US2387640A - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 23, 1945, w. T. BOUCHELLE v DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Jan. 2o,` 1945 IN1/15mmv` Mmm fag/Melilla fram/Er Patented Oct. 23, 1945 nUNITED STATES .PATENT oFFIoE DISPENSING- CONTAINER William Taylor Bouchelle, Scarsdale, N. Y., as-

signor to` The Lord Baltimore Press, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application January 20, 1943, Serial No. 473,034

l6I Claims. (Cl. 2`22`-561) The present invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to a dispensing container made of cardboard, paper and the like.

Dispensing containers are `useful `in connection with products which are used at intervals, for example, tooth powder, talcum powder, bath salts and numerous other items of a similar nature. It is generally desirable, although not always essentiaL'that the containers retain the product -`without leakage during shipment and storage, and that they may be readily opened forY use andreadily closed when not in use. Such containers are sold in large quantities because of their extensive use; hence, improvements reducing their cost, facilitating their manufacture or `increasing their utility are constantly sought byI container manufacturers and users.

The present invention aims to provide an improved inexpensive container which' may be used for storing', shipping and dispensing and which may be readily opened and closed during use. The improved container is completely closed during shipment'and storage and hence minimizes the escape of dusty products. The improved dispensing means are inexpensive in construction and may be readily utilized for repeatedly openingand closing the package.

An'object of the present invention is to provide a-n improved dispensing package.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the escape,` of dust from powdered material packed in a dispensing package.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a simple and improved dispensing means.

Another objectof'th'e invention is to provide an improved dispensing container having an inner sealing Vcontainer and an outer protecting container therefor.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a combined inner .and outer container having aidispensing outlet with the inner and outer containers adhered to each otheradjacent to the outlet A furtherobject of the'inventionV is to provide adispensing container formed from the usual types ofcartons or boxes with minimum changes therein.

Other and further objects of the invention will be: obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to bedescribed or will be indicated in the appended claims, andvarious advantages not referred to herein will occur to oneskilled in the yart upon employment of the invention in practice.

VA preferred embodiment of theV invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming` a part of the specication, wherein Fig. 1 is an exploded view illustrating theparts of the preferred embodiment. prior to their assembly; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional `view through the upper end of a` sealed package showing the dispensing member in partly open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view transversely of the upper end of `a sealed package showing a sifter top with a punch in positionafter perforation of the inner bag at one of the apertures;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of a package embodyinga modified construe tion;

r Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4 showing the aperture closing member locked in its upper position;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention; o

Fig.` 7A is a sectional view of the upper end of the inner container shown-in Fig. 6 taken along the line 1 1; and l Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper end of an inner'container illustrating a circular score line in the end thereof adapted to facilitate `the formation of an aperture in the inner container.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and .2 illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, there is shown an inner container l which may be of a more or less fragile nature and which is adapted to form a secure and substantially dust-proof seal about the contents of the package and an outer container 2 adapted to extend about the inner container to protect. it. A slide member 4 ts in the upper end of the outer container 2 to cooperate with apertures in the end to provide` dispensing means for the package.

The preferred form of the. outer container 2 will beA described indetail first with the understanding that various types ofl containersmay be utilized, and without any intention of limitl ing the invention to the precise details of conat the junction of the flap 6 with the tuck-in portion I so that it will engage the adjoining edges of the flaps 5 when tucked into4 the package to lock the flap 6 in closed position.

The upper end of the container is constructed to cooperate with the slide member 4 and is preferably formed with a short end flap 9 on one side and a long end flap Il) on the opposite side having a bent portion II at a side edge adapted to rest against the side of the container. The flap I0 may be folded into a substantially horizontal position to cover the end of the container and has an aperture I2 therein for dispensing purposes. A flap I4 extends from the side of the container and is adapted to be folded vover the flap I0 with the tuck-in portion I5 passing between the bent portion II of the flap I0 and the side Vof the container to close the end of the container. An aperture I6 is formed in the flap I4 to register with the aperture I2 when the end is in closed position. A recess Il is also provided at one end of the flap I4 to expose the tab or the end 2| of the slide member 4 for the operation thereof as Will be described hereinafter.

The slide 4 in its preferred form may have a horizontal part I3 with an aperture I3 therein adapted to cooperate with the apertures I2 `and I6 in the upper end of the package. The slide member preferably has a vertical portion I9 which terminates a substantial distance from one end as shown at the edge thereof. The tab 2I,forming an extension of the horizontal portion I8A has a slit 22 adapted to be engaged by the nail of the thumb or fingers for initiating the opening of the package. After the tab 2I is projected beyond the side of the package, the package may be opened and closed without the use of the slit 22.

The slide member 4 is inserted into the upper end of the package over the flap member I0 after the latter is moved to its closed position and priorto the closing of the outer flap I4. The vertical portion I9 of the slide member 4 extends down into the outer container 2 in sliding engagement With the inside thereof; the horizontal portion I8 fits on the upper side of the flap Ill. After the slide member 4 is inserted as described, the flap member I4 is closed over both the slide member 4 and the iiap I0 to close the package. The position of the parts in the closed package may be observed in the sectional view of the upper end of the package shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the slide member 4 is intermediate the flaps Ill and I4 of the outer container. It Will also be noted that the vertical portion I9 of the member 4 is considerably shorterl than the corresponding dimension of the outer container 2. In this way, the vertical portion I9 serves as a guide for the slide member 4 and at the same time, its edge 20 engages the side of the box to serve as a stop for limiting the opening movement of the slide member 4. A portion of the tab 2I of themember 4 is exposed by the recess I 'Iin the fiap I4 so that it may be engaged for slidingl the opening member 4 back and forth. A slit 22 may be utilized for moving the slide member where resistance to movement is encountered.

While the outer container has certain advantages and may be used alone for some types of products, the present invention contemplates the provision of an inner container I for securely sealing the contents Within the outer container.

While the inner container may be a box, a bag and also other types of containersl the; preferredembodiment illustrates a bag made of thin material, for example paper, parchment, glassine, cellophane, pliolm and similar materials. Such materials are preferred as they are light and inexpensive and at the same time form a dust-proof seal. In the drawing, only the upper end of the bag is shown and both the upper and lower ends may be closed in the usual fashion, either by heat, by adhesive, by folding or by a combination of these. As illustrated in the preferred embodiment in Fig. l, the bag is delivered by the bag manufacturer with one end closed by fold 24 adhered in position by a suitable adhesive or by heat. In assembling the inner and outer containers I and 2 and the side member 4, a suitable form (not shown) may be used over which the bag may be placed with its closed end extending upwardly. Thereafter, the outer container 2 may be placed over the bag I on the vform and the upper end closed with the slide member 4 in place as described.

At the time the box 2 is placed over the bag I or prior to doing so, an adhesive 21 (Fig. 2) is applied on the inside of the flap Il'l so that the closed end of the inner bag is firmly adhered to the top of the box. In View of the fact that the aperture I2 is already in the flap I0, glue will be omitted from the portion of the bag beneath the' aperture. sanitary package by reason of the fact that the product does not contact the glue even after the package is opened. Any other suitable means may be utilized for adhering the closed end of the bag to the underside ofthe flap I0. The use of adhesive is an important ,element inthe invention although it is not essential in all cases.`

Adhering the closed end of the bag rmly to the top of the outer box provides a unitary structure and permits the bag to be perforated to form a sifter top or to be cut out to form an aperture therein without difficulty.V In addition the inner bag 4cannot separate from the box at the -dispensing outlet and the Aproduct cannot lodge between the bag and the box during use. vThese are important advantages of the invention.

The combined containers may then be removed from the form after the assembly operation and delivered, with their open ends up, to a Yfilling machine. Thereafter the open end of the bag I may be closed and Vsealed in any suitable manner and likewise the flaps y5 and 6 on the open end. of the container 2 may be tucked in to close the package. Both the inner container I and the outer container 2 may be'shipped folded so that they take up a minimum of space Yin shipment from the manufacturer to the packer.` The latter may then assemble the containers as described above.

Upon purchasing the package, the consumer moves the slide 4 by means of the tab 2-I to its fully open position. The slide is shown partially open in Fig. 2 and fully open in Fig. 3.v f In view of the fact that the bag I'has no perforation in it, the package is sealed independently of the slide member 4. The apertures I2, I 6 and I3. when in registry, expose a portion of the bag and the consumer may take a knife or other sharp instrument and cut a suitable aperture in the bagwhich will then register with the other apertures so that it may be opened and closed by movement of the-slide member 4. The contents of the package may then be dispensed as desired.

The sectional view in Fig. 3 is transverse to that illustrated in Fig. 2 and illustrates the iiap III formed With perforations I 2. These perfo- This tends to produce a more shown appliedlto such a packageinlFigs. 4 and 5.

InlFig. 4 a container 3|l-` is shown with` its.` upper endlclose'd by '.tiapsl3l` vin any` suitablievmanner.` A pair of apertures 32 are provided in onefside` ofthe container and al slidingcolla'r 34 `serves toiopen` `and close the'apertures. TheI collar is shown in its lower position with its apertures open in Fig. 4 and is shown in `itsupperposition withethe aperturesclosed-in Fig. 5; A suitable tongue 35 may becutin the side of the package to engage over the lower edge of theA collar 34- to lock itin closed position. 'Without some means of locking the collar in its lupper` position,` the constant jarring duringk shipment might cause the `collar to slide` down to the lowerend of :the container, whichA would be` objectionable.: Where the collaris locked inlposition as shown in Fig. 5, it is `held in placefregardle'ssfof whetheror not thescartons containingv the packages are inverted during shipment and'handling;` l The outer con-` tainer 30 preferably has an inner bag-like` container `as illustrated `in Fig; 1` adhered to the outer container in the area surrounding the dispensing opening in the outer container, which may be perforated by the consumer for dispensing the product. In operation, the collar 34 may be raised slightly and the tongue `35 pressed into the plane of the side of the container permitting the collar to slide over it to open and close the aperture 32.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the exploded view of Fig. 6. An outer container 40 may be closed from the side by end flaps 4| and side flaps 42. In Fig-5 the flaps are shown closed at the right of the container and open at the left. The opposite sides of the container at one end are formed with a pair of slots 44 adapted to receive and retain diametric edges of a disc 45. The diameter of the disc 45 is slightly greater than the width of the box and hence may be flexed suii'iciently to be inserted into the recesses 45 in setting up the box. The disc has an aperture 46 registering with an aperture 4'! in the end of the box 40 to form a dispensing outlet. Preferably the disc has a peripheral projection 48 for limiting the rotary movement thereof by engagement with the respective sides of the box. The consumer in using the box may engage the edge of the disc 45 at the exposed portions extending through slots 44 to rotate it until the apertures 45 and 41 are in registry for dispensing the product and until they are out of registry for closing the package.

While the box described above has utility without an inner container, preferably an inner bag or box is utilized to provide a better seal. As

illustrated in Fig. 6 the inner container 4I may` be a tuck-in box of the usual type with a perforations 50 in one end thereof adapted to register with the recesses 41 in the outer box 40. Preferably the perforations 50 inthe inner box are closed by a piece of paper, glassine, or cellophane 5l adhered to a surface of the box by a suitable adhesive as shown at Fig. 7. It is to be noted' that thef sectional view in Figx'fis throughtheinn'erlbox only and not? throughthe completed` package. The inner box is 'not de` scribed indet'ail as lvarious types ofboxes may beutilized. Theinner box 492 sealsv the product and may be inserted `into thel outerboxas shownin Figl-6 `and the apsM closed toy completely seal the package. The consumer: opens tliejpacklv ageby rotating the` disc i until the aperture 4B therein registers with the aperture 41 in the outer box. 11 Atithis poi'n.t,the perforations 50- in `the inner box are exposed. The consumer mayA then use a pin or other pointed instruments to perforate the sealing member `5 I onthe inside-of the` inner container *after lwhichl the rotatabledisc 45 'maybesutilizedf for opening and closing the containerduring the` consumption lof 'the con-J 54 formedby the score lines 52.` i

The operation of the several embodiments `will be clear from the respective descriptions and further-elaboration would be repetitions.

It will beseen thatthe present invention pro-v vides a package whichwill form a secure seal for various products such as powders, crystals and the like. The seal prevents dusty productsy from escapingfand minimizes deterioration of many products due `to` imperfectsealingmf` The construction is simple and easy to manufacture from readily obtainable materials. The inner and outer containers may be made with existing machinery requiring only minor adjustments therein. Likewise, the packages may be iilled and closed by existing machinery thereby minimizing the investment required for utilizing the invention. 'I'he construction is rugged and fully capable of withstanding the rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein Without departing from the scope and spirit 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:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of an inner container, an outer container having a plurality of naps for closing an end thereof, two of said aps having registering apertures therein to permit access to said inner container, an adhesive for adhering the portion of the inner container about the aperture to the inner apertured flap to facilitate perforating the inner container and to retain said perforation in alignment with said registering apertures and a member slidably mounted between said flaps for opening and Closing said apertures.

2; In a device of the class described, the combination of a bag forming an inner container, an outer container of cardboard having two superimposed aps for closing one end thereof, said superimposed flaps having registering apertures therein, an adhesive adhering the inner of said 3. In a device of the class described, comprising the combination of Va paper-like bag forming an inner container, an outer container of cardboard having two superimposed flaps for closing one end thereof, said superimposed aps having Vregistering aperturestherein, said paper-like bag being adhered to the inner of said superimposed flaps to facilitate perforating the inner bag and to' retain said perforation in alignment with said registering apertures, and a member slidably .mounted between Vsaid superimposed flaps for opening and` closing said registering apertures to permit perforation of said bag and dispensing of the contents through said apertures.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bag made of iiexible material forming an inner container, an outer container of cardboard having two superimposed flaps for closing one end thereof, said superimposed flaps having registering apertures therein, an adhesive adhering the inner of said apertured iiaps to said inner container about the aperture therein to facilitate perforating the bag and to retain said perforation in alignment with said registering apertures anda member slidably mounted between said superimposed flaps for opening and closing said registering apertures, the outer ap having a cut away portion at one end thereof to facilitate access to said slidable member for operating it to open and close the registering apertures.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of an inner container, an outer container having a plurality of naps for closing an end thereof, two of said flaps having registering apertures therein to permit access to said inner container, an adhesive for adhering the portion of the innercontainer to the inner apertured iiap about the aperture therein and a slidable member having a portion extending between said flaps for opening and closing said apertures and having a second portion substantially at right angles to said rst portion adapted to fit between said inner and outer containers and serve as a guide therefor and also as a means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the slidable member in opening and closing the registering `apertures.

6. In a device of the class described,.the combination of an inner container, an outer container having a plurality of flaps for closingY an end thereof, two of said aps having registering apertures therein to permit access to said inner container, anadhesive for adhering a portion of the inner container to the inner apertured flap, said inner apertured ap having a portion at right angles thereto, adapted to extend downwardly into the container and rest between the inner and outer container and a slidable member mounted between said flaps for opening and closing said apertures, said slidable member having a portion at right angles thereto adapted to extend between the sides of said inner and outer containers and to serve as a stop llimiting 4the longitudinal movement thereof.

WILLIAM TAYLOR BOUCHELLE.

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