CHILD'S TOY-LIKE DRY FOOD & SNACK DISPENSER

Abstract

This invention describes a novel dry food dispensing machine for snacks and cereals which can be operated by a small child. It is comprised of a machine in the form of a toy character which the child operates to feed himself or herself. Ideal for using with many dry breakfast cereals, it encourages the child to eat by making eating time fun and, when used with breakfast cereal, keeps the child's cereal from becoming soggy.

Claims

1. A dry food dispenser comprising a hollow body.

2. The body of claim 1 wherein the shape may be presented as an action figure, mascot, robot, doll, animal or any other character or object which may have a male, female or neutral gender.

3. The body of claim 1 wherein said body includes an access opening for introducing the food product to be dispensed.

4. The access opening of claim 3 wherein said access opening includes a lid.

5. The lid of claim 3 wherein said lid may be hinged or removeable.

6. The body of claim 1 wherein said body includes a non-skid bottom surface or mechanical suction cup.

7. The mechanical suction cup of claim 6 wherein said mechanical suction cup includes a lock and release lever.

8. The body of claim 1 wherein said body includes an operating mechanism to create the dispensing action.

9. The operating mechanism of claim 8 wherein said operating mechanism comprises an electronic actuator or a mechanical lever.

10. The mechanical lever of claim 9 wherein said mechanical lever may include a return spring.

11. The return spring of claim 10 wherein said return spring may include a noise maker.

12. The body of claim 1 wherein the body may include a hopper.

13. The hopper of claim 12 wherein said hopper may be removeable.

14. The hopper of claim 12 wherein said hopper may include a flow regulator.

15. The hopper of claim 12 wherein said hopper may be available for separate purchase as a pre-filled disposable canister of food product.

16. The canister of claim 15 wherein said canister may be provided with the flow meter of claim 14.

17. The body of claim 1 wherein said body includes a dispensing mechanism.

18. The dispensing mechanism of claim 17 wherein said dispensing system includes a method of product transfer from the hopper of claim 12 or from the pre-filled canister of claim 15.

19. The method of product transfer of claim 18 wherein said method of product transfer includes a flow regulator for regulating flow of various product particle sizes from said hopper to dispensing mechanism.

20. The flow regulator of claim 14 wherein said flow regulator may be a component provided with the dispenser or provided separately.

21. The flow regulator of claim 15 may be actuated by the twist of the pre-filled canister of claim 12 after being placed in hopper of claim 10 or the body of claim 1.

22. The dry food dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dispenser includes an eating bowl.

23. The eating bowl of claim 22 wherein said eating bowl includes a method of securing said eating bowl to body of claim 1.

24. The method of securing of claim 23 wherein said method may include a mechanical lock, a magnet a suction cup, Velcro tape, forming of holding protrusions or any other method or combinations of such.

25. The eating bowl of claim 22 wherein said eating bowl is removeable.

26. The eating bowl of claim 22 wherein said eating bowl may be a durable dish provided with the dispenser of claim 1 or as a disposable eating bowl acquired separately by purchase as a sealed package.

27. The disposable eating bowl of claim 26 wherein said disposable eating bowl may be provided as a proprietary eating bowl that includes a triggering mechanism to unlock the functionality of the dry food dispenser of claim 1.

28. The disposable eating bowl of claim 21 wherein said disposable eating bowl contains food product as a sealed packaged for point of sale distribution.

29. The sealed package of claim 26 wherein said sealed package may include a spoon inside the package along with the dry food product.

30. The sealed package of claim 26 wherein the sealed package may include the disposable eating bowl and/or the spoon of claim 29 may be manufactured from biodegradable materials.

31. The food product to be dispensed of claim 3 wherein said food product to be dispensed may include breakfast cereal, snack food, candy or any other granular dry food product, as well as, materials specifically produced for use with this dispenser.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Selected embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying example drawings, which are not intended to limit the scope of this specification in any way, and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 depicts a top view of one example of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a left perspective view of one example of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a front view of one example of a toy-like dry food dispenser depicting the section line used to illustrate FIG. 6 according to various embodiments described herein.

[0024] FIG. 4 depicts an example of a left side view of a toy-like dry food dispenser including bowl component and dispensing apparatus according to various embodiments described herein.

[0025] FIG. 5 depicts an example of a left side view of a toy-like dry food dispenser with the operating lever depicted as arms in the pre-pulled position according to various embodiments described herein.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a left sectional view of a toy-like dry food dispenser loaded with material to be dispensed according to various embodiments described herein.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a left side view of a toy-like dry food dispenser with dispensing mechanism in the dispensing position according to various embodiments described herein.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows a left sectional view example of a toy-like dry food dispenser demonstrating product being dispensed according to various embodiments described herein.

[0029] FIG. 9 shows an exploded front perspective view example of a product flow regulating component and a product holding component used with a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

[0030] FIG. 10 depicts an example of an exploded left sectional view of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

[0031] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a left perspective view of the dispensing mechanism of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

[0032] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of the front view of the dispensing mechanism of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

[0033] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a left side view of the dispensing mechanism of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

[0034] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of the bottom perspective view of the dispensing mechanism of a toy-like dry food dispenser according to various embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly states otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0036] The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or descriptions given here. Each of the figures depict an example, which is not all inclusive, of an embodiment that falls within the scope of the current invention and it shall be understood that some embodiments may include components and/or details not shown in the figures.

[0037] It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that FIGS. 1 through 14 detail a simplified description of one example of the present invention and recognizes that there are several other embodiments that fall under the scope of this invention not illustrated. The said example is detailed as follows:

[0038] The toy body 100 is comprised of a hollow structure forming a housing comprised of external and internal components described herein. Preferably, the toy body 100 is shaped to represent, but not limited to, a toy character, an action figure, a mascot, a doll, a robot or any other object as desired. The toy body 100 may be made from any material or combination of materials known in the art such as ABS or PVC plastic, that forms a smooth, washable external surface, except that the sliding tray 104 and the hopper 108, the bowl 102 and the flow regulator 118 be made preferably with a food-grade, dishwasher-safe material as is known in the art. The toy body 100 may be made from a pigmented material or may be painted, or both, as desired. The toy body 100 is not limited by this specification to any certain size or shape which may be determined by the fabricator.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment the body 100 comprises a moveable first protrusion 105, attached to and extending away from the body 100 and functions as a mechanical operating lever for the dispenser. A mechanically operated lever 105 is preferred over a battery-operated control, not shown, which also falls within the scope of this specification. The first protrusion 105 may be attached to, or made integral with, the first end of a shaft 113 that extends longitudinally towards the center of the toy body 100 on which a second protrusion 110 may be connected to, or made integral with, the second end of the shaft 113. The mechanical movement that operates the dispenser is a pulling action performed on the first protrusion 105. Accordingly, the rotation of the first protrusion 105 causes the attached or integrally formed shaft 113 to transfer movement to a connector 110 or integrally formed second protrusion, not shown, which may be made to come in contact with a return spring 109, or elastic band or similarly acting component, as is known in the art, that will reverse the rotation of the shaft 113 after the load has been released on the first protrusion 105. The stroking action performed on the first protrusion 105 places the return spring 109 in tension as shown in FIG. 8. Termination of the action on the first protrusion 105 and subsequent release of the first protrusion 105 allows the return spring to relax and return the first protrusion 105 back to its starting position as shown in FIG. 6. One example of an embodiment that is included under the scope of the present invention is comprised of a noise maker, not shown, operated mechanically by attachment to either the first protrusion 105 or the return spring 109, or operated separately by battery.

[0040] One example of an embodiment that is included under the scope of the present invention is comprised of accessories and/or articles of clothing, not shown, used to adorn the toy body 100. Said accessories may be designed to be removed and exchanged with other accessories and may create the impression of gender for the toy character.

[0041] The delivery system is comprised of a sliding tray 104 which is connected to, or is made to come in contact with the second protrusion 110, thus the combination of a pulling action on the first protrusion 105 and the subsequent return of the return spring 109 causes the tray 104 to travel in an axial direction between first an extended position and then back to a retracted position. In the retracted position gravity pulls the material to be dispensed out of the hopper 108 onto the back of the sliding tray 104 which piles to a depth and quantity determined by the spacing between the tray and hopper, or about ¼″. During the extended travel the tray carries the material to be dispensed towards the front exterior of the toy body 100 where it is expelled from the dispenser. When the tip section 118 of the tray 104 reaches a point near the end of its extended travel it is no longer supported and the tray hinge 111 allows the tip section 118 to drop its contents.

[0042] Affixed to or formed with the bottom of the toy body 100 is any non-skid, no-slip surface 107 as is known in the art. The non-skid surface 107 may be created by surface coating, taping or use of a separate component bonded to the bottom of the toy body 100. The non-skid surface 107 may cover all or part of the bottom surface of the toy body 100. One example of an embodiment that is included under the scope of the present invention is comprised of a mechanical suction cup, not shown, affixed to the bottom of the toy body 100. The mechanical suction cup is comprised of an operating lever or moveable protrusion 103 on the toy body 100.

[0043] An access opening 114 is provided preferably near the top of the toy body 100 substantially large enough to allow the hopper 108 and/or disposable canister, not shown, to pass through. The access opening opens to a chamber that may hold the hopper 108. A lid 101 may be provided to cover the access opening 114, which may be a removable component fitted to the top of the toy body 100, or it may be a non-removeable component attached by a hinge, not shown. A material delivery opening 117 is provided on the front of the body 100, adequately positioned to have the material being dispensed drop through it into the eating bowl 102. This opening 117 may or may not include a closure device, not shown, which opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of protrusion 105 and/or the sliding tray 104.

[0044] The eating bowl 102 should be affixed by a method capable of substantially securing it to the body 100, shown here in FIG. 10 as a drop-in holder 112. The method of securing the eating bowl may include using a mechanical connection, magnetic attraction, Velcro taping or by any other method. The front of the bowl may have a flat smooth area on the front for writing the child's name or for affixing a labeled sticker. With this embodiment the eating bowl is typically supplied with the dispenser and at the discretion of the fabricator a spoon may also be supplied. The toy body 100 may include a place to hold a spoon, typically in the hand, not shown, of the toy character. In use, food material to be dispensed is placed directly into the hopper 108.

[0045] One example of an embodiment that falls under the scope of this invention includes the use of a pre-packaged canister of the food product to be dispensed, not shown, that is dropped directly into the hopper 108 or is placed into the hopper cavity in place of the hopper 108. The canister may include the flow regulator 118 along with it as a disposable component. The canister may be designed such that after it is dropped into the toy body 100 the attached flow regulator 118 is held in place and a twist of the bottom of the canister opens and/or closes the passage through the flow regulator 118 that allows the flow of product.

[0046] One example of an embodiment that falls under the scope of this invention includes the use of a pre-packaged disposable container that serves as the eating bowl 102 which may include a disposable spoon inside the container with the food product. The disposable bowl and/or disposable spoon may be made from biodegradable materials or preferably from plastic. The disposable bowl may include a trigger mechanism that unlocks the dispenser when the bowl is engaged such that without a properly designed eating bowl attached to the body 100, the dispenser will not function.

[0047] The flow regulator 118 is comprised of a rotating disc and a fixed disk or two rotating disks joined together in the center and allowed to rotate having half circular or triangular shapes cut in one or more of the disks in a manner that when one or more of the disks are rotated it changes the size of the opening allowing varying quantities of material to pass through. Another qualifying embodiment under the scope of this invention would be comprised of flow regulator 118 formed as a moveable gate that dams up the product to regulate the flow of material being delivered.

[0048] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of this present invention and are intended to be covered by the claims given in this specification.

EXAMPLES OF USE

[0049] A suggested sequence of operations is given here for some uses of the dispenser. Typically, the supervising user will place the dispenser securely on a flat surface and, when equipped with a mechanical suction cup will use the tail as the lever to secure the dispenser to the table or highchair tray. Next, the supervising user or a child who has been given parental permission opens the lid and places the dry breakfast cereal, snacks or other dry food product inside the dispenser through an opening in the top of the device provided for this purpose. If conventional product packaging is used the cereal or snack food is poured into the hopper bin inside the toy and the flow regulator on the toy is set; otherwise, if a pre-packaged canister with solid end and sealed end is used, the flow regulator is removed, the paper seal is torn off and the flow regulator is snapped back on. The canister is inverted into the hopper and dropped into place where a catch, not shown, holds the flow meter in place and the bottom or solid end of the canister is twisted to open or close the flow meter to the correct aperture for the product being dispensed. Alternatively, if the food product comes in a prepackaged bowl, the seal is removed, the disposable spoon is removed, the cereal or snack food is poured into the hopper and the disposable bowl is properly placed in or affixed to the dispenser. Next, an appropriate amount of milk is placed in the bowl and the child is instructed to pull the toy's arm to begin the dispensing action that delivers a controlled amount of product to his or her bowl. After that amount of product has been consumed the child continues to operate the dispenser at a self-determined rate to feed himself or herself until the supply of product in the dispenser has been exhausted. Cleanup with the disposable bowl system requires the spoon and bowl to be discarded, no dishes to wash. Cleaning of the dispenser parts is performed periodically as desired by the user or suggested by the manufacturer in consequence of the materials chosen for fabrication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0050] The following details describe an example of an embodiment which falls under the scope of the present invention and demonstrate what is considered the inventors' preferred embodiment. With reference to the drawings and with reference to FIG. 1-14, the toy-like dry food dispenser comprises a toy body 100 preferable formed as a baby dinosaur depicted in FIG. 2. The body 100 and the cap 101 may be presented in green and the tongue 104 and the eating bowl 102 may be presented in red. The right arm of the toy character may be in a fixed position with a clinched first having a hole through it for storing a spoon, not shown, supplied with the dispenser. The left arm 105 of the toy body 100 may be used as the operating lever 105 which may include a return spring 109 that returns the arm back to its starting position after each use which makes a simulated sound of a baby dinosaur with an air bladder noise maker, not shown, connected to the return spring. The lid 101 used to cover the access opening 114 is fashioned after a child's baseball cap. The cap 101 is designed to fit the character's head with the bill facing forward or the bill facing backward. The sliding tray 104 is fashioned after the dinosaur character's tongue. Each time the tongue completes its forward travel and dumps the product into the bowl the noise maker is actuated. A mechanical suction cup 107 is affixed to the bottom side of the toy body 100, which is operated by a lever 103 fashioned after the tail of the dinosaur character. A reusable, removeable eating bowl 102 is supplied with the dispenser having a place on the front to write the child's name. The bowl 102 is held in place during use by a formed cavity between the character's legs 106. The hopper 108 may have a dimension that allows the separately supplied canister of food product with accompanying flow meter 118 to fit inside.