Device for dispensing granular material

• US 6,315,170 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey L. Bendio, Susan A. Thomson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey L. Bendio, Susan A. Thomson
• Inventors: Thomson, Susan A, Bendio, Jeffrey L
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cartagena, Melvin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/514,876
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 222/359, 222/360, 222/361, 222/362, 222/339, 222/370, 141/174, 141/175
• US Class Current: 222/361
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/18 for fluent solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/40 for fluent solid material

Abstract

A dispensing device is adapted for release of a measured quantity of granular material. A base is generally disk-shaped. A stop is carried by an upper surface of the base, and is adjustably positionable so that when a container to be filled is moved into contact with the stop, that container is correctly positioned. A body is attached to a support ledge defined about the perimeter of the base. The body is generally cylindrical, and defines an interior cavity with access through a front opening and a circular top defining an off-center hole. A slide is supported by the top, and is manually movable between a loading position wherein a spring biasing the slide is stressed, and a dispensing position wherein the spring is relaxed. A slide enclosure is attached to the upper rim of the body portion. An input funnel provides a larger upper circular rim and a smaller lower circular rim which is concentric with the upper rim when viewed from the end. Short or long dispensing funnels may be attached a collar extending from the rim of the off-center hole in the top of the body. A canister containing powdered or granular material, may be attached with an inverted orientation to the upper rim of the input funnel.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for releasing a measured quantity of granular material from a canister containing granular material, the dispensing device comprising:

(A) a body portion having a sidewall which defines an interior cavity and having a top which defines a hole;

(B) a disk-shaped base, supporting the body portion, the disk-shaped base defining a plurality of adjustment holes between an upper and a lower surface;

(C) a slide, supported on an upper surface of the top of the body portion, the slide having a body within which a cavity is defined;

(D) activation means, extending from the slide, for moving the slide between a loading position and a dispensing position;

(E) a spring, in contact with the slide, wherein the spring biases the position of the slide;

(F) a slide enclosure, attached to an upper rim of the body portion, enclosing the slide; and

(G) an input funnel having an upper circular rim which is concentric with the sidewall of the body when viewed on end, and a lower circular rim which is carried by a rim of a hole defined in the upper surface of the slide enclosure.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the activation means comprises an activation handle.

3. The dispensing device of claim 2, additionally comprising left and right finger supports carried by the slide enclosure.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the activation means comprises at least one leg extending through a slot defined in the top of the body into an interior cavity of the body.

5. The dispensing device of claim 4, further comprising a stop, adjustably carried by the adjustment holes, having at least one fence extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface of the disk-shaped base.

6. The dispensing device of claim 5, further comprising a dispensing funnel attached to a collar extending from a rim of the hole defined in the top of the body portion.

7. The dispensing device of claim 6, further comprising attachment, means defined on the upper circular rim of the input funnel, for attachment of a canister containing granular material.

8. A dispensing device, for releasing a measured quantity of granular material, comprising:

(A) a disk-shaped base defining a plurality of adjustment holes between an upper and a lower surface;

(B) a stop, adjustably carried by the adjustment holes, having at least one fence extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface of the disk-shaped base;

(C) a body portion, carried by the base, having a sidewall which defines an interior cavity and having a top which defines a hole;

(D) a slide, supported on an upper surface of the top of the body portion, the slide having a body within which a cavity is defined;

(E) activation means, extending from the slide, for moving the slide between a stressed loading position and a relaxed dispensing position;

(F) a spring, in contact with the slide, wherein the spring biases the slide into a dispensing position,

(G) a slide enclosure, attached to an upper rim of the body portion, enclosing the slide;

(H) an input funnel having an upper circular rim which is concentric with the sidewall of the body when viewed on end, and a lower circular rim which is carried by a rim of a hole defined in the upper surface of the slide enclosure;

(I) a canister, attached to the upper circular rim of the input funnel, having a clear viewing window defined vertically, between a top end and a bottom end of the canister;

(J) a dispensing funnel attached to a collar extending from a rim of the hole defined in the top of the body portion; and

(K) attachment means, defined on the upper circular rim of the input funnel, for attachment of a canister containing granular material.