Abstract:
A dry ingredient dispensing unit includes a plurality of containers affixed to a sliding rail mountable to a structure such as a cupboard. Each container is configured into a hopper. A volume of a dry ingredient is loaded through a top portion of each hopper. Each hopper is provided with a plurality of sliding dispensing plates stacked on top of each other. Each dispensing plate is provided with a calibrated aperture to dispense a specific volume of dry ingredient when the plate is slid outward from the hopper. Further, the hoppers are interconnected to provide an assembly of multiple compartments.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/886,305, filed Oct. 3, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a dispensing system including a plurality of containers affixed to a sliding rail mountable to a structure such as a cupboard. Each container comprises a hopper, a plurality of sliding dispensing plates each having a different calibrated aperture to dispense a corresponding volume of a dry ingredient housed within. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are a great many of everyday items that are used in a powdered or granular form. The kitchen is home to flour, sugar, spices, herbs, seasoning, and other ingredients that are sold in boxes, bottles, and jars. The laundry room is home to soap powder, washing detergent, home cleaners, and other items that are only available in powdered or granular form. All of these materials must be stored in a location where they can be conveniently accessed for the task at hand. Then, each of these containers must be accessed with a scoop, or other measuring device to ensure that the proper amount of material is being used. This then requires the scoop to be cleaned and stored as well. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which powdered and granular material can be easily stored and measured for use, without the disadvantages as described above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a dry ingredient dispensing unit that includes a plurality of hoppers that are affixed to a sliding rail which is mountable to a structure such as a cupboard. A volume of a dry ingredient is loaded through a top portion into each hopper. Each hopper is provided with a plurality of sliding dispensing plates stacked on top of each other. Each dispensing plate is provided with a calibrated aperture to dispense a specific volume of dry ingredient when the plate is slid outward from the hopper. To provide different volumes of dry ingredients the dispensing plates may be opened individually or in combinations. Further, the hoppers are interconnected to provide an assembly of multiple dry ingredient storage. In this manner, the use of the present invention allows for the storage and dispensing of powdered or granular ingredients, which is not only quick, easy, and effective, but convenient as well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dry ingredient dispenser assembly  10  showing a plurality of interconnected hopper assemblies  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of a mounting bracket  68 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   b  is a section view of the mounting bracket  68 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an individual hopper assembly  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is another top perspective view of the hopper assembly  20  depicting deployment of a dispensing plate  24   a,  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an upward-looking perspective view of the hopper assembly  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the hopper assembly  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a close-up view of a dispenser plate portion  24   a  of the dry ingredient dispenser  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  dry ingredient dispenser assembly 
               20  hopper assembly 
               21   a  side panel 
               21   b  front panel 
               21   c  rear panel 
               21   d  bottom panel 
               24   a  first dispensing plate 
               24   b  second dispensing plate 
               24   c  third dispensing plate 
               24   d  fourth dispensing plate 
               24   e  fifth dispensing plate 
               25   a  first aperture 
               25   b  second aperture 
               25   c  third aperture 
               25   d  fourth aperture 
               25   e  fifth aperture 
               26  handle 
               27  center opening 
               28  indicia 
               29  label 
               30  hopper structure 
               31  hopper floor 
               32  delivery chute 
               34  lid 
               35  knob 
               36  guide pin 
               37  stop button 
               38  hinge 
               40   a  upper joint slot 
               40   b  lower joint slot 
               42   a  upper joint tab 
               42   b  lower joint tab 
               44  guide slot 
               46  stop slot 
               48  window 
               60  mounting assembly 
               62  slide 
               68  mounting bracket 
               90  fastener 
               100  cupboard structure 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0054]    The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0055]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
         [0056]    The present invention describes a dry ingredient dispenser assembly (herein described as the “assembly”)  10 , which provides an assembly  10  to store and dispense various powdered and/or granular dry ingredients  102 . The assembly  10  is envisioned being introduced in different sizes which correspond to families of dry ingredients  102 , each comprising a plurality of identical hopper assemblies  20  especially beneficial when joined together and mounted below a kitchen or laundry room cupboard structure. The assembly  10  is suitable for holding and accurately dispensing various granular dry ingredients  102  such as spices, salt, flour, sugar, powdered laundry detergent, granular cleaning agents, and the like. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the assembly  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The assembly  10  is configured here having a plurality of joined hopper assemblies  20 , each having a series of dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  being accessible from a front panel  21   b.  Each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e,  in turn comprises a corresponding graduated aperture  25   a,    25   b,    25   c,    25   d,    25   e  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). A user would simply extend a handle portion  26  of at least one (1) dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  to dispense a desired quantity of pre-loaded dry ingredient  102  into a subjacent downwardly angled delivery chute portion  32  for subsequent capture and use. The dispensing process may be repeated as necessary to obtain a desired quantity of the dry ingredient. It is envisioned that each hopper assembly  20  comprises an ingredient identifying label  29  being adhesively or otherwise affixed upon the delivery chute  32  or other easily observable surface. 
         [0058]    The assembly  10  provides a means to slidingly join a desired number of hopper assemblies  20  together via integral “dove-tail-like” features to form an attractive dispensing unit (see also  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The assembled hopper assemblies  20  are to be affixed to an existing cupboard structure  100  via an extendable mounting assembly  60  that allows one (1) or more hopper assemblies  20  to be pulled outwardly from a recessed location below the cupboard structure  100  for convenient dispensing or refilling of the dry ingredients  102  (see  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ). 
         [0059]    The assembly  10  is attached to and supported by a cupboard structure  100  via the mounting assembly  60  further comprising interlocking slide  62  and mounting bracket  68  portions. The slide portion  62  is affixed to those hopper assemblies  20  located at opposing ends of the assembly, and in turn interconnected to respective mounting bracket portions  68  which provide a means of stationary attachment to the cupboard structure  100  (see  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ). 
         [0060]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , front and sectional views of the mounting bracket portion  68  of the assembly  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The mounting bracket  68  and slider  62  portions of the assembly  10  are envisioned to provide similar construction and function as a common drawer slide mechanism. The mounting bracket  68  comprises an “L”-shaped sheet metal detail including a horizontal top surface portion which may be affixed to a bottom surface portion of a cupboard structure  100  or similar object using a plurality of fasteners  90 . A bottom portion of the mounting bracket  68  includes a “U”-shaped feature providing parallel sliding surfaces which are inserted within matching features of the slider  62  to provide parallel bearing surfaces for smooth extension of the hopper assemblies  20  toward a user for filling, dispensing, or cleaning, as needed. The sliders  62  are affixed to an upper edge portion of side panel portions  21   a  of the hopper assemblies  20  also using fasteners  90  such as screws, rivets, or the like. 
         [0061]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , perspective views of a hopper assembly portion  20  of the assembly  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The hopper assembly  20  comprises a hollow box-like structure made of plastic, metal, wood, or the like, comprising a top hopper structure  30 , a center opening  27  suitable for insertion of a plurality of dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e,  and a bottom forwardly extending delivery chute  32 . The hopper assembly  20  further comprises opposing side panels  21   a,  a front panel  21   b,  a rear panel  21   c,  and a bottom panel  21   d.  Each hopper structure  30  comprises a hollow downwardly tapering form having open bottom and top portions. The hopper structure  30  also includes a downwardly angled hopper floor portion  31  which spans between interior sides of the side panel portions  21   a  of the hopper assembly  20  to allow downward flow of the dry ingredients  102  as they are dispensed. The open bottom portion of the hopper structure  30  is occupied by the series of slidingly stacked dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  including a first dispensing plate  24   a,  a second dispensing plate  24   b,  a third dispensing plate  24   c,  a fourth dispensing plate  24   d,  and a fifth dispensing plate  24   e.  The dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  comprise flat rectangular forms made using a similar material as the hopper structure  30  and having identical perimeter shapes. The dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  comprise integral diametrically decreasing and graduated circular apertures  25   a,    25   b,    25   c,    25   d,    25   e  including a first aperture  25   a,  a second aperture  25   b,  a third aperture  25   c,  a fourth aperture  25   d,  and a fifth aperture  25   e  as seen in  FIG. 3 . The top first dispensing plate  24   a  comprises the largest first aperture  25   a  while the bottom fifth dispensing plate  24   e  comprises a smallest fifth aperture  25   e.  Said dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  are in turn supported from below by the bottom panel portion  21   d  of the hopper assembly  20  as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0062]    Upon filling the hopper structure portion  30  of the hopper assembly  20  with a dry ingredient, the subjacent apertures  25   a,    25   b,    25   c,    25   d,    25   e  are coincidentally filled as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The apertures  25   a,    25   b,    25   c,    25   d,    25   e  constitute a particular volume of ingredient, therefore as one (1) or more dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  are extended, they release a corresponding amount of the dry ingredient  102  downward onto the delivery chute  32  for use by the user. 
         [0063]    Each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  is slidingly guided in a horizontal direction within the center opening  27  via integral guide pins  36  which travel within corresponding guide slots  44  formed through the side panels  21   a  of the hopper assembly  20 . Said guide slots  44  are arranged in a parallel manner as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Additionally, said dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  are retained at their fully inserted positions via a pair of vertical stop slots  46  formed within rearward inner surfaces of the side panels  21  as best illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  comprises a pair of corresponding stop buttons  37  which engage said stop slots  46  upon complete insertion of each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  (also see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0064]    The assembly  10  provides an attachment means between each hopper assembly  20  via “dove-tail-type” features which allow a user to join a plurality of hopper assemblies  20  together in a compact and attractive manner (see  FIG. 1 ). Each hopper assembly  20  comprises an upper joint slot  40   a  and a lower joint slot  40   b  along respective top and bottom edges of one (1) side panel  21   a,  and an upper joint tab  42   a  and a lower joint tab  42   b  along respective top and bottom edges of the opposing side panel portion  21   a.  Said joint slots  40   a,    40   b  and joint tabs  42   a,    42   b  comprise respective interlocking female and male features being correspondingly positioned and sized to provide interlocking engagement and smooth relative motioning of adjacent hopper assemblies  20  in forward and rearward directions. 
         [0065]    Each hopper assembly  20  comprises a lid  34  and a transparent plastic window  48 . The lid  34  provides top access into the hopper structure  30  and comprises a flat rectangular form made of a similar material as the hopper structure  30 . Said lid  34  further comprises a knob  35  along a forward edge for manual opening of the lid  34 , and a pair of hinges  38  along a rearward edge being affixed using a plurality of fasteners  90 . The hinges  38  provide pivoting attachment of the lid  34  to the hopper structure  30  for convenient refilling of the dry ingredient, disposed preferably in a central vertical position. The window  48  is preferably integrally-molded into the front panel  21   b,  thereby allowing a user to observe current levels of the contained dry ingredient. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a close-up view of a dispenser plate portion  24   a  of the assembly  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The first dispensing plate  24   a  is depicted here for illustration sake. However, said dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  are arranged top to bottom, respectively, having incrementally decreasing circular apertures  25   a,    25   b,    25   c,    25   d,    25   e.  Each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  includes a forwardly extending integral handle portion  26  which provides convenient manual extension of a desired dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e.  Said handle portions  26  are envisioned to provide printed or molded-in indicia  28  along side surfaces indicating a volume or other measurement of the dry ingredient  102  being dispensed. 
         [0067]    All of the dispensing plates  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  comprise identical perimeter shapes, plastic or metal guide pins  36  which travel within the aforementioned guide slots  44 , and corresponding rubber or plastic stop buttons  37  which engage the aforementioned stop slots  46  (see  FIG. 5 ). The guide pins  36  and stop buttons  37  are located along opposing side surfaces of each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  and are affixed via press-fit insertion, adhesives, or equivalent means. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0068]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the assembly  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of mounting and preparing the assembly  10  for use may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the assembly  10  being suitably sized for a particular family of dry ingredients  102  and having a desired number of hopper assemblies  20 ; assembling the hopper assemblies  20  together by inserting respective joint slot  40   a.    40   b  and joint tab  42   a,    42   b  portions; attaching slide  62  and mounting bracket  68  portions of the mounting assembly  60  to the outermost right and left assembled hopper assemblies  20  using the provided fasteners  90 ; attaching upper surface portions of the mounting brackets  68  to a superjacent cupboard structure  100  or other structure using additional fasteners  90 ; extending a hopper assembly  20  forwardly along the slide  62  and bracket  68  portions to a convenient loading position; loading the dry ingredient  102  into the hopper structure  30  by fully inserting each dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  until each respective stop button  37  “snaps” into the stop slot  46 ; raising the lid  34  to access an inner space portion of the hopper structure  30  by grasping and lifting the knob  35  upward and rearward; pouring a desired amount of dry ingredient  102  into the hopper structure  30  until obtaining a desired level as indicated in the window  48 ; closing the lid  34 ; pressing and sliding the hopper assembly  20  to the rearward position beneath the cupboard structure; repeating the previously described filling process for remaining hopper assemblies  20 , as desired; and, printing or writing a name of each dry ingredient  102  upon respective labels  29 . The assembly  10  is now ready for use to dispense the dry ingredients  102 . 
         [0069]    The method of utilizing the assembly  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: selecting a hopper assembly  20  containing a desired dry ingredient  102  as indicated by a respective label  29 ; pulling the hopper assembly  20  outwardly from its recessed location below the cupboard structure; positioning an existing container beneath the delivery chute portion  32  of said hopper assembly  20 ; pulling at least one (1) dispensing plate  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  using respective handle portions  26  to accurately dispense a desired amount of the dry ingredient  102  onto the chute  32  and into the existing container; returning the dispensing plate(s)  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    24   e  to their rearward position until retained within the stop slot  46 ; repeating the dispensing process, if needed, to obtain a desired volume of dry ingredient  102 ; returning the hopper assembly  20  to the rearward position beneath the cupboard structure  100 ; repeating the above steps to dispense other dry ingredients  102 , as needed, from additional hopper assemblies  20 ; and, benefiting from compact containment of various dry ingredients  102  while providing accurate dispensing thereof, afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
         [0070]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.