Dispenser for dispensing material into a container

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed at a dispenser for dispensing material into a container. The dispenser includes a base and a rotatable portion that is rotatable relative to the base along an axis of rotation. The base can be coupled to the container, and includes a storage compartment that has a cover that retains the material in the storage compartment when closed and that is positioned to release the material into the container when opened and when the base is coupled to the container. The rotatable portion includes a cover displacer that is inserted into the storage compartment and that is rotatable from a storage position in which the cover displacer and the cover are positioned such that the cover is closed, to a dispensing position in which the cover displacer has displaced the cover such that the cover is opened. The cover is oblique relative to the axis of rotation. Alternatively, the base includes a storage compartment having a dispensing aperture positioned such that the material stored in the storage compartment falls into the container when the dispensing aperture is uncovered. The rotatable portion includes a cover that rotates in response to rotation of the rotatable portion from being completely closed over the dispensing aperture when the dispenser is in a storage position to leaving the dispensing aperture at least partially uncovered when the dispenser is in a dispensing position.

1 . A dispenser for dispensing material into a container, the dispenser comprising:
 (a) a base couplable to the container, wherein the base comprises a storage compartment having a cover that retains the material in the storage compartment when closed and that is positioned to release the material into the container when opened and when the base is coupled to the container; and   (b) a rotatable portion coupled to the base and rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the rotatable portion comprises a cover displacer inserted into the storage compartment and rotatable from a storage position wherein the cover displacer and the cover are positioned such that the cover is closed, to a dispensing position wherein the cover displacer has displaced the cover such that the cover is opened,
 wherein the cover is oblique relative to the axis of rotation. 
   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base is threaded for screwing on to a neck of the container and the storage compartment extends into the neck of the container. 
     
     
         3 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cover displacer rotates without moving along the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises a foil membrane that the cover displacer pierces when the dispenser transitions from the storage to the dispensing positions. 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the storage compartment comprises a body to which the cover is joined along a seal, and wherein transitioning the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions causes the cover displacer to break the seal by applying force comprising a component parallel to the axis of rotation against the cover. 
     
     
         6 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the body comprises a hollow cylindrical segment and the cover is positioned to cover an end of the hollow cylindrical segment that is closest to the bottom of the container. 
     
     
         7 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 5  wherein a portion of the cover is frangibly coupled to a portion of the body and another portion of the cover is pivotably coupled to another portion of the body. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the cover displacer comprises an arm that extends into the body and that contacts the cover when the dispenser is in the storage position. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cover displacer comprises a rotatable displacement member having an oblique end, a portion of which is oblique relative to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the oblique end of the rotatable displacement member and the cover are identically angled relative to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the seal comprises a cover gasket located inside the storage compartment and lining the perimeter of the cover. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the seal comprises an edible wax coating. 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a collar having a rim through which the storage compartment is inserted and wherein the storage compartment comprises a flange that rests on the rim when the storage compartment is fully inserted therethrough, the flange comprising a notch and the rim comprising a protrusion inserted into the notch to prevent relative rotation of the collar and the storage compartment. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the cover displacer comprises a rim that rests on the flange of the storage compartment when the cover displacer is fully inserted into the storage compartment. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising a cover displacer gasket compressed between the rim of the cover displacer and the flange of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the rotatable portion further comprises a cap portion and a one-way coupling that couples the cap portion to the rim of the cover displacer such that relative rotational motion between the cap portion and the cover displacer in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions is prevented. 
     
     
         17 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the one-way coupling comprises a ratchet, wherein the ratchet comprises teeth on one of the cap portion and the rim of the cover displacer and a pawl on the other of the cap portion and the rim of the cover displacer. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising a first set of stopper protrusions extending from the cap portion and a second set of stopper protrusions extending from the rim of the collar such that relative rotatable motion in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions is prevented when any one of the first set of stopper protrusions is pushed into any one of the second set of stopper protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the first and second sets of stopper protrusions are positioned such that the maximum relative rotation possible between the cap portion and the collar in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions corresponds to the rotation required to ensure the cover is completely opened. 
     
     
         20 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising a collar gasket positioned on the underside of the rim of the collar. 
     
     
         21 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the collar comprises a first flange and the cap portion comprises a second flange interlocked with the first flange such that relative motion of the cap portion and the collar along the axis of rotation is prevented. 
     
     
         22 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the cap portion conceals a portion of the collar that is rotatable in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions. 
     
     
         23 . A dispenser for dispensing material into a container, the dispenser comprising:
 (a) a base couplable to the container, wherein the base comprises a storage compartment having a dispensing aperture positioned such that the material stored in the storage compartment falls into the container when the dispensing aperture is uncovered; and   (b) a rotatable portion coupled to the base and rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the rotatable portion comprises a cover that rotates in response to rotation of the rotatable portion from being completely closed over the dispensing aperture when the dispenser is in a storage position to leaving the dispensing aperture at least partially uncovered when the dispenser is in a dispensing position.   
     
     
         24 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the base is threaded for screwing on to a neck of the container and the storage compartment extends into the neck of the container. 
     
     
         25 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the cover rotates without moving longitudinally along the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         26 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the storage compartment comprises a hollow cylindrical segment and the dispensing aperture comprises a portion of an end face of the hollow cylindrical segment positioned to be closest to the bottom of the container when the dispenser is coupled to the container. 
     
     
         27 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the cover has a shape that is complementary to the dispensing aperture. 
     
     
         28 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the cover and the dispensing aperture are semi-circular. 
     
     
         29 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 26  wherein a portion of the end face around the dispensing aperture is lined by a cover gasket. 
     
     
         30 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the cover and the dispensing aperture share a boundary that is sealed using an edible wax when the dispenser is in the storage position. 
     
     
         31 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the base further comprises a collar having a rim through which the storage compartment is inserted and wherein the storage compartment comprises a flange that rests on the rim when the storage compartment is fully inserted therethrough, the flange comprising a notch and the rim comprising a protrusion inserted into the notch to prevent relative rotation of the collar and the storage compartment. 
     
     
         32 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the rotatable portion comprises an insertable portion inserted into the storage compartment, the insertable portion comprising the cover and a rim fixedly coupled to the cover and that rests on the flange of the storage compartment when the insertable portion is fully inserted into the storage compartment. 
     
     
         33 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 32  further comprising a rotatable portion gasket compressed between the rim of the insertable portion and the flange of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         34 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the rotatable portion further comprises a cap portion and a one-way coupling that couples the cap portion to the rim of the insertable portion such that relative rotational motion between the cap portion and the insertable portion in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions is prevented. 
     
     
         35 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the one-way coupling comprises a ratchet, wherein the ratchet comprises teeth on one of the cap portion and the rim of the insertable portion and a pawl on the other of the cap portion and the rim of the insertable portion. 
     
     
         36 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 34  further comprising a first set of stopper protrusions extending from the cap portion and a second set of stopper protrusions extending from the rim of the collar such that relative rotatable motion in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions is prevented when any one of the first set of stopper protrusions is pushed into any one of the second set of stopper protrusions. 
     
     
         37 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the first and second sets of stopper protrusions are positioned such that the maximum relative rotation possible between the cap portion and the collar in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions corresponds to the rotation required to completely reveal the dispensing aperture. 
     
     
         38 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 31  further comprising a collar gasket positioned on the underside of the rim of the collar. 
     
     
         39 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the collar comprises a first flange and the cap portion comprises a second flange interlocked with the first flange such that relative motion of the cap portion and the collar along the axis of rotation is prevented. 
     
     
         40 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the cap portion conceals a portion of the collar that is rotatable in the direction that transitions the dispenser from the storage to the dispensing positions. 
     
     
         41 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the cover is slanted such that the material slides out of the dispensing aperture. 
     
     
         42 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the cover is rotatable between the storage and dispensing positions repeatedly.