U.S. patent application number 10/230858 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-04 for decorative container.
Invention is credited to Menceles, Andrew.
Application Number | 20040040959 10/230858 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32683235 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040040959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Menceles, Andrew |
March 4, 2004 |
Decorative container
Abstract
A decorative container used for small articles such as
cosmetics, includes a base, opposed side walls and opposed end
walls. The side walls have a generally wave-like configuration when
seen in plan from above or below. The configuration of the walls
permits multiple containers to be arranged in side-by-side array
with the end walls abutting, resulting in a continuous
uninterrupted wave-like appearance of the side walls. The resulting
visual effect is highly attractive. The container lid may be of the
identical opacity as the container body or it may be provided in a
contrasting colour or opacity. The container lid is preferably flat
and flush with the container walls.
Inventors: |
Menceles, Andrew;
(Willodale, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Adrian Zahl
Ridout & Maybee LLp
150 Metcalfe Street, 19th Floor
Ottawa
ON
K2P 1P1
CA
|
Family ID: |
32683235 |
Appl. No.: |
10/230858 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.2 ;
220/324; 220/787 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0202 20130101;
B65D 2543/00546 20130101; B65D 2543/00814 20130101; B65D 2543/00148
20130101; B65D 43/021 20130101; B65D 2543/00666 20130101; B65D
2543/00703 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00518
20130101; B65D 2543/0074 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/023.2 ;
220/324; 220/787 |
International
Class: |
B65D 021/02; B65D
041/18 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A decorative container comprising a container body comprising a
base and substantially vertical and opposed side walls and end
walls, said side walls being fully parallel to each other and
having a curved, generally wave-like configuration when viewed in
plan from above or below, said end walls being fully parallel to
each other such that when a multiplicity of said containers is
grouped together in abutting end-to-end relationship, the side
walls thereof abut and form a continuous wave-like appearance.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end walls are
substantially flat.
3. A container as defined claim 1, further comprising a lid having
opposed side and end edges, said side edges being generally flush
with said side and end walls when said lid is fitted on said
container body.
4. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said lid includes a
pair of downwardly depending tabs for fitting within said container
body, said tabs and container body including mating members for
releasably retaining said lid to said container body.
5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said mating members
comprise a protrusion extending outwardly from each of said tabs
and corresponding recesses within the walls of said container body
for releasably receiving said protrusions.
6. A container as defined in claim 1, which is generally elongate
in configuration with said side walls being longer than said end
walls.
7. A container set comprising two or more containers as defined in
claim 1 identical to each other and capable of being arranged in
abutting end-to-end relationship wherein said side walls form a
continuous wave-like appearance.
8. A container comprising a container body comprising a base and
opposed side walls and end walls and a removable lid, said lid
having side and end peripheral edges corresponding with the side
and end walls of said container when said lid is placed thereon,
and upper and lower surfaces, said lid having at least one
downwardly depending tab protruding from said lower surface, said
tab being adjacent to an end edge of said lid for extending into
the interior of said container body and contacting an end wall
thereof, said tab and said end wall including a releasable clasp
comprising a mating projection and recess wherein said lid may be
snapped-locked to said container body.
9. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein said protrusion
protrudes outwardly from said tab and said recess is set within
said container body for receiving said protrusion.
10. A container as defined in claim 8 comprising two of said tabs
adjacent to opposed end edges of said lid, said tabs for contacting
opposed end walls of said container body, each of said tabs and
corresponding end walls of said container including said releasable
clasp.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of rigid decorative
containers for articles such as cosmetics. More particularly, the
invention relates to containers having a removable or openable lid
and which provide an appealing visual aspect when a group of
multiple identical containers are arranged together.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Decorative containers are useful for marketing of consumer
items such as cosmetics, in which it is important to provide
articles in eye-catching containers or packaging. For example,
perfume bottles represent an art form in themselves. There also
exist a wide variety of decorative containers, with and without
removable or openable lids, suitable for small articles. An
important aspect of such containers for commercial purposes is that
they be suited for setting up an attractive in-store display for
catching the eye of customers. This is particularly important in
the case of small containers for retail items such as a container
for a cosmetic, since on their own such containers may be too small
to be noticed by a customer. Hence, there is a need for a container
which is both visually distinctive and which is suitable for
arranging in a set of identical containers to form an eye catching
display. While one may arrange a display comprising an array of
simple rectangular cases or containers, this is so common as to not
be particularly eye catching. It is accordingly an object of the
present invention to provide a decorative container suitable for
arranging in a set of identical members to form an eye catching and
attractive arrangement. For this purpose, a set of identical
containers may be provided which when placed in a group forms an
attractive three dimensional pattern.
[0003] It is also a desirable feature of a container for consumer
articles that it be capable of inexpensive mass production, for
example by common plastic molding techniques.
[0004] A further desirable feature of a container is the provision
of a removable lid which is simple to use, easy and inexpensive to
manufacture, and has good retention to the container body.
[0005] The field of containers for small articles is, of course,
ancient and replete with examples of lidded containers. By way of
an illustrative example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,052 to Vajtay
discloses a box including an open-ended tubular sleeve having a
rectangular cross section into which rectangular, hollow insert
closure boxes can be inserted. Narrow elongated slots on the
sleeves end walls are able to receive a tab on the closure box so
that the boxes can be locked into place thereby closing the
sleeve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present is to provide an improved
decorative container for consumer articles, especially small
articles, and which presents a decorative appearance particularly
when a group of identical containers are arranged in end-to-end or
side-by-side relationship. A further object is to provide a
decorative container for holding articles having an improved
removable lid.
[0007] The invention consists of a decorative container body having
a base and generally vertical opposed side walls and end walls, the
side walls being characterized by a continuously curving
configuration such as a wave-like shape. Preferably the entirety of
each side wall is continuously curving and forms an S-shape when
viewed in plan. The opposed end walls are preferably flat.
Preferably the end walls are substantially aligned with each other,
although some degree of offset is acceptable; that is, the end
walls preferably both form a substantially right angle relative to
an imaginary vertical plane bisecting the elongate axis of the
container and passing through both end walls. However, it is
envisioned that the end walls may be disposed at an angle other
than 90.degree. relative to the central plane or that they may take
on a shape other than flat, such as curved.
[0008] The side walls are fully parallel to each other, as are the
end walls. That is, the spacing between the side walls remains the
same at all positions, and the same is true of the end walls.
Because the end walls are parallel to each other, multiple
identical containers may be placed next to each other in an
end-to-end abutting array to form a grouping of containers having
the appearance of a unitary object. The overall appearance is that
of an elongate structure with continuously waving side walls. The
overall effect can be quite dramatic.
[0009] A further aspect of the invention consists of an open-topped
container having an improved removable cap or lid. Preferably, the
lid has a flat, plate-like top. Depending tabs on either end of the
lid extend into the interior of the container body and contact the
side walls of the container body. Each tab may fit within a recess
set into the container wall. A mating protrusion and aperture
arrangement between the tab and the corresponding wall provides a
releasable fastener or clasp for the lid for snap-locking the lid
to the body. The protrusions may extend from the tabs, and mate
with recesses within the container body, or vice-versa.
[0010] Concerning directional references in the present patent
specification (including claims), reference is made to terms such
as up, down, lower, upper, etc. These references are for
convenience of description only. It will be understood that the
container of the present invention may be placed in any
orientation. The directional references used herein refer to the
container placed in the ordinary, upright position, with the base
resting on a horizontal surface and the container opening upwardly,
as shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0011] Having thus generally characterized the invention, the
invention will now be further illustrated by way of a detailed
description and drawings of one embodiment of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the cap
in place;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1, showing the cap
removed;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container body and cap,
taken along lines 2(a) of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, illustrating a group of
containers arranged in a decorative display; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a plan view, from above, of a further arrangement
of multiple containers according to the present invention arranged
in a different decorative display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the container 10 according to the
invention consists of a container body 12 and a removable lid 14.
The container body comprises a substantially flat, plate-like base
16, substantially vertical sidewalls 18 and substantially vertical
end walls 20. The container is preferably elongate; that is, the
side walls are longer than the end walls. The side walls 18 curve
continuously along their length when seen in plan, in a generally
wave-shaped configuration such as S-shaped configuration. For the
present purposes, an S-shaped curvature of the side walls is
particularly suitable by virtue of its simplicity and eye-catching
nature. In order to permit a continuous appearance when multiple
containers are arranged together, in an end-to-end array, the
opposed side walls 18 on either side of the container are fully
parallel to each other. That is, the walls are spaced an equal
distance apart at all points and if they were to be placed against
each other, they would fully contact each other with no gaps. The
end walls 20 are also fully parallel to each other. In the
preferred embodiment, the end walls are substantially flat.
However, if desired, they may take on a curved or other
configuration provided that opposed end walls remain fully parallel
to each other.
[0018] The lid 14 includes a flat, plate-like upper surface 22 the
size and shape of which is essentially identical to the base 16.
Preferably the peripheral edges 24 of the lid 14 are flush with the
walls of the container for a smooth appearance. In order to
accommodate the S-shaped curving side walls, the lid 14 and base 16
each have a generally S-shaped configuration when viewed in plan
from above or below.
[0019] The lid 14 is secured to the container body 12 in a
snap-lock engagement by a pair of depending tabs 26 extending
downwardly from opposed ends of the lid 14. The tabs 26 may take on
any desired configuration, the tabs being shown as generally
semi-circular in the illustrated embodiment herein. The tabs 26 are
recessed slightly from the edge 24 to permit them to fit within the
interior of the container body. The lid 14 +is releasably retained
to the container body by means of projections 28 extending
outwardly from the outerface of each tab 26, which fit within
corresponding recesses 30 within each end wall of the container
body. It will be seen that this arrangement of mating projection
and recess may be reversed, with a projection extending from the
container body and a corresponding recess extending into the tab
26. The shape of the projections 28 and resilience of the tabs 26
are suitable for retaining the lid snugly to the container body,
while still permitting release by a gentle upward tug on the lid.
Depending on the nature of the anticipated contents and use of the
container, the tabs and projection/recess arrangement may be
arranged to require a greater or lesser amount of force to open or
close. For example, if child-proofing is required a relatively
greater amount of required force may be selected to release the
clasp.
[0020] The overall size of the container may vary widely, depending
on the intended purpose of the container. For example, if the
container is for retaining small cosmetic items, the dimensions of
the container may conveniently range from between 4 and 10 cm. in
either height or length and 1 to 8 cm. in width. It will be seen
that these ranges are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention but are merely presented by way of an example.
[0021] The container according to the present invention may be
fabricated from a single material such as a rigid moldable plastic.
Alternatively, the base and/or lid may be made from a different
material from the side walls in order to provide visual interest or
improved structural qualities. The container in its entirety or any
one or more of the base, side walls and lid may be transparent,
semi-transparent or opaque. As well, any of the surfaces of the
container may be imprinted with any type of message, lettering or,
design or logo,this feature being particularly desirable for the
cosmetics industry. The lid may be the same colour as the body or
contrasting.
[0022] Multiple containers 10 according to the present invention
may be arranged in various eye-catching configurations, as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5. As seen in FIG. 4, any number of identical
containers may be placed in end-to-end relationship on a flat
display surface. The result is a visually attractive arrangement in
which the side walls 18 appear to form a continuous wave-like
pattern. The effect may be enhanced by selection of materials
having a shimmering or partly transparent appearance. As seen in
FIG. 5, multiple containers 10 may be placed in either or both
side-to-side or end-to-end abutting relationship to achieve a
similar effect.
[0023] Having described the present invention by way of a general
description as well as a detailed description of one preferred
embodiment thereof, it will be seen that the present invention is
not limited in its scope to the features described in the above
detailed description. Rather, the present invention includes within
its scope the features and elements set forth in the accompanying
patent claims, as well as elements which are the equivalent
thereto.
* * * * *