CONTAINER AND CONTAINER COVER

Abstract

A closure member is provided for a container which includes a base frame connectable to the container, a first door pivotally connected to the base frame and a second and third door pivotally connected to the base frame, the first door covering the second and third doors when each of the doors is in a closed position. The first door includes a seal member positioned therein which is removable and the first door is pivotally connectable to an edge portion of the base frame. A method of covering a container with the closure member is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a tri-door dispensing closure which is pivotally connected to a container and from which a product in the container is accessible, such as pepper, spices or powder materials.

2. Discussion of the Background

Conventional containers are exemplified by the following patents (the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference):

Schmidt et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,720)

DeCoster et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,036),

Behrend (U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,946)

Foster (U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,744)

Goujon (U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,088) and

Gray (U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,411).

Heart et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,480)

Lindstrom (U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,980)

While the foregoing disclose containers with multiple closure dispensing tops, such tops can result in moisture loss of the product insofar as the doors set forth therein are directly accessible to the exterior of the container and have no sealing member or cover door separating them from the exterior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a closure design in combination with a package so as to permit a significantly reduced moisture loss of the product within a container.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide for a multiple door closure so as to permit the entire top of the container to be accessible to a user in order to obtain a large or small amount of product at one time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closure such that it is possible to easily determine if any tampering of the product has occurred by the utilization of a seal formed in a door which covers other access doors of the closure member.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide multipurpose door openings so as to permit a variety of methods of dispensing the product within the container while permitting each of the doors of the closure to be easily closed in a substantially airtight manner.

A further object is to provide a tamper evident seal type disclosure for a container which is stackable with other containers and which has shaker and pouring outlets that are positioned close the edge of the container closure to enable easier and cleaner dispensing of the product in the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from a review of the attached figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view thereof which shows the capability of opening the main door or covering of the closure;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the closure cover;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a closure cover;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the closure and container taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of one of the doors of the closure;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an additional door of the closure;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top, rear and left side respective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view thereon;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along lines 17-17 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 19 is a rear elevational view of the closure cover and which shows the second and third doors in an opened position;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view thereof shown when the first, second and third doors are in an opened position;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view showing only the second and third doors in an opened position; and

FIG. 22 is a top, rear and left side respective view of the closure when the first door is closed and each of the second and third doors are in an opened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The closure 1 as shown in the attached FIGS. 1-12 shows a first embodiment of the present invention which utilizes a snap lock design for attachment to the top of a container 2. The closure is designed to be flushed with the container walls 4, 6, 8 and is provided with three openable doors, each of which provide a different dispensing feature.

The closure design in combination with the package permits prevention of moisture loss of the product. The largest door 10 has a door frame 11 and is pivotable so that the entire top of the container is accessible to the user in order to scoop a large or small amount of product at one time. Additionally, in the opened position, it is possible to more easily remove any tampered evident feature such as a plastic sheath beneath the door 10 which is either internally molded into the closure or provided as a separate unit that comes with the closure.

Two additional doors are provided on the top surface of the door 10. With door 10 in the closed position, the second door 12, when opened, allows for controlled pouring through an opening 13 in cover 15 facing part of door 10 and door frame 11 of the product from the container 2. The third door 14, when open, allows access to holes 16 provided in cover 15 underneath the door 14 for allowing the user to sprinkle the product from the container 2. Plugs may also be provided in the bottom part of door 14 which provide a sift proof feature to the closure to organize the holes 16 in cover 15 when used by a consumer. The holes 16 provided in cover 15 may be of varies sizes depending upon the particle size of the product to be dispensed. The underside of the door 14 may have plastic plugs internally molded to it, if desired, for cleaning out any product that may have been become stuck in the holes 16. Each of doors 10, 12 and 14 have a positive locking mechanism 22, 24, 26 (e.g. a snap fit member) that will keep the doors closed throughout the manufacturing and distribution cycle of the product but allow for ease of opening by the user. The opening feature may consist, for example, of a small tab 22, 24, 26 with a undercut to allow finger opening access. The tops of the doors may have integrally molded icons on the top thereof to indicate the function of each door. The closure may be constructed of one or more parts to achieve the desired functionality. The closure 1 and container 2 in combination have total unit stackable qualities.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing discussion and attached figures, the container is graspable, ergonomically friendly, stackable (i.e. the bottom of container is stackable on the top of the closure) and such is scalable to other sizes. The same is true with respect to the second embodiment of the present invention discussed below.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 12-22, a closure 101 utilizes a snap lock design for attachment to the top of a container 102. The closure is designed to be flushed with the container walls 104, 106, 108 and is provided with three openable doors, each of which provide a different dispensing feature.

The closure design in combination with the package also permits prevention of moisture loss of the product. The largest door 110 is pivotable in a hinge p with respect to a base frame portion 111 thereof which is connected to the container 102 so that the entire top of the container is accessible to the user by opening of door 110 in order to scoop a large or small amount of product at one time. Additionally, in the opened position, it is possible to more easily remove any tampered evident feature such as a plastic sheath beneath the door 110 which is either internally molded into the closure or provided as a separate unit that comes with the closure.

Two additional doors 112, 114 are pivotally provided on the top surface of the door 110 via a frame portion 111 and a center cover member 115. With door 110 in the closed position and when the seal thereof has been opened, the second door 112 allows for control pouring of the product in the door through an opening 113 from the container 102. The cover member 115 has holes 116 provided therein for cooperation with plug members 117 formed in the door 114 for allowing the user to sprinkle the product from the container 102 upon opening of door 114. The plugs 117 are provided in the bottom part of door 114 so as to provide a sift proof feature to the closure when closed by a consumer. The holes 116 provided in cover member 115 may be of various sizes depending upon the particle size of the product to be dispensed. The underside of the door 114 may be provided with the plastic plugs 117 internally molded thereto, if desired, and assist in dislodging any product that may have been become stuck in the holes 110. Each of doors 110, 112 and 114 respectively have a positive locking mechanisms 122, 124, 126 (e.g. a snap fit member) that will keep the doors closed throughout the manufacturing and distribution cycle of the product but allow for ease of opening by the user. The opening feature will consist of a small tab type lock mechanism 122, 124, 126 with a undercut to allow finger opening access.

The tops of the doors may have integrally molded icons on the top thereof to indicate the function of each door. The closure may be constructed of one or more parts to achieve the desired functionality. The closure 101 and container 102 in combination have total unit stackable qualities. FIG. 15 is a side element as shown with doors 112, 114 in a open portion which FIG. 16 shows a top plan view with door 110 in an opened position.

The closure and closure container when provided with cover member 115 from which the doors 112, 114 pivot and can be made by integral molding. As shown in FIG. 16, an openable or pealable seal 142 is provided in an oval opening rim 146 formed in door 110 and a lift tab 144 is provided on the seal 142 to break open the seal. Opening 146 of door 110 is sealable by 147 and is pivotally corrected by a proof hinger p to seal foil or covering the base frame 111.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A closure member for a container, which comprises: a base frame connectable to the container; a first door pivotally connected to said base frame; and a second and third door pivotally connected to said base frame, said first door covering said second and third doors when each of said doors is in a closed position.

2. A closure member as claimed in claim 1, said first door having a seal member positioned therein which is removable.

3. A closure member as claimed in claim 1, said base frame having a cover member to which at least one of said second and third doors is pivotally connected.

4. A closure member as claimed in claim 2, which comprises a seal tab attached to said seal member for breaking and removing said seal from said first door.

5. A closure member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first door has a recessed opening rim formed therein to which said seal member is connected and wherein said base frame has a rim member which is positionable in engagement with said recessed opening rim upon closing of said first door.

6. A closure member as claimed in claim 1, which comprise a snap fitting connected to an edge portion of each of said first, second and third doors to secure said doors in a closed position.

7. A closure member as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said second and third doors has at least one opening formed therein for dispensing a product located within the container.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first door in a closed position covers each of said first and second doors.

9. The closure member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first door is pivotally connected to an edge portion of said base frame.

10. A method of covering a container with a closure member having a base frame and a first, second and third door, which comprises: connecting the base frame to the container; pivotally connecting the first door to the base frame; and pivotally connecting the second and third doors to the base frame such that, in a closed position, said first door covers said second and third doors.

11. The method of covering a container as claimed in claim 10, which comprises positioning a seal member in said first door.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, which comprises pivotally connecting said first door to an edge portion of said base frame.

13. A closure member for a container, which comprises: a base frame connectable to the container; a first door frame pivotally positioned on said base frame and having a first door pivotably connected thereto; and a second and third door pivotally connected to said first door, said first door, second door and third door in combination covering said base frame when each of said doors are in a closed position.

14. A closure member as claimed in claim 13, said door frame overlapping said base frame along a proportional edge thereof.

15. A closure member as claimed in claim 13, said base frame having a cover member to which at least one of said second and third doors is pivotally connected.

16. A closure member as claimed in claim 14, which comprises a lock mechanism attached to said first door frame to lock said first door frame to said base frame.

17. A closure member as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first door frame has a rim and wherein said base frame has a rim member which is positionable in engagement with said rim upon closing of said first door.

18. A closure member as claimed in claim 13, which comprise a snap fitting connected to an edge portion of each of said first, second and third doors to secure said doors in a closed position.

19. A closure member as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of said second and third doors covers a cover member having at least one opening formed for dispensing a product located within the container.

20. A closure as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first door in a closed position covers said base frame.

21. The closure member as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first door is pivotally connected to an edge portion of said base frame and said second door and third door are pivotally connected to said first door.

22. A method of covering a container with a closure member having a base frame and a first, second and third door, which comprises: connecting the base frame to the container; pivotally connecting a first door to the base frame; and pivotally connecting the second and third doors to the first door such that, in a closed position, said first, second and third doors cover said base frame.

23. The method of covering a container as claimed in claim 22, which comprises forming said first door so as to comprise a cover member which is pivotable with respect to said base frame.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, which comprises pivotally connecting one of said first door and said cover member to an edge portion of said base frame.