DRY PRODUCT DISPENSER WITH PORTION CONTROL

Abstract

A dispenser for use in dispensing a selected volume of a granulated, dry product. The dispenser includes a main body having an open interior that receives the supply of granulated products to be dispensed. A loading and dispensing member is positioned to receive the granulated product within a receiving cavity formed as part of the loading and dispensing member. A portion control member is selectively positioned within the receiving cavity. The position of the portion control member can be adjusted to vary the portion volume received within the receiving cavity between the portion control member and an open end of the receiving cavity. Once the portion volume has been received within the receiving cavity, the loading and dispensing member is moved to the dispensing position to dispense the portion volume. In this manner, a known, selected portion volume can be dispensed from the dispenser.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the product dispenser of the present invention that is mounted to a stationary mounting bracket;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the removal of the product dispenser from the mounting bracket;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser illustrating the loading and dispensing member;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the product dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the product dispenser;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial section view illustrating the movement of the dispensing handle from the dispensing position to the loading position;

FIG. 8 is a section view similar to FIG. 7 showing the movement of the dispensing handle from the loading position toward the dispensing position;

FIG. 9 is a magnified view of the portion control member within the receiving cavity;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the portion control member;

FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9 showing the interaction between the portion control member and the wall of the receiving cavity; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of the dispensing cylinder illustrating markings for the variable volume of product to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a selected volume of a granulated product comprising: a main body having a discharge opening and an open interior configured to receive a supply of the product;5 a loading and dispensing member having a receiving cavity formed therein, the receiving cavity including an open first end, wherein the open first end is aligned with the discharge opening of the main body to receive the granulated product; anda portion control member mounted within the receiving cavity, the portion control member being selectively positionable within the receiving cavity to define a portion volume within the receiving cavity.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the portion control member extends across the receiving cavity and defines the portion volume between the portion control member and the open first end.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the receiving cavity is defined by an inner wall having a series of spaced receiving grooves, wherein the receiving grooves define a plurality of positions within the receiving cavity.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the series of spaced receiving grooves receive the portion control member to retain the portion control member in one of the plurality of positions within the receiving cavity.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the portion control member includes a top wall extending across the receiving cavity and a plurality of support feet each sized to be received in one of the receiving grooves.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the portion control member is received within a lower section integrally formed with the main body, the lower section including a discharge spout.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the loading and sensing member is movable between a loading position in which the open first end is aligned with the discharge opening and a dispensing position in which the open first end is generally aligned with the discharge spout.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 further comprising a handle connected to the loading and dispensing member and operable to move the loading and dispensing member between the loading position and a dispensing position.

9. The dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a series of volume markings contained on the loading and dispensing member to display the portion volume when the portion control member is aligned with the volume marking.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the loading and dispensing member is movable between a loading position wherein the open first end is aligned with the discharge opening of the main body and a discharge position wherein the open first end is positioned to discharge the granulated product from the main body.

11. A dispenser for dispensing a selected volume of a granulated product comprising: a main body having an open interior configured to receive a supply of the product, the main body having an open loading end and a discharge opening;a loading and dispensing member movable between a loading position and a dispensing position, the loading and dispensing member including a receiving cavity extending from a first end to a second end; anda portion control member mounted in one of a plurality of positions within the receiving cavity between the first end and the second end to define a portion volume between the portion control member and the open first end, wherein the portion control member is selectively movable between the plurality of positions to vary the portion volume.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the receiving cavity is defined by an inner wall having a series of spaced receiving grooves, each of the receiving grooves being configured to selectively receive the portion control member.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the open first end of the receiving cavity is aligned with the discharge opening of the main body to receive the portion volume of the product when the loading and discharge member is in the loading position.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the open first end of the receiving cavity is aligned with a discharge spout to dispense a product when the loading and dispensing member is in the dispensing position.

15. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising a series of volume markings contained on the loading and dispensing member to display the portion volume of the portion cavity when the portion control member is aligned with the volume marking.

16. The dispenser of claim11 wherein the loading and dispensing member is generally cylindrical.

17. The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a handle connected to the loading and dispensing member and operable to move the loading and dispensing member between the loading position and the dispensing position.

18. The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising: a pair of attachment flanges extending from the main body; anda mounting bracket configured to receive the attachment flanges, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be mounted to a vertical support surface.