Controlled dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A measuring and dispensing apparatus is provided for securing a container of granular, powdered, or other fluidic material thereto, and dispensing pre-determined quantities of the contained material. A dispensing barrel having a known volume is implemented to alternatively receive and dispense the contained material. A volumetric reduction insert is removably insertable into the dispensing barrel to alter the amount of contained material being received and dispensed. The open-ended construction of the dispensing barrel facilitates the removal and insertion of the volume reduction insert therein. A variety of inserts may be provided to increase the gradations of material to be dispensed. A pair of rings are provided for supporting the dispensing barrel for stable operation.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for dispensing granular or liquid materials from a removable container, comprising: a funnel-shaped member having a first end adapted sealingly and releasably to engage a container and a second end of smaller diameter than said first end having a dispensing head unitarily connected thereto;   said dispensing head comprising two rings extending in a direction opposite from said funnel-shaped member, a first of said rings being open at the center thereof and a second of said rings being closed at the center thereof;   a hollow cylindrical dispensing barrel having a closed end and an open end, said barrel being rotatably and removably supported within said rings such that said closed center of said second ring forms a closed end for said open end of said barrel;   a volumetric reduction means comprising a solid partially cylindrical member having an exterior surface corresponding in shape to an interior surface of said dispensing barrel and an interior surface which cooperates with said interior surface of said dispensing barrel to define therebetween a dispensing volume, said volumetric reduction means being removably secured within said dispensing barrel and removable through said open end of said dispensing barrel such that said dispensing volume can be varied by placing within said dispensing barrel volumetric reduction means having differing interior surfaces; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   an opening on a longitudinal side of said barrel adjacent to said dispensing volume, such that when said opening is turned upwardly toward said container, some of said material within said container will fill said dispensing volume, and when said opening subsequently is turned downwardly, said material within said dispensing volume will be dispensed from said dispensing volume.[.; and   a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck.]..   
     
     
       2. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first end of said funnel-shaped member further comprises an annular ring disposed inside the periphery thereof for receiving a rim of said container, thereby sealingly and securely to engage said container. 
     
     
       3. A measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first end of said funnel-shaped member further comprises screw-thread means disposed inside the periphery thereof for engaging screw-thread means on said container, thereby sealingly and securely to engage said container. 
     
     
       4. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said volumetric reduction means further comprises at least one flexible cylindrical projection formed on an end thereof to engage corresponding recesses formed in said closed end of said dispensing barrel. 
     
     
       5. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispensing barrel further comprises on the closed end thereof a knob for rotating said dispensing barrel, and a notch for engaging a projection formed on said first ring of said dispensing head to limit rotational movement of said dispensing barrel. 
     
     
       6. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for dispensing granular or liquid materials from a removable container, comprising: a funnel-shaped member having a first end adapted sealingly and releasably to engage a container and a second end of smaller diameter than said first end having a dispensing head unitarily connected thereto, said first end of said funnel-shaped member further comprising an annular ring disposed inside the periphery thereof for sealingly and releasably receiving, by snap action, an outwardly extending rim of said container;   said dispensing head comprising two rings extending in a direction opposite from said funnel-shaped member, a first of said rings being open at the center thereof and a second of said rings being closed at the center thereof;   a hollow cylindrical dispensing barrel having a closed end and an open end, said barrel being rotatably and removably supported within said rings such that said closed center of said second ring forms a closed end for said open end of said barrel;   a volumetric reduction means comprising a solid partially cylindrical member having an exterior surface corresponding in shape to an interior surface of said dispensing barrel and an interior surface which cooperates with said interior surface of said dispensing barrel to define therebetween a dispensing volume, said volumetric reduction means being removably secured within said dispensing barrel and removable through said open end of said dispensing barrel such that said dispensing volume can be varied by placing within said dispensing barrel volumetric reduction means having differing interior surfaces; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   an opening on a longitudinal side of said barrel adjacent to said dispensing volume, such that when said opening is turned upwardly toward said container, some of said material within said container will fill said dispensing volume, and when said opening subsequently is turned downwardly, said material within said dispensing volume will be dispensed from said dispensing volume.[.; and   a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck.]..   
     
     
       7. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for dispensing granular or liquid materials from a removable container, comprising: a funnel-shaped member having a first end adapted sealingly and releasably to engage a container and a second end of smaller diameter than said first end having a dispensing head unitarily connected thereto, said first end of said funnel-shaped member further comprising thread means disposed inside the periphery thereof for sealingly and releasably engaging thread means on an outside of said container; said dispensing head comprising two rings extending in a direction opposite from said funnel-shaped member, a first of said rings being open at the center thereof and a second of said rings being closed at the center thereof;     a hollow cylindrical dispensing barrel having a closed end and an open end, said barrel being rotatably and removably supported within said rings such that said closed center of said second ring forms a closed end for said open end of said barrel;   a volumetric reduction means comprising a solid partially cylindrical member having an exterior surface corresponding in shape to an interior surface of said dispensing barrel and an interior surface which cooperates with said interior surface of said dispensing barrel to define therebetween a dispensing volume, said volumetric reduction means being removably secured within said dispensing barrel and removable through said open end of said dispensing barrel such that said dispensing volume can be varied by placing within said dispensing barrel volumetric reduction means having differing interior surfaces; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   an opening on a longitudinal side of said barrel adjacent to said dispensing volume, such that when said opening is turned upwardly toward said container, some of said material within said container will fill said dispensing volume, and when said opening subsequently is turned downwardly, said material within said dispensing volume will be dispensed from said dispensing volume.[.; and   a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck.].. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member said yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The measuring and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a yoke for releasably supporting said funnel-shaped member, said yoke in turn being supported by a longitudinally extending neck. .Iaddend.