AU692333B2 - Particulate material dispenser - Google Patents

Description

TITLE PARTICULATE MATERIAL DISPENSER FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a dispenser and in particular to a dispenser that dispenses particulate materials in known volumes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dispensing containers for particulate materials such as powdered, granulated or flaked substances take various forms. In most devices they comprise a container with a fenestrated or perforated closure member through which such materials are dispensed.

In their simplest forms they are represented by ordinary salt or pepper shakers or grated cheese dispensers. In their most complex versions they include devices for dispensing powdered medications which may comprise multiple compartments and metering mechanisms such as dosing disks.

Prior art disclosures of such dispensing devices include research disclosure RD-319075, Patent US 4346823-A, Patent GB1582628-A, Patent GB1389433-A and Patent ZA 7704328-A.

Research disclosure RD-319075 discloses a metering device for two powdered drugs comprising two drug compartments with a metering mechanism. This device consists basically of a cap which is rotatable with respect to a medicament reservoir. The metering mechanism consist of an upper plate, a dosing disk and a lower plate. The dosing disk is connected to the cap via a central shaft and has two holes on either side of the shaft such that the arc described by one hole does not at any point coincide with the arc described by the other hole. The dimensions of each hole are such that the amount of medicament taken up and dispensed during the operation of the dispensing mechanism corresponds to a unit dose of that medicament. Operation of the dispensing mechanism involves rotation of the cap which causes rotation of the dosing disk. During the operation holes in the upper and lower plates and the dosing disk are aligned with respect to each other thereby 2 dispensing unit doses of the medicament.

Patent US4346823-A discloses a container closure for divided material such as powders which has a measured dispensing portion whereby a fixed volume of material may be dispensed. The device may be positioned so that non-measured quantities may also be dispensed. The device consists of a first cap with an end wall, a measuring unit attached to one side of the end wall and a second cap attached to the other side of the end wall. The first cap may be attached to a container so that the end wall closes the opening in the container. The second cap is rotatably mounted on the first cap and can be selectively placed in a closed position, a measured dispensing position and a non-measured dispensing position.

Patent GB1582628-A discloses a container with rotatable cap for dispensing granular material. The cap is snap fitted and has an offset aperture which aligns with a scalloped mouth of a container body. There is a continuous protrusion on the under side of the cap which slidingly engages the upper surface of a ledge which has a scalloped free inner edge defining the mouth of the body.

Patent GB1389433-A discloses a rotatable powder container dispensing cap which has apertures alignabie with a groove on the inner surface of the container neck. The limit of the relative rotation between the cap and the neck is defined by a protrusion within the cap which engages a groove in the neck, the cap aperture mating with the vertical groove when the protrusion is in the end position. Patent ZA7704328-A discloses a plastic container for dispensing powder which has a rotatably mounted cap which when turned aligns its perforated area to a port in the container.

One of the problems associated with simple versions of prior art dispensers for particulate materials is that they do not dispense a pre- determined quantity of materials or they are prone to clogging and blockage of perforations or apertures when the substances dispensed are of a sticky and powdered nature. This problem is especially common with granulated particulate matter which has a hydroscopic or moisture absorbent tendency.

Another problem with dispensers involving some form of mechanical metering device is that the relevant substances often jam the usually complex dispensing or dosing mechanism making them either inaccurate or entirely non-functional.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome or ameliorate at least some of the problems associated with prior art particulate material dispensers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a dispenser comprising: a hollow container means having a first aperture at an upper end; a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a second aperture therein; said chamber being rotatable relative to the container wherein the first and second apertures may be aligned to provide an opening between the chamber and the container; said opening being closed when the first and second apertures are misaligned; wherein, in use, the container having material therein may be inverted to fill the chamber when said first and second apertures are aligned; said first and second apertures thereafter being misalignable to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre-determined volume of material for selective dispensing via a closable dispensing aperture therein. The dispenser finds application in the dispensing of particulate materials although, with appropriate sealing, can be used for the dispensing of liquids.

The chamber may also be positioned so that non-measured volumes are continuously dispensed. Suitably, the container means comprises a tubular cylinder having an open lower end and a closed upper end which has an aperture.

Suitably, there may be provided a push-on or screw-on lid which seals the open end of the container.

The chamber may comprise a frusto-conical shaped member having a floor with a second aperture alignabie with the first aperture at a larger end and a closable opening at a smaller end. Suitably, the chamber is of a pre-determined internal volume for the dispensing of a known quantity of particulate material. Alternatively, the chamber is of a variable volume.

In the variable volume form of the invention the dispensing chamber may comprise a telescopically extendable member. The telescopically extendable member may be lockable in several extended positions by a detent mechanism between the telescopic member and the neck of the container.

In an alternative variable volume form the dispensing chamber may comprise a concertina structure biased to a number of known volume positions. Each of the positions of the concertina structure will correspond to a pre-determined volume for dispensing from the hollow dispensing chamber.

Suitably, cover means is attached to the chamber, said cover means comprising a releasable lid. There may also be provided protection cap means for the chamber comprising a cup-shaped member having an open and a closed end.

The container means, the chamber and the protective cap may be made of any suitable material such as transparent or translucent plastic materials inclusive of polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polypropylene. Suitably, there are provided markings on the container and the chamber indicating when their respective apertures are aligned and when they are not aligned.

There may be provided in combination with such markings, a detent mechanism to retain the respective apertures in the aligned and non-aligned positions.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a dispenser for materials, said dispenser comprising: a lid member having a first aperture at an upper end; and a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a second aperture therein, said chamber being rotatable relative to the lid member wherein the first and second apertures may be aligned to provide an opening between the chamber and the lid member, said opening being closed when the first and second apertures are misaligned; wherein, in use, the lid member is used to seal a container having material therein, said container and lid member are inverted to fill the chamber when said first and second apertures are aligned; said first and second apertures thereafter being misalignable to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre-determined volume of material for selective dispensing by a dispensing aperture therein.

In another version of the invention the dispensing chamber may comprise a pivotal nozzle of a pre-determined volume. In yet another form of the invention the dispensing chamber may have a window which is rotatably closed or opened with respect to an upright member attached to the container body.

In this form of the invention, apertures in the floor of the chamber and the container respectively are aligned when the window is sealed by the upright member and misaligned when the window is not sealed by the upright member.

In a further form of the invention the dispensing chamber is fixed with respect to the container.

The opening between the chamber and the container may be closed-off by a series of segmental members which are operated by a lever or circumferential band rotatable between an open and closed position.

In yet a further form of the invention there is provided a dispenser for materials, said dispenser comprising:- a hollow container means having a first aperture at an upper end; a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a second aperture therein; said chamber being insertable into the body of the container wherein the first and second apertures may be located in a first position to provide an opening between the chamber and the container when the chamber is fully inserted into the body of the container; said opening being closed when the first and second apertures are located in a second position with respect to each other when the chamber is withdrawn from the body of the container; wherein, in use, the container having materials therein is inverted to fill the chamber when said first and second apertures are located in the first position; said first and second apertures thereafter being located in the second position when the dispensing chamber is withdrawn from the body of the container to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre¬ determined volume of material for selective dispensing via a dispensing aperture therein.

In yet a still further form of the invention there may be provided a dispenser for particulate materials, said dispenser comprising:- a hollow container means; and a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume which is of unitary construction with the container and having an aperture therein; said aperture being opened and closed via a slide member which is slidably insertable into the body of the container; wherein, in use, the container having particulate material therein is inverted to fill the chamber when the aperture is opened by the retraction of the slide from the body of the container; said aperture thereafter being closed by insertion of the slide into the body of the container to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre-determined volume of particulate material for selective dispensing via a dispensing aperture therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS To enable the invention to be fully understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show various embodiments of the invention.

FIG 1 shows an exploded perspective of an example of a particulate material dispenser according to this invention;

FIG 2 shows an example of a particulate material dispenser for use with large containers according to this invention;

FIG 3a and FIG 3b show an example of a particulate material dispenser with a pivotal nozzle according to the invention;

FIG 4 shows an example of a particulate material dispenser with a rotatable window according to the invention;

FIG 5a and FIG 5b show an example of a particulate material dispenser with an insertable dispensing chamber according to the invention;

FIG 6 shows an example of a particulate material dispenser with a segmental aperture according to the invention;

FIG 7 shows an example of a particulate material dispenser with a slidable aperture according to the invention; FIG 8 shows an example of a particulate material dispenser with variable volume adjustment according to the invention; and

FIG 9 shows a further embodiment of a particulate material dispenser with variable volume adjustment according to the invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG 1 it can be seen that the dispenser for particulate material is comprised of a cylindrical container 1 which has an open bottom end 2. The container may be sealed with a push-on lid 3 which snugly engages a beaded rim 4 at the bottom end of the container.

The upper end 5 of the container has an aperture 6 and a ledge 6a occupying half the cross-sectional area of the upper end of the container.

The dispensing chamber 7 has a floor 8 which has an aperture 9 and a ledge 9a which occupies half the cross sectional area of the floor of the chamber. The chamber 7 snugly engages the container 1 by means of a beaded rim 10 at the upper end of the container. Both container and chamber may be rotated with respect to each other so that their respective apertures 9 and 6 may be aligned in the open position or may be non-aligned in the closed position. There is provided a push-on lid 11 attached to a strap 12 which is incorporated into the design of the chamber.

The chamber has an open end 13 which has a beaded rim 14 to engage firmly the push-on lid 11. Protective cover means in the form of a cup shaped member 15 is provided. The cup shaped member 15 has an internal beaded rim (not shown) which engages a groove 16 adjacent the bottom of the chamber.

In use, the push-on lid 11 of the chamber 7 is fitted and the chamber is rotated 17 in relation to the container so that the respective apertures 6, 9 in either component are not aligned with each other and are in the closed position.

The container is filled via the open bottom end 2 with powdered or particulate material before it is sealed with the push-on lid 3.

In order to dispense the substance, the chamber is rotated 17 relevant to the container so that the respective apertures 6, 9 in both components are aligned and in the open position.

The container is then inverted to fill the chamber with the relevant substance before the respective components are rotated relevant to each other so that their apertures 6, 9 are closed off. The container is then reverted to its original position and the push- on lid 11 of the chamber is then removed to allow the substance to be dispensed.

Referring to FIG 2 it can be seen that an example of the dispenser 18 for use with large containers is comprised of a lid member 18a which is of a suitable diameter to engage a commercial container of particulate matter 19 which in this case is opened by a metal ring topped pull-off lid 20. The dispensing chamber 20a has markings 21 to indicate whether it is in the open or closed position and has a push-on lid 22 to seal its open end 23. The dispensing chamber 20a and lid member 18a are rotatable with respect to each other and have apertures (not shown) which are alignabie in the open position and not aligned in the closed position and operate in the same manner as the example described in FIG 1. In this form of the invention the lid member 18a is designed so that it may be fitted onto containers of various diameters.

Referring to FIG 3a it can be seen that the dispensing chamber 24 (shown in the closed position) which is of a pre-determined volume is pivotally attached to the housing 25 which is attached to the body of a container 26 by snap-fit means (not shown).

FIG 3b shows a cross section of the dispensing chamber 27 of FIG 3a in the closed position. It can be seen that the particulate material 28 in the container 29 can pass into the dispensing chamber through the aperture 30 when the chamber is in the closed position, and when the container and the chamber are in the inverted position. As the chamber is pivoted to the open or dispensing position as indicated by the arrow 31 the aperture 30 between the chamber 27 and the container 29 is closed off sealing the particulate material in the container. The particulate material retained in the chamber may then be dispensed from the dispensing aperture 31 a of the chamber.

Referring to FIG 4 it can be seen that the dispensing chamber 32 is comprised of a rotatable member 33 which has a window 34 and a floor 35 in which there is an aperture 36. The container 37 has a ledge 38 with an upright member 39 located in a position in which it may slidingly obstruct the window 34 in the chamber. The ledge 38 on the top of the container 37 covers the aperture 36 in the floor of the chamber when the window 34 in the chamber 32 is in the open position. When the chamber is rotated so that the upright screen member 39 of the container 37 obscures the window 34 the aperture 36 and ledge 38 in the chamber and container respectively are aligned in an open position so that particulate materials may pass from the container into the chamber when the chamber and container are inverted. The chamber may then be rotated so that the window is in the open position which also closes off the chamber with respect to the container prior to returning the chamber and container to the upright position to dispense the particulate material retained in the chamber. There is also provided a push-fit lid 40 for the purposes of sealing the bottom of the container 37 after it is filled with particulate material.

Referring to FIG 5a it can be seen that in this version of a particulate dispenser there is a dispensing chamber 41 which may be inserted into the body of a cylindrical container 42. The dispensing chamber 41 has a ledge 43 shown by the broken lines which occupies approximately half the cross sectional area of the cylindrical container. The dispensing chamber is not rotated with respect to the container but is pushed in and pulled out of the container body when the dispensing of particulate material is required. There is also provided a push-fit lid 44 to seal the bottom of the cylindrical container 42 after filling it with particulate material.

FIG 5b shows the sequence in which particulate material may be dispensed from the example of the invention of FIG 5a. It can be seen in FIG 5b(i) that the dispensing chamber 45 is in the pushed-in position with respect to the container 46 and that particulate material 47 in the container is able to fill the dispensing chamber. FIG 5b(ii) shows the dispensing chamber 48 partially pulled-out of the body of the container 49 in the direction of the arrow 50. FIG 5b(iii) shows the chamber 51 in the fully extended position and containing a fixed volume of particulate material 52 which is to be dispensed. FIG 5b(iv) shows the pre¬ determined volume of particulate material 53 being dispensed by appropriately tilting the container 54.

FIG 6 shows an example of a dispensing chamber 55 which is not rotatable with respect to a container 56. The chamber 55 may be closed off from the container 56 by a series of segmental members 57 which are operated by a circumferential band 58 rotatable between a closed and an open position. There is provided a detent mechanism in the form of a tab 59 attached to the circumferential band 58 which is resident in a slot 60 in the body of the container 56 which limits the rotation of the circumferential band with respect to the container. There is also provided a captive lid 61 which is attached to the chamber by means of a strap 62. In use, the chamber and container are inverted and particulate matter is allowed to fill the chamber via an aperture between the chamber and the container when the segmental members are rotated to overlie each other in the open position. Particulate matter retained in the chamber when the segmental members are rotated to the closed position may be dispensed from the chamber when the captive lid is removed.

Referring to FIG 7 it can be seen that the fixed volume dispensing chamber 63 is of a unitary construction with the container 64. There is provided a slidable member 65 which separates the chamber 63 from the container 64. When the slide 65 is pulled out (as shown) it opens an aperture (not shown) between the chamber and the container. Conversely, when the slide is pushed in, the aperture (not shown) is in the closed position. There is also provided a lid 66 to seal the open end 67 of the chamber. In use, the chamber may be filled with particulate matter when the aperture between the chamber and the container is in the open position the chamber and container is inverted. Particulate matter is retained in the chamber when the aperture is closed. The particulate matter retained in the chamber may thereafter be dispensed by the removal of the flip-top lid. FIG 8 shows a dispensing chamber 68 which is telescopic and in rotatable engagement with the neck of a container 69. The chamber may be telescopically extended to various positions 70 which result in the retention of various of pre-determined volumes of particulate material in the chamber 68 and may be locked in these positions by a detent mechanism (not shown). There is provided an aperture 71 between the container 69 and the dispensing chamber 68 which may be closed or opened by two semi-circular plates 72, 73 which are rotatably operated by key-way tabs 74, 75 which are located in grooved slots 76, 77 on the inside surface of the chamber 68. In use, the chamber which is locked in a selected position for the dispensing of a pre-determined volume may be filled with particulate matter from the container when the semi-circular plates overlap each other (as shown) in the open position and the container and chamber inverted. The chamber may then be rotated to the closed position wherein the semi-circular plates no longer overlie each other to allow the retention of a predetermined volume of particulate material in the dispensing chamber. A push-fit lid 78 which is attached to the chamber by a strap 79 is removed in order to dispense the particulate material. In this version of the invention there may also be provided a dispensing chamber incorporating a screw-on neck 80 to facilitate the filling of the container with particulate material without having to invert the container. FIG 9 shows a further embodiment of a particulate material dispenser with variable volume adjustment according to the invention.

A further embodiment of a variable volume dispenser for particulate materials is shown in FIG's 9a and 9b. In this embodiment the dispensing chamber 81 has a concertina structure 82 which facilitates a telescopic action. FIG 9a shows the concertina structure 82 in a fully extended position for dispensing a maximum volume of particulate materials. FIG 9b shows the concertina structure in a retracted position for dispensing a minimum volume of particulate materials. The concertina structure 82 is biased to remain in the fully retracted, fully extended or defined intermediate positions. Each of the bias positions defines a pre¬ determined volume in the chamber 81.

As in the previous embodiments, the chamber 81 is rotatable on the neck 83 of container 84. Apertures (not shown) are provided between the container 84 and chamber 81 as previously described for other embodiments. A push-fit lid 85 is attached to the chamber 81 by strap 86. Material within the container 84 is transferred to chamber 81 thereby filling a defined volume. The chamber 81 is rotated to isolate the chamber 81 from the container 84. The lid 85 is removed and the material is dispensed through aperture 87. For ease of understanding, reference has been made throughout the description to dispensers for particulate material, such as soap powder, powdered milk, infant formula etc. It will be appreciated that use of the dispenser is not limited to particulate material but may find application in dispensing of liquids. Appropriate sealing means between the dispensing chamber and the lid is the only requirement. Sealing means, such as O'rings, are well known to persons skilled in the art. It will be readily apparent to a skilled addressee that many modifications and variations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (19)

2. CLAIMS 1. A dispenser for materials, said dispenser comprising: a lid member having a first aperture at an upper end; and a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a 5 second aperture therein, said chamber being rotatable relative to the lid member wherein the first and second apertures may be aligned to provide an opening between the chamber and the lid member, said opening being closed when the first and second apertures are misaligned; wherein, in use, the lid member seals a container having material therein, o said container and lid member are inverted to fill the chamber when said first and second apertures are aligned, said first and second apertures thereafter being misalignable to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre¬ determined volume of material for selective dispensing by a dispensing aperture therein. 5 2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises a frusto- conical shaped member having a floor with a second aperture alignabie with the first aperture at a larger end and an opening at a smaller end.
3. 3. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising cover means attachable to the dispensing aperture of the chamber, said cover means 0 comprising a releasable lid.
4. 4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the chamber is of a pre¬ determined internal volume for the dispensing of a known quantity of material.
5. 5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispensing chamber 5 comprises a telescopically extendable member of variable volume.
6. 6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the telescopically extendable member is lockable in several extended positions by a detent mechanism.
7. 7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispensing chamber comprises a concertina structure biased to a number of known volume 0 positions, each of said positions corresponding to a pre-determined volume of material dispensed from the hollow dispensing chamber.
8. 8. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a protection cap means for the chamber comprising a cup-shaped member having an open and a closed end.
9. 9. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising markings on the lid member and the chamber indicating when their respective apertures are aligned and when they are not aligned.
10. 10. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising a detent mechanism to retain the respective apertures in the aligned and non-aligned positions.
11. 11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the lid member and the container are integrally formed.
12. 12. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the container means comprises a tubular cylinder having an open lower end; the dispenser further comprising a push-on or screw-on lid which seals the open lower end of the container.
13. 13. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispensing chamber comprises a pivotal nozzle of a pre-determined volume.
14. 14. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispensing chamber has a window which is rotatably closed or opened with respect to an upright member attached to the container body.
15. 15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the aperture of the chamber and the container respectively are aligned when the window is sealed by the upright member and misaligned when the window is not sealed by the upright member.
16. 16. A dispenser for particulate materials, said dispenser comprising: a lid member having a first aperture at an upper end; and a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a second aperture therein, said chamber being rotatable relative to the lid member wherein the first and second apertures may be aligned to provide an opening between the chamber and the lid member, said opening being closed when the first and second apertures are misaligned; wherein, in use, the lid member seals a container having particulate material therein, said container and lid member are inverted to fill the chamber when said first and second apertures are aligned, said first and second apertures thereafter being misalignable to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre-determined volume of particulate material for selective dispensing by a dispensing aperture therein.
17. 17. A dispenser for materials, said dispenser comprising:

    5 a hollow container means having a first aperture at an upper end; a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a second aperture therein, said chamber being fixed with respect to the container wherein the first and second apertures are aligned to provide an opening between the chamber and the container, said opening being o closable by a series of segmental members which are operated by a lever or circumferential band rotatable between an open and closed position; wherein, in use, the container having material therein is inverted to fill the chamber when said segmental members are open; said segmental members thereafter being closed to retain in said dispensing chamber a 5 pre-determined volume of material for selective dispensing via a closable dispensing aperture therein.
18. 18. A dispenser for materials, said dispenser comprising:- a hollow container means having a first aperture at an upper end; a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume and a 0 second aperture therein, said chamber being insertable into the body of the container wherein the first and second apertures may be located in a first position to provide an opening between the chamber and the container when the chamber is fully inserted into the body of the container, said opening being closed when the first and second apertures 5 are located in a second position with respect to each other when the chamber is withdrawn from the body of the container; wherein, in use, the container having materials therein is inverted to fill the chamber when said first and second apertures are located in the first position, said first and second apertures thereafter being located in the 0 second position when the dispensing chamber is withdrawn from the body of the container to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre-determined volume of material for selective dispensing via a dispensing aperture therein.
19. 19. A dispenser for materials, said dispenser comprising:- a hollow container means; and a hollow dispensing chamber having a pre-determined volume which is of unitary construction with the container and an aperture therein, said aperture being opened and closed via a slide member which is slidably insertable into the body of the container; wherein, in use, the container having material therein is inverted to fill the chamber when the aperture is opened by the retraction of the slide from the body of the container; said aperture thereafter being closed by insertion of the slide into the body of the container to retain in said dispensing chamber a pre-determined volume of material for selective dispensing via a dispensing aperture therein.