Spice grinder

• US 20060278746A1
• Filed: 11/11/2004
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Grinders (Pty) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: David Stephen Delbridge, Patrick John Delbridge
• Inventors: Delbridge, Patrick John, Delbridge, David Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,284,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 241/169.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/04 hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/08 Adjusting mechanisms

Abstract

A spice grinder (12) comprising a first, static component (10) which includes threading (14) by means of which it can be screwed onto the threaded neck of a container and a second, rotatable component (16) which fits on the component (10). The first component (10) has a tapering bore with teeth (30) projecting inwardly from the surface of the bore. The second component (16) has a cone (44) with teeth (48) on the outside thereof. The teeth (48) are in the tapering bore whereby grinding takes place in the gap between the teeth of the first and second components upon the second component being rotated. The first and second component (10, 16) have interlocking circumferentially extending ribs and grooves (32, 50, 52) which permit the rotatable component (16) to be moved axially and located in its adjusted position thereby to vary the size of the gap between the teeth (30) of the rotatable component and the teeth (48) of the static component.

Claims

1. A spice grinder comprising a first, static component which includes means by which it can be attached to the neck of a container, a second, rotatable component which fits on the first component, the first component having a tapering bore with teeth projecting inwardly from the surface of the bore and the second component having a toothed portion thereof in said bore whereby grinding takes place in the gap between the teeth of the first and second components upon the second component being rotated with respect to the first component, said first and second components having interlocking circumferentially extending ribs and grooves which permit the rotatable second component to be moved axially with respect to the static first component and located in its adjusted position thereby to vary the spacing between the teeth of the rotatable component and the teeth of the static component.

2. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second component includes a spider comprising spokes with openings therebetween and a cone which constitutes the centre of the spider, the spokes extending outwardly from the cone, and the teeth of the second component being on the outer surface of the cone.

3. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are four equally spaced teeth on the outer surface of the cone.

4. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the teeth of the first component are on the inner surface of a tapering sleeve.

5. A spice grinder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the teeth of the first component are in the form of raised ribs extending along said inner surface, each rib being bounded by two intersecting surfaces of unequal width whereby, in axial view, said inner surface is of serrated form.

6. A spice grinder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.