Powder food dispenser

The present invention is a powder dispenser for dispensing predetermined amounts of a powder product. The powder dispenser includes a housing and a dispensing tube. The dispensing tube removes a predetermined amount of the powder product from the housing to be dispensed into a container. The dispensing tube includes recesses having a predetermined volume to control the amount of powder product dispensed. The housing includes a lower cavity for storing containers that receive the dispensed powder product.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally to a dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for the controlled volumetric dispensing of a predetermined volume of dry, powdered or granular materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of dry, powdered or granular materials, in particular foodstuffs such as cereals, granular foods such as rice, and powdered foods such as infant formula are packaged for sale in bulk, multi-serving containers, from which a desired portion is removed as needed. Often, the desired portion is removed by scooping from the bulk packaged container, or alternatively, a portion may be poured from the container into a measuring device, such as a measuring cup or a graduated serving device, to then be dispensed to a container for final use.

While reference will be made herein to powdered material, it is understood that such term includes flowable materials such as cereals and granular foods as well as powdered foodstuffs and non-foodstuffs.

Such manner of dispending a desired volume or measured quantity of a powdered material is inconvenient, and often results in spilled material creating unsanitary conditions and inconsistent dispensed amounts. One application in which additional ease of known volumetric dispensing is desired is in infant food, commonly referred to as baby formula. Although baby formula is available in liquid, pre-mixed form, due to economy and ease of storage, many people purchase such formula as a dry powder to which water or milk is added to produce liquid formula. The dry powder baby formula is most frequently purchased in cylindrical containers having a removable lid, which provides no means to dispense a pre-measured amount. The dry powder baby formula is then removed from the container in pre-measured amounts by a measuring device and provided to the end use container.

The related art shows no apparatus for receiving a bulk powdered material for storage and dispensing directly therefrom a measured quantity of the powder material that addresses the limitations addressed above.

Therefore, what is needed is an improved apparatus for storage and dispensing of powder material in measured quantities. Ideally, the apparatus should dispense consistent measured quantities of a powder material without spillage or waste. The apparatus should be configured to dispense the powder material into an end-use container, such as a baby bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a powder dispenser for dispensing a predetermined volume of a powder product is disclosed. The powder dispenser includes a housing having an upper cavity and a lower cavity, a hopper at least partially defining a bottom surface of the upper cavity, an opening in the hopper, a tube housing comprising an top opening in fluid communication with the opening of the hopper and a bottom opening, and a dispensing tube disposed within the tube housing. The dispensing tube includes a plurality of recesses having a predetermined volume. The dispensing tube and tube housing are configured to dispense a predetermined volume of a powder product from the when the dispensing tube is withdrawn from the tube housing a predetermined distance.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, a method of dispensing a predetermined volume of a powder product is disclosed that includes providing a powder dispenser having a housing having an upper cavity and a lower cavity, a hopper at least partially defining a bottom surface of the upper cavity, an opening in the hopper, a tube housing comprising an top opening in fluid communication with the opening of the hopper and a bottom opening, and a dispensing tube disposed within the tube housing. The dispensing tube includes a plurality of recesses having a predetermined volume and a stop feature. The method further includes withdrawing the dispensing tube from the tube housing a first predetermined distance to dispense a first predetermined volume of a powder product from the powder dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2show an exemplary embodiment of a powder dispenser10for dispensing a predetermined measured amount of a powder product (not shown). The powder product may be a dry powder or granular material. For example, the powder product may be a powder food product. More particularly, the powder product may be a cereal, rice, or infant formula.

The powder dispenser10is formed of a polymeric material. The polymeric material may be a polypropylene, a polycarbonate resin or other similar polymeric material. For example, the powder dispenser10may be formed of Lexan™, a thermoplastic resin produced by the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation of Saudi Arabia. In one embodiment of the invention, the powder dispenser10may be formed of a clear or transparent polymer to permit an operator of the powder dispenser10to observe internal operation, including fill level, and to facilitate cleaning. In another embodiment, the powder dispenser10may be formed of a tinted or opaque polymer. In yet another embodiment, the powder dispenser10may be formed by any combination of clear, transparent, tinted and/or opaque polymers or other similar materials.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the powder dispenser10includes a housing20, a dispensing tube30and a lid35. The housing20includes an outer shell21, a base15, a tube housing22, and a hopper23. The outer shell21has a generally tubular geometry. In this exemplary embodiment, the outer shell21has a generally oval cross section, however, in other embodiments, the outer shell21may have a generally round, square, rectangular or other general shape as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The base15has a generally oval, disk shape. In another embedment, the base15may have a generally round, square, rectangular or other shape that conforms to the general cross sectional geometry of the housing20. In one embodiment, the base15is formed as a separate component and attached to the housing20by thermal welding, gluing, or other similar attachment method. In another embodiment, the base15is integrally formed with the housing20during the forming of the housing20. In yet another embodiment, the base15may be larger than the cross section of the housing20to provide a stabilizing base to increase the stability of the powder dispenser1O.

Referring again toFIGS. 1 and 2, the tube housing22divides the shell21into a lower cavity40and an upper cavity50. The hopper23is disposed in the upper cavity50. The hopper23includes a bottom surface53. The hopper23is configured to direct a powder product (not shown) disposed in the upper cavity50to an opening52in the bottom surface53of the hopper23. The hopper23is inclined towards the opening52to facilitate directing the flow of powder product towards the opening52. The inclination of the hopper23may vary, and may be selected based on the flowability of the powder product or range of powder products intended for use with the powder dispenser10.

The lower cavity40includes an opening42. The lower cavity40may be used to store containers (not shown), which may be filled by the powder dispenser10. For example, the lower cavity40may be used to store baby formula bottles to be filled with a powder baby formula. The opening42may vary in size and shape based on the range of containers intended for use with the powder dispenser10.

FIGS. 3-5show the tube housing22is shown in more detail. As can be seen inFIGS. 3-5, the tube housing22is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a front opening18, a rear opening27and an internal volume24disposed therebetween. As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the internal volume24is occupied by the dispensing tube30.

The tube housing22further includes a bottom opening31and a top opening52. The bottom opening31dispenses powder material (not shown) from the dispensing tube30to a container (not shown). The top opening52is in fluid communication between the internal volume24and the upper cavity50. The top opening52is configured to permit powder material to flow into the dispensing tube30when the dispensing tube30is positioned in a fill position as shownFIGS. 1 and 2.

The rear opening27is in fluid communication between the internal volume24and the lower cavity40. The rear opening27includes a recess80. The recess80includes a first stop surface81, a second stop surface82and a third stop surface83.

The tube housing22also includes an indicator feature41. The indicator feature41is configured to correspond to a position feature74on the dispensing tube30to indicate the position of the dispensing tube30within the housing, as is discussed in more detail below. The indicator feature41may include reference numerals, colors, or other indicia of position. In another embodiment, the indicator feature41may be omitted.

The tube housing22further includes a flow control feature33. The flow control feature33includes an inclined panel34and a side panel36. The flow control feature33is configured to direct a powder material (not shown) dispensing from the dispensing tube30through the bottom opening31to a container (not shown). In another embodiment, the flow control feature33may have other geometries, including but not limited to, a conical geometry.

Referring toFIGS. 1-5, the dispensing tube30has a generally cylindrical shape and includes a tube body65, a stop feature67, an attachment rod68, and a knob70. In this exemplary embodiment, the knob70is a separate component attached to the tube body65. The knob70may be attached to the tube body65and/or attachment rod68. The knob70may be attached by adhesive bonding, thermal welding, using fasteners or other similar attachment methods as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The knob70may include a friction feature (not shown) to assist an operator in mechanically rotating the knob70. The friction feature may include a roughened surface, ridges, protrusions, other similar features and combinations thereof. The knob70may further include indicia (not shown) that indicate the relative rotational position of the dispending tube30in the tube housing22. In another embodiment, the knob70may be formed integrally with the tube body65.

The attachment rod68is disposed axially through the tube body65. The attachment rod68provides attachment points for knob70and stop feature67. In another embodiment, the attachment rod68may be omitted.

The stop feature67is attached to the tube body65and/or attachment rod68. The stop feature70may be attached by adhesive bonding, thermal welding, using fasteners or other similar attachment methods as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The tube body65includes a plurality of recesses72and a position feature74. The plurality of recesses72are generally cylindrical in shape and have a predetermined volume. As can be seen inFIGS. 1-5, the plurality of recesses72pass through the tube body65. The plurality of recesses72may be formed in the tube body65when the tube body65is formed. In another embodiment, the plurality of recesses72may be formed into the tube body65by drilling, grinding or other similar material removal method.

In this exemplary embodiment, the tube body25includes three recesses72. For convenience, the recesses72have been consecutively number first recess1, second recess2and third recess3as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. In another embodiment, the tube body65may include one or more recesses72. In this exemplary embodiment, each recess72has an equal volume of 1 tablespoon or 14.8 ml. In another embodiment, the volume of any one of the recesses72may vary. In still another embodiment, the volume of at least two of the recesses72may be equal.

Referring again toFIGS. 3-5, the first stop surface81, second stop surface82and third stop surface83of the recess41are configured to permit the dispensing tube30to be rotated and withdrawn from the tube housing22at predetermined distances to position any number of the plurality of recesses72over the bottom opening31to dispense a predetermined amount of power material (not shown) from the powder dispenser10(FIGS. 1 and 2). When the dispensing tube30is withdrawn from the tube housing22by a predetermined distance, the mechanical stop67contacts with the first stop surface81. At this point, the first recess1is positioned and aligned over the bottom opening31and the powder material of the first recess1is dispensed from the powder dispenser10. The knob70may then be rotated counter-clockwise as about axis A (FIG. 3) until the mechanical stop67is no longer in contact with the first stop81. At this position, the dispensing tube30may be further withdrawn from the tube housing22until the mechanical stop67contacts the second stop82. At this point, the second recess2is positioned and aligned over the bottom opening31and the contents of the second recess2are dispensed from the powder dispenser10. The knob70may then be further rotated counter-clockwise until the mechanical stop67is no longer in contact with the second stop82and the dispensing tube30may be further withdrawn until the mechanical stop67contacts the third stop83. At this point, the third recess3is positioned and aligned over the bottom opening31and the contents of the third recess3are dispensed from the powder dispenser10. In another embodiment, the dispensing tube30is rotated clockwise, and the stop recess81is correspondingly configured to allow the dispensing tube30to be withdrawn at predetermined distances as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The distance that the dispensing tube30is withdrawn from the tube housing22is indicated by position feature74, which is correlated to corresponding indicator feature41on the tube housing22to show the position of which of the plurality of recesses72are located over the bottom opening31. In addition, additional indicia (not shown) may be used on powder dispenser10to assist an operator in dispensing powder material.