Powder dispensing apparatus

• US 10,138,114 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartdesign! Ltd, Product Spring, LLC, Taylored Concepts, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hartdesign! Ltd, Product Spring, LLC, Taylored Concepts, LLC
• Inventors: Dooley, Christopher P., Taylor, Loren T., Hartelius, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, Nicholas J
• Application Number:
  US13/832,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/401 whereby the powder ingredients and the water are delivered to a mixing bowl
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/404 Powder dosing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/286 between planar parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/06 for dispensing powdered or granular material B65D83/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/68 using rotating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines

Abstract

A powder dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder either with or without a liquid is presented. The apparatus includes a base, dispenser, and tower. The base is adapted for receiving a container. The dispenser includes a rotatable or slidable carriage. The carriage includes at least one compartment horizontally disposed above an optional funnel. The carriage is rotatable about a central axis or translatable parallel to and below the hopper. A hopper is disposed above the carriage and communicates with less than all compartments. Each compartment is capable of separately dispensing a powder from the hopper into the funnel and thereafter into the container resting on the base. The tower is disposed between and attached at opposing ends to the base and the dispenser. The apparatus is useful, for example, in preparing baby formula and other food for infants, as well as in preparing food and drink for children and adults.

Claims

1. A powder dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a base adapted for receiving a container;

(b) a dispenser including a slidable carriage translatable parallel to and below a hopper and disposed over a support element with an opening, said slidable carriage including at least one compartment, each said at least one compartment capable of dispensing a powder from said hopper through said opening into said container resting on said base, a wand rotatably operable within said hopper by a shaft, said shaft facilitates rotation of said wand via translational motion by said slidable carriage;

(c) a tower disposed between and attached to said base and said dispenser;

(d) a funnel disposed below said support element opposite of said slidable carriage, said funnel aligned with said container;

(e) a reservoir attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and adapted to store a liquid; and

(f) a pump communicating with said reservoir and said funnel, said pump configured to move said liquid from said reservoir into said funnel as said slidable carriage dispenses said powder into said funnel for mixing therein.

2. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) a rotatable handle attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to move said slidable carriage.

3. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) a motor attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to move said slidable carriage.

4. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

(h) a control panel disposed along an exterior surface of said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to electrically communicate with said motor for control purposes.

5. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dispenser includes a threaded shaft attached to and rotatable with respect to said hopper and a platen movable along said threaded shaft, said platen configured to feed said powder into said at least one compartment when said threaded shaft rotates.

6. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

(g) a rotatable handle attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to move said slidable carriage and move said platen.

7. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

(g) a motor attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to move said slidable carriage and move said platen.

8. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said hopper, said slidable carriage, said threaded shaft, or said platen are removable from said dispenser.

9. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base is foldable with respect to said tower.

10. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said funnel includes at least one port which directs said liquid into said funnel so as to rinse said funnel after said liquid and said powder are mixed.

11. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

(g) a rotatable handle attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to move said slidable carriage or to operate said pump.

12. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said rotatable handle is further configured to dispense said liquid and said powder according to a specific ratio.

13. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) a motor attached to said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to move said slidable carriage or to operate said pump.

14. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein a mechanical linkage is attached to said motor and configured to dispense said liquid and said powder according to a specific ratio.

15. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said mechanical linkage includes a paired arrangement of contacts configured to control quantity of each of said liquid and said powder dispensed into said container.

16. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

(h) a control panel disposed along an exterior surface of said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to communicate with said motor for control purposes.

17. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) a heating element disposed within said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to heat said liquid prior to mixing with said powder.

18. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

(h) a control panel disposed along an exterior surface of said powder dispensing apparatus and configured to communicate with said heating element for control purposes.

19. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

(h) at least one sensor disposed within said powder dispensing apparatus and configured for the purpose of regulating heating of said liquid.

20. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is insulated.

21. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) at least one sensor disposed within said reservoir and configured for the purpose of preventing operability of said motor when said liquid within said reservoir is below a predetermined level.

22. The powder dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is removably attached to said powder dispensing apparatus.