WO2018131011A2

WO2018131011A2 - Device for keeping salt free of humidy in a salt dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2018131011A2
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052689
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romulo ESCOBAR; Damian CRESPO; Dionisio OLMEDO; Eddy BARRAZA
Original assignee: Universidad De Panamá
Priority date: 2018-04-16
Filing date: 2018-04-18
Publication date: 2018-07-19
Also published as: WO2018131011A3

Abstract

The device of the invention comprises a main base and a container that are heated by applying the electric induction principle, used for keeping free of humidity seasonings into an appropriate container, the seasoning being particularly salt.

Description

DEVICE FOR KEEPING SALT FREE OF HUMIDY IN A SALT DISPENSER

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to keep the salt inside a salt dispenser free of humidity for this not to clog up the salt dispenser orifices and so that it can flow freely.

More particularly, the object of the invention refers to an electric device that is wirelessly heated by induction so as to keep seasonings being in an appropriate container free of humidity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A constant and common problem in regions with high environmental humidity is clogging of salt dispensers both at home and in restaurants and places serving food, which causes frustrations when using the seasoning.

Up to now, the solutions suggested are of mechanical nature, such as inserting rice grains or sticks inside the salt dispensers so as to separate the salt grains, or using mills for grinding the salt grain, such as for example in patent US4374574. These methods work for a short time and clogging of orifices is evident after a few days.

Some solutions use heat chambers, as an incubator, for heating salt dispensers and keep the salt dry, US2954445, these being little efficient and relatively voluminous.

Other more soffisticated solutions require directly connecting, although for a short period of time, the salt dispenser to a socket, this being little functional and antiaesthetic for a restaurant, US 24761 13.

Therefore, considering the above documents, it is necessary to find alternatives directed to avoid clogging of the salt dispensers due to humidity of the salt or of any other seasoning. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a device that operates as a whole, consisting of a base and a container that is heated by applying the electric induction principle.

Therefore, an aspect of the present invention refers to a device for keeping free of humidity the salt or another seasoning being into a salt dispenser characterized in that it comprises:

- a salt or another seasoning container comprising a lid located at the top of the container and a base located at the bottom of the container, wherein the inner area of the base comprises heat generating elements; and

- a main base in contact with the container base and being connected to an electric current, wherein the main base comprises a switch, which may comprise a timer, and inside thereof it comprises elements conducting the supplied electric current.

In a preferred embodiment, the container lid comprises orifices for allowing the salt or seasoning to be dispensed. In another preferred embodiment, the base of the container is a solid base made of a heat conducting material which inside thereof comprises an iron or ferromagnetic core and a receiving coil, wherein the coil can be wound around a core, both being heated when the device is operating. In another embodiment, the main base can be placed onto any flat surface and inside thereof there is a transmitting coil, wound around an iron or ferromagnetic core.

The main base, where the container is placed on and being in contact with its base, may be manufactured in different sizes so as to heat containers individually or several ones at the same time, according to the user requirements, and it would be provided with individual switches for each salt dispenser, such that only those being required at that moment shall be used. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1.- It shows an external front view of the devices of the invention. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.- They show an external side and top view, respectively, of the main base.

FIG. 3.- It shows a front view of the inner part of the devices involved. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B.- They show a top view of the inside of the container base (FIG. 4A) and of the main base (FIG. 4B).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The following is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention based on the attached figures.

In a preferred embodiment, as it is indicated in FIG. 1 , a salt dispenser is shown comprising a salt dispenser lid (1 ), the salt dispenser body (2), the salt dispenser base (3), the main base (4) and the switch (5). The salt dispenser lid (1 ) can be removed so as to access the inside of the salt dispenser, the salt dispenser body (2), and it can be made of glass or any other suitable material; the salt dispenser base (3) accommodates therein elements that will heat the salt dispenser and the outer part thereof can be made of stainless steel or any other suitable material. Portions (2) and (3) are attached. The main base (4), accommodates therein the elements that operate with the electric current being supplied and has a switch (5), so as to turn the device on and/or off, this switch being also provided with a timer such that the device turns off by itself after some time. FIG. 2A and B show side and top views of the main base with a plug (6) through which power is supplied to the base.

FIG. 3 shows the inner components of the salt dispenser base (3) and of the main base (4). The salt dispenser base (3) comprises a core (7) made of iron or a similar appropriate material and a receiving coil (8), and the main base (4) comprises an iron core (9) and a transmitting coil (10). The receiving coil (8) is made of any material being appropriate for generating heat and the transmitting coil (10) conducts electricity easily.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the inner components of the salt dispenser (FIG. 4A) and the base (FIG. 4B).

The main base (4) is connected to an alternating current power supply by means of a plug (6), the devices is turned on with the switch (5), current flows around the transmitting coil (10) producing a variable magnetic field which concentrates by means of the iron core of the main base (9) and is transmitted to the salt dispenser iron core (7), a current is in turn generated at the receiving coil (8), upon contact of the salt dispenser base (3) with the main base (4). Both the salt dispenser iron core (7) and the coil (8) generate heat, which will keep the salt dispenser content dry. The switch (5) can be turned on and off as desired, but it is provided with a timer so that the device does not stay on by mistake or inadvertence.

Claims

C L A I M S

1 . - Device for keeping salt or another seasoning into a salt dispenser free of humidity, characterized in that it comprises:

- a salt or another seasoning container comprising a lid located at the top of the container and a base located at the bottom of the container, wherein the inner area of the base comprises heat generating elements; and - a main base in contact with the container base and being connected to an electric current, wherein the main base comprises a switch and inside thereof it comprises elements conducting the supplied electric current.

2. - Device according to claim 1 , wherein the container lid comprises orifices for allowing the salt or seasoning to be dispensed.

3.- Device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch also comprises a timer.

4.- Device according to claim 1 , wherein the container base comprises an iron core and a receiving coil.

5.- Device according to claim 1 , wherein the main base comprises an iron core and a transmitting coil