U.S. patent number 3,771,695 [Application Number 05/311,688] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-13 for material dispensing container.
Invention is credited to Harold T. Pehr.
United States Patent |
3,771,695 |
Pehr |
November 13, 1973 |
MATERIAL DISPENSING CONTAINER
Abstract
A material dispensing container adapted to be molded in one
piece with component parts thereof movable into cooperating and
interfitting engagement one with the other to form a closed and
sealed container for particulate material such as, for example,
salt, pepper, sugar, spice, and the like. The container includes a
body portion having a side wall and peripheral side and end walls
extending therefrom and a cover member overlying the side wall of
the body portion cooperating interfitting portions on the cover
member and on the peripheral side and end walls of the body portion
effect sealing of the cover member in position. One of the
peripheral walls of the body portion has surfaces defining a
plurality of material dispensing passages therethrough and portion
of the cover member forms a closure member which is integrally and
hingedly connected to the cover member and has tongue portions
extending therefrom to close and seal a respective one of the
dispensing passages when in closed position.
Inventors: |
Pehr; Harold T. (Overland Park,
KS) |
Family
ID: |
23208011 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/311,688 |
Filed: |
December 4, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/142.4;
206/538 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
19/24 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
19/00 (20060101); A47G 19/24 (20060101); A47g
019/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/142.1,142.4,498,545,556,482,484,485,486 ;206/42
;229/15,7,44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Claims
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A dispensing container comprising:
a. a body portion having a side wall and edge walls extending from
respective peripheral edges of said side wall;
b. a cover member integral with and hingedly connected to said body
portion and having surface portions sealingly engageable with said
edge walls of said body portion;
c. surfaces on one of said edge walls of said body portion defining
a plurality of dispensing passages through the one of said edge
walls of said body portion;
d. a closure member integrally and hingedly connected to said cover
member for movement between an open position and a position closing
said dispensing passages; and
e. cooperating means on said closure member and said one edge wall
for closing said dispensing passages.
2. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
a. said edge walls of said body portion each have a groove therein
and extending along a respective inwardly facing surface thereof;
and
b. said cover member has a bead extending from one surface thereof
and adapted to be received in the groove in a respective one of
said edge walls of said body portion.
3. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
a. said surfaces on the one of said edge walls of said body portion
defining said dispensing passages each have a groove therein and
extending generally transversely of said respective passages;
and
b. said closure member has a plurality of tongue portions each
adapted to be received in the groove in a respective one of said
plurality of surfaces defining said dispensing passages for closing
said respective passages.
4. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
a. said edge walls of said body portion each have a groove therein
and extending along a respective inwardly facing surface
thereof;
b. said cover member has a bead extending from one surface thereof
and adapted to be received in the groove in a respective one of
said edge walls of said body portion;
c. said closure member integral and hinged connection to said cover
member is a connecting member having a thin portion less than the
thickness of said closure member and said cover member forming an
integral hinge;
d. said closure member has a plurality of beads extending from one
surface thereof and each aligned with and spaced from said bead on
said cover member;
e. certain of said surfaces defining said dispensing passages each
have a groove therein adapted to receive therein a respective one
of said beads on said closure member; and
f. the bead on said cover member to be received in the groove in
said one of said edge walls having said dispensing passages
extending therethrough comprises a plurality of spaced bead
portions with said dispensing passages therebetween.
5. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 4 wherein:
a. said closure member has a plurality of bead portions each
extending between adjacent tongue portions; and
b. said one of said edge walls having said dispensing passages
extending therethrough has a plurality of grooves in the surface to
be engaged by said closure member and each adapted to receive
therein a respective one of said bead portions extending between
said adjacent tongue portions.
6. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said one
of said edge walls having said dispensing passages extending
therethrough has a plurality of projections each adapted to extend
between and engage a respective one of said beads extending from
said closure member and said respective one of said beads on said
cover member aligned therewith to close the space therebetween.
7. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
a. said body portion has a plurality of intermediate walls
extending from said side wall to define a plurality of material
retaining compartments;
b. said material retaining compartments are each aligned with a
respective one of said dispensing passages; and
c. said closure member has a plurality of sections each adapted to
close a respective one of said dispensing passages.
8. A dispensing container comprising:
a. an elongated body portion having a side wall and peripheral side
and end walls extending from respective peripheral side and end
edges of said side wall;
b. surfaces on one of said peripheral end walls of said body
portion defining a plurality of spaced dispensing passages through
the one of said peripheral end walls of said body portion;
c. a cover member having respective surface portions engageable
with an outer edge of said peripheral side and end walls of said
body portion;
d. a closure member integrally connected to and extending from said
cover member for movement between an open position and a position
closing said dispensing passages;
e. a connection member integrally joining said body portion and
said cover member and said closure member integrally connected
thereto;
f. cooperating means on said cover member and said peripheral side
and end walls of said body portion for sealing respective engaging
surfaces of said cover member and said peripheral side and end
walls of said body portion; and
g. cooperating means on said closure member and said one of said
peripheral end walls of said body portion for sealing said
dispensing passages.
9. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 8 wherein:
a. said peripheral side and end walls of said body portion each
have a groove in an interior surface thereof and extending along
said respective interior surface and substantially parallel with
said side wall of said body portion;
b. said grooves are each spaced from the outer edge of said
respective peripheral side and end walls;
c. said cover member has a plurality of beads extending from one
surface thereof and each adapted to be received in said groove in a
respective one of said peripheral side and end walls of said body
portion; and
d. each of said plurality of beads has a stem portion adapted to
engage a portion of said respective peripheral side and end walls
between the outer edge thereof and said groove therein and a bead
portion adapted to be received in said respective groove.
10. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 9 wherein:
a. said surfaces on one of said peripheral end walls of said body
portion defining said dispensing passages each have a groove
therein and extending generally transversely of said respective
passages;
b. said one of said peripheral end walls having said dispensing
passages extending therethrough has a plurality of transversely
extending grooves in the outer edge thereof and aligned with said
grooves in said surfaces on said one of said peripheral end walls
defining said dispensing passages;
c. said closure member has a plurality of spaced tongue portions
extending therefrom and each adapted to be received in the
transversely extending groove in a respective one of said
dispensing passages through said one of said peripheral end walls
of said body portion for closing said dispensing passages; and
d. said closure member has a plurality of bead portions each
extending between adjacent tongue portions and each adapted to be
received in a respective one of the transversely extending grooves
in the outer edge of said one of said peripheral end walls having
said dispensing passages extending therethrough.
11. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 10 wherein:
a. said closure member is integrally connected to said cover member
by a connecting member having a thickness less than the thickness
of said closure member and said cover member;
b. said closure member has a plurality of beads extending from one
surface thereof and each aligned with and spaced from a respective
one of said beads on said cover member;
c. certain of said surfaces defining said dispensing passages each
have a longitudinally extending groove therein adapted and
positioned to receive therein a respective one of said beads on
said closure member;
d. the bead on said cover member to be received in the groove in
said one of said peripheral end walls of said body portion having
said dispensing passages extending therethrough comprises a
plurality of spaced bead portions with said dispensing passages
therebetween; and
e. said one of said peripheral end walls having said dispensing
passages therethrough has a plurality of projections each adapted
to extend between and engage a respective one of said beads
extending from said closure member and a respective one of said
beads on said cover member aligned therewith to close the space
therebetween.
12. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 8 wherein:
a. said body portion has a plurality of intermediate walls
extending from said side wall and extending between said peripheral
end walls to define a plurality of material retaining
compartments;
b. said material retaining compartments are each aligned with a
respective one of said dispensing passages; and
c. said closure member has a plurality of sections each adapted to
close a respective one of said dispensing passages.
Description
The present invention relates to material dispensing containers and
more particularly to particulate material dispensing containers
having a plurality of integrally connected and interfitting parts
and having a plurality of dispensing passages selectively opened
for dispensing particulate material such as condiments, and the
like.
Disposable paper packets having salt, pepper, non-dairy creamer,
sugar, or other condiments or food substances therein are served
with carry-out food at drive-in restaurants, room service at hotels
and motels, with food delivered to residences, and the like.
However, once opened there is no structure for reclosing the paper
packets. Therefore, the paper packets are not adapted for re-use
and a portion of the contents which is not consumed is wasted.
Also, paper packets are particularly susceptible to absorption of
moisture thereby damaging the contents therein especially caking of
salt and sugar. Paper packets also are easily torn or otherwise
damaged prior to use. It is possible to reduce caking by adding
anti-caking agents and by lining the paper packets with a suitable
plastic or metal foil. However, this substantially increases the
unit cost.
Condiment and spice containers are usually made of rigid materials
and are expensive to manufacture and often inconvenient to open and
use. Metal containers having a metal slide for covering or
uncovering a dispensing aperture or apertures are inconvenient to
operate, expensive to manufacture, require assembly of separate
parts in the making of the complete container and do not closely or
tightly cover the dispensing aperture thereby allowing entry of
moisture and escape of spice fragrance during periods of storage or
use of the respective container. Dispensing closures for containers
have been provided, however, such containers and dispensing
closures therefor are expensive to manufacture and require several
operations to assemble.
The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a
material dispensing container substantially eliminating the
aforesaid disadvantages of paper packets, metal spice and condiment
containers, and dispensing closures for containers; to provide such
a material dispensing container particularly adapted for controlled
dispensing of particulate materials such as salt, pepper, sugar,
spice, and other condiments; to provide such a material dispensing
container adapted for containing and individually dispensing a
plurality of different particulate materials, such as different
condiments including salt, pepper, sugar and the like; to provide
such dispensing container particularly adapted to be molded of a
clear or translucent plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropolene,
or like material approved for use in containers for food
ingredients and which has tough foldable, tear resistant
properties, and which is substantially moisture proof; to provide
such a dispensing container particularly adapted for use with meals
or food served on airlines, and like carriers, food served by carry
service in hospitals, institutions, hotels, motels, and the like;
to provide such a dispensing container which is re-useable and
refillable and which is adapted for dispensing by shaking of
condiments, such as salt, sugar, pepper, spices, and the like; to
provide such a dispensing container using an economical material in
making a lightweight dispensing container that seals and protects
packaged particulate materials, condiments, and the like and that
has a dispensing closure structure that is rugged, convenient,
functional, attractive, economical and effective in closing each of
a plurality of dispensing passages; to provide such a material
dispensing container adapted to be formed as a one piece molded
assembly with component parts movable into cooperating and
interfitting sealing engagement to form the container; and to
provide such a material dispensing container that is economical to
manufacture, positive in operation, convenient in use, effective in
sealing in and preserving of fragrances of packaged spices and
other condiments and preventing caking of moisture susceptible
condiments, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration
and example certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate
various objects and features of the material dispensing
container.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a material dispensing container
embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a molded assembly shown after removal from
a mold and prior to positioning of components in a closed position
forming the dispensing container.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one end of the material dispensing
container showing an exterior end of a plurality of dispensing
passages.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through an intermediate
dispensing passage and taken on line 4--4, FIG. 3 and showing means
for closing and sealing the dispensing passages.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 4 except
showing a closure member in an open position to permit dispensing
of contents of the container.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through one
side dispensing passage and taken on line 6--6, FIG. 3 and showing
the respective side dispensing passage closed.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line
7--7, FIG. 3 and showing means for sealing the one end of the
material dispensing container.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken
on line 8--8, FIG. 2 and showing a closed position in broken
lines.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an other form of the
material dispensing container.
Referring more in detail to the drawings:
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate
detailed structure.
In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference
numeral 1 generally designates a material dispensing container
adapted to be molded in one piece with component parts thereof
movable into cooperating and interfitting engagement one with the
other to form a closed and sealed container particularly adapted
for containing and dispensing particulate materials, such as, for
example, salt, pepper, sugar, spice, and the like. The dispensing
container 1 includes a body portion 2 having a side wall 3 and
peripheral side and end walls extending therefrom and a cover
member 4 overlying the side wall 3 of the body portion 2
cooperating interfitting portions on the cover member 4 and on the
peripheral side and end walls of the body portion 2 effect sealing
the cover member 4 in position. One of the peripheral end walls of
the body portion 2 has surfaces defining a plurality of spaced
dispensing passages 5 therethrough and a closure member 6 is
integrally connected to the cover member 4 and has a plurality of
tongue portions extending therefrom and each adapted to close and
seal a respective one of the dispensing passages 5.
The body member 2 may be any desired shape adapted to retain a
desired material therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the body
portion 2 is an elongated generally planar member having peripheral
side walls 8 and 9 extending from respective peripheral side edges
of the side wall 3 and peripheral end walls 10 and 11 extending
from respective peripheral end edges of the side wall 3. The
peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and the peripheral end walls 10 and
11 each have an outer edge 12 adapted to be engaged by the cover
member 4.
The peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and the peripheral end walls 10
and 11 each have a groove 14 in an interior surface 15 thereof and
the groove 14 extends along the respective interior surface 15 and
is substantially parallel with the side wall 3 of the body portion
2. The grooves 14 are each spaced from the respective outer edge 12
of the peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and the peripheral end walls
10 and 11.
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispensing passages 5 are formed
in one of the peripheral end walls, for example end wall 10, which
is illustrated as having a substantially greater thickness than the
peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and the other peripheral end wall 11
whereby the dispensing passages 5 are elongated. In the illustrated
embodiment, the surfaces defining each of the dispensing passages 5
include facing surfaces depending from the outer edge 12 of the one
peripheral end wall 10 with a generally rounded bottom surface
joining the facing surfaces depending from the outer edge 12 of the
one peripheral end wall 10. The dispensing passages 5 are
illustrated as being narrower at the top than at the rounded
bottom, for a purpose later described.
Each of the surfaces defining the dispensing passage 5 have a
groove 16 therein which extends generally transversely of the
respective dispensing passages 5 with each of the grooves 16 being
adapted to receive a respective one of the tongue portions 7
therein. The outer edge 12 of the one peripheral end wall 10 has a
plurality of transversely extending grooves 17 therein which are
aligned with the grooves 16 in the surfaces defining the dispensing
passages 5.
The illustrated dispensing container 1 has at least one
intermediate dispensing passage and a pair of side dispensing
passages positioned adjacent the respective peripheral side walls 8
and 9. The passage defining surfaces adjacent the peripheral side
walls 8 and 9 each have a longitudinally extending shoulder 18 and
a longitudinally extending groove 19 in that portion of the surface
between the shoulder 18 and the outer edge 12. A projection 20
extends from each of the shoulders 18 adjacent the peripheral side
walls 8 and 9, for a purpose later described.
The cover member 4 engages the outer edge 12 of the peripheral side
walls 8 and 9 and the peripheral end walls 10 and 11 and has
portions thereon to cooperate with the body portion 2 thereby
closing and sealing same. The cover member 4 is illustrated as a
generally planar elongated member having respective surface
portions engageable with the outer edge 12 of the peripheral side
walls 8 and 9 and the peripheral end walls 10 and 11. It is
desirable that the engagement between the cover member 4 and the
outer edge 12 be sealed, therefore, the cover member 4 has a
plurality of beads 21 extending from an interior surface 22 of the
cover member 4 and the beads are positioned adjacent respective
side and end edges of the cover member 4. The beads 21 are each
adapted to be received in a respective groove 14 in the interior
surface 15 of the respective peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and
peripheral end walls 10 and 11.
Each of the illustrated beads 21 on the cover member 4 has a stem
portion 23 adapted to engage a portion of the interior surface 15
of the respective peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and peripheral end
walls 10 and 11 between the respective outer edge 12 and the groove
14 therein. Each of the beads 21 has a bead portion 24 adapted to
be received in the groove 14 in the respective peripheral side and
end walls. The bead 21 on the cover member 4 which is to be
received in the groove 14 in the one peripheral end wall 10 of the
body portion 2 is illustrated as a plurality of spaced bead
portions 25 with the dispensing passages 5 therebetween.
The cover member 4 and the closure member 6 are integrally
connected to the body portion 2 and adapted to be moved to a
position sealing the peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and peripheral
end walls 10 and 11. In the illustrated embodiment, a connecting
member 26 extends from one of the peripheral side walls, for
example side wall 8. The connecting member 26 is positioned
adjacent the outer edge 12 of the side wall 8 and preferably has a
thickness substantially less than the thickness of the peripheral
side wall 8 and the thickness of the cover member 4 thereby
functioning as a hinge for moving member 4 to a position overlying
the side wall 3 of the body portion 2 and sealingly engaging
respective surfaces of the body portion 2 to form a closed
container.
The closure member 6 is integrally connected to and extends from
the cover member 4 and is movable between an open position, as best
seen in FIG. 5, and a position closing the dispensing passages 5,
as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6.
The tongue portions 7 on the closure member 6 are illustrated as
extending from the closure member 6 and each are adapted to be
received in the transversely extending groove 16 in a respective
one of the dispensing passages 5 through the one peripheral end
wall 10 thereby closing the dispensing passages 5. The tongue
portions 7 are preferably formed to have an interference in the
respective transversely extending grooves 16 thereby providing an
effective seal for the dispensing passages 5. The closure member 6
has a plurality of bead portions 27 each extending between adjacent
tongue portions 7 and each adapted to be received in a respective
one of the transversely extending grooves 17 in the outer surface
12 of the one peripheral end wall 10.
The closure member 6 is integrally connected to the cover member 4
by a connecting member 28 preferably having a thickness less than
the thickness of the closure member 6 and the thickness of the
cover member 4. The closure member 6 has a plurality of beads 29
extending from an interior surface 30 thereof with the beads 29
being adapted to be received within respective grooves 19 in that
portion of the surface defining the dispensing passages 5 between
the shoulder 18 and the outer edge 12 of the peripheral end wall
10. The beads 29 each are substantially similar in transverse cross
section to the beads 21 and have one end thereof spaced from a
respective bead 21 on the cover member 4 and the beads 29 are each
longitudinally aligned with a respective one of the beads 21 on the
cover member 4. The space between adjacent beads 29 and 21 is
adapted to be filled by the projections 20 which are shaped to
engage facing ends of the beads 29 on the closure member 6 and the
beads 21 on the cover member 4.
It is desirable that the closure member 6 be readily movable to a
position opening the dispensing passages 5, therefore, the closure
member 6 has a projecting portion 31 extending beyond the
peripheral end wall 10 and adapted to be grasped by the hand of an
individual desiring to open the dispensing container 1.
In using a dispensing container as illustrated and described, the
molded assembly, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, is removed from a
suitable mold (not shown) and the desired material is placed within
the body portion 2 and the cover member 4 and closure member 6
integrally connected thereto are moved to a position overlying the
side wall 3 of the body portion 2 and the respective beads and
tongue portions 7 are forced into the respective grooves with the
projections 20 closing and sealing the space between facing ends of
the beads 29 on the closure member 6 and the beads 21 on the cover
member 4 thereby sealing the contents of the material dispensing
container 1 therein. When it is desired to dispense a portion of
the contents within the material dispensing container 1, the
projecting portion 31 is moved away from the outer edge 12 of the
one peripheral end wall 10 thereby opening the dispensing passages
5. The contents of the dispensing container 1 are then suitably
discharged, as by shaking, to effect flow of the material through
the dispensing passages 5. In the event that all of the contents of
the dispensing container 1 are not used, the closure member 6 is
moved to a position in engagement with the outer edge 12 of the one
peripheral end wall 10 with the tongue portions 7 and bead portions
27 closing the material dispensing container 1.
FIG. 9 illustrates an other form of the material dispensing
container which is adapted for containing and individually
dispensing a plurality of different particulate materials, such as
different condiments including salt, pepper, sugar, and the
like.
The illustrated other form of the material dispensing container
includes a plurality of laterally spaced intermediate walls 35 each
extending from the side wall 3 of the body portion 2 and the
intermediate walls 35 each extend between the peripheral end walls
10 and 11 and have an outer edge 36 coplanar with the outer edge 12
of the peripheral side walls 8 and 9 and the peripheral end walls
10 and 11. The intermediate walls 35 define a plurality of material
retaining compartments therebetween each adapted to contain a
respective one of a plurality of condiments.
It is desirable that each of the material retaining compartments be
aligned with a respective one of the dispensing passages 5 through
the one end wall 10 for easy flow of material from the
compartments.
The closure member 6 has a plurality of closing sections 37 each
adapted to close a respective one of the dispensing passages 5. The
sections 37 of the closure member 6 are each individually movable
between an open position permitting dispensing material from the
respective passage and compartment and a closed position for
sealing the respective dispensing passage 5. Each of the closing
sections 37 has a projecting portion 38 extending beyond the one
end wall 10.
When it is desired to dispense a portion or all of the contents of
one of the material retaining compartments, the respective closing
section 37 is moved to an open position by moving the projecting
portion 38 thereof away from the outer edge 12 of the one
peripheral end wall 10. The contents of the respective material
retaining compartment are suitably discharged, as by shaking, to
effect flow of the material through the respective dispensing
passage 5. In the event that all of the contents of the respective
material retaining compartment are not used, the closing section 37
is moved to a position in engagement with the outer edge 12 of the
one peripheral end wall 10 thereby closing the respective
dispensing passage 5.
It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described
one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific
form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.
* * * * *