Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2138717
FIJLD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to
dispensing containers, and more particularly to dispensing
containers for dispensing granulated or particulate household
garden substances such as road salt, calcium, seeds,
granulated chemical fertilizers, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, dispensers such as those disclosed
herein usually comprise a storage area and an opening or
openings through which particulates can be released. These
basic components are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,145,880,
3,198,401, 4,023,714 and in Canadian Patent No. 248,653. In
each of these earlier patents, perforated holes formed in the
top wall of the dispenser are used to release the stored
contents. To disperse the contents through these openings,
the dispenser is usually tilted to one side or completed
inverted. Gr~)vity then causes the weight of the contents to
converge on the perforated holes, often resulting in clogging
of the openings. Complicated designs are used to overcome
this problem to ensure a smooth discharge of the contents.
Frequently, these designs involve partitioning
chambers and/or the use of freely displaceable balls disposed
inside the dis~penser. As a consequence, the storage capacity
of the dispenser is usually reduced while the weight of the
dispensers is increased. Moreover, during operation, periodic
adjustment of the dispenser is required to direct the
particulate through the various chambers.
Another operational inefficiency with known
dispensers involves refilling of particulate matter. Either
a flexible bag containing the particulate is lifted and poured
into the dispenser or a separate scoop is used to transfer
particulate matter into the dispenser. The use of a separate
scoop prolongs the refilling process since the matter must be
transferred tllrough two separate devices. Moreover, the
3~i trilnsfer from the scoop to the dispenser may lead to spillage.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A need therefore exists for a dispenser that is
capable of providing smooth and controlled particulate flow
and which is easy to refill.
According to the present invention, then, there is
provided a dispenser for storing and spreading granular
material, said dispenser comprising, in combination a
dispenser body having an open top for holding the granular
material, an open-bottomed dispenser cap removably disposed
and rotatably engagecl over the open-topped body, the cap
including an endless peripheral wall having at least one
opening formed therein for discharge of the granular material
therethrough, and scoop means extending coaxially from and
partially about the open top of the dispenser body to define
a gaE) therein, the cap being disposed over the scoop means to
be rotatable relative thereto between a first position in
which said at least one opening in the cap is aligned with the
gap for discharging the granular material and a second
position in which said at least one opening and the gap are
non-aligned for storage of the granular material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described
in greater detail, and will be better understood when read in
conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the
dispenser and its cap;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser body;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser cap;
Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are side elevational views of
the cap, each view representing approximately 120 rotation
of the cap; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the refilling
of the dispenser body.
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D~TAILED I)ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring more particularly to the accompanying
drawings, in Figure 1, a combination dispenser/scoop 10
preferably made from plastic, comprises a dispenser body 20
which may be cylindrical, or any other desired shape, and a
scoop member 30 extending upwardly therefrom from about the
upper edge of a reduced diameter neck portion 22 of the body.
A cap 40 is releasably disposed on said dispenser body 20
about scoop 30.
lo The body 20 is stepped inwardly at a shoulder 21,
thereby defining cylindrical neck portion 22. Shoulder 21 is
formed to lie in a substantially flat plane to seal against
the lower lip 43 of cap 40 in use. An annular rib 23 is
provided about the periphery of neck portion 22 adjacent the
upper edge thereof to define a groove 27 between this rib and
shoulder 21. Rib 23 is shown, in the preferred embodiment,
to contain three equally sized slots 24 centred approximately
120 apart (see Figure 2).
Integral with, and extending upwards from the upper
edge of neck portion 22 is an inwardly tapering scoop member
30 shown in the preferred embodiment as generally frusto-
conical in shape, with a gap comprising about one third of its
potential circumference. The height of scoop member 30 is
chosen so that the scoop's upper edge 31 advantageously fits
snugly against the inner surface of cap top 41 when cap 40 is
in,talled on dispenser body 20. The scoop member 30 aids in
fiLling the dispenser body 20 and in regulating the dispersal
of particulates through the cut-away gap portion therein.
The cap 40 is shaped to be complementary to the
scoop, and is provided with a smooth-surfaced lower lip 43
congruent with shoulder 21 of body 20.
A plurality of downwardly and inwardly directed tabs
44, their number and size corresponding to slots 24, are
located a]ong lower lip 43. In the preferred embodiment shown
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in Figure 3, three tabs 44, centred approximately 120 apart,
project inwar~lly around the lower edge of cap 40 from lip 43.
Side wall 42 includes at least one opening 50
through which the contents from body 20 can be dispensed
without removing cap 40. The preferred embodiment of the cap
as shown in Figure 4 includes three distinct sections of side
wall 42, each representing a 120 rotation of the cap. In
Fic3ure 4a, a group of large circular holes 50 suitable for the
spreading of road salt or other large household granular
substances is provided in a one-third section of side wall 42.
Figure 4b displays a plurality of smaller circular holes 51
suitable for spreading smaller granulated products, i.e.,
calcium, grass seed, and dry chemical fertilizers, provided
in the adjacent one-third section of the cap. The final one
third section shown in Figure 4c contains no perforations and
is used to seal the contents within body 20 to prevent
accidental spillage.
Preferably, the diameter of dispenser neck portion
22 is smaLler than the inner diameter of side wall 42 of cap
40 so as to enable cap 40 to be fitted over dispenser neck 22
snllgly. Cap ~0, moreover, is shaped to fit snugly over the
scoop 30, so that in its closed condition, there is no
spillage through any gaps between scoop 30 and cap 40.
Cap 40 is fitted on dispenser body 20 by placing the
open bottom of the cap over the mouth of dispenser body 20 and
aligning the three tabs 44 on lip 43 with the three slots 24
in annular rib 23. Cap 40 is then rotated so that tabs 44
slidably engage groove 27 between rib 23 and shoulder 21.
To release the stored contents, cap 40 is rotated
3() until a desired perforated section (50,51) of appropriately
sized openings overlaps the cut-away portion of scoop 30. The
dispenser 10 is then tilted in the direction of the selected
perforations to discharge the particulates. The dispenser may
be agitated slightly to assist in the free flow of its
contents and to prevent binding.
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The side dispensing mechanism incorporated in the
present invention permits dispensing with minimal tilting of
the dispenser. This prevents a build-up of contents around
the dispenser opening (50,51) during use and a smooth and
continuous discharge can be provided without the need for
complicated designs that are more commonly found in
conventio]lal top-releasing dispensers. In addition, the rate
of dispersal can be more easily adjusted through the degree
that dispenser 10 is tilted, and the extent to which it is
lo agitated.
Dispenser 10 can also be used to store contents when
not in use to dispense them. By rotating cap 40 so that the
section of cap side wall 42 containing no perforations
overlaps the cut-away portion of member 30, dispenser 10 is
sealed from the elements and to prevent spills.
Filling or refilling dispenser 20 can also be
expeditiously effected with the present invention. Unlike
conventional dispensers which require a separate device to
transfer parti,culates into the dispenser body, the present
invention provides a means whereby the desired particulate may
be loaded without the use of a separate scoop.
To fill/refill dispenser 10, cap 40 is first removed
by a]igning tabs 44 with slots 24 in rib 23 and then pulling
the cap free of body 20 to expose scoop 30. Using scoop 30,
particulate matter is then scooped into dispenser body 20.
This process, depicted in Figure 5, is repeated until
dispenser body 20 is filled with the desired amount of
material.
The above-described embodiments of the present
invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred
embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to
limit the scope of the present invention. Various
modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled
in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the present
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invention. The only limitations to the scope of the present
invention are set out in the following appended claims.
