US3024950A - Dispensing unit for selectively pouring or sifting pulverulent material - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1962 D. c. FRISON 3,024,950

DISPENSING UNIT FOR SELECTIVELY POURING OR SIFTING PULVERULENT MATERIAL Filed Sept. 18, 1959 ZN VEN TOR.

"Unite tats This invention relates to the dispensing of pulverulent materials, and more particularly to a simple and inexpensive dispensing unit which may be incorporated in the container in which the pulverulent material is man keted and from which the material may be selectively poured or sifted.

Two types of dispensing means have been heretofore developed which provide for both pouring and sifting pulverulent materials. In one type, the means for pouring and sifting are incorporated in a single compact unit resembling a pouring spout commonly used on table salt containers and the like, and in the other type the pouring spout is physically separated from the sifting means. The former type is usually more compact and economical than the latter type. In the former type of dispensing unit where the pouring and sifting means are combined into one unit, usually the pouring spout had to be opened to expose the sifting means and the sifting means had to be moved with the pouring spout preparatory to a pouring or sifting operation. Since the same manipulation was required to move the pouring spout as well as the sifting means, confusion sometimes resulted, so that pouring rather than sitting was obtained (and vice versa) when the opposite was desired. Even in dispensing units where the pouring spout did not have to be opened to expose the sifting means, it was often readily possible to open inadvertently the pouring spout during the manipulation required for obtaining a sifting operation, with the result that pouring rather than sifting resulted. Moreover, in some of these dispensing units, it was difiicult to maintain the sitting means in operating position when the container involved was shaken to dispense the pulverulent material.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing unit of the type wherein pouring and sifting means are incorporated in a compact integral unit in a manner wherein the desired means may be readily brought into operating position to provide a pouring or sifting operation without the above mentioned difficulties. A more specific object of the invention is to provide a dispensing unit as above described wherein the manipulations required to provide selectively for pouring and sifting are substantially different.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing unit of the type first described which includes a pouring spout member which is locked in a closed position automatically when the dispensing unit is manipulated ot provide a sifting operation, so that it is practically impossible to dispense an excessive amount of material by pouring when sifting thereof is desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing unit as just described wherein the shaking imparted to the container to pour or sift the material will not readily disturb the adjustment of the dispensing unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing unit as just described which is of very simple and inexpensive construction, so that it may be economically incorporated in containers commonly used to market table salt and other low cost household products.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, the dispensing unit comprises a spout member which is similar in size and shape to a conventional table salt dispensing spout member which includes a cover-forming atent 3&24350 Patented Mar. 13, 1982 end wall and a pair of spaced, imperforate, materialguiding side walls on opposite sides of the end wall which are sized to engage slidably the opposite sides of a dispensing opening in the top wall of the container used to market the table salt or other material involved. Pivot-forming means are provided for pivotally support ing the spout member between opened and closed positions, the end wall closing off the container dispensing opening in the closed position thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the spout member carries a cover slide member most advantageously slidable on the outside of the aforementioned cover-forming end wall in a direction at right angles to the pivot axis of the spout member. The end wall is perforated so that the material involved may be sifted therethrough without requiring the opening of the spout member. Normally, the cover slide member is in a retracted position on the spout member. When a sifting operation is desired, the cover slide member is pulled into an extended position where it projects beyond the pivoted end of the spout member on the outside of the container to expose the above-mentioned sifting perforations in the spout member end wall. In this position, the spout member cannot be pivoted to an open position since the slide member forms a stop shoulder which prevents this movement. Also, since the manipulation required to provide a sifting operation is a sliding rather than a pivoting operation, it is unlikely that the spout member would be inadvertently opened when sifting is desired.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional table salt container having the dispensing unit of the present invention mounted on the top wall thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the top of the container in FIG. 1, with the dispensing unit in a position where the contents of the container may be poured therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the dispensing unit in a condition where the contents of the container are sifted from the dispensing unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the dispensing unit shown in FIG. 3, taken along section line 4-4 therein; and 1 FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the dispensing unit shown in FIG. 4, taken along section line 5-5 therein.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the dispensing unit of the present invention generally designated by reference numeral 2 is mounted adjacent the perimeter of the top wall 4 of a container 6 containing the pulverulent material to be dispensed. The dispensing unit comprises two relatively movable parts, namely a spout member 8 and a cover slide member 9.

The spout member has a pair of spaced, imperforate, material-guiding side walls 10-10 of quadrantal shape and sized to engage slidably the opposite longitudinal sides 12-12 of a radially elongated dispensing opening 14 formed in the top wall 4 of the container 6. A coverforming end wall 16 extends between the straight radial margins 15-15 of the side walls 10-10 for the full lengths thereof. One end of the end wall 16 extends beyond the arcuate margins of the side walls 10-10 to form a finger grip tab 18. The other end of the end wall has a projecting portion which curves downwardly and outwardly to form a pivot pin-receiving sleeve 20. A pivot pin 22 extends through the sleeve 20 and passes over the top surface of the container top wall 4 adjacent the outermost end of the dispensing opening 14. The

ends of the pin 22 are anchored to the top wall 4 as by extending the same through openings in the top wall and bending the same inwardly, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5. In this manner, the spout member is supported for pivotal movement between a closed position (shown in FIG. 3) where the side walls -10 are within the container and the end wall 16 covers the dispensing opening 14, and an opened position (shown in FIG. 2) where the side walls 10-10 are located outside of the container and the end wall 16 extends generally vertically upwardly therefrom. Transverse tabs 24-24 extend from the bottom ends of the side walls 10-10 to form stop shoulders preventing the complete removal of the spout member from the container 6. In the closed position of the spout member, the finger grip tab 18 projects beyond the inner margin of the dispensing opening 14 to form a convenient finger grip for opening the spout member.

The end wall 16 is provided with a series of perforations 26 over an area spaced substantially from the pivot pin-receiving sleeve 20 thereof, so as to leave an imperforate end wall portion 28 of appreciable extent. The perforations 26 are of a size and number to sift relatively small amounts of the pulverulent material in the container 6.

In accordance with the present invention, the end wall 16 is provided with a longitudinal guideway or channel 29 which may take a variety of forms. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the guideway 29 is formed from a piece of metal 30 which is bent upwardly and then inwardly at its sides to form short vertical side walls 32-32 terminating in short inwardly extending lips 34- 34. The guideway-forming piece 30 has a series of sifting perforations 35 correspond-ing in size and location to the end wall perforations 26. The guideway-forming piece may be secured to the end wall 16 in any desirable manner, such as by soldering or bending portions thereof snugly around the end wall 16. It should be apparent that the entire spout member including the guideway 29 could be an integral molded element made of synthetic plastic material.

The aforesaid cover slide member 9 is most advantageously an elongated rectangular imperforate member having an upwardly projecting finger grip portion 40 at one end. The cover slide member is most advantageously sized to fit frictionally and slidably within the guideway 29, so that it will stay in place in the adjusted positions representing open and closed positions thereof. The cover slide member 9 is positioned within the guideway 29 preferably so that the finger grip portion 40 thereof is on the side of the spout member containing the pivot pin 22. When sifting is desired, the finger grip portion is grasped and pulled back with the spout member in a closed position, to bring the opposite end of the cover slide member just outside of the outermost row of sifting perforations 26 and 35. The cover slide member then rests upon the imperforate portion 28 of the spout member end wall 16. There is then sufficient area of contact between the defining walls of guideway 29 and the cover slide member that the latter is frictionally held in position within the guideway 29 during the shaking of the container 6. In this open position, the cover slide member extends over the top of the container top wall 4 beyond the outer end of the container dispensing opening 14, where the cover slide member acts as a stop shoulder preventing pivoting of the spout member to its open position. When the cover slide member is pushed into its closed, fully retracted position, the sifting openings 26 and 35 are covered and the cover slide member is 10- eat'ed within the confines of the spout member where the spout member may be readily opened and closed. The inward movement of the cover slide member may be limited in any suitable way as by a stop shoulder-38 (FIG. 4.) provided by tilting the finger gripportion 18 of the end wall 16 upwardly.

When pouring is desired, the cover slide member 9 is in its fully retracted position within the guideway 29 and the finger grip portion 18 of the spout member is grasped to pivot the spout member into the open position shown in FIG. 2.

It is apparent that with the construction of the present invention just described, the manipulations performed on the dispensing unit to provide sifting and pouring of the pulverulent material are so completely different that it is highly unlikely that the user will inadvertently manipulate the dispensing unit into a pouring condition when sifting is desired and vice versa. Moreover, the dispensing unit of the invention is rugged and of very simple and inexpensive construction, so that it may be readily applied to containers used to market the pulverulent materials involved without appreciably increasing the cost thereof.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made of the preferred form of the invention described above without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a container of pulverulent material with a dispensing opening therein, and a dispensing unit in said dispensing opening for selectively pouring or sifting said pulverulent material therethrough, 'said dispensing unit comprising: a spout member having a pair of spaced, material-guiding side walls sized to engage slidably opposite sides of said dispensing opening, and an end wall extending between said side walls and being of a size to cover said dispensing opening, said end wall having perforations therein through which said pulverulent material is vsifted, pivot-forming means at the end of said container dispensing opening for pivotally mounting the spout member within said dispensing opening for movement between a closed position where said side walls thereof are within said container, and an open position where said side and end walls thereof are outside of said container and form a pouring spout, a cover slide member for covering said end wall perforations, and means on said end wall for slidably supporting said cover slide member for movement in a direction at right angles to the pivot axis of the spout member between a retracted position where said cover slide member closes off said end wall and an extended position where said cover slide member uncovers said end wall perforations and extends beyond the pivot forming means and over the outside of the container adjacent the end of said dispensing opening to prevent the pivoting of said spout member from its closed to its opened position.

2. In combination, a container of pulverulent material having a top wall with a dispensing opening therein and a dispensing unit in said dispensing opening for selectively pouring or sifting said pulverulent material therethrough, said dispensing unit comprising: a spout member having a pair of spaced, material-guiding side walls sized to engage slidably opposite sides of said dispensing opening, and an end Wall extending between said side walls and being of a size to cover said dispensing opening, said end wall having perforations therein through which said pulverulent material is sifted, pivot-forming means at the outer end of said container dispensing opening for pivotally mounting the spout member within said dispensing opening for movement between a closed position where said side walls thereof are within said container and an open position where said side Walls thereof are outside of said container and form a pouring spout, a cover slide member for covering said end wall perforations, and means on said end wall for slidably supporting said cover slide member on the outside thereof for movement in a direction at right angles to the pivot axis of the spout member between a retracted position where said cover slide member closes off said end wall perforations, and an extended position where said cover slide member uncovers said end wall perforations and extends beyond the pivot forming means and over the outside of the container top wall adjacent the outer end of said dispensing opening to prevent the pivoting of said spout member from its closed to its opened position.

3. A dispensing unit mountable within a dispensing opening in the wall of a container of pulverulent material, said dispensing unit comprising: a spout member having a pair of spaced, material-guiding side walls and an end Wall extending between said side walls and being of a size to cover said dispensing opening, said end wall having perforations therein through which said pulverulent material is sifted, pivot-forming means for pivotally mounting the spout member within said dispensing opening for movement between a closed position where said side walls thereof are within said container and said end Wall covers said dispensing opening, and an open position where said side and end walls thereof are outside of said container, and form a spout for pouring said pulverulent material, a cover slide member for covering said end wall perforations, guideway-forming means for frictionally slidably supporting said cover slide member on said spout member for movement in a direction at right angles to the pivot axis of the spout member between a first position Where said cover slide member closes off said end wall perforations and a second position where said cover slide member uncovers said end wall perforations and extends beyond said pivot forming means over the outside of the container wall to prevent the pivoting of said spout member from its closed position to its open position, means for limiting the movement of said cover slide member beyond said first position, the friction between said guideway-forming means and said cover slide member maintaining said cover slide member in said second position during the shaking of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,537,408 Cogswell May 12, 1925 1,993,364 Ellstrom Mar. 5, 1935 2,891,703 Hassler June 23, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 937,045 France Mar, 1, 1948

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