Patent Abstract:
A measuring cup or measuring spoon, the bottom of which has a plurality of openings through which particles can be sifted and a top edge of which has a tab that when tapped allows a user to control the pattern that the particles are sifted.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dispenser capable of sifting various quantities of material in a controlled manner 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     Some cooking procedures call for sifting baking powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, flour, corn meal and the like into the recipe or onto a cooking surface. The process usually involves measuring the material with a measuring cup or measuring spoon and imprecise shaking of the product into the recipe or onto the designated surface. For the addition of a “pinch” of salt or a “dash” of spice, a cook may put his or her fingers in the spice container, which is unsanitary, and finger application also results in uneven sprinkling. What is needed is a measuring cup or measuring spoon that can be used for measuring particulate materials and for sifting them in a controlled manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup or spoon that may double as a true measurer and that can be used to sift materials in a controlled manner. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     In accordance with the invention, a material dispenser such as a measuring spoon or a measuring cup is provided for sifting quantities of material in a controlled manner. The material dispenser has a sifter body attached to a handle. The sifter body has a bottom with openings designed to distribute particulate materials placed in the sifter body and a tab at a top edge. The material dispenser distributes particulate materials placed in the sifter body through the openings in the bottom of the sifter body more or less evenly over a designated surface when tapped on the tab by a user. When the handle includes a collar into which the sifter body can be snapped in and popped out, a plurality of sifter bodies with different sized openings may be provided. This permits a dispenser with appropriate sized openings to be selected depending on the material being sifted. While the focus is on measuring and sifting consumables, the material dispenser can be used for other purposes, such as sprinkling glitter on an art project and so forth. 
     The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated, corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a spoon in accordance with the present invention with a sifter body seated in a collar of a handle; 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of the spoon with a sifter body popped out of the collar in the handle; 
         FIG. 3  is top plan view of the spoon; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the spoon; 
         FIG. 5  is front end view of the spoon; 
         FIG. 6  is a back end view of the spoon; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the spoon; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a tab on the spoon being tapped from the side; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the tab being tapped on top; and, 
         FIG. 10  is perspective view of a cup with a sifter body and tab in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference character, reference character  10  refers to a material dispenser in accordance with the present invention in the form of a measuring spoon, as shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , and a measuring cup  12  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Beginning with  FIGS. 1-9 , spoon  10  has a handle  14  with a first end configured to be grasped by a user&#39;s hand  16 . Handle  14  is preferably long enough to reach into larger spice jars, for which purpose handle may be 5 inches or more long. First end may include an aperture  18  for hanging the tool on a hook. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , a second end of handle  14  terminate in a collar  20  into which may be seated a sifter body  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , sifter body  22  is an open ended, perforated container with a ring portion  24  (rolled edge, frustoconical section or the like) about its open end by which it is supported in collar  20 . In some embodiments, sifter body  22  and collar  20  may be integrally formed and sifter body  22  not removable. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , sifter body  22  is circular in plan but it may have other shapes including, square, rectangular, oval, polygonal and so forth so long as sifter body  22  matches the shape and form of collar  20 . A rectangular or oval shape may be preferred in some instances for the purpose of slipping into small spice jars. Perforated container may be formed of mesh or with a plurality of narrow slits or an array of holes, the shape and size being suitable to the application for which dispenser is to be used. 
     A set of spoons  10  may be provided when sifter body  22  is not detachable, ranging from ⅛ teaspoon to 1 tablespoon with the perforation size increasing with increasing spoon size, or not. When sifter body  22  is detachable from handle  14 , sifter bodies that snap into place and pop out of collar  20  easily may be provided with different mesh bowls  26  that vary in mesh size. 
     A tab  28  is formed on collar  20  for use in sifting material out of sifter body  22  in a controlled manner. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when tab  28  is tapped on the side, the material is distributed over a broad area and when tab  28  is tapped on top which may be flattened for that purpose, the material is dropped in a more concentrated manner. Tab  28  may be used as a ledge for resting spoon  10  on the open end of a spice jar and when tab is formed as a hook it may be used to hang spoon  10  on the edge of a cup, glass or bowl. 
     In use, when spoon  10  is a standard measuring spoon size, spoon  10  can function as a true measuring spoon and, in some case, save the user an extra step. Spoon  10  can be used to sprinkle fine particles of consumables such as paprika on deviled eggs, powdered sugar on brownies and other baked goods, sugar on top of strawberries, decorative sugars and decorations on cutout cookies. Nutmeg, cocoa or cinnamon can be sprinkled on top of hot drinks (like coffee or cocoa) or cold drinks (like eggnog or iced coffee) and dill or dried thyme can be sprinkled on entrees for a splash of color and brightness, not to mention added flavor. With precise measuring and/or application, there is no mess and no waste; spoon  10  is sanitary and unused (and uncontaminated) spices can be returned to the jar. 
     When sifter body  22  snaps out of collar  20 , a user can select a sifter body  22  with the right size mesh  26 . For instance, with a strong spice like paprika or nutmeg, a user may want to use a sifter body with the finest mesh bowl. For decorating sugars and powdered sugar, a medium mesh bowl  26  may be selected while for herbs, the mesh bowl with the largest mesh  26  may be best. 
     Turning to  FIG. 10 , measuring cup  12  like spoon  10  includes a sifter body  22  in the form of an open ended container  30  with apertures  18  in the bottom designed to distribute particulate materials placed in the sifter body. Cup  12  has a tab  28  opposite to handle  14 . Handle  14  is attached to the outside of container  30  and tab  28  is attached to container  30  at or near its open end. In use, as with spoon  10 , tab  28  may be used for more precise and controlled dispersing of material placed in cup  12 . 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1