Container lid with quantity measures

• US 5,601,213 A
• Filed: 05/02/1996
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jennifer J. Daniello
• Original Assignee: Jennifer J. Daniello
• Inventors: Daniello, Jennifer J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US08/641,731
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 222/142.5, 222/142.9, 222/144.5, 222/444, 222/454, 222/456, 222/480, 222/485, 222/486, 222/565, 222/23
• US Class Current: 222/456
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/26 Caps or cap-like covers serving as, or incorporating, drinking or measuring vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/261 for fluent solid material

Abstract

A container lid with quantity measures provides for the selective dispensing of different predetermined quantities of material from a container to which the lid is removably attached. The lid includes a central body portion having a plurality of differently sized volumes therein, each of which is selectively openable and closable relative to the container to which the lid is secured. A rotatable top portion is turned to select the desired specific quantity, which action also turns the closure plate below the main body portion. The container lid is used by inverting the container and attached lid, rotating the top portion to a position other than the quantity selected in order to move the closure plate from that selected volume, rotating the top portion to the selected quantity to close the selected volume, and dispensing the selected quantity from a dispenser in the top portion. The configuration of the main body portion also allows the closure plate or valve to be bypassed, to allow continuous pouring or shaking of material from the container as desired. The present container lid is particularly adapted for use in the dispensing of specific quantities of spices, condiments, and the like for cooking and food preparation, but may be used to dispense virtually any dry granulated or powdered material, and may even be adapted for use with certain liquids.

Claims

1. A container lid with quantity measures, comprising:

a fixed cylindrical central body having a first end and an opposite second end, a plurality of first chambers and second chambers therein, and a central passage therethrough, with said chambers being disposed radially about said central body and each being separated by a radial wall extending between said first end and said second end of said central body, with each said radial wall being spaced apart from one another by an arcuate span, and with each of said chambers subtending a separate arcuate volume of said cylindrical body and being open to said first end and said second end of said central body, and with at least said first chambers each having a different volume from one another;

a circular cover adapted to rotate relative to said central body, with said cover having an inner surface with a central shaft extending therefrom and adapted to engage said central passage of said central body to secure said cover to said central body adjacent said first end thereof, and further having a dispensing opening subtending an arcuate span of said circular cover substantially equal to said arcuate span between each said radial wall of said central body at said second end thereof, and selectively openable closure means for said dispensing opening, and;

said central shaft having a distal end with a central body chamber closure plate immovably secured thereto, thereby sandwiching said central body between said circular cover and said closure plate, with said closure plate subtending an arcuate span substantially equal to said arcuate span between each said radial wall of said central body at said second end thereof and of said dispensing opening of said circular cover, and lying in direct registry with said circular cover, whereby;

said container lid is affixed to a container having a material therein, the container and said container lid affixed thereto are inverted, said circular cover is rotated to misalign said dispensing opening and said closure plate relative to a selected one of said first chambers thereby allowing material from the container to flow downwardly into said selected one of said first chambers, and said circular cover is further rotated to align said dispensing opening of said circular cover with said selected one of said first chambers, thereby positioning said closure plate across said selected one of said first chambers to preclude further flow of material therein, and said selectively openable closure means of said circular cover is opened to allow a predetermined amount of material defined by said arcuate volume of said selected one of said first chambers to flow therefrom.

2. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said central body has a first diameter defined by a concentric circular first wall formed at least partially therearound, with said first wall comprising an outermost wall for each of said first chambers;

said closure plate has an outermost edge substantially in registry with said outermost wall for each of said first chambers, and;

said central body and said circular cover each have a second diameter equal to one another and larger than said first diameter of said central body, and said second chambers each have an outermost wall defined by said second diameter of said central body, thereby allowing material to flow past said outermost edge of said closure plate into said second chambers to provide continuous flow through at least one of said second chambers when said circular cover opening is in registry therewith and said closure means of said circular cover is opened.

3. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said first end of said central body includes a perforated panel across at least one of said second chambers, adapted to restrict material flow therethrough and to provide for the continuous shaking flow of material from the container to which said container lid is affixed.

4. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said central body has an outermost wall formed therearound, with said outermost wall including an internally threaded skirt depending therefrom and adapted for threaded installation to the top of a material container.

5. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said closure means for said dispensing opening is permanently secured to said circular cover by a live hinge.

6. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said central body has an outermost wall formed therearound, and each of said first chambers includes a quantity indication corresponding to each said different volume thereof and marked upon said outermost wall of said central body in registry with a corresponding one of said first chambers.

7. The container lid of claim 6, wherein:

each said quantity indication marked upon said outermost wall of said central body, is inverted to provide for upright legibility of each said quantity indication when said container lid and the container to which said lid is attached, are inverted.

8. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said container lid is adapted for use with a container having a specific material therein, and said circular cover includes identification means thereon providing for the identification of the specific material within the container.

9. The container lid of claim 1, including:

detent means disposed between said central body and said circular cover, said detent means precluding inadvertent slippage of said circular cover relative to said central body.

10. The container lid of claim 1, wherein:

said circular cover has a periphery adapted to provide a good grip for the rotation of said circular cover relative to said central body.

11. A container and container lid with quantity measures, comprising in combination:

a container providing for the storage therein and dispensing of a material therefrom, with said container having a open top;

a container lid having a fixed cylindrical central body with a first end and an opposite second end, a plurality of first chambers and second chambers therein, and a central passage therethrough, with said chambers being disposed radially about said central body and each being separated by a radial wall extending between said first end and said second end of said central body, with each said radial wall being spaced apart from one another by an arcuate span, and with each of said chambers subtending a separate arcuate volume of said cylindrical body and being open to said first end and said second end of said central body, and with at least said first chambers each having a different volume from one another;

said container lid further including a circular cover adapted to rotate relative to said central body, with said cover having an inner surface with a central shaft extending therefrom and adapted to engage said central passage of said central body to secure said cover to said central body adjacent said first end thereof, and further having a dispensing opening subtending an arcuate span of said circular cover substantially equal to said arcuate span between each said radial wall of said central body at said second end thereof, and selectively openable closure means for said dispensing opening, and;

said central shaft of said circular cover of said lid having a distal end with a central body chamber closure plate immovably secured thereto, thereby sandwiching said central body between said circular cover and said closure plate, with said closure plate subtending an arcuate span substantially equal to said arcuate span between each said radial wall of said central body at said second end thereof and of said dispensing opening of said circular cover, and lying in direct registry with said circular cover, whereby;

said container lid is affixed to said open top of said container having a material therein, said container and said container lid affixed thereto are inverted, said circular cover is rotated to misalign said dispensing opening and said closure plate relative to a selected one of said first chambers thereby allowing material from said container to flow downwardly from said open top into said selected one of said first chambers, and said circular cover is further rotated to align said dispensing opening of said circular cover with said selected one of said first chambers, thereby positioning said closure plate across said selected one of said first chambers to preclude further flow of material therein, and said selectively openable closure means of said circular cover is opened to allow a predetermined amount of material defined by said arcuate volume of said selected one of said first chambers to flow therefrom.

12. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said central body of said lid has a first diameter defined by a concentric circular first wall formed at least partially therearound, with said first wall comprising an outermost wall for each of said first chambers;

said closure plate of said lid has an outermost edge substantially in registry with said outermost wall for each of said first chambers, and;

said central body and said circular cover of said lid each have a second diameter equal to one another and larger than said first diameter of said central body, and said second chambers each have an outermost wall defined by said second diameter of said central body, thereby allowing material to flow past said outermost edge of said closure plate into said second chambers to provide continuous flow through at least one of said second chambers when said circular cover opening is in registry therewith and said closure means of said circular cover is opened.

13. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said first end of said central body of said lid includes a perforated panel across at least one of said second chambers, adapted to restrict material flow therethrough and to provide for the continuous shaking flow of material from said container to which said container lid is affixed.

14. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said open top of said container is externally threaded, and;

said central body of said lid has an outermost wall formed therearound, with said outermost wall including an internally threaded skirt depending therefrom and adapted for threaded installation to said top of said container.

15. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said closure means for said dispensing opening of said circular cover of said container lid is permanently secured to said circular cover by a live hinge.

16. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said central body of said lid has an outermost wall formed therearound, and each of said first chambers includes a quantity indication corresponding to each said different volume thereof and marked upon said outermost wall of said central body in registry with a corresponding one of said first chambers.

17. The container and container lid combination of claim 16, wherein:

each said quantity indication marked upon said outermost wall of said central body of said lid, is inverted to provide for upright legibility of each said quantity indication when said container and said container lid are inverted.

18. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said container lid is adapted for use with said container having a specific material therein, and said circular cover includes identification means thereon providing for the identification of the specific material within said container.

19. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, including:

detent means disposed between said central body and said circular cover of said lid, said detent means precluding inadvertent slippage of said circular cover relative to said central body.

20. The container and container lid combination of claim 11, wherein:

said circular cover of said lid has a periphery adapted to provide a good grip for the rotation of said circular cover relative to said central body of said lid.