Abstract:
A disposable container-assembly for shipping, storing and dispensing powder material such as flour, having a container body, in which the powder material is stored, and a sifter-assembly. The sifter-assembly includes a sifter-assembly-body having an enclosed wall that forms a top-end opening and a bottom-end opening. The sifter-assembly-body includes a blocking cover, a powder-clumps-breaking device and a sieve, wherein the powder-clumps-breaking device is secured between the top-end opening of the sifter-assembly-body and the sieve. The bottom portion of the container body sealingly encloses the top-end opening of the sifter-assembly-body. The blocking cover prevents an escape of powder material from the container body, during the storing or shipping states of the disposable container-assembly. The blocking cover is removed to facilitate sifting and dispensing of powder material from the container body.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of PCT application PCT/IL2012/000359, filed Oct. 17, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of containers for storing powder material and more particularly, the present invention is related to disposable storage systems or containers for storing and dispensing powder material such as flour or any other particulate matter, the container including an integrated sifter. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Generally, in a container including a sifter, the sifter of is typically used to control the dispensing rate of the powder material stored in the container, wherein that powder material has been sorted out beforehand. 
         [0004]    However, the sifter may also be used as a sieve to sort out unwanted particles, typically larger in size than the powder material, such as flour. 
         [0005]    Hence, there is a need for and it would be advantageous to have a container including an integrated sifter for storing and dispensing the powder material, while sorting out unwanted particles. 
         [0006]    It should be noted that the present invention will describe, with no limitations, the powder material stored in the container as being flour. But the present invention is not limited to containers for storing flour and any other powder or particulate matter may be stored in the container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The principle intentions of the present invention include providing a container for storing and dispensing powder material such as flour or any other particulate matter, the container including an integrated sifter. Typically, the particulate matter is stored and shipped in the container of the present invention, wherein the particulate matter is dispensed through the sieve, to thereby prevent from unwanted particles, larger than the sieve&#39;s fine holes from being dispensed. Typically, the container with the integrated sifter is disposable. 
         [0008]    According to teachings of the present inventions there is provided a disposable container-assembly for shipping, storing and dispensing powder material such as flour. The disposable container-assembly includes a container body, wherein the powder material is stored in the container body, and a sifter-assembly. 
         [0009]    The sifter-assembly includes a sifter-assembly-body having an enclosed wall that forms a top-end opening and a bottom-end opening. The enclosed wall may form any preconfigured shape. The sifter-assembly-body includes a blocking cover, a powder-clumps-breaking device, and a sieve, wherein the powder-clumps-breaking device is secured between the top-end opening of the sifter-assembly-body and the sieve. 
         [0010]    The bottom portion of the container body sealingly encloses the top-end opening of the sifter-assembly-body. 
         [0011]    The blocking cover prevents an escape of powder material from the container body, during the storing or shipping states of the disposable container-assembly. The blocking cover is removed to facilitate sifting and dispensing of powder material from the container body. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the sifter-assembly further includes a locking mechanism for locking the blocking cover onto the sifter-assembly-body, and thereby sealingly enclosing the bottom-end opening of the sifter-assembly-body. 
         [0013]    The openings in the powder-clumps-breaking device facilitate, during a sifting process, the break apart of large powder clumps. The sifter-assembly further includes a bulk of parts, dimensioned to stay in between the powder-clumps-breaking device and the sieve, wherein the parts further break apart the remaining powder-clumps into yet smaller parts. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the powder-clumps-breaking device is a powder-clumps-breaking-grid ( 160 ). 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the powder-clumps-breaking device includes a first powder-clumps-breaking unit and a second powder-clumps-breaking unit. The first powder-clumps-breaking unit includes a hollowed body, enclosed at one end by a first partition ( 264 ), while the other end is an open end, wherein one or more first elongated openings ( 266 ) are formed in the first partition. The second powder-clumps-breaking unit includes a hollowed body, enclosed at one end by a second partition ( 234 ), while the other end is an open end, wherein one or more second elongated openings ( 236 ) are formed in the first partition. When assembled, the second elongated openings are generally traversal to the first elongated openings. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the one or more second elongated openings are partially occluded by inclined walls ( 238 ), wherein the inclined walls are inclined towards the first powder-clumps-breaking unit. 
         [0017]    Optionally, supporting ribs ( 239 ) are added to support the three open edges of each of the inclined walls to the second partition. 
         [0018]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for storing, sifting and dispensing powder material. The method includes the steps of providing the disposable container-assembly of the present invention; removing the blocking cover to facilitate sifting and dispensing of the powder material stored in the container body; and shaking the sifter-assembly sideways causing motion of powder material from the container body to pass through the openings in the powder-clumps-breaking device, thereby breaking apart of large powder clumps, and motion of fine powder material to pass through the fine hole of the sieve, thereby out of the disposable container-assembly. 
         [0019]    Optionally, the sifter-assembly further includes a bulk of parts, dimensioned to stay in between the powder-clumps-breaking device and the sieve, wherein the parts further break apart the remaining powder-clumps into yet smaller parts, during the shaking of the sifter-assembly, sideways. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which drawings are generally not drawn to scale and are given by way of illustration only and thus, not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a disposable container-assembly, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the container including an integrated sifter-assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a top isometric view illustration of the sifter-assembly of the disposable container-assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a sectioned side view illustration of the sifter-assembly of the disposable container-assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a sectioned side view illustration of the sifter-assembly of the disposable container-assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , after the blocking cover has been removed. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a sectioned isometric view illustration of the disposable container-assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a top isometric exploded view illustration of the sifter-assembly of the disposable container-assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top isometric view of examples of powder-clumps-breaking-grids, according to variations of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a top isometric view illustration of the body of the sifter-assembly of the disposable container-assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the disposable container-assembly r shown in  FIG. 1 , the disposable container-assembly being in use. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a container-assembly for powder material, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the container-assembly including an integrated sifter-assembly. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a top isometric exploded view illustration of the container-assembly shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a top isometric view of an example of a first powder-clumps-breaking unit, according to variations of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a top isometric view of an example of a second powder-clumps-breaking unit, according to variations of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14   a  is a side view of the second powder-clumps-breaking unit shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 14   b  is a sectioned side view of the second powder-clumps-breaking unit shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a bottom isometric view illustration of second powder-clumps-breaking unit shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is a sectioned side view illustration of the container-assembly shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided, so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0039]    An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. 
         [0040]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. 
         [0041]    Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention can be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. 
         [0042]    It should be noted that orientation related descriptions such as “bottom”, “up”, “upper”, “down”, “lower”, “top” and the like, assumes that the associated item is operationally situated. 
         [0043]    Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only. 
         [0044]    Reference is made to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a disposable container-assembly  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention. Disposable container-assembly  100  includes container body  110  and an integrated sifter-assembly  120 . Reference is also made to  FIG. 2 , a top isometric view illustration of sifter-assembly  120 ; to  FIG. 3 , a sectioned side view illustration of sifter-assembly  120 ; to  FIG. 4 , a sectioned side view illustration of sifter-assembly  120 , after the blocking cover has been removed; to  FIG. 5 , a sectioned isometric view illustration of disposable container-assembly  100 ; and to  FIG. 6 , illustrating a top isometric exploded view of sifter-assembly  120 . 
         [0045]    Sifter-assembly  120  includes a sifter-assembly-body  130 , a blocking cover  140 , a powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  and a sieve  170 . Sifter-assembly  120  also includes a locking mechanism  150  for interlocking blocking cover  140  onto sifter-assembly-body  130 . 
         [0046]    Locking mechanism  150  shown in the drawings is given by way of example only, and other interlocking embodiments know in the art may be used within the scope of the present invention. Locking mechanism  150  includes a first pair of locking-elements  154  integrated into blocking cover  140 , and a second pair of locking-elements  152  integrated into sifter-assembly-body  130 . In the example locking mechanism  150  shown in the figures, each locking-element  152  includes a male-member  153 , and each locking-element  154  includes a respective female-member  155 . When a male-member  153  is pressed against a respective female-member  155  to cling-on thereto, locking mechanism  150  fittingly enters into a locking state and thereby, powder material stored in disposable container-assembly  100  cannot escape container body  110 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , locking mechanism  150  is shown in locking state. 
         [0047]    Container body  110  is made of material suitable to store the designate powder material. It may be made of materials such as paper, nylon, plastic and other polymers, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or any other material commonly used to store the corresponding powder material. 
         [0048]    Sifter-assembly-body  130  is a hollowed body, having enclosing walls forming two open ends. A first open-end, typically the top end, that remains open such that the inner space of sifter-assembly-body  130  coincides with the inner space of container body  110 . It should be noted that “top” and “bottom”, as used herein, refers to the common operational orientation of disposable container-assembly  100 , when the sifter is being used. The second open-end, typically the bottom end, is detachably enclosed by blocking cover  140 . 
         [0049]    Sifter-assembly-body  130  has a top section  132 , proximal to the first open-end, a middle section  134  is proximal to the second open-end and a bottom section  135 . The bottom end of container body  110  an open end, wherein the bottom portion of container body  110  is sealingly attached to top section  132  of sifter-assembly-body  130 , for example by glue, by heat, or the two are made of the same material, being integrated into a single part. Typically, with no limitation, the bottom portion of container body  110  is sealingly attached to the external surface  133  of top section  132 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In variations of the present invention, the bottom portion of container body  110  is sealingly attached to the internal surface of top section  132 . Bottom section  135  is indented inwardly with respect to middle section  134 . 
         [0050]    Reference is also made to  FIG. 8 , illustrating a top isometric view of sifter-assembly-body  130  of sifter-assembly  120  of disposable container-assembly  100 . On two or more of the internal walls of sifter-assembly-body  130 , a supporting bench  136  is formed, inwardly, as a result of the inwardly indentation of bottom section  135  with respect to middle section  134 . Powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  is fittingly dimensioned to be disposed on top of supporting bench  136 . Preferably, when assembled, powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  is pushed downwards, to surpass stoppers  138 , which stoppers  138  keep powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  in proximity to supporting bench  136 , even when disposable container-assembly  100  is not situated in a general vertical orientation. 
         [0051]    It should be noted that powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  may be formed in different geometrical layouts.  FIG. 7  is a top isometric view of some examples of powder-clumps-breaking-grids  160  ( 160   a ,  160   b  and  160   c ), according to variations of the present invention. 
         [0052]    Sieve  170  is shaped to overcast the second (bottom) open-end of sifter-assembly-body  130  and is typically securely attached, for example, with no limitation, by glue or heat, to the external surface of the bottom side of bottom section  135  of sifter-assembly-body  130  (see  FIG. 8 , as well as  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0053]    Reference is also made to  FIG. 9 , an isometric view of disposable container-assembly  100 , which disposable container-assembly is shown being in use. Locking mechanism  150  is in an unlocked-state, as blocking cover  140  has been removed. 
         [0054]    Particles  20  of the particulate matter that were stored inside disposable container-assembly  100 , are shown being dispensed out of the second (bottom) open-end of sifter-assembly-body  130 . Typically, a slight shaking of disposable container-assembly  100  is required to dispense particles  20  out of disposable container-assembly  100 . 
         [0055]    It should be noted that some types of particulate matter that were stored inside disposable container-assembly  100 , such as flour, tend to cluster together to form a clumps of the powdery matter. When such large clumps of powdery matter reach, as is, the upper surface of sieve  170 , which is typically made from a fine grid, the sifting process tend to be slow and inefficient. Therefore, by placing powder clumps-breaking-grid  160  before sieve  170 , any formed large powder clumps are broken apart by powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  into smaller parts, making the powdery matter substantially fluffier. 
         [0056]    It should be further noted that adding a bulk of parts (not shown), such as small globules, dimensioned to stay in between powder-clumps-breaking-grid  160  before sieve  170 , further breaks the remaining powder-clumps into yet smaller parts making the powdery matter even more fluffy. 
         [0057]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 10 , illustrating an isometric view of a container-assembly  200 , according to embodiments of the present invention. Container-assembly  200  includes a container body  210  and an integrated sifter-assembly  220 . Reference is also made to  FIG. 11 , illustrating a top isometric exploded view illustration of the container-assembly  200 ; to  FIG. 12 , illustrating a top isometric view of an example of a first powder-clumps-breaking unit  260 , according to variations of the present invention; to  FIG. 13 , illustrating a top isometric view of an example of a second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230 , according to variations of the present invention; to  FIG. 14   a , a side view of second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230 ; to  FIG. 14   b , illustrating a sectioned side view of second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230 ; and to  FIG. 15 , illustrating a sectioned side view illustration of container-assembly  200 . 
         [0058]    Sifter-assembly  220  includes a powder-clumps-breaking assembly  290  having a second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230  and first powder-clumps-breaking unit  260 . Sifter-assembly  220  also includes a sieve  270 , a blocking cover  240  and a locking mechanism  250  for interlocking blocking cover  240  onto sifter-assembly-body  230 , and a locking mechanism  255  for interlocking powder-clumps-breaking unit  260  onto an open-end-rim  214  of container body  210 . Sifter-assembly  220  may further include an intruding protection such as foil  280 . 
         [0059]    Locking mechanisms  250  and  255 , shown in drawing  15 , are given by way of example only. Any type of prior art locking mechanisms may be used. Furthermore, any type of prior art intruding protection may be used. 
         [0060]    Container body  210  is made of material suitable to store the designate powder material. It may be made of materials such as cardboard, nylon, plastic and other polymers, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or any other material commonly used to store the corresponding powder material. 
         [0061]    First powder-clumps-breaking unit  260  includes a hollowed body, having enclosing walls  262  that are enclosed at one end by a first partition  264 , while the other end is an open end that typically, detachably interlocks with open-end-rim  214  of container body  210 . One or more elongated openings  266  are formed in first partition  264 . 
         [0062]    Second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230  is designed to further break down powder clumps that remain after passing through elongated openings  264 . Second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230  includes a hollowed body, having enclosing walls  232  that are enclosed at one end by a second partition  234 , while the other end is an open end. Powder-clumps-breaking assembly  290  is assembled such that the inner wall surface of first powder-clumps-breaking unit  260  coincides with the external wall surface of second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230 . 
         [0063]    One or more elongated openings  236  are formed in second partition  234 , wherein when assembled, elongated openings  236  are generally traversal to elongated openings  266 . Preferably, at least one elongated opening  236  is partially blocked by an inclined wall  238 , extending from a first edge  237  of the least one elongated opening  236  towards and away from the edge of the least one elongated opening  236  opposing first edge  237  of the least one elongated opening  236 . A gap  235  is formed between inclined wall  238  and the edges of the least one elongated opening  236  other than first edge  237 . Supporting ribs  239  may be added to support the three open edges of inclined wall  238  to second partition  234 , wherein inclined walls  238  are inclined towards first powder-clumps-breaking unit  260 . 
         [0064]    It should be noted that elongated opening  236 , elongated opening  266  and inclined walls  238  may be formed in different geometrical layouts, according to variations of the present invention. 
         [0065]    Rim  233  at the open-end of second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230 , typically the bottom end, is detachably enclosed by blocking cover  240 , wherein sieve  270  is shaped to overcast the (bottom) open end of second powder-clumps-breaking unit  230  and is typically securely attached thereto (see  FIG. 15 ), for example, with no limitation, by glue or heat. It should be noted that “top” and “bottom”, as used herein, refers to the common operational orientation of container-assembly  200 , when the sifter is being used. 
         [0066]    It should be noted that some types of particulate matter that were stored inside container-assembly  200 , such as flour, tend to cluster together to form clumps of the powdery matter. When such large clumps of powdery matter reach, as is, the upper surface of sieve  270 , which is typically made from a fine grid, the sifting process tend to be slow and inefficient. Therefore, by placing powder clumps-breaking device  260  before sieve  270 , any formed large powder clumps are broken apart by powder-clumps-breaking device  260  into smaller parts, making the powdery matter substantially fluffier. 
         [0067]    By placing powder-clumps-breaking assembly  290  before sieve  270 , any formed large powder clumps are broken apart when forced to pass through elongated openings  264 . Clump of powder material coming from container body  210  is broken into smaller parts. The clump of powder material first powder-clumps-breaking unit  260  are then passed through elongated openings  234 , such that the clump of powder material are further broken apart into yet smaller parts, before reaching sieve  270 . 
         [0068]    It should be further noted that adding a bulk of parts (not shown), such as small globules, dimensioned to stay in between powder-clumps-breaking device  260  before sieve  270 , further breaks the remaining powder-clumps into yet smaller parts making the powdery matter even more fluffy. 
         [0069]    The invention being thus described in terms of embodiments and examples, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.