GB2395476A

GB2395476A - Container having separable receptacles

Info

Publication number: GB2395476A
Application number: GB0226981A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keshen Teo
Original assignee: Hutchison Whampoa Enterprises Ltd
Current assignee: Hutchison Whampoa Enterprises Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-19
Filing date: 2002-11-19
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-19
Also published as: GB2395476B; GB0226981D0

Abstract

A container (10) for pills or the like, comprises a first, relatively larger bottle (100) and a second, relatively smaller bottle (200) separable from each other. The first bottle (100) has a body (110), a lid (120) for closing the body (110) and first engaging means (128) provide on the lid (120), the lid (120) having an opening (122) with a hinged auxiliary lid (124). The second bottle (200) has second engaging means (218) releasably engageable with the first engaging means (128) for connecting the two bottles (100 and 200) together. The larger bottle (100) serves to store the main supply of pills at home for example, whereas the smaller bottle (200) is convenient for a user to carry a smaller amount of the pills with him/her for consumption elsewhere. The engaging means may have complementary members of dovetail shape or plug-in-socket type formations.

Description

J - 1 CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a container for holding, particularly but not exclusively, oral products in pellet 5 form that should be taken regularly during the day.

BACKGRO OF ICON

Oral products in pellet form are often co ercially 10 available in a box or bottle, at a quantity that la sufficient for consumption for days or up to several weeks. Should the product be taken regularly during the day, a user normally takes only a Small amount with him/her anywhere he/she goes, and this requires the use 15 of another container that is suitably and conveniently smaller. The invention seeks to provide an improved container to meet such uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INTION

According to the invention, there is provided a container comprising first and second receptacles separable from 25 each other. The first receptacle has a body, a closure musher for closing the body and first engaging means provided on the closure member. The second receptacle has second engaging means releasably engageable with the

-2 first engaging means for connecting the two receptacle together. Preferably, the second receptacle includes a body and a 5 closure member for closing the body, and the second engaging means is provided on the body.

It is preferred that the closure member of the first receptacle is a separate part from the body and is preo.-

10 fitted with the body to clove the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure member of the first receptacle is a principal closure member that includes an opening and an auxiliary closure member for closing the 15 opening.

More preferably, the auxiliary closure member is hingedly connected to the principal closure member.

20 In one preferred construction, the principal closure member has a first part at which the first engaging means is provided and a second part at which the opening and the auxiliary closure member are provided.

25 In another preferred construction, the opening occupies almost the entire principal closure member, and the first engaging means is provided on the auxiliary closure member.

-3 It iB further preferred that the opening and the auxiliary closure member of the principal closure member are concealed in the interface between the first and second 5 receptacles when the two receptacles are connected together. Preferably, the second receptacle includes a body and a closure member for closing the body, and the closure 10 member is hingedly connected to the body.

Preferably, the closure member of the second receptacle ia hingedly connected to the body.

15 In one preferred embodiment, the first and second engaging means are inter-engageable through a sliding action in a direction transversely of both receptacles.

More preferably, the first and second engaging means have 20 complementary cross-aections that are inter-engageable through relative sliding in a direction at right angles to both cross-sections.

Further more preferably, the cross-sections of both 25 engaging means have a substantially dovetail shape.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second engaging means are inter-engageable by friction in a

-4 direction acrose the receptacles.

More preferably, the first and second engaging means comprise male and female formations inter-engageable 5 through a plug-in-socket type of connection.

Further more preferably, the male and fe ale formations are situated at respective corners of the receptacles.

10 For neatness, the first and second receptacles have adjacent peripheral surfaces lying substantially flush with each other when the two receptacles are connected together. 15 It is preferred that the second receptacle is relatively smaller than the first receptacle.

In a specific construction, the first receptacle has a substantially rectangular shape and includes an upper end 20 at which the closure member is provided. Also, the second receptacle has a substantially rectangular shape extending alongside the upper end of the first receptacle when the two receptacles are inter-connected, together forming a larger rectangular shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by

- i - way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front view. of a first embodiment of a 5 container in accordance with the invention, said container comprising a bean bottle and a top bottle; Figures 2 and 3 are left and right side viewa, respectively, of the container of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partial cross- sectional front view of the container of Figure 2, taken along line IV-IV of Figure 5, Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the 15 container of Figure 4, taken along line V-V; Figure 5A is an enlarged crosa-sectional view of part VA of the container of Flours 5; 20 Figures 6A to 6C are perspective views of the container of Figure 1, showing how the top bottle is attachable to and detachable from the base bottle and how they are opened for use, respectively; 25 Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, said container comprising a base bottle and a top bottle;

-6 Figure 7A i8 a fragmentary perspective view of the base bottle of Figure 7, said bottle being opened: S Figure 7B i. a perspective view of the top bottle of Figure 7, said bottle being shown upside down; Figure 7C is an enlarged perspective view of part of the base bottle of Figure 7; Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, acid container comprising a base bottle and a top bottle; Figure 8A is a fragmentary perspective view of the beae bottle of Figure 8, said bottle being opened; Figure 8B is a perspective view of the top bottle of 20 Figure 8, said bottle being shown upside down; and Figure 8C is an enlarged perspective view of part of the base bottle of Figure 8.

25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 6C of the drawings, there is shown a first container 10 embodying the

-7 invention, which container 10 comprises a first relatively larger base bottle 100 and a second relatively smaller top bottle 200. The two bottles 100 and 200 are separate rectangular receptacles, which can be used independently 5 but are releasably connectable together for convenient handling. The content intended for the container lo is, particularly but not exclusively, in pellet or bead form and for daily use, such as pills, whether as medicine or for health keeping, or even candies. The bean bottle too 10 serves to store the main supply of pills at home for example, whereas the top bottle 200 is convenient for a user to carry a smaller quantity of the pills with him/her for consumption elsewhere.

15 The base bottle 100 has a substantially flat rectangular upright body 110 having an open top end 112 and a closed bottom end 114, and includes an oblong lid 120 for closing the open end 112. The lid 120 is a separate part from the body 110, and is pre-fitted onto and around the 20 top end 112 to close the body 110 reasonably tightly. The lid 120 iB a principal closure member that is normally cloed and can be removed to permit refilling of the bottle 100 with pills.

25 The principal lid 120 includes, at a front end thereof, an opening 122 and a hinged auxiliary lid 124 for closing the opening 122. The auxiliary lid 124 is integrally connected to the principal lid 120, with the outermost end of the

-8 former being aligned with an adjacent end of the latter and adapted to snap fit therewith such that the auxiliary lid 124 is locked shut. A recessed slit 126 is formed between the aligned ends of both lids 120 and 124 to 5 facilitate opening of the auxiliary lid 124 using a fingernail. Pills contained in the base bottle 100 can conveniently be dispensed out through the opening 122 of the principal lid 120, while the auxiliary lid 124 is opened (Figure 6C).

The rear end of the principal lid 120 is formed, centrally on its upper surface, with an oblong flat raised protrusion 128 that extends lengthwise of the lid 120, end-to-end with the opening 122. The protrusion 128 has a 15 dovetail-shaped crosa-section for connecting the top bottle 200 above the base bottle 100, ma hereinafter described. The top bottle 200 has a substantially oblong rectangular 20 body 210 having an open front end 212, and includes a lid 220 for closing the open end 212. The lid 220 is hingedly connected along its left edge to the body 210, and can be pivoted to close the open end 212 and be locked shut through a snap action along its opposite right edge. While 25 the lid 220 is opened, the bottle 200 can be replenished with pills that can later be dispensed therefrom for consumption (Figure 6C).

- 9- The top bottle body 210 has a closed rear end 214 and includes, centrally on its lower surface underneath this end 214, an oblong flat groove 218 that extends along part of the length of the body 210 and is aligned with the base 5 bottle protrusion 128. The groove 218 has substantially the same size and the same but complementary dovetail shaped cros-section as the protrusion 128, for relesable engagement therewith as a dovetail joint (Figure 5A) through relative sliding movement between the two bottles 10 100 and 200 in a direction transversely thereof and at right angles to both crose-aectiona.

The top bottle 200 has substantially the length as the width of the baas bottle 100, and both of them have 15 substantially the same thicknesa, such that their adjacent peripheral surfaces can lie substantially flush with each other when they are inter-connected, together fording a neat, larger rectangular shape.

20 The protrusion 128 and the groove 218 have effectively the same length (Figure 4). Thus, when the top bottle 200 is slid onto the base bottle 100 in direction X (Figure 6A), the closed end of the groove 218 eventually hits the inner end of the protrusion 128, thereby locating the top bottle 25 200 neatly on the base bottle 100.

While the top bottle 200 extends alongside the upper end of the base bottle 100, the auxiliary lid 124 and hence

-10 the opening 122 of the base bottle 100 are blocked closed by the top bottle 200. Thus, the base bottle 100 cannot be opened, insofar as its auxiliary lid 124 is concerned, unless the top bottle 200 is slid and detached in the 5 opposite direction Y (Figure 68). It is also neat to have the auxiliary lid 124 and opening 122 concealed in the interface between the two bottles 100 and 200. On the other hand, the top bottle 200 can stick with the principal lid 120 as a single unit, when the lid 120 is 10 detached from the body 110 of the base bottle 100.

The top bottle 200, while on its own, is of course to be used generally upright, that is with its lid 220 placed uppermost. The actual shape of the bottles 100 and 200 is clearly immaterial, but a match in their shapes is of course preferred. As to inter-engagement, the two battles 100 and 200 can be attached together by any suitable form of 20 engaging means other than the dovetail Joint as described.

For example, they can be connected together by frictional engagement, such as the plug-in-socket type of connection, or by hooks or latches, or by means of a bayonet joint.

25 It is envisaged that the detachable bottle 200 can be made relatively larger than the size as shown, about one-tenth, compared with the base bottle 100. In practice, the detachable bottle 200 can be, for example, as large as the

- 11 base bottle 100.

Reference is now made to Figures 7 to 7C of the drawings, there is shown a second container lOA embodying the 5 invention. This container lOA has the sauce general construction as the first container 10, except otherwise described below, with equivalent parts designated by the same reference numerals suffixed by a letter "A-. The principal lid 120A of the base bottle lOOA is likewlae a 10 press-fitted lid, but its opening 122A has a maimlaed size occupying almost the entire lid 120A and the auxiliary lid 124A has the same footprint adze as the principal lid 120A for cloning the opening 122A.

15 More specifically, the auxiliary lid 124A is integrally hinged at its rear end to the principal lid 120A and includes at its front end a protruding lip 126A to facilitate opening of the lid 124A while the lid 124A is snapped closed. Four short cylindrical studs 128A are 20 integrally formed at respective corners of the outer top surface of the principal lid 124A (Figure 7C), for connection with the top bottle 200A.

The top bottle 200A likewise has at its open front end 25 212A an integrally hinged lid 220A that is normally snapped shut, but its bottom surface is formed with four shallow cylindrical recesses 218A at respective corners thereof (Figure 78) rather than the previously mentioned

-12 groove 218. The recesses 21BA have substantially the same size as the studs 12BA and are aligned therewith, such that the studs 128A are frictionally engageable with the corresponding recesses 218A, each pair as a plug-in-acaket 5 type of connection, in a direction across the two bottles 100A and 200A for releasable attaching them together (Figure 7).

Reference is finally made to Figures 8 to 8C of the 10 drawings, there is shown a third container 10B embodying the invention. This container 10B has the same general construction as the fires container 10, except otherwise described below, with equivalent parts designated by the same reference numerals suffixed by a letter FIB-. The 15 third container 10B is in fact more similar to the second container 10A, especially with regard to the base bottle 1008. The principal lid 120B of the base bottle 100B is again a 20 press-fitted lid, including a maximized opening 122B occupying almost the entire lid 120B and an auxiliary lid 124B of the same footprint size. Similarly, the auxiliary lid 124B is integrally hinged at its rear end to the principal lid 120B and includes at its front end a 25 protruding lip 126B to facilitate opening of the lid 124B while the lid 124B is snapped closed.

On the other hand, the principal lid 120B is integrally

-13 formed, along one of its lateral sides, with a rectangular flat raised protrusion 128B (Figure 8C) that is equivalent to the previously described protrusion 128. This protrusion 128E likewise has a dovetail- shaped crosa 5 section, albeit extending in a 90 different direction, for connection with the top bottle 200B.

The top bottle 200B likewise has at its open front and 212B an integrally hinged lid 220B that is normally 10 snapped shut, but its bottom surface is formed with a rectangular flat groove 218B (Figure 8B) along the same lateral side as and aligned with the base bottle protrusion 128B. The groove 218B has aubatantially the same size and the same but complementary dovetail-ahaped 15 crosa-section as the protrusion 128B, for releasable engagement therewith as a dovetail joint through relative sliding movement between the two bottles 100B and 200B in a direction transversely thereof and at right angles to both cross-sections (Figure 8) .

The two bottles lOOA/100B and 200A/200B are separate rectangular receptacles, which can be used independently but are releasably connectable together for convenient handling. The content intended for the container lOA/lOB 25 is, particularly but not exclusively, in pellet or bead form and for daily use, such as pills, whether as medicine or for health keeping, or even candies. The beam bottle lOOA/lOOB serves to store the main supply of pills

-14 at home for example, whereas the top bottle 200A/200B ia convenient for a user to carry a smaller quantity of the pills with him/her for consumption elsewhere.

5 The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persona skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

-15 CLAIMS

1. A container comprising first and second receptacles separable from each other, the first receptacle having a 5 body, a closure member for closing the body and first engaging means provided on the closure member, the second receptacle having second engaging means releasable engageable with the first engaging means for connecting the two receptacles together.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second receptacle includes a body and a closure member for cloning the body, and the second engaging means i.

provided on the body.

3. The container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the closure member of the first receptacle is a separate part from the body and is presa-fitted with the body to clone the body.

4. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closure member of the first receptacle is a principal closure member that includes an opening and an auxiliary closure member for closing the opening.

5. The container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary closure member is hingedly connected to the principal closure member.

-16 6. The container as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the principal closure member has a first part at which the first engaging means is provided and a second 5 part at which the opening and the auxiliary closure member are provided.

7. The container as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the opening occupies almost the entire principal 10 closure member, and the first engaging means is provided on the auxiliary closure member.

8. The container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the opening and the auxiliary closure member of IS the principal closure member are concealed in the interface between the first and second receptacles when the two receptacles are connected together.

9. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 20 second receptacle includes a body and a closure member for closing the body, and the closure member is hingedly connected to the body.

10. The container as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, 25 wherein the closure member of the second receptacle is hingedly connected to the body.

The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to

-17 10, wherein the firat and second engaging means are inter-

engageable through a sliding action in a direction transversely of both receptacles.

5 12. The container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second engaging means have complementary crosa-

sections that are inter-engageable through relative sliding in a direction at right angles to both cross-

sections. 13. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the crosssectiona of both engaging means have a aubatantially dovetail shape.

15 14. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first and second engaging means are inter-

engageable by friction in a direction across the receptacles. 20 IS. The container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second engaging means comprise male and female formations inter-engageable through a plugin-socket type of connection.

25 16. The container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the male and female formations are situated at respective corners of the receptacles.

-18 17. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first and second receptacles have adjacent peripheral surfaces lying substantially flush with each other when the two receptacles are connected together.

18. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the second receptacle iB relatively mmaller than the first receptacle.

10 19. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the first receptacle has a substantially rectangular shape and includes an upper end at which the closure member is provided, and the second receptacle has a substantially rectangular shape extending alongside the 15 upper end of the first receptacle when the two receptacles are interconnected, together forming a larger rectangular shape. 20. A container substantially as hereinbefore described 20 with reference to Figures 1 to 6C, Figures 7 to 7C or Figures 8 to 8C of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1q CLAIMS

1. A container comprising first and second receptacles separable from each other, the first receptacle having a 5 body, a closure member for closing the body and first engaging means provided on the closure member, the second receptacle having second engaging means releasable engageable with the first engaging means for connecting the two receptacles together, wherein the closure member 10 of the first receptacle is a principal closure member that includes an opening and an auxiliary closure member for closing the opening. ',<< À I,, < 2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 15 auxiliary closure member is hingedly connected to the principal closure member. ', .. 3. The container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the principal closure member has a first part at 20 which the first engaging means is provided and a second part at which the opening and the auxiliary closure member are provided.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, 25 wherein the opening occupies almost the entire principal closure member, and the first engaging means is provided on the auxiliary closure member.

Id 5. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening and the auxiliary closure member of the principal closure member are concealed in the interface between the first and second receptacles when 5 the two receptacles are connected together.

6. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second receptacle includes a body and a closure member for closing the body, and the second 10 engaging means is provided on the body.

7. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the closure member of the first receptacle is a < < separate part from the body and is press-fitted with the 15 body to close the body. i,, . 8. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second receptacle includes a body and a closure member for closing the body, and the closure member is hingedly 20 connected to the body.

9. The container as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the closure member of the second receptacle is hingedly connected to the body.

10. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first and second engaging means are inter-

engageable through a sliding action in a direction along

interface between the two receptacles.

11. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second engaging means have complementary cross 5 sections that are interengageable through relative sliding in a direction at right angles to both cross-

sections. 12. The container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the 10 crosssections of both engaging means have a substantially dovetail shape.

13. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first and second engaging means are inter 15 engageable by friction in a direction from one to the other of the receptacles.

14. The container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second engaging means comprise male and female 20 formations inter-engageable through a plug-in-socket type of connection.

15. The container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the male and female formations are situated at respective 25 corners of the receptacles.

16. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the first and second receptacles have adjacent

peripheral surfaces lying substantially flush with each _ other when the two receptacles are connected together.

17. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 16, wherein the second receptacle is relatively smaller than the first receptacle.

18. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the first receptacle has a substantially 10 rectangular shape and includes an upper end at which the closure member is provided, and the second receptacle has I, a substantially rectangular shape extending alongside the ' upper end of the first receptacle when the two receptacles are inter-connected, together forming a larger rectangular " 15 shape. "' : i: 19. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6C, Figures 7 to 7C or Figures 8 to 8C of the accompanying drawings.