CA2138717A1

CA2138717A1 - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: CA2138717A1
Application number: CA002138717A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Peter Hoffmeister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-12-21
Filing date: 1994-12-21
Publication date: 1996-06-22

Abstract

There is described a dispenser for storing and spreading granular material, the dispenser comprising, in combination a dispenser body having an open top for holding the granular material, an open-bottomed dispenser cap removably disposed and rotatably engaged over the open-topped body, the cap including an endless peripheral wall having at least one opening formed therein for discharge of the granular material therethrough, and a scoop extending coaxially from and partially about the open top of the dispenser body to define a gap therein, the cap being disposed over the scoop to be rotatable relative thereto between a first position in which the opening in the cap is aligned with the gap for discharging granular material, and a second position in which the opening and gap are non-aligned for storage of the granular material.

Description

FIJLD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dispensing containers, and more particularly to dispensing containers for dispensing granulated or particulate household garden substances such as road salt, calcium, seeds, granulated chemical fertilizers, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, dispensers such as those disclosed herein usually comprise a storage area and an opening or openings through which particulates can be released. These basic components are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,145,880, 3,198,401, 4,023,714 and in Canadian Patent No. 248,653. In each of these earlier patents, perforated holes formed in the top wall of the dispenser are used to release the stored contents. To disperse the contents through these openings, the dispenser is usually tilted to one side or completed inverted. Gr~)vity then causes the weight of the contents to converge on the perforated holes, often resulting in clogging of the openings. Complicated designs are used to overcome this problem to ensure a smooth discharge of the contents.
Frequently, these designs involve partitioning chambers and/or the use of freely displaceable balls disposed inside the dis~penser. As a consequence, the storage capacity of the dispenser is usually reduced while the weight of the dispensers is increased. Moreover, during operation, periodic adjustment of the dispenser is required to direct the particulate through the various chambers.
Another operational inefficiency with known dispensers involves refilling of particulate matter. Either a flexible bag containing the particulate is lifted and poured into the dispenser or a separate scoop is used to transfer particulate matter into the dispenser. The use of a separate scoop prolongs the refilling process since the matter must be transferred tllrough two separate devices. Moreover, the 3~i trilnsfer from the scoop to the dispenser may lead to spillage.

213~717 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A need therefore exists for a dispenser that is capable of providing smooth and controlled particulate flow and which is easy to refill.
According to the present invention, then, there is provided a dispenser for storing and spreading granular material, said dispenser comprising, in combination a dispenser body having an open top for holding the granular material, an open-bottomed dispenser cap removably disposed and rotatably engagecl over the open-topped body, the cap including an endless peripheral wall having at least one opening formed therein for discharge of the granular material therethrough, and scoop means extending coaxially from and partially about the open top of the dispenser body to define a gaE) therein, the cap being disposed over the scoop means to be rotatable relative thereto between a first position in which said at least one opening in the cap is aligned with the gap for discharging the granular material and a second position in which said at least one opening and the gap are non-aligned for storage of the granular material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail, and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser and its cap;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser body;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser cap;
Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are side elevational views of the cap, each view representing approximately 120 rotation of the cap; and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the refilling of the dispenser body.

D~TAILED I)ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in Figure 1, a combination dispenser/scoop 10 preferably made from plastic, comprises a dispenser body 20 which may be cylindrical, or any other desired shape, and a scoop member 30 extending upwardly therefrom from about the upper edge of a reduced diameter neck portion 22 of the body.
A cap 40 is releasably disposed on said dispenser body 20 about scoop 30.
lo The body 20 is stepped inwardly at a shoulder 21, thereby defining cylindrical neck portion 22. Shoulder 21 is formed to lie in a substantially flat plane to seal against the lower lip 43 of cap 40 in use. An annular rib 23 is provided about the periphery of neck portion 22 adjacent the upper edge thereof to define a groove 27 between this rib and shoulder 21. Rib 23 is shown, in the preferred embodiment, to contain three equally sized slots 24 centred approximately 120 apart (see Figure 2).
Integral with, and extending upwards from the upper edge of neck portion 22 is an inwardly tapering scoop member 30 shown in the preferred embodiment as generally frusto-conical in shape, with a gap comprising about one third of its potential circumference. The height of scoop member 30 is chosen so that the scoop's upper edge 31 advantageously fits snugly against the inner surface of cap top 41 when cap 40 is in,talled on dispenser body 20. The scoop member 30 aids in fiLling the dispenser body 20 and in regulating the dispersal of particulates through the cut-away gap portion therein.
The cap 40 is shaped to be complementary to the scoop, and is provided with a smooth-surfaced lower lip 43 congruent with shoulder 21 of body 20.
A plurality of downwardly and inwardly directed tabs 44, their number and size corresponding to slots 24, are located a]ong lower lip 43. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3, three tabs 44, centred approximately 120 apart, project inwar~lly around the lower edge of cap 40 from lip 43.
Side wall 42 includes at least one opening 50 through which the contents from body 20 can be dispensed without removing cap 40. The preferred embodiment of the cap as shown in Figure 4 includes three distinct sections of side wall 42, each representing a 120 rotation of the cap. In Fic3ure 4a, a group of large circular holes 50 suitable for the spreading of road salt or other large household granular substances is provided in a one-third section of side wall 42.
Figure 4b displays a plurality of smaller circular holes 51 suitable for spreading smaller granulated products, i.e., calcium, grass seed, and dry chemical fertilizers, provided in the adjacent one-third section of the cap. The final one third section shown in Figure 4c contains no perforations and is used to seal the contents within body 20 to prevent accidental spillage.
Preferably, the diameter of dispenser neck portion 22 is smaLler than the inner diameter of side wall 42 of cap 40 so as to enable cap 40 to be fitted over dispenser neck 22 snllgly. Cap ~0, moreover, is shaped to fit snugly over the scoop 30, so that in its closed condition, there is no spillage through any gaps between scoop 30 and cap 40.
Cap 40 is fitted on dispenser body 20 by placing the open bottom of the cap over the mouth of dispenser body 20 and aligning the three tabs 44 on lip 43 with the three slots 24 in annular rib 23. Cap 40 is then rotated so that tabs 44 slidably engage groove 27 between rib 23 and shoulder 21.
To release the stored contents, cap 40 is rotated 3() until a desired perforated section (50,51) of appropriately sized openings overlaps the cut-away portion of scoop 30. The dispenser 10 is then tilted in the direction of the selected perforations to discharge the particulates. The dispenser may be agitated slightly to assist in the free flow of its contents and to prevent binding.

213~717 The side dispensing mechanism incorporated in the present invention permits dispensing with minimal tilting of the dispenser. This prevents a build-up of contents around the dispenser opening (50,51) during use and a smooth and continuous discharge can be provided without the need for complicated designs that are more commonly found in conventio]lal top-releasing dispensers. In addition, the rate of dispersal can be more easily adjusted through the degree that dispenser 10 is tilted, and the extent to which it is lo agitated.
Dispenser 10 can also be used to store contents when not in use to dispense them. By rotating cap 40 so that the section of cap side wall 42 containing no perforations overlaps the cut-away portion of member 30, dispenser 10 is sealed from the elements and to prevent spills.
Filling or refilling dispenser 20 can also be expeditiously effected with the present invention. Unlike conventional dispensers which require a separate device to transfer parti,culates into the dispenser body, the present invention provides a means whereby the desired particulate may be loaded without the use of a separate scoop.
To fill/refill dispenser 10, cap 40 is first removed by a]igning tabs 44 with slots 24 in rib 23 and then pulling the cap free of body 20 to expose scoop 30. Using scoop 30, particulate matter is then scooped into dispenser body 20.
This process, depicted in Figure 5, is repeated until dispenser body 20 is filled with the desired amount of material.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The only limitations to the scope of the present invention are set out in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A dispenser for storing and spreading granular material, said dispenser comprising, in combination:
a dispenser body having an open top for holding said granular material;
an open-bottomed dispenser cap removably disposed and rotatably engaged over said open-topped body, said cap including an endless peripheral wall having at least one opening formed therein for discharge of said granular material therethrough; and scoop means extending coaxially from and partially about said open top of said dispenser body to define a gap therein, said cap being disposed over said scoop means to be rotatable relative thereto between a first position in which said at least one opening in said cap is aligned with said gap for discharging said granular material and a second position in which said at least one opening and said gap are non-aligned for storage of said granular material.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cap includes a plurality of said openings formed therein, said openings being grouped into separate sections of openings of different predetermined sizes for respective alignment with said gap for discharge of granules of different sizes.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said cap includes at least one section of said endless peripheral wall having no apertures formed therein for sealing said dispenser when said section without apertures is aligned with said gap.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein said scoop means fit concentrically within said cap.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said scoop means are adapted, upon disengagement of said cap, to direct granular material into said dispenser body.