Spice rack

A spice rack comprising a housing and receptacles for holding spices. The receptacle holders are provided within the housing for receiving one of the receptacles. A selector is provided so that when selecting one of the receptacle holders from the selector, the selector moves a moveable access opening to be adjacent to the selected receptacle holder so that the receptacle in the selected receptacle holder can be removed from the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spice rack.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Spice racks are commonly used for storing a selection of spices for cooking. Known spice racks generally comprise a simple frame for receiving a number of jars, each jar holding a particular spice.

When looking for a particular spice to be used, it is usual to scan the labels of all of the jars looking for the one required. In a spice rack holding a large number of different spices, the location of the required spice is often not immediately apparent, particularly if the jars of spice have not been placed in the rack in any particular order.

The present invention relates to an improved spice rack including features for aiding the storage and location of spices contained in the rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a spice rack comprising:a housing;a plurality of receptacles for holding spices;a plurality of receptacle holders within the housing each for receiving one of the receptacles;a moveable access opening; anda selector;
wherein the selector is used to select one of the receptacle holders and the moveable access opening moves to be adjacent the selected receptacle holder such that the receptacle in the selected receptacle holder can be removed from the housing.

Preferably the spice rack further comprises:a receptacle identifier provided on each of the receptacles;a reader associated with each receptacle holder for reading the identifier of a receptacle within the receptacle holder; anda memory containing a list of spices, each receptacle identifier being associated in memory with one of said spices;
wherein when a receptacle is received in one of the receptacle holders the receptacle identifier is stored in memory associated with a receptacle holder identifier to identify the receptacle holder in which the receptacle has been received and selecting a spice from the list of spices on the selector causes the access opening to move adjacent the receptacle holder containing the receptacle associated with said selected spice.

In a preferred embodiment, the access opening is provided on a belt driveable by a drive motor such that the access opening aligns with one of the receptacle holders.

Preferably the housing includes an aperture in a front panel thereof and a portion of the belt is located adjacent the aperture such that the access opening is moveable to be aligned with one of the receptacle holders to allow the receptacle in that receptacle holder to be removed through the aperture.

The access opening is preferably moveable to be either aligned with the first end of one of the receptacle holders or to be out of alignment with the elongate aperture such that none of the receptacles is accessible.

In one embodiment, the aperture comprises an elongate aperture and the receptacle holders are arranged side by side within the housing such that the first ends thereof are all located adjacent the elongate aperture.

Preferably receptacles are received in the receptacle holders by sliding such that an upper end of the receptacle is located adjacent the first end of the receptacle holder and a lower end of the receptacle is located adjacent a second end of the receptacle holder remote from the first end.

In a preferred embodiment, the selector includes a display panel on which is displayed the list of spices available in the receptacles currently stored in the spice rack.

A communication port is preferably provided such that the spice rack can be connected to further spice racks via the communication port and one of the control panels may be used to select receptacles stored in any of the spice racks.

In one embodiment, the housing comprises a rectangular prism having an upper wall, a lower wall, a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls and the belt extends around the interior of the housing adjacent the front and rear walls and the first and second side walls.

In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle holders each comprises a frame having a pair of rails on opposed longitudinal such that a side of the receptacle is slid between the rails until the lower end of the receptacle is adjacent an end stop provided adjacent the second end of the frame.

The receptacle holders each preferably include an engagement mechanism to hold the receptacle when the receptacle is received into the receptacle holder.

In one embodiment, the receptacle holder further comprises:an engagement clip extending from the end stop including a resilient member to press against the end of the receptacle;a lug provided on the engagement clip to engage with a corresponding recess in a lower end of the receptacle; anda tab adjacent the first end of the frame;
wherein when the receptacle is inserted into the receptacle holder, the upper end of the receptacle is depressed downwardly to engage behind the tab adjacent the first end of the frame and pushing the upper end upwards to disengage it from the tab also disengages the lug from the recess in the lower end of the receptacle such that resilient member pushes the receptacle away from the end stop to protrude from the housing.

A bar member may provided including a plurality of engagement tabs located above each of the receptacle holders such that the engagement tabs engage with side surfaces of the receptacles on sides opposite the frame to aid in holding the receptacles in place in the receptacle holders.

Preferably one or more recipes lists are stored in memory, each recipe lists containing a list of the spices required for a particular recipe such that selection of the recipe list from the selector causes the access opening to move sequentially to be adjacent each of the receptacles containing spices from the recipe list.

Preferably a sensing device is provided adjacent each receptacle holder such that the sensing device can detect the level of spice contained within the receptacle in the receptacle holder.

In one embodiment, the sensing device comprises an emitter located on one side of the receptacle to direct a light beam through the receptacle and a light receiver on an opposite side of the receptacle positioned to receive the light beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a spice rack10for storing spices contained in a plurality of receptacles12. The spice rack10comprises a housing14including a plurality of receptacle holders16, each being for receiving one of the receptacles12.

The housing14is provided in the shape of a rectangular prism having an upper wall18, a lower wall19, a front wall20, a rear wall21and first and second side walls22and23. The housing14comprises a base member24, a top cover25and a front panel26. The base member24includes the lower wall19and the rear wall21. The top cover25includes the upper wall18and the first and second side walls22and23. The front panel26comprises the front wall20of the housing14.

A mounting bracket27is also provided for mounting the spice rack10. The mounting bracket27is securable to the underside of a horizontal surface and engages with the top cover25to support the spice rack10. The mounting bracket27may be secured, for example, to the underside of wall mounted cupboards commonly found in kitchens so that the spice rack10is secured about a kitchen countertop.

Each of the receptacles12comprises a body28and a cap30(as seen inFIG. 6). In the embodiment shown, the receptacles12are provided in a rectangular prism shape with the cap30on a longitudinal end thereof. The caps30each include a pivotable lid32that can be pivoted to cover a plurality of holes34in the cap30. The lid32can therefore be pivoted to an open position in order for the spices to be shaken from the holes34in a known manner. The holes34may further be provided in a pivotable portion35that can be opened (as shown inFIG. 6b) to provide a larger opening through which the spice can be accessed.

Each of the receptacle holders16comprises a frame38(as shown inFIG. 11) for receiving a single receptacle12. Each frame38is provided such that a receptacle12can be slid longitudinally into the frame from a first end40thereof towards a second end41thereof. The receptacle12is slid into the frame38with the lower end (being the end opposite the cap30) first. Each frame38comprises a rectangular plate having a pair of rails44on opposed longitudinal sides. A side of the receptacle12is slid between the rails44until the lower end of the receptacle is adjacent an end stop46provided adjacent the second end41of the frame38.

The receptacle holder16includes an engagement mechanism to hold the receptacle12when the receptacle is slid into the receptacle holder16. The receptacle holder16in the embodiment shown includes an engagement clip42adjacent the second end41. The engagement clip42is provided extending from the end stop46and includes a resilient member48to press against the end of the receptacle12. A lug50is also provided to engage with a corresponding recess in a lower end of the receptacle12such that the lug50engages with the recess to hold the receptacle in the frame38.

When the receptacle12is inserted into the receptacle holder16, the upper end of the receptacle12is also depressed downwardly to engage behind a tab52adjacent the first end40of the frame38. The receptacle12can be removed by pushing the upper end upwards to disengage it from the tab52. This motion also disengages the lug50from the recess in the lower end of the receptacle12. The resilient member48then flexes back and pushes the receptacle away from the end stop46such that the upper end thereof protrudes from the housing14so it may be grasped and removed.

A bar member53(as seen inFIG. 9) is also provided connected to the top cover25. The bar member53includes a plurality of engagement tabs55located above each of the receptacle holders16such that the engagement tabs55engage with side surfaces of the receptacles12on sides opposite the frame38to aid in holding the receptacles12in place in the receptacle holders16.

The receptacle holders16are arranged side by side within the housing14such that the first ends40thereof are all located adjacent the front panel26. The front panel26includes also an elongate aperture54adjacent the first ends40of the receptacle holders16such that receptacles12can be inserted into and removed from the receptacle holders16via the aperture54.

The housing14is provided with a moveable member having an access opening56. The moveable member is moveable such that the access opening56can be located adjacent the first end40of any of the receptacle holders16. The receptacle12provided within that receptacle holder16can then be removed through the access opening56while access to all other receptacle holders16is blocked by the moveable member.

The moveable member comprises a belt58. The belt58extends around rollers60provided adjacent each corner of the base member24, extending upwardly therefrom. The belt58thereby extends around the interior of the housing14adjacent the front and rear walls20and21and the first and second side walls22and23. A portion of the belt58therefore extends adjacent and behind the front panel26across the elongate aperture54.

The access opening56is moveable by driving of the belt58to move around the rollers60. The access opening56is moveable to be aligned with the first end40of any of the receptacle holders16(as shown inFIGS. 4band4c) or to be out of alignment with the elongate aperture54(as shown inFIG. 4a) such that none of the receptacles12is accessible. The belt58is moveable by means of a drive motor62provided to engage with the belt58so that the belt58can be driven in either direction around the rollers60by operation of the drive motor62. The drive motor62is secured in a motor mounting63secured to the base member24. A belt tensioner64is also provided to engage with the belt58and maintain the belt58under the appropriate tension.

The spice rack10is provided with a selector in communication with the drive motor62. The selector is provided to control movement of the belt58such that a particular receptacle holder16can be selected and the belt58is driven to align the access opening56with the selected receptacle holder16. The selector is provided via an electronic control panel66and associated control circuitry connecting the control panel66and the drive motor62.

Each of the receptacles12includes also a unique receptacle identifier. The receptacle identifier may comprise for example a bar code, chip or physical feature provided adjacent the lower end. Each of the receptacle holders16includes a reader such that when a receptacle12is inserted into the receptacle holder16, the reader can read the receptacle identifier on the receptacle12. Each of the receptacle holders16also includes a receptacle holder identifier.

The control circuitry includes a memory and is in communication with each of the receptacle holders16such that when a receptacle12is inserted into a receptacle holder16, the control circuitry stores in memory the receptacle identifier of the receptacle12and the receptacle holder identifier of the receptacle holder16in which it is currently held. In this way, any receptacle12can be placed in any receptacle holder16and the locations of each receptacle12are stored in the memory. The selector can therefore be operated by selecting the receptacle12to be accessed rather than its location.

Also provided is a stored list of spices in the memory and any of the spices from the stored list can be associated with the receptacle identifier of a particular receptacle12. The stored list is preferably pre-loaded but may also be added to by connecting the spice rack10to an external data source via a data port68. A program function is provided via the control panel66wherein each receptacle12(identified by its unique receptacle identifier) can be associated with a particular spice from the stored list. For example, a receptacle12can be placed within a receptacle holder16and the program function activated by pressing a button provided on the control panel66. The spices on the stored list are displayed on the control panel66and the spice currently stored in that receptacle12is then selected. In this way, the spice currently stored in each receptacle12in the spice rack10is known.

The selector therefore comprises a list of the spices displayed on the control panel66. The list of spices can be scrolled through by scroll buttons70. The spices may be displayed in alphabetical order. Alternatively, spices used more frequently may be displayed first. A select button72can then be used to select a required one of said spices. The spice rack10has stored in memory the receptacle identifier of the receptacle12in which that spice is contained and knows also the receptacle holder16in which that receptacle12is located by the receptacle holder identifier stored in memory associated with that receptacle identifier. The belt58can therefore be driven such that the access opening56is located adjacent that receptacle12. That is, a required spice is selected and the belt58moves into the correct position to access the receptacle12that holds the spice.

The spice rack10may also store in memory one or more recipes lists. Each recipe lists contains a list of the spices required for a particular recipe. The recipe list may be selected from the selector and the access opening56will then move sequentially to be adjacent each of the receptacles12containing spices from the recipe list. That is, each time a receptacle12is removed containing one of the spices from the recipe list, the access opening then moves to be adjacent the receptacle12containing the next spice on the recipe list.

The spice rack10is preferably provided with a sensing device adjacent each receptacle holder16such that the sensing device can detect the level of spice contained within the receptacle12in the receptacle holder16. The sensing device may comprise for example an emitter located on one side of the receptacle12to direct a light beam through to a light receiver on an opposite side of the receptacle12. By positioning the light emitter and receivers in appropriate positions, the emitter will receive a signal when the level of spice has dropped below a predetermined volume. The sensing devices are in communication with the display panel so that an indication may be provided that a particular spice is low and requires refilling.

The spice rack10includes a communication port68such that each spice rack10can be connected to further spice racks10. As shown inFIG. 5, multiple spice racks10may be secured together in a modular fashion. The communication ports allow connection of adjacent spice racks10such that one of the control panels66may be used to select receptacles12stored in any of the spice racks10by selection of the appropriate spice. Multiple spice racks10may therefore be connected in a modular fashion to provide any required number of receptacles12for holding spices.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.