Abstract: A condiment grinder has a body for containing condiment seeds, a grinding mechanisms located at an open end of the body through which condiment seeds ground by the grinding mechanism may be dispensed, and a drive mechanism for turning an operating shaft of the grinding mechanism to operate the grinder. The grinding mechanism includes a female grinder and a male grinder, which is supported co-axially in the female grinder for rotation relative to the female grinder, for grinding condiment seeds. The two grinders are spaced apart by an annular gap in which condiment seeds are ground. The drive mechanism has an operator supported for reciprocating motion relative to the body, and a motion translator for translating the reciprocating motion into uni-directional rotary motion driving the operating shaft.

Abstract: A condiment grinder has a body for containing condiment seeds, a grinding mechanisms located at an open end of the body through which condiment seeds ground by the grinding mechanism may be dispensed, and a drive mechanism for turning an operating shaft of the grinding mechanism to operate the grinder. The grinding mechanism includes a female grinder and a male grinder, which is supported co-axially in the female grinder for rotation relative to the female grinder, for grinding condiment seeds. The two grinders are spaced apart by an annular gap in which condiment seeds are ground. The drive mechanism has an operator supported for reciprocating motion relative to the body, and a motion translator for translating the reciprocating motion into uni-directional rotary motion driving the operating shaft.

Abstract: A condiment grinder has a body for containing condiment seeds, and a condiment grinding mechanism provided at a lower open end of the body through which condiment seeds, ground by the mechanism, may be dispensed. The grinding mechanism has a female grinder and a male grinder rotatable in the female grinder for grinding condiment seeds in an annular gap between the grinders. The condiment grinder includes a base attached to the lower body end for standing the body on a surface. The base engages the female grinder and is turnable to adjust the female grinder's axial position relative to the male grinder and, hence, the width of the gap and, in turns, the ground condiment size. The base has a peripheral wall that is exposed to and accessible from all lateral sides for gripping so that the base can conveniently be turned.

Abstract: A pepper grinder includes pepper and salt containers. The pepper container has first and second openings, through which first opening the container may be refilled with pepper seeds, and includes a pepper grinding mechanism in the second opening, through which ground pepper may be dispensed. The salt container has first and second openings, through which first opening the container may be refilled with salt and through which second opening salt may be dispensed. The two containers are releasably interconnected at their first openings, whereby both openings are closed. A coupler releasably connects the two containers together, which has a first part releasably connected to the pepper container first opening and a second part releasably connected to the salt container first opening.

Abstract: A pepper grinder comprising a pepper seed bottle having upper and lower openings, through which upper opening the bottle may be refilled. A pepper grinding mechanism is provided in the lower bottle opening, through which ground pepper may be dispensed. The mechanism comprises a female grinding member and a male grinding member supported co-axially therein for relative rotation to grind pepper, the two members being spaced apart by an annual gap in which pepper is to be ground. The mechanism includes a positioning ring in engagement with the male grinding member, which may be turned to adjust the axial position of the male grinding member relative to the female grinding member and hence the width of the gap and in turn the pepper grinding size. The positioning ring comprises a ring body and two spokes that extend across opposite sides of the ring body for engagement by a user to turn the ring.

Abstract: A condiment grinder has a body for containing condiment seeds, and a condiment grinding mechanism provided at a lower open end of the body through which condiment seeds, ground by the mechanism, may be dispensed. The grinding mechanism has a female grinder and a male grinder rotatable in the female grinder for grinding condiment seeds in an annular gap between the grinders. The condiment grinder includes a base attached to the lower body end for standing the body on a surface. The base engages the female grinder and is turnable to adjust the female grinder's axial position relative to the male grinder and, hence, the width of the gap and, in turns, the ground condiment size. The base has a peripheral wall that is exposed to and accessible from all lateral sides for gripping so that the base can conveniently be turned.

Abstract: A pepper grinder (10) comprising a pepper seed bottle (100) having upper and lower openings (110 & 120), through which upper opening (110) the bottle (100) may be refilled. A pepper grinding mechanism (300) is provided in the lower bottle opening (120), through which ground pepper may be dispensed. The mechanism (300) comprises a female grinding member (370) and a male grinding member (380) supported co-axially therein for relative rotation to grind pepper, the two members (370 & 380) being spaced apart by an annual gap in which pepper is to be ground. The mechanism (300) includes a positioning ring (350) in engagement with the male grinding member (380), which may be turned to adjust the axial position of the male grinding member (380) relative to the female grinding member (370) and hence the width of the gap and in turn the pepper grinding size.

Abstract: A pepper grinder (10) includes pepper and salt containers (100/200). The pepper container (100) has first and second openings (110/120), through which first opening (110) the container (100) may be refilled with pepper seeds, and includes a pepper grinding mechanism in the second opening (120), through which ground pepper may be dispensed. The salt container (200) has first and second openings (220/210), through which first opening (220) the container (200) may be refilled with salt and through which second opening (210) salt may be dispensed. The two containers (100/200) are releasably interconnected at their first openings (110/220), whereby both openings (110/220) are closed. A coupler (300) releasably connects the two containers (100/200) together, which has a first part (300A) releasably connected to the pepper container first opening (110) and a second part (300B) releasably connected to the salt container first opening (220).