US2656075A - Condiment dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 E. w. CLARK CONDIMENT DISPENSER Filed March 27, 1952 INVENTOR I 5M M/ M.

absorb any appliedor contacting moisture or nnoisture absorbing. 1 qualities.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED PATENT CONDVIME'NT DILSPENSER I r al- 1 w. d am, smart, Fla.

ipsncattmrtw, 1952, se ame.- 27 8.325

" dClaimsf (outta-i190) Th s. in eniie relat s t m ve e i pe ser fp finely d vide materials sijlch s r nar t ble a tand' he ik which W. M a- .iirelr i n e dene o. ab b a y meisiu're which they may contact and also to' absorb moisture from damp air. This'irivention relates more specifically to a dispenser so constructed that the interior surfaces of same, excepting ordinarily the stopper, comprise a material which has a relatively greataflinity for and will quickly any moisturewhich condenses thereon. ,In ordinary salt dispensers the interior surfaces comprise or are ordinarily made 1 ofmaterials such asglass, plastic or china which do not absorb applied moisture, and I find that during periods of dampness the interior surfaces somade are very liableto become dampenedby moisture in the air within thedispenser condensing thereon. This condensed moisture is absorbed the salt when the dispenser is inverted and some'salt will adhere tothe dampened surfaces and some will fall back and in turn dampen additional salt within the container.

Sometimesthe neck' of the bottle or container gmois ture;

My invention is particularly directed to a construction which is adapted to overcome the.dif,-

1 ficulties caused by moisture condensing-out of the atmosphere within the dispenser and on to the interior surfaces of the container during 'periods when the atmosphereis damp and subject to temperature changes. -I accomplish-thisresuit by constructing the entire interior surfaces of the dispenser, excepting ordinarilythe stopper becomes completely clogged by adhering salt and as'mentioned previously, of. a material. which has a relatively low degree of heat conductivity andwhich also has fairly good hygroscopicor Any moisture which may condense from-the. air withintthe-dispenser and on to the interior surfaces of my herein described dispensers during periods of damp air and'changing temperature isquickly absorbed into the interior thereof where salt cannot ordinarily contact it and hence salt within the dispenser will not be dampened to any appreciable that my dispenser willgive long periods, ..of

trouble free operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description." 1

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is asectional elevation. of a dispenser, it also indicates by'dotted linesthe mold and core'used forming same. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof'a dispenser;

Fig. -3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a dispenser'showin'ga modified' form of stopper. Fig. 4 is similar to Fig-3; butshow's adifferent stopper. Y f

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary sectional. elevation'of a-dispenser showing another type of stopper..'..' A Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysectional elevational'of a dispenserhavingan outer envelope or covering. 1 Fig. 7 is similar toFig. 6',' -butfthefouter envelope or covering is omitted on the-top, portion of'dispenser; Y 3

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of 'a-idispenser having an: outer. shell-.orlenvelope lined with a "hygroscopic:materiali'... Referring. in .detailito the drawing wherein; in the various figures the same numbers designate identical -.or similar parts. in Fig. l indicates the bodyofthe dispenser. .The. material which as .Lfind that plasteroiParismay be'mixed with .suiiricient water so that it may readilybe poured into a mold and that a mixture so madewillset .fairly...quickly and form-a solid bodypthat hasa fair-amount of structuralmstrengthEand also is sufiiciently hygroscopicto, be used-in any part of asalt dispenser. I pour the, wetted plaster of Paris into the mold I9;in Fig. l whichzis indi cated by dotted lines whilethe mold 1 9 is in an inverted position. I next agitate thismater ia l to drive, out any air bubbles and then insert the core. wn lsqr doi ed lin sh the ition shown and hold same in place until the plastic plaster .of. .Paris has set sufiibiently "to hold the core. 20. Inside or an hour the' mold l9 and corezii maybe removed as the'plaster of into a solid Paris will have set withinjthis ti V "Sometimes substance which is; called gypsii I insert the tapered care in only part way into the mold" l9andthendrilhout or otherwise re- 'move' or'cut out the restof'theinterior; I also sometimes do not use the core 20, but drill out the whole'cavity; Thisc'an" veryreadily'bedon'e as gypsum drills'and'carv'es"easily: When the freshly cast body is removed from themold-it is very damp and it must be dried thoroughly before using same as a dispenser. For drying the body I generally use hot air or gas fumes although the body will dry out in dry air. I make the inside of the body tapered as shown at la for ease of molding, to increase capacity and to provide a tapered seat for the cork stopper 3. A tapered seat for the stopper has several advantages. It reduces wear on the gypsum body where the stopper contacts same and also reduces wear on the stopper. Further, the stopper may be pushed tightly in place and still be removed relatively easily. If wear does occur in the stopper seat the stopper is made tight by merely pushing it in a little further. In Fig. 7. 22 indicates a coating for the inside of the dispenser where the stopper contacts the dispenser body to prevent wear of the gypsum by the stopper at this point. 2 isathe dispensing opening and I1) is a tapered portion to facilitate prying out stopper 3, p

In molding body I as shown in Fig. l, I have used for my experimental models plastic cups I9 and plastic cup shaped cores 2t which have substantially the same taper as ordinary corks. In some of these molds I9 I'd rill a one-half inch hole ZI which I cover with tape before pouring in the wetted plaster of Paris. When the plaster of Paris hardens I use a short piece of wooden dowel materialand place one end in hole 2| and then strike the dowel with a hammer to drive the body I from. mold I9. I support the inverted mold I9 on two square pieces of steel, which are well known and are notshown, so placed that the body I will not touch same as it is forced out of mold iii. 'The body I can also be removed from mold 19 where hole, 2| is not provided by inverting the filled mold and bringing the edges of or rim of the mold I9 down sharply on tothe above mentioned square pieces of steel. I prefer to remove the body I from the mold I9 before drilling or cutting out the whole of the inside as otherwise the head might be broken in when driving the body I out of mold I9. I have also used a light or thin plastic mold l9 and left the mold on the body permanently as I find that it is advisable to cover the body I with a moistureproof envelope or covering as shown by 13 in Fig; 6 or by a partial covering as shown by I3a inFig. 'I. The reasons for the covering will be explained later.

Fig. 2 in side elevation a completed dispenser having a moisture-proof envelope on the outside "thereof.

In Fig. 3, l is the hygroscopic dispenser body as in Fig. l and a hygroscopic stopper 4 with a pull cord 5 for removing the stopper.

In Fig. 4 a cork stopper 6 with pull cord I is shown. The stopper 6 is drilled for cord I and the upper end is machined out so as to make a pocket 5a for the bent-over cord ends and this pocket is filled with a syrupy mixture of plaster of Paris and water to anchor the cord to the stopper.

In Fig. 5, 9 represents the hygroscopic body and IQ is hygroscopic plug with a removable cork stopper fitted therein. Plug I0 before inserting in place in '9 is coated with a thin slurry of plaster of Paris and is thus firmly attached to 9 at I2. Ifla indicates a beveled or recessed portion to permit the stopper to be pried loose. I find that an ordinary teaspoon as indicated by dotted lines I8 in Fig. '7 is a very satisfactory tool for removing cork stoppers where a pull cord is I notprovided,

Figs. 6 and '7 are enlarged partial sectional elevations of the body I shown in Fig. l, but with the addition of a water-proof envelope I3 covering the Whole of the exterior surface of the body I as shown in Fig. 6 and a water-proof envelope I3a covering only part of the body I as shown in Fig. '7. The water-proof envelopes I3 and I3! can also be made by painting a good quality of enamel paint :on the exterior surfaces of body I. Whether one uses a preformed plastic envelope or paints same on can be decided on the basis of relative availability and costs. In Figs, 6 and '7, 2 is the dispensing opening as in Fig. 1. In Fig. I the water-proof envelope is carried up inside the body I as indicated by 22 where the cork stopper contacts same to reduce wear on the body at this point.

I find by tests and experiments, wherein I placed the various types of dispensers shown on my drawing in an open window having a canopy or metal awning so that the dispensers could not be contacted by falling rain, that if one does not cover the outside of the hygroscopic body I with a water-proof envelope salt in the dispenser soon becomes damp during a 12 to 24 hour period such as accompanies an over-night rain. A dispenser partially covered as by 13a in Fig. 7 will show some dampening of salt within a 24 hour rainy period while a dispenser protected completely by a water-proof envelope I3 as shown in Fig. 6 will show no dampening of the salt within the above period.

In Fig. 8 I show a china envelope l4 coated on the inside with a hygroscopic material I5 such as is used for the dispenser bodies I in Fig. 6. I5 is the dispensing opening and IT is the cork stopper, [4c is the neck of the envelope I4, 14a is the base and I417 is a tapered portion to aid in removing the stopper II. The hygroscopic coating or lining I5 may be castin envelope I4 and then partially cored out and the balance machined out as in Fig. l, or a plastic mixture of plaster of Paris may be poured into the inside of I4 and then by turning M around slowly in all directions the coating IE will be distributed fairly evenly over the inside surfaces of I and will harden in a few minutes. A thicker'coat may be added by repeating the operation, but this should be done before the previous coat has driedout. The dispensing opening I6 is drilled after the coating I5 has hardened and then the interior of the dispenser must be thoroughly dried out before using.

What I claim is:

1. In combination in a dispenser for finely divided material comprising, a container body having a dispensing passage in the top portion and a filling opening in the bottom portion thereof, said container body comprising a cast and relatively fragile body of hygroscopic material with a dispensing passage formed therein, a water- 'proof envelope encircling and contacting the said body of hygroscopic material, a closure member comprising a resilient material for closing said filling opening by making sealing contact with said envelope, said envelope at the bottom portion of said body being positioned between said body and said closure member where said closure member makes sealing contact with said envelope, whereby said closure member does not contact and wear said hygroscopic material when being removed and replaced.

2. In combination in a dispenser for finely divided material comprising, a container body having a dispensing passage in the top portion and a filling opening in the bottom portion thereof, said container body comprising a cast and relatively fragile body of hygroscopic material with said dispensing passage formed therein, a water-proof envelope encircling and contacting the said body of hygroscopic material, a closure member comprising a resilient material for closing said filling opening by making sealing contact with said envelope, said envelope at the bottom portion of said body being turned inwardly to define and shape said filling opening in said hygroscopic body.

3. In combination in a dispenser for finely divided material comprising, a container having a dispensing passage in the top portion and a filling opening in the bottom portion thereof, said container comprising a cast and relatively fragile body of hygroscopic material with said dispensing passage formed therein, a waterproof envelope encircling and contacting said hygroscopic body, a closure member comprising a resilient material for closing said filling opening by making sealing contact with said envelope, said envelope at the bottom portion of said container being positioned between said hygroscopic body and said closure member, whereby said closure member does not contact and wear said hygroscopic material when being removed and replaced, and means for retaining said body in said envelope.

4. In combination in a dispenser for finely divided material comprising, a container body having a dispensing passage in the top portion and a filling opening in the bottom portion thereof, said container body comprising a cast and relatively fragile body of hygroscopic material with said dispensing passage formed therein, a water-proof preformed envelope encircling and contacting said body of hygroscopic material, a closure member comprising a resilient material for closing said filling opening by making sealing contact with said envelope, said envelope at the bottom portion of said dispenser being positioned between said body and said closure member, whereby said closure member does not contact and wear said hygroscopic material when being removed and replaced.

EARL W. CLARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 917,804 Sedgwick Apr. 13, 1909 1,889,593 Davis Nov, 29, 1932 2,273,727 Rowen et a1 Feb. 17, 1942

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