Turntable storage device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6182839
  • Patent Number
    6,182,839
  • Date Filed
    Friday, November 1, 1996
    28 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 6, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A turntable storage device which has a turntable and a plurality of storage containers for condiments and other granular materials. The turntable has a base member and a platform that is removably attachable to the base and rotatable on the base member. The base member has an upwardly extending hollow post. The containers are attachable to the turntable by mating projections and receptacles. The turntable storage device is convertible. It is provided with a mounting hub for selectively attaching and removing either a handle or a hanging support member. The hanging support member is adaptable to hang one or more turntables from a shelf, if desired. The support member also is shaped to fit into the hollow post of another turntable, whereby two turntables can be stacked on top of the one another. In one embodiment, a rotary measuring dispenser is mounted in each container for dispensing predetermined quantities of material.
Description




This invention relates to turntable storage devices and to granular material storage and dispensing containers. More particularly, this invention relates to such devices for use in storing and dispensing granular materials such as condiments.




Most prior turntable storage devices suffer from a lack of versatility in mounting and handling, insufficient ease of dis-assembly and assembly, and/or insufficient ability to hold storage containers. Condiment dispensers used with such devices often are not sufficiently easy to use and dispense accurately—measured quantities of condiments.




For example, although turntable devices have been proposed in which separate units can be stacked on top of one another, the separate units are not believed to be usable separately.




Similarly, although turntable devices have been proposed which can be hung from the bottom of a shelf, such devices are not believed to be capable of being stacked together and/or hung from a shelf. Also, they do not have a detachable carrying handle to make them portable.




Prior proposed turntable condiment storage devices lack means for holding condiment containers securely in place, and for accurately dispensing pre-measured amounts.




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a turntable storage device which is well suited to solving or alleviating the foregoing problems.




In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a turntable storage device which carries a plurality of containers for storing materials, such as flour, condiments, and other granular materials for the kitchen, as well as other small objects or materials.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a turntable storage device that can be mounted and used in a variety of different mountings and configurations.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a turntable storage device wherein containers are securely held in place on a turntable to prevent them from sliding off of the turntable.




It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a turntable storage device wherein the parts are easily attached together and separated without tools.




In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are met by the provision of a turntable storage device which has a turntable and a plurality of containers that are removably attachable to the turntable.




In one aspect, the invention comprises a novel convertible turntable. The turntable unit can be stacked with other units, or the units can be used separately. Alternatively, each unit or a stack of units can be suspended from the bottom of a shelf.




The turntable preferably includes a platform and a base member. The base member is integrally connected to an upwardly extending hollow post. Each unit has a detachable upper projection dimensioned to fit into the bottom opening of the hollow post of another unit and lock in position to enable the units to be stacked and thus occupy less shelf space, or to be used to attach the turntable to the underside of a shelf.




The upper projection is easily detachable and can be replaced with an easily-attachable handle for carrying the turntable.




The containers can be of any shape but are preferably wedge-shaped so that they provide maximum storage volume while fitting together snugly when assembled on the turntable.




In one embodiment, each of the containers has a measuring dispenser which is operable to dispense a predetermined quantity of material from the container. Preferably, the containers also include dispensing openings for spooning and shaking out the material.




In this embodiment, a rotary measuring dispenser, which is operable to dispense a predetermined amount of material, is located in each container. The dispenser includes an external knob attached to an internal metering rotor that has integral radially-extending spaced-apart blades defining a plurality of cavities between the blades. As the rotor is rotated, a measured quantity of material is dispensed through a hole in the bottom of the container for each partial revolution of the rotor equal to the angular separation between adjacent blades. As the knob is turned, the cavities are successively filled and then emptied through the dispensing hole.




In another embodiment of the invention, the individual condiment containers do not have individual metering dispensers. Instead, an adjustable measuring spoon is attached to the turntable. It is easily detached and is dimensioned to fit into the containers to dip out measured quantities of the contents.




Preferably, the top of each container contains two hinged dispensing openings, one for spooning out material from the container and another for shaking out material.




Each container can be securely positioned on the turntable by means of a projection located on each container, the tab is received by a receptacle located on the platform. Preferably, the tab is located on the bottom of the back wall of the container and the receptacles are located circumferentially around the upwardly extending post of the turntable.




The platform includes projections each of which is adapted to extend upwardly into a recess in the bottom of one of the containers to further hold the containers in place. Each projection forms a circumferentially extending ridge which engages a bottom edge of the container as it is positioned onto the platform, thus helping to prevent the container from slipping off of the turntable.




The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be set forth in or are apparent from the following description and drawings.











IN THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective assembly view of a turntable dispenser device constructed in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the turntable device shown in

FIG. 1

, with the containers removed from the turntable;





FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective, partially cross-sectional view of the turntable shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 3A

is a cross-sectional elevation view of a portion of the turntable shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

;





FIG. 4

is a partially cross-sectional, partially broken away and partially schematic elevation view illustrating certain features of the turntable dispenser device of the present invention with two of the devices stacked one on top of another and/or one or two of the devices being suspended from beneath a shelf;





FIG. 4A

is an enlarged, broken away elevation view of a portion of the structure shown in

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 5

is an exploded view of one of the dispensing containers shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a perspective, broken-away view of a portion of the structure shown in

FIG. 5

;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a component of the structure shown in

FIG. 7

; and





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of another component of the structure shown in FIG.


7


.











GENERAL DESCRIPTION





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a turntable-dispensing device


20


constructed in accordance with the present invention.




The device


20


includes a turntable


22


and twelve containers


24


on the turntable. In

FIGS. 2 and 3

, the turntable


22


is shown separately, with the containers removed.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, the turntable includes a molded plastic base


26


with an integral central vertical post


28


. A circular platform


30


(also see

FIG. 2

) is rotatably mounted on the base


26


.




The platform


30


has a raised central hub


32


whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the post


28


at its base so as to rotate freely around the post.




Referring to

FIG. 2

as well as

FIG. 3

, the platform has twelve generally wedge-shaped receptacle structures, each for holding one of the containers


24


on the surface of the platform


30


.




Each such receptacle structure includes an aperture


34


in the lower portion of the wall of the hub


32


, a pair of shallow radial grooves


36


, and a raised projection


38


located at the outer periphery of the platform


30


between the radial grooves


36


. Each of the raised projections


38


is shaped generally like a portion of the bottom wall of each container


24


and is dimensioned to fit into a recess in the bottom wall of the container


24


. The innermost edge


39


of each projection


38


mates with a vertical wall in each container to help prevent the container from falling off of the turntable.




It should be understood that only a relatively small number of the raised platforms and other container receptacle structures is shown in

FIG. 3

, for the sake of simplicity in the drawings.




Each of the projections


38


has a curved vertical recess


42


and a curved horizontal recess


40


to help in removing the containers from the turntable, and in order to present a pleasing ornamental appearance.




Referring again to

FIG. 3

, attached to the top of the post


28


is a disc


44


. A decorative cover


46


covers the central opening in the structure, and a handle


48


is attached to the disc


44


for carrying the turntable.




As it will be explained in detail below, each of the containers


24


preferably has an integral metering dispensing device so that granular materials such as spices or other condiments can be dispensed from the container by removing it from the turntable, holding it over a receptacle into which the material is to be dispensed, turning a knob by a predetermined distance, and replacing the container on the turntable.




Each container alternatively can be used without a built-in measuring dispenser, and measured quantities of the materials can be removed from the containers by means of measuring spoons, etc. In particular, an alternative embodiment of the invention utilizes an adjustable measuring spoon which is conveniently attached to the turntable.




Turnable Device




Referring again to

FIG. 3

as well as to

FIG. 4

, the rotatable platform


30


rotates on a ball bearing structure including a retainer ring


50


with a plurality of individual ball bearings


52


held in retainers on the ring


50


. The ball bearing structure fits into a race


54


molded into the base


26


. The base


26


has molded upstanding ridges


56


for the purpose of strengthening the turntable structure. It also has a recess


47


for receiving and seating the upper surface of one of the disc


44


when the turntable units are stacked.




The platform is easily assembled onto the base without tools by means of a pair of resilient locking tabs


58


. After the ball bearing structure is seated in the race


54


, the platform


30


is slipped downwardly over the post


28


and is pushed downwardly until the hub


32


moves past the tabs


58


. The tabs


58


are flexed inwardly by the hub, and then snap outwardly as the hub


32


moves past the lower edges of the tabs


58


.




The post


28


is slightly tapered from top to bottom; that is, it has a slightly smaller diameter at the top than at the bottom. This facilitates the assembly process described above, facilitates molding of the post and base structure, and facilitates the interference fit of a tapered attachment member inserted into the hollow interior of the post when stacking units atop one another.




The disc


44


also can be easily attached to the top of the post


28


and removed from it without the use of tools.




The top of the post is recessed so as to form a ledge


69


. Three vertical slots (only two are visible in

FIG. 3

)


60


are formed in the vertical wall of the reduced diameter top potion of the post


28


. A horizontal slot


61


(

FIG. 3A

) connects with each vertical slot


60


. The notches


60


are dimensioned to receive three tabs


62


which extend inwardly from a hub


68


at central opening of the disc


44


so that the tabs


62


can be inserted into the slots


60


. When the disc


44


is rotated, the tabs


62


slide into the slots


61


and engage the undersurface of the upper end wall


63


of the post


28


when the disc


44


is rotated (See FIG.


3


A). The lower edge of the hub


68


rests on the ledge


69


so as to form a solid support for the disc


44


on the end of the post. The disc


44


has radial strengthening ribs


67


.




The disc


44


can be removed from the structure simply by rotating the disc in the opposite direction to disengage the tabs


62


from the slots


60


and


61


.




The cover


46


also is removably attached to the disc


44


by means of tabs


47


which fit into slots


64


.




The handle


48


is removably attached to the disc


44


by means of locking tabs


70


which extend into locking slots


66


having a wide entrance and a narrower following slot so that the handle is locked into the slots


66


by rotation of the handle relative to the disc after inserting the tabs


70


in the slot. This causes the outwardly-extending feet


71


of the tabs to engage the undersurface of the disc.




Mounting Hub Structure




In accordance with another feature of the invention, as shown at the bottom of

FIG. 3

, a mounting hub or projection


72


is provided in order to facilitate stacking of turntables one on top of another, or for mounting one or more turntable devices onto the underside of a shelf.




The mounting hub is a molded plastic cylindrical structure, slightly tapered to match the taper of the inside of the hollow post


28


. The mounting hub


72


either can be inserted into the hub and locked in place there, or mounted onto the disc


44


in place of the handle


48


.




For insertion into the hollow interior of the post


28


, the external dimensions of the hub


72


are slightly less than those of the interior of the post


48


so that when the hub


72


is inserted upwardly into to hollow post the hub will fit snugly, preferably with an interference fit. Two tabs


76


fit into the slots forming the tabs


58


, and then slide into horizontal slots


79


when the hub


72


is rotated to lock the hub


72


and the post


28


together.




For attachment to the disc


44


, the hub


72


is provided with three locking tabs or feet


74


which fit into the slots


64


so that when the hub


72


is rotated counterclockwise, the feet


74


will slide under the surface of the disc


44


and will be locked in place.




Stacked Mounting





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view of one half of a vertical stack of two of the turntable devices. It should be understood that, although a handle


48


is shown in

FIG. 4

, actually it would be removed in the stacked construction shown and is shown in

FIG. 4

only for the convenience of illustrating its means of attachment.




In the stacked structure shown in

FIG. 4

, two hubs are in use; one hub


72


is inserted into the hollow interior of the post


28


of the upper turntable, and the other hub


72


is attached to the disc


44


of the upper turntable.





FIG. 4

is partially schematic in that it also shows how the stacked structure is attached by means of screws


84


to the under surface of a shelf


80


, such as a shelf of a kitchen cabinet. The front of the cabinet is shown schematically at


82


.





FIG. 4

also shows the stacked structure resting on a counter top surface


86


, for the purpose of illustrating both types of mounting.





FIG. 4

also illustrates how the containers


24


are mounted on the turntable platforms, with the projection


38


extending into the recess in the bottom of the container, and the vertical wall


138


of the container engaging the rear edge


39


of the projection


38


.




When the containers are removed, they are lifted upwardly at the outer edge and slid outwardly from the center of the turntable. This lifts the container off the projection


38


, and allows the projection


140


at the rear of the container to be removed from the hole


34


.




It should be understood that each of the turntable storage devices


22


can be used alone resting on a counter top such as the counter top


86


, or each can be suspended from beneath a shelf alone, without being stacked together with another turntable unit. However, stacking the units is particularly advantageous in that it saves additional counter top space as compared with single stand-alone units.




When two units are stacked together, but not hung from beneath a shelf, the handle


48


shown in

FIG. 4

then can be used to carry the stacked units to some other location, if desired.




Dispensing Container





FIG. 5

is an exploded perspective view of one of the dispensing containers


24


shown in

FIGS. 1 and 4

. Each container includes a molded outer end wall


88


, and a molded body unit


89


. The body unit has two side walls


90


and


92


, a rear wall


94


, and an upper wall


96


.




The front wall


88


has a sloping outer end surface


108


containing a large opening


100


for use in filling the container, and for pouring large quantities of the contents of the container, or for use in dipping the contents of the container out with a spoon.




The front wall


88


has a thumbnail recess to facilitate lifting a lid


112


which covers the opening


100


. A circular recess


104


receives a rotary dial


116


with a shaft


118


which fits through a hole


122


and into a dispensing rotor


126


which has vanes


128


.




The width of the innermost end wall


94


is much less than the width of the outer wall


88


, thus giving the container a pie-shaped cross-section, as is desirable to enable a substantial number of the containers to be fitted onto the circular surface of the platform


30


.




Internally within the container


24


are a sloping raised bottom wall


136


and a vertical wall


138


whose lower edge is shown at


95


.




A pair of slanted bottom walls


130


and


132


are provided with a gap


134


between them. The walls


130


and


132


have end tabs


124


which fit into slots (not shown) in the rear of the front wall


88


. The walls


130


and


132


have curved areas


125


to fit snugly against the rotor blades


128


to prevent leakage of condiments.




When the front wall


88


, the rotor structure


126


, the knob


116


, are all assembled together to form the housing, the half-cylindrical shaft


118


fits into a similarly-shaped hole in the rotor


126


. The rotor


126


has a pivot hole in one end into which is fitted a pivot pin


139


which extends from the wall


138


, and the vanes


128


contact the curved surfaces


125


of the members


130


and


132


to prevent material from being dispensed from within the container through the opening


134


until the rotor is rotated.




The front wall member


88


preferably is attached to the body member


89


by ultrasonic bonding.




When the rotor


116


is rotated, a quantity of material in the receptacle formed between two adjacent vanes


128


on the rotor


126


is dispensed through the opening


134


when the rotor is turned by the angular distance between two adjacent vanes


128


. Since there are eight vanes on the rotor


126


, a premeasured quantity of material is dispensed from one of the receptacles for every ⅛th of a revolution of the knob.




This dispenser is similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,219, the disclosure of which hereby is incorporated herein by reference.




The easy measurement of predetermined quantities of materials is accommodated by the provision of a detent structure including eight depressions


120


which mate with two similar projections (not shown) on the rear surface of the knob


116


. When the projections snap into the holes


120


, this positively tells the user that the knob


116


has been turned through ⅛th of a revolution, and that one unit of volume has been dispensed.




The projections are shaped like ratchet teeth and the holes


120


are shaped so as to form a ratchet structured which allows the knob


116


to be turned in only one direction.




Another desirable feature of the container


24


is that it has a window


110


which is fitted into a opening


98


in the front wall


88


. The window permits one to see the contents of the container.




The opening


100


is covered by a hinged lid


112


which has pivot pins


114


which fit into holes


115


in projections


106


extending upwardly from the upper edge of the front wall piece


88


. Lid


112


has a ridge (not shown) which fits into the opening


100


to snugly close the opening.




The top wall


96


of the container also has a shaker grill


146


which is at the innermost edge of the container


24


. A hinged cover


142


with hinged projections


144


fitting into notches


148


in the structure


150


provides a cover for the shaker grille.





FIG. 6

shows the shaker structure in greater detail. the grille includes a plurality of slots


152


in an upstanding projection. The undersurface of the cover


142


(not shown) has projections to fit into the slots


152


to close the grille completely and reduce accumulation of materials in the slots.




The location of the shaker opening at the end of the container where it is narrowest is advantageous in that it allows the funneling of the contents of the container towards the shaker outlet


146


.




The bottom walls


130


,


132


, the rotor


126


and the wall of the recess


104


all are located above the bottom edges of the container walls so as to form the recess into which the projection


38


fits (See FIGS.


2


and


4


).




The sloping bottom wall


136


guides material toward the rotor


126


, and its bottom edge


95


engages with the rear edge


39


of the projection


38


as shown in FIG.


4


.




Non-Dispensing Container Embodiment




In accordance with the another aspect of the invention, the cost of individual dispensing mechanisms for each of the containers


24


can be avoided by eliminating the dispensing mechanism in each, and providing a solid bottom wall for the container instead. Materials can be dipped out of the containers with spoons, or they can be dispensed through the shaker grille


146


.




Alternatively, the dispensing of measured quantities of spices, flour, and other such granular materials can be achieved by use of a special handle structure shown in

FIGS. 7

,


8


and


9


.




Instead of the handle


48


shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, a new handle structure


154


attached in the same way as handle


48


is provided. The handle structure


154


has a body


156


with two ridges


158


and


160


and a tapered projection


162


extending upwardly from between the two projections


158


and


160


. A cavity


164


is provided at one end of the projection


162


.




Fitted into this structure is an adjustable measuring spoon including an elongated body with a tapered receptacle in the bottom to fit snugly onto the projection


162


to hold the measuring spoon releasably onto the handle.




The measuring spoon has a downwardly bent rear end


174


, a slider


172


which has an end wall (not shown) which extends downwardly into a bowl


170


at the end of the spoon so as to provide an adjustable measuring cavity by sliding the slider


172


along the body of the adjustable measuring spoon


166


.




In use, the adjustable measuring spoon


166


can be removed from the handle, set to the proper measurement desired, and inserted into the large opening


100


in one of the containers so as to remove a premeasured quantity of materials. Thus, the present invention provides a very handy means for mounting an adjustable measuring spoon so that it will be readily at hand when needed.




The material of which the turntable


22


and containers are made preferably is thermoplastic resin. The rotor


126


of the dispenser (

FIG. 5

) preferably is made of a relatively flexible plastic material such as sanoprene or low-durometer polyethylene. The flexibility of the blades minimizes grinding and binding of grains of condiments between the blades and their mating surfaces


125


.




The covers


112


and


142


preferably are made of a flexible material such as polypropylene which is resistant to attack by spices.




This invention can be practiced in many different forms other than the specific forms described above. Those specific forms are described in order to set forth the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. However, the protection of this patent should not be limited to those forms and should be interpreted to cover other turntable storage devices utilizing the spirit and inventive contribution of this invention.



Claims
  • 1. A method of storing and dispensing comminuted material from a selected one of a plurality of storage containers, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a turntable with a rotatable support structure and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, each of said containers having a dispensing device selectively operable to dispense comminuted material from said container in increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material, (b) selecting a desired one of said containers and removing it from said rotatable support structure; and (c) operating the dispensing device for the selected container to dispense at least one of said increments comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material from the selected container; wherein each of said containers has a bottom structure with a bottom wall having a dispensing outlet opening therein, each of said containers resting on its bottom structure when resting on said rotatable support structure, and in which said dispensing device dispenses said material through said outlet opening, the step of operating the dispensing device including holding the selected container with said bottom structure down and said outlet opening facing downwardly, while operating the dispensing device in the selected container.
  • 2. A method of storing and dispensing comminuted material from a selected one of a plurality of storage containers, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a turntable with a rotatable support structure and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, each of said containers having a dispensing device selectively operable to dispense comminuted material from said container in increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material, (b) selecting a desired one of said containers and removing it from said rotatable support structure; and (c) operating the dispensing device for the selected container to dispense at least one of said increments comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material from the selected container; wherein the dispensing device comprises at least one receptacle within the container, said receptacle having a pre-determined capacity, said container having a dispensing outlet opening, and the operating step includes emptying the material of said receptacle out through said opening.
  • 3. A method of storing and dispensing comminuted material from a selected one of a plurality of storage containers, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a turntable with a rotatable support structure and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, each of said containers having a dispensing device selectively operable to dispense comminuted material from said container in increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material, (b) selecting a desired one of said containers and removing it from said rotatable support structure; and (c) operating the dispensing device for the selected container to dispense at least one of said increments comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material from the selected container; wherein said turntable has a securing structure including a projection for engagement with a receptacle on a like turntable for selectively securing it to another like turntable to allow the two turntables to be stacked one atop another, and including the step of stacking two of said turntables one atop the other and operating said securing structure and engaging said projection with said receptacle to secure said turntables to one another.
  • 4. A method as in claim 3 in which each of said turntables has a stationary base upon which said rotatable support structure rotates, in which the step of operating said securing structure secures the stationery bases of said turntables together, and including the step of rotating said rotatable support structures independently of one another.
  • 5. A method of storing and dispensing comminuted material from a selected one of a plurality of storage containers, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a turntable with a rotatable support structure and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, each of said containers having a dispensing device selectively operable to dispense comminuted material from said container in increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material, (b) selecting a desired one of said containers and removing it from said rotatable support structure; and (c) operating the dispensing device for the selected container to dispense at least one of said increments comprising a pre-determined quantity of said material from the selected container, in which said turntable has a securing structure for selectively securing it to another like turntable to allow the two turntables to be stacked one atop another, and including the step of stacking two of said turntables one atop the other and operating said securing structure to secure said turntables to one another, in which each of said turntables has a vertical support structure extending upwardly from its base, and supporting said turntables by selecting between resting the base of the lower one of said turntables upon a flat stationary surface and suspending the turntables by means of said vertical support structure of the upper one of said turntables by means of said vertical support structure of the upper one of said turntables to hang downwardly from a second stationary surface.
  • 6. A device for storing comminuted material in a plurality of removably positioned storage containers and selectively dispensing the material from one of said containers, said device comprising, in combination:(a) a turntable having a base structure, a rotatable support structure rotatably mounted on said base structure, and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, (b) each of said containers having dispensing means operable for dispensing comminuted material from it in a plurality of increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said comminuted material, wherein said container has a dispensing outlet, and said dispensing means includes at least one measuring receptacle and means for selectively emptying said measuring receptacle through said outlet to dispense said pre-determined quantity of said material, and for re-filling said measuring receptacle from material held in said container.
  • 7. A device for storing comminuted material in a plurality of removably positioned storage containers and selectively dispensing the material from one of said containers, said device comprising, in combination:(a) a turntable having a base structure, a rotatable support structure rotatably mounted on said base structure, and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, (b) each of said containers having dispensing means operable for dispensing comminuted material from it in a plurality of increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said comminuted material, wherein said base structure has a vertical support structure extending upwardly therefrom and means for securing said vertical support structure of said turntable to a base structure of a like turntable to enable said turntables to be secured together in stacked relationship to one another with each of said rotatable support structures being rotatable independently of the other.
  • 8. A device for storing comminuted material in a plurality of removably positioned storage containers and selectively dispensing the material from one of said containers, said device comprising, in combination:(a) a turntable having a base structure, a rotatable support structure rotatably mounted on said base structure, and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, (b) each of said containers having dispensing means operable for dispensing comminuted material from it in a plurality of increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said comminuted material, wherein each of said containers has a bottom structure upon which it rests when positioned on said rotatable support structure, said bottom structure including a bottom wall with an outlet opening therein, said dispensing means being mounted within said container in a position to dispense said material through said opening.
  • 9. A device for storing comminuted material in a plurality of removably positioned storage containers and selectively dispensing the material from one of said containers, said device comprising, in combination:(a) a turntable having a base structure, a rotatable support structure rotatably mounted on said base structure, and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, (b) each of said containers having dispensing means operable for dispensing comminuted material from it in a plurality of increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said comminuted material, wherein each of said containers has a bottom structure and said support structure has a retaining structure for each of said bottom structures, each of said bottom structures being shaped and dimensioned to mate with one of said retaining structures when placed on said rotatable support structure, said retaining structure includes a projection extending upwardly from said support structure, said bottom structure has a cavity shaped and dimensioned to form a friction fit with said projection.
  • 10. A device for storing comminuted material in a plurality of removably positioned storage containers and selectively dispensing the material from one of said containers, said device comprising, in combination:(a) a turntable having a base structure, a rotatable support structure rotatably mounted on said base structure, and a plurality of storage containers on said support structure, (b) each of said containers having dispensing means operable for dispensing comminuted material from it in a plurality of increments each comprising a pre-determined quantity of said comminuted material, wherein each of said containers has a bottom structure and said support structure has a retaining structure for each of said bottom structures, each of said bottom structures being shaped and dimensioned to mate with one of said retaining structures when placed on said rotatable support structure, said rotatable support structure has a center of rotation, and said retaining structure includes an upstanding wall concentric with said rotatable platform and having an aperture in it, and said bottom structure includes a projection which extends radially inwardly from said container and into said aperture when said container is positioned on said support structure.
  • 11. A turntable storage device comprising: a plurality of containers, and a turntable comprising a base and a support structure rotatably mounted on said base, said containers resting on said support structure with each of said containers being freely removable from said turntable by hand at any of a plurality of selected locations on said turntable, in which each of said containers has a bottom upon which it rests when positioned on said support structure, a barrier on said support structure for engaging said bottom of each of said containers to limit movement of said bottom of each of said containers on said support structure, wherein one of said turntable and said containers has a plurality of radially-extending non-hooked projections located adjacent said container bottoms and the other has a plurality of receptacles for receiving said projections, said containers being held in place on said turntable by engaging said projections with said receptacles, each of said containers including a radially innermost end and a radially outermost end, and having a width substantially greater at said outermost end than at said innermost end, said projections and said receptacles being located at said radially innermost ends of said containers when said containers are mounted on said turntable, wherein each of said containers has a side wall with a bottom edge and one of said projections extends radially inwardly from adjacent said bottom edge, said turntable having a central post extending upwardly from and forming a junction with said base, said receptacles being spaced circumferentially around said post.
  • 12. A turntable storage device comprising: a plurality of containers, and a turntable comprising a base and a support structure rotatably mounted on said base, said containers resting on said support structure with each of said containers being freely removable from said turntable by hand at any of a plurality of selected locations on said turntable, in which each of said containers has a bottom upon which it rests when positioned on said support structure, a barrier on said support structure for engaging said bottom of each of said containers to limit movement of said bottom of each of said containers on said support structure, wherein one of said turntable and said containers has a plurality of radially-extending non-hooked projections located adjacent said container bottoms and the other has a plurality of receptacles for receiving said projections, said containers being held in place on said turntable by engaging said projections with said receptacles, each of said containers including a radially innermost end and a radially outermost end, and having a width substantially greater at said outermost end than at said innermost end, said projections and said receptacles being located at said radially innermost ends of said containers when said containers are mounted on said turntable, wherein each of said containers has side walls with bottom edges and a bottom wall recessed from said bottom edges to form a recess, said barrier including a plurality of vertical projections, each being shaped and dimensioned to fit into said recess in the bottom of one of said containers with a friction fit to hold said container in position on said turntable.
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