WO2005016097A1

WO2005016097A1 - A system for dispensing condiments

Info

Publication number: WO2005016097A1
Application number: PCT/DK2004/000539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Maae Jensen; Heng Der Yang
Original assignee: Ancher Iversen A/S
Priority date: 2003-08-15
Filing date: 2004-08-13
Publication date: 2005-02-24

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for dispensing condiments by a motor (15) operated device such that single hand use can be applied. Instead of having a number of separate devices for dispensing a number of separate condiments, this system requires only a number of relatively cheaper containers (2) for storing the condiments in, whereby the more expensive motor drive unit (11) can be attached to the different containers wherein the condiments are stored.

Description

A system for dispensing condiments

The present invention relates to a system for dispensing condiments as well as a method for using such a method.

It is well known to dispense condiments such as salt or pepper from mechanical or even electrically driven mills. Usually, this is done by twisting the top of a traditional pepper mill, whereby pepper in crushed form is dispensed from a mill or crushing aggregate arranged at the opposite end. Inside the pepper mill is provided a volume in which whole pepper corns or salt crystals may be stored. In practice this means that one must have a complete device for each condiment. Especially for the manually operated devices both hands are required in order to dispense the desired condiment in the desired amount.

From DE 2646935 a device is known, where a motor unit optionally comprising a grinder may be fitted to a number of containers, wherein the condiments may be stored. The containers may be equipped with separate grinders.

The present invention provides a system for dispensing condiments by a motor operated device such that single hand use can be applied. Instead of having a number of separate devices for dispensing a number of separate condiments, this system requires only a number of relatively cheaper containers for storing the condiments in, whereby the more expensive motor drive unit can be attached to the different containers wherein the condiments are stored.

Within the scope of the present invention "condiments" shall be taken to comprise all types of spices, where it is desirable to crush or mill these prior to administering them on food or the like, but also different kinds of toppings such as chocolate, cheese, candy and the like may be comprised within the meaning of condiments. Furthermore, the term "mill and/or crushing aggregate" is used. By this formulation shall be under- stood any suitable means which is suitable for grinding, milling, crushing or in any other way transforming the condiment into the desired size/form to be dispensed. The system of the present invention for dispensing condiments is special in that said systems comprises one or more condiment containers, each container comprises a volume suitable for holding a condiment and a condiment mill and/or crushing aggregate arranged in said container, the mill and/or crushing aggregate further having means for releasably engaging a motor means, and said container has means for being detachably fastened to a handle means, and further that the motor means for activating the mill and/or crushing device is arranged in the handle, and that said handle comprises means for controlling the motor means.

By providing each container with a mill and/or crushing aggregate, it is assured that no contamination from other condiments or the like will be dispensed at the same time as the desired condiment. In instances where the condiments are displaced between each dispensation, as for example could be done with a regular pepper mill, often a substantial amount of the original condiment will be stuck in the mill or crushing aggregate such that this condiment is dispensed before the desired condiment has passed through the mill or crushing aggregate. Further, by being able to provide a detachable handle means comprising a motor as well as means for controlling the motor, it is very convenient to dispense the desired amount of condiment and further the handle means may be detached from a first container and attached to a second container and thereby provide the same motorised dispensation of condiments.

In a further advantageous embodiment a lid adapted to be fastened to the means for detachably fastening the handle means on the container is provided, when said handle is not connected to the container.

For a number of the different types of condiments which are useable with the inventive system, it is desirable to be able to close off the container, such that the condiments will not loose their fragrances. A number of condiments and spices have a diminishing effect or fragrance over time, if they are exposed to light and the ambient air. This is due to the evaporation or going stale of the oils or fats which are the fragrance generating substances in the condiments. It is, therefore, advantageous to be able to provide lids which will seal off the condiment container when this is not in use. In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention the mill and/or crushing aggregate is provided with an axle substantially centrally arranged in the container, and where said axle is adapted to engage the motor means, where a separate lid is provided, which lid is adapted to be fastened to the means for detachably fastening the handle means, and that said lid has a generally centrally placed aperture such that either the axle or the motor engagement means of the handle may pass through said aperture for driving engagement between the motor means and the mill and/or grinding means.

In order to further enhance the maintenance of the fragrance of the spices, herbs and other condiments which may be stored in the containers, a lid which may be placed substantially permanent on the container is provided. Due to the aperture provided in the lid construction and either an axle which protrudes through the aperture in the lid or that the engagement means of the handle will be able to protrude through the lid for engagement with the axle, the lid may be maintained in place. For the embodiment where the axle protrudes through the substantially permanent lid, the axle may be pro- vided with a shim construction closing the aperture between the rim of the aperture and the axle such that the interior of the container is substantially close to the exterior.

In a further advantageous embodiment the motor means is an electrical motor and that the control means is an electrical switch means, optionally being able to control the rotation direction of the motor means. The electrical motors can be provided in rather small sizes, whereby it becomes possible to accommodate the motor means inside the handle and still be able to provide an ergonomically friendly handle size. At the same time electrical motor means can provide the necessary power and torque force in order to drive the mill and/or crashing aggregate. Also, by being able to reverse the direction of the motor, foreign objects or especially hard condiment pieces may be turned out of the mill and/or crushing device for later retrieval.

In a further advantageous embodiment the source of energy is stored inside the handle means, for example in the shape of batteries.

In a still further advantageous embodiment the system comprises a number of condiment containers, and that different mills and/or crusher aggregates are arranged in different containers, where the difference in mills and/or crusher aggregates is selected according to one or more of the following criteria: the material of the mill and/or crusher aggregate, the grain size of the condiments and the desired degree of milling and/or crushing.

Some condiments are harder than others and for some condiments one grain size may be desired, where for other condiments a different grain size may be desired. For this purpose, containers can be provided with different mills or crushing aggregates according to the condiments which are desired to be dispensed from said container. In practise it is known to provide pepper mills with mills or crushing aggregates made form steel, ceramics or other very tough and durable materials, whereas salt dispensers may be provided with mills made from plastic or the like. For other condiments such as for example cheese or nutmeg it might be desirable to provide a mill having a grade.

Yet another advantage by using different containers containing different condiments is the possibility to adjust the mill and/or crushing aggregate according to the desired grain size. Each container, even though having similar mill and/or crushing aggregates, may be individually adjusted by means of an adjustment screw arranged in connection with the mill and/or crushing aggregate. Where the traditional pepper mill is used with various condiments, it is necessary, in addition to replacing and cleaning the container, also to readjust the coarseness of the mill so an appropriate grain size will be dispensed. During this process a waste of perhaps expensive condiment may occur both during the replacing and cleaning stage, but also during the adjustment phase where residue of the previous condiment is stuck in the mill and until the mill also is cleaned and the desired grain size is achieved by correct adjustment.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, each container comprises a substantially flat bottom section and walls connected to said bottom, said wall having an upper rim whereby the container delimits the volume and that the mill and/or crush- ing aggregate is arranged in a bottom section of the container, and that a shaft is provided for turning the mill and/or crushing aggregate, and that the motor means comprises means for detachably engaging and turning said shaft. In order to keep the system handy, the systems comprises a rack wherein means are provided for detachably holding one or more containers, where the means for detachably holding the containers provides resistance against a torque or twist applied to the container, and negligible resistance against lifting or sliding of the container from the rack.

By shaping the means for detachably holding one or more containers such that the container may be lifted or slit out of engagement with the rack, it is possible to remove the container having the handle attached. In order to detach the handle from a con- tainer, the handle may be twisted or by applying a torque the handle may be wretched from the container. In some embodiments the axis of rotation of the motor and the shaft attached to the mill are parallel. In order to detach the handle from the container, the rotation axis of the motor must be brought out of this parallel relationship to the shaft of the mill such that in effect the handle means is broken off the container in order to separate these two.

In order for the rack to provide resistance against the breaking off of the handle from the container as described above, the rack may in a further advantageous embodiment comprise means for attaching the rack to a horizontal and/or vertical surface. These surfaces can either be for example a wall or a table top.

The invention also relates to a method of using a system as discussed above where one or more containers are arranged on a rack, such that the handle and the motor means can be brought into detachable engagement with respectably the rim of the container and the shaft protruding from the mill and/or crushing device, such that by activation of the motor means by manipulating the motor control means, the mill and/or crushing aggregate is activated, and the condiment stored in the container is dispensed, after which the container is placed in the rack again, and the handle may be released, for example by a twisting or turning movement and detachably attached to another con- tainer.

The invention will now be further explained in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein illustrates a device, illustrates a first embodiment of a rack, illustrates a second embodiment of a rack, illustrates containers arranged in the rack as illustrated in fig. 2, illustrates containers arranged in the rack as illustrated in fig. 3 illustrates the top rim of a container, illustrates a container with a substantially permanent lid construction, illustrates a cross-section through a removable lid construction.

Below the invention will be described with respect to a system comprising one handle means in which the motor means are arranged, two containers and one rack. It should, however, be emphasized that more handle means can be provided and especially a plurality of containers, wherein the desired condiments are stored, may be provided. Also, the rack may be expanded to comprised any desired number of holding means.

Furthermore, a reusable lid may be provided for each container as well as a tray for placing the handle and/or container when not in use in order to avoid condiments on the table or the like.

In fig. 1 is illustrated the basis elements of a grinding unit 1. The unit 1 comprises a container 2 and a handle means 3. The container is provided with a bottom 4, wherein a mill or crushing aggregate 5 is arranged. Further, connected to the bottom 4 are upstanding walls 6 such that a volume 7 is delimited by the bottom 4 and the upstanding walls 6. The volume is, in this embodiment, open-ended, but an appropriate lid not interfering with the shaft 8 and the detachable attaching means 9 arranged around the rim of the container may be provided, but is not illustrated in this embodiment. In embodiments where a lid is provided for each container, the shaft may protrude through the lid by an appropriate arrangement sealing off the access to the interior volume and not hampering the rotational action of the shaft. The lid is shaped such that it does not interfere with the detachable engagement means for attaching the handle means to the container means. By providing a lid which will only need to be removed in order to refill the container, it is achieved that no foreign objects, contaminants or the like enter into the container, and the condiment may be kept fresher.

The upstanding wall 6 may extend both above and below the bottom 4 of the container. Hereby is achieved that the container 2 can be placed on a surface in a stable manner such that in the cases where the lower part 6b stands below the lowest point of the mill and/or crushing aggregate 5, a stable base is provided.

In some embodiments it might be advantageous to be able to determine the nature of the condiment in the container. For this purpose the upper part of the wall 6a may be transparent or semi-transparent. It is obvious that the lower part may as well be transparent, semi-transparent or made in any other finish or colour. The container itself may be made from any suitable material ordinarily used for storing food stuffs, spices or condiments and among preferred materials are various plastics, glass as well as steel, stainless steel, copper and the like.

Turning now to the handle 3, the handle is provided with a housing 10. On the outside of the housing ergonomically friendly means 11 may be provided for assuring a sure grip for the user when using the device. This may be provided in the shape of plastic, foam rubber or the like.

Along the bottommost rim of the handle engagement means 12 are provided, suitable for engaging and holding the container 2 by engaging and gripping engagement means 9 provided on the container. The bottom of the handle 13 is provided with an opening through which the interface 14 suitable for transferring the torque from the motor 15 to the shaft 8 and thereby to the mill and/or crushing aggregate 5.

In the illustrated embodiment a gear box 16 is illustrated between the interface means 14 and the motor 15. The gear box serves to transfer the rotation of the shaft of the motor 15 via gear wheels into a desired rotational speed of the interface means 14. The gear box is optional and may be provided depending on the output rotational speed on the motor 15. Above the motor 15 is provided a holder 17, which is suitable for holding two or more batteries 18. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the battery holder is made for two type AA 1.5 volt batteries and in another advantageous embodiment four AAA batteries. The battery holder can be designed to hold any number and any type of batteries depending on the choice of motor means 15.

The motor is connected by leads 19 to the control means 20 which may be in the shape of an electrical switch. In the illustrated embodiment the switch 20 will activated by depressing the switch along the longitudinal axis of the handle, whereby the motor means will be activated for rotation and the rotational movement of the motor axle will be transferred via the gear box 16 to the interface means 14. The interface means 14 will grip around the uppermost end of the shaft 8 when the container 6 is brought into engagement with the handle 3. Thereby the shaft will transfer the rotation to the mill or crushing aggregate 5 and condiment stored in the volume 7 will be dispensed.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention not illustrated the handle means may be provided with a cord, which can be connected to the mains, whereby it becomes unnecessary to provide batteries and battery holder as well as the choice of motor means 15 may be different.

One of the main aspects of this invention is that the handle means 3 firmly engages the container 6 such that the interface means 14 will be able to transfer the rotational movement to the shaft 8, whereby the condiment will be dispensed through the mill and/or crashing aggregate 5. When the handle 3 is engaged to the container 2, the unit presents itself as a single unit 1. By placing the container in a rack as illustrated for example in fig. 4 or 5, the handle means may by a one-handed action be removed by disengaging the respective engagement means 9,12 on the rack 21, which in the illustrated embodiment is especially made for placing two container rheans 22. The means 22 are shaped such that they will fit inside the lower part of the container 2 by snugly fitting on the inside of the wall part 6b. A container placed on the means 22 will be removable in a direction as illustrated by the arrow 23, but will be relatively firmly held against movement in any other direction. This makes it possible to place the assembled container 2 and handle 3 on the means 22 and thereafter by applying a torque or twisting movement of the handle means in relation to the container means to disengage the engagement means 9, 12, whereby the container will remain on the rack 21 placed on the means 22. When it is desirable to attach the handle means 3 to a container placed in the rack 21, the handle is brought into engagement with engagement means 9, whereby the handle more or less clicks onto the container and the interface means 14 engages the shaft 8 and the entire unit 1 can be removed from the rack and the condiment stored in the container 2 may be dispensed as described above.

The rack may be provided with means, in the illustrated embodiment for example screws 24, for attaching the rack firmly either to a wall or to a table top. It should in this connection be mentioned that any other kind of fastening which will maintain the rack in a stable relationship with a horizontal or vertical member may be utilised.

In fig. 3 is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the rack 21. In this embodiment the container 2 may be slit into the apertures 25 in the direction illustrated by the arrow 26. Due to the converging sides provided in the aperture 25, a conical shape container may become firmly engaged in the aperture, whereafter the handle may be removed as described above. As was the case with the rack described with respect to fig. 2, the container is maintained in a relatively firm engagement in respect to movements different from the sliding movement as indicated by the arrow 26.

In fig. 4 is illustrated a rack having a number of means 22 upon which are placed containers 2.

In fig. 5 is illustrated a rack according to the embodiment described with respect to fig. 3, where two containers 2 are held by the slanting or converging sides 27 provided in the apertures 25. By pulling the container upwards the lower side of the container 6b may engage the slanted side 27, whereby a firm engagement between the container 2 and the rack 21 is achieved such that the handle may be removed as described above. As a further feature the top rim of the container as illustrated in fig. 6 may be provided with a saw tooth pattern 28 along its upper rim. On the lowermost end of the handle 13, projections 29 may be provided corresponding in size such that the projections 29 may engage the saw teeth 28 provided along the rim of the container 2. These features are provided for convenience in the cases where the power supply either in the shape of mains or batteries for one reason or the other will not be able to provide the rotational movement to the interface means 14. In this case the handle 3 may be turned manually such that the device will work as an ordinary spice mill. In order to assure that the mill and/or crushing aggregate 5 is rotated in the correct direction, the saw teeth 28 provided along the rim will only allow rotation of the handle 3 relative to the container 2 in one direction determined by the saw teeth, as the engagement means 29 when engaging the saw teeth will only be allowed movement in one direction.

Turning to fig. 7, a cross-section through a container according to the invention is illustrated. The container 6 is closed off by a lid 30 which is interposed between the wall 6 of the container, for example here illustrated as being held by the detachable attachment means provided at the rim of the container 2. The lid construction 30 may be removable in order to be able to refill the container with the condiments, but will otherwise be maintained in place in order to protect the fragrance and freshness of the condiments stored in the container. The axle 8 projects through the lid 30 such that the handle including the motor means may be attached to the protruding part of the axle, and thereby activate the grinder 5. A shim may be arranged around the axle connecting the open space between the axle 8 and the rim of the aperture provided in the lid 30 such that a substantially complete closure of the interior of the container is achieved.

This shim construction is not illustrated.

Turning to fig. 8, a detachable lid construction is illustrated. The lid 31 is preferable made from a flexible, but substantially firm plastic material such that the engagement sections 32 provided on an inner rim of the lid 31 may firmly engage the attachment means 9 provided on the container.

Claims

1 , System for dispensing condiments, where said system comprises one or more condiment containers, each container comprises a volume suitable for holding a condiment and in a bottom end of said container a condiment mill and/or crushing aggregate is arranged in said container, the mill and/or crushing aggregate further having means for releasably engaging a motor means, and said container in a top end of said container has means for being detachably fastened to a handle means, and further that the motor means for activating the mill and/or crushing device is arranged in the handle, and that said handle comprises means for controlling the motor means.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a lid adapted to be fastened to the means for detachably fastening the handle means on the container is provided, when said handle is not connected to the container.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the mill and/or crushing aggregate is provided with an axle substantially centrally arranged in the container, and where said axle is adapted to engage the motor means, where a separate lid is provided, which lid is adapted to be fastened to the means for detachably fastening the handle means, and that said lid has a generally centrally placed aperture such that either the axle or the motor engagement means of the handle may pass through said aperture for driving engagement between the motor means and the mill and/or grinding means.

4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the motor means is an electrical motor, and that the control means is an electrical switch means, optionally being able to control the rotation direction of the motor means.

5. System according to claim lor4, characterised in that the handle further comprises means for storing a source of energy for driving said motor means such as one or more batteries.

6. System according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the system comprises a number of condiment containers, and that different mills and/or crusher aggregates are arranged in different containers, where the difference in mills and/or crusher aggregates is selected according to one or more of the following crite- ria: the material of the mill and/or crusher aggregate, the grain size of the condiments and the desired degree of milling and/or crushing.

7. System according to any preceding claim, characterised in that each container comprises a substantially flat bottom section and walls connected to said bot- tom, said wall having an upper rim whereby the container delimits the volume and that the mill and/or crushing aggregate is arranged in a bottom section of the container, and that a shaft is provided for turning the mill and/or crushing aggregate, and that the motor means comprises means for detachably engaging and turning said shaft.

8. System according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the system further comprises a rack wherein means are provided for detachably holding one or more containers, where the means for detachably holding the containers provides resistance against a torque or twist applied to the container, and negligible resistance against lifting or sliding of the container from the rack.

9. System according to claim 8, characterisedin that the rack comprises means for attaching the rack to a horizontal and/or a vertical surface.

10. Method of using a system according to any of claims 1 to 9 where one or more containers are arranged on a rack, such that the handle and the motor means can be brought into detachable engagement with respectably the rim of the container and the shaft protruding from the mill and/or crushing device, such that by activation of the motor means by manipulating the motor control means, the mill and/or crushing aggregate is activated, and the condiment stored in the container is dispensed, after which the container is placed in the rack again, and the handle may be released, for example by a twisting or turning movement and detachably attached to another container.