The present invention relates to the grinding of vegetative material, e.g. cannabis, by means of a device configured such that a relatively precise predetermined dose or portion of the vegetative material results from the use of this device. Grinding is often also referred to as shredding of the vegetative material.

Before further processing or consumption, vegetative material such as cannabis, tobacco or herbs are often ground or shredded, easing the processing for consumption, and allowing for longer storage of the unground vegetative material while retaining its freshness as opposed to pre-ground material.

US8733679, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a device for shredding or grinding of herbs, tobacco and other vegetative material with a manually driven grinder assembly having two plates with opposing interdigitated teeth. The device comprises a weighing mechanism relaying to the user a measured weight of the ground material that is collected in a weighing receptacle. Once the desired weight is achieved, the user is expected to stop the manual action of grinding the vegetative material in order to obtain the desired dose. This known device has shortcomings which the present invention aims to overcome, the most important of which appears to be that the device disclosed in US8733679 tends to be inaccurate in the hands of the average user.

It is an aim of the invention to facilitate the user in the preparation of a desired dose of ground vegetative material, e.g. in view of obtaining desired effects of the dose of vegetative material. At the same time it is an aim to void that the user inadvertently produces an excessive amount of the ground material. The latter could lead to either waste of the vegetative material or improper dosage.

Especially for use in medical practice, e.g. cannabis as a medicament, e.g. as pain medicative control, correct dosing of vegetative material for medicinal use is desired.

The present invention aims to provide measures that improve ease of use in producing a more correct dose of ground vegetative material by means of a device with a manually driven grinder. More specifically the invention aims to improve the reliability of delivering a repeatably consistent dose of the ground vegetative material.

The invention provides a device according to claim 1.

The device allows for the user to set the dose, e.g. based on a prescription, by operating the dose setting means before starting the manual grinding operation. Then the user can start the grinding operation, e.g. by rotating a grinder cap of the device relative to the base part. The ground material is shed from the grinding assembly and is collected and weighed. The weighing device is coupled to the locking mechanism.

Preferably the weighing, coupling, and locking is all embodied mechanically without the use of electronics.

Once the pre-set dose of ground vegetative material is collected, the coupling causes the locking mechanism to lock the manually driven grinding assembly so that grinding is halted.

Only by disengagement of the locking mechanism, e.g. the user pressing a locking member back to its unlocked state, the manual grinder assembly can be operated again, e.g. in view of the next use of the device.

The inventive manual grinder device facilitates the user in obtaining an accurate dose, e.g. compared to the prior art approach wherein the user has to read the collected weight from a display and at the same time coordinate the manual grinding action. For many users this is too demanding, e.g. taking into account that use may be done when someone is tired, at night, in pain, etc.

In a practical embodiment, the grinding assembly comprise two grinding parts, e.g. plates, with opposite grinding or working faces, each comprising a plurality of teeth. The parts are arranged with their teeth facing each other and interdigitated yet free to move past one another when an allowable relative, preferably rotating, motion between the two parts is performed. In an embodiment these teeth can be any type of sharp protrusions or relatively sharp protrusions cooperatively grinding or shredding vegetative material placed in between the grinding parts.

Relative motion between grinding parts can be achieved by one of the grinding parts, e.g. plates, preferably the upper grinding part, being attachable or attached to the main part, e.g. upper part, of the housing and the other grinding part being stationary relative to the base part of the housing, wherein the main part and base part of the housing are manually movable, preferably by a rotating motion, e.g. about a vertical axis, relatively to each other. Preferably, the base part is configured to be stationary during use, e.g. embodied to be placed on a table, and the main part is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the base part, so that the user can grip the main part, e.g. while using one hand to stabilize the base part, and rotate the main part so as to drive the grinder assembly.

It is understood in light of the invention that ‘grinding’ can also be meant to convey comminuting, crushing, pulverizing, milling, granulating, mashing, smashing, grating, fragmenting, crunching, mincing, shredding, breaking up, macerating, reducing, chopping , chopping up, chopping into pieces, chopping finely, slicing, grinding down, ripping up, tearing up, cutting up, conjugations of these words or similar wording.

In a practical embodiment, the relative motion between the grinding parts performs a grinding or shredding action on the vegetative material placed in between the grinding parts. The grinding or shredding motion then produces ground or shred vegetative material small enough to be shed from the grinder assembly, e.g. to pass through openings in at least one of the grinding parts and/or past at least one of the grinding parts.

In an embodiment, the grinding assembly comprises three or more grinding parts which when driven cooperatively grind the vegetative material placed in between the grinding assembly.

In a practical embodiment, underneath the grinding assembly, e.g. a perforated grinding part thereof, there is provided the weighing receptacle, e.g. embodied as a cup, tray, basket or other container that is able to receive the ground material falling from the grinder assembly, e.g. through the openings or passing past a grinder part.

The weighing mechanism is housed in the housing, preferably in the base part thereof, such that the weighing receptacle can be placed at least in part within the housing, e.g. upon the weighing mechanism allowing the weighing mechanism to weigh (the contents of) the weighing receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment, the weighing receptacle is a removable receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment, the weighing receptacle is a removable receptacle which is configured to be removed after the predetermined dose of vegetative material has been ground, e.g. such that it can be emptied and contents used for further processing and/or consumption, after which it is to be placed back.

It is understood in light of the invention that for the receptacle I weighing mechanism collecting the ground material can also mean to catch, gather, receive, fall into, or otherwise gain possession over the vegetative material shed from the grinding assembly.

In a practical and preferred embodiment, the weighing mechanism and the locking mechanism are coupled through a mechanical coupling mechanism that interacts with the dose-setting mechanism such that collection of the pre-set desired weight of vegetative material causes engagement of the locking mechanism through the mechanical coupling mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises purely mechanical parts as opposed to electronical parts, embodied as e.g. electric actuators, controllers, sensors.

In a preferred embodiment, the interacting dose-setting means and mechanical coupling mechanism comprises a bi-stable mechanism.

In an embodiment, the bi-stable mechanism comprises a spring, wherein the spring force is adjustable and the dose setting mechanism is configured to set the spring force, e.g. by pretensioning the spring.

In an embodiment, the bi-stable mechanism is spring loaded and the user must apply an intentional force, e.g. on the locking member, to switch the bi-stable mechanism back from enforcing the locked state into the unlocked state of the locking member.

In an alternative embodiment, locking of the manually driven grinding assembly can be achieved by means of an electronically activated locking mechanism. For example, weighing can be achieved by means of an electronical weighing apparatus which is electronically coupled to an electronically activated locking mechanism.

In an alternative embodiment, the coupling mechanism between the locking mechanism and the weighing mechanism can also be embodied as an electronical controlling device or mechanism or electronical controller. In a preferred embodiment, the grinder assembly is configured to be driven by hand by rotating a grinder cap, e.g. interacting with an upper grinder member, relative to the base part of the device.

In a practical embodiment, the device is dimensioned so that a user is able to place one hand on and/or around the main part, e.g. a grinder cap, and is able to stabilize, e.g. prevent motion of, the base part by the other hand, e.g. holding the base part stable on a table, such that the user is able to rotate the main part of the device relative to the base part by hand so that a grinding operation is performed.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a weighing pin supporting the receptacle and configured to move up and down relative to the base part, the up and down motion being based on the weight resting upon the weighing pin, e.g. the dose collected in the receptacle. The up/down movement, e.g. the up/down stroke, of the weighing pin is configured to (also) be influenced by the pre-set setting of the coupled weighing and locking mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, when in the active measurement state, the weighing receptacle rests upon the weighing pin such that the full weight of the weighing receptacle and its contents is measured by the weighing mechanism.

In an embodiment, part of the weighing device, preferably the weighing receptacle, rests upon the weighing pin such that the full weight of the weighing receptacle and its contents is measured by the weighing mechanism, i.e. also when the device is not in the active measurement state.

In an embodiment, the weighing pin comprises a weighing mode and a locked mode. The weighing mode and the locked mode are related to the locked and unlocked state of the locking mechanism. In an embodiment, the locked mode of the weighing pin is such that the weighing pin has been lowered such that it no longer weighs the weighing receptacle and its contents until the locking mechanism is disengaged. In an embodiment of the invention, the locking member constantly supports the full weight of the weighing receptacle while weighing pin is in its weighing mode.

In an embodiment, the weighing receptacle is provided with a hole or indent configured to receive the weighing pin. In an embodiment, the weighing receptacle is provided with a conical centering part used to center the weighing pin into the weighing receptacle. In an embodiment, the conical centering part is a weighing receptacle centering cone.

In an embodiment, the conical centering part is a weighing receptacle centering cone fitting upon a sieve receptacle centering cone such that it can rest upon this sieve receptacle centering cone when no longer supported by the weighing pin.

In a preferred embodiment, the weighing receptacle is provided with a handle to lift the weighing receptacle out of or place it into a weighing chamber of the device.

In an embodiment, the handle of the weighing receptacle is configured to align the weighing receptacle inside the weighing chamber.

In a practical and preferred embodiment, the device is configured to be used in a vertical orientation.

In a practical embodiment, the device is used in a substantial vertical orientation while the base part of the housing rests upon a substantial horizontal surface.

For example, the conical centering part of the weighing receptacle enhances the accurate measurement of the weight of the weighing receptacle, e.g. even when the device is held/positioned slightly deviating from its preferred vertical orientation.

In an embodiment, the conical centering part of the weighing receptacle is configured such that relatively small deviations from a vertical weighing position are of negligible influence on the accuracy of weighing by the weighing mechanism.

The present invention also relates to a method for manual grinding of vegetative material using a device as described herein.

The invention will now be discussed with reference to the drawings. The device shown in figures will hereafter be referred to as a grinder. In the drawings:

Fig. 1a shows an isometric view of the grinder in its unlocked state,

Fig. 1b shows an isometric view of the grinder in a locked state,

Fig. 2a and 2b show a cross sectional view of the grinder in its respective unlocked and locked state, Fig. 3a and 3b show a cross sectional view of the grinder in its respective unlocked and locked state wherein the base housing has been omitted for illustrative purposes, Fig. 4a and 4b show a cross sectional view of the grinder in its respective unlocked and locked state wherein the base housing and grinder cap have been omitted for illustrative purposes,

Fig. 5a and 5b show a cross sectional view of the grinder in its respective unlocked and locked state wherein the base housing, grinder cap, top cap, and grinding funnel have been omitted for illustrative purposes,

Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the grinding assembly of the grinder in the locked state, Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the weighing chamber of the grinder in the locked state wherein the grinding assembly has been omitted for illustrative purposes,

Figs. 8a, b show exploded views such that the dosage weight pre-setting and adjustment mechanism as well as the lock mechanism and coupling can be observed,,

Fig. 9 shows an isometric view of the adjustment housing such that the pre-setting mechanism is clearly visible and wherein the grinding assembly, the weighing chamber assembly, and most of the housing has been omitted for illustrative purposes.

In figure 1a an isometric view of the grinder 1 is shown in its unlocked state.

The grinder comprises a housing with a main part 5 and a base part 6.

The base part 6 is provided with a manually rotatable dose pre-setting ring 7 which is operated by the user to set the dose such that a set weight of ground vegetative matter triggers and engages the locking mechanism of the device 1.

To consistently be able to adjust the pre-setting ring 7 in a position which can be repeatedly found, setting indicators 8 are provided on the base housing 47. To this end the pre-setting ring 7 is also provided with a pre-setting ring alignment indicator 9 to align with the desired setting.

The setting indicators 8 provided on base housing 47 indicate a setting for a desired weight of ground vegetative material for which the locking member s will engage. This desired weight can be set by aligning the pre-setting ring alignment indicator 9 to align with the respective one of the setting indicators 8 on the base housing 47 by rotating the pre-setting ring 7 with respect to the rest of the base part 6 of the housing. The locking member 3 can be seen in figure 1a to be arranged, here recessed in the housing, in its unlocked or free state. In this free state the grinder cap 19 of the housing can be rotated manually.

Figure 1a and 1b show the grinder cap 19 being provided with manual drive grips 10, e.g. vertical ribs on the exterior of the cap 19. The manual drive grips 10 enhance the application of force by hand to rotate the grinder cap 19 with respect to the base part 6.

The base part 6 has, to similar effect, been provided with base grip indents 13.

The locking member 3 can in figure 1b be seen to be in its locked state. Here the locking member has tilted up into one of the locking notches 11 provided in the grinder cap 19. The locking notches 11 here, as preferred, are aligned with the manual drive grips 10.

As such, in an alternative embodiment the locking notches 11 are out of alignment with the manual drive grips 10. In yet another embodiment the locking notches 11 share no obvious geometric relation to manual drive grips 10.

At the top of the main part 5 of the grinder in figures 1 a and 1 b an upper grinding part 20 can be seen through the top cap 12 which here is embodied as a clear see-through disc. This clear embodiment of the top cap 12 and the cut-outs in this embodiment of the upper grinding part 20 allows the user to observe the grinding process.

Observation of the grinding process also allows for the user to recognize when all or most of the vegetative material in between the grinding parts has been ground. It is not that this is not required for proper operation and use of the inventive device.

Figures 2a and 2b show a cross-sectional view of the grinder in its respective unlocked and locked state. This view is particularly useful in understanding the working of the grinder 1.

The main part 5 of the grinder can be seen to comprise the grinding assembly, part of the weighing assembly, means for connecting parts of the housing and a view of the clear top cap 12.

The grinding assembly comprising upper grinding part 20 and lower grinding part 21 wherein the upper grinding part 20 comprises cut-outs seen in figures 1a and 1b and the lower grinding part 21 has been provided with lower grinding part openings 22, here embodied as through holes. To aid in guiding the ground vegetative material into the weighing chamber 30 after passing through the lower grinding part openings 22 here a grinding funnel 23 is provided in the housing directly below the lower grinding part 21 and the grinding part openings 22.

The grinding funnel 23 here also forming the walls of a weighing chamber 30.

The grinding funnel 23 further is provided with outer threading at an upper part thereof serving as the lower grinding part threading 24 and an inner threading configured to be screwed upon the weighing chamber threading 25 connected to the base part 6.

The grinding funnel 23, upper grinding part 20, lower grinding part 21 and top cap 12 are of equal or similar diameter such that the grinder cap 19 fits over the grinding assembly 18, top cap, grinding funnel 23, and weighing chamber 30.

Preferably, the grinder cap 19 fits rather over all these parts.

The grinder cap 19 can be configured to rest on the base housing 47 and in embodiments be provided with a bearing between this resting connection or be just clear of being in contact with the base housing 47 by resting upon the top cap 20 and there being a minimal distance between the base housing 47 and the grinder cap 19 such that it can rotate freely above the base housing 47.

In the unlocked state of figure 2a the weighing receptacle 31 can be seen to be pushed up by the weighing pin 40 against the underside of the weighing funnel 23.

The weighing receptacle 31 rests on the weighing pin 40 at the weighing receptacle end stop 34 which also acts as a handle which can be used to pick up the weighing receptacle out of the weighing chamber when the grinder cap, grinding assembly, and grinding funnel have been removed.

The weighing receptacle end stop 34 in the unlocked state of the grinder is pushed up through a centre one of the lower grinding part openings 22 while resting on the weighing pin 40.

The weighing receptacle 31 further is provided with a sieve 32 to sieve the ground vegetative material such that small ground vegetative material falls into the sieve receptacle 35 which rests upon the weighing chamber threading and is centered around the weighing pin 40 with base centering cone 37 and sieve receptacle centering cone 36. The sieve receptacle centering cone 36 rests upon and over the base centering cone 37.

The weighing receptacle 31 also is provided with a weighing receptacle centering cone 33 at the underside thereof such that when the weighing pin 40 is retracted and the locking member 3 is engaged as illustrated in figure 2b the weighing receptacle centering cone 33 rests upon and over the sieve receptacle centering cone 36.

At and within the base part 6 there is provided another part of the weighing assembly, the locking mechanism, and the dose-setting assembly of the grinder 1.

A part of the locking assembly is shown in a lock chamber housing 46 inside the base housing 47.

It is illustrated in figures 2a, 2b, that the coupling mechanism comprises a weigh-lock coupler 43 and a weighing pin tensioner 41 , e.g. embodied as rubber bands, which links the weighing pin 40 and the movable locking member 3.

The locking member 3 is tiltable relative to the base part 6 of the housing.

The weigh-lock coupler 43 at the side of the weighing pin 40 is at the end thereof connected to the weighing pin tensioner end stop 44 by the weighing pin tensioner 41.

The weighing pin tensioner end stop 44 is connected to the weighing pin 40.

The distance of the weighing pin tensioner end stop 44 to the weighing pin end stop 45 in the unlocked state of the grinder is variably dependent on the setting of the dose setting assembly while in the locked state of the grinder the weighing pin tensioner end stop 44 rests upon the weighing pin end stop 45.

The setting assembly is illustrated to be fastened to the lock chamber housing 46 by means lock chamber fasteners 51 and the foot portion 50 is fastened to the setting assembly by base housing fasteners 52.

The base housing fasteners 52 also are connected to the guides 61 for the pre-setting mechanism best seen in figures 8 and 9. The weighing device, the weigh-lock coupler 43, weighing pin 40, weighing pin tensioner 41 , lock tensioner 42, weighing pin tensioner end stop 44, weighing pin end stop 45, lock chamber housing 46, locking member 3 and weighing receptacle 31 and can be seen to operate in unison by observing the mechanism in figures 2a-5b.

In figures 3a and 3b the base housing 47 has been omitted to illustrate the working of the weighing and locking mechanisms more clearly. In figures 4a and 4b the grinder cap 19, base housing 47, and lock chamber housing 46 have been omitted to further clearly illustrate the working of the weighing and locking mechanisms.

In figures 5a and 5b the grinder cap 19, base housing 47, lock chamber housing 46, grinding funnel 23, weighing chamber threading 25 and top cap 12 have been omitted to illustrate clearly, with a small number of parts, the working of the weighing and locking mechanisms.

Furthermore in figures 5a and 5b an increased distance between the upper and lower grinding part is shown to better illustrate the interdigitated teeth of the grinding assembly and to illustrate where the vegetative material is placed before grinding.

There is a significance in the location of the connections of the weighing pin tensioner 41 relatively to the weighing pin 40 upon the weigh-lock coupler 43 and the lock tensioner 42 upon the locking member 3 in that the relative placement of all these parts and connections together form a bistable mechanism. As long as the weight of the weighing receptacle 31 including the vegetative material collected therein does not overcome the force of the spring 42, the lock tensioner spring 42 keeps the lock member 3 in its unlocked state. Once enough ground material is collected, the bi-stable mechanism causes the switch of the lock member s to its locked state so that rotation of the grinder cap 19 is no longer possible and grinding is immediately halted.

Once the locking member s of the locking mechanism has latched into its locked state it is held in its locked state by the same lock tensioner spring 42, even if the weight of the weighing receptacle 31 including the vegetative material has been removed.

Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the grinding assembly of the grinder in the locked state, wherein it becomes apparent how the main part 5 and grinding assembly 18 of the grinder 1 can be disassembled to be able to place vegetative material into the grinding assembly. The grinding process should then also become apparent from the interdigitated teeth of the upper and lower grinding parts 20 and 21 such that the ground vegetative material passes through the lower grinding part openings 22 into the funnel 23 and onto the sieve 32 in the weighing receptacle 31.

As explained earlier, the grinding process can in this embodiment also be observed through the cut outs in the upper grinding part 20 by means of the clear top cap 12 held in place by the grinder cap 19.

The grinder cap 19 is configured to connect with the upper grinding part 20 such that rotating the grinder cap 19 with respect to the base part 6 of the grinder will rotate the upper grinding part 20 relatively to the lower grinding part 21 after the lower grinding part 21 has been securely attached to the base part 6 by screwing it onto the lower grinding part threading 24 and reassembly the main part 5.

This connection of the grinder cap 19 and the upper grinding part 20 can in different embodiments be accomplished by other connecting or fastening methods known in the state of the art e.g. mechanically, glued, welded, press-fit, or any other suitable connection.

In this configuration it is also possible to aid the sieve 32 in sieving the material since it can now be accessed.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the weighing chamber 30 of the grinder in the locked state wherein the grinding assembly has been omitted for illustrative purposes. This illustrates that in the exemplary embodiment the grinder cap 19 as well as the grinding funnel 23 need to be removed before the weighing receptacle 31 and/or the sieve receptacle 35 can be taken out and/or emptied.

Furthermore figure 7 clearly illustrates the centering of the sieve receptacle 35 and the weighing receptacle 34 around the weighing pin 40 and upon the base centering cone 37, sieve receptacle centering cone 36 by the weighing receptacle centering cone 33.

The weighing receptacle centering cone 33 further allows for an improved measurement accuracy when the grinder is not placed on a support surface, e.g. table, or is not held perfectly vertical during grinding or weighing. For example, the device may be construed to still work properly when about 5 - 10 degrees tilted. Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of the lock chamber such that pre-setting and adjustment mechanism can be observed and wherein the grinding assembly, grinder cap, and the weighing chamber assembly have been omitted for illustrative purposes.

Here the lock chamber 46 can clearly be seen to comprise cut-outs for the locking member 3 and weigh-lock coupler 43 to be able to move as intended without obstruction. Also visible is the point around which the locking member 3 and weigh-lock coupler 43 rotate within the cutouts of the lock chamber 46.

Although shown in an exploded view it should be clear that it is not possible to remove the base housing 47 or lock chamber housing 46 without disassembling the whole grinder mechanism or breaking the device and are shown here separate in an exploded view for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 9 shows an isometric view of the adjustment housing such that the pre-setting mechanism is clearly visible and wherein the grinding assembly, the weighing chamber assembly, and most of the housing has been omitted for illustrative purposes.

In figure 9 the pre-setting mechanism is illustrated while the locking member 3 is in its locked state.

The pre-setting ring 7 is connected to body 59, and is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to foot 50 of the base part 6 of the housing. The body 59 has semi-circular slots 60, here three, each receiving a guide, here a roller 61 , therein.

Rotation of the pre-setting ring 7 is possible, yet limited by the slots 60 and guides 61. A further slot acts as an adjustment ramp for a lock tensioner spring adjustment member 63, so that rotation of the ring 7 causes a variation of the force of the lock tensioner spring 42 and thus a change of the bi-stable operation. The orientation of the lock tensioner adjustment guide 63 is kept the same with respect to the weighing pin base cylinder 64 by another guiding slot which is part of the base housing 47 which in this figure is omitted.

By adjusting the pre-tension in the lock tensioner spring 42 the force required to overcome the unlocked state of the locking mechanism will change accordingly and thus the weight required on the weighing pin 40 will change as well thereby setting the activation weight of the locking mechanism and thus the dosage weight. The device as described and illustrated in the figures is configured to be operated according to the following steps: a) detaching I removing the grinding cap such that the grinding assembly becomes accessible, b) removing or opening up the upper part of the grinding assembly, c) placing vegetative material in the grinding assembly, d) placing or closing the upper part of the grinding assembly keeping the vegetative material in place between the grinding parts of the grinding assembly, e) reattaching the grinding cap, f) setting the desired dosage weight of ground material by operating the ring, g) manually rotating the grinding cap relative to the base part and thereby driving the grinding assembly such that the vegetative material is ground, h) keep rotating the grinding cap until the locking mechanism engages which blocks further rotation, so that the desired dose of ground material is collected, i) opening the grinder to remove the filled weighing receptacle for further processing or other use of the ground material.

In a preferred embodiment, all steps are performed while keeping the device in a substantial vertical orientation, e.g. mounted on a substantial horizontal surface, e.g. on a table.