A candy dispensing device uses an impeller to impart centrifugal force to a mass of candies held in the dispenser's housing. The swirling mass of candies may be a source of amusement to the user and may be used to dispense the candies through a spout. In one version of the invention, the dispensing device includes a handle and is sized to be portable by the user. The dispensing device uses a combination cap with two cap portions, one to cover the fill mouth, and the other to cover the spout.

This invention relates to candy-dispensing devices, and more particularly, 
to a candy-dispensing device which makes use of centrifugal force. 
BACKGROUND 
Candy-dispensing devices known in the art include gumball machines, candy 
vending machines, and more portable, personal dispensers such as those 
used with the PEZ product. The gumball machine, as is well known, has an 
enclosure, generally of transparent material, for storing the gumballs or 
other candy. A dispensing mechanism in these machines allows the 
candy-seeker to insert a coin, activate a handle, and receive candy from 
the enclosure. Such gumball machines exist in commercial versions for use 
at retailers and also in home versions. 
Gumball machines have been combined with various games, such as those shown 
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,606,088 to Leaf; 2,759,632 to Ussery; and 3,077,254 to 
Goldfarb. These gumball machines suffer from various drawbacks and 
disadvantages. One disadvantage is that these machines are generally 
mechanically complex, making them costly to manufacture and generally 
ill-suited for personal use. Thus, the candy-seeker is deprived of any 
amusement and candy from such dispensing machines except when the 
candy-seeker visits a retailer where such machines have been purchased and 
installed. 
Gumball machines have also incorporated various ornamental shapes or 
sculptures, such as the locomotive shown in Weiner U.S. Pat. No. D 316,276 
and the telephone of O'Rourke U.S. Pat. No. D 290,005. These devices 
suffer from the disadvantage, among others, that they do not include a 
game or moving parts which are likely to attract or maintain the attention 
of the candy-seeker. 
Portable or personal candy-dispensers, such as the PEZ dispenser, are 
generally simpler, lighter-weight structures which can be carried by an 
individual. Such portable dispensers generally do not include a 
significant amount of special effects or any manner of game associated 
with the dispenser, with the exception of shaping the dispensers to 
include recognizable cartoon characters or the like. As such, these 
portable dispensers lack more captivating special effects and games which 
are likely to maintain or attract a candy-seeker's interest. This 
disadvantage is all the more pronounced when the candy-seeker is a young 
child whose interest will quickly wane without an exciting special effect 
or game associated with the portable candy dispenser. 
Accordingly, there is a need for a candy-dispensing device which includes a 
special effect or game which amuses the user of the device and allows for 
imaginative play. 
There is a further need for such a device to be lightweight and portable 
while also being suitably captivating to hold the user's interest. 
SUMMARY 
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a candy-dispensing 
device which amuses the user while also allowing for candy to be 
dispensed. 
Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a device which is 
portable, easily operable, and easily refillable with candy. 
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and 
advantages are attained by a candy dispenser which has a base and a 
housing for holding candies connected to the base. The sidewall of the 
housing has a resealable opening through which the candies are dispensed. 
A mechanism in the candy dispenser makes the candies in the housing swirl 
within and relative to the housing, so that they gain centrifugal force. 
According to another aspect of the invention, the mechanism which swirls 
the candies about the housing may include an impeller located at the 
bottom of the housing and an electric motor which can be selectively 
activated to rotate the impeller. 
In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, the candy 
dispenser is portable and the base is formed as an elongated, hollow 
handle with upper and lower ends. The motor is housed in the handle and 
the impeller extends from the upper end of the handle. A clear dome is 
attached to the upper end of the handle and forms an enclosure for the 
candies. 
In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, the clear dome 
includes a spout which communicates with an opening in the candy 
enclosure. The spout is sized so that one candy can be received in the 
spout when the opening is sealed. 
Still other objects, advantages, and novel aspects of the present invention 
will become apparent in the detailed description of the invention that 
follows, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by 
way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the 
invention, and by reference to the attached drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION 
As shown in FIG. 1, a candy dispenser 21 includes a base 23 with an upper 
end 25 and a lower end 27. A housing 29 is attached to the upper end 25 of 
the base 23 and defines an enclosure suitable for holding candies 31. A 
spout 33 extends from the side of the housing 29 and, as best seen in FIG. 
2, the spout defines a resealable opening 35 through which the candies 31 
are able to be dispensed. The opening 35 in the spout 33 is releasably 
sealed by cap portion 37 of cap 39. 
The candy dispenser 21 includes an apparatus, discussed in greater detailed 
below, which imparts centrifugal force to the candies 31 in the housing 29 
so that the candies swirl within the enclosure relative to the housing 29. 
The apparatus for swirling the candies is manually activated by switch 36 
which extends from the side of the base 23. 
One way of operating or playing with the candy dispenser 21 is to hold the 
dispenser 21 generally in the position shown in FIG. 1. The user activates 
the switch 36 to cause the candies 31 to swirl about the inside of the 
housing 29. The centrifugal force imparted to the candies 31 will urge 
them outwardly against the inner walls of the housing 29 so that one or 
more of the candies 31 is projected into the opening 35 and out of the 
spout 33, if the spout is not covered by the cap portion 37. As the 
candies 31 swirl about the housing 29, the candies 31 will exit the spout 
33 in a serial fashion to be dispensed into the user's hand or mouth. 
When the cap portion 37 is seated over the opening 35 as shown in FIG. 1, 
the spout 33 includes an area 41 between the housing and the cap portion 
37 which is sufficiently large to receive one of the candies 31. The area 
41 allows for another method of operating the candy dispenser. In 
particular, when the cap portion 37 is seated in the opening 35 and when 
the candies are swirled within the housing, the centrifugal force causes 
one candy to be received into the area 41. Then, the cap portion 37 can be 
unseated and the candy in area 41 can be dispensed into the user's hand or 
mouth. 
The candy-dispensing device 21 is now described in more detail with 
reference to FIGS. 1-7. Referring to FIG. 5, centrifugal force is imparted 
to the candies by means of an impeller 43 located at the bottom of the 
housing 29 and in communication therewith. The impeller 43 is selectively 
rotatable by means of an electric motor 49 powered by a battery 55. Both 
the battery 55 and the motor 57 are housed in compartments 59 and 61 
respectively, which compartments are located within the base 23. 
The motor 49 is electrically connected to the battery 55 by wires or other 
suitable conductors 57 which extend between terminals 63 of the battery 55 
and corresponding terminals (not shown) of the motor 49. The switch 36 is 
interposed along the conductive path between the battery 55 and the motor 
49 so that depression of the switch 36 completes the electric circuit and 
drives the impeller 43. Conversely, release of the switch 36 breaks the 
electric circuit and causes the impeller 43 to cease rotation. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7, the impeller 43 includes a central shaft 51 
which extends into the upper end 25 of the base 23. The shaft 51 is 
rotatably mounted in a bearing 62. The bearing 62, in turn, is secured to 
a bottom housing surface 64. The housing surface 64 is oriented generally 
horizontally when the dispenser 21 is in the upright position shown in 
FIG. 5. 
The impeller 43 is operatively connected to the motor 49 by a series of 
gears and pinions as now described. Shaft gear 53 is mounted coaxially 
with the shaft 51 of the impeller 43. The shaft gear 53 engages pinion 47 
which is rotatably mounted to a shaft 65. The shaft 65 is laterally spaced 
from the shaft 51 of the impeller 43. A connecting gear 45 is likewise 
axially mounted to the shaft 65 and engages motor pinion 67 which is 
axially mounted to motor shaft 69. In this way, it will be appreciated 
that rotation of the motor shaft 69 is translated into rotation of the 
impeller 43 by means of the gears and pinions 45, 47, 53, 67. 
Although the base 23 may assume any of a variety of geometries and remain 
within the scope of the present invention, the base 23 is preferably a 
two-piece, elongated hollow member whose exterior surface 71 (FIG. 1) 
forms a handle for holding the dispensing device 21. The two halves 73, 75 
of the base 23 are preferably formed of plastic by any suitable 
manufacturing method, such as by injection molding. 
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, bottom portion 77 of the housing 29 is 
integrally attached to the base 23 at its upper end 25. The bottom portion 
77 terminates in an edge or lip 79. The bottom portion 77 has an inner 
housing surface 81 (FIG. 5) which slopes downwardly from the edge 79 
toward the impeller 43. In addition to other functions, the sloping 
surface 81 is believed to facilitate engagement of candies 31 (FIG. 1) by 
the impeller 43 and also may facilitate vertical motion of the candies 
relative to the housing 29 when the impeller 43 is activated. 
The housing 29 in this preferred embodiment includes a dome 83 extending 
from the bottom portion 77. The dome 83 is made of transparent material, 
preferably clear plastic, and has a relatively smooth inner sidewall 85 
(FIG. 5). The inner sidewall 85 meets with the lip 79 of the bottom 
portion 77 to form the enclosure of the housing 29. In particular, the 
dome 83 has an annular flange 87 which is received in a corresponding 
recess in the lip 79. When the candies 31 are acted upon by the impeller 
43, centrifugal force is imparted to the candies 31 and certain of the 
candies contact the inner sidewall 85 of the dome as they swirl within the 
enclosure of the housing 29. 
The spout 33 is located in and extends generally perpendicularly from a 
medial portion 89 of the sidewall 85. Thus, when the dispenser 21 is in 
the upright position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the spout 33 is generally 
oriented horizontally. 
Referring to FIG. 5, apex 91 of the dome 83 is formed into a mouth 93. The 
mouth 93 is sufficiently large to allow for easy loading (or unloading) of 
the candies 31 (FIG. 1) into (or from) the housing 29. As seen in FIGS. 1, 
3 and 5, the cap 39 includes a second cap portion 95 which covers the 
mouth 93 of the dome 83. The cap portion 95 has an inner wall 100 and the 
mouth 93 has an edge portion 97, each of which are formed so that the cap 
portion 95 snap-fits over the mouth 93. In this preferred embodiment, the 
edge portions 97 include an annular flange 99 which is removably 
receivable into a corresponding recess in the inner wall 100 of the cap 
portion 95. The cap portion 95 includes a push-up tab 101 which extends 
outwardly from the inner wall 100 in a generally perpendicular direction. 
The tab 101 may be used to facilitate releasing the cap portion 95 from 
its closed position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 to its released 
position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5. 
The releasable cap 39 thus includes two portions, the cap portion 37, which 
is releasably received into the opening 35 of the spout 33, and the cap 
portion 95, which snap-fits over the mouth 93 at the apex 91 of the dome 
83. The two cap portions 37, 95 are hingedly connected to each other by 
means of a living hinge 103. The living hinge 103 includes a series of 
crenelated links 105 which are connected to form a flexible strap 
interconnecting the two cap portions 37, 39. The living hinge 103 
terminates in a flange portion 107, and the cap portion 37 extends from 
one of the surfaces of the flange portion 107. The tip of the flange 
portion 107 terminates in a push tab 109 which facilitates the sealing and 
unsealing of the opening 35 by the cap portion 37. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the base 23 of the candy dispenser 21 has a bottom 
surface 111. A door 113 is mounted in the surface 111 and is connected 
thereto in any suitable manner to allow it to be opened and reclosed, such 
as by means of hinge 115 (FIG. 5). The door 113 covers an opening which 
communicates with the battery compartment 59. The dimensions of the door 
113 and its corresponding opening are sufficient to allow for the battery 
55 to be removed and replaced as required. The door 113 includes a 
serrated area 117 and tabs 119 to facilitate grasping and operation of the 
door 113. 
Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, the dome 83 has an annular cross section 
(best seen in FIG. 6). The dome 83 is mated along its lower edge to the 
lip 79, which has a corresponding annular plan section. The housing 
surface 81 forms an annular region within the dome 83 (FIG. 6), which 
extends downwardly toward the impeller 43 (FIG. 5). 
The impeller 43 has a circular plan section best seen in FIG. 6 and is 
rotatably mounted at the bottom portion 77 of the housing 29 so that the 
impeller's centerpoint 123 is coaxial with the annular shaped cross 
sections of the dome 83, the housing surface 81, and the lip 79. The 
impeller 43 includes a circular, planar, impeller base 119 and four, 
triangular-shaped teeth 121 extending from the base 119. The teeth 121 are 
radially spaced in relation to the centerpoint 123 of the impeller 43. 
The teeth 121 are pyramid-shaped with apexes 125 located at the perimeter 
of the impeller as best seen in FIG. 5. Each of the teeth 121 thus has an 
upper edge 127 which slopes upwardly from the centerpoint 123 of the base 
119 toward the apex 125 at the perimeter of the impeller 43. Each of the 
teeth 121 also has one side 129 which is substantially orthogonal to the 
impeller base 119, and another side 131 which is inclined relative to the 
impeller base 119. These sides 129, 131 share a common lower apex at or 
near the centerpoint 125 and extend upwardly from the impeller base 119 
along a common edge corresponding to the upper edge 127. 
As best seen in FIG. 6, for each of the teeth 121, the inclined side 131 
extends between the upper edge 127 and the impeller base 119 over a 
selected radial segment of the impeller 43. The size of such radial 
segment depends on the angle of inclination of the inclined side 131, as 
well as the distance of the apex 125 from the impeller base 119. In this 
preferred embodiment, each of the sides 131 inclines at approximately 
45.degree. relative to the corresponding orthogonal side 129 and extends 
over a radial segment of about 41.degree.. 
The teeth 121 are arranged radially over the impeller base 119 so that the 
upper edges 127 of opposing pairs of the teeth 121 extend opposite each 
other. In other words, the upper edges 127 of opposing pairs of the teeth 
121 extend radially from the centerpoint 123 in directions which are 
180.degree. from each other. Two pairs of the teeth 121 are thus arranged 
about the impeller 119. The inclined sides 131 of the teeth 121 face in 
the same direction and the orthogonal sides 129 face in the opposite 
direction in relation to rotation of the impeller 43 about its centerpoint 
123. Between each of the teeth 121, the impeller base 119 has a planar 
segment 133 which extends about 49.degree.. 
The operation and use of the candy dispenser according to the present 
invention is readily apparent from the above description. The housing 29 
is filled with the candies 31, preferably by releasing the tab portion 95 
from the mouth 93 as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 5. After the 
candies 31 are placed in the housing 29, the cap portion 95 is snap-fit 
back over the mouth 93. The candies 31, of course, could also be loaded 
into the housing 29 through the spout 33, but since the opening 35 is 
generally smaller than the mouth 93, such a method of loading would be 
more time-consuming. 
The candies 31 can be dispensed with or without activating the impeller 43. 
It will also be appreciated that, since imaginative play may be involved 
in the use of this invention, the methods of using the invention are not 
limited necessarily to those described herein but only by the imagination 
of the user. 
One way of operating the device 21 involves the user holding the handle 
portion of the base 23 so that the dispenser 21 is in the upright position 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The cap portion 37 is removed from the opening 35, 
preferably by applying outwardly directed pressure at the tab 109. The cap 
portion 37 remains connected to the dispenser 21 because the cap portion 
37 is hingedly connected to the other cap portion 95 which is seated over 
the mouth 93. In this way, the cap 39 is not disassociated with the 
dispenser 21 even when the cap portion 37 is removed from the spout 33. 
Still holding the dispenser 21 in the upright position, the user depresses 
the button 36 to activate the motor 49. The motor 49 in turn is 
operatively connected to the impeller 43 so that it rotates in the 
clockwise direction indicated by the arrow A. The impeller 43 rotates so 
long as the switch 36 is depressed, completing the electric circuit 
between the battery 55 and the motor 49. When the switch 36 is released, 
the impeller ceases rotation and the candies cease swirling about the 
housing 85 shortly thereafter. 
The mass of candies 31 is generally on top of the impeller 43 when the 
device 21 is upright. Certain of the candies 31 are either wholly or 
partially interengaged with the teeth 121 of the impeller 43. When the 
impeller 43 rotates, it imparts centrifugal force, either directly or 
indirectly, to substantially all of the candies 31 in the housing 29. The 
candies swirl about the inner sidewall 85 of the housing 29 as shown in 
FIG. 1. As the candies are forced to swirl along the sidewall 85, the 
paths of some of the candies will cross over the opening 35 of the spout 
33. The number of candies 31 which cross over the opening 35 depends on 
the volume of candies 31 in the housing and the amount of time they are 
swirled within the housing 29. 
Since the spout 33 extends outwardly from the sidewall 85, the centrifugal 
force will dispense those candies 31 which cross over the opening 35 out 
through the spout 33. The size of the candies 31 relative to the size of 
the opening 35 also affects how many and in what manner the candies 31 
pass through the spout 33 under the centrifugal force imparted to them. In 
this embodiment, when the swirling candies pass over the opening 35, they 
will be serially dispensed through the spout 33. 
When centrifugal force is imparted to the candies 31, the continuous and 
relatively smooth inner sidewall 85 allows the mass of candies to spread 
out against the inner sidewall 85. As the candies spread out, the vertical 
level of the candies relative to the housing 29 tends to rise. In 
particular, the centrifugal force urges more of the candies 31 away from 
the center of the housing 29 and against the inner sidewall 85. Since 
fewer of the candies are in the center of the housing, the candies are 
forced to spread out against the sidewall 85. Since the spreading out is 
limited by the bottom portion 77 of the housing 29, the candies generally 
spread vertically upward. 
The structure of the candy dispenser 21 takes advantage of this vertical 
rise of the candy level when it is operated. The housing 29 can be filled 
with a sufficient number of the candies 31 so that the enclosure is filled 
with candies to a vertical fill level near but below the vertical location 
of the opening 33. When the impeller swirls this amount of candies, the 
candies will spread out against the inner wall 85 as discussed above. The 
vertical level of the candies 31 will rise a sufficient amount so that 
candies toward the top will pass over the opening 35 and exit the spout 33 
to be dispensed. 
The inclined sides 131 of the teeth 121 face forward as the impeller 43 
rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The inclined sides 131 
and the upwardly sloping housing surfaces 81 impart a vertical force 
component to the candies 31 when the impeller 43 rotates. This vertical 
force component imparted to the candy causes them to "pop" upward in 
relation to the housing. This vertical force component is also believed to 
contribute to the general vertical rise in a level of the candies 31, 
discussed above, when the impeller 43 is activated. 
Another dispensing operation made possible by the above described invention 
involves activating the impeller to swirl the candies 31 while the cap 
portion 37 is inserted into the spout 33. When the cap portion 37 is thus 
inserted, the centrifugal force on the candies feeds candies into the 
spout 33 only until the spout area 41 is filled. In this case, a single 
one of the candies 31 fills the area 41 as shown in FIG. 1. Once the area 
41 is filled, the switch 36 can be released, thus deactivating the 
impeller. The cap portion 37 is then removed and the candy or candies in 
the area 41 are dispensed by slightly tipping the spout 33 from its 
horizontal position. 
The device 21 can be refilled with candies by removing the cap portion 95 
as described previously. Removal of the cap portion 95 will not fully 
disassociate the cap 39 from the device 21, so long as the cap portion 37 
is inserted into the spout 33. 
There is, of course, no requirement for the device 21 to be in the upright 
position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The impeller 43 can be activated to swirl 
the candies in any orientation, so long as some of the candies engage with 
the teeth of the impeller 43. Likewise, the impeller can be activated 
merely to swirl the candies when the user wishes to engage in imaginative 
or attention-getting play without dispensing of the candies. In addition, 
any amount of candies 31 may be placed in the housing 29 according to the 
present invention. Of course, when there are fewer of the candies 31, it 
will be more difficult to dispense them merely through centrifugal force 
than when there are a greater number. The candies 31 may also be dispensed 
through the spout 33 by appropriately tipping the device 21 without 
activating the impeller 43. 
The candy dispenser 21 is preferably sized to be portable by the user. As 
such, suitable dimensions for the base 23 are about 100 millimeters from 
its lower end 27 to its upper end 25, with a width between opposite sides 
of about 28 millimeters. The impeller 43 has a circular plan section of 
about 28 millimeters and the apex 91 of the impeller teeth is about 9 
millimeters above the impeller base 119. 
The bottom portion 77 of the housing 29 flares outwardly from the upper end 
of the base 23 and therefore has a larger cross-sectional diameter than 
the base 23. A suitable height for the housing 29 is about six centimeters 
measured from the bottom portion 77 to the upper edge of the mouth 93. 
The spout 33 extends generally horizontally from the sidewall 85 at a 
location which is about 4 centimeters above the bottom portion 77, as 
measured from the lowermost point of the bottom portion 77 to the 
centerpoint of the spout 33. The inner diameter of the spout 33 is about 1 
centimeter, and the inner diameter of the mouth 93 at the apex 91 of the 
dome 83 is between 2 and 3 centimeters. 
Alternative embodiments of the present invention may vary the size, 
interconnection or configuration of certain of the structural elements 
described above. For example, the size and location of the impeller 43 may 
be varied to impart greater or lesser centrifugal force to the candies 31. 
Likewise, the location of the spout 33 may be shifted to be vertically 
higher or lower in relation to the bottom portion 77 of the housing 29. 
Instead of the cap 39, suitable alternative means for sealing the spout 33 
and the mouth 93 may also be employed, such as a hinged or sliding door. 
The exact geometry of the spout 33 may be varied to a curved shape or a 
non-horizontal orientation. The inner sidewall 85, while smooth in this 
embodiment, may alternately be patterned or shaped in such a way as to 
alter the path of the swirling candies 31. 
In further alternative embodiments, the base 23 may be configured with a 
foot or other suitable structure to allow the dispensing device 21 to be 
set upon a horizontal surface to orient the dome 83 in an upright position 
and to allow operation while resting on such horizontal surface. 
In addition to the advantages apparent from the above description, the 
dispensing device according to the present invention may be configured so 
as to be portable by the user. At the same time, the device has the 
advantage of incorporating a stimulating special effect by causing the 
candies 31 to swirl in relation to the clear surface of the dome. 
As still another advantage, the dispensing device has a spout located to 
dispense certain of the candies 31 which have been subjected to 
centrifugal force by the impeller. 
As yet another advantage, the act of dispensing candy has been rendered 
more captivating and visually interesting for the user. 
The cap of the present invention has the advantage of being in two 
portions, one for covering the spout, the other for covering the mouth. 
When the cap is unsealed from one or the other of these openings, it 
remains associated with the dispensing device and thus has the advantage 
of being less easily misplaced. 
While the present invention has been described with reference to the 
preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover equivalent 
structures.