U.S. patent number 3,565,284 [Application Number 04/779,921] was granted by the patent office on 1971-02-23 for pocket article container with cover controlled ejector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Firma Bonum-Werk Gesellschaft M.B.H. Linz-Wigscheide. Invention is credited to Ignaz Hinterreiter.
United States Patent |
3,565,284 |
|
February 23, 1971 |
POCKET ARTICLE CONTAINER WITH COVER CONTROLLED EJECTOR
Abstract
A pocket container for reception and individual removal of
filling goods consisting of tablets, candies, or the like, piled up
in the container, which comprises a container member constituting a
geometrical cylinder defining and surrounding a chamber for filling
goods within the container member and having an opening for removal
of filling goods and a follower spring pushes the filling goods in
direction of the opening. A drop cover is disposed on top of the
container member and includes means for sliding the uppermost of
the filling goods from the opening upon lifting the drop cover. The
drop cover is mounted about a geometrical swinging axis projecting
through the geometrical cylinder, the geometrical swinging axis
being disposed perpendicular to the axial direction of the
geometrical cylinder. The drop cover has on its inside an abutment
face between the swinging axis and a wall opposite from the
opening, and the abutment face is adapted to engage the uppermost
of the filling goods by the pressure of the follower spring in case
the drop cover is in its closed or extensively closed position, and
the pressure exerted on the abutment face tends to urge the drop
cover into its closed position.
Inventors: |
Ignaz Hinterreiter (Linz,
AT) |
Assignee: |
Firma Bonum-Werk Gesellschaft
M.B.H. Linz-Wigscheide, (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25606152 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/779,921 |
Filed: |
November 29, 1968 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Nov 30, 1967 [AT] |
|
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10,828/67 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
221/229;
221/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/0418 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/04 (20060101); B65h 001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;221/228,229,232,249 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Samuel F. Coleman
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ernest G. Montague
Claims
I claim:
1. A pocket container for reception and individual removal of
filling goods consisting of tablets, candies, or the like, piled up
in the container, comprising: a container member constituting a
geometrical cylinder defining and surrounding a chamber for filling
goods within said container member and having an opening for
removal of filling goods; a follower spring pushing said filling
goods in direction of said opening; a drop cover disposed on top of
said container member and including means for sliding the uppermost
of said filling goods from said opening upon lifting said drop
cover; said drop cover being mounted about a geometrical swinging
axis projecting through said geometrical cylinder, said geometrical
swinging axis being disposed perpendicular to the axial direction
of said geometrical cylinder; and said drop cover having on its
inside an abutment face between said swinging axis and a wall
opposite from said opening, and said abutment face being adapted to
engage the uppermost of said filling goods by the pressure of said
follower spring in case said drop cover is in its closed or
extensively closed position, and the pressure exerted on said
abutment face tending to urge said drop cover into its closed
position.
2. The pocket container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
abutment face extends obliquely upwardly from said swinging axis to
said wall of said drop cover opposite from said opening.
3. The pocket container, as set froth forth in claim 1, wherein:
said drop cover has an edge and face, respectively, sliding out the
uppermost of said filling goods from said opening, and said
abutment face is disposed at a higher level than that of said edge
and face, respectively.
4. The pocket container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
inside of the walls of said container member has abutment means
disposed higher than said abutment face on said drop cover.
5. The pocket container, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said
abutment means of said container member are elastically outwardly
pressable.
6. The pocket container as set forth in claim 5, wherein: the walls
of said container member are formed elastically at the point of
said swinging axis of said drop cover; and said swinging axis is
defined by axle stumps provided on said drop cover.
7. The pocket container, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a
pistonlike pressure member between said follower spring and said
filling goods; said pressure member being displaceable into the
position assumed normally by the uppermost of said filling goods
and being higher than that of said filling goods, so that said
pressure member is not slidable through said opening in its
uppermost position and prevents an opening of said drop cover; said
container member is formed as an at least operationally one part
cup at the opening of which said drop cover is arranged, so that no
filling goods can be inserted through said closed drop cover; and
said drop cover is mounted in the walls of said container
member.
8. The pocket container, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said
abutment means are inclined at their upper face and at their lower
face; and said upper face is formed steeper than their lower
face.
9. The pocket container, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said
lower face of said abutment means extends obliquely inward upwardly
at an angle of about 30.degree. to the horizontal and the upper
face of said abutment means extends obliquely inward downwardly at
an angle of about 30.degree. to the vertical.
Description
The present invention relates to a pocket container for receiving
and individual removal of tablets, candies or the like, which are
piled on top of each other in the container and are pushed by a
follower spring in the direction of a removal opening, which
container is equipped with a drop cover which, upon lifting, slides
the uppermost tablet from the removal opening and the geometrical
swinging axis of which projects through the geometrical cylinder
surrounding the tablet chamber and is disposed perpendicular to the
axial direction of the cylinder.
In known containers of this type, for the return of the cover into
its resting position, in which the container is closed, a
particular return spring is provided, the insertion of which
generally creates an appreciable complication of the assembly.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a pocket
container, in which the provision of a separate return spring for
the cover is superfluous and, nevertheless, the cover is retained
resiliently in the closed position, which is brought about by the
pressure exerted by the follower spring, provided in the container,
onto the tablet pile. For this purpose, the pocket container of the
above-stated type is characterized by the fact, in accordance with
the present invention, that the drop cover has at its inside an
abutment face situated between the swinging axle and its wall
opposite from the removal opening, on which abutment face the
uppermost tablet comes into engagement under the pressure of the
follower spring in case of a totally or extensively closed drop
cover, whereby the pressure exerted on the abutment face is to
bring the drop cover into the closed position.
The abutment face provided on the inside of the drop cover is in a
preferred embodiment of the present invention obliquely upwardly
inclined, viewed from the swinging axle of the cover, to the cover
wall opposite from the removing opening, which has the advantage
that also tablets with plane top faces disposed parallel towards
each other, even tablets with concave disposed cover faces cause a
correct closing of the drop cover, since by the oblique position of
the engaging face, it is assured even in the mentioned tablets
types that always the uppermost tablet is in engagement with its
edge with the abutment face. If the container, however, is merely
designed for the removal of tablets, which have convex cover faces,
it is possible, with the same result to form the engagement face
horizontal or, seen from the swinging axle to cover wall opposite
from the removal opening, also easily upwardly inclined.
In accordance with a further development of the present invention,
it is provided that the abutment face is arranged higher than an
edge and face, respectively, sliding the tablet out of the removal
opening and provided on the drop cover, which embodiment of the
present invention has the advantage, that on the tablet edge during
opening of the cover only a comparatively small force is exerted,
and thus a displacement of the tablet is prevented. This is for the
reason that, since due to the greater radius, which is defined by
an edge of the drop cover more remote from the rotating axis of the
drop cover, the engagement face is freed quickly from its pressure
during the opening of the drop cover.
Known pocket containers with a drop cover are designed such that,
upon removal of the last tablet, the last candy or the like, a
renewed filling is possible, which possibility is, however,
undesirable in many instances, which is based on reasons of
medicinal and hygienic grounds or grounds of unfair competition.
Thus, upon renewed use of containers for medicaments upon filling
thereof, for instance, with sweets or the like, errors having heavy
consequences can occur. Within the framework of the present
invention it is now provided to avoid also this drawback. The
particular development of the present invention is characterized by
the fact that, between the follower spring and the tablets, a
pistonlike pressure member is inserted, which is displaceable up to
the position assured normally by the uppermost tablet and that in
known manner is formed appreciably higher than the tablet, so that
this pressure member in the uppermost position is not slidable by
the drop cover from the receiving opening, and an opening of the
drop cover is prevented, that the housing is designed as, at least
as to its operation, a one-part cup, at the opening of which sits
the drop cover, so that in case the cover is closed, no goods can
be inserted and the drop cover is mounted in the walls of the
cup.
Due to the fact that the pistonlike pressure member is displaceable
into the position taken by the uppermost tablet and this pressure
member is simultaneously appreciably higher than a tablet, it
closes, as soon as it reaches the uppermost position, the removal
opening of the container, without, however, being in position to
step out therefrom, since, by its height, it is still guided inside
of the container. Thus, also no opening of the drop cover can take
place, since the opening movement of the drop cover causes
simultaneously an advancement of the prevailing uppermost tablet
out of the removal opening, and as soon as such advancement is not
possible, the cover is locked against opening. It is, thus, not
possible after removal of the last of the filling goods, for
instance, of the last tablet, to open the drop cover, in order to
provide a new filling of the container from this side. If now
supplementing the container is formed as a one-part cup, another
insertion of filling pieces is not possible. A mounting of the drop
cover directly in the walls of the cup supports thereby the
previously mentioned measures, since, in this manner, also a
removal of the drop cover as a total is nearly impossible.
In order to render possible a simple filling of the container in
accordance with the present invention, it is preferably provided to
arrange on the upper side of the container elastically outwardly
pressable abutments, on which the prevailing uppermost tablet
supports itself within the framework of the removal process. By the
elasticity of these abutments, the possibility exists to fill the
container prior to the insertion of the drop cover with a total
pile of tablets or the like, whereby thus the uppermost tablet
engages the underside of the abutments, in spite of the pressure
exerted from below by the follower spring, the filled containers
are easily handable and the drop cover can be inserted into the
same without difficulty.
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in
the following detailed description, the present invention will be
clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a pocket container designed in
accordance with the present invention with a drop cover, the latter
being shown, however, in elevation;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the upper part of the container shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a drop cover provided in the
container disposed in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4--6 show drop covers with differently formed abutment
faces.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the
pocket container comprises a container cup 1 and a drop cover 2 is
provided at the upper end of the container cup 1, which drop cover
2 closes the container in its closed position and during opening
slides out the uppermost tablet 3 of a tablet pile 4 out of the
opening of the container. A pressure member 5 is disposed below the
tablet pile, which pressure member 5 is pressed from below by the
follower spring 6 against the pile 4.
The removal opening of the container is limited on its lower side
by the edge 7 of the cup 1, at their sides by the rising wall parts
8 and 9 of the cup 1, while the limitation in upward direction is
formed effectively by those parts of the drop cover, on which the
tablet is engaged during the removal process and upon termination
of the removal process is formed by abutments 10 on the wall parts
8 and 9.
The drop cover 2 has on each side an axle stump 11 and 12, which
axle stumps form jointly with corresponding bores in the wall parts
8 and 9 of the cup 1 the bearing of the drop cover, whereby the
geometrical swinging axis 13 of the drop cover extending through
the axle stumps project through the geometric cylinder surrounding
the tablet chamber and are disposed perpendicularly to the axial
direction of the latter.
On the inside of the drop cover 2 is provided between the swinging
axis 13 and the wall 14 opposite from the removal opening an
abutment face 15, on which in case of a closed or slightly opened
drop cover, the uppermost tablet 3 of the tablet pile comes under
the pressure of the follower spring 6. Due to the fact that the
uppermost tablet with its edge 16 presses towards the engagement
face 15, in case of an extremely or completely closed cover 2, the
cover part disposed between the axle 13 and the wall 14 is pressed
upwardly, and thus the cover is guided into the closing position
and retained in the latter, respectively.
If the cover 2 is opened by hand by means of the handle 17, the
rounded edge 18 of the wall 14 slides the uppermost table 3 over
the edge 7 out of the container, which removal, after the cover 2
and the abutment face 15, respectively, has reached a predetermined
oblique position, is still supported by the spring force of the
follower spring 6, since the pressure exerted to the tablet from
below slides its edge along the abutment face 15 and thus a further
force component, which slides the tablet out of the container
becomes effective. The joint effect of the opening force exerted by
hand and the force of the follower spring 6 can bring about thereby
also a direct opening of the cover, which movement type is of
advantage during the removal of the uppermost tablet, so far as
thereby independently from the speed applied always during opening
of the cover by hand, a small jolt is exerted to the tablet 3 and
such that the latter is always moved out of the container to the
same extent and thereby projects further, as this could be obtained
by hand by the removal movement, whereby an easier gripping of the
removed tablet is made possible.
Due to the fact, that the abutments 10 in the container 1 are
disposed higher than the abutment face 15 of the drop lever, the
tablet becomes completely free upon termination of the opening
movement of the cover 2 and can easily be removed. If the abutment
face provided on the drop cover seen from the swinging axle is
obliquely upwardly inclined at an angle .alpha., as it is provided
in connection with the cover 2 of the container shown in FIG. 1,
and is further exemplified in FIG. 4, one obtains also in
connection with tablets with concavely curved or flatly formed
cover faces 19 and 20 a good engagement of the tablet edge 16 on
the abutment face 15, which is contributory to a safe maintenance
of the closing position of the drop lever. If, however, the
container is designed only for the removal of tablets, which have
concave top faces, such engagement of the edge 16 of the uppermost
tablet can be obtained also in case of a horizontal or an upwardly
directed arrangement under the angle .beta. of the abutment face
15, which positions of the abutment face 15 are shown in FIGS. 5
and 6 jointly with the corresponding tablet shape. The two
last-mentioned positions of the abutment face 15 result thus in a
better securing of the cover in its closing position than the
embodiment shown in FIG. 4, whereby, however, the amplification of
a removal movement by the follower spring 6 is lower than in the
position of the abutment face in accordance with FIG. 4.
In case the cover is completely opened, the edge 18 of the wall 14,
based on a position of the container in accordance with FIG. 1, is
disposed at the left of the axle 13 and by the follower spring 6,
the open position of the cover 2 is maintained. If now the cover 2
is closed manually, the spring 6 supports the closing movement, as
soon as the edge 18 is in a position to the right of the axle 13
and thus by eccentric force application, a force component,
pressing the edge 18 towards the right, occurs.
By this arrangement, the cover 2 is automatically brought into the
closing position by the force of the spring 6, as soon as the cover
is brought manually into an oblique position.
If now the height of the pistonlike pressure member 5 is chosen
larger than the height of a tablet and if the pressure member is
slidable up to that position, which is assumed by the uppermost
tablet of the tablet pile 4, the edge 18 of the drop cover comes
into engagement with the side face of the pressure member 5, as
soon as the latter is brought into the uppermost position upon
removal of the last tablet and an opening of the drop cover is now
rendered impossible, since the pressure member 5, due to its
height, cannot emerge from the removal opening. Rather, by this
arrangement, according to which a lower part of the pressure member
still is guided by the walls of the container 1, a sliding out of
the latter from the removal opening is prevented and simultaneously
also an upward swinging of the cover 2. Thus, the container is
closed by the locked drop cover and from the drop cover side no new
filling goods can be inserted into the container. Due to the fact
that the container 1 is additionally designed as a one-part cup,
that means with the exception of that side on which the drop cover
sits, it has no opening through which filling material could be
inserted, and a different refilling of the container is not
possible. The container cup can then be manufactured as one piece
in a single working step, which renders possible a particularly
simple and cost-saving manufacture. It can also, however, in case
this is considered for producing or for other reasons, be made up
of several pieces.
Due to the fact that the drop cover 2 is mounted directly in the
upwardly extending wall parts 8 and 9 of the container cup 1, the
cover closed in the locked state of the container cannot be removed
without difficulty out of the container.
The abutments 10 provided on the inner side of the walls 8 and 9
serve also the purpose of securing the filling goods after the
insertion into the container during filling of the container with a
pile of tablets or the like, so that, without any further
difficulties, the drop cover can be mounted on the container cup
and into the same inserted, respectively, in order to make possible
during filling of the container to slide in simply the tablet pile
4, the abutments 10 are elastically resiliently arranged, so that
they are outwardly pressed by the horizontal outwardly directed
force component, which is exerted upon insertion of the tablet pile
4 on the upper faces 19 of the abutments 10. The elastic mounting
of the abutments takes place thereby in the most simple case such,
that these abutments are disposed on elastic resilient wall parts
of the container cup, it is, however, also possible to provide a
resiliency of the abutments independently from the container walls,
for instance, such that they sit on resilient tongues.
The oblique arrangement of the upper sides and faces 19,
respectively, of the abutments 10 simplifies first of all the
filling of the container with the tablet pile, since by such
oblique arrangement the pressure exerted on the tablet pile can be
low and, thus, also damaging or scratching of the individual
tablets of the pile is prevented to a great extent. An oblique
arrangement of the lower side end face 20, respectively, of the
abutments 10 is, first of all, of advantage for the production of
the container cup 1, since such oblique arrangement gives the
possiblity jointly with the elastic characteristic of the bearing
abutments 10 to remove simply axially a core disposed inside of the
cup 1 serving for the production of the container cup 1.
It has been found advantageous, as it is the case in the embodiment
shown in the drawing, if the lower faces of the abutments 10 define
an angle of about 30.degree. to the horizontal and the upper faces
extend at an angle of about 30.degree. to the vertical extending
through the prevailing container wall 8 and 9, respectively.
While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it
is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only
and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *