The present invention relates to a hygroscopic-material dispenser, and more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to such a dispenser which is battery powered.

Dispensers for hygroscopic materials, such as salt, garlic salt or powder, powdered herbs, and sugar, are well known and are typically provided on dining tables and in kitchens. However, especially in more humid environments, the hygroscopic material absorbs moisture making dispensing difficult. Often, small apertures in a cover of a dispenser can become clogged due to the moisture-absorbed material, making use almost impossible.

It is known to provide a heated dispenser in an attempt to dry out the hygroscopic material. However, this device is mains powered and thus not portable to a dining table without hazardous trailing power cables. Furthermore, there is no control of the heating element to prevent or limit overheating of the hygroscopic material and thus loss of the natural aromatic oils thereof.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hygroscopic- material dispenser comprising a portable handholdable housing having a cavity for hygroscopic material, a cover having at least one aperture for dispensing hygroscopic material in the cavity, an electrical heating element in the housing for heating the hygroscopic material within the cavity, and moisture control means in the housing for automatically controlling the heating element based on moisture in the cavity and/or the hygroscopic material.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 17, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hygroscopic- material dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention, in combination with a docking station. Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 20 and 21, inclusive.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a hygroscopic-material dispenser, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the dispenser shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the dispenser.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a unitary portable handholdable hygroscopic- material dispenser 10 which comprises a, preferably sleek, slender and elongate, housing 12 having an access opening 14 at an upper end with a removable cover 16 for partially closing the access opening 14, and a battery compartment 18 at a base end with a removable battery cover 20 for closing the battery compartment 18. The cover 16 includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of, small apertures 22 for restricting a flow of hygroscopic material therethrough.

The housing 12, in this embodiment, is substantially cylindrical, but tapers slightly outwardly from or adjacent to a mid-point to the base end to help stabilise the dispenser 10. The lower portion of the housing 12 can thus be said to be frusto-conical. The housing 12 is rigid, and for example may be formed from stainless steel or brushed aluminium.

The housing 12 has two cavities 24, 26 therein separated by a heating element 28. In this case, the heating element 28 is a heating plate which acts as a partition wall between the two cavities 24, 26. The upper cavity 24 is adapted for receiving a hygroscopic material, such as salt or sugar, and is preferably larger in volume than the lower cavity 26.

A heat conductive liner 30 is provided in the upper cavity 24 at or adjacent to an interior side wall of the housing 12. The liner 30 may conveniently be copper or another suitably conductive metal, and is in thermal contact with the heating plate 30. Preferably, the liner 30 and the heating plate 28 are thermally insulated from the housing side wall, so that an exterior surface of the housing 12 does not become unduly hot to the touch when in use. This insulation also conserves energy and thus battery life. The liner 30 extends, preferably continuously, around a side wall of the upper cavity 24 and to or adjacent to the cover 16. The liner 30 may extend across an upper surface of the heating plate 28.

The lower cavity 26 houses a control circuit 32 which is interposed between the battery compartment 18 and the heating plate 28. The control circuit 32, when energised, automatically controls the heating plate 28 via a moisture sensor 34. In this case, the moisture sensor 34 is a humidistat or hygrostat which extends from the control circuit 32 to one side of the heating plate 28 and into the upper cavity 24. Preferably, the moisture sensor 34 is positioned closer to the cover 16 than the heating plate 28 so as not to be fouled by hygroscopic material within the upper cavity 24. To this end, the moisture sensor 34 may be supported on an elongate rigid, preferably plastics, support.

Alternatively or additionally, the moisture sensor 34 may comprise a resistance switch having, for example, two probes or electrodes in contact with the hygroscopic material in the upper cavity 24. Moisture laden material generates a conductive path between the electrodes, leading to activation. Above a predetermined level of dryness, the conductive path is not present and thus the switch is effectively open.

The control circuit 32 also optionally includes a timer 36 for automatically deactivating the heating plate 28 after a predetermined activation period. This is beneficial in preventing or limiting continuous use and thus draining of the batteries 38.

The control circuit 32 may also beneficially include a cycle circuit 40 for reducing the duty cycle of the heating plate 28. Consequently, during an activation period of the control circuit 32 and the heating plate 28, the heating plate 28 is cycled on and off a plurality of times. This reduces energy consumption of the batteries 38, and makes good use of the residual heat retained in the heating plate 28 when periodically deenergised during an activation period of the control circuit 32. A user interface 42 is provided on or in an exterior surface of the housing 12. The user interface 42 controls the activation of the control circuit 32. In this case, the user interface 42 is a push button. One or more light emitting elements 44 are provided on or around the user interface 42. The or at least one light emitting element 44 emits a first colour light, and the or another light emitting element 44 emits a different colour light.

In use, the button 42 is pushed by a user to activate the control circuit 32. With the control circuit 32 activated, an activation period is started by the timer 36, and the moisture sensor 34 is energised. If the moisture sensor 34 determines that a humidity or moisture level within the upper cavity 24 exceeds a predetermined level, the control circuit 32 activates the heating plate 28 to heat the upper cavity 24 in order to dry the contents therein. During this activation period of the heating plate 28, the preferable cycle circuit 40 cycles the heating plate 28 on and off to conserve energy and to limit the evaporation of the essential aromatic oils of the hygroscopic material.

During this heating phase, the light emitting element 44 outputs the first colour light to indicate drying is occurring.

Once the moisture sensor 34 reaches its predetermined level or below, the heating plate 28 is deenergised and the second colour light is outputted from the user interface 42.

Once the predetermined activation period expires, the control circuit 32 automatically switches off, and no light is emitted from the user interface 42.

Preferably, the upper cavity 24 includes a window 46 through a side wall thereof so that a content level of hygroscopic material can be easily determined.

It would also be beneficial to provide a docking station for one or more of the hygroscopic-material dispensers. The docking station may advantageously also double as a recharging station for rechargeable batteries used in the dispenser. To this end, a charging socket may be provided on or adjacent to a base of the dispenser and a jack on the docking station. Additionally or alternatively, electromagnetic induction may be utilized to recharge the batteries without the requirement of sockets and connectors and without requiring the removal of the batteries from the dispenser. The electromagnetic induction charger may be provided in the docking station, or separately, for example, as a place mat for a table or counter. The charging station would preferably be mains powered.

Furthermore, in order to dispense with discrete separate batteries, and thus to make the dispenser smaller, Graphene or a material incorporating Graphene or similar electricity storage and discharge material could be utilised to form the rigid housing body or casing. The housing itself would then be rechargeable, for example via the above- mentioned electromagnetic induction device, and thus able to supply an electrical current to the internal electrical components and heating element.

Although preferably battery operated, it is possible that the dispenser may be mains powered. However, this would involve the possibility of trailing power cables. It is thus possible to provide a battery-powered hygroscopic-material dispenser which has good battery life and which can prevent or limit clogging at the required time of dispensing.

Although battery powered, it is feasible that mains powered can be additionally or alternatively utilised. The dispenser is ideal for hygroscopic materials, such as salt, powdered herbs, powdered garlic, garlic salt, and sugar, but is not limited to these materials. A similar dispenser could be provided for pepper.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.