Abstract:
A condiment grinder which affects grinding of a condiment by reciprocating manual lineal movement of a plunger which is mounted within a body of the condiment grinder. The plunger is part of a grinding mechanism which includes a clutch assembly that causes a shaft to rotate in only one direction regardless of whether the plunger is depressed or retracted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The subject matter of this invention is directed to grinders and more particularly to a condiment grinder that is designed to affect one hand grinding operation of a particulate condiment, such as pepper or salt. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Handheld, manually operated condiment grinders have long been known. Such condiment grinders are designed particularly to grind whole peppercorns with the freshly ground pepper to be then distributed onto food. Also, such condiment grinders can be utilized to pulverize salt crystals. Such condiment grinders can also be used to grind in small particles other spices that are produced in a particulate form. 
     The most common type of pepper grinder is one which is held by one hand while the other hand rotates a crank to grind the pepper. Such pepper grinders require both hands for the operation thereof. It is desirable to have a pepper grinder to be usable with one hand which leaves the user&#39;s other hand free to perform other tasks. 
     In the past, it has been known to construct condiment grinders which are operable only with one hand. However, these condiment grinders of the prior art have not proved to be easily operated and especially easily operated by individuals that have a minimal amount of hand strength. Additionally, the condiment grinders of the prior art have not been easily adjustable so as to readily vary a particulate size of the condiment that is produced. Also, such condiment grinders of the prior art have not been designed to be especially attractive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first basic embodiment condiment grinder which utilizes a grinding wheel that rotates in conjunction with a ring. The ring is mounted on a container. The container has an internal chamber that connects with a grinding wheel. A condiment is to be supplied into the internal chamber and dispensed exteriorly of the container by rotating of the grinding wheel relative to the ring. There is utilized a grinding wheel rotation mechanism which comprises a shaft attached to the grinding wheel which extends through the internal chamber of the container. A handle sleeve, which has a hollow chamber, is mounted on the container. The shaft is located within the hollow chamber. A one-way clutch assembly is mounted on the shaft and located within the hollow chamber. The one-way clutch assembly only permits rotation of the shaft in one direction. A plunger is mounted on the handle sleeve. The plunger is movable relative to the handle sleeve between a depressed position and a retracted position. The plunger is continuously spring biased tending to locate the plunger in the retracted position. Manual movement of the plunger against the spring bias to the depressed position will cause the shaft to turn relative to the container and affect grinding and dispensing of a condiment that becomes captured between the grinding wheel and the ring. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the shaft being polygonal shaped. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the one-way clutch assembly being defined as including at least one first wedge member mounted within a first housing. This first wedge member is normally biased to a locked position which prevents rotation of the shaft in a clockwise direction but permits rotation of the shaft in a counterclockwise direction. A second wedge member is mounted within a second housing. The second wedge member is normally biased to a locked position to cause rotation of the shaft in the counterclockwise direction. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the grinding wheel being mounted on the shaft by a wing nut which can be adjusted to various positions on the shaft to achieve various sizes of the particles of condiment. 
     A second basic embodiment of the present invention which comprises a condiment grinder which has a container which is adapted to contain a grindable condiment. A grinding assembly is mounted at a dispensing location of the container. A grinding operating mechanism is mounted on the container with this grinding operating mechanism being operable manually by lineal reciprocating movement of a plunger. The mechanism includes a clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism permits only one direction of rotational movement of the grinding assembly regardless of the direction of movement of the plunger. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the mechanism including a protuberance which engages with a guide slot, movement of the plunger produces a precise amount of rotation of the grinding assembly which is established by the length and configuration of the guide slot. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the amount of the precise amount of rotation comprising thirty three degrees. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being a clutch. mechanism which includes a pair of spaced apart clutch units where each clutch units connects with a shaft that is connected to the grinding assembly. 
     A third basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a condiment grinder which includes a container that is adapted to contain a quantity of a grindable condiment. A grinding assembly is mounted at a dispensing location of the container. A grinding operating mechanism is mounted on the container. This grinding operating mechanism is operable manually by lineal reciprocating movement of a plunger. This mechanism includes a protuberance which engages with a guide slot. Movement of the plunger produces a precise amount of rotation of the grinding assembly which is established by the length and configuration of the guide slot. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the third basic embodiment is modified by the amount of the precise amount of rotation comprising thirty three degrees. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the condiment grinder of the present invention showing the container with which it is connected in phantom; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the condiment grinder of this invention again showing the container in phantom; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the clutch mechanism included within the condiment grinder of this invention taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2 showing the clutch mechanism in an engaged position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the clutch mechanism in an exaggerated disengaged position which will permit pivoting of the shaft included within the condiment grinder of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown the condiment grinder  10  of this invention. Condiment grinder  10  includes a grinding mechanism which comprises a ring  12  and a grinding wheel  14 . The grinding wheel  14  has an external milling surface  16 . The ring  12  has an internal milling surface  18 . A shaft  20 , which has an outer threaded end  22 , is to be extended through center hole  24  formed entirely through the grinding wheel  14 . The outer threaded end  22  is to connect with a wing nut  26 . 
     The ring  12  is fixedly mounted at the bottom of a container  28 . The container  28  has an internal compartment, which is not shown, within which is to be supplied a quantity of a particulate condiment, such as pepper. The shaft  20  is of a polygonal configuration with.generally square being preferred. The polygonal shaped shaft  20  is to be conducted through a polygonal shaped center hole  24 . Therefore, as the shaft  20  is turned, so also is the grinding wheel  14 . The wing nut  26  can be tightened or loosened relative to the grinding wheel  14  which will vary the spacing between the external milling surface  16  and the internal milling surface  18 . If this spacing is small, then small size particles will be dispensed past the wing nut  26  when the condiment grinder  10  of this invention is being operated. If this spacing is larger, then larger size particulate condiment matter will be dispensed. 
     Fixedly mounted on the upper end of the container  28  is a collar  30 . The shaft  20  passes through center hole  32  formed in the collar  30 . Center hole  32  will be circular so there is no driving connection between the collar  30  and the shaft  20 . The collar  30  includes an annular recess  34 . Mounted within the annular recess  34  is a key  36 . A disc housing  38  is to matingly fit within the annular recess  34 . The disc housing  38  has a peripheral notch  40 . The key  36  is to be located within the peripheral notch  40  to establish a rotatably fixed relationship preventing pivoting between collar  30  and disc housing  38 . 
     Mounted within the disc housing  38  are three in number of pins  42  which are equiangularly spaced apart relative to the longitudinal center axis  44  of the condiment grinder  10 . Each of the pins  42  are basically short cylindrical members. The center axis of each pin  42  is located parallel to the longitudinal center axis  44  of the condiment grinder  10 . Each pin  42  is mounted within a cutout  46  formed within the disc housing  38 . Also mounted within each cutout  46  is a coil spring  48 . It is to be understood that there is a separate coil spring  48  for each pin  42 . The arrangement of the pins  42  and the coil springs  48  is such that each pin  42  is continuously biased in a counterclockwise direction, which is represented by arrow  50  in FIG.  4 . The result is each of the pins  42  functions as a wedging member that is pressed by the coil springs  48  into tight engagement with a sleeve  74  which is fixed on shaft  20 . In essence, disc housing  38 , coil springs  48  and pins  42  function as a clutch mechanism that will prevent rotation of the shaft  20  in a counterclockwise direction but will permit the shaft  20  to rotate in a clockwise direction. The clockwise direction is represented by arrow  52  in FIG.  3 . 
     Mounted against the disc housing  38  is a plastic washer  54 . The shaft  20  passes through center hole  56  formed in the plastic washer  54 . Typically, the plastic washer  54  will be constructed of a low frictional type of plastic. Such a plastic is commonly sold under the trade name of Teflon. The washer  54  functions as a spacer to separate disc housing  38  from a similarly constructed disc housing  58 . The disc housing  58  also includes a peripheral notch  60  which is to engage with a key  62 . The key  62  is formed on the wall surface of an internal opening  64  of a movable sleeve  66 . The disc housing  58  is therefor rotationally locked to movable sleeve  66 . The disc housing  58  also includes three in number of cutouts  68 , and within each cutout  68  is mounted a coil spring  70  and a pin  72 . The springs  70  are essentially identical to springs  48  and pins  72  are essentially identical to pins  42 . The function of the disc housing  58  in conjunction with the pins  72  and the coil springs  70  is to apply a wedging force with the wedge members comprising the pins  72  which are forced tightly into contact with the exterior surface of the fixed sleeve  74 . Since the disc housing  58  is carried by the movable sleeve  66 , the shaft  20  is thereby locked to the movable sleeve  66  when the movable sleeve  66  is turned in the clockwise direction, represented by arrow  52  in FIG.  3 . However, when the movable sleeve  66  is turned slightly in the counterclockwise direction, represented by arrow  50  in FIG. 4, the pins  72  will be slightly unseated and will be disengaged slightly from a fixed sleeve  74  which is fixedly mounted on the shaft  20 . This will permit the movable sleeve  66  to be moved in the counterclockwise direction carrying with it the disc housing  58 . The disc housings  58  and  38  constitute the clutch mechanism that is used in conjunction with the condiment grinder  10  of this invention. Shaft  20  terminates at its upper end in a head plate  21 . 
     The fixed sleeve  74  is of such a length that both pins  72  and  42  are to wedgingly connect with the sleeve  74  as opposed to connecting directly with the shaft  20 . It is preferred that a round cylindrical surface be used for engagement in conjunction with the pins  72  and  42  which provides a better connection. 
     Mounted within the internal opening  64  is a spring retainer  76 . A main coil spring  78  is to be located within internal chamber  80  of the movable sleeve  66 . The internal chamber  80  constitutes a through opening extending entirely through the movable sleeve  66 . One end of the main coil spring  78  is to be held in place by the spring retainer  76 . 
     Formed on the peripheral surface of the movable sleeve  66  are three in number of equiangularly spaced apart, basically identical in shape, grooves  82 . Each of the grooves  82  is slightly curved, that is, not in alignment with the longitudinal center axis  44 . Each groove  82  is to permanently connect with a similarly curved ridge  84  which is mounted on the wall surface  86  of an internal chamber of a plunger  88 . It is to be understood that there is a separate ridge  84  for each groove  82 . The upper end of the plunger  88  is closed by an enlarged head  90 . The end of the plunger  88  located opposite the enlarged head  90  includes a pair of diametrically spaced apart protuberances  92 . Each protuberance  92  connects with a lineal groove  94  with there being a pair of lineal grooves  94  being diametrically spaced apart relative to hollow chamber  96  formed within a handle sleeve  98 . Hollow chamber  96  extends entirely through a handle sleeve  98 . The exterior wall of the handle sleeve  98  has a smoothly contoured wavy configuration which facilitates connection to a user&#39;s hand. 
     Attached to the enlarged head  90  and extending within the internal chamber of the plunger  88  is a spring seat  100 . The outer end of the main spring  78  is to be located about the spring seat  100  which means that the main spring  78  is continuously in a captured position between the enlarged head  90  and the spring retainer  76 . The handle sleeve  98  includes an inwardly extending annular member  102  which functions to keep the plunger  88  mounted in conjunction with the handle sleeve  98  since the protuberances  92  will come into contact with the annular member  102  and prevent separation of the plunger  88  from the handle sleeve  98 . 
     Let it be assumed that there is condiment contained within the container  28  and the desired position of the wing nut  26  has been established determining the size of the particulates of the condiment that will be produced. The user places the condiment grinder  10  of this invention in one hand with the hand and the fingers being located in the area of the exterior surface of the handle sleeve  98 . The user&#39;s thumb can then be placed against the enlarged head  90  and exert a downward force in the direction of arrow  104 , as shown in FIG.  1 . As a result, the plunger  88  will be moved linealy downward in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis  44  since the lineal grooves  94  are located parallel to longitudinal center axis  44 . The protuberances  92  will slide downward within the grooves  94  compressing of spring  78 . As the ridges  84  ride within the grooves  82 , because the grooves  82  are arcuate the movable sleeve  66  is turned with the amount of this turning being approximately thirty-three degrees. When the movable sleeve  66  is turned so also is disc housing  58  because of the keying arrangement between the key  62  and the peripheral notch  60 . Because the pins  72  are wedged tightly against the fixed sleeve  74 , the shaft  20  is then turned which also turns the grinding wheel  14  affecting grinding of the condiment located between the exterior milling surface  16  and the interior milling surface  18 . After the condiment is ground, it is then dispensed exteriorly of the condiment grinder  10  past the wing nut  26 . 
     When the user allows the plunger  88  to move in an upward direction in the direction of arrow  106 , the main spring  78  becomes extended. The ridges  84  again move within the grooves  82  with the result that the movable sleeve  66  pivots about thirty-three degrees in the opposite direction which places the movable sleeve  66  back in its initial position. The movable sleeve  66  is pivoted counterclockwise. Also, the disc housing  58  is pivoted counterclockwise. The disc housing  58  and the pins  72  slip relative to the fixed sleeve  74 . The disc housing  38  and the pins  42  hold fast and keep the shaft  20  from pivoting in the counterclockwise direction. When the enlarged head  90  is in the completely up position, the procedure is again to be repeated with the result that the shaft  20  will again pivot a further thirty-three degrees. With each thirty-three degree movement, which is depicted by arrow  23 , a portion of the condiment is ground and dispensed.