Condiment grinder
AssigneeWing Wo Plastic Manufactory Limited
InventorHong Wo Ng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A condiment grinder has a body for containing condiment seeds, and a condiment grinding mechanism provided at a lower open end of the body through which condiment seeds, ground by the mechanism, may be dispensed. The grinding mechanism has a female grinder and a male grinder rotatable in the female grinder for grinding condiment seeds in an annular gap between the grinders. The condiment grinder includes a base attached to the lower body end for standing the body on a surface. The base engages the female grinder and is turnable to adjust the female grinder's axial position relative to the male grinder and, hence, the width of the gap and, in turns, the ground condiment size. The base has a peripheral wall that is exposed to and accessible from all lateral sides for gripping so that the base can conveniently be turned.
Claims20
A condiment grinder comprising:
- a body for containing condiment seeds;
- a condiment grinding mechanism provided at an open end of the body through which condiment seeds ground by the grinding mechanism may be dispensed, the grinding mechanism comprising
- a female grinder, and
- a male grinder supported co-axially in the female grinder for rotation relative to the female grinder, for grinding condiment seeds, the male and female grinders being spaced apart by an annular gap in which condiment seeds are ground;
- and
- a base attached to the open end of the body for standing the body on a surface, the base being in engagement with one of the female and male grinders and being turnable to adjust relative axial positions of the male and female grinders and, hence, width of the annular gap, and, in turn, condiment grinding size, wherein the base comprises
- a peripheral portion that is exposed to and accessible from all lateral sides for gripping so that the base can be turned,
- an annular outer member including the peripheral portion, and
- an annular inner member surrounded by the outer member and engaging one of the male and female grinders, the inner member being axially movable through a cam action by the outer member, upon turning of the outer member.
A condiment grinder comprising:
- a body for containing condiment seeds;
- a condiment grinding mechanism provided a an open end of the body through which condiment seeds ground by the grinding mechanism may be dispensed, the grinding mechanism comprising
- a female grinder, and
- a male grinder supported co-axially in the female grinder for rotation relative to the female grinder, for grinding condiment seeds, the male and female grinders being spaced apart by an annular gap in which condiment seeds are ground;
- a base attached to the open end of the body for standing the body on a surface, the base being in engagement with one of the female and male grinders and being turnable to adjust relative axial positions of the male and female grinders and, hence, width of the annular gap, and, in turn, condiment grinding size, the base having a peripheral portion that is exposed to and accessible from all lateral sides for gripping so that the base can be turned;
- and
- first and second coil springs respectively resiliently biasing the male and female grinders toward the base, wherein the base is in engagement with one of the male and female grinders, against the bias resiliently acting on the one of the male and female grinders that is engaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.