US2476113A - Salt shaker - Google Patents

Description

E. W. RANCK SALT SHAKER July 12, 1949.

Filed Jan. 14, 1947 kwm P Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SALT SHAKER Esta William Ranck, Guaynabo, P. R.

Application January 14, 1947, Serial No. 722,027

1 Claim. 1

My present invention has for its object to provide a salt shaker designed and constructed to overcome the effect of the humidity in the air upon the salt which renders it difficult to discharge the contents of the shaker.

Another object of my invention is to provide a salt shaker equipped with an electric resistance unit suitably arranged so that when it is not otherwise in use it may be connected to a house lighting circuit, preferably by the use of an adapter in the nature of a standard plug fitting for attachment to the usual circuit outlet fixture.

To these and other ends my invention has for its object to provide further improvements in construction, all as will be fully described in the accompanying specification, the novel features thereof being set forth in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a salt shaker constructed in accordance with my invention shown in its position of attachment to a standard circuit plug,

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the shaker, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate similar parts.

Table salt being hygroscopic readily absorbs or condenses moisture from the atmosphere causing its crystals to adhere more or less closely and when a quantity thereof is confined in a shaker receptacle these moist crystals stick to the edges of the perforations in the shaker :top rendering it diflicult to discharge in the usual manner such quantities as may be desired in the seasoning of food. In order to overcome this somewhat annoying difficulty I have devised a shaker which may be electrically heated and maintained at such a temperature between meals as to overcome the effects of humidity in the surrounding air without injury to the salt per se.

In carrying out my invention I provide a receptacle in the nature of a hollow body I composed of glass, metal, porcelain, or a plastic composition and of such diameter that its open inner end will fit over the circular boss 2 of a standard jack plug 3 having the usual prongs 4 for insertion in an outlet fitting with which house circuits are universally equipped, to provide circuit branches, as will be understood. Plugs such as indicated by 3 are of the multiple contact type so that within the boss there are disposed openings which expose insulated contacts (not shown) in circuit with the prongs 4. To accomplish the fitting of the parts I provide arcuate cutouts 5 at opposite sides of the lower end of the receptacle I yet have ample straight edges ii which form a base for supporting the receptacle in an upright position when it is removed from the plug 3.

The lower end of the body I encircling the boss in addition to being recessed to receive the boss 2 is made of suificient depth, as indicated by the inner annular shoulder 1, to carry an insulatillg disc 8. The latter may be secured permanently in place by a press fit or otherwise, and serves as the carrier for a pair of prongs 9 which when the body I is mounted on the plug 3 enter the latter and eifect a circuit contact with the prongs 4. The prongs 9 extend through the disc 8 and their inner supported ends serve as terminals across which a resistance such as a Wire II] in Fig. 2, or an incandescent lamp I l, as shown in Fig, 3, may be connected. Whichever form of heating element is used it will be designed for a fractional watt consumption of the available current source and will be proportioned to the size of the shaker body I.

It is desirable only to heat the body I at a low temperature as this dissipates or prevents the humidity from reaching the salt and although the warmth of the body may be transferred to the salt contained therein it is incidental. In order to obviate decrepidating the crystals forming the salt body I preferably arrange the salt chamber I2, as shown in Fig. 2, with side walls [3 spaced from the inner walls of the body I and its bottom !4 spaced from the resistance I!) thus providing an air space l5 surrounding chamber l2. If it is desired to make the salt chamber integral with the body I, as shown in Fig. 3, its lower end should be spaced from the heater sufficiently to provide an air chamber, as indicated at !6. The salt chamber is normally closed by a screw cap I! threaded to the receptacle l, and provided with the customary perforations IS.

A salt shaker embodying my invention is especially adapted for use in any locality where a generally prevailing high degree of humidity exists. By incorporating the heating element within the receptacle it is always in readiness for attachment to a circuit connecting plug and in case of continued inclement or rainy weather may be fitted thereto between meals, or as occasion may indicate.

I claim:

An electrically heated salt shaker comprising a tubular container having a salt chamber in its sulating disc secured within the lower end of the 10 container between said cut away portions and the bottom of the salt chamber and forming an air chamber, an electric heating element located in the air chamber and circuit terminals con- 4 nected therewith extending through and carried by the disc for engagement with the lateral circuit terminals in the plug.

ESTA WILLIAM RANCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,946,840 Cox Feb, 13, 1934 1,993,330 Latiolais Mar. 5, 1935 2,398,939 Horn Apr. 23, 1946

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