IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0599501
(2015-01-17)
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등록번호 |
US-9347812
(2016-05-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
An adjustable volumetric measuring utensil has an adjustable inner member including a repositionable dam member and an outer member including a fixed wall having an incurvate interior surface forming a non-horizontally oriented channel, such that the interior surface of the channel mates with the da
An adjustable volumetric measuring utensil has an adjustable inner member including a repositionable dam member and an outer member including a fixed wall having an incurvate interior surface forming a non-horizontally oriented channel, such that the interior surface of the channel mates with the dam member at a plurality of locations to form a measuring chamber of variable volume, the channel having a full measure indicator defining a horizontal upper boundary plane delimiting from above the measuring chamber of variable volume and defining the correct positioning of the horizontal upper surface of a measured material, whereby the dam member can be positioned partly above and partly below the horizontal upper boundary plane and whereby a variable portion of the upstream face of the dam member is in contact with the measured material, depending on its positioning, the utensil including a series of volumetric measuring indicia or recipe conversion indicia.
대표청구항
▼
1. An adjustable volumetric measuring utensil comprising: (a) an adjustable inner member including a repositionable dam member comprising an upstream face having a peripheral leading edge having a reference point of greatest depth,(b) an outer member including a fixed wall defining an interior space
1. An adjustable volumetric measuring utensil comprising: (a) an adjustable inner member including a repositionable dam member comprising an upstream face having a peripheral leading edge having a reference point of greatest depth,(b) an outer member including a fixed wall defining an interior space and having an incurvate interior surface mating with the peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the repositionable dam member at at least four predetermined locations upon the incurvate interior surface, the incurvate interior surface having an upper edge that is open and unobstructed, the outer member having a full measure indicator selected from the group consisting of a lowest portion of the upper edge of the incurvate interior surface wherein the lowest portion of the upper edge is horizontal, a distinguishing mark, a pointer, an indicator, an indicium, a distinguishing physical feature, an imprinted horizontal line of demarcation and an incised horizontal line of demarcation, wherein the full measure indicator defines a horizontal upper boundary plane delimiting the incurvate interior surface and wherein, for a measured quantity of material, the full measure indicator defines a horizontal upper surface of full measure, such that the dam member can be repositioned to any one of the plurality of predetermined locations upon the incurvate interior surface to define a measuring chamber of variable volume depending on the positioning of the dam member upon the incurvate interior surface, the measuring chamber being bounded above by the horizontal upper boundary plane; the at least four predetermined locations comprising a first location defining a first positioning of the dam member, defining a first positioning of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member, defining a first predetermined volumetric measurement, and defining a first reference point of greatest depth of the peripheral leading edge, having a depth beneath the horizontal upper boundary plane of D1, a second location defining a second positioning of the dam member defining a second positioning of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member, defining a second predetermined volumetric measurement, and defining a second reference point of greatest depth of the peripheral leading edge, having a depth beneath the horizontal upper boundary plane of D2 lower than D1, a third location defining a third positioning of the dam member defining a third positioning of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member, defining a third predetermined volumetric measurement, and defining a third reference point of greatest depth of the peripheral leading edge, having a depth beneath the horizontal upper boundary plane of D3 lower than D2, and a fourth location defining a fourth positioning of the dam member defining a fourth positioning of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member, defining a fourth predetermined volumetric measurement, and defining a fourth reference point of greatest depth of the peripheral leading edge, having a depth beneath the horizontal upper boundary plane of D4 lower than D3; the upstream face of the dam member comprising a lower surface of variable area depending on the positioning of the dam member upon the incurvate interior surface, the lower surface being that part of the upstream face of the dam member that is in contact with the volume of measured material, the lower surface being delimited above by the horizontal upper boundary plane and delimited laterally and below by the peripheral leading edge, wherein the first positioning of the dam member defines a first positioning of the upstream face comprising a first lower surface having a vertical height H1 and an area A1 and wherein the first positioning of the dam member defines a first measuring chamber having a first volume V1; wherein the second positioning of the dam member defines a second positioning of the upstream face comprising a second lower surface having a vertical height H2 greater than H1 and an area A2 greater than A1 and wherein the second positioning of the repositionable dam member defines a second measuring chamber having a second volume V2 greater than V1, the second volume V2 comprising the first volume V1 and an additional volume VT including a portion of the interior space below depth D1; and wherein the third positioning of the dam member defines a third positioning of the upstream face comprising a third lower surface having a vertical height H3 greater than H2 and an area A3 greater than A2 and wherein the third positioning of the repositionable dam member defines a third measuring chamber having a third volume V3 greater than V2, the third volume V3 comprising the second volume V2 and an additional volume V3′ including a portion of the interior space below depth D2; and wherein the fourth positioning of the dam member defines a fourth positioning of the upstream face comprising a fourth lower surface having a vertical height H4 greater than H3 and an area A4 greater than A3 and wherein the fourth positioning of the repositionable dam member defines a fourth measuring chamber having a fourth volume V4 greater than V3, the fourth volume V4 comprising the third volume V3 and an additional volume V4′ including a portion of the interior space below depth D3,(c) a series of volumetric measuring indicia including, for each one of the at least four predetermined positionings of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member defining one of the at least four predetermined volumetric measurements, an aligned pair of distinguishing marks selected from the group consisting of an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member; and an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the outer member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member, and(d) releasable attachment means for attaching the repositionable dam member of the adjustable inner member to the incurvate interior surface of the outer member to form a measuring assembly when the dam member is fitted into the incurvate interior surface at one of the at least four predetermined locations. 2. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, further comprising at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia and a legend indicating a recipe conversion factor, the second series of volumetric measuring indicia being of a selected ratio to but indicating a volume different from the actual volume of the measured quantity of material in the measuring utensil such that the volume indicated is the product of the actual volume times the reciprocal of the recipe conversion factor, the at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia including, for each one of a plurality of predetermined positionings of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member defining one of a plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements, an aligned pair of distinguishing marks selected from the group consisting of an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member; and an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the outer member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member. 3. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, wherein the outer member further comprises at least a second full measure indicator for safely measuring a quantity of spillable liquid selected from the group consisting of a distinguishing mark, a pointer, an indicator, an indicium, a distinguishing physical feature, an imprinted horizontal line of demarcation and an incised horizontal line of demarcation, the second indicator being located beneath the full measure indicator, wherein the full measure indicator is the horizontal upper edge of the outer member and is intended for the measurement of dry ingredients that can be leveled with a straightedge or by gently shaking the dry ingredients, wherein the second full measure indicator defines a second horizontal upper boundary plane delimiting the incurvate interior surface and wherein, for a measured quantity of spillable liquid, the second full measure indicator defines a horizontal upper surface of full measure,and wherein the series of volumetric measuring indicia further includes a second indicator selected from the group consisting of a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member. 4. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, wherein the adjustable inner member has an axial end swingably suspended about a swinging axis and a circumferential end integrally attached to the repositionable dam member, the dam member having a circular-arc-shaped trajectory centered at the swinging axis, the dam member being movable along the trajectory, the dam member having a generally closed-top-V-shaped cross-sectional profile normal to the circular-arc-shaped trajectory,wherein the dam member comprises a peripheral sealing member that is made of a flexible, waterproof material and wherein the peripheral sealing member includes the peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member,wherein the incurvate interior surface of the fixed wall of the outer member comprises a curved open channel slidably mating with the flexible peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member and having a channel shape of uniform, generally V-shaped cross-sectional profile normal to the circular-arc-shaped trajectory of the dam member, the uniform cross-sectional profile of the channel shape being progressively truncated toward the upper edge of the interior surface, the channel shape mating with the profile of the flexible peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member when in a sufficiently flexed condition so as to form a watertight seal between the dam member and the channel,wherein the outer member includes a support member having an axial end extending above the channel to include the swinging axis, the axial end of the support member being pivotally coupled to the axial end of the adjustable inner member so that the inner and outer members exert a radially oriented clamping force upon the flexible peripheral edge of the upstream face of the dam member, andwherein the releasable attachment means for attaching the repositionable dam member of the inner member to the incurvate interior surface of the outer member to form a measuring assembly when the dam member is fitted into the incurvate interior surface at one of the at least four predetermined locations comprises the radially oriented clamping force exerted upon the flexible peripheral edge of the upstream face of the dam member by the pivotal coupling of the axial ends of the inner and outer members. 5. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 4, further comprising at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia and a legend indicating a recipe conversion factor, the second series of volumetric measuring indicia being of a selected ratio to but indicating a volume different from the actual volume of the measured quantity of material in the measuring utensil such that the volume indicated is the product of the actual volume times the reciprocal of the recipe conversion factor, the at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia including, for each one of a plurality of predetermined positionings of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member defining one of a plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements, an aligned pair of distinguishing marks selected from the group consisting of an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member; and an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the outer member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member. 6. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 4, wherein the outer member further comprises at least a second full measure indicator for safely measuring a quantity of spillable liquid selected from the group consisting of a distinguishing mark, a pointer, an indicator, an indicium, a distinguishing physical feature, an imprinted horizontal line of demarcation and an incised horizontal line of demarcation, the second indicator being located beneath the full measure indicator, wherein the full measure indicator is the horizontal upper edge of the outer member and is intended for the measurement of dry ingredients that can be leveled with a straightedge or by gently shaking the dry ingredients, wherein the second full measure indicator defines a second horizontal upper boundary plane delimiting the incurvate interior surface and wherein, for a measured quantity of spillable liquid, the second full measure indicator defines a horizontal upper surface of full measure,and wherein the series of volumetric measuring indicia further includes a second indicator selected from the group consisting of a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member. 7. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, wherein the repositionable dam member comprises an annular peripheral sealing member that is made of a flexible, waterproof material and wherein the annular peripheral sealing member includes the peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member, the dam member having a significantly non-horizontal trajectory, the dam member being movable along the trajectory, the trajectory being selected from the group consisting of a linear trajectory and a circular-arc-shaped trajectory, the tangent to the midpoint of the trajectory having an angle of inclination between 30 degrees and 90 degrees and preferentially 90 degrees above horizontal, the upstream face having a flexed cross-sectional profile normal to the trajectory, the dam member having a slidable side surface having a shape conforming to a sweep trajectory of the flexed cross-sectional profile of the upstream face normal to the trajectory,wherein the fixed wall of the outer member is tubular and defines a laterally enclosed interior space, the incurvate interior surface of the tubular wall having a uniform cross-sectional profile normal to the trajectory of the dam member, the uniform cross-sectional profile of the incurvate interior surface being progressively truncated toward the upper edge of the interior surface, the incurvate interior surface slidably mating with the flexible peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member when in a sufficiently flexed condition so as to form a watertight seal between the dam member and the channel, such that the outer member exerts a circumferential clamping force upon the flexible peripheral edge of the upstream face of the dam member, andwherein the releasable attachment means for attaching the repositionable dam member of the adjustable inner member to the incurvate interior surface of the outer member to form a measuring assembly when the dam member is fitted into the incurvate interior surface at one of the plurality of predetermined locations comprises the circumferential clamping force exerted upon the flexible peripheral edge of the upstream face of the dam member by the outer member. 8. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 7, further comprising at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia and a legend indicating a recipe conversion factor, the second series of volumetric measuring indicia being of a selected ratio to but indicating a volume different from the actual volume of the measured quantity of material in the measuring utensil such that the volume indicated is the product of the actual volume times the reciprocal of the recipe conversion factor, the at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia including, for each one of a plurality of predetermined positionings of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member defining one of a plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements, an aligned pair of distinguishing marks selected from the group consisting of an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member; and an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the outer member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member. 9. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 7, wherein the outer member further comprises at least a second full measure indicator for safely measuring a quantity of spillable liquid selected from the group consisting of a distinguishing mark, a pointer, an indicator, an indicium, a distinguishing physical feature, an imprinted horizontal line of demarcation and an incised horizontal line of demarcation, the second indicator being located beneath the full measure indicator, wherein the full measure indicator is the horizontal upper edge of the outer member and is intended for the measurement of dry ingredients that can be leveled with a straightedge or by gently shaking the dry ingredients, wherein the second full measure indicator defines a second horizontal upper boundary plane delimiting the incurvate interior surface and wherein, for a measured quantity of spillable liquid, the second full measure indicator defines a horizontal upper surface of full measure,and wherein the series of volumetric measuring indicia further includes a second indicator selected from the group consisting of a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member. 10. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, wherein the repositionable dam member comprises a peripheral sealing member that is made of a flexible, waterproof material and wherein the peripheral sealing member includes the peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member, the dam member having a significantly non-horizontal trajectory, the dam member being movable along the trajectory, the trajectory being selected from the group consisting of a linear trajectory, a circular-arc-shaped trajectory, and a continuous-curve-shaped trajectory, such that a line connecting the endpoints of the trajectory has an angle of inclination between 20 degrees and 135 degrees above horizontal, the flexible leading edge of the dam member having a flexed cross-sectional profile normal to the trajectory,wherein the incurvate interior surface of the fixed wall of the outer member comprises an elongated, significantly non-horizontally oriented open channel having a general longitudinal orientation having an angle of inclination between 20 degrees and 135 degrees and preferentially between 30 degrees and 90 degrees above horizontal, the open channel slidably mating with the flexible peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member and having a channel shape having a uniform cross-sectional profile normal to the trajectory of the dam member, the uniform cross-sectional profile of the channel shape being progressively truncated toward the upper edge of the interior surface, the channel shape mating with the flexible peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member when in a sufficiently flexed condition so as to form a watertight seal between the dam member and the channel. 11. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 10, further comprising at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia and a legend indicating a recipe conversion factor, the second series of volumetric measuring indicia being of a selected ratio to but indicating a volume different from the actual volume of the measured quantity of material in the measuring utensil such that the volume indicated is the product of the actual volume times the reciprocal of the recipe conversion factor, the at least a second series of volumetric measuring indicia including, for each one of a plurality of predetermined positionings of the adjustable inner member relative to the outer member defining one of a plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements, an aligned pair of distinguishing marks selected from the group consisting of an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member; and an indicium identifying the one of the plurality of predetermined converted volumetric measurements imprinted or incised upon the outer member and an indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member. 12. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 10, wherein the outer member further comprises at least a second full measure indicator for safely measuring a quantity of spillable liquid selected from the group consisting of a distinguishing mark, a pointer, an indicator, an indicium, a distinguishing physical feature, an imprinted horizontal line of demarcation and an incised horizontal line of demarcation, the second indicator being located beneath the full measure indicator, wherein the full measure indicator is the horizontal upper edge of the outer member and is intended for the measurement of dry ingredients that can be leveled with a straightedge or by gently shaking the dry ingredients, wherein the second full measure indicator defines a second horizontal upper boundary plane delimiting the incurvate interior surface and wherein, for a measured quantity of spillable liquid, the second full measure indicator defines a horizontal upper surface of full measure,and wherein the series of volumetric measuring indicia further includes a second indicator selected from the group consisting of a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the adjustable inner member and a second indicator imprinted or incised upon the outer member. 13. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, wherein the repositionable dam member comprises a peripheral sealing member that is made of a flexible, waterproof material and wherein the peripheral sealing member includes the peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member, the dam member having a side surface adjacent the peripheral leading edge, the side surface having a prominent surface feature selected from the group consisting of a laterally oriented protuberance and a laterally oriented indentation, wherein the side surface has a shape, wherein the incurvate interior surface of the fixed wall of the outer member comprises an elongated, significantly non-horizontally oriented open channel having a general longitudinal orientation having an angle of inclination between 5 degrees and 135 degrees and preferentially between 30 degrees and 90 degrees above horizontal,wherein the open channel has at least four prominent surface features located at the at least four predetermined locations upon the incurvate interior surface, each one of the at least four prominent surface features having a shape mating with the shape of the prominent surface feature of the side surface of the dam member, so as to positively seat the repositionable dam member at the at least four predetermined locations upon the incurvate interior surface. 14. The adjustable volumetric measuring utensil of claim 1, wherein the repositionable dam member comprises a peripheral sealing member that is made of a flexible, waterproof material and wherein the peripheral sealing member includes the peripheral leading edge of the upstream face of the dam member, the dam member having a side surface adjacent the peripheral leading edge and a downstream face having a peripheral portion adjacent the side surface including a sufficiently expansive area of the downstream face so that the combination of the flexed peripheral leading edge, the side surface, and the peripheral portion of the downstream face have a shape in the form of a generally semi-annular protrusion,wherein the incurvate interior surface of the fixed wall of the outer member comprises an elongated, significantly non-horizontally oriented open channel having a general longitudinal orientation having an angle of inclination between 5 degrees and 135 degrees and preferentially between 30 degrees and 90 degrees above horizontal,wherein the open channel has at least four indentations located at the at least four predetermined locations upon the incurvate interior surface, each one of the at least four indentations having a downstream lip and having a shape mating with the shape of the combination of the flexed peripheral leading edge, the side surface, and the peripheral portion of the downstream face of the dam member so as to positively seat the repositionable dam member at each of the at least four predetermined locations upon the incurvate interior surface such that a downwardly directed force of gravity and a downstream force exerted by the pressure of the measured quantity of material will lock the repositionable dam member in place.
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