CA1260873A - Talking seasoning dispenser - Google Patents
Talking seasoning dispenserInfo
- Publication number
- CA1260873A CA1260873A CA000472669A CA472669A CA1260873A CA 1260873 A CA1260873 A CA 1260873A CA 000472669 A CA000472669 A CA 000472669A CA 472669 A CA472669 A CA 472669A CA 1260873 A CA1260873 A CA 1260873A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- dispenser
- container body
- seasoning
- voice synthesizer
- salt
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/24—Shakers for salt, pepper, sugar, or the like
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/30—Other containers or devices used as table equipment
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A47G
- A47G2200/14—Sound
- A47G2200/143—Sound producing means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A seasoning dispenser comprises a container body having an apertured end to permit seasoning in the container body to be dispensed over food. A microswitch, located in the container body, is actuated when the container body is lifted off a table.
The microswitch actuates a voice synthesizer that emits a message indicative of the contents of the seasoning dispenser.
A seasoning dispenser comprises a container body having an apertured end to permit seasoning in the container body to be dispensed over food. A microswitch, located in the container body, is actuated when the container body is lifted off a table.
The microswitch actuates a voice synthesizer that emits a message indicative of the contents of the seasoning dispenser.
Description
~L2~ il73 This invention relates to a seasoning dispenser intended for use as a novelty item.
Salt and pepper shakers have been known for many years, and usually comprise a container having one end apertured to permit salt or pepper -to be shaken over food. Some means is necessary for distinguishing between the salt and pepper shaker, and this has been done in a number of ways. q'he two shakers can simply be labelled "salt" or "pepper" or -the configuration of the aperatures can be different in the two cases. For ins-tance, it is common practice for the pepper shaker to have an end pla-te with multiple perforations and the sal-t shaker to have only a single hole. In some shakers, the perforations themselves are configured as an S or a P as -the case may be. Such methods of distinguishing between the two shakers are ill-suited to a dimly lit environmen-t, such as may be found in a restaurant, and it is not uncommon for a diner to inadvertently take the wrong shaker.
Moreover, since salt and pepper shakers are so common, it is desirable to provide an attractive feature to induce a purchaser to select one shaker over another.
According to the present invention there is provided a seasoning dispenser, comprising a container body having an apertured end to permit seasoning in the container body to be dispensed over food, switch means that are actuated when said container body is lifted from its normal rest position, and voice synthesizer means for emitting a message indicative of the contents of the dispenser responsive to actuation of said switch means, whereby said clispenser emits a voice message indicative of its contents upon being lifted from its normal rest position.
The seasoning dispenser can suitably be a salt or pepper shaker, in which case the message would normally be "salt"
or "pepper" as appropriate, but the invention can equally well be applied to other types of seasoning. The voice synthesizer ~2~ 3 preferably comprises a miniature loud speaker driven by a chip containing read only memory programmed with -the appropriate message. The switch means and voice synthesizer means are desirably mounted in a separate housing inser-table into a recess formed in the bottom of the container body.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a highly diagramatic diagram of a first 10 embodiment of a salt or pepper shaker in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a diagramatic diagram of a second embodiment of a salt or pepper shaker in accordance with the invention;
Figure 3 is a simplified block diagram of the voice synthesizer circuitry.
The shaker shown in Figure 1, which for convenience will be referred to as a salt shaker, or a shaker for any other type of seasoning, has a frusto-conical container body 1 20 containing salt grains 2. The upper end plate 3 of the container body 1 has multiple perforations 4, through which the grains of salt 2 pass when the shaker is shaken in the inverted position.
A cylindrical recess 5 is provided in the lower end of the container body 1, and in-to which is fitted a plastic plug 6.
The plug 6 has a small nut 7 which fits into an aperture in the base of the recess 5. The plug 6 can be removed to expose the aperture and allow the container body 1 to be filled in the inverted position w~th salt.
A small cylindrical housing 8 can be fitted within the central recess formed in the plug 6. The housing 8 can be held in place by means of a screw 9 engaging in a threaded hole 10 in the bo-t-tom of the housing, or the whole assembly of the housing 8, the plug 6 and -the recess 5 can be snap-fitted toge-ther.
~26~373 The housing 8 has in its bo-ttom a protruding normally open microswtich 11. Next to the microswitch 11, mounted on the bottom of the housing, is a miniature loud speaker 12. The housing 8 also contains a voice synthesizer chip 13, connected to the microswitch 11 and the loud speaker 12, and a miniature button type battery 14. The voice syn-thesi~er chip generates driver pulses to the miniature loud speaker to generate sound simulating the human voice saying the word "salt". The necessary instructions to cause the synthesizer chip to form the word "salt" are stored in a read only memory chip in the housing. In the case of a pepper shaker, the voice synthesizer chip will be programmed to generate the word "pepper", or in the alternative other sounds can be generated for other types of seasoning. The circuitry is arranged so that the loud speaker will only emi-t the sound "salt" immedia-tely after the shaker is lifted from the table. Replacing the shaker on the table resets the system, so that on subsequent lifting the shaker again emits the sound salt.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention~
In the embodiment of Figure 2, in which like components have like net reference numerals, the container body 1 has an upper end 1' which can be unscrewed from the main body 1 by means of a screw thread 1" for filling purposes. A recess 15 is formed over the whole of the bottom of the main body 1 and a nut 14 is fitted inside the body 1 at the center of bottom plate 16. Housing 8 fits into the recess 15 and is held in place by a screw 13 which extends through the cen-ter of the housing into the nut 14 The housing 8, in Figure 2, is shown partly removed from the recess 15. A small recess 16 is formed in the side of the housing 80 This small recess 16 is adapted to receive the button-type battery 18. Appropriate contacts, not shown, are provided, so that in order to replace -the battery, the housing 8 is removed from the container body 1 by undoing the screw 13. The spent battery can be pushed out of the small recess, by means of an appropriate tool, and the new battery simply slotted into place.
Figure 3 shows the mircoswitch 11 connected to the voice synthesizer 13, which in turns drives loud speaker 12. The voice synthesizer is in -the form of a single chip connected to a ROM 18 storing instructions to generate the appropriate sound, "salt" or "pepper". The normally open microswitch 11 is connected to an appropriate input on the voice synthesizer chip, such that when the switch is closed, the syn-thesizer chip drives the loud speaker 12 to generate the appropriate sound.
The described salt and pepper shakers can be conveniently moulded from plasticO They can have the same configuration, whether they be for salt, pepper, or any other seasoning, and the appropriate housing selected to generate the required sound. The housings can be produced en masse, off shore if necessary, from integrated components. Indeed, the complete circuitry can be integrated onto the same chip. Alternatively, the ROM would be in the form of a p.r.o.m. (programable read only memory), so that the appropriate instructions could be burned into the ROM to generate the required sound.
The descxibed shaker is easy to make and solves the aforementioned problems in the prior art. Even in a dim environment, the diner would be immediately alerted to the type of shaker he has selected. The shaker also has a certain value as a novelty item, in that purchasers are likely to be intrigued by the concept of a talking seasoning dispenser.
Salt and pepper shakers have been known for many years, and usually comprise a container having one end apertured to permit salt or pepper -to be shaken over food. Some means is necessary for distinguishing between the salt and pepper shaker, and this has been done in a number of ways. q'he two shakers can simply be labelled "salt" or "pepper" or -the configuration of the aperatures can be different in the two cases. For ins-tance, it is common practice for the pepper shaker to have an end pla-te with multiple perforations and the sal-t shaker to have only a single hole. In some shakers, the perforations themselves are configured as an S or a P as -the case may be. Such methods of distinguishing between the two shakers are ill-suited to a dimly lit environmen-t, such as may be found in a restaurant, and it is not uncommon for a diner to inadvertently take the wrong shaker.
Moreover, since salt and pepper shakers are so common, it is desirable to provide an attractive feature to induce a purchaser to select one shaker over another.
According to the present invention there is provided a seasoning dispenser, comprising a container body having an apertured end to permit seasoning in the container body to be dispensed over food, switch means that are actuated when said container body is lifted from its normal rest position, and voice synthesizer means for emitting a message indicative of the contents of the dispenser responsive to actuation of said switch means, whereby said clispenser emits a voice message indicative of its contents upon being lifted from its normal rest position.
The seasoning dispenser can suitably be a salt or pepper shaker, in which case the message would normally be "salt"
or "pepper" as appropriate, but the invention can equally well be applied to other types of seasoning. The voice synthesizer ~2~ 3 preferably comprises a miniature loud speaker driven by a chip containing read only memory programmed with -the appropriate message. The switch means and voice synthesizer means are desirably mounted in a separate housing inser-table into a recess formed in the bottom of the container body.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a highly diagramatic diagram of a first 10 embodiment of a salt or pepper shaker in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a diagramatic diagram of a second embodiment of a salt or pepper shaker in accordance with the invention;
Figure 3 is a simplified block diagram of the voice synthesizer circuitry.
The shaker shown in Figure 1, which for convenience will be referred to as a salt shaker, or a shaker for any other type of seasoning, has a frusto-conical container body 1 20 containing salt grains 2. The upper end plate 3 of the container body 1 has multiple perforations 4, through which the grains of salt 2 pass when the shaker is shaken in the inverted position.
A cylindrical recess 5 is provided in the lower end of the container body 1, and in-to which is fitted a plastic plug 6.
The plug 6 has a small nut 7 which fits into an aperture in the base of the recess 5. The plug 6 can be removed to expose the aperture and allow the container body 1 to be filled in the inverted position w~th salt.
A small cylindrical housing 8 can be fitted within the central recess formed in the plug 6. The housing 8 can be held in place by means of a screw 9 engaging in a threaded hole 10 in the bo-t-tom of the housing, or the whole assembly of the housing 8, the plug 6 and -the recess 5 can be snap-fitted toge-ther.
~26~373 The housing 8 has in its bo-ttom a protruding normally open microswtich 11. Next to the microswitch 11, mounted on the bottom of the housing, is a miniature loud speaker 12. The housing 8 also contains a voice synthesizer chip 13, connected to the microswitch 11 and the loud speaker 12, and a miniature button type battery 14. The voice syn-thesi~er chip generates driver pulses to the miniature loud speaker to generate sound simulating the human voice saying the word "salt". The necessary instructions to cause the synthesizer chip to form the word "salt" are stored in a read only memory chip in the housing. In the case of a pepper shaker, the voice synthesizer chip will be programmed to generate the word "pepper", or in the alternative other sounds can be generated for other types of seasoning. The circuitry is arranged so that the loud speaker will only emi-t the sound "salt" immedia-tely after the shaker is lifted from the table. Replacing the shaker on the table resets the system, so that on subsequent lifting the shaker again emits the sound salt.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention~
In the embodiment of Figure 2, in which like components have like net reference numerals, the container body 1 has an upper end 1' which can be unscrewed from the main body 1 by means of a screw thread 1" for filling purposes. A recess 15 is formed over the whole of the bottom of the main body 1 and a nut 14 is fitted inside the body 1 at the center of bottom plate 16. Housing 8 fits into the recess 15 and is held in place by a screw 13 which extends through the cen-ter of the housing into the nut 14 The housing 8, in Figure 2, is shown partly removed from the recess 15. A small recess 16 is formed in the side of the housing 80 This small recess 16 is adapted to receive the button-type battery 18. Appropriate contacts, not shown, are provided, so that in order to replace -the battery, the housing 8 is removed from the container body 1 by undoing the screw 13. The spent battery can be pushed out of the small recess, by means of an appropriate tool, and the new battery simply slotted into place.
Figure 3 shows the mircoswitch 11 connected to the voice synthesizer 13, which in turns drives loud speaker 12. The voice synthesizer is in -the form of a single chip connected to a ROM 18 storing instructions to generate the appropriate sound, "salt" or "pepper". The normally open microswitch 11 is connected to an appropriate input on the voice synthesizer chip, such that when the switch is closed, the syn-thesizer chip drives the loud speaker 12 to generate the appropriate sound.
The described salt and pepper shakers can be conveniently moulded from plasticO They can have the same configuration, whether they be for salt, pepper, or any other seasoning, and the appropriate housing selected to generate the required sound. The housings can be produced en masse, off shore if necessary, from integrated components. Indeed, the complete circuitry can be integrated onto the same chip. Alternatively, the ROM would be in the form of a p.r.o.m. (programable read only memory), so that the appropriate instructions could be burned into the ROM to generate the required sound.
The descxibed shaker is easy to make and solves the aforementioned problems in the prior art. Even in a dim environment, the diner would be immediately alerted to the type of shaker he has selected. The shaker also has a certain value as a novelty item, in that purchasers are likely to be intrigued by the concept of a talking seasoning dispenser.
Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A seasoning dispenser, comprising a container body having an apertured end to permit seasoning in the container body to be dispensed over food, switch means that are actuated when said container body is lifted from its normal rest position, and voice synthesizer means for emitting a message indicative of the contents of the dispenser responsive to actuation of said switch means, whereby said dispenser emits a voice message indicative of its contents upon being lifted from its normal rest position.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch means and said voice synthesizer means are mounted in a separate housing insertable into a recess provided in the bottom of the container body.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises a microswitch protruding from the bottom of said housing.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voice synthesizer means comprises a miniature loud speaker means for driving said loud speaker to generate said message from digital signals, and means for storing said digital signals.
5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said digital signal storing means is a ROM.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000472669A CA1260873A (en) | 1985-01-23 | 1985-01-23 | Talking seasoning dispenser |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000472669A CA1260873A (en) | 1985-01-23 | 1985-01-23 | Talking seasoning dispenser |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1260873A true CA1260873A (en) | 1989-09-26 |
Family
ID=4129648
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000472669A Expired CA1260873A (en) | 1985-01-23 | 1985-01-23 | Talking seasoning dispenser |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1260873A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5213234A (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1993-05-25 | Ioannis Stefanopoulos | Moo cream pitcher |
| BE1008080A3 (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1996-01-09 | Fabrilec Naamloze Vennootschap | Device for the reflection of at least one spoken message |
| US6315163B1 (en) * | 1999-12-29 | 2001-11-13 | Allure Home Creation Co., Inc. | Sound emitting dispenser |
| US6557728B1 (en) | 2000-04-05 | 2003-05-06 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Musical toothpaste tube closure |
-
1985
- 1985-01-23 CA CA000472669A patent/CA1260873A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5213234A (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1993-05-25 | Ioannis Stefanopoulos | Moo cream pitcher |
| BE1008080A3 (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1996-01-09 | Fabrilec Naamloze Vennootschap | Device for the reflection of at least one spoken message |
| US6315163B1 (en) * | 1999-12-29 | 2001-11-13 | Allure Home Creation Co., Inc. | Sound emitting dispenser |
| US6557728B1 (en) | 2000-04-05 | 2003-05-06 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Musical toothpaste tube closure |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |