US2903164A - Sugar dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1959 R. WYNN SUGAR DISPENSER Filed May 25, 1957 INVENTOR. Ted R. Wynn W,MW-

A++orney,s

United rates Patented Sept. 8, 1959 ice SUGAR DISPENSER Ted R. Wynn, Helena, Ala.

Application May 23, 1957, Serial No. 661,080

8 Claims. (Cl. 222-189) This invention relates to a sugar dispenser and has for an object the provision of such a dispenser which shall embody improved means for straining and breaking up lumps of sugar whereby there is free dispensing of the sugar.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sugar dispenser which shall include improved means sealing the dispensing opening whereby moisture and foreign materials, such as insects and the like, do not come in contact with the sugar while in the dispenser.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sugar dispenser of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which is particularly adapted for use in restaurants and the like.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, various devices have been proposed for dispensing sugar. However, so far as I am aware, such devices have not been satisfactory due to the fact that they are expensive to manufacture and require constant cleaning to maintain the same in proper working condition.

. I overcome these and other difficulties byproviding a very inexpensive attachment which is adapted for use on conventional type sugar dispensers whereby the dispensing opening is sealed when not in use. While in use, the large lumps of sugar are kept out of contact with the dispensing opening and smaller lumps which enter the area adjacent the dispensing openings are crushed whereby the dispensing opening is kept free of obstructions while the sugar is being dispensed.

Devices embodying features of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1', partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing a modified form of dispenser; and,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understand.- ing of my invention, I show a container 10 having an externally threaded portion 11 adjacent the upper end thereof for receiving an internally threaded portion 12 of a cover member 13. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover member 13 is provided with a curved upper portion 14 which is joined to a vertically extending side portion 16 by 'a substantially horizontal annular portion 17. The horizontal portion 17 is thus positioned directly above the upper end of the container 10, as shown, with the vertically extending side portion 16 having the internal threads 12 in engagement with the threads 11. The cover member 14 is provided with a centrally disposed dispensing opening 18.

Extending across the top of the container 10 and beneath the curved upper portion 14 of the cover member 13 is a transverse member 19. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the transverse member 19 is of a length to span the container 10 with the central portion thereof being positioned beneath the opening 18. The transverse member 19 is provided with an elongated U-shaped slit 20 which defines a spring-like member 20a which is anchored to the transverse member 19 as at 20b. Mounted on the spring-like member 20a beneath the opening 18 is an upstanding member 21 for supporting a spherical plug member 22. As shown in Fig. 1, the spherical plug member 22 engages the opening 18 while in its uppermost position. That is, while the spring-like member 20a extends in a horizontal plane, the spherical plug member 22 is in engagement with the opening 18 thus sealing the same and preventing the entry of moisture and foreign materials, such as insects, into the container.

Mounted on the spring-like member 20a outwardly of the support member 21 is a substantially vertically extending actuating rod 23 having a push button 24 at the upper end thereof for depressing the actuating rod 23 whereby the spring-like member 2011 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. A suitable opening 25 is provided in the cover member 13 for receiving the rod 23. In view of the fact that the upper portion of the plug member 22 is hemispherical in shape, a smooth contact surface is provided between the plug member and the opening 18 whereby an effective seal is provided.

Mounted on the transverse member 19 and spaced radially from the support member 21 are a plurality of substantially vertical angularly spaced members 26. As shown in Fig. l, the vertical members 26 are of a length for the upper ends thereof to lie adjacent the undersurface of the cover member 13 when the plug 22 is seated. In actual practice, I have found that by providing vertical members 26 substantially one-eighth inch wide and spacing adjacent members substantially three-sixteenths of a inch apart my dispenser is satisfactory in every respect to prevent the entry of lumps of sugar into the area defined between the opening 18 and the vertical members 26.

From the forming description, the operation of my improved sugar dispenser shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will be readily understood. The sugar is placed within the container 10 and the cover member 13 including the transverse member 19 and the vertical actuating rod 23 are secured in place, as shown in Fig. 1. That is, the transverse member 19 is clamped between the horizontal portion 17 of the cover member and the upper end of the container 10. With the cover member 13 and transverse member 19 thus mounted, sugar is dispensed through the opening 18 by inverting the container 10 and pressing the push button 24 inwardly whereby the spring-like member 20a moves to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. As the spring-like member 20a moves to the dotted line position, the spherical plug 22 moves inwardly out of engagement with the opening 18 whereby sugar is free to flow through the opening. Large lumps of sugar are prevented from entering the area adjacent the opening 18 by the vertical members 26, thus assuring free flow of the sugar to the opening 18. In the event small lumps of sugar-enter the space between the opening 18 and the vertical members 26 or are formed within this area, such lumps are easily disposed of by pressing the push button 24 inwardly and then releasing the same whereby the spherical plug 22 engages any small lumps which might be formed adjacent opening 18 and crushes the same whereby the opening 18 is kept open for the discharge of sugar.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, I show a modified form of sugar dispenser comprising a container 10a having a cover member 13a. The upper end of the container 10a is provided with external threads 11a for engaging the internal threads 12a provided on a vertically extending side portion 16a of the cover member. The

cover member 13a is provided with a horizontal portion 1751 which lies directly above the upper end of the container a, as shown in Fig. 3. A discharge opening 18a is provided in the cover member 13a for the discharge of sugar.

Surrounding the upper end of the container 10a in position to be clamped between the upper end of the container 10a and the horizontal portion 17a of the cover member 13a is a substantially annular member 27 having one end thereof turned inwardly as at 28 to define a transversely extending portion which extends beneath the opening-18a. Mounted adjacent the free end of the inwardly extending transverse member 28 is a plug member 22a which may be similar in every respect to the spherical plug member 22. The annular member 27 is preferably formed integrally with the inwardly extending transverse member 28 and is formed of a suitable spring wire material whereby the transverse member 28 may be flexed to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on the transverse member 28 is an actuating rod 29 having a push button 31 at the outer end thereof for moving the transverse member 28 inwardly whereby the plug member 22a is moved inwardly of the discharge :opening 18a. 7

The operation of my sugar dispenser shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that of the dispenser shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The container 10a is filled with sugar and the sugar is dispensed by inverting the container 10a and pressing inwardly on the push button 31 whereby the plug readily applied to conventional type sugar dispensers.

By providing the vertically extending members 26 which encircle the dispensing opening together with the means for moving the plug member relative to the opening, the opening is unobstructed at all times thus assuringfree flow of sugar there-through. Also, by providing the plug -member having a hemispherical portion which completely seals the dispensing opening when not in use, moisture and foreign materials are kept out of contact with the sugar placed in the container.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sugar dispenser comprising a container, a cover member closing said container, there being a dispensing opening in said cover member, a first transverse member extending beneath said opening, a second transverse member operatively connected to said first transverse member, a plug member carried by said second transverse member and disposed to engage said opening, an actuating member carried by said second transverse member and adapted to move the same whereby the plug member moves relative to said opening, and a plurality of spaced apart upwardly directed members carried by said first transverse member defining a strainer between said opening and said container whereby large lumps of sugar in said container do not impede the flow of sugar through said opening.

2. A sugar dispenser as defined in claim 1 in which the dispensing opening is substantially round and the portion of the plug member which engages the opening is substantially hemispherical.

3. A sugar dispenser comprising a container, a cover member closing said container, there being a dispensing opening in said cover member, a transverse member extending beneath said opening, a plug member carried by said transverse member and disposed to engage and seal said opening when in its uppermost position, an actuating member operatively connected to said transverse member and adapted to move the same whereby the plug member moves relative to said opening, and a plurality of substantially vertically extending angularly spaced members carried by said transverse member and spaced radially from said plug member.

4. A sugar dispenser as defined in claim 3 in which the plug member is in the form of a ball mounted on a vertical member disposed centrally of the angularly spaced members.

5. A sugar dispenser comprising a container, a cover member disposed to fit over the top of said container, there being a dispensing opening in said cover member, a transverse member extending beneath said opening with the ends of said transverse member clamped between said cover member and the top of said container, there being a substantially U-shaped slit in said transverse member defining a spring-like member having its free end disposed beneath said opening, a plug member carried by said spring-like member and disposed to engage said opening and seal the same when in its uppermost position, an actuating member operatively connected to said spring-like member and adapted to move the same whereby the plug member moves relative to said opening, and a plurality of angularly spaced substantially vertical members mounted on said transverse member and spaced radially from said plug member whereby large lumps of sugar do not come in contact with said openmg.

6. A sugar dispenser as defined in claim 5 in which the plug member is mounted at one end of a substantially verticallyextending support member, the other end of said support member being secured to the free end of the spring-like member.

7. A sugar dispenser as defined in claim 5 in which the actuating member is in the form of a substantially vertically extending rod-like member with one end thereof connected to the spring-like member and the other end thereof extending outwardly of the cover member, there being an opening through said cover member for passing said rod-like member.

8. A sugar dispenser as defined in claim 5 in which the upper end of the container is threaded externally and the cover member is threaded internally for engaging the external threads on the container whereby the cover member together with the transverse member are clamped in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 849,867 Thorne Apr. 9, 1907 2,089,468 Ciufi Aug. 10, 1937 2,796,201 Dooley June 18, 1957

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