Condiment mill with conveying space

Abstract

The preferred embodiment is an improved condiment mill that utilizes a conveying space around and below the grinding mill reservoir to catch the condiment as it is ground. The first hollow body member forms the condiment reservoir and contains the grinding area. The second hollow body member forms an annular conveying space around the outside of the first hollow body member. This second hollow body member is divided into a top piece and bottom piece. The top piece of the mill covers the inner condiment reservoir and forms part of the annular conveying space. In this embodiment the top is rotatable and transmits rotational energy to the grinding area. Where the top of the mill covers the conveying space two types of discharge mechanisms are provided. The first mechanism is a plurality of holes for sprinkling condiment while the other is a pour spout for measured discharge of condiment. Both mechanisms can be used on the top of the mill above the conveying space. Condiment grinding is achieved in this embodiment by rotating the top of the mill relative to the bottom although a crank handle could be attached to the mill top. Ground condiment falls from the reservoir into the conveying space below and is discharged by tipping the mill. If an existing mill is to be retrofit with this design the mill would slip into an outer slip-on casing that would form an annular conveying space around the mill. Stops inside the bottom of the slip-on casing would prevent the mill from sliding all the way to the bottom and sealing off the ground condiment discharge path. Similar to the integral designs the top of the mill above the conveying space would be penetrated by a pour spout and/or holes for delivering the product. The slip-on casing in the retrofit device would be held to the mill by friction or other fastening means. The conveying space need only be designed so that it catches condiment either ground or dislodged out of the base and, by tilting the mill, channels this condiment to a discharge point. This prevents unwanted discharge of ground condiment and allows the user control over the amount of product discharged.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.