US3302835A

US3302835A - Combined shaker dispenser and closure

Info

Publication number: US3302835A
Application number: US500520A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Eckles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-22
Filing date: 1965-10-22
Publication date: 1967-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-07

Description

Fm m @967 w. J. ECKLES WW COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

WILLIAM J. ECKLES EDWARD D. O'QRIMBD ATTDRNEY.

Feb. @967 K g 3,3Q2fl35 COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE Filed 00%. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-$111881 2 INVENTOR, VWLLIAM J. ECIKLES.

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United States Patent 3,302,835 COMBINED SHAKER DllaliENSER AND (ILQSURE William J. Eckles, 1117 S. Cambridge, Anaheim, Calif. 92805 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Set. No. 500,520 Claims. (Cl. 222-531) This invention is directed to a combined shaker dispenser and closure particularly adapted to control the dispensing of materials from a container when in the open position, and to close the container when in the closed position.

Many materials are available in particulate form, and in many cases the dispensing of such materials must be controlled. Often, these materials are merchandise in containers, and it is desirable to have a dispenser in association with the container of such nature as to permit the dispensing of appropriate quantities and appropriate distribution of the particulate material. Furthermore, it is helpful that the container be closed When dispensing is not desired. This prevents contamination and loss of particulate material.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combined shaker dispenser and closure which is adapted to be positioned within an opening in the container and which is adapted to be able to move from a first position to a second position. In the first position the container is closed, and in the second position the dispenser is in such a position as to dispense proper and accurately controlled quantities of particulate material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined shaker dispenser and closure which is adapted to snap into an opening in a container and be limited with respect to the container in motion from a closed position to an open position and in the open position be of such nature as to properly and adequately control the flow of particulate material from the container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined shaker dispenser and closure which properly seals when in the closed position so as to obviate the need for an overseal.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combined shaker dispenser and closure which is economic of manufacture, easy of installation on a container and of long trouble free life.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined shaker dispenser and closure which can be economically molded of polymer composition material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shaker dispenser and closure which is of such configuration that it acts as its own hinge with respect to appropriate surfaces and edges of the container.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of this specification, the claims and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the top of a container having an opening therein suitable for insertion of the combined shaker dispenser and closure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the top of a container having the combined shaker dispenser and closure associated therewith and shown in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the combined dispenser and closure taken in enlarged partial section through the container and showing the closure in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the dis penser and closure in the dispensing position;

FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

"ice

FIG. 6 is a section taken generally-along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser and closure when viewed in a closed position;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the combined shaker dispenser and closure; and

FIG. 9 is an isometric view thereof.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a combined shaker dispenser and closure. The combined shaker dispenser and closure is particularly adapted for use in dispensing particulate materials from containers. A triangular opening is formed in the container and the closure has a closure plate which is of generally triangular configuration and of such larger dimension than the opening as to be able to completely overlie the opening. Directly below the closure plate is a groove into which the sides of the opening snap when the closure is in the closed position. Angularly arranged from this first groove is a second groove, which intersects with the first groove at one of the edges. This groove intersection serves as a hinge and embraces an edge of the container at the opening. A stop is formed below the second groove, and the structure is arranged so that when the closure is moved to the open, dispensing position the edges of the container occupy the second groove. Slots are formed past the second groove toward the first groove. These slots are of sufficient dimension as to extend below the second groove. Thus, when the closure is moved to the open position, the slots extend from the interior to the exterior of the container. These slots serve for the dispensing purpose. The slots are preferably formed in such a manner as to guide particulate material back into the interior of the container when dispensing is to be terminated and the container is returned to its upright position.

This invention will be understood in greater detail by reference to the following portion of this specification wherein the drawings are described. Referring now to FIG. 1, a container 12 suitable for combined shaker dispenser and closure 11) of this invention is generally indicated. The container 12 is shown as having cylindrical side walls 14 and flat top 16. However, the dispenser and closure 10 is useful with containers of other configurations. The container 12 is preferably of such nature as to be adaptable to contain particulate materials, such as salt. In fact, the container 12 is conventionally a cylindrical table salt container and is preferably made of flexible material such as cardboard. The top 16 has a triangular opening 17 therein in which the dispenser and closure 10 is positioned. The triangular opening has a base 13 and sides 20 and 21. The sides are preferably equal, so as to define an isosceles triangle, and may be equal to the base 18 to make an equilateral triangle. However, an isosceles triangle is preferred with the base length approximately equal to /5 the length of one of the sides 20 and 21. The base 18 and sides 26 and 21 define opening 17 into container 12. The base and sides of the opening 17 in top 16 are somewhat resilient and deformable due to the flexibility of the material.

The combined shaker dispenser and closure 10, hereinafter referred to as the dispenser, has a top plate 22. Top plate 22 is of generally triangular configuration, and may be truncated as shown. Preferably, top plate 22 has a slight bevel 24 at the front edge thereof to aid in raising the top plate from the closed position of FIG. 3 to the dispensing position of FIG. 4.

Walls

26 and 28 extend downwardly from and are preferably integrally formed with top plate 22. Walls 26 and 25% have interior

planar surfaces

30 and 32 which define the hollow 3 interior between

walls

26 and 28. The hollow interior is open at the bottom and back of dispenser 1Q.

Each of the

walls

26 and 28 is symmetrical about the altitude of the triangle formed by the walls. Thus, for purposes of this discussion only wall 26 need be described in detail. Wall 26 is formed of a plurality of surfaces on the exterior thereof. Surface 34 is planar, and acts as a surface which lies closely adjacent the corresponding side 21. Groove 36 is formed below top plate 22 across the back of the dispenser lit) and corresponds in vertical dimension to the surface 34. Groove 36 accepts base 113 of the opening, and this combination serves as a pivot for the dispenser 10 as it moves from one position to the other and serves to aid in retaining the dispenser 10 in either position. Wall 26 terminates in back edge 38 which is substantially in line with the base of the truncated triangle which for-ms top plate 22. In any event, groove 36 extends forwardly underneath top plate 22 and forwardly of back edge 38. Thus, the groove 36 forms restraint in three directions with respect to the base 18 which forms a portion of the opening in top 16.

Immediately below surface 34, and substantially meeting therewith, is angular face 40. Angular face at) extends parallel to top plate 22 and extends angularly outward with respect to surface 34. Face 42, in the embodi ment shown, is substantially planar and adjoins face 40. Face 42 lies between angular face 40 and angular face 44 and lies perpendicular to the bisectors of these angles. Below angular face 44 is surface 46, which is similar to surface 34. Surface 46 intersects surface 34 at groove 36. Thus, as plate 22 is pivoted upwardly about groove 36 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 the entire dispenser 10 swings about the pivot point until surface 46 lies in the plane of top 16. Sur face 46 defines a groove which maintains dispenser 10 in this position. Flange 48 extends outwardly from surface 46. Flange 43 has a substantially planar stop surface 50, see FIG. 6, which engages with the underside of top 16 to form a stop in the upper position. Guide surface 52 tapers inwardly and aids in the insertion of dispenser 16 into the triangular opening in top 16. After the dispenser lid is inserted, surface 52 has no further function. However, the overlap of flange 48 with the top 16 at stop surface 50 serves as a seal so that when the container 12 is inverted with the dispenser 10 in the open position of FIG. 3, the edges are sealed.

In order to dispense particulate materials from container 12 when the dispenser 1th is in the open position, dispensing grooves 54 are formed in wall 26. As is especially well seen in FIGS. 4, and 7, dispensing grooves 54 do not extend through wall 26, but are formed sulficiently deeply therein to form a passageway below surface 46. Thus, the interior of container 12 is open to the outside only through groove 54. The width of the grooves, the number of them, and the depth they are formed below surface 46 determines the rate at which the particulate material is dispensed.

It is to be particularly noted that the front wall surfaces 55, see FIG. 5, of groove 54 are angularly arranged with respect to the general face of wall 26. Such angular relationship, which is in the nature of one-half of a dovetail, has the special function of guiding particulate material back into the container. Thus, when dispensing of particulate material is to be stopped, and the container it) is righted, the particulate material is retained in the grooves by the angularity of walls 55. As the container is righted, these walls guide the particulate material back into the container. Thus, no particulate material falls upon top 116, but that which had been in the grooves 54 at the end of the dispensing operation is guided by angular walls 55 back into the container.

It is clear that the

surfaces

40, 42 and 44 are planar. However, since the dispenser l0 pivots about groove 36, it is clear that to make a theoretically tight joint at least the face 42 should be a segment of a conical surface hav- 4 ing the altitude and axis of the cone at groove 36. However, a planar surface positioned at the correct angle is satisfactory because of the slight difference in dimension in such a small surface. Furthermore, the angular faces 40 and 44 can be similarly curved.

The angular faces 4-0 and 44, together with face 42 intersect with their corresponding faces on wall 23. The intersection is substantially sharp at edge 56, while

edges

58 and 60 form a rounder compromise between the several surfaces. The function of the

edges

56, 58 and 60, together with their associated adjoining surfaces, is to engage in the apex of the triangular opening in top 16 while dispenser T0 is opened and closed. This engagement into the apex and adjoining surfaces forces the dispenser 10 so that groove 36 is firmly engaged with base 18. Thus, the structure is maintained in place during the opening operation.

As is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apexes of

surfaces

34 and 46 are at equal radii from the axis of rotation around surface 36. The true radius is indicated by con struction line 62. As is indicated above, surfaces 56, 58 and 60 extend slightly beyond the true are 62 to maintain the dispenser 10 in position. Thus, the dispenser 10 can be moved between the open position and the closed position while properly pivoting in place, and With little danger of its slipping out of position. In the closed position, seal is accomplished and in the open position sealing is accomplished except for the dispensing grooves 54. Thus, no extra cover seal is needed.

This application having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous changes and embodiments within the scope of this invention and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined shaker dispenser and closure, said combined shaker dispenser and closure being adapted to control the dispensing of material from a container having an opening, said combined shaker dispenser and closure being adapted to be inserted in the opening, the opening in the container having at least one straight edge, said combined shaker dispenser and closure comprising:

a top plate, said top plate having at least one straight edge and being of sufficient size to overlie the opening in the container with the straight edge of said top plate being adjacent the straight edge of the opening, a groove in said shaker dispenser and closure parallel to said straight edge of said top plate and positioned beneath said top plate, said groove being adapted to engage the straight edge of the opening;

first and second walls depending below said top plate, said first and second walls being connected together, an edge at the connection between said first and second walls, a top groove and a bottom groove in each of said walls, said top groove lying substantially parallel with respect to said top plate, said bottom groove lying at an angle with respect to said top groove, said top groove and said bottom groove intersecting at said first groove, a stop adjacent said bottom groove, said stop extending outwardly away from said bottom groove, an opening in at least one of said walls between said top groove and said bottom groove;

said combined shaker dispenser and closure being arranged so that it is pivotable on said first groove from a position wherein said top plate lies against the top of the container, in which said combined shaker dispenser and closure is closed, to a position wherein the top of the container is adapted to lie in said bottom groove, in which position said openings permit discharge of material from the container.

2. The combined shaker dispenser and closure of claim 1 wherein said openings comprise slots extending from below said bottom groove to a location between said top groove and said bottom groove.

3. The combined shaker dispenser and closure of claim 2 wherein said top plate is substantially triangular, and said walls intersect each other in said edge.

4. The combined shaker dispenser and closure of claim 3 wherein said edge extends a greater distance away from said first groove than said top and bottom grooves whereby the combined shaker dispenser and closure is adapted to be forced in a direction toward said first groove as it is moved from an open position to a closed position.

5. A combined shaker dispenser and closure adapted to act as a shaker dispenser and closure for a container containing particulate material and adpted to fit within an opening in the container to control the flow of material from the opening, the opening having at least one straight edge, the combined shaker dispenser and closure comprising:

a substantially planar top plate having at least one straight edge corresponding to the straight edge of the opening, said top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface of said top plate being adapted to engage the container around the opening thereof when the combined shaker dispenser and closure is positioned to close the hole; first and second walls secured to and extending away from said bottom surface of said top plate, said first and second walls each having first and second edges, said first edges of said wall adoining and said second edges of said walls being spaced from each other, a groove adjacent the lower surface of said top plate adjacent to and parallel to said straight edge thereof, said groove being adapted to embrace the straight edge of the opening in the container;

first recess surfaces adjacent the juncture of said first and second walls with the lower surface of said top plate, said first recess surfaces being adapted to receive the container adjacent the opening therein, said first recesses lying parallel to the top plate, second recesses in said first and second side walls, said second recesses being arranged at an angle with respect to said first recesses and intersecting said first recesses at said groove, faces between said first and second recesses, said faces being smoothly joined with said recesses;

stop surfaces adjacent said second surfaces, said stop surfaces extending away from said second recess surfaces and adapted to engage within the container when said combined shaker dispenser and closure is in its dispensing position;

dispensing openings in said faces, said dispensing openings being open from the interior of the container to the exterior thereof when the combined shaker dispenser and closure is in its dispensing position and being within the container when said combined shaker dispenser and closure is in its closed position, said dispensing openings comprising grooves extending from said face past said second surface so that said grooves are open to the interior of the container, said grooves each having at least one surface angularly arranged with respect to the said first and second walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,601 11/1925 Gannon 222-531 1,861,602 6/1932 Koze 222531 X 1,863,787 6/1932 Geist 222-531 2,544,524 3/1951 Bonnefoy 222565 X 2,612,292 9/1952 Von Duyke 222-498 X 3,023,938 3/1962 Johnson 222-565 X 3,087,657 4/1963 Eckles 222-531 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE, SAID COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE BEING ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE DISPENSING OF MATERIAL FROM A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING, SAID COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE BEING ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN THE OPENING, THE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER HAVING AT LEAST ONE STRAIGHT EDGE, SAID COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE COMPRISING: A TOP PLATE, SAID TOP PLATE HAVING AT LEAST ONE STRAIGHT EDGE AND BEING OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO OVERLIE THE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER WITH THE STRAIGHT EDGE OF SAID TOP PLATE BEING ADJACENT THE STRAIGHT EDGE OF THE OPENING, A GROOVE IN SAID SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE PARALLEL TO SAID STRAIGHT EDGE OF SAID TOP PLATE AND POSITIONED BENEATH SAID TOP PLATE, SAID GROOVE BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE STRAIGHT EDGE OF THE OPENING; FIRST AND SECOND WALLS DEPENDING BELOW SAID TOP PLATE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND WALLS BEING CONNECTED TOGETHER, AND EDGE AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND WALLS, A TOP GROOVE AND A BOTTOM GROOVE IN EACH OF SAID WALLS, SAID TOP GROOVE LYING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP PLATE, SAID BOTTOM GROOVE LYING AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP GROOVE, SAID TOP GROOVE AND SAID BOTTOM GROOVE INTERSECTING AT SAID FIRST GROOVE, A STOP ADJACENT SAID BOTTOM GROOVE, SAID STOP EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID BOTTOM GROOVE, AN OPENING IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WALLS BETWEEN SAID TOP GROOVE AND SAID BOTTOM GROOVE; SAID COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE BEING ARRANGED SO THAT IT IS PIVOTABLE ON SAID FIRST GROOVE FROM A POSITION WHEREIN SAID TOP PLATE LIES AGAINST THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER, IN WHICH SAID COMBINED SHAKER DISPENSER AND CLOSURE IS CLOSED, TO A POSITION WHEREIN THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER IS ADAPTED TO LIE IN SAID BOTTOM GROOVE, IN WHICH POSITION SAID OPENINGS PERMIT DISCHARGE OF MATERIAL FROM THE CONTAINER.