"DEVICE FOR DELIVERING AND ADMINISTERING GRANULATED SUBSTANCES FOR HOUSEHOLD USE"

* § * § * § * Field of the Invention The present invention concerns a device for dispensing and dosing granular substances for the table, in particular salt. Background Art

Devices for dispensing and administering granular substances for the table (such as fine salt) on foodstuffs are universally known, consisting of variously- shaped containers, with a content of a few cm ³ . These devices are typically made of various materials, mostly plastic, glass or metal, they are provided with a perforated cap for closing the container, through which cap the granular substance is expelled by vigorously shaking the container, with an alternate movement along the axis of the holes . The grains of the granular substance found in the container are thereby led to collide against the cap wall, at a speed proportional to the shaking speed, being expelled therefrom in a fully random quantity due to inertia.

It is also known that, for these devices to perform their functions adequately, the substance must maintain a humidity rate below that which causes caking thereof . As soon as the humidity rate increases, the grains adhere together, caking, so that the force generated by the sudden and forceful movement of the container is no longer sufficient for the grains to be expelled from the holes. In order to overcome this drawback, rice grains are commonly used in the container together with the granular substance : as a matter of fact, the grains of rice are commonly thought to adsorb humidity, preventing salt caking. Alternatively, in some cases use is made in the container of a ball of high-density material, such as, for example, iron or glass, which is thought to help increase the thrust of the grain mass against the holes.

By careful observation of the effects of such customs, it can be detected that rice, beyond creeds, in actual fact induces no significant change in the humidity rate, and consequently does not obtain an evident improvement concerning the exit of salt grains from the holes. It could also be found that the presence of grains inside the device for dispensing and dosing a granular substance produces no dynamic advantage during shaking, i.e. it does not improve in the least the exit of the grains through the holes. No better results are obtained by introducing a ball into the container: as a matter of fact, during shaking said ball, being unable to collide directly with the perforated cap, since a layer of granular

substance forms between the ball and the cap, causes the settling of larger amounts of granular substance on the compact layer thus formed, obtaining the opposite and negative effect of a caking of the layer which has formed and making the exit of the grains from the cap holes even more unlikely.

The object of the present invention is therefore that of solving the above-said drawbacks, in particular by providing a device for dispensing and dosing a fine granular substance, which device is capable of dispensing the stored substance in an optimal manner, also in high-humidity conditions . Summary of the Invention

Said object is achieved through a device for dispensing and dosing granular substances for the table which has the features described in claim 1) . The dependent claims illustrate some particularly preferred features and embodiments of the present invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

Further advantages and features of the invention will be better understood from the description of some preferred embodiments, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: fig. 1 is a section view of a device for dispensing and dosing salt according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein fig. 2 is an exploded view; fig. 3 is a section view of a device for dispensing and dosing salt according to a second embodiment of the invention; fig. 4 is an exploded view of a further embodiment; fig. 5 is a top plan view of the inner surface of the cap of the device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and figs. 6A-6C are top plan views of the perforated surface which illustrate three different steps of operation of the device of the invention. Description of Some Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The following description is given, purely for the sake of convenience, with reference to a table salt dispenser, but that must not be considered limiting in any way of the use of the invention with any desired type of food spice.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a device for salt dispensing and dosing consisting of a cylindrical container 1, at one end whereof a cap or cover 2 is provided, equipped with a perforated wall, at the opposite end a bottom base Ia being provided, equipped with a central hole Ia ¹ for the rotating support of a control rod 3.

According to the embodiment of fig. 1, rod 3 preferably has a double-elbow structure, which makes the two axes of the end portions mutually parallel but staggered by a short distance d.

At the proximal end 2 ' of rod 3 a rectilinear portion is provided which comprises an annular, abutting relief 4. Such relief 4 is intended to abut with the base of container 1, in correspondence of central through-hole Ia ¹ , to prevent the entry of salt grains, which may cause problems to device operation. At the opposite, distal end of rod 3, at the end of the respective, rectilinear portion, a brush 5 is fastened, equipped with flexible tufts 5a.

The sizing of rod 3 and of tufts 5a is such that these tufts rest with the end thereof against the inner surface of cap 2, where holes 2a are practised.

In the illustrated embodiment, control rod 3 is preferably equipped with a helical blade 3a which is intended for crushing any blocks of caked salt and for conveying the salt to cap 2.

The end of the proximal portion 3 ' of rod 3 is threaded and is intended to engage with a threaded hole 6 obtained in a handle 7a of a manoeuvring member 7, in the shape of a cylindrical -base knob. Rod 3 and the manoeuvring member 7 thereof are thereby made integral with one another .

Said manoeuvring member 7 has a slightly larger diameter than container 1, so as to allow the housing of said container on top of said manoeuvring member. At the same time, in order to ease the association with manoeuvring member 7, container 1 has - at the bottom Ia thereof - a circumferential groove Ib, with which a corresponding annular projection 7b of said manoeuvring member 7 engages. In the illustrated embodiment, such projection 7 is the extension of the cylindrical side wall of manoeuvring member 7. In order to ease gripping, it is possible to provide to suitably treat the outer surface of handle 7a of manoeuvring member 7, for example through a rough or beehive surface .

Between container 1 and cylindrical, manoeuvring member 7 an elastic spacer 8 is arranged, capable of imparting an axial thrust (upwards in the drawing of fig. 1) to rod 3, directed at maintaining abutment ring 4 pushed against the same bottom Ia. In order to promote the optimal action of elastic spacer 8, and reduce frictions, it can be provided to introduce a washer 9 of low-friction material, such as teflon™, between spacer 8 and the lower base of manoeuvring member 7. Since cylindrical manoeuvring member 7 and container 1 are axially uncoupled, the tufts 5a of brush 5 may be further compressed - during use - against the holes 2a of perforated cap 2, thereby

promoting a greater compression of the salt grains underneath the same. In order to achieve such a result, it is sufficient to exert pressure on manoeuvring member 7, provided sufficient slack is established (for example of a few tenths of a millimetre) between edge 7 ¹ and the corresponding abutment surface of groove Ib: consequently, by compressing elastic spacer 8, rod 3 is pushed towards cap 2, and the pressure which tufts 5a impart to the perforated surface of cap 2 consequently increases .

Furthermore, on the inner surface of cap 2, a series of radial reliefs 2b is preferably provided, intended to act as strips hindering the movement of the tips of tufts 5a. The elastic impact therewith determines a stepwise (acceleration) sweeping of tufts 5a, which is useful for the functions which will be set forth in the following.

Due to the specific structure of the dispenser according to the invention, by acting on cylindrical manoeuvring member 7, the rotation of rod 3 about its axis a ¹ is achieved, and hence the manoeuvring of the surrounding mass according to the action of blade 3a, with the resulting possible pulverisation of the blocks of salt formed as a result of humidity. Moreover, the movement of blade 3a evidently improves the sliding and conveying of the salt grains towards tufts 5a, which thus promote salt expulsion through perforated cap 2. Simultaneously, tufts 5a - due to the particular movement imparted by the structure of rod 3 - perform a sweeping of the inner surface of perforated cap 2 , both spinning about themselves and rotating eccentrically. This twofold, combined movement determines the arrangement of the tufts as an auger with elastic features. This arrangement in turn determines the settling of salt under the tuft itself, and consequently causes a jolting and accelerated pressure to be imparted to the salt grains which promotes an energetic thrust of the tufts on the grains, which are effectively expelled from holes 2a, regardless of the humidity conditions. Moreover, the eccentric movement of tufts 5a results in the full sweeping of the inner surface of cap 2, and thereby widens the action area thereof.

In order to overcome excess humidity, which may have caused the grains to cake, it can be proceeded to turn backwards the rotation of manoeuvring member 7 (fig. 6A- 6C) : tufts 5a are hence initially made to take up a position parallel with the rotation axis and then to bend again in the opposite direction and hence to end up wedging into the holes 2a of cap 2. Thereby, holes 2a are cleared of the salt possibly deposited thereon and the grains are made to come out of the holes. By alternating the clockwise and anti -clockwise movements, the drawback

of excessive caking of the salt and of the entry thereof into holes 2a will be fully overcome .

The amount of salt which is expelled will in any case depend on the humidity rate, on the speed at which the tufts are caused to manually rotate and on the degree of compression which is imparted, but always in a way sufficient to achieve the set object.

In a second embodiment, illustrated in figs. 3 and 4, rod 3b is entirely rectilinear and coaxial with the rotation axis a ¹ of manoeuvring member 7. At the distal end of rod 3b, instead of tufts, flat blades 5b of an elastic material, for example a technopolymer, are provided, radially projecting from the axis of rod 3£) and arranged perpendicularly to the inner surface of perforated cap 2; thereby they match with the inner surface of the cap through the tilting thereof with respect to the plane and to the direction of rotation. Said flat blades, sunk in salt, through the rotary movement thereof and the overcoming of the radial reliefs 2b found on perforated cap 2 , impart a vibrating, intermittent, accelerated action to the salt grains, which will consequently be pushed into holes 2a at a speed which aids expulsion. The axial compression which may be imparted to flat blades 5b towards perforated cap 2, through the exertion of pressure on manoeuvring member 7, is similar to the one described for the previous embodiment .

The use of in-line tufts ffig. 4) instead of flat blades 5b may be provided, such tufts having the same function as flat blades 5b, as well as the further advantage, during rotation inversion, of wedging into the holes 2a of cap 2 pushing the salt out of the holes.

Of course, the above-mentioned advantage is achieved if each tuft has a diameter smaller than or comparable to that of holes 2a. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, perforated cap 2 projects with a cylindrical portion truncated along a tilted plane. This enables the user to observe moment by moment the amount of salt which is expelled during use while keeping the device for dispensing and dosing salt suitably tilted. As a matter of fact, by keeping the device for dispensing and dosing salt suitably tilted, the salt arranges itself on the extension 2c of perforated cap 2, thereby enabling the user to see the amount of salt available, and to better dose the salting of the dish.

Cap 2 may be envisaged to be apt to be removably secured to container 1, through the arrangement of any type of desirable means, for example through force fitting, for example arranging one or more sealing O-rings in between, and/or through a short threaded portion.

It is also easy to suppose to promote the thrusting action of the salt with the hole-clearing means mounted in the device, by arranging, along the wall of the cap 2 with which they cooperate, suitable means, differing from illustrated reliefs 2b ₇ which nevertheless generate friction on the clearing means (tufts or blades) , and which consequently allow the storing of energy thereon. For example, it can be provided to manufacture the inner surface of cap 2a provided with rough areas, or bumps, so as to allow the hole-clearing means to acquire a greater thrust force for the impact against the salt grains. According to a preferred embodiment, the manoeuvring member consists of two portions which may be coupled together: a core portion 7b and a cover portion 7a, which may be manufactured separately (advantageously also made of different materials, such as plastic and metal) and then assembled by joining or through connection means. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, core portion 7b displays a circumferential rib 7b' intended to elastically connect snapwise with a corresponding circumferential groove 7a' of cover portion 7a.

From the above, it is clear that the device for dispensing and dosing salt described so far successfully accomplishes the set object through the simple thrusting and conveying action performed by the hole-clearing means on the salt grains.

It is intended that the device for dispensing and dosing salt according to any one of the embodiments reported so far may be used in a conventional manner accomplishing the exit of the salt by simple shaking .

As can be easily understood, the embodiments of the invention may differ, which display different features than those described so far, but which are nevertheless recomprised in the scope of the invention, as it is defined by the accompanying claims. For example, although not explicitly described, the separation line of the container for the opening thereof (and for the introduction/removal of salt) may be arranged in any area of the container and not necessarily in the proximity of cap 2.

Again, rod 3 may be rectilinear also in the embodiment with brush 5a.