U.S. patent application number 14/596712 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-07 for reclosable dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bruce D. JACKSON. Invention is credited to Bruce D. JACKSON.
Application Number | 20150122816 14/596712 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33567734 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150122816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JACKSON; Bruce D. |
May 7, 2015 |
RECLOSABLE DISPENSER
Abstract
A dispensing cap having one-handed operation for opening and
closing and suitable for dispensing solid consumables from a
container, the cap having a first portion for sealing a dispensing
opening and second a second portion connected to the first portion
such that downward pressure on the second portion unseals the
dispensing opening, and downward pressure on another location,
which may vbe the first portion, reseals the dispensing
opening.
Inventors: |
JACKSON; Bruce D.; (Hong
Kong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JACKSON; Bruce D. |
Hong Kong |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
33567734 |
Appl. No.: |
14/596712 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10631771 |
Aug 1, 2003 |
8950630 |
|
|
14596712 |
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60484670 |
Jul 7, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/20 20130101;
B65D 51/20 20130101; B65D 81/2015 20130101; B65D 25/04 20130101;
B65D 51/18 20130101; B65D 47/0847 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.3 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/08 20060101
B65D047/08; B65D 51/18 20060101 B65D051/18 |
Claims
1. A cap configured for placement over an end of a container of
solid consumables to form a removable and resealable end cap for
said container, said cap including a dispensing opening having an
area less than a cross-sectional area of said container, said cap
further including a first portion for sealing said dispensing
opening and having a second portion, and wherein said first portion
moves to unseal said dispensing opening in response to downward
pressure on said second portion.
2. A cap according to claim 1, wherein said first portion and
second portion meet above a first opening such that pressing said
second portion into said first opening causes said first portion to
pivot upwardly to expose said dispensing opening.
3. A cap according to claim 1, wherein said first portion seals
said dispensing opening in response to downward pressure at
location of said cap other than said second portion.
4. A cap according to claim 1, wherein said container has an
interior divided into plural compartments, and at least a portion
of said cap being movable to selectively position said opening
above a selected one of said compartments to permit dispensing of
the items contained in the selected compartment.
5. A cap according to claim 1, wherein said cap includes an upper
region with an opening therein and a lower region, with said first
and second portions meeting above said lower region such that
pressing said cap member toward said lower region causes said first
portion to pivot upwardly to expose said dispensing opening.
6. A cap according to claim 1, wherein said first portion seals
said dispensing opening in response to downward pressure on said
first portion.
7. A cap according to claim 1, wherein said first portion and
second portion meet above a first opening such that pressing said
second portion into said first opening causes said first portion to
pivot upwardly to expose said dispensing opening.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/631,771, filed on Aug. 1, 2003, which application claims
benefit from Provisional Application No. 60/484,670 filed on Jul.
7, 2003. The above noted applications are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to improved container, and
particularly a container for consumables.
[0003] Solid consumable items such as peanuts, cashews, etc., have
been dispensed for some time in a variety of containers, including
aluminum cans, glass and plastic jars, composite cans (also called
fiber cans), three-steel cans and two-piece DRD (draw-redraw) steel
cans. However, the cans are such that the fabrication of the can
and the filling and sealing of the can are not optimal. An improved
can structure and assembly technique would be beneficial. An
improved dispensing cap would also be beneficial.
[0004] Further, in the case of both solid and liquid consumables,
there has been no effective resealable container capable of
maintaining separation between plural types of consumables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved
container for solid consumables.
[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
improved container for plural different consumables.
[0007] It is a still further object of this invention to provide an
improved dispensing cap.
[0008] These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a
DWI container for solid consumables, together with a method of
manufacturing and method of filling such a container.
[0009] The objects of the invention are further achieved by a
dispensing cap which can be opened and resealed in a one-handed
operation.
[0010] The objects of the invention are further achieved by a
container having an internal separator for maintaining separation
between plural different consumables, and a dispensing cap which
permits dispensing of the separate items while also permitting
resealing of the container and preserving the separation of the
items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention will be more clearly understood from the
following description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a container
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2a illustrates one example of a cap according to the
present invention, from a top perspective view with the cap
closed;
[0014] FIG. 2b shows the same cap open, from a top plan view;
[0015] FIG. 2c is a side elevation of the cap shown in FIG. 2b;
[0016] FIG. 2d is a side sectional view of the cap as it is being
opened after the first time;
[0017] FIGS. 3a-3c are an illustration of a can and its internal
divider; and
[0018] FIGS. 4a and 4b are illustrations of an implementation of a
closure system schematically shown in FIGS. 2a-2d.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a container
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The can
comprises an aluminum body 10, a plastic cap 12 and an optional
internal divider 14. The divider 14 allows separate storage of
different consumables. Illustrated in FIG. 1 are almonds 16 and
cashews 18, although these are by way of example only and it will
be readily appreciated that those aspects of the invention
applicable to solid consumables are applicable to any solid
consumables and not simply different types of nuts, and those
aspects of the invention applicable to liquid consumables are
applicable to any liquid consumables and not simply those that will
be described here by way of example.
[0020] FIG. 2a illustrates one example of a cap 12 according to the
present invention, from a top perspective view with the cap closed.
FIG. 2b shows the same cap open, from a top plan view. FIG. 2c is a
side elevation of the cap shown in FIG. 2b, and FIG. 2d is a side
sectional view of the cap as it is being opened after the first
time. As shown collectively in these figures, the can includes a
lip 20 at its upper end, and the cap 12 includes an inwardly facing
lip 24 at its lower periphery for holding the upper lip of the can.
The lip 24 can be a continuous circumferential bead or may be
intermittent projections.
[0021] The container is initially prepared by a process known in
the art, e.g., a DWI technique. The optional divider can be
separately fabricated and inserted or it can be fabricated
initially with the can body. The can is filled with nuts and is
then sealed by providing a tear-away lid, preferably of aluminum.
The plastic cap 12 is then placed over the lid. To open initially,
the plastic cap is removed, the tear-away lid is removed, and the
plastic cap is then replaced over the open end of the can.
[0022] The cap includes a closure 30 having portions 30a and 30b
demarcated by a crease or a cut 32 that leaves a thin portion of
the upper surface of the closure 30 to act as a hinge. When the
region 30a is pressed downwardly, the region 30b abuts the edge 34
and pivots about the contact point, so that continued pressure on
the region 30a results in lifting the region 30b to expose the
opening 40. The materials and dimensions are preferably selected
such that the portion 30b will remain in the position substantially
as shown in FIG. 2d until portion 30b is pushed down for resealing
the container. Partial or complete tilting of the can with the
closure 30 in the configuration shown in FIG. 2d will allow the
contents in the chamber underneath the opening to be poured from
the container. Selection of which item to dispense is by rotating
the container either before or after opening the lid.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the can bottom and side of the
two-piece DWI can 10 are formed as one piece, only the top end is
seamed on the one open end of the can. If a three-piece can is
employed, the can body and the can top and can bottom would be
formed as separate pieces. The two-piece cans are predominantly
aluminium (especially in the US) but are also made of steel (mostly
in Europe).
[0024] The divider 14 will be made separately and inserted into the
can through the open top (in the case of a two-piece can). In order
to keep the divider upright and in the middle of the can, it will
be necessary to support the divider at the bottom, and this is can
be done by a ring 50 as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The ring 52 may
be provided at the top for support as well, but also to fit just
inside the open top and underneath the remains of the removed tear
away aluminium top. Since the opening of the can (the diameter of
which limits the diametrical dimension of the divider) is of a
smaller diameter than the body of the can, there may be a small gap
between the ends of the divider and the sidewall of the can, but
most of the nuts will not push through the gap during the filling
process. In the case of cashew/peanuts the cashews are bigger than
the peanuts so would be filled first and they are too big to fall
through the gap, so when the peanuts are filled they will not be
able to displace the cashews but rather fill their side of the
chamber only.
[0025] The rings will ideally fit with the bottom contour of the
ring just outside the concave part of the bottom and the top ring
inside the neck of the can. The top ring will be the maximum size
that fits into the opening of the can and be positioned on the
necked-in portion (shoulder 54 shown in FIG. 1). When the top end
is seamed on the can, it is one-piece, but when the tear-away
portion of the top end is removed there are really two pieces: one
you have in your hand and one that stays seamed on the can. The
inside diameter of the can is slightly smaller than before seaming
because the piece that remains seamed on the can extends slightly
to the inside of the can. In fact that is called the "cut edge" and
the design of the end must have cut edge protection so fingers
don't get cut if they come in contact with the edge.
[0026] That cut edge will provide interference for the top ring and
keep it from coming out of the can if the can is turned upside down
as in someone dispensing the nuts without the plastic cap.
[0027] The invention is particularly suitable for dispensing
peanuts and other tree nuts such as almonds, pistachios, macadamias
and others in a range of different-size two-piece DWI cans. For the
mixed nut cans the nuts can simply be mixed without the divider, or
a divider can be placed in the can to separate the varieties of nut
types, e.g., two, three, four or even more varieties.
[0028] The nuts could be roasted, the can could be filled with
nuts, liquid nitrogen added to evacuate the oxygen and give the can
rigidity, a full open aluminium end seamed on, then the plastic cap
with shaker feature placed on the full can. If desired, a vacuum
may be used to obtain a full or partial vacuum in the container
prior to filling, and/or nitrogen gas may be introduced into the
container prior to filling for the total elimination of oxygen.
[0029] The consumer will remove the plastic shaker cap, open the
can with the full open end, replace the shaker cap, and is now
ready to use with one hand to open the shaker cap and pour the nuts
into the hand or directly into the mouth. The shaker cap can be
resealed with one hand by pushing the open flap with a finger.
[0030] The package and product will be very useful in the snack
food market. A 250 ml can may hold about 150 gm or 5 oz of nuts,
which may be a single or maybe two-three serving size.
[0031] The attributes are:
[0032] Single serve
[0033] No messy hands
[0034] Nobody else's dirty hands need to touch the nuts
[0035] Nitrogen packed to eliminate the oxygen for long shelf
life
[0036] New shaker cap design for convenience and functionality
[0037] Fits in the cup holder of your car
[0038] Resealable
[0039] Package can be recycled
[0040] Lightweight
[0041] Future developments would be to extend the packages to the
conventional 12 oz can 500 ml can and possibly other variations,
e.g., the tear away lid may be configured to tear away in such a
manner as to provide an opening only as large as is needed to
dispense the contents, i.e., a half opening end vs. a full open
end.
[0042] It should be appreciated that various changes and
modifications could be made to the examples of the invention
described above, without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invent For example, while the invention has been described
primarily in the context of a two-piece DWI aluminium can,
different types of cans and different materials could be used in
conjunction with the novel dispensing cap. And changes to the
design of the cap could be made as well while still preserving the
important aspects of the inventive cap. In short, changes to the
container and/or the cap could be made within the scope of the
invention as defined only by the claims appended hereto.
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