US2778536A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1957 w. GRAVES EIAL DISPENSER Filed Dec. 10, 1953 INVENTOR$ raves.

)o /z er Q 14 177787.

, u rror/vz/ United States Patent H DISPENSER Walter Graves, Manchester, and Willys P. Wagner, Franklin, Mich., assignors to Franklin Foods, Inc., Hazel Park, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 10, 1953, Serial No. 397,346

Claims. (Cl. 222184) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers for comestibles such as peanuts and the,

like.

In the development of this invention it was necessary first of all to produce a dispenser capable of handling blanched nuts which are fragile and easily damaged. When nuts are blanched, the skins are readily broken and easily rubbed off. This adversely affects the appearance of the nuts and is undesirable from a commercial point of view.

Secondly, it was necessary to develop a dispenser that is pleasing in appearance and inexpensive to manufacture. It has become the practice for persons who prepare and package peanuts and the like to sell their product to customers who in turn sell or apportion the nuts in small measured amounts by a dispenser that may or may not be coin-controlled. Dispensers of this type are commonly found in bars, amusement centers, waiting stations, restaurants and the like. Often the dispensers are supplied free of charge or for a nominal fee together with packages or containers of the nuts. Extruded plastic provides the lease expensive construction but investigation failed to develop any prior-known dispenser suitable for manufacture in plastic. It became necessary, therefore, to develop a new structure that could be made from this material.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser that can be used for a variety of purposes but that is primarily adapted and pre-eminently suited for use with relatively delicate comestibles such as blanched nuts and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser wherein the parts are uniquely arranged and correlated to assure an essentially gentle dispensing action particularly suited for a delicate or fragile product.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that is attractive in appearance and that can be made inexpensively from plastic.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that is uniquely constructed to concentrate all the dispensing mechanism in a base and wherein the base is uniquely constructed to be detachably fastened to a container in which the product to be dispensed is conventionally packaged for shipment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view through a dispenser embodying the invention and particularly illustrating a container for the product to be dispensed mounted on the base which carries the dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; and

7, 2,778,536 Patented Jan. 22,- 1957 Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional supporting wall 12 provided at the top thereof with an annular, upwardly facing groove 14. As suggested, it is contemplated that the product to be dispensed be supplied initially in a sealed container such as a can 16 and that the container be dimensioned so that after the top has been removed the rim thereof fits into the groove 14.

In practice, the base 10 is applied upside down on the container 16 to prevent the contents of the container from spilling and the assembled container and base are then inverted to the position'shown in Fig. 1. It is contemplated that the container 16 be formed at diametrically opposite sides thereof with inturned lugs or buttons 18 which enter bayonet-type slots 20 in the base 10. The lugs 18 enter the slots 20 when the container 16 is applied to the base 10, and it is only necessary thereafter to rotate either the base or the container relative to the other to fasten the container detachably to the base- As perhaps best shown in Fig. 1, the base 10 is formed with a generally funnel-shaped bottom 22 which receives the contents of the container 16. The downwardly sloping bottom 22 terminates in a generally horizontally di-' rected port or opening 24. From the opening 24 the peanuts or other product being dispensed flowinto a dispensing element or cup 26. The latter has a generally flat wall 28, opposite side walls 30 and 32, and a curved closure wall 34. Journals 36 and 38 on and extending outwardly from the sides 30 and 32 are pivoted in openings 40 and 42 respectively in the base 10. In the normal position of dispensing cup 26, the sides 30 and 32 extend forwardly of the opening 24 and in such relation to the sides of the opening that the contents delivered there- .of nuts delivered to the cup 26 can be readily controlled by varying the size of the opening 24. After the nuts have risen in the cup 26 to the height referred to specifically above, further outflow through the opening 24 stops regardless of the amount of nuts in the base 10 or container 16.

As perhaps best shown in Fig. 1, the wall 28 normally inclines outwardly and upwardly through an opening 44 in the front of the base 10, and the nuts in the cup 26 are dispensed through this opening by rotating the cup in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Further, as the cup 26 is rotated in the manner described, the closure wall 34 moves progressively upwardlyacross the opening 24 to close the same and thus prevent outflow of nuts therethrough during the dispensing operation. After the nuts in cup 26 have been dispensed, it is reversely pivoted to the initial position; and, as it returns, the closure wall 34 progressively uncovers the opening 24 to permit another charge of nuts to flow into the cup. Experience shows that the' charge of nuts to the cup 26 is remarkably uniform, and this of course is exceedingly desirable in a device of this nature.

In order to facilitate pivotal actuation of the dispensing cup 26 in the manner described a manual actuator 46 is provided. The particular actuator 46 here shown by way of illustration comprises a vertically movable'plunger having lateral lugs or guides 48' at opposite sides thereof disposed in vertical ways 50 in the base 10. Springs 52 confined in the ways below the lugs (Fig 3) bear upwardly against the latter to hold the actuator normally raised. Side openings 54' in the actuator 46 receive journals 56 on and extending outwardly from opposite sides 30 and 32' of the dispensing cup 26 ahead of the pivot journals 36 and 38. Thus, the actuator 46 is pivotally connected to the dispensing cup 26, and springs 52 act through the connecting pivots 56 tohold the cup in its normal or initial position illustrated in Fig. 1. Stop means preferably is provided for limiting upward movement of the actuator 46 and to position the cup 26'- properly initially with respect to'the opening 24. In the form of the invention shown this stop is in'the form of a lug 58 on a portion 60 ofthe base 10 directly above the dispensing opening 44. As perhaps best shown in Fig. 1 the dispensing cup 26 engages upwardly'aga-inst the lug to initially position the same, and it is a featureof' the invention that the actuator 46 also engages the lug 58 when the actuator is depressed to discharge the contents of the cup 26-so as to limit rotation of the cup in the dumping direction.

Experience has shown that it is important to arrange the dispensing port 24 in a plane that is essentially vertical or at most only slightly inclined from the vertical. In other words, the port 24 should face in a generally horizontal direction. When the port 24 is disposed in this manner the closure wall 34 moves vertically or tangentially to cut oil? flow through the port. This action minimizes damage to the nuts and in that sense greatly improves the dispensing action of the. device. It has been found in this connection that damage to the product being dispensed is reduced to a remarkable extent as compared with prior known dispensing devices which cut ofi ona substantially horizontal plane against the weight of the contents in the device. Apparently the instant arrangement effects a more gentle dispensing action required in dealing with delicate or fragile produce. of the type here under consideration.

In addition to the above, the instant arrangement and combination of parts achieves a highly efficient dispensing action. In operation it is merely necessary for the user to press downwardly on the. actuator 46 in order to rock the dispensing, cup 26 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. As the cup 26 I- tates, the closure wall 34 moves across, the opening 24 in the manner described and the contents of the cup 26 are simultaneously dumped into the hand or into. a suitable container provided for the purpose. It is significant in this connection that the cup 26 is normally positioned with the wall 28 thereof in an upwardly and outwardly inclined direction, for as a result of this arrangement of the wall the contents of the cup 26 will not spill therefrom until the cup has been rotated sufliciently to position the wall 28 in an outwardly and downwardly inclined position, and, by the time the cup has rotated to this extent, the closure wall 34 has entirely or substantially entirely closed the opening 24. vThus there is no intermediate position in which there is a continuous flow of the contents from the cup 26.

, Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising a base adapted to support a container for said comestibles and to receive the contents of said container, said base having a downwardly sloping bottom terminating in a generally horizontally directed port through which the contents are discharged from the base, and opposed vertical ways at opposite sides and in front of said port, a hollow metering element pivoted to the base in front of said port adapted to receive. comestibles discharged therethrough, a manual actuator having guide lugs in and movable along said ways'and pivoted to said metering element laterally of the pivot axis of the element and operative to rock the same in one direction to dump the contents thereof, said element'having a closure apron movable generally across said port to close the same progressively as the metering element is rocked to dump said contents, spring means in the ways acting upwardly across said guide lugs to hold the actuator normally raised, and stop means engaging said metering element to limit upward movement of said actuator and positioning said element to open said discharge port and with the port-closing apron immediately below and in juxtaposition to said port.

2. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising a base adapted to support a container for said comestibles and toy receive the contents of said container, said base having a downwardly sloping bottom terminating in a generally horizontal directed opening through which the contents are discharged from said base and opposed vertical ways at opposite sides and in front of said opening, a hollow metering element pivoted to the base in front of said opening adapted to receive comestibles discharged therethrough, a manual actuator having guide lugs disposed to travel in said ways pivoted to said metering element and operative to rock the same in one direction to dump the contents thereof, said metering element having a bottom wall portion movable generally vertically across said opening to close the same progressively as the. metering element is rocked to dump said contents, and springs in the ways bearing upwardly against said guide lugs holding said actuator normally raised and said metering element normally positioned to receive comestibles through said opening.

3. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising a base adapted to support a container for said comestibles and to receive the contents of said container, said base having a downwardly sloping bottom terminating in a generally horizontal directed opening through which the contents are discharged from said base, and opposed vertical ways at opposite sides and in front of said opening, a hollow metering element pivoted to the base in front of said opening adapted to receive comestibles discharged therethrough, and a manual actuator having guide lugs disposed to travel in said ways pivoted to said metering element and movable up and down to rock said element back and forth on its pivots, said metering element having a bottom wall portion movable upon rocking movement of said element in one direction generally vertically upwardly across said opening to close the same progressively and to dump the contents thereof, rocking movement of said metering element in the opposite direction causing said bottom Wall portion to move generally vertically downwardly across said opening to open the same for another charge of said cemestibles.

4. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising a base adapted to support a container for said comestibles and to receive the contents of said container, said base having a downwardly sloping bottom terminating in an opening through which the contents are discharged from said base and opposed parallel ways at opposite sides of said opening, a hollow rockable metering element mounted in front of said opening and adapted to receive comestibles discharged therethrough, a manual actuator having guide lugs in said ways, said actuator being coactive with said metering element and movable in said ways to rock said metering element back and forth in front of said opening, said metering element having a bottom wall portion arranged to move progressively across said opening upon rocking movement of saidelement in onedirection to cut oli flow of comestibles through said opening and simultaneously dump the contents thereof, said bottom wall portion being movable to progressively open said opening upon rocking movement of said metering element in the opposite direction whereby to charge said element again with said comestibles, and springs in said ways bearing upwardly against container, said base having a downwardly sloping bottom terminating in an opening through which the contents are discharged from said base and opposed parallel ways at opposite sides and in front of said opening, a hollow rockable metering element disposed to receive comestibles discharged through said opening, and a manualactuator having guide lugs in said ways, said actuator being coactive with said metering element and movable in said Ways to rock said metering element back and forth,

said metering element having a'bottom wall portion are ranged to move progressively across said opening upon rocking movement of said element in one direction to cut off flow of comestibles through said opening and simultaneously dump the contents of said metering element, said bottom wall portion being movable to progressively open said opening upon rocking movement of said metering element in the opposite direction whereby to charge said element again with said comestibles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 204,323 Harper May 28, 1878 979,682 McLeod Dec. 27, 1910 1,025,723 Shafer May 7, 1912 1,405,753 Bush Feb. 7, 1922 1,991,736 Epstein Feb. 19, 1935 2,059,704

Miller Nov. 3, 1936

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