Device for discharging substance
A device for discharging at least one substance therefrom, comprising a container having a body member with substantially a vertical wall and a closure member, the body member is provided with an upper opening via which the substance is received and a lower opening closable by the closure member, wherein the body member and said closure member together define a cavity for containing the substance and wherein the body member and the closure member is movable relative to each other for discharging the substance.
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The present invention relates to a device for discharging one or more substances (e.g. cooking ingredients) therefrom. In particular, the device may preferably be used with a mixing apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn many cooking exercises, it is very common that different ingredients are to be mixed together. One very common type of mixing requires adding one or more ingredients (e.g. solutes), which may be in the form of powder (e.g. flour), to a liquid base (e.g. water) and allowing them to dissolve in the liquid base and/or mixing them together to form a preferably smooth fluid mixture (e.g. batter).
One particular type of mixing requires adding a nutrient powder, which for example may contain a high protein content and other essential vitamins, to water, and blending them together to form a nutrient sports drink (e.g. “smoothie”) for athletes. Since such nutrient sports drink (or blended fluid mixture) is often relatively thick and is for direct consumption by users, the requirement on the texture of the blended mixture is often very high. In particular, the nutrient powder should preferably be thoroughly mixed with the water such that the resultant blended fluid mixture should be as smooth as possible. If the nutrient powder were not thoroughly mixed with the water, there would be clumps in the mixture and consumption thereof would be unpleasant. There are also beliefs that if there were clumps in the blended fluid mixture, effective absorption of the nutrients in the drink would be hindered. Thus, a smooth and thoroughly blended fluid mixture without any clumps is much more desired and preferred by athletes. Yet, thoroughly mixing a powdered ingredient with a liquid base to produce a smooth blended fluid mixture with minimal or no clumps at all is often very difficult.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a solution to mitigate the above problem, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENITONAccording to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for discharging at least one substance therefrom, comprising a container having a body member with a substantially vertical wall and a closure member, the body member is provided with an upper opening via which the substance is received and a lower opening closable by the closure member, wherein the body member and the closure member together define a cavity for containing the substance and wherein the body member and the closure member are movable (or rotatable) relative to each other for discharging the substance. The device may be used independently or as an accessory for use with a mixing apparatus (e.g. blender).
Preferably, the closure member may be provided with a cutout region. The body may be rotatable in relation to the closure member between a first position in which the substance is contained in the cavity and in a second position in which the substance is dischargeable from the cavity via the cutout region. The closure member may be fixedly mounted in the device. Alternatively, the body member may be stationary and the closure member may be movable or rotatable in the device. It is to be noted that in the second position the substance may be discharged (or dischargeable) from the cavity of the container by gravity.
Preferably, the body member may be detachable from the device. This detachable feature is convenient for cleaning thereof after use.
The container may be provided with two or more of the cavities of equal or unequal capacity. Preferably, the container may be provided with measuring marks on its wall(s) for providing indication to users the amount of substances container or received therein. The container may also be provided with a receiving means for receiving substance added to the container and distributing the substance to the cavity/cavities.
The device may advantageously comprise a cam mechanism adapted to drive movement of the body in relation to the closure means. In particular, the cam mechanism may be adapted to drive rotation of the body member in one direction only. The device may comprise a triggering means adapted to operate the cam mechanism for driving the movement of the body member.
The device may be provided with a handle means for users to conveniently hold the device. The device may also be provided with means for holding the device and/or operating the cam mechanism.
Preferably, the container may be adapted to at least contain or discharge a powdered substance, and preferably be adapted to contain or discharge a semi-fluid substance, or even a liquid substance. In the case that the container contains a liquid substance, the rim defining the lower opening closable by the closure member is required to abut the closure member sufficiently tightly to prevent leakage and yet rotation of the container is not prevented.
The device may also comprise a housing within which the body member is fittable and/or moveable.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be illustrated by way of example, with reference to the following figures, in which:
With reference to the drawings and in particular firstly to
A hollow interior 10 is defined by the housing 4 of the device 2. The housing 4 is provided with an upper opening 14 and a lower opening 16, as shown in
The housing 4 of the device 2 is provided with the generally circular horizontal plate 32 in the lower portion in the interior thereof, as shown in
The triggering means 38 comprises a lever 48 pivotably attached to the handle 6, a bar 46 connecting the lever 48 and the lower cam member 42 and a leaf spring 50 for biasing the lever 48 to a default position. The design of the cam mechanism 36 is such that the cam members 40, 42 are actuable to rotate in a clockwise direction on pressing the lever 48. As the cam members 40, 42 are caused to rotate, the body 18 engaged therewith is also caused to rotate in the same direction. On release of the lever 48, due to the particular configuration of the cam members 40, 42, teeth on the lower cam member 42 become out of engagement with teeth on the upper cam member 40 and the lower cam member 40 in itself will return to its default position and rotation of the lower cam member in anti-clockwise direction when returning to the default position does not cause any rotation of the upper cam member 40 or the body 18. It is to be understood that the construction and the operation of the cam mechanism 36 described above is understood by a skilled person in the field.
In use, the body 18 is fitted within the housing 4 in a configuration as shown in
It can be envisaged that each chamber of the body 18 may be sized and shaped differently so that they may have different capacities for containing different types of ingredient and/or different amount of ingredient.
Claims
1. A device for discharging at least one substance therefrom, comprising a container having a body member with a substantially vertical wall and a closure member, said body member is provided with an upper opening via which the substance is received and a lower opening closable by said closure member, wherein said body member and said closure member together define a cavity for containing the substance and wherein said body member and said closure member are movable relative to each other for discharging the substance.
2. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closure member is provided with a cutout region.
3. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body member is rotatable between a first position in which the substance is contained in said cavity and in a second position in which the substance is dischargeable from said cavity via said cutout region.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein in said second position the substance is dischargeable or discharged from said cavity by gravity.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body member is detachable from said device.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closure member is fixedly mounted therein.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is provided with two or more said cavities of equal capacity.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is provided with two or more said cavities of unequal capacity.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cam mechanism adapted to drive movement of said body member in relation to said closure means.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cam mechanism is adapted to drive rotation of said body member in one direction only.
11. A device as claimed in claim 9, comprising a triggering means adapted to operate said cam mechanism.
12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is provided with a handle means.
13. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said device is provided with means for holding said device and/or triggering said cam mechanism.
14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is adapted to contain or discharge a powdered substance.
15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is adapted to contain or discharge a semi-fluid substance.
16. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a housing within which said body member is fittable and/or movable.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2005
Applicant: EASTERN SOURCES HOUSEWARES (HONG KONG) LIMITED (Hong Kong)
Inventors: Wai Lai (Hong Kong), Wing Lau (Hong Kong)
Application Number: 10/833,189