Child's toy-like dry food & snack dispenser

Abstract

This invention describes a novel dry food dispensing machine for snacks and cereals which can be operated by a small child. It is comprised of a machine in the form of a toy character which the child operates to feed himself or herself. Ideal for using with many dry breakfast cereals, it encourages the child to eat by making eating time fun and, when used with breakfast cereal, keeps the child's cereal from becoming soggy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dry food dispenser comprising a hollow body. 
     
     
         2 . The body of  claim 1  wherein the shape may be presented as an action figure, mascot, robot, doll, animal or any other character or object which may have a male, female or neutral gender. 
     
     
         3 . The body of  claim 1  wherein said body includes an access opening for introducing the food product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         4 . The access opening of  claim 3  wherein said access opening includes a lid. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 3  wherein said lid may be hinged or removeable. 
     
     
         6 . The body of  claim 1  wherein said body includes a non-skid bottom surface or mechanical suction cup. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanical suction cup of  claim 6  wherein said mechanical suction cup includes a lock and release lever. 
     
     
         8 . The body of  claim 1  wherein said body includes an operating mechanism to create the dispensing action. 
     
     
         9 . The operating mechanism of  claim 8  wherein said operating mechanism comprises an electronic actuator or a mechanical lever. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanical lever of  claim 9  wherein said mechanical lever may include a return spring. 
     
     
         11 . The return spring of  claim 10  wherein said return spring may include a noise maker. 
     
     
         12 . The body of  claim 1  wherein the body may include a hopper. 
     
     
         13 . The hopper of  claim 12  wherein said hopper may be removeable. 
     
     
         14 . The hopper of  claim 12  wherein said hopper may include a flow regulator. 
     
     
         15 . The hopper of  claim 12  wherein said hopper may be available for separate purchase as a pre-filled disposable canister of food product. 
     
     
         16 . The canister of  claim 15  wherein said canister may be provided with the flow meter of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         17 . The body of  claim 1  wherein said body includes a dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing mechanism of  claim 17  wherein said dispensing system includes a method of product transfer from the hopper of  claim 12  or from the pre-filled canister of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of product transfer of  claim 18  wherein said method of product transfer includes a flow regulator for regulating flow of various product particle sizes from said hopper to dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The flow regulator of  claim 14  wherein said flow regulator may be a component provided with the dispenser or provided separately. 
     
     
         21 . The flow regulator of  claim 15  may be actuated by the twist of the pre-filled canister of  claim 12  after being placed in hopper of  claim 10  or the body of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . The dry food dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said dispenser includes an eating bowl. 
     
     
         23 . The eating bowl of  claim 22  wherein said eating bowl includes a method of securing said eating bowl to body of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         24 . The method of securing of  claim 23  wherein said method may include a mechanical lock, a magnet a suction cup, Velcro tape, forming of holding protrusions or any other method or combinations of such. 
     
     
         25 . The eating bowl of  claim 22  wherein said eating bowl is removeable. 
     
     
         26 . The eating bowl of  claim 22  wherein said eating bowl may be a durable dish provided with the dispenser of  claim 1  or as a disposable eating bowl acquired separately by purchase as a sealed package. 
     
     
         27 . The disposable eating bowl of  claim 26  wherein said disposable eating bowl may be provided as a proprietary eating bowl that includes a triggering mechanism to unlock the functionality of the dry food dispenser of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         28 . The disposable eating bowl of  claim 21  wherein said disposable eating bowl contains food product as a sealed packaged for point of sale distribution. 
     
     
         29 . The sealed package of  claim 26  wherein said sealed package may include a spoon inside the package along with the dry food product. 
     
     
         30 . The sealed package of  claim 26  wherein the sealed package may include the disposable eating bowl and/or the spoon of  claim 29  may be manufactured from biodegradable materials. 
     
     
         31 . The food product to be dispensed of  claim 3  wherein said food product to be dispensed may include breakfast cereal, snack food, candy or any other granular dry food product, as well as, materials specifically produced for use with this dispenser.