Kitchen Dispenser with Movable Measurement Cup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional kitchen canisters are inefficient for dispensing dry goods due to difficulty in inserting measurement cups, leading to spills and waste, as the deeper contents become harder to access and measure accurately.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen dispenser with a movable dispensing mechanism that allows for variable measurement without removing the lid, featuring a canister with a bottom-coupled dispensing mechanism that can be moved between neutral, filling, and dispensing positions, enabling precise measurement and reduced mess.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional canister is used for storing dry goods, then the dry goods are stored and protected, but it becomes difficult to access and measure the dry goods as the level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement cup from the user's hand and places it within the canister structure itself. The measurement cup is integrated into the canister body, allowing users to easily access and fill it with dry goods without reaching deep into the canister or using separate measuring tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a removable barrier or insert that controls the flow of dry goods into the measurement cup. This intermediary element allows precise measurement by regulating how goods are transferred from the main storage area to the measurement cup, reducing spillage and improving accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional canister is used for storing dry goods, then the dry goods are stored, but pouring them out creates mess on counter and floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pouring action from the traditional tipping motion that causes spills. Instead, the measurement cup with integrated handle allows users to lift and pour controlled amounts directly into the desired container, eliminating the mess associated with tipping entire canisters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing a controlled dispensing point at the measurement cup rather than opening the entire canister. The barrier mechanism creates a localized controlled environment for goods transfer, preventing widespread spillage while maintaining easy access to the dry goods.
3Measurement precision
If a conventional canister is used for storing dry goods, then the dry goods are stored, but inserting measurement cup becomes difficult and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement cup with the canister structure itself, making them a single integrated unit. This combination eliminates the difficulty of inserting separate measurement cups into narrow canisters, as the measurement cup is already positioned and secured within the canister body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through the integrated measurement cup that automatically positions itself for filling. The barrier mechanism self-regulates the flow of dry goods into the cup, providing consistent measurement without requiring precise user intervention or manual positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A kitchen dispenser for storing and dispensing dry goods is provided. The dispenser includes a canister having a front portion, a back portion and a lid repeatably and releasably coupled together. An open space is defined between the front portion, rear portion and lid. The dispenser includes an aperture in a bottom side of the front portion and a movable dispensing mechanism coupled to the bottom portion of the canister. The dispensing mechanism includes a variable measurement device corresponding to the aperture in the bottom side of the front portion, the dispensing mechanism moveable between a dispensing position and a filling position. The kitchen dispenser further includes a scraper plate coupled to the bottom side of the front portion, the scraper plate in contact with a top side of the dispensing mechanism during movement between filling and dispensing positions.