# US 5,343,800 A · Seasoning can structure

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- Number: US 5,343,800 A
- Document ID: US5343800A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/156,728
- Filed: 1993-11-24
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-11-24
- Inventors: Otto Wu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343800A

## CPC

- B01F 31/441: performing a rectilinear reciprocating movement
- A47G 19/24: Shakers for salt, pepper, sugar, or the like {(closures comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge B65D47/20)}
- B01F 33/5011: {portable during use, e.g. hand-held}
- B01F 23/60: Mixing solids with solids
- B01F 33/83612: {by crushing or breaking}
- B01F 35/3202: {Hand driven}
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)

## Abstract

A seasoning can structure includes an open can body to receive therein the seasoning, a cover being releasably secured to the opening of the can body. A seasoning dispensing device is mounted on the cover to dispense the seasoning contained in the can. A seasoning block breaking device is provided, including an elongated rod extending from the bottom of the can into the can body with a number of sideward arms fixed thereon so that by reciprocally moving the rod relative to the can body, the arms hit and thus break the seasoning blocks formed by the seasoning particles bonding together. Biasing device is disposed on the bottom of the can body to help reciprocally moving the breaking device relative to the can body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A seasoning can structure comprising:
a can body having a closed lower end defining a bottom and an open upper end defining an upper opening so as to form a container for receiving therein seasoning particles;
a cover having a lower flange releasably engageable with the upper opening of said can body, said cover having an outlet opening formed thereon to allow the seasoning particles to pass therethrough for dispensing; and
breaking means comprising a base disposed under the bottom of said can body with biasing means disposed therebetween to biasingly support said can body on said base and allow said can body to be movable relative to said base, an elongated rod mounted on said base and extending therefrom to insert into said can body from a hole formed on the bottom thereof, a plurality of breaking arms fixed on said rod along the longitudinal direction and around a circumferential direction thereof and extending sideward to be movable within and relative to the container defined by said can body so that by moving said can body relative to said base and against said biasing means and then releasing said can body to allow said biasing means to return said can body, said breaking arms are allowed to reciprocally moved relative to said can body and seasoning blocks formed by the seasoning particles bonding together within said can body to break the seasoning blocks into small particles.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A seasoning can structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring having two ends respectively secured to said base and the bottom of said can body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A seasoning can structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein a first recess is formed said base and a second recess is formed on the bottom of said can body to respectively receive and secure the ends of said spring therein so as to secure said spring between said base and said can body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A seasoning can structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated rod has a threaded lower end to be engaged by an inner threaded hole formed on said base to secure said elongated rod to said base.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A seasoning can structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising seasoning dispensing means for controlling the dispensing of the seasoning particles, said dispensing means comprising a finger-accessible toothed wheel rotatably supported within a through slot formed on said cover, said through slot being in communication with the outlet opening so that by rotating said toothed wheel to have the teeth thereof contact and drive the seasoning particles toward the outlet opening, said seasoning particles are allowed to be dispensed through the outlet opening.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A seasoning can structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outlet opening comprises a lid loosely pivotally mounted thereon to shield said outlet opening.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A seasoning can structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover has an outer thread formed on the lower flange thereof and said can body has an inner thread formed on the upper opening thereof to be engageable by said outer thread of said cover so as to releasably secure said cover to said can body.