Abstract:
A device for dispensing having a vessel having a cover at a first end and having a second end is provided. A longitudinal separator is positioned in the vessel that has an annular channel extending therethrough. The device provides for a first dial rotatably connected to the second end and having a central recess, a central hole and an first eccentric hole, a second dial received in the recess and having a second central hole in registration with the first hole, and a second eccentric hole capable of being in registration with the first eccentric hole. The device has a rotatable shaft extending through the cover, the channel, the first central hole and fixable in the second central hole for selectively providing registration between the first eccentric hole and the second eccentric hole. The dispenser is usable in a variety of appliances such as ice cream makers or coffee-related device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus for selecting and dispensing condiments. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for allowing a user to select a condiment and evenly dispense the condiment.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Condiment dispensers are available in a variety of forms. They can be as simple as caddies, that hold a condiment for a food operator, or more advanced as the pumps often seen in fast food restaurants. Condiment dispensers are as ubiquitous as salt and pepper shakers. While these condiment dispensers are often used, they do not provide the even dispensing of a condiment that is often desired.  
         [0005]     Such condiment dispensers like those for consumer use must have minimal parts, be very safe and easy to use.  
         [0006]     Therefore, there exists a need for a condiment dispenser that automatically and evenly dispenses the condiment itself or dispenses the condiment into a bin.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a condiment dispenser.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a condiment dispenser that provides for selection of a particular condiment.  
         [0009]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a condiment dispenser that provides even dispensing of a selected condiment.  
         [0010]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a condiment dispenser that provides automatic dispensing of a selected condiment.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a condiment dispenser that evenly dispenses the condiment itself or evenly dispenses the condiment into a bin to be mixed with another condiment, food item or the like.  
         [0012]     The above and other objects, advantages, and benefits of the present invention will be understood by reference to following detailed description and appended sheets of drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the condiment dispenser of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the condiment vessel and dials of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the dials of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is front plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention incorporated into an ice cream maker;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of a exemplary second embodiment of present the invention incorporated into a coffee machine; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front plan view of as alternative embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to the figures, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a condiment dispenser according to the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . Dispenser  10  has a cover  20  and a vessel  30  removably connectable the cover  20 . The vessel  30  has a selection dial  50 . A dispensing dial  80  is preferably positioned in selection dial  50 . Dispenser  10  also has a motor assembly housing  70  housing a motor therein, to which the vessel cover  30  is removably connected.  
         [0020]     The vessel cover  20  is connected to a motor housing assembly  70 . Preferably, this connection is a snap-fit connection, or any such connection that will alert the user that vessel cover  20  is securely fitted to motor housing assembly  70 . The vessel cover  20  has a safety hole  22  into which a post  72  from motor housing assembly  70  extends to provide an additional positive connection to motor housing assembly  70 .  
         [0021]     The condiment vessel  30  is preferably cylindrically shaped. Also, condiment vessel  30  is preferably rotationally connected to vessel cover  20 . In this embodiment, condiment vessel  30  can have threads on its outer surface to mate with corresponding threads on the inner surface of vessel cover  20 . Alternatively, condiment vessel  30  can have a partial lip that protrudes and engages corresponding slots in vessel cover  20 . Preferably, vessel cover  20  and vessel  30  are both transparent so that the contents in the condiment vessel  30  can be easily viewed by a user.  
         [0022]     Motor housing assembly  70  is preferably made of a plastic material, for example acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS), or any such plastic material commonly used for household appliances. Alternatively, motor housing assembly  70  can be made from stainless steel, brushed aluminum, or at least have an outer surface made of stainless steel or brushed aluminum. Preferably, vessel cover  20  and condiment vessel  30  are preferably made of glass or a strong plastic, for example polycarbonate, although other similar plastics commonly for household appliances could also be used.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , condiment vessel  30  has a separator  32  that extends the entire length of the condiment vessel  30 . The separator  32  has a central portion  36  with an annular channel hollow  38  that is sized to receive a shaft  60  in sliding rotation during operation of the dispenser  10 . Central portion  36  preferably has at least four vanes or fins  34  extending radially therefrom that divide the condiment vessel  30  into a number of compartments  40 . The separator  32  remains stationary inside of condiment vessel  30  during operation of condiment dispenser  10 .  
         [0024]     The selection dial  50  preferably abuts or preferably slidingly received over an outer end  42  of condiment vessel  30 . The selection dial  50  receives shaft  60  that freely rotates in a central hole  52 . Selection dial  50  has a selection hole  54  that is sized to accept the contents  100  of condiment vessel  30 . A user can rotate selection dial  50  over outer end  42  of condiment vessel  30  to change the location of selection hole  54  to correspond to a particular compartment  40  in condiment vessel  30 . Selection dial  50  has a recessed portion  56  that slidingly accepts a dispenser dial  80 . Dial  80  has a central hole  82  that has internal threads  86  and a dispenser hole  84  that can lie in registration with selection hole  54  of selection dial  50 . When selection dial hole  54  is beneath a particular compartment  40 , and in registration with dispenser hole  84 , the contents will be released from dispenser  10 .  
         [0025]     Condiment vessel  30  also has or is adapted to receive a shaft  60 . The shaft  60  has a proximal end  68  and a distal end  62 . The proximal end  68  is operatively connected to motor shaft (not shown) of the motor housing in motor housing  70 . When different components of the condiment dispenser  10  are disassembled, shaft  60  can be disconnected from the motor assembly. The distal end  62  of shaft  60  has a knob  64  located that lies beneath dispenser dial  80 . On shaft  60 , proximate knob  64 , are external threads  66  that mate with the internal threads of hole  82  to allow shaft  60  and dispenser dial  80  to move as a single unit when dispenser  10  is energized.  
         [0026]     The present invention also contemplates different pairings of selection dial  50  and dispenser dial  80  that have holes of varied but corresponding size depending on the condiment that is to be dispensed. For example, dispensing cookie pieces would require larger holes  54  and  84  of respective dials than sprinkles or sauces would require. Furthermore, the smaller dispenser holes may optionally have a spout attachment.  
         [0027]     The motor assembly housing  70  houses the motor (not shown), a gear reduction assembly and a motor shaft (not shown). The motor is connected to proximal end  68  of shaft  60  to impart, preferably a constant rotational movement to dial  80 , which freely rotates in selection dial recess  56 . The motor provides a constant rotation of dial  80 , as it passes the stationary selection dial hole  54  located beneath a particular compartment  40 . By rotating at a constant rate, dial  80  will cause a dispensing or dispenser hole  84  to pass fixed selection dial hole  54  at a constant rate. The constant rate provides even dispensing of the condiment into a bin containing another food, such as ice cream or bread, that may continue to be mixed or that may be concurrently dispensed. Also, the even dispensing of the condiment allows a constant volume of condiment to be dispensed during each rotation of dial  80 .  
         [0028]     The motor is preferably an electrically powered motor that is supplied with AC power from a socket or battery powered in a convention manner. The speed of the motor is adjustable using setting knob  74  on the outer surface of housing  70 . The speed can be adjusted depending on the condiment to be dispensed, the frequency or rate of dispensing, and the amount of condiment to be dispensed during each dial rotation.  
         [0029]     In operation, condiment dispenser  10  can be used to dispense condiments into a funnel to be mixed with another food such as soft-serve ice cream or bread. Before filling any of the compartments  40 , the user may ensure that selection hole  54  and dispenser hole  84  were not in registration to prevent an inadvertent spilling of the condiments. The user can remove vessel cover  20  and condiment vessel  30  including shaft  60 , dials  50 , and  80 , from the motor assembly housing  70 . The user may fill all except one of the compartments  40  with condiments  12 . The condiments  12  can be large condiments or toppings such as ground nuts, cookie pieces, raisins or ice cream and the condiments can be very small such as cake sprinkles or even sauces. The user can rotate selection dial hole  54  to be beneath compartment  40  containing the particular condiment  12  to be used. Selection dial  50  remains stationary throughout the operation of dispenser  10 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a further embodiment, condiment dispenser  10  can be incorporated in an ice cream maker  90 . Ice cream maker  90  has a motor assembly  100 , an ice cream mixing bowl  110  and a funnel  120 . Mixing bowl  110  receives ingredients for making ice cream. In this embodiment, condiment dispenser  10  operates as discussed above, except that shaft  60  is preferably energized by motor assembly  100 . Motor assembly  100  is preferably operatively connected to a shaft in mixing bowl  110 , a selector dial  112  and a dispenser dial  114  to dispense ice cream. Selector dial  112  and dispenser dial  114 , each have respective eccentric holes that can be brought into registration during dial  114  rotation. The motor assembly  100  has a motor (not shown) that is operatively connected to a gear system that turns both shaft  60  and a churner  116  in mixing bowl  110 . The gear system is capable of turning shaft  60  and churner  116  at different rates to provide proper dispensing of the condiments and the ice cream.  
         [0031]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the motor speed can be controlled by an adjustment knob  106  preferably located on motor assembly  100 . Depending upon the condiment used and other factors, the rate of rotation of shaft  60  can be varied. For example, if the user wants to move dial  50  to be beneath a different compartment  40 , the speed of rotation may also have to be adjusted. Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , an even rate of rotation of the dial  80  will allow even dispensing of the condiment into funnel  120 . Concurrently, the dispenser dial  114  will also provide even dispensing of ice cream into the funnel  120 . Proper mixing in funnel  120  will ensure an even distribution of condiments throughout the ice cream when it flows from a nozzle  122 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , which is another embodiment of the present invention, condiment dispenser  10  can be incorporated in a coffee grinder  150 . In this embodiment, a selector dial  160  and a dispenser dial  180  are preferably not adjacent. They are separated by a ground coffee hopper  170 . Selector dial  160  is operatively connected to ground coffee hopper  170  and a central shaft thereof (not shown) is operatively connected to dispenser dial  180 . Hopper  170  is divided into a number compartments by a separator. Dispenser dial  180  has an eccentric dispenser dial hole  182  to release contents of a compartment into a brew basket  190 . The user can rotate selector dial  160  with hopper  170  to be above a brew basket  190 . Dispenser dial hole  182  will not be located beneath the basket to prevent in advertent spills. When the motor (not shown) of this embodiment is energized, the selected compartment and dispenser dial hole  182  will be brought in registration to dispense the ground coffee into a brew basket  190 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in a still further embodiment, the condiment dispenser  10  can be incorporated into a coffee grinder. This embodiment operates, in a similar fashion to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . However, in this embodiment, the hopper contains beans and a grinding chamber  210  is located beneath the dispenser dial  180  to grind the selected bean that is to drop in to brew basket  190 .  
         [0034]     While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.