DISPENSING DEVICE FOR EDIBLE GOODS AND/OR NOVELTIES

• US 20120024893A1
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing Incorporated (Bebe Stores, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing Incorporated (Bebe Stores, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mills, Stephen B., Tom, Stevenson
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/63
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0083 Containers comprising an internal rotating wing for expelling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor

Abstract

A dispensing device may include a main body including a wall having a dispensing mouth defined in the wall; a storage portion, wherein the storage portion is retained by the main body; and a conveyance path providing communication between the storage portion and the dispensing mouth. In addition, the dispensing device may include a conveyor disposed in the conveyance path; a drive motor mechanically coupled to the conveyor; and a sensor, wherein the sensor is directly or indirectly electrically coupled to the drive motor and the sensor is in optical communication with the environment proximate to the dispensing mouth.

Claims

1. A dispensing device, comprising:

a main body including a wall having a dispensing mouth defined in said wall;

a storage portion, wherein said storage portion is retained by said main body;

a conveyance path providing communication between said storage portion and said dispensing mouth;

a conveyor disposed in said conveyance path;

a drive motor mechanically coupled to said conveyor; and

a sensor, wherein said sensor is directly or indirectly electrically coupled to said drive motor and said sensor is in optical communication with the environment proximate to said dispensing mouth.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said sensor is mounted within said main body and optical communication to the environment is provided through a portion of said conveyance path and through said dispensing mouth.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry electrically coupled to said sensor and to said drive motor, wherein said circuitry is configured to operate said drive motor.

4. The dispensing device of claim 3, wherein said circuitry is configured to activate said drive motor for a time period upon receiving an output from said sensor indicating the presence of a receptacle proximal to said dispensing mouth.

5. The dispensing device of claim 3, wherein said circuitry further comprising a variable resistor configured to control the rate of conveyance of said conveyor.

6. The dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a vibratory device mechanically coupled directly or indirectly to said conveyance path configured to impart mechanical vibration to said dispensing device.

7. A dispensing device, comprising:

a tank including a first end and a second end;

a funnel positioned at said second end of said tank, wherein said funnel has a funnel opening defined therein;

a main body, defining a dispensing mouth and including at least one lip, wherein said tank and funnel are supported on said at least one lip;

a conveyance tube at least partially disposed in said main body defining at least a portion of a conveyance path from said funnel opening to said dispensing mouth;

an auger rotatably positioned in said conveyance tube;

a drive motor mechanically coupled to said auger; and

an optical sensor mounted in said main body wherein said sensor is directly or indirectly electrically coupled to said drive motor.

8. The dispensing device of claim 7, wherein said conveyance tube includes a first opening and a second opening, wherein said first opening is in communication with said funnel opening and said second opening is directly or indirectly in communication with said dispensing mouth.

9. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising a locating tab extending from said second end of said tank;

a notch in said main body wall configured to receive said locating tab;

a first portion of a locating path defined in said locating tab; and

a second portion of said locating path defined in said main body wall and a removable mechanical fastener received in said locating path.

10. The dispensing device of claim 8, wherein a third portion of said locating path is defined in said funnel.

11. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising circuitry electrically coupled to said sensor and said drive motor, wherein said circuitry is configured to operate said drive motor.

12. The dispensing device of claim 7, wherein said circuitry is configured to activate said drive motor for a time period upon receiving an output from said sensor and said output indicates the presence of a receptacle proximal to said dispensing mouth.

13. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising a vibratory motor and an eccentric body rotatably driven by said vibratory motor and configured to impart mechanical vibration to said dispensing device, wherein said vibratory motor is at least partially positioned within said main body.

14. The dispensing device of claim 7, wherein said main body includes an inner cover mounted in said main body having a recess defined therein, wherein said conveyance tube is supported in said recess.

15. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising a fill opening defined in said first end of said tank and a lid removably mounted in said fill opening.

16. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising an optical path optically coupling said optical sensor to the environment, wherein at least a portion of said optical path is defined by said dispensing mouth.

17. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising a feed ramp positioned between said conveyance tube and said dispensing mouth defining a portion of said conveyance path;

a feed ramp cover, wherein said optical sensor is mounted on said feed ramp cover; and

a window defined in said feed ramp cover, wherein said window defines a portion of said optical path.

18. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising a stand including an upright portion and a base, wherein said upright portion is mechanically coupled to said main body.

19. The dispensing device of claim 17, wherein said stand further includes a battery compartment.

20. The dispensing device of claim 7, further comprising a power supply.

21. A dispensing device, comprising:

a main body;

a storage portion retained by said main body;

a conveyance path including a conveyance tube positioned within said main body, an auger rotatably disposed in said conveyance tube, and a dispensing mouth defined in said main body;

a drive motor mechanically coupled to said auger;

circuitry electrically coupled to said drive motor and configured to operate said drive motor; and

a sensor, wherein said sensor is coupled to said circuitry and said sensor is in optical communication with the environment proximate to said dispensing mouth.

22. The dispensing device of claim 21, wherein said circuitry is configured to turn on said drive motor for a time period when said circuitry receives an output from said sensor and after the expiration of said time period turn off said drive motor.

23. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein said circuitry is further configured to ignore said output from said sensor for a wait period after said drive motor has been turned on, such that said drive motor is not turned on during said wait period.

24. The dispensing device of claim 21, wherein said circuitry comprises a speed adjusting variable resistor, wherein adjustment of said variable resistor adjusts the speed said auger rotates.

25. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein said circuitry comprises a time period adjusting variable resistor configured to adjust a time period.

26. The dispensing device of claim 23, wherein said circuitry comprises a wait period adjusting variable resistor configured to adjust said wait period.