Nestable sifter

Claim 2

A sifter for sifting granular or powdered material such as flour comprising a hollow body member formed with a first opening defining a bottom end and a second opening defining a top end, said body member including an upper portion which tapers inwardly toward the bottom end, a lower portion which also tapers inwardly to the bottom end and means interconnected between said upper and lower portions for sharply reducing the cross-sectional area defined by said body member between said portions and thereby interrupting any continuity of inward taper between said upper and lower portions, a screen positioned within said lower portion near the bottom end, an agitator positioned within said lower portion above said screen, a handle member connected at one end to the outer surface of said upper portion near the top end, the other end of said handle member being spaced from said body member, and actuating means connected to one of said members and to said agitator for actuating said agitator, wherein said actuating means extends between said body and handle members and in alignment with the taper of said upper portion and is spaced from said lower portion to facilitate manual actuation, and wherein said body member is contoured to nest therein at least the lower portion of an identical sifter.

Claim 3

A sifter according to claim 1, wherein said body and handle members are of a molded, integral construction.

Claim 4

A sifter according to claim 1, wherein said agitator is a rotor having a plurality of radially extending blades.

Claim 5

A sifter according to claim 1, wherein said bottom end has a circular cross-section with a diameter of the order of between 2.5 and 3.5 inches.

Claim 6

A sifter according to claim 1, wherein said means interconnected between said upper and lower portions is an intermediate portion having an inward taper greater than that of either said upper or lower portions to sharply reduce the cross-sectional area defined by said body member between said upper and lower portions.

Claim 7

A sifter according to claim 1, wherein the depth of said upper portion is greater at the side opposite said handle member than it is adjacent said handle member.

Claim 8

A sifter according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes an actuating arm connected to said handle member adjacent to the outer surface of said body member.

Claim 9

A sifter according to claim 7, wherein said actuating means further includes means interconnected between said agitator and said actuating arm.

Claim 10

A sifter for sifting granular or powdered material such as flour comprising a hollow body member formed with a first opening defining a bottom end and a second opening defining a top end, said body member including an upper portion which tapers inwardly toward the bottom end, a lower portion which also tapers inwardly to the bottom end and an intermediate portion interconnected between said upper and lower portions having an inward taper greater than that of either said upper or lower portions for sharply reducing the cross-sectional area defined by said body member between said upper and lower portions and thereby interrupting any continuity of inward taper between said upper and lower portions, a screen positioned within said lower portion near the bottom end, a rotor positioned within said lower portion above said screen, a handle member connected at one end to the outer surface of said upper portion near the top end, the other end of said handle member being spaced from said body member, and actuating means including an actuating arm connected to one of said members and operatively connected to said rotor for actuating said rotor, wherein said actuating arm extends between said body and handle members and in alignment with the taper of said upper portion and is spaced from said lower portion to facilitate manual actuation, and wherein said body member is contoured to nest therein at least the lower portion of an identical sifter.

Claim 11

A sifter for sifting granular or powdered material such as flour comprising a hollow body member formed with a first opening defining a bottom end and a second opening defining a top end, said body member including an upper portion which tapers inwardly toward the bottom end, a lower portion which also tapers inwardly to the bottom end and an intermediate portion interconnected between said upper and lower portions having an inward taper greater than that of either said upper or lower portions for sharply reducing the cross-sectional area defined by said body member between said upper and lower portions and thereby interrupting any continuity of inward taper between said upper and lower portions, a screen positioned within said lower portion near the bottom end, a rotor positioned within said lower portion above said screen, a handle member connected at one end to the outer surface of said upper portion near the top end, the other end of said handle member being spaced from said body member, and actuating means including an actuating arm connected to one of said members and operatively connected to said rotor for actuating said rotor, wherein said actuating arm extends between said body and handle members and in alignment with the taper of said upper portion and is spaced from said lower portion to facilitate manual actuation, and wherein said body member is contoured to nest therein at least the lower portion of an identical sifter.

Claim 12

A sifter according to claim 9, wherein said body and handle members are of a molded, integral construction.

Claim 13

A sifter according to claim 9, wherein said actuating means further includes means interconnected between said rotor and said actuating arm.

Claim 14

A sifter according to claim 9, wherein said body and handle members are of molded, integral construction.

Claim 15

A sifter according to claim 9, wherein the depth of said upper portion is greater at the side opposite said handle member than it is adjacent said handle member.