U.S. patent application number 14/301685 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-11 for dispensing container.
This patent application is currently assigned to MURE ET PEYROT. The applicant listed for this patent is Jean-Claude PEYROT. Invention is credited to Jean-Claude PEYROT.
Application Number | 20140361034 14/301685 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49212832 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140361034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PEYROT; Jean-Claude |
December 11, 2014 |
Dispensing container
Abstract
A dispensing container for flat objects (1), such as boxcutter
blades, includes a container body (2) in which is housed a sliding
support (3) designed to move between a rear face (4) and a front
face (5) of the container, for which the objects are stacked
between the sliding support (3) and the front face (5) of the
container, the sliding support pushing the objects (1) against the
front face under the action of at least one elastic element (6,
6'), the elastic element being designed to pull the sliding support
from the rear face to the front face of the container.
Inventors: |
PEYROT; Jean-Claude;
(BORDEAUX CEDEX, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PEYROT; Jean-Claude |
BORDEAUX CEDEX |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
MURE ET PEYROT
BORDEAUX CEDEX
FR
|
Family ID: |
49212832 |
Appl. No.: |
14/301685 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/279 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0817 20130101;
B65D 83/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/279 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/08 20060101
B65D083/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2013 |
FR |
1355380 |
Claims
1- Dispensing container for flat objects (1), such as boxcutter
blades, which comprises a container body (2) in which is housed a
sliding support (3) designed to move between a rear face (4') and a
front face (5') of the container body, for which the objects are
stacked between the sliding support (3) and the front face (5') of
the container, the sliding support pushing the objects (1) against
said front face under the action of at least two elastic means (6,
6'), characterized in that said at least two elastic means each
comprise a forward branch (6a) and a return branch (6b), the free
end (61) of the forward branch latching onto an anchor point (7,
7') of the container, the free end of the return branch (62)
latching onto an anchor point (8, 8') of the sliding support, the
forward branch (6a) and the return branch (6b) being connected via
a spindle or a pulley (9) positioned close to the front face (5) of
the container, the elastic means being designed to pull the sliding
support from the rear face to the front face of the container.
2- Container according to claim 1, for which the latching position
of the elastic means on the container body (2) and the elongation
ratio of the elastic means are such that the movement of the
support from the rear face of the container to the front face of
the container remains within the elastic elongation travel of the
elastic means.
3- Container according to claim 1, for which the elastic means (6)
are coil springs designed to roll on the pulleys or slide on the
spindles (9).
4- Container according to claim 1, for which the body of the
container (2) comprises guides (11) for holding the stacked
objects.
5- Container according to claim 1, for which said elastic means (6,
6') are positioned in side housings (13, 13') of the container
along two opposite lateral sides of the sliding support.
6- Container according to claim 1, comprising an upper face (14),
or cover, and a lower face (15), forming a base, which are opposite
and parallel and are delimited by the front face (5) and the rear
face (4), for which at least one of said upper and lower faces
comprises a slit (16) for the distribution of objects (1), along
the front face (5) of the container.
7- Container according to claim 6, for which the objects are pushed
by the carriage pressing against the front face, the latter
comprising a cutout (17) for pushing out of the container the
objects which are pressed against the front face, through the
distribution slit (16).
8- Container according to claim 1, comprising, at the front face, a
means (18) for pushing the objects out of the container through a
distribution slit (16').
9. Container according to claim 2, for which the elastic means (6)
are coil springs designed to roll on the pulleys or slide on the
spindles (9).
10. Container according to claim 2, for which the body of the
container (2) comprises guides (11) for holding the stacked
objects.
11. Container according to claim 3, for which the body of the
container (2) comprises guides (11) for holding the stacked
objects.
12. Container according to claim 2, for which said elastic means
(6, 6') are positioned in side housings (13, 13') of the container
along two opposite lateral sides of the sliding support.
13. Container according to claim 2, comprising an upper face (14),
or cover, and a lower face (15), forming a base, which are opposite
and parallel and are delimited by the front face (5) and the rear
face (4), for which at least one of said upper and lower faces
comprises a slit (16) for the distribution of objects (1), along
the front face (5) of the container.
14. Container according to claim 2, comprising, at the front face,
a means (18) for pushing the objects out of the container through a
distribution slit (16').
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the invention
[0002] The present invention relates to dispensing containers such
as dispensing containers for blades of knives of the boxcutter
type.
[0003] 2. Prior art
[0004] There are dispensing containers of the parallelepipedal type
having an upper face provided with a window and a side face
provided with a slit for which the window makes it possible to push
the objects which are to exit via the slit.
[0005] This type of container exists in particular as a dispensing
container for razor blades.
[0006] In this type of container, the stacked blades are pressed
against the upper face of the container by a spring device.
[0007] One drawback of these containers is that, on one hand,
spring devices are relatively bulky and that, on the other hand,
these spring devices have limited travel for their bulkiness, which
makes it impossible to place a large number of blades in a small
container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has the object of compensating for
this problem and providing a compact container which can
accommodate a large number of products to be distributed.
[0009] To do this, the present invention proposes a dispensing
container for flat objects, such as boxcutter blades, which
comprises a container body in which is housed a sliding support
designed to move between a rear face and a front face of the
container body, for which the objects are stacked between the
sliding support and the front face of the container, the sliding
support pushing the objects against said front face under the
action of at least two elastic means, for which said at least two
elastic means each comprise a forward branch and a return branch,
the free end of the forward branch latching onto an anchor point of
the container, the free end of the return branch latching onto an
anchor point of the sliding support, the forward branch and the
return branch being connected via a spindle or a pulley positioned
close to the front face of the container, the elastic means being
designed to pull the sliding support from the rear face to the
front face of the container.
[0010] Advantageously, the latching position of the elastic means
on the container body and the elongation ratio of the elastic means
are such that the movement of the support from the rear face of the
container to the front face of the container remains within the
elastic elongation travel of the elastic means.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic means are
coil springs designed to roll on the pulleys or slide on the
spindles.
[0012] According to a particular embodiment, the body of the
container comprises guides for holding the stacked objects.
[0013] Advantageously, said elastic means are positioned in side
housings of the container along two opposite lateral sides of the
sliding support.
[0014] The container comprising an upper face and a lower face
which are opposite and parallel and are delimited by the front face
and the rear face is advantageously such that at least one of said
upper and lower faces comprises a slit for the distribution of
objects, along the front face of the container.
[0015] According to a first embodiment, the front face comprises a
cutout for pushing the objects which are pressed against the front
face out of the container, through the distribution slit.
[0016] According to a second embodiment, the front face comprises a
means for pushing the objects out of the container through the
distribution slit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent upon reading the following description of a non-limiting
exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to the
drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of an exemplary
embodiment of a container according to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the open container
from FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container from FIG. 1,
open with its cover;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a container body
with sliding support and springs as seen from a first point of
view;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a container body
with sliding support and springs as seen from a second point of
view;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of means for
removing the objects according to a variant of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The container of the invention is represented ready for use
in FIG. 1.
[0025] It comprises an upper face 14, a rear face 4 and a front
face 5, a lower face 15 and side faces 20, 21.
[0026] According to the example shown, the front face 5 comprises a
cutout 17 and the upper face 14 comprises a slit 16 along the front
face 5 and in communication with the cutout 17.
[0027] The upper face is part of a cover which clips in with a
container body 2 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0028] The cover comprises four side faces, to with the rear face
4, the front face 5, side faces 20, 21 and said upper face 14.
[0029] The dispensing container of the invention is intended for
distributing flat objects 1, such as boxcutter blades 1.
[0030] It comprises a sliding support 3 or carriage, represented
removed from the container in FIG. 2, by means of which the blades
can be pushed towards the front face 5. The sliding support is
accommodated in the container and is guided so as to push against
the blades.
[0031] According to the example of FIG. 3, the container body 2
comprises front and rear counter-faces, respectively 5' and 4',
which face the front and rear faces of the cover. It is however
conceivable, within the scope of the invention, to design the cover
without its front and rear faces and in this case the front and
rear counter-faces of the body of the container become the front
and rear faces of the container. It is also possible to design the
container body without counter-faces, although in this case filling
the container with objects is not simple as the objects have
nothing to press against until the cover is mounted.
[0032] For the sake of simplicity, the front counter-faces 5' will
be assimilated with the front faces 5, the grouping of front and
rear counter-faces and faces forming, ultimately, double-thickness
front and rear faces.
[0033] In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, the objects 1
are thus stacked between the sliding support 3 and the front face
5' of the body of the container.
[0034] One noteworthy aspect of the invention is that the sliding
support is designed to move between the rear face 4' and the front
face 5' of the container body and that no space is lost between the
support and the rear face 4 of the container. Indeed, according to
the example shown, the sliding support pushes the objects 1 against
the front face under the action of two elastic means 6, 6' which
each comprise a forward branch 6a and a return branch 6b and which
are accommodated in spaces 13, 13' on the lateral sides 20, 21 of
the container.
[0035] A first end or free end 61 of the forward branch of the
elastic means latches onto an anchor point 7, 7' of the container
and begins the forward branch 6a.
[0036] A second end or free end of the return branch 62 of the
elastic means latches onto an anchor point 8, 8' of the sliding
support and terminates the return branch 6b.
[0037] The forward branch 6a and the return branch 6b are connected
via a spindle or a pulley 9 positioned close to the front face 5 of
the container.
[0038] It is well understood that the elastic means are continuous
and that the concepts of forward branch and return branch are
merely geometric representations, it being possible for one part of
an elastic means to be part of the forward branch or of the return
branch depending on the tension of the elastic means.
[0039] According to this construction, the elastic means are
designed to pull the sliding support from the rear face to the
front face of the container, without its length of travel being
limited by the length of the relaxed elastic means. This is made
possible by the fact that the forward branch can house the length
of one or both of the relaxed elastic means. In particular, the
elastic elongation ratio of one or both of the elastic means and
their latching position on the container body 2 may be calculated
such that the movement of the support from the rear face of the
container to the front face of the container remains included in
the elastic elongation travel of the elastic means.
[0040] An elongation ratio of preferably at least 2.5 to 3 appears
to be usable within the scope of the invention.
[0041] The elastic means may in particular be elastic bands made
from natural or synthetic rubber or, as in the example shown, be
coil springs, these elastic means being designed to slide on the
spindle 9 which, in the case of coil springs, will be realized for
example with a diameter which is sufficiently large to avoid
twisting the coils of the springs.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the container comprises rails 11
designed to serve as guides for the objects and in particular rails
of variable dimensions and position may be provided depending on
the shape of the objects.
[0043] In this case, the rails 11 support the blade 1 at a portion
100 which is set back from the edge 101 of the blade.
[0044] If the rails do not serve as guides for the sliding support,
the groove 12 in which the rails move is made wider than the
spacing of the rails so as not to hamper the movement of the
sliding support.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 more particularly, the container
body comprises internal sidewalls creating side housings 13, 13' in
which the elastic means 6, 6' are positioned. These housings extend
along two opposite lateral sides of the sliding support.
[0046] The walls 13a, 13b serve as guiding means for the sliding
support in cooperation with the side faces of said support, these
side faces bearing the pegs 8, 8' receiving the end of the springs
6, 6'.
[0047] On one side, the height of the internal sidewall 13a is
limited in order to allow the passage, into the housing 13, of a
first peg 8 for securing a first elastic means 6 on the support. On
the second side, the wall comprises a groove 131 for the passage of
the peg 8' shown in FIG. 5.
[0048] According to this embodiment, the pegs are offset in terms
of height such that the attachments of the springs on the pegs 8,
8' of the support and on the pegs 7, 7' of the container body are
inverted, such that a better balance of forces on the sliding
support 3 is possible.
[0049] As seen above, the container comprises an upper face 14 and
a lower face 15 which are opposite and parallel and the upper face
is, according to the example shown, created in a cover of the
container and the rear face is a base of the container body 2.
[0050] The objects stacked between the support and the front face
are retained by these upper and lower faces or, as in the example,
by the upper face and the guide rails 11.
[0051] The slit 16, which extends along the front face 5 of the
container, constitutes an object distribution slit.
[0052] The cutout 17 described above, created in the front face 5
of the cover and the front counter-face 5' of the container body,
makes it possible to push the objects pressing under the front face
out of the container through the distribution slit 16 as shown in
FIG. 1. According to this example, and for safety reasons, the
blades 1 are positioned such that their attachment portion, which
is not sharp, is on the side of the cutout 17.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the front face
comprises a means 18 for pushing the objects from the top of the
pile of objects created between the support 3 and the front face 5
out of the container through the distribution slit 16' which in
this case is placed in a side face of the container.
[0054] In this case, the pushing means 18 is for example a sliding
pushing device which is or is not recalled by a spring. This
solution, which is more complex to realize, has the advantage that
the objects need not be pushed using one's fingers.
[0055] The container of the invention is compact and one exemplary
embodiment is a container measuring 80.times.80.times.20 mm and
capable of holding 100 blades of the deburring type, the sliding
support being actuated in such a case by coil springs of 4 mm in
diameter which have a distance between latching spindles of 45 mm
and are designed to reach a length of 140 mm with no plastic
deformation.
[0056] These dimensions are of course given purely indicatively, it
being possible to realize numerous variants of the box of the
invention.
* * * * *