Metered material dispenser

A dispenser for sprinkling a preset quantity of a granulated material, such as table salt, comprising:

• a reservoir for storing granulated material, the reservoir having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall, the bottom wall having an opening therein;
• an enclosure encasing the reservoir, the side wall of the reservoir being positioned inwardly of the enclosure and defining a passageway therebetween;
• a cap for the enclosure, the cap secured to the enclosure proximate to the bottom wall of the reservoir;
• a metering cup positioned within the cap for receiving and measuring a quantity of granulated material from the reservoir, the material depositing into the metering cup upon the enclosure being placed into its normal upright position with the cap being below the enclosure, the metering cup being aligned with the opening in the reservoir such that granulated material may pass from the reservoir, through the bottom wall opening and into the metering cup upon inversion of the enclosure, the metering cup communicating with the passageway between the enclosure and the sidewall of the reservoir, the metering cup adapted to direct the preset quantity of granulated material into the passageway upon inversion of the enclosure;
• a collector positioned within the enclosure adjacent to the top wall of the reservoir, the collector communicating with the passageway, and the collector having an opening therein and adapted to direct granulated material from the passageway to the collector opening;
• and
• a diffuser supported adjacent to the collector opening and opposite the collector, the diffuser having an outwardly sloping surface extending from the collector opening to spread the granulated material passing through the collector opening.