Abstract: In a grinder, inner and outer burrs are used for grinding condiment solids into fine grains with a grain size controllable by an inter-burr distance. The grinder has a first body part aligned with a second body part. A separation between the first and second body parts is adjustable by at most a predetermined limited distance, allowing a user to select the grain size by compressing the first and second body parts to alter the inter-burr distance. An undulating ring that is non-metallic and compressively resilient is positioned between the first and second body parts to push the two body parts away from each other after the user stops compressing the two body parts, avoiding the inter-burr distance to be stuck at a most-recently used value without a need of using a metallic spring to rebound the two body parts. A manufacturing cost of the grinder is reduced.

Abstract: In a grinder, inner and outer burrs are used for grinding condiment solids into fine grains with a grain size controllable by an inter-burr distance. The grinder has a first body part aligned with a second body part. A separation between the first and second body parts is adjustable by at most a predetermined limited distance, allowing a user to select the grain size by compressing the first and second body parts to alter the inter-burr distance. An undulating ring that is non-metallic and compressively resilient is positioned between the first and second body parts to push the two body parts away from each other after the user stops compressing the two body parts, avoiding the inter-burr distance to be stuck at a most-recently used value without a need of using a metallic spring to rebound the two body parts. A manufacturing cost of the grinder is reduced.

Abstract: A cordless electric condiment grinder includes a hollow housing elongated to extend between a base for supporting the grinder uprightly and an opposing top, the top of the housing having a bulbous form to define a condiment reservoir. A rotary grinding mechanism is disposed in a lateral opening in the top of the housing and a tilt switch controls operation of the grinding mechanism, allowing freshly ground condiment to be dispensed automatically upon rotating the grinder through an acute angle and thus is particularly suited for use by people with limited dexterity.

Abstract: A cordless electric condiment grinder includes a hollow housing elongated to extend between a base for supporting the grinder uprightly and an opposing top, the top of the housing having a bulbous form to define a condiment reservoir. A rotary grinding mechanism is disposed in a lateral opening in the top of the housing and a tilt switch controls operation of the grinding mechanism, allowing freshly ground condiment to be dispensed automatically upon rotating the grinder through an acute angle and thus is particularly suited for use by people with limited dexterity.

Abstract: A cordless electric dual condiment grinder includes a hollow housing elongated to extend between a base for supporting the grinder uprightly and an opposing top, the top of the housing having a bulbous form to define two condiment reservoirs (e.g. for receiving salt and pepper respectively). A unidirectional rotary grinding mechanism is disposed in a lateral opening in each of the reservoirs. The lateral openings are on opposing sides of the housing and a tilt switch controls the direction of rotation of a reversible drive motor. One-way clutches in the transmission are provided such that each grinding mechanism is selectively rotated depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor output. The user can thus selectively dispense from one or other of the compartments by rotating the grinder through an acute angle from the upright such that the selected lateral opening faces downwardly and thus is particularly suited for use by people with limited dexterity.

Abstract: A grinder having two condiment-receiving compartments each with a respective rotary grinding mechanism dispenses from one or other of the compartments depending upon whether a rotary input is turned clockwise or anticlockwise. First and second gear trains transmit torque between the rotary input and each grinding mechanism, with a one-way clutch provided in each gear train and an auxiliary gear allows both grinding mechanisms to rotate in the same sense.

Abstract: A grinder having two condiment-receiving compartments each with a respective rotary grinding mechanism dispenses from one or other of the compartments depending upon whether a rotary input is turned clockwise or anticlockwise. First and second gear trains transmit torque between the rotary input and each grinding mechanism, with a one-way clutch provided in each gear train and an auxiliary gear allows both grinding mechanisms to rotate in the same sense.

Abstract: The invention provides a generally cylindrical, releasable interlocking arrangement comprising a lower portion having an inwardly-directed rim at its upper end, and an upper portion having outwardly-directed resilient members at an outer periphery thereof. The two portions snap-fit into one another and are mutually rotatable. The second portion consists of a flexible ring-shaped element with the resilient members extending longitudinally and radially thereof, an outer element that receives the resilient members in slots in the outer periphery thereof, and a third element that engages with the outer element and retains the resilient members in the slots. The two portions of the interlocking arrangement may be secured within respective cylindrical housing parts of a grinding device, in particular a pepper mill, with a drive member of a grinding mechanism passing freely through the lower portion and engaging with the upper portion of the arrangement.

Abstract: The invention provides a generally cylindrical, releasable interlocking arrangement comprising a lower portion having an inwardly-directed rim at its upper end, and an upper portion having outwardly-directed resilient members at an outer periphery thereof. The two portions snap-fit into one another and are mutually rotatable. The second portion consists of a flexible ring-shaped element with the resilient members extending longitudinally and radially thereof, an outer element that receives the resilient members in slots in the outer periphery thereof, and a third element that engages with the outer element and retains the resilient members in the slots. The two portions of the interlocking arrangement may be secured within respective cylindrical housing parts of a grinding device, in particular a pepper mill, with a drive member of a grinding mechanism passing freely through the lower portion and engaging with the upper portion of the arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjoining device consisting of at least two pieces of elements to be jointed together. The first element having a hole with an adjoining plane at the contact area to the second element, the second element having a flange and a protrusion which fits into the hole of the first element, whereby in the adjoined the flange of the second element is in contact with the adjoining plane of the first element.