Patent ID: 8381949

Claim:
A magnetically-hanging spice dispenser comprising: a plate assembly having a top surface and a bottom surface, the plate assembly comprising: a non-magnetic planer plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the non-magnetic planer plate having portions defining a plurality of holes at pre-determined locations, the non-magnetic planer plate capable of being securely mounted horizontally; and a plurality of permanent magnets, each permanent magnet having a top surface and a bottom surface, the permanent magnets securely attached to the holes of the non-magnetic planer plate; and a container assembly for storing spices, the container assembly comprising: a generally cylindrical spice container; a generally circular removable cap having a central portion, a middle portion and a peripheral portion, the generally circular removable cap removably attached to the generally cylindrical spice container, the middle portion of the generally circular removable cap having portions defining a plurality of substantially circular holes for dispensing spices; a magnetic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, the magnetic element securely attached to the generally circular removable cap; and a generally circular elastic cover for covering the middle portion of the generally circular removable cap of the container assembly, the generally circular elastic cover rotatably mounted on the generally circular removable cap, the generally circular elastic cover having portions defining a plurality of substantially circular holes, the substantially circular holes of the generally circular elastic cover capable of variably overlapping with the substantially circular holes of the middle portion of the generally circular removable cap so that spices can be dispensed at continuously-variable flow rate, the generally circular elastic cover having a portion defining a substantially circular convex protuberance, the substantially circular convex protuberance having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the substantially circular hole of the middle portion of the generally circular removable cap.