Dispenser for particulate matter and method of use

Abstract

This invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing particulate matter. The dispenser includes a hopper, a coupling configured for attachment of the hopper, either directly or indirectly, to a receptacle; an aperture configured to be moved between an open and closed position to allow or prevent, respectively, flow of the particulate matter between the hopper and the receptacle. The dispenser further includes a stirrer housed in the hopper and configured to move in a substantially vertical and rotational manner within the hopper.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing particulate matter, the dispenser including: a hopper; a coupling configured to allow attachment of the hopper, either directly or indirectly, to a receptacle; an aperture configured to be moved between an open and closed position to allow or prevent, respectively, flow of the particulate matter between the hopper and the receptacle; characterised in that the dispenser includes a stirrer housed in the hopper, and wherein the stirrer is configured to move in a substantially vertical and rotational manner within the hopper.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the particulate matter is ground coffee beans.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hopper is a flask with an open first end.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hopper has a substantially closed second end and houses the aperture.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the aperture is configured as part of a slider.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the dispenser includes a spacer which is located between the slider and receptacle.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a base portion which in use is connected, or is able to be releasably connected to, to a bottom portion of the hopper.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the coupling is a concentric or conical ring coupling.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a coupling adaptor.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the stirrer includes a plurality of spokes extending from at least one elongate shaft.

11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the plurality of spokes radiate out from the at least one elongate shaft at a length which is configured to fit within the confines of the hopper.

12. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the plurality of spokes are configured to be a length whereby there is a gap of 1 mm or less between the ends of the spokes to the walls of the hopper.

13. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the plurality of spokes are configured to engage with the walls of the hopper.

14. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the plurality of spokes is provided in pairs, wherein each pair radiates substantially horizontally outwards from the at least one elongate shaft at substantially opposing directions.

15. The dispenser as claimed in claim 14, wherein each pair of spokes is separated from adjacent pairs of spokes by approximately 3-8 cm.

16. The dispenser in claim 1, wherein a pair of spokes is positioned at the very end of the shaft.

17. The dispenser in claim 10, wherein the stirrer has between 6 and 30 spokes radiating from the at least one elongate shaft.

18. A method of dispensing a particulate matter using the dispenser as defined in claim 1 characterised in that the method includes the steps of a) adding an amount of particulate matter into the hopper; b) connecting the hopper and receptacle via the coupling; c) ensuring the aperture is in the open position; and d) moving the stirrer in the hopper in a substantially vertical and/or rotational manner within the hopper to aid transfer of the particulate matter from the hopper into the receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 Cross-sectional view of the dispenser according to one aspect of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 Perspective view of the dispenser according to a further aspect of the present invention, and

(4) FIG. 3A Cross-sectional view of the coupling of the dispenser according to a further aspect of the present invention (lower container not shown as cross-sectional view).

(5) FIG. 3B Cross-sectional view of the coupling of the dispenser according to an alternative aspect of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 4A Top view of the slider according to a further aspect of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 4B Bottom view of the slider according to a further aspect of the present invention (detail of slider and guides shown in dotted outline).

(8) FIG. 5 Side view (detail in dotted outline) of the dispenser according to a further aspect of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 6 End view of the dispenser according to a further aspect of the present invention (detail in dotted outlined).

(10) FIG. 7 Side view of the coupling adaptor of the dispenser.

(11) FIG. 8 General perspective view of the dispenser.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(12) As depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the dispenser is shown generally as (1).

(13) As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispenser includes a hopper (2) configured to store a particulate matter, in the most preferred case as ground coffee (not shown). The hopper (2) is cylindrical in shape and is approximately 25 cm in height, and 6 cm in diameter. The hopper (2) has an interchangeable band (19) to indicate the coffee type. The walls of the hopper (2) are transparent to allow visualisation of the ground coffee within.

(14) The hopper (2) has an open first end (4) and a substantially closed second end (5). The closed second end (5) is formed by a base portion (6) which includes a slider (18). The slider (18) has fixed stoppers on one end that stop against the guides in the base portion (6). On the other end, part of the removable knob assembly acts as a stopper against the base portion (6).

(15) In FIG. 4B, the slider (18) is shown to include an aperture (7) which, when slid, is able to align with the second end (5) of the hopper (2) to provide a channel for the ground coffee to pass through. When the slider (18) is moved to a further position, the aperture (7) does not align with the second end (5) of the hopper (2) and therefore the flow of ground coffee is blocked.

(16) The dispenser (1) is configured to engage with a receptacle, in this case a lower container (9) of a Moka pot. Residing inside a conventional lower container (9) of Moka pot is a filter basket (10) which is configured to retain the ground coffee.

(17) The ability to engage the dispenser (1) to the lower container (9) is through a coupling (8) between the base portion (6) and the lower container (9). In one embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the coupling relies on concentric ring coupling between both the lower container (9) and base portion (6). In this embodiment, each ring is configured to fit a different sized Moka pot lower container (9).

(18) FIG. 7 illustrates a coupling adaptor (20) which is configured to engage with the coupling (8) to provide engagement for smaller Mokas, such as 1 or 2 cup sized Mokas. FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the dispenser, particularly to illustrate that the dispenser may be used with a variety of different sized Mokas or even a portafiller as shown on the left hand side.

(19) In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 3B, the coupling (8) includes a silicone rubber ring configured to engage with differently sized lower containers (9) through frictional engagement. The rubber ring is soft enough so that as it compresses it covers the upper lip of the lower container (9). This means coffee only goes into the filter basket, not onto the lip which forms part of the pressure seal of the Moka pot.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispenser (1) includes a stirrer shown generally as (12). In FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the stirrer (12) is housed within the hopper (2).

(21) The stirrer (12) includes an upper knob (13) resides on top of the lid (14). The upper knob (13) allows the stirrer (12) to be moved in a substantially vertical and rotational manner within the hopper (2). The lid (14) includes a seal with an O-ring seal (15) which seals the top of the hopper (2) even when the upper knob (13) is moved in the vertical and rotational manner.

(22) The stirrer (12) includes 10 spokes (16) that radiate out from a central shaft (17). The spokes (16) are provided in pairs separated by a distance of 5 cm along the central shaft (17). Each pair of spokes (16) radiates outwards from the central shaft (17) at substantially opposing directions. The length of each spoke (16) is configured to fit just within, but do not touch the inner walls of the hopper (2).

(23) In use, ground coffee is added to the dispenser (1) through the open first end (4) with the aperture (7) on the slider (18) in the closed position. The stirrer (12) is then inserted into the hopper (2) and the lid (14) is engaged with the open first end (4) to seal the hopper (2).

(24) At some point during preparation, a lower container (9) is filled with water, and the basket (10) then engaged within the lower container (9). The dispenser (1) is then connected via the coupling (8) on the lower container (9) with the filter basket (10) still in position. At this point, the aperture (7) on the slider (18) may be moved to the open position, although this could also be done after an initial stirring of the ground coffee within the hopper.

(25) The stirrer (12) is then moved in a vertical and/or rotational manner within the hopper (2) through manipulation of the upper knob (13). This pushes the ground coffee into the basket (10) and gently and evenly tamps it.

(26) Once the user is satisfied the basket (10) is evenly and sufficiently packed, the slider (18) is moved to the closed position. The dispenser (1) can then be removed from the lower container (9) and filter basket (10), and the upper container of the Moka pot can be engaged to the lower container (9) for use.

(27) The dispenser (1) will often have remaining ground coffee in the hopper (2). The dispenser (1) can be stored with the coffee in the hopper (2) for later use, or it can be re-used straight away to dispense further coffee into another basket/lower container. The hopper typically has a volume able to retain most or all of a typical packet of coffee (dependent on overall size of hopper and amount of coffee in packet), so it conveniently acts as a storage container as well as a dispenser.

(28) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.