Freehand granule dispenser and kit with adhesive work surface

Abstract

A refillable granular material dispenser for making decorative patterns with the granular material on adhesive surfaces. The dispenser has a spring-loaded, pivotally mounted lever for opening and closing a cap over the end of the dispenser to control dispensing granular material. The granular material may be sand or granular, flowable food stuffs. In one embodiment, the dispenser is part of an art kit for painting an adhesive surface with granules of material including a multi-compartment tray holding the adhesive work surface, the dispenser and granular material supply containers. A method of making decorative patterns is also provided.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of art and decoration and in particular to a freehand instrument for dispensing granular material, such as either sand or sugar, upon an adhesive work surface.

Certain forms of sand art are known for creating artistic renditions of scenes and other designs. One known form of sand art is practiced by distributing different colors of sand on the ground. The sand art is created by pouring colored sand from small, open top containers or by pinching the sand between fingers and sprinkling over the area being colored.

More recently, sand art has been practiced on the adhesive side of contact paper. A protective sheet covers the adhesive contact paper. The artist first removes pre-selected, cut pieces of the protective covering to expose portions of the contact paper. Then, the artist pours colored sand on the uncovered part of the contact paper to form a drawing, similar to a paint-by-numbers kit. The artist has little control over the drawing because the adhesive portions of the paper are pre-selected. The sand is typically poured onto the drawing from a bag or spooned out and excess sand can be shaken off, to yield a predetermined picture.

Other examples of sand art kits and tools are disclosed in patents. An art kit for making sand pictures on adhesive paper with containers of colored sand having caps, for example, is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,247. Each container has a solid bottom, while the cap is removable to refill the container. The cap includes a nozzle and a dome for blocking the nozzle when the container is not in use. The dome must be manually positioned over the nozzle. Thus, the containers do not have any mechanism for stopping the flow of sand during use except by tipping the container back upright.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,746 teaches a sand metering device for dispensing sand into a jar or other container to make decorative designs. The metering device has a sliding block which moves between a fill position and a dispensing position. Colored sand is first permitted to flow into a bore in the sliding block through a top opening when the block is in the fill position. A bottom outlet in the bore is closed by a stop when the block is in the fill position. When the block is slid back to the dispensing position, the bottom outlet is opened and the colored sand in the bore is dispensed into the jar. The metering device is provided connected to the outlet of a container of colored sand mounted above a holder for a jar in a housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,462 teaches an art kit and method for making a decorative water color painting which includes selected textured portions formed by a colored granulated material. The painting surface has a water-activated adhesive on pre-selected portions. After the adhesive is activated, the granulated material is poured over the selected portions. The granulated material can be poured from one of several tube-like containers provided with the art kit. The containers do not include any mechanism for controlling the flow of granulated material from the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,436 teaches a method for creating a sand painting by sequentially filling a frame having a space between front and back surfaces and an open top with different colored sand. The sand is delivered through the open top via tubes which are shown having a uniform diameter, like a straw.

A sand game for creating designs using a sand slurry is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,256. The sand slurry is formed by sand suspended in a liquid such as water. The sand slurry is picked up and then deposited on an absorbent substrate using a dispenser, such as a syringe or dropper having a vacuum bulb. The sand slurry is extruded or dripped out of the syringe or dropper in a semi-liquid form. The dropper illustrated has a narrower outlet for dispensing the slurry. Flow of the slurry can only be controlled by the application of pressure on the dropper bulb.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,643 describes an apparatus for making designs by rotating a container while receiving a flowable material, such as sand, oil, or gel, among others. The flowable materials are deposited into the container by a squeeze bottle with an open, tapered nozzle. The amount-of material dispensed from the squeeze bottle is controlled only by the amount of pressure applied to the bottle.

Other similar forms of decoration are known. For example, a common craft practiced by many children is drawing on paper with glue and then sprinkling glitter on the paper. The glitter attaches to the glue. After the glue dries, excess glitter that is not secured to glue is brushed off leaving an artistic work that appears to have been done freehand in the form or pattern drawn by the glue. However, the glitter is usually dispensed freely from its container since it does not matter how much glitter is deposited onto the paper. Therefore, a means for controlling the flow of glitter is not considered in this type of activity.

Granular materials are also used to decorate pastries, and in particular, cakes. Granular materials such as dragees and sprinkles are commonly sprinkled by hand, pinched between fingers, or sifted straight from the container. Powdered sugar is even more difficult to dispense accurately in this manner for making designs due to its nature. Therefore, it is difficult to provide decorative lettering or other more precise patterns since there is a lack of control in the dispensing of the-granular material.

Creativity with sand art and certain food decorations is limited because current granule dispensers do not provide good freehand control. It is very difficult to draw small patterns and precise fine lettering by sifting, sprinkling, or pouring because additional, unwanted material often falls into the design as well. Known granule dispensers lack the capability to create detailed works of art, as they generally control flow by tipping containers back-and forth to start and stop the flow. The amount of granular material dispensed is not uniform when the granular material is sifted or poured straight from a container, as the flow may suddenly increase or decrease due to tipping at a different angle or as the material is used up. It is difficult to stop pouring and sifting. Also sifting or pouring from a container can result in the entire container being spilled.

There is a need for an art or decoration dispenser for depositing a granular material onto an adhesive surface in a controlled freehand manner. A freehand dispenser is also needed to provide a precise freehand method of depositing granular material for creating more detailed artistic work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a freehand dispenser for granular material which can start-and stop the flow of granular material quickly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a granular material dispenser for freehand use which has a mechanism permitting control of the amount and rate of granular material dispensed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an art or decoration kit for making creative decorations with granular materials on adhesive work surfaces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that can be used with precision to draw fine lines and other more detailed components of a work.

Accordingly, a freehand dispenser is provided for depositing granules of material onto an adhesive or other surface. The freehand dispenser comprises an elongated container having an inner chamber and open upper and lower ends, a removable stopper adapted for closing the chamber at the open upper end, and a levered cap over the lower open end. The cap is formed on one end of a spring-loaded lever mounted to the container on a pivot. The cap normally closes the lower open end.

Granular material contained within the chamber is deposited on an adhesive surface by depressing the lever and compressing the spring against the container to lift the cap covering the opening at the lower end of the dispenser. Releasing the lever causes the spring to quickly return the cap to the normally closed position over the lower end of the dispenser, thereby instantly stopping the flow of granular material onto the adhesive surface.

The chamber of the dispenser may be very narrow or can be tapered with a wide upper end and a narrower lower end to optimize storage capacity of granular material while providing greater control of the rate of deposit of the granular material. The dispenser container and chamber may be cylindrical, square, triangular or another shape in cross-section.

The stopper may include a lengthwise slot for depositing a greater amount of granular material from the upper end of the dispenser by tilting the dispenser.

The dispenser may be used with different granular materials. The granular material in one embodiment is colored sand, for dispensing on adhesive contact paper. In an alternate embodiment, the granular material is a decorative topping or condiment, such as powdered sugar or sprinkles. The topping is dispensed on frosting, icing, or other edible sticky coating on a pastry or cake.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a children's activity kit is provided for drawing pictures or designs freehand on sticky paper, such as contact paper, using sand or similar granular material. The kit includes a multi-compartment tray for retaining an adhesive surface and the dispenser. Contact paper is positioned in the tray and the protective backing removed to expose the adhesive surface. The freehand dispenser is used to selectively deposit colored granular material on the adhesive surface in the tray by opening and closing the cap. Supply containers of colored granular material for refilling the dispenser are included in the kit.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of a dispenser of the invention in combination with an adhesive contact paper kit;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a dispenser of the invention used to decorate a cake;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an second embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a removable stopper with a slot for use with the dispenser of FIGS. 2 or 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a stopper for sealing an upper end of the dispenser of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a third embodiment of a stopper for sealing an upper end of the dispenser of the invention;

FIG. 8A is an end view of the dispenser of FIG. 2 taken along line-8-8;

FIG. 8B is an end view of a second embodiment of the dispenser of FIG. 2 taken along line 8-8;

FIG. 8C is an end view of a third embodiment of the dispenser of FIG. 2 taken along line 8-8; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the dispenser of the invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements, FIG. 1 shows art and decoration kit 20 having a tray 29, adhesive paper 27 and dispenser 10. The tray 29 has multiple compartments, including a large rectangular work compartment 30 for receiving the adhesive contact paper 27. Smaller material supply compartments 33 and dispenser recess. 35 are provided for storing material supply containers 32 and a dispenser 10, respectively. Compartment 33 is preferably formed as a round deep well adapted for receiving a-round material supply container 32 holding granular material 13. One or more dispensers 10 may be stored flat in compartment 35, or, alternatively, inserted and held vertically in compartments 33.

The adhesive contact paper 27 is preferably coated with an adhesive over all of its upper, exposed surface. The contact paper 27 may have adhesive on both sides, so that it is more easily held in work compartment 30. The contact paper 27 can initially be provided with a removable backing sheet (not shown) covering the adhesive surface to prevent unwanted material from sticking.

A sheet of contact paper 27 is placed in work compartment 30 and the adhesive exposed. Dispenser 10 contains a granular material 13, which is preferably colored sand or similar material. Dispenser 10 is used to dispense the granular material 13 in a freehand manner onto the adhesive surface of the contact paper 27 to create an artistic work or decoration. Different colored sand can be loaded into the dispenser and applied to the contact paper 27 to create varied designs.

Dispenser 10 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. As seen, dispenser 10 is formed by an elongated container 3 with an inner chamber 4 extending through container 3 between open upper and lower ends 9, 11, respectively. Granular material 13 is contained within the chamber 4.

The open upper end 9 is preferably sealed with a removable stopper 15 to prevent the granular material 13 from spilling out when dispenser 10 is tipped backwards or upside down. The stopper can be removed for refilling the dispenser 10 with the same or a different granular material 13. Stopper 15 has a narrow proximal end 17 having a circumference adapted to frictionally fit within the chamber 4. In a preferred embodiment, stopper 15 gradually tapers along its length from outer distal end 19 toward narrow proximal end 17. When stopper 15 is inserted into the chamber 4, the gradually tapering wall of the stopper 15 frictionally engages chamber 4. Stopper 15 is preferably made of a compressible material, such as rubber to improve the frictional fit in chamber 4.

The lower end 11 of dispenser 10 is closed by a cap 21 at one end of lever 23. Lever 23 is spring-loaded and pivotally mounted to the side of the container 3. Lever 23 is connected using molding 26 surrounding container 3 and having pivot 28 spaced outwardly from the side of container 3.

As seen in FIG. 2, spring 25 is connected between the side of container 3 and the other end of lever 23. One end of the spring 25 attaches to a nub 22 located within a recess in the container 3. The other end of the spring 25 attaches to a nub 24 projecting from the lever 23. Spring 25 is preferably connected under slight compression between the closed position of the lever 23 and the container 3, so that the cap 21 is biased closed with a small force.

Pressing lever 23 against the side of container 3 compresses spring 25 further and causes lever 23 to pivot at pivot 28, thereby lifting cap 21 away from the chamber. 4 opening at the lower end 11. The granular material 13 can flow out of chamber 4 through the open lower end 11.

The granular material 13 is composed of sand, glitter or any other similar granular or flowable, powdered particles that can be used for art or decoration. If desired, combinations of granular materials 13 can be used in the dispenser at the same time to create further original designs. For example, blue and yellow colored sand could both be provided in chamber 4 and portions of each dispensed simultaneously through lower end 11 when cap 21 is lifted by lever 23.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 3, the dispenser 10 contains a granular decorative topping 37 for a pastry such as powdered sugar, sprinkles, cinnamon, dragees, and various other granulated confetti. A cake 39 is provided having an upper adhesive surface 40 such as icing or frosting. The dispenser 10 is used to deposit the granular decorative topping 37 onto the frosting or icing of the cake 39. Using the dispenser 10 to selectively deposit granular decorative toppings, the surface of the cake 39 can be decorated in different patterns with one or more of the granular toppings 37.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dispenser 10 may have a container 3 with three segments: a wide upper segment 43 adjacent the upper end 9, a center segment 45 of smaller diameter, and a narrow, lower tip segment 47 adjacent the the lower end 13. The different size segments 43, 45, 47 provide the dispenser 10 and chamber 4 with additional storage capacity and easier refilling in the upper segment 43. At the same time, the narrow lower tip segment 47 limits the rate of granule flow through lower end 11 opening, thereby providing even more controlled freehand drawing experience.

In a further embodiment, rather than having stepped segments 43, 45, 47, dispenser 10 can simply gradually taper from the upper end 9 to the lower end 11. The dispenser 10 may take other shapes and forms as well, provided the pivoting lever 23 and cap 21 are present to control material 13 flow through the dispensing opening.

The dispenser 10 may be formed entirely rigid or include partly elastic portions, or a combination thereof. For example, the dispenser 10 can be made entirely from a hard plastic, a chewable or elastic rubber, or semi-hard plastic with a short elastic grip near the lower end 11 or another location where the dispenser 10 can be grasped.

Referring to FIG. 5, the stopper 15 that seals the upper end 9 of the dispenser 10 can include an elongated slot 49. The slot 49 extends through the entire length of the stopper 15, so that the dispenser 10 can be tilted upside down to dispense the granular material 13 contained within the chamber 4. The length of the slot opening 49 is preferably 16 times greater than its width, allowing a larger and longer surface area on the work surface to be filled.

The background of an art work can be filled in with the selected granular material 13 more quickly by pouring from the slot 49, while more detailed portions can be done using the lever 23 to control dispensing from the lower end 11. The stopper 15 can alternatively include different arrangements of multiple through slots, or slots can be provided arranged in a particular pattern, so that the granular material 13 is dispensed according to the particular shape or pattern of the slots in the stopper 15.

A removable cap 60 may be substituted for stopper 15 to close the upper end 9. As shown in FIG. 6, the removable cap 60 has walls 63 that frictionally surround and engage the outer face of the container 3 near the upper end opening. The cap 60 also has clip 65 for hooking over a wall, such as can be provided on tray 29.

FIG. 7 shows another removable cap 80 which conforms and fits within the chamber walls at the upper end opening of the container 3. The removable cap 80 has a cylindrical wall 83 that is slightly narrower than the chamber 4. Above the cap wall 83, a cap head 85 is provided that is wider than the opening to the upper end of the container 3. The cap wall 83 is inserted into the container 3 through the opening at the upper end 9 and the cap is locked in place when the wider cap head 85 reaches the narrower opening. The cap 80 may be easily removed since the cap head 85 is much wider than the container and can be gripped. However, a string 87 is also attached to the cap head for assisting the removal of the cap. The cap 81 may also be attached to other pulling means that are known in the art.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate three different cross-sectional shapes for dispenser 10, although other may be used as well. For example, the dispenser 10 may be rectangular, conical, crayon-shaped, or any other shape that can store and continuously dispense granular material 13. A cylindrical cross-section as shown FIG. 8A is preferred for dispenser 10. FIG. 8B illustrates a triangular cross-section dispenser 10. FIG. 8C shows a rectangular dispenser. Although the shape of the chamber 4 is shown to conform to the shape of the container 3, other embodiments may include a chamber 4 that has a different shape from the container.

FIG. 9 demonstrates the steps of a method for making an artistic or decorative work from colored granules of sand. First, a dispenser 10 and an adhesive work surface such as contact paper 27 are provided 101. The dispenser 10 is manually positioned 103 above the paper 27. The lever 23 is pressed to compress spring 25 against the container 3 to start the flow 105 of granular material 13 through the lower end 11 opening. While keeping the lever pressed, the dispenser 10 is manually moved over the contact paper 27 in a freehand fashion to create a design 107. The granular material 13 adheres to the contact paper 27 where it is deposited from the dispenser 10. The dispenser 10 is moved about creating a design until it is desired to stop. At that time, the lever 23 is released, closing cap 21 over lower end 11 opening and stopping the flow 109 of granular material 13 onto the contact paper 27.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

1. A freehand granule dispenser comprising:

an elongated container having an inner chamber and an open lower end;

a granular material contained within said inner chamber;

a lever pivotally mounted to the container adjacent said open lower end; and

a cap on the lever adapted for covering said open lower end when the lever is in a first position and permitting the granular material to flow through the open lower end when the lever is in a second position.

2. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said container tapers from a wide upper segment to a narrow lower tip.

3. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said container is stepped between the wide upper segment and the narrow lower tip and includes a center segment of intermediate width.

4. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container has an open upper end, and further comprising removable sealing means adapted to fit said open upper end.

5. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said removable sealing means is a stopper adapted to be fitted within the chamber at the open upper end of said container.

6. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said stopper further comprises a lengthwise slot for dispensing said granular material.

7. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said lever is spring-loaded to bias the lever into the first position.

8. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container has a cross-sectional shape that is one of circular, triangular and rectangular.

9. A freehand granule dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said granular material is one of sand, glitter, and combinations thereof.

10. A marking instrument according to claim 1, wherein said granular material is a decorative granular topping or condiment.

11. A granule dispensing system comprising:

a dispenser having an elongated container defining an inner chamber containing granular material, open upper and lower ends, removable sealing means at said upper end, and a biased movable cap covering said lower open end; and

an adhesive surface for receiving said granular material.

12. A granule dispensing system according to claim 11, wherein said container tapers from a wide upper segment to a narrow lower tip.

13. A granule dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said container is stepped between the wide upper segment and the, narrow lower tip and includes a center segment of intermediate width.

14. A granule dispensing system according to claim 11, wherein said removable sealing means is a stopper adapted to be frictionally fitted within said chamber at the open upper end of the container.

15. A granule dispensing system according to claim 14, wherein said stopper has a lengthwise slot for dispensing granules of a material.

16. A granule dispensing system according to claim 11, further comprising a spring-loaded lever pivotally connected to the container, the biased movable cap being carried at one end of the lever so that the cap is normally covering the lower open end of the container.

17. A granule dispensing system according to claim 11, wherein said removable sealing means is a cap adapted to engage the chamber of said dispenser.

18. A granule dispensing system according to claim 11 wherein said granular material is one of sand, glitter, an edible granular topping or condiment, and combinations thereof,

19. A granule dispensing system according to claim 18, wherein said adhesive material is one of contact paper and a sticky foodstuff.

20. An art and decoration kit for decorating or painting an adhesive work surface with granules of material comprising:

a dispenser comprising an elongated container with an inner chamber and open lower end, a spring-biased lever pivotally mounted to the container adjacent said open lower end, a cap on the lever adapted for covering said open lower end when the lever is in a first position and exposing the open lower end when the lever is in a second position;

a multi-compartment tray holding an adhesive work surface; and

a granular material for selectively depositing on the adhesive work surface from the lower end of the dispenser.

21. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the dispenser further comprises an open upper end and a removable stopper closing said open upper end.

22. A kit according to claim 21, wherein said stopper has a lengthwise slot for dispensing the granular material through the stopper.

23. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the container has a cross-sectional shape that is one of circular, triangular and rectangular.

24. A kit according to claim 20, wherein said granular material is one of sand, glitter, and combinations thereof.

25. A kit according to claim 24, wherein the adhesive work surface is contact paper.

26. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the lever is biased to the first position.