US2175917A - Package and parts thereof - Google Patents

Description

H. w. ROBINSON FACKAGE AND PARTS THEREOF Filed Dec. 13,

INVENTOR fiizy IV, fliiwwz BY 4m ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE AN D PARTS THEREOF Application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,159

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a sealed package and the parts thereof and more particularly to a sealed package provided with a member for dispensing the contents of the package.

Various products such as mustard, jelly, jam, salad dressing, pickles and the like are usually packed in suitable containers provided with caps adapted to reseal the containers while the contents are being dispensed. Generally, these products are used in small quantities and are removed from the container by a spoon, knife or other means. Products such as mustard, pickles and the like, due to the acid therein, have a tendency to attack a metal spoon or knife, therefore, it is desirable to use a glass or wooden spoon, fork or paddle which is sanitary and not subject to attack by the product. The housewife seldom has such devices available. In addition, such products and many others are taken along to beach parties, picnics and the like, where the usual kitchen utensils are not available and it is even more difficult to obtain a suitable dispensing means. In order to accommodate the consumer, it has been found desirable to sell or to give away a dispensing means with the package. To prevent the clerk from forgetting the dispensing means, the latter preferably is attached to the package. For these reasons there is and has been a great demand for a satisfactory package with a dispensing means attached thereto. Attempts have been made to satisfy this demand, but the devices have been expensive, complicated or impractical to make and apply or else did not hold the dispensing means securely and occasioned complaints by reason of the loss of the dispensing means.

The present invention aims to overcome the above objections by providing an inexpensive sealed package having a dispensing member attached thereto in a convenient manner, and further aims to provide a sealed package having a cap sealed thereto which may be readily removed by a cap removing member, the cap removing member being utilized to hold the dispensing member to the container, thereby simplifying the constructions of the package and minimizing the cost thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive package having a dispensing member securely attached thereto.

Another object of the invention is to attach a dispensing member to a container in a convenient practical manner so that the member will not be lost during packing, shipping or handling of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package having a cap sealed thereto which is readily removed by a suitable cap removing memher, which may be utilized to hold a dispensing means in place on the package.

Another object of the invention is to utilize a cap removing member for attaching a dispensing member to the container, thereby reducing the cost of the package to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to clamp the dispensing member against the container by means of a cap removing member which is held in place by a closure cap sealed on the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container having a groove therein or ribs thereon for holding a dispensing member against sidewise movement with respect to the container.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claim, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational View, partly in section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken at right angles with respect to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-43 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification of the container; and,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating means for holding more securely the lower end of the dispensing member in place.

Referring again to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 4 thereof, there is shown a glass container I having a body portion of any desired shape, illustrated herein as substantially elliptical with decorative panels. The upper end of the container preferably has an external zone 2 extending downwardly a short distance from the rim and terminating in an annular groove or shoulder 4 adapted to serve for holding a closure cap 5 sealed on the container, as described hereinafter.

In order to facilitate the attachment of a dispensing means 6 to the container, there is provided a vertical groove or channel 1 extending from the bottom to the top of the body part of the container adapted to receive the dispensing member 6, herein illustrated as a paddle. While the channel 1 may be located at any desired point, it is preferably located at one of the ends of the major horizontal axis of the body part of the container, if the container is substantially elliptical in shape. If desired, the groove may be shallow at its upper end (Fig. 3) and may be substantially deeper at its lower end (Fig. 4) to facilitate molding the container. Preferably, also, the channel is located at the mold parting line 8 of the container, the mold parting line preferably coinciding with the middle of the channel. Directly above the upper end of the channel I, there is provided a pair of recesses 9 spaced substantially equidistant circumferentially of the container from the channel I and the mold parting line of the container. The recesses 9 extend inwardly substantially chordally of the container to receive the inwardly bent ends of a memher I I adapted to hold the dispensing member 6 in place and adapted also to serve as a cap removing tool for removing the cap. The cap removing or paddle holding member H may be of any desired shape but, as illustrated herein, is preferably V-shaped at its lower end, as shown at I2, and made from a single piece of wire, the two free ends of which are bent inwardly, as shown at ID, to engage and hold in the recesses 9. The lower end of the V is located adjacent the upper end of the channel 1 to engage and hold the dispensing member 6 in place, as described hereinafter.

The closure illustrated herein preferably comprises a cover portion i 4 having an annular groove l at its outer periphery for receiving a gasket l 6 adapted to seal the rim of the container, and a depending skirt I! having suitable crimps or inwardly extending projections I 9 substantially at its lower edge for engaging the annular groove or shoulder 4. Preferably, the lower edge of the skirt of the cap is flared outwardly so that a sleeve may be telescoped over the skirt of the cap to force the indented or corrugated portion into firm engagement with the shoulder 4 for holding the cap in sealed position. It will be noted that the skirt of the cap extends over and conceals the recesses 9 and the upper ends of the cap removing, or dispenser holding member H. When the lower end of the member II is raised, the crimped bottom of the skirt of the cap is stretched and raised upwardly at one side to pry the cap off the container.

While the dispensing means 5 is illustrated in the drawing as a paddle having a paddle portion and handle portion 2|, it will be understood that any desired type of dispensing means may be utilized, for example, a spoon, pickle fork, or the like. While the paddle preferably is made of wood, other materials may be used, such as glass, Monel metal, stainless steel, Celluloid, synthetic resins, or like materials which are sanitary and which are not attacked by the product. If desired, also, the dispensing member may and preferably is placed in an envelope 22 which may be made of transparent paper, Cellophane or the like. The envelope may enclose the entire dispensing member or may, as shown in the drawing, enclose only the spoon or paddle portion 20 thereof. The purpose of the envelope is to improve the appearance of the package and also to protect the dispensing member from dust, dirt and the like. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the paddle portion of the dispensing member is uppermost and is preferably wider than the groove 1 in the container so that the diverging sides 24 of the paddle intermediate the handle and paddle portion may engage the sides of the groove at the upper end thereof. The sides of the groove 1 may likewise diverge to conform to the shape of the diverging portion of the paddle. Likewise, in the preferred form, the V-shaped portion 12 of the member H which holds the paddle in position is shaped to engage the diverging portions 24 of the paddle so that the shape of the member I l, as well as the sides of the upper end of the groove 1, are adapted to prevent the paddle from sliding downwardly in the groove, as well as to hold it in the groove. The lower end of the member H preferably is curved inwardly toward the container and paddle to engage and press against the paddle to resiliently hold it in position, the member ll being held in position by the pressure of the skirt of the closure cap thereon. The cap removing member H can be readily raised by the consumer either with the fingers or by inserting a knife or other instrument under it. In addition, the paddle may a be utilized for pulling the cap removing member l sufficiently far from the side of the jar to get hold of the removing member with the fingers if any difficulty is encountered in this connection.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the container is provided with a substantially circular groove or recess 25 extending along the sides, front or back of the container, and which is adapted to receive a dispensing member 26 having a substantially circular or oval handle portion 21. In order to hold the dispensing member securely against the container, the cap removing member is provided with a substantially circular portion 29 at its lower end conforming to the shape of the handle portion 2'! and adapted to clamp the dispensing member against the container and prevent relative movement.

In Fig. 7 another modification is illustrated wherein a pair of substantially vertical circumferentially spaced ribs 3| and an intermediate panel or recess 32 for seating the handle 2! of the dispensing member are provided at one side of the container. These ribs are adapted. to hold the handle of the dispensing member against sidewise movement with respect to the container. The upper ends of the ribs preferably engage the diverging portion of the dispensing member. It will be understood that other forms of ribs, grooves or channels may be utilized, the three forms given herein being for illustrative purposes.

In some instances, it may be desired to provide additional means for attaching the lower end 35 of the handle portion of the dispensing member to the container. As illustrated in Fig. 8 such means may comprise an upwardly facing shoulder 36 at the lower end of the groove or channel 24 adapted to receive the free end 35 of the handle and hold it against downward movement with respect to the container. Also, if desired, a small label or strip 31 of paper, cloth or like material may be glued or otherwise secured to the container so that it extends across the panel groove I or panel 32 to provide a suitable pocket portion for holding the dispensing member against the container.

A preferred method of forming the packages, comprises molding the container, attaching the cap removing member ii to the container by inserting the opposed ends i6 into the apertures 9, filling the container with the product, and thereafter applying the cap When the cap is sealed on the container, the skirt extends over the upper portions 3t (Fig. 1) of the cap removing member and clamps the cap removing member securely against the container. The dispensing member may then be inserted in the channel 7 and under the end of the holder II. If necessary or desirable, a knife or other tool may be inserted under the member I l to raise it slightly to facilitate insertion of the dispensing member. The dispensing member is then moved downwardly until the V-shaped portions, or other conforming portions, of the dispensing member and cap removing member engage and register to lock the dispensing member against further downward movement. Thereafter, the cap removing member is released and is adapted to clamp the dispensing member securely against the container. It will, of course, be understood that when the cap removing member is pried away from the container, as shown in Fig. 2, it is not raised sufficiently to lift the cap or otherwise impair the seal. Due to the resilience of the cap skirt and the wire removing member, the removing member is adapted to yield slightly to facilitate forcing the dispensing member beneath it.

When the package reaches the ultimate consumer and is to be opened, the lower end [2 of the cap removing member is engaged and is lifted upwardly (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) whereby the cap is lifted from the container and the dispensing member is released. The dispensing member may then be removed from the envelope and used to remove the contents of the package. After a desired quantity of the product has been dispensed, the cap may be rescaled upon the container by pressing it downwardly so that the crimps l9 lock beneath the shoulder G. The dispensing member may be washed or cleaned and attached again to the container so that it is in a convenient place whenever it is desired to dispense the remaining contents of the package.

If desired, the dispensing members may be in the form of an ornamental spoon made of glass or Celluloid so that they may be used as drink mixers after the product has been dispensed. This enhances the value of the package to the consumers, since the consumers feel that they are getting an additional premium.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, practical and inexpensive package which solves both the problems of removing the cap and dispensing the product. The consumer needs no additional appliances or implements to open the cap or dispense the product and thereby can use the package more conveniently. The dispensing member is securely attached in position prior to opening the package, and if desired, while the product is being dispensed. The dispensing members may be attractive in design or color to enhance the package and may be in various forms so that they are useful after they have served to dispense the product. The parts of the package are rugged in construction and can readily withstand any rough usage to which they may be subjected.

It will be understood that the term paddle or spoon is used herein to include, broadly, any dispensing member or utensil.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A package comprising a container, a dispensing member, a wire member mounted on said container for clamping said dispensing member against said container, and a member secured to said container for holding said clamping member against said dispensing member, said dispensing member having a substantially V-shaped shoulder and said clamping member having a cooperating substantially V-shaped portion for preventing movement of said dispensing member with respect to said container.

HUGH W. ROBINSON.

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