Patent ID: 7748569

Claim:
A 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 flat bottom surface, the non-magnetic planer plate capable of being securely mounted horizontally; a plurality of magnetic elements embedded in the non-magnetic planer plate at pre-determined locations; a container assembly for storing spices, the container assembly comprising: a plurality of generally cylindrical spice containers; each container comprising a removable cap having a central portion, a middle portion and a peripheral portion, the removable cap removably attached to the corresponding generally cylindrical spice container, the middle portion of the removable cap having portions defining a plurality of holes for dispensing spices, the removable cap having a surface area greater than the surface area of the magnetic element of the plate assembly; and a magnetic element securely attached to the central portion of the removable cap; magnetic attraction force between the magnetic element of the container and the magnetic element of the plate assembly being exerted when the container is placed in proximity to the plate assembly, the container capable of magnetically attaching to the bottom surface of the plate assembly, the container capable of detaching from the bottom surface of the plate assembly when force is applied to the container, the removable cap of the container and the bottom surface of the plate assembly forming self-seal in order to prevent air and moisture from entering into the generally cylindrical container when the container is magnetically attached to the plate assembly; and in which the removable cap further comprises: a generally circular cover for covering the middle portion of the removable cap of the container assembly, the generally circular cover rotatably mounted on the removable cap, the generally circular cover having portions defining a plurality of holes, the holes on the generally circular cover having rotational symmetry, the holes on the generally circular cover capable of variably overlapping with the holes in the middle portion of the removable cap so that spices can be dispensed at continuously variable flow rate.