Flower mill assembly

Abstract

A flower mill assembly grinds vegetation into ground vegetation. The flower mill assembly includes a container defining an opening and an interior chamber for holding vegetation before it is ground and for collecting ground vegetation after the vegetation is ground. A sifting screen is secured to the container within the interior chamber. The sifting screen allows the ground vegetation to pass therethrough while preventing the vegetation from passing therethrough. A knob covers the opening of the container to enclose the interior chamber. A rotor is secured to the knob. The rotor defines a grinding surface, a center axis, and at least one grinding channel, whereby rotation of the rotor grinds the vegetation disposed adjacent the grinding surface and the at least one grinding channel.

1 . A flower mill assembly for grinding vegetation into ground vegetation, said flower mill assembly comprising:
 a container defining an opening and an interior chamber for holding vegetation before it is ground and for collecting ground vegetation after the vegetation is ground;   a sifting screen secured to said container within said interior chamber, said sifting screen allowing the ground vegetation to pass therethrough while preventing the vegetation from passing therethrough;   a center rod secured to said sifting screen, said center rod extending through a portion of said interior chamber toward said opening of said container;   a knob for covering said opening of said container to close said interior chamber, said knob including a central boss for receiving said center rod therein;   a rotor secured to said knob, said rotor defining a grinding surface, a center axis, and at least one grinding indentation defined in said grinding surface, whereby rotation of said rotor grinds the vegetation disposed adjacent said grinding surface and said at least one grinding indentation; and   a retainer disposed within said central boss for securing said knob to said container and said retainer includes at least one magnet, wherein said retainer is configured such that said center rod and said retainer do not contact when said knob is in a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of said at least one grinding indentation extends radially outwardly from said center axis. 
     
     
         3 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one grinding indentation extends radially from said center boss across said grinding surface. 
     
     
         4 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one grinding indentation defines a depth within said rotor with respect to said grinding surface. 
     
     
         5 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said depth of said at least one grinding indentation varies as it extends along said grinding surface. 
     
     
         6 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said depth of said at least one grinding indentation increases moving away from said center axis. 
     
     
         7 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said grinding surface includes a flat portion. 
     
     
         8 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one grinding indentation extends past an edge of said grinding surface. 
     
     
         9 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said container includes a removable catch basin at a distal end opposite said opening and a collection screen disposed within said container adjacent said catch basin. 
     
     
         10 . A flower mill assembly for grinding vegetation into ground vegetation, said flower mill assembly comprising:
 a container defining an opening and an interior chamber for holding vegetation before it is ground and for collecting ground vegetation after the vegetation is ground;   a sifting screen coupled to said container within said interior chamber, said sifting screen allowing the ground vegetation to pass therethrough while preventing the vegetation from passing therethrough;   a center rod coupled to said sifting screen, said center rod extending through a portion of said interior chamber;   a knob for covering said opening of said container to close said interior chamber, said knob including a central boss for receiving said center rod therein;   a rotor coupled to said knob, said rotor defining a grinding surface and at least one grinding indentation defined in said grinding surface, whereby rotation of said rotor grinds the vegetation disposed adjacent said grinding surface and said at least one grinding indentation; and   a retainer disposed within said central boss for coupling said knob to said container, wherein said retainer is configured such that said center rod and said retainer do not contact when said knob is in a closed position.   
     
     
         11 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said retainer includes a first magnet secured to said knob and a second magnet secured to said container. 
     
     
         12 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said at least one grinding indentation extends past an edge of said grinding surface. 
     
     
         13 . The flower mill assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said container includes an outer body and a rotor sleeve partially insertable into said outer body with said sifting screen secured there between. 
     
     
         14 . A flower mill for grinding vegetation into ground vegetation, said flower mill comprising:
 a container defining an opening and an interior chamber for holding vegetation before it is ground and for collecting ground vegetation after the vegetation is ground;   a sifting screen coupled to said container within said interior chamber, said sifting screen allowing the ground vegetation to pass therethrough while preventing the vegetation from passing therethrough;   a rod coupled to said sifting screen, said rod extending through a portion of said interior chamber;   a knob for covering said opening of said container to close said interior chamber, said knob including a boss for receiving said rod therein;   a rotor coupled to said knob, said rotor defining a grinding surface and at least one grinding indentation defined in said grinding surface, whereby rotation of said rotor grinds the vegetation disposed adjacent said grinding surface and said at least one grinding indentation; and   wherein said rod and said boss do not contact when said knob is in a closed position.   
     
     
         15 . The flower mill as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein at least one portion of said at least one grinding indentation extends radially outwardly from said boss. 
     
     
         16 . The flower mill as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said depth of said at least one grinding indentation varies as it extends along said grinding surface. 
     
     
         17 . The flower mill as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said depth of said at least one grinding indentation increases moving away from a center axis of the rotor. 
     
     
         18 . The flower mill as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said at least one grinding indentation extends past an edge of said grinding surface. 
     
     
         19 . The flower mill as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said container includes an outer body and a rotor sleeve partially insertable into said outer body with said sifting screen secured there between. 
     
     
         20 . The flower mill as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a retainer disposed within said boss for coupling said knob to said container.