US3643831A - Container for light-sensitive particulate solids - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for light-sensitive particulate solids is generally cylindrical with opaque walls and top. The latter may be of any of the conventional dispensing types. The bottom, however, is of transparent material and is preferably in the form of a clear plastic plug. When stored normally on a shelf, the contents are shielded from light. However, when the container is removed temporarily from its position of rest on a horizontal surface, the contents may be observed through the transparent bottom.

Description

United States Patent Casper 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] CONTAINER FOR LIGHT-SENSITIVE PARTICULATE SOLIDS [72] Inventor: Lee A. Casper, 323 Cherry Bend, Merion,

[22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 4,599

[52] US. Cl ..220/42 B, 206/4534, 220/82, 222/ 156, 229/7 R [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 41/00 [58] Field of Search ..220/42 B, 82 R, 82 A; 206/4534, 45.31; 222/480, 548, 563, 154, 156; 221/155; 215/7, 52', 229/7 R; D44/22 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D166,525 4/1952 Bliss ..D44/22 2,528,948 11/1950 Cosmo.... ....220/42B 1,306,641 6/1919 Steenstrup ..220/42B 2,872,031 2/1959 Lindberg ..229/5.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 536,756 12/1955 Italy ..215/48 540,849 10/1941 England ..229/7 SC Primary Examiner-.loseph R. Leclair Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe Attorney-Barry Moyerman [5 7] ABSTRACT A container for light-sensitive particulate solids is generally cylindrical with opaque walls and top. The latter may be of any of the conventional dispensing types. The bottom, however, is of transparent material and is preferably in the form of a clear plastic plug. When stored normally on a shelf, the contents are shielded from light. However, when the container is removed temporarily from its position of rest on a horizontal surface, the contents may be observed through the transparent bottom.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnFiazz I972 3.643.831

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) I INVENTOR.

LEE A. CASPER 21 SE2 2m. TO NEY CONTAINER FOR LIGHT-SENSITIVE PARTICULATE SOLIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The invention pertains to containers. More particularly, it relates to dispensing containers for solid particulate materials which are sensitive to light.

2. Prior Art The storage of certain light-sensitive particulate materials such as, for example, spices like parsley flakes, celery flakes, chives and green onions, mixed vegetable flakes and dices, and red and green sweet peppers has traditionally presented problems. If glass jars are used, the shelf life of such materials is limited by changes of color which cause the contents to lose their sales appeal and, in some instances, their flavor. Tin cans and similar totally opaque containers, while providing lightproof storage, do not permit determination of the amount of material within the container. Weight is seldom a good gauge since these materials often have a very low density.

Attempts to past labels with openings in them over glass containers, like all halfway measures, represent at best a compromise since light can still enter and, furthermore, the labels can become displaced. Further, materials such as cardboard are, in many applications, preferable to glass and do not provide any means for inspection contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is adapted for use with generally cylindrical opaque containers such as are commonly used for solid particulate materials, especially spices. Such containers generally have a top which is provided with dispensing means. A common expedient is to provide the top with a knockout and then have a rotatable disc mounted over it, which contains several types of openings adapted to be placed in registration with the knockout. A representative container of this type is shown in each ofU.S. Pat. Nos. 2,961,132 and 2,961,133.

According to the instant invention, such generally cylindrical containers are provided with a transparent bottom. With such a bottom, they can be stored in a lightproof configuration, as when they are on a shelf. However, when it is desired to determine what quantity of material is in them, the container need only be tilted so that its contents can be observed through the bottom.

A preferable construction for the bottom is a hollow plug including a dependent sleeve portion which frictionally engages the internal walls of the container. It can be held in place solely by a friction fit or the effect can be enhanced by glue and/or by the provision of a plurality of annular serrations, such as barbs. Such a construction permits full utilization of conventional containers and gives then an added dimension of utility at negligible added cost.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a container which is lightproof under normal storage conditions but which, nonetheless, pennits observation of its contents through a transparent bottom. This and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts:

F IG. 1 represents a perspective view of a partially filled container embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 on its side in a position wherein the contents can be viewed.

FIG. 3 represents a fragmentary vertical section of the container of FIG. 1, showing details of construction of the bottom.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment shown includes a cylindrical container, generally A, which is provided with a dispensing top B and a bottom C.

Container A includes walls 10, which terminate at their top in a rolled edge 11. The container is made of any opaque, relatively strong material, among which cardboard is preferred.

Top B is also opaque and may be of a wide variety of types. The one shown is a common one and its construction is fully described in US Pat. No. 2,832,514 which is incorporated herein by reference. Such a top includes a rotatable disc 12, which includes a plurality of holes 13 and a raised handle 14, with which disc 12 can be rotated.A knockout I5 is provided in an inner seal (not shown) and, after it is removed, rotation of disc 12 brings one or more of holes 13 into registration with it to pennit dispensing. The disc and seal are held in place by rolled edge 11. This construction forms no part of my invention and is merely part of its milieu.

The bottom C is made of transparent material, preferably a clear plastic such as, for example, a polyvinyl chloride. The operation can be clearly observed by contrasting FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, the container is on a shelf 16 in an upright or normal storage position. In this position, the particulate solid contents are shielded from light. However, there is no way of observing the contents.

In FIG. 2, the container has been placed on its side and it is now possible to observe the contents through bottom C. By manipulating the container, it is also possible to make a quantitative estimate of the contents, the position in FIG. 2 having been chosen merely as a matter of ease of representation.

Details of construction of a preferred bottom are shown in FIG. 3. As can be seen there, bottom C is in the form of a hollow plug, including a disc 20 which has at least the same diameter as the outside diameter of container A. The plug includes a dependent sleeve 21, which has an outside diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of container A and is adapted to frictionally engage walls 10. Friction may be enhanced by providing a plurality of perimetrical annular barbs 22 on the exterior of the sleeve. Entry of sleeve 21 into the container can be facilitated by providing it with a beveled end or leading edge 23. Adhesives may additionally be used, if desired, out of a superabundance of caution.

While there has been shown and described above a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. Therefore, the same is not limited to the particular form shown and described herein except insofar as indicated by the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

I. In an opaque cylindrical container for light-sensitive particulate solids, a top-mounted opaque dispensing closure which can be changed from a sealing mode to a dispensing mode, and a permanently fixed transparent one-piece bottom closure which, in the normal vertical storage position of the container does not allow the entrance of light but which, when the container is tilted, permits observation of the contents thereof across the entire internal cross section of said container.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said fixed transparent bottom closure is a unitary hollow plug including an integral transparent flat disc, having at least the same diameter as the outside diameter of the container, and a dependent sleeve having an outside diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the container, said sleeve being mounted in direct contact with the interior of the container and in frictional engagement with its walls.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the frictional engagement of said sleeve portion is increased by providing it with a plurality of external annular barbs.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the leading edge of said sleeve portion is beveled to facilitate insertion thereof into said container.

Claims (4)

1. In an opaque cylindrical container for light-sensitive particulate solids, a top-mounted opaque dispensing closure which can be changed from a sealing mode to a dispensing mode, and a permanently fixed transparent one-piece bottom closure which, in the normal vertical storage position of the container doEs not allow the entrance of light but which, when the container is tilted, permits observation of the contents thereof across the entire internal cross section of said container.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said fixed transparent bottom closure is a unitary hollow plug including an integral transparent flat disc, having at least the same diameter as the outside diameter of the container, and a dependent sleeve having an outside diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the container, said sleeve being mounted in direct contact with the interior of the container and in frictional engagement with its walls.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the frictional engagement of said sleeve portion is increased by providing it with a plurality of external annular barbs.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the leading edge of said sleeve portion is beveled to facilitate insertion thereof into said container.

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