Impulse generation unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a force impulse generation unit comprising a housing and a movable impact weight located in the housing. When the housing is moved, in particular shaken, the impact weight strikes at least one of the inner surfaces of the housing and, upon striking at least one of the inner surfaces of the housing, imparts a force impulse to and / or into the housing.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a power impulse generating unit having the features of claim 1.

[0002] This force pulse generation unit is used to generate a force pulse that is then directed to a container connected or attached to the force pulse generation unit. For example, if the container is a spice shaker containing spice granules, the force pulse generation unit will enable the spice to be ejected evenly from the spice shaker and, at the same time, break up any spice particles in the spice shaker that have bonded together to form spice clumps. background

[0003] A wide variety of spices are used today. The spices are usually already packaged in small containers, which have a dosing or discharge opening, such as a perforated area, from which the spice contained in the container can be sprinkled. These containers are usually round in cross-section and usually have a cylindrical shape. Such containers are known as disposable items, which are disposed of once the spice in the container has been used up, but there are also containers that can be refilled with spices.

[0004] However, a common problem with such cans is that the dosing or outlet opening becomes clogged with spice particles and / or the spice particles stick together in the can and form lumps due to a humid environment, making it difficult to sprinkle the spice from the spice can.

[0005] The present invention therefore aims to solve these problems by means of a force pulse generating unit which makes it possible to almost always sprinkle an appropriate amount of spice out of the spice can and to break up any lumps of spice that may have formed in the can. State of the art

[0006] DE 20 2007 012 257 U1 discloses a spice shaker which preferably has a hollow cylindrical shape, is made of transparent glass, and forms a central glass body. A plug-on or screw-on lid is provided which closes the inner cavity of the central glass body. The central glass body is surrounded, at least in sections, by at least one spacer made of a soft material, in particular an elastic material, preferably a rubber ring, wherein the outer circumference of the spacer is larger than the maximum outer circumference of the cross-section of the central glass body, and / or wherein the spacer is arranged on the central glass body in such a way that, in a plan view of the central glass body, the spacer protrudes at every point relative to the central glass body.

[0007] A spice can of the type mentioned above is known from DE 93 17 556 U1. This can has a closed lower end forming a base and an upper end forming an upper opening (10) for forming a container for receiving spice particles. A cap is provided with a lower flange that can be releasably engaged with the upper opening of the can. The cap has an outlet opening formed thereon for the passage of spice particles for their dispensing. Furthermore, a comminution device is arranged in the can. This comminution device performs a relative movement within the can when required.The comminution device comprises a rod and a plurality of comminution arms which are attached to the rod in the longitudinal direction and extend laterally in the circumferential direction and which are movable within the formed container in the can, so that the comminution arms move back and forth relative to the can and clumps of spices formed by the coherent spice particles in the can are comminuted into small particles.

[0008] DE 75 35 740 U1 discloses a spice dispenser in the form of a can with a dispensing opening in the can lid. A cylinder is arranged inside the can. At the end facing the can bottom, the cylinder is closed except for a dispensing channel that extends through the can and the can wall to an outlet opening. A cylinder piston is inserted through the other open cylinder end. This piston is displaceable within the cylinder by a piston rod that extends outward through the rotatable can lid coaxially to its axis of rotation. Task

[0009] It is the object of the present invention to provide a device that can be connected to a spice shaker and that eliminates the problems mentioned above with spice shakers and is at the same time easy to handle and manufacture. Solution

[0010] This problem is solved with the features of patent claim 1.

[0011] The present invention discloses a force impulse generation unit consisting of a housing and a movably arranged impact weight located within the housing. When the housing is moved, particularly shaken, the impact weight strikes at least one of the inner sides of the housing, and upon this impact, the impact weight imparts a force impulse to at least one of the inner sides of the housing and / or into the housing. Upon impact with the inner sides of the housing, the impact weight imparts a kinetic impulse to the housing or induces one into the housing.

[0012] If the force generation unit is connected to a container containing a type of granulate, the force is transferred into the container and the granulate there absorbs the force and is moved as a result. If the force generation unit is connected to a spice shaker, for example, this force will essentially push the spice or spice granules in the spice shaker, on which the force generation unit is arranged, and the spice clumps will be broken up. This occurs either by the spice clumps being accelerated by the kinetic impulse and thereby breaking up, or by the spices present in the spice shaker being accelerated together with the spice clumps and then hitting the inner walls of the spice shaker and breaking up there. If the spice shaker is held with its dispensing opening facing downwards, i.e.If the spice granules are to be spread out of the openings at the top of the spice shaker, the force will push the spice granules that are at the dispensing opening(s) out of them.

[0013] An impulse force is the temporal effect of a force on a body. The impulse force is a vectorial, directed quantity whose direction coincides with that of the acting force. The impulse force is a process quantity because it characterizes the process of a change in the motion of a body.

[0014] The impulse thus characterizes the temporal effect of a force on a body. Kinetic momentum, on the other hand, is a quantity that characterizes the state of motion of a body, taking into account its mass. There is a close relationship between these two quantities: impulse and kinetic momentum. Every impulse is associated with a change in momentum. While the impulse characterizes a process and is thus a vector process quantity, the kinetic momentum describes the state of motion of a body and is a vector state quantity.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, the impact weight is arranged so that it can move freely within the housing of the force impulse generating unit. This allows the force impulse or kinetic impulse to be transmitted to the housing in various orientations.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 3, the impact weight is arranged in or on a guide in the housing of the force impulse generation unit, so that the impact weight can only move in the longitudinal direction of the housing walls. This generates a directed force impulse or kinetic impulse. Since the movement of the impact weight occurs only in the longitudinal direction of the housing, the force impulse or kinetic impulse is generated in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the housing. This allows, for example, the force impulse or kinetic impulse in a spice shaker to be generated in a way that is directed towards the dispensing opening of the spice shaker.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 4, it is provided that the housing of the force impulse generating unit has a receiving area into which a container can be received in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner, or the housing of the force impulse generating unit has a receiving device by means of which the container can be force-fittingly connected to the housing of the force impulse generating unit. The receiving area is provided to receive a container into which the generated force impulse or kinetic impulse can be transmitted. This can be, for example, a spice shaker. Thus, a container can be received in the receiving area in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner, or it can be force-fittingly connected via the receiving device. A spice shaker can be inserted into the receiving area and is then held in the receiving device of the force impulse generating unit and then moved together with it.Alternatively, the housing of the power impulse generating unit can be connected to a spice shaker, for example, via a clamping device or by means of a screwing device.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 5, the container is a spice shaker. This allows the force pulse generation unit to be combined with a spice shaker and combine the properties of the spice shaker.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 6, the receiving area of ​​the force impulse generating unit is designed as a recess in the housing of the force impulse generating unit, into which the container can be inserted. When inserted into the recess of the housing, the container's underside rests almost flat against the first housing side of the housing, which forms the bottom of the housing of the recess and is designed to be almost flat. As a result, the force impulse generated when the impact weight strikes the bottom of the recess in the housing is transmitted or guided into the container almost directly and without significant losses.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 7, the impact weight is designed as a solid sphere, cube, cylinder, or Platonic solid. The greater the mass of the impact weight, the greater the generated force impulse. If the area of ​​the impact weight with which it strikes the wall of the housing is kept small, a centered force impulse is generated. Therefore, the design of the impact weight as a solid sphere, cube, cylinder, or Platonic solid has proven advantageous. It is also relevant that the impact weight is made of a solid material so that no deformation energy in the impact weight minimizes the force impulse, but rather this is transferred almost entirely to the housing or the housing wall.

[0021] A Platonic solid is a regular polyhedron in which all faces are regular polygons of the same type and the same number of faces meet at each vertex.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 8, it is provided that in the first housing side of the housing of the force impulse generating unit, which forms the bottom of the recess of the housing, an opening or a flap or a flap in the form of a lower shoe is arranged, wherein the impact weight, when shaken, passes through the opening with a partial area of ​​the impact weight and strikes the underside of the container inserted into the recess of the housing or the impact weight strikes the flap or the flap in the form of a lower shoe, and thus the force impulse or kinetic impulse when the impact weight strikes the flap is transmitted via the flap to the container lying against the flap.

[0023] Through the opening, the impact weight strikes the underside of the container directly when the container is inserted into the recess, and the force impulse or kinetic momentum when the impact weight strikes is transferred directly into the container. As an alternative to the opening, a flap or a flap in the form of a lower shoe can be arranged. The choice of flap can reduce the strength of the force impulse, and the flap can be used to adapt the force impulse generation unit to the requirements of the container material. If, for example, a brittle material is used for the container, the flap can reduce the force impulse by absorbing part of the kinetic energy of the impact weight when it strikes.

[0024] A flap is a part of a piece that can be attached or inserted. A flap can form a kind of undershoe that serves to protect the actual part from excessive wear. A flap can give a section of a piece a different property or material characteristic than the piece itself, while simultaneously protecting it from excessive stress or material wear. It can also be used to reinforce the material.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 9, a holder is arranged at least on an inner side of the housing of the force impulse generating unit, which holder frictionally holds the container in the receiving area of ​​the housing. By providing a holder, the force impulse generating unit can be adapted to accommodate various container designs and shapes, since these are held only by frictional engagement with the holder. Such a holder is advantageously designed as a type of clamping jaw. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cross-section of the shape of the holding jaw is selected to be oval, elliptical, square, round, rectangular, triangular, quadrangular, or n-sided. The degree of adhesive force with which the inserted container is held can be influenced by the selection of the shape of the holding jaw.

[0026] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 10, the force-generating unit is arranged in the base area of ​​a spice shaker. In this case, the force-generating unit is integrated into the spice shaker, is part of the spice shaker, or forms a unit with it.

[0027] Further advantages, features and design options emerge from the following description of figures of non-limiting embodiments. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] In the drawings shows: Fig. 1 a first schematic representation of a force pulse generating unit with a spice shaker inserted into a recess of the housing of the force pulse generating unit; Fig. 2 a second schematic representation of a force pulse generating unit with a spice shaker connected to the force pulse generating unit; Fig. 3 a third schematic representation of a force impulse generating unit; Fig. 4 a fourth schematic representation of a power impulse generation unit and Fig. 5 a fifth schematic representation of a power impulse generation unit.

[0029] Elements provided with the same reference numerals in the drawings essentially correspond to one another unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, components that are not essential to understanding the technical teaching disclosed herein are omitted. Reference numerals will not be repeated for all elements already introduced and illustrated, provided that the elements themselves and their function have already been described or are known to a person skilled in the art. Detailed description of implementation examples

[0030] In Fig. 1 shows a first schematic representation of a power pulse generating unit with a spice shaker inserted into a recess in the housing of the power pulse generating unit.

[0031] The force impulse generating unit consists of a housing 1 in which a striking weight 2 is arranged. The striking weight 2 is freely movable in the housing 2. The housing 1 has a receiving area 9, which is located in Fig. 1 as an indentation / recess in the housing 2. A spice shaker 11 can be inserted into this receiving area 9. The spice shaker 11 is inserted with its container bottom 12 into the receiving area 9, and the receiving area 9 is matched to the spice shaker 11 and its shape, so that when inserted into the recess 9 in the housing 2, the spice shaker 11 rests almost flat with its container bottom 12 against the first housing side 13; 3 of the housing 1. The spice shaker 11 has at least one opening on its upper side opposite the container bottom 12, from which the spice granules contained in the spice shaker 11 can be sprinkled out.

[0032] The housing side 3; 13 is removable, at least in part, allowing access to the striking weight 2 in the housing 1. Through this access, the striking weight 2 can be inserted into the housing 1 and removed again. The removable section can be closed using a clamp closure. Any other conceivable locking mechanism can also be used. The access is larger than the dimensions of the striking weight.

[0033] The spice shaker 11 is held in the receiving area 9 in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. For this purpose, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the housing sides 4, 6 of the housing 1, which partially enclose the spice shaker 11, are made of a deformable material or a flexible material, so that the housing sides 4, 6 of the housing 1 conform to the spice shaker 11 and secure it in place.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the housing sides 4, 6 of the housing 1 are rigid and strong and are adapted to the dimensions of the spice shaker 11, which in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 has a cylindrical shape, are adapted so that when the spice shaker 11 is pushed into the receiving area 9, it wedges and jams in the receiving area 9.

[0035] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the housing sides 4, 6 of the housing 1 are designed to be slightly movable and have a locking mechanism (not shown), so that first the spice shaker 11 is inserted into the receiving area 9 of the housing 1, then the housing sides 4, 6 of the housing 1 are moved towards one another and lock together and then hold or fix the spice shaker 11 in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

[0036] The striking weight 2 is arranged in the housing 2, below the first housing side 13; 3 of the housing 1. The striking weight 2 is freely movable within the housing 1. If the housing 1 is now moved, the striking weight 2 will tend to remain in its position according to the law of inertia due to the inertia of the mass of the striking weight 2. However, since the housing 1 is moved, the striking weight 2 strikes the inner sides 3, 4, 5, 6 of the housing 1. This generates a force impulse which is transferred into or to one or more of the housing sides 3, 4, 5, 6 when the striking weight 2 strikes them.

[0037] If a spice shaker 11 is now arranged in the receiving area 9, as previously described, the force generated by the impact weight 2 is introduced into the spice shaker 11. There, the force is exerted on the "granules" of the spice or on the spice particles and spice clumps, causing some of the spice clumps to break up.

[0038] If the spice shaker 11 is now held in the spreading direction so that spice particles can be scattered from the opening(s) in the upper part of the spice shaker, usually very few or no spice particles fall out. Only when the shaker is moved up and down or shaken do they fall out. However, the impact weight 2 generates a force impulse during shaking, which acts on the spice particles, causing them to be dispersed in greater numbers.

[0039] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a second schematic representation of a power pulse generating unit with a spice shaker connected to the power pulse generating unit. The spice shaker 11 is connected to the housing 1 of the power pulse generating unit. This can be done by means of a Fig. 2, whereby the spice shaker 11 is screwed to the housing 1 of the impulse generation unit by means of this screw device. Alternatively, an adhesive bond or a mechanical fixation, e.g., in the form of a clamp, can also be used. A screw connection can be achieved, for example, by introducing an external thread on the outer sides of the spice shaker 11, in its lower area, and on the outer side of the housing 2, on its upper side, and by connecting the spice shaker 11 and the housing 2 to one another in the area of ​​the external threads by means of a union nut.

[0040] Alternatively, the force impulse generating unit can also be a part of the spice shaker 11 or can be integrated therein, preferably arranged on the underside 12 of the container or in the lower region of the spice shaker 11, so that it is not apparent from the outside that a force impulse generating unit is contained or arranged in the spice shaker 11.

[0041] The striking weight 2 is arranged in the housing 1 and is freely movable in the housing 2.

[0042] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a third schematic representation of a power impulse generation unit. In Fig. 3, no spice shaker is arranged. The housing sides 3, 4, 5, 6; 13 are shown. The striking weight 2 is arranged freely movable in the housing 1. A plate 15 is arranged centrally in the first housing side 3; 13. The plate 15 serves to transfer the force impulse exerted by the striking weight 2 on the plate 15 directly to an inserted spice shaker. However, the spice shaker must then be in contact with the plate 15 with its underside. The plate 15 can be formed from a thickened material or from a material with material properties that differ from those of the housing 2.

[0043] Furthermore, holders 16 are arranged on the inner walls of the housing 2 in the region of the receiving area. These holders 16 are preferably made of compressible and / or non-slip plastic material. These holders 16 hold an inserted spice shaker in the receiving area 9 with frictional and / or force-locking engagement.

[0044] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a fourth schematic representation of a power impulse generation unit. In Fig. 4, no spice shaker is arranged. The housing sides 3, 4, 5, 6; 13 are shown. The striking weight 2 is arranged freely movable in the housing 1. In the first housing side 3; 13, there is an opening 14 in the center. This opening 14 can be round, oval, or square. However, the dimensions of the opening 14 are smaller than the dimensions of the striking weight 2. The dimensions of the opening 14 are matched to the striking weight 2, so that the striking weight 2 penetrates with part of the striking weight 2 through the opening 14 and can thus strike the underside of an inserted spice shaker.

[0045] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the impact weight 2 is designed as a sphere, and the opening 14 is round. The diameter of the opening 14 is selected to be between 30% and 80% of the diameter of the impact weight 2.

[0046] When shaken, the striking weight 2 strikes through the opening 14 on the underside of the spice shaker inserted into the receiving area 9.

[0047] In Fig.Figure 5 shows a fifth schematic representation of a force impulse generation unit. The force impulse generation unit again has the housing 1, in which the impact weight 2 is arranged. However, the impact weight 2 is guided in or on a guide 7 in the housing 2. The guide 7 is selected such that the impact weight 2 is no longer freely movable in the housing 1, but rather that it is only movable in the longitudinal direction 8, along the housing sides 4, 6 in the housing 2. This generates a force impulse that is directed in the longitudinal direction 8 of the housing 1.

[0048] Receiving devices 10 are arranged on the housing 2, which correspond to corresponding receiving devices on the spice shaker and via which the spice shaker can be connected to the housing 1.

[0049] In an advantageous development of the invention, the impact weight is designed as a hollow cylinder and the guide 7 runs centrally through the hollow cylinder.

[0050] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the advantageous embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples. Other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to the feature combinations specified below; rather, other combinations and subcombinations that are obvious to those skilled in the art can also be formed from the disclosed features. List of reference symbols 1 housing 2 impact weight 3, 4, 5, 6 housing sides 7 Guide 8 Longitudinal direction 9 Recording area 10 Mounting device 11 Container / Spice Shaker 12 Container bottom / spice shaker bottom / bottom 13 first side of the housing 14 Breakthrough 15 flaps 16 holders QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2007 012 257 U1

[0006] DE 93 17 556 U1

[0007] DE 75 35 740 U1

[0008]

Claims

[1] Force impulse generating unit, comprising a housing (1) and a movably arranged impact weight (2) located in the housing (1), wherein when the housing (1) is moved, in particular shaken, the impact weight (2) strikes at least one of the inner sides (3, 4, 5, 6) of the housing (1) and when striking at least one of the inner sides (3, 4, 5, 6) of the housing (1) delivers a force impulse to and / or into the housing (1). [2] Force impulse generating unit according to claim 1, characterized by that the striking weight (2) is freely movable in the housing (1). [3] Force impulse generating unit according to claim 1, characterized by that the impact weight (2) is arranged in the housing (1) in or on a guide (7), so that the impact weight (2) is only movable in the longitudinal direction (8) of the housing walls (4, 6) of the housing (2) in the housing (2). [4] Force impulse generating unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the housing (1) has a receiving area (9) in which a container (11) can be received in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner or the housing (1) has a receiving device (10) by means of which the container (11) can be connected to the housing (1) in a force-fitting manner. [5] Force impulse generating unit according to claim 4, characterized by that the container (11) is a spice shaker. [6] Force impulse generating unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by in that the receiving area (9) is designed as a recess in the housing (1) into which the container (11) can be inserted, wherein the container (11) with its container bottom side (12), in the state inserted into the recess of the housing (1) or into the receiving area (9), rests almost flat against the first housing side (3; 13) of the housing (1), which forms the bottom of the recess of the housing (1) or of the receiving area (9) and is designed to be almost flat. [7] Force impulse generating unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the striking weight (2) is designed as a solid sphere, cube, cylinder or Platonic solid. [8] Force impulse generating unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized byin that an opening (14) or a flap (15) or a flap (15) in the form of a lower shoe is arranged in the first housing side (3; 13) of the housing (1), which forms the bottom of the recess of the housing (1) or the receiving area (9), wherein the striking weight (2) is passed through the opening (14) with a partial area of ​​the striking weight (2) when shaken and strikes the underside (12) of the container (11) inserted into the recess of the housing (1) or receiving area (9), or the striking weight (2) strikes the flap (15) or the flap (15) in the form of a lower shoe, and thus the force impulse or kinetic impulse when the striking weight (2) strikes can be transmitted in a directed manner into the container (11). [9] Force impulse generating unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat a holder (16) is arranged at least on an inner side of the housing (1), which holder holds the container (11) in the receiving area (9) of the housing (1) in a frictionally engaged and / or force-locked manner. [10] Spice shaker with a force generating unit arranged in the bottom area of ​​the spice shaker according to one of the preceding claims.

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