Personal Cereal Dispenser

Abstract

A cereal dispenser includes a base, a container, and an actuation mechanism. The base supports the dispenser, provides a cradle for receiving a food receptacle, and a trigger for interacting with the actuation mechanism. The container includes a lateral surface formed around an interior volume and a dispensing mechanism with a chute, an outlet, and a portioning mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is activated by the trigger by means of the actuation mechanism. The dispensing mechanism allows cereal to flow from the interior volume, through the chute, and out of the outlet. The portioning mechanism controls how much cereal is dispensed each time the trigger is engaged, ensuring a consistent volume of cereal deposited in the food receptacle. The amount of cereal in the container is indicated by measurement markings on a transparent section of the lateral surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal food dispensing apparatus comprises:
 a base;   a container;   an actuation mechanism;   the base comprises a cradle, an indent, and a trigger;   the container comprises an interior volume, a lateral surface, a lid, and a dispensing mechanism;   the dispensing mechanism comprises a chute and an outlet;   the container being connected atop the base;   the dispensing mechanism being positioned below the interior volume;   the outlet being positioned above the cradle;   the interior volume being in fluid communication with the outlet through the chute, wherein cereal is dispensed from the container, through the chute, and out of the outlet; and   the trigger being operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanism by the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the cradle comprises a central section, a first arm, and a second arm; 
 the first arm being adjacently connected to the central section; 
 the second arm being adjacently connected to the central section opposite the first arm; 
 the indent being positioned adjacent to the first leg opposite the central section; and 
 the trigger being positioned adjacent to the indent. 
 
     
     
         3 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  comprises:
 a food receptacle; 
 the food receptacle being positioned adjacent to the central section; and 
 the food receptacle being positioned between the first arm and the second arm. 
 
     
     
         4 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the dispensing mechanism further comprises a portioning mechanism, wherein the portioning mechanism controls how much cereal is poured out of the dispensing mechanism. 
 
     
     
         5 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  comprises:
 the portioning mechanism comprises a wheel; 
 the chute comprises a first barrier plate and a second barrier plate; 
 the wheel comprises an annular wall, a well, and an interior wall; 
 the wheel being axially connected interior to the chute; 
 the well being delineated by the annular wall; 
 the interior wall bisecting the well; 
 the interior wall being connected across the well to the annular wall; 
 the first barrier plate being positioned in the chute below the wheel; 
 the second barrier plate being positioned in the chute above the wheel; 
 the first barrier plate being positioned adjacent to the interior wall opposite the second barrier plate; and 
 the trigger being operatively coupled to the wheel by the actuation mechanism. 
 
     
     
         6 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the lateral surface comprises an at least one transparent section and a plurality of measurement markings; 
 the interior volume being delineated by the lateral surface; 
 the lid being positioned adjacent to the lateral surface opposite the dispensing mechanism; and 
 the plurality of measurement markings being systematically positioned on the at least one transparent section, wherein the plurality of measurement markings indicate the volume of contents stored in the interior volume. 
 
     
     
         7 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a power source; and 
 the power source being housed within the base. 
 
     
     
         8 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  comprises:
 a chipset; 
 an at least one speaker; 
 the lateral surface comprises an at least one grated section; 
 the chipset being electronically connected to the at least one speaker; 
 the power source being electrically connected to the chipset and the at least one speaker; and 
 the at least one speaker being housed and mounted within the container adjacent to the at least one grated section. 
 
     
     
         9 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  comprises:
 a chipset; 
 a display screen; 
 the chipset being electronically connected to the display screen; 
 the power source being electrically connected to the chipset and the display screen; and 
 the display screen being mounted onto the lateral surface. 
 
     
     
         10 . A personal food dispensing apparatus comprises:
 a base;   a container;   an actuation mechanism;   a power source;   the base comprises a cradle, an indent, and a trigger;   the container comprises an interior volume, a lateral surface, a lid, and a dispensing mechanism;   the lateral surface comprises an at least one transparent section and a plurality of measurement markings;   the dispensing mechanism comprises a chute, an outlet, and a portioning mechanism, wherein the portioning mechanism controls how much cereal is poured out of the dispensing mechanism;   the container being connected atop the base;   the interior volume being delineated by the lateral surface;   the dispensing mechanism being positioned below the interior volume;   the outlet being positioned above the cradle;   the interior volume being in fluid communication with the outlet through the chute, wherein cereal is dispensed from the container, through the chute, and out of the outlet;   the trigger being operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanism by the actuation mechanism; and   the power source being housed within the base.   
     
     
         11 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 a food receptacle; 
 the cradle comprises a central section, a first arm, and a second arm; 
 the first arm being adjacently connected to the central section; 
 the second arm being adjacently connected to the central section opposite the first arm; 
 the indent being positioned adjacent to the first leg opposite the central section; 
 the trigger being positioned adjacent to the indent; 
 the food receptacle being positioned adjacent to the central section; and 
 the food receptacle being positioned between the first arm and the second arm. 
 
     
     
         12 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 the portioning mechanism comprises a wheel; 
 the chute comprises a first barrier plate and a second barrier plate; 
 the wheel comprises an annular wall, a well, and an interior wall; 
 the wheel being axially connected interior to the chute; 
 the well being delineated by the annular wall; 
 the interior wall bisecting the well; 
 the interior wall being connected across the well to the annular wall; 
 the first barrier plate being positioned in the chute below the wheel; 
 the second barrier plate being positioned in the chute above the wheel; 
 the first barrier plate being positioned adjacent to the interior wall opposite the second barrier plate; and 
 the trigger being operatively coupled to the wheel by the actuation mechanism. 
 
     
     
         13 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 the lid being positioned adjacent to the lateral surface opposite the dispensing mechanism; and 
 the plurality of measurement markings being systematically positioned on the at least one transparent section, wherein the plurality of measurement markings indicate the volume of contents stored in the interior volume. 
 
     
     
         14 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 a chipset; 
 a speaker; 
 a display screen; 
 the lateral surface comprises an at least one grated section; 
 the chipset being electronically connected to the display screen and the speaker; 
 the power source being electrically connected to the chipset, the speaker, and the display screen; 
 the speaker being housed and mounted within the container adjacent to the at least one grated section; and 
 the display screen being mounted onto the lateral surface. 
 
     
     
         15 . A personal food dispensing apparatus comprises:
 a base;   a container;   an actuation mechanism;   a power source;   the base comprises a cradle, an indent, and a trigger;   the cradle comprises a central section, a first arm, and a second arm;   the container comprises an interior volume, a lateral surface, a lid, and a dispensing mechanism;   the lateral surface comprises an at least one transparent section and a plurality of measurement markings;   the dispensing mechanism comprises a chute, an outlet, and a portioning mechanism, wherein the portioning mechanism controls how much cereal is poured out of the dispensing mechanism;   the container being connected atop the base;   the interior volume being delineated by the lateral surface;   the dispensing mechanism being positioned below the interior volume;   the first arm being adjacently connected to the central section;   the second arm being adjacently connected to the central section opposite the first arm;   the outlet being positioned above the cradle;   the interior volume being in fluid communication with the outlet through the chute, wherein cereal is dispensed from the container, through the chute, and out of the outlet;   the trigger being operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanism by the actuation mechanism;   the power source being housed within the base; and   the plurality of measurement markings being systematically positioned on the at least one transparent section, wherein the plurality of measurement markings indicate the volume of contents stored in the interior volume.   
     
     
         16 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 a food receptacle; 
 the indent being positioned adjacent to the first leg opposite the central section; 
 the trigger being positioned adjacent to the indent; 
 the food receptacle being positioned adjacent to the central section; 
 the food receptacle being positioned between the first arm and the second arm; and 
 the lid being positioned adjacent to the lateral surface opposite the dispensing mechanism. 
 
     
     
         17 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 the portioning mechanism comprises a wheel; 
 the chute comprises a first barrier plate and a second barrier plate; 
 the wheel comprises an annular wall, a well, and an interior wall; 
 the wheel being axially connected interior to the chute; 
 the well being delineated by the annular wall; 
 the interior wall bisecting the well; 
 the interior wall being connected across the well to the annular wall; 
 the first barrier plate being positioned in the chute below the wheel; 
 the second barrier plate being positioned in the chute above the wheel; 
 the first barrier plate being positioned adjacent to the interior wall opposite the second barrier plate; and 
 
       the trigger being operatively coupled to the wheel by the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The personal food dispensing apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 a chipset; 
 a speaker; 
 a display screen; 
 the lateral surface comprises an at least one grated section; 
 the chipset being electronically connected to the display screen and the speaker; 
 the power source being electrically connected to the chipset, the speaker, and the display screen; 
 the speaker being housed and mounted within the container adjacent to the at least one grated section; and 
 the display screen being mounted onto the lateral surface.