WITH GRINDING AND STIRRING FUNCTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] In general, the present invention pertains to the art of grater device.

In particular, the invention relates to systems and methods of device and method of grating payload substance combined with grinding and stirring function. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] It is believed that the current state of the art is represented by the following patent literature: USRE46408, US5172868, US6287312, US6390399, US7207511, US2005274835, US2018353012, W02008019426, W02019011123, WO201 9007955, EP1459665, DE19846702 and CN107684965. [0003] DE19846702 that is believed to represent the closest prior art discloses a manual grinder with crank drive, characterized in that the regrind in the interior of a cylinder between axially arranged and form-fitting interlocking cutting inserts is either exposed to the milling action of the active cutting insert or when moving the grinding good from the passive is detected cutting insert and milled, so that the grinding material particles can fall through the perforations of the Schneidein set into a collecting container.

[0004] W02008019426 discloses a grater for a block of cheese, has a cylindrical base having a grating head at an upper end thereof, and a cylindrical cover applicable over the base. The cover serves to receive and engage a block of cheese whereby when the cover with a cheese block therein is assembled to the base, the cheese block will be engaged between the grating head and the cover such that rotation of the cover on the base will rotate the cheese block against the grating head so that cheese gratings will be discharged through the head into the base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The following summary of the invention is provided in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects and features of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and as such it is not intended to particularly identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.

[0006] The invention was made in view of the deficiencies of the prior art and provides systems, methods and processes for overcoming these deficiencies. According to some embodiments and aspects of the present invention, there is provided a grating device, for a conglomerated or crystalline payload substance, with combined grinding and stirring functions, including: a rotatable subassembly including: a handle; a grinding member, operationally connectable to the handle, configured for grinding and disaggregating a particulate matter of a conglomerated or crystalline payload substance into a ground substance and further for grating the ground dry substance; a retrievable cassette configured for enhousing the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly; a static subassembly includes: an upper compartment disposed above the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly, configured for accommodating the conglomerated or crystalline payload substance; a lower compartment, disposed underneath the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly, configured for accommodating the ground substance; a lid, disposable under the handle, covering the static subassembly and the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly; a grating disposable underneath the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly, configured for grating the ground substance into a fine dry powder of the payload substance and for passing the fine dry powder of the payload substance through the grating; a collecting part configured to collect and serve the fine dry powder of the payload substance, includes: an enclosed interior receptacle volume confined by the collecting part, configured to store the fine dry powder of the payload substance; in which the receptacle includes an inlet operationally connectable to the grating and disposed downstream to the grinding member, configured for feeding the fine dry powder of the payload substance via the grating into the receptacle; a notch defining a volume configured to accommodate a predefined dispensable amount of the fine dry powder of the payload substance. [0007] In some embodiments, the device further includes a shaft interconnecting the handle with the grinding member.

[0008] In some embodiments, in an assembled state, the grating is disposed horizontally, affixed within an annular member forming a bottom portion of the retrievable cassette. [0009] In some embodiments, the grating is counterposed vis-a-vis the grinding member, so that the grinding member pushes and disintegrates the ground payload substance against the grating.

[0010] In some embodiments, the grating is retrievable from underneath the retrievable cassette and is exchangeable by a replacement grating of the same or different type and/or dismantlable, for servicing or cleaning.

[0011] In some embodiments, the grinding member is embodying a propeller like shape with a plurality of radially extending blades interposed by spaces.

[0012] In some embodiments, the grinding member of the static subassembly embodies a shape defining the upper compartment above to the grinding member and the lower compartment underneath the grinding member.

[0013] In some embodiments, the grinding member is disassemblable from the shaft connected to the handle.

[0014] In some embodiments, the grinding member is interchangeably mounted and/or affixed to a lower portion of the shaft extending from the handle.

[0015] In some embodiments, the rotatable subassembly is further configured for performing a stirring function, including disaggregating and/or deagglomerating an agglomerated payload substance agglomerated during the grinding. [0016] In some embodiments, the rotatable subassembly is further configured for performing a stirring function performed by pulling up and pushing down the grinding member by respectively pulling up and pushing down the handle of the rotatable subassembly. [0017] In some embodiments, the rotatable subassembly is further configured for performing a stirring function, in which the grinding member is reversibly translatable upwards and downwards.

[0018] In some embodiments, the rotatable subassembly is further configured for performing a stirring function, in which the grinding member is reversibly translatable upwards and downwards, in which the device further includes a biasing means, configured for driving the grinding member downwards.

[0019] In some embodiments, the collecting part is detachable and replaceable. [0020] In accordance with some aspects and embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of grating a conglomerated or crystalline payload substance, combined with grinding and stirring, including: loading a particulate matter of the conglomerated or crystalline payload substance into a static subassembly of a device for grating the particulate matter, in which the static subassembly includes: an upper compartment disposed above the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly, configured for accommodating the conglomerated or crystalline payload substance; a lower compartment, disposed underneath the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly, configured for accommodating the ground substance; a lid, disposable under the handle, covering the static subassembly and the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly; a grating disposable underneath the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly, configured for grating the ground substance into a fine dry powder of the payload substance and for passing the fine dry powder of the payload substance through the grating; grinding the particulate matter of the conglomerated or crystalline payload substance into a ground substance, by operating a rotatable subassembly, in which the rotatable subassembly includes: a handle; a grinding member, operationally connectable to the handle, configured for grinding and disaggregating a particulate matter of a conglomerated or crystalline payload substance into the ground substance and further for grating the ground substance; a retrievable cassette configured for enhousing the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly; grating the ground substance into a fine powder and further passing the fine powder through the grating, into the inlet of a receptacle; reversibly forming a continuum between the inlet of the receptacle for the fine powder and the grating; dismantling the collecting part.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further includes stirring up an agglomerated substance, thereby disaggregating and/or deagglomerating the agglomerated payload substance, agglomerated during the grinding.

[0022] In some embodiments, the method further includes stirring up an agglomerated substance, by performing a stirring function, including pulling up and pushing down the grinding member by respectively pulling up and pushing down the handle of the rotatable subassembly.

[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes stirring up an agglomerated substance, by reversibly translating the grinding member upwards and downwards.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method included stirring up an agglomerated substance, by reversibly translating the grinding member upwards and downwards, further includes driving the grinding member downwards by a biasing means.

[0025] In some embodiments, the grinding of the particulate includes rotating the grinding member by the handle of the rotatable subassembly.

[0026] In some embodiments, the grating of the ground substance includes pushing and disintegrating the substance against the grating.

[0027] In some embodiments, the method further includes disassembling the grinding member from a shaft connecting it to the handle.

DEFINITIONS [0028] The term dry and/or fine powder as referred to herein may include any substance comprising one or a plurality of constituents or ingredients with one or a plurality of (average) particulate size ranges. The term low-density dry powder means dry powders having a density of about 0.8 gram per cubic centimeter or less. In particular embodiments, the low-density powder may have a density of about 0.5 gram per cubic centimeter or less. The dry powder may be with or without cohesive or agglomeration tendencies.

[0029] In any event, individual dispensable quantities of dry powder formulations can be a single ingredient or a plurality of ingredients, whether active or inactive. The inactive ingredients can include additives added to enhance flowability or to facilitate aeorolization delivery to the desired target. The dry powder drug formulations can include active particulate sizes that vary. The device may be particularly suitable for dry powder formulations having particulates which are in the range of between about 0.5-50 pm, typically in the range of between about 5 pm- 10 mhi. The dry powder formulation can also include flow-enhancing ingredients, which typically have particulate sizes that may be larger than the active ingredient particulate sizes. In certain embodiments, the flow-enhancing ingredients can include excipients having particulate sizes on the order of about 50-100 pm. Examples of excipients include lactose and trehalose. Other types of excipients can also be employed, such as, but not limited to, sugars which are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) as cryoprotectants (e.g., mannitol) or as solubility enhancers (e.g., cyclodextrine) or other generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”) excipients. [0030] The term "deagglomeration" refers to the process of breaking up or dispersing that which has agglomerated, or aggregated, or clustered together.

[0031] By "operationally connected" and "operably coupled", as used herein, is meant connected in a specific way that allows the disclosed system and its various components to operate effectively in the manner described herein. [0032] The term readily connectable, as referred to herein, should be construed as a standardized unit that may be conveniently connected to components of a thermosiphonic water heater system. The term readily connectable, however, doesn’t necessarily means readily disconnectable or removable. The term readily connectable is optionally satisfied by providing for ease of at least onetime connection or coupling.

[0033] The term biasing means or alike, as referred to herein, should be construed as including any material, structure or mechanism, configured to accumulate mechanical energy, by changing the configuration thereof, upon a force exerted thereon, such as a compressive, tensile, shear or torsional force, and for releasing the energy accumulated therein, by returning to the normal configuration thereof and by performing a mechanical work, typically by linear or radial displacement. Examples of biasing means in a non-limiting manner include, springs, elastomers, leaf-springs, coil-springs, tension/extension spring, compression spring torsion spring, constant spring, variable spring, variable stiffness spring, flat spring, machined spring, serpentine spring, garter spring, cantilever spring, helical spring, hollow tubing springs, volute spring, V-spring, belleville washer or belleville spring, constant-force spring, gas spring, mainspring, negator spring, progressive rate coil springs, rubber band, spring washer and wave spring.

[0034] The term “substantially” as used herein is a broad term, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to being largely but not necessarily wholly that which is specified.

[0035] As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” modifies a particular value, by referring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus twenty percent (+/- 20%). For any of the embodiments, disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value, can, in various alternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a range equal to about that particular value (i.e.

+/- 20%).

[0001] As used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; whereas the term “and” as used herein is also the alternative operator equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0002] It should be understood, however, that neither the briefly synopsized summary nor particular definitions hereinabove are not to limit interpretation of the invention to the specific forms and examples but rather on the contrary are to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more comprehensively from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0036] FIG 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the device for grating payload substance combined with grinding and stirring function of the present invention; [0037] FIG 2A is a right side view of an embodiment of the device for grating payload substance combined with grinding and stirring function of the present invention;

[0038] FIG 2B is a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention, taken along cross-sectional line 2B-2B, shown in FIG 2A;

[0039] FIG 3 is an exploded view of the device for grating payload substance combined with grinding and stirring function of the present invention, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0040] FIG 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[0004] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown merely by way of example in the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily complete and components are not essentially to scale; emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles underlying the present invention. DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of actual implementation are described in this specification. It should be appreciated that various features or elements described in the context of some embodiment may be interchangeable with features or elements of any other embodiment described in the specification. Moreover, it will be appreciated that for the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with technology- or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another, and the effort of such a development might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0042] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG 1 to 3, showing device 10 including rotatable subassembly 12 and static subassembly 14. In some embodiments, rotatable subassembly 12 includes handle 16 and grinding member 18. Handle 16 is connectable to grinding member 18, typically by a means of a shaft.

[0043] In some embodiments, handle 16 is configured for grating and grinding the bulk or particulate matter of the payload substance into a fine ground dry substance as well as stirring up the substance agglomerated during grinding. The double function of grinding the particulate matter of the payload substance and grating the substance agglomerated after grinding is performed by rotating grinding member 18 about longitudinal centerline 100 in opposing directions of arrow 24. Additionally, the function of stirring up and deagglomerating the substance agglomerated during grinding is performed by pulling up handle 16 in the direction of arrow 20 and pushing down handle 16 in the direction of arrow 22 about longitudinal centerline 100. In some preferred embodiments, a biasing means is implemented, to spontaneously drive handle 16 down, in the direction of arrow 22. [0044] In some embodiments, static subassembly 14 of device 10 further includes lid 26. Lid 26 is disposed under handle 16 and covers the static subassembly 14 and grinding member 18. In some embodiments, static subassembly 14 of device 10 includes grating 28. Grating 28 is disposed underneath grinding member 18. Grating 28 is typically disposed horizontally affixed within annular member 30 and configured for passing through sufficiently finely ground dry powder, produced by grinding of the payload substance by rotating grinding member 18 of rotatable subassembly 12, so as to sieve the fine ground dry substance of the payload substance through grating 28. Grating 28 is optimally counterposed to grinding member 18, so that grinding member 18 pushes and disintegrates the payload substance against grating 28.

[0045] In some embodiments, rotatable subassembly 12 is enhoused within retrievable cassette 32. Retrievable cassette 32 of device 10 enhousing grinding member 18 disposed vis-a-vis the upper surface of grating 28. Annular member 30 is disposed typically underneath the lower surface of grating 28 and forms the bottom portion of retrievable cassette 32 in the assembled state. Grating 28 is preferably retrievable from underneath retrievable cassette 32 in and is exchangeable by another grating of the same or different type and/or serviceable, for instance for cleaning. [0046] In some embodiments, grinding member 18 is embodying a propeller like shape with at least one radially extending blade 34 separated by at least one space 36. In some embodiments, static subassembly 14 includes upper compartment 38 which is disposed above to grinding member 18 and lower compartment 40 which is disposed underneath to grinding member 18. It should be acknowledged however that a propeller like shape of grinding member 18 with at least one radially extending blade 34 separated by at least one space 36 is merely exemplary. Thus in different examples, grinding member 18 of static subassembly 14 embodies various shapes, as long as they define upper compartment 38 which is disposed above to grinding member 18 lower compartment 40 which is disposed underneath to grinding member 18.

[0047] In some preferred embodiments, rotatable subassembly 12 is dismantlable, for exchange, repair and/or maintenance of the components thereof. In some instances, the grinding member 18 is optionally disassemblable from the shaft connecting it handle 16, allowing exchange, repair and/or maintenance of grinding member 18. In other instances, the shaft connected to handle 16 is optionally disassemblable, allowing exchange, repair and/or maintenance of grinding member 16. Thus in different configurations, grinding member 18 of various shapes, defining upper compartment 38 which is disposed above to grinding member 18 lower compartment 40 which is disposed underneath to grinding member 18, are interchangeably mounted and/or affixed onto the lower portion of the shaft extending from handle 16.

[0048] In some embodiments, rotatable subassembly 12 of device 10 includes a stirring function configured for disaggregating and deagglomerating the payload substance agglomerated during grinding. When the user pulls up handle 16 of rotatable subassembly 12 and grinding member 18 in direction of arrow 20 alongside longitudinal centerline 100, the payload substance is driven from upper compartment 38 into lower compartment 40 through spaces 36 between radially extending blade 34 of grinding member 18. [0049] In some embodiments, device 10 includes an enclosed interior receptacle volume 42 defined by collecting part 48. Receptacle 42 includes inlet 44 operationally engageable to to grating 28 and disposed downstream to grinding member 18. Inlet 44 of receptacle 42 is configured to feed the payload substance ground in lower compartment 40 by grinding member 18 via grating 28 and into receptacle 42. Receptacle 42 of collecting part 48 includes bottom portion 46.

[0050] In some embodiments, receptacle 42 defined by collecting part 48 is configured to store the fine ground dry substance. In some examples, receptacle 42 is annularly shaped having enlarged inlet 44 opening forming a continuum with grating 26 and a bottom portion 46 defined by collecting part 48. [0051] In some embodiments, collecting part 48 is embodying a cylindrical aperture 50 in which predefined volume of fine ground dry substance is loaded. Collecting part 48 is configured to collect and serve a predefined amount of fine ground dry substance for the user. The user typically screws off collecting part 48 alongside axis 100 in the direction of arrow 52, so that the predefined volume of fine ground dry substance collected in aperture 50 is servable for the user.

[0052] In some embodiments, collecting part 48 may be detachable and replaceable by another collecting part including aperture 50 of a different size which can contain another volume of fine ground dry substance according to the needs of the user. In some examples, collecting part 48 may be detachable and be replaced by screwing-unscrewing and/or screw threading and/or detachable joining and/or friction joining.

[0053] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG 4, showing a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention. The method of the embodiment of FIG 4 illustrates various features that may be interchangeable with elements and/or features of any other embodiment described in the specification.

[0054] In some embodiments, method 100 commences with step 102 of loading bulk or particulate matter of the payload substance into the static subassembly of the device for grating payload substance combined with grinding and stirring function. In some embodiments, method 100 includes step 104, of typically mechanically grinding the particulate payload substance by operating the rotatable subassembly. In some examples, step 104 which results in grinding of the bulk or particulate matter of the payload substance is achievable by the rotation of the handle and/or of the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly.

[0055] In some embodiments, method 100 further includes step 106 of stirring up the substance agglomerated on and around the grating following the grinding of step 104, by operating the rotatable subassembly. In some examples, step 106 which results in stirring up of the bulk or particulate matter of the payload substance is achievable by the pulling up and the pushing down the handle and/or of the grinding member of the rotatable subassembly.

[0056] In some embodiments, method 100 further includes step 108 of passing or grating the fine ground dry substance through a grating, into the inlet of a receptacle, thereby sieving fine ground dry powder of the payload substance. In some embodiments, method 100 further includes step 110 of reversibly forming a continuum between the inlet of the receptacle for fine ground dry substance and the grating.

[0057] In some embodiments, method 100 further proceeds to step 112 of controllably, upon demand, loading the aperture of the collecting part with a predefined amount of fine ground dry substance for the user. In some embodiments, method 100 further includes step 114 of screwing off the collecting part, so that the predefined volume of the payload substance loaded into aperture is ready to be served by the user. [0058] It should be acknowledged that in the specification hereinabove, any instances and explanations related to ground dry matter, fine ground dry powder and alike are merely exemplary, whereas the device for grating payload substance combined with grinding and stirring function according to the present invention is equally applicable to any type of payload substance, in a non-limiting manner including: any raw or preprocessed plant matter, such as dried or fresh leaves, beans, roots, fruits and flowers, as well as any artificial or inorganic matter, such as minerals, crystalline matter, etc. [0005] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims which follow: