Abstract:
There is provided a dry food dispensing apparatus for connecting to a storage receptacle, for the purpose of controlling the portion size and accuracy of the dispensed food, the apparatus having a base providing a housing defining a hollow circumferential interior with a centrally disposed hub, an extraction means disposed in the housing for extracting a first pre-determined portion of the dry food, a rotatable cell holder having a centrally disposed socket for engaging the hub of the base from above, having at least one open-bottomed cell for receiving and temporarily storing the extracted first pre-determined portion; and a dispensing aperture formed in a bottom of the base for releasing the first temporarily stored portion when the extraction means is operated to extract a second pre-determined portion, and wherein said extraction means is operated in a cyclical fashion to obtain from the extracted portions a desired quantity of the dry food.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to bulk dispensing systems for dry foods, and more particularly to a system for dispensing pre-determined quantities of dry foods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Dry food dispensers are widely used for various types of food and in many establishments. Dispensers are popularly used for breakfast cereals in hotels, but not limited to them only. 
         [0003]    One of the most widely used sports supplements by far is protein powder. Protein powders are available in gyms, health food stores and the like. These powders are generally stored in bottles or large tubs, and the portions are extracted and measured by a scooper of a known size or volume. The use of a scooper depends on hand manipulation, and is therefore messy, creates waste of product and is unsanitary. 
         [0004]    Dispensers are gaining popularity in the field of toppings in ice cream and yogurt shops as well, and by so, maintaining the freshness and cleanliness of the toppings, instead of them being poured into bowls and being exposed to possible contaminates. 
         [0005]    In some cases it is essential that dry food be accurately measured, for instance, in the case of protein powder, as part of a nutritional and work-out program for athletes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the limitations of prior art dispensers. 
         [0007]    The inventive dry food dispenser is designed to dispense food, stored in a storage receptacle, in portions in accordance with pre-determined quantities dependent upon the operation of the dispensing apparatus. 
         [0008]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a dry food dispensing apparatus for connecting to a storage receptacle, for the purpose of controlling the portion size of the dispensed food, said apparatus comprising: 
         [0009]    a base comprising a housing defining a hollow circumferential interior with a centrally disposed hub; 
         [0010]    an extraction means disposed in said housing for extracting a first pre-determined portion of the dry food; 
         [0011]    a rotatable cell holder comprising a centrally disposed socket for engaging said hub of said base from above, having at least one open-bottomed cell for receiving and temporarily storing said extracted first pre-determined portion; and 
         [0012]    a dispensing aperture formed in a bottom of said base for releasing said first temporarily stored portion when said extraction means is operated to extract a second pre-determined portion, 
         [0013]    wherein said extraction means is operated in a cyclical fashion to obtain from said extracted portions a desired quantity of the dry food. 
         [0014]    According to a preferred embodiment, the inventive multi-portioned control dispenser provides dispensing of an accurate pre-determined portion, while maintaining freshness of the food stored in a receptacle. The inventive dispenser further avoids messiness, waste and contamination of the food. 
         [0015]    Further according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extraction means is provided with a static cell cover which is used for the dispensing of granular dry food and is provided with two levels, a bottom level and a top level. 
         [0016]    According to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extraction means is provided with a static cell cover which is used for the dispensing of powdered food and is provided with a single level. 
         [0017]    According to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the single level cell cover and the two-leveled cell cover include a screw thread for directly connecting a bottle of dry food to the dispensing apparatus. 
         [0018]    Additional features and advantages will become apparent from the following drawings and description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections throughout, and in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows the multi portion control dispenser of the present invention, attached to a storage receptacle; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3A-B  show a perspective and top view of the base of the dispenser; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the cell holder and cassette of the dispenser; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  shows the cell cover, for granulated foods, of the dispenser; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  shows the cell cover of  FIG. 5A  connected to a mixer; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 6A-B  show the dispenser in operation; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 7A-B  show a cell cover having a threaded screw for directly screwing onto a bottle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  shows a cell cover for powders; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a mixer for powders; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  shows the mixer of  FIG. 8  mounted onto the cell cover of  FIG. 7  seated in the base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a system for dispensing pre-determined multi-portioned quantities of dry foods, granulated or powdered. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown multi-portioned control food dispenser  100 , having dispensing apparatus  200 , comprising extraction means and releasing means, connected to the bottom of food storage receptacle  80 . Dispensing apparatus  200  comprises a base  10  which has a slidable handle  12 , moved sideways for dispensing each portion. Clip  14  connects base  10  to receptacle  80  and locks it into its position. A cutaway view of receptacle  80  is shown, for revealing cell cover  28 , mixer  36  and nut  146 . 
         [0033]    Wall mounting bracket  16  is positioned at the back side of base  10 , for the option of mounting the food dispenser  100  on a wall. 
         [0034]    As will be further described herein, dry food dispenser  100  is designed to dispense food, stored in storage receptacle  80 , in portions in accordance with pre-determined quantities dependent upon the operation of dispensing apparatus  200 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective exploded view of dispensing apparatus  200 , showing base  10 , cell holder  18 , cassette  24 , cell cover  28  and mixer  36 . 
         [0036]    Cylindrical base  10  has a hollow circumferential interior with a centrally disposed hub  11 , and has a slidable handle  12  extending from hub  11  through and externally to wall  13  of base  10 . The volume of the interior is defined by wall  13  and floor  17  (see  FIG. 3A ), with a dispensing aperture  15  formed in floor  17  on the bottom of base  10 . As described further in  FIGS. 3A-B , aperture  15  provides an exit of dry food dispensed from dispenser  100 . 
         [0037]    Base  10  further has connecting clips  14  disposed on both sides, and wall mounting bracket  16  for the option of mounting dispenser  100  on a wall. 
         [0038]    Rotatable cell holder  18  is ring-shaped and is adapted to be seated within the hollow interior of base  10 , and has a centrally disposed socket  22  for engaging hub  11  from above. Cell holder  18  has two cell apertures  20   a - b  formed therein for insertion of open-bottomed cells  26   a - b  of cassette  24 . Cassette  24  may vary in the sizes of cells  26 , ranging from approx. 5 cc per cell to approx. 35 cc. Wall  23  of cell holder  18  has slot  21  formed therein to accommodate handle  12  from within base  10 , so that when handle  12  is slid from side to side, hub  11  rotates and cell holder  18  is rotated along with it. 
         [0039]    Double-leveled cell cover  28  is placed over cell holder  18  and is used as a partition between the dry food in storage receptacle  80  above it and dispensing apparatus  200 . Cell cover  28  is static and is seated over rotatable cell holder  18  via a centrally-disposed hole  29  accommodating socket  22  of cell holder  18 . The partition of cell cover  28  is provided by the bottom level  30  which is formed with two cell openings  31   a - b  (see  FIG. 5A ). These openings  31   a - b,  enable dry food to fall through them and into cells  26   a - b.  Bottom level  30  is formed as a slanted surface with cell openings  31   a - b  positioned across from each other. The slanted surface of bottom level  30  directs the dry food into cells  26   a - b.  Top-level section  32  of cell cover  28  has two semi-rigid wipers  34  disposed vertically to bottom level  30 . Lower edges of wipers  34  provide a wiping function for the purpose of assuring portion accuracy by wiping any excess dry food accumulated over cells  26   a - b.  Wipers  34  are semi-rigid and adapted to be flexible enough so as to avoid breaking hard granular food such as nuts, and rigid enough so as to avoid having the hard food jam the movement of cell holder  18 . Cell cover  28  has a rim  35  which surrounds wall  23  of cell holder  18  when seated upon it, for preventing the food from spilling out of cell holder  18 . 
         [0040]    Seated over cell cover  28  is mixer  36  which connects to socket  22  via stem  38  inserted through hole  29 . Wings  40  extend from stem  38 , and they rotate with handle  12  sliding movement, thereby mixing the dry food in storage receptacle  80  for the purpose of avoiding agglomeration. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A-B , there is shown cylindrical base  10  having a hollow circumferential interior with a centrally disposed hub  11  having a slidable handle  12  extending therefrom and protruding through a window  19  formed in wall  13  of base  10 . Base  10  further has connecting clips  14  disposed on both sides, and wall mounting bracket  16  for the option of mounting dispenser  100  on a wall. The hollow interior is formed with dispensing aperture  15 , as shown in  FIG. 3B , on the bottom of base  10  for the exit of the dry food from dispenser  100 . Cell holder  18  is seated in the hollow circumferential interior, as described in  FIG. 4  herein below. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown cell holder  18  having cell apertures  20   a - b  formed therein, for the insertion of open-bottomed cells  26   a - b  of cassette  24 . Cassette  24  may vary the size of cells  26   a - b  each defining a pre-determined volume capacity. Cassette  24  is interchangeable with any other cassette having different cell sizes, according to the need and the specific dry food to be dispensed from dispenser  100 . 
         [0043]    Cassette  24  may be made of polypropylene or any other suitable material. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 5A , there is shown cell cover  28 , unattached to the other parts of dispenser  100 . Cell cover  28  is double-leveled and is used as a partition between the dry food in storage receptacle  80  above it and dispensing apparatus  200 . Cell cover  28  is static and is seated over rotatable cell holder  18  via a centrally-disposed hole  29  accommodating socket  22  of cell holder  18  (see  FIG. 4 ). Cell cover  28  is provided by the bottom level  30  which is formed with two cell openings  31   a - b.  These cell openings  31   a - b,  enable dry food to fall through them and into cells  26   a - b,  when they are aligned. Bottom level  30  is formed as a slanted surface to direct the dry food into cells  26   a - b.  Top-level section  32  of cell cover  28  has two semi-rigid wipers  34  disposed vertically to bottom level  30 . Lower edges of wipers  34  provide a wiping function for the purpose of assuring portion accuracy by wiping any excess dry food accumulated over cells  26   a - b.  Wipers  34  are semi-rigid and adapted to be flexible enough so as to avoid breaking hard granular food such as nuts, and rigid enough so as to avoid having the hard food jam the movement of cell holder  18 . Cell cover  28  has a rim  35  which surrounds wall  23  of cell holder  18  (see  FIG. 4 ) when seated upon it, for preventing the food from spilling out of cell holder  18 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 5B , there is shown cell cover  28  with mixer  36  seated over it. Mixer  36  connects to socket  22  via stem  38 , inserted through hole  29  (see  FIG. 4 ). Wings  40  extend from stem  38 , and they rotate with handle  12  sliding movement, thereby mixing the dry food in storage receptacle  80  for the purpose of avoiding agglomeration. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6A-B , there is shown the dispenser apparatus  200  in use. The components of dispenser apparatus  200  are assembled and storage receptacle  80  is seated over base  10  and filled with dry food  50 . Wall  23  has a slot  21  formed therein, for accommodating handle  12  of base  10 . 
         [0047]    Use of dispenser  100  for dispensing portions of dry food  50 , involves a cyclical operation of extraction and release performed in a repeatable fashion. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 6A , cell  26   a  is aligned with opening  31   a  and is filled with the dry food  50  spilling from storage receptacle  80  above (not shown), while floor  17  (not shown) of base  10  provides a bottom for open-bottomed cell  26   a  so that the food  50  stays in the cell  26 . 
         [0049]    When handle  12  is slid from one side to the other in a first direction, hub  11  rotates and cell holder  18  is rotated along with it (see  FIGS. 2 and 3A ). The rotation of cell holder  18  thereby rotates cassette  24 , until cell  26   a  is aligned with dispensing aperture  15  so that the dry food  50  is released and drops from open-bottomed cell  26   a  through dispensing aperture  15  and exits dispenser  100 . 
         [0050]    Thus as a result of the motion of handle  12  shown in  FIG. 6A , cell  26   b  is aligned with opening  31   b,  as shown in  FIG. 6B . At this point cell  26   b  is aligned with opening  31   b  and is filled with dry food  50 . For dispensing the portion of food  50  in cell  26   b,  handle  12  is slid back to the other direction. This cyclical dispensing operation is repeated multiple times until storage receptacle  80  is empty, and then it may be refilled. 
         [0051]    With every movement of handle  12 , mixer  36  is rotated along, so that wings  40  mix the contained dry food  50  for the purpose of avoiding agglomeration. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-B , there is shown cell cover  128 , adapted for use with powdered foods, unlike granular foods. Cell cover  128  has a single level, which is flat surface  130 , with hole  29  disposed in the center for accommodating socket  22  of cell holder  18  (not shown here). 
         [0053]    A feature for easily and directly attaching cell cover  128  to a commercially sold bottle  90  of powdered food is screw threads  135 . Screw threads  135  allow for a manufacturer&#39;s bottle  90  of powdered food, such as protein powder, to be directly attached to dispensing apparatus  200 , rather than transferring the contents of bottle  90  into storage receptacle  80 , thereby avoiding possible spillage and contamination of the powder. 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown cell cover  128 ′, which is similar to cell cover  128  but without screw threads  135 , for the attachment of storage receptacle  80 . 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-10 , there is shown mixer  136  which connects to cell cover  128  or  128 ′, having a hub cover  144  connecting over hub  11 , and flat-bottomed wings  140  disposed on two sides of the bottom of hub cover  144  which wipe surface  130 , by being situated closely to it. Mixer  136  rotates as handle  12  is slid from side to side, thereby having wings  140  wiping dry food from surface  130  and into cell  26 . Support rods  142  of mixer  136  are for the purpose of mixing the powdered food to avoid agglomeration, and for strengthening the support of flat-bottomed wings  140  connected to the hub cover  144 . Nut  146  is connected over hub cover  144 , for locking all the parts together, so they will not become separated. 
         [0056]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.