a housing and a slide mechanism. The housing includes an inlet opening configured to engage with a storage container, and a channel extending through the housing and having opposing openings, where the channel is accessible to the inlet opening at a location between the opposing ends. The slide mechanism includes a first end configured to extend out of a first opening of the channel and further configured to hingedly fold, and at least one stop component configured to extend out of a second opening of the channel and further configured to restrict a range of motion of the slide mechanism within the channel. The slide mechanism also includes a plurality of volume chambers extending through the slide mechanism between the first end and the at least on stop component, and configured to be at least partially accessible to the inlet opening of the housing. The slide mechanism further includes an option switch configured to further restrict the range of motion of the slide mechanism within the channel when the option switch is actuated. 
         [0007]    A further aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method of operating a dispensing system. The method includes at least partially filling a plurality of volume chambers of a slide mechanism of the dispensing system with a material from a storage container engaged with a housing of the dispensing system, where each of the plurality of volume chambers has a different volume. The method also includes actuating an option switch of the slide mechanism, moving the slide mechanism through a channel of the housing such that at least one of the volume chambers exits the channel, restricting the movement of the slide mechanism through the channel to a range defined in part by the actuated option switch, and dispensing the material from the at least one volume chamber that exited the channel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a bottom rear perspective view of a dispensing system of the present disclosure in use with a container. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a bottom front perspective view of the dispensing system in use with the container. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a housing of the dispensing system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a bottom rear perspective view of a hinged slide mechanism of the dispensing system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present disclosure is directed to a system configured to dispense predetermined volumes of particulate materials (e.g., a one-cup dose) with the pull of a handle, and may change to smaller volumes with the flip of a switch. The system may be designed to fit larger restaurant sold spice containers, and may also be useful in other applications, such as for dispensing flour or sugar in a bakery or pizza shop. For example, the system may be used with most commercially available, spice-based containers. As such, the system effectively replaces standard spice container caps with an arrangement that measures and dispenses the spices directly from the container while compromising little space and sealing the spice container when stored. Smaller embodiments of this system may include tablespoon and/or teaspoon versions, which may change to dispense smaller volumes with the flip of a switch, and are suitable for measuring from spice containers in residential locations. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  is a dispensing system for measuring and dispensing materials, such as particulate matter, from storage containers, such as container  12 . System  10  includes housing  14  and hinged slide mechanism  16 , where hinged slide mechanism  16  is configured to extend through housing  14 . Housing  14  and hinged slide mechanism  16  may each be fabricated from one or more plastic materials (e.g., thermoplastic materials) and/or metallic materials. Housing  14  is configured to engage a container, such as container  12 , by attachment threads, which are engagements of the housing  14  and are configured to be engaged with reciprocating thread engagements of container  12 . This allows housing  14  to be secured to container  12 . As discussed below, housing  14  has a material filling opening which allows material to pass through from container  12  to hinged slide mechanism  16 . 
         [0014]    Hinged slide mechanism  16  includes rear portion  18  and front portion  20  hingedly connected with hinge  22 . Rear portion  18  includes rear stoppers  24  and option switches  26  and  28 , and front portion  20  includes front stoppers  30  and handle  32 . This arrangement allows hinged slide mechanism  16  to glide through housing  14 , when pulled or pushed by handle  32 , and limits the movement of hinged slide mechanism  16  to a range between rear stoppers  24  and front stoppers  30 . 
         [0015]    As discussed below, hinged slide mechanism  16  functions as a divided measuring cup that may be filled with material from container  12  through housing  14 . Rear portion  18  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a folded orientation for storage. In this orientation, material from container  10  may fall into hinged slide mechanism  16 , as discussed below. During use, a user may then pivot rear portion  18  downward around hinge  22 , as illustrated by arrow  34 , until rear portion  18  is substantially planar with front portion  20 . The user may then pull handle  32  in the direction of arrow  36  to pull hinged slide mechanism  16  through housing  14 , thereby allowing the material to fall by gravity through a open bottom in hinged slide mechanism  16 . 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when rear portion  18  is substantially planar with front portion  20 , and hinged slide mechanism  16  is pulled through housing  14  in the direction of arrow  36 , divided compartment  38  of front portion  20  extends out of housing  14 . Divided compartment  38  is configured to transfer material from container  12 , through housing  14 , and into an intended destination when pulled by handle  32  in the direction of arrow  36 . In the shown embodiment, divided compartment  34  includes volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  (volume chamber  44  shown in  FIG. 4 ), which have an open top (not shown) at a top surface of hinged slide mechanism  16  (not shown) for receiving material from container  12 , and bottom openings, as shown in  FIG. 2 , for dispensing by gravity. 
         [0017]    As discussed below, after the material is dispensed from volume chambers  40  and  42 , the user may then push hinged slide mechanism  16  back through housing  14 , in the direction of arrow  38 , with the use of handle  32 . In the inserted state, additional amounts of the material may fall into volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and/or  44  for additional dispensing operations. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , housing  14  also includes attachment threads  46 , material filling opening  48 , slide containment channel  50 , and stabilizing recess  52 . Attachment threads  46  are thread engagements of housing  14 , located at material filling opening  48 , and are configured to be engaged with reciprocating thread engagements of container  12  (not shown). This arrangement allows housing  14  to be removably secured to container  12 . In alternative embodiments, housing  14  may be removably secured to storage containers (e.g., container  12 ) with the use of a variety of different engagement mechanisms. 
         [0019]    Material filling opening  48  is an opening in housing  14  through which materials may pass from storage container  12  into slide containment channel  50 , and vice versa if system  10  and container  12  are flipped upside down. Slide containment channel  50  is an opening into housing  14  that surrounds and retains hinged slide mechanism  16  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). This allows hinged slide mechanism  16  to deliver the materials in measured quantities from material filling opening  48  through slide containment channel  50  into a desired destination. 
         [0020]    Stabilizing recess  52  in slide containment channel  50  is a track that runs lengthwise through slide containment channel  50  and helps to stabilize hinged slide mechanism  16  when system  10  is in use. The purpose of stabilizing recess  52  is to keep a flat slide of hinged slide mechanism  16  tight against the bottom perimeter of material filling opening  48  when divided compartment  38  is being pulled from beneath material filling opening  48  for dispensing. This prevents material from falling into slide containment channel  50 , outside of divided compartment  38 . While shown as a rectangular opening that extends through housing  14 , slide containment channel  50  may alternatively exhibit a variety of geometries to engage with hinged slide mechanisms having a variety of different reciprocating geometries. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , hinged slide mechanism  16  includes flat slide  54 , which is configured to be received in stabilizing recess  52  of housing  14  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), thereby providing a barrier for blocking materials from entering slide containment channel  50  below hinged slide mechanism  16 . 
         [0022]    Volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  desirably have different predetermined volumes from each other, thereby allowing different volumes of the materials to be dispensed. For example, the combined volumes of volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  may equal about one volumetric cup. Thus, if one volumetric cup of the material from storage container  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is desired, a user may pull handle  32  until rear stoppers  24  of hinged slide mechanism  16  contact housing  14 , thereby extending volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  out of slide stabilizing channel  50  and dispensing the material through the open bottoms of volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  via gravity. 
         [0023]    If multiple volumetric cups are desired, the user may push handle  32  inward until front stoppers  30  of hinged slide mechanism  16  contact housing  14 , thereby preventing hinged slide mechanism  16  from moving further. This places volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  beneath material filling opening  48 , which allows the material from container  12  to refill volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44 , thereby enabling another volumetric cup of the material to be dispensed. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, volume chamber  40  has a volume of about one-quarter (¼) of a cup, volume chamber  42  has a volume of about one-twelfth ( 1/12) of a cup, and volume chamber  44  has a volume of about two-thirds (⅔) of a cup. This allows about one cup to be dispensed when volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  are extended out of slide stabilizing channel  50 . Additionally, this combination allows smaller increments, such as about one-quarter (¼) of a cup, about one-half (½) of a cup, about three-fourths (¾) of a cup, about one-third (⅓) of a cup, and about two-thirds (⅔) of a cup of the materials to be selectively dispensed. 
         [0025]    In the shown embodiment, volume chamber  42  has shorter lateral dimensions relative to volume chambers  40  and  44 . If volume chamber  42  were otherwise as long laterally as volume chambers  40  and  44 , volume chamber  42  would require thin longitudinal dimensions, which may restrict the material from entering volume chamber  42 . 
         [0026]    Accordingly, system  10  may dispense a full volumetric cup of material at one time. Additionally, system  10  may also dispense smaller increments of the materials with the use of option switches  26  and  28 , which may function in the same manner as rear stoppers  24  when actuated. For example, when dispensing volumes in increments of the volume of volume chamber  40 , such as increments of about one-quarter (¼) of a cup, a user may actuate option switch  26  by sliding option switch  26  until it extends past flat slide  54 . 
         [0027]    Using the same above-discussed dispensing steps, the user may pull handle  32  until option switch  26  contacts housing  14 . This results in only volume chamber  40  being capable of extending out of slide containment channel  50  for dispensing material (e.g., for dispensing about one-quarter (¼) of a cup). This process may also be repeated for dispensing additional increments of the volume of volume chamber  40  (e.g., for dispensing about one-half (½) of a cup, about three-fourths (¾) of a cup, and the like). 
         [0028]    Alternatively, when dispensing volumes in increments of the combined volumes of volume chambers  40  and  42  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the user may actuate option switch  28  by sliding option switch  28  until it extends past flat slide  54 . In this example, option switch  26  is desirably in its retracted state. Accordingly, using the same above-discussed dispensing steps, the user may pull handle  32  until option switch  28  contacts housing  14 . This results in only the combined volumes of volume chambers  40  and  42  being capable of extending out of slide containment channel  50  for dispensing material (e.g., for dispensing about one-third (⅓) of a cup). This process may also be repeated for dispensing additional increments of the combined volumes of volume chambers  40  and  42  (e.g., for dispensing about two-thirds (⅔) of a cup, and the like). 
         [0029]    Accordingly, the locations of option switches  26  and  28  relative to rear stoppers  24  are desirably about the same as the relative locations of volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44 , thereby allowing volume chambers  40  and  42  to be selected independently from each other and from volume chamber  44 . This arrangement allows system  10  to be used to dispense a variety of volumetric combinations. The above-discussed volumes for volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  are examples of suitable volumes that system  10  may be configured to dispense. However, in alternative embodiments, volume chambers  40 ,  42 , and  44  may include different volumes from those discussed above. 
         [0030]    Furthermore, in additional alternative embodiments, divided compartment  38  may include additional numbers of volume chambers, as particular dispensing needs may dictate. Examples of suitable numbers of volume chambers for use with system  10  range from two to ten, with particularly suitable numbers ranging from three to five. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, rear stoppers  24  and/or front stoppers  30  may be removable and/or derived from one or more flexible materials, thereby allowing hinged slide mechanism  16  to be removed from housing  14  (e.g., for cleaning purposes). Additionally, as discussed above, hinged slide mechanism  16  includes hinge  22 , which enables hinged slide mechanism  16  to be folded against a storage container  12  and housing  14  when system  10  is not in use (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1 ). As discussed above, the use of housing  14  and hinged slide mechanism  16  allows predetermined volumes of materials to be readily dispensed, and sealed in a storage container  12  when not in use. Furthermore, in some embodiments, hinged slide mechanism  16  may be moved in the directions of arrows  36  and  28  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) under motorized power. For example, hinged slide mechanism  16  may be operated with a computer-controlled motor, which may direct the movement of hinged slide mechanism  16  through slide containment channel  50  of housing  14 . 
         [0032]    Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to several embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.