Patent ID: 7552845

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing a fine particulate matter from a container, said apparatus comprising: (a) a vent means having a first end thereof operatively penetrating a first end of said container and connecting said first end of said container directly to unpressurized atmosphere; (b) a fine particulate transport means engageable with a second end of said container for enabling evacuation of said fine particulate matter therefrom; (c) a housing having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size, said housing having a first open end and an axially opposed second end being one of open and closed, said first end and said second end forming a cavity for receiving said container, whereby said vent means is disposed within said first end of said housing and said fine particulate transport means is engageable with said second end of said housing; and a means for retaining a predetermined shape of said container during dispensing of said fine particulate matter that includes; (d) at least one member disposed within said cavity of said housing intermediate an outer surface of said container and an inner surface of said housing at a predetermined distance therefrom; (e) a predetermined plurality of apertures disposed in a predetermined pattern within said at least one member; (f) an elongated member spaced from an exterior side surface of said housing, said elongated member having one end thereof attached to said exterior side surface of said housing adjacent a side surface of said at least one member and an opposed end thereof attached to said fine particulate transport means external each of said container and said housing; and (g) a passage way disposed within said elongated member and communicating with said cavity of said housing and said fine particulate transport means.