Abstract:
A pasta dispenser includes a portion wheel having variously sized apertures. The portion wheel is integrated into a cap or lid for the dispenser. In use, the user turns the portion wheel to the desired portion size, tips the dispenser, and retrieves the correct amount of pasta. In some embodiments the apertures are oval. Further, some embodiments include an integrated lid that covers the portion wheel to create a contaminate free enclosure for storing pasta. Yet other embodiments include a pasta dispenser including a head unit having an aperture opening and a shutter that can be slid or rotated over the head unit to partially block the aperture opening. When the container is tipped, portions of pasta can slide out of the opening.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application of co-pending provisional application 61/105,522, filed on Oct. 15, 2008, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Portion measurers for long-noodle pasta such as spaghetti, fettuccini, linguini, bucatini, and angel-hair pasta are known. A typical portion measurer is a series of different-sized holes through a material through which the long noodles are passed. The amount that passes through the selected hole is a precisely measured amount of dry pasta that, when cooked, provides the desired amount of cooked pasta. 
     These measurers fail to be convenient, however, in that they are an extra kitchen gadget that must be located each time pasta is measured. 
     Another type of pasta measurer is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,361 to Gorski et al., which includes a container to hold pasta, but lacks any mechanism to positively select any particular quantity. Instead, Gorski&#39;s container includes measurement marks for a sliding door to gate the pasta, but nothing keeps the door in a set position during operation. 
     Embodiments of the invention address this and other limitations of the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side-view isometric drawing of a pasta dispenser according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are top-view isometric drawings of a selector wheel that is integrated into the cap of the pasta dispenser of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2C  is a top-view isometric drawing of a frame structured to support one of the selector wheels of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the selector wheel of  FIG. 2A  integrated into a cover assembly having a baffle opening according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cut-away side view of one of the selector wheels of  FIG. 2A  or  2 B, cover assembly of  FIG. 3  and a cover lid according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an edge of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  in concert with one of the selector wheels of  FIG. 2A  or  2 B according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lid assembly according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 6  according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A pasta storage container or dispenser having an integrated portion selector is generally illustrated as  10  in  FIG. 1 . The dispenser  10  has an elongated shape that is generally 8-12 inches tall, which is tall enough to fully contain standard (10″) long noodle pasta. Of course, the dispenser could be sized differently to store shorter or longer pasta noodles. 
     The dispenser body  12  is generally a thin-walled columnar container having an open top, and sides integrated with a generally flat bottom. In some embodiments the top of the dispenser  10  is enclosed by being attached to or formed integral with a pasta measuring head, lid, or cover as described below. The material thickness of the sidewalls and bottom are dictated by commercial factors such as material cost and weight, and does not affect operation of the dispenser  10 . Additionally, the dispenser body  12  may be an existing product to which the measuring portions described below are attached. In such an embodiment either the pasta dispenser manufacturer or the consumer may provide the existing and compatible dispenser body  12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the body  12  has a large enough cavity to store a standard box or package of spaghetti or other long noodle. Further, for best operation of the dispenser, the body  12  should be large enough such that an entire package of spaghetti fits fully within the body with extra room so that the noodles can slide over themselves when the dispenser  10  is tipped, as described below. 
     Preferred embodiments of the body  12  of the dispenser  10  are made from a non-porous material such as food grade plastic, stainless steel, glass, or any other suitable material. The container should preferably serve as sanitary storage that prevents dust, dirt, moisture, and insects or other pests from entering the container when closed. Selection of material for the body  12  will affect how a lid  16  (described below) attaches to the body  12 . The outside surface of the body  12  can be formed so as to make the dispenser  10  easy to handle. In some embodiments this could be accomplished by making the body  12  from a plastic having a surface that is partially roughened or shaped, such as a series of ridges, to increase friction when holding the body. In other embodiments a high-friction surface such as a rubber or plastic can be applied to the body  12 . In yet other embodiments, the body  12  may have ergonomic recesses that correspond to a person&#39;s fingers, which provides a comfortable and secure grip on the body  12  when a person is handling the pasta storage dispenser. All of these embodiments may improve the security of the pasta storage dispenser in a user&#39;s hand when it is being tipped over to dispense pasta, especially if it is being tipped over a pot of boiling water where steam may interfere with the user&#39;s grip security. 
     As described in more detail below, the lid  16  includes a projection or fin  22  as well as one or more measuring holes or apertures  24 . In operation the user grabs the projection  22  and spins the lid  16  to select a desired measuring aperture  24 . The lid  16 , which may be used in conjunction with a frame or cover, may include multiple, various-sized apertures each of which allows a different number of portions of pasta to pass when the dispenser  10  is tipped. The user simply spins the lid  16  or otherwise selects the desired number of portions, then tips the dispenser  10  to remove the corresponding amount of pasta. 
       FIG. 2A  is a top view of a portion wheel  202  that controls portion sizes of long pasta as it is removed from the dispenser  10 . The portion wheel  202  includes a series of apertures  204  therethrough. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the apertures  204  are elongated ovals. Having oval apertures  204  has an advantage in that more apertures can be included in the portion wheel  202  than if the apertures were circular, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . Another advantage of oval apertures  204  over circular is that more material in the portion wheel  202  is preserved, which makes the portion wheel sturdier. While there are advantages to using non-circular shaped apertures, other factors may dictate that circular apertures be used. Although oval and circular shaped apertures  204  are discussed above, these apertures  204  may be formed in any shape or arrangement that provides an opening through which pasta may be dispensed. The apertures  204  are sized such that a measured, desired amount of pasta will easily slide through the selected aperture when the dispenser  10  is tipped, while the remainder of the pasta continues to be contained within the dispenser. A label near each aperture  204  indicates to the user the standard portion size of the particular aperture. A handle  208  is integrated or otherwise attached to the portion wheel  202  to allow the user to spin the portion wheel to the desired aperture. The handle  208  is sized and shaped for easy manual operation. In some embodiments, the handle  208  may include a circular knob that can easily be gripped and spun by a user, while in other embodiments the handle is a fin or other-shaped projection that allows the user to rotate or select the portion wheel  202 . In still further embodiments the user may directly spin a side surface of the portion wheel  202 , which may, for instance include serrations to increase grip. 
       FIG. 2B  is a top view of a portion wheel  222 , which is similar to the portion wheel  202  illustrated in  FIG. 2A . The portion wheel  222  includes circular apertures  224 . Differently than in with the portion wheel  202 , the portion wheel  222  includes non-sequentially sized apertures  224 . For instance, to measure five servings of pasta, the user first measures four servings through the aperture  224  labeled “ 4 ,” then adds the pasta taken through the aperture  224  labeled “ 1 .” Due to manufacturing limitations it may be impossible to include every possible intermediate-sized hole between the largest and smallest aperture  224 . 
     Either of the portion wheels  202 ,  222  may operate in conjunction with a static frame  242 , illustrated in  FIG. 2C , which includes its own aperture  244 . The static frame  242  may be fixed to the container  12  as described above. The static frame  242  may include a series of recesses  240  that couple with a projection  228  created on a surface of the frame opposite the handle  228 . In other words, a projection  230  is made on the underside of the static frame  242 , opposite the handle  228 . When the portion wheel  222  is rotated, the projection  230  aligns with one of the recesses  240  to keep the portion wheel  222  “locked” in position. In practice the portion wheel  222  may slide relatively easily between selections, yet still feel secure when locked. In operation, the user selects a particular number of portions desired to be measured and rotates the portion wheel to the selected portion. This aligns the correct aperture  224  with the aperture  244  in the frame  242 . When the container  10  is tipped, the pasta slides through the aperture  244  of the frame  242  as well as through the measuring aperture  224  of the portion wheel  222 . The user then grabs the measured amount of pasta or lets it fall directly into a cooking pot. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. Instead of mating the portion wheel  202  with a frame  242 , as illustrated and described with reference to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C, a cover assembly  302  is used in connection with the portion wheel  202 , to make the cover or lid for the dispenser  10 . The cover assembly includes a baffle opening  310 , through which the desired aperture  204  can be selected. In this embodiment the conic form of the handle  208  of the portion wheel  202  extends through a central opening  312  of the cover assembly  302 , but other arrangements are acceptable and within the concept of the invention. 
     The arrangement between the cover assembly  302  and the portion wheel  202  can be any arrangement that allows simple and easy operation of the portion wheel while the cover assembly is attached to the dispenser body  12 . In some embodiments the portion wheel  202  has a slideable friction fit relationship with the cover assembly  302 , such that the portion wheel can move relatively easily, but remains set at the desired aperture  204  after the user has set it. The friction can come either through the central opening  312  and/or due to contact between an upper surface of the portion wheel  202  and an inside surface of the cover assembly  302 . Alternatively, radially-extending ridges may be formed on the top surface of the portion wheel  202  to correspond to a plurality of recesses or grooves formed on a lower surface of the cover assembly  302 , similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2B and 2C  above. The portion wheel  202  may still be rotated relative to the cover assembly  302 , but it will snap or lock into place when the ridges match up with the recesses. These matching locations will typically correspond to instances when the apertures  204  are aligned with the baffle opening  310 . 
     In operation, the user grabs the handle  208  and rotates the portion wheel  202  until the desired aperture  204  appears within the baffle opening  310 . The user then tips the pasta dispenser  10  upside-down, which causes the desired (and measured) amount of pasta to slide through the selected aperture  204 . The extra pasta is blocked from passing through any of the non-selected apertures  204  by the cover assembly  302 . Only pasta that passes through both the baffle opening  310  in the cover assembly  302  and the selected aperture  204  within the baffle opening slides from the dispenser  10 , while the remaining pasta remains within the dispenser. The user then grabs the measured pasta that extends through the aperture  204  and completely removes it from the dispenser  10  for cooking. The user may also tilt the pasta dispenser  10  directly over a pot of boiling water so that the measured portion of pasta slides directly into the boiling water. 
     In other embodiments the portion wheel  202  need not be circular, but in fact could be any shape. In one contemplated embodiment the portion wheel  202  could actually be an elongated rectangle or “strip” having apertures  204 . In such an embodiment the strip is moved linearly until the desired aperture  204  appears within the baffle opening  310  of the cover assembly  302  or the aperture  244  of the frame  242  of  FIG. 2C . 
       FIG. 4  is a side cut-away view of components of the lid  16  of  FIG. 1  that attaches to the body  12  (not illustrated) to make the dispenser  10 . What is generally referred to as the lid  16  can have various components without deviating from the invention. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  the lid  16  includes the portion wheel  202 , cover assembly  302  and a cap  402 . The cover assembly  302  and portion wheel  202  were described above. Although not illustrated in  FIG. 4 , at least one of the edges of at least one of the apertures  204  of the portion wheel  202  aligns with an inside surface of the container  10  so that the pasta can slide against the inside surface and out the aperture without binding or mis-alignment. 
     The cap  402  can be a solid cap that completely encapsulates the cover assembly  302  and portion wheel  202 . One purpose of the cap  402  is to prevent moisture from passing through the cover assembly  302  and portion wheel  202 , which could cause the pasta within the dispenser  10  to go stale. In addition, the cap  402  can prevent dust, insects, or other contaminates from entering the dispenser  10 . 
     In one embodiment the cap  402  is friction fit and “snaps” over the cover assembly  302  using an integrated deformable ridge  404 . In other embodiments the cap  402  can have other relationships with the cover assembly  302 , such as screw-threads or other known mating mechanisms. In other embodiments, the cap  402  is not present at all, and instead the portion wheel  202  has a “blank” space instead of one of the apertures  204 . In such an embodiment, to “close” the dispenser  10 , the user moves the blank space in the selector wheel to align with the baffle opening  310 , which creates a moisture seal barrier to preserve the pasta within the dispenser. In other embodiments, a reverse orientation of the baffle window and apertures are possible. That is, the cover assembly may have a variety of fixed portion-measuring apertures and the rotatable selector wheel may have a singular baffle opening that lines up with one of the fixed apertures in the cover (or a “blank” space on the cover). 
     The lid assembly  16 , in whatever configuration, is coupled to the dispenser body  12  to create the complete dispenser  10 . The coupling mechanism may be fixed or detachable and can include, for example, a snap-fit deformation under a ridge present on the body  12  and cap  402 , a threaded engagement between the body  12  and lid assembly  16 , a hinged relationship where one portion of the lid assembly is permanently attached to the body  12 , or a deformable material seal, such as a rubber seal disposed between the body  12  and the lid assembly  16 . In other embodiments, the cover assembly  302  may be statically fixed to the body  12  and a fill cover  18  ( FIG. 1 ) may be included on the lower portion of the body  12  for adding additional pasta to the pasta dispenser  10 . The fill cover  18  may be attached to the body  12  by corresponding threaded portions, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and may include a molded handle in recess, also as shown. Other embodiments may attach through snap-fit portions or other similar connection means. Any forms of attachment that allow the pasta to be placed in the body  12  and measured through some sort of cover are acceptable alternatives. 
     Either or both of the dispenser body  12  and lid  402  may include measuring marks to indicate liquid or solid measure. For example, the lid  402  or dispenser body  12  may include marks for measuring portions of short-noodle pasta, such as macaroni noodles or penne pasta. In another embodiment, the body  12  and/or lid  402  may include measuring marks for a measured amount of water, or olive oil, seasonings, etc. In still further embodiments the body  12  and/or lid  402  may include measuring marks for measuring multiple different types of contents. 
       FIG. 5  is a cutaway side-view of one side of the dispenser body  12  and its relationship to a section of the portion wheel  202  that includes apertures  204 . Additionally  FIG. 5  illustrates long-noodle pasta  502  sliding through an aperture  204  for use. One feature included in some embodiments is that the edge of the aperture  204  of the selection wheel  202  aligns with the inside surface of the dispenser body  12 . This feature allows the pasta  502  to easily slide down an edge of the dispenser body  12  and out the aperture  204 . If instead the aperture extended beyond the inside edge of the dispenser body  12  or did not extend far enough toward the edge, or otherwise be out of alignment, the pasta may lean or tilt as the pasta is sliding out of the aperture  204 , which could cause the pasta to get stuck within the aperture. Using the structure described above the pasta generally slides directly down the inside surface of the dispenser body and through the aperture  204  without clogging the aperture. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show another embodiment of a lid assembly for the pasta dispenser that allows a user to dispense various measured portions of pasta.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lid assembly  600  according to other embodiments of the invention. Unlike the lid  16  illustrated in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C,  3  and  4 , which included a selector wheel  202  having separate apertures  204  for dispensing a portion-related amount of pasta, the lid assembly  600  includes a cover or shutter  620  that can be operatively moved to increase or decrease an exposed area of a portion opening  615  of the lid assembly  600  for dispensing a portion-related amount of pasta. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lid assembly  600  includes a head unit  610  that attaches or is integral with to the elongated body  12  of the pasta dispenser. The head unit  610  may include a relatively flat face  612  in which the singular portion opening or aperture  615  is formed. A cover or shutter  620  is attached to the head unit  610  through a pivot or hinge  622  so that the cover  620  can be moved by the user relative to the head unit  610  to expose more or less of the portion opening  615 . The pivot  622  may include a pivot receiver (not shown) formed on or within the head unit  610  and a nub (not shown) formed on or integral with the cover  620  to interface with the pivot receiver. This pivot  622  configuration allows the cover  620  to rotate about the pivot  622  relative to the head unit  610 . 
     The head unit  610  may also include a selection lock  630  having a series of notches or indentations  635 . The cover  620  includes a selector handle (yieldable portion)  625  that extends from the cover  620  to interface with the selection lock  630 . The selector handle  625  may be sized appropriately or may additionally include a ridge  628  that correlates to the series of notches  635  so that the selector handle and its attached cover  620 , are held in place once an opening size is selected. The selector handle  625  may for formed of a material that can deform or yield slightly without damage to the material so that the selector handle  625  may be relatively easily and securely moved among the notches of the selection lock  630 . 
     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the selection lock  630  is integrally formed with the head unit  610  to form a handle-shaped attachment with the notches  635  being formed on the underside of the selection lock  630 . However, in other embodiments, the selection lock  630  may simply include a top edge of the head unit  610  that has notches  635  pointing upward. In this arrangement, the selector handle  625  of the cover  620  would be formed to fit over the top of the selection lock  630  with a ridge  628  oriented downward to correlate with the notches  635 . 
     The lid assembly  600  may be attached to the body  12  of the pasta dispenser  10  in a similar manner to the embodiments discussed above. In operation, the cover  620  may be rotated relative to the head unit  610  by moving the selector handle  625  between the notches  635  of the selection lock to uncover or expose a desired amount of the portion opening  615 . The notches  635  on the selection lock  630  may be associated with portion measurements so that a user could move the selector handle  625  to a particular position where the ridge  628  of the selector handle  625  interfaced with a notch  635  associated with a desired portion measurement. When a desired portion measurement is obtained, the user simply tilts the pasta dispenser  10  to allow the desired portion of pasta to pass through the portion opening  615  while retaining the remainder of the pasta in the dispenser  10 . The cover  620  may be further configured to completely cover and seal the portion opening  615  when it is completely closed, e.g., when the selector handle  625  is moved to the far left in  FIG. 6 . 
     Some embodiments of the invention have been described above, and in addition, some specific details are shown for purposes of illustrating the inventive principles. However, numerous other arrangements may be devised in accordance with the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. Further, well known processes have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, while the invention is described in conjunction with the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is not limited to these embodiments or drawings. Rather, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that come within the scope and spirit of the inventive principles set out in the appended claims.