Metered Dispenser

• US 20110163118A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Perimeter Brand Packaging, LLC
• Original Assignee: Union Street Brand Packaging
• Inventors: Gieda, Christopher, Yellin, Shane, Honan, David, Simon, Andrew, Rollins, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US12/985,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/24 for fluent solid material

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus includes a container having an opening, and a doser coupled with the container about the container opening. The doser includes a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet is diametrically offset from the outlet, and substantially aligned with the opening of the container. The doser also includes a covering member to alternatively cover and open the inlet and the outlet. The covering member is movable about a range of positions to substantially completely cover at least one of the inlet and outlet at all positions in the range. The covering member covers no more than a portion of the chamber interior wall when the covering member completely opens the outlet.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container having an opening; and

a doser coupled with the container about the container opening,

the doser comprising a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are diametrically offset,

the inlet being substantially aligned with the opening of the container,

the doser also having a covering member to alternatively cover and open the inlet and the outlet, the covering member being movable about a range of positions to substantially completely cover at least one of the inlet and outlet at all positions in the range, the covering member covering no more than a portion of the chamber interior wall when the covering member completely opens the outlet.

2. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the covering member covers no more than a portion of the chamber interior wall when the inlet is completely open.

3. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein no part of the inlet is diametrically aligned to any part of the outlet.

4. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the covering member rotates about an axis having two ends, the doser further comprising a handle coupled to both ends of the axis.

5. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 4 wherein the handle is rotatable about the axis, the outlet forming a spout having an outer periphery, the handle being configured to rotate no farther than any portion of the outer periphery of the spout.

6. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 4 wherein the handle is rotatable about the axis, the outlet forming a spout, the handle being configured not to rotate to a position that extends above any portion of the spout.

7. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 4 further comprising a stop removably coupled with the handle, the stop preventing rotation of the handle when coupled with the handle.

8. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the covering member rotates about an axis, further wherein the outlet has a length and a width, the length being generally parallel with the axis, the length being greater than the width.

9. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the outlet generally forms an ellipse.

10. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the doser is integrally coupled with the container.

11. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 further comprising granular material within the container.

12. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the range of positions of the covering member substantially prevents communication between the interior of the container and the exterior of the dispensing apparatus.

13. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the covering member is a single integral member.

14. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covering member is configured to permit material to directly contact the interior wall of the chamber when the movable member completely opens the outlet.

15. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container having an opening; and

a doser coupled with the container about the container opening,

the doser comprising a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet with an inlet periphery, and an outlet with an outlet periphery, wherein the inlet and outlet are diametrically offset,

the inlet being substantially aligned with the opening of the container, the doser also having a covering member to alternatively cover and open the inlet and the outlet, the covering member being movable about a range of positions to substantially completely cover at least one of the inlet and outlet at all positions in the range,

the covering member having an outer member periphery, the outer member periphery being greater than the inlet periphery.

16. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the outer member periphery is greater than the outlet periphery.

17. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein no part of the inlet is diametrically aligned to any part of the outlet.

18. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the covering member rotates about an axis having two ends, the doser further comprising a handle coupled to both ends of the axis.

19. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 18 wherein the handle is rotatable about the axis, the outlet forming a spout, the handle being configured not to rotate to a position that extends above any portion of the spout.

20. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the covering member rotates about an axis, further wherein the outlet has a length and a width, the length being generally parallel with the axis, the length being greater than the width.

21. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the outlet generally forms an ellipse.

22. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 further comprising granulated material within the container.

23. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the range of positions of the covering member substantially prevents communication between the interior of the container and the exterior of the dispensing apparatus.

24. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the covering member is a single integral member.

25. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container having an opening; and

a doser coupled with the container about the container opening,

the doser comprising a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are diametrically offset,

the inlet being substantially aligned with the opening of the container,

the doser also having a covering member that rotates about an axis to alternatively cover and open the inlet and the outlet, the inlet having a first dimension along the direction of rotation, the outlet having a second dimension along the direction of rotation, the covering member being rotatable a distance about equal to the sum of the first dimension and second dimension to fully open the outlet from a position in which the inlet is fully opened, the distance of rotation not exceeding 170 degrees.

26. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein the covering member rotates about an axis having two ends, the doser further comprising a handle coupled to both ends of the axis.

27. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 26 wherein the handle is rotatable about the axis, the outlet forming a spout having an outer periphery, the handle being configured to rotate no farther than any portion of the outer periphery of the spout.

28. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 26 wherein the handle is rotatable about the axis, the outlet forming a spout, the handle being configured not to rotate to a position that extends above any portion of the spout.

29. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein the covering member has a member perimeter and the inlet has an inlet perimeter, the member perimeter being greater than the inlet perimeter.

30. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein the covering member has a member perimeter and the outlet has an outlet perimeter, the member perimeter being greater than the outlet perimeter.

31. The dispensing apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein the covering member is formed from a moldable material.

32. A method of dispensing material, the method comprising:

providing a dispensing apparatus having a container containing granulated material to be dispensed, and a doser coupled with the container, the doser comprising a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet, and an outlet, the doser also having a covering member that is rotatable within the housing about an axis;

rotating the covering member to cover the outlet and fully open the inlet;

orienting the dispensing apparatus so that the granulated material within the container enters the doser chamber through the inlet, the interior wall of the chamber at least in part retaining the granulated material within the doser when the inlet is fully open and the granulated material enters the doser; and

permitting the granulated material to exit the doser by rotating the covering member to cover the inlet and fully open the outlet, the interior wall of the housing at least in part retaining the granulated material within the doser when the outlet is fully opened and the granulated material exits the doser.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the inlet and outlet are diametrically offset.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the covering member covers no more than a portion of the chamber interior wall when the inlet is completely open.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the covering member rotates about an axis through the range, the rotation being no greater than about 140 degrees.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the covering member has a member perimeter and the inlet has an inlet perimeter, the member perimeter being greater than the inlet perimeter.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the covering member is configured to permit material to directly contact the interior wall of the chamber when the movable member completely opens the outlet.

38. A doser system for coupling with a container, the doser comprising:

a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are diametrically offset,

the doser also having a covering member to alternatively cover and open the inlet and the outlet, the covering member being movable about a range of positions to substantially completely cover at least one of the inlet and outlet at all positions in the range, the covering member covering no more than a portion of the chamber interior wall when the covering member completely opens the outlet.

39. The doser system as defined by claim 38 further comprising a container secured to the housing.