초록 ▼

A self-contained grinding device, for pepper corns and the like, includes only three molded plastic elements and can be attached to a suitable container which stores the material to be ground. The device includes two cylindrical housings which are end connected to form a rotary joint and an elongate

A self-contained grinding device, for pepper corns and the like, includes only three molded plastic elements and can be attached to a suitable container which stores the material to be ground. The device includes two cylindrical housings which are end connected to form a rotary joint and an elongate gear member which has a grinding head portion which cooperates with a grinding chamber formed in a first housing remote from the container. The gear member has a shaft portion with a bifurcated end which extends from the first housing into a second housing connected to the container. The gear member is fixed to the second housing by a snap-fitting engagement of the bifurcated free end with a transverse bridge arm which is integrally formed with the second housing. The bridge arm is additionally connected to a hopper wall similarly integrally formed with the second housing, which hopper wall feeds the pepper corns from the container to the grinding chamber in the first housing. The second housing includes projections suitable for engaging the external threads of the container such as a jar. The gear member is a grinding element as well as a means for maintaining the three elements of the grinding device together both when connected or disconnected from the storage container. A projection is advantageously provided in the grinding chamber which cooperates with the grinding head portion to ensure effective grinding action of the pepper corns which reach the grinding chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

A self-contained grinding device for pepper corns and the like attachable to a container for pepper corns, the grinding device comprising a first hollow housing having one axial end thereof provided with an end wall, said end wall being formed with a grinding chamber defining outer grinding means an

A self-contained grinding device for pepper corns and the like attachable to a container for pepper corns, the grinding device comprising a first hollow housing having one axial end thereof provided with an end wall, said end wall being formed with a grinding chamber defining outer grinding means and a dispensing opening; a second hollow housing having one axial end thereof provided with a tapered wall in the nature of a hopper proximate to said first housing and converging in the direction thereof, the other end of said first housing and said one end of said second housing together forming a rotary joint to permit relative rotation between said housings when they are joined in axial alignment, said tapered wall having a discharging opening at the narrowed end thereof which registers with said grinding chamber to permit the pepper corns to be fed by said tapered wall into said grinding chamber when said discharging opening is positioned above said grinding chamber, the other end of said second housing being provided with connecting means for connecting the same to a container containing the pepper corns, said second housing further having a generally transverse bridge arm; and a gear member defining an inner grinding means, said gear member having a head portion receivable within said grinding chamber for limited axial movements therein and cooperating therewith to grind the pepper corns within said grinding chamber upon relative rotation of said inner and outer grinding means, said gear member further having a shaft portion projecting from said head portion and extending through said first housing and into said second housing, said shaft portion having a bifurcated free end and a length to permit snap-fitting engagement with said bridge arm to substantially lock the relative axial positions of said first and second housings and said gear member to each other and only permit rotational movements of said second housing and said gear member relative to said first housing, whereby rotation of said first and second housings relative to each other causes corresponding rotation of said inner and outer grinding means relative to each other and causes grinding of pepper corns which are guided by said tapered wall from the container to said grinding chamber.