AU2017203951A1 - A Salt Shaker - Cubby Rebound Shaker - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to the field of utensils for dispensing food ingredients. In particular the invention relates to a dispenser for coarsely grained Himalayan salt that is not prepared with an anti-caking agent. The invention relates a salt shaker comprising a hollow body with a base, and wherein the base has a hollow projection which extends upwardly into the hollow body, and wherein the hollow projection has on an upper surface of the hollow projection, an aperture formed there through to connect the inside of the hollow body with the outside of the salt shaker, such that during shaking, salt crystals, flakes or grains bounce around the inside of the hollow body and a proportion of which pass through the aperture and fall out the bottom of the hollow projection and out of the shaker onto the food. FigI Fg10 Fig 2

Description

A SALT SHAKER TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of utensils for dispensing food ingredients. In particular the invention relates to a dispenser for coarsely grained Himalayan salt that is not prepared with an anti caking agent.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Salt shakers are used to dispense salt into food while cooking or during its consumption. Shakers have become popular in part because of the addition of anti-caking agents such as sodium ferrocyanide which prevent the salt crystals from clumping and forming salk cakes which would otherwise not be able to pass through the fine holes of the salt shaker.

[0003] In more recent times, salts that do not contain caking agents are becoming more popular. This is partly due to the belief that the anti-caking agents may ultimately be harmful and also because the type of salt sold in this form is said to be more natural. Himalayan salt is but one example of such a type of product.

[0004] Notwithstanding the increased popularity of such natural salts, which are often much courser than conventionally mass produced salts, there are problems with storing and service such salts. These salts generally sold in forms of large grains, flakes or crystals and are thus too big for the holes of a conventional salt shaker. Further they are hygroscopic and as such they draw in water vapour from the atmosphere into the crystals, causing them to clump together which also prevents their dispensing through a conventional shaker.

[0005] There is a need for a salt shaker that is designed for natural salts without caking agents and which overcomes, at least in part, the problems associated with conventional salt shakers.

[0006] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in a a salt shaker comprising a hollow body with a base, and wherein the base has a hollow projection which extends upwardly into the hollow body, and wherein the hollow projection has on an upper surface of the hollow projection, an aperture formed there through to connect the inside of the hollow body with the outside of the salt shaker, such that during shaking, salt crystals, flakes or grains bounce around the inside of the hollow body and a proportion of which pass through the aperture and fall out the bottom of the hollow projection and out of the shaker onto the food.

[0008] Preferably the base is flat such that when it is placed down on a flat surface the ambient air is prevented from flowing up the hollow projection, through the aperture into the hollow body of the salt shaker.

[0009] More preferably the hollow projection is frustoconical shaped.

[0010] Still more preferably the salt shaker features means for pouring salt into the shaker other than through the aperture.

[0011] More preferably the salt is inserted by way of a removable lid to the hollow body of the shaker.

[0012] Still more preferably the lid is a screw on lid with a wide mouth for accessing the inside of the hollow body for cleaning.

[0013] Preferably the hollow body is substantially spherical, ellipsoid or ovoid in shape with a flat base and a rounded top.

[0014] Preferably the aperture is 3 mm wide and 22 mm from the top inside surface of the hollow body.

[0015] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

[0016] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a salt shaker of the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a salt shaker of the present invention as shown in Fig 1, but made from a transparent material.

[0020] Fig 3 is a side view of the salt shaker of Fig 1.

[0021] Fig 4 is an exploded side view of the salt shaker of Fig 1 in which the lid has been removed.

[0022] Fig 5 is a cross section view of the shaker of Fig 3 taken along lines A-A in which salt is shown being dispensed.

[0023] Fig 6 is a side sectional view showing a side view of one half of the salt shaker of Fig 3 taken along lines A-A.

[0024] Fig 7 is a top view of the shaker of Fig 1 [0025] Fig 8 is a top view of the salt shaker with the lid off.

[0026] Fig 9 is a bottom view of the salt shaker.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0027] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0028] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0029] Fig 1 and Fig 2 show salt shakers 10 of the present invention. The salt shaker 10 of Fig 2 has a body principally made from glass or clear acrylic so that the salt crystals, grains or flakes can be visualised.

[0030] Figs 3 and 4 show the shaker 10 as comprising hollow body 14 and lid 12 which is fastened to the hollow body by screw connection 16 and a corresponding portion of the underside of the lid 12 (not shown).

[0031] The internal aspects of the shaker 10 can be best seen in Figs 5 and 6 which are cross sections of the shaker 10 of Fig 3 along lines A-A. Fig 5 is a cross section and Fig 6 represents a side view of the half of the shaker 10 taken along lines A-A of Fig 3. The hollow body 14 is shown connected to lid 12 by screw formations 16 and 18 formed in the body and lid respectively. The hollow body has a base 28 that extends circumferentially around a hollow projection 22 which has at its top surface, an aperture 24 through which salt 26 falls out of the shaker 10 as shown in Fig 3 as the shaker 10 is shaken by the user.

[0032] The hollow projection needs to be quite high up within the interior surface of the shaker 10 formed by the walls of the hollow body 14 and lid 12 so that salt does not fall out of the aperture 24 when not in use. That is, the height of the hollow projection 22 needs to be high enough so that a sufficient amount of salt can be contained around the hollow projection on the inside surface of the salt shaker 10. However if the aperture 24 is located too high in the shaker 10 such that it is very close to the inside surface of the lid 12 there may be insufficient salt bouncing off the inside surfaces that would then be ejected from the shaker via the aperture 24. In use the shaker 10 also ameliorates the problem of caking as the physical motion and bouncing off the inside surfaces of the hollow body 14 and lid 12 ensures that any caked salt is broken up.

[0033] Figs 7, 8 and 9 show various top and bottom views of the salt shaker. In Fig 8 the lid 12 and hollow body 14 can be seen. In Fig 8 which is a top view with the lid 12 removed from the shaker the aperture 24 can be seen surrounded by the sloping sides of the hollow projection. Screw portion 16 can be seen in addition to the flat ledge 30 adjacent the screw section and the hollow body 14. Fig 9 shows the hollow body 14, base 20, frustoconical section 22 and aperture 24.

[0034] The present embodiment shown in Figs 1-9 show a shaker 10 of a total height of 75mm and width of 61mm. The frustoconical shaped hollow projection is angled at between 75 and 85 degrees and has a vertical displacement of 22 mm between the aperture 24 and the inside of the top of the lid 12. The aperture is 3mm wide which is suitable for use with a wide range of grains, crystals and crystals of a size between 01mm and 2.5mm. Preferably the grain (ground crystal) is between 0.7 and 1mm in diameter/width for use with the present embodiment of the invention.

Claims (2)

1. Claims
2. 1. A salt shaker comprising a hollow body with a base, and wherein the base has a hollow projection which extends upwardly into the hollow body, and wherein the hollow projection has on an upper surface of the hollow projection, an aperture formed there through to connect the inside of the hollow body with the outside of the salt shaker, such that during shaking, salt crystals, flakes or grains bounce around the inside of the hollow body and a proportion of which pass through the aperture and fall out the bottom of the hollow projection and out of the shaker onto the food.