GB2450161A - Adjustable condiment grinder - Google Patents
Adjustable condiment grinder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2450161A GB2450161A GB0711659A GB0711659A GB2450161A GB 2450161 A GB2450161 A GB 2450161A GB 0711659 A GB0711659 A GB 0711659A GB 0711659 A GB0711659 A GB 0711659A GB 2450161 A GB2450161 A GB 2450161A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- grinder
- grinding element
- sleeve
- housing
- condiment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 235000013409 condiments Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 25
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000002566 Capsicum Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000006002 Pepper Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 235000016761 Piper aduncum Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 2
- 235000017804 Piper guineense Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 2
- 244000203593 Piper nigrum Species 0.000 abstract description 2
- 235000008184 Piper nigrum Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000002639 sodium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium chloride Chemical compound [Na+].[Cl-] FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010006 flight Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011780 sodium chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J42/00—Coffee mills; Spice mills
- A47J42/02—Coffee mills; Spice mills having grinding cones
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J42/00—Coffee mills; Spice mills
- A47J42/02—Coffee mills; Spice mills having grinding cones
- A47J42/04—Coffee mills; Spice mills having grinding cones hand driven
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J42/00—Coffee mills; Spice mills
- A47J42/02—Coffee mills; Spice mills having grinding cones
- A47J42/08—Adjusting mechanisms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J42/00—Coffee mills; Spice mills
- A47J42/38—Parts or details
- A47J42/40—Parts or details relating to discharge, receiving container or the like; Bag clamps, e.g. with means for actuating electric switches
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
An adjustable salt/pepper grinder has an inner grinding element 15 and outer grinding element 16 having a space therebetween which defines the size of the ground product. A shaft 3 is connected at its bottom end to the inner grinding element 15 for operating the grinder. A sleeve 19 extends about the outer grinding element 16 and is mounted for rotation about the central axis of the grinding elements. Mating screw threads 18, (20, fig. 3) are formed on the outer grinding element 16 and the sleeve 19 respectively such that rotation of the sleeve 19 moves the outer grinding element 16 axially for adjusting the size of the ground condiment. A knob (27, fig. 1) accessible from the exterior of the lower housing 1b may be provided and is fixed to the sleeve 19 and rotates in a circumferential slot in the lower housing. There my also be provided circumferentially spaced indicia (26, fig.1) to indicate the size of the ground condiment to be dispensed.
Description
Adjustable condiment grinder
Technical field
The present invention relates to grinders for condiments such as pepper or salt, and particularly to grinders with means for adjusting the size of the ground condiment.
Background of the Invention
In a traditional condiment grinder the housing defines a condiment reservoir and a rotary handle at the top of the housing is connected by a shaft to a grinding mechanism at the bottom of the housing. The grinding mechanism includes coaxial inner and outer grinding elements, the space between which defines the size of the ground product. The outer element is fixed to the housing and the shaft is connected at its bottom end to the inner element and at its top end by a screw threaded knob to the handle. Rotation of the knob allows the axial position of the inner element to be varied to adjust the fineness of the ground product. The adjusting knob protrudes from the handle and when rotating the handle the knob may also be unintentionally rotated together with the handle or by contact with the user's hand. As the pitch of the screw thread on the knob is fine and the knob is relatively small, the angular position of the knob does not provide a satisfactory visual indicator of the state of fineness adjustment. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved condiment grinder.
Disclosure of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a condiment grinder comprising: a housing; a shaft having a central axis supported for rotation in the housing; an inner grinding element fixed at a first end of the shaft; an outer grinding element mounted substantially coaxially with the inner grinding element to define a space therebetween for receiving the condiment to be ground a sleeve extending about the outer grinding element and mounted to the housing for rotation about the central axis, the sleeve being fixed axially with respect to the housing, and mating screw threads formed on the sleeve and outer grinding element such that rotation of the sleeve moves the outer grinding element axially for adjusting the size of the ground condiment.
The housing preferably includes a lower cylindrical wall substantially enclosing the sleeve, a circumferential slot is formed in the cylindrical wall and a knob fixed to the sleeve extends through the slot allowing the knob to be grasped for rotating the sleeve. Alternatively the sleeve may be exposed at the lower part of the housing, allowing the sleeve to be grasped directly for rotation thereof.
Preferably circumferentially-spaceci indicia are provided externally on the housing adjacent the slot to indicate the maximum size of ground condiment dispensed from the grinder.
Preferably the housing defines a reservoir, the grinder further includes a rotary handle engaging an upper end of the housing to close a mouth of the reservoir, the handle being rotationally fast with a second end of the shaft opposing the first end, the handle being removable axially to open the mouth of the reservoir, The screw threads are preferably multiple-start screw threads.
Preferably axially opposing ends of the outer gnnding element engage respective coaxial faces throughout the movement of the outer grinding element.
By providing the sleeve for adjusting the grinder on the body away from the handle the opportunity for inadvertent adjustment is reduced and the handle is able to have a smoother external appearance. Moreover, the grinder may be economically constructed. The small angular movement of the sleeve means that the position of the knob along the slot provides a good visual indicator of the state of adjustment of the grinder.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the grinder of the invention; Figure 2 is a section along line AA of Fig.1; Figure 3 is a central longitudinal cross section of the grinder of Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the grinder of Fig. 1.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to the drawings a manual grinder includes an upper housing la with cylindrical walls enclosing a reservoir 30 for receiving condiments such as peppercorns and rock salt. The handle 2 receives the upper end of an elongate shaft 3 having a longitudinal axis 4. As used herein, the term "axial" refers to a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 4. The term "radial" refers to a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 4. The term circumferential" refers to the direction of a circular arc having a radius substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 4.
The shaft 3 has a square section and the handle 2 has an aperture 5 with a complementary square section, allowing the handle 2 to rotate shaft 3 and to be removed axially for opening an upper mouth 29 of the reservoir 30.
Fixed to the upper housing la, the lower housing lb is assembled from substantially cylindrical inner and outer collars 6, 7 each with respective circumferential slots 6a, 7a. Circumferentially-spaced indicia 26 are provided externally on the outer collar 7 adjacent the slot 7a to indicate the maximum size of ground condiment dispensed from the grinder. The upper and lower housings la, lb are rotationally fast with one another, being connected by resilient engagement between respective annular flanges 8, 9.
A shaft mount 10 is also fixed to the upper housing la by an interference fit between contacting circumferential surfaces 13. The shaft mount 10 is has upper and lower ring-shaped portions lOa, lOb joined by arms lOc. An axial aperture 11 in the upper portion Wa receives the shaft 3 for rotation therein and is located axially by circlips 14a. Openings 12 between the arms lOc are provided for the passage of the condiment.
Rotationally fast with the lower end of the shaft 3 and axially located between circlips 14b is an inner grinding element 15 having a tapered external grinding surface 15a.
An outer grinding element 16 has an internal grinding surface 17 for cooperating with grinding surface 15a to grind the condiment therebetween. The grinding element 16 is assembled from first and second parts 16a, 16b which are permanently connected, as by an interference fit. A three-start screw thread 18 has three flights 18a, 18b, 18c formed externally on the outer grinding element 16, specifically on the first part 16a, which also includes a central through-extending opening 28. A cylindrical projection 22 extends upwardly from the termination of the thread 18.
A sleeve 19 includes a three-start screw thread 20 formed internally and an external circumferentially-extending cylindrical face 21. As best seen in Fig. 3, the sleeve 19 is received for rotation in the lower housing lb and is located axially between the lower portion of the shaft mount 10 and a shoulder 24 formed internally on the inner collar 6. With the threads 18, 20 engaged, the outer grinding element 16 is located radially at its upper end by the cylindrical projection 22 received in the lower ring-shaped portion lOb and at its lower end by engagement with the lower housing lb. A knob 27 is fixed to the sleeve 19 and extends radially outwardly through the slot 7a. A point 33 on the knob 27 is provided for alignment with the indicia. 26.
In use the openings 12 and central through-extending opening 28 provide passageway from the larger reservoir 30 to the grinding mechanism. The handle 2 is rotated about axis 4 to turn the attached inner grinding element 15. The condiment is ground between the grinding surfaces 15a, 17 falling between the substantially annular aperture 31 between the inner and outer grinding elements 15, 16 to dispense the condiment from the lower end of the housing lb. To adjust the size of ground condiment, the user grasps the knob 27 and thereby rotates the attached sleeve 19 relative to the upper and lower housing parts la, lb. As the sleeve 19 is restrained axially and the outer grinding element 16 is able to move axially (but is restrained from rotating) the cooperation between the screw threads 18, 20 moves the outer grinding element 16 axially upon rotation of the sleeve 19. By virtue of the tapered shape of the inner grinding element 15 this movement varies the radial dimension 31, which is increased to produce larger particles and reduced to produce smaller particles.
Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.
Claims (7)
- CLAIMS: 1. A condiment grinder comprising: a housing; a shaft having acentral axis supported for rotation in the housing; an inner grinding element fixed at a first end of the shaft; an outer grinding element mounted substantially coaxially with the inner grinding element to define a space therebetween for receiving the condiment to be ground; a sleeve extending about the outer grinding element and mounted to the housing for rotation about the central axis, the sleeve being fixed axially with respect to the housing, and mating screw threads formed on the sleeve and outer grinding element such that rotation of the sleeve moves the outer grinding element axially for adjusting the size of the ground condiment.
- 2. The grinder of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a lower cylindrical wall substantially enclosing the sleeve, a circumferential slot is formed in the cylindrical wall and a knob fixed to the sleeve extends through the slot allowing the knob to be grasped for rotating the sleeve.
- 3. The grinder of any one of the preceding claims wherein circumferentially-spaced indicia are provided externally on the housing adjacent the slot to indicate the maximum size of ground condiment dispensed from the grinder.
- 4. The grinder of one of the preceding claims wherein the housing defines a reservoir, the grinder further includes a rotary handle engaging an upper end of the housing to close a mouth of the reservoir, the handle being rotationally fast with a second end of the shaft opposing the first end, the handle being removable axially to open the mouth of the reservoir,
- 5. The grinder of one of the preceding claims wherein the screw threads are multiple-start screw threads.
- 6. The grinder of one of the preceding claims wherein axially opposing ends of the outer grinding element engage respective coaxial faces throughout the movement of the outer grinding element.
- 7. A condiment grinder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0711659A GB2450161A (en) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-06-15 | Adjustable condiment grinder |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0711659A GB2450161A (en) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-06-15 | Adjustable condiment grinder |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB0711659D0 GB0711659D0 (en) | 2007-07-25 |
GB2450161A true GB2450161A (en) | 2008-12-17 |
Family
ID=38332212
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB0711659A Withdrawn GB2450161A (en) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-06-15 | Adjustable condiment grinder |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2450161A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GR20150100511A (en) * | 2015-11-26 | 2017-08-04 | Κωνσταντινος Περικλη Καλδης | Grinder for spices and aromatic plant products |
WO2024100613A1 (en) * | 2022-11-11 | 2024-05-16 | Breakingbean Company S.R.L. | Coffee grinder and integrated grinding and extraction machine |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1467588A (en) * | 1975-08-15 | 1977-03-16 | Schlessel W | Grinding machine |
US20040182958A1 (en) * | 2003-03-20 | 2004-09-23 | Moha Moderne Haushaltwaren Ag | Spice mill with means for infinitely setting the grinding fineness |
FR2857841A1 (en) * | 2003-07-21 | 2005-01-28 | Psp Ind Sas | Condiment e.g. pepper, grinding adjusting device for use in e.g. electric mill, has metering sleeve whose rotation leads to translation of basin support part having guiding groove preventing part rotation with respect to retaining ring |
US20050029376A1 (en) * | 2003-08-07 | 2005-02-10 | Heng John Montgomery | Manual grinder for peppercorns, salt crystals and other grindable products |
GB2412616A (en) * | 2004-03-29 | 2005-10-05 | Wing Wo Plastic Manufactory Lt | Adjustable condiment / pepper grinder |
US20060192043A1 (en) * | 2003-07-21 | 2006-08-31 | Jean-Claude Fornage | Device for continuously controlling condiments grinding in a mill |
US20060278746A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2006-12-14 | Delbridge David S | Spice grinder |
-
2007
- 2007-06-15 GB GB0711659A patent/GB2450161A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1467588A (en) * | 1975-08-15 | 1977-03-16 | Schlessel W | Grinding machine |
US20040182958A1 (en) * | 2003-03-20 | 2004-09-23 | Moha Moderne Haushaltwaren Ag | Spice mill with means for infinitely setting the grinding fineness |
FR2857841A1 (en) * | 2003-07-21 | 2005-01-28 | Psp Ind Sas | Condiment e.g. pepper, grinding adjusting device for use in e.g. electric mill, has metering sleeve whose rotation leads to translation of basin support part having guiding groove preventing part rotation with respect to retaining ring |
US20060192043A1 (en) * | 2003-07-21 | 2006-08-31 | Jean-Claude Fornage | Device for continuously controlling condiments grinding in a mill |
US20050029376A1 (en) * | 2003-08-07 | 2005-02-10 | Heng John Montgomery | Manual grinder for peppercorns, salt crystals and other grindable products |
US20060278746A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2006-12-14 | Delbridge David S | Spice grinder |
GB2412616A (en) * | 2004-03-29 | 2005-10-05 | Wing Wo Plastic Manufactory Lt | Adjustable condiment / pepper grinder |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GR20150100511A (en) * | 2015-11-26 | 2017-08-04 | Κωνσταντινος Περικλη Καλδης | Grinder for spices and aromatic plant products |
WO2024100613A1 (en) * | 2022-11-11 | 2024-05-16 | Breakingbean Company S.R.L. | Coffee grinder and integrated grinding and extraction machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0711659D0 (en) | 2007-07-25 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |