Media Dispenser

Abstract

Media dispensers are disclosed herein for storing and dispensing course or granular dry media via a hopper and valve.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This filing is related to and claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/534,730 filed on Sep. 14, 2011 the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND/FIELD

A dispenser for granular media, including for instance cat litter is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a media dispenser comprises; a substantially enclosed hollow volume having a decreased cross-section at the ventral-end portion thereof and an increased cross-section at the dorsal-end portion thereof thereby defining a hopper; a valve disposed upon the ventral-end portion of the hopper configured to regulate the flow of granular media, with the valve having its inlet at the interior of the hopper and a ventral-facing outlet thereby defining a port; a lever rotably coupled to the valve at the lever's ventral end, and slideably coupled to a recess in the dorsal-end portion of the hopper at the lever's dorsal end; whereby translation of the lever from one extreme of its motion to the other alternatively opens and closes the valve.

The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the valve is selected from one of the following; a ball valve, a butterfly valve, or an augur gearably coupled to the lever.

The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a chute gearably coupled to the lever with a closed portion and an open portion, wherein the chute resides in a channel which in turn has an open portion and a closed portion, wherein translation of the lever along its path radially translates the chute relative to the channel aligning the open portions and thereby communicatively connecting the media inside the hopper with the area outside of the dispenser.

The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a chute gearably coupled to the lever with a closed portion and an open portion, wherein the chute resides in a channel which in turn has an open portion and a closed portion, wherein translation of the lever along its path linearly translates the chute relative to the channel aligning the open portions and thereby communicatively connecting the media inside the hopper with the area outside of the dispenser.

The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hopped has substantially planar and parallel anterior and posterior faces.

The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein there are wheels disposed upon the ventral-end portion of the hopper.

The media dispenser of claim 5, wherein the substantially planar faces of the hopper are selected from transparent or translucent polymer.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, a portion of the hopper is made translucent or transparent to allow the operator to visualize the fill-level of the hopper.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a chute extending in a forth from the ventral-end portion of the hopper.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a plurality of contact points extending ventrally from the hopper and configured to rest upon a surface therebelow, thereby defining a base.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a cover sized and shaped to substantially enclose the otherwise open dorsal portions of the hopper.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the media dispenser has an overall height between 4 inches and 38 inches.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the media dispenser has a depth between 2 inches and 20 inches.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the media dispenser has a width between 8 inches and 38 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the claims of the present document.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a media dispenser.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a hopper and valve of a dispenser with the face of the valve and base of the device removed.

FIG. 3 shows a right-side view of the assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a left-side view of the assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric through-view of a further embodiment of a media dispenser.

FIG. 6 shows a front through-view of a further embodiment of a media dispenser.

FIG. 7 shows an right through-view of a further embodiment of a media dispenser.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged isometric through-view of a further embodiment of a media dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.

In the drawings and in the description that follows, the term “ proximal,” will refer to the end of a device or system that is closest to the operator, while the term “distal” will refer to the end of the device or system that is farthest from the operator. Similarly, the terms ventral, dorsal, medial, and lateral shall have their accepted meanings in the anatomic and medical arts, here used to describe relative orientations on the device in question.

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a Media Dispenser 1000 is shown. Media dispenser 1000 includes a hopper 1100, a hopper cover 1115, a base 1200, and a chute 1300.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 together, hopper 1100 is a substantially rigid member having a v-shaped profile when viewed from the front as shown in FIG. 2. Hopper 1100 is substantially enclosed, save for the dorsal end thereof, thereby defining a mouth 1110. There is a valve 1120 disposed upon the ventral-end portion of hopper 1100. Valve 1120 is an implementation of a butterfly valve including a cylindrical port 1122, a disc 1123, and an actuating lever 1125. Disc 1123 is mechanically coupled to lever 1125 such that radial translation of lever 1125 about valve 1120 rotates disc 1123 thereby obscuring or opening there channel therebehind.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the figures, the valve at the ventral-end portion of the hopper may be a ball valve, a choke valve, a diaphragm valve, a gate valve, or a globe valve. Valves of the preceding general types are disclosed at least in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,635,439, 3,565,104, 3,631,882, and 3,559,949 respectively which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Further still, there are other embodiments of the present disclosure where there are no structures within the outlet tube and the functionality of a valve is accomplished by the media itself. In such a configuration, the outlet of the device is placed into an empty container and media is allowed to exit. Once the media rises to a sufficient level to block the outlet, flow of the media is interupted.

The dorsal-end portion of lever 1125 is slideably coupled to an actuate channel 1130 disposed upon the dorsal-end portion of hopper 1100.

Referring now to FIG. 3, hopper 1110 is comprised of an anterior plate 1131, a medial body 1132, and a posterior plate 1133. Anterior plate 1131, medial body 1132, and posterior plate 1133 may be joined by a number of processes including for instance bolts, snap fits, press fitting, adhesives, co-molding, or a combination thereof. The ventral-end portion of medial body 1132 is inclined so as to move material toward valve 1120.

Returning now to FIG. 1, base 1200 is a substantially rigid, hollow member having a substantially triangular profile when viewed from the front. There are a pair of wheels 1210 rotably coupled to one lateral ventral-end portion of base 1200.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is a bag dispenser 1400 disposed within the lateral dorsal-end portion of base 1200 having a narrow longitudinal slit 1410 with an enlarged aperture 1420 disposed at the center thereof. There is a volume disposed medially from slit 1410 within which bags may be stored.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 together, a media dispenser 2000 is shown having radially geared lever coupled to a chute in substantially orthogonal relation to the travel plane of the lever. The chute is open at the dorsal end thereof to the hopper above and has a closed and open shape disposed upon the ventral end thereof. Upon radial translation of lever, the chute rotates within a channel that in turn has an open and closed portion. Said configuration is such that when the two open portions are aligned, the ventral portion of the chute is in communication with the volume of the hopper above, thereby allowing media to exit the dispenser via gravity.

A method of using the subject of the present disclosure will now be described. A media dispenser 1000 is provided in a first, empty state, as shown in FIG. 1. A user may fill the media dispenser by translating cover 1115 dorsally with respect to the remainder of the assembly, thereby separating cover 1115 from media dispenser 1000 and revealing the internal chamber of hopper 1110. Next, a user may fill hopper 1110 with granular media, including for instance cat litter, dog food, rice, salt, or dried beans. Once the hopper is filled to the desired level, cover 1115 is replaced thereupon with a slight application of ventral pressure.

Next, a cavity, including for instance a bowl or litter box is placed under chute 1300. A user may open valve 1120 by grasping lever 1125 and translating it radially relative to the rest of the assembly. The linkage between lever 1125 and flap 1123 rotates flap 1123 thereby opening the butterfly valve and allowing media to exit valve 1120 into chute 1300 and subsequently the cavity. When sufficient media has been moved into the cavity, lever 1125 may be translated back to its initial state, thereby closing valve 1120.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A media dispenser comprising;

a substantially enclosed hollow volume having a decreased cross-section at the ventral-end portion thereof and an increased cross-section at the dorsal-end portion thereof thereby defining a hopper; a valve disposed upon the ventral-end portion of the hopper configured to regulate the flow of granular media, with the valve having its inlet at the interior of the hopper and a ventral-facing outlet thereby defining a port; a lever rotably coupled to the valve at the lever's ventral end, and slideably coupled to a recess in the dorsal-end portion of the hopper at the lever's dorsal end; whereby translation of the lever from one extreme of its motion to the other alternatively opens and closes the valve.

2. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the valve is selected from one of the following;

a ball valve, a butterfly valve, or an augur gearably coupled to the lever.

3. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a chute gearably coupled to the lever with a closed portion and an open portion, wherein the chute resides in a channel which in turn has an open portion and a closed portion, wherein translation of the lever along its path radially translates the chute relative to the channel aligning the open portions and thereby communicatively connecting the media inside the hopper with the area outside of the dispenser.

4. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a chute gearably coupled to the lever with a closed portion and an open portion, wherein the chute resides in a channel which in turn has an open portion and a closed portion, wherein translation of the lever along its path linearly translates the chute relative to the channel aligning the open portions and thereby communicatively connecting the media inside the hopper with the area outside of the dispenser.

5. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hopped has substantially planar and parallel anterior and posterior faces.

6. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein there are wheels disposed upon the ventral-end portion of the hopper.

7. The media dispenser of claim 5, wherein the substantially planar faces of the hopper are selected from transparent or translucent polymer.

8. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein a portion of the hopper is made translucent or transparent to allow the operator to visualize the fill-level of the hopper.

9. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein there is a chute extending in a forth from the ventral-end portion of the hopper.

10. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of contact points extending ventrally from the hopper and configured to rest upon a surface therebelow, thereby defining a base.

11. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein there is a cover sized and shaped to substantially enclose the otherwise open dorsal portions of the hopper.

12. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the media dispenser has an overall height between 4 inches and 38 inches.

13. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the media dispenser has a depth between 2 inches and 20 inches.

14. The media dispenser of claim 1, wherein the media dispenser has a width between 8 inches and 38 inches.