Herb Grinder

• US 20140319249A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeff Smith
• Original Assignee: Jeff Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 9,198,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 241/24.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/25 Devices for grating

Abstract

An herb grinder is provided. The herb grinder has a top portion and upper chamber wherein herbs and similar materials may be ground. Further, the herb grinder has a spout, allowing ground herbs and materials to exit the grinder without separating the parts of the grinder.

Claims

1. An herb grinder comprising:

a top portion having a substantially circular cross section, a quantity of teeth protruding from a bottom surface of the top portion;

an upper chamber, the upper chamber rotatably connected to the top portion, the upper chamber forming a cavity in which an herb for grinding may be placed, a second quantity of teeth protrude from a lower surface of the cavity, extending towards the quantity of teeth of the top portion, an aperture being defined by the lower surface of the cavity that passes through the upper chamber, the aperture allowing ground herbs to exit the upper chamber once ground;

a lower chamber removably connected to the upper chamber, the aperture of the upper chamber communicating with a cavity of the lower chamber; and

a spout formed by an edge wall of the lower chamber, the spout having an open position allowing passage of the ground herbs out of the lower chamber cavity, and having a closed position preventing passage of the ground herbs out of the cavity of the lower chamber.

2. The herb grinder of claim 1 further comprising a bottom portion attached to an underside of the lower chamber.

3. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is pivotable away from the lower chamber to bring it from a closed to open position.

4. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is spring loaded, and biased in a closed position.

5. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is a sliding door slideable between the open and closed position.

6. The herb grinder of claim 5 wherein the spout further comprises an outward protrusion.

7. The herb grinder of claim 5 wherein the spout is spring loaded, and biased in a closed position.

8. The herb grinder of claim 2 wherein a bottom of the lower chamber further comprises a screen, the screen allowing passage of fine particles into the bottom portion.

9. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the lower chamber is threadedly connected to the upper chamber.

10. The herb grinder of claim 2 wherein the bottom portion is threadedly connected to the lower chamber.

11. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is sector shaped, the spout having two sector shaped faces, one edge of the sectors connected by a flat connector, the other edge of the sectors being open, the sector pivotably attached to the lower chamber at its pointed end.

12. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is configured as a revolving door, the revolving door rotatable to an open and closed position.

13. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is configured as a hinged door, the hinged door being hingedly connected to the lower chamber at one edge.

14. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is formed as an aperture in the lower chamber, the grinder further comprising a plug sized to fit within the aperture when the spout is in the closed position.

15. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is held in the closed position by a magnet.

16. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the spout is a removable drawer.

17. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the lower chamber further comprises a button configured to open the spout.

18. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the lower chamber further comprises a lever configured to close the spout.

20. The method of grinding herbs of claim 18 wherein the step of opening the spout is performed against a spring force urging the spout closed.

21. The herb grinder of claim 1 wherein the step of removing the ground herbs from the lower chamber comprises the step of pouring the ground herbs out.

19. A method of grinding herbs comprising the steps of:

placing a quantity of unground herbs in a cavity of an upper chamber of an herb grinder, the upper chamber rotatably connected to a top portion, the top portion having a substantially circular cross section, a quantity of teeth protruding from a bottom surface of the top portion, and a second quantity of teeth protruding from a lower surface of the cavity and extending towards the quantity of teeth of the top portion, an aperture being defined by the lower surface of the cavity that passes through the upper chamber, the aperture allowing ground herbs to exit the upper chamber once ground;

rotating the top portion and the upper chamber in opposite directions, thereby grinding the unground herbs between the quantity of teeth and second quantity of teeth, the ground herbs passing through the aperture into a lower chamber;

opening a spout of the lower chamber; and

removing the ground herbs from the lower chamber through the opened spout.