Spice mill attachment

Abstract

Spice mill attachment (1), comprising: - a base (2) which can be placed on a spice jar; - an upper part (3) which can be slipped onto the lower part (2), wherein a casing section (4) of the upper part (3) is arranged concentrically to a casing section (5) of the lower part (2), wherein the upper part (3) and the lower part (2) are connected to one another by a snap connection (6) in an assembled state of the spice mill attachment (1), wherein the snap connection (6) is arranged between the casing sections (4, 5); - a grinding mechanism with a grinding ring (71) and a grinding cone (72), wherein the grinding cone (72) is received centrally in the interior of an upper part and the grinding ring (71) is carried by the lower part (2), characterized in that a tool support (8) for releasing the snap connection (6) is formed on the lower part (2), which tool support is accessible from the outside in the assembled state.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a spice mill attachment with a lower part that can be placed on a spice container; an upper part that can be put over the lower part, wherein a jacket section of the upper part is arranged concentrically to a jacket section of the lower part, wherein the upper part and the lower part are connected to one another by a snap connection in an assembled state of the spice mill attachment, wherein the snap connection is arranged between the jacket sections; a grinder with a grinding ring and a grinding cone, wherein the grinding cone is received centrally in an upper part interior and the grinding ring is carried by the lower part.

[0002] A generic device for disposable use with a matching spice container is known from the document DE102015109726B4.

[0003] The spice mill consists of an upper part, inside which the grinding cone of a grinder is housed. For example, the grinding cone is clipped onto a mandrel located centrally inside the upper part. The spice mill has a lower part designed to match the upper part. When the spice mill is assembled, the upper part is slipped over the lower part and connected to it via a snap connection. The grinding cone and the grinding ring are arranged concentrically.

[0004] The disposable spice grinders known from the state of the art are made of different materials that are difficult to separate after emptying the disposable spice grinder. Typically, the spice container is made of glass, the top and bottom parts are made of plastic, and the grinder is made of ceramic, plastic, or metal. Due to the permanent connection of the individual components with snap-on connections, the material composition can only be separated with difficulty and the risk of injury, making recycling virtually impossible. Therefore, disposable spice grinders are inevitably disposed of with general waste, which represents an outdated environmental burden.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a more environmentally friendly spice mill.

[0006] The object is achieved by a spice mill attachment according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the spice mill attachment according to the invention are specified in claims 2 to 8.

[0007] According to the invention, a spice mill attachment is provided with a lower part that can be placed on a spice container; an upper part that can be put over the lower part, wherein a casing section of the upper part is arranged concentrically to a casing section of the lower part, wherein the upper part and the lower part are connected to one another by a snap connection when the spice mill attachment is in the assembled state, wherein the snap connection is arranged between the casing sections; a grinder with a grinding ring and a grinding cone, wherein the grinding cone is received centrally in the interior of the upper part and the grinding ring is carried by the lower part, wherein a tool support for releasing the snap connection is formed on the lower part and is accessible from the outside when the attachment is in the assembled state.

[0008] A spice mill with the spice mill attachment according to the invention corresponds in its handling to the disposable spice mills known from retail with a container filled with spices and a spice mill attachment permanently attached to it, the grinding mechanism of which is adapted to the material to be ground.

[0009] The grinding cone is centrally mounted in the upper section, preventing it from twisting. The matching grinding ring is supported by the lower section, for example, resting securely in a recess in the lower section.

[0010] When the spice mill attachment is assembled, the upper part is placed over the lower part, with the grinding cone extending into the grinding ring. A lower casing section of the upper part is guided over an upper casing section of the lower part during assembly. When assembled, the lower casing section of the upper part and the upper casing section of the lower part are arranged concentrically. Furthermore, when assembled, the grinding ring and the grinding cone are arranged concentrically both to each other and with respect to the overlapping casing sections.

[0011] The upper and lower sections are connected by a snap connection formed between the overlapping shell sections. The upper and lower sections are joined by a snap fit when assembling the spice mill attachment.

[0012] Thanks to the snap-on connection between the overlapping casing sections, the top and bottom sections cannot be easily separated. This means that the spice mill attachment cannot be accidentally unscrewed or its grinding mechanism adjusted during use. This ensures intuitive and consistently consistent use of the spice mill attachment throughout its service life. For a disposable spice mill, this means until all the spices in the spice container have been used up.

[0013] According to the invention, a tool rest is formed on the lower part for releasing the snap connection, which is accessible from the outside when assembled. This allows the spice mill attachment according to the invention to be opened for separate disposal of its individual components by applying a lever tool to the tool rest and releasing the snap connection between the upper and lower parts.

[0014] The tool used can be a screwdriver, a coin, or a similar lever tool that is sufficiently rigid and has a suitably proportioned lever surface that can be at least partially supported by the tool support. For simplicity, screwdrivers and coins are repeatedly referred to as lever tools below. Other lever tools with the same function and similar dimensions can be used just as well.

[0015] The lever tool and the tool rest work together to push the lower casing section of the upper part upward when levered. This deforms the snap connection to such an extent that it opens again. After the snap connection is released, the upper and lower parts can be separated again, and the grinding ring can be removed from the lower part and the grinding cone from the upper part. These parts can then be disposed of separately or reused.

[0016] The described functional interaction of lever tool and tool support can be realized in different ways, which is explained in more detail below for three exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0017] The dimensions of the tool rest specified in the embodiments described below refer specifically to the use of a screwdriver or a coin as a lever tool. The dimensions can, of course, be adapted to accommodate other lever tools or scaled to suit the size of the spice mill attachment.

[0018] In a first embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention, the tool support is formed by a projection that is arranged on an outer side of the lower part and that runs around the lower part at its circumference. In the assembled state, an upper side of the projection rests against a lower edge of the casing section of the upper part. The tool support is accessible from the outside in that the casing section of the upper part has a recess at least at one point on its lower edge. The recess has, for example, a gap height of 0.8 mm - 3 mm and a gap width of 4 to 12 mm. For example, a 0.8 mm high and 4 mm wide recess offers sufficient access for a pointed screwdriver. A 2 mm high and 8 mm wide recess offers, for example, sufficient access for a two-cent coin.This allows the tip of a screwdriver or the edge of a coin to be placed on the protrusion in the recess area. This is not possible outside the recess, as no tool can be inserted between the lower edge of the lower casing section of the upper part and the top of the protrusion.

[0019] In a second embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention, the tool support is formed by a rib that protrudes on an outer side of the lower part and runs parallel to a lower edge of the casing section of the upper part. The tool support is accessible from the outside by virtue of a gap between an upper side of the rib and the lower edge of the casing section of the upper part. The tip of a screwdriver or the edge of a coin can be placed on the rib. With the tool resting on the rib, the upper part can be pried off the lower part. This is not possible without the rib, as no lever tool can then be supported on the lower part.

[0020] In a third embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention, the tool support is formed by a notch formed in the casing section of the lower part, wherein the notch extends from an upper edge of the casing section of the lower part to below a lower edge of the casing section of the upper part. The notch is rectangular, for example, and provides a gap 0.8 mm to 2 mm high and 4 to 12 mm wide below the lower edge of the casing section of the upper part. The tip of a screwdriver or the edge of a coin can be inserted into this gap, which is also accessible from the outside for depositing a lever tool, and the upper part can then be levered off.

[0021] Preferably, the snap connection is formed from a bead and a corresponding groove, wherein the bead is formed on an outer side of the lower part and extends around the lower part along its circumference, and wherein the groove is formed in an inner side of the upper part, wherein the bead is received in the groove when assembled. To release the snap connection, the bead is lifted out of the groove by pushing the upper and lower parts apart in the area of ​​the tool support using a lever tool.

[0022] With regard to the second embodiment of the spice mill attachment, it is preferred in this context that the bead is interrupted in the area of ​​the rib. This makes the snap connection even easier to release.

[0023] The grinding ring and grinding cone are preferably made of ceramic. This prevents plastic abrasion during grinding.

[0024] The upper and lower parts are preferably each a one-piece injection-molded part made of PET. This enables cost-effective production, which can also be made particularly environmentally friendly if recycled PET (rPET) is used.

[0025] The object is further achieved by a spice mill with a spice mill attachment according to the invention and a spice container made of glass, wherein the spice mill attachment is permanently or detachably connected to the spice container.

[0026] Preferably, the spice mill attachment is permanently connected to the spice container via a snap connection, or it is screwed onto the spice container to prevent unscrewing. This type of spice mill design is particularly suitable for use as a disposable spice mill. The spice mill attachment is either permanently pressed onto the spice container with a snap connection, forming a snap connection, or it is permanently screwed onto the spice container until an unscrewing lock engages.

[0027] Embodiments of the spice mill attachment according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention; Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the first embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 schematically shows a lower part of a second embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 4 schematically shows a second embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention with the lower part made of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 schematically shows the embodiment of Fig. 4 in a cross-sectional view.

[0028] The representations in the Fig. Figures 1 to 5 are simplified and not necessarily to scale. Some details have also been omitted from the figures to provide an unobstructed view of essential features of the invention.

[0029] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a first embodiment of the spice mill attachment 1 according to the invention.

[0030] The spice mill attachment 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a lower part 2 which can be placed on a spice container (not shown here) and an upper part 3 which can be put over the lower part 2, wherein a jacket section 4 of the upper part 3 is arranged concentrically to a jacket section 5 of the lower part 2.

[0031] In the assembled state of the spice mill attachment 1, the upper part 3 and the lower part 2 are connected to each other by a snap connection 6. The snap connection 6 is arranged between the casing sections 4, 5.

[0032] The spice mill attachment features a grinder with a grinding ring 71 and a grinding cone 72. The grinding cone 72 is centrally located inside the upper part. It is clipped onto a retaining pin with locking elements. The grinding ring 71 is supported by the lower part 2. The grinding ring 71 rests securely in a recess in the lower part 2.

[0033] A tool support 8 for releasing the snap connection 6 is formed on the lower part 2. In the assembled state, the tool support 8 is accessible from the outside for a lever tool not shown here, e.g., a screwdriver or a coin.

[0034] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment of the spice mill attachment 1 according to the invention shown in Figure 2, the tool support 8 is formed by a projection 9, which is arranged on an outer side of the lower part 2 and which runs around the circumference of the lower part 2. In the assembled state, an upper side of the projection 9 rests against a lower edge of the casing section 4 of the upper part 3. The tool support 8 is accessible from the outside in that the casing section 4 of the upper part 3 has a recess 10 at a point on its lower edge.

[0035] The snap connection 6 consists of a bead 61 and a corresponding groove 62. The bead 61 is formed on an outer side of the lower part 2 and extends around the lower part 2 along its circumference. The groove 62 is formed in an inner side of the upper part 3. In the assembled state, the bead 61 is received in the groove 62.

[0036] In the Fig. 3 to 5 shows a second embodiment of the spice mill attachment according to the invention. This is the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and the same reference numerals used there denote the same parts as in the previously explained embodiment.

[0037] In the second embodiment according to Fig.3 to 5, the tool support 8 is formed by a rib 11 that protrudes on an outer side of the lower part 2. The rib 11 runs parallel to a lower edge of the casing section 4 of the upper part 3. The tool support 8 is accessible from the outside by virtue of the fact that a distance exists between an upper side of the rib 9 and the lower edge of the casing section 4 of the upper part 3. 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 102015109726B4

[0002]

Claims

[1] Spice mill attachment (1), comprising: - a base (2) which can be placed on a spice jar; - an upper part (3) which can be slipped onto the lower part (2), wherein a casing section (4) of the upper part (3) is arranged concentrically to a casing section (5) of the lower part (2), wherein the upper part (3) and the lower part (2) are connected to one another by a snap connection (6) in an assembled state of the spice mill attachment (1), wherein the snap connection (6) is arranged between the casing sections (4, 5); - a grinding mechanism with a grinding ring (71) and a grinding cone (72), wherein the grinding cone (72) is received centrally in an upper part interior and the grinding ring (71) is carried by the lower part (2), characterized by that a tool support (8) for releasing the snap connection (6) is formed on the lower part (2), which tool support is accessible from the outside in the assembled state. [2] Spice mill attachment according to claim 1, characterized by that the tool support (8) is formed by a projection (9) which is arranged on an outer side of the lower part (2) and which runs around the lower part (2) on its circumference, wherein in the assembled state an upper side of the projection (9) rests against a lower edge of the casing section (4) of the upper part (3) and that the tool support (8) is accessible from the outside in that the casing section (4) of the upper part (3) has a recess (10) at at least one point on its lower edge. [3] Spice mill attachment according to claim 1, characterized bythat the tool support (8) is formed by a rib (11) which projects on an outer side of the lower part (2) and which runs parallel to a lower edge of the casing section (4) of the upper part (3), and that the tool support (8) is accessible from the outside by virtue of a distance being provided between an upper side of the rib (9) and the lower edge of the casing section (4) of the upper part (3). [4] Spice mill attachment according to claim 1, characterized by that the tool support (8) is formed by a notch (12) which is formed in the casing section (5) of the lower part (2), wherein the notch (12) extends from an upper edge of the casing section (5) of the lower part (3) to below a lower edge of the casing section (4) of the upper part (3). [5] Spice mill attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the snap connection (6) is formed from a bead (61) and a corresponding groove (62), wherein the bead (61) is formed on an outer side of the lower part (2) and runs around the lower part (2) along its circumference and the groove (62) is formed in an inner side of the upper part (3), wherein the bead (61) is received in the groove (62) in the assembled state. [6] Spice mill attachment according to claims 3 and 5, characterized by that the bead (61) is interrupted in the area of ​​the rib (11). [7] Spice mill attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grinding ring (71) and the grinding cone (72) are made of ceramic. [8] Spice mill attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the upper part (3) and the lower part (2) are each a one-piece injection-molded part made of PET. [9] Spice mill with a spice mill attachment according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a glass spice container. [10] Spice mill according to claim 9, wherein the spice mill attachment is permanently connected to the spice container via a snap connection or is screwed onto the spice container in a manner that prevents it from being unscrewed.

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