U.S. patent application number 13/731598 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for spring-loaded containers and methods thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Yaakov Hoch, JEROME MENCHEL, Shimi Nussbaum. Invention is credited to Yaakov Hoch, JEROME MENCHEL, Shimi Nussbaum.
Application Number | 20130206774 13/731598 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48698696 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130206774 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MENCHEL; JEROME ; et
al. |
August 15, 2013 |
SPRING-LOADED CONTAINERS AND METHODS THEREOF
Abstract
A container is provided. In exemplary embodiments, a container
may comprise side wall, a top edge surrounding an opening, bottom
portion; a voluminous body defined by a volume within the side wall
and the bottom portion; a support platform for supporting a product
within the container; and a spring positioned between an inner
surface of the bottom portion and a bottom surface of the support
platform.
Inventors: |
MENCHEL; JEROME; (Lakewood,
NJ) ; Hoch; Yaakov; (Lakewood, NJ) ; Nussbaum;
Shimi; (Lakewood, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MENCHEL; JEROME
Hoch; Yaakov
Nussbaum; Shimi |
Lakewood
Lakewood
Lakewood |
NJ
NJ
NJ |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48698696 |
Appl. No.: |
13/731598 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61582186 |
Dec 30, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/529 ;
53/473 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20130101; B65D
85/36 20130101; B65D 83/0038 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/529 ;
53/473 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. A spring-loaded container comprising: a side wall; a top edge
surrounding an opening; a bottom portion; a voluminous body defined
by a volume within the side wall and the bottom portion; a support
platform for supporting a product within the container; and a
spring positioned between an inner surface of the bottom portion
and a bottom surface of the support platform.
2. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, further comprising: a
sealing means adapted to fit over the top edge and seal the
voluminous body.
3. The spring-loaded container of claim 2, wherein the sealing
means comprises at least one of a lid, a cap, and a peelable
tab.
4. The spring-loaded container of claim 2, wherein the sealing
means is removably affixed over the opening by an adhesive.
5. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, wherein the support
platform comprises a substantially planar disc having a diameter
substantially similar to the diameter of an inner surface of the
side wall.
6. The spring loaded container of claim 1, wherein the support
platform comprises a food grade acceptable material.
7. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, wherein the side wall
and bottom portion comprise at least one of a polymer, a metal, a
metal alloy, and glass.
8. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, wherein the spring is a
compression spring adapted to operate with a compression load.
9. The spring-loaded container of claim 8, wherein the compression
spring comprises at least one of a coil spring, a flat spring, and
a helical spring.
10. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of grooves adapted to hold the support platform and allow
it to be supported at two or more positions within the
container.
11. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, wherein a spring
constant of the spring for supporting the platform and product at a
predetermined height is determined by multiplying the mass of one
product by gravity and dividing by the height of one product.
12. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, wherein a spring
constant of the spring for supporting the platform and product at a
predetermined height is determined by multiplying the mass of one
product by gravity, multiplying by an estimated quantity of product
in one row, and dividing by the height of one product multiplied by
a number of springs in the container.
13. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, wherein when the spring
is at an equilibrium point, the spring is adapted to support the
support platform at a predetermined distance from the top edge.
14. The spring-loaded container of claim 1, further comprising a
second spring.
15. A container comprising: a side wall; a top edge surrounding an
opening; a bottom portion; a voluminous body defined by a volume
within the side wall and the bottom portion; a support platform for
supporting product contents within the container; and a track
having a button attached to the support platform, the button
engageable by the user to raise and lower the support platform.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein the button is locked into
place when the button is released.
17. The container of claim 15, wherein the button is rotatable and
adapted to raise and lower the support platform when rotated.
18. A method for packaging a product, comprising: providing a
product; providing a container comprising: a side wall; a top edge
surrounding an opening; a bottom portion; a voluminous body defined
by a volume within the side wall and the bottom portion; a support
platform for supporting a product within the container; and a
spring positioned between an inner surface of the bottom portion
and a bottom surface of the support platform, the spring comprising
a spring constant; and placing the product in the container.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the spring constant is adapted
to support the platform and product at a predetermined height; and
wherein the spring constant is determined by multiplying the mass
of one product by gravity and dividing by the height of one
product.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the spring constant is adapted
to support the platform and product at a predetermined height; and
wherein the spring constant is determined by multiplying the mass
of one product by gravity, multiplying by an estimated quantity of
product in one row, and dividing by the height of one product
multiplied by a number of springs in the container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/582,186 entitled "Spring-Loaded
Containers and Methods Thereof," filed Dec. 30, 2011, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to
spring-loaded containers and methods thereof. More specifically,
embodiments of the present invention relate to improved containers
for food and other edible products, having spring-loaded support
means provided therein, allowing for ease of access to the food or
product inside the container, as needed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Product manufacturers and retailers package products for
sale in various types of containers. Many of these product
containers are designed for storage purposes and are not designed
for ease of product access by consumers and/or users. Some existing
product packages make it particularly difficult for a user to
access products. For example, it is difficult to access some of the
products stacked and stored within elongated tubes, cylinders, deep
bags, deep cans, and/or the like. When using these types of
containers, products at the top of the container may be easily
accessible to the user, but as the products are removed, the
products closer to the bottom of the container are more difficult
to access. As more products are removed from the container, the
user much reach deeper and deeper down into the container. When the
user has removed all but the last products in these containers, the
user must reach to the very bottom of the container. When the
opening of the container is smaller than the width of the hand of
the user, the user may not be able to reach inside the container
and access the last remaining products at the bottom. In these
instances, users are forced to tip the container at an angle or
turn it upside down so that the remaining products slide out of the
container opening. This is not ideal for users, however, because it
requires the user to catch and/or grasp the products as they leave
the container, sometimes at considerable speed. When the user fails
to catch the products exiting the container, many times these
products wind up falling to the floor and/or ground and breaking or
becoming unusable. In the case of potato chips, for example, many
potato chips and crumbs may miss the hand of the user and wind up
on the floor, making them unsafe to consume and creating an
undesirable mess.
[0006] Thus, there is a need for an improved container for making
products easier to access for the user.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a
container and methods thereof. In exemplary embodiments, A
spring-loaded container may comprise: a side wall; a top edge
surrounding an opening; a bottom portion; a voluminous body defined
by a volume within the side wall and the bottom portion; a support
platform for supporting a product within the container; and a
spring positioned between an inner surface of the bottom portion
and a bottom surface of the support platform.
[0008] In exemplary embodiments, a container may also comprise a
side wall; a top edge surrounding an opening; a bottom portion; a
voluminous body defined by a volume within the side wall and the
bottom portion; a support platform for supporting product contents
within the container; and a track having a button attached to the
support platform, the button engageable by the user to raise and
lower the support platform.
[0009] In exemplary embodiments, a method for packaging a product,
may comprise: providing a product; providing a container
comprising: a side wall; a top edge surrounding an opening; a
bottom portion; a voluminous body defined by a volume within the
side wall and the bottom portion; a support platform for supporting
a product within the container; and a spring positioned between an
inner surface of the bottom portion and a bottom surface of the
support platform, the spring comprising a spring constant; and
placing the product in the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] So the manner in which the above recited features of the
present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular
description of embodiments of the present invention, briefly
summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
embodiments encompassed within the scope of the present invention,
and, therefore, are not to be considered limiting, for the present
invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments,
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a spring-loaded
container in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded
container in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded
container in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict side views of alternative embodiments
of a spring-loaded container in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of a method of packaging a
product in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0016] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes
only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the
description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the
word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the
potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning
must). Similarly, the words "include", "including", and "includes"
mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding,
like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to
designate like elements common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to
spring-loaded containers and methods thereof. More specifically,
embodiments of the present invention relate to improved containers
for food and other edible products, having spring-loaded support
means provided therein, allowing for ease of access to the food or
product inside the container, as needed.
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a spring-loaded
container in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. A spring-loaded container 100 generally comprises a side
wall 110, a bottom portion 120 and a voluminous body 130. The
voluminous body 130 is generally defined by the volume within the
side wall 110, and the bottom portion 120.
[0019] The spring-loaded container 100 may comprise any materials
suitable for embodiments of the present invention. In one
embodiment, the spring-loaded container 100 comprises at least one
of a polymer, a metal, a metal alloy, glass, combinations thereof
or the like.
[0020] Generally, the side wall 110 has the bottom portion 120 on a
first end and a top edge on a second end, near an opening to the
interior volume of the voluminous body 130. In many embodiments, a
sealing means (not shown) may be fitted over the top edge to
effectively seal the interior volume. The sealing means may
comprise any structure suitable to control access to an interior of
the voluminous body 130. In one embodiment, the sealing means
comprises a lid or cap for fitting thereover. In further
embodiments, the sealing means 114 may comprise a peelable tab,
wherein the peelable tab is removably affixed over the opening 112
by an adhesive or similar type of cohesion agent. Such type of
peelable tabs are commonly utilized as security or tampering
devices on various food and beverage products. In further
embodiments, combinations of such devices may be used.
[0021] Generally, the spring-loaded container 100 additionally
comprises a support platform 140 and a spring 150, wherein the
spring 150 is positioned between an inner surface of the bottom
portion 120 and a bottom surface of the support platform 140. The
support platform 140 may comprise any substantially planar
apparatus suitable to support food or product contents (not shown)
within the spring-loaded container 100. In one embodiment, the
support platform 140 comprises a substantially planar disc. In such
an embodiment the diameter of the disc may be substantially similar
to the diameter of an inner surface of the sidewall 110. Such
similar dimensions would allow there to be minimal spacing between
the disc and the inner surface of the sidewall 110.
[0022] The support platform 140 may comprise any material suitable
for embodiments of the present invention. In many embodiments, the
support platform comprises a material considered food-grade
acceptable, such that it has been determined not to interfere with
or alter food if placed thereagainst. Generally, any of such
materials approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration are
deemed acceptable for embodiments of the present invention.
[0023] The spring 150 may generally comprise any type of spring or
similarly supportive mechanical device, suitable for embodiments of
the present invention. In one embodiment, the spring 150 comprises
a type of compression spring--i.e., the spring is designed to
operate with a compression load, so the spring gets shorter as the
load is applied to it. As understood by embodiments of the present
invention, such compression springs may comprise a coil spring, a
flat spring, a helical spring, or the like. The spring 150 may
generally be made from any material capable of providing the
necessary spring-like function suitable for embodiments of the
present invention.
[0024] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a cap
or bar (not shown) to hold down food product or other contents may
be provided. In another alternative embodiment, the interior volume
may provide grooves in the container (not shown) that would hold a
bottom platform, and allow it to be supported at various positions
within the container.
[0025] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded
container in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. Similar to the container shown in FIG. 1, the
spring-loaded container 200 generally comprises a side wall 210, a
bottom portion 220 and a voluminous body 230, a support platform
240 and a spring 250, wherein the spring 250 is positioned between
an inner surface of the bottom portion 220 and a bottom surface of
the support platform 240. As shown in the Figure, a food product,
such as potato chips (shown as 260a, 260b, 260c and up to 260n,
where n is representative of any number of products suitable for
embodiments of the present invention) (listed generally and/or
collectively as 260) is placed within the spring-loaded container
200 on a top surface of the support platform 240.
[0026] One of the relevant purposes of an embodiment of the present
invention is to be able to decrease the effective distance (H)
between the top edge of the container 200 and the next food product
260, as food product 260 is removed from the container 200. As
understood by embodiments of the present invention, Hooke's Law
generally governs the nature of the performance of the spring 150
described herein. The most basic form of Hooke's Law is written
as:
F=-kx
where, x is the displacement of the spring's end from its
equilibrium position; F is the restoring force exerted by the
spring on that end; and k is the spring constant.
[0027] Thus, in many embodiments of the present invention, using
Hooke's Law, the force, F, is equal to the mass of the food product
within the container multiplied by gravity; the intended distance
travelled (or to be travelled), x, is about the height of a food
product within the container (i.e., to keep the food product near
the top edge, once one is removed, the support platform may ideally
move substantially the height of one food product per food product
removed); and the constant k, must be determined based on the
nature of the food product within the container.
[0028] From a design perspective, modifying Hooke's Law to solve
for the spring constant, k=-F/x, or written out:
the design spring constant , k = ( gravity * mass of one unit of
food product ) ( height of one unit of food product )
##EQU00001##
[0029] Thus, the particular spring constant chosen for a particular
application of an embodiment of the present invention is a choice
based upon the nature of the food product within the container 200.
For example, in the embodiment shown, the spring constant may be
written as k=the weight of a potato chip/the height of a potato
chip when laying flat.
[0030] It should be noted, however, there may be a maximum height
(D) at which the spring 250 is at its equilibrium point; that is,
it will no longer push upward on the support platform 240 due to
having no potential energy left therein. In many embodiments, so
long as an acceptable effective distance (H) is provided when no
food product is left (i.e., it is sufficiently small that a user
may easier reach a hand into the container to retrieve the last
food product), the maximum height (D) may not be largely
relevant.
[0031] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded
container in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in the Figure, the spring-loaded container 300
may comprise substantially the same elements as the embodiments
depicted above; however, such embodiment may be significantly more
wide than tall, such as in a cookie tin, a serving dish, or the
like.
[0032] In such an embodiment, it may be desirable to provide a
plurality of springs 350, so that the support platform 340 is not
balanced over one single spring. However, if a large coil spring
were used, balance issues may not arise with such a large diameter
support platform 340.
[0033] The food product 360 may comprise any type of food product
suitable for embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the
food product 360 comprises peanuts, or a mixed nut collection.
Unlike the embodiment described above, where one food product was
stacked on top of another, and so on, calculating a correlation
between the mass of one food product and its height is not as
relevant. If such an equation were used for such type of food
product as shown, after about three peanuts being removed, the
support platform 340 may be pushed to the top edge of the container
and all the remaining peanuts would spill out.
[0034] Accordingly, in such an embodiment where the food product is
small and/or multiple springs are used, the following variation of
Hooke's Law may be more appropriate:
F/n=-kx
where, x is the displacement of the spring's end from its
equilibrium position; F is the restoring force exerted by the
spring on that end; k is the spring constant, and n is the number
of springs present.
[0035] In this instance, however, the force, F, is not simply a
single food product's mass multiplied by gravity; rather, it is a
bit more difficult to calculate. For one embodiment of the present
invention, an approximation may be used for the requisite force to
calculate the spring constant. Such approximation may first
comprise an estimation of volume of the portion of the voluminous
body determined by the side wall and the effective distance (H),
and an estimation of the volume of one food product, and by
dividing the overall volume by the volume of one food product, an
approximate number of food products within the container may be
calculated when loaded. It should be noted, in certain embodiments,
the approximate quantity of food product may already be known.
[0036] Once the quantity is obtained, the effective distance (H)
may be divided by the average height of one food product to obtain
the approximate quantity of stacked food products may be positioned
at any given point within the voluminous body. Subsequently, the
total quantity of food product may be divided by the quantity of
stacked food products at any given point within the voluminous
body, such resulting number is the estimated quantity of food
products at any given cross-sectional row within the voluminous
body.
[0037] From a design perspective, modifying Hooke's Law to solve
for the spring constant, k=-F/nx, or written out:
k = ( gravity * mass of one unit of food product * estimated
quantity in row ) ( height of one unit of food product )
##EQU00002##
[0038] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict side views of alternative embodiments
of a spring-loaded container in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention. Although embodiments of the present invention
are generally called "spring-loaded" containers, alternative
embodiments of the present invention provide non-spring versions of
containers to provide similar function in a more manual fashion
than those described hereinabove.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a container 400 may be provided
with a support platform 440, similar to those described herein.
However, rather than a spring, the container 400 may comprise a
track 470, and in certain embodiments, a pair of opposing tracks,
one positioned opposite the other.
[0040] In FIG. 4A, the track may be similar to the type of track
provided for the opening means of a box cutter device. For example,
by having a button/trigger 472 which is engageable by a user, the
user may be able to controllably raise and lower the button/trigger
at will. By connecting such a button/trigger 472 to the support
platform 440, the user may be able to mechanically raise and lower
the support platform as desired. Similar to the box cutter
mechanism, once the user releases the button/trigger 472, the
device would lock in place.
[0041] In FIG. 4B, a similar track 470 is provided, albeit such
locking mechanism is more elementary. In the embodiment shown, the
support platform 440 may be raised and lowered via a twist-style
locking mechanism. As shown, there are three positions in which a
user may be able to set the height of the support platform 440. By
twisting the button/trigger 472 in small increments, the user may
be able to freely raise and lower the support platform, and at the
set locations with a counter-twist, the can freely lock the same in
place.
[0042] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of a method 500 of packaging a
product in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
The method begins at step 510. In exemplary embodiments, at step
520, a container and a product, such as the examples disclosed
herein with respect to FIGS. 1-4B is provided. For example, the
container may generally comprise a side wall, a top edge
surrounding an opening, a bottom portion, a voluminous body defined
by a volume within the side wall and the bottom portion, a support
platform for supporting a product within the container, and a
spring positioned between an inner surface of the bottom portion
and a bottom surface of the support platform, wherein the spring
comprises a spring constant. In exemplary embodiments, the product
may comprise any product consistent with the present disclosure.
For example, the product may comprise potato chips, peanuts, and/or
the like. In exemplary embodiments, the spring constant may be
adapted to support the platform and product at a predetermined
height, and the spring constant may be determined by multiplying
the mass of one product by gravity and dividing by the height of
one product. Alternative methods for determining the spring
constant consistent with the present disclosure may also be used.
For example, the spring constant may be determined by multiplying
the mass of one product by gravity, multiplying by an estimated
quantity of product in one row, and dividing by the height of one
product multiplied by a number of springs used in the
container.
[0043] In exemplary embodiments, at step 530 a quantity of product
may be added to the container. The quantity of product may be an
amount, weight, and/or number of the product wherein when the
product is stacked on the support platform, a predetermined
distance exists between the top of a product stored closest to the
opening and the opening. For example, if potato chips are to be
stacked in the container, the quantity of potato chips to be
stacked in the container may be the number of potato chips that may
be supported by the support platform wherein a 0.5 inch, 1 inch, 2,
inch, or the like, space exists between the opening and the top of
a potato chip closest to the opening. In exemplary embodiments, the
quantity of product may be determined by any method consistent with
the present disclosure. After the quantity of product is added to
the container, the container may be sealed, for example, with a
top, cap, cover, and/or the like and the method may end at step
540.
[0044] It should be appreciated that a plurality of similar types
of mechanical structures may function to operate similar to those
described herein. As such, such known variations of simple locking
and control mechanisms should be deemed within the scope of
embodiments of the present invention.
[0045] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the
present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention
may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. For
example, although numerous embodiments having various features have
been described herein, combinations of such various features in
other combinations not discussed herein are contemplated within the
scope of embodiments of the present invention.
* * * * *