DRY FOOD DISPENSER
A dry food dispenser includes a base, a container, and an actuation mechanism. The base supports the dispenser, provides a cradle for receiving a food receptacle, and a trigger for interacting with the actuation mechanism. The container includes a lateral surface formed around an interior volume and a dispensing mechanism with a chute, an outlet, and a portioning mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is activated by the trigger through means of the actuation mechanism. The dispensing mechanism allows for example cereal to flow from the interior volume, through the chute, and out of the outlet. The portioning mechanism controls how much cereal is dispensed each time the trigger is engaged, ensuring a consistent volume of cereal deposited in the food receptacle. The amount of cereal in the container is indicated by measurement markings on a transparent section of the lateral surface.
The current application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/725,321 filed on Nov. 12, 2012, and to U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/078,192 filed on Nov. 12, 2013, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to dispensers and more particularly, to a dry food personal apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCereal is a healthy and popular option of breakfast food. Many brands and types of cereal are available in non-re-sealable bags that make it difficult to maintain freshness of the cereal. Freshness is highly important as cereal easily becomes stale and unappealing to consume. Because cereal is often consumed with milk, the cereal can quickly become soggy if not consumed within a short time period once over milk or unappealing to consume as well if too large a quantity is poured with the milk. Additionally, once the cereal has been poured in larger amounts than really wanted by the consumer, the remaining becomes waste, disposing both, milk and cereal. Some conventional cereal dispensers merely dispense an uncontrolled amount of foodstuff requiring several actuations to get the proper amount of cereal into the bowl. The user typically has to let go of the bowl with at least one hand in order to operate the dispenser. During dispensing, the user sometimes lacks sufficient control of the bowl to hold it steady causing splashing from the milk inside. The present invention seeks to address the aforementioned issues of maintaining cereal freshness, avoiding sogginess with cereal poured with milk, avoiding cereal disposal by serving the appropriate portion (controlled portions as needed), and providing control over the bowl during dispensing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONExemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a personal apparatus including a container that stores cereal, maintains the freshness of the cereal, and dispenses the cereal under control. The personal apparatus is capable of dispensing the cereal within the container at the direction of the user. A container is attached to a base that holds the container and a receptacle such as a bowl in place. A chute is used to deposit the cereal into a food receptacle after it has been dispensed from the container. The dispensing mechanism is activated by the user engaging a trigger on the base of the personal apparatus. The cereal is dispensed every time the trigger is engaged in, letting a controlled portion of cereal slide down a chute positioned over the bowl. A pair of curved arms surrounds a portion of the bowl and helps keep the bowl in place while the user activates the trigger.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In general, embodiments disclose a personal food dispensing apparatus (referred to in general as, the “dispenser”), configured for use with dry foods, for example cold cereal. As may be appreciated by aspects disclosed in the following, the dispenser enhances the breakfast experience of pouring cereals by providing control to the user holding the bowl while trigger the dispense of dry food.
Referring now to the Figures in general, exemplary embodiments of the dispenser comprise a base 1, a container 2, and an actuation mechanism 3, with the container 2 being connected atop the base 1. The base 1 comprises a cradle 11, an indent 12, and a trigger 13, while the container 2 comprises an interior volume 21, a lateral surface 22, a lid 23, and a dispensing mechanism 24. The dispensing mechanism 24 is positioned below the interior volume 21, allowing cereal stored in the interior volume 21 to be dispensed, preferably into a waiting food receptacle 4 such as a cereal bowl. The dispensing mechanism 24 is utilized by engaging the trigger 13, which is operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanism 24 as shown in
The base 1, visible in
The container 2, visible in
Referring now to
The lateral surface 22 of the container 2 comprises at least one transparent section 221 and a plurality of measurement markings 222, both of which are visible in
To enhance the cereal dispensing experience, the present invention comprises a power source 5, a chipset 6, and at least one speaker 7, as represented in FIG.8A. The power source 5 and chipset 6 are provided to operate the speaker 7, with the power source 5 and chipset 6 being housed in the base 1. The power source 5 is electrically connected to the speaker 7 and chipset 6, supplying the necessary energy for their operation. The chipset 6 is electronically connected to the speaker 7, allowing the chipset 6 to operate the speaker 7. The speaker 7 is housed and mounted within the container 2. In order to allow sound from the speaker 7 to exit the container 2, the lateral surface 22 comprises at least one grated section 223 (
Potentially, a display screen 8 can be mounted onto the front face of the lateral surface 22 of the container 2, above the central section 111 of the base 1, which is also represented in
Different embodiments of the present invention can utilize different variants of the described actuation mechanism 3. For example, in one embodiment the actuation mechanism 3 comprises a transmitter and a receiver, each of which is electrically connected to the power source 5. Engaging the trigger 13 causes the transmitter to send a signal to the receiver. The receiver then activates the dispensing mechanism 24 by opening the chute 241.
The actuation mechanism 3 does not need to be electrical, and in one embodiment in comprises a lever system. In this embodiment a lever arm connects the trigger 13 with the dispensing mechanism 24, such that engaging the trigger 13 causes the lever to pull on the dispensing mechanism 24 and open the chute 241. In this manner a non-electrical actuation mechanism 3 can be provided. A non-electrical actuation mechanism 3 is beneficial compared to an electrical actuation mechanism 3 as it reduces cost, complexity, and power requirements.
As envisioned by the inventor, the present invention, with one of its principal target audience being children, could potentially be made in versions that will feature the images of cartoon characters, animals, or public figures popular with a young demographic, provided the appropriate licenses can be secured by the manufacturer. Expanding upon the heretofore described components, the present invention may be visually enhanced with aesthetically pleasing markings and accessories oriented towards the aforementioned target demographic. These visual enhancements increase the appeal of the present invention in the eyes of children, for whom a number of themes and designs could be provided. For example, the present invention may be decorated to look like an animal or a character from popular children's media. These enhancements, along with the speaker 7, make the present invention more enjoyable for children and increase marketing potential.
Overall, the present invention provides an entertaining, simple, and effective personal apparatus for dispensing foodstuff such as cereal into an appropriate receptacle, in addition to storing cereal and sealing the cereal from the exterior environment. This allows the cereal to maintain freshness to a greater degree than a non-re-sealable plastic bag would allow.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. A phrase such a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
Claims
1. A dry food dispensing apparatus comprises:
- a base including a pair of curved arms projecting from the base configured for receipt of a bowl;
- a container connected atop the base, the container comprising an interior volume, a lateral surface, a lid, a chute and an upwardly facing bowl-shaped outlet, the chute being positioned below and in fluid communication with the interior volume; the outlet being positioned above the cradle, the distal ends of the pair of curved arms are positioned beyond an end of the chute; and
- a trigger button operatively coupled to a dispensing wheel configured to dispense foodstuff out the chute, the trigger button positioned behind one of the pair of curved arms and on the base.
2. The dry food dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger is positioned in an indent on a rear of the base.
3. The dry food dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a rack and pinion system coupling the trigger button to the dispensing wheel.
4. The dry food dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger button is spring-loaded.
5. The dry food dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing wheel is a paddle wheel.
6. The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing wheel includes paddle arms that are configured to provide a pre-defined volume between adjacent arms wherein a squeeze of the trigger button meters out a volume of foodstuff.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 29, 2016
Publication Date: Jul 21, 2016
Inventor: JOSE L. MARTINEZ (TAMPA, FL)
Application Number: 15/083,555