Abstract:
An article for extracting a viscous fluid from a vessel comprising a plurality of concentric annular ring portions; said ring portions connected in a stack with a series of grooves located in between them; said stack connected to a shaft; and an annular lid portion connected to said shaft.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority status from Provisional Application No. 62/182,451, filed on Jun. 20, 2016. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a honey dipper for extracting honey from a vessel, the honey dipper having an integral lid for securing the dipper within the opening of a vessel, such as a jar, and at the same time for sealing the jar from dirt, insects, and, to some extent, the atmosphere. 
         [0003]    A honey dipper is a device that is used to extract viscous fluids (generally honey) from a vessel such as a jar or container, and then used to exude the fluid onto another surface.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional honey dipper  1  with a shaft  2  and a series of concentric annular ring portions  4  in a stack that vary in size. The ring portions are separated by a series of coaxial grooves  6 . The dipper is used by twirling or twisting upon dipping into the viscous fluid. The fluid is then entrained in the grooves during the twirling. The dipper is then used to drizzle the fluid, such as honey, on bread, biscuits, or other foods. It can be made of metal, plastic, or wood, depending on the user&#39;s preference, and can be one piece or made up of multiple pieces. 
         [0004]    A problem with conventional honey dippers is that after use when left in an open fluid-containing jar, as they normally are after using, with the shaft of the dipper extending from the jar, the open jar attracts bugs such as ants, and dirt. The other option at this point is to wash the dipper after use and then seal the jar. Both situations result in a loss of the honey or other fluid, and much waste. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is a long felt but still unsatisfied need to create a honey dipper that is used to extract fluid and which prevents a waste of the honey (or other fluid). 
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a honey dipper with an integral lid for closing the top of a container. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a honey dipper with an integral lid for engaging with the lid of the fluid-carrying container. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a honey dipper with an integral lid combined with a container for holding honey. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a honey dipper with an integral lid and a container or lid with which the honey dipper engages. 
         [0010]    These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after studying the following disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of conventional honey dipper. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the integral honey dipper of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the integral honey dipper of the present invention shown from beneath the structure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the integral lid honey dipper of the present invention shown from the side. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the annular ring of a mason jar used with the integral lid honey dipper of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the integral lid honey fastener of the present invention installed in the annular ring of a mason jar. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the integral lid honey dipper of the present invention installed within a jar. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the integral lid honey dipper installed within the annular ring of a jar. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the honey dipper of present invention. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an integral lid honey dipper includes: a tapered shaft ending in a series of concentric annular ring portions. The ring portion may be of the same size or varying sizes. The ring portions are separated by annular grooves along the shaft. The shaft at the other end is connected to a cylindrical lid member, which seals the top of a container containing a viscous fluid such as honey. The lid member terminates in a circular handle member, but the handle may be of any shape. The top of the lid member has an annular ridge whose top mates with the underside of an annular ring of a conventional mason jar lid. The underside of the annular ridge rests on the top edge of a mason jar. The lid is then screwed onto the top of the jar, with the honey dipper retained by the lid and suspended in the center of the jar, with the ridge trapped between the bottom surface of the annular ring and the top edge of the mason jar. 
         [0021]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an integral lid honey dipper includes: a tapered shaft ending in a series of concentric annular ring portions. The ring portions may be of the same size or varying sizes. The ring portions are separated by annular grooves along the shaft. The shaft at the other end is connected to a cylindrical lid member, which seals the top of a container containing a viscous fluid such as honey. The lid member terminates in a circular handle member, but the handle may be of any shape. The honey dipper of this embodiment can be used with any container. 
         [0022]    Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying these disclosures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    To further illustrate the present invention, the construction and operation of the preferred embodiment will be described. The description of the preferred embodiment is provided merely to further illustrate the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any fashion. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a conventional honey dipper  1 , which may be made of wood, metal, or plastic. Shaft  2  terminates in several annular disc members  4 , which as shown progress in size to the middle of the stack, then decrease in size. The discs may be of uniform size as well or any suitable mixture of sizes. The discs create a series of annular grooves  6  for entraining honey upon inserting the disc-end of the dipper into the viscous fluid and spinning or twirling it. Upon spinning, honey is entrained in the grooves, at which time the honey dipper is removed from the fluid, and the fluid is spread or drizzled onto another surface such as bread or toast. 
         [0025]    Conventionally, the honey dipper is then placed back in the container that contains the honey, in which case the shaft extends through the top of the jar, preventing the jar from sealing and allowing access to dirt and insects to the honey, as well as allowing air to freely access the honey, accelerating its crystallization. Alternatively, the dipper is taken out and the jar is sealed. The dipper is then washed, with a large amount of honey being washed down the drain and wasted. Much honey or other fluid is wasted by using conventional dippers for these reasons. The present invention solves these and other problems associated with honey dippers. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the integral lid honey dipper  10  of the present invention. Tapered shaft  12  culminates in disc members  14  separated by grooves  15 . Tapered shaft  12 , which along with the rest of the preferably (although it may be multiple pieces) one piece dipper is preferably made of wood such as apple or maple, impregnated with beeswax, but may be made of any suitable material such as other woods, plastic or metal, terminates in the underside of lid member  16 . Lid member  16  has annular ridge  18  which forms first annular recess  20  and second annular recess  21 . Second annular recess  21  engages with the annular ring of the lid of a conventional mason jar, as shown and described below. First annular recess  20  rests on the top edge of the canning jar. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom perspective view of honey dipper  10 , looking from below. In this view, the honey dipper is installed in the annular ring  24  of a conventional mason jar. Annular ridge  18  engages the underside of annular ring  24  to secure it in place, with the second annular ridge  21  resting against surface  26  of annular ring  24 . The ring is then screwed down onto the threads of a mason jar. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a side perspective view of dipper  10 . As can be seen, annular ridge  18  forms first annular recess  20  and second annular recess  21 , which cause the annular ridge  18  to be caught between the bottom surface of the annular ring a mason jar and the top edge of the jar. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a top perspective view of the annular ring  24  of a conventional mason jar, which is often used to store honey. It has a top surface  26  and an under surface  30 , which engages the annular ridge  18  of the honey dipper at first annular recess  20 . It also has a series of threads  30  which screw down onto the opening of a conventional mason jar. In operation the honey dipper is inserted from below into the annular ring such that ridge  18  at recess  20  is placed into engaging contact with lower surface  28  of the annular ring. The ring is then screwed onto the threads of a mason jar containing honey with the ridge  18  held in frictional engagement between the lower surface  30  and the upper edge  32  of the mason jar by virtue of the engagement of the threads of the annular ring with the jar, the ridge being trapped between lower surface  30  at first annular recess  20  and the top edge of the jar at second annular recess  21 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a side perspective view of the honey dipper of present invention inserted into the annular ring of a conventional mason jar. As can be seen, ridge  18  is engaged at first annular recess  20  under surface  30  of annular ring  26 . The honey dipper is inserted from the right into the annular ring, effectuating such engagement. The assembled dipper/ring is then screwed onto the top of a mason jar, with annular recess  21  resting on the edge of the jar. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates the honey dipper of the present invention installed in vessel, such as a conventional mason jar. As can be seen, annular ring  26  is screwed down onto the opening  32  of vessel  30 . Annular ridge  18  of honey dipper  10  is trapped at its top surface at recess  20  by the bottom surface of annular ring  26  and at its bottom surface at recess  21  by the top edge of vessel  30  by virtue of the engagement of the annular ring threads with the threads of the jar. In this manner, the honey dipper is suspended in the fluid between uses, with the jar sealed off from dirt, insects, and the environment, albeit without an airtight seal. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of the installed honey dipper. Annular ring  26  is in screwed-down engagement with ridge  18 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view from the side of a second embodiment of the present invention. Honey dipper  40  functions in much the same way as the first embodiment, with the exception of the integral lid  42 , which is flat and simply rests on the top edge of the vessel into which the honey dipper is inserted, as opposed to being engaged by the lid.