Combination herb storage, grinder and pouring container

Abstract

A combination herb storage, grinder and pouring container includes a grinding and pouring cup having grinding elements. A cap is removably attached to the grinding and pouring cup. An herb storage receptacle is nested within the cup and cap. The receptacle defines an herb storage compartment having grinding elements extending therefrom so as to be disposed adjacent to the grinding elements of the cup, so as to selectively grind herbs placed between the storage receptacle and the cup. Preferably, the cup and cap are removably locked to one another, and an airtight and watertight seal formed between the cap, cup and storage receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination herb storage, grinder and pouring container, comprising:
 a grinding and pouring cup having grinding elements projecting inwardly from a base of the cup; 
 a cap removably attached to the grinding and pouring cup; and 
 an herb storage receptacle removably nested within the cup and cap, the receptacle defining an herb storage compartment and having grinding elements extending exteriorly thereof so as to be disposed adjacent to the grinding elements of the cup when the storage receptacle is nested within the cup; and 
 a cap covering an open end of the storage receptacle; 
 wherein the cap is attachable to the cup; and 
 wherein the cup and cap include first and second locking members cooperatively forming a locking mechanism for removably locking the cap to the cup  
 wherein an herb removed from the storage receptacle and placed in the cup is ground by placing the storage receptacle into the cup and rotating the storage receptacle with respect to the cup; and 
 wherein the ground herb is poured from the cup. 
 
     
     
       2. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the grinding elements of the cup comprise spaced apart teeth projecting from a base of the cup. 
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the grinding elements of the storage receptacle comprise spaced apart teeth projecting outwardly from a base of the storage receptacle. 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cup and cap include first and second locking members cooperatively forming a locking mechanism for removably locking the cap to the cup. 
     
     
       5. The container of claim  4  1, wherein the first locking member comprises a tab rotatably moved past a ramp and received within a notch of the second locking member. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 5 , wherein the tab first locking member comprises multiple spaced apart tabs extending inwardly from a lower rim of the cap. 
     
     
       7. The container of  claim 6 , wherein the second locking member comprises multiple ramps and notches extending from an exterior surface of the cup in number and position corresponding to the tabs of the cap. 
     
     
       8. The container of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the exterior surface of the storage receptacle comprises a gripping surface. 
     
     
       9. The container of  claim 8 , wherein the gripping surface comprises a corrugated surface extending substantially the outer circumference of an upper portion of the storage receptacle. 
     
     
       10. The container of claim  4  1, wherein a seal is formed between the cap and the cup storage receptacle. 
     
     
       11. The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second locking mechanisms members seal the cap and the cup storage receptacle. 
     
     
       12. The container of  claim 10 , wherein the cap includes a ribbon extending into the cap and frictionally engaging an upper rim of the storage receptacle and creating an airtight and watertight seal between the cap and the storage receptacle. 
     
     
       13. A combination herb storage, grinder and pouring container, comprising:
 a grinding and pouring cup having grinding elements comprising spaced apart teeth projecting from a base of the cup and extending into the cup; 
 a cap removably attached to the grinding and pouring cup; and 
 an herb storage receptacle nested within the cup and cap, the receptacle defining an herb storage compartment and having grinding elements comprising spaced apart teeth projecting outwardly from a base of the storage receptacle so as to be disposed adjacent to the grinding elements of the cup; 
 wherein the cup and cap cooperatively form a locking mechanism for removably locking the cap to the cup; 
 wherein a seal is formed between the cap and the cup storage receptacle; 
 wherein an herb removed from the storage receptacle and placed in the cup is ground by placing the storage receptacle into the cup and rotating the storage receptacle with respect to the cup; and 
 wherein the ground herb is poured from the cup. 
 
     
     
       14. The container of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first locking member comprising a plurality of tabs extending inwardly from a lower rim of the cap and a second locking member comprising multiple ramps and notches extending from an exterior surface of the cup in number and position corresponding to the tabs of the cap, each tab being rotatably moved past the corresponding ramp and received within the corresponding notch to lock the cup and cap to one another. 
     
     
       15. The container of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the exterior surface of the storage receptacle comprises a gripping surface. 
     
     
       16. The container of  claim 15 , wherein the gripping surface comprises a corrugated surface extending substantially the outer circumference of an upper portion of the storage receptacle. 
     
     
       17. The container of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises first and second locking members that seal the cap and the cup storage receptacle. 
     
     
       18. The container of  claim 13 , wherein the cap includes a ribbon extending into the cap and frictionally engaging an upper rim of the storage receptacle and creating an airtight and watertight seal between the cap and the storage receptacle. 
     
     
       19. The container of claim 1, wherein an herb removed from the storage receptacle and placed in the cup is ground by placing the storage receptacle into the cup and rotating the storage receptacle with respect to the cup, and wherein the ground herb is poured from the cup.