Pre-measured automatic quantity dispensing apparatus and methods of constructing and utilizing same

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a box-shaped disposable container including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said container being provided with a discharge opening disposed in said bottom wall adjacent one end wall of said container; and a measuring and dispensing assembly including: a first rigid plate insert disposed in the lower inner portion of said container above said discharge opening so as to define a chamber within said container, said chamber being disposed above said discharge opening when said container is in an upright position; a first pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said first insert, said first track members being each respectively obliquely secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls of said container and extending between said one end wall and a central portion of said bottom wall of said container; a second rigid plate insert disposed adjacent said discharge opening for selectively covering and uncovering said opening; a second pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said second insert, said second track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls substantially adjacent said bottom wall of said container and extending between said one end wall and a central portion of said bottom wall of said container; said first insert being disposed substantially exteriorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and substantially interiorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; said second insert being disposed substantially interiorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said second insert substantially covers and seals said discharge opening, and substantially exteriorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said chamber being dimensioned so as to receive a predetermined measured quantity of particulate material; said chamber being substantially wedge-shaped and defined between said first insert in said second position thereof, said second insert in said first position thereof, said one end wall of said container, and opposing side wall portions of said container; a tab member disposed on one end of said first insert so as to extend outside said one end wall of said container; and a tab member disposed on one end of said second insert so as to extend outside said one end wall of said container.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a box-shaped disposable container including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said container being provided with a discharge opening disposed in said bottom wall adjacent one end wall of said container; and a measuring and dispensing assembly including: a first rigid plate insert disposed in the lower inner portion of said container above said discharge opening so as to define a chamber within said container, said chamber being disposed above said discharge opening when said container is in an upright position; a first pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said first insert, said first track members being each respectively obliquely secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls of said container and extending between said one end wall and a central portion of said bottom wall of said container; a second rigid plate insert disposed adjacent said discharge opening for selectively covering and uncovering said opening; a second pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said second insert, said second track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls substantially adjacent said bottom wall of said container and extending between said one end wall and a central portion of said bottom wall of said container; said first insert being disposed substantially exteriorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and substantially interiorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; said second insert being disposed substantially interiorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said second insert substantially covers and seals said discharge opening, and substantially exteriorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said chamber being dimensioned so as to receive a predetermined measured quantity of particulate material; said chamber being substantially wedge-shaped and defined between said first insert in said second position thereof, said second insert in said first position thereof, said one end wall of said container, and opposing side wall portions of said container; a tab member disposed on one end of said first insert so as to extend outside said one end wall of said container; and a tab member disposed on one end of said second insert so as to extend outside said one end wall of said container.

Claim 5

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a disposable container adapted to contain therein a particulate material; said container being provided with a discharge opening through which said particulate material may be dispensed from said container; a measuring and dispensing assembly disposed substantially within said container proximal to said discharge opening, at least a portion of said assembly being permanently secured to at least a portion of the interior of said container; said container being substantially box-shaped and including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said discharge opening being disposed in one end wall of said container adjacent the top wall of said container; said measuring and dispensing assembly including: first means cooperating with an interior portion of said container adjacent said discharge opening for defining a chamber within said container, at least a portion of said chamber extending above at least a portion of said discharge opening of said container when said container is in an upright position; second means cooperating with said first means for permitting said first means to be moved between a first position wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and a second position wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; third means disposed adjacent said discharge opening for selectively covering and uncovering said opening; fourth means cooperating with said third means for permitting said third means to be moved between a first position wherein said third means substantially covers and seals said discharge opening and a second position wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said first means comprising a rectangular plate member, said chamber being defined between said plate member, said top wall of said container, a portion of said one end wall of said container, and portions of the opposing side walls of said container; said third means comprising a spout member having a front wall thereof pivotably secured to selectively cover said discharge opening; said second means comprising a rod connected between a portion of said spout member and said plate member; and said fourth means comprising a tab portion provided on said front wall of said spout member.

Claim 6

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a disposable container adapted to contain therein a particulate material; said container being provided with a discharge opening through which said particulate material may be dispensed from said container; a measuring and dispensing assembly disposed substantially within said container proximal to said discharge opening, at least a portion of said assembly being permanently secured to at least a portion of the interior of said container; said container being substantially box-shaped and including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said discharge opening being disposed in one end wall of said container adjacent the top wall of said container; said measuring and dispensing assembly including: first means cooperating with an interior portion of said container adjacent said discharge opening for defining a chamber within said container, at least a portion of said chamber extending above at least a portion of said discharge opening of said container when said container is in an upright position; second means cooperating with said first means for permitting said first means to be moved between a first position wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and a second position wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; third means disposed adjacent said discharge opening for selectively covering and uncovering said opening; fourth means cooperating with said third means for permitting said third means to be moved between a first position wherein said third means substantially covers and seals said discharge opening and a second position wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said first means comprising a rectangular plate member, said chamber being defined between said plate member, said top wall of said container, a portion of said one end wall of said container, and portions of the opposing side walls of said container; said third means comprising a spout member having a front wall thereof pivotably secured to selectively cover said discharge opening; said second means comprising a rod connected between a portion of said spout member and said plate member; and said fourth means comprising a tab portion provided on said front wall of said spout member.

Claim 7

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a disposable container adapted to contain therein a particulate material; said container being provided with a discharge opening through which said particulate material may be dispensed from said container; a measuring and dispensing assembly disposed substantially within said container proximal to said discharge opening, at least a portion of said assembly being permanently secured to at least a portion of the interior of said container; said container being substantially box-shaped and including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said discharge opening being disposed in an end wall of said container adjacent said bottom wall of said container; said measuring and dispensing assembly including: first means cooperating with an interior portion of said container adjacent said discharge opening for defining a chamber within said container, at least a portion of said chamber extending above at least a portion of said discharge opening when said container is in an upright position; second means cooperating with said first means for permitting said first means to be moved between a first position wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and a second position wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; third means disposed adjacent said discharge opening for selectively covering and uncovering said opening; fourth means cooperating with said third means for permitting said third means to be moved between a first position wherein said third means substantially covers and seals said discharge opening and a second position wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said first means of said measuring and dispensing assembly being disposed in the lower inner portion of said container above said discharge opening to permit said chamber to be filled by the contents of said container due to the force of gravity when said first means is moved to said first position wherein said chamber is open, with said container in an upright position; said chamber being dimensioned so as to receive a predetermined measured quantity of particulate material; said first means comprising a rigid rectangular plate insert; said second means comprising a pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said insert, said track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls in a substantially horizontal position parallel to said bottom wall of said container; the lower surfaces of said track members and the lower surface of said insert being substantially coplanar to define a substantially continuous flat surface; said track members being disposed so as to extend between said end wall and a portion of said container spaced from the opposing end wall of said container; said fourth means comprising a bottomless and topless box-shaped drawer having opposing end walls and side walls and adapted to be substantially tightly received through said discharge opening in a space defined between said substantially continuous flat surface, the inner surfaces of said opposing side walls of said container, and the inner surface of said bottom wall of said container; and said third means comprising a substantially vertical end wall of said drawer.

Claim 8

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a disposable container adapted to contain therein a particulate material; said container being provided with a discharge opening through which said particulate material may be dispensed from said container; a measuring and dispensing assembly disposed substantially within said container proximal to said discharge opening, at least a portion of said assembly being permanently secured to at least a portion of the interior of said container; said container being substantially box-shaped and including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said discharge opening being disposed in an end wall of said container adjacent said bottom wall of said container; said measuring and dispensing assembly including: first means cooperating with an interior portion of said container adjacent said discharge opening for defining a chamber within said container, at least a portion of said chamber extending above at least a portion of said discharge opening when said container is in an upright position; second means cooperating with said first means for permitting said first means to be moved between a first position wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and a second position wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; third means disposed adjacent said discharge opening for selectively covering and uncovering said opening; fourth means cooperating with said third means for permitting said third means to be moved between a first position wherein said third means substantially covers and seals said discharge opening and a second position wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said first means of said measuring and dispensing assembly being disposed in the lower inner portion of said container above said discharge opening to permit said chamber to be filled by the contents of said container due to the force of gravity when said first means is moved to said first position wherein said chamber is open, with said container in an upright position; said chamber being dimensioned so as to receive a predetermined measured quantity of particulate material; said first means comprising a rigid rectangular plate insert; said second means comprising a pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said insert, said track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls in a substantially horizontal position parallel to said bottom wall of said container; the lower surfaces of said track members and the lower surface of said insert being substantially coplanar to define a substantially continuous flat surface; said track members being disposed so as to extend between said end wall and a portion of said container spaced from the opposing end wall of said container; said fourth means comprising a bottomless and topless box-shaped drawer having opposing end walls and side walls and adapted to be substantially tightly received through said discharge opening in a space defined between said substantially continuous flat surface, the inner surfaces of said opposing side walls of said container, and the inner surface of said bottom wall of said container; and said third means comprising a substantially vertical end wall of said drawer.

Claim 10

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a substantially box-shaped disposable container adapted to contain therein a particulate material and including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said container being provided with a discharge opening through which said particulate material may be dispensed from said container, said discharge opening being disposed in the bottom wall of said container adjacent one end wall of said container; a measuring and dispensing assembly disposed substantially within said container proximal to said discharge opening; said measuring and dispensing assembly including: a first rigid rectangular plate insert disposed in the lower inner portion of said container above said discharge opening so as to define a chamber within said container, said chamber being disposed above said discharge opening when said container is in an upright position; said chamber being dimensioned so as to receive a predetermined measured quantity of particulate material; a first pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said first insert, said first track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls in a substantially horizontal position parallel to said bottom wall of said container; said first track members being disposed so as to extend between said one end wall and the central portion of said container; a substantially vertical partition member disposed in said central portion of said container extending upwardly from said bottom wall into contact with the inner ends of said first track members; a second rigid rectangular plate insert; a second pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said second insert, said second track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls adjacent said bottom wall of said container and extending between said one end wall and the central portion of said bottom wall of said container; said first insert being disposed substantially exteriorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and substantially interiorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; said second insert being disposed substantially interiorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said second insert substantially covers and seals said discharge opening, and substantially exteriorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said chamber being substantially box-shaped and being defined between said first insert in said second position thereof, said second insert in said first position thereof, said one end wall of said container, said vertical partition member, and opposing side wall portions of said container; a tab member disposed on one end of said first insert and adapted to extend outside said one end wall of said container to permit a user to slide said first insert along said first track members between said second and first positions of said first insert; and a tab member disposed on one end of said second insert and adapted to extend outside said one end wall of said container to permit a user to slide said second insert along said second track members between said first and second positions of said second insert.

Claim 11

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material, comprising: a substantially box-shaped disposable container adapted to contain therein a particulate material and including opposing pairs of side and end walls, and a top and bottom wall; said container being provided with a discharge opening through which said particulate material may be dispensed from said container, said discharge opening being disposed in the bottom wall of said container adjacent one end wall of said container; a measuring and dispensing assembly disposed substantially within said container proximal to said discharge opening; said measuring and dispensing assembly including: a first rigid rectangular plate insert disposed in the lower inner portion of said container above said discharge opening so as to define a chamber within said container, said chamber being disposed above said discharge opening when said container is in an upright position; said chamber being dimensioned so as to receive a predetermined measured quantity of particulate material; a first pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said first insert, said first track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls in a substantially horizontal position parallel to said bottom wall of said container; said first track members being disposed so as to extend between said one end wall and the central portion of said container; a substantially vertical partition member disposed in said central portion of said container extending upwardly from said bottom wall into contact with the inner ends of said first track members; a second rigid rectangular plate insert; a second pair of track members adapted to slidably receive said second insert, said second track members being each respectively secured to the inner surfaces of said opposing pair of side walls adjacent said bottom wall of said container and extending between said one end wall and the central portion of said bottom wall of said container; said first insert being disposed substantially exteriorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially open to permit a portion of the contents of said container to enter and fill said chamber, and substantially interiorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said chamber is substantially sealed from the contents of said container; said second insert being disposed substantially interiorly of said container in a first position thereof wherein said second insert substantially covers and seals said discharge opening, and substantially exteriorly of said container in a second position thereof wherein said discharge opening is substantially uncovered; said chamber being substantially box-shaped and being defined between said first insert in said second position thereof, said second insert in said first position thereof, said one end wall of said container, said vertical partition member, and opposing side wall portions of said container; a tab member disposed on one end of said first insert and adapted to extend outside said one end wall of said container to permit a user to slide said first insert along said first track members between said second and first positions of said first insert; and a tab member disposed on one end of said second insert and adapted to extend outside said one end wall of said container to permit a user to slide said second insert along said second track members between said first and second positions of said second insert.