US2754030A - Dispensing containers - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1956 D. WABER ET AL DISPENSING CONTAINERS v Filed Jan. 5, 1952 1' Il Il l1 Il mi Yl1 l Il Il l INV TOR. my?

United States Patent O DISPENSING CONTAINERS Donald Waber and Raymond Braunstein, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 5, 1952, Serial No. 265,147

2 Claims. (Cl. 221-246) Our invention relates to new and useful dispensing containers and has for one of its objects to incorporate an individual dispensing mechanism in a receptacle whereby a restricted outlet opening is provided for dispensing articles, one at a time, from the underneath portion of the receptacle so that only the one article which is being dispensed has a chance of being exposed to outside detrimental effects.

Another object of our invention is to utilize some of the principles embodied in the type of dispensers disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,958,101 and 1,962,860 as well as those shown in our copending application Ser. No. 235,502, tiled July 6, 1951, which has issued as Patent No. 2,605,892, August 5, 1952, and combine with conventional elements thereof certain new elements to provide a novel structure which will accomplish the dispensing operation in an unusual manner.

Another object of this invention is to produce a dispensing container which is simple in construction although highly elicient in operation for propelling successively a predetermined number of the contained articles through an outlet and delivering the same without the necessity of inverting the container.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a dispensing container of the portable type and especially one which can be held in and operated by one hand of the user particularly by oscillations of the thumb.

Another object of our invention is to produce a dispensing container especially adapted for use in delivering small tablets from the container or receptacle through an outlet located midway between the sides and including a relatively small sliding panel on the fixed top wall or lid of the container and said panel supporting a closure and ejector so related as to first cause a predetermined number of tablets to be isolated or separated from the main cornpartment of the container and the articles therein and subsequently cause the outlet to be opened and the isolated or separated tablets to be ejected due to an outward movement of the sliding panel, said ejector also functioning as a barrier while the outlet is open to prevent unwanted discharge of other tablets during the dispensing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide unique means for mounting the sliding panel on the container top, closing any apertures utilized as a part of the mounting, and limiting the reciprocating movements of said sliding panel.

A further object of the invention is to divide the interior of the container into a main or holding compartment of appreciable depth and a shallow delivery cornpartment, said compartments being in communication through a gradually decreasing passageway formed by an `inclined wall or ramp between the bottoms of said compartments.

A still further object of the present invention is to produce a normally completely closed dispensing container having the interior divided into holding and deliv-A ery compartments, the bottom of the delivery compartment being in a relatively higher offset plane than the bottom of the holding chamber when the container is level, the depth of the delivery compartment or the space between the bottom of the latter and the container top being less than one of the dimensions of the tablets to be dispensed but substantially the same as the other dimensions of said tablets whereby the tablets can enter the delivery compartment in only one position, and an inclined wall or ramp joining the adjacent ends of the bottoms of said compartments.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this i11- vention appertains may understand how to make and use the Vsame we will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the dispensing container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 in a tilted position for causing the articles in the container, herein shown as small tablets, to travel towards and into the delivery compartment.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the sliding panel, with the associated closure and ejector, during a dispensing operation.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 illustrating certain details of construction and showing the position of the closure and ejector when the container is completely closed.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the apparatus on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sliding panel looking at the bottom or underneath face thereof.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section of the sliding panel on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of the lid or cover looking at the front end thereof.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the container illustrating a means for attaching the lid or cover to the body.

Fig. l0 is a similar view through the container body and sliding panel to illustrate a means for temporarily retaining the sliding panel in a retracted position and the closure in a closed condition.

In carrying out our invention as herein embodied 15 and 16 represent, respectively, a container or receptacle body and a lid or top formed from any suitable material having suicient stiffness or rigidity to retain the shapes desired and also having some inherent resiliency for purposes to be later fully described. Either or both the body and lid may be opaque, translucent or transparent.

The device is particularly adapted for dispensing small articles, such as tablets, and especially tablets of the type comprised of saccharine, wherefore it is desirable that the container be relatively thin, of laterally elongate transverse configuration throughout its entire length and probably of generally rectangular overall shape such as oblong. The body comprises a bottom having two different levels including the base portion 17 at a low level and a platform 18 at a higher level considered with the container in a horizontal position. Preferably the platform 18 Vis of less area, particularly lengthwise of the container, than the base 17 and said platform and base are joined by an incline or ramp 19 leading from the forward endof said base to the rear of said platform. From the bottom project the vupwardly extending perpendicular rear wall 20, opposite side walls 21 and the annular from walls 2.2,. 2 which extend. ouuyardly from. their respective side walls in convergent formation to provide what will be termed a laterally tapering spout forpurscscs of description Each 013th@ glllufrcrltwalls .1&2x 22 is. Qt bifangdlar formation including lede obligue portion 24,.continudus a. Side formino arl obtuse angle tothe lonnitu; dirial ct the body, and a-rclati lyvshortoblique por-.tion 25. extending from, the cutcrends ci thc: oblio-ue portion ,24r and. forming an acpte, angleto said axis. of' the bcdyr The. shsrtcbliarepcrricas of the iront: walls are spaced apart ad. appropriate distoncete tous; the restrictcd. Outlet 2.6. 'the looser oblique por. .Qn 2&4 or

the from wan 22 is ontspannende@ s projection on.

ori-the inside thcrcof for guidinearticlss. over: the end of theejector to. benrcscntly dcdcrilocd.

llc lids tcpfcr @over 16. is substantially permanently secured to the body, more particularly to the rear, side and frontV wallsA thereof,` and for-p,u rpt;v s ,es` of illustration only, this lid is. shownas recessed i-nto. the body walls and provided with sockets 2.',7-, Figs: ,5, 8, and 9, t0,- reccivc projections .2S on the body walls.; The inherent rcsiliciicy of Said body Walls llcrmiisthc. lid to bc'forfccd into place and then, for all intents nd. purposes, permancrrtly h-cidimposition.. This lidis, of. the saine con.- igurationas the body in plan providesa completely enclosed. container except for the outlet opening which iscontrolled by a closure.

When the lid 16 is in place a` relatively deep end rceidri cr holding compartment 29 ofiannrccieblc depth is'provided at the rear 0f the container 'between said'lid and the base 17 while a shallower end region or delivery compartment Vis provided ast-the forward end of the container between said lidy andthe platijlorm 18. The intermediate receptacle region adiacent lto therlmp 19- communicates between the holding and'delivery compartments. Z9 and -En) and iscf `gradually decreasing depth from the former compartment to the latter cprnpantmenh Articles 31 here represen-ted as tablets hav-ing greater diameters than thickness, can be placed -in the-holding compartment at random and whenrthe lid is assembled on the container said articles will not :be crushed When the container is tilted with the forward .end down and given a slight shaking the tablets will .be thrown onto their lla-t sides so that/they may enter the delivery compartment 3,0 which will. only `receive such tablets that are lying at. That is, the delivery compartment is of a depth greater than the `thicknessauidless than the diameter of a pill .or tablet. Any tablets that arev on .edge are too large to enter the delivery compartment and will remain in the holding compartment 29` .or on the ramp 19 from which they may roll back into `said holding compartment.

In the restricted or tapered endet` thelid is -formed a longitudinal open ended elongated'aperture 31 inthe r longitudinal axis of said lid. and the edges ofthe walls surrounding said aperature are reduced in thickness to form portions 32 of a lap joint, or tracks for the sliding panel. To the rear of and spaced from said aperture isa longitudinal slot 33 vto limit the movements of the sliding panel.

The sliding panel 3.4.is mounted lto slide to and fro longitudinally and has a pendantrib 35 to tit the aperture 31 with `anges 36 projecting. laterally from the lower or vinner edge of said rib Vand spaced from the panel, parallel therewith, a distance equal `to the thickness of tracks 32 so that when thev parts are assembled the panel cannot be lifted out of place but can be sldingly reciprocated. The sliding ,movements of the panel, with its component parts, is limited .by a pin 37 y0.1 equivalent means projected Athrough the rearportion -of said panel and registeringwith the slot 33. The rear end of the panel 34 is eathered'or 'beveled at 3S and the corners ofthe containermay lbe rounded to `eliminate any sharp prominences.

At the forward. end. of slidinenarlcl. 3ft attendant. closure 39 which normally closes the exit opening from the outlet 26 and said closure preferably snugly fits into said outlet whereby the outer face of said closure will be flush with the terminal edges of the angular front walls 22, 23, the bottom and lid or cover. Means is provided to temporarily retain the closure in a closed position and the associated. parts retracted which means, for purposes of illustration, is shown as a rounded projection 40. on one coacting part, as the closure 39, for registration with a socket or depression 41 in the other coacting part, as the bottom wall of the container and more specifically the platform 18.

An ejector 42,` which also. functions. as an agitator and a barrier, depends or hangs from the underside of the sliding panel, particularly the flange structure 36 of said panel, into close proximity to the platform portion of the container bottom wall. Said ejector extends rearwardly from the closure an appreciable distance longitudinally of the sliding. panel so. that when the closure is closed the rear end. of said ejector projects into the delivery compartment but when said closure is in the fully open position the rearl end of the ejector will be within the outlet 26.

The ejector includes a relatively thin stem 43 perpendicular to the sliding panel and a lateral nib 44. at theV inner or rear end of said stem. The nib has a substantially dat forwardA face, for engaging an article to.

propel .the latter forwardly, and a curvilinear side face to deect Qlhdr. articles within the delivery compartment of the container.

This ejector 42 is positioned to4 one side of. the sliding panel so that said ejector assumes a position to one side of the outlet 2,6 with the back of the ejector close to the acutely oblique portion Z5 of thel angular front wall and with the nib projecting towards the Opposed portion 25 of the other angular front wall 25, The nose of the nib, formed by the meeting of the dat forward face with thc curvilinear side face, is spaced from the adjacent portion of said front wall 2,3, at approximately the locaf tion where the oblique portion 24 blends into the oblique portion 2 5, to provide an entrance tto the outlet 26 while the ejector is retracted. rl `his entrance is of sufficient width to allow for the passage of a single article into the outlet to assume a position forward Vof `the dat pusher face of the ejector and beside the stem 43.

When the outlet 2 6 ahead of the elector nib is lled additional articles cannot ente-r and as the ejector is proicc-ted forwardly for delivering the contents from said outlet 26 during the dispensing operation, the entrance to the outlet .26 is gradually .decreased laterally tc prevent other articles from accidentally passing out of the container. At the time the ejector reaches its fully projected position the rear end thereof will align with the inner surface of the projection 27a of the front wall 22 to cause articles at the back of said ejector to roll or slide over the rlatter to. positions in front of the location of the ejector.

During retraction of the ejector, the inner or rear end thereof will function as an agitator by engaging any articles in the path of rearward travel'and thereby scatter, to some extent, the articles in the deliyery compartment 30 to assist in positioning them for subsequent entrance into the outlet and also loosening any jammed articles.

So that the closure and ejector may be readily operated t0 and fro by the pressure of a persons thumb a suitable area of the exterior surface of the sliding panel may be roughened in any well'known manner, Vas'by forming ridges thereon.

Thecperation of the device is as follows: A preselected number of articles are placed inthe holding compartment 29, at random, and-the lid .or cover 16 fastened in place so as to he stationary and relatively permanent. The container is nowheld in Vone hand in a forwardly tilted position to cause some or all of the articles to travel over the ramp 19 and enter the delivery compartment 30. One or more of the articles, depending upon the relative dimensions of the device and the articles, will pass the nose of the ejector nib 44 and enter the outlet 26 ahead of the at pusher face of said nib and rest against the closure 39. By proper motion of the thumb the sliding panel 34 will be projected forwardly carrying the closure and ejector with it. This action will open the outlet and the ejector will push any articles before it out of the outlet where they may drop onto a surface or the persons other hand, or directly into the persons mouth without the necessity of inverting the device. The sliding panel is then retracted by a reverse movement of the thumb and the ejector will push articles in its rearward path of travel to either side so as to ready them for travel towards the outlet and dislodge any that may have become jammed. Simultaneously the closure will be moved tothe closed position and other articles may enter the outlet ready to be dispensed. If none of the articles enter the outlet, a slight movement or shake of the device will cause them to move into line for travel past the nose of the nib. The operations may be repeated as often as desired and at any intervals of time.

During the dispensing operations if any of the articles are turned so that their greater dimensions are substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the device they will be prevented from entering the delivery compartment 30 until they are tipped over to present the smaller dimension in an upright position. This can be accompiished by simply shaking the container until the articles fall over and thereafter such articles will enter the delivery compartment.

While we have illustrated the bottom of the container as having an offset portion to dene the platform 17 from the base 18, it will be obvious that said bottom may be continuous in one plane and the platform produced within the interior of the container.

Of course we do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and useful is:

l. In a container for dispensing disc-like pills in predetermined limited quantities; a hollow receptacle of generally laterally elongate transverse cross section throughout its entire length and including a relatively deep end region adapted to contain a considerable number of pills in random orientation, a relatively shallow end region remote from said relatively deep end region and of a depth greater than the thickness and less than the diameter of a pill so as to contain said pills in a coplanar orientation, and an intermediate receptacle region communicating between said end regions and of gradually decreasing depth from said relatively deep end region to said relatively shallow end region to guide said pills from said random orientation in said relatively deep end region to their coplanar orientation in said relatively shallow end region, said relatively shallow end region tapering laterally in the direction away from said intermediate region and terminating in a restricted outlet of sumcient size to pass only a predetermined quantity of pills, a closure mounted on said receptacle for reciprocation between a position closing said outlet and a position outwards of and opening said outlet, and an ejector inwards of said closure and rigidly connected to the latter for movement therewith toward and away from said outlet and spaced from said closure to receive said predetermined quantity of pills in the space between said closure and ejector, said ejector being spaced from one tapering wall of said relatively shallow region in the extreme position of ejector movement away from said outlet to individually admit said pills into the space between said ejector and closure and moveable toward said one tapering wall upon opening movement of said closure to prevent the admission of pills into the last mentioned space, whereby said ejector serves to deliver only said predetermined quantity of pills toward said outlet upon opening of said closure.

2. A container according to claim 1, said ejector including a nose projecting inwards into said relatively shallow end region and moveable with said ejector to agitate pills in said region.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 728,027 Selander May 12, 1903 862,923 LinSley Aug. 13, 1907 1,974,332 Hauck Sept. 18, 1934 2,086,296 Gilbert July 6, 1937 2,475,738 Epplin July 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 422,751 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1935

Images