GB2175570A - Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for a sweet takes the form of a rigid plastics cube or other geometrical shape which can be opened, for removal of the sweet, without damaging the container. The container may be used, with other, similar containers, as a building brick or analogous item in a child's constructional toy or the like.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to containers This invention relates to a container, for example for an article of confectionery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container capable of being used as a structural element.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container, for example for an item of confectionery, capable of being opened without destruction of the container, the container being adapted to cooperate with similar containers to form a structure, whereby the container can be used, with similar containers, as a child's constructional toy.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a construction, comprising a plurality of similar containers according to the first noted aspect of the invention.

Thus, it is proposed that sweets, gum or the like would be sold in such containers for consumption by children so that a child could save such containers after consuming the sweets, for use as building bricks.

In one embodiment of the invention, a container for a confectionery item or items, such as a piece of bubble gum, sweets, or the like, comprises a rigid hollow body the exterior of which has the overall form of a cube. The container preferably comprises a first part providing a chamber for the confectionery items or the like and defining an opening to said chamber and a second part forming a closure for said opening.

The closure may be discardable or replaceable.

Where it is replaceable, the arrangement is preferably such that the closure serves to define, at least partially, a respective face or faces of the cube.

Alternatively, the said opening, and, when applied, the closure, may be disposed within a recess set back from the plane of the respective face of the cube.

The container is adapted to be used as a child's toy building brick, at least after being emptied, in conjunction with other similar containers. To this end, it is preferred that the container, or the contain closure combination, provides, for each face of the cube, a respective surface or surfaces lying in the plane of the respective face of the cube and constituting the outwardmost part of that portion of the cube, so that there are no projections beyond such plane which would interfere with the correct fitting of adjacent faces of the adjacent cubes together.

There may, of course, be one or more recesses in said face, or recessed areas bearing wording, advertising matter or the like.

In an alternative arrangement, respective faces of the cube may be provided with formations capable of engaging with complementary formations on an adjoining face of an adjoining similar cube to hold the adjoining cubes together in a positive manner.

For example, such formations may be adapted to make snap-engagement with one another. Thus, for example, the cube may have first formations on some faces thereof, and on other faces thereof, complementary, second formations, engageable with such first formations of identical cubes.

It will be appreciated, of course, that other geometrical shapes may be utilised, for example rectangular elongate bricks, triangular prisms etc., and if desired a plurality of different shapes of container may be produced, each container being, however, capable of cooperating with any of the said containers in a structure built by a child.

The container is preferably formed, for example by moulding, from a rigid plastics material and said closure, where provided, may be in the form of a plastics lid. If desired, the lid may be formed integrally with, but flexibly attached to the remainder of the container or may be captively retained thereon, in a manner knownperse.

1. A container for an item of confectionery, capable of being opened without destruction of the container, the container being adapted to cooperate with similar containers to form a structure, whereby the container can be used, with similar containers, as a child's constructional toy.

2. A container according to claim 1, which has the overall configuration of a rectangular parallelepiped.

3. A container according to claim 2, which has the overall configuration of a cube.

4. A container according to any preceding claim, which has, on the exterior thereof, first and second retention formations, said first retention formations being capable of cooperating with said second retention formations of an identical container in said structure.

5. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to containers This invention relates to a container, for example for an article of confectionery. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container capable of being used as a structural element. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container, for example for an item of confectionery, capable of being opened without destruction of the container, the container being adapted to cooperate with similar containers to form a structure, whereby the container can be used, with similar containers, as a child's constructional toy. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a construction, comprising a plurality of similar containers according to the first noted aspect of the invention. Thus, it is proposed that sweets, gum or the like would be sold in such containers for consumption by children so that a child could save such containers after consuming the sweets, for use as building bricks. In one embodiment of the invention, a container for a confectionery item or items, such as a piece of bubble gum, sweets, or the like, comprises a rigid hollow body the exterior of which has the overall form of a cube. The container preferably comprises a first part providing a chamber for the confectionery items or the like and defining an opening to said chamber and a second part forming a closure for said opening. The closure may be discardable or replaceable. Where it is replaceable, the arrangement is preferably such that the closure serves to define, at least partially, a respective face or faces of the cube. Alternatively, the said opening, and, when applied, the closure, may be disposed within a recess set back from the plane of the respective face of the cube. The container is adapted to be used as a child's toy building brick, at least after being emptied, in conjunction with other similar containers. To this end, it is preferred that the container, or the contain closure combination, provides, for each face of the cube, a respective surface or surfaces lying in the plane of the respective face of the cube and constituting the outwardmost part of that portion of the cube, so that there are no projections beyond such plane which would interfere with the correct fitting of adjacent faces of the adjacent cubes together. There may, of course, be one or more recesses in said face, or recessed areas bearing wording, advertising matter or the like. In an alternative arrangement, respective faces of the cube may be provided with formations capable of engaging with complementary formations on an adjoining face of an adjoining similar cube to hold the adjoining cubes together in a positive manner. For example, such formations may be adapted to make snap-engagement with one another. Thus, for example, the cube may have first formations on some faces thereof, and on other faces thereof, complementary, second formations, engageable with such first formations of identical cubes. It will be appreciated, of course, that other geometrical shapes may be utilised, for example rectangular elongate bricks, triangular prisms etc., and if desired a plurality of different shapes of container may be produced, each container being, however, capable of cooperating with any of the said containers in a structure built by a child. The container is preferably formed, for example by moulding, from a rigid plastics material and said closure, where provided, may be in the form of a plastics lid. If desired, the lid may be formed integrally with, but flexibly attached to the remainder of the container or may be captively retained thereon, in a manner knownperse. CLAIMS

1. A container for an item of confectionery, capable of being opened without destruction of the container, the container being adapted to cooperate with similar containers to form a structure, whereby the container can be used, with similar containers, as a child's constructional toy.

2. A container according to claim 1, which has the overall configuration of a rectangular parallelepiped.

3. A container according to claim 2, which has the overall configuration of a cube.

4. A container according to any preceding claim, which has, on the exterior thereof, first and second retention formations, said first retention formations being capable of cooperating with said second retention formations of an identical container in said structure.

5. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein.