Device for measuring and dispensing free flowing materials

A dispensing device for containers, the device having parts rotating relative to each other about a longitudinal axis, the dispensing device comprising;

• a cap having a recess sized and configured to engage a top of the container during use of the device, the cap having a surface with an opening therein through which contents from the container can pass during use of the device, the cap having a ridge on an exterior portion of the cap;
• a metering drum having a cylindrical flange with a distal end that resiliently engages the ridge on the cap to hold the drum to the cap while allowing the drum to rotate relative to the cap about the longitudinal axis, the drum having a cap end surface which is held against the surface of the cap by the flange, the drum having a spout end surface opposite and generally parallel to the cap end surface, with at least two chambers extending through the drum, one end of each chamber opening onto the cap end surface of the drum and an opposing end of each chamber opening onto the spout end surface, at least one of the chambers having an opening on the spout end of the drum that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the at least one chamber, the openings on the cap end of the metering drum being located so they align with the opening in the cap when the drum rotates about the longitudinal axis, the metering drum having a ridge on an exterior portion of the cap adjacent to the spout end of the drum, the metering drum being formed from two parts with the chambers having a portion located in each of the two parts, the two parts being fastened together so the two parts do not rotate relative to each other;
• a spout having a surface generally parallel to the spout end surface of the metering drum and held against that spout end surface by a flange extending from the spout to engage the ridge on the cap, the surface of the spout having a single opening with the openings in the spout end of the metering drum being located to align with the opening in the spout when the spout and metering drum are rotated about the longitudinal axis.

A dispensing device for cylindrical containers comprising;

• a metering drum having a planar cap surface and an opposing planar spout surface with a plurality of chambers extending between those surfaces and opening onto those surfaces, at least one of the chambers having a cross-sectional area larger than an area of the opening on the spout surface, with a tapered interior surface of the chamber connecting the larger area to the smaller area opening;
• a cap having a portion adapted to fasten to the container during use of the device, the cap having a planar surface with a single opening therein, the cap being rotatably connected to the cap end of the metering drum, the openings in the cap surface of the metering drum being aligned with the opening in the planar surface of the cap;
• and
• a spout having a planar surface with an opening therein, the openings on the spout end of the metering drum being located to coincide with the opening in the planar surface of the spout.