Patent Publication Number: US-2007098855-A1

Title: SaltBeauty : Ornamental Kitchen Salt Container and Dispenser

Description:
An ornamental container to hold a standard 26 oz. salt can securely and allow easy dispensing without removing from the cardboard grocery can. It can be made from ceramic, glass, wood, plastic, etc.  
      It consists of a container to house the 26 oz. salt can in and a cap with an orifice of varying designs to allow the hinged saltbox can opening to be accessed for the salt to be dispensed. The container can be one piece with a cap, which can either screw around or inside the container rim based on the aesthetic and functional design. There is also the option of making the can top (with orifice) and the container one piece with a cap below to close the container housing the saltbox. The container cap may be designed with various geometrical shapes so as to allow access to the saltbox hinged opening for salt dispensing. There are also modifications to allow a sliding orifice closing and a hinged closing of the orifice. A simple modification whereby salt can be poured directly into the container with an orifice modification to allow salt dispensing is also part of the this invention.  
     SUMMARY  
      The standard 26 oz. salt can (also known as a saltbox) purchased from a grocery store is a fixture in kitchens. It constitutes a primary seasoning in cooking and is often seen on countertops, only to hidden away due to its appearance. I have devised a container, which can be easily assimilated as a countertop fixture without being “out of place” in aesthetic value. This invention is named SaltBeauty as shown and described. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of one preferred embodiment of a container and cap.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a container and caps.  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of one preferred embodiment of a cap.  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of another preferred embodiment of a cap.  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of another preferred embodiment of a cap.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a cap.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a cap.  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of one preferred embodiment of a container and cap.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to FIGS.  1  to  7  are preferred embodiments of the invention, one preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  shows a container  10  having female threads inside the container  10  and cap  20  having male threads on the cap wherein the cap  20  couples to the top of the container  10 . In a more preferred embodiment, a washer  30  may be added to the cap  20  for a tight fit. Another preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  shows a container  10  having male threads outside the container  10  and cap  20  having female threads on the cap. In a more preferred embodiment, a washer  30  may be added to the cap  20  for a tight fit as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of one preferred embodiment of a cap  10  having, an orifice  40  that is circular. In another preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the cap  20  wherein the orifice  40  is a rectangular orifice.  FIG. 5  shows a top view of another preferred embodiment of the cap  10  having the orifice  40  that is the rectangular orifice and further comprising a sliding cover  50  which can be opened and closed by sliding.  FIG. 6  shows a side view of another preferred embodiment of the cap  10  having the orifice  40  and further comprising a hinged cover  60  coupled thereto which can be opened and closed.  
       FIG. 7  shows a one piece container  10  having a cap  20  that screws on from the bottom to secure the salt can into the container. In this preferred embodiment the cap  20  has male threads that screw into the female threads inside the container. As described above in a more preferred embodiment, a washer  30  may be added to the cap  20  for a tight fit. Also as described above in a preferred embodiment, the cap  20  may have female threads and the container  10  may have male threads outside.