Patent ID: 8047408

Claim:
A particulate dispenser comprised of: a particulate reservoir having a lower portion with a closed bottom, the lower portion having an exterior rim surface, a geometric center axis and a first hole through the bottom of the lower portion through which particulates can pass; a dispensing base portion that encloses a rotating measuring/dispensing vane having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to said geometric center axis, said dispensing base having a bottom above which said measuring/dispensing vane rotates, and an open top defined by an interior rim surface, the interior rim surface mating with the exterior rim surface of the lower portion of the particulate reservoir, said dispensing base portion having a second hole through the bottom of the dispensing base portion through which particulates can pass; an engagement tab extending outwardly from at least one of: the exterior rim surface; and the interior rim surface; a slot, sized, shaped and arranged to receive said engagement tab, said slot being formed in at least one of: the interior rim surface; and the exterior rim surface; the engagement tab and slot cooperating to removably attach the reservoir to said dispensing base portion by the insertion of said exterior rim surface into the interior rim surface and insertion of said engagement tab into said slot followed by a rotation of the base portion relative to the reservoir; wherein said measuring/dispensing vane is comprised of a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle around the vane's axis of rotation; wherein said measuring/dispensing vane is comprised of upper and lower planar surfaces orthogonal to said vane's axis of rotation, said lower planar surface of said vane being provided with a deformable gasket that rides on said planar bottom surface of said dispensing base portion.