Dispensing apparatus

1. A dispensing apparatus for gravity feeding of a dispensable product, the apparatus comprising:

a non-rotating container; and

a rotatable dispenser,

wherein the container is adapted to contain the dispensable product as contents and is operatively connected to the dispenser,

the dispenser including a chute configured as a dispenser and an outlet for the dispensable product while maintaining a sealing containment of the contents at all times,

the chute protruding out from the container, and being tubular with an entry end and an exit end, whereby an operable, manual rotation of the chute into a dispensing position is sufficient to cause a dispensing operation that dispenses, by gravity, the dispensable product from the container to the exit end of the chute for exiting the dispensing apparatus,

wherein the chute is biasedly attached to the container to automatically return the chute to a closed position, whereby dispensing of the product is prevented, after completion of the dispensing operation,

wherein the chute is operatively connected to a gate,

wherein the chute includes

a first rotatable member that permits rotation of the chute with respect to the container, and

a second rotatable member comprising a toothed wheel located above the first rotatable member and rotationally affixed to the container, the chute and the gate, and configured to permit a limited rotation whereby, in use, rotation of the chute about the first rotatable member into the dispensing position causes the gate to move a predetermined distance to open the dispenser to permit dispensing of the dispensable product therefrom,

wherein the gate comprises a U-shaped member that includes a base portion and arms, the base portion configured to block the entry end of the chute when the chute is in the closed position, and the arms being rotatably joined to the chute,

wherein rotation of the chute about the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member causes the gate to rotate in a direction opposed to that of the chute,

wherein the chute includes side tab portions extending upwardly from the entry end of the chute, the container and the chute being connected by way of said side tab portions, and

wherein the arms of the U-shaped member of the gate are rotatably joined to said side tab portions of the chute.

2. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gate has a curved base portion and is rotatably mounted to the chute whereby, in use, the base portion of the gate slidably moves past a similarly curved portion of the chute to allow opening and closing of the chute.

3. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an agitator is adapted to move and assist the dispensable contents to move when the dispenser is being activated or operated.

4. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the agitator comprises an adjustable arm located externally to the container, whereby the agitator can be operatively caused to move upwards or downwards.

5. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the apparatus includes an extender being operatively connected and adapted to allow the container to be moved relative to a support to allow refilling or dispensing therefrom while the support remains stationary.

6. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the extender comprises moveably rotatably connected and foldable arms which are connected to the support whereby the support is connected to the container.

7. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the chute is biasedly connected to the container by way of a flexible resilient member configured to urge the chute into the closed position, and

wherein the chute is configured to be operated by hand to act against a bias of the resilient member to rotate the chute to dispense the dispensable product, whereby in a single action by hand for rotating the chute directly and simultaneously causes a dispensing of the dispensable product.

8. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the container is operatively connected to the dispenser by mechanical means only.

9. A dispensing apparatus for gravity feeding of a dispensable product, the apparatus comprising:

a non-rotating container; and

a dispenser,

wherein the container is adapted to contain the dispensable product as contents and is operatively connected to the dispenser,

the dispenser including a chute configured as an outlet for the dispensable product while maintaining a sealing containment of the contents at all times,

the chute protruding out from the container, and being tubular with an entry end and an exit end, whereby an operable, manual rotation of the chute to a dispensing position causes the dispensable product to be able to be dispensed by gravity from the container to the exit end of the chute for exiting the dispensing apparatus,

wherein the chute is biasedly attached to the container to automatically return the chute to a closed position after completion of a dispensing operation thereby to stop dispensing of the dispensable product from the container,

wherein the chute is operatively connected to a gate,

wherein the chute includes a first rotatable member to allow rotation of the chute with respect to the container, and a second rotatable member comprising a toothed wheel located above the first rotatable member and rotationally affixed to the container, the chute, and the gate, and configured to permit rotation by only a fixed distance whereby an operative rotation of the chute about the first rotatable member from the closed position to the dispensing position causes, via the toothed wheel, the gate to move by a predetermined distance to open the dispenser permitting dispensing of the dispensable product from the container, and

wherein the gate comprises a curved base portion and arms rotatably mounted to the chute whereby, in use, the base portion of the gate slidably moves past a similarly curved portion of the chute to allow opening and closing of the chute

wherein the chute includes side tab portions extending upwardly from the entry end of the chute, the container and the chute being connected by way of said side tab portions, and

wherein the arms of the gate are rotatably joined to said side tab portions of the chute.

10. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein an agitator is adapted to move and assist the dispensable contents to move when the dispenser is being activated or operated.

11. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the agitator comprises an adjustable arm located externally to the container, whereby the agitator can be operatively caused to move upwards or downwards.

12. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the apparatus includes an extender being operatively connected and adapted to allow the container to be moved relative to a support to allow refilling or dispensing therefrom.

13. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the extender comprises moveably rotatably connected and foldable arms which are connected to the support whereby the support is connected to the container.

14. A dispensing apparatus for gravity feeding of a dispensable product, comprising:

a non-rotating container; and

a dispenser,

the container being adapted to contain the dispensable product as contents and operatively connected to the dispenser,

the dispenser including a rotatable chute configured as an outlet for the dispensable product while maintaining a sealing containment of the contents, the chute, protruding out from the container, being tubular with an entry end and an exit end,

the chute configured to rotate with respect to the container, a first operational position in rotation of the chute causing the dispensable product to be dispensed directly from the container by gravity to the exit end of the chute for exiting the dispenser, and a second operational position in rotation of the chute preventing dispensation of the dispensable product, an operation for dispensing the dispensable product being accomplished as a single operation via a rotation of the chute from the second operational position to the first operational position,

wherein the chute is rotatably coupled to a gate that blocks the entry end of the chute when the chute is in the second position, the chute and the gate being coupled so that the rotation of the chute causes the gate to rotate and be displaced from the entry end of the chute, thereby permitting dispensing of the product from the container, and

wherein the chute includes a biasing element attached to the container configured to apply a force against the chute to urge the chute into the second operational position, the biasing element comprising any of a spring or a tensioned member,

wherein the gate comprises a base portion and arms extending from opposite ends of the base portion, the base portion configured to block the entry end of the chute when the chute is in the closed position,

wherein the chute includes side tab portions extending upwardly from the entry end of the chute, the container and the chute being connected by way of said side tab portions, and

wherein the arms of the gate are rotatably joined to said side tab portions of the chute.

15. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 ,

wherein the chute includes a first rotatable member that enables a rotation of the chute with respect to the container, and a second rotatable member comprising a toothed wheel located above the first rotatable member and rotationally affixed to the container, the chute and gate,

an operational rotation of the chute about the first rotatable member causing the gate to move a set distance to either open or close the dispenser.

16. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 ,

wherein the base portion of the gate is curved, and

wherein the base portion of the gate is configured to move slidably past a corresponding portion of the chute.

17. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:

an agitator configured to cause the dispensable contents to move when the dispenser is operated, the agitator comprising adjustable arms located externally to the container.

18. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:

an extender being operatively connected and configured to cause the container to be positioned in either of a refilling mode or dispensing mode,

the extender comprising moveably and rotatably connected foldable arms, said arms being connected to a support, and the support being connected to the container.

19. The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a coupling between the chute and the gate causes, in response to an operative rotation of the chute in a first rotational direction, the gate to reversibly rotate in an opposite second rotational direction for displacing the gate.