Abstract:
An electric seasoning mill includes a body having first and second holding rooms adjacent first and second ends. A motor is housed between the first and second ends. The motor has first and second output shafts extending toward the first and second ends; the first and second output shafts are rotatable in first and second directions. First and second milling assemblies are adjacent the first and second rooms; each milling assembly has stationary and rotatable portions. A first transmission shaft operatively couples the first output shaft and the first milling assembly rotatable portion; a second transmission shaft operatively couples the second output shaft and the second milling assembly rotatable portion. Means are included for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first output shaft in the first and second directions upon tilting the main body in first and second manners.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/385,807, filed Mar. 22, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,737 and titled “ELECTRIC SEASONING MILL”, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to an electric seasoning mill capable of containing and dispensing two kinds of seasonings. 
     In order to preserve the original taste of various kinds of seasonings, seasonings are usually stored in larger particle sizes, and ground and directly dispensed with seasoning grinders when people want to use them. 
     A currently existing manual seasoning mill structure includes a hollow main body, a rotary operating member connected to an upper end of the hollow main body, a transmission shaft held in the main body and turnable together with the rotary operating member, an inner toothed part joined to a lower end of the transmission shaft, and an outer toothed part positioned around the inner toothed part and secured to an inner side of the main body. Seasonings are contained in the hollow main body. Thus, the inner toothed part will turn relative to the outer toothed part to grind seasonings together with the outer toothed part when the operating member is rotated. 
     However, it requires unwarranted time and labor to use the manual seasoning mill, and it is difficult for those people who can&#39;t use their hands very dexterously to operate such seasoning mills smoothly. Further, this prior art seasoning mill can contain only one kind of seasoning or one kind of seasoning combination instead of two. 
     Various electric seasoning grinders are available such as were disclosed in Patent CH675961A5, DE20215609U1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,625, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,417. The electric grinders include a motor, a grinding mechanism, a transmission shaft connected to both the motor and the grinding mechanism, and a switch for turning on/off the motor. However, these grinders aren&#39;t very practical because they can contain only one kind of seasoning or one kind of seasoning combination. 
     Although there are several different dual-use seasoning grinders available to consumers which have two separate rooms for containing two kinds of seasonings, and although these can grind the two kinds of seasonings separately (such as were disclosed in Patents/applications US2003/052207 A1, EP0876787A, and GB256378A,) they are hand-operated and not convenient to use. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electric seasoning mill according to one embodiment disclosed herein includes a main body, a motor, a power supply unit for powering the motor, first and second milling assemblies, and first and second transmission shafts. The main body has first and second opposed ends, a first holding room adjacent the first end, and a second holding room adjacent the second end. The motor is housed in the main body between the first and second ends. The motor has a first output shaft extending toward the main body first end and a second output shaft extending toward the main body second end. The first and second output shafts are rotatable in concert in a first direction relative to the main body and rotatable in concert in a second direction relative to the main body. The first and second milling assemblies are respectively adjacent the first and second holding rooms; each milling assembly has a stationary portion and a rotatable portion. The first transmission shaft operatively couples the first output shaft and the first milling assembly rotatable portion; the second transmission shaft operatively couples the second output shaft and the second milling assembly rotatable portion. Means are included for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the first direction upon a tilting of the main body so that the first holding room is below the second holding room, and for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the second direction upon a tilting of the main body so that the second holding room is below the first holding room. 
     An electric seasoning mill according to another embodiment disclosed herein includes a main body, a motor, a power supply unit for powering the motor, first and second milling assemblies, and first and second transmission shafts. The main body has first and second opposed ends, a first holding room adjacent the first end, and a second holding room adjacent the second end. The motor is housed in the main body between the first and second ends. The motor has a first output shaft extending toward the main body first end and a second output shaft extending toward the main body second end. The first and second output shafts are rotatable relative to the main body generally simultaneously; both the first and second output shafts are rotatable in first and second directions relative to the main body. The first and second milling assemblies are respectively adjacent the first and second holding rooms; each milling assembly has a stationary portion and a rotatable portion. The first transmission shaft operatively couples the first output shaft and the first milling assembly rotatable portion; the second transmission shaft operatively couples the second output shaft and the second milling assembly rotatable portion. Means are included for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first output shaft in the first direction upon a tilting of the main body so that the first holding room is below the second holding room, and for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first output shaft in the second direction upon a tilting of the main body so that the second holding room is below the first holding room. 
     An electric seasoning mill according to another embodiment disclosed herein includes a main body, a motor, a power supply unit for powering the motor, first and second milling assemblies, a switch, and first and second transmission shafts. The main body has first and second opposed ends, a first holding room adjacent the first end, and a second holding room adjacent the second end. The motor is housed in the main body between the first and second ends. The motor has a first output shaft extending toward the main body first end and a second output shaft extending toward the main body second end. The first and second output shafts are rotatable relative to the main body generally simultaneously; both the first and second output shafts are rotatable in first and second directions relative to the main body. The first and second milling assemblies are respectively adjacent the first and second holding rooms; each milling assembly has a stationary portion and a rotatable portion. The first transmission shaft operatively couples the first output shaft and the first milling assembly rotatable portion; the second transmission shaft operatively couples the second output shaft and the second milling assembly rotatable portion. The switch has a channel containing at least one movable member. The channel has a first raised region, a second raised region, and a generally flat region connecting the first and second regions. First and second contact points are within the first raised region and biased toward a non-contacting configuration; third and fourth contact points are within the second raised region and biased toward a non-contacting configuration. The at least one movable member is configured to compel contact between the first and second contact points when the main body is tilted so that the first holding room is below the second holding room, and to compel contact between the third and fourth contact points when the main body is tilted so that the second holding room is below the first holding room. Contact between the first and second contact points completes a first circuit and causes the motor to rotate the first output shaft in the first direction; contact between the third and fourth contact points completes a second circuit and causes the motor to rotate the first output shaft in the second direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a seasoning mill according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective sectional view of the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front sectional view of the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top sectional view of the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed side sectional view of the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a control switch appropriate for use in the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a simplified circuit diagram appropriate for use in the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a locking knob appropriate for use in the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front sectional view of another control switch appropriate for use in the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 , the control switch being in a generally horizontal configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a front sectional view of the control switch of  FIG. 10 , the control switch being in a generally vertical configuration. 
         FIG. 12  is a partial perspective view of a switch appropriate for use in the seasoning mill of  FIG. 1 , the switch being shown in one configuration. 
         FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of the switch of  FIG. 12 , the switch being shown in another configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , an electric seasoning mill  100  according to an embodiment includes a main body  1 , a motor  2 , a power supply unit  3 , a control switch  4 , two transmission shafts  5 , and first and second milling assemblies  6 . 
     The main body  1  has a holding room  11  in each of two ends thereof for containing seasonings; further, the main body  1  has a connecting section  12  between the holding rooms  11 , and a longitudinal guiding rail  13  therein. 
     The motor  2  is held in the connecting section  12  of the main body  1 ; the motor  2  has first and second output shafts  21  and  21 ′ at two ends thereof; when the motor  2  is activated, the first and the second output shafts  21  and  21 ′ will always rotate in a same direction, and rotational direction of the output shafts  21  and  21 ′ can be changed. In other words, the output shafts  21  and  21 ′ can rotate in a forward direction and they can rotate in a reverse direction. The output shafts  21  and  21 ′ are each connected to a reduction gear set  22 , and the reduction gear sets  22  are each connected to an one-way ratchet  23  at an output parts thereof. 
     The power supply unit  3  is held in the connecting section  12  of the main body  1  for supplying power to the motor  2 . 
     The control switch  4  is fitted to the connecting section  12  of the main body  1  for controlling supply of power from the power supply unit  3  to the motor  2  as well as for changing the rotational direction of the output shafts  21  and  21 ′ of the motor  2 ; the control switch  4  includes a button  41 , a locking knob  42 , a sliding block  43 , first and second electricity conducting plates  44  and  44 ′, and first, second, third, and fourth acting plates  45 ,  46 ,  47 , and  48  ( FIG. 7 ). As best shown in  FIG. 9 , the button  41  has first and second pressing portions  411  at two ends thereof, which protrudes outside through a wall of the connecting section  12  of the main body  1 . The locking knob  42  has two wing portions  421 , and it is positioned between the two pressing portions  411  of the button  41 , and can be turned so as to be perpendicular to both the pressing portions  411  for locking the button  41 , thus preventing the button  41  from being depressed; the button  41  will unlock when the locking knob  42  is parallel to both the pressing portions  411  of the button  41 . The sliding block  43  is positioned next to an inner side of the button  41 , and fitted on the guiding rail  13  such that the sliding block  43  will slide along the guiding rail  13  when the main body  1  is held with one end thereof being right above the other ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first electricity conducting plate  44  has a contact point (a)  441 , a contact point (b)  442 , and a contact point (c)  443 , while the second electricity conducting plate  44 ′ has a contact point (a)  441 ′, a contact point (b)  442 ′, and a contact point (c)  443 ′. The contact point (b)  442  is connected to a negative pole of the power supply unit  3  while the contact point (b)  442 ′ is connected to a positive pole of the power supply unit  3 ; the first acting plate  45  is constantly connected to both the motor  2  and the fourth acting plate  48 , and the second acting plate  46  is constantly connected to both the motor  2  and the third acting plate  47 . The wires connecting both the acting plates  45  and  48  cross, and are off the wires connecting both the acting plates  46  and  47 . The first acting plate  45  is off and movable to touch the contact point (a)  441  of the first electricity conducting plate  44 , the second acting plate  46  is off and movable to touch the contact point (a)  441 ′ of the second electricity conducting plate  44 ′, the third acting plate  47  is off and movable to touch the contact point (c)  443 , and the fourth acting plate  48  is off and movable to touch the contact point (c)  443 ′. Under a normal condition, neither of the pressing portions  411  of the button  41  is depressed. 
     When the sliding block  43  is near to the inner side of the first pressing portion  411  of the button  41 , and the first pressing portion  411  is pressed, the sliding block  43  will press the acting plates  45  and  46  to make the acting plates  45  and  46  get into contact with the contact points (a)  441  and  441 ′ respectively, and the motor  2  will be activated to rotate in a first direction; the motor  2  won&#39;t be activated when the second pressing portion  411  of the button  41  is pressed. 
     On the other hand, when the sliding block  43  is near to the inner side of the second pressing portion  411  of the button  41 , and the second pressing portion  411  is pressed, the sliding block  43  will press the acting plates  47  and  48  to make the acting plates  47  and  48  get into contact with the contact points (c)  443  and  443 ′ respectively, and the motor  2  will be activated to rotate in a reverse direction opposite to the first one. 
     The first and the second milling assemblies  6  are held in respective ones of the holding rooms  11  of the main body  1 , positioned near to the openings of the holding rooms  11 . Each of the milling assemblies  6  includes an inner toothed part  61 , and an outer toothed part  62 , which is positioned around the inner toothed part  61  and secured to the main body  1 , near to the opening of the corresponding holding room  11 . 
     The transmission shafts  5  are each held in a respective one of the holding rooms  11 , and connected to a respective one of the one-way ratchets  23  at one end such that it will be turned with the one-way ratchet  23  only when the one-way ratchet  23  is turned in a certain predetermined direction; further, the transmission shafts  5  are each connected to a respective one of the inner toothed parts  61  of the milling assemblies  6  at the other end. 
     Therefore, when the seasoning mill  100  is held with the first output shaft  21  and the corresponding first milling assembly  6  being right under the second output shaft  21 ′ and the second output shaft&#39;s corresponding second milling assembly  6  so as to allow the sliding block  43  to slide down along the guiding rail  13  owing to gravity, and when a currently lower one of the pressing portions  411  of the button  41  is pressed, the acting plates  45  and  46  will get into contact with the contact points (a)  441  and  441 ′ respectively, and the motor  2  will start rotating in the first direction for allowing the one-way ratchet  23  connected to the first output shaft  21  to rotate and cause the corresponding transmission shaft  5  to rotate together with it. Thus, the inner toothed part  61  of the first milling assembly  6 , which is currently in the lower position, will rotate to grind seasonings together with the outer toothed part  62 . On the other hand, the one-way ratchet  23  connected to the second output shaft  21 ′ (currently in the upper position) will rotate, but it won&#39;t cause the corresponding transmission shaft  5  to rotate together with it; thus, the second milling assembly  6  (currently in the upper position) won&#39;t work. The sliding block  43  will be off the acting plates  45  and  46 , and the motor  2  will stop rotating when the user stops pressing the button  41 . And, because the sliding block  43  has slid down along the guiding rail  13  to be apart from the second pressing portion  411  of the button  41 , the motor  2  won&#39;t be activated when the mill is held in the above-mentioned position, and the second pressing portion  411  is pressed. 
     When the seasoning mill is held in an inverted position, in which position the second output shaft  21 ′ and the corresponding second milling assembly  6  are right under the first output shaft  21  so as to allow the sliding block  43  to slide down along the guiding rail  13  owing to gravity, and when a currently lower one of the pressing portions  411  of the button  41  is pressed, the acting plates  47  and  48  will get into contact with the contact points (c)  443  and  443 ′ respectively, and the motor  2  will start rotating in the reverse direction opposite to the first one for allowing the one-way ratchet  23  connected to the second output shaft  21 ′ to rotate and cause the corresponding transmission shaft  5  to rotate together with it. Thus, the inner toothed part  61  of the second milling assembly  6  (currently in the lower position) will rotate to grind seasonings together with the outer toothed part  62 . On the other hand, the one-way ratchet  23  connected to the first output shaft  21  (currently in the upper position) will rotate, but it can&#39;t cause the corresponding transmission shaft  5  to rotate together with it; thus, the first milling assembly  6  (currently in the upper position) won&#39;t work. The sliding block  43  will be off the acting plates  47  and  48 , and the motor  2  will stop rotating when the user stops pressing the button  41 . And, the motor  2  won&#39;t be activated when the first pressing portion  411  of the button  41  is pressed with the mill being held in the above-mentioned position. 
     Furthermore, when the locking knob  42  is turned to such a position that the wing portions  421  are perpendicular to the pressing portions  411  of the button  41 , and right on an outer side of the main body  1 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , the locking knob  42  will prevent the button  41  from being depressed, thus preventing the motor  2  from being accidentally activated. 
     From the above description, it can be easily seen that the electric seasoning mill  100  has two milling assemblies  6  and two holding rooms  11  for containing two kinds of seasonings or two kinds of seasoning combinations, and only a currently lower one of the milling assemblies  6  will work to grind seasonings contained in the currently lower holding room  11  no matter in which one of the upright and the inverted positions the seasoning mill  100  is held. Therefore, the seasoning mill  100  is relatively convenient to use. Furthermore, the electric seasoning mill  100  can be prevented from being accidentally activated by means of turning the locking knob  42  to such a position as to lock the button  41  of the control switch  4 ; therefore the seasoning mill  100  is relatively safe to use. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show an alternate switch  4 ′ that may be used in the seasoning mill  100  instead of (or in addition to) the switch  4  described above. The alternate switch  4 ′ includes a channel  401 ′ containing at least one movable member  402 ′. While five spherical balls are shown as movable members  402 ′, more or fewer balls may be used, and/or non-spherical members may be used. The channel  401 ′ includes a first raised region  401   a ′, a second raised region  401   b ′, and a generally flat region  401   c ′ connecting the first and second regions  401   a ′,  401   b ′. The flat region  401   c ′ may be generally parallel to the transmission shafts  5 , for example. First and second contact points  402 ′,  403 ′ are located within the first region  401   a ′, and third and fourth contact points  404 ′,  405 ′ are located within the second region  401   b′.    
     When the switch  4 ′ is at a horizontal configuration as shown in  FIG. 10  (e.g., when neither of the milling assemblies  6  is below the other milling assembly  6 ,) the movable member(s)  402 ′ are located in the flat region  401   c ′ due to gravity. While the movable member(s)  402 ′ are located in the flat region  401   c ′, the first and second contact points  402 ′,  403 ′ do not contact each other, and the third and fourth contact points  404 ′,  405 ′ do not contact each other; the motor  2  remains inactivated, and neither milling assembly  6  rotates. 
     When the switch  4 ′ is at a vertical configuration as shown in  FIG. 11  (e.g., when one of the milling assemblies  6  is below the other milling assembly  6 ,) the movable member(s)  402 ′ are located in the first raised region  401   a ′ or the second raised region  401   b ′ due to gravity. When the movable member(s)  402 ′ are located in the first or second raised region  401   a ′,  401   b ′, the movable member(s)  402 ′ force the first contact point  402 ′ to contact the second contact point  403 ′ or the third contact point  404 ′ to contact the fourth contact point  405 ′, respectively. As illustration,  FIG. 11  shows the movable member(s)  402 ′ in the first raised region  401   a ′, causing the first contact point  402 ′ to contact the second contact point  403 ′. 
     Contact between the first and second contact points  402 ′,  403 ′ completes an electrical circuit and causes the motor  2  to rotate in one direction as described above. Contact between the third and fourth contact points  404 ′,  405 ′ completes another electrical circuit and causes the motor  2  to rotate in another direction as described above. As such, the motor  2  may be automatically actuated and a respective milling assembly  6  may be utilized simply by holding the main body  1  in a non-horizontal manner. It should be understood that the amount of angle between the first raised region  401   a ′ and the flat region  401   c ′ and between the second raised region  401   b ′ and the flat region  401   c ′ can be altered to affect the amount of tilt required to contact the respective contact point  402 ′,  404 ′ with the movable member(s)  402 ′. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show a switch  120  that may be used in addition to (or instead of) the switch  4 ′ described above in relation to  FIGS. 10 and 11  or to the switch  4  described above. The switch  120  selectively completes an electrical circuit or at least a portion of an electrical circuit, allowing the motor  2  to rotate as described above. More particularly, when the electrical circuit incorporating the switch  120  is not completed ( FIG. 12 ), the motor  2  may not be actuated; when the electrical circuit incorporating the switch  120  is completed ( FIG. 13 ), the motor  2  may be actuated as long as any additional switch (e.g., the switch  4 ′ or the switch  4 ) is activated. 
     The switch  120  includes first and second contact members  121 ,  122  and a driving member  123 . The first and second contact members  121 ,  122  are biased so that the first and second contact members  121 ,  122  are not typically in contact, as shown in  FIG. 12 . The driving member  123  may selectively force the first contact member  121  to contact the second contact member  122 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . When the first and second members  121 ,  122  are not in contact, the electrical circuit or the portion of the electrical circuit is not completed. When the first and second members  121 ,  122  are in contact, the electrical circuit or the portion of the electrical circuit is completed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the driving member  123  may have a coupling portion  124  that is seated in a groove  125  defined by the main body  1 . The groove  125  may extend completely around the main body  1  as shown, or the groove  125  may alternately extend around only a portion of the main body  1 . An outer wall  124   a  of the coupling portion  124  may be accessed by a user to selectively move the driving member  123  as discussed above. While a specific driving member  123  has been shown and discussed, it should be understood that the driving member  123  may be configured differently to selectively force contact between the first and second contact members  121 ,  122  and that such is contemplated herein. 
     Those skilled in the art appreciate that variations from the specified embodiments disclosed above are contemplated herein. The description should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims.