[54] PRE-MEASURED AUTOMATIC QUANTITY
DISPENSING APPARATUS AND METHODS
OF CONSTRUCTING AND UTILIZING
SAME
[76] Inventors: Earl V. Williams, 3110 M-155,
Howell, Mich. 48843; Diane L.
Ostrowski, 7230 Cowell Rd.,
Brighton, Mich. 48116
[21] Appl. No.: 962,138
[22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1978
[51] Int. CU G01F 11/28
[52] U.S. CI 222/450; 222/452;
222/561
[58] Field of Search 312/270; 229/75 C, 17 SC,
229/17 M; 222/424.5, 425, 427-431, 436, 440, 450-453, 456, 457, 361-366, 561; 221/267, 269,
265
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,500,059 3/1950 Burnham 222/451
2,781,955 2/1957 Kidd 222/561
2,880,915 4/1959 Kantor 222/456
3,000,409 9/1961 Thomasco 222/430
3,057,524 10/1962 Shanks 222/450
Primary Examiner—H. Grant Skaggs
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Irving M. Weiner; John L.
Shortley; Melvin Yedlin
[57] ABSTRACT
An apparatus for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity of particulate material from a container. The apparatus includes a measuring and dispensing assembly permanently secured at least in part within a container, particularly a disposable container such as a box of dry laundry detergent. The measuring and dispensing assembly defines a chamber within the container which may be opened to permit a predetermined measured quantity of the contents of the container to enter thereinto, and then closed to separate the measured quantity from the remaining contents of the container. To permit dispensing of the measured quantity of particulate material from the closed chamber, the assembly further includes a movable member which may be moved to expose a discharge opening in the container which is adjacent the chamber.
8 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures
