Abstract:
A combination grinder and container, including a lid or cover, with a fixed spot provided for holding a grinder, and making the grinder unmovable. The container saves space and time, since it is very easy to take the grinder out of the container and use it elsewhere.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/400,016, filed Feb. 17, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/010,763, filed Jan. 20, 2011, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0002]    This application also incorporates by reference the concurrently filed and commonly owned U.S. application entitled “Herb Grinder” (VIOLI-90073) by the same inventors. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly has reference to a daily-use container specifically adapted for holding ground material. 
         [0004]    There are many different containers currently in use to store nuts, cookies, tobacco and other foods and goods. When those materials need to be chopped or shredded into fine pieces, a food processor or grater is often required. However, it is not convenient to need a grinder to grind those materials and then need a separate place to store the chopped or shredded materials. 
         [0005]    Thus, a need exists for a new kind of container which solves the issues described above. The present invention fulfills those needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention relates to a new type of container with a body and a lid, including a fixed spot to hold a grinder firmly in place on either the body or lid. The container preferably has the shape of a box or jar. The lid allows the container to act as a storage receptacle for storing shredded material which has been ground. 
         [0007]    The grinder is preferably in the form of a flat sheet or card which can be inserted into a sliding slot integrated into the container unit, or placed in a recess in the container body where it is held in place by flanges or threads which provide a gripping function. Alternatively, magnets can be provided to ensure that the grinder is magnetically attached to the container. 
         [0008]    In a preferred form, the grinder is a sheet with a plurality of grooves or notches formed on the sheet to provide a grinding area. The grooves can come in a variety of different configurations, including rectangles, squares, circles, ovals, and polygons, or strips featuring aligned or staggered arrangements of grooves. The sheet can be provided with a plurality of through holes distributed in the grooves and/or on the surface of the sheet. 
         [0009]    When made in accordance with the present invention, the container provides a combination grinder and storage unit, where the storage unit has a fixed spot for holding the grinder. The combination of the grinder with a container provides added flexibility of use and convenience for the user. 
         [0010]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a box embodying novel features of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , taken substantially along the line  1 - 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a jar-like container embodying novel features of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lid shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the lid shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a grinder useful with the containers shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of an alternative grinder useful with the containers shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention is embodied in a container in the form of a box comprised of a body  1  and a lid  4 . In accordance with the present invention, the box includes an insert or inner body  2  which has a fixed spot for holding a grinder  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, the insert  2  is in the form of a tray with storage compartments. A recess is provided in the tray atop one of the storage compartments for receiving the grinder. The recess preferably conforms in shape to the shape of the grinder, so that the recess will hold the grinder immovable once the grinder is placed into the recess. Threads or grooves  21  provided around the recess function to hold the grinder  3  in place within the recess. A user can either take the grinder  3  out of the recess and use it elsewhere, or directly use the grinder  3  in the body  1 . This adds flexibility and convenience. 
         [0020]    If desired, the insert  21  can be provided with an access opening (not shown) on the side of the insert for removing ground bits from a compartment within without removing the grinder from the insert. This is especially useful when the grinder is permanently affixed in place. The insert  41  can be removable from the box  1  or it can be non-removable or permanently affixed in place within the box  1 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3 through 5  show an alternative embodiment in the form of a jar-like container shaped like a rectangular tube with rounded corners. This tube has two parts: a body la and a lid  4   a.  Within the lid  4   a,  there is a protruding edge  41  on a removable rubber gasket or seal which fits onto a mounting flange protruding from the lid, as best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The end of the flange on the lid  4   a  and the protruding edge  41  on the gasket combine to form a sliding slot  42  therebetween to hold a grinder card within the lid  4   a.  With this arrangement, the lid  4   a  can be used as an alternative container for storing ground material. Alternatively, the gasket and sliding slot  42  can be placed on the body la, which then function as both the grinder holder and a storage container for ground material. 
         [0022]    In lieu of the sliding slot  42 , the lid or body can be provided with magnets which attract and hold a metal grinder in place on the lid or body. 
         [0023]    In each of the embodiments described above, once the grinder has been attached to the container or lid, the resulting assembly can be used as a single unit. Once the grinder is attached to the container or lid, it will stay in place and allow grinding directly into the associated container or lid. That container or lid also acts as a storage receptacle for the shredded bits. After grinding, the shreds can be removed from the container very easily, when desired. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the preferred grinder  3  is flat. The shape is rectangular and is approximately the size of a credit card. The preferred grinder comprises a sheet  3  with a grooved area  31 , the sheet and grooved area combining to form a grinding region. The sidewalls of the grooves  31  can be used as a grinding edge to cut and grind all kinds of materials. It is much safer to use because the grinder does not require any cutting blades on the surface that could cut a user&#39;s fingers during use.  FIG. 7  shows the grinder card in section in order to illustrate more clearly the difference between the grooves and the surface of the grinder. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative grinder. When compared to the previous embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the grooved areas  31   a  on the grinder are square in shape and are distributed with alternating spaces in a checkerboard pattern. A plurality of through holes  32  are distributed in both the grooves and on the surface of the sheet in the spaces between the grooves. Compared with the previous embodiment, the grinding resistance is much less, and this results in a smoother and more delicate grind. In order to better illustrate the difference between the grooves and the surface of the sheet, the grooves have been illustrated with a hatching pattern in  FIG. 8  to distinguish between the grooves and the adjacent spaces between the grooves on the sheet. 
         [0026]    The through holes  32  distributed in the grooves  31  a and on the surface of the sheet  3  perform an additional grinding and cutting function. This adds an additional cutting edge to the grinder and it makes it even more efficient than the previous embodiment. The holes also have the added feature of eliminating waste bits, and preventing waste accumulation in the grooves  31   a  which could adversely affect the grinding. A plurality of through holes may be distributed both in the grooves and/or on the surface of the sheet. The diameter of the through holes  32  can vary in size and spacing. 
         [0027]    In addition to the rectangular and square shapes shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , respectively, the grooves can be formed in the shape of rings, ovals, hearts, or other polygonal shapes, and combinations thereof. They also can feature aligned and/or staggered arrangements of grooves. 
         [0028]    The notches or grooves are preferably but not necessarily rectangular in cross section with sidewalls that are preferably but not necessarily perpendicular to the flat surface of the sheet. The angle between the sidewall and the flat surface of the sheet can be either acute or obtuse. When the angle is acute, the grinding edge protrudes more. The cutting effect is enhanced, and the grinding effect is reduced. When the angle is obtuse, the cutting edge is blunt. The grinding effect is enhanced, while the cutting effect is reduced. 
         [0029]    In all of the embodiments described above, the shape of the container can be varied. It can be rectangular, square, circular, oval, cylindrical, polygonal or other shapes. The shape of the grinder preferably conforms to the shape of the container or lid in which it is held. 
         [0030]    In all of the foregoing embodiments, the grinder can be made out of plastic, metal, wood or glass, or combinations thereof. The thickness of the grinder sheet preferably varies between about 0.15 mm and 5 mm. The depth of the notches or grooves preferably is between about 0.005-2 mm. When the depth of the notch or groove is relatively small, it can grind to a more fine texture. 
         [0031]    In all of the foregoing embodiments, there are many ways of forming the notches or grooves. For example, the grooves can be formed using a CNC machine, mold stamping, laser cutting, or water jetting to process the sheets. Another option is to use mask chemical corrosion which when processing, causes the bottom of the notches or grooves to be corroded and rough, which can enhance the grinding efficiency. The surface of the sheet itself can be either smooth or rough, as desired. The holes can be formed by stamping or punching or by any other suitable means. 
         [0032]    The invention may be embodied in other forms without departure from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments described therefore are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.