GB2032766A - Condiment sprinklers - Google Patents

Abstract

A condiment sprinkler comprises a plurality of individual compartments (1) for different condiments, each compartment having sprinkling holes (11), and an adjustable lid (8) having a sprinkling opening (12) which can be moved in turn into register with the sprinkling holes (11) of each of the individual compartments as required, the sprinkling holes of the other compartments being in each case covered by the lid (8). The individual compartments are constructed as separate sprinkling containers and a base portion (4) is provided for holding the containers together to form the condiment sprinkler. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Condiment sprinkler The invention relates to a condiment sprinkler comprising a plurality of compartments for different condiments, each compartment having sprinkling holes, and an adjustable lid having a sprinkling opening which can be moved in turn into register with the sprinkling holes of each of the individual compartments as required, the sprinkling holes of the other compartments being in each case covered by the lid. Such a condiment sprinkler is, for example, described in German Patent Specification No.

1 246 189.

The basic principle of all condiment sprinklers of this type is to permit the use of a single sprinkler instead of a plurality of sprinklers with in each case one condiment, whereby the condiment required can in each case be sprinkled from the sprinkler.

However, condiments are sold in prepacked form and must then be filled into the individual compartments of the condiment sprinkler. This is very timeconsuming work and also requires considerable skill. In the case of the condiment sprinkler described in German Patent Specification No. 1 246 189,the various condiments are introduced into the sprinkler, e.g. by successively removing an outer lid, a filling lid and a cover lid from the sprinkler. The filling lid then has to be placed on the sprinkler in such a way that its filling port projects into the compart mentto be filled.

German Offenlegungsschrift No. 1 913 349 discloses the provision of special filling ports in the bottom of the individual compartments which, afterfil- ling of the compartments, are closed with elastic plugs. Thus, it is no longer necessary to remove a number of lids for filling the individual compartments, but the insertion of the elastic plugs causes difficulties to persons not having the necessary skill.

It is not sufficient merely to insert the plugs in the filling ports and instead they must be threaded through the ports with an edge which projects beyond the diameter of the ports, so that they cannot slip out of the latter again, thereby permitting the automatic emptying of the contents of the compartments.

In addition to the problem of filling the individual compartments of the known condiment sprinklers, the fundamental disadvantage exists that the contents of the bought condiment packs is generally larger than the capacity of the sprinkler compartments. Thus, after filling the sprinkler, some condiment is still left in the purchased packs so that the latter have to be stored in addition to the condiment sprinkler, which takes up more space in the pantry.

The aim of the present invention is to so further develop a condiment sprinkler of the type indicated hereinbefore that there is no burdensome filling of the individual compartments.

According to the invention, there is provided a condiment sprinkler comprising a plurality of individual compartments for different condiments, each compartment having sprinkling holes, and an adjustable lid having a sprinkling opening which can be moved in turn into register with the sprinkling holes of each of said individual compartments as required, the sprinkling holes of the other compartments being in each case covered by the lid in which the individual compartments are constructed as separate sprinkling containers and in which means are provided for holding the separate containers together to form the condiment sprinkler.

As a result of the invention, it is possible to buy the sprinkling containers individually already filled with the desired condiment and then insert them in the condiment sprinkler according to the invention. This obviates the necessity of topping up the individual compartments, which is a disadvantage of the known condiment sprinklers. In addition, no special pack is then required for the condiment, because the individual sprinkling containers at the same time form the packing means for the condiment, so that in shops the condiments can be sold in the sprinkling container. Quite apart from the cost saving it is considered a considerable advantage by the consumer that it is now only necessary to store a single condiment sprinkler containing a plurality of sprinkling containers and not additionally bags or containers containing stocks of condiments.

As the individual sprinkling containers can be replaced by new containers filled with condiments when they become empty they need no longer be made from a durable and therefore expensive plastics material and instead an extremely cheap material, e.g. polystyrene can be used. The condiments remain fresh in the individual sprinkling containers, because each container can be completely sealed in an airtight manner by a cap of foil until it is placed in the condiment sprinkler according to the invention.

Preferably, the sprinkling holes of the said separate sprinkling containers are provided in the upper end walls of the containers. As a result, condiment which has collected in the sprinkling holes drops back into the particular container as soon as the sprinkler is put away after use. This not only prevents dirtying of the table by condiment dropping off but it also prevents residues of other condiments from dropping out of the sprinkling holes during the intentional sprinkling of a required condiment and thereby reaching the dish to be spiced together with the desired condiment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the separate sprinkling containers are so arranged as to form a condiment sprinkler having a circular cross-section. As a result, the sprinkler lid can rotate, just as in the known condiment sprinkler, which considerably facilitates use and leads to a particularly compact sprinkler.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the separate sprinkling containers each have a prismatic shape with an arcuate surface and a circular sector-shaped base area. Thus, the number of sprinkling containers can be directly juxtaposed until a complete circle is formed. It is, for example, possible to use six sprinkling containers forming in each case an angle of 60 .

It is naturally also possible, e.g. for salt to provide a 120 sprinkling container and additionally only four other 60 containers, because experience has shown that salt is used more frequently than other condi ments and consequently it is advantageous to keep a larger supply of salt in the condiment sprinkler.

Whereas, according to the prior condiment sprinklers, the size of the individual compartments is decided from the outset, according to the invention, it is possible to use a particularly large volume sprinkling container for the individual condiment which is used most or juxtaposed two identical containers filled with the same condiment in the sprinkler.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the condiment sprinkler includes a base portion having an edge which is adapted to encircle and engage with the arcuate surfaces of the separate sprinkling containers. As a result, it is merely necessary to place the sprinkling containers in the base portion, followed by placing the lid over the containers in orderto combine them into a ready for use condiment sprinkler.

The base portion can engage in a simpler manner in the sprinkling containers, so that it is secured against sliding away. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arcuate surface of each of the separate sprinkling containers is provided with an outwardly directed bead, and the edge of the base portion is provided with an encircling groove adapted to receive the beads on the arcuate surfaces of the separate sprinkling containers.

The surface of the condiment sprinkler according to the invention can be completely smooth, despite the mounted base, if according to a further embodiment of the invention the arcuate surface of the sprinkling containers is recessed adjacent the bases of the containers in accordance with the height and thickness of the edge of the base portion in order to accommodate the said edge of the base portion.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a condiment sprinkler according to the invention from the side, as a cross-section in the left-hand portion and as an elevation in the right-hand portion; Fig. 2 shows the area indicated by II in Fig. 1 on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the condiment sprinkler shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the lid removed; Fig. 4 is a section through one individual sprinkling container for the condiment sprinkler shown in Figs.

1 to 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sprinkling container shown in Fig. 4.

The condiment sprinkler shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 comprises three sprinkling containers 1, 2 and 3, all of which have the cross-sectional shape of a circular segment and engage against one another, so that a full circle is formed. A base portion 4 with an encircling edge 5 is placed from below on to the cylinder formed by the three sprinkling containers 1, 2 and 3.

A bead in the curved surface of the sprinkling containers 1, 2 and 3 and a corresponding encircling groove 7 within the edge 5 of the base portion 4 serve to secure the latter against slipping downwards by providing a locking joint.

In the same way as the base portion 4, a lid 8 is placed from above on the sprinkling containers 1, 2 and 3, so that by means of an edge 9 it externally engages over the containers 1,2 and 3 and also forms the latter into a cylindrical column.

Each sprinkling container 1,2 and 3 has an upper end wall 10 in which is provided a plurality of sprinkling holes 11. The lid 8 has a sprinkling opening 12 which is so large that, by rotating the lid 8 all the sprinkling holes 11 of one sprinkling container 1, 2, 3 are freed, whilst the holes of the other sprinkling containers are covered. Further rotation of the lid 8 serves to cover the said one container while freeing the sprinkling holes of another container. The lid 8 preferably has at least one rotational position in which the sprinkling holes of all of the containers are covered. As shown in Fig. 1, the arcuate surface of the sprinkling container 1 is recessed adjacent the base of the container in the area which is engaged by the edge 5 of the base portion 4 so that the edge 5 does not project beyond the outer contour of the container 1 and a smooth surface is formed.

Figs 4 and 5 show a sprinkling container 1 when removed from the condiment sprinkler. This sprinkling container 1 is in the form of a circular segment with an angle of 1809 Its sprinkling holes 11 are covered by a cap 14, so that the container is completely sealed and a condiment can be stored in it for a long time without any quality deterioration.

In order to assemble the condiment sprinkler according to the invention a sprinkling container 1 and, for example, three further containers, forming in each case an angle of 60 are together inserted from above into the base portion 4 until their beads 6 engage in the encircling groove 7. The caps 14 of the individual containers are removed beforehand. After inserting the containers in the base portion 4 the lid 9 is fitted until is also engages in a locking mechanism (not shown) and the sprinkler is consequently ready for use. When one of the sprinkling containers is empty, it is possible, after removing the lid 9, to remove it individually from the base portion 4 by tilting it away and replacing it by a new container without disturbing the other containers which are held in the base portion 4.

It should be noted that the invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but other embodiments and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A condiment sprinkler comprising a plurality of individual compartments for different condiments, each compartment having sprinkling holes, and an adjustable lid having a sprinkling opening which can be moved in turn into a register with the sprinkling holes of each of said individual compartments as required, the sprinkling holes of the other compartments being in each case covered by the lid, wherein the individual compartments are constructed as separate sprinkling containers and wherein means are provided for holding the containers together to form the condiment sprinkler.

2. A condiment sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the sprinkling holes of the separate sprinkl ing containers are provided in the upper end walls of said containers.

3. A condiment sprinkler according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the separate sprinkling containers are so arranged as to form a condiment sprinkler having a circular cross-section.

4. A condiment sprinkler according to any preceding claim, wherein the separate sprinkling containers each have a prismatic shape with an arcuate surface and a circular sector-shaped base area.

5. A condiment sprinkler according to claim 4 and further including a base portion having an edge which is adapted to encircle and engage with the arcuate surfaces of the separate sprinkling containers.

6. A condiment sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the arcuate surface of each of the said separate sprinkling containers is provided with an outwardly directed bead and edge of the base portion is provided with an encircling groove adapted to receive the beads on the arcuate surfaces of the separate sprinkling containers.

7. A condiment sprinkler according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the arcuate surface of each of the separate sprinkling containers is recessed adjacent the base of the associated container to accommodate the said edge of the base portion.

8. A condiment sprinkler according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the lid has an edge which is adapted to encircle the arcuate surfaces of the separate sprinkling containers, said lid being rotatable with respect to said containers.

9. A condiment sprinkler substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.