AU2001100137A4

AU2001100137A4 - Improvements in pepper grinders

Info

Publication number: AU2001100137A4
Application number: AU2001100137A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Catherine Yee-Mei Chung; Kwok Cho Tang
Original assignee: EEM CONSULTANTS Pty Ltd; TASMANIAN CRAFTWOODS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: EEM CONSULTANTS Pty Ltd; TASMANIAN CRAFTWOODS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-05-28
Filing date: 1999-05-27
Publication date: 2001-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-27

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 EEM Consultants Pty Ltd and Tasmanian Craftwoods Pty Limited

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Invention Title: Improvements in pepper grinders The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Background of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in pepper grinders, salt grinders, spice grinders, and the like that may also be referred to below by the generic term "condiment grinder". For the most part the constructions of such grinders are identical, only the contents which are dispensed are different.

Field of the Invention Pepper grinders are used to grind whole peppercorns, usually black peppercorns onto food. Most pepper grinders comprise a hollow cylindrical tube, usually made of wood or plastic in the centre of which is disposed a "metal rod, at the bottom end of which there is a grinding mechanism. Whole peppercorns are stored in the annular space between the rod and the body of *e the grinder. When the rod and grinding means are rotated, peppercorns are 15 ground and fall through apertures in the grinding mechanism in the base of the pepper grinder for dispensing ground pepper onto food.

Other types of pepper grinders operate by means of a crushing mechanism that is activated by an operator squeezing two levers together.

The present invention as described below applies to all types of grinders.

Pepper grinders have the advantage over use of pre-ground black pepper in that freshly ground black pepper usually has a better flavour and smell than pre-ground black pepper dispensed from pepper-pots. However, the apertures for dispensing pepper on a pepper grinder are at the base of the grinder rather than in the top as occurs with a traditional pepper-pot. This results in the problem of loose bits of pepper falling from the grinder onto tables, bench tops, floors or cupboards. Also the grinding mechanism is exposed to open air and dirt on any table tops or bench tops on which the grinder is placed. The problems with pepper grinders are also shared to an extent by other condiment grinders.

The above mentioned problems have long been identified but none of the pepper grinders currently available in the market place have any mechanism which successfully addresses those problems. US Patent No 5709346 describes a means for attaching a flap to the grinding mechanism in an attempt to stop ground pepper from falling from the grinding mechanism.

However, that grinder does not function effectively because the flap is unable to prevent ground pepper bits from sticking to the underside of the pepper grinder or the sides of the flap and then falling down. The flap also fails to stop dirt contaminating the underside of the grinder.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the above mentioned disadvantages and provide an improved condiment grinder.

Summary of the Invention In a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable tray which is adapted to removably attach to the base of a pepper grinder, salt grinder, spice grinder, or the like, the grinder including a grinding mechanism and being arranged to dispense ground material downwardly from its base through apertures in the grinding mechanism, the tray including a floor and side walls and being arranged so as to trap any particles falling through the apertures in the grinding mechanism when the tray is attached to the base of the grinder and is removable to allow 15 dispensing of ground pepper from the grinder.

In one particular embodiment, the tray comprises a generally circular base with upwardly extending side walls, and a magnet extending from the centre of the base such that the magnet is attracted to a ferromagnetic grinding mechanism of the pepper grinder, the magnetic attraction retaining the tray in position at the base of the grinder.

In a related embodiment, the invention provides a pepper or salt grinder or the like incorporating a removable tray portion disposed below the grinding mechanism and in which the base of the grinder defines engagement means which are adapted to inter-engage with corresponding means on the tray so that the tray can be removably engaged with the base of the grinder.

The inter-engagement means may simply comprise a magnet on the tray and a piece of ferromagnetic material in the base or vice versa.

In one preferred embodiment one or more magnets are affixed to or inserted in the side walls of the tray and are attracted to one or more pieces of a ferromagnetic material disposed in the base of the grinder body.

Alternatively, the magnets can be disposed in the base of the grinder body and the ferromagnetic material in the side walls of the tray.

In one embodiment an annular foot forming the base of the pepper grinder may define a pair of inwardly-facing, inverted L-shaped slots and the tray defines outwardly extending protrusions which are adapted to engage in the L-shaped slots in a bayonet type fitting.

In an alternative embodiment, the interior of the foot of the pepper grinder may be threaded and adapted to engage on corresponding thread defined on an upwardly extending cylindrical wall of the tray.

Brief Description of the Drawings Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: o Figure la shows a schematic sectional view of a pepper grinder and a tray or lid attached to the underside of the grinder; Figure lb is a perspective view of the lid shown in Figure la; Figure 2a is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the S* 15 present invention showing a grinder and lid; Figure 2b is a perspective view of the lid shown in Figure 2a; Figure 3a is a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3b is a perspective view of a lid shown in Figure 3a; g *20 Figure 4 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

S"Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, Figure la shows an existing pepper grinder to which a removable tray or lid 12 embodying the present invention has been attached. The lid comprises a generally circular planar portion 14 and upwardly extending perimeter or side wall 16. In the centre of the planar portion 14 there is a generally cylindrical magnet 18.

In use, the cylindrical magnet is attracted to the grinding mechanism of the pepper grinder and this magnetic attraction will retain the tray in position over the base of the grinder against the annular foot 21 of the grinder such that any particles of ground pepper which fall through the grinding mechanism are caught by the tray. The tray will also function to prevent dirt on a table top or bench top on which the pepper grinder is placed from contaminating the grinding mechanism Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention in which the interior of the annular foot 24 of the pepper grinder defines two diametrically spaced slots 26, each in the shape of an inverted L.

The tray comprises a circular plate 28 and an annular wall 30 stepped in from the perimeter of the plate. The external diameter of the annular wall is the same as the internal diameter of the annular foot. In this embodiment, the pins 32 engage in the inverted L-shaped slots 26 in the interior of the foot 24 in a bayonet type action, similar to a light bulb.

Figure 3a shows an alternative embodiment in which the interior of the foot defines a screw thread 34 and the tray again defines a generally circular plate 28 and an annular wall 36 which has a corresponding screw thread to enable the tray 36 to be screwed to the underside of the pepper grinder.

Figure 4 illustrates a yet further embodiment in which a steel washer 50 is fitted to the base of a pepper grinder 52 outside of the grinding 15 mechanism 54. The side wall 56 of tray 58 is stepped having an inner portion 60 which abuts the base of the grinder 52 and an outer portion 62 S"which extends around the base. A series of magnets 64 are located in the inner wall of the tray. Both the grinder and tray are circular in cross-section.

It is of course possible to have the washer provided in the side wall and the S 20 magnets in the base of the grinder. The magnets and the washer may either be exposed or enclosed in the base or side wall, respectively.

Figure 5 shows a variant in which a stainless washer is fixed to the base of the annular foot of the pepper grinder and is attracted to exposed magnets 72, which could be an annular magnet similar to the washer 70 or a number of individual magnets. The position of the magnets and the steel washer may be reversed.

The grinder and tray may be made of timber plastic metal or other material. The tray and grinder may be made of the same materials so that they match. It is preferred, but not essential that the shape of the tray matches the shape of the grinder, eg if the grinder is square the tray is square.

Although the embodiments described above all refer to pepper grinders, clearly the principals of the present invention could be applied to any similar condiment grinding devices such as salt and spice grinders.

6 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A removable tray which is adapted to removably attach to the base of a pepper grinder, salt grinder, spice grinder, or the like, the grinder including a grinding mechanism and being arranged to dispense ground material downwardly from its base through apertures in the grinding mechanism, the tray including a floor and a side wall and being arranged so as to trap any particles falling through the apertures in the grinding mechanism when the tray is attached to the base of the grinder, the tray being removable to allow dispensing of ground pepper from the grinder.

2. A tray as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tray includes a generally circular base with an upwardly extending side wall, and a magnet extending from the centre of the base such that the magnet is attracted to a ferromagnetic grinding mechanism of the pepper grinder, with magnetic *attraction retaining the tray in position at the base of the grinder. 15

3. A combination of a condiment grinder including a grinding mechanism and being arranged to dispense ground material downwardly from its base through apertures in the grinding mechanism, and a removable tray portion disposed below the grinding mechanism, the tray including a floor and side wall, wherein the base of the grinder defines means which are adapted to S 20 inter-engage with a corresponding means on the tray so that the tray can be removably engaged with or attached to the base of the grinder.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base of the grinder includes one or more pieces of magnetic or ferromagnetic material and wherein the side wall of the tray also include pieces of ferromagnetic or magnetic material and wherein at least one of the pieces on either the base or side wall is magnetic.

A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base of the grinder has an annular foot which defines a pair of inwardly-facing, inverted L- shaped slots and the tray defines outwardly extending protrusions which are adapted to engage in the L-shaped slots of the foot in a bayonet type fitting.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base of the grinder has an annular foot and the interior of the foot is threaded and adapted to engage on corresponding thread defined on the side wall of the tray.

7. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the size and cross-sectional shape of the tray generally matches that of the grinder. 8

8. A combination of a condiment grinder and a removable tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in any of Figures la and Ib, or 2a and 2b, or 3a and 3b, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this twenty-seventh day of May 1999 EEM Consultants Pty Ltd and Tasmanian Craftwoods Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: B F B RICE CO tS