Patent ID: 7604189

Claim:
An electric seasoning mill, comprising: a main body having first and second opposed ends, a first holding room adjacent the main body first end, and a second holding room adjacent the main body second end; a motor housed in the main body between the main body first and second ends, the motor having a first output shaft extending toward the main body first end and a second output shaft extending toward the main body second end, the first and second output shafts being rotatable in concert in a first direction relative to the main body, the first and second output shafts being rotatable in concert in a second direction relative to the main body; a power supply unit for powering the motor; means for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the first direction upon a tilting of the main body so that the first holding room is below the second holding room, and for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the second direction upon a tilting of the main body so that the second holding room is below the first holding room; first and second milling assemblies respectively adjacent the first and second holding rooms, each milling assembly having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion; a first transmission shaft operatively coupling the first output shaft and the first milling assembly rotatable portion; and a second transmission shaft operatively coupling the second output shaft and the second milling assembly rotatable portion; wherein the means for automatically actuating includes a switch having a channel containing at least one movable member; wherein the channel has a first raised region, a second raised region, and a generally flat region connecting the first and second regions; wherein first and second contact points are within the first raised region and biased toward a non-contacting configuration; wherein third and fourth contact points are within the second raised region and biased toward a non-contacting configuration; wherein the at least one movable member is configured to compel contact between the first and second contact points when the main body is tilted so that the first holding room is below the second holding room, and to compel contact between the third and fourth contact points when the main body is tilted so that the second holding room is below the first holding room; wherein contact between the first and second contact points completes a first circuit and causes the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the first direction; and wherein contact between the third and fourth contact points completes a second circuit and causes the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the second direction.