Abstract:
A dry mix particulate dispenser includes a container configured to hold a dry mix particulate. The container has a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one side wall. The container includes a dispenser opening formed in the bottom portion and a sloped interior wall within the container is angled in a direction generally toward the opening. A slide track is positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the container receives an elongate slider. The slider including an opening formed therein which can be selectively aligned with the dispenser opening.

Description:
The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/170,942, filed Dec. 15, 1999, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to dry particulate dispensers. More specifically, the present invention relates to dry particulate dispensers such as those used to dispense food products. 
     Dry particulates, such as cereal, salad toppings, peanuts, crushed cookies, candy pieces, “sprinkles”, etc., are frequently used in food preparation. One simple technique for applying these toppings is to hold the various toppings in containers and then use a spoon to dispense the desired amount of a topping. However, this simple technique is not well suited for consumer food outlets such as salad bars, restaurants, ice cream shops, etc., which may experience high volume sales. Additionally, this simple technique does not provide accurate regulation in the amount of toppings dispensed and is prone to contamination. 
     Frequently, more sophisticated dispensers than the simple spoon method discussed above are used to dispense dry particulates. However, some dispensing methods do not provide accurate portion control and do not provide consistent product flow out of the dispenser. Such dispensers are frequently gravity fed in which gravity is used to draw the particulate from the dispenser. However, dispensers can have problems when dispensing a “tough flow” product which does not flow easily from the dispenser. Such a tough flow product tends to bridge or plug the dispenser opening. This plugging can cause the end user to under dispense which can cause the user to dispense again, resulting in an inconsistent product and causing higher costs due to waste in dispensing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a dry mix particulate dispenser includes a container configured to hold a dry mix-particulate. The container has a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one side wall. The container includes a dispenser opening formed in the bottom portion and a sloped interior wall within the container is angled in a direction generally toward the dispenser opening. A slide track is positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the container. An elongate slider is configured to be slidably received in the slide track. The slider including an opening formed therein which can be selectively aligned with the dispenser opening. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a dry mix particulate dispenser in accordance with one embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is a isometric exploded view of the dispenser of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dispenser and a bracket for holding a plurality of dispensers. 
     FIG. 5 shows an example of three different sliders for use with the dispenser of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 taken along the line labeled  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the dispenser shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the dispenser relative to a mold core used to fabricate a hopper body. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dry particulate dispenser  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In one aspect, the configuration of dispenser  10  solves plugging issues related to operation, of gravity fed dispensers. Dispenser  10  includes a hopper body  12  which is covered by a lid  14  along a top portion  15 . A slider track  16  extends along a bottom portion  17  of a hopper body  12 . A slider  18 , shown in more detail below, slidably fits in track  16  and is used for dispensing dry particulate. A spout  20  extends out of track  16 . As discussed in more detail below, hopper body  12  is configured to hold a dry particulate which can be selectively dispensed by moving slider  18  in slider track  16 . 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of dispenser  10  of FIG.  1 . In FIG. 2 the placement of lid  14  over hopper body  12  can be seen. Similarly, slider  18  can be seen in more detail. Slider  18  includes a front handle portion  30 , an opening  32  and back tabs  34 . Back tabs  34  are configured to engage tab stops  36  to prevent further movement of slider  18  within track  16 . This is more clearly illustrated in the side view of FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 also shows a front wall  33  and a sloped back wall  92 . 
     FIG. 3 also illustrates the movement of slider  18  within slider track  16 . Slider  18  can be moved between a dispense and a reset position. In the reset position which is illustrated in FIG. 3, the opening  32  in slider  18  is aligned with an opening in the base of hopper body  12 . In this position, gravity draws dry particulate into opening  32 . As discussed below in more detail, the angled walls along with the vibrations caused by movement of the slider body encourage the flow of the particulate into opening  32 . Slider  18  can then be pushed inward, into track  16  and into the dispense position in which opening  32  is aligned with spout  20 . As opening  32  comes into alignment with spout  20 , gravity draws the particulate from opening  32  and through spout  20 . Preferably a cup or other object is positioned below spout  20  to receive the dispensed particulate. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a hopper offset bracket  58  configured to carry a plurality of dispensers  10 . In the embodiment of FIG. 4, offset bracket  58  is configured to hold four dispensers  10 . Offset bracket  58  includes a support surface  52  configured to support the slider track  16  of dispenser  10  and having openings  54  formed therein configured to receive spouts  20  therethrough. Wall brackets  50  are provided for mounting on a wall and supporting hopper offset bracket  50 . This attachment can be, for example, through screws or other attachment means. A back wall  58  configured to receive back wall tab  40  dispenser  10 . Slider brackets  60  and  62  are mounted on back wall  58  and configured to slidably receive a back wall tab  40  of dispenser  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, dispenser  10  can be slidably received between any two brackets  60 ,  62 . Brackets  60 ,  62 , back wall  58  and support surface  52  secure dispenser  10  within hopper offset bracket  58 . The configuration illustrated in FIG.  4 , provides an easy technique for using multiple dispensers  10  which the dispenser can be quickly moved from the bracket, cleaned or refilled. Additionally, the back wall  58  prevents removal of slider  18  from slider track  16  while dispenser is in use. 
     FIG. 5 shows three example sliders  18 A,  18 B and  18 C having respectively larger openings  32 A,  32 B and  32 C formed therein. Based upon the size of the particulate being dispensed from dispenser  10 , an appropriately sized opening  32  can be chosen. For example, a small opening  32 A is appropriate for a small diameter particulate whereas a large opening such as  32 C is appropriate for larger diameter particulates such as cereal products, partially broken cookies, etc. 
     One aspect of the present invention includes the recognition that the particular configuration and angle of interior side walls can be selected to help promote particulate product flow, especially those products which have flow difficulty such as crushed cookies, through the hopper body  12 . The desired flow characteristics can be achieved by selecting the appropriate compound angles on interior side walls of hopper body  12 . In one aspect, hopper body  12  has interior side wall angles such that the wall spacing is wider at the bottom of the hopper body  12 . As illustrated in FIG.  9  through the use of a compound taper facilitates a mold core to be removed from the body in an injection molding process. However, injection molding a single piece body  12  having a single dimensional taper that opposes removal of the core is difficult. In one aspect of the invention, a second angle is added to the interior of the hopper  12  such that a single piece core can be produced. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the core  110  can then be removed from the back of the hopper. This second angle preferably extends from the front portion of the hopper body  12  toward the back portion with the angle wider at the back and narrower at the front. In another aspect, the front portion around wall  33  of the hopper body  12  has a rounded or curved shape. This curvature also helps improve product flow. Preferably, when the slider  18  is in the “reset” position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the opening  32  is flush with the opening of the hopper body  12  to ensure a more consistent flow of the particulate product. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of hopper body  12 . In the Figure, the hopper body  12  is shown to include back wall  92  and front wall  33 , which is positioned near a D-shaped opening  93  located in the bottom portion  17  of body  12  and side walls  84 . Front wall  33  conforms to openings  93  and  32 . An angle  86  between side walls  84  is shown in FIG.  6 . Angle  86  is a front to back angle in the horizontal plane. The angle is relative to a vertical plane. In one preferred embodiment, half of this angle is about 7°. However, in one preferred range, half of this angle is between 4.7° and 8.0°. In another preferred range, half of angle  86  is between 2.0° and 5.8°. The angle of the individual side walls  84  relative to the length of the hopper is half these values. Preferably, this angle is selected to facilitate injection molding body  12  as a single unit. 
     FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of hopper body  12  along the line labeled  7 — 7  in FIG.  1 . FIG. 7 shows an angle A between side walls  84  in a vertical plane, the angle is relative to a horizontal plane. In one preferred embodiment, angle A is about 2.0°. In another embodiment, angle A is between about 0° and 3.0°. In still another preferred embodiment, angle A is between about 2.0° and 5.0°. The angle of the individual side walls  84  relative to the height of the hopper are half these values. Angle A shown in FIG.  7  and angle  86  shown in FIG. 6 should be selected to achieve the desired flow of particulate through hopper  12 . Angles  86  and A can be selected in any combination to achieve the desired flow for a particular dry particulate. The compound angles A and  86  provide good flow and allow hopper body  12  to be molded as a single unit. 
     Hopper body  12  also includes a sloped interior wall  92  which is angled toward opening  32 . Wall  92  forms an angle  94  with a horizontal plane. Angle  94  is preferably 58°. However, in various preferred embodiments angle  94  is between about 45° and 60°, or between about 50° and 75°. 
     FIG. 7 also shows hopper top  91  which is formed in top portion  15  of hopper body  12  in greater detail. Hopper top is located on the top of hopper body  12  and provides a funnel shape to direct particulate into the angled interior portion of hopper body  12 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective cutaway view of dispenser  10 . FIG. 8 more clearly shows opening  93  in hopper body  12 . As illustrated, opening  93  has a front general “D” shape with a radius towards the front of hopper body  12 . The front radius of opening  93  is generally configured to match the opening  32  in slider  18 . 
     FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view of dispenser  10  and a mold core  110 . FIG. 9 illustrates the molding process used to fabricate dispenser  10  and hopper body  12 . Additionally, FIG. 9 illustrates how the compound angles facilitate the molding process. When using the injection molding to fabricate a body, the molded body cannot have any undercuts relative to the mold core. This configuration is achieved, along with the desired slope towards opening  93 , in accordance with the present invention and through the use of a compound wall angle. The mold core  110  is to be removed from the molded hopper body  12  along a diagonal as illustrated by arrow  112 . The core  110  cannot be extracted straight vertically due to the sloped walls. 
     The present dispenser provides a technique for dispensing dry particulate with reduced problems associated with bridging, improved portion control and reduced costs. Dispenser is easily produced and is easy to use with a variety of products. The motion of the slider  18  can also provide a thumping or a vibration which can act to move particulate into the slider opening. The curved front generally conforms to the curve of opening  32  to eliminate any interior ledge which could collect or trap product. Further, the curved wall is angled at preferably 1° from vertical to encourage product flow toward opening  32 . Ranges for this angle include between 0° and 3.0° or between 2.0° and 5.0°. The angled walls are directed such that the product does not become wedged which can also cause bridging. The sliding dispensing compartment formed by its opening is preferably large enough to accept larger particulates along with fine particulates. When the particulate size exceeds the size of the opening of the dispenser, movement of the slider shears the large particulate without displacing product which is already in the dispensing compartment. The spout  20  also provide an extended outlet which is suitable for inserting into a cup to minimize waste. As the particulates do not bridge, and the dispensed amount is accurately placed in the desired location, the operator is less likely to double dispense thereby reducing waste. This helps create a more consistent tasting end product and at the same time reduces waste through over dispensing. 
     The hopper body is preferably made of the polycarbonate or a polypropylene for easy molding. The design preferably provides a large opening near the top for easy loading which also provides extra volume. The angled interior walls preferably blend into a curved front region. The slider track is preferably integral at the bottom of the hopper and contains the slider without requiring the use of additional tools to attach or remove the slider. This provides ease of use as well as ease in cleaning. Sliders having different sized openings can be used as desired for the particular product being dispensed. The lid can be easily attached the top to keep the product clean and fresh. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred 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 invention. For example, the various angles, angle ranges, and configurations can be used in any combination. In one aspect, dispensers other than a slider in a slider track can be used.