Touch free spice dispenser

Abstract

A touch free, spice dispenser is provided including a container for holding spices, a holder for supporting the container on an external support, a grinding mechanism and a sensor for activating the grinding mechanism in response to the presence of an object. The container has an open end and a closed end. The holder includes an end cap for support of the container, a hook for engagement with a support member and a strap extending between the hook and the end cap. The grinding mechanism is positioned in the end cap of the holder and is in electrical communication with a contact pad located on the hook. The grinding mechanism includes a grinder plate and a motor to rotate the grinder plate in response to a signal received from the sensor. Holes in the grinder plate and apertures in the end cap allow for passage of the spices out of the dispenser. A support assembly is also provided for supporting the dispenser above a food item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spice dispensing assembly for dispensing spices, comprising:
 a spice dispenser comprising a container configured to store at least one spice;
 a support assembly that supports the spice dispenser; 
 one or more sensors coupled to at least one of the support assembly or the spice dispenser for sensing a triggering event; and 
 a dispensing mechanism that dispenses the spice in response to the one or more sensors sensing a triggering event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors is disposed within the spice dispenser. 
     
     
         3 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors is disposed within the support assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises an electrical contact operatively configured to interact with an electrical contact of the spice dispenser. 
     
     
         5 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises at least one mounting arm that mounts the support assembly to a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , where in the triggering even is touch free. 
     
     
         7 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the grinder comprises a grinder plate including a plurality of holes therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . A spice dispensing assembly for dispensing spices, comprising:
 a spice dispenser comprising:
 a container that houses at least one spice; 
 a motor; and 
 a sensor coupled with the motor, wherein the motor operatively activates in response to the sensor sensing a triggering event; and 
   a support assembly that operatively supports the spice dispenser above a surface.   
     
     
         9 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support assembly comprises a magnet that operatively attracts the spice dispenser to allow removable mounting of the spice dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support assembly comprises a support bar and the spice dispenser is operatively mounted to the support bar. 
     
     
         11 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a position of the support bar is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . A spice dispensing assembly for dispensing spice, comprising:
 a container;   a support assembly that supports the container;   a sensor operatively sensing a triggering event; and   a dispensing mechanism that comprises a grinder and a motor, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled with the motor and the motor operatively moves the grinder relative to the container in response to the sensor sensing the triggering event and wherein the dispensing mechanism operatively dispenses the spices from within the container in response to the sensor sensing the triggering event.   
     
     
         13 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the grinder comprises a grinder plate including a plurality of holes therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the triggering event is touch free. 
     
     
         15 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the support assembly supports the container in a position that permits spice to be expelled from the dispensing mechanism to a food item. 
     
     
         16 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is positioned on or within the container. 
     
     
         17 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the grinder comprises a grinder plate including a plurality of holes therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12  further comprising an attachment member that attaches the container to the support assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a power source that powers the dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery disposed within the container. 
     
     
         21 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises an audio sensor and a processor coupled to the audio sensor, the processor configured to identify a command received by the audio sensor, and control the dispenser mechanism based on the received command. 
     
     
         23 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 12  further comprising an interface that operatively selects a parameter for dispensing. 
     
     
         24 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the interface comprises a display screen. 
     
     
         25 . The spice dispensing assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the interface comprises a manual switch.