Patent Application
20250057347
The present disclosure relates to dispensing devices, and particularly to a system and method of dispensing pellets, such as sugar, into a cup.
Dispensing devices add much convenience to everyday lives. They provide a way to regulate the quantity of use. Some dispensing devices require a user to still measure, extract and clean-up after use. Although dispensing machines add much convenience, improvements will further add to the convenience.
Drinking tea is part of different cultures. Often, people drink tea in big/small gatherings. When people gather together, the host frequently serves the guest tea. Usually, the host asks people how they prefer their tea: with sugar or without. There is a need for a dispensing device that provides support for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and non-verbal individuals with autism. An improved dispensing device can also help a host in a large gathering to serve the guests quickly.
A pellet dispensing system, in one non-limiting embodiment, includes a holding container having a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is located at a top portion of the holding container allowing for pellets to be loaded into the holding container. The second opening is located at a top, side portion of the holding container allowing for dispensing of the pellet from the holding container. A dispensing ramp is located opposite the second opening of the holding container and pushes a pellet toward the second opening to be dispensed. A lever located at a bottom portion of the holding container moves upwards, forcing pellets to move upwards toward the second opening.
The pellet dispensing system further includes a clip that attaches the holding container to a cup such that the second opening is located at a top portion of the cup so that pellets will drop into the cup when dispensed from the second opening.
The dispensing ramp is angled to push a pellet towards the second opening and down into the cup. It could also have a shape that forces pellets, being pushed upwards by the lever, towards the second opening.
The holding container has an elongated shape allowing for pellets to be stacked vertically.
The pellets are sugar pellets in some embodiments.
When the lever is activated, pellets in the container are pushed up towards the second opening.
A pellet dispensing method includes: loading pellets into a holding container having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening located at a top portion of the holding container allowing for pellets to be loaded into the holding container, the second opening locate at a top, side portion of the holding container allowing for dispensing of the pellet from the holding container; and activating a lever to push pellets in the container up towards the second opening, the lever located at a bottom portion of the holding container and moving upwards, thereby forcing pellets to move toward the second opening; wherein a dispensing ramp located opposite the second opening in the holding container pushes a pellet toward the second opening to be dispensed.
The method further includes attaching the holding container to a cup with a clip that attaches the holding container to the cup such that the second opening is located at a top portion of the cup so that pellets will drop into the cup when dispensed from the second opening.
The holding container can further include a dispensing ramp that is located at the second opening and angled to push a pellet downwards out of the second opening and down into the cup. The dispensing ramp can have a shape that forces pellets, being pushed upwards by the lever, towards the second opening.
The holding container has an elongated shape allowing for pellets to be stacked vertically.
The pellets are sugar pellets in some embodiments.
When the lever is activated, pellets in the container are pushed up towards the second opening.
These and other features of the present subject matter will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
A container for pellets or sweeteners, such as sugar, can be built-in or attached to a cup so that people can add the pellets or sweeteners to their drink according to their preference. Also, the container can be designed to be small and can be attached to any cup or can be built within the cup. It is designed to support individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing and non-verbal individuals with autism, as well as to help hosts in large gatherings serve their guests more quickly.
The pellet dispensing system 100 further includes a clip 140 that attaches the holding container 105 to the tea cup 120 so that the second opening 115 is located at a top portion of the tea cup 120. The positioning of the second opening 125 allows the pellets 125 to drop into the tea cup 120 when dispensed from the second opening 115. In some embodiments, the second opening 115 is shaped to only allow single pellets to be dispensed from the holding container 105.
The dispensing ramp 130 is angled to push one of the pellets 125 towards the second opening 115 and down into the tea cup 120 as the pellet 125. It could also have a shape that forces the pellets 125, being pushed upwards by the lever 135, towards the second opening 115. In other embodiments, the dispensing ramp 130 is manually pushed to force pellets 125 toward the second opening 115 or the dispensing ramp could be spring loaded and activated with a trigger. When the trigger is pulled or pushed, the dispensing ramp 130 pushes one of the pellets 125 toward the second opening 115. The dispensing ramp 130 can be angled, flat or any other shape depending on the situation.
The holding container 105 has an elongated shape allowing for the pellets 125 to be stacked vertically. In some embodiments, the holding container 105 has a capacity of about six pellets. The first opening 110 can be used to load the pellets 115. In some embodiments, the first opening 110 is shaped to only allow the pellets 125 to be loaded into the holding container 105.
The pellets 125 are sugar pellets, in some embodiments, but could be any type of sweetener, additive, tea, coffee etc.
When the lever 135 is activated, the pellets 125 in the holding container 105 are pushed up towards the second opening 115.
A key 145 can be used to open the top of the holding container 105 to load the pellets 125. The top of the holding container is tilted, in some embodiments, to direct the sugar pellets toward the second opening 115 to be dispensed into the tea cup 120.
The method further includes attaching the holding container with a clip to a cup so that the second opening is located at a top portion of the cup. The position of the second opening allows pellets to drop into the cup when dispensed from the second opening.
The holding container can further include a dispensing ramp that is located at the second opening and angled to push a pellet downwards out of the second opening and down into the cup. The dispensing ramp can have a shape that forces pellets, being pushed upwards by the lever, towards the second opening.
The holding container has an elongated shape allowing for pellets to be stacked vertically.
The pellets are sugar pellets in some embodiments.
When the lever is activated, pellets in the container are pushed up towards the second opening.
It is to be understood that the system and method dispensing pellets, such as sugar, is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.
