US1480932A

US1480932A - Condiment holder or salt shaker

Info

Publication number: US1480932A
Application number: US637988A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Elbert A Corbin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-05-10
Filing date: 1923-05-10
Publication date: 1924-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1941-01-15

Description

Jan. 15 1924.

E. A. CORBIN, JR

CONDIMENT HOLDER OR SALT SHAKER Fil ed May 10 ATTORNEYS.

Fatented Jan. 15, 1924.

* UNITED STATES CONDIMENT HOLDER on sem SHAKER.

Application filed May 10, 1923. seria Ito/627,988.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBERT A. CoRBIN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Condiment Holder or Salt Shaker, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the general class of condiment holders or containers applicable in particular to containing and dis pensing granular or powdered substances, such as salt, pepper, spices, sugar and simi lar articles that are intended for household use, "and have to be protected from dampness, dust or other extraneous matter, and.

the contents of which unless frequently shaken up are apt to become compacted and in consequence are not easily shaken out.

Theprincipal object of my invention is the construction of a container for granular or powdered substances or the like which embodies a body having a valved outlet and a cover construction formed with a recess to guide the Valve stem the contents of the container being protected from the atmosphere, water or other liquids and from ants and other insects.

To the above ends my invention consists of a novel and useful container applicable to salt, pepper, spices, granulated and powdered sugar and all other powders that are used frequently and that have to be scattered in use, and that must be protected from dampness, dust or other extraneous matter. 7 V

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings'forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instr'umentalities of which my in-. vention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and or'-. ganization of these. instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1- represents a vertical sectional view of a condiment holder or container, embodying my invention,the section being taken on line 1-'1 Figure 2. j

Figure 2 represe'ntsa section on line 22 Fi ure 1. p

igure 3 represents side elevation of a modified form of the valvular member,

ure 3.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view of the cap of a modification. Figure 6 represents a sectional view ofthe body of said modification. 1

Figure 7 represents a perspective view of the outer skeleton frame of said modificar' tion.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts: i Referring to the drawings i 1 designates my novel construction of salt shaker or condiment holder, the same com prising the body 2 having the salt receiving chamber 8, whose bottom wall convergesinwardly as at 4B, and has the throat, valve seat or outlet opening'5, terminating in the flaring mouth 6, whose bottom surface 7 forms a base for the shaker on which it normally rests. The upper portion of the body 2 is eXterio-rly screw threaded as at 8, and is engaged by the interiorly screw threaded wall 9 of the cap 10, which is composed of the upper wall 11, and the central hollow boss 12 having the hollow guide recess '13 in which is received the upper end 14; of the valve stem 15, which projects upwardly from the valve 16, Whose lower shoulder or edge 17 performs the valvular function proper and normally rests on the lower portion of the concaved wall Figure 4 represents an'end view of Fig 4, slightly above the throat or valve seat 5 18 designates pendant vanes or wings,

which depend from the valve shoulder 17 a and pass through the opening or throat 5 and terminate in the bottom head or disc 19.

It will be seen from the foregoing the length of the valve stem is somewhat greater than the distance between the top of the valve seat at about'the point 5, and the bottom of'the recess 13, so that the upper portion of the valve stem is always contained within the recess 13, while the lower portion of the valvular member is effectively guided by the wings or vanes 18, the contents of the container having their exit between said vanes and aroundthat the disk or bottom 19, which may be omitted,-

seat the valve to the desired extent and enter the receptacle.

permit the requisite quantity of salt or other condiment to be dispensed.

As a salt shaker my novel device has advantages over the conventional type, in that its valvular action keeps the salt protected from the atmosphere and the cover construe tion makes it proof against moisture or water or other liquids being spilled over it. Vermin such as ants or small flies cannot Most salt shakers of the conventional type get clogged in damp weather on account of the many small apertu'res through which the salt must flow, while in my device the salt flows by gravity through 'a circular opening in the bottom of the container through the throat 5, and this charge of salt is spread outwardly by the disc 19 at the extreme lower end of the valve head or plunger 16. The plunger 16 acts in a threefold capacity, first, as a valve at its bottom edge 17, second as an agitator for the contents of the container at the shoulder above this edge and third as a spreader at the disc 19. The top end of the stem 15 is guided in the small open ended recess 13, while thebottom end of the valvular member is guided in the hole or throat 5 at the bottom of the container by the plurality of vanes or wings 18. In filling with fresh salt the cover 10 may be unscrewed and the valve 16 left in place at its lower end, or the container may be turned upside down with the cover screwed on and filled from the bottom with less effort. To clean, the cover can be removed and the plunger or valvular member withdrawn and all three parts cleaned separately.

My novel design of powder distributor will function very satisfactorily when used with powdered or pulverized sugar, flour and the like, as these very fine powders have a tendency to bridge across and clog up even moderately large holes in the conventional shaker cap.

It will be apparent that my novel condim entholder has only three parts. which are quickly and easily disassembled for cleaning. Furthermore, my novel device can also be refilled without removing the cover, which is a great time saver in large hotels and restaurants, and since it seldom has to be taken apart and is always closed when not in use, it is more sanitary than other types.

My novel construction further enables the user to release only a small charge of condiment with a slight shake of the container and a larger charge of condiment with a greater agitation of the container. In other words, my novel device responds automatically'to the degree of agitation supplied by the user and the flow responds to each agitation and has no opportunity to bridge across or block up the exit at any time, even i'ndamp weather.

Since my novel device has an automatic plunger valve seated by gravity, it does not have to be inverted to-release its contents nor to be mechanically, operated like other bottom vented containers now in use. These bottom vented mechanically operated containers have from 6 tot) parts, some of which are made of corrosive metal, while my device is made preferably of glass with only three pieces which are easy to demount or dismantle and clean, and further this glass construction shows the user, the different contents at a glance and signals when the 7

parts

14, 15, 16 and 17 being substantially the same as seen in Fig. 1. The vanes 0r wings 22 however, are made without the curved walls 20 and the disk 19 is also dispensed with, so that the material after passing the edge 17 can flow in straight lines past or along the vanes 22. l fhile I have shown 3 vanes or wings 22 as being em-. ployed in Figs. 1 to 4 it will be evident that the number of vanes or wings 22, may be increased or diminished according to requirements.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown another embodiment of my invention which may be employed when it is desired. tomake a more expensive or ornate container, certain of the parts as the cap seen in 5 and the skeleton frame seen in Fig. 7 being made of metal, as gold, silver. aluminum or thelike, which can be chasedor ornamented with any desired configurations.

In assembling the structures seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 it will be apparent that the glass body 23 can be dropped within the'skeleton frame 2%, the lower end 25 of the body 23 having the throat or outlet 26 resting upon the shoulder 27 of the frame 24;, while the upper end of the body 23 terminates in proximity to the exteriorly'threaded ring 28.

The valvular member vas 21 is next dropped into the body .23 and the cap 29 is screwed upon the-ring 28. The inverted cup member 30 performs the same function asthe recess 13 and receivesfthe upper end of the valve stem, whenfthe parts are as sembled, as is evident. V

The parts seen in Figs. '5, 6 and '7 .now being assembled, it will be apparentt-hat the valve of the member 21 seen in Fig. 6. will function in the manner which has already been described.

The skeleton frame seen in Fig. 7 is composed of the upper and

lowerannular members

28 and 27, joined by the upright bars 31, bent inwardly at their lower ends below which is a base 82. Other forms of this skeleton frame may be designed or employed for the purpose stated. The cup member 29 seen in Fig. can be composed of one or two members as may be desired, the structure seen in Fig. 5 being composed of the inverted cup shaped member 30, brazed, spot welded or otherwise secured to the top 33 in any suitable manner, or if desired the inverted cup member can be formed by pressing orstamping integral with the top 33.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful condiment holder or salt shaker, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practiee satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. A condiment holder, comprising a body a top therefor having a central recess therein open at its bottom, a gravity seated valve contained in said body and having a pendant wing extending through the lower opening of said body, to guide the lower portion of said valve, and a valve stem for said valve having its upper end extending into the recess in said cap, whereby the upper and lower portions of said valve are always centrally positioned and guided with respect to said body.

2. A condiment holder, comprising a body portion open at both ends, the lower open,- ing forming a valve seat,a closed cap for said body having a centrally located recess therein open at its bottom, and a valve stem contained in said body and having its upper 7 end positioned in said central recess and its lower end enlarged and forming a valve, whose top flares outwardly and downwardly at its junction with said stem, and wings depending from said valve and passing through the valve'seat, the inner walls of the lower portion of said body above said valve seat converging inwardly towards said greater than the distance from the top of said valve seat to the bottom of the recess 7 in said cap;

3. A'condiment holder, comprising a body portion open at both ends, the lower openmg being a throat extending through the base of said body and forming a valve seat, a closed cap for said body having a centrally located recess therein, open at its bottom, and a valve stem contained in said body and having its upper end positioned in said central recess and its lower end enlarged-rand formin a valve, whose top flares outwardly at its unction with said stem, and wings.

depending from said valve, the inner walls of the lower portion of said body above said 7 valve seat converging'inwardly towards said seat, and the length of said stem being greater than the distance from the top of said valve seat to the bottom of the recess in said cap, said wings projecting through said valve seat and serving as a guide to the valvular member, the latter seating by grav-, lty upon the lower inner converging inner walls of said body above said throat;

4. A condiment holder comprising a body portion open at both ends, the lower opening forming a valve seat, a closed cap for said body having a centrally located recess therein open at its bottom, and a valve stem contained in said body and having its upper end positioned at all times in said central recess and its lower end forming a valve,

whose top flares outwardly at its junction with said stem, wings depending from said v'alve,'the inner wallsof the lower portion of saidbody above said valve seat, converging inwardly towards said seat, and the length of said stem being greater thanvthe distance fromrthe top of'said valve seat to the bottom of the recess in said cap, said wings projecting through said valve seat and serving as a guide for the valvular member,

and a bottom disk for said vwings over the i 7 '7 outer edges of which the material is dispensed.

5. A open at both ends, a skeleton" frame enclosing said body, a cap atthe upperportion of said body and having a central r'ecesstherein' open at its bottom, .a valve for the lower portion of said body,'and a valve stem for said condiment holder, comprising a body too 7 valve having itsupper end at all timespositioned within the recess ,in said cap.

ELBERT AA. VGORBIN, JR.

Witnesses:

EJHAYWARD FAIRBANKS, C. D. MCVAY.