US2108045A - Container - Google Patents

Description

W. S. DIRKER Feb. 15, 193s.

CONTAINER Filed Feb. e, 1957 R. m N

Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Application February 6, 1937, Serial No. 124,477

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a container or can having a dispensing opening which' is closed with a removable cover and has particular reference to such a can in which the cover is provided with sifter perforations and in which the cover is transposable by removal and replacement relative to its dispensing opening to bring the sifter perforations into and out of alignment with an imperforate element located in the di..- pensing opening.

An object of the invention is the provision of a can having a dispensing opening adapted to be closed by a removable cover having sifter perforations provided in a wall section thereof wherein the cover may be removed and replaced into different positions in the dispensing opening to bring the sifter perforations into and out of alignment with an imperforate element disposed in the dispensing opening, so that in one position of the cover the'sifter perforations are blocked off and closed by the imperforate element to prevent sifting of the contents of thecan while in another position of the cover the perforations are free of the imperforate element and may be used to dispense the can contents by sifting.

Another object is the provision of such a can and cover wherein the imperforate element is disposed along a portion of the edge of the dispensing opening so that the greater part of the latter is unrestricted when the cover is removed, thus facilitating filling of the can through the opening and also permitting easy removal of the contents therethrough as by a spoon or the like.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can closed with a removable cover and embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the can illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the cover in can sealing position, part of the cover being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating the cover in position to be used as a sifter device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the upper portion of the can including the cover, the view being taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the can including the cover and drawn at the same scale as Fig. 4, the view being taken ubstantially along the broken line 5 5 in Fig.

; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 4, the view being taken substantially along the line 6 6 in Fig. 3.

A preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawing discloses a well known type of oblong spice or condiment can comprising a tubular body I I with a closed bottom and having a top or friction ring I2. Both bottom and top are permanently secured to the body as in suitable seams I3.

The top or friction ring I2, inwardly of its seam I3 is depressed or countersunk to form a horizontal panel I4. The panel is provided with a slightly raised continuous shoulder I5 having spaced straight and parallel side sections I6 which are joined at their .ends bycurved sections Il. These shoulder sections dene an oblate shaped lling and dispensing opening l which is thus formed in the panel wall. The shoulder terminates in a depending flange I9 which extends down into the dispensing opening I8 and which provides a friction seat for a removable closure member or friction cover 2l used for effectively sealing the opening or for providing sifter means as hereinafter described.

y The friction cover 2l is formed with a horizontal bottom wall 22 which merges, at its outer edges, into a substantially vertical upright friction wall 23. The friction Wall is adapted to tightly fit within the friction seat provided by the depending ilange I9 of the ring I2 when the cover is in place on the'can. The top edge of the friction wall 23 is bent outwardly and thence downwardly and back on itself to provide a smooth flange 24 which may be utilized as a gripping or hand hold element when applying the cover to the can or when removing it.

Provision is also made as has been suggested for utilizing the cover 2| as a sifter topI for the can to thus conveniently dispense its contents in powdered form. For this purpose the friction cover is provided with a plurality of sifter perforations 25 which are formed in the horizontal bottom Wall 22. These sifter perforations are preferably grouped together in a straight Vline arranged adjacent one of the straight sides of the cover as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. In one position of the cover in its friction seat I9 as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the sifter perforations communicate with the interior of the can so that its contents may be freely dispensed through the perforations.

In another position these sifter perforations 25 are blocked 01T and the can is then sealed against sifting of its contents as when the can is not in use and during shipment and storage. This sealing action is eifected by removing the cover, turning it around so that the sifter perforations will be transposed to the opposite side of the dispensing opening I8, and then replacing the cover in the opening. This brings the sifter perforations into alignment with a substantially horizontal imperforate plate or element 2'! which is located in the dispensing opening and which is engaged by the bottom of the replaced cover. In this second position the plate completely covers up and seals the perforations against sifting.

The imperforate plate element 21 is preferably formed at the bottom of a substantially vertical wall section 28 (Fig. 5) which constitutes a depending continuation of a portion of the friction seat flange I9 of the ring I2. The element projects inwardly in a plane just below the dispensing opening I8 at an angle to the friction Seat flange and provides a narrow ledge or shelf which extends along a portion of one of the straight sides I6 of the shoulder I5 defining the oblate dispensing opening. The ledge or shelf is preferably bent slightly beyond the horizontal and it'possesses a certain natural spring which makes it yieldable so that when the cover is pushed home in its friction seat it will slightly depress the free edge of the element and bring the latter into a position parallel with the bottom of the cover. This provides a tighter sealing engagement.

The location of the imperforate element 2'I leaves the major portion of the dispensing opening I8 free and unrestricted so that the can may be readily filled through the opening when the friction cover is removed. This location of the imperforate element further facilitates easy removal of the can contents in bulk quantities by providing a clear passageway through which a spoon or other instrumentality may be readily introduced into the can.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A container having a dispensing opening, an imperforate element projecting into said opening, and a cover having sifter perforations for partially or for fully closing said dispensing opening, said cover being adapted for removal and replacement into diiferent positions Within said dispensing opening, in one such position said sifter perforations being in sealing engagement with said imperforate element and with the perforations blocked off and the dispensing opening fully closed and in another position with said sifter perforations free of said imperforate element and providing communication with the interior of said container.

2. A container having a dispensing opening, an imperforate element formed as a narrow shelf projecting into said opening and arranged along one side thereof leaving the greater portion of the opening unrestricted, and a removable cover for said dispensing opening said cover having a plurality of sifter perforations grouped adjacent a side thereof and alignable with said imperforate shelf, said cover being transposable by removal and replacement into two different positions within said dispensing opening, one po- Sition of said cover aligning said sifter perforations in sealing engagement with said imperforate shelf with the perforations blocked off and in its other position with the sifter perforations uncovered and free of said imperforate shelf thus providing communication with the interior of said container.

3. A container having a dispensing opening, a yieldable imperforate element projecting into said opening, and a cover insertable Within said dispensing opening and having sifter perforations, said cover being removable and replaceable into different positions within said dispensing opening, in one such position with said sifter perforations in alignment with and the adjacent cover part pressing down on said yieldable element and with said sifter perforations blocked 01T and in another position having said sifter perforations free of said yielding element and open to provide communication with the interior of said container.

4. A container having a friction ring, a friction seat flange formed in said ring and defining a dispensing opening for the container, a yieldable imperforate element formed integrally with said friction seat flange and extending along a portion thereof as a narrow shelf projecting into said opening, and a removable friction cover adapted to fit tightly into said friction seat flange for closing said opening and having a bottom panel wall cut through with a plurality of sifter perforations grouped adjacent a side thereof and adapted for alignment and for sealing engagement with said imperforate element to provide such closing of said dispensing opening, said cover being transposable by removal and replacement into a different position relative to said opening in which latter position said sifter perforations are out of alignment with and are free of said imperforate yieldable shelf thereby effecting communication with the interior of said container.

WILLIAM S. DIRKER.

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