Abstract:
A container-dispenser ( 100 ) with bipartite lids, each lid ( 10 ) having an upper lid ( 10   a ) with a port ( 20 ) or coupling spout ( 10   d ), and a lower lid ( 10   b ) that couples the lid to the container ( 30 ). Upper and lower lids rotate independently of one another. The upper lid underside has protruding chamber seals ( 60 ). The container body ( 30 ) features one or more storage chambers ( 30   a ) formed by fixed or removable walls ( 40 ), mating channels ( 30   b  30 d  30 f ) for the walls, a conical base ( 30   i ), and a center post ( 30   c ) rising out of the base. The base separates the chamber area from a storage space ( 30   e ) housing a funnel ( 50 ) with a truncated threaded neck. To use, the lid having a spout is coupled to the top of the container body, the upper lid rotated until the spout is directly over the desired chamber. The funnel and spout are coupled prior to filling a chamber with powder. Powder is dispensed through the spout minus the funnel.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to the field of containers and dispensers for quantities of food. More particularly, the invention pertains to the field of combined container-dispenser apparatuses designed to store, organize, dispense, and transport quantities of food, particularly powdered foods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Travel has always created inconvenience, but in particular, those who travel frequently are constantly subject to difficult transportation options with respect to supplements or pre-measured foods. Vitamins and other small pills are easily organized, stored, and transported in pill containers, but no easy solution exists for powder supplements, such as whey protein drink mixes, powdered vitamin drinks, baby formula, ground coffee, etc. When a single powder supplement is used, a traveler will place a quantity of powder into a plastic bag or container, and then pack a measuring scoop or spoon, a drink container into which the powder is dispensed, and a stirring tool such as a whisk for mixing the powder. The main problem with this solution is its inconvenience, and premeasuring and preparing multiple small bags or loose containers so as to eliminate the measuring utensil is tedious and bulky. 
         [0003]    When multiple powders are used, organizing, packing, and mixing the powders becomes even more difficult: separate containers and separate scoops must be packed, labelled, and organized as there is no universal or standard amount of powder for any given supplement—so one brand of supplement may have its own scoop and a different brand may use a completely different scoop, and the powder containers and measuring scoops must be identified and kept organized. Further, whether a traveler takes a single powder or multiple powders, the powders must be mixed with a source of liquid, and for many travelers, bottled water is the only reliable and readily available clean source of potable water. The water bottle lid also allows the traveler to mix the powder by shaking the bottle&#39;s contents, eliminating the need for a mixing tool. However, since powders are generally messy to measure, dispense, and mix even when using a cup, when the bottle of water is the only liquid container that can be used for mixing the powder, unless the traveler remembered to bring a funnel, measuring and then dispensing the powder cleanly and completely into the bottle of water is a hassle. In particular, the combination of a tall, thin water bottle and a wobbly funnel inserted into, but not securely attached to the bottle, creates spillage opportunities. 
         [0004]    Even if the traveler is very organized and can remember all the measuring scoops, amounts, etc., using plastic bags or disposable containers are not always a good option for storing and transporting multiple powders, since bags can rip and common plastic containers stored in a suitcase are subject to abuse during travel and may crack or spill powder. Bags or containers can also get lost, so the traveler must scrupulously count and organize the multiple bags or containers to ensure a dose is not missing. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a container that can safely and conveniently transport premeasured quantities of powder or other foods and keep quantities of stored powders or other foods separate from one another. 
         [0006]    What is also needed is an easy to use dispenser that allows convenient dispensing of powder from the container into a conventional water bottle, and cleanly dispenses other foods. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus for storing and dispensing a quantity of material is comprised of a container body having a top and a bottom adapted to couple with a first lid comprised of a spout on a top side of the first lid, and a chamber seal on an underside of the first lid. The container body further houses a chamber for storing the quantity of material, the stored quantity of material accessed through the top of the container body via an aperture formed in the first lid that is covered by the spout. The spout further formed with mating means for removably coupling with a funnel having mating means formed on a funnel neck. 
         [0008]    Still in a first aspect of the invention, a second lid having a port on a top side of the second lid and a chamber seal on an underside of the second lid is adapted to couple with at least one of the top and the bottom of the container body. When the first lid is coupled to the top of the container body, the first lid is a functional lid of the invention, allowing the quantity of material to be stored or dispensed, and the second lid typically is coupled to the bottom of the container body. When the second lid is coupled to the top of the container body, the second lid is the functional lid of the invention, and the first lid is coupled to the bottom of the container body. 
         [0009]    In a second aspect of the invention, the first lid and the second lid are further comprised of an upper lid and a lower lid. The upper lid is coupled to the lower lid so as to allow the upper lid to rotate independently of the lower lid when the lower lid is removably coupled to at least one of the top and the bottom of the container body. 
         [0010]    In a third aspect of the invention, the container body is further comprised of a base with a center post affixed to the base, the base affixed to a container interior wall such that the base and affixed center post define the chamber and a storage space beneath the base housed inside the container body. The storage space is sized and shaped to receive the funnel. 
         [0011]    In a fourth aspect of the invention, at least two walls positioned inside the chamber are provided, the walls affixed to at least one of the center post, the base, and the container interior wall so as to create a second chamber housed inside the container body. In some embodiments, the at least two walls are permanently affixed to at least one of the center post, the base, and the container interior wall. In other embodiments, the center post, the base, and the container interior wall are further comprised of receiving means sized and shaped to removably receive the at least two walls. 
         [0012]    In a fifth aspect of the invention, the chamber seal is further formed so as to protrude into the chamber when the first lid or the second lid is mated with the top of the container body. In some embodiments, two or more chamber seals are provided, each chamber seal held in spaced apart relationship from another chamber seal by chamfered walls formed into each chamber seal separated by a valley formed between the chamfered walls. When the first lid or the second lid is coupled to the top of the container body, and there are two or more chambers housed inside the container body, a top of each wall defining the chambers is positioned in the valley between each chamber seal, thereby sealing the contents of each chamber and preventing cross contamination of the quantity of material stored in each chamber. 
         [0013]    In a sixth aspect of the invention, the center post is formed with a blind hole sized and shaped to receive a pen whereby the pen is stored at least partially inside the blind hole. 
         [0014]    In a seventh aspect of the invention, the funnel neck is further comprised of a through-hole and the mating means are formed on an exterior perimeter of the funnel neck, and wherein the mating means of the spout are formed on an interior perimeter of the spout. 
         [0015]    In an eighth aspect of the invention, at least one of the container body and the lid is made of a BPA-free plastic. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1A  is an exploded side elevation view of a dual lid container and dispenser according to the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view with a partial cutaway of the dual lid container and dispenser shown in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0019]      FIG. 1C  is a side elevation view of the dual lid container and dispenser of  FIG. 1B , showing a cross section of the container body, including a storage space for storing a funnel beneath a base. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2A-C  are three top views of an interior space of the container body,  FIGS. 2A-B  showing an adjustable chamber space using removable walls, and  FIG. 2C  shows a multi-chambered container body, with adjustable or fixed walls. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lid with a spout and a flip top lid covering a port according to the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the lid with the spout shown in a storage position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a lid with a port with the flip top shown in a dispensing position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an underside of the lid shown in  FIGS. 4A and 6 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  is a side elevation view of the lid in  FIGS. 4A-B . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of an underside of the lid shown in  FIG. 4B . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the funnel and the lid in  FIG. 4A , showing how the funnel engages the spout when the spout is in a dispensing position. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0028]    The following is a list of reference labels used in the drawings to label components of different embodiments of the invention, and the names of the indicated components.
     100  dual lid container and dispenser apparatus lid     10   a  upper lid     10   b  lower lid     10   bb  threads on lower lid     10   c  space or gap     10   d  spout     10   e  threads (on spout)     10   f  aperture     20  port     20   a  flip top     30  container body     30   a  chamber     30   b  wall channel     30   c  center post     30   d  post channel     30   e  funnel storage space     30   f  receiving means (channel or furrow)     30   g  threads on container body     30   h  interior cylindrical wall of container body     30   i  base     40  wall     40   a  angled wall bottom     50  funnel     50   a  threads     50   b  neck     60  chamber seals     60   a  chamfered wall     60   b  valley     70  writing implement or pen   
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0058]    The invention  100  is an improved dual lid compartmentalized container described below and in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         [0059]    The invention allows dietary supplements, in powdered form or apportioned or pieced, such as pills, to be easily and safely transported, stored, organized and dispensed. The term “dietary supplements” is meant to include any edible form of powder, pills or small foods such as nuts, candy, granola, and even ground coffee and dried herbs. The invention protects the dietary supplements during transportation since the container body is designed to withstand moderate impact and physical abuse that potentially occurs during travel conditions. 
         [0060]    The inventors note that the invention&#39;s primary function is the transportation, storage, organization, separation and dispensing of various powders into the small openings of bottles (i.e. water bottles) where the normal methods of scooping powder from one container to another is either undesirable or not practical. 
         [0061]    Turning now to the Figures, the invention  100  is comprised of a cylindrical container body  30  having an array of threads  30   g  formed into the container body walls at a top and a bottom of the container body  30 . The container body  30  is comprised of an adjustable chamber  30   a , the chamber  30   a  defined by a cylindrical interior wall  30   h  of the container body, an opening at the top of the container body  30  and a base  30   i  defined by a continuous sloped wall, the base resembling an inverted cone with an affixed center post  30   c  rising from an apex of the cone through the chamber  30   a  and to the top of the container body. 
         [0062]    In a typical embodiment having at least one removable internal wall  40 , the interior container wall  30   h  is further comprised of at least one wall channel  30   b , in the Figures shown as a pair of relatively short, raised walls in parallel, spaced apart relationship. Opposite the wall channel  30   b  and formed along the center post  30   c  is a post channel  30   d  having a pair of parallel raised walls similar in size and shape as the those of the opposed wall channel  30   b , and a same spaced apart relationship as that of the oppose wall channel  30   b.    
         [0063]    Turning to the Figures, in  FIGS. 2A-B , the chamber  30   a  is shown having differing configurations of internal walls  40 . In  FIG. 2C , in one embodiment, the container body  30  is divided into eight individually separated chambers that are fixed, or customizable, and in other embodiments consistent with  FIGS. 2A-B , the walls  40  can be removably inserted into the wall channels and the post channels so as to form a total of eight chambers, but by removing three walls  40 , for instance, five chambers  30   a  are created and so on. Any variation or array from one large chamber (no walls) to a total of eight chambers (eight walls) is possible. 
         [0064]    In the embodiments shown that provide removable walls  40 , the sloped walls forming the base  30   i  are further formed with a channel or furrow  30   f  to receive an angled wall bottom  40   a  of the wall  40 . The channels  30   b    30   d    30   f  prevent powder from one chamber leaking into an adjoining chamber. The chambers  30   a  allow for the convenient separation and organization of dietary supplements, and allow a single container to both powdered supplements and apportioned supplements such as pills, but in separate chambers. It should be noted that the walls  40 , post channels  30   d , and wall channels  30   b  span the entire length of the chamber  30   a , from the base  30   i  to the an uppermost edge of the container body  30 , as shown in  FIG. 1A . This configuration prevents stored dietary supplements in one chamber  30   a  from spilling or cross contaminating stored dietary supplements in another chamber  30   a.    
         [0065]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3-5C , the invention provides for a pair of lids  10 , each lid identical to the other except for the presence of a spout  10   d  on a first lid ( FIGS. 3,4A ) and a port  20  with a flip top  20   a  on a second lid ( FIG. 1B,4B ). Each lid  10  is further comprised of an upper lid  10   a  into which the spout  10   d  or the port  20  and the flip top  20   a  is affixed, and a lower lid  10   b  having mating means, typically threads  10   bb  formed along an interior perimeter, the threads  10   bb  mating with the array of threads  30   g  formed along the top and the bottom of the container body  30 . Either lid can be screwed onto or mated with the top or the bottom of the container body  30 , but the lid mated to the top of the container body, allowing access to the chamber  30   a , is a current functioning lid, and can be either the lid having the spout or the lid having the port and flip top. The inventors believe that complementary threaded mating structures are the most convenient way in which to secure the lids to the container body, however the threads are just a typical example of mating structure suitable for the invention and are not meant to limit the mating of the lid to the container body to just mating threads. Pressure seals formed along the interior perimeter of the lids for instance, could also be used, where coupling consists of forcing the lid onto the relevant top or bottom of the container body, and where the seals and the container body deform so as to permit coupling of the lid to the container body. Clamps formed on the lid can also be used to secure the lid onto the container body, as well as other variations of mating threads that consist of locking the lid to the container body by turning and engaging mating parts. 
         [0066]    The upper and the lower lids are held in spaced apart relationship by a space or gap  10   c , allowing the upper lid  10   a  to rotate freely and independently of the lower lid  10   b  while the lower lid  10   b  is secured to the container. It should be noted that in the Figures, the size of the gap  10   c  is for illustration purposes only, to show that the lids are separate, and in other embodiments, the gap  10   c  also encompasses adjacent lower and upper lids. The lower lid secures the lid  10  to the container body  30 , while the upper lid  10   a  is rotatably coupled to the lower lid  10   b.    
         [0067]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4A-B , and  FIGS. 5A-C , the upper lid  10   a  on a top side is formed with either the spout  10   d  or the port  20 , but on an underside of the upper lid  10   a  ( FIG. 5A ) a plurality of chamber seals  60  protrude from the underside of the upper lid  10   a , and an opening for the spout  10   d  is shown as an aperture  10   f . In a typical embodiment, the chamber seals  60  are defined by chamfered walls  60   a  and each chamber seal is separated from another by valleys  60   b  sized and shaped to correspond with the walls  40  defining the chambers  30   a , such that when the lid  10  is secured to the top of the container body, the chamber seals  60  seat down into the chamber  30   a , and a top of each wall  40  lodges securely into a valley  60   b , thus sealing the chamber contents therein. It should be noted that the chamber seals  60  extend almost all the way to the junction of where a flat portion of the upper lid meets a vertical wall that is itself rotatably affixed to the lower lid, as shown in the Figures, so as to allow the chamber seal  60  to completely and effectively seal off the chamber and its contents. When the lid is comprised of the port  20  and flip top  20   a , the aperture  10   f  on the underside of the upper lid is provided as an opening beneath the flip top  20   a  that defined by the valley  60   b  of the immediately adjacent chamber seals  60  and their respective chamfered walls  60   a , and thus comprises an entire triangular-shaped area corresponding to the size of a chamber seal directly below the flip top  20   a.    
         [0068]    When the lid  10  is secured onto the container body  30 , a user grasps the upper lid  10   a  and rotates it a predetermined rotational distance. The chamfered walls  60   a  allow the chamber seal to move more easily over the top of the wall  40  and then “click” into place over the next chamber  30   a , sealing the chamber. It is important to note here that the embodiments show the chamber seal side walls as typically chamfered, beveled, curved, or otherwise shaped along the outer edges to as to reduce friction when turning the upper lid in either direction while still sealing off each chamber. The inventors use the term “chamfered wall” to indicate that the outer edges of the chamber seals are shaped so as to reduce friction when the upper lid is rotated, and is not meant to limit the shape of the chamber seal outer edges as being only chamfered. 
         [0069]    Access to any specific chamber is achieved by rotating the spout  10   d  or port  20  directly over the desired chamber. When the functioning lid is comprised of the port  20 , the flip top  20   a  is flipped open and the container is tilted to allow dispensing of apportioned or pieced dietary supplements such as pills, nuts, granola, and other larger objects. The chamber seals  60  of the lid  10  prevent the contents of the other chambers  30   a  from being dispensed. Turning to  FIG. 5A , the aperture  10   f  is shown as a through-hole leading directly to an opening in the spout. For both lids, the sloping walls of the chamber seals immediately adjacent the aperture  10   f  function as a funnel channeling the dietary supplements stored in the respective chamber out of the spout or port and allowing easy dispensing. 
         [0070]    When the functioning lid is comprised of the spout  10   d , the spout is flipped up and the contents of the chamber directly below the spout can be dispensed through the spout by simply tilting the container body  30 . The spout in particular allows for neat and accurate dispensing of dietary supplements in powdered form into a small opening, such as a mouth of a water bottle. 
         [0071]    The lid  10  secured onto the bottom of the container body  30  covers and removal therewith allows access to a funnel  50  housed in a storage space  30   e  formed by the conical base  30   i . The center post  30   c  at its lowermost end affixed to the apex of the conical base is adapted to receive a neck  50   b  of the funnel  50 , either by a blind hole formed in a portion of the center post  30   c  or, as in some embodiments, the center post  30   c  is at least in part a hollow tube adapted to receive both the neck and a writing implement or pen  70 . The neck  50   b  is further formed with mating means, typically threads  50   a  adapted to couple with threads  10   e  formed on an interior perimeter of the spout. The mating structures  10   e    50   a  of the spout and funnel allow the funnel to be secured to the container, and thus the neck of the funnel can be shortened significantly and yet be both functional and secure inside the spout. The spout itself, with its inner threads, when mated with the funnel neck, becomes an extension of the funnel neck, and thus eliminates the need for the relatively long neck found on conventional funnels, the long neck providing stability when powder or other materials are poured into the conical material collection portion of the funnel. The inventors have thus apportioned the funnel neck length so as to be shared between the spout and the funnel, and by doing so have created a separate, functional spout and a secure funnel that can neatly and accurately store into the chamber, or dispense out of the chamber, the powdered supplements. It should be noted that the only time the funnel is used is to fill the chambers, and when not in use, the funnel is conveniently stored inside the container body, beneath the chamber portion in the storage space. The spout is used to dispense powder from the chambers. 
         [0072]    The inventors have noted through personal experience that water bottles, purchased prefilled, or reusable and self-filled, are convenient containers into which powdered supplements may be dispensed, mixed, and then ingested. They have noted however that trying to pour powdered supplements into a small water bottle neck is difficult because powder is difficult to pour and control, and measuring utensils such as scoops are not designed for pouring powders into narrow openings. Hence, the invention  100  allows the user to quickly and conveniently premeasure, store, and dispense powdered supplements by first removing the lid on the bottom of the container body, removing the funnel, and in some embodiments, the optional pen  70 , and then securely couple the funnel neck to the spout via the threads  10   e    50   a . A scoop of other measuring utensil can easily be used to then pour a premeasured quantity of powdered supplement into the funnel and thus into the chamber  30   a . Individual chambers can be filled with different powders, or the same powder but of varying amounts, etc. as desired by turning the top portion of the lid to the desired chamber. When the chambers are filled, in some embodiments, the pen is used to write directly onto the container, to indicate a time to ingest the powder, days of the week, identification of powder itself, etc. Once the funnel  50  and in some embodiments, the pen  70  are stored again inside the storage area  30   e  and the lid is replaced, securing the funnel and pen. The invention  100  thus allows the user to easily organize, store, and then dispense powders and other foods, based on the lid selected. Threads  10   e    50   a  on the inner perimeter of the spout and the outer perimeter of the neck  50   b  prevent residual powder from spilling when the funnel  50  is uncoupled from the spout  10   d , and keeps the threads  10   e    50   a  clean and residue-free. 
         [0073]    The container body  30   a  is typically made of a transparent or translucent BPA-free plastic, to allow users visual ease in identifying chamber contents. The container walls  30   h  may also be provided with an area that allows personalization of each chamber, to help the user identify the contents therein. In some embodiments, the lids  10  will allow for identification of contents, or feature numbers, days of the week, etc. so as to allow the user a further visual reminder of contents, dosage, and other pertinent information. The container body  30  is sized and shaped to comfortably fit into an average sized hand, and conveniently store into cup holders or in carry-on luggage. The container height, in a typical embodiment, is approximately 6-8 inches, but the inventors note that many different sizes are possible. A diameter of the container body, in a typical embodiment, is approximately 4 inches, but again, a variety of diameters may be suitable. 
         [0074]    The inventors note that the channels  30   b    30   d    30   f  are shown in the Figures as either raised walls with a centralized slot adapted to receive a side of the wall  40 , or as grooves or furrows adapted to receive the side of the wall, and channels, grooves, or furrows can be provided interchangeably on the container walls  30   h , center post  30   c , and base  30   i . The idea behind the groove, furrow, or channel is to provide a way for the side of the wall to mate with the container wall, center post, and base so as to create a spill-proof chamber. 
         [0075]    It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, the inventors note that the two-piece lid described above can be made in a variety of ways to allow the lower lid to secure the entire lid structure onto the container body and yet allow the upper lid to rotate. For instance, a rim or flange may be formed inside the perimeter of both lower and upper lids, with the rim or flange of one lid resting atop the rim or flange of the other. This sort of arrangement is already present on a number of portable coffee mug lids with rotating open/close ports to allow the user to drink the beverage or close the drinking port by rotating a lid over the opening. Many other two-piece lids are known in the art, and the inventors believe that many existing two-piece lid mechanisms can be used with their invention, so long as the lids incorporate the chamber seals described above. 
         [0076]    It should also be noted that while the inventors wish to maximize chamber space for storing dietary supplements, and thus the walls feature an angled bottom wall that form the base of the container that in turn forms a funnel-shaped storage area immediately below the chambers, the base does not necessarily have to be funnel shaped, and a non-angled wall and thus a flat base would result in a cylindrical or other shaped storage area beneath the base that would allow extra room for storing other miscellaneous items, and thus is consistent with the inventors&#39; invention and the concept of providing storage space below the chambers.