Article dispenser

• US 4,522,313 A
• Filed: 09/13/1983
• Issued: 06/11/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth L. Jennings, Paul D. Jennings
• Original Assignee: Kenneth L. Jennings, Paul D. Jennings
• Inventors: Jennings, Kenneth L., Jennings, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/531,684
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 221/188, 221/189, 221/186, 221/256, 221/266, 221/288, 221/1, 206/536, 206/540, 222/162, 222/368, 222/454
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2583/049 One rotational action of a cylindrical, disc-like or sphere-like element around its own axis, e.g. step-by-step, reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence

Abstract

An article dispenser discloses a vessel for storing at least one of the articles. Such dispenser has a sphere pivotally suspended from the vessel for rotation in only one direction about a singular first axis that is offset from a second axis and which second axis passes through the center of gravity of the sphere. The first axis lies in a plane that bisects the sphere into a pair of hemispheres where one of the hemispheres is heavier than the other hemisphere. The lesser heavy hemisphere has a cavity overlying and adjacent to the first axis and also adjacent to one of the pivotal suspension points. The article is conveyed from its stored location within the vessel into the cavity and from the cavity to a location external to the vessel by impelling the sphere. A variation of the disclosure includes a sphere that has an axis at which the sphere is pivotally rotated and which axis passes through the center of gravity of the sphere.

Claims

1. A dispenser incorporating a vessel and a ball structure pivotally coupled to the vessel, said vessel being capable of storing at least one article, characterized by:

a first half ball of said structure having a planar surface and a curved contour, said contour having a cavity therein;

a second half ball of said structure having a planar surface and a curved contour and being of a single homogeneous material throughout its internal volume, said second half ball being integrated with the first half ball at an interface of said planar surfaces, said second half ball being heavier than the first half ball; and

pivotal means, adapted at two locations between the vessel and ball structure at said interface, for enabling rotation of said vessel with respect to the ball structure, said cavity being located in proximity of one of said two locations, said cavity being nearer to one of the two locations than to the other of said two locations.

2. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein the curved contour of the first half ball and cavity constitute means for transferring the article from within the vessel to a point external of the vessel.

3. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein the curved contour of the first half ball and cavity constitute means for transferring the article from within the vessel to a point external of the vessel.

4. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein said first half ball is of substantially the same volume as the second half ball.

5. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein the first half ball and the second half ball are of plastic materials.

6. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein the first half ball and the second half ball are of different materials.

7. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, including a cover adapted to said vessel.

8. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein said pivotal means constitutes a pair of pivotal assemblies, each of said assemblies constituting a depression in the ball structure, a like depression in the vessel and a bearing fitted into each said depression.

9. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein said pivotal means constitutes a pair of pivotal assemblies, each of said assemblies constituting a depression in the wall of the vessel and a protrusion extending outwardly from the curved contours of the ball structure into each said depression.

10. The dispenser as stated in claim 1, wherein said pivotal means constitutes a pair of pivotal assemblies, each of said assemblies constituting a depression in the ball structure and a protrusion extending inwardly from the wall of said vessel into each said depression.

11. A dispenser incorporating a vessel and a sphere pivotally coupled to the vessel, said vessel being capable of storing at least one article, characterized by:

a first hemisphere of said sphere having a curved contour with a cavity therein and having a planar surface;

a second hemisphere of said sphere having a curved contour and a planar surface and being of a material that is homogeneous throughout its entire internal volume, said first and second hemispheres being integrated with each other at an interface of their planar surfaces, the second hemisphere being heavier than the first hemisphere; and

pivotal means, adapted at two locations between the vessel and sphere at said interface, for enabling rotation of said vessel with respect to the sphere, said cavity being located nearer to one of said two locations than to the other of said two locations.

12. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein the curved contour of the first hemisphere and cavity constitute means for transferring the article from within the vessel to a point external of said vessel.

13. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein the first hemisphere is of substantially the same volume as the second hemisphere.

14. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein the first and second hemispheres are of plastic materials.

15. The dispenser as state in claim 11, wherein the first and second hemispheres are of different materials.

16. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein the first and second hemispheres are of the same material.

17. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein said pivotal means constitutes a pair of pivotal assemblies, each of said assemblies constituting a depression in the sphere, a like depression in the vessel and a bearing fitted into each said depression.

18. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein said pivotal means constitutes a pair of pivotal assemblies, each of said assemblies constituting a depression in the wall of the vessel and a protrusion extending outwardly from the curved contours of the sphere into each said depression.

19. The dispenser as stated in claim 11, wherein said pivotal means constitutes a pair of pivotal assemblies, each of said assemblies constituting a depression in the sphere and a protrusion extending inwardly from the wall of said vessel into each said depression.

20. A method of dispensing an article from a storing vessel equipped with a pivotally suspended sphere having a hemisphere with a cavity in proximity of the pivotal suspension, characterized by the steps of:

(a) inverting the dispenser thereby causing the hemisphere to be positioned facing the internal confines of the vessel;

(b) transferring the article from the vessel to the surface of the hemisphere, said article sliding along the spherical contour of the hemisphere into the cavity; and

(c) restoring the dispenser to its initial position prior to execution of step (a) thereby causing the hemisphere with the cavity bearing the article to be positioned external to the inner confines of the vessel.

21. A dispenser incorporating a vessel capable of storing at least one article, characterized by:

a ball structure having a curved contour and being pivotally coupled at two locations to said vessel for rotation about one axis, said contour having a cavity therein that is nearer to one of said two locations than to the other of said two locations.

22. The dispenser as stated in claim 21, wherein said cavity constitutes means for transferring the article from within the vessel to a point external of the vessel.