GB2352411A

GB2352411A - Pepper Mill

Info

Publication number: GB2352411A
Application number: GB9917552A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shun-I Cheng
Original assignee: CHENG SHUN I
Current assignee: CHENG SHUN I
Priority date: 1999-07-27
Filing date: 1999-07-27
Publication date: 2001-01-31
Also published as: GB9917552D0; DE29913286U1; CA2279079A1

Abstract

A pepper mill includes a bottle 11 with a top cap 13 and an open bottom end into which a grinding member 32, an engaging member 33 and a protection ring 34 are securely received. A stick 31, with a spring 23 attached thereto, extends through the grinding member, the engaging member, the protection ring and is securely connected to the top cap. The grinding member has spiral teeth defined in the outside thereof and the engaging ring has spiral teeth defined in the inside thereof, wherein the grinding member is enclosed by the engaging ring. The protection ring encloses the engaging ring and the grinding member, both of which are made of ceramic. A positioning member 21 is connected to the protection ring at an annular flange 210, which is clamped between the protection ring and a flange 106 on the bottle. A base member 22 is secured in the open bottom of the bottle.

Description

2352411 PEPPER MILI

FIELD OF THE INVEMON

The present invention relates to an improved pepper mill having a grinding member with spiral teeth and an engaging ring having spiral teeth in the inside thereof so as to improve the feature of milling the pepper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional pepper mill is shown in Fig. 5 and includes a bottle 51 with a cap 52 connected to the top of the bottle 51 and an open bottom. A stick 61 is connected to a grinding member 62 which is enclosed by an engaging ring 63. The engaging ring 63 is engaged in the open bottom of the bottle 5 1. and a base member 72 supports the engaging ring 63. The base member 72 is secured in the open bottom of the bottle 51 so that the engaging ring 63 and the grinding member 62 will not drop from the bottom of the bottle 61. A spring 73 is mounted to the stick 61 and retained by a cap 71 mounted to the stick 61 so that the grinding member 62 can be adjusted the gap relative to the base member 72. The stick 61 extends through the cap 52 and fixedly connected to a knob 53. Therefore, the gap mentioned above can be adjusted by rotating, the knob 53. The grinding member 62 is rotated with the stick 61 by rotating the cap 52 on the top of the bottle 51 and the gr ound peppers drop from the bottom of the bottle 5 1. The grinding member 62 generally is made of metal material such as steel which can. be used for.a long time and does not be wom quickly. Nevertheless, the metal has to be treated with different processes to obtain the shape and feature as desired so that the manufacturing cost is high'. Of more importance is that the metal will be affected by humidity and the saltrnixed in the peppers.

The present invention intends to provide an improved pepper mill wherein the grinding mernber and the engaging, ring each have spiral teeth so as to obtain a better grinding or milling feature. The grinding member and the engaging ring are both made of ceramic and are protected by a protection ring so that the life of usage of the pepper mill can be prolonged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pepper mill comprising a bottle having a cap connected to the first end thereof and the bottle having an open second end. A grinding member is received in the open second end of the bottle and has spiral teeth defined in the outside of the grinding member which is enclosed by an engaging ring having spiral teeth defined in the inside thereof A protection ring encloses the engaging ring and the grinding member.

The protection ring, the engaging ring and the grinding member are received in the open second end of the bottle.

A positioning member is connected to the protection ring, a base-member is secured in the open bottom of the bottle and supports the engaging ring. A stick extends through the grinding member, the engaging ring -and the positioning member.

A distal end of the stick securely extends through the cap and is connected to a knob.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a pepper mill wherein the grinding member has spiral teeth on the outside thereof and the engaging ring enclosing the grinding member has spiral teeth on the inside thereof so as to have an improved grindinc, feature.

Another object of the present -invention is to provide a pepper mill wherein the grinding member and the engaging ring are made of ceramic.

These and flifther objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more 'Obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DE PT UTP nD AW__-_ 2 Fig. I is a perspective view of a pepper mill in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the pepper mill in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevational - view, partly in section, of the pepper mill in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the pepper mill in accordance with the present invention,. and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a conventional pepper Mill.

TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODMENT

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the pepper mill in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottle 11 having a cap 12 connected to the first end thereof and the bottle I I has an open second end. A grinding member 32 made of ceramic has spiral teeth 321 defined in the outside thereof and a passage 322 defined centrally therethrough. An engaging ring 33 made of ceramic has a tubular portion 332 and spiral teeth 333 are defined in -the inside of the tubular portion 332. The grinding member 32 is enclosed by the engaging ring 33. The engagingring 33 has a flange 331 extending radially outward therefrom.

A protection ring 34 rested on the flange 331 of the engaging ring 33 and encloses the engaging ring 33 and the grinding member 32. The protection ring 34,.

the e ngaging ring 33 and the grinding member 32 are received in the open second end of the bottle 11. A plurality of ribs 341 extend radially outward from the outside of the priotection ring 34. A positioning member 21 -is connected to the protection ring 34 and has a flange 2 10 which is clamped- between an annular flange I 10 extending radially inward from the inside of the bottle 11 and the protection ring 34.

3 The positioning member 21 has a tube.211 through which a stick 31 extends. A spring 23 is retained in the tube 211 and mounted to the stick 31. The stick 31 extends through the grinding member 32, the engaging ring 33 and the positioning member 2 1, and a first end of the stick 31 is a threaded end 312 which securely extends through a hole 121 of the cap 12 and connected to a knob 13. The second end of the stick 31 has an enlarged end 3 11 which engages with the grinding member 32 so that when the stick 31 is engaged with the knob 13, the grinding member 32 is well positioned.

A base member 22 is secured in the open second end of the bottle 11 and supports the engaging ring 33. The base member 22 has holes defiiied therethrough so that the ground peppers drop from holes of the base Member 22 when rotating the cap 12. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the protection ring 34 wherein the ribs 341 as shown in Fig. 2 are omitted.

The ceramic made grinding member 32 and the engaging ring 33 have durable feature so that they can be used for a longer period of time and they will not be affected by humidity. The protection ring 34 is made of soft material so as to absorb shocks if the pepper mill.drops and.the grinding member 32 and the engaging ring 3-3 3 are protected.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance wi th the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope andspirit of the present invention.

4

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A pepper mill comprising:

a bottle having a cap connected to the first end thereof and said bottle having an open second end; a grinding member having spiral teeth defined in the outside thereof, an engaging ring having spiral teeth defined in the inside thereof and said grinding member enclosed by said engaging ring; a protection ring enclosing said engaging ring and said grinding member, said protection ring together with said engaging ring and said grinding member being received in said open second end of said bottle; a positioning member connected to said protection ring, a base member secured in said open second end of said bottle I I and supporting said engaging ring, and a stick extending through said grinding member, said engaging ring and said positioning member, a distal end of said stick securely extending through said cap and connected to a knob.

2. The pepper mill as'claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging. ring has a flange extending radially outward therefrom and said protection ring is supported on said flange.

3. The pepper mill as claimed in claim I further comprising a plurality of.

ribs extending radially outward from the outside of the protection ring.

4. The pepper mill as.claimed in claim I further comprising an annular flarip extending radially inward from the inside of said bottle and said positioning member having a flange which is clarnped between said annular flange of said bottle and said protection ring.