Abstract:
A granule measurement apparatus is provided. The granule measurement apparatus includes a storage container, a measuring device and a dispenser. The storage container includes a top end and a bottom end. The top end forms a top opening leading into the storage container. The bottom end forms a bottom opening leading out of the storage container. The measuring device includes a top end and a bottom end, and a plurality of measuring chambers. Each of the plurality of measuring chambers includes a top opening leading into the measuring chamber and a bottom opening leading out of the measuring chamber. The dispenser formed to cover and uncover the bottom openings of each of the chambers. At least the bottom end of the storage container and the top end of the measuring device mate and are rotatable relative to one another about a common axis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/942,377, filed Feb. 20, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to measuring devices and, more particularly, to a granule measurement apparatus. 
     Various types of food and ingredients come in the form of granules and are stored in a container for use. To use them, it is required to extract a measured portion from a storage container and dispense this portion. This requires several tasks including locating the appropriate measuring device, using it to extract the portion and transferring it to the target. Each of these tasks take time and often require repeating, resulting in wasted time and unwanted messes. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved granule measurement apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a granule measurement apparatus comprises: a storage container having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end forms a top opening leading into the storage container, wherein the bottom end forms a bottom opening leading out of the storage container; a measuring device comprising a top end and a bottom end, and comprising at least one measuring chamber comprising a top opening leading into the measuring chamber and a bottom opening leading out of the measuring chamber; and a dispenser formed to cover and uncover the bottom opening of the at least one chamber, wherein the bottom end of the storage container and the top end of the measuring device mate and are rotatable relative to one another about a common axis. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the present invention, taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the present invention, showing a measuring chamber filled with granules; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention, illustrating the rotation of the measuring device; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the present invention, showing the dispensing of the granules through an angled slot; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a section view of the present invention, taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention includes a manually operated, hand-held dispenser for measured quantities of granules. The present invention combines the storage container, measuring device and dispenser into one device. The present invention enables a repeated dispensing of an accurate, measured quantity to the target with ease. The present invention can easily be altered to enable varied quantities to be measured and dispensed. The present invention can be configured to store both large and small quantities. The configuration of stored quantity to measured quantity to dispense rate can vary greatly, permitting many and varied applications. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention permits quick and easy dispensing of multiple combinations of the measured quantity. For applications that require more precise quantities to be dispensed, smaller measured quantities can be dispensed in succession to deliver the appropriate total amount. This is accomplished without sacrificing convenience. The present invention may be made from a few, simple parts that are inexpensive to manufacture, conducive to high reliability and durability, and easy to maintain and clean. Further, the present invention can be manufactured to be completely dishwasher safe. The present invention is highly scalable making it fit-for-purpose for many applications. The scale of the measured quantity can vary independently from the scale of the storage quantity. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the present invention includes a storage container  10 , a measuring device  12  and a dispenser  14 . The storage container  10  has a top end and a bottom end. The top end forms a top opening leading into the storage container  10 . The bottom end forms a bottom opening leading out of the storage container  10 . The storage container  10  includes an internal funnel  16  leading the top opening to an inner cylinder  18  which leads to the bottom opening. A threaded slot  20  may be positioned along a central vertical axis of the storage container  10 . 
     The measuring device  12  includes a top end and a bottom end, and at least one measuring chamber  22 , such as a plurality of measuring chambers  22 . Each of the measuring chambers  22  includes a top opening leading into the measuring chamber  22  and a bottom opening leading out of the measuring chamber  22 . A number of the measuring chambers  22  are arranged radially about a central axis of the measuring device  12 . The number can be varied per application to alter the number of dispensed measured quantity of granules  32  per revolution of the measuring device  12 . A non-threaded slot  24  is located along a central axis to the measuring device  12  and creates a cylindrical opening through the measuring device  12 . 
     The dispenser  14  is formed to cover and uncover the bottom openings of each of the chambers  22 . In certain embodiments, the dispenser  14  includes an angled slot  28  therethrough forming an opening at a top end and an opening at a bottom end. The top opening of the angled slot  28  is co-planar with the top surface of the dispenser  14 . The bottom opening of the angled slot  28  is co-planar with the bottom surface of the dispenser  14 . The bottom opening of the angled slot  28  may be located on the central vertical axis of the dispenser  14 . The angled slot  28  forms an angled, vertically oriented cavity passing through the dispenser  14 . A base cap may be added on which to set the present invention while not in use. The base cap may be cylindrical in shape with an inner diameter matching the outer diameter of the bottom of the dispenser  14 . 
     In certain embodiments, a threaded post  26  is fixed to and located at the top of the dispenser  14 . Alternatively, the threaded post  26  may be releasably attached to the dispenser  14  via a threaded receiver. The threaded post  26  is oriented vertically and along the central vertical axis of the dispenser  14 . A number of the fins  30  may be arranged radially around the outside surface of the dispenser  14 . To form the completed invention, the measuring device  12  is stacked on top of the dispenser  14 . The threaded post  26  passes through the non-threaded slot  24 . The storage container  10  is stacked on top of the measuring device  12 . The threaded post  26  is connected to the threaded slot  20 . In certain embodiments, the measuring device  12  may include a circular top ridge about a perimeter of the top end. The storage container  10  may be cylindrical in shape so that the bottom end of the storage device  10  fits and rotates within the top ridge. 
     In use, the top of the storage container  10  is open to permit filling with granules  32 . The granules  32  are stored here until they are dispensed. A lid element may be used on top of the storage container  10  to secure the contained granules  32  and prevent spillage as the present invention is moved from one location to the next. When dispensed, the granules  32  flow through the funnel  16  and are guided by the inner channel  18  through the opening at the bottom of the inner channel  18  and, thus, exit the storage container  10 . The threaded slot  20  serves as a connection for the threaded post  26 . The threaded post  26  penetrates through the non-threaded slot  24  and is connected to the threaded slot  20  when the present invention is assembled. The threaded post  26  serves as a bearing about which the measuring device  12  rotates. The measuring device  12  is used for measuring the quantity of granules  32  to be dispensed. The measuring chamber  22  is a cavity sized according to the quantity to be measured for the application. The non-threaded slot  24  serves as an opening through which the threaded post  26  passes and a guide about which the component is rotated. The dispenser  14  is used to dispense the granules  32  into a desired container for use once measured. Granules  32  contained in the measuring chamber  22  are dispensed through the angled slot  28  as the measuring chamber  22  rotates over the top opening of the angled slot  28 . Granules  32  exit the present invention through the opening at the bottom of the angled slot  28 . 
     The present invention is operated by positioning the opening at the bottom of the angled slot  28  over the desired target for receiving the dispensed granules  32 . The measuring device  12  is rotated and the desired measuring chamber  22  is positioned below the inner channel  18 . The storage container  10  and the measuring device  12  include a plurality of rotated positions, where each position includes the bottom opening of the storage container  10  aligned with one of the top openings of the plurality of measuring chambers  22 . Granules  32  are poured into the top opening of the storage container  10  and flow into the measuring chamber  22  until the measuring chamber  22  is full. As the measuring device  12  continues to rotate, other measuring chambers  22  may be filled. The measuring chambers  22  continue to rotate and each becomes positioned above the angled slot  28 . The granules  32  contained in the chamber  22  flow into the angled slot  28  and exit through the bottom opening of the dispenser  14 , to the target for receiving the dispensed granules  32 . 
     The size or volume of the measuring chamber  22  can vary per application. In addition, the number of cavities for the measuring chamber  22  can vary per application. This enables the present invention to support multiple configurations. Multiple variants of the measuring device  12  based on multiple variants of the measuring chamber  22  can be included with the present invention, permitting varied configurations. Each configuration may provide a unique measured quantity and unique number of deliveries per rotation of the measuring device  12 . This feature enables the present invention to deliver a range of precision for the measured quantity by replacing one measuring device  12  with another employing a unique configuration of the measuring chamber  22 . The present invention is such that the storage container  10 , the measuring device  12  and the dispenser  14  may be disassembled, and reassembled with a different measuring device  12  which employs a distinct configuration of the measuring chamber  22 . 
     In alternate embodiments, the present invention can be reconfigured to permit the simultaneous storage of multiple kinds of granules  32 . This reconfiguration may include separating the funnel  16  into multiple compartments to store each kind of granules  32  separately. Each compartment may include an inner channel  18  from which the granules would exit to the measuring chamber  22  below. Optionally, each compartment of the funnel  16  could be configured to be removable from the present invention allowing an interchange of compartments containing different kinds of granules  32 . An additional angled slot  28  may be included in the dispenser  14 . Each the angled slot  28  may be positioned to radially offset from the inner channel  18 . As the measuring device  12  is rotated and each measuring chamber  22  aligns with an inner channel  18 , granules  32  may exit the funnel  16 , flowing through an inner channel  18 , and filling a measuring chamber  22 . As the rotation continues and each the measuring chamber  22  aligns with an angled slot  28 , granules  32  may exit a measuring chamber  22 , flowing through the angled slot  28  to be dispensed. 
     The present invention can be used in many applications for dispensing granules and other solids including, but not limited to, powders, gels, and pastes. The present invention can be configured for stationary use when the quantity is not appropriate for holding manually. The present invention is prepared for use by first adding granules into the funnel  16 . The present invention can be located in relative close proximity to where dispensing occurs until needed. When granules need to be dispensed, the present invention (bottom of the angled slot  28 ) is positioned above the target and the measuring device  12  is rotated until the proper quantity has been dispensed. Once finished, the present invention can be returned to its desired location. Alternatively, the present invention can be mounted or set into a base in such a way that permits the target to be brought below the angled slot  28  to receive the dispensed granules  32 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 10 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention may include a storage container  34  with a funnel  40  and inner cylinder  42 . The storage container  34  further includes a threaded slot  44  to receive the threaded post  54 . The alternate embodiment further includes the measurer  36  having a plurality of measuring chambers  50  and a non-threaded slot  52  to receive the threaded post  54 . The alternate embodiment further includes the dispenser  38  having the angled slot  60 , the fins  62 , and the threaded post  54  protruding from the top surface. 
     The alternate embodiment further includes mating portions to further engage the interfaces between the storage container  34 , measuring device  36  and dispenser  38  for achieving tighter containment for very small granules. For example, the inner cylinder  42  includes a cylinder lip  46  protruding from a bottom portion of the storage container  34 . The measuring device  36  may include a rim about the perimeter and the non-threaded slot  52 , forming a recess  48  within which the cylinder lip  46  may sweep as the measuring device  36  is rotated. Further, each of the chambers  50  may include chamber lips  56  protruding from the bottom openings. The dispenser  38  may include an outer rim about the perimeter and another about the base of the threaded post  54 , forming a dispenser recess  58  within which the chamber lips  56  may sweep as the measuring device  36  is rotated. The chamber lips  56  may be rotated above the top opening of the sloped slot  60  for delivery of the granules  32 . The combinations of recesses and lips have the effect of sweeping any leaked granules out, and dispensing them, as the device is operated. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention may be manufactured from a variety of suitable, food-grade materials. The inherent simplicity of the components of the present invention permits manufacture from a wide range of materials such as plastics, ceramics and metals. Each component may be manufactured as a separate item and assembled for use as described above. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.