The present invention relates to a table condiment set.

Condiment sets are known, particularly for table use; they generally comprise a pair of bottles for oil and vinegar and a pair of perforated containers for salt and pepper.

As they have to be used together, they are generally held in a group, and in particular rest in, or are otherwise secured to, a single support, from which they can be temporarily and individually removed at the time of use.

If on the one hand this temporary separability of the set components is advantageous, on the other hand it can be a cause of inconvenience, related to the fact that their fitting-together may not be properly secure and they may easily fall when the set is moved, or may break or in any event undesirably expel their contents.

Condiment sets have also been proposed in which the oil and vinegar bottles are secured together as one piece, but these have proved unsatisfactory as they do not ensure that, during oil or vinegar dispensing, escape of the other liquid is prevented.

They also do not enable the liquid (oil and vinegar) dispensers and powder (salt and pepper) dispensers to be grouped into a single one-piece structure, essentially because of the fact that the movements which the user has to make are different depending on the ingredient to be dispensed.

An object of the invention is to provide a condiment set which groups the four different oil, vinegar, salt and pepper containers/dispensers into a single one-piece structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condiment set which enables the various containers to be subjected to the movements required for dispensing the respective contents, without these movements involving undesirable dispensing of the contents of other containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condiment set in which the operation to be carried out in order to dispense the contents of the chosen container are extremely comfortable and simple.

These objects and others which will be apparent from the ensuing description are attained, according to the invention, by a condiment set as claimed in claim 1 .

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a condiment set according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows it in the same view as Figure 1 with the bottle stoppers extracted from their seats,

Figure 3 shows it in exploded perspective view from above,

Figure 4 shows it in perspective view from below,

Figure 5 shows it in exploded perspective view from below,

Figure 6 shows it from above in perspective view sectioned on a vertical plane,

Figure 7 shows it exploded perspective view sectioned on the same vertical plane as Figure 6,

Figure 8 shows it in vertical section,

Figure 9 shows it in perspective view sectioned on a vertical plane perpendicular to the sectional plane of Figure 6,

Figure 10 shows it in vertical section on a plane perpendicular to the sectional plane of Figure 6, Figure 1 1 shows the components of the lower container in exploded perspective view,

Figure 12 shows the lower container in vertical section on a plane parallel to the sectional plane of Figure 10,

Figure 13 shows, in the same view as Figure 8, a condiment set of the invention with the two dispensing stoppers formed differently, Figure 14 shows it in the inclined working condition,

Figure 15 is a sectional perspective view of a different embodiment of the lower container of the condiment set,

Figure 16 shows a third embodiment thereof in the same view as Figure 15, and

Figure 17 shows a third embodiment thereof in the same view as Figure 15.

As can be seen from the figures, the condiment set of the invention comprises essentially an upper cylindrical container 2 and a lower cylindrical container 4, which can be joined together in a superposed condition by screwing a threaded cavity provided in the base of the upper container 2 onto a complementary threaded collar provided on the lower container 4.

The upper container 2 is closed by a base 6 and by an upper cover 8 and comprises a vertical baffle 10 which divides the container into two semicylindrical bottles 12 and 14 intended to contain oil and vinegar, or other liquid or granular products.

In the cover 8, in positions corresponding with both the semicylindrical bottles 12 and 14, holes 16 and 18 are provided for filling the respective bottle; in each hole a stopper 20 and 22 can be sealedly inserted, these being provided with a traditional spout with removable closure, or with a different type of terminal shutter, or provided with a pump-type dispenser. Each stopper 20 and 22 is provided with a flange which can rest on the edge of the respective hole 16 and 18, and which when in this condition is engaged by a gripping ring 24 rotatable between two perpendicular positions, in which it respectively engages and disengages said flanges.

The lower container 4 is open upperly but becomes closed by the upper container 2, by way of an interposed stopper-gasket 26.

The lower container 4 is also provided with a vertical baffle 28 which divides the container into two semicylindrical compartments 30 and 32, intended to contain and to dispense salt and pepper or other granular products.

The diameter of the upper container 2 is greater than the diameter of the lower container, this facilitating the gripping of the combination by the user.

The upper container 2 and/or the lower container 4 can be provided with a star-shaped instead of flat baffle, to divide the internal volume of the respective container into more than two compartments. In the illustrated embodiment, reference will however be continued to be made to a flat baffle for dividing each container into two compartments.

The lower container 4 is also provided with a base 34 in which two dispensing apertures 36 and 38 are provided in positions corresponding with the two compartments 30 and 32, with each aperture there being associated a rotary valve 40 and 42 consisting of a polygonal prism of horizontal axis which is housed in a cylindrical seat provided in the thickness of the base 34, and is provided with an external operating knob 44 and 46.

More particularly, the inner end of the shaft of each knob 44 and 46 is housed within a metal bush 47 incorporated into the thickness of the base 34 of the container 4 and retained in its seat by a vertical screw 49 of ferromagnetic material.

Resting against the faceted lateral wall of each rotary valve 40 and 42 there is the frustoconical tip of a vibrating element 48, having a cylindrical body, with which a thrust spring 50 is associated housed in a cylindrical guide rigid with the baffle 28. The taper of the frustoconical tip is preferably different in the two vibrating elements, it being lesser for the vibrating element associated with the salt compartment and greater for the vibrating element associated with the pepper compartment.

The lower container 4 is also provided with a lock bolt 52 housed in a suitable seat 53 external to the container lateral wall and emerging upperly with its end, to snap-engage a corresponding cavity 54 provided on the outside of the threaded cavity of the upper container 2, when this is screwed to the lower container 4. The bolt 52 can be elastically disengaged from the cavity 54 by pushing an outwardly projecting portion 56 thereof downwards.

Both the containers 2 and 4 are preferably made of a transparent plastic material, for example polycarbonate, making it possible to identify from the outside with certainty the contents of the four compartments 12, 14, 30, 32, into which the two containers are divided.

The invention also preferably comprises a plate 58, comprising a flat circular portion, from which a cylindrical portion 60 projects upwards to contain the lower container 4.

The cylindrical portion 60 of the plate 58 is provided with two lateral apertures 62, enabling the two knobs 44 and 46 to pass when the lower container 4 is inserted into the plate 58. The removable fastening between the lower container 4 and the plate 58 is achieved by magnetic attraction between a permanent magnet 64, embedded in the thickness of the central portion of the plate 58, and the screw 49 rigid with the base 34 of the container 4, this base advantageously being slightly raised relative to the container lateral wall in order to form a seat able to house with a small gap the central portion of the plate 58.

The operation of the condiment set of the invention is apparent from that described.

The two containers 2 and 4 joined together form the entire set, which can be transported, together with the plate 58, without ever resulting in separation of the set compartments.

The two bottles 12 and 14 are filled with oil and vinegar by firstly rotating the gripping ring 24 through 90° such as to disengage the two flanges of the two stoppers 20 and 22, which latter can be removed to make the interior of the respective bottle accessible.

After the bottles have been filled and reclosed with the stoppers 20 and 22, the gripping ring 24 is rotated through 90° to hence lock the stoppers in position.

The oil and/or vinegar can then be dispensed in traditional manner after removing the shutter of the respective spout.

In contrast, to fill the two salt and pepper compartments 30 and 32, the upper container 2 firstly has to be separated from the lower container 2. This operation involves releasing the lock bolt 52 by downwardly pushing its outwardly projection portion 56, followed by unscrewing the upper container 2 from the lower container 4. After separating the two containers and removing the stopper-gasket 26, the two compartments 30 and 32 of the lower container 4 are accessible for their filling.

The salt and pepper are dispensed by operating the respective knobs 44 and 46 after separating the unit formed by the two containers 2 and 4 from the plate 58. Operating one or other knob 44 and 46 causes the respective valve 40 and 42 to rotate, with consequent vibration of that vibrating element 48 which is associated with it and is urged to adhere elastically via its lower frustoconical end against the faceted lateral surface of the valve 40 and 42. The combined effect of vibration, of gravity and of the rotation of the faceted valve causes the salt or pepper to fall along the frustoconical wall of the seat of the vibrating element and to flow out from the corresponding lower aperture 36 or 38.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the condiment set of the invention is particularly advantageous, in that:

- it enables the four condiment ingredient containers to be grouped into a single structure, hence making the set very comfortable to handle,

- it prevents any involuntary opening of the four ingredient containers,

- it excludes any undesirable dispensing of an ingredient while transporting the set or during dispensing of another ingredient,

- it enables the salt and pepper to be dispensed without causing any shaking of the set, and hence without any undesirable effect on the oil and vinegar,

- it is extremely practical and comfortable in use,

- it is of extremely small bulk.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 13 and 14 the dispensing stopper applied to the two semicylindrical bottles 12, 14 has a different shape, more precisely it comprising a tube 70 passing through a stopper 72 and terminating in a small container 74 housing a ball 76 which, when the set is disposed in the vertical rest condition (Figure 13), closes a corresponding aperture 78 provided in the base of the small container 74.

The position of the tube 70 in each stopper 72 is eccentric and symmetrical in the two stoppers, such that when the set is inclined (Figure 14), both the balls 76 free the aperture 78 of the respective container 74, but whereas one ball 76 also frees the access aperture 80 to the relative tube 70 to allow liquid dispensing, the other ball 76 closes the access aperture 80 to the other tube 70, preventing exit therefrom of the liquid contained in the other container.

If the set is inclined in the opposite manner, the two balls 76 exchange roles.

The embodiments shown in Figures 15-17 differ from the previously described embodiment both in the different shape (flat) of the thrust spring 50 for the vibrating element 48, and in the different methods by which axial vibrations thereof are induced.

More particularly, Figures 15-17 show the lower container of the condiment set of the invention in different forms, in all of which the vibrating element presents conical projections 82 on its frustoconical surface. These cooperate with similar conical projections 84 present on the annular surface of an annular element 86, on which the frustoconical portion of the vibrating element 48 rests.

In operation, when the annular element 86 is rotated from the outside, it moves the conical projections 84, which interact with the conical projections pepper to fall by gravity through the central aperture of the annular element 96, facing the dispensing aperture 36, 38 of the respective compartment 30, 32. In all these embodiments, given the dimensions of the two annular elements 86, which could undergo mutual interference, they should preferably be positioned on two different levels.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 15 the annular element 86 is rotated from the outside by a lever 88 rigid with it and maintained in its rest position by a spring 90.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 16, the annular element 86 is rotated from the outside by operating its outer circumferential rim, which projects outwards from the lower container 4 through a slot provided in its lateral wall.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 17, the annular element 86 is rotated by a rack 92, which is coupled to a an outer toothed ring 94 of the annular element and is operable axially by an external pushbutton 96 against the reaction of a spring 98.