Field of the Invention

[001 ] The invention relates to a condiment grinder. More particularly but not exclusively, the invention relates to a contamination-prevention, condiment grinder.

Background to the Invention

[002] In many cooking applications it is often desirable, and in some recipes even necessary, to add condiments such as salt, pepper, dried herbs and/or spices to a food item or element of a recipe to enhance the flavour, texture and/or appearance of such food item or element. The requisite condiment is often added by hand by pinching an appropriate amount out of a container and sprinkling the condiment over the food item. In many instances, the condiments that are used have been pre-ground during production. When sold in bulk, the pre-ground condiments are often supplied in sealed containers having a lid or cover provided with a plurality of holes to form manual shakers that simplify the application of the condiments to the food items.

[003] Many condiments have a limited shelf life after being ground, and lose their fragrance, flavour and/or strength over time and/or after prolonged exposure to the ambient environment. Thus, many chefs prefer to retain condiments in an unground form, and to grind the condiments shortly before using them. There is a large variety of manual and motorized condiment grinders available for this purpose, with many unground condiments, such as salt, pepper and other condiments being supplied and sold today in relatively inexpensive, refillable or disposable, manual grinder-and- container arrangements for ease of storage, use and replacement.

[004] A number of the relatively inexpensive, refillable or disposable manual grinder- and-container arrangements comprise a container of glass or synthetic plastic, for housing condiments in an unground, coarsely or partially ground format, and a grinder, correspondingly dimensioned and threaded, press-fitted or snap-fitted to the container. The grinder typically comprises a first, non-rotatable or stagnant component that is securable to the container, and a second, rotatable component that is operatively secured to the first component.

[005] The grinder is commonly provided with a conventional grinding mechanism, an intake, suitably configured and directed inwardly towards the container and any condiment contained therein, and an opposing outwardly directed discharge, for dispensing ground condiment therefrom upon inversion of the container and the manual rotation of the second component relative to the first component, thereby feeding portions of the condiment under gravity via the intake into the grinder mechanism, grinding the condiment and discharging the freshly ground condiment as and when required.

[006] In order to reduce the costs associated with condiments for food items as well as reduce plastic and other material waste, refillable grinder-and-container arrangements are also available, wherein the grinder can be unscrewed or otherwise replaceably removed from the container without causing any damage to the container or the grinder, thereby allowing the container to be refilled with a selected condiment before replacing the grinder for future use.

[007] A feature of some condiment grinders in general and most relatively inexpensive, refillable or disposable manual grinding-and-container arrangements in particular is a removable closure that allows a user to close or seal at least the grinder’s discharge after a suitable amount of the condiment has been ground and discharged so as to prolong the shelve life of the condiment. These closures are typically configured to press fit onto the second, rotatable component of the grinder, and are commonly provided with a flange or lip for relatively easy removal from the grinder. However, a disadvantage of these closures are that they are easily and hence often misplaced, lost, or structurally compromised due to repetitive use and forceful removal, leaving the contained condiment open to exposure to the ambient environment. In addition, the closures can often be difficult to remove and/or handle, thereby making the use of the grinder to dispense condiments more laborious.

[008] A further disadvantage of a relatively inexpensive, refillable or disposable manual grinding-and-container arrangement, if the arrangement is stored in relatively humid conditions, is that many dried condiments absorb the ambient moisture, causing them to form lumps that are unable to be fed under gravity via the intake into the grinder mechanism or that clog up the grinder mechanism, rendering the grinder inoperable to the user. In addition, such exposure can lead to contamination of the condiment by airborne, and non-airborne, pollutants and/or pathogens, which in turn can lead to food borne illnesses once the contaminated condiment is used on a food item. It also has become common practice for many restaurants, canteens and/or cafeterias to have such manual grinder-and-container arrangements available on their patrons’ tables, allowing the patrons to add condiments to their food items if and when desired. In these use cases, the absence of suitable closures substantially increases the risk for contamination and illnesses.

[009] For the purposes of this specification, the term “condiment” shall be interpreted to include any substance used to add flavour to food, including but not limited to, salt, pepper and other herbs and spices.

Object of the Invention

[0010] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel and relatively inexpensive contamination-prevention, easily operated, manual condiment grinder for grinder-and-container arrangements aimed at overcoming the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

[001 1 ] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a relatively inexpensive, contamination-prevention, manual grinder comprising: a first, static component having a first grinding formation, for grinding a condiment, and an attachment formation, for attaching to a correspondingly configured condiment container in a portable grinder-and-container arrangement; a second, rotatable component, rotatably connected to the static component and having a second grinding formation arranged to engage operatively with the first grinding formation to define a grinding mechanism upon rotation of the rotatable component relative to the static component; and a closure, displaceably secured operatively to the grinder-and-container arrangement and displaceable between a closed position, wherein the closure protects the grinder mechanism and any contained condiment from the ambient environment, and an open position, wherein ground condiment can be dispensed from the grinder-and-container arrangement while the closure remains secured to the arrangement.

[0012] The secured closure may comprise a disk-like lid, preferably attached pivotally, alternatively, hingedly to the grinder-and-container arrangement for allowing pivotal, alternatively, hinged displacement of the closure between the open and the closed position while remaining secured to the grinder-and-container arrangement.

[0013] The pivotal closure may be provided with a first section and a second, opposing section displaced relative to the first section, wherein the first section has a greater weight relative to the weight of the second section, rendering the closure automatically and pivotally bias under gravity towards the closed position, when the grinder is in an upright position, and towards the open position, when the grinder is in an inverted position. The greater weight of the first section of the closure may be provided by an integrated rib, secured to an inner surface of the first section.

[0014] The pivotal closure may be pivotally displaceable, angularly between about 70° and 1 10° degrees between the closed position and the open position and, preferably, about 85°.

[0015] The secured closure alternatively may be provided with a flexible hinge-like flange, extending outwardly from the closure for attachment to the grinder-and-container arrangement in a conventional manner, thus allowing the hinged closure to be displaced manually between the open and the closed position.

[0016] The secured closure may be provided with a tamper-evident seal, configured to indicate that the closure has been displaced from an initially sealed, closed position to the open position.

[0017] The first grinding formation may comprise a set of spaced teeth, protruding inwardly from an inner surface of the static component.

[0018] The second grinding formation may comprise a set of spaced teeth, protruding outwardly from an inner surface of the rotatable component.

[0019] The portable grinder-and-container arrangement preferably comprises a relatively inexpensive, refillable arrangement, wherein the attachment formation is operatively re-attachable to the correspondingly configured, condiment container to render the arrangement refillable with condiment, alternatively, comprises a relatively inexpensive, disposable arrangement, wherein the attachment formation is operatively non-reattachable to the correspondingly configured, condiment container to render the arrangement non-refillable and hence disposable.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a contaminationprevention, manual portable condiment grinder-and-container arrangement, the arrangement comprising: a suitably configured and dimensioned condiment container; and a portable manual grinder, compatible with the container to provide a grinder- and-container arrangement, the grinder having a first, static grinder component; a second, rotatable grinder component; and a closure, displaceably secured operatively to the grinder-and-container arrangement and displaceable between a closed position, wherein the closure protects the grinder mechanism and any contained condiment from the ambient environment, and an open position, wherein ground condiment can be dispensed from the grinder-and-container arrangement while remaining secured to the grinder-and-container arrangement; the static component, the rotatable component and the closure respectively being substantially as defined hereinabove.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021 ] Two non-limiting embodiments of the invention shall now be described with referenced to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a contamination-prevention, portable manual condiment grinder-and-container arrangement in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the grinder, as illustrated in Figure 1 , wherein a displaceably secured closure is in the open position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the grinder, as illustrated in Figure 1 , wherein the closure is in the closed position;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the grinder, as illustrated in Figure 1 , wherein the grinder is inverted and the closure is in the open position;

Figure 5 is a bottom perspective of the closure, as illustrated in Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the closure, as illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective of an alternative closure for the contaminationprevention, portable manual condiment grinder-and-container arrangement in accordance with the invention and as illustrated in Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of the grinder as illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the grinder, as illustrated in Figure 8, wherein a displaceably secured closure is in the open position; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the grinder, as illustrated in Figure 10, wherein the closure is in the closed position.

[0022] A contamination-prevention, portable manual condiment grinder-and-container arrangement 1 ,3 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 comprises a grinder 1 and a condiment container in the form of a transparent glass bottle 3, the grinder having a first, static grinder component 2 that screws onto the neck of the bottle, and a second, rotatable grinder component 4 that snap fits in turn onto the static component. [0023] The static component 2 and the rotatable component 4 are rotatable relative to each other about an axis A. The static component 2 has a conical, stepped bore 5 and a first grinding formation in the form of a set of substantially equi-spaced teeth (not shown), protruding inwardly from an inner surface of the bore. Each tooth (not shown) is in the form of a rib that extends along the inner surface of the bore 5.

[0024] The rotatable component 4 comprises an outer sleeve 6 and an internal, stepped cone 7 that fits into the bore 5 when the rotatable component is snap fitted to the static component 2. The cone 7 is closed at its lower end and joined at its upper end to the outer sleeve 6. The cone 7 is provided with a corresponding second, grinding formation in the form of a set of substantially equi-spaced teeth (not shown), protruding outwardly towards the bore 5.

[0025] There is a grinding gap 8 between the teeth (not shown) on the surface of the static component 2 and the teeth (not shown) on the cone 7. When the grinder-and- container arrangement and hence the grinder 1 is inverted, unground condiment from the bottle 3 drop under gravity into the grinding gap 8, and when the rotatable component 4 is rotated, the co-operating teeth (not shown) grind and comminute the condiment between them. Once the condiment has been ground fine enough to move through the grinding gap 8, it is dispensed from of the grinder 1 under gravity.

[0026] The grinder 1 is further provided with a displaceably secured closure 9, pivotally attached to the rotatable component 4 by two transversely located, pivotal-type hinges 10 & 11 that allow the closure to be displaced pivotally between an open and a closed position. The secured closure 9 is further configured to be displaceable angularly between the open and the closed position between 0° and 90°. The closure 9 is provided with a section 12, with a relatively greater weight, and a section 13, with a relatively lesser weight, and wherein the relatively greater weight is provided by an integrated counterweight 14.

[0027] In the upright position, the counterweight 14 renders the secured closure 9 automatically bias and pivotal under gravity towards the closed position. When the grinder 1 is inverted, the counterweight 14 renders the closure 9 automatically bias and pivotal under gravity towards the open position. As illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, the counterweight 14 comprises a protrusion. Alternatively and as illustrated in Figure 7, the counterweight 14 may comprise of a series of equi-spaced ribs 15 that protrude from the inner surface of the relatively weighted section 12.

[0028] The grinder is further provided with a tamper-evident seal 16 that extends between the rotatable component 4 and the secured closure 9 and indicates whether the closure 9 has been moved from an initially sealed, closed position to the opened position.

[0029] In use, a user would invert the grinder-and-container arrangement 1 ,3 whereby the gravitational bias on the counterweight 14 would cause the closure 9 to move pivotally, automatically into the open position, up to 90° relative to the closed position, whereafter the user would rotate the rotatable component 4 relative to the static component 2 and the bottle 3, causing the condiment inside the container to fall under gravity into the grinder, be ground and dispensed from the grinder onto a food item. After a suitable amount of the condiment has been dispensed from the grinder 1 , the user would return the grinder to the upright position, whereby the gravitational bias on the counterweight 14 would cause the closure to move automatically, pivotally into the closed position, thereby protecting the grinder and the condiment from ambient air and contamination.

[0030] An alternative embodiment of a contamination-prevention, manual portable grinder-and-container arrangement in accordance with the invention and as illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 comprises grinder 17 having a first, static component 18 that screws onto the neck of the condiment container (not shown), and a second, rotatable component 19 that snap fits onto the static component. The static component 18 and the rotatable component 19 are rotatable relative to each other about an axis A. The static component 18 has a first grinding formation in the form of a conical, stepped bore 20 and a set of substantially equi-spaced teeth (not shown), protruding from the surface of the bore. Each tooth (not shown) is in the form of a rib that extends along the surface of the bore 20.

[0031 ] The rotatable component 19 comprises an outer sleeve 21 and an internal, stepped cone 22 that fits into the bore 20 when the rotatable component is snap fitted to the static component 18. The cone 22 is closed at its lower end and joined at its upper end to the outer sleeve 21 . The cone 22 is provided with a second grinding formation in the form of a set of substantially equi-spaced teeth (not shown) that protrude outwardly towards the bore 20.

[0032] There is a grinding gap 23 between the teeth (not shown) on the surface of the static component 18 and the teeth (not shown) on the cone 22. When the grinder 17 is inverted, unground condiment particles from the bottle (not shown) drop under gravity into the grinding gap 23, and when the rotatable component 19 is rotated, the cooperating teeth grind and comminute the condiment between them. Once the condiment has been ground fine enough to move through the grinding gap 23, it is dispensed out of the grinder 17 under gravity.

[0033] The grinder 17 is further provided with a displaceably secured closure 24 that is hingedly attached to the rotatable component 19 by a hinge 25 that allows the closure to be displaced hingedly between an open and a closed position. The closure 24 has a flange or lip 26, located on the opposing side of the closure relative to the hinge 25 that allows a user to displace the closure 24 manually from the closed to the open position prior to grinding, and to displace the closure back into the closed position once a suitable amount of condiment has been ground and dispensed from the grinder 17.

[0034] It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the inventions as defined in the claims hereinafter and/or as described in the specific embodiments hereinabove, such as in providing a portable grinder-and-container arrangement comprising a relatively inexpensive, refillable arrangement, wherein the attachment formation is operatively re-attachable to the correspondingly configured, condiment container to render the arrangement refillable with condiment, or in providing a portable grinder-and-container arrangement comprising a relatively inexpensive, disposable arrangement, wherein the attachment formation is operatively non-reattachable to the correspondingly configured, condiment container to render the arrangement non-ref illable and hence disposable.