Dispensing – With plural openings or discharge guides – Hand-manipulable shaker – diverse-type openings
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-09-11
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With plural openings or discharge guides
Hand-manipulable shaker, diverse-type openings
C222S481000, C222S556000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286731
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to containers for storing and dispensing particulate and flake material, such as spices used in household cooking. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved container of this type, which permits a choice in dispensing hole size, is simple to operate, provides excellent moisture resistance, and ensures a complete product cycle.
Numerous containers are known for storing and dispensing dried spices in the home. In recent years, such containers have tended to be disposable upon depleting the contents. As this is not environmentally sound practice, it was desired to provide a storage and dispensing container which could be refilled, and thus reused indefinitely.
Reusable containers have of course been known. One potential drawback to such containers is that the stored product will not complete a product cycle. In other words, during refilling, the initial product remaining in the container is covered by the new product, and is thus not dispensed. This same condition continues with each subsequent refilling, such that the initial product remains trapped at the bottom of the container. This initial product will lose its freshness, providing poor results if and when used, or possibly contaminating the new product. To guard against this, it was desired to refill the container from the bottom, as is known in the art, forcing the initial product to the top and adjacent the dispensing mechanism. This arrangement is known, for example, from the TUPPERWARE® Premium Modular Mate. In the present container, however, it also serves as a further dispensing mechanism. Specifically, a removable bottom which permits refilling will also permit introduction of a measuring spoon.
It is also known to provide a dispensing storage container with an apertured lid and a separate cap to seal the aperture. U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,947 to Close is a good example of a standard pivoting arrangement. The container includes a lid with a raised aperture and a trunion spaced from the aperture. A cap is pivoted to the trunion, and may be placed in a position to seal the aperture about the cap's outer periphery. While this is a simple and efficient arrangement, the visible trunion is not aesthetically pleasing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,693 also shows a lid, but with two apertures. A cap mounts to the lid by press fit, and includes two flaps which pivot about living hinges to seal the apertures. This arrangement provides a more finished appearance, but the visible hinge lines again detract from the aesthetics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,312 shows this arrangement with two raised apertures in the lid, and the cap being a strip with rings to seal about the outer periphery of each aperture. The cap is flexible to permit it to be deformed to move from a position blocking the aperture. The seal of the cap to the raised apertures is the only mechanism retaining the cap. This arrangement is simple, but is not sufficiently secure for retaining the cap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container which permits easy dispensing, yet securely stores the contents.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a container with the ability to dispense a wide range of materials, from fine powders to flakes.
Yet another object is to provide such a container which is reusable, and which readily adapts to different contents.
These and other objects are achieved by a sealed dispensing container having a container body, bottom seal, cover and cap. The container body is open at the bottom, and is closed by the bottom seal. This permits easy refilling of contents, as well as an additional dispensing point. A plurality of dispensing areas are formed on container body, and includes dispensing apertures of differing sizes. The cover and cap include dispenser grips which secure them to the associated dispensing areas. The cap is additionally pivoted to the container body for opening and dispensing. The cover and cap may be repositioned, so that the cap is associated with a different one of the dispensing areas.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 155564 (1949-10-01), Ackerman
patent: D. 267387 (1982-12-01), Koch
patent: D. 323766 (1992-02-01), Robbins
patent: D. 328248 (1992-07-01), Ruff
patent: D. 337052 (1993-07-01), Anderson
patent: D. 347769 (1994-06-01), Kibbe
patent: D. 381582 (1997-07-01), Bolton
patent: 1208189 (1916-12-01), Miller
patent: 2162853 (1939-06-01), Massey
patent: 2269201 (1942-01-01), Hokerk
patent: 2654485 (1953-10-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 2696943 (1954-12-01), Stevens
patent: 2764309 (1956-09-01), Zelonka
patent: 2986309 (1961-05-01), Larson
patent: 3036746 (1962-05-01), Hagen
patent: 3323683 (1967-06-01), Cianciolo
patent: 3731792 (1973-05-01), Rolston
patent: 5203492 (1993-04-01), Schellenberg
patent: 5219100 (1993-06-01), Beck et al.
patent: 5258086 (1993-11-01), Hale
patent: 5975368 (1999-11-01), Wood
Benzon Ian Tomas
Daenen Robert H. C. M.
Heiberg Jakob
Lillelund Stig
Dart Industries Inc.
Ross Taylor J.
Shaver Kevin
Willatt Stephanie
LandOfFree
Sealed dispensing container does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sealed dispensing container, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sealed dispensing container will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2496555