Adjustable scooping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11733083-B2
Application number	US-202117146329-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2021
Priority date	Sep 12, 2017
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

An adjustable scoop includes a scoop body and a plunger. The scoop body has a cylindrical interior sidewall, a hollow interior, an open top, and an open bottom. The plunger is arranged in the interior of the scoop body such that a top surface of the plunger faces the open top. A volume of the interior of the scoop body above the plunger defines a volume of the adjustable scoop. The plunger is rotatable in the interior of the scoop body to adjust the volume of the adjustable scoop. The plunger includes a first engagement element, and a surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body includes a second engagement element extending from the surface. The first and second engagement elements mutually cooperate to translate rotation of the plunger to adjustment of the volume of the adjustable scoop.

First claim

I claim:

1. An adjustable scooping device, comprising:
scoop body means for enclosing scooped material within a hollow interior, having a cylindrical interior sidewall, an open top, and an open bottom; and
plunger means for rotating in the hollow interior of the scoop body means to adjust a working volume of the adjustable scooping device, arranged in the hollow interior of the scoop body means such that a top surface of the plunger means faces the open top of the scoop body means;
wherein a volume of the hollow interior of the scoop body means above the top surface of the plunger means defines the working volume of the adjustable scooping device;
wherein the adjustable scooping device further includes first and second engagement means for mutual cooperation to translate rotation of the plunger means in the hollow interior of the scoop body means to adjustment of the distance between the top surface of the plunger means and the open top of the scoop body means;
wherein the plunger means includes the first engagement means, and a surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body means includes the second engagement means extending from the surface of the interior sidewall;
wherein the surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body means is smooth and continuous with the exception of the second engagement means; and
wherein an outer surface of the plunger means includes an indentation configured to retain sealing means for providing a sealing surface between the outer surface of the plunger means and the surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body means.

2. The adjustable scooping device of claim 1 , further comprising handle means for holding the adjustable scooping device, having a grasping end and a scoop end, wherein the scoop body means is attached to the scoop end of the handle means.

3. The adjustable scooping device of claim 2 , further comprising leveling means for leveling contents of the adjustable scooping device, including extension means for sliding along the handle means, and push means coupled to the extension means for sliding across the open top of the scoop body means.

4. The adjustable scooping device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger means includes grip means for grasping to rotate the plunger means in the scoop body means.

5. The adjustable scooping device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger means is cylindrical, having an outer wall corresponding to the cylindrical interior sidewall of the scoop body means.

6. An adjustable scooping device, comprising:
a scoop body having a cylindrical interior sidewall, a hollow interior, an open top, and an open bottom; and
a plunger configured to be arranged in the hollow interior of the scoop body such that a top surface of the plunger faces the open top of the scoop body;
wherein a volume of the hollow interior of the scoop body above the top surface of the plunger defines a volume of the adjustable scoop;
wherein the plunger is rotatable in the hollow interior of the scoop body to adjust a distance between the top surface of the plunger and the open top of the scoop body, thereby adjusting the volume of the adjustable scoop;
wherein the plunger includes a first engagement element, and a surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body includes a second engagement element extending from the surface of the interior sidewall;
wherein the first and second engagement elements are configured to mutually cooperate to translate rotation of the plunger in the hollow interior of the scoop body to adjustment of the distance between the top surface of the plunger and the open top of the scoop body;
wherein the surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body is smooth and continuous with the exception of the second engagement element;
wherein the scoop body includes a plurality of index lines marked at spaced intervals; and
wherein the plunger includes a pointer that aligns generally with a selected one of the index lines as the plunger is rotated in the hollow interior of the scoop body.

7. The adjustable scooping device of claim 6 , wherein locations of the index lines correspond to locations of features of the first engagement element.

8. The adjustable scooping device of claim 6 , wherein the pointer is arranged on a bottom surface of the plunger.

9. The adjustable scooping device of claim 8 , wherein the pointer is arranged at a peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the plunger.

10. The adjustable scooping device of claim 6 , wherein the index lines are spaced in sequence around an outer circumference of the scoop body.

11. The adjustable scooping device of claim 10 , wherein the pointer is configured to follow a path around the outer circumference of the scoop body as the distance between the top surface of the plunger and the open top of the scoop body is adjusted.

12. The adjustable scooping device of claim 6 , further comprising a handle having a grasping end and a scoop end, wherein the scoop body is attached to the scoop end of the handle.

13. The adjustable scooping device of claim 12 , further comprising a leveling element, wherein the leveling element includes a leveling arm that is slidably coupled to the handle, and a leveling bar slidable across the open top of the scoop body.

14. The adjustable scooping device of claim 6 , wherein the plunger includes a grip that is graspable to rotate the plunger in the scoop body.

15. The adjustable scooping device of claim 6 , wherein the first engagement element is a spiral groove formed in the outer wall of the plunger.

16. The adjustable scooping device of claim 15 , wherein the second engagement element includes a flap formed at the open bottom of the scoop body, and a bump formed on the flap.

17. The adjustable scooping device of claim 16 , wherein the plunger further includes a plurality of teeth arranged in the spiral groove and raised to an extent so as to provide resistance to movement of the bump over the teeth, and the flap provides sufficient flexibility to allow movement of the bump over the teeth.

18. The adjustable scooping device of claim 17 , wherein the plunger includes a pointer that aligns generally with a selected one of the index lines as the plunger is rotated in the hollow interior of the scoop body.

19. The adjustable scooping device of claim 18 , wherein locations of the index lines correspond to locations of the teeth.

20. The adjustable scooping device of claim 15 , wherein the spiral groove terminates at one end at a bottom edge of the plunger.

Assignees

• Rivera Adrian

Inventors

• Rivera Adrian

Classifications

• G01F19/002 Primary

  Measuring spoons or scoops · CPC title

• G01F19/00 Primary

  Calibrated capacity measures for fluids or fluent solid material, e.g. measuring cups · CPC title