Dispensing – With plural openings or discharge guides – Hand-manipulable shaker – diverse-type openings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-02-27
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With plural openings or discharge guides
Hand-manipulable shaker, diverse-type openings
C222S548000, C222S565000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193116
ABSTRACT:
NO CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research and development of the present invention and application have not been Federally-sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to dispensers for granular material, such dispensers having closure caps adapted to impart a sift characteristic, or alternately a pour characteristic, to the material being dispensed.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§1.97-1.99
The following references are considered to be a representative sampling of patents in the field to which the present invention pertains:
U.S. Pat. Nos.:
2,449,285
2,961,132
4,548,331
4,653,672
4,699,299
5,123,574
5,269,432
5,383,582
5,507,419
5,601,213
U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,213 discloses a dispenser adapted for use with granulated material, such as spices. The dispenser has a rotatable overcap including detents in the form of nibs on its underside, which are received in depressions on a base cap. By such an arrangement, the overcap can be turnably held in various adjusted positions, giving rise respectively to different discharge characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,449,285 discloses a sifter construction wherein there is provided a turn cap comprising an inverted cup, the latter having an inturned curl (
19
) which underlies a retention bead on a base cap. The turn cap can be set to effect alignment or mis-alignment of cooperable discharge passages in the two cap parts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,672 illustrates a twist cap construction wherein the turnable component is provided with a depending skirt that rides on a track in the base cap. The retention of the turnable component is accomplished by a plastic “rivet” (
5
), and there are stops in the cap construction, to confine the turning interval to predetermined limits, as indicated in FIG.
2
.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,331 shows a closure construction for granular material. The disclosed device (
FIG. 8
) shows the use of multiple detents
50
on a base portion of the closure construction. Means are provided to retain the overcap portion in various adjusted positions, corresponding to different discharge rates of the granular material being dispensed.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,699,299 and 5,507,419 illustrate turnable cap constructions of a type incorporating interlocking peripheral beads on a base cap and a closure cap, respectively.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,961,132 and 5,383,582 disclose cap constructions wherein a turnable member is disposed inside an upwardly facing cup portion of a base cap. The remaining two references, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,123,574 and 5,269,432, also relate to dispenser caps that are held captive on a base cap, and where provision is made for controlled discharge of the container contents. No. '574 utilizes what is known in the trade as a metering type closure, wherein a single unit dose or quantity can be dispensed, which is considered desirable for some applications.
It appears, however, that few if any, of the constructions noted above have been commercialized. This may be due to lack of marketing, or as a consequence of difficulty in manufacturing relative complex components in some cases, which represented an obstacle that may have thwarted the patentee in his attempts to successfully make and sell the respective inventions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior sifter-type cap constructions are largely overcome by the present invention, which has for an object the provision of a novel and improved sifter cap which is especially simple in its structure, comprising basically two separate molded plastic components.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved sifter cap in accordance with the foregoing, which is resistant to malfunction due to inadvertent product build up between the movable parts.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sifter cap of the typed noted above, wherein the components can be readily assembled without special tools, and with the use of automated assembly equipment.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sifter cap as above described, wherein the completed assembly is user-friendly, constituting a distinct advantage from the stand-point of successful marketing of the product.
The above objects are accomplished by a sifter cap for continuous thread containers of the type adapted to dispense a granular product, comprising in combination a screw cap adapted for securement to a container of the type indicated, the cap having an annular, upwardly-facing bearing shoulder, and a sifter member disposed atop the screw cap and adapted for rotation with respect thereto. The sifter member has at least three downwardly-faced bearing nibs which slidably engage the bearing shoulder of the screw cap at relatively small areas of contact, to thereby limit their engagement with the bearing shoulder per se, and also with any granular product which might inadvertently be carried onto the bearing shoulder.
The arrangement is such that an unusually smooth, rotation of the sifter cap is achievable, even in the presence of stray granular product which may accumulate over time.
Additionally, the simplest possible construction is utilized, namely two components in the preferred embodiment, thereby effectively keeping product cost to an absolute minimum.
Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5383582 (1995-01-01), Baxter et al.
patent: 5494200 (1996-02-01), Sheffler et al.
patent: 5507419 (1996-04-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5601213 (1997-02-01), Daniello
patent: 5730322 (1998-03-01), Iba et al.
patent: 5901902 (1999-05-01), Grabher
Dolan Thomas J.
Sheffler Robert J.
Brent River Packaging Corporation
Crozier John H.
Keasel Eric
Shaver Kevin
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