Patent Application
20220015559
The present invention relates both to a dry food dispenser which is an automatic or manual machine used to conveniently deliver designed quantities of dry granular foods to the user, and to a toy which is an amusement device with an inherent appeal to its owner/user because of its visual appearance, actions, sound capabilities, movements, or a combination of these characteristics. Sometimes, a toy may be a miniature representation of some other object and, in many cases, does not serve any other function than to have a psychological value to its owner/user.
The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 49, Issue 4, April 1989, Pages 646-653, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/49.4.646 Published: 1 Apr. 1989
Nutrition and Student Performance at School by Howard Taras First published 9 Oct. 2009
Using a toy as a prop for stimulating a child's interest in eating is well practiced within prior art. For instance, Shatoff & Haakansson, U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,977, show a combination of interactive toy components that may contain dry food products such as cereal, but the referenced invention does not dispense the cereal or provide a way of combining the cereal with milk. The interaction promoted with this prior art example is the activity of connecting the toy components together, not the eating of the cereal.
Hartelius, U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,241, shows a game-style candy dispenser for children that does not include an eating bowl, and consequently, does not lend itself for use with cereal and milk. It also lacks the packaging options for the food products that are afforded in the present invention. Prior art contains many other examples of interactive toys that are not food related and several food dispensers that are not for children's use, which makes them irrelevant.
Tse, U.S. D499,611 S, Capriglione, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,769, Walter, U.S. Pat. No. 9,855,194, Elberg, US 2013/0233858, and Herowitz/Menow/Hartlaub, U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,299, all demonstrate dispensers that can be used for cereal or other dry food products, but they do not interact with the child's eating activity. These examples are limited in scope as they are either intended for use by adults only or they are used by adults to feed infants or pets. They have not been specifically designed to be operated by small children.
Atkinson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,212, Fischell, U.S. Pat. No. 8,883,242, Sokoly, US 2017/0022357, Ferraro, US 2010/0001007, Roberts, US 2011/0141842 and Andrews, US 2013/0091808 all propose methods of keeping cereal and milk separated until consumed by the user but the apparatuses they use are made for use by adults with larger hands who can pick up and hold the devices while eating. These are not specifically intended for use by small children and, consequently, are not targeted for use by this demographic.
Years of competition among toy manufacturers has created an environment where consumers are offered a variety of sophisticated toys and devices to capture the interest of a child. Consequently, consumers and children alike have become more sophisticated in their demands for something new and entertaining. The problem for those who are looking for a child's toy is that it is becoming more difficult to find something new. This demand is now met through the novelty of the present invention.
Research suggests that young children who miss breakfast before going to school are more likely to misbehave and do not perform academically as well as those who do not miss breakfast. Vitamins and supplements may improve specific nutritional deficiencies, but they do not improve the child's eating habits. A change in the child′ eating habits is what is needed to see long-term improvements in health and in school performance. The present invention helps develop improved eating habits in young children by encouraging them to stay at the breakfast table and eat until, eventually, this becomes their norm.
Many children are finicky eaters and require mom or dad's coxing to get them to eat properly. The game of “open the hanger” and other techniques are often employed by parents to get these children to eat. The present invention helps solve this problem for parents by providing another game-style option for making breakfast fun for the child.
Obesity among elementary aged children is a serious health problem in America. The most effective solutions involve various means of restricting portion sizes. An embodiment of the present invention that uses pre-packaged containers offers a solution by predetermining the quantity of food product that constitutes the child's serving size. Children are less likely to blame parents for restricting their portion sizes if these portions come in prepackaged containers.
Suppliers of these prepackaged containers intended for use with this invention could develop a line of snacks and breakfast cereals that are healthy. The fun nature of using this invention is an enticement which will encourage children to want to eat these healthier products.
A common problem with eating dry breakfast cereal is its tendency to become soggy in the bowl before it is all consumed. The milk in the bowl quickly transforms the mixture into a substance with an unappetizing texture. When using the present invention, the cereal is introduced in small quantities into the milk, on demand by the child, where it may be consumed before it gets soggy. This adds significantly to the visual appearance and appeal of dry breakfast cereals, especially for young children. The present invention preserves the freshness and appeal of the cereal which is a further enticement to the child to eat it. This added appeal can promote more of the serving being consumed.
Wastage of food from nonconsumption and loss from spillage are two common problems encountered when feeding children. The present invention solves both these problems. It promotes more of the food to be consumed which results in less being thrown out after the meal. And, the loss from spillage is reduced because the device is secured to the surface of the table or highchair tray making it more difficult to tip over. Preventing spillage reduces cleanup time, afterwards.
A common scenario of the modern household is that either a single parent works, or both parents work. Either situation can be a logistical challenge at breakfast time. What is needed is an expedited method for the parent to serve and cleanup the breakfast meal, or an acceptable method for the child to do so himself or herself. An embodiment of this invention that uses a disposable bowl and/or spoon provides a solution for a quick and easy breakfast meal that takes no time to prepare, very little time to serve and has no dishes to wash afterwards. This is a system in which many parents may allow their children to serve themselves at an early age. Whether being used with breakfast cereal or with a snack food product, the most time-consuming part of the feeding task can be cleaning up afterwards which is simplified with this system. The option of using a biodegradable material for the spoon and/or bowl makes this system attractive to the environmentally conscious consumer.
Cereal producers face many varied marketing challenges for getting their product on the table of consumers. These cereal manufacturers have used many innovative ways to present their product through promotions introduced on their cereal boxes. Usually, the subject of their promotion is a game or toy or activity that has nothing to do with eating the cereal. What these cereal manufacturers need is a promotional concept that promotes the consumption of their product to increase sales. Using the present invention as the object of a cereal box promotion would satisfy this need.
The need exists for a novel invention such as the one being presented here where the activity promoted in the child is eating, not just playing. The present invention is enticing enough to the young user that they are willing to use it frequently, which allows for a change in their eating habits to be established.
The present invention comprises a novel toy-like dry food dispenser apparatus that can be easily operated by a child between the ages of 2 and 10 to dispense dry breakfast cereals and other snack foods to himself or herself. This invention has several advantages including promoting better health by improving eating habits, solving the soggy cereal problem, controlling the serving portions given to the child, reducing cleanup time and minimizing waste.
Central to the concept of this invention is the interaction required by the child in determining the rate at which the product is dispensed from the toy to his or her bowl. This allows the child to finish eating the previously delivered quantity of food product before dispensing more, thereby creating a fun and engaging activity for the child.
This device is suitable for use with many dry breakfast cereals as well as other dry food snacks such as crumbled cookies, candies, chocolate covered snacks, etc. The only requirements for the food product being dispensed is that it is of appropriate particle size and has a dry texture.
Selected embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying example drawings, which are not intended to limit the scope of this specification in any way, and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly states otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or descriptions given here. Each of the figures depict an example, which is not all inclusive, of an embodiment that falls within the scope of the current invention and it shall be understood that some embodiments may include components and/or details not shown in the figures.
It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that
The toy body 100 is comprised of a hollow structure forming a housing comprised of external and internal components described herein. Preferably, the toy body 100 is shaped to represent, but not limited to, a toy character, an action figure, a mascot, a doll, a robot or any other object as desired. The toy body 100 may be made from any material or combination of materials known in the art such as ABS or PVC plastic, that forms a smooth, washable external surface, except that the sliding tray 104 and the hopper 108, the bowl 102 and the flow regulator 118 be made preferably with a food-grade, dishwasher-safe material as is known in the art. The toy body 100 may be made from a pigmented material or may be painted, or both, as desired. The toy body 100 is not limited by this specification to any certain size or shape which may be determined by the fabricator.
In a preferred embodiment the body 100 comprises a moveable first protrusion 105, attached to and extending away from the body 100 and functions as a mechanical operating lever for the dispenser. A mechanically operated lever 105 is preferred over a battery-operated control, not shown, which also falls within the scope of this specification. The first protrusion 105 may be attached to, or made integral with, the first end of a shaft 113 that extends longitudinally towards the center of the toy body 100 on which a second protrusion 110 may be connected to, or made integral with, the second end of the shaft 113. The mechanical movement that operates the dispenser is a pulling action performed on the first protrusion 105. Accordingly, the rotation of the first protrusion 105 causes the attached or integrally formed shaft 113 to transfer movement to a connector 110 or integrally formed second protrusion, not shown, which may be made to come in contact with a return spring 109, or elastic band or similarly acting component, as is known in the art, that will reverse the rotation of the shaft 113 after the load has been released on the first protrusion 105. The stroking action performed on the first protrusion 105 places the return spring 109 in tension as shown in
One example of an embodiment that is included under the scope of the present invention is comprised of accessories and/or articles of clothing, not shown, used to adorn the toy body 100. Said accessories may be designed to be removed and exchanged with other accessories and may create the impression of gender for the toy character.
The delivery system is comprised of a sliding tray 104 which is connected to, or is made to come in contact with the second protrusion 110, thus the combination of a pulling action on the first protrusion 105 and the subsequent return of the return spring 109 causes the tray 104 to travel in an axial direction between first an extended position and then back to a retracted position. In the retracted position gravity pulls the material to be dispensed out of the hopper 108 onto the back of the sliding tray 104 which piles to a depth and quantity determined by the spacing between the tray and hopper, or about ¼″. During the extended travel the tray carries the material to be dispensed towards the front exterior of the toy body 100 where it is expelled from the dispenser. When the tip section 118 of the tray 104 reaches a point near the end of its extended travel it is no longer supported and the tray hinge 111 allows the tip section 118 to drop its contents.
Affixed to or formed with the bottom of the toy body 100 is any non-skid, no-slip surface 107 as is known in the art. The non-skid surface 107 may be created by surface coating, taping or use of a separate component bonded to the bottom of the toy body 100. The non-skid surface 107 may cover all or part of the bottom surface of the toy body 100. One example of an embodiment that is included under the scope of the present invention is comprised of a mechanical suction cup, not shown, affixed to the bottom of the toy body 100. The mechanical suction cup is comprised of an operating lever or moveable protrusion 103 on the toy body 100.
An access opening 114 is provided preferably near the top of the toy body 100 substantially large enough to allow the hopper 108 and/or disposable canister, not shown, to pass through. The access opening opens to a chamber that may hold the hopper 108. A lid 101 may be provided to cover the access opening 114, which may be a removable component fitted to the top of the toy body 100, or it may be a non-removeable component attached by a hinge, not shown. A material delivery opening 117 is provided on the front of the body 100, adequately positioned to have the material being dispensed drop through it into the eating bowl 102. This opening 117 may or may not include a closure device, not shown, which opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of protrusion 105 and/or the sliding tray 104.
The eating bowl 102 should be affixed by a method capable of substantially securing it to the body 100, shown here in
One example of an embodiment that falls under the scope of this invention includes the use of a pre-packaged canister of the food product to be dispensed, not shown, that is dropped directly into the hopper 108 or is placed into the hopper cavity in place of the hopper 108. The canister may include the flow regulator 118 along with it as a disposable component. The canister may be designed such that after it is dropped into the toy body 100 the attached flow regulator 118 is held in place and a twist of the bottom of the canister opens and/or closes the passage through the flow regulator 118 that allows the flow of product.
One example of an embodiment that falls under the scope of this invention includes the use of a pre-packaged disposable container that serves as the eating bowl 102 which may include a disposable spoon inside the container with the food product. The disposable bowl and/or disposable spoon may be made from biodegradable materials or preferably from plastic. The disposable bowl may include a trigger mechanism that unlocks the dispenser when the bowl is engaged such that without a properly designed eating bowl attached to the body 100, the dispenser will not function.
The flow regulator 118 is comprised of a rotating disc and a fixed disk or two rotating disks joined together in the center and allowed to rotate having half circular or triangular shapes cut in one or more of the disks in a manner that when one or more of the disks are rotated it changes the size of the opening allowing varying quantities of material to pass through. Another qualifying embodiment under the scope of this invention would be comprised of flow regulator 118 formed as a moveable gate that dams up the product to regulate the flow of material being delivered.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of this present invention and are intended to be covered by the claims given in this specification.
A suggested sequence of operations is given here for some uses of the dispenser. Typically, the supervising user will place the dispenser securely on a flat surface and, when equipped with a mechanical suction cup will use the tail as the lever to secure the dispenser to the table or highchair tray. Next, the supervising user or a child who has been given parental permission opens the lid and places the dry breakfast cereal, snacks or other dry food product inside the dispenser through an opening in the top of the device provided for this purpose. If conventional product packaging is used the cereal or snack food is poured into the hopper bin inside the toy and the flow regulator on the toy is set; otherwise, if a pre-packaged canister with solid end and sealed end is used, the flow regulator is removed, the paper seal is torn off and the flow regulator is snapped back on. The canister is inverted into the hopper and dropped into place where a catch, not shown, holds the flow meter in place and the bottom or solid end of the canister is twisted to open or close the flow meter to the correct aperture for the product being dispensed. Alternatively, if the food product comes in a prepackaged bowl, the seal is removed, the disposable spoon is removed, the cereal or snack food is poured into the hopper and the disposable bowl is properly placed in or affixed to the dispenser. Next, an appropriate amount of milk is placed in the bowl and the child is instructed to pull the toy's arm to begin the dispensing action that delivers a controlled amount of product to his or her bowl. After that amount of product has been consumed the child continues to operate the dispenser at a self-determined rate to feed himself or herself until the supply of product in the dispenser has been exhausted. Cleanup with the disposable bowl system requires the spoon and bowl to be discarded, no dishes to wash. Cleaning of the dispenser parts is performed periodically as desired by the user or suggested by the manufacturer in consequence of the materials chosen for fabrication.
The following details describe an example of an embodiment which falls under the scope of the present invention and demonstrate what is considered the inventors' preferred embodiment. With reference to the drawings and with reference to
