Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A dispenser for particulate material, comprising a container having an upper part adapted to hold a quantity of the material, a lower part separated from the upper part by a wall having an aperture, a drawer supported removably in the lower part, a closure member movable between a first position in which the aperture is open so that material can flow from the upper part of the container into the drawer and a second position in which the aperture is closed, the drawer being arranged to engage the closure member to move it to its second position as the drawer is removed from the container and to move the closure member to its first position as the drawer is reinserted into the container, and means for holding the closure member in the second position whilst the drawer is removed from the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A dispenser for particulate material, comprising a container having an upper part adapted to hold a quantity of the material, a lower part separated from the upper part by a wall having an aperture, a drawer supported removably in the lower part, a closure member movable between a first position in which the aperture is open so that material can flow from the upper part of the container into the drawer and a second position in which the aperture is closed, the drawer being arranged to engage the closure member to move it to its second position as the drawer is removed from the container and to move the closure member to its first position as the drawer is reinserted into the container, and means for holding the closure member in the second position whilst the drawer is removed from the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the closure member is a plate movable horizontally beneath the said wall and having an aperture which is aligned with the aperture in the wall when the plate is in the first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, in which the plate is formed at its front edge with a depending member which is engaged by the drawer as the drawer is pulled from the container, so that the plate is pulled forwards to its second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, in which the drawer is movable on guide means which constrain the drawer to move forwards and downwards as it is pulled from the container, so that the drawer moves beneath the depending member on the plate when the plate has reached its second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the plate has a further depending member at its rear edge positioned so as to be engaged by the drawer as the drawer is reinserted into the container thereby to move the plate to its first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the means for holding the plate in its second position comprises at least one spring loaded catch member acting between the plate and the container and adapted to move into locking engagement when the plate moves to its second position, the drawer being arranged to engage the or each catch member to release the plate as the drawer is reinserted into the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
7 . A dispenser as claimed in claim 6, in which the spring loaded catch member comprises a resilient arm fixed at one end to one side wall of the container and having at its other end a head with a locking element which engages a complementary locking element on the plate when the plate is in its second position, the head being formed with a cam face which is engaged by the drawer to move the head towards the said wall thereby to disengage the said complementary locking elements as the drawer is reinserted into the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, in which the locking element on the said resilient arm is a recess and the complementary locking element on the plate is a projecting member which engages in the recess when the plate is in its second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, in which the head of said resilient arm has a further cam face which is engaged by said projecting member to move the head towards the said wall as the plate moves from its first towards its second position, the head moving away from the wall to engage the projecting member in the said recess when the plate reaches its second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, in which the said projecting member is part of a depending member on the plate positioned so as to be engaged by the drawer as the drawer is reinserted into the container thereby to move the plate to its first position following disengagement of the projecting member from the said recess.