초록 ▼

A system for dispensing a granular product. The system includes a refillable, sealable receptacle, having a neck at its lower end, a rotatable and flexible impeller within the neck, with the shape and size of the impeller conforming generally to the shape and size of the neck, providing sealing for

A system for dispensing a granular product. The system includes a refillable, sealable receptacle, having a neck at its lower end, a rotatable and flexible impeller within the neck, with the shape and size of the impeller conforming generally to the shape and size of the neck, providing sealing for maintaining the freshness of the granular product. Preferably the impeller comprises a hollow central core, and a shaft extends through the hollow core into at least one through-hole formed in the neck. A handle is present for turning the shaft to rotate the impeller. A base is provided with a retaining arm for removably receiving the receptacle. The system is capable of easy disassembly for cleaning, by removal of the receptacle and impeller from within the receptacle. Also provided is a multi-system for dispensing a plurality of products; having several receptacles and associated dispensing mechanisms mounted on a single support.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A system for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of a granular product, the system comprising: a receptacle having a lower end defining a neck portion having an inner wall forming a dispensing aperture; an impeller rotatably disposed in said neck portion a

The invention claimed is: 1. A system for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of a granular product, the system comprising: a receptacle having a lower end defining a neck portion having an inner wall forming a dispensing aperture; an impeller rotatably disposed in said neck portion and having a hollow central core rotatably mounted at one end on a shaft and at its other end on a co-axial, integrally form-fitted adaptor pin, said shaft and adaptor pin each being respectively supported by one of first and second oppositely-located through-holes formed in said receptacle neck portion, said impeller including a plurality of flexible blades configured to sealingly engage said inner wall of said receptacle, for maintaining the hygiene and freshness of the granular product, said flexible blades defining a predetermined measured volume between adjacent ones thereof and said inner wall of said neck portion, a handle secured to said impeller shaft for rotating said impeller; means for determining that said handle is rotated to a sufficient extent so as to align said predetermined measured volume with said dispensing aperture, thus insuring portion control; and a support for releasably receiving and supporting said receptacle a spaced distance from a supporting surface; wherein granular product filling an upper end of said receptacle will move therefrom into said neck portion where said predetermined measured volume of the granular product is aligned with and dispensed through said aperture substantially without breakage in response to rotation of said handle, said system being capable of easy disassembly for cleaning, said disassembly being performed by removal of said receptacle from said support and by removal of said shaft external to said receptacle via said first through-hole followed by removal of said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin end of said hollow central core from said second through-hole internal to said receptacle, enabling removal of said impeller through said upper end of said receptacle, said system being capable of re-assembly by replacing said impeller inside said receptacle through said upper end so as to align and insert said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin end within said second oppositely-located through-hole from within said receptacle and anchoring it therein, followed by replacement of said shaft via said first oppositely-located through-hole, which is easily aligned with said impeller hollow central core, thus enabling easy interchangeability of said impeller and adjustable portion control, by variation of said predetermined measured volume associated with a replacement impeller. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said support comprises: a support stand having a base portion, an upward portion extending generally outwardly from said base portion, and a retaining arm portion extending generally outwardly of said upward portion, a spaced distance from said base portion, said arm portion being arranged for releasably receiving said receptacle. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said base portion comprises a slotted portion upon which a receiving bowl may be placed for filling with a predetermined measured volume of a dispensed granular product, and a removable tray situated below said slotted portion, said removable tray allowing for easy cleaning and removal of spilled product from said slotted portion. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said support holds said receptacle in an elevated orientation to allow the insertion of said receiving bowl beneath said dispensing aperture. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the location of said receptacle upon said support is adjustable in the vertical direction, allowing adjustment of the spacing between the lower end of the receptacle and the supporting surface, for placement of receiving bowls of various dimensions under the lower end of said receptacle. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said flexible impeller is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, plastic and rubber. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said handle is situated on a front side of said neck portion for direct access thereto. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein rotation of said impeller brings a first of said measuring cavities into an upwardly facing position such that said cavity is filled with granular product contained within said receptacle, and further rotation of said impeller brings said cavity opposite said dispensing aperture, thereby dispensing a predetermined quantity of granular product. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said receptacle is shaped as a funnel comprising a downwardly-tapering portion from which said neck extends downwardly therefrom. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is provided with a removable and resealable upper lid. 11. The system of claim 1 for use as a cereal dispenser upon filling said receptacle with cereal. 12. The system of claim 1 for use in dispensing a granular food product selected from the group consisting of: nuts, candy, pretzels, confections, rice, beans, and coffee, upon filling said receptacle with said selected granular food product. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the diameter or radial cross-section of said impeller as measured across two generally opposing blades, is slightly larger than that of said neck, providing sealing of said neck for maintaining the freshness of a granular product. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein said handle is situated on the right side or left side of said neck portion with respect to a user facing said supporting surface. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein said impeller comprises a plurality of semicircular flexible blades. 16. A multi-system for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of a plurality of granular products, comprising: a plurality of receptacles, each with its associated rotatable dispensing impeller and handle as described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of receptacles are supported by a single base having a plurality of retaining means for removably receiving said plurality of receptacles therein. 17. The multi-system of claim 16, wherein one of said receptacles and its associated impeller differ in size from said remaining receptacles, for dispensing a granular product having characteristics which differ significantly from the granular product to be dispensed from the remaining receptacles. 18. The multi-system of claim 17, wherein one of said receptacles is sized to dispense coffee, and the remainder of said receptacles are sized to dispense processed cereal flakes having a bulky form. 19. The multi-system of claim 16, wherein at least two of said receptacles share a common partition wall. 20. The system of claim 1, for use in dispensing pet food, upon filling said receptacle with same. 21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a dish from which a pet may feed, present under said dispensing aperture. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said handle is situated on the right side or left side of said neck portion with respect to a user facing said supporting surface, allowing a pet access to said dish. 23. The system of claim 21, wherein said dish is removable from under said dispensing aperture, allowing cleaning of said dish. 24. The system of claim 1, wherein said support comprises a base, and recesses are present in said base for insertion of said receptacle therein, such that said receptacle is supported directly by said base, and said receptacle is removable from said recesses for cleaning of said system. 25. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is provided with wall-mounting means. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein said wall-mounting means comprise a vertical wall-mountable base having a retaining arm protruding horizontally therefrom, and said receptacle is removably received in said retaining arm protruding from said wall-mountable base. 27. The system of claim 1, wherein said handle is rotatable in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, wherein rotation in either direction results in dispensing of said product when a filled measuring compartment becomes aligned with the dispensing aperture. 28. The system of claim 1, wherein the diameter or radial cross-section of said impeller as measured across two generally opposing blades, is similar to that of said neck, providing sealing of said neck for maintaining the hygiene and freshness of a granular product. 29. The system of claim 1 wherein said impeller comprises a hollow central core and a shaft which extends into said hollow core of said impeller, wherein a first end of said shaft extends beyond a through-hole formed in the neck portion to mate with a handle for turning said shaft to rotate said impeller, and a second end of said shaft is rotatably held within said neck portion such that said shaft is in a horizontal plane. 30. The system of claim 29 wherein said shaft is provided with securing means to secure said shaft within said neck. 31. The system of claim 29, wherein said securing means comprise a threaded nut, which mates with a threaded portion on one end of said shaft. 32. The system of claim 29, wherein said shaft is provided with a flat side, which mates with a flat side present upon the inner side of the core of said impeller, said mating ensuring that rotation of said shaft via rotation of said handle results in rotation of said impeller. 33. The system of claim 29, wherein the second end of said shaft extends beyond a second through-hole formed in said neck, said second through-hole positioned diametrically opposite said first through-hole. 34. The system of claim 29, wherein said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin extends from one end of the hollow core of said impeller, said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin extending beyond said impeller to enter said second through-hole formed in said neck, for rotatably holding said impeller in said neck. 35. The system of claim 29, wherein said retaining means for removably receiving said receptacle therein, are selected from the group consisting of: a retaining chain and a flexible retaining band. 36. A system for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of a granular product, the system comprising: a receptacle having a lower end defining a neck portion with a dispensing aperture; a rotatable impeller disposed in said neck portion and having a hollow central core rotatably mounted on a shaft supported at its ends by first and second oppositely located through-holes formed in said receptacle neck portion, said impeller including a plurality of flexible blades that abut inner walls of said neck portion and form a seal therewith, adjacent ones of said plurality of flexible blades defining measuring cavities said flexible blades being formed of material having sufficient flexibility to prevent breakage of the granular product, said material being selected from silicone, rubber and the like, said impeller having an integrally form-fitted adaptor pin at one end of said hollow central core for rotatable mounting in second said through-hole; a handle secured to said impeller for turning said impeller; means for determining that said handle is rotated to a sufficient extent so as to align said measuring cavities with said dispensing aperture, thus insuring portion control; and a support stand for releasably receiving said receptacle a spaced distance from a supporting surface, said support stand including a base portion for engaging the supporting surface and a connecting portion for receiving said receptacle, the granular product moving from said receptacle to a measuring cavity and through said dispensing aperture substantially without breakage in response to rotation of said handle, wherein said system is capable of easy disassembly for cleaning, said disassembly being performed by removal of said receptacle from said support stand and by removal of said shaft external to said receptacle via said first through-hole followed by removal of said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin end of said hollow central core from said second through-hole internal to said receptacle enabling removal of said handle and impeller through upper end of said receptacle, thus enabling easy interchangeability of said impeller and adjustable portion control, by variation of said predetermined measured volume associated with a replacement impeller. 37. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cap shaped to seal the dispensing aperture, for maintaining freshness of the contents of the receptacle. 38. The multi-system of claim 16, further comprising a cap contoured to seal all dispensing apertures for maintaining freshness of the contents of the receptacles. 39. A method for disassembly and cleaning of a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a predetermined measured quantity of a granular product, after being emptied of any granular product residue, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises: a receptacle having a lower end defining a neck portion having an inner wall forming a dispensing aperture; an impeller rotatably disposed in said neck portion and rotatably mounted to said receptacle, said impeller including a plurality of flexible blades configured to sealingly engage said inner wall of said receptacle, a predetermined measured volume defined between adjacent ones of said flexible blades and said inner wall of said neck portion; a stand for removably supporting said receptacle; and a handle rotatably secured to said impeller for rotating said impeller, said handle mounted on one end of a removable shaft inserted within a hollow core of said impeller and supported by oppositely-located first and second through-holes formed in said receptacle, said impeller having an integrally form-fitted adaptor pin at one end of said hollow central core for rotatable mounting in one of said through-holes, such that the granular product filling an upper end of said receptacle will move therefrom into said neck portion such that a predetermined measured volume of the granular product is dispensed substantially without breakage through said aperture in response to rotation of said handle, said disassembly and cleaning method comprising: removing said receptacle from said stand; withdrawing said shaft from said hollow core by pulling on said handle connected to said shaft; removing said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin end of said hollow central core from said one of said through-holes internal to said receptacle; and lifting said impeller out of said receptacle; wherein said receptacle, said fastener, said shaft and handle, and said impeller are then cleanable prior to reassembly. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein said dispensing mechanism is reassembled after cleaning in a method comprising: replacing said receptacle into said stand; replacing said impeller inside said receptacle so as to align said integrally form-fitted adaptor pin end of said hollow central core with one of said oppositely-located through-holes so as to anchor it therein; inserting said shaft via a first of said through-holes and into said hollow core to securely and sealably hold said impeller in rotatable contact with said inner wall of said receptacle; and refilling a quantity of granular product into said receptacle ready for dispensing in said predetermined measured volume by rotation of said handle.