Abstract
A hand operated herbal grinder for the disintegration of herbs, spices and plant matter. The apparatus allows a user to place plant matter into the top of a first enclosure. The actuation of the apparatus, particularly through the use of a drive handle rotates blades inward to disintegrate the plant matter with rotational cutting blades.
Claims
1. An apparatus for the disintegration of plant matter comprising: a first enclosure having an open top and an open bottom, the first enclosure having a first shaft and a second shaft; a first rotary blade and a second rotary blade affixed to the first shaft, the first and second rotary blades spaced equal to or greater than a thickness of a third rotary blade; the third rotary blade affixed to the second shaft, and disposed between the first rotary blade and the second rotary blade; the rotary blades having a thickness; a first wiper aligned with the first rotary blade and having a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the first rotary blade, and the first wiper having a first side configured to interface with a first side of the third rotary blade; a second wiper aligned with the second rotary blade, and having a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the second rotary blade, and the second wiper having a first side configured to interface with a second side of the third rotary blade; a third wiper aligned with the third rotary blade and having a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the third rotary blade, the third wiper having a first side configured to interface with a first side of the first rotary blade, and a second side of the third wiper configured to interface with a first side of the second rotary blade; and a drive handle, wherein the turning of the drive handle in a first direction rotates the first and second shafts counter to each other, rotating the upper portion of the rotary blades rotates inward toward the center portion of the grinder.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive handle comprises a first finger recess configured to receive a user's finger for rotation of the drive handle.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second enclosure having an open top and open bottom, wherein the open top of the second enclosure is configured to mate with the open bottom of the first enclosure.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a third enclosure having an open top, wherein the open top of the third enclosure is configured to mate with the open bottom of the second enclosure.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a filtering layer disposed between the third enclosure and the second enclosure.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the drive handle comprises a first finger recess configured to receive a user's finger for rotation of the drive handle.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a top configured to mate with the open top of the first enclosure.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first rotary gear affixed to the first shaft; a second rotary gear affixed to the second shaft, wherein the second rotary gear is configured to mesh with the first rotary gear; a drive gear affixed to the first shaft; and the drive handle having a gear configured to mesh with the drive gear.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotary blades have an aperture configured to match the profile of the shafts, wherein the rotary blades are slidably affixed to the shafts.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shafts are axially constrained by apertures in the first enclosure.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotary blades comprise a first lobe having a hook form and an edge.
12. An apparatus for the disintegration of plant matter comprising: a first enclosure having an open top and an open bottom, the first enclosure having a first aperture and a second aperture for constraining a first shaft, and a third aperture and a fourth aperture for constraining a second shaft; the first shaft comprising a first rotary blade and a second rotary blade, the second shaft having a third rotary blade, the third rotary blade disposed between the first rotary blade and the second rotary blade; the first rotary blade having an aperture configured to mate with the first shaft, and the first rotary blade further comprising three lobes, each lobe having a hook form and an edge, and the first rotary blade having a thickness; the second rotary blade having an aperture configured to mate with the first shaft, and the second rotary blade further comprising three lobes, each lobe comprising a hook form and an edge, and the second rotary blade having a thickness; the third rotary blade having an aperture configured to mate with the second shaft, and the third rotary blade further comprising three lobes, each lobe having a hook form and an edge and the third rotary blade having a thickness, the third rotary blade further comprising a first side configured to interface with a first side of the first rotary blade, and a second side of the third rotary blade configured to interface with a first side of the second rotary blade; a first wiper aligned with the first rotary blade, the first wiper having a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the first rotary blade, and the first wiper having a first side configured to interface with a first side of the third rotary blade; a second wiper aligned with the second rotary blade, the second wiper having a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the second rotary blade, and the second wiper having a first side configured to interface with a second side of the third rotary blade; a third wiper aligned with the third rotary blade and having a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the third rotary blade, the third wiper having a first side configured to interface with a first side of the first rotary blade, and a second side of the third wiper configured to interface with a first side of the second rotary blade; a first rotary gear affixed to the first shaft; a second rotary gear affixed to the second shaft, with the second rotary gear configured to mesh with the first rotary gear; a drive gear affixed to the first shaft; a drive handle having a gear configured to mesh with the drive gear; a second enclosure having an open top and open bottom, the open top of the second enclosure configured to slidably mate with the open bottom of the first enclosure; a third enclosure having an open top, the open top of the third enclosure configured to slidably mate with the open bottom of the second enclosure; a filtering layer disposed between the third enclosure and the first enclosure; and a top configured to mate with the open top of the first enclosure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1AA perspective of certain embodiments of an apparatus
[0017] FIG. 1BA perspective exploded view of certain embodiments of an apparatus
[0018] FIG. 2A cross sectional view of certain embodiments
[0019] FIG. 3A top plan view of the open top of certain embodiments with detail
[0020] FIG. 4AA side exploded view of certain embodiments
[0021] FIG. 4BA perspective exploded view of certain embodiments
[0022] FIG. 5A side transparent view of certain embodiments
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Certain embodiments of the present invention surround an apparatus 1000, shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1A, for the disintegration of plant matter into particulate plant matter. Certain embodiments comprise a first enclosure 1010 having an open top 1020 and an open bottom 1030. Such embodiments further comprise a first shaft 1040 having a first rotary blade 1100 and a second rotary blade 1100, and a second shaft 1040 having a third rotary blade 1100. The first rotary blade 1100, the second rotary blade 1100, and the third rotary blade 1100 typically share a substantially similar size and shape. However, it will be appreciated that embodiments are not limited to having rotary blades 1100 of substantially similar size and shape. The first shaft 1040 and the second shaft 1040 are axially constrained by a first aperture 1045 and second aperture 1045 respectively to limit their lateral and axial movement without restricting rotational movement. The first aperture 1045 is configured to allow the slidable passage of a first shaft 1040, and the second aperture 1045 is configured to allow the slidable passage of a second shaft 1040. The first shaft 1040 and the second shaft 1040 are offset from each other. The first shaft 1040 is configured to rotate in a first direction 1050 and the second shaft 1040 is configured to rotate in a second direction 1060. The first shaft 1040 and the second shaft 1040 typically rotate in a manner such that an upper portion 1110 of the first rotary blade and the second rotary blade 1100 rotate toward the second shaft 1040, and an upper portion 1110 of the third rotary blade 1100 rotates toward the first shaft 1040.
[0024] Certain embodiments of the present invention (FIG. 1B) comprise a first enclosure 1010 for the disintegration of plant matter and a second enclosure 1070 to capture the resulting particulate plant matter. The second enclosure 1070, disposed below the first enclosure 1010, captures the particulate matter after disintegration within the first enclosure 1010. The second enclosure 1070 of certain embodiments is slidably removable from the first enclosure 1010 for removal of particulate plant matter. Certain embodiments further comprise a third enclosure 1080 having a filtering layer 1090. In certain embodiments the third enclosure 1080 is slidably removable from the second enclosure 1070. The filtering layer 1090 of certain embodiments, allows the passage of particulate matter having a size smaller than the desired particulate matter size, such as resin particles. Thus, the third enclosure 1080, disposed below the second enclosure 1070 captures the particulate matter which passes through the filtering layer 1090, such as resin crystals.
[0025] Certain embodiments of the present invention, as seen in FIG. 2, comprise a first shaft 1040 and a first rotary blade 1100. The rotary blade 1100, comprising a first lobe 1120 with an edge 1130, and a second lobe 1120 with an edge 1130, further comprises an aperture. The aperture 1160 of the rotary blade, typically central to the rotary blade 1100, has a profile configured to interface with the cross-sectional profile of the first shaft 1040. In certain embodiments, the aperture 1160 of the first rotary blade is configured to have an engineering fit, such as a location fit, with the cross-sectional profile of the first shaft 1040. In certain embodiments, a first shaft 1040 and an aperture 1160 of a rotary blade comprise a round profile, while other embodiments comprise a square profile. It will be appreciated that the cross-sectional profile of a first shaft 1040 and the profile of an aperture 1160 of a rotary blade of other embodiments comprise shapes not disclosed herein while remaining aligned with the inventive nature of the present invention.
[0026] Certain embodiment s of the present invention, shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, comprise a first rotary blade 1100 affixed to a first shaft 1040, with the first rotary blade 1100 having a first lobe 1120 having an edge 1130. The edge 1130 is at the maximum radius 1150 of the rotary blade. A hook form 1135 extends between the edge 1130 of the lobe and a minimum radius 1155 of the rotary blade. A second rotary blade 1100, affixed to a second shaft 1040, has a first lobe having an edge 1130. The first rotary blade 1100 and the second rotary blade 1100 are configured to interface for the disintegration of plant matter such that a first side 1170 of the first rotary blade comprises an engineering fit with a first side 1170 of the second rotary blade. Such embodiments further comprise a first wiper 1200 having a first side 1210 and a second side 1210. The first wiper 1200 comprises a thickness 1220 equal to or greater than a thickness 1140 of the first rotary blade. The first wiper 1200, aligned with and parallel to the second rotary blade 1100 is configured such that a first side 1170 of the adjacent first rotary blade interfaces with the first side 1210 of the wiper with an engineering fit. An engineering fit, will be appreciated to surround engineering dimensioning and tolerances such as those specified by ANSI B4.1 (Standard Tolerance Limits and Fits), incorporated by reference herein. In certain embodiments, a first side 1170 of a rotary blade is configured to have a close sliding fit type of engineering fit. Certain embodiments comprise a third rotary blade having a first side 1170 which interfaces with a second side 1170 of the second rotary blade. In such embodiments, the first side 1210 of the first wiper interfaces with a first side 1170 of the first rotary blade, and a second side 1210 of the first wiper interfaces with a first side 1170 of the third rotary blade.
[0027] Certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, comprise a first shaft 1040 and a second shaft 1040 configured to rotate counter to each other. It will be appreciated that a first shaft 1040 and a second shaft 1040 can be actuated with an actuation mechanism in direct connection or independent of each other. It will be further appreciated that an actuation mechanism can be hand actuated or electrically actuated. In certain embodiments, a first shaft 1040 comprises a first rotary gear 1300 axially affixed to the first shaft 1040, and a second shaft 1040 comprises a second rotary gear 1300 axially affixed to the second shaft 1040. The first rotary gear 1300 comprises teeth 1310 configured to mesh with teeth 1300 of the second rotary gear, thus rotating the second shaft 1040 counter to the rotation of the first shaft 1040 when the first shaft 1040 is rotated.
[0028] Certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, comprise a first shaft 1040 having a first rotary gear 1300 and a drive gear 1400. The first rotary gear 1300 has an aperture 1340 configured to have an engineering fit, constraining first rotary gear 1300 to the first shaft 1040 when the first shaft 1040 is disposed through the aperture 1340 of the rotary gear. The drive gear 1400 has an aperture 1430 configured to have an engineering fit, constraining the drive gear 1400 to the first shaft 1040 when the first shaft 1040 is disposed through the aperture 1430 of the drive gear. The rotation of the drive gear 1400, causes the rotation of the first shaft 1040 when the drive gear 1400 is rotated. In certain embodiments comprising a drive gear 1400 having teeth 1410, the drive gear 1400 is rotated with a drive handle comprising a gear 1460 with teeth 1465 configured to mesh with the teeth 1410 of the drive gear. In certain embodiments, the drive handle further comprises a disk form with a gear 1460 constrained to a first surface 1470, thus the rotation of the drive handle rotates the drive gear 1400, resulting in the rotation of the first shaft 1040 and the counter-rotation of the second shaft 1040.
[0029] Certain embodiments, referencing FIG. 1A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 5, comprise a drive housing 1500 which comprises a drive recess 1510, to surround certain elements such as a drive gear 1400. In certain embodiments, a depth 1530 of the drive recess is configured to be equal to, or greater than the depth 1420 of a drive gear and the depth 1320 of the first rotary gear combined. The first aperture 1520 and the second aperture 1520 are offset by a distance equal to the additive total of the root radius 1330 of the first rotary gear and the root radius 1330 of the second rotary gear. In certain embodiments, a drive recess 1510 comprises a circular profile having a diameter 1540 equal to, or greater than the outer diameter 1480 of a drive handle. It will be appreciated that some embodiments comprise a drive handle 1450 and a drive recess 1510 having a sliding fit, clearance fit or other engineering fit. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a drive handle 1450 comprises a first finger recess 1490. It will be appreciated that a finger recess 1490 allows the disposition of a user's finger within it to allow a user to use his or her finger to rotate the drive handle 1450. It will be appreciated that certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a drive handle 1450 having a first finger recess 1490 and a second finger recess 1490. It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments, a drive housing 1500 is integrated into a first enclosure 1010.
[0030] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the inventions described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of including, comprising, or adding and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as, additional items.
