AU2007101074A4 - Electric seasoning mill - Google Patents

Description

08/11 2007 16:41 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA [064/096 586351P JOM:FKD P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION

ENTITLED

Invention Title: ELECTRIC SEASONING MILL Name of Apolicant: DUO YEU METAL CO., LTD.

Address for Service: COLLISON CO. 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 The invention is described in the following statement: COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:41 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 1641 FX COLISN o IP AUST CANBERRA [R065/096 2 0 ELECTRIC SEASONING MIL Z BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 51. Field of the invention The present invention relates to an electric seasoning mill, more 2 particularly one, which has two opposed ends respectively having first S and second holding rooms each containing a respective kind of c-i seasoning, two grinding mechanisms each housed in a respective holding room, and a sloping contact device so that only a currently lower one of the grinding mechanisms* will be actuated to grind the seasoning when the electric seasoning mill is held in a tilted position.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In order to preserve the original taste of various kinds of seasonings, seasonings are usually stored in larger particle sizes, and ground and directly dispensed with seasoning grinders when people want to use them in cooking or tasting.

A currently existing manual seasoning mill structure includes a hollow main body, a rotary operating member connected to an upper end of the hollow main body, a transmission shaft held in the main body and turnable together with the rotary operating member, an inner toothed part joined to a lower end of the transmission shaft, and an outer toothed part positioned round the inner toothed part and secured to an inner side of COMS ID No: ARCS-i 67948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:41 FAX COLLISON CO 08/11200716:4 FAXCOLLSON CO IP AUST CANBERRA Q0j66/096 :3 the main part. Seasonings are contained in the hollow main body. Thus, the inner toothed part will turn relative to the outer toothed part to grind z seasonings together with the outer toothed part when the operating o0 member is rotated.

However, it requires unwarranted time and labor to use the manual o seasoning mill, and it is difficult for those people who can't use their 2 hands very dexterously to operate such seasoning mills smoothly. Further, S this prior art seasoning mill can contain only one kind of seasoning or 0- one kind of seasoning combination instead of two. In the present markets, there is a variety of electric seasoning grinders as well, which include a motor, a grinding mechanism, a transmission shaft connected to both the motor and ffie grinding mechanism, and a switch for turning on/off the motor. However, these grinders are not very practical because they can contain only one kind of seasoning or one kind of seasoning combination.

Although there are several different dual-use seasoning grinders available to consumers which have two separate rooms for containing two kinds of seasonings, and although these can grind the two kinds of seasonings separately, they are hand-operated and not convenient to use.

Therefore) an improvement on a seasoning mill is made according to the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned problems, thus allowing users to use more conveniently.

COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:42 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 1642 FX COLISN O IP AUST CANBERRA [a1067/096 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION z An electric seasoning mill of the present invention includes a main o0 part, a motor, a power supply device for supplying power to the motor, first and second grinding mechanisms, and first and second transmission 2 shafts. The main part has first and second opposed ends, a first holding 2 room adjacent to the first end, and a second holding room adjacent to the S second end. The motor is housed in the main part between the first and the second ends. The motor has a first output shaft projecting towards the first end of the main part, and a second output shaft projecting towards the second end of the main part. The first and the second output shafts can rotate in concert in a first (forward) direction relative to the main part, and can rotate in concert in a second (reverse) direction relative to the main part. The first and second grinding mechanisms are respectively adjacent to the first and second holding rooms, and each has a stationary outer toothed part and rotary inner toothed part. The first transmission shaft operatively couples the first output shaft and the rotary inner toothed part of the first grinding mechanism, and the second transmission shaft operatively couples the second output shaft and the rotary inner toothed part of the second grinding mechanism. Furthermore, a tilting device is included for automatically actuating the motor to rotate the first and second output shafts in the first direction upon a tilting of the main part so that the first holding room is below the second holding COMS ID No:ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:42 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 1642 FX COLISN O IP AUST CANBERRA I[a068/096 roo, thus, the first grinding mechanism is actuated to grind the seasoning hedin the first holding room. And, the tilting device will z automatically actuate the motor to rotate the first and second output o0 shafts in the second direction upon a tilting of the main part so that the second holding room is below the first holding room.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0 The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention Fig. 5 is a view of the control switch assembly in operation Fig. 6 is a simplified view of the control switch assembly in operation Fig. 7 is a view of the control switch assembly in operation Fig. 8 is a simplified view of the control switch assembly in operation Fig, 9 is a simplified circuit diagram of the present invention, Fig, 10 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention in operation COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by 113 Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:42 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 207 1642 AX OLLION CO- IP AUST CANBERRA [ajO69/096 r- 6 o Fig. 11I is a view of another embodiment of the present invention N in operation F i .10s a v e f t e l c i g r n n u e n Z0 Fig. 12 is a view of the locking ring in use DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODiMENTS Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a first preferred embodiment of an 0 electric seasoning mill of the present invention includes a main part 1, a motor 2, a power source 3, a control switch 4, two transmission shafts and first and second grinding mechanisms 6.

The main part 1 has first and second holding rooms I11 at two ends thereof, each provided for containing a kind of seasoning/seasoning combination. The main part 1 fur-ther has a connection portion 12 between the first and the second holding rooms 11 thereof.

The motor 2 is fitted to the connecting portion 12 of the main part 1. The motor 2 has first and second output shafts 21 and 21' sticking from two ends thereof, which can rotate in either of a forward direction and a reverse direction, and which will always rotate in the same direction when the motor 2 is powered. A reduction gear assembly 22 is connected to each of the first and the second output shafts 21 and 21'.

And, each of the reduction gear assemblies 22 is connected to a single- direction ratchet wheel 23 at an output end thereof COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:43 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 1643 FX COLISN o IP AUST CANBERRA la07O/096 7 o The transmission shafts 5 are held in the first and the second holding rooms 11 of the main part 1 respectively, and each connected to z one corresponding said single-direction ratchet wheel 23 at one end.

o0 Therefore, the transmission shaft 5 held in the first holding room 11I will be rotated by the corresponding single-direction ratchet wheel 23 only when the output shafts 21 and 21' of the motor 2 are rotating in the 2 forward direction; this single-direction ratchet wheel 23 won't cause S rotation of this (first) transmission shaft 5 when the first output shaft 21 ci is rotating in the reverse direction. And, the transmission shaft 5 held in the second holding room 11 will be rotated together with the corresponding single-direction ratchet wheel 23 only when the output shafts 21 and 21' are rotating in the reverse direction; this single-direction ratchet wheel 23 can't cause rotation of this (second) transmission shaft 5 when the second output shaft 21' is rotating in the forward direction.

The power source 3 is fitted in the connecting portion 12 of the main part 1 for providing electric power to the motor 2. The control switch 4 is also fitted in the connecting portioit 12 of the main part 1 for controllng electric power from the power source 3 to the motor 2 as well as controlling the rotational direction of the first and the second output shafts 21 and 21'; in other words, the motor 2 can be switched in order for the output shafts 21 and 21' to rotate in a forward direction or a reverse one.

COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:43 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 16:3 FA COLISON& O- IP AIJST CANBERRA FIj071/096 8 0 The control switch 4 can be a tilting contact device which includes a tunnel 41., which can have a curved shape or a folded shape Z with higher and lower portions. The tunnel 41 includes a middle lower 00 o portion'411, and first and second higher portions 412 and 413 on two sides of the middle lower portion 411. The control switch 4 further includes at least one movable rolling members 42 received in the tunnel o 41, first and second contact points 4121 and 4122 in the first higher S portion 412 of the tunnel 41, and third and fourth contact points 4131 ci and 4132 in the second higher portion 413 of the tunnel 41; the first contact point 4121 is off (not in touch with) the second contact point 4122 while the third contact point 4131 is off the fourth contact point 4132. The rolling members 42 can be spherical or non-spherical, and they have to be able to roll or move; there wre five rolling members 42, which wre spherical, in the present preferred embodiment Therefore, when the main part I is in a horizontal position with the tilting contact device 4' being in a lying position and with the first and second holding rooms 11I being at the same height, as shown in Figs.

2, 5 and 6, the rolling members 42 will be in the middle lower portion 411 of the tunnel 41 without being in touch with the contact points 4121, 4122, 4131 or 4132. Consequently, the control switch 4 is off, and the motor 2 isn't powered.

The first and the second grinding mechanisms 6 wre positioned in the first and the second holding rooms 11 of the main part 1 respectively, COMS ID No: ARCS-i 67948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:44 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 16:4 FA COLIL SN O IP AIJST CANBERRA [a072/096 9 and they are near to exits of the corresponding holding rooms 11. Each N of the grinding mechanisms 6 includes an inner rotary member 61 z connected to a corresponding said transmission shaft 5, and an out o0 stationary member 62 positioned round the inner rotary member 61; the inner rotary member 61 has an interior part having teeth (not shown) extending outwardly therefrom, and the outer stationary member 62 has 2 an outer part having teeth extending inwardly therefrom; each outer part is positioned around a respective interior part, and the teeth extending 0 inwardly from each outer part have a configuration complementary to a configuration of the teeth extending outwardly from a respective interior part.

When the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the second holding room 11 being above the first holding room 11, the rolling members 42 will move to the first higher portion 412 of the tunnel 41 owing to gravity, and force the first contact point 4121 into contact with the second contact point 4122 so as to close a circuit, as shown in Fig. 8.

Consequently, the motor 2 is powered by the power source 3 in order for the first and the second output shafts 21 and 21' to rotate in the forward direction.

When the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the first holding room 11 being above the second holding room 11, the rolling members 42 will move to the second higher portion 413 of the tunnel 41 owing to gravity, and force the third contact point 4131 into contact with the COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:44 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 16:4 FA COLISON&Co- IP AUST CANBERRA Q~073/096 fourth contact point 4132 so as to close a circuit. Consequently, the motor 2 is powered by the power source 3 in order for the first and the zsecond output shafts 21 and 2 1 'orotate in the reverse direction.

o0 Therefore, when the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the second holding room 11 being above the first holding room 11, the output shafts 21 and 21' of the motor 2 will rotate in the forward 2 direction, and the first grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the lowermost S position) will function to grind the seasoning/seasoning combination held in the first holding room 11 of the main part 1, with the inner rotary member 61 thereof rotating relative to the corresponding outer stationary member 62; at the same time, a currently higher one of the transmission shafts 5 and the inner rotary member 61 of the second grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the uppennost position) won't be rotating relative to the corresponding outer stationary member 62; in other words,, the second grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the uppermost position) won't be working.

Furthermore, when the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the fir st holding room 11I being above the second holding room 11, the output shafts 21 and 2 1 'of the motor 2 will rotate in the reverse direction, and the second grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the lowermost position) will function to grind the seasoning/seasoning combination held in the second holding room 11I of the main part 1, with the inner rotary member 61 thereof rotating relative to the corresponding outer COMB ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:44 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 16:4 FA COLISN& CO- IP AUST CANBERRA R 074/096 stationary member 62; at the same time, a currently higher one of the transmission shafts 5 and the inner rotary member 61 of the first grinding 0 o relative to the corresponding outer stationary member 62; in other words, the first grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the uppermost position) 2 won't be working.

2 Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, a second preferred embodiment of an S electric seasoning mill of the invention is provided, which includes a tilting contact device 4' different from that of the first preferred embodiment. The present tilting contact device 4' includes a tunnel 41, which can have a curved shape or a folded-shape with higher and lower portions. The tunnel 41 includes a middle lower portion 411, and first and second higher portions 412 and 413 on two sides of the middle lower portion 411. The control switch 4 further includes at least one movable conducting members 44 received in the tunnel 41, first and second contact points 4121 and 4122 in the first higher portion 412 of the tunnel 41, third and fourth contact points 4131 and 4132 in the second higher portion 413 of the tunnel 41, and first and second conducting elastic elements 45; the first and the second contact points 4121 and 4122 are parallel to each other without being in touch; the third and the fourth contact points 4131 and 4132 are parallel to each other without being in touch. The movable conducting members 44 can be spherical or non-spherical, and they have to be able to roll or move; there are five COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:45 FAX COLLISON CO 08/11200716:4 FAXCOLLSON Co I AIJST CANBERRA [ajO75/096 12 spherical movable conducting members 44 in the present preferred embodiment. The first conducting elastic element 45 is joined to a front z one of the movable conducting members 44 while the second conducting o0 elastic element 45 is joined to a rearmost one of the movable conducting members 44.

Therefore, when the main part 1 is in a horizontal position with 2the first and second holding rooms 11I being at the same height, the S movable conducting members 44 will be in the middle lower portion 411 of the Irtmel 41 without being in touch with the contact points 4121, 4122, 4131 or 4132. Consequently, the control switch 4 is off, and the motor 2 isn't powered.

When the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the second holding room 11 being above the first holding room 11, the movable conducting members 44 will move to the first higher portion 412 of the tunnel 41 owing to gravity, and the first conducting elastic element will be in touch with both the first and the second contact points 4121 and 4122 so as to close a circuit, as shown in Fig. 11. Consequently, the motor 2 is powered by the power source 3 in order for the first and the second output shafts 21 and 21' to rotate in the forward direction.

Furthennore, when the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the first holding room 11I being above the second holding room 11, the movable conducting members 44 will be in the second higher portion 413 of the tunnel 41 owing to gravity, and the second conducting elastic COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:45 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 307 1048 AX CLLION &Co I AIJIT CANBERRA taO76/O96 13 element 45 will be in touch with the third and the fourth contact points 4131 and 4132 so as to close a circuit. Consequently, the motor 2 is 0 Therefore, when the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the second holding room 11 being above the first holding room 11, the o output shafts 21 and 21' of the motor 2 will rotate in the forward S direction, and the first grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the lowermost N- position) will function -to grind the seasoning/seasoning combination; at the same time, the second grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the uppermost position) won't be working.

Furthermore, when the main part 1 is in a vertical position with the first holding room 11I being above the second holding room 11, the output shafts 21 and 21' of the motor 2 will rotate in the reverse direction, and the second grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the lowermost position) will function to grind the seasoning/seasoning combination; at the same time, the first grinding mechanism 6 (currently in the uppermost position) won't be working.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, each of the above-mentioned control switches 4 further has a locking ring 43, which has a protruding wing portion 431 thereon, and which can be rotated to either a connecting position or a disconnecting position; when the locking ring 43 is in the connecting position, the protruding wing portion 431 will force a COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:46 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 1646 FX COLISN o IF AUST CANBERRA QT077/096 14 connecting end 31 of the power source 3 into contact with a connecting end 46 of the control switch 4, and in turn the electric seasoning mill will 0 o locing ring 43 is in the disconnecting position, the protruding wing portion 431 won't force the connecting end 31 into contact with the connecting end 46, and in turn the electric seasoning mill can't be o activated no matter what position the electric seasoning mill is held in, S thus preventing the electric seasoning mill from being accidentally c-i activated when it is being moved, carried or transported.

From the above description, it can be seen that the electric seasoning mill of the present invention is relatively convenient to use; the electric seasoning mill includes a main part with two holding rooms each containing a kind of seasoning/seasoning combination, two grinding mechanisms held in respective ones of the holding rooms, single-direction ratchet wheels, and a control switch such that only a currently lower one of the grinding mechanisms will be actuated to grind the seasoning/seasoning combination when the electric seasoning mill is held in a substantially vertical position. Furthermore, the electric seasoning mill is safe to use because it includes the locking ring, which can be turned to a disconnecting position for preventing the mill from being accidentally activated when the mill is being moved, carried or transported.

COMS ID No: ARCS-i 67948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08

Claims (4)

1. An electric seasoning mill, comprising o0 a main part, the main part having first and second ends at two ends, the main part having first and second holding rooms adjacent to the first and the second ends respectively; o a motor positioned between the first and the second ends of the S main part; the motor having a first output shaft projecting towards the ci first end of the main part; the motor having a second output shaft projecting towards the second end of the main part; the first and the second output shafts being capable of rotating in concert in a first direction relative to the main part;- the first and the second output shafts being capable of rotating in concert in a second direction relative to the main part; a power supplying device for providing electric power to the motor; a control switch; the first and the second output shafts of the motor being going to rotate in the first direction when the main part is held in such a position that the first holding room is lower than the second holding room thereof; the first and the second output shafts being going to rotate the second direction when the main part is held in such a position that the second holding room is lower than the first holding room thereof; COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:46 FAX COLLISON CO 08/11200716:4 FAXCOLLSON Co I AIJST CANBERRA [UjO79/096 16 0 first and second grinding mechanisms, the first and the second grinding mechanisms being positioned adjacent to the first and the Z second holding rooms of the main part respectively; each of the grinding 00 o mechanisms including an inner rotary member, and an out stationary member positioned around the inner rotary member; a first transmission shaft connected to the first output shaft of the o motor and the inner rotary member of the first grinding mechanism; and a second transmission shaft connected to the second output shaft 0 and the inner rotary member of the second grinding mechanism.

2. TFhe electric seasoning mill as recited in claim 1, wherein the control switch is a tilting contact device, which includes a channel with higher and lower portions; the channel including a middle lower portion, and first and second higher portions on two sides of the middle lower portion; at least one movable rolling member being received in the channel; first and second contact points being arranged off each other in the first higher portion of the channel; third and fourth contact points being arranged off each other in the second higher portion of the channel; when the main pant is in a tilted position with the first holding room being lower than the second holding room thereof, said at least one movable rolling member being going to move so as to force the first and the second contact points to contact with each other; when the main part is in a tilted position with the second holding room being lower than the COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:47 FAX COLLISON CO 08/1 200 1D~7 FA COLISON& C IP AUNT CANBERRA M080/O96 17 first holding room thereof, said at least one movable rolling member being going to move so as to force the third and the fourth contact points z to contact with each other; when the first and the second contact points o0 are in contact with each other, a first circuit being going to be completed, and the first and the second output shafts of the motor being going to rotate in said first direction; when the third and the fourth contact points 2 are in contact with each other, a second circuit being going to be S completed, and the first and the second output shafts of the motor being going to rotate in said second direction.

3. The electric seasoning mill as recited in claim 2, wherein a first single-direction ratchet wheel connects the first output shaft to the first transmission shaft, and a second single-direction ratchet wheel connects the second output shaft to the second transmission shaft; the first single-direction ratchet wheel being going to cause rotation of the first transmission shaft when the first output shaft is rotating in said first direction; the first single-direction ratchet wheel being not going to cause rotation of the first transmission shaft when the first output shaft is rotating in said second direction; the second single-direction ratchet wheel being going to cause rotation of the second transmission shaft when the second output shaft is rotating in said second direction; the second single-direction ratchet wheel being not going to cause rotation of the second transmission shaft when the second output shaft is rotating in said first direction. COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 16:47 FAX COLLISON CO 2071:7FXCLLSN&CP*J AUST CANBERRA Z0O81/096 18 o

4. The electric seasoning mill as recited in claim 3, wherein a first N reduction gear assembly is connected to the first single-direction ratchet zwheel as well as at least one of the first output shaft and the first o0 transmission shaft in order for rotation speed of the first transmission shaft to decrease relative to rotation speed of the first output shaft, and a second reduction gear assembly is connected. to the second o single-direction ratchet wheel as well as at least one of the second output S shaft and the second transmission shalt in order for rotation speed of the second transmission shaft to decrease relative to rotation speed of the second output shaft. The electric seasoning mill as recited in claim 1, wherein the control switch has a locking ring thereon, which has a protruding wing portion; the locking ring being capable of being moved to a first position, in which position the protruding wing portion will cause the control switch and the power supplying device to contact with each other, and in turn the first and the second grinding mechanisms are capable of being actuated; -the locking ring being capable of being moved to a second position, in which position the protruding wing portion won't cause the control switch and the power supplying device to contact with each other, and in turn the first and the second grinding mechanisms are prevented from being actuated. COMS ID No: ARCS-167948 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:22 Date 2007-11-08