Container for dispensing comestibles

Abstract

A container for dispensing comestibles, such as a dry cereal dispenser, is provided that is generally designed to be capable of being fully cleaned and sanitized in order to avoid exposing the comestibles to contamination. In this regard, the various components of the container, such as the handle, the lid and the bottom closure, are advantageously mounted to the vessel such that the inner surface of the vessel with which the comestible is in contact is smooth and uninterrupted and, therefore, capable of being thoroughly cleaned. By including a removable bottom closure, the container may capable of being refilled through the bottom, opposite the open top through which the comestible is dispensed, to prevent stagnation of the comestible in lower portions of the container.

1 . A container for dispensing comestibles comprising: 
 a vessel defining an outlet through which the comestibles are dispensed; and    a handle mounted upon an exterior surface of said vessel, said handle comprising: 
 a handle portion; and  
 at least one spring member that extends at least partially about said vessel, said at least one spring member sized to engage said vessel to thereby mount said handle to the exterior surface thereof,  
 wherein said handle portion and said at least one spring member are comprised of a common elongate member that extends continuously to form both said handle portion and said at least one spring member.  
   
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said handle is slidably mounted upon said vessel such that said at least one spring member extends thereabout.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein said at least one spring member is sized to be smaller than said vessel such that the slidable mounting of said handle upon said vessel causes said at least one spring member to expand.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said handle comprises first and second spring members interconnected by said handle portion, wherein each spring member extends at least partially about said vessel.  
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 4  wherein said first and second spring members are spaced apart along the exterior surface of said vessel with said handle portion therebetween.  
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 4  wherein the common elongate member that forms both said first and second spring members and said handle portion comprises a continuous rod that is bent to form both said spring members and said handle portion.  
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one spring member is comprised of spring steel.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a lid for covering the outlet defined by said vessel; and    a hinge assembly connecting said lid to said vessel such that said lid is capable of being moved between a closed position in which said lid covers the outlet and an open position in which the lid is at least partially displaced from the outlet to permit comestibles to be dispensed.    
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein said hinge assembly comprises: 
 a tab extending outwardly from said lid; and    a spring that directly engages both said tab and said vessel to assist in moving said lid between open and closed positions.    
   
   
       10 . A dry cereal dispenser comprising: 
 an upstanding vessel defining an outlet through which the dry cereal is dispensed, said vessel including opposed inner and exterior surfaces; and    a handle mounted upon the exterior surface of said vessel;    a lid hingedly connected to said vessel for covering the outlet defined by said vessel,    wherein the inner surface of said vessel comprises an uninterrupted, smooth surface, and    wherein said handle is separated from and independent of both said lid and of a hinged connection between said lid and said vessel.    
   
   
       11 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 10  wherein said handle is mounted upon and said lid is hingedly connected to said vessel without requiring fasteners to extend through the inner surface of said vessel.  
   
   
       12 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 10  wherein said handle comprises: 
 a handle portion; and    at least one spring member that extends at least partially about said vessel, said at least one spring member sized to engage said vessel to thereby mount said handle to the exterior surface thereof.    
   
   
       13 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 12  wherein said handle comprises first and second spring members interconnected by said handle portion, wherein each spring member extends at least partially about said vessel.  
   
   
       14 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 13  wherein said first and second spring members and said handle portion are a continuous integral structure.  
   
   
       15 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 10  further comprising a hinge assembly connecting said lid to said vessel such that said lid is capable of being moved between a closed position in which said lid covers the outlet and an open position in which the lid is at least partially displaced from the outlet to permit dry cereal to be dispensed.  
   
   
       16 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 15  wherein said hinge assembly comprises: 
 a tab extending outwardly from said lid; and    a spring that engages said tab and said vessel.    
   
   
       17 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 10  wherein said upstanding vessel defines an open upper end that serves as the outlet through which the dry cereal is dispensed and an opposed open lower end; and wherein the dry cereal dispenser further comprises a removable closure for sealing the lower end of said vessel, said closure capable of securely engaging said vessel to seal the lower end of said vessel and also capable of being removed to permit access to an interior of said vessel via the open lower end.  
   
   
       18 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein said closure comprises an insert removably disposed within the lower end of said vessel.  
   
   
       19 . A dry cereal dispenser according to  claim 18  wherein said closure further comprises a spring for securely engaging said insert within the lower end of said vessel.