Device and method for airtight storage and grinding of herbs

• US 9,730,554 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erik Chan
• Original Assignee: Erik Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Francis, Faye
• Application Number:
  US14/938,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20160128513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 2411691
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/34 hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/04 Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/08 within vertical containers B02C18/062, B02C18/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes

Abstract

A storage and grinding device and method provides the dual functionality of forming an airtight compartment for storing herbs to protect their flavor and essence, and disassembling into a grinder to grind, tear, and shear the herbs. The device forms an airtight compartment with detachable lids that detach from the compartment and join together to form a unitary grinder, generally for grinding the contents of the compartment. A first and second lid form an airtight seal over each end of the compartment. The airtight seal is formed when the first and second lids form a hermetic seal at each end of the compartment. The airtight seal enhances the flavor and smell of the herbs by retaining the essence within the compartment and keeping the herbs impervious to gases. The first and second lids can disengage from each end of compartment, and engage each other to form a unitary grinder.

Claims

1. A combination storage and grinding device, the device comprising:

a compartment defined by a first compartment end and a second compartment end from which extend compartment sidewalls defined by a compartment diameter, the compartment further defined by a cavity;

a first lid defined by a first interior portion and a first exterior portion,

the first interior portion having a plurality of first grinding members,

the first exterior portion having a first lid end from which extends a first lid sidewall, the first lid sidewall defined by a first lid diameter, the first lid diameter configured to be infinitesimally smaller or larger than the compartment diameter,

the first lid disposed to detachably mate with the first compartment end, wherein an airtight seal forms between the compartment sidewalls and the first lid sidewall; and

a second lid defined by a second interior portion and a second exterior portion,

the second interior portion having a plurality of second grinding members,

the second exterior portion having a second lid end from which extends a second lid sidewall, the second lid sidewall defined by a second lid diameter, the second lid diameter configured to be infinitesimally smaller or larger than the compartment diameter,

the second lid disposed to detachably mate with the second compartment end, wherein an airtight seal forms between the compartment sidewalls and the first lid sidewall,

the second lid further disposed to detachably mate with the first lid, wherein a compressive and rotational force applied to the first lid and the second lid generates a grinding action between the plurality of first grinding members and the plurality of second grinding members.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the compartment has a generally cylindrical shape.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the first lid and the second lid include at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a cylindrical shape, an elongated tetrahedron, and an elongated hexahedron.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the shapes of the plurality of first grinding members include at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a beveled shape, a rectangular shape, a diamond shape, a confetti shape, a frustoconical shape, and a frustoconical pentrahedral shape.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the shapes of the plurality of second grinding members include at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a beveled shape, a rectangular shape, a diamond shape, a confetti shape, a frustoconical shape, and a frustoconical pentrahedral shape.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first lid diameter is configured to be infinitesimally smaller or larger than the second lid diameter for enabling a snug fit while mated.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first lid sidewall and the second lid sidewall are magnetized.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the attraction formed by the magnetization of the first lid sidewall and the second lid sidewall enables the creation of a snug fit as a compressive and rotational force is applied on the first lid and/or the second lid.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the compartment comprises at least one barrier.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the barrier is configured to separate contents in the cavity of the compartment.

11. The device of claim 1, further including at least one O-ring, the at least one O-ring configured to position on the first interior portion of the first lid and the second interior portion of the second lid, the at least one O-ring further configured to enable an airtight closure of the compartment.

12. A combination storage and grinding device, the device comprising:

a compartment defined by a first compartment end and a second compartment end from which extend compartment sidewalls defined by a compartment diameter, the compartment further defined by a cavity, the compartment further defined by a barrier, the barrier configured to segregate the cavity of the compartment;

a first lid defined by a first interior portion and a first exterior portion,

the first interior portion having a plurality of first grinding members,

the first exterior portion having a first lid end from which extends a first lid sidewall, the first lid sidewall defined by a first lid diameter, the first lid diameter configured to be infinitesimally smaller or larger than the compartment diameter, the first lid sidewall configured to be magnetized;

the first lid disposed to detachably mate with the first compartment end, wherein an airtight seal forms between the compartment sidewalls and the first lid sidewall;

a second lid defined by a second interior portion and a second exterior portion,

the second interior portion having a plurality of second grinding members,

the second exterior portion having a second lid end from which extends a second lid sidewall, the second lid sidewall defined by a second lid diameter, the second lid diameter configured to be infinitesimally smaller or larger than the compartment diameter, the second lid sidewall configured to be magnetized,

the second lid disposed to detachably mate with the second compartment end, wherein an airtight seal forms between the compartment sidewalls and the first lid sidewall,

the second lid further disposed to detachably mate with the first lid, wherein a compressive and rotational force applied to the first lid and the second lid generates a grinding action between the plurality of first grinding members and the plurality of second grinding members; and

at least one O-ring, the at least one O-ring configured to position on the first interior portion of the first lid and the second interior portion of the second lid, the at least one O-ring further configured to enable an airtight closure of the compartment.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the compartment has a generally cylindrical shape.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the shape of the first lid and the second lid include at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a cylindrical shape, an elongated tetrahedron, and an elongated hexahedron.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the shapes of the plurality of first grinding members and the plurality of second grinding members include at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a conical shape, a beveled shape, a rectangular shape, a diamond shape, a confetti shape, a frustoconical shape, and a frustoconical pentrahedral shape.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the first lid diameter is configured to be infinitesimally smaller or larger than the second lid diameter for enabling a snug fit while mated.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the material of the device includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

metal, wood, ceramic, and a rigid polymer.

18. A method for airtight storage and grinding of herbs, the method comprising:

providing herb;

Providing a storage and grinding device

positioning the herb in a compartment of the storage and grinding device;

fastening a first lid over a first compartment end of the compartment;

fastening a second lid over a second compartment end of the compartment;

creating an airtight seal in the compartment;

detaching the first lid from the first compartment end and the second lid from the second compartment end;

positioning the herb between a plurality of first grinding members in the first lid and a plurality of second grinding members in the second lid;

mating a first lid sidewall of the first lid with a second lid sidewall of the second lid; and

applying compressive and rotational force to the first lid and the second lid, the compressive and rotational force configured to generate a grinding action between the plurality of first grinding members and the plurality of second grinding members.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the compartment has a generally cylindrical shape.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the shape of the first lid and the second lid include at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a cylindrical shape, an elongated tetrahedron, and an elongated hexahedron.