Patent ID: 8651406

Claim:
A condiment grinder comprising: a body for containing a condiment; a grinding mechanism for grinding the condiment in the body, the grinding mechanism comprising first and second grinding members between which the condiment is ground upon relative movement between the first and second grinding members; and a drive mechanism for driving and operating the grinding mechanism by causing relative movement between the first and second grinding members to grind the condiment, the drive mechanism comprising: an operating member supported for reciprocating movement in opposite first and second directions, relative to the body, to produced a driving force, a first ratchet arranged to transmit the driving force from the operating member, upon pivotal movement of the operating member in the first direction, and causing relative movement between the first and second grinding members in a third direction to grind the condiment, and a second ratchet arranged to transmit the driving force from the operating member, upon pivotal movement of the operating member in the second direction, and causing relative movement between the first and second grinding members in the third direction to grind the condiment, wherein, upon reciprocating movement of the operating member in the opposite first and second directions, the first and second ratchets alternate in transmitting the driving force from the operating member to the grinding mechanism.