US2580899A

US2580899A - Dispenser having brush operated means for reciprocating the supply container and loosening the material contained therein

Info

Publication number: US2580899A
Application number: US127145A
Authority: US
Inventors: William V Eaton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-11-14
Filing date: 1949-11-14
Publication date: 1952-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1969-01-01

Description

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W. V. EATON Filed Nov. 14, 1949 DISPENSER HAVING BRUSH OPERATED MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE SUPPLY CONTAINER AND LOOSENING'THE MATERIAL CONTAINED THEREIN Jan. 1, 1952 9 9 mN 8 0 9 T 0 0 M T 8 N T 1 A 2 M M m M M m M v/ B Patented Jan. 1, 1952 OFFICE DISPENSER HAVING BRUSH OPERATED MEANS FOR RECIPR'OCATING THE SUPPLY CONTAINER AND LOOSENING THE MATERIAL CONTAINED THEREIN William v. Eaton, Cleveland, Ohio Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,145 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-127) 1 This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to devices for dispensing dine granular or pulverized materials.

Materials in finely granulated or pulverized form, such as toothpowder, are generally packaged in containers. Then in order to use the toothpowder it is necessary to rotate a cap closing an opening or to remove the cap entirely, and then shake the container. Then, depending upon the vigor with which the container is shaken, quantities of the toothpowder will be ejected or caused to flow out. The quantities generally are limited since the toothpowder tends to pack in the narrow outlet opening. Means have been proposed for dispensing pulverized material in which a container can be positioned and vibrated, or lifted and dropped, so as to loosen the toothpowder. Generally such means.

are of an impact type, designed to jar some of the powder loose. Still other means have been proposed having a screw type powder material loosening device which upon rotation and when embedded in the powder will loosen and cause it to flow. These devices are generally intricate and expensive, and permit an accumulation of powder in their base wherein the actuating,

mechanism is located not infrequently causing a failure of operation, and making necessary an occasional disassembly for cleaning purposes.

This invention advantageously provides for a simple and an efllcient device having a minimum of working parts that is adapted to dispense finely pulverized or granulated materials such as toothpowder. The dispensing device is adapted to readily measure out a desired quantity of the material onto a receptacle such as a toothbrush. Furthermore the device is adapted to be readily cleaned of accumulations without disassembly, particularly of the powder loosening means. A turther advantage is the adaptability of the device to be mounted wherever convenient. It is provided with a separable holding or mounting means which may be attached wherever desired, and the dispensing element can be easily removed therefrom for replacement or cleaning purposes.

The invention will be more specifically described in the following specification and the accompanying drawing where:

Figure l generally discloses, in perspective, the assembled dispensing device with a schematic showing of a toothpowder container and brush in position;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the dispenser;

Figure 31s a lateral cross-section of the device;

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3; and ,7

Figure 5 represents the container reciprocating and powder loosening device of the dispenser.

Referring to the drawing there is shown in Figure 1 a dispenser l0 having a body portion tapered substantially toward its middle and a diverging portion having an opening ll into which a device such as a toothbrush l2 can be inserted. Thetaper in the dispenser body I0 advantageously comprises a construction for the concentration of flow of loosened and liberated finely ground, powder-like, material directing its flow onto a receiving device, for instance, a toothbrush that may be positioned in the opening H directly below. The dispenser body It is adapted to have mounted thereon a toothpowder or pulverized material container 13 resting on a moveable circular holding and supporting section l4 resting on the surface 15 of the dispenser 10. The supply support It has an opening 25 having a diameter adapted to receive the neck of a container [3. The opening 25, then, in the lower section of the support I4 converges to form a hopper in the shape of an inverted truncated cone. The hopper is shown as being circular, however, where a spreading of powder is desired the hopper outlet can advantageously take the form of an ellipse. The exterior of the support it hopper section, however, although of a lesser diameter than the portion above the surface I5, is generally cylindrical. Further, the end of the container support I4 within the body of the dispenser l 0 is advantageously rounded so that dispensable material within the hopper section can be substantially physically contacted by the material loosening actuator device 28 for an entire raising and lowering period of the support Hi.

Within the dispenser body Hi there are provided recesses [8 adapted to remove the pivots E9 of the actuator device 20 that is adapted to raise and lower the support 14 and, of course, a powder supply that may be positioned within the support. The actuator 20 pivots about the shaft extensions I9. It has a depending section 2| which merges with a substantially horizontal section 22 that is vertically serrated, then a downwardly vertically depending section 23 with a lower enlarged portion 24. The actuator 20 is supported by the pivots l9 and by the enlarged portion 24 which rests on the base of the dispensing device body In. The powder supply sup port 14 is adaptedto rest very lightly on the topv of the serrated section, which may be rounded, oi the actuator20;.

In operation, with a supply 13 of a pulverized material such as toothpowder in position on the support M a toothbrush I2 is inserted through the opening ll thrust and then withdrawn against the section 24 of the actuator 20. The motion is limited since section 24 will abut the inner wall of the device It). This movement effects a rotation of the actuator 20 about the pivot points 19 raising and lowering the support l4 and the powder supply l3. Simultaneously with the lifting and lowering, in a sawing manner, the serrated section 22 loosens the compacted and slightly bulged powder extending beyond the mouth of the conical hopper and with which it is in contact causing the powder to drop along either side of the serrations onto the toothbrush. The section 22 acts, generally, as a valve or stopper. If a single thrust does not provide a sufilciency of powder onto a toothbrush then the aforesaid operation is repeated until the desired quantity is obtained.

The dispenser body I is advantageously provided with a holder or support is which can be attached to a wall or other vertical surface by means of screws 11. While the holder 16 is permanently fixed the dispenser Hi can b readily removed therefrom for replacement or for cleaning purposes.

The dispenser H) may be formed. of any suitable material, such as plastic, wood, vitreous material, hard rubber, or of metal, as desired. It is simple and sturdy in construction. It contains but two moveable parts, the actuator 20 and the container support It. While the actuator 20 is permanently located within the dispenser body ill the entire device is of a construction that permits ready cleaning or the interior since there are no other parts to contend with. The powder supply support [4 is readily removeable, and spilledand accumulated material can be taken out either through the opening H or the opening created by the removal of support M. The dispenser body Ill, because of its symmetry, is advantageously adapted to be molded in plastic. A single mold will suffice.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device comprising, a body, a support for substantially vertically reciprocably supporting material to be dispensed positioned in said body, said support being hollow so that said material is adapted to flow therethrough, and an actuable means in con-tact with the discharge opening of said supply support upon movement being adapted to vertically reciprocate said supply support and simultaneously frictionally loosen the material in said support causing it to flow.

2. A dispensing device comprising, a body, a support for substantially vertically reciprocably supporting a material to be dispensed, an'open' hollow lower portion in said body into which said support extends and into which said material is adapted to flow, and an actuable means positioned in said hollow lower portion and in substantial contact with said dispensable material being adapted upon movement to reciprocate said material and simultaneously loosen it through contact causing it to flow into said lower hollow portion.

3. A dispensing device comprising, a body hav ing a lower hollow portion, an opening in the top of said body communicating with said lower portion, means in said opening adapted to receive asupply of material to be dispensed having a tapered outlet in the lower hollow portion, and

an actuable means positioned in said body being in substantial contact with said tapered outlet, said actuable means being lesser in size than said outlet opening so that when said latter means is actuated loosened material is adapted to flow about its sides.

4. A dispensing device comprising, a hollow body having an inward taper adapted to con strict flowing finely divided material and an opening in its top portion, a removeable material container support in said opening and extending substantially into the tapered section of said hollow body, said support having an opening throughout its length for the flow of said material therethrough, said hollow body having an-opening to the atmosphere in its lower section, a pivoted material loosening means in said hollow body being in substantial contact with said container support, said pivoted material loosening means being adapted upon actuation to raise and lower said container support, and

said material loosening means being serrated along the length that is in substantial contact.

with said container support.

5. A dispensing device comprising, a hollow body having an inward taper in its sides adapted to constrict flowing finely divided material and an opening in its top portion, a removeable material container support in said opening extending substantially into the tapered section of said hollow body, said support having an opening throughout its length for the flow of said material :therethrough, said hollow body having an opening to the atmosphere in its lower section, a' pivoted material loosening means in said hollow body being in substantial contact with said container support, said pivoted material loosening means being adapted upon actuation to raise and lower said container support, said material loosening means being serrated along the length that is in substantial contact with said container support, and said material loosening means having a depending vertical section for its actuation positioned in the lower portion of said hollow body and being accessible through saidlower opening to the atmosphere.

6. A dispensing device comprising, a hollow body having an inward taper in its sides adapted to constrict flowing finely divided material and an opening in its top portion, a removeable material container support in said opening extending substantially into the tapered section of said hollow body, said support having an opening throughout its length for the flow of said material therethrough, said hollow body having an opening to the atmosphere in its lower section, a pivoted material loosening means in said hollow body being in substantial contact with said container support, said pivoted material loosening means being adapted upon actuation to raise and lower said container support, said material loosening means being serrated along the length that is in substantial contact with said container support, and a removeable supporting means for said hollow dispensing body.

'7. A dispensing device comprising, a body having a vertical opening, a hopper positioned in said vertical opening, said hopper being adapted to support a supply of powder-like material, a pivoted means in said body adapted to raise and lower the hopper having a portion under said hopper in continuous substantial frictional'contact during an actuation of said hopper, and said -portionof said means in contact with said hopper having a lesser width than the outlet opening of said hopper.

8. A-dispensing device comprising, a body, a vertical opening in said body, a hopper in said opening for supporting a powder-like material, said body'having a hollow base, said hopper having an arcuate outlet to said hollow base, and means in said body positioned in substantial frictional contact with said hopper outlet for raising and lowering said hopper, the frictionally contacting portion of said means having anarcuat surface.

. WILLIAM V. EATON.

REFERENCES CITED Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hammer June 21, 1932