Mechanism for the metered dispensing of pasty substances

Claim 1

A mechanism for dispensing a substance which is a fluid or a pasty mass, comprIsing, in combination: a container for holding said substance to be dispensed; a dispensing piston device slidably mounted within said container; a dispensing valve connected to said container; said dispensing valve being capable of self-closing and being capable of automatically opening when sufficient pressure is exerted upon said substance to be dispensed; said dispensing valve including an elastic conical element having a razor-like incision therein near the apex of said elastic conical element; and when sufficient pressure is exerted on said substance to be dispensed, said incision in said elastic conical element will open to form a narrow slit through which said substance may pass; a plurality of said containers each of which is capable of holding a supply of a substance to be dispensed; each of said plurality of containers having an associated dispensing piston device slidably mounted in its associated container; at least one of said plurality of containers having said dispensing valve connected thereto; an outer container within which said plurality of containers is disposed; a rotary platform, a tray mounted upon said rotary platform, said tray being divided into compartments for salt and pepper shakers and the like and for basins to catch the spillage from said plurality of containers which are capable of holding a substance to be dispensed, a pedestal structure rigidly affixed to said tray, means for removably mounting said outer container upon said pedestal, a cover member which simultaneously serves as a cover for said outer container and for said plurality of containers which hold substances to be dispensed, each said dispensing piston device including an air channel connecting the space within said first-mentioned container with the atmosphere, each said dispensing piston device including a flap valve which seals said air canal airtight on the down stroke of said dispensing piston device and which opens to establish communication between the space within said first-mentioned container and the atmosphere upon the upstroke of said dispensing piston device, each said dispensing valve being provided with a plug to minimize spillage and temperature exchange when said first-mentioned container is not in use, said cover member being provided with a plug member for each of said plurality of containers to close the opening in said cover member after a dispensing piston device has been removed and its associated first-mentioned container is no longer in use, and an internal insulating cover disposed about said plurality of containers to minimize temperature exchange when said cover member is removed to replenish the varous substances in said plurality of said containers.