Sauce Leveler Device

Abstract

A leveler device that engages a bulk product container or bucket that allows a user to level off a scooping or measuring device to obtain a predetermined amount of product. The leveler device includes a blade or wall disposed over a container opening of the container. In use, a user levels the amount of sauce within the measuring device by successively running the rim of the measuring device across the blade or wall of the leveler device to remove excess sauce. The excess sauce that is scraped or pushed off of the measuring device rim by the leveler blade may return back into the container. Thus, the user can consistently scrape and pour the desired amount of product.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A product leveler and bulk product container assembly comprising:
 a bulk product container having a container rim surrounding a container opening;   a leveler including a elongated bar, said elongated bar including a center arm connecting two depending arms, said center arm includes a planar wall depending therefrom, said center arm is disposed at a predetermined vertical distance above said container rim and over said container opening by said two depending arms, a distal end of each one of said depending arms has an attachment mechanism releasably securing said leveler to said container rim.   
     
     
         2 . The product leveler and bulk product container assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said planar wall includes laterally opposing ends, said laterally opposing ends of said planar wall engage each of said depending arms, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The product leveler and bulk product container assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said planar wall includes a forward and rear planar surface, at least one of said forward and rear planar surfaces outwardly curve into said center arm at an upper edge of said planar wall. 
     
     
         4 . The product leveler and bulk product container assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said attachment mechanism includes a groove, said groove receives said container rim. 
     
     
         5 . The product leveler and bulk product container assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said attachment mechanism includes a latch with a bias cam surface. 
     
     
         6 . The product leveler and bulk product container assembly as in  claim 5  wherein said latch includes a depressible member. 
     
     
         7 . The product leveler and bulk product container assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said attachment mechanism rotationally fixes said leveler to said container rim. 
     
     
         8 . A sauce leveler and container combination for measuring comprising:
 a container having a container opening surrounded by a rim, said rim having a latch retainer; and   a leveler device having a planar flange disposed over said container opening and spaced a distance above said container rim, said planar flange has a lower scraping edge, said planar flange having a pair of depending arms outwardly extending to said container rim, each said arm having an attachment mechanism securing said leveler device to said container, said attachment mechanism having a depressible member with a latch connected to a hinge whereby said latch is positionable between a engaged position with said container latch retainer and a disengaged position with said container latch retainer.   
     
     
         9 . The sauce leveler and container combination as in  claim 8  wherein said planar flange has an upper edge outwardly curved therefrom and opposite said lower scraping edge. 
     
     
         10 . The sauce leveler and container combination as in  claim 8  wherein said attachment mechanism axially and rotationally restricts said leveler device relative to said container rim. 
     
     
         11 . The sauce leveler and container combination as in  claim 8  wherein each said arm has an upper deck connecting opposing interior and exterior depending walls, wherein said interior depending wall engages an interior surface of said container rim and said exterior depending wall engages an exterior surface of said container rim when said leveler latch is in said engaged position with said container latch retainer. 
     
     
         12 . The sauce leveler and container combination as in  claim 8  wherein each said arm extends radially outward from said planar flange towards said container rim at an angle. 
     
     
         13 . The sauce leveler and container combination as in  claim 8  wherein said latch includes a bias cam. 
     
     
         14 . A sauce leveler for attachment to a container comprising:
 an elongated sauce leveler extending along a longitudinal axis, said leveler having a pair of mounting brackets at opposing ends of said leveler that are at a first elevation, and a scraping blade positioned at a second elevation between said mounting brackets by a pair of arms, wherein said second elevation is greater than said first elevation, said scraping blade extends a portion of a distance between said pair of mounting brackets; and   said scraping blade has a pair of planar surfaces extending between an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein said planar surfaces face in opposing directions perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         15 . The sauce leveler as in  claim 14  wherein said upper edge extends outwardly from said planar surfaces, respectively, in said opposing directions. 
     
     
         16 . The sauce leveler as in  claim 14  wherein each said mounting bracket includes a latch connected to a hinge and actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The sauce leveler as in  claim 16  wherein each said mounting bracket includes a groove, defined by an inner wall and an outer wall. 
     
     
         18 . The sauce leveler as in  claim 17  wherein said inner wall includes one or more protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The sauce leveler as in  claim 17  wherein said latch biases into and out of said groove. 
     
     
         20 . The sauce leveler as in  claim 17  wherein said groove is defined by at least one curved surface.