US3235130A

US3235130A - Condiment dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3235130A
Application number: US262170A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald D Waither; Richard I Page
Original assignee: Foley Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: FOLEY - ASC Inc
Priority date: 1963-03-01
Filing date: 1963-03-01
Publication date: 1966-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-15

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 R. D. WALTHER ETAL 3,235,130

CONDIMENT DISPENSER Filed March 1, 1963 ,1 INVENTORS Yj? RONALD D. TA/24L THEE RICHARD 1 PA GE I /4 I 11'; /t\ 6 BY E e-57 Fran 7 AT" TO RNEYS United States Patent 3,235,130 CONDIMENT DISPENSER Ronald D. Walther and Richard I. Page, Minneapolis, Minn, assignors to Foley Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,170 2 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-142.9)

This invention relates to a new and very useful ground condiment dispenser. More particularly, this invention relates to a condiment dispenser containing two compartments, each for a different condiment, as salt and pepper and from which each condiment can be selectively dispensed individually, thereby to provide in a single dispensing unit means for applying condiments in accordance with the wishes of a particular individual use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a condiment dispenser adaptedfor the dispensation of selected amounts of either one of two different condiments which is easy to manufacture, reliable in operation, and readily maintainable in a sanitary and operable condition.

It is another object of this invention to provide a condiment dispenser containing two separate compartments from which either of two different condiments can each be selectively dispensed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two compartment condiment dispenser having a valve for dispensing selectively a condiment from either of said compartments, said valve being responsive to movements of a valve stem exteriorly located on the outside of said dispenser for easy manipulation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a salt and pepper shaker wherein a perforate circular top wall has a perforate valveplate beneath it which is adapted for rotary reciprocal movements whereby valve plate perforations selectively move into registration with top wall perforations, thereby to control dispensing of salt or pepper from either of two storage compartments beneath saidtop plate. j

The above and further objects of this invention will become apparent'to those skilled in the art'from a reading of the attached specification taken together withthe following drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is described.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate likeparts throughout the several viewsi FIG. "1 is a perspective view of a condiment dispenser for salt, pepper, or the like, made in accordancewith the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, some parts thereof broken away and some parts shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along ithe line'55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailsectional view taken along the Iine 66 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken alongthe line 7'-7 of FIG. 5.

Turning to the drawings there is seen irrFIG. 1 a condimentdispenser of the invention herein designated in its entirety by the numeral 1%. This dispenser is seen to consist of an upstanding "cross-sectionally circular housing 11 having a generally circulanperforate top wall portion 12 and a bottom wall portion 17. The interior of the housing 11 is-divided into a

pairof storage compartments

13 and 14, respectively,-.by an upright partition 16. The partition 16 extends diametrically across the top wall portion and down through the body of the housing 11. In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 is generally cylindrically shaped and slightly circumferentially compressed at a point slightly below its mid-region.

The cylindrical walls of the housing 11 and the partition 16 together with the bottom wall 17 are preferably formed from molded plastic material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, or the like. The housing 11 is formed of two cooperating halves (see FIG. 3), herein each designated in its entirety by the

numeral

18 and 19 respectively. The halves are formed along a hypothetical plane positioned generally normally to the median of partition 16. At the point where the two cylindrical walls interconnect, a lap joint is formed, as shown for example, in the sectional view of FIG. 6. In order to strengthen the wall portions at the point where the

respective halves

18 and 19 interconnect, a plurality of circumferentially extending bosses 21 are integrally formed in one half, here 19. These bosses 21 are formed as raised thickenings inwardly extending from the side-edges of half 19. The forward end portion (as respects the lap joint) extends over the edge so that when the two

halves

18 and 19 are positioned together, these'hosses 21 each engage the adjoining half and from ariblike strengthening and interlocking member. Similar bosses 21a are positioned on half 18, but these do not project forward into association with half 19 but rather instead serve as reinforcing ribs on half 18.

At the point where the respective halves of the partition 16 come together when

halves

18 and 19 mate, there is formed a tongue-and-groove joint. The tongue portion appears in half 18 and the groove portion in half 19. A similar tongue and-groove joint is formed where the respective halves 17a and 17]), forming together the bottom wall 17, come together.

Stopperholes 22 and Rare formed, respectively, in the

halves

17a and 17b, one half of each stopper hole being formed in each

half

17a and 17b so that when the respective halves 1S and 19 of the housing 1 1 are placed together, the circiilar hcles22 and23 are defined. The two cooperating

halves

18 and 19 are held together by any convenient means, such as heat fusion, gluing, orthe like.

The perforate top wall portion 12 has a pair of slots "24 positioned in opposite ends of a diameter in its outer edge; the slots extend a short ways along theouter edge on either side of such diameter. Top wall portion 12 has twosets of perforations 35. One 'set is designated by the numeral 38a andthe other by the numeral 3%.

All perforations 35 in top wall portionlZ are positioned at regularly spaced intervals along radii, each radius being angularly spaced from an adjacent radius-an equal, predetermined, included angle except that the included angle between set 38a and39a is larger.

Along the inside top of the side walls ofhousing 11 are a pair of circumferentially extending, axially spaced, annular shoulders 26 and '27, respectively, which define between them a groove 28. A pair of diametrically opposed keys 31 downwardly extend from each shoulder' 27; "in the embodiment shown,.these.keys.31 are positioned at either end of the partition 16. These keys 31, in width,

correspondto that of eachslotZ'd sothat when the per- :forate top wall portion 12is positioned in the upper portion of groove 28, the keys 31 interlock with the slots 24. This key-slot arrangementnot only .prevents thetop wall portion 12 from rotating but also positions the perforations 35 so that each set ofperforations 38a and39a is centrally located .over a different storage compartment 13 and.14 of top wall portion 12. Observe that the outer edges of the top .wall portion .12 are contained within the groove 28.

A circular valve plate 29 sits immediateiy underneath the'top wall portion=12 in face-to face engagement thereu with. The outer edge portions of valve plate 29 are adapted to fit into the groove 23 beneath the top wall portion 12. The valve plate 29 is adapted for rotary reciprocal movements over the

storage compartments

13 and 14.

The housing 11 defines a circumferentially extending arcuate slot 32 which extends through the circumferential edge of groove 28 (i.e., adjacent the edge of valve plate 29). One half of this slot lies in each cooperating

half

13 and 19, respectively.

A valve stem 33 radially outwardly projects through the slot 32 from the valve plate 29 so as to adapt the valve plate 29 for rotary reciprocal movements responsive to force exteriorly applied to the valve stem 33 of the housing 11 circumferentially to the left or to the right in FIG. 1. Formed integrally with the stem 33, in the embodiment shown, is a knob 34 which facilitates easy manual movements of the valve stem 33.

The valve plate 29 defines two sets of perforations or slots 36, each set being designated collectively by the numerals 38b and 39b. Each plate perforation set, say, 38b is so positioned in plate 29 as to register with top wall set perforation 38a, while the other plate perforation set 3% remains simultaneously out of registration with the other top wall perforation set 39a; and when the valve plate 29 is rotated by means of force applied to the valve stem 33 so that the valve reciprocates to the opposite end of slot 32, then the valve plate perforation set 3811 is out of registration with the top wall perforation set 38a, while on the other hand, the valve plate perforation set 3911 has moved into registration with the top wall perforation set 39a.

To fill the condiment dispenser 10, it is convenient to invert the housing 11 and to pour in, as through a stopper hole 22, the salt, and through the stopper hole 23, pepper, with the valve plate so positioned that the slots 38b and 3% are both out of register with the

perforations

38a and 39a in the top wall portion 12 so that no condiment can pass therethrough. After the filling operation is completed, each

hole

22 and 23 is closed or stoppered as with a cork or the like and the condiment dispenser is inverted to an upright position ready for use. By having an extra set of slots in the valve plate 29, it is possible to permit the user to dispense both salt and pepper simultaneously from the same condiment dispenser or, selectively, salt or pepper.

Our invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and it will be appreciated that while the invention above described has been described with reference to a particular and preferred embodiment of the invention, that other and equivalent structures are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A condiment dispenser comprising:

(a) a housing defining a generally cylindrical side Wall,

a circular bottom wall, a circular top wall, and a generally diametric partition extending generally between said bottom wall and said top wall and dividing said housing into a pair of chambers,

(b) said top wall defining two sets of perforations, each set of which overlies a different one of said chambers,

(c) said side wall defining an annular groove on its inside surface adjacent the side edge of said top wall,

(d) said cylindrical side wall further defining a circumferentialy extending elongated and generally arcuate slot communicating with said groove,

(e) a circular valve plate adapted for limited rotary movements on a vertical axis in opposite directions from a neutral position intermediate the limits of said rotary movement thereof, and having its circumferential edge disposed in said groove, said valve plate being positioned in underlying face-to-face relationship with said top wall over said partition, and

(f) a valve stem projecting radially outwardly through said slot from said valve plate and adapted to impart said rotary movements to said valve plate,

(g) said valve plate having openings therethrough, such valve plate openings being out of register with the top wall perforations responsive to rotary movements posed in its neutral position, some of said valve plate openings being moved into register with one set of top wall perforations responsive to rotary movements of said valve plate toward one of the limits of movement thereof while others of said valve plate openings are out of register with the other set of top wall perforations, others of such valve plate openings being movable into register with the other set of top wall perforations responsive to movement of said valve plate toward its other limit of rotary movement while said some valve plate openings are out of register with the first set of top wall perforations.

2. A condiment dispenser comprising:

(a) a housing formed by a pair of cooperating halves of rigid material, said housing defining a generally cross-sectionally circular side wall, a circular bottom wall, a diametrically extending partition dividing said housing into a pair of chambers, an annular groove located above the top of said partition and a circumferentially extending elongated and generally arcuate slot located in said side wall and communicating with the circumferential edge of said groove,

(b) a circular top wall whose outer edge portions are adapted to fit into said groove and having defined therein two sets of perforations, each set being adapted to overlie a different one of said chambers,

(c) means for positioning said top Wall in said groove in a fixed position whereby each of the top Wall perforation sets overlies a different one of said chambers,

(d) a circular valve plate whose outer edge portions are adapted to fit into said groove beneath said top wall, said plate and said top wall being in face-toface engagement, said plate being adapted for rotary reciprocal movements,

(e) a valve stem radially outwardly projecting from said valve plate and extending through said slot, said stem being adapted to impart rotary reciprocal movements to said valve plate,

(f) said valve plate defining two sets of perforations, each plate perforation set being adapted to register with a different one of said top wall perforation sets while the other plate perforation set remain simultaneously out of registration with the other of said top wall perforation sets, such selective registration being achieved in response to rotary reciprocal movement of said valve plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,215,018 2/1917 Grossman 222-142.6 1,283,447 11/1918 Anthony 222-548 X 1,316,519 9/1919 Stone 222-548 X 1,568,160 1/1926 Hibbert 222-1429 1,889,593 11/1932 Davis 222-565 X 2,376,855 5/1945 Hanley ZZZ-142.9 X 2,578,538 12/1951 Gray 222142.9 X 2,627,992 1/ 1953 Kurz 222142.4 X 2,788,920 4/1957 Germain 222-1426 3,145,880 8/ 1964 Wheatley 222-565 X FOREIGN PATENTS 146,936 6/ 1952 Australia.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

Claims

2. A CONDIMENT DISPENSER COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING FORMED BY A PAIR OF COOPERATING HALVES OF RIGID MATERIAL, SAID HOUSING DEFINING A GENERALLY CROSS-SECTIONALLY CIRCULAR SIDE WALL, A CIRCULAR BOTTOM WALL, A DIAMETRICALLY EXTENDING PARTITION DIVIDING SAID HOUSING INTO A PAIR OF CHAMBERS, AN ANNULAR GROOVE LOCATED ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID PARTITION AND A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED AND GENERALLY ARCUATE SLOT LOCATED IN SAID SIDE WALL AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL EDGE OF GROOVE, (B) A CIRCULAR TOP WALL WHOSE OUTER EDGE PORTIONS ARE ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID GROOVE AND HAVING DEFINED THEREIN TWO SETS OF PERFORATIONS, EACH SET BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS, (C) MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID TOP WALL IN SAID GROOVE IN A FIXED POSITION WHEREBY EACH OF THE TOP WALL PERFORATION SET OVERLIES A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS, (D) A CIRCULAR VALVE PLATE WHOSE OUTER EDGE PORTIONS ARE ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID GROOVE BENEATH SAID TOP