WO2008019405A2

WO2008019405A2 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2008019405A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2007/000046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Raggett
Original assignee: Paul Raggett
Priority date: 2006-08-11
Filing date: 2007-08-03
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Also published as: WO2008019405A3

Abstract

A small container (1) for medicinal tablets, sweets, fishing hooks & fishing flies and small-change coins, for example. The container can also be used for housing cigarette ash and cigarette stubs. The container is portable and can be used in camping, fishing, hiking, golfing, boating, game drives, on the beach and other activities. The container can serve as a miniature rubbish bin. The container has a cup-like open-topped receptacle (2), a removable perforated plate (9), an upper component (3) that is mounted atop the receptacle and retains the perforated plate, an aperture (4) in the upper component which exposes the perforated plate and a lid (7) for closing the aperture.

Description

CONTAINER

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention lies in the field of containers, including in particular small containers for special purposes, for example medicinal tablets, sweets, fishing hooks & fishing flies and small-change coins. The container can also serve for housing cigarette ash and cigarette stubs. The container can also serve as a miniature rubbish bin for bottle tops, chewing gum, sweet wrappers etc. The field of invention also includes portable containers that can be used in camping, fishing, hiking, golfing, boating, game drives, on the beach and other activities.

BACKGROUND

In the context of outdoor activities, for example, it is undesirable to litter with small objects like cigarette butts, sweet papers, bottle tops, chewing gum, fishing hooks and other small objects; this includes activities like golfing, fishing, hiking on nature trails, mountain climbing, mountain biking, water sports like sailing, and motor boating and there are many other examples. Though embarrassment and even risk of prosecution discourages this action, the lack of any convenient to hand container often militates against avoiding littering. Containers for small items are useful in a home, office, public or other contexts, for example, to hold tablets or small change. Quite generally a container that is easily portable would be useful and the more so if it can be clipped to a belt, golf bag, rucksack etc.

THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container for small objects that comprises a cup-like open-topped receptacle, a removable perforated plate, an upper component that is mounted atop the receptacle and retains the perforated plate, an aperture in the upper component which exposes the perforated plate and a lid for closing the aperture. The aperture is given a lid which allows the aperture to be closed and opened as required, the lid may be hinged at a back edge and open to the front.

The perforated plate may be given a surface which allows a burning cigarette to be stubbed out. The term "cigarette" is used herein to embrace other smoking articles including cigars, cigarillos etc. The surface may be provided by a heat resistant plate that may be inserted between the receptacle and the upper component and removed as required, e.g. a metal plate. However, certain polymers can also be suitable.

The upper component may be provided with a recess on which a cigarette may be rested and may be given ridges on either side of the aperture that may serve as shields for ash and a burning cigarette resting on the recess.

The upper component may be fitted to the receptacle by a screw thread, allowing it to be screwed on and unscrewed off.

The container may be given a loop or hook by which it may be fastened by a clip or lanyard or chain to a person's waist belt, golf bag, rucksack or anything else for convenience.

The upper end of the receptacle may have a partial spherical outer shape intersecting with a tapering square prismatic shape or may have a prolate (bulging) tapering square shape.

THE DRAWINGS

The invention is more fully described by way of examples, with reference to the drawings, in which : -

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a container according a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the container shown in figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is an axial cross sectional side elevation of the container shown in figure 1 ,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container shown in figure 1 ,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of a hinge part of the container shown in figure 1 ,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a stub-out grill of the container shown in figure 1 ,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a container according a second embodiment of the invention,

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the container shown in figure 7,

Figure 9 is an axial cross sectional side elevation of the container shown in figure 7,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the container shown in figure 7.,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a lid for either container,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the underneath of the lid,

Figure 13 is a plan view of a plastic perforated plate,

Figure 14 is an elevation of the plate,

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the plate. THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in figures 1 to 6, the container 1 for small objects comprises a cup- like open-topped receptacle 2, which has a prolate (bulging) tapering square shape, a upper component 3 that may be mounted atop the receptacle, an aperture 4 in the upper component which is flanked by shielding prominences or salients 5 and 6.

The aperture has a lid 7 which allows the aperture to be closed and opened as required, the lid is hinged at a back edge 8 and opens to the front.

The aperture may be given a surface 9 which allows a burning cigarette to be stubbed out. The surface is provided by a metal plate that is inserted in the cover, partially over the aperture, and removed as required, e.g. a metal plate. The plate is perforated at 14 and has a cut-away at 15 to allow cigarette stubs to be dropped into the receptacle. The plate is inserted to adapt the container for use with cigarettes or taken out if the container is to be used for sweet papers etc. A downwardly depending rib 16 on each side extends from the cover to the plate.

The upper component is provided with a recess 10 on which a cigarette may be rested and the lid has a tongue 19 that closes the recess when the lid is closed.

The upper component is fitted to the receptacle by a screw thread 11 on the container and a co-acting thread 12 on the cover, allowing it to be screwed on and unscrewed off.

The container is given a loop 13 by which it may be fastened by a clip or lanyard or chain to a person's waist belt, golf bag, rucksack or anything else for convenience.

As Shown in figures 7 to 10, the invention can be implemented in another aesthetic style, the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts as have been used with reference to figures 1 to 6 and the description thereof is referred to. The container shown in figures 7 to 10 has an open topped receptacle having a shape a partial spherical outer shape intersecting with a tapering square prismatic shape. In other respects it is similar to the container shown in the preceding figures.

The lid shown in figures 11 and 12 also has the same reference numerals as are used in the preceding figures, the views also show prominences 17 that are on small tabs that have an elasticity and allow the lid to be held down when closed. The lid also has prominences 18 that allow the lid to be held partially open or fully open as required.

As shown in figures 13 to 15, the plastic perforated plate 20 has two perforations 21 and 22 and a central ridge 23 that helps to stub out a lighted cigarette. The outer perimeter 24 conforms to the circular rim of the receptacle or upper component and an open area is left at 25 for depositing cigarette stubs into the receptacle. A high grade plastic specified for high temperatures is used and the plastic is relatively thick, improving its ability to withstand the temperatures.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 container

2 receptacle

3 upper component

4 aperture

5 prominence

6 prominence

7 lid

8 back edge

9 surface of metal plate

10 recess

11 screw thread screw thread loop perforation cut-away rib prominence prominences tongue plastic perforated plate perforation perforation ridge circular periphery opening

Claims

1. A container for small objects that comprises a cup-like open-topped receptacle, a removable perforated plate, an upper component that is mounted atop the receptacle and retains the perforated plate, an aperture in the upper component which exposes the perforated plate and a lid for closing the aperture.

2. A container for small objects as claimed in claim 1 , in which the lid which allows the aperture to be closed and opened as required, is hinged at a back edge and open to the front.

3. A container as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, in which the perforated plate is given a surface which allows a burning cigarette to be stubbed out, a metal plate or high temperature resistant polymeric plate.

4. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the upper component is provided with a recess on which a cigarette may be rested.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, in which the lid is provided with a tongue that closes the recess when the lid is closed.

6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the upper component is given ridges on either side of the aperture that may serve as shields for ash and a burning cigarette resting on the recess.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the upper component is fitted to the receptacle by a screw thread, allowing it to be screwed on and unscrewed off.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the container is given a loop or hook by which it may be fastened by a clip or lanyard or chain to a support.

9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the upper end of the receptacle has a partial spherical outer shape intersecting with a tapering square cross sectional prismatic shape.

10. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the receptacle has a prolate (bulging) tapering square cross sectional shape.

11. A container as herein described and as illustrated in the drawings.

000