US3161341A

US3161341A - Container with dispensing hopper means and blanks for making the same

Info

Publication number: US3161341A
Application number: US248051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melville T Farquhar
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1962-12-28
Filing date: 1962-12-28
Publication date: 1964-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 M. 'r. FARQUHAR cormmza WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAME 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1962 INVENTOR MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HIS ATTORNEY? Dec. 15, 1964 M. T. FARQUHAR CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec; 28, 1962 INVENTOR 33 MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Gfifice 3,161,341 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 248,951 16 Elairns. (til. 229-17) This invention relates to an improved container having a hopper portion or means for readily displaying and dispensing the contents of the container as Well as to improved blanks for forming such a container or the like.

It is well known that containers can be provided having a plurality of wall means defining a compartment therein with one of the wall means having an opening provided therein and interconnected to the compartment, the container carrying a hopper portion adapted to open and close such opening whereby the hopper portion pro vides means for displaying and readily dispensing the contents of the container.

For example, such containers are particularly adaptable for packaging conventional disc-shaped after dinner mints whereby such containers can be utilized as attractive displaying and dispensing means for such mints at the cashiers counter or the like.

However, it has been found that when such openings are formed in the side wall means of the prior known containers and are located adjacent the bottom wall means thereof, the columns of articles in the containers tending to spill out of the opened hopper portions bulge outwardly the bottom portion of the side wall means of the containers adjacent the openings thereof whereby the attractiveness of the containers is destroyed.

However, according to the teachings of this invention an improved container of the above type is provided wherein reinforcing means are provided for at least some of the wall means of the container adjacent the opening formed therein to tend to eliminate the above-mentioned adverse bulging condition.

Further, the hopper portion of this invention is formed separately from the container but is subsequently carried thereby whereby the hopper portion can be formed of a material different from the container to not only provide such reinforcing means but also to provide a more attractive container as will be apparent hereinafter.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved container having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved blanks for forming such a container or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from'a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating an improved container of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the container in its dispensing position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an improved container blank of tln's invention adapted to form the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one method of forming the container of FIGURE 1 from the blank of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank of this invention for forming the hopper portion of the container of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the hopper portion of the container of FIGURE 1 in its partially assembled position.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 83 of FIGURE 2.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described as being particularly adaptable for providing a container that will attractively display and dispense articles, such as after dinner mints or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide containers for other articles as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a plurality of side wall means 11, 12, 13 and 14, a bottom wall means 15 and a top wall means 16 whereby the container 1%) is substantially rectangular.

The front side wall means 11 of the container 10 is provided with an opening 17 extending from the bottom Wall means 15 to an edge 18 disposed spaced from the top edge of the front side Wall means 11, the opening 17 extending to the adjacent side wall means 12 and 14.

A hopper portion or means 19 is carried by the container 10 and is adapted to open and close the opening 17 thereof.

For example, when the hopper means 19 is disposed in the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the contents of the container 10 are fully protected.

Initially, the hopper means 19 can be held in its closed position by disposing a sleeve or band around the container 10, such as the tubular and transparent overwrap 20 or the like illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Alternately, or in combination with the overwrap 2% a shipper panel 21, such as a rectangular flat sheet of cardboard or the like, is adapted to be inserted downwardly through the top wall means 16 adjacent the inside surface of the front side wall means 11 whereby the inserted panel 21 will completely cover the opening 17 on the inside of the hopper means 19 when the panel 21 is disposed in place.

In this manner, the panel 21 prevents the contents of the container 14 from tending to open the hopper means 19 during shipment or storage of the container 10.

When it is desired to open the hopper means 19, the

overwrap 26 is removed, if used, and the panel 21 is re-v moved in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1,v if used, to permit the hopper means 19 to be moved to its opened position as illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby the contents of the container disposed in the compartment 22 thereof is adapted to spill out of the compartment 22 into the opened hopper means 19 to be readily viewed by the ultimate consumer and permit the ultimate consumer to Withdraw the desired number of articles through the opened hopper means 19.

' tainer 10.

Therefore, it can be seen that'this" invention provides an improved container which is adapted to store and trans;

port desired articlespackagedtherein and which can be subsequently utilized as'an attractive displaying and dispensingmeans for the contents of the container.

Because the hopper means 19 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the container 10, the opened hopper means 19 always tends to remain full as the taken articles'are re placed by other articles falling through theopening 17 whereby the dispensing container always gives the appearance of being freshly opened to enhance the sales appeal of-the contents of the container 10.

7 However, it has been found that when such a container 7 that reinforce the bottom portions of the side wall means and 1 4 of the container 10 adjacent the opening 17 thereof to eliminate such bulging effect as will be apparent hereinafter. a

While thecontainer 10 of this inventionfc'an be formed in any suitable manner and from any suitable material,

the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings is formed from a container blank of this invention that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 23 in FIG. 1

can s t The blank 23 can be formed from cardboard or the like and can have the exterior surface thereof'suitably decorated, such as by having asheet of aluminum-cont taining metallic vfoil or the like laminated thereto.

' The container blank'23 is suitably cut and scored to de- 7 fine a series of foldably connected

Walls

24, 25, 26 and a a v '4 t A plurality of

bottom flaps

41, 42 and 43varerespecttively foldably connected to'the'bottom' edges of the

walls

24,25 and '27 at score or

fold lines

44, 45 and 46, each a bottom flap 41-43 having one or more interlocking flaps 47 carved therefrom andprovided with hook-shaped free ends 48 for a purposehereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the container blank 23 for forming the container 10 can be simply die cut and die scored in a conventional manner.

27 're sp ect ively foldablytconnected together at score or fold lines 2 8 29, and 30, the walls 2427 respectively forming the side wall means. 13, '12, 11 and 14 of the container 10 ina manner hereinafter described.

An "interconnecting flap 31 is foldably connected to the freeside edge of the wall 24 at a score of fold line 32 the intereonnecting flap 31 being, adapted to be ad- While the hopper means19 for the container 10 of this invention can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiment of the hopper means 19 of this invention is formed from a blank of this invention that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 49 in FIGURE 6.

The hopper blank 49 can comprise cardboard or the like and can be made of stronger material than the material forming the blank 23 for the carton 10 to further reinforce the container lfiiat the dispensing opening 17 thereof as will be apparent hereinafter.

Further, since the hopp'ermeans 19 of this invention provides the only inside surfaces of the container 10 which will be viewed by the ultimate consumer when the hopper means 19 ,is opened, the inside surface of the hopper blank '49 can 'be suitably decorated or comprise a substantially white surface whereby the blank 23 forming the container 16 canbe formed of cheaper material than thehopper blank 49 whereby the container 10'will havetheappearance that the same is formed entirely of expensive material.

7 Thehopper blank 49 is' suitablylcut and scored to de-' a mannerhereinafter described. 7

A first pair' of side panels 5 1 and 52 are respectively foldably .conne'cted'to sideedges of the frontpanel at score or

fold lines

53 and 54, the

side panels

51 and 52 being substantially identical and having substantially straight and angled upper surfaces terminating in out- Wardly directed ears i56 for a purpose hereinafter described. a 7

A bottom flap is foldably connected to the front panel 5t at a scoreor fold line 58, the bottom panel 57 being adapted to span the entire bottom endof the container 10 and being provided with a plurality of rectangular tab hesively secured to the insideisurface of the wall 27 ad-' jacent the free side edge thereof to cause the Walls 24-27 to forma tubular and rectangular structure as illustrated n I URE a a r a Thewall 26 of the blank 23 has a pair of reinforcing panels 33 carved therefrom and extending frorn theibottomtedge' of thewall 2 6 to the upper edge 18rthereof, the reinforcing panels 33 respectively being 'foldably connected to the side edges of the alls, 25 and 27' at the respective score or fold lines 29 and 30 anddefining the opening 17 previously described.

p In this manner, the reinforcing panels-33 'a re'adapted to be folded back against the inside surfaces of the walls 7 25 and27 when the container blank 23 is being utilized to form the-container 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby the reinforcingpanels 33 reinforce the, side Walls f a th 2'5 and "27 atthe dispensing opening'17 'vA'pluralityt-of

top closure flaps

34, 35 and '36 are respectivel-y feldably connected to the top, edges of L the

walls

24, 25. and 21 at the respective score or fold "lines- 37, '33 and-39, the top fiaps 35'and 36 being substantially identical and adapted to be'folded inwardly over the topof-the container 10 and have theclosure flap 34' foldedover the same whereby a tongue portion 40 of the top closure flap. 34is adapted tobe inserted into thei compartment 22 of the containerlt) adjacent then-inside surface of the front side wall 26-to permittheisldpper" panel 21 to be insertedbehind, thefront sidewall 26in themannerpreviouslydescribed; t V

.25 and 27 to reinforce t and 61 providing-reinforcing means for the container 10 in a manner hereinafter described;

' Therefore, it can be seen that the-hopper blank 49 of this invention can be formed in a realtively simple manner by a die cutting and die scoring operation.

When'it'is desired to form the container. 10 of this invention from the blanks 231and 49, the container blank is folded into tubular form in the mannerillustrated 1H FIGURES with the reinforcing panels 33re spectively folded back 'a'gainst the inside sur'faces of the side walls 'the same' adjacent the opening 117 iii the front wall 26.1 e v a I Thereafter, the hopperblank 49 is fOldCdlIltO'd substantially rectangular'form as partially'illustrated in FIG- URE 7 with the reinforcing sidepanels 6 0 and 6l'thereof respectively, disposedinside ofthe side panels 51"and 52 .asillustrated in FIGURE 7. v t I Q v -With'the hopper blank 49 folded into a substantially rectangular form, the, folded hopper'means 19is' inserted vertically upwardlyiinto theopened bottom portion of the container '10 as illustrated in FIGURE 5,'-the side 7 panels;51 and 52 th'ereof respectively being disposedim side of thereinf rcingIpaneIs 33,;and the hopperportion '19 being telescoped" upwardly until' the bottom flap. 57-

thereofis disposed in the's'ame' plane as the bottom edges of the

side Walls

24, 25 and 27 whereby the front panel 50 of the hopper means 19 completely fills the opening 17 Thereafter, the

bottom flaps

41, 42 and 43 of the con tainer are folded inwardly against the bottom flap 57 of the hopper means 19 to cause the interlocking tab means 47 thereof to register with the flaps 59 of the bottorn flap 57.

Subsequently, the interlocking tabs 47 are pushed inwardly to cause the flaps 59 of the bottom flap 47 to form openings 64 as illustrated in FIGURE 8 whereby the inserted hook-shaped ends 48 of the interlocking tabs 47 lock the bottom flaps 41-43 to the bottom flap 57 of the hopper means 19. In this manner, the hopper means 19 is carried by the container 10.

While the hopper means 19 has been described and illustrated as being interconnected to the container 10 by mechanical means, it is to be understood that the hopper means 19 could be secured to the container 19 by other means, such as by a suitable adhesive or the like.

When the hopper means 19 is secured to the container 10 in the above manner, it can be seen that the

side panels

60 and 61 are respectively disposed adjacent the inside surfaces of the

side walls

25 and 27 at the opening 17 in the front wall 26 whereby the

panels

60 and 61 reinforce the

side walls

25 and 27.

After the hopper means 19 has been secured to the container 10, the desired contents can be disposed into the compartment 22 of the container 10 through the open upper end thereof and the container 10 can be subsequently closed by the top closure flaps 35, 36 and 34 in the manner previously described.

Thereafter, the hopper means 19 can be held in its closed position by the overwrap and/or the shipper panel 21 so that the filled container 10 can be subsequently stored and shipped in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

When it is desired to open the container 10, the overwrap 20 and/or shipper panel 21 are removed in the manner previously described and the front panel 50 of the hopper means 19 is pulled outwardly whereby the

side panels

51 and 52 move outwardly therewith until the cars 56 thereof abut against the inside surface of the front wall 26 in a manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the hopper means 19 is prevented from further opening thereof.

Since the contents of the container 10 tend to spill out of the opening 17 into the opened hopper 19, the weight of the contents of the container 10 tend to bulge the side walls and 27 of the container 10 adjacent the opening 17.

However, because the reinforcing panels 33 of the container 10 and the reinforcing

panels

60 and 61 of the hopper'means 19 are disposed adjacent the

walls

25 and 27 at the opening 17, the contents of the container cannot outwardly bulge the

walls

25 and 27 of the container 10 as provided in prior known containers.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved container for storing and shipping desired articles thereof and which can be subsequently utilized as an attractive displaying and dispensing device in the above manner.

Should the

blanks

23 and 49 be made by one manufacturer to be utilized by another manufacturer to package his articles, the

blanks

23, 49 and shipper panels 21 can be supplied to the article manufacturer in the fiat blank form illustrated in the drawings whereby the article manufacturer can erect the container 10 in the above manner. Alternately, the container manufacturer can form the container 10 in its rectangular form by interconnecting the interconnecting flap 31 to the inside surface of the'side wall 27 to form a tubular structure and, thereafter, collapse the tubular structure into a flat compact form to supply such flattened tubular blanks along with the flap blanks 49 and shipper panels 21 to the article manufacturer.--

6. Thereafter, the article manufacturer can erect the carton 10 and attach the hopper means 19 thereto without requiring any gluing apparatus. 4

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides" an improved container having a hopper portion for dis playing and dispensing purposes.

Further, this invention provides improved blanks for making such a container or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container having a plurality of walls forming the exterior thereof and an article-receiving compartment therein, one of said walls having an opening provided therein and interconnected to said compartment, a hopper means for opening and closing said opening, said hopper means including a front panel for filling said opening and a pair of side panels hinged to said front panel and cooperating therewith to define said hopper means, and means reinforcing the walls adjacent said one wall even when said hopper means is opened, said reinforcing means including panels carved from said one wall and defining said opening thereof.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means includes a second pair of side panels of said hopper means.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hopper means includes a bottom panel that forms part of the bottom wall of said container.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side panels of said hopper means limit the amount of opening of said front panel.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side panels have straight upper surfaces.

6. In combination, a container having a plurality of wall means defining an article-receiving compartment therebetween, one of said wall means having an opening provided therein and interconnected to said compartment, said opening extending from the bottom wall means to an edge of said one wall means spaced from the top wall means, and a hopper means for opening and closing said opening, said hopper means including a front panel for filling said opening and a first pair of side panels hinged to said front panel and cooperating therewith to define said hopper means when said front panel opens said opening, said hopper means including a second pair of side panels hinged thereto for reinforcing the wall means of said container adjacent the opening thereof.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein panel means are carved from said one wall means to define said opening and for further reinforcing said wall means adjacent said opening.

8. A blank for forming a hopper means for a container comprising a front panel, a first pair of side panels respectively foldably connected to side edges of said front panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the bottom edge of said front panel, and a second pair of side panels respectively foldably connected to side edges of said bottom panel.

9. A blank for forming a container having a hopper means comprising a plurality of foldably connected walls for forming said container, one of said walls having a pair of panels carved therefrom and hingedly connected'to walls adjacent said one wall to define an opening in said one wall to be opened and closed by said hopper means, said panels being adapted to reinforce said'adjacent walls adjacent said opening.

10. In combination, a container having a plurality of wall means defining an article-receiving compartment.

therebetween, one of said wall means having an opening providedtherein and interconnected to said compartment,

means, a hopper means for openingand closing said openpanel initially closing saidwopeningsbehindsaid'front panel ing said hopper meansrjnolnding a front panel-for filling of saidhopperfmeansl, 1 I I y said opening and a first pair of sidepanel's hinged to said f a 1 v a w front panel and scoopel ating therewith" to define said 1 Referenc s C ifid in fhfif'fileofij thi t ent,

hopper means when said frontipanel. means opens said 5 I W i opening, said hopper n1eans in'c1'ud ing a second pai;- of UNITED TA a I side panels for reinforcing'the-wall means of said bon- 1,000,624 P g; tainer adjacent the opening thereof, and. a rcmovable 1,228,324 Q $Q ----Y-- 1 5, 4