Selectively shakeable freestanding particulate matter reservoir

• US 5,105,981 A
• Filed: 11/19/1990
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Gehman
• Original Assignee: Thomas Gehman
• Inventors: Gehman, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/615,256
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 222/185, 222/214, 222/505, 222/511, 222/512, 222/1
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/56 operating by deformation of flexible walls B65D90/58 takes precedence

Abstract

A particulate matter dispenser is operated by a push button to move a sliding clamp through a linkage into and out of engagement with an elastic tube at the bottom of a reservoir holding the particulate matter. Coil springs normally bias the sliding clamp into engagement with a fixed clamp or the like so as to hold the tube in a closed position to prevent discharge of material.

Claims

1. A particulate matter dispenser, comprising

a particulate matter reservoir having a discharge end and operatively disposed in an outer casing in a freestanding manner to allow selective agitation of particulate matter therein;

an elastic tube connected with the discharge end and extending into an opening in the casing to hold the reservoir in the freestanding manner;

means for clamping the tube into a normally closed, nondispensing position disposed at only one point intermediate ends of the tube; and

means for operating the clamp means with a single-finger push button such that the selective agitation of the particulate matter takes place only upon pushing and releasing of the push button.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprises a fixed clamp and a movable clamp between which the tube is disposed, and at least one spring for normally biasing the movable clamp into the non-dispensing position toward the fixed clamp.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the operating means comprises a push rod on which the push button is arranged and a pivot arm operatively connected between the push rod and the movable clamp.

4. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the clamping means comprises a fixed clamp and a movable clamp between which the tube is disposed, and at least one spring for normally biasing the movable clamp into the non-dispensing position toward the fixed clamp.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir is funnel-shaped toward its discharge end.

6. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the pivot arm is V-shaped and has one member pivotally connected with the push rod and another member connected with the movable clamp to effect sliding of the latter away from the fixed clamp, and the pivot arm being pivoted in relation to the casing at a point where the two members are joined.

7. A method for dispensing particulate matter, comprising the steps of:

supporting a reservoir in a dispenser so as to be freestanding sufficiently using a normally closed elastic dispensing tube to allow selective agitation of the particulate matter;

filling the reservoir with a desired quantity of the particulate matter; and

dispensing the particulate matter through said normally closed elastic dispensing tube, wherein only during the step of dispensing does the selective agitation of the particulate matter occur.