Handheld Grinding Mill

Abstract

The present invention is a handheld grinding mill. The handheld grinding mill of the present invention is operated by first removing the grinder knob and screw off cap to expose the interior chamber of the body, where the desired spice would be place for grinding. Once the body is loaded with the desired spice, the cap and knob are attached. To open and close the aperture, the shutter-actuating ring is rotated either clockwise or counter clockwise, placing the doors in either a closed or open position, as desired. To grind and dispense spices loaded in the body of the mill, the actuating ring is rotated to retract the doors and open the aperture and the knob is rotated, which results in a rotation of the grinder and dispensing of the spice through the aperture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the exterior appearance of the grinder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the exterior appearance of the grinder of the present invention with the sealing cap top removed;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view which illustrates the internal grinding and shutter mechanisms of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a first expanded view of the grinder, illustrating all physical components;

FIG. 5 is a second expanded view of the grinder, illustrating all physical components; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the interior components of an assembled grinding mechanism.

Claims

1. A handheld grinding mill comprising: a main body for holding material to be ground;a bottom cover;a bottom cover TPE;a top cap engaged with a central axle;a top cap TPE;a sealing cap top;a sealing cap bottom;a sealing cap securing clip as means for locking said cap top and cap bottom together; the combined sealing cap top and sealing cap bottom pressed into the main body using a top o-ring;said sealing cap top is threaded onto one end of a central axle using a threaded brass insert and is actuated by a shaft actuator within the cap top;the opposing end of the central axle is connected to a grinder spring and a spring holder to which a grinder plate top and a grinder plate bottom are attached via a grinder plate securing nut;rotation of the top cap is transmitted to grinder plate top and a grinder plate bottom;a decorative ring attached to the main body with a lower o-ring;a bottom cover providing means for containing and storing a first door and a second door;an actuator ring providing means for engaging the bottom cover; said first door and the second door are secured to the actuator ring by door actuator rings and a sealing block;said actuator ring is secured in place by the bottom cover which is further comprised of lower locking spring fingers that engage a lower locking tab of the actuator ring thereby securing the decorative ring and all internal components in position; androtation of the actuator ring is transmitted to the first door and the second door.

2. The handheld grinding mill of claim 1 wherein the top cap is attached to the top cap TPE so that a molded logo protruding from the top cap is visible.

3. The handheld grinding mill of claim 1 wherein the actuator ring rests upon the bottom cover;said bottom cover is covered on its external surface by a bottom cover TPE;said actuator ring is covered on its external surfaces by a ring of thumb grips which are used to rotate the actuator ring in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation with respect the main body to open and close the first and second doors; andthe actuator ring is further comprised of a tooth portion and a linear door gear that is engaged by actuator ring gears which are supported by and rotate on gear posts of the actuator ring to open and close the first door and second door.

4. The handheld grinding mill of claim 1 further comprising a top rubber door seal and a bottom rubber door seal around the first door and the second door.

5. The handheld grinding mill of claim 1 wherein actuator ring further consists of a bottom cover stop tab that limits rotation of the actuator rings gears; andan actuator ring guide slot that interacts with a bottom cover stop tab to limit rotation.

6. The handheld grinding mill of claim 1 wherein the sealing cap top is further comprised of a thumb screw grip and fineness gauge 7 for adjusting grinding size.

7. The handheld grinding mill of claim 1 wherein rotating the sealing cap top either clockwise or counter clockwise provides means for a grind size adjustment.

8. The handheld grinding mill of claim 7 wherein rotating the sealing cap top clockwise provides means for a finer grind; androtating the sealing cap top counter-clockwise provides means for a coarser grind.

9. The handheld grinding mill of claim 8 wherein rotating the sealing cap top clockwise pulls the central axle up compressing the grinder spring and reducing the distance between the grinder plate top and grinder plate bottom; androtating the sealing cap top counter-clockwise pushes the central axle down extending the grinder spring and increasing the distance between the grinder plate top and grinder plate bottom.