WO2004082837A1

WO2004082837A1 - Crushing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2004082837A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/000898
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jamie Trevor Oliver
Original assignee: Freshcrush Limited
Priority date: 2003-03-17
Filing date: 2004-03-03
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: GB2399518B; GB0306042D0; GB2399518A

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for crushing materials, such as herbs or spices, which comprises a hand-held hollow container (9) having a sealed elongate inner channel (14) with at least one freely displaceable member (28) contained within the channel (14). The container (9) is provided with a releasable access means (12) to permit insertion and removal of the material to be crushed to and from the interior of the container (9). The device (10) is provided with a restraining means (50) for restraining.

Description

Crushing Apparatus

The present invention is directed towards an improved apparatus for the crushing of materials such as, for example, foodstuffs and ingestible materials and, more particularly, to the crushing and grinding of herbs and spices.

Conventionally, the pestle and mortar has been the predominant equipment for crushing and grinding a variety of foodstuff products, such as herbs, spices and grains, into powders or pastes of required consistencies. The pestle and mortar design has been in existence for several thousand years and it is extremely simplistic in its concept of comprising a bowl of a hard material, such as stone, formed to have a concave surface into which a rounded pestle can be inserted and manually forced into engagement with the mortar so as to crush any materials disposed between the two curved surfaces. This design has been highly effective for many years and is still in common use, both within the food industry and other fields such as pharmaceutical industries. However, whilst this existing design is highly effective, it has certain drawbacks in that it generally requires a two-handed operation, with one hand retaining the mortar and the other operating the pestle, whilst the use of an open bowl means care has to be taken to ensure that none of the contents are spilt from the mortar during operation. Furthermore, considerable force is often necessary to effect the required degree of crushing of the contents in the pestle and mortar, making its use laborious. Whilst efforts have been made to improve the performance of a conventional pestle and mortar by the provision of a sealed lid on the mortar arrangement, these type of arrangements have necessitated complex mechanical arrangements to allow manipulation of the pestle within a sealed mortar bowl making such apparatus difficult to manufacture and prone to failure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for the crushing of foodstuffs and other ingestible materials and a method of using the same, which alleviates the aforementioned problems associated with the existing pestle and mortar designs in a simple and cost effective manner.

Apparatus for crushing foodstuffs or other ingestible materials, comprising a hand-held hollow container having a sealed elongate inner channel with at least one freely displaceable member contained within said channel, said container provided with resealable access means to permit insertion and removal of foodstuffs or ingestible material into said channel, and having a restraint mechanism for selectively restraining said displaceable member at a predetermined position within said channel.

Preferably the restraint mechanism will usually restrain the displaceable member in engagement with the lid so that when the lid is removed from the container to permit access to the channel, the displaceable member is also removed to permit insertion therein or removal therefrom of the foodstuffs. Where the displaceable member is a metal member or contains metal, such restraint mechanism may comprise a magnet. Alternatively, a mechanical mechanism may be employed to achieve the same result, irrespective of the material forming the displaceable member.

Preferably, the container will be made of a rigid plastic material and may be transparent so as to permit observation of the status of the foodstuff or other ingestible material within the apparatus. The displaceable member will usually be metal, either formed of a ferrous metal, or a non-ferrous metal, or encapsulated by an appropriate non-ferrous coating such as chrome or plastic. This member could alternatively be formed of stone or a solid plastic material.

Preferably, the elongate channel of the apparatus will be uniform in cross section along its length and will usually be cylindrical with a circular cross section.

Whilst the apparatus may comprise a plurality of displaceable members, such as ball bearings, it is preferable that such apparatus will simply comprise a single displaceable member which will have a complimentary cross sectional profile to that of the cross section of the channel, whereby the cross sectional area of the single displaceable member will be between 50% and 99% of the cross sectional area of the channel to ensure that it is freely able to move within the channel and provides sufficient space between the member and the channel wall to allow foodstuffs to pass therebetween permitting movement of the displaceable member therein. Preferably, the cross sectional area of the displaceable member will be such as to permit a gap between the channel walls and the displaceable member of between 1mm and 5mm.

Preferably, where the apparatus has a single displaceable member, the channel will be provided with at least one longitudinally disposed end face thereof profiled for complimentary engagement with a profiled portion of the displaceable member. Usually the channel will comprise an elongate tube wherein the at least one longitudinally disposed end face is concave, whereby it is preferred that the displaceable member will then comprise a spherical ball for complimentary receipt with this concave profile. Usually both ends of the channel will comprise such a profiled, preferably concave, end face for engagement with the spherical ball. Alternatively, the spherical ball could be replaced by an elongate cylinder having two arcuate, or hemispherical convex, end surfaces for complimentary engagement with the concave profile at both ends of the tube.

Alternatively, the at least one longitudinally disposed end face of the channel may be conically recessed for complimentary engagement with a conical profile of at least one longitudinal end of the displaceable member. Again, both opposed end faces of the channel may comprise conical recesses for complimentary engagement with two conical profiles at opposed ends of an elongate displaceable member. At least one of the displaceable member or the channel itself may comprise an abrasive surface to enhance the grinding performance of the apparatus. Usually it will be one of the profiled longitudinally disposed end faces of the channel and/or the displaceable member which will comprise such an abrasive surface.

It is preferred that the access means of the apparatus will comprise a removable lid defining one end of the container which is, preferably, mechanically engaged with the container to seal the inner channel. Such engagement may be by means of a conventional screw threaded arrangement or by positive restraint means engageable between the lid and the remainder of the container. The container may also be separable into two equal portions whereby one of the separable portions will comprise such lid.

Furthermore, the apparatus may also comprise at one end of the elongate channel, a resilient spring member which is engageable with the displaceable member so as to exert a resilient force on that displaceable member as it moves towards that one end of the container, which resilient force is then employed to enhance the momentum of that displaceable member towards the opposed end of the channel so as to increase its impact force with the other end of the channel.

Further according to the present invention there is also provided a method of crushing foodstuffs or other ingestible materials, comprising placing the foodstuff or ingestible material in an elongate channel of a hand-held container, subsequently inserting at least one displaceable member within the channel and closing the container so as to seal the channel; then manually shaking the container so as to effect relative displacement of the at least one displaceable member therein and into impacting engagement with the at least one of two longitudinally opposed end faces of this elongate channel so as to crush any foodstuffs or ingestible material between the at least one displaceable member and the at least one of two longitudinally opposed ends of the channel.

Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foodstuff crushing apparatus according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 along the lines II-II; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of an alternative design of a displaceable member for use in the apparatus of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention similar to the view shown in Figure 2 showing a restraint mechanism for retaining a freely displaceable internal member; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the restraint mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a front perspective view of a foodstuff crushing apparatus (10) according to the present invention which effectively comprises a container formed as a hollow cylindrical container (9) having a removable lid (12). In this embodiment, the tube is manufactured from a moulded plastic or nylon material whereby a moulded plastic lid is mounted on the tube by means of a conventional screw threaded arrangement as best viewed in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 2, showing the apparatus (10) in cross section, the tube

(9) is substantially hollow so as to present an elongate cylindrical channel (14), having an axis (A) which is coincident with an axis of the cylindrical tube (9), which channel is uniform along its length and having a circular cross section of constant diameter. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lid (12) has an internal female screw thread (16) for complimentary screw threaded engagement with an external male thread (18) about an upper opening (20) of the main body (22) of the tube (9). Thus the lid can be rotatably secured and released from engagement with the body (22) so as to provide a sealed inner channel (14) which can be accessed by screw threaded removal of the lid (12) so as to allow foodstuff to be inserted or removed therefrom and to provide an appropriate access means or opening (20) into the main channel (14).

The channel (14), being cylindrical, is disposed about a longitudinal extending axis (A) whereby the two longitudinally opposed ends of this channel (14) are provided with concave arcuate surfaces (24, 26) respectively. These arcuate surfaces (24, 26) are mounted so as to be coaxial with the axis (A) of the channel (14) and are provided with a pre-determined radius of curvature Rl. One of the arcuate surfaces (24) is formed within the main body (22) and the opposed arcuate surface (26) is formed within the lid (12) as shown.

The apparatus (10) is further provided with a freely displaceable member (28), here a spherical ball which has a diameter slightly less than the cross sectional diameter of the channel (14). In this embodiment, the ball (28) is provided with a diameter equating to 90% of the diameter of the channel (14), although the ball diameter may be formed within the range of 50% to 99% of the diameter of the channel (14). In addition, and as seen in Figure 2, it is preferred that the radius of the ball, R2, will be considerably less than the radius Rl forming the arcuate surfaces (24, 26) respectively. This ratio between the radius of the ball and the arcuate surfaces (24, 26) will result in a smaller area of contact between the ball and the arcuate surfaces thereby increasing the pressure exerted therebetween when the ball is received in complimentary engagement therewith.

In practice, the apparatus (10) is specifically intended for use in crushing and grinding foodstuffs and in particular herbs and spices which have conventionally been ground with traditional pestle and mortars. A user will simply unscrew the lid (12) from the body (22) and remove the ball (28) therefrom. The specific herbs and/or spices can then be inserted into the channel (14) so as to sit at the bottom of the apparatus (10) within the arcuate end surface (24). The ball (28) is then reinserted into the channel (14) and the lid (12) then reattached to the body (22) to form a sealed channel (14) as shown. The user is then able to firmly grasp the container in one hand and, by appropriate shaking of the container, will cause relative displacement of the ball (28) within the channel so as to be moved into rapid engagement with both the longitudinally opposed end surfaces (24, 26) of the channel (14) so as to impact therewith. Any foodstuffs then disposed between the ball and these two opposed end surfaces (24, 26) will be effectively crushed and ground by this impact.

Specifically, it is preferred to use a metallic or stone ground ball so as to have an appropriate mass to enhance the impact forces between such ball and the container. Where the ball is metallic, it will be coated with an appropriate corrosion resistant coating such as chrome, nylon or plastic for hygiene purposes and for ease of cleaning. Also, the device, being sealed, is readily adaptable for appropriate mixing of oils and other liquids with foodstuffs during the grinding process to form appropriate liquid formulations such as salad dressings. Again, for this reason the ball must be corrosion resistant.

Once the apparatus has been sufficiently shaken to effect appropriate and desired grinding of the materials therein, the lid (12) is simply removed by unscrewing and the contents can then be emptied out accordingly.

Although not shown in Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus has a restraining mechanism for retaining the displaceable member (28) at a predetermined location within the container (9) when filling or emptying the channel (14) of the materials to be crushed. Two such mechanisms (15) are best seen in Figure 4.

Whilst a ball (28) is employed in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is conveniently selected since it has an appropriate uniform profiled exterior for complimentary engagement with the curved surfaces (24, 26) but the shape of such a displaceable member is not so limited. Alternatively, the ball (28) could be replaced by an elongate cylindrical member (33), as shown in cross section in Figure 3. This cylindrical member (33) has two longitudinally opposed hemispherical ends (35). The radius of these hemispherical surfaces (35) will be equal to R2 of the ball shown in Figure 2. In this manner the member (33) when inserted in the container of the embodiment of Figure 2 would again provide for two longitudinally opposed ends (35) which are capable of complimentary engagement with the arcuate end surfaces (24, 26) respectively. The advantage of this particular lozenge type design will be an increased mass thereby increasing the momentum and subsequent impact forces that can be employed between the member (33) and the body (22).

Figure 4 shows that the lid (12) of the apparatus (10) accounts for approximately half of the channel length (14). In addition, the apparatus (10) has been modified by the provision of an appropriate restraining mechanism (15) which can cooperate with a ferrous metal ball (28) so as to retain this ball (28) in a desired position within the channel (14), for example when placing ingredients in the channel, (11) or removing contents therefrom. Specifically, the lid (12) is provided with a thickened head region (42) housing a permanent magnet (44).

This magnet (44) will be provided with sufficient magnetic strength so as to be capable of retaining the metal ball (28) in abutment with the upper curved surface (26) of the lid (12) even when the apparatus (10) is in the upright position as shown in Figure 4.

The strength of the magnet (44), whilst sufficient to maintain the ball (28) in this upper position whilst stationary, will have insufficient strength such that any momentum applied to the ball (28) as the apparatus (10) is shaken would then be sufficient to overcome the magnetic force applied by the magnet (44) causing the ball to be displaced downwardly so as to impact the lower surface (24) in the manner described with reference to Figure 2. In addition, whilst the magnet (44) will then exert an attractive force on the ball when shaking motion effects displacement of the ball (28) towards the upper surface (26), the overall momentum imparted to the ball by the shaking operation will effectively render the attractive effect of the magnet (44) insignificant during its normal crushing operation.

Once use of the apparatus has been completed to the satisfaction of the user, the user is then able to invert the apparatus (10) to bring the ball (28) gently into engagement with the upper surface (26) so as to be retained in engagement therewith by the appropriate magnetic attraction even when the container is returned to its normal upright position. When the lid (12) is then unscrewed so as to be removed from the base (22), the ball (28) is also removed with such lid (12).

In this manner, only the crushed foodstuff materials are retained in the base portion (22) avoiding the need to remove the ball from such crushed foodstuffs. Since the ball (28) has a smaller diameter than that of the channel (14) it will not serve to retain significant volumes of foodstuffs whilst in its upper position, since such foodstuffs will pass between the ball and the periphery of the channel (14) so as to fall, under the influence of gravity, into the body portion (22) of the apparatus (10) before or during removal of the lid (12). As also shown in Figure 4, an alternative restraint mechanism (50) can be used in conjunction or instead of utilisation of a magnet (44). Here a simple plunging mechanism (50) can be employed so as to pass through the side wall (31) of the lid (12) so as to engage selectively and retain the ball (28) in the pre-desired position within the channel (14).

Referring to the exploded view of this plunging mechanism (50) as shown in Figure 5, such mechanism comprises a plunger having an elongate tubular mid- section (52) passing through a correspondingly sized aperture within the side wall (31). Mounted on an outwardly directed end of this mid section (52) is a button portion (54) having a greater diameter than that of the plunger portion (52) which will engage with the outer surface of side wall (31) so as to limit the extent to which the restraint mechanism (50) can be displaced from left to right as viewed in Figure 5. Similarly, the inner end of the plunger portion (52) has a second radially enlarged portion (56) which is received in a complimentary sized rebate

(60) formed in the inner surface of the lid (12). A conventional sealing member, in the form of an 'O' ring (62), is provided to maintain the sealed engagement between the lid (12') and the restraint mechanism (50). Finally, a biasing member, in this case a conventional helical spring (64), is used to biase the restraint mechanism (50) in to the position shown in Figure 5 such that the inner portion (56) remains flush with the inner surface of the wall of the lid (12). Thus, when the apparatus (10) is in use, this restraint mechanism (50) is restrained from interference with the displacement of the ball (28) within the channel (14). However, once operation of the apparatus (10) has been completed, the apparatus (10) may be inverted so as to displace the ball (28) into engagement with the concave surface (26) within the lid (12) whereby the restraint mechanism (50) can then be manually activated by depressing the button (54) with the users finger or thumb to effect displacement of this mechanism, against the biasing of the spring member (64), and so as to cause projection of the end surface (56) into the channel (14) to a sufficient degree so as to interfere with movement of the ball member (28) and prevent its continued displacement within the channel (14), effectively holding it in restrained engagement within the lid portion (12) as the lid portion (12) is subsequently removed from the base (22) to allow the crushed foodstuff to be removed therefrom. Again a major benefit of utilising such a plunger arrangement is that whilst the plunger arrangement is able to interfere with displacement of the ball (28) to retain it in the desired position, it does not interfere with displacement of foodstuffs within the channel (14), thereby allowing all crushed foodstuffs, under the influence of gravity, to fall to the bottom or base part (22) of the apparatus even though the ball is restrained in the lid portion.

Other forms of restraint mechanism are equally applicable including, in its most basic form, a series of permanent resiliently deformable projections extending inwardly into the channel (14) which can engage and restrain displacement of the ball (28) unless sufficient momentum is applied thereto by shaking of the apparatus (10). Here the momentum imparted to the ball during the vigorous shaking of the apparatus would be sufficient to effect resilient deformation of sucli projections thereby failing to inhibit its motion between the two longitudinally opposed ends of the channel (14). However, once the shaking motion has stopped then insufficient momentum will be imparted to the ball to allow that ball to effect such deformation and thus these projection members can be used to maintain the ball (28) in a required position within the channel (14) on one particular side of such projections.

Referring now to Figure 6, a further embodiment of the invention is shown. Again, as for the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 4, like reference numerals will be used identify similar parts of the apparatus.

Thus, the foodstuff crushing apparatus (10) shown in Figure 6 is again provided with a sealed cylindrical channel (14) formed by a lid portion (12) and a main body portion (22). In this embodiment, the engagement between the lid (12) and the body (22) is effected by an appropriate frictional engagement therebetween and further utilising resiliently deformable projections (60) formed on the outer surface of the body (22) to be received in a snap engaging fit with corresponding rebates (62) formed on an inner surface of the lid (12). Such frictional engagement coupled with the snap fit engagement will be sufficient to maintain the lid engagement with the body (22) even during impact between a displaceable member (28) and at least one of the opposed end surfaces (24) of such container. In this embodiment, the displaceable member (28) comprises an elongate metallic member having a conical end face (29) for complimentary engagement within a conical end face (24) of the channel (14). As for the earlier embodiments, both the channel (14) and member (28) are provided with circular cross sections and again a sufficient gap is provided between the displacement member (28) and the walls forming the channel (14) so that foodstuffs are able to pass therebetween. Ideally, such a gap will be between 1 and 5mm although it may be greater.

In this embodiment, the lid portion (12) is modified so as to be provided with a resiliently biased spring plate (70) which is biased by a conventional helical spring member (72) in abutment with an end surface (26) of the channel (14). In such embodiment, an opposed longitudinal base (74) of the displaceable member (28) is substantially flat for engagement with a substantially flat area of the plate member (70) so that during operation of this apparatus (10) the shaking motion will firstly cause momentum to be applied to the displacement member (28) to effect it into crushing engagement between the conical end face (29) thereof and the conical end surface (24) of the channel ( 14) to effect an appropriate crushing operation of any foodstuffs disposed therebetween. Subsequently, when the shaking operation effects momentum of the member (28) towards the longitudinally opposed end (26) of the channel (14), its flat end face (74) will be brought into engagement with the plate (70) effecting compression of the spring member (72). The resultant potential force created by compression of this spring member (72) will then be imparted to the displaceable member (228) as the shaking operation causes the member (228) to be displaced towards the conical end face (24) of the channel (14), so that the biasing force of the spring (72) increases the momentum transmitted to the member (28) as it is subsequently displaced towards the opposed end surface (24), thus increasing its momentum and thereby increasing the compressive and hence crushing force exerted by the apparatus on any foodstuffs contained therein.

Whilst the plate member (70) and the end face (74) of the member (28) are shown as flat, they are also capable of achieving a crushing motion of any foodstuffs disposed therebetween and, if required, these flat surfaces could be formed into complimentary profiled engageable faces such as a convex and concave face respectively or again utilising conical surfaces. Alternatively, the plate (70) could be omitted so that the member (28) directly engages the spring. It is also to be appreciated that the use of the spring member (72) in this manner can be employed in any of the embodiments shown herein.

Referring now to Figure 7, yet a further embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The apparatus (10) shown in Figure 7 is similar to that of the previous embodiment, whereby like parts to those disclosed in previous embodiments are identified by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the apparatus (10) comprises a container (11) formed as a clear perspex tube supported by longitudinally extending metallic ribs (80) forming a metallic framework in conjunction with an array of three circular metallic rings (81 , 82 and 83). The use of this framework, preferably chrome due to its rust resistant properties, provide additional rigidity and strength to the container.

As for the previous embodiments, the container (11) forms a substantially elongate cylindrical channel (14) in which is positioned a freely displaceable member (28). In this embodiment the impact member (28) is provided with a conical impact surface (29) similar to that shown in Figure 6. Again, the diameter of the displaceable member (28) is less than that of the channel (14) allowing the member to be displaceable therein. At a first longitudinally disposed end of the tube (11) is secured an end plate (85) mounted and retained in sealed engagement with the tube (11) so as to extend transversely thereacross as shown. As shown in hashed lines in Figure 7, this end plate (85) is provided with a conical recess portion (24) for complimentary engagement with the conical surface (29) of the displaceable member (28) in a similar manner as described with reference to the embodiment of Figure 6. Preferably, this end plate (85) will be manufactured of a rigid plastic material and, through its engagement with both the tube (11) and the supporting frame (81) provides a substantially solid end plate (85) for impact engagement with the member (28). Mounted on the external face of this end plate

(85) is a rubberised end section (90) forming a substantially resilient conical projection, the use of which will be described below. The opposed end of the container (11) is again tapered in the region (92) for complimentary co-operation with a second longitudinally opposed conical surface (93) of the displaceable member (28). Displaced within this conical end section (92) is a resiliently deformable spring member (94) which can engage with the displaceable member (28) and functions in a similar manner to the use of the spring member (72) and plate (70) described with reference to Figure 6 so as to help impart an additional momentum to the displaceable member (28).

Attached to the outer surface of the end section (92) is an elongate cylindrical handle (95) provided with an appropriate resilient sleeve, such as rubber, to allow a comfortable grip of the apparatus to be achieved by the end user. Still further, the remote end of this handle is provided with a conventional hook (97) to permit easy storage of such apparatus.

In this embodiment, access to the channel (14) can be provided by allowing the cylindrical container (11) to be accessed at a number of points. For example, the end plate (85) may be mounted in screw threaded or other positive engagement with the container (11) and frame (81) so as to be removable therefrom. In this manner, the end plate (85) acts as the lid member as described with reference to the earlier embodiments. Alternatively, the handle member (95) may be removable out of engagement with the apparatus (10) again by screw threaded or other positive engagement means to permit access to the channel (14) to allow the foodstuffs to be inserted and removed once effectively crushed. Still further, it is possible that the elongate cylindrical part of the perspex container (11) can be provided in two separate halves which are brought into engagement to complete the apparatus.

The particular embodiment of the apparatus (10) shown in Figure 7 can be used in the manner described with reference to the earlier embodiments by simply shaking the device so as to impart sufficient momentum to the displaceable member (28) to bring it into impact engagement with the end plate (85) to therefore crush any foodstuffs disposed therebetween. Alternatively, or in combination, the apparatus (10) can be operated in a second, different manner. The apparatus (10) is intended to be impacted against a hard surface such as a wall or working surface by bringing the rubberised cone portion (90) into engagement therewith whereby the impact of the apparatus with a solid surface would result in rapid deceleration causing the displaceable member (28) to be propelled, being freely moveable within the apparatus, against the end plate (85) to again impart a sufficient crushing action on foodstuff disposed between the displacement member (28) and the end plate (85). This conical end portion (90), being rubberised or provided with some other resilient means, alleviates damage to the apparatus.

Whilst it is preferred that the channel (14) is substantially cylindrical in cross section it need not be and could, for example, be square, triangular or any other appropriate geometric shape with a correspondingly shaped displaceable member formed therein. Secondly, the channel need not be of uniform cross section. It is further possible that instead of a single displaceable member (28), a plurality of individual members, such as an array of ball bearings, could be used within the channel to impart sufficient impact against the end faces thereof to effect the appropriate crushing of foodstuffs contained therein. In such an embodiment, the profile of the end faces of the channel formed in the apparatus need not be of complimentary profile. In its simplest form, the end faces of the channel may simply be flat, against which a plurality of cylindrical balls can impact to impart the crushing action during shaking of the apparatus. Furthermore, it is preferred that the restraining means is capable of restraining the plurality of displaceable members (28) when filling or emptying the channel (14).

Furthermore, whilst the preferred embodiments herein described are intended specifically for use for crushing herbs and spices (and for crushing such herbs and spices either in a dry environment or in an appropriate oil or in a liquid), the use of this apparatus can also be extended to crush other foodstuffs such as grains, nuts, or other materials for which are desirable to be ground into a finer form.

Additionally, the term foodstuff is intended to cover all products and materials which can be ingested by the human or animal body and will be specifically intended to also include pharmaceutical products and medicament which are also currently crushed using conventional pestle and mortar designs. Thus, the invention is equally applicable within the pharmaceutical industry where it is required to crush pharmaceutical products such as tablets into a powder form. A specific advantage of the current invention is the use of sealed containers which ensures no loss of the crushed pharmaceutical product thus maintaining the correct dosage between tablet and subsequent crushed powder form.

Still further, if desired to enhance function of the apparatus, any of the embodiments described herein can further employ the use of abrasive surfaces either on one or both of the displaceable members (28) or the opposed end surfaces (24, 26) of the channel (14) of the apparatus. The use of such abrasive surfaces will further enhance the crushing and grinding effect afforded by the apparatus and may, in their simplest form, include an appropriate roughening of such surfaces by the formation of cross hatching therein or by the deliberate formation of a series of projections on either of the surfaces involved.

Claims

1. Apparatus for crushing foodstuffs or other ingestible materials, comprising a hand-held hollow container having a sealed elongate inner channel with at least one freely displaceable member contained within said channel, said container provided with resealable access means to permit insertion and removal of foodstuffs or ingestible material into said channel, and having a restraint mechanism for selectively restraining said displaceable member at a predetermined position within said channel.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said access means comprises a removeable lid member defining one end of said container.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the restraint mechanism selectively restrains said displaceable member in engagement with said lid.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said displaceable member comprises a metal member and said restraint mechanism comprises a magnet.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 . o 4 wherein said elongate channel is of uniform cross section along its length.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a single displaceable member having a complimentary cross sectional profile to that of the cross section of the channel and having a cross sectional area of between 50% and 90% of the cross sectional area of the channel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 having a single displaceable member, wherein said channel has at least one longitudinally disposed end face thereof profiled for complimentary engagement with a complimentary profiled portion of said displaceable member.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said at least one longitudinally disposed end face is concave.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said displaceable member comprises an elongate cylinder having an arcuate profile at at least one longitudinal end thereof.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said displaceable member comprises a spherical ball.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said channel is circular in cross section.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said at least one longitudinally disposed end face of said channel is conically recessed for complimentary engagement with a conical profile at at least one longitudinal end of said displaceable member.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said displaceable member or said channel comprise an abrasive surface.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said at least one profiled longitudinally opposed end of said channel comprises an abrasive surface.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claim wherein said container is made of a rigid plastic.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said container is transparent.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one end of said elongate channel comprises a resilient spring member engageable with said displaceable member.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are a plurality of displaceable members provided in the channel.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the plurality of displaceable members comprise ball bearings.