GB2389575A

GB2389575A - Dispensing a measured amount of granulated material

Info

Publication number: GB2389575A
Application number: GB0213393A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erik Smyth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-12
Filing date: 2002-06-12
Publication date: 2003-12-17
Also published as: GB0213393D0

Abstract

A cover 1 for attachment to a container 2 for dispensing granulated or powdered material, comprises a scooping means 3 to gather and hold a metered amount of material, a lever means 5 to facilitate the discharge of the metered amount of material, the scooping means 3 having an aperture 4 in the underside of the scoop 3. The lever 5 may pivot about axis 6, and when pressed down may cause the scoop 3 to protrude above the top surface of the cover 1, the metered amount may then be dispensed out of opening 7. The scoop 3 may be filled with a specific measured amount of material held in the container 2 through aperture 4 by inverting the container 2. The scooping means 3 may be entirely contained within the underside of the cover 1, and when not in use may provide a permanent seal. The scooping means 3 may be of varying capacity corresponding to a specific measurement, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon.

Description

GRANULATED MATERIAL DISPENSER COVER

A cover for containers, which is adapted to dispense a metered amount of granulated or powdered material, and requires the user to employ only one hand when dispensing the material.

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention an example will now be described by way of example only with preference to the accompanying figures in which.

Figure 1. Illustrates the cover when attached to a container of granulated or powdered material; Figure2. Illustrates the cover when closed;

- 2 Figure 3a and 3b illustrate the covers top surface 2. and underside; 4 i S Figure 4a and 4b illustrate the lid when closed and 6 when in operation.

8 Figure 5 illustrates the dispensing of material when 9 the container to which the cover is attached is 10 inverted when held over a receptacle.

12 Referring firstly to Figure 1, cover 1 is attached to 13 container 2, which can be any existing container for 14 granulated or powdered materials, such as a coffee jar.

15 Trough or scoop 3 can be filled with a specifically 16 metered amount of the granulated or powdered material 17 held in container 2 through aperture 4, when container 2 18 is inverted by the user using only one hand to hold 19 container 2. Alternatively, scoop 3 can be filled through 20 opening 7 when container 2 is inverted by the user using 21 a single hand (aperture 4 not being present in this 22 embodiment). The metered amount of material can then be 23 dispensed into a waiting receptacle by pressing lever 5 24 down using a finger or thumb from the hand in which the 25 container 2 is held. This lever 5 pivots on axis to 26 cause scoop 3 to protrude above the top surface of the 27 cover 1. The metered amount of material contained in 28 scoop 3 can then be dispensed out of opening 7.

30 Referring to Figure 2, cover 1 is attached to container 31 2. The cover 1 is shown when closed with lever 5 is shown 32 in its inactive state.

I Referring to Figure 3a, cover 1 features scoop 3 and 2 lever 5 pivoted opposably to each other at axis 6.

3 Figure 3b shows the underside of cover 1, with aperture 4 4 visible in scoop 3. This aperture allows scoop 3 to fill 5 with a measured amount of material according to its 6 capacity when the container to which the cover l is 7 attached is inverted when held in one hand by the user.

X The metered amount of material can then be dispensed by 9 pressing lever 5 (again requiring only a single hand), lO causing scoop 3 to protrude above the top surface of 1I cover 1.

13 Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, cover 1 on container 2 is 14 shown in a different design format to Figure 1, but still 15 features scoop 3, aperture 4, lever 5, pivotable axis 6 16 and opening 7. Figure 4a shows the cover 1 when lever 5 17 is not being depressed by the user, Figure 4b shows the 18 cover 1 when lever 5 is depressed to allow the material t9 contained in scoop 3 to be dispensed through opening 7.

HI Figure 5 illustrates the cover 1 in operation. A measured 22 amount of granulated or powdered material 8 is dispensed 73 into receptacle 9 when lever 5 is depressed after 24 container 2 is held over the receptacle 9. The lever 5 25 then pivots at axis 6 to cause scoop 3 to protrude, 26 exposing opening 7 and allowing the metered amount of 27 material 8 to flow into receptacle 9. This operation can 28 be carried out by the user in a swift motion which 29 employs only a single hand.

31 An advantage of the present invention is that it enables 32 the user to dispense an exactly metered amount of 33 granulated or powdered material upon usage. This would 34 result in beverages of consistent strength and taste in

( 1 comparison with drinks prepared using a traditional jar 2 of coffee and a separately held spoon.

4 A further advantage of the present invention is that it 5 can dispense this metered amount of material while 6 requiring the employment of only a single hand and arm by 7 the user. This advantage offers increased speed and 8 convenience to the user. Furthermore, those with a 9 disablement or injury which affects the mobility of one 10 of their hands or arms are still fully able to easily and 11 quickly use the current invention without undue 12 inconvenience.

14 The present invention permits the material to be 15 dispensed in one motion (ie the container is inverted 16 once, while being held over a mug or cup, the lever 17 pressed after inversion to discharge the material). This 18 has the advantage of preventing spillage of any granules 19 or powder, as might happen when using a traditional 20 teaspoon to move granules from a jar to a mug or cup.

22 The present invention further keeps the granulated or 23 powdered materials protected from potential contaminants 24 such as moisture or dirt particles, as it seals the 25 container when not in use.

27 The use of the materials dispenser cover is not limited 28 to the preparation of drinks. For example, it could be 29 used in any operation when a measured amount of material 30 is required to be dispensed quickly and easily, using 31 only one hand. Such operations could arise during the 32 making of chemical solutions or in any form of baking or 33 cooking.

Claims

According to the present invention there is provided a cover adapted for attachment to a container of granulated or powdered material, comprising scooping means to gather and hold a metered amount of material and lever means to facilitate the discharge of the metered amount of material.

The scooping means is filled with material through an aperture in the underside of the scoop.

Originally the scooping means is filled with material Trough the same aperture through which the material is discharged once the scoop has been caused to protrude by pressing down on the lever means.

The scooping means may be filled with material when the container to which the cover is attached is inverted.

The lever means are opposably pivoted on an axis with the scooping means.

The lever means is used to cause the scooping means to protrude above the top surface of the cover when the lever is pressed down, facilitating discharge of the material contained within the scoop.

The scooping means are entirely contained within the underside of the cover when not being used to dispose materials providing a permanent seal.

The scooping means can be of varying capacity corresponding to a specific measurement, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon.

The cover is attached to the container by means of clip or screw attachments.