U.S. patent application number 15/449055 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-22 for spill-preventing snack container and dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is BIG MONSTER TOYS LLC. Invention is credited to Robert James CIVETTINI, Paul Gordon DOWNEY, Donald Alfred ROSENWINKEL.
Application Number | 20170174399 15/449055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55440413 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170174399 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DOWNEY; Paul Gordon ; et
al. |
June 22, 2017 |
SPILL-PREVENTING SNACK CONTAINER AND DISPENSER
Abstract
A food dispensing container having a removable dispensing member
that includes a hinged flow gate configured to cover, in a closed
position, a corresponding aperture in a bottom of a dispensing
compartment of the dispensing member. The dispensing member also
includes a hinged lid configured to cover a top of the dispensing
compartment, the hinged lid having a notch that allows a range of
rotation of the hinged flow gate when the hinged lid is in a closed
position covering the top of the dispensing compartment and the
rotation of the hinged flow gate opening the corresponding aperture
when the food dispensing container is tilted from an upright
position. The hinged lid and the hinged flow gate interlock,
limiting the hinged flow gate to the closed position, when the
hinged lid is in an open position uncovering the top of the
dispensing compartment.
Inventors: |
DOWNEY; Paul Gordon; (Oak
Park, IL) ; CIVETTINI; Robert James; (Chicago,
IL) ; ROSENWINKEL; Donald Alfred; (Oak Park,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BIG MONSTER TOYS LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55440413 |
Appl. No.: |
15/449055 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US2015/048641 |
Sep 4, 2015 |
|
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|
15449055 |
|
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62046761 |
Sep 5, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/26 20130101;
B65D 25/04 20130101; B65D 43/16 20130101; A47J 47/08 20130101; B65D
47/08 20130101; B65D 85/60 20130101; B65D 83/0427 20130101; A47J
47/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/26 20060101
B65D043/26; B65D 85/60 20060101 B65D085/60; B65D 43/16 20060101
B65D043/16; B65D 47/08 20060101 B65D047/08; B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04 |
Claims
1. A food dispensing lid for a storage container, the food
dispensing lid comprising: a dispensing member removably attached
to the storage container; a flow gate configured to cover, in a
closed position, an aperture in a bottom of the dispensing member;
and a lid configured to cover a top of the dispensing compartment,
wherein, when the lid is in a closed position, rotation of the flow
gate away from the aperture is allowed when the food dispensing lid
is rotated from an upright position; and wherein, when the lid is
in an open position, rotation of the flow gate away from the
aperture is prevented.
2. The food dispensing lid of claim 1, wherein the dispensing
member contains apertures which engage with protrusions on the lid
to hold the lid in the closed position.
3. The food dispensing lid of claim 2, wherein the dispensing
member further comprises: a release button which interfaces with an
aperture in the storage container to removably attach the food
dispensing lid to the storage container.
4. The food dispensing lid of claim 3, wherein a force required to
actuate the release button to remove the dispensing member from the
storage container is greater than a force required to overcome the
engagement between the apertures and protrusions to open the
lid.
5. The food dispensing lid of claim 1, wherein the hinged flow gate
comprises a rigid hinge portion and a flexible tongue portion.
6. The food dispensing lid of claim 5, wherein the flexible tongue
portion comprises a perforated edge.
7. The food dispensing lid of claim 6, wherein the perforated edge
contains at least two notches.
8. The food dispensing lid of claim 5, wherein the flexible tongue
portion is silicone.
9. The food dispensing lid of claim 1, wherein the storage
container comprises an indicator line.
10. The food dispensing lid of claim 1, wherein the flow gate is
hinged to the dispensing member within a recess to limit rotation
of the flow gate to less than 90.degree..
11. The food dispensing lid of claim 1, wherein the storage
container comprises a rotatable divider element for defining plural
selectable snack food compartments therewithin.
12. The food dispensing lid of claim 11, wherein a rotating knob is
used to rotate the rotatatable divider element.
13. A food dispensing lid for a storage container, the food
dispensing lid comprising: a dispensing member removably attached
to the storage container; a flow gate configured to cover an
aperture in a bottom of the dispensing member in a closed position;
a lid configured to cover a top of the dispensing compartment; and
a dispensing button for moving the flow gate from the closed
position to an open position.
14. The food dispensing lid of claim 13, wherein the dispensing
button operates regardless of an orientation of the food dispensing
lid.
15. The food dispensing lid of claim 13, wherein the dispensing
button is biased in a closed position by a living hinge or a spring
loaded hinge.
16. A food dispensing lid for a container, comprising: a dispensing
member configured to be removably attachable to a storage
container; a flow gate configured to cover, in a closed position,
an aperture in a bottom of the dispensing member; and a lid
configured to cover a top of the dispensing compartment.
17. The lid according to claim 16, wherein, when the lid is in a
closed position, rotation of the flow gate away from the aperture
is allowed; and wherein, when the lid is in an open position,
rotation of the flow gate away from the aperture is prevented.
18. The lid according to claim 16, wherein the rotation is about an
axis substantially parallel to a plane of the lid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to food dispensers
and more particularly to a snack container and dispenser that
prevents spills.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Children love to eat snacks such as cereal, small candies
such as coated chocolate candies, nuts and the like. However, when
a child, especially a young child like a toddler, attempts to carry
a snack container around, it inevitably gets spilled, because while
the child can get the snacks out with a hand or fingers, they
cannot manage to keep the container upright. Also, when a child
scoops out a quantity of the snack, there is no control on how much
is scooped. In many cases, it is more than the child can control,
and the overfilled hand or fingers lose materials resulting in
unwanted spills.
[0005] It would be extremely advantageous to have a snack dispenser
that can be refilled with a favorite snack that dispenses a small
amount of the snack into a dispensing area (which can also be a
lid) by simply turning the dispenser or by pushing a button and
turning the dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention relates to a snack carrying container
that allows a correct amount of material for dispensing to move
from the body of the container into the lid or dispensing area by
turning the container upside down, or by pressing a button to open
a flow gate and turning the container upside down for dispensing.
The child can access the dispensed portion easily for consumption
while the bulk of the contents are closed in the body of the
container and prevented from spilling. One embodiment of the
present invention is a four-piece, cup size, snack container that
stores and releases a fixed amount of treats when the child closes
the lid, briefly turns the unit upside down and opens the lid
again. This container prevents the child from spilling the entire
contents while eating the snacks. In addition, a snack container
according to the present invention is not only spill free but also
keeps the stored snack clean and free from dirt and germs due to
recontamination of the snack. Recontamination is typical in most
snack dispensers, where a child may repeatedly touch the stored
snacks. Since the child never puts his or her hands back in the
storage unit of the snack container of the present invention, it
prevents the snack from getting touched every time the child grabs
a snack. And, thus, the container prevents the possibility of
recontamination. It also does not expose the snack to the outside
environment, reducing the possibility of the snack getting stale in
the short term.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a
novel combination of structure is provided for a snack dispensing
container including a storage compartment and a dispensing
compartment in material communication through a gate, the gate
being hinged to permit material flow or prevent material flow, the
snack dispensing container also including a lid in communication
with the gate wherein, when the lid is closed, the gate can swing
open allowing material flow from the storage compartment into the
dispensing compartment when the snack dispensing container is
inverted, and when the lid is open, the gate is locked closed
preventing said material flow.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
novel combination of structure is provided for a snack dispensing
container comprising a button configured to open the hinged flow
gate when pressed.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
novel combination of structure is provided for a snack dispensing
container comprising said storage compartment being segmented into
a plurality of sub-compartments, one of the sub-compartments being
selectable by a rotatable window between the storage compartment
and the dispensing compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the presently preferred features of
the present invention will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0011] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating respective
components of a snack container and dispenser in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E illustrate steps for using a
snack container and dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an assembled and a disassembled
snack container and dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention.
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a flow gate
mechanism in the snack container and dispenser according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the hinged assembly for
the lid and flow gate, respectively, for the snack container and
dispenser in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are cutaway diagrams showing
the operation of the flow gate mechanism for snack dispensing in
the snack container and dispenser according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a diagram and a magnified inset showing a
button-toggled flow gate in a snack container and dispenser
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a snack dispensing lid for use with a
commercial snack container according to an alternative embodiment
of the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing a snack container and
dispenser with multiple selectable container compartments according
to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY
EMBODIMENTS
1. Introduction
[0020] Briefly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention
provide for a snack dispenser that advantageously limits potential
spills of the snack food within its container.
[0021] 2. The Structure of the Preferred Embodiment
[0022] With reference to FIG. 1A, the snack container 100 according
to an embodiment of the invention may comprise four molded parts
that are assembled together in the manner illustrated for ease of
manufacturing. As shown in FIG. 1A, the snack container 100
includes a reservoir 105 as a main storage for the snack. A
dispensing cup 110 is detachably inserted on top of the reservoir
105. And a flow gate 115 may be attached to the dispensing cup 110
on a hinge such that it can move between open and closed positions
in relation to an aperture disposed in the dispensing cup 110,
covering the aperture in the closed position. An outer cap (or lid)
120 may be attached to the dispensing cup 110 on another hinge such
that the cap can be opened and closed. The dispensing cup 110 may
include one or more holes or notches 125 that interact with one or
more corresponding protrusions 130 on the cap 120 element for
holding the cap 120 in the closed position. According to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, the holes 125 and
protrusions 130 on the cap 120 may include smoothed edges and
angles for an interlocking relationship that is easily released
with a small amount of force--for example, by a small child--in
opening the cap 120 in relation to the dispensing cup 110.
[0023] FIG. 1B illustrates a back side of dispensing cup 110
showing a release button 200 disposed at an end of a section 205.
Operations in connection with this release button 200 is discussed
below in detail in view of FIGS. 2A-2E.
[0024] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E illustrate a process for using
the snack container according to the invention. As shown in FIG.
2A, the snack container 100 may be opened by pushing a release
button 200 on the dispensing cup 110 to disengage it from a
corresponding aperture in the reservoir 105 while pulling the
reservoir 105 and the dispensing cup 110 (and the attached cap/lid
120) apart. In contrast to the interlocking relationship between
holes 125 and protrusions 130, the engagement between the release
button 200 and the corresponding aperture in reservoir 105 may
require additional strength and dexterity such that a toddler could
not separate the dispensing cup 110 from the reservoir 105. For
example, the section 205 of the dispensing cup 110 comprising the
release button 200 may be made of a material--e.g., composite, and
the like--of sufficient rigidity so that a threshold amount of
pressure is needed on the release button 200 to disengage it from
the corresponding aperture in the reservoir 105.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2B, snack food--such as cereals, crackers,
or any kind of finger snacks for small children--may be filled in
the reservoir cup 105--for example, to about 2/3 full. According to
an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the reservoir cup 105 may
include a molded indicator line to mark an ideal filling level,
such as 2/3 full.
[0026] After the snack food has been filled into the reservoir cup
105, as shown in FIG. 2C, the dispensing cup 110, along with
attached cap 120, may be re-inserted to the reservoir cup 105. With
the cap/lid 120 closed, the snack cup 100 may be turned upside
down, as shown in FIG. 2D, and given a shake or two, whereby a
portion of the snack food in the reservoir cup 105 is allowed
through the aperture in the dispensing cup 110. As will be
described in further detail below, the flow gate 115 pivots to an
open position when the snack cup 100 is flipped upside down with
the cap 120 closed, thereby allowing the snack food in the
reservoir cup 105 to be dispensed to dispensing cup 110. And when
the snack cup 100 is flipped back over right side up, the flow gate
115 pivots back to the closed position, preserving the dispensed
snack food in the dispensing cup 110 while preventing additional
snack food from spilling out of the reservoir cup 105. And the user
may open the lid and enjoy the snacks in the dispensing cup 110, as
illustrated in FIG. 2E. When the dispensing cup is empty, the user
may close the lid and repeat the process of turning the snack cup
100 upside down and shaking it to add more of the snack food from
the reservoir cup 105 to the dispensing cup 110.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reservoir cup (base
container) 105, the dispensing cup 110 with lid 120 in an open
position, and a fully assembled snack cup 100. According to an
embodiment of the invention, snack cup 100 may include outer
displays of various animals or characters. Also, snack cup 100 may
take on alternative shapes and need not be substantially
cylindrical.
[0028] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, flow gate
115 may be a single injection molded part. But occasionally, a
piece of snack may become pinched between such a flow gate 115 and
the dispensing cup 110, locking up operation. As illustrated and
described in further detail below, if the gate 115 could not fully
close, the lid 120 could not be opened--as part of the spill
prevention feature of the invention. Thus, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, flow gate 115 may comprise
two separate parts made of different materials. As shown in FIG.
4A, flow gate 115 may comprise a hinge portion 405 that is made of
a rigid plastic in order to swing freely and operate as a locking
mechanism. And a front edge portion (or "tongue") 410 of the flow
gate 115 can be a separate piece made of silicone. The flexibility
of the silicone allows the tongue 410 some bend as the lid 120,
while it is being opened, forces the gate 115 closed. And any stuck
piece of food between the tongue 410 and the aperture rim in the
dispensing cup 110, as shown in FIG. 4B, can be pulled out by hand
or just allowed to remain and subsequently fall into the dispenser
cup with the next inverted shake.
[0029] Additionally, the tongue 410 may have a perforated edge (as
illustrated by notches 415 and 420) so that should food get wedged,
just a part of the tongue would be stuck open--the rest of the flow
gate 115 would still be fully closed to prevent spills. As
described above, tongue 410 may be made with a flexible food grade
silicone, or any similar composite plastic material. The two pieces
could be co-molded or made as two separate pieces and assembled
together.
[0030] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the respective hinged connections
of the lid 120 and the flow gate 115 to the dispensing cup 110. As
shown in FIG. 5A, the lid 120 may be hinged to the dispensing cup
110 to allow for approximately 90 degrees of rotation of the lid
120 between the closed position and a final resting open position.
And as shown in FIG. 5B, the flow gate 115 may be hinged to the
dispensing cup 110 within a corresponding recess that limits a
rotation of the flow gate 115 in its open position into the
dispensing cup 110 while the snack cup 100 is held upside down with
the lid 120 closed.
[0031] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are cutaway diagrams
illustrating the interlocking hinges between the lid 120 and flow
gate 115 that provide for the above-described process of dispensing
snack food into the dispensing cup 110 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6D, and 6E, the
hinged connection of lid 120 includes a notch 605 that allows for a
range through which the flow gate 115 can rotate around its hinge
while the lid 120 is in the closed position--thus allowing for the
flow gate 115 to swing open, through gravity, into the dispensing
cup 110 when the snack cup 100 is inverted to an upside down
position, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6D. As further illustrated
in FIG. 6D, a portion of the snack food in reservoir 105 flows
through the aperture uncovered by the opened flow gate 115 into the
dispensing cup 110. And when the snack cup 100 is returned to an
upright position, flow gate 115, via gravity, swings back into the
closed position through the range of rotation around its hinged
connection, as illustrated in FIG. 6C--thus, separating the portion
of snack food captured in the dispensing cup 110 from the remaining
portion in the reservoir 105. And as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and
6C, flow gate 115 may include a corresponding notch 610 that fits
around the hinged portion of lid 120 so that it is held in the
closed position while the lid 120 is opened. In this way, the flow
gate 115 is locked closed so that the snack food in reservoir 105
cannot be spilled out while the lid 120 is opened. And the snack
cup 100, thus, dispenses snacks one mouthful at a time while
preventing any spills from the reservoir 105 (container body) no
matter what the position of the snack cup 100 is.
[0032] Advantageously, the snack cup 100 according to the invention
provides for an ideal spill-proof snack dispenser for young
children. But the device of the present invention is not just for
small children. Various embodiments and styles can be used by
adults, such as hikers, sports fans, on-the-go families, outdoors
sports enthusiasts, pet owners, and the elderly.
[0033] Alternate embodiments can have a dispensing button for
providing the user explicit control over the flow gate for
dispensing the snack food, as shown in FIG. 7. The button would
cause the release of the gate regardless of the devices
orientation. Accordingly, when the snack container is used, for
example, in an outdoor activity context, snack food would not be
unintentionally dispensed when it is inverted, say, while it is
packed away. And snack food would be dispensed only when the user
wishes it to by pressing the dispensing button. The hinge
connection of the dispensing button, as shown in FIG. 7, may
provide, for example, spring-loaded resistance sufficient to reduce
unintentional toggling.
[0034] In some embodiments, the top section (the dispensing cup 110
and cap 120) can be attached to a third-party container, as shown
FIG. 8. For example, the dispensing cup 110 and cap 120 assembly
may be customized to dimensions suitable for retrofit attachment to
third-party disposable containers, such as containers for
store-bought snacks and the like.
[0035] In addition, reservoir 105 may be embodiment by a vessel
having multiple compartments, allowing a variety of snacks to be
chosen from, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. A rotating selector may
be operated by rotating a knob 905 on the bottom (or alternatively
by rotating the top) of the snack cup 900 that is connected to the
partitions of the compartments within the reservoir 910 to align a
window (the flow gate 115) with the chosen compartment. The cap
mechanism as described above may fit directly above the window.
FIGS. 9A and 9B show three compartments but any number of
compartments is within the scope of the present invention.
[0036] The components of present invention are preferably made from
molded plastic. But any rigid or semi-rigid material may be used
and is within the scope of the present invention. The entire device
may have parts made of different materials. For example, as
described above, the base (or hinge portion) of the (flow) gate may
be hard plastic, while the tip (or tongue) of the gate may be soft
silicone. Any combination of materials is within the scope of the
present invention. While the shape of the containers in most
illustrations is cylindrical, this is not necessary; any shaped
container is within the scope of the present invention.
[0037] While the present invention has been described with respect
to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it
is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended
to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of
the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures
and functions.
[0038] All U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications
discussed above are hereby incorporated by reference into the
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments.
* * * * *