US20140338173A1 - Food dispensing container - Google Patents
Food dispensing container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140338173A1 US20140338173A1 US14/256,612 US201414256612A US2014338173A1 US 20140338173 A1 US20140338173 A1 US 20140338173A1 US 201414256612 A US201414256612 A US 201414256612A US 2014338173 A1 US2014338173 A1 US 2014338173A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- base portion
- container
- agitator
- cover base
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 59
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 9
- 235000013351 cheese Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000013599 spices Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- -1 for example Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 240000002129 Malva sylvestris Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000006770 Malva sylvestris Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000071 blow moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013409 condiments Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015872 dietary supplement Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/24—Shakers for salt, pepper, sugar, or the like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
- B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
- B29C45/14754—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles being in movable or releasable engagement with the coating, e.g. bearing assemblies
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
- B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
- B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
- B65D47/0833—Hinges without elastic bias
- B65D47/0847—Hinges without elastic bias located within a flat surface of the base element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/06—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing powdered or granular material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/56—Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like, e.g. closures
- B29L2031/565—Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like, e.g. closures for containers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
Definitions
- the present invention relates to containers for dispensing food items. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container for dispensing food items that allows for clumped food items to be broken up as the food is being dispensed.
- Mass marketed granular cheese products are sold in inexpensive disposable polymer containers typically with a cylindrical container portion with an open threaded mouth substantially the circumferential size of the portion of the container that holds the granular cheese product.
- the covers in such granular cheese products are typically injection molded with one or two pieces and in order to be commercially viable should be very inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate, reliable, and highly functional.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,575 to Vogel et al. discloses a two piece closure for a food container including a top having dispensing apertures therethrough and a cover that can be rotatable relative to the top.
- the cover can have a downwardly extending projection in the form of a radially extending skirt configured to sweep residual matter that may remain on the surface of the top. As the cover is rotated about the top, matter is collected by the skirt and returned into the container through the dispensing apertures. While this skirt may function to remove residual matter from the top, it does nothing to agitate matter that may be adhering together to allow it to come through the dispensing apertures from the container in the first place.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,469 to Wallays et al. discloses a condiment shaker including a wiper unit including a plurality of wiping blades.
- the base container and wiper unit are rotated relative to a dispensing top.
- the wiping blades rotate along an inner surface of the dispensing top to encourage the flow of food product through the apertures.
- the wiper unit does not rotate relative to the base container, it does not serve to agitate the contents of the container.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,538 to Stelcher discloses an anti-clog system for a shaker.
- the anti-clog system includes a rotatable central stem extending into the container with an agitator portion comprising a screw-like thread or projecting elements extending from the central stem.
- the stem is rotated via a winder that is centered over the stationary cap.
- the central location of the winder means that a user's hand operating the winder may interfere with dispensation of the product if the agitator portion is being actuated while the product is being dispensed.
- the above containers typically either do not provide an internal agitation feature that readily rotatable with respect to the base container, or are not amenable to inexpensive manufacture. There thus remains a need in the art for a food shaker that can adequately break up clumped matter within the container while the matter is being dispensed by the shaker and is suitable to be sold as a disposable container with the product. There also remains a need to be able to manufacture and assemble such a container quickly and inexpensively.
- a container for dispensing food products can include an internal food clump decimator portion configured as an agitator portion for breaking up food clumps.
- a container comprises a container portion having an open interior and an open top and a cover for selectively covering the open top.
- the cover can include a cover base portion and a rotatable top portion configured to be coupled on top of the base portion.
- the cover base portion can include a plurality of dispensing apertures for allowing a food product to be dispensed therethrough.
- the rotatable top portion has a gripping region extending circumferentially around the cover and can be selectively rotatable relative to the cover base portion and the container portion.
- the food decimator or agitator portion can extend downwardly and radially from the top portion through the cover base portion and into the container portion.
- the agitator portion is part of and is fixed with respect to the rest of the rotatable cover top portion.
- the agitator portion rotates as the rotatable top portion is rotated to agitate the contents of the container portion while they are being dispensed.
- the agitator portion including a shaft portion, and arm portions extending from the shaft portion, are unitary a traversing wall portion of the top cover, for example, they may be molded as one piece.
- the top cover and container portion both have a cylindrical outer surface.
- the top cover has a radius substantially equal to the radius of the container portion.
- the cover portion of the top cover, and the base portion of the top cover both have a radius substantially equal to the radius of the container portion. “Substantially” herein means dimensionally within 10%.
- An object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is the ability to agitate the contents of the container.
- the agitator portion extends through the cover base portion of the cover into an opening defined by the cover base portion and container portion, which allows for clumped food articles to be broken up prior to being dispensed. Food particles can therefore flow freely from the container without clogging the dispensing apertures.
- Another object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that the contents of the container can be agitated while the product is being dispensed.
- the agitator portion can be actuated by rotating the top portion of the cover via an outer peripheral grip. This allows the contents to be agitated without a user's hand interfering with dispensing the contents through the dispensing apertures.
- a further object and advantage of particular embodiments of the present invention is that it redundantly minimizes the chance of the cover accidentally becoming disassembled.
- the radially extending agitator portion of the top portion of the cover can assemble through an elongate radial slot in the base portion. So long as the agitator portion is not perfectly in line with the slot, the top portion and cover base portion are precluded from being detached from each other.
- the top portion also has a first latch portion configured as a lip extending along an inner circular peripheral surface thereof that provides an interference snap fit with a second cooperating latch portion configured as a rib extending along an outer peripheral circumferential surface of the base portion.
- the interlocking lip(s) and rib(s) prevent the top portion from being decoupled from the cover base portion due to normal usage forces even if the agitator portion and the elongate slot are perfectly in line.
- a lid on the rotatable top portion can be precluded from interfering with dispensing of the product.
- the rotatable top portion has an aperture that aligns with one or more of the dispensing apertures that is selectively coverable with a hinged lid.
- Lid can include a slot and top portion can include a rib that interlock to hold the lid open while food is being dispensed. This precludes lid from partially or totally closing during use and interfering with dispensation of the food product.
- the agitator portion can be integrally formed with the top portion so that the cover comprises a two piece assembly. Cover can be assembled by simply inserting the agitator portion through the elongate slot in cover base portion and interlocking peripheral lip(s) on top portion with peripheral rib(s) on base portion.
- Cover can be manufactured by injection molding. Top portion and cover base portion can be simultaneously injection molded in a side-by-side manner to provide a quick and cost-effective method of manufacturing the cover. The two components can be immediately assembled subsequent to molding by automated means in the molding equipment.
- a feature and advantage of the invention is that the agitation feature is in particular embodiments adjacent to the dispense openings thus efficiently breaking up clumps that are in position to be dispensed. In other embodiments the agitation feature can extend further down into the container portion.
- a feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the clump decimator portion provides for a more controlled dispensing of food product, particularly grated cheese products, than other commercial containers.
- FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1B is a top view of the food dispensing container of FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 1C is a front view of the food dispensing container of FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 1D is a side view of the food dispensing container of FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view the food dispensing container of FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 1F is an exploded view of the top cover of the food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a partial view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a partial view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11A is an exploded perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 11C is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 11D is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 11E is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 12A is an exploded perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 12C is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 11A .
- FIG. 13 is across sectional view through connection structure for assembling the agitator structure to the shaft portion according to an embodiment of the invention.
- Food dispensing container 100 generally includes a container portion 102 and a cover 114 .
- Container portion 102 can have a generally cylindrical shape with an open interior 104 and an open top 106 that is selectively coverable with cover 114 .
- Open interior 104 can be used to contain a food product to be dispensed from the container 100 .
- Such food products are preferably in the nature of granular or flake particles, such as, for example, grated cheeses or spices.
- Container portion 102 can also include a concave bottom 108 .
- Concave bottom 108 provides a stronger base for container 100 that prevents the bottom of the container portion 102 from bulging outward and facilitates placement on flat surfaces.
- An outer surface 110 of container portion 102 at a neck 111 can include threads 112 for attachment to cover 114 .
- Container portion 102 is preferably formed of a lightweight plastic material, such as, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PETE).
- PETE polyethylene terephthalate
- cover 114 can comprise a two-piece cover including a cylindrical cover base portion 116 and a rotatable top portion 118 .
- Cover base portion 116 can include a generally planar traversing wall portion 120 with a generally planar top surface 121 and a skirt shaped or ring shaped body 122 extending downwardly from wall portion 120 .
- Traversing wall portion 120 can include a plurality of dispensing apertures 124 extending around and through wall portion 120 .
- Wall portion 120 can also include a central opening 128 and an elongate slot 126 extending radially from central opening.
- the inner side 130 of top portion 120 can include a downwardly extending flange 132 .
- An outer peripheral surface 134 of body 122 can include one or more peripherally extending ribs 136 .
- An inner surface 138 of body 122 can include threads 140 for attachment to threads 112 of container portion 102 .
- Rotatable top portion 118 can also include a traversing top wall portion 142 with a top surface 143 and a skirt 144 extending downwardly therefrom.
- Top wall portion 142 can include an opening 146 extending therethrough that is selectively coverable with a lid 148 configured as a flap.
- the lid may be connected with a thinned portion of material constituting a living hinge 149 .
- the inner side 150 of top wall portion 142 can include a shaft portion 152 extending downwardly therefrom as part of a clump decimator portion 154 configured as an agitator portion 154 .
- Agitator portion also included an arm 155 extending radially from shaft portion 152 .
- agitator portion 154 can be used to break up clumped food articles as they are being dispensed from the container 100 .
- Outer surface 156 of body 144 can include a series of depressions 158 and projections 160 to provide a peripheral gripping surface on outer surface 150 .
- outer surface 156 can be provided with any other textured, i.e., not smooth, surface to aid in gripping outer surface 156 .
- Each depression 158 can comprise an inwardly curved, partially cylindrical arcuate surface 159 extending to and exposed at the top surface 143 .
- Depressions 158 and projections 160 may also extend upwardly above top surface 143 to define an upwardly extending lip 161 extending at least partially around top portion 142 .
- Cylindrical inner surface 162 of body 144 can include one or more peripheral lips 164 extending inwardly therefrom that aid in retaining the rotatable top portion 118 on cover base portion 116 .
- the top cover and container portion have an axis a.
- lid 148 When lid 148 is opened, it exposes dispensing apertures 124 in cover base portion 116 through opening 146 , which allows a food product within the open interior 104 of container portion 102 to be dispensed through dispensing apertures 124 . When lid 148 is closed, opening 146 and dispensing apertures 124 are covered, preventing food product from exiting container portion 102 .
- Lid 148 can be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position by a hinge 172 .
- hinge 172 is a living hinge. Lid 148 can releasably clasp to body 144 to be retained in the closed position.
- Clasping lid 148 closed inhibits opening 146 from being accidentally exposed, which could potentially allow the contents of container 100 to be expelled when it is not desired.
- Lid 148 can include a downwardly extending tongue 166 that provides a snap fit with a slot 168 recessed in the peripheral outer surface 156 of body 144 to clasp the lid 148 in the closed position.
- tongue 166 can include one or more projections 168 configured to mate with one or more indents 170 in slot 168 .
- Lid 148 can also be retained in the open position to prevent it from partially or totally closing over opening 146 when not intended and interfering with dispensation of the food product from container 100 through opening 146 .
- Lid 148 can be retained in the open position by inserting a slot 174 through lid 148 onto a rib 176 projecting outwardly from top surface 143 .
- lid 148 can include a tab 178 projecting outwardly from lid 148 and extending beyond outer surface 156 of body 144 to provide a convenient grasping point for a user to aid in releasing lid 148 from the closed position.
- lid 148 does not include a tab 178 and is instead flush with outer surface 156 .
- FIGS. 9 and 10 An alternative configuration of a clasping mechanism to retain lid 148 in the closed position is depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 .
- An upwardly extending peripheral upper rim 180 of body 144 includes a pair of projections 182 with a recessed slot 184 in between.
- tab 186 causes the projections 182 to deflect outwardly to allow tab 186 into slot 184 .
- the projections 182 snap back inwardly into place against and in some embodiments partially over the tab 186 , holding it in place. Upward pressure applied to tab 186 can then cause the projections 182 to deflect again to release tab 186 .
- An indent 188 can be include in outer surface 156 to allow tab 186 to be grasped more easily when lid 148 is in the closed position. Indent 188 is especially useful in embodiments where tab 186 is flush with outer surface 156 .
- Top portion 118 is coupled on top of cover base portion 116 and is rotatable relative thereto. Top portion 118 can be coupled to cover base portion 116 by aligning agitator portion 154 with slot 126 and inserting shaft portion 152 through opening 128 and agitator portion 154 through slot 126 . Agitator portion 154 therefore extends through top portion 120 of cover base portion 116 . In one embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 7 , agitator portion 154 is disposed proximate inner surface 130 of cover base portion 116 . In other embodiments, agitator portion can be displaced further into open interior 104 of container portion 102 .
- cover 114 is provided with an additional means for interlocking rotatable top portion 118 and cover base portion 116 .
- Cooperating locking features configured as interlocking lips 164 on inner surface 162 of rotatable top portion 118 and ribs 136 on outer surface 134 of cover base portion 116 also serve to interlock rotatable top portion 118 and cover base portion 116 .
- lips 164 are forced over ribs 136 to provide an interlocking snap fit.
- Rotatable top portion 118 and cover base portion 116 can be easily manually decoupled, when desired, by aligning agitator portion 154 with slot 126 and by applying enough force to overcome the snap-fit between lips 164 and ribs 136 and the frictional resistance provided by shaft portion 152 and flange 132 .
- cover 114 can be rotatably threaded onto container portion 102 with threads 140 on inner surface 138 of cover base portion 116 interlocking with threads 112 and outer surface 110 of container portion 102 .
- Cover 114 can accordingly be removed from container portion 102 , exposing open top 106 and open interior 104 , by rotating cover 114 in the opposite direction.
- cover 114 can attach to container portion 102 by any other known means, such as a snap-fit or an interference fit.
- food particles can be freely dispensed from container 100 without interruptions caused by clumping of the particles or interference by the user's hand.
- lid 148 is opened to expose opening 146 and optionally secured in the open position by inserting rib 176 through slot 174 .
- the user can rotate the top portion 118 relative to container portion 102 and cover base portion 116 by gripping the outer surface 156 of top portion 118 with one hand and the container portion 102 with the other hand.
- This relative movement causes agitator portion 154 to sweep along the inner side 130 of top portion 120 of cover base portion 116 adjacent dispensing apertures 124 .
- any clumps of food particles adjacent dispensing apertures 124 that are too big to fit through dispensing apertures 124 will be broken up into smaller particles by agitator portion 154 and dispensed.
- Food particles can therefore be broken up as they are dispensed, which avoids interruptions typically caused by having to break up the clumped food particles.
- the user rotates the top portion 118 and container portion 102 relative to each other by gripping the outer surface 156 of the top portion 118 and the container portion 102 , the user's hand does not interfere with dispensing the product.
- Cover 114 is preferably manufactured from a plastic material through an injection molding process. However, any other method of manufacturing plastic parts could also be used to make cover 114 .
- top portion 118 and cover base portion 116 are simultaneously molded side-by-side in the same mold, and then coupled together by automated means before being ejected from the mold.
- rotatable top portion 118 and cover base portion 116 can be coupled after being ejected from the mold or can be molded in separate processes.
- shaft portion 152 and agitator portion 154 are molded unitarily with the rest of rotatable top portion 118 so that cover 114 comprises a two-piece assembly.
- FIGS. 11A-11E depict another embodiment of a cover 214 that can be used with a container 100 as described herein.
- Cover 214 can be a three-piece assembly including a cylindrical cover base portion 216 , a rotatable top portion 218 and a separate agitator portion 253 .
- Agitator portion 253 can include a hollow cylindrical shaft portion 255 having a bore 257 therethrough and one or more radially extending agitator portions 254 .
- cover 214 can include a larger or smaller number of agitator portions 254 .
- cover 214 includes dispensing apertures 224 through top portion 220 of cover base portion 216 around only part of the circumference of cover base portion 216 .
- the continuous portion 225 that does not have dispensing apertures 224 therefore functions as a lid when aligned with the opening 246 of top surface to preclude contents from being dispensed from the container.
- shaft portion 252 of rotatable top portion 218 can be inserted through central opening 228 of cover base portion 216 and lips 264 on inner surface 262 of rotatable top portion 218 can be interlocked with ribs 236 on outer surface 234 of cover base portion 216 as described previously.
- Bore 257 of shaft portion 255 of agitator portion 253 can then be inserted onto shaft portion 252 of rotatable top portion 218 .
- Agitator portion 253 can remain on shaft portion 252 via an interference fit or snap fit utilizing cooperating ribs or lips.
- agitator portion 253 can be glued, welded, or otherwise adhered to shaft portion 252 .
- FIGS. 12A-13 depict a further embodiment of a cover 314 that can be used with a container 100 as described herein.
- Cover 314 also comprises a three-piece assembly including a cover base portion 316 , a rotatable top portion 318 and clump decimator, or an agitator portion 353 .
- cover 314 includes dispensing apertures 324 disposed all the way around cover base portion 316 and a plurality of openings 346 in rotatable top portion 314 . This provides greater dispensing capacity for higher volume applications.
- the rotatable top portion 314 is depicted as having three openings 346 arranged around its circumference, the number, size and arrangement of openings can, of course, be varied.
- a separate lid (not pictured) can be provided to selectively cover the entire top surface 343 of rotatable top portion 318 to preclude material from being dispensed through apertures 324 .
- FIG. 13 illustrates a circumferential locking structure configured as a wedge portion 357 on the shaft portion 352 that allows the ring portion 358 of the agitator portion with an aperture 359 with a diameter slightly less that the diameter through the wedge portions to facilitate the agitator ring portion snapping onto the shaft portion with the cover base portion captured therebetween.
- a circumferential locking structure may be utilized on the shaft portion 152 with the embodiment of FIG. 5 instead of or in addition to the circumferential cooperating locking features 136 and 164 . Also such structure is suitable for the embodiment of FIG. 11 a.
- Additional ribbing or axially extending locking structure 363 on the inside surface 366 of the bore 368 can cooperate with locking structure 372 on the outside surface of the shaft portion 252 to thereby nonrotationally lock the agitator portion with respect to the shaft portion.
- Such structure is suitable for the embodiment of FIG. 11 a.
- the agitator portion may be welded to the shaft portion after assembly to secure same thereon.
- the container portion and top covers may be formed by conventional molding techniques. Generally, it is contemplated that the bottle may be formed by a blow molding operation and the cover may be formed by way of injection molding. Injection molds may be utilized in association with robots to assembly the top cover components subsequent to the molding process, for example, after they are ejected from the molds, eliminating additional assembly steps.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
Abstract
A container for dispensing food products can include a clump decimator portion for breaking up food clumps. In one embodiment, a container comprises a container portion having an open interior and an open top and a cover for selectively covering the open top. The cover can include a cover base portion and a rotatable top portion configured to be coupled on top of the base portion. The cover base portion can include a plurality of dispensing apertures for allowing a food product to be dispensed therethrough. The rotatable top portion can be selectively rotatable relative to the cover base portion and the container portion. The clump decimator portion can extend downwardly and radially from the top portion through the cover base portion and into the container portion. The clump decimator can rotate as the rotatable top portion is rotated to agitate the contents of the container portion while they are being dispensed.
Description
- This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/042,082 filed Mar. 7, 2011, and issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,701,941, on Apr. 22, 2014 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/397,714, filed Mar. 5, 2010, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to containers for dispensing food items. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container for dispensing food items that allows for clumped food items to be broken up as the food is being dispensed.
- It is well known to provide a container having one or more apertures for dispensing food items such as grated cheese and spices. When such salt shakers, grated cheese shakers, or other types of food supplements in the nature of granular or flake particles are provided in shakers, moisture can cause the particles to adhere to one another in clumps, thus impeding exit of those particles when the shaker is inverted. When the particles in the shaker bind together in clumps larger than the apertures, they are precluded and/or impeded from passing through the apertures when the shaker is inverted and shook. Mass marketed granular cheese products are sold in inexpensive disposable polymer containers typically with a cylindrical container portion with an open threaded mouth substantially the circumferential size of the portion of the container that holds the granular cheese product. Typically there is no clump decimation feature other than by shaking and forcing the food product through apertures in the top cover. This results in a lack of control of the dispensed food.
- The covers in such granular cheese products are typically injection molded with one or two pieces and in order to be commercially viable should be very inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate, reliable, and highly functional.
- Certain solutions to breaking up spices or food products in dispense containers are known.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,575 to Vogel et al. discloses a two piece closure for a food container including a top having dispensing apertures therethrough and a cover that can be rotatable relative to the top. The cover can have a downwardly extending projection in the form of a radially extending skirt configured to sweep residual matter that may remain on the surface of the top. As the cover is rotated about the top, matter is collected by the skirt and returned into the container through the dispensing apertures. While this skirt may function to remove residual matter from the top, it does nothing to agitate matter that may be adhering together to allow it to come through the dispensing apertures from the container in the first place.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,469 to Wallays et al. discloses a condiment shaker including a wiper unit including a plurality of wiping blades. In operation, the base container and wiper unit are rotated relative to a dispensing top. The wiping blades rotate along an inner surface of the dispensing top to encourage the flow of food product through the apertures. However, because the wiper unit does not rotate relative to the base container, it does not serve to agitate the contents of the container.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,538 to Stelcher discloses an anti-clog system for a shaker. The anti-clog system includes a rotatable central stem extending into the container with an agitator portion comprising a screw-like thread or projecting elements extending from the central stem. The stem is rotated via a winder that is centered over the stationary cap. However, the central location of the winder means that a user's hand operating the winder may interfere with dispensation of the product if the agitator portion is being actuated while the product is being dispensed.
- The above containers typically either do not provide an internal agitation feature that readily rotatable with respect to the base container, or are not amenable to inexpensive manufacture. There thus remains a need in the art for a food shaker that can adequately break up clumped matter within the container while the matter is being dispensed by the shaker and is suitable to be sold as a disposable container with the product. There also remains a need to be able to manufacture and assemble such a container quickly and inexpensively.
- A container for dispensing food products can include an internal food clump decimator portion configured as an agitator portion for breaking up food clumps. In one embodiment, a container comprises a container portion having an open interior and an open top and a cover for selectively covering the open top. The cover can include a cover base portion and a rotatable top portion configured to be coupled on top of the base portion. The cover base portion can include a plurality of dispensing apertures for allowing a food product to be dispensed therethrough. The rotatable top portion has a gripping region extending circumferentially around the cover and can be selectively rotatable relative to the cover base portion and the container portion. The food decimator or agitator portion can extend downwardly and radially from the top portion through the cover base portion and into the container portion. The agitator portion is part of and is fixed with respect to the rest of the rotatable cover top portion. The agitator portion rotates as the rotatable top portion is rotated to agitate the contents of the container portion while they are being dispensed. In an embodiment the agitator portion, including a shaft portion, and arm portions extending from the shaft portion, are unitary a traversing wall portion of the top cover, for example, they may be molded as one piece.
- In an embodiment, the top cover and container portion both have a cylindrical outer surface. In an embodiment the top cover has a radius substantially equal to the radius of the container portion. In an embodiment the cover portion of the top cover, and the base portion of the top cover both have a radius substantially equal to the radius of the container portion. “Substantially” herein means dimensionally within 10%.
- An object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is the ability to agitate the contents of the container. The agitator portion extends through the cover base portion of the cover into an opening defined by the cover base portion and container portion, which allows for clumped food articles to be broken up prior to being dispensed. Food particles can therefore flow freely from the container without clogging the dispensing apertures.
- Another object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that the contents of the container can be agitated while the product is being dispensed. The agitator portion can be actuated by rotating the top portion of the cover via an outer peripheral grip. This allows the contents to be agitated without a user's hand interfering with dispensing the contents through the dispensing apertures.
- A further object and advantage of particular embodiments of the present invention is that it redundantly minimizes the chance of the cover accidentally becoming disassembled. The radially extending agitator portion of the top portion of the cover can assemble through an elongate radial slot in the base portion. So long as the agitator portion is not perfectly in line with the slot, the top portion and cover base portion are precluded from being detached from each other. The top portion also has a first latch portion configured as a lip extending along an inner circular peripheral surface thereof that provides an interference snap fit with a second cooperating latch portion configured as a rib extending along an outer peripheral circumferential surface of the base portion. The interlocking lip(s) and rib(s) prevent the top portion from being decoupled from the cover base portion due to normal usage forces even if the agitator portion and the elongate slot are perfectly in line.
- Another object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that a lid on the rotatable top portion can be precluded from interfering with dispensing of the product. The rotatable top portion has an aperture that aligns with one or more of the dispensing apertures that is selectively coverable with a hinged lid. Lid can include a slot and top portion can include a rib that interlock to hold the lid open while food is being dispensed. This precludes lid from partially or totally closing during use and interfering with dispensation of the food product.
- Another object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is ease of assembly. The agitator portion can be integrally formed with the top portion so that the cover comprises a two piece assembly. Cover can be assembled by simply inserting the agitator portion through the elongate slot in cover base portion and interlocking peripheral lip(s) on top portion with peripheral rib(s) on base portion.
- Another object and advantage of embodiments of the present invention is ease of manufacture. Cover can be manufactured by injection molding. Top portion and cover base portion can be simultaneously injection molded in a side-by-side manner to provide a quick and cost-effective method of manufacturing the cover. The two components can be immediately assembled subsequent to molding by automated means in the molding equipment.
- A feature and advantage of the invention is that the agitation feature is in particular embodiments adjacent to the dispense openings thus efficiently breaking up clumps that are in position to be dispensed. In other embodiments the agitation feature can extend further down into the container portion.
- A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the clump decimator portion provides for a more controlled dispensing of food product, particularly grated cheese products, than other commercial containers.
-
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 1B is a top view of the food dispensing container ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 1C is a front view of the food dispensing container ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 1D is a side view of the food dispensing container ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view the food dispensing container ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 1F is an exploded view of the top cover of the food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a partial view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 is a partial view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 11A is an exploded perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 11C is a perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 11D is a perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 11E is a perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 12A is an exploded perspective view of a cover for a food dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 12C is a perspective view of the cover ofFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 13 is across sectional view through connection structure for assembling the agitator structure to the shaft portion according to an embodiment of the invention. - Referring to
FIGS. 1A-1F , there can be seen afood dispensing container 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.Food dispensing container 100 generally includes acontainer portion 102 and acover 114.Container portion 102 can have a generally cylindrical shape with anopen interior 104 and an open top 106 that is selectively coverable withcover 114.Open interior 104 can be used to contain a food product to be dispensed from thecontainer 100. Such food products are preferably in the nature of granular or flake particles, such as, for example, grated cheeses or spices.Container portion 102 can also include aconcave bottom 108.Concave bottom 108 provides a stronger base forcontainer 100 that prevents the bottom of thecontainer portion 102 from bulging outward and facilitates placement on flat surfaces. Anouter surface 110 ofcontainer portion 102 at a neck 111 can includethreads 112 for attachment to cover 114.Container portion 102 is preferably formed of a lightweight plastic material, such as, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PETE). - As can be seen more particularly in
FIGS. 2-8 , cover 114 can comprise a two-piece cover including a cylindricalcover base portion 116 and a rotatabletop portion 118.Cover base portion 116 can include a generally planartraversing wall portion 120 with a generally planar top surface 121 and a skirt shaped or ring shapedbody 122 extending downwardly fromwall portion 120. Traversingwall portion 120 can include a plurality of dispensingapertures 124 extending around and throughwall portion 120.Wall portion 120 can also include acentral opening 128 and anelongate slot 126 extending radially from central opening. Theinner side 130 oftop portion 120 can include a downwardly extendingflange 132. An outerperipheral surface 134 ofbody 122 can include one or more peripherally extendingribs 136. Aninner surface 138 ofbody 122 can includethreads 140 for attachment tothreads 112 ofcontainer portion 102. - Rotatable
top portion 118 can also include a traversingtop wall portion 142 with a top surface 143 and askirt 144 extending downwardly therefrom.Top wall portion 142 can include anopening 146 extending therethrough that is selectively coverable with alid 148 configured as a flap. The lid may be connected with a thinned portion of material constituting aliving hinge 149. Theinner side 150 oftop wall portion 142 can include ashaft portion 152 extending downwardly therefrom as part of aclump decimator portion 154 configured as anagitator portion 154. Agitator portion also included anarm 155 extending radially fromshaft portion 152. As will be discussed more fully herein,agitator portion 154 can be used to break up clumped food articles as they are being dispensed from thecontainer 100.Outer surface 156 ofbody 144 can include a series ofdepressions 158 andprojections 160 to provide a peripheral gripping surface onouter surface 150. Alternatively,outer surface 156 can be provided with any other textured, i.e., not smooth, surface to aid in grippingouter surface 156. Eachdepression 158 can comprise an inwardly curved, partially cylindrical arcuate surface 159 extending to and exposed at the top surface 143.Depressions 158 andprojections 160 may also extend upwardly above top surface 143 to define an upwardly extending lip 161 extending at least partially aroundtop portion 142. Cylindricalinner surface 162 ofbody 144 can include one or moreperipheral lips 164 extending inwardly therefrom that aid in retaining the rotatabletop portion 118 oncover base portion 116. The top cover and container portion have an axis a. - When
lid 148 is opened, it exposes dispensingapertures 124 incover base portion 116 throughopening 146, which allows a food product within theopen interior 104 ofcontainer portion 102 to be dispensed through dispensingapertures 124. Whenlid 148 is closed, opening 146 and dispensingapertures 124 are covered, preventing food product from exitingcontainer portion 102.Lid 148 can be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position by ahinge 172. In one embodiment, hinge 172 is a living hinge.Lid 148 can releasably clasp tobody 144 to be retained in the closed position. Claspinglid 148 closed inhibits opening 146 from being accidentally exposed, which could potentially allow the contents ofcontainer 100 to be expelled when it is not desired.Lid 148 can include a downwardly extendingtongue 166 that provides a snap fit with aslot 168 recessed in the peripheralouter surface 156 ofbody 144 to clasp thelid 148 in the closed position. To further aid in retaining thelid 148 in the closed position,tongue 166 can include one ormore projections 168 configured to mate with one ormore indents 170 inslot 168. -
Lid 148 can also be retained in the open position to prevent it from partially or totally closing overopening 146 when not intended and interfering with dispensation of the food product fromcontainer 100 throughopening 146.Lid 148 can be retained in the open position by inserting a slot 174 throughlid 148 onto arib 176 projecting outwardly from top surface 143. In one embodiment,lid 148 can include atab 178 projecting outwardly fromlid 148 and extending beyondouter surface 156 ofbody 144 to provide a convenient grasping point for a user to aid in releasinglid 148 from the closed position. In another embodiment,lid 148 does not include atab 178 and is instead flush withouter surface 156. - An alternative configuration of a clasping mechanism to retain
lid 148 in the closed position is depicted inFIGS. 9 and 10 . An upwardly extending peripheralupper rim 180 ofbody 144 includes a pair ofprojections 182 with a recessedslot 184 in between. As thelid 148 is closed, tab 186 causes theprojections 182 to deflect outwardly to allow tab 186 intoslot 184. Once tab 186 is fully withinslot 184, theprojections 182 snap back inwardly into place against and in some embodiments partially over the tab 186, holding it in place. Upward pressure applied to tab 186 can then cause theprojections 182 to deflect again to release tab 186. Anindent 188 can be include inouter surface 156 to allow tab 186 to be grasped more easily whenlid 148 is in the closed position.Indent 188 is especially useful in embodiments where tab 186 is flush withouter surface 156. -
Top portion 118 is coupled on top ofcover base portion 116 and is rotatable relative thereto.Top portion 118 can be coupled to coverbase portion 116 by aligningagitator portion 154 withslot 126 and insertingshaft portion 152 throughopening 128 andagitator portion 154 throughslot 126.Agitator portion 154 therefore extends throughtop portion 120 ofcover base portion 116. In one embodiment, as can be seen inFIG. 7 ,agitator portion 154 is disposed proximateinner surface 130 ofcover base portion 116. In other embodiments, agitator portion can be displaced further intoopen interior 104 ofcontainer portion 102. - In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 2-8 , whenagitator portion 154 is in a position where it is not aligned withslot 126, rotatabletop portion 118 cannot be decoupled fromcover base portion 116 becauseagitator portion 154 will interfere withinner side 130 oftop portion 120 ofcover base portion 116, thereby locking rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116 together. However, ifagitator portion 154 is aligned withslot 126 there would be a chance that rotatabletop portion 118 could become decoupled fromcover base portion 116 during use. This chance is decreased by theflange 132 extending downwardly frominner side 130 oftop portion 120, which encircles a portion ofshaft portion 152 connected toagitator portion 154, thereby increasing the frictional resistance betweenshaft portion 152 andopening 128 and further reducing the likelihood of unintentional decoupling of rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116. - To prevent the rotatable
top portion 118 and coverbase portion 116 from decoupling when it otherwise might as described above,cover 114 is provided with an additional means for interlocking rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116. Cooperating locking features configured as interlockinglips 164 oninner surface 162 of rotatabletop portion 118 andribs 136 onouter surface 134 ofcover base portion 116 also serve to interlock rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116. Asagitator portion 154 is inserted thoughslot 126,lips 164 are forced overribs 136 to provide an interlocking snap fit. Thus, even whenagitator portion 154 is aligned withslot 126, the rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116 will not become accidentally separated from each other during normal use due to the interlockinglips 164 andribs 136. Rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116 can be easily manually decoupled, when desired, by aligningagitator portion 154 withslot 126 and by applying enough force to overcome the snap-fit betweenlips 164 andribs 136 and the frictional resistance provided byshaft portion 152 andflange 132. - As can be seen in
FIG. 7 , cover 114 can be rotatably threaded ontocontainer portion 102 withthreads 140 oninner surface 138 ofcover base portion 116 interlocking withthreads 112 andouter surface 110 ofcontainer portion 102. Cover 114 can accordingly be removed fromcontainer portion 102, exposing open top 106 andopen interior 104, by rotatingcover 114 in the opposite direction. Alternatively, cover 114 can attach tocontainer portion 102 by any other known means, such as a snap-fit or an interference fit. - In operation, food particles can be freely dispensed from
container 100 without interruptions caused by clumping of the particles or interference by the user's hand. Initially,lid 148 is opened to exposeopening 146 and optionally secured in the open position by insertingrib 176 through slot 174. This exposes the dispensingapertures 124 incover base portion 116, so that, when inverted, food particles can flow from the container. As food particles are being dispensed, the user can rotate thetop portion 118 relative tocontainer portion 102 and coverbase portion 116 by gripping theouter surface 156 oftop portion 118 with one hand and thecontainer portion 102 with the other hand. Depending on the needs and preference of the user, this can be accomplished by holding thetop portion 118 in place while rotating thecontainer portion 102 and coverbase portion 116, rotating thetop portion 118 while holdingcontainer portion 102 and coverbase portion 116 in place, or rotating both thetop portion 118 andcontainer portion 102 and coverbase portion 116 in opposite directions. This relative movement causesagitator portion 154 to sweep along theinner side 130 oftop portion 120 ofcover base portion 116adjacent dispensing apertures 124. Thus, any clumps of food particlesadjacent dispensing apertures 124 that are too big to fit through dispensingapertures 124 will be broken up into smaller particles byagitator portion 154 and dispensed. Food particles can therefore be broken up as they are dispensed, which avoids interruptions typically caused by having to break up the clumped food particles. In addition, because the user rotates thetop portion 118 andcontainer portion 102 relative to each other by gripping theouter surface 156 of thetop portion 118 and thecontainer portion 102, the user's hand does not interfere with dispensing the product. - Cover 114 is preferably manufactured from a plastic material through an injection molding process. However, any other method of manufacturing plastic parts could also be used to make
cover 114. In one embodiment,top portion 118 and coverbase portion 116 are simultaneously molded side-by-side in the same mold, and then coupled together by automated means before being ejected from the mold. In other embodiments, rotatabletop portion 118 and coverbase portion 116 can be coupled after being ejected from the mold or can be molded in separate processes. Preferably,shaft portion 152 andagitator portion 154 are molded unitarily with the rest of rotatabletop portion 118 so thatcover 114 comprises a two-piece assembly. -
FIGS. 11A-11E depict another embodiment of acover 214 that can be used with acontainer 100 as described herein. Cover 214 can be a three-piece assembly including a cylindricalcover base portion 216, a rotatabletop portion 218 and aseparate agitator portion 253.Agitator portion 253 can include a hollowcylindrical shaft portion 255 having abore 257 therethrough and one or more radially extendingagitator portions 254. Although depicted as having threeagitator portions 254, cover 214 can include a larger or smaller number ofagitator portions 254. Whenmultiple agitator portions 254 are present, they can be spaced aroundshaft portion 255 in any fashion. For example, they can be grouped closely together as shown inFIGS. 11A-11E , spread evenly around shaft portion (seeFIGS. 12A-12C ), or spaced apart in any other patterned or random fashion. - In the embodiment depicted in
FIGS. 11A-11E ,cover 214 includes dispensingapertures 224 throughtop portion 220 ofcover base portion 216 around only part of the circumference ofcover base portion 216. The continuous portion 225 that does not have dispensingapertures 224 therefore functions as a lid when aligned with theopening 246 of top surface to preclude contents from being dispensed from the container. In some embodiments, there can be projections, recesses, detents or other structural features incover base portion 216 and/or rotatabletop portion 218 to allow theopening 246 to properly align and be held in alignment with continuous portion 225 when it is desired to prevent contents from being dispensed from the container. - To assemble
cover 214,shaft portion 252 of rotatabletop portion 218 can be inserted throughcentral opening 228 ofcover base portion 216 andlips 264 oninner surface 262 of rotatabletop portion 218 can be interlocked withribs 236 onouter surface 234 ofcover base portion 216 as described previously. Bore 257 ofshaft portion 255 ofagitator portion 253 can then be inserted ontoshaft portion 252 of rotatabletop portion 218.Agitator portion 253 can remain onshaft portion 252 via an interference fit or snap fit utilizing cooperating ribs or lips. Alternatively or additionally,agitator portion 253 can be glued, welded, or otherwise adhered toshaft portion 252. -
FIGS. 12A-13 depict a further embodiment of acover 314 that can be used with acontainer 100 as described herein. Cover 314 also comprises a three-piece assembly including acover base portion 316, a rotatabletop portion 318 and clump decimator, or anagitator portion 353. In this embodiment,cover 314 includes dispensingapertures 324 disposed all the way aroundcover base portion 316 and a plurality ofopenings 346 in rotatabletop portion 314. This provides greater dispensing capacity for higher volume applications. Although the rotatabletop portion 314 is depicted as having threeopenings 346 arranged around its circumference, the number, size and arrangement of openings can, of course, be varied. In an embodiment such as that depicted inFIGS. 12A-12C , a separate lid (not pictured) can be provided to selectively cover the entire top surface 343 of rotatabletop portion 318 to preclude material from being dispensed throughapertures 324. -
FIG. 13 illustrates a circumferential locking structure configured as awedge portion 357 on theshaft portion 352 that allows thering portion 358 of the agitator portion with an aperture 359 with a diameter slightly less that the diameter through the wedge portions to facilitate the agitator ring portion snapping onto the shaft portion with the cover base portion captured therebetween. Such features may be utilized in the other embodiments illustrated herein. For example, a circumferential locking structure may be utilized on theshaft portion 152 with the embodiment ofFIG. 5 instead of or in addition to the circumferential cooperating locking features 136 and 164. Also such structure is suitable for the embodiment ofFIG. 11 a. - Additional ribbing or axially extending locking
structure 363 on the inside surface 366 of the bore 368 can cooperate with lockingstructure 372 on the outside surface of theshaft portion 252 to thereby nonrotationally lock the agitator portion with respect to the shaft portion. Such structure is suitable for the embodiment ofFIG. 11 a. - In other embodiments the agitator portion may be welded to the shaft portion after assembly to secure same thereon.
- The container portion and top covers may be formed by conventional molding techniques. Generally, it is contemplated that the bottle may be formed by a blow molding operation and the cover may be formed by way of injection molding. Injection molds may be utilized in association with robots to assembly the top cover components subsequent to the molding process, for example, after they are ejected from the molds, eliminating additional assembly steps.
- It should be noted that although various embodiments of a
cover - The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered by the spirit and technical theory of the subject invention.
Claims (12)
1. (canceled)
2. A method of manufacturing a lid for a container for dispensing food articles, comprising:
injection molding a cover base portion an injection molding machine having a plurality of apertures for allowing a food product to be dispensed there through;
injection molding a rotatable top portion in the injection molding machine, the rotatable top portion configured to be coupled on top of the cover base portion and selectively rotatable relative to the cover base portion and molding a radially extending agitator portion, the agitator portion configured to extend through the base portion; and
assembling the rotatable top portion to the cover base portion while the rotatable base portion and cover base portion are both in the injection molding equipment.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising molding the cover base portion and the rotatable top portion simultaneously in the molding equipment.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of molding the rotatable top portion includes molding the agitator portion integrally with the rotatable top portion.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of molding the rotatable top portion includes molding the agitator portion separately from the rotatable top portion and subsequently attaching the agitator portion to the rotatable top portion in the injection molding machine.
6. A method of assembling a container for dispensing a food product, comprising:
molding a cover base portion of a cover;
robotically coupling a rotatable top portion of the cover on top of the base portion, including positioning a radially extending agitator portion through a top portion of the cover base portion.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein coupling the rotatable top portion of the cover on top of the cover base portion further includes interlocking at least one lip extending along an inner peripheral surface of the rotatable top portion with at least one rib extending along an outer peripheral surface of the base portion.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of positioning the radially extending agitator portion through the top portion of the cover base portion and inserting the agitator portion through an elongate slot in the top portion of the base portion.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of positioning the radially extending agitator portion through the top portion of the cover base portion and into the container portion includes inserting an axially extending shaft portion of the rotatable top portion through an opening in the top surface of the cover base portion and then attaching the radially extending agitator portion to the hub.
10. The method of claim 6 further comprising containing the coupling within molding equipment.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of positioning the radially extending agitator portion through the top portion of the cover base portion and into the container portion includes inserting an axially extending shaft portion of the rotatable top portion through an opening in the top surface of the cover base portion and then attaching the radially extending agitator portion to the hub.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of positioning the radially extending agitator portion through the top portion of the cover base portion and into the container portion includes inserting an axially extending shaft portion of the rotatable top portion through an opening in the top surface of the cover base portion and then attaching the radially extending agitator portion to the hub.
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US8701941B2 (en) * | 2010-03-05 | 2014-04-22 | Federal Molding Corp. | Food dispensing container |
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USD883751S1 (en) * | 2016-12-22 | 2020-05-12 | Nisshin Foods Inc. | Container |
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CN105501655A (en) * | 2016-01-17 | 2016-04-20 | 罗洋洋 | Ground pepper package bottle |
USD900606S1 (en) | 2018-03-02 | 2020-11-03 | Berlin Packaging, Llc | Closure |
USD931101S1 (en) | 2018-03-02 | 2021-09-21 | Berlin Packaging, Llc | Closure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8701941B2 (en) | 2014-04-22 |
WO2011109812A3 (en) | 2012-04-19 |
WO2011109812A2 (en) | 2011-09-09 |
US20110215116A1 (en) | 2011-09-08 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FEDERAL MOLDING CORP., MINNESOTA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FULLER, KEVIN S.;SKAKOON, JAMES G.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110411 TO 20110414;REEL/FRAME:034949/0031 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |