U.S. patent application number 12/560512 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for pivoting slide closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to J.L. Clark, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward P. Cronin, Joseph P. Valley III.
Application Number | 20100078437 12/560512 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42056292 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100078437 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Valley III; Joseph P. ; et
al. |
April 1, 2010 |
PIVOTING SLIDE CLOSURE
Abstract
A slider package is illustrated which includes a lid which can
be linearly translated and selectively pivoted relative to a
container. A slide assembly is provided between the lid and
container which may include tracks and at least one follower such
as one or more projecting cylindrical tabs which slide against and
can be rotated relative to the tracks. Partition spacers may also
be employed to separate and space individual units of consumable
products. This feature may also be employed in a non-slider package
such as a container having a lid which is permanently connected to
the container by a living hinge. The packages are preferably formed
through plastic molding.
Inventors: |
Valley III; Joseph P.;
(Roscoe, IL) ; Cronin; Edward P.; (Brodhead,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN P.C.
2215 PERRYGREEN WAY
ROCKFORD
IL
61107
US
|
Assignee: |
J.L. Clark, Inc.
Rockford
IL
|
Family ID: |
42056292 |
Appl. No.: |
12/560512 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61101828 |
Oct 1, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/507 ;
220/555; 220/812 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/249 20130101;
B65D 43/162 20130101; B65D 25/107 20130101; B65D 43/20
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/507 ;
220/812; 220/555 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/24 20060101
B65D001/24; B65D 43/20 20060101 B65D043/20 |
Claims
1. A package, comprising: a container having a base and a sidewall
projecting upwardly therefrom to define an opening; a lid adapted
to cover the opening; a slide assembly connecting the lid and the
container including at least one track and at least on follower,
the slide assembly including a pivot feature, wherein the lid is
slideable linearly relative to the container and pivotable relative
to the container.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the sidewall including elongated
sides extending generally parallel between ends; and wherein the
lid includes a cover portion and a downward depending skirt,
including a pair of elongated side walls depending over an outside
of the sides, the at least one track including a pair of tracks,
one on each of the sides and the at least one follower includes a
pair of tabs projecting inwardly from the sidewalls into engagement
with the tracks.
3. The package of claim 2, wherein the lid includes a stop wall at
one end of the pair of elongated sidewalls, and a recessed gap at
the other end of the pair of elongated sidewalls providing
clearance to facilitate sliding movement of the lid over the
container.
4. The package of claim 2, wherein each track includes a pair of
raised rails projecting laterally outward from each of the sides to
define a groove therebetween receiving one of the tabs.
5. The package of claim 4, wherein the groove and the rails have a
generally horizontally extending segment and a generally vertically
extending segment connected by an arcuate segment providing at
least part of the pivot feature.
6. The package of claim 5, wherein, the lid has a closed position
covering the opening an open position when displaced from the
closed position with the tabs in the horizontally extending
segment, and an open and present position in which the lid is
proximate the end of the generally vertically extending segment,
with the lid being displaced relative to the closed position from
above the container to under the container to provide an under
support for the container.
7. The package of claim 4, wherein the groove and the rails have a
generally horizontally extending segment, wherein the pivot feature
is integrally provided proximate one end of the horizontally
extending segment, wherein the tabs can rotate within the groove
along a region of the horizontally extending segment as a result of
clearance between lid and container.
8. The package of claim 1, wherein the lid is pivotable while being
retained to the container by the slide assembly from above the
container to below the container wherein the container rests upon
the lid.
9. The package of claim 8, wherein the package is a handheld
package having a length of less than 4 inches, a width of less than
2 inches and a height of less than 2 inches.
10. A package, comprising: a rectangular container having a
rectangular base and an upwardly projecting sidewall defining an
opening, the sidewall including elongated sides extending generally
parallel between ends; cooperating pairs of spacers projecting
inwardly from each of the elongated sides, the spacers being spaced
in a linear array between ends; and a lid adapted to cover the
opening.
11. The package of claim 10, container is plastic, and wherein the
spacers are fins integrally molded into the plastic of the
container sidewall.
12. The package of claim 11, wherein a plurality of consumable
products are mounted in the container, and wherein the spacers
individually space and separate individual units of the consumable
products.
13. The package of claim 12, wherein the spacers are evenly spaced
along the sides and wherein the spacers form a single row for the
consumable products.
14. The package of claim 13, wherein the package is a handheld
package having a length of less than 4 inches, a width of less than
2 inches and a height of less than 2 inches.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/101,828, filed Oct. 1, 2008,
the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated
herein by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to product packages
and more particularly relates to product packages having containers
and removable lids with either slide assemblies and/or spacer
elements for holding consumer consumables such as candies,
medications or other items that are typically carried in hand held
product packages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various types of product packages are known having a
container and a lid and the prior art is replete with numerous
examples. The present invention pertains to improvements over the
state of the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One aspect of the present invention is directed towards a
package having a container and a lid which are connected together
by a slide assembly that includes a pivot feature. The slide
assembly includes at least one track and at least one follower such
that the lid is slideable linearly relative to the container and
also pivotable relative to the container as well.
[0005] According to one of the embodiments in line with the above
aspect, a further inventive aspect is that the lid may be pivotable
while being retained to the container by the slide assembly from a
position above the container to a position below the container
where the container rests upon the lid in an open and "present"
position that may display the entire contents of the container.
[0006] Another different aspect of the present invention is
directed toward a package having a rectangular container with
cooperating pairs of spacers and a lid adapted to cover the opening
of the rectangular container. The rectangular container includes a
rectangular base and an upwardly projecting sidewall defining the
opening. The sidewall includes a elongated sides extending
generally parallel between ends. Cooperating pairs of spacers
project inwardly from each of the elongated sides. The spacers are
spaced in a linear array between ends.
[0007] Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present
invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slider package according
to a first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in a
closed position;
[0010] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the slider package
shown in FIG. 1 taken from the other end, but in an open position
in which the lid has been linearly translated relative to the
container;
[0011] FIG. 3 is another different perspective view of the slider
package of the previous drawings, but with the lid in an open and
present position in which the lid has been further slid linearly
and pivoted around the container from above to below the container
in an open and present position;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slider package according
to a second embodiment shown in a closed position;
[0013] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the slider package
shown in FIG. 4, but in an open position in which the lid has been
linearly translated;
[0014] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the slider package
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but in an open and pivoted position;
[0015] FIGS. 7-9 are different perspective views of a package
according to a third embodiment of the present invention that does
not include a slider feature, but instead includes a lid and
container coupled via a living hinge but which includes a partition
spacer feature for consumable products; and
[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of a
container interior (that may be employed in any of the previous
embodiments) showing the partition spacers for consumable products
held by the container.
[0017] While the invention will be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to
those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The first embodiment of the present invention has been
illustrated as a slider package 10 in FIGS. 1-3, which is
configured to hold a single linear row 12 of individual consumable
products 14 such as tablets, pills, candy pieces, all of which may
or may not be individually wrapped with a wrapper, but that
typically can be consumed orally by a consumer. As shown, the
slider package 10 has a closed position 10 containing the contents
of consumable products 14 in FIG. 1; an open position to allow
access to the next available consumable product 14 as shown in FIG.
2 and an open and present position as shown in FIG. 3 in which the
entire contents of the container may be available for presentment
and removal of product from the container.
[0019] The slider package includes a container 20 and a lid 22
which are connected by a slide assembly 24. The container includes
a generally rectangular base 26 and an upwardly projecting sidewall
28 that defines an opening 30 that allows access to the contents of
the container. The sidewall 28 includes elongated sides that extend
generally parallel between a pair of parallel ends 34.
[0020] In accordance with one inventive aspect and referring to
FIG. 10, container 20 may include cooperating pairs of spacers 36
that project inwardly from each of the elongated sides 32. The
spacers 36 are spaced in a linear array between ends and preferably
evenly spaced along the sides such that the spacers form a single
row for separating the consumable products 14 in an organized
manner, such as individually spacing and separating individual
units of the consumable products. The spacers may take the form as
shown as short fins which are integrally molded into the plastic
body of the container 20 and more specifically the container
sidewall 28. Fins may be partially or fully cantilevered extending
into the cavity within the container. The spacers from opposed
sidewalls are aligned with one another and point toward each other.
To illustrate this feature, FIG. 10 shows the spacing and
arrangement of consumable products 14 within a container utilizing
such spacers that may engage snugly or closely arranged proximate
the spacers 36.
[0021] Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the lid 22 is adapted to cover
the opening 30 of the container and as such includes a cover
portion 40 and a downward depending skirt 42. The skirt includes a
pair of elongated sidewalls 44 depending over and outside of the
sides of the container in parallel relation. The sidewalls 44
extend generally between a stop wall 46 at one end of the lid and a
shorter short wall 48 at the other end that provides a recessed gap
50 through which the top of the container 20 can slide through
during sliding movement between the container and the lid.
[0022] The slide assembly includes at least one track and at least
one follower and in the preferred embodiments includes a pair of
tracks 54, one track 54 on each side 32 of the container; and at
least one follower in which may preferably take the form of tabs 56
which are arranged to slide and translate along the tracks 54. The
tabs 56 preferably take the form of a pair of cylindrical bosses
that project inwardly from the skirt sidewalls 44 toward each other
to ride in the tracks. The tracks 54 may be defined by a pair of
raised rails 58 that project laterally outward from each of the
sides 32 to define a groove 60 therebetween. Preferably, the rails
terminate in closed ends 62 which define the limits or extent of
sliding movement of the lid 22 relative to the container. One of
the closed ends 62 may alternatively be open to allow access to the
groove 60 and thereby facilitate complete removal and/or assembly.
Preferably, the container and the lid are molded of plastic
material and as such the two can be resiliently snapped together to
facilitate initial insertion of the tabs 56 in the grooves 60 of
the respective tracks. In this embodiment, the track and thereby
the rails and groove have a generally horizontally extending
segment 64, and a generally vertically extending segment 66 which
are connected by an arcuate segment 68. The lid can be slide
relative to the container in a linear translatable fashion along
the horizontal segment to various degrees of opening and exposed
different consumable products arranged along the row. Upon reaching
the arcuate segment and considering that the tab 56 are freely
rotatable within the groove 60, a pivot feature can be provided in
that the lid 22 can be pivoted relative to the container 20 during
the overall movement. For example and as shown in FIG. 3, the lid
is pivotable by being retained to the container by the slide
assembly from above the container to below the container where the
container actually rests upon the lid. The lid may be supported on
a table or other flat surface and present the contents of the
container in a particular advantageous canted position. The lid can
then be slide back to the closed position when desired.
[0023] Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated
in FIGS. 4-6 which shows also a pivoting slider package 80 similar
to the first embodiment, but in this embodiment the tracks 82
include only a horizontal segment formed on the outside of the
container 84. The tabs 86 of the lid 88 can still pivot within the
tracks 82 as shown by comparing FIGS. 4-7. More specifically, the
pivot feature in this embodiment is integrally provided proximate
one end of the horizontally extending segment of the tracks 82 in
that the tabs can rotate in the groove as a result of clearance
between the lid and the container which is reached and achieved
upon progressively opening the lid 88 relative to the container 84.
Preferably, the pivoting action is at least 45.degree. , more
typically greater than 80.degree. , and in the case of the first
embodiment greater than 270.degree. . This embodiment may also
include spacers between the individual units of consumable products
as per the first and last embodiments. Other features of this
embodiment are similar to the first embodiment.
[0024] Yet another embodiment of the present invention has been
illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 as a package 100 that includes a living
hinge 102 permanently connecting and allowing for pivoting movement
between a container 104 and a lid 106. This embodiment also
includes spacers 108 projecting inwardly from the opposed elongated
sides of the container to provide for spacing of individual units
of the consumable products 14 contained therein.
[0025] All references, including publications, patent applications,
and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to
the same extent as if each reference were individually and
specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set
forth in its entirety herein.
[0026] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0027] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying
out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to
employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for
the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the
claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,
any combination of the above-described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *