Patent Application
20090194566
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to dispensers for deliquescent materials that are hygroscopic in nature such as salt, and more particularly, to moisture resistant condiment dispensers.
Prior configurations date back to the turn of the 20th Century. There have been innumerable attempts throughout history to provide a moisture resistant condiment dispenser that is inexpensive to manufacture, functional, attractive and durable. Some of those attempts include designs to isolate the internal chamber of the dispenser to keep atmospheric moisture out including dispensers with hinged lids, various grinder assemblies, sliding tops, and isolated internal chambers. Other designs attempt to ameliorate the moisture problem by absorbing the internal moisture into desiccants suspended in the dispenser. Many of the previously mentioned solutions fall short in many ways including difficulty in filling, difficulty in cleaning, failure to keep hygroscopic materials dry, clogging of exits, difficulty in unclogging exits, expensive to manufacture, and moving parts which eventually break down.
The purpose of this invention is to significantly improve the usability of a condiment dispenser, reduce internal moisture therein, and resist the entrance of moisture into the dispenser storage chamber. One improvement is the addition of an opening and a stopper within the chamber wall through which the dispenser can easily be filled. Other improvements make the dispenser easier to grip. The main improvement, however, is the addition of a receptacle in which the dispenser rests when not in use that creates a seal between the bottom of the storage chamber and a liner that helps keep moisture from entering a dispensing hole located at the center of the bottom portion of the chamber (as illustrated in the drawings herein). Further, the materials used to construct the body of the dispenser, i.e., unglazed ceramic, function to reduce the moisture content within the chamber.
The attributes of the prior art need to be relayed to fully describe the preferred embodiment. The accompanying drawings encompass both the prior art and the preferred embodiments. All features of the prior art as noted in
The prior art illustrated in
The prior art provides for filling the dispenser by inverting the dispenser. While inverted, a granular substance is poured into the funnel comprised of interior wall 11 and aperture 5 of inner dome 10. The granular substance within the funnel steadily passes through aperture 5, entering internal chamber 1. Tapping exterior surface 3 of outer dome 2 facilitates the flow of granular substances into inner chamber 1. This is a slow and tedious process.
Dispensing granular substance 6 is achieved while the dispenser is held in its upright position. The dispenser is jerked upwards causing granular substance 6 to rise above the apex of inner dome 10 and then to fall through aperture 5 exiting the dispenser through the inverted funnel finally falling out underneath the dispenser. As the prior art had no substantial handle, it was difficult to hold and would often slip out of the hand falling into the food.
While at rest the dispenser simply sits upon a surface. Due to the nature of the preferred material, clay, which is used to manufacture the dispenser, moisture can enter the dispenser via unglazed exterior surface 8 of floor 7 and unglazed interior wall 11 of inner dome 10. Additionally moisture can enter internal chamber 1 via aperture 5.
There are two versions of the preferred embodiment, although by relocating and/or changing the size of certain features there are numerous versions that can be achieved. Both versions are made using clay with a high absorption rate. This is important since a significant contribution of this design is that the dispenser itself serves as a desiccant, absorbing moisture away from the granular substance that resides within it.
Referring to
Continuing to refer to
Stopper 18A is inserted into entryway 17A to seal inner chamber 1 away from atmospheric moisture. Stopper 18A can be composed of any number of materials, preferably one that can preclude moisture from entering the dispenser. If entryway 17A is located on floor 7 or inner dome 10, the stopper should be flush with the surface of the dispenser within the countersink for the reasons stated in the previous paragraph.
The final improvement in the first version of the preferred embodiment is a receptacle in which said dispenser rests when not in use. The receptacle is comprised of a floor 13, an interior surface 14 of said floor 13, a liner 15 affixed to interior surface 14 and a surrounding wall 16. Interior surface 14 of the receptacle with liner 15 provides a surface that will meet with bottom 8 of the dispenser. The contact between exterior surface 8 of the dispenser and liner 15 of the receptacle provides a seal, keeping atmospheric moisture from entering internal chamber 1 of the dispenser via external surface 8, interior wall 11 or aperture 5.
Referring to
The stopper indicated by lead line 18B inserted into the top of said neck 20 serves to isolate chamber 1 from atmospheric moisture thus facilitating the desired moisture resistant quality of this embodiment.
The receptacle is also used in conjunction with the second version of the preferred embodiment.
The dispenser with its preferred embodiments is used in the following manner. Fill the dispenser while in the upright position by inserting a finger into inner dome 10 thus blocking aperture 5 thereby keeping the granular substance from passing straight through the dispenser and out the bottom. Remove stopper 18A/18B and pour the granular substance into entryway 17A/17B. The level of granular substance 6 within chamber 1 should not be higher than aperture 5. Overfilling the dispenser will cause the granular substance to freely flow out of the dispenser until the level of the granular substance is below aperture 5. After filling the dispenser, reinsert cork 18A/18B into entryway 17A/17B. Place the dispenser in the receptacle when not in use. Dispensing granular substance 6 is achieved in the same manner as the prior art as described previously with the added advantage of the handle of the preferred embodiments.
The methods of constructing the invention are many and varied. One such method of construction is to throw it on a potter's wheel. A ball of clay is centered on the head of a potter's wheel or other throwing surface. The clay is flattened to a certain extent and is then opened to the throwing surface. The patty of clay is then divided by separating an amount of clay to be pulled up and coned in forming inner cone 10. Inner cone 10 should be of such size as to allow a finger to be inserted during the process of filling the dispenser. Once the internal cone is formed the remainder of the patty of clay is pulled out a little further and then pulled up and coned in, creating outer dome 2. This exterior wall can be finished as either dome 2 of the two preferred embodiments with entryway 17A or outer dome 2 with elongated neck 20 and entryway 17B. In either case the entryway should be wide enough to permit easy passage of the granular substance when filling the dispenser and of a size in which a specified stopper can snuggly fit. Once the dispenser is leather hard and separated from its throwing surface, the bottom should be cleaned up and burnished. A drill of sufficient size is inserted into inner dome 10 and used to open aperture 5 to a sufficient size that permits the passing of granular substance 6. At this point handle 19A can be made and affixed to the dispenser. If the option of affixing protuberances rather than a handle is chosen, this is the point at which they would be affixed to outer dome 2. Once completely dry the dispenser is taken through the bisque firing and then the glazing and glaze firing processes. It should be noted that the inside 22 of the dispenser shown in
The receptacle for the dispenser likewise can be constructed using varying techniques. One such technique is throwing it on the potter's wheel. A ball of clay is centered on the head of a potter's wheel or other throwing surface. The centered clay is then opened to such a width as to accommodate the dispenser that will reside within it, remembering that clay shrinks during the drying and firing processes. Wall 16 is pulled up to create the receptacle. Once the receptacle is leather hard it should be removed from the throwing surface and the bottom burnished or trimmed. Once completely dry the receptacle is taken through the bisque firing and then the glazing and glaze firing processes. Lastly, a pad of cork or other appropriate material should be adhered to interior surface 14 of the receptacle and a stopper inserted into entryway 17A/17B.
