GB2461943A

GB2461943A - Powder Dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2461943A
Application number: GB0813360A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Riddiford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-22
Filing date: 2008-07-22
Publication date: 2010-01-27
Also published as: GB0813360D0

Abstract

A handheld powder dispenser comprises a primary chamber 1 with close fitting lid 2 in which a secondary chamber 3 is formed, with one opening 4 for dispensing powder and another opening 5 through which it is filled from the primary chamber. The secondary chamber 3 is positioned asymmetrically in the primary chamber 1 such that when the device is tipped in a pouring direction the secondary chamber refills even if the device is not fully inverted before returning to its upright position.

Description

Powder Dispenser This invention relates to a single, handheld device which is capable of dispensing both measured and non-measured amounts of free flowing powder.

Handheld powder dispensers are used widely in domestic and commercial settings for the delivery of measured doses of powder from a larger reservoir or ostensibly closed container. Examples include sugar dispensers, laundry detergent dispensers etc. Various configurations exist that pertain to offer powder dosing with some level of repeatability, however, the repeatability of the dose tends to degrade as the amount of powder in the device diminishes. Additionally, these devices cannot deliver amounts of powder other than whole incremental doses, across the full range of their use.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a handheld powder dispenser configuration, that utilises specific pouring geometry related to the powder's angle of repose and an asymmetric form, to deliver both more accurate and more repeatable single doses, across a wider range of powder reservoir levels.

The configuration presented also allows infinitely variable amounts of powder to be dispensed when desired, across its full range of use, without the need for separate pouring apertures, moving parts, or complex operations by the user.

One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig I Is a three quarter view of the device closed.

Fig 2 Is a section of the device in side elevation.

Fig 3 Is a section of the device at increasing angles of tilt, showing the refilling aperture angle in relation to the angle of repose of the powder and the resulting path and volume of powder flow.

Fig 4 Is a section in front elevation.

Fig 5 Is a three quarter view of the secondary chamber, the lid, the refilling aperture and the pouring aperture in isolation.

Fig 6 Is a three quarter view of the device open.

Referring to the drawings, the device consists generally of a primary chamber (1) with close fitting lid (2) in which a secondary chamber (3) is formed, with one opening for dispensing powder (4) and another opening, tailored in relation to the powder's angle of repose, through which it is filled from the primary chamber (5).

When inverted with the pouring aperture (4) lowermost, the powder in the secondary chamber (3) empties through the pouring aperture (4). When the device is restored to its upright position, the secondary chamber (3) is refilled with a new dose of powder from the primary chamber (1).

The secondary chamber (3) is positioned asymmetrically in the primary chamber (1), extending over a lesser proportion of the total height of the device, such that when the device is tipped in the pouring direction, all of the remaining powder is utilised, and the secondary chamber (3) refills, even if the device is not fully inverted before returning to its upright position.

When fully inverted with the pouring aperture (4) lowermost, flow of powder from the primary chamber (1), through the secondary chamber (3) and out of the pouring aperture (4) is not possible, due to the shut off angle created between the upper and lower lips of the refilling aperture (5).

With the geometry of the refilling aperture (5) tailored in relation to the angle of repose of the powder (a), when the device is tilted back from its fully inverted position, such that the outer surface of the lid (2) approaches vertical, the angle between the upper and lower lips of the refilling aperture (5) approaches the angle of repose of the powder (fig 3 (a)). With gentle agitation, the angle at which the powder will self support is reduced, and there is a limited and continual flow from the primary chamber (1), through the secondary chamber (3) and out of the pouring aperture (4), proportional to the angle of tilt, and relative to the amount of agitation, making control of the flow simple and intuitive. With continued agitation, flow continues until the device is empty.

If the device is rotated slightly about its long axis in its tilted position, such that the pouring aperture (4) is no longer lowermost, the angle between the upper and lower lips of the refilling aperture (5) is greater than the angle of repose, and there is a limited and continual powder flow from the primary chamber (1), through the secondary chamber (3) and out of the pouring aperture (4), proportional to the angle of rotation.