Dry goods portion control container

Abstract

An exemplary aspect comprises a container apparatus comprising: (a) a housing forming a reservoir; (b) a cover configured to fit on the top of the housing, and comprising a first door; (c) a first divider having at least one point in contact with the inner surface of the housing; and (d) a second divider having at least one point in contact with the inner surface of the housing; wherein the first divider and the second divider divide the reservoir into three joined compartments: a first compartment between the first divider and an inner surface of the housing, a second compartment between the first divider and the second divider, and a third compartment between the second divider and an inner surface of the housing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container apparatus comprising
 a housing having a bottom, a sidewall, and an open top, said bottom and said sidewall each having an inner surface, said inner surfaces of said bottom and said sidewall forming a reservoir;   a cover configured to fit on said top of said housing, and comprising a first door;   a first divider having an outer perimeter comprising a top and a bottom, and a first side and a second side, each of said first side and said second side of said outer perimeter of said first divider having at least one point in contact with said inner surface of said sidewall ; and   a second divider having an outer perimeter comprising a top and a bottom, and a first side and a second side, each of said first side and said second side of said outer perimeter of said second divider having at least one point in contact with said inner surface of said sidewall;   wherein said first divider and said second divider divide said reservoir into three joined compartments: a first compartment between said first divider and an inner surface of said sidewall, a second compartment between said first divider and said second divider, and a third compartment between said second divider and an inner surface of said sidewall,   wherein said bottom of said outer perimeter of said first divider is in contact with said inner surface of said bottom of said housing,   wherein said first divider is a first nonzero distance from said second divider, and   wherein said bottom of said outer perimeter of said second divider is a second nonzero distance from said inner surface of said bottom of said housing.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said first nonzero distance and said second nonzero distance are such that material flowing from said second compartment, under said second divider, and into said third compartment, has a substantially predetermined volume. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is attachable to said housing using hinged clamps. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is attachable to said housing using a press lock fit. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said first door in said cover is located above said third compartment. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said second divider is slidably attached to said inner surface of said sidewall of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises a second door, located above at least one of said first and second compartments. 
     
     
         8 . A method of using an apparatus as in  claim 1 , comprising:
 (a) placing a sufficient volume of dry goods in said first or second compartments such that the height of a portion of said dry goods in said second compartment exceeds said second nonzero distance;   (b) closing said cover; and   (c) pouring from said reservoir through said first door a substantially predetermined volume of said dry goods which has passed from said second compartment into said third compartment.