Abstract:
A condiment shaker includes an inner container that may be inserted into an outer container. The inner container contains the condiment and may be removed and replaced during refilling. The inner container may include a base to lend support to the containers when assembled. Where desired, a handle grip, flip top lid and prongs for dislodging material in the container may be used to facilitate pouring of the condiment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to containers for dispensing materials stored therewithin, and more particularly, to shakers for condiments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Salt and other condiment shakers are commonly used to store and dispense salt, pepper or other spices. The shakers generally consist of a hollow container having a screw or push-on top. The top is removed while the shaker is filled with condiment. The top includes several openings through which the contained condiment can be shaken through once the top is secured.  
         [0003]     Refilling shakers can be problematic for some people. For instance, a waitress at a restaurant may spill salt while attempting to pour it into a relatively tiny hole located at the bottom of a shaker. In some instances, the act of opening the hole to refill the shaker can be a tedious task that can also result in spills and frustration.  
         [0004]     Once filled, condiments in the shaker tend to absorb moisture from outside air that enters the shaker. Such moisture often imparts undesirable qualities to the stored condiment, and can among other problems, clog dispensing openings. Protective covers used to minimize moisture can be difficult and inconvenient to manipulate. For instance, caps having pins to clean the dispensing holes must be screwed onto a shaker to remove debris. This requirement is inconvenient for the user and prone to spills.  
         [0005]     There is therefore a need for an improved condiment shaker.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides an apparatus comprising an outer container and an inner container configured for holding and dispensing condiment material. At least a portion of the inner container is configured to fit within the outer container, and the inner container includes an opening configured to allow the through-flow of the material while at least a portion of the inner container is within the outer container.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, the inner container includes a base configured to stabilize the outer container when the inner container is positioned within the outer container. In such a case, the outer container includes an aperture configured to allow the through-flow of the material from the opening of the inner container. As such, the inner container may be positioned inside the outer container through a second aperture in the outer container. Where desired, the inner container may screw into mating threads positioned along the inside surface of the outer container. The inner container may alternatively snap into the outer container, or may snugly fit or otherwise reside within the outer container. As such, the inner container and the base may cooperate to stabilize the outer container, e.g., hold the outer container upright.  
         [0008]     Another feature of the invention allows the inner container to function as an insertable refill cartridge. For instance, the inner container may be positioned inside the outer container. When a seal (if present) of the inner container is broken, the condiment material may flow out of the resultant opening in the inner container. In one application, the hole in the seal may be made by a projection from a lid biased towards a top surface of the outer or inner containers. The projection may be positioned on an underside surface of a flip top lid. The inner container may further include an extension that extends out from a length of the inner container and rests on a mating surface of the outer container. Such an extension may include a lip that rests on a top surface of the outer container when the inner container is inserted into the outer container.  
         [0009]     The base and/or inner container features of the present invention enable appealing outer containers that would otherwise be unstable or impractical to implement. For instance, an outer container may include a figurine that might otherwise be incapable of standing upright without the base. Such features of the present invention also allow materials to be used in constructing the outer container that are not conventionally used in salt shakers because the construction material is not sturdy enough or the salt could contaminate or otherwise require the construction material to be cleaned. For instance, the containment of the condiment provided by the inner container may allow for the incorporation of electronics in the outer container. Circuitry incorporated into the outer container may include lights and/or audio from a speaker for added affect. Another feature may include an automated moveable part, such as an arm of a figurine comprising the outer container.  
         [0010]     Another aspect of the invention may include a flip top lid biased towards a top surface of the container. The lid may include a projection positioned on an underside surface of the flip top lid that is configured to travel through the opening in the container top. A grip handle may be attached to the container so that a user may hold the grip handle and operate the flip top lid using the thumb of the same hand used to grip the handle. Where desired, the container top may be slid over the top portion of the container. The container top may alternatively be manufactured integrally with the container.  
         [0011]     Another aspect of the invention includes a hollow container configured to hold and dispense a condiment, wherein the apparatus includes a prong configured to mechanically rotate about an axis within the hollow container. The rotation of the prong may agitate the material, for instance, to loosen material that becomes stuck to the inside of the container or other material. To this end, the apparatus may include gears and other mechanical structures to accomplish rotation of the prong.  
         [0012]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an outer container having a flip top lid and an inner container positioned inside the outer container.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows disassembled inner and outer containers similar to those of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the flip top lid of  FIG. 2  with projections that travel through openings in the top surfaces of the outer and inner containers.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment having inner and outer containers.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  shows the flip top lid of the container combination of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a condiment container having a plurality of prongs configured to rotate within the container.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a condiment shaker having a flip top lid configured to slide over and mate with a hollow container portion that is configured to hold condiment material.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  shows a condiment shaker having a flip top lid.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the condiment shaker of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of the condiment shaker of  FIG. 9  with the flip top lid locked in the open position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  shows another cross-sectional view of the condiment shaker of  FIG. 9  with the flip top lid locked in the closed position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  shows a disassembled condiment shaker comprising a flip top lid, an insertable inner cartridge container, and an outer container.  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  shows the plurality of inner containers attached for storage and transport.  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  shows a condiment shaker having a grip handle.  
         [0028]      FIG. 16  shows a user holding the condiment shaker of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows an improved condiment shaker  10  that includes an inner container  12  comprising a base  14 . The inner container  12  is configured to slide or otherwise fit within an outer container  16 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The inner container  12  may be full of condiment material, e.g., salt. The inner container  12  may be removed, e.g., by snapping into or by screwing into the outer container  16 , as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . The base  14  functions in part to stabilize the containers  12 ,  16 . That is, the outside container  16  may rest on or be held in place by the base and/or inner container  12 . While a base  14  is shown in  FIG. 1 , one skilled in the art will appreciate that an inner container need not have a base.  
         [0030]     The condiment shaker  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a flip top lid  18  that is biased towards a top surface  20  of the outer container. That is, the flip top lid  18  is generally biased closed. While one skilled in the art will appreciate that other biasing mechanisms may be used in accordance with the principals of the present invention, a spring  19  is used in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0031]     As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the flip top lid  18  may include projections  22  that function, in part, to clear apertures  24  and openings  26 , respectively, in either or both containers  16 ,  12 . Such projections are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/922,295, which was filed on Aug. 19, 2004 by Christopher John Schuster et al., is entitled “CONDIMENT SHAKER,” and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0032]     The condiment material inside inner container  12  may be covered with a container cover  28  having openings  30  to allow the condiment material to be dispensed from the inner container  12 . During refilling, the cover  28  may be taken off to allow the user to refill the inner container  12 . During such a refill operation, the inner container  12  is removed from the outer container  16  for ease of access. The cover  28  shown in  FIG. 1  includes openings  30  that comprise raised or contoured surfaces. Where desired, the inner container  12  may include no cover, or alternatively, a break or tear-away cover. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the projections  22  of the lid  18  may be used to puncture a disposable seal  32  to create openings  26 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a condiment shaker  40  that includes an insertable inner container  42  having a base  44 . The inner container  42  rests inside an outer container  46  having a flip top lid  48 . The base  44  and other physical features of the inner container  42  thus cooperate to stabilize, e.g., to hold upright, the outer container  46 . Among other benefits, the inner container  42  protects the outer container  46  from corrosion, soiling and other adverse effects that could otherwise result from exposure to the material contained in the inner container  42 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows in greater detail the flip top lid of the condiment shaker  40  of  FIG. 4 . The cover  47  of the lid includes raised apertures  49  to facilitate the flow of material from the inner container  42  and the outer container  46 . When the flip top lid  48  is in a closed position as shown in  FIG. 3 , the projections  47  function, in part, to clear the apertures  49  of any material that might otherwise clog the apertures  49 . When in an open position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , condiment or other material may be shaken out of the shaker  40  through the openings  43  in the inner container  42  and the apertures  49  in the container top  45 .  
         [0035]     The anti-clogging feature of the projections  47  enables smaller apertures  49  because there will be less incidences of clogging. This enables more control of the amount of material that is dispensed by the condiment shaker  40 . This feature further enables finer granularity of the material, such as a finer salt.  
         [0036]     These features, alone and in combination, act to keep moisture and other contaminants from the material. In one embodiment, the condiment shaker  40  is water resistant and/or waterproof. Such a feature may have particular application in outdoor settings, e.g., backpacking, camping, military manoeuvres, etc.  
         [0037]     In addition to keeping moisture out of the contents of the container  42 , the projections  47 , lid  48  and other physical features of the invention additional function to keep the material inside the shaker  40 . That is, an embodiment of the present invention is also spill proof.  
         [0038]     The contoured surface of the container top  45  is raised circumferentially around the apertures  49 . Though not shown in  FIG. 5 , corresponding recesses inside an inner lid surface of the flip top lid  48  may be aligned and otherwise mate with the contoured surface of the top  45  to form a seal. The lid may be constructed from plastic, metal, rubber or any synthetic material, as may be the projections  47  and rest of the container  40 .  
         [0039]     The projections  47 , themselves, may function to seal the apertures  49  and openings  43  of the inner container  42  when the flip top lid is in a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Moreover, a seal may be included within the flip top lid  48  functions to keep air and moisture away from the material within the shaker  40 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the seal may comprise any material configured to prevent dispersion of moisture, but is typically made of rubber.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows a condiment shaker  60  having a plurality of prongs  62  configured to rotate about an axis  64 . The prongs  62  are shown attached to a structure  66  that may comprise or may otherwise communicate with a gear. The gear structure  66  is configured to rotate the prongs  62  in response to movement of the attached structure  66 . In one embodiment, the structure  66  may be moved when a user grips the shaker  60  along a ridged bottom surface  68  to cause the structure  66  and associated prongs  62  to move. Movement of the prongs  62  may help break up, grind, and/or mix material within the condiment shaker  60 , such as cheese or sugar, for instance.  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the condiment shaker  60  shown in  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7 . A rivet  69  may be used to attach the structure  66 , which is used to communicate rotational forces to the prongs  66 , to the shaker container  67 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 8  shows a condiment shaker  80  having a flip top lid  82  that includes a cover portion  84 . The cover portion  84  is configured to slide over and attach to a base portion  86  of the condiment shaker. To this end, contoured or angled threads  88  inside the cover  84  cooperate with mating threads  90  on the outside surface of the base portion  86  to secure the cover  84 . In one embodiment, the threads comprise rubber, plastic or another flexible material that allows the threads to slide over one another. This feature facilitates ease of lid  82  removal and replacement, while providing a secure lid fastener.  
         [0043]      FIG. 9  shows a condiment shaker  100  having a flip top lid  102  and a hollow container  104 . As shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , the lid  102  includes a spring  106 , and is configured to be locked into place by corresponding catches  103  and  105 . The catches  103  and  105  cooperate when the lid  102  is flipped open such that the lid  102  remains in a locked and open position. While the locking mechanism  FIGS. 10-12  may have particular application in certain embodiments that are consistent with the principles of the invention, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other fasteners useful in holding the lid of another embodiment may alternatively be employed, such as those fasteners including latches or magnets, as are known in the art.  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  shows a condiment shaker  120  having a flip top lid  122  and an inner container  124  configured to fit inside an outer container  126 . The inner container  124  contains condiment material  128  and may be sealed with a removable seal  130 . Inner container  124  includes extensions  132 , or lips, that extend away from the length of the inner container  124  and rest on a concentric, upper surface  134  of the outer container  126 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that another suitable extension may be located along an intermediate surface along the length of the inner container  124 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the seal  130  may be peeled off, or in another embodiment, the seal  130  may be punctured or otherwise broken away to allow access to the condiment material  128 .  
         [0045]     When replacing the inner container  124 , a user may unscrew or otherwise remove the flip top lid  122  that had secured the inner container  124  in place. The user may then remove the inner container  124  and replace it with a new inner container once the material  128  in the first container has been used. A user consequently does not have to pour salt or other material  128  when refilling the condiment shaker  120 . This feature further helps prevent stagnant salt that can result at the bottom of a shaker using conventional refilling techniques.  
         [0046]      FIG. 14  shows a plurality of inner containers  140  attached along their sides as a unit  142 . A user may thus store, transport or break away sections of the unit  142  as needed.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show a condiment shaker  150  that includes a grip handle  152  in addition to a flip top lid  154 . A lever portion  156  of the lid  154  may be manipulated by a user&#39;s thumb as that user pulls the shaker using the grip handle  152  with the same hand of that thumb. Such a feature may provide further convenience for dispensing condiments.  
         [0048]     While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail in order to describe a mode of practicing the invention, it is not the intention of Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. For instance, features of the inner container provide a sort of universal insert that may be packaged, used and/or sold with universal sleeves configured to accept the inner container. Users may thus use the same inner container with different outer containers of different designs and colors, e.g., outer containers associated with different seasons, sports teams or caricatures. While the embodiments are described above in the context of condiment dispensing, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention may apply to other materials. For instance, the features of the present invention may apply equally to dispensing material that includes liquids and powders, e.g., pancake syrup and baby powder. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art.