Dry product dosage dispenser with multiple storage compartments and method for producing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494456-B2
Application number	US-201414537129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	May 15, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A container with an internal partition within its cavity has multiple compartments for dispensing multiple dry products. The partition comprises a first elongated portion, which forms a product-dispensing chute in the cavity, and an inclined portion slanting away from the chute. The inclined portion has a surrounding perimeter edge that meets with adjacent inner walls of the container except at a bottom perimeter edge, along which dry products pass from the top of the inclined portion. A second elongated portion extends from the top of the inclined portion and across its bottom perimeter edge, dividing the remaining cavity into first and second product storage areas. Additional elongated portions may form additional product storage areas. Flipping of the dispenser from its upright position dispenses products below the inclined portion through the chute. An adjustable bottom can be used to vary doses of the products.

First claim

I claim:

1. A partition for transforming a canister with inner walls into a product dosage dispenser having more than two compartments, the partition comprising:
a first elongated portion having a first side opposite a second side, and a first end opposite a second end, said first elongated portion forming a channel for conveying product along the second side to the first end of the first elongated portion;
an inclined portion extending down from the second end of the first elongated portion and comprising a first surface that is an extension of the first side of the first elongated portion and an opposing second surface that is an extension of the second side, said inclined portion sloping down from the first elongated portion to a bottom edge of the inclined portion, wherein the inclined portion comprises a surrounding perimeter of a shape to directly contact at least a portion of the inner walls of the canister; and
a second elongated portion having a top end and a base end, the base end extending from the first surface of the inclined portion and wherein the second elongated portion forms a first compartment for storage within an exterior surface and a second compartment for storage outside of the first compartment.

2. The partition of claim 1 comprising a third elongated portion having a bottommost end extending from the first surface of the inclined portion outside of the first compartment, wherein part of the third elongated portion extends beyond the bottom edge of the inclined portion and wherein the third elongated portion forms a third compartment for storage within an exterior surface.

3. The partition of claim 2 wherein the first elongated portion, the second elongated portion, and the third elongated portion are each substantially vertical.

4. The partition of claim 2 wherein the first, second and third elongated portions each comprise a shape with a vertex pointing away from a surrounding perimeter of the inclined portion.

5. The partition of claim 2 wherein the third elongated portion comprises a first vertical side edge extending from the top end to the base end at the first surface of the inclined portion and a second vertical side edge extending from the top end to the base end, and optionally below the second surface of the inclined portion.

6. The partition of claim 1 comprising a supporting member extending down from the second surface of the inclined portion.

7. The partition of claim 1 wherein the first surface of the inclined portion and the opposing second surface are substantially parallel.

8. The partition of claim 1 wherein the first elongated portion is substantially vertical and the second elongated portion is substantially vertical.

9. The partition of claim 1 wherein the inclined portion is symmetrical about the first elongated portion.

10. The partition of claim 1 wherein the the shape of the surrounding perimeter directly contacts the inner walls of the canister except along the bottom edge of the inclined portion.

11. The partition of claim 1 wherein the bottom edge of the inclined portion is substantially straight.

12. The partition of claim 1 wherein the first side of the first elongated portion is convex and the second side of the first elongated portion is concave.

13. The partition of claim 1 wherein the second elongated portion comprises a first vertical side edge extending from the top end to the base end at the first surface of the inclined portion and a second vertical side edge extending from the top end to the base end, optionally below the second surface of the inclined portion.

14. A dry product dosage dispenser, said dispenser comprising:
a body having a top end and a bottom end and a cavity surrounded by inner walls there between;
a cap on at least a portion of the top end of the body; and
an internal partition extending between the top end and the bottom end of the body, said internal partition comprising:
a first elongated portion having a first side opposite a second side, a first end opposite a second end, and said first elongated portion having edges that meet with the inner walls of the body forming a channel for conveying dry product along the second side, wherein said channel is a product-dispensing chute;
an inclined portion extending down from the second end of the first elongated portion and comprising a first surface that is an extension of the first side of the first elongated portion and an opposing second surface that is an extension of the second side, said inclined portion sloping down from the first elongated portion to a bottom edge of the inclined portion and away from the chute, wherein said inclined portion comprises a surrounding perimeter that meets with the inner walls except at a perimeter bottom edge; and
a second elongated portion having a top end opposite a base end, the base end extending from the first surface of the inclined portion, wherein the second elongated portion forms a first compartment for storage within an exterior surface and a second compartment for storage outside of the first compartment and wherein at least a part of the base end extends beyond the perimeter bottom edge;
wherein the internal partition divides the cavity into a first product storage area, a second product storage area, and a product dispensing area.

15. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 14 wherein the bottom end comprises one of a closed end integral to the body or an adjustable volume compartment for adjusting a volume of the cavity.

16. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 15 wherein the internal partition comprises a supporting member extending down from the second surface of the inclined portion when the bottom end comprises the closed end.

17. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 15 wherein the adjustable volume compartment contacts the second surface of the inclined portion when the apparatus is in a closed position and the cap covers the larger top opening, thereby sealing a first dry product within the first product storage area and a second dry product within a second product storage area.

18. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 15 wherein the adjustable volume compartment comprises a periphery extending about a rim, said rim for mating with the bottom end of the body.

19. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 18 wherein the rim comprises threading for mating with corresponding threading near the bottom end of the body.

20. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 15 wherein the adjustable volume compartment is vertically adjustable to create a variable common area of space within the cavity, said variable common area of space creating an open communication for the flow of at least a first and second dry product through the product-dispensing chute.

21. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 14 wherein the internal partition comprises a third elongated portion having a bottommost end extending from the first surface of the inclined portion, a part of the bottommost end extending beyond the perimeter bottom edge of the inclined portion, said third elongated portion further providing the cavity with a third product storage area.

22. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 14 wherein the first side of the first elongated portion is convex and the second side of the first elongated portion is concave.

23. The dry product dosage dispenser of claim 14 wherein the perimeter bottom edge is recessed away from the inner walls forming a substanti

Assignees

• Quaker Oats Co
• Quaker Oats Co

Inventors

• Watson Thomas Branton

Classifications

• G01F15/001

  Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity · CPC title

• Y10T29/49828

  Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work · CPC title

• B65D25/52 Primary

  Devices for discharging successive articles or portions of contents · CPC title

• G01F11/282 Primary

  for fluent solid material not provided for in G01F11/34, G01F11/40, G01F11/46 · CPC title

• B65D25/04

  Partitions · CPC title