US3342380A

US3342380A - At to zn ey

Info

Publication number: US3342380A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1967-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-19

Description

Sept. 19, 1967 R. 1.. SMITH 3,342,380

COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR f-POUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OF FINELY DIVIDED MATERIAL Filed May 25, 1966 2 SheetsSheet 1 J/IIIII'IIJVII I AT TO ZN EY Sept. 19, 1967 R. L. SMITH 3,342,380

COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR SPOU'I CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS 0F PINELY DIVIDED MATERIAL Filed May 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet JJ I 52.5. 4/

AT TORNEY United States Patent 3,342,380 COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR SPOUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OF FINELY DI- VIDED MATERIAL Richard L. Smith, 5707 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich. 49002 Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,897 10 Claims. (Cl. 222-189) This invention relates to a combined shaker top and pour spout closure for containers of finely divided material. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a reclosable combined shaker top and pour spout closure for containers for material such as table salt which will combine a reclosable large opening and pour spout with a reclosable perforated shaker panel and cover therefor which may be formed and assembled as a single unit in the top of a salt box.

Second, to provide a combined reclosable pour spout and shaker top fitting which may be inexpensively molded as a single element and mounted in the cover of a container such as a salt box without projecting materially above the cover of the salt box so that the containers may be stacked on store shelves.

Third, to provide a closure fixture for containers of finely divided or granular material having a first closure which is easily opened to expose a perforated shaker opening and a second closure which is formed in part by the wall forming the shaker opening which can be selectively opened to provide a larger sized opening and a flow directing pour spout.

Fourth, to provide a combined reclosable shaker top and pour spout having the foregoing properties, that can be alternatively manufactured to fit in the flat wall of a container, or to engage perpendicular side walls of a container and act as an end closure therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings of which there are two sheets illustrate two practical forms of the shaker top and pour spout fixture of the invention, and two adaptations thereof fit in a flat wall of a container, or as a closure engageable with perpendicular side walls of a container.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a first form of the fixture as it might be molded.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combined shaker top and pour spout assembly in erected operative position with both the pour spout opening and the shaker top closure in open position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the assembled fixture with the openings closed as they would appear in a closed container.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of the combined pour spout and shaker top closure as the same might be molded.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 7.7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the erected pour spout and shaker top closure shown in FIG. 5 with the pour spout and shaker top closure in open position.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the modified assembly in closed position as it would appear when installed in a closed container.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 1010 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 6, illustrating a modified ice alternative construction adapted to be mounted on perpendicular side walls of a container, as a closure for the container.

Containers or boxes for table salt have been provided with alternate openings and alternate closures therefor to provide a relatively large opening with a pour spout and a separate opening with a closure fixture having a perforate wall to function as a shaker top and a cover closable over the shaker opening. The present invention provides a single fixture which economically provides both the closable pour spout opening and closable shaker top opening.

The example of the closure fixture shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a first or outer frame 1 having a peripheral groove 2 around its outer edge which is adapted to receive the edge of an opening formed in the top of a salt box or similar container. The frame is capable of being snapped into the opening in the container and to this end the lower flange 3 on the bottom of the frame is slightly smaller than the top flange 4 which overlies the wall of the container when the frame is installed therein. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 show the frame in inverted position so the flange 3 is uppermost. The frame illustrated is triangular in shape but this particular configuration is not essential so long as the frame is provided with two relatively straight

divergent sides

5 and 6. Connected to the top inner corner of the side member 5 as by an integral molded web 7 is the top outer side portion 8 of a second or inner triangular frame indicated generally by the reference 9. The inner frame 9 has a divergent side portion 10 arranged to fold within the side member 6 of the outer frame and the remaining side or sides of the inner frame fit closely within the corresponding sides of the outer frame. Integrally connected to the side member 10 as by the thin membrane or hinge connection 11 is a generally triangular pour spout side wall 12 which passes inwardly through the opening in the first frame 1 and lies in inwardly projecting relation along the inner side of the side member 6 when the closure assembly is erected. The hinge or membrane 11 is formed by oppositely beveling the adjacent edges of the side portions 5 and 8 as at 111 in FIG. 2. The entire closure assembly is conveniently molded as an integral unit from a flexible plastic material so that the pour spout side wall 12 can be bent or deformed sufliciently to pass through the opening within the outer frame in the assembly of the fixture. The pour spout side wall desirably carries a perpendicular flange 13 along one edge which is adapted to overlie and move into a shallow groove 14 formed in the lower inside corner of the side 6 of the outer frame when the pour spout is open as will be described. The other edge of the pour spout side wall has an arcuate portion 15 sized to swing in frictional engagement with the juncture between the side 6 of the outer frame and the adjacent side of the outer frame which in the example illustrated is formed by a third side 16 of the triangular frame. A stop lug or ear 17 may be provided on the corner of the pour spout side wall to limit outward opening motion of the pour spout.

The second or inner frame 9 has an integral wall 18 extending across its inner side and provided with a plurality of apertures or holes 19 to form a shaker top opening in the fixture. The inner frame 9 is sized to fit in yieldable gripping engagement within the inner edges of the first frame 1 so that the holes 19 can be used as shaker openings when the pour spout wall is in closed position. To further close the shaker openings 19 and prevent the entrance of dirt and moisture into the con tainer the inner frame 9 is provided with an integral laterally projecting web 20 of flexible plastic extending from one side portion 21 of the inner frame. The web 20 forms a flexible hinge connection to one side of a closure plate or wall 22. The imperforate closure 22 is shaped to fit within the inner portion of the inner frame 9 and to be frictionally retained in closed position as by lugs 122 in a manner well known in the formation of shaker top closures for salt boxes.

In order to permit convenient and selective opening of either the shaker top panel 18 or the pour spout, the imperforate closure 22 is provided with an integral projecting lug or ear 23 that is desirably long enough to overlie both the inner frame 9 and the outer frame 1 when the fixture is assembled and closed. The inner frame 9 is provided with a projecting lug or ear 24 secured to one of the swinging sides of the inner frame and also adapted to overlie the outer frame when the assembly is closed as shown in FIG. 4 so that either the pour spout consisting of the inner frame 9 and the pour spout side wall 12 or the shaker top closure 22 may be opened. Normally the imperforate closure 22 will be left closed within the inner frame 9 to close the holes 19 when the pour spout is opened and in use. The edge of the pour spout side wall 12 adjacent to the hinge connection 7 is concavely curved to slide in closing engagement about the juncture of sides and 6 of the outer frame as the pour spout is opened. This prevents leakage at the base of the spout, see 115.

The modified form of the shaker top and pour spout assembly shown in FIGS. 5 through is essentially the same as the first form described but may be preferred in some respects in that it is more easily molded as an integral element. The modified assembly comprises an outer or first frame 25 of triangular shape having two generally straight and

divergent side members

26 and 27 and a third side 28 completing the frame. The periphery of the frame has a groove 29 formed therearound to receive the edge of an opening in a container and the inner edges of the first frame are downwardly and outwardly divergent as at 30 to facilitate snap engagement with the shaker top closure to be described.

Integrally connected to the upper and outer corner of the side member 27 as by the thin hinge connection or membrane 31 is a flap 48 having its opposite edge connected to one side of an upper or second frame indicated generally by the reference numeral 32. The frame 32 is matching in shape to the inside of the frame 25 and the flap 48 is sized to overlie the top of the side member 27 of the outer frame 25 when the assembly is erected. The inner edges of the frame 32 are downwardly offset, triangularly arranged walls 33 with a cross wall 34 connecting their inner edges. The wall 34 is provided with a plurality of holes or openings 35 to act as shaker openings when the inner frame is closed in the outer or first frame.

Connected to the lower or inner edge of one side wall 33 of the second frame as by the thin membrane or hinge connection 36 is a pour spout side wall 37 of essentially the same shape and function as the wall 12 in the first form of the assembly. The side wall 37 has an upstanding flange 38 adapted to underlie and rest against the recess 39 in the underside of the side member 26 of the first frame when the pour spout is opened. The side wall may also have a motion limiting lug 40 to limit the open position of the pour spout. To frictionally retain the second frame 32 and the side walls 33 thereof within the opening of the first frame, one side wall 33 may have a projecting lug 41 formed thereon to engage under the beveled inner edge 30 of the first frame.

Connected to the upper and outer edge of one side of the second frame 32 as by the folding connection 42, formed by beveling the integrally connected parts, is one side of the shaker top closure panel 44. The closure panel is folded into the recess between the side walls 33 of the second frame and may be frictionally retained therein by projecting lugs 45. The imperforate closure panel 44 is desirably provided with an ear or lug 46 extending from one swinging edge thereof to facilitate opening of the closure for the shaker top. In order to facilitate opening of the pour spout, one of the sides of the second frame 32 is provided with an exterior fingernail receiving groove 47 near its upper edge. The groove is exposed by a half round recess 51 in the adjacent upper-inner edge of the outer frame when the assembly is closed. As will be apparent the second form of the pour spout and shaker top assembly and closure shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 functions in the same way as the first form illustrated.

The side walls 33 of the inner frame 32 are frictionally retained between the

adjacent sides

26 and 27 of the outer frame 25 (with the pour spout side wall 37 projecting below the adjacent side of the inner frame), so when the pour spout consisting of the inwardly projecting wall 37 and the wall 34 across the inner side of the inner frame 32 is opened, the hinged section formed by the groove 49 in the flap 48 tends to remain close to side 27 of the outer frame. However, to resist any tendency of the horizontal or flap portion 48 on the hinged side of the inner frame from pulling away from the surface of side 27 of the outer frame and creating a undesired opening at the base of the pour spout, the side 27 and flap 48 connecting the two frames may be secured together after molding, base of the pour spout, the side 27 and flap 48 connectmay be by mechanical staples such as at 50 in FIG. 9, or by adhesive or bonding (not illustrated) between the lapped surfaces.

The modified form of the spout and closure assembly in FIGS. 5 to 10 has the advantage over the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 that all major portions of the assembly may be formed in a completely open faced mold. No reentrant edges or projections are needed, except for the minor mold edges that form the peripheral groove 29, the

lugs

41 and 45 and the fingernail groove 47.

While the two forms illustrated in detail are triangular in overall outline, this is not an essential limitation. FIG. 11 shows how an outer frame 52 may be provided with a downturned flange 53 on its periphery with a receiving notch 54 in its lower edge adapted to receive the edge of a container presented perpendicularly to the shaker top and pour spout assembly. Either of the assemblies illustrated may thus be formed to act as a complete end closure for a container. The contour of the container and the closure assembly is not dependent on the shape of the surrounded pour spout openings 55.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A combined shaker top and pour spout closure for containers of finely divided material comprising,

a first frame having a peripheral edge adapted to engage the edge of a container wall defining an opening, said frame defining a pouring opening having at least two intersecting and diverging sides,

a second frame sized to fit in mating engagement with the sides of said first frame,

a first hinge connection between one side of said second frame and one of said intersecting sides of said first frame and integral with said frames,

an integral wall closing the area within said second frame and defining a plurality of spaced shaker openings,

a spout side Wall integrally connected by a second hinge connection to a second side of said second frame and extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said second frame through said opening in said first frame and along the other of said intersecting sides of said first frame,

an imperforate closure engageable with said second frame in closing relation over said shaker openings,

and a third hinge connection connecting an edge of said closure to an edge of said second frame and integral therewith.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said second frame fits within said first frame with said integral wall located on the inner side of said second frame, and said imperforate closure fits in yieldable retained engagement within said second frame.

3. A closure as defined in claim 2 in which said imperforate closure has an integral tab on a swinging edge thereof overlying said second frame, and another tab formed integrally on a swinging edge of said second frame overlying said first frame.

4. A closure as defined in claim 3 in which said frames and said imperforate closure are triangular, and said spout side wall has an edge frictionally engageahle with the juncture of two sides of said first frame in the open position of said second frame and said spout side wall.

5. A closure as defined in claim 3 in which said spout side wall and the adjacent side of said first frame have laterally overlapping projections engageable in the open position of said spout side wall.

6. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which the peripheral edge of said first frame has a laterally opening groove formed therein to receive the edge of an opening in a container wall.

7. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said first hinge connection is formed along the outer and upper edges of said frames and includes a flap connected between the frame sides with spaced folding sections along the outer edges of adjacent sides of the two frames.

8. A closure as defined in claim 7 in which said flap overlies said outer frame and is secured thereto between said spaced folding sections.

9. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said first hinge connection is formed along the inner edge of one side of the first frame and along the outer edge of the adjacent side of the inner frame.

10. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said peripheral edge of said first frame is shaped to engage the edge of a container Wall disposed normally to the plane of said first frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,694 9/1906 Whitney 222532 2,753,051 7/1956 Tupper 222-189 X 3,016,168 1/1962 Larson 222-543 X 3,018,024 1/1962 Foord 222-543 X 3,185,359 5/1965 Buntic 222532 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR SPOUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OF FINELY DIVIDED MATERIAL COMPRISING, A FIRST FRAME HAVING A PERIPHERAL EDGE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF A CONTAINER WALL DEFINING AN OPENING, SAID FRAME DEFINING A POURING OPENING HAVING AT LEAST TWO INTERSECTING AND DIVERGING SIDES, A SECOND FRAME SIZED TO FIT IN MATING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDES OF SAID FIRST FRAME, A FIRST HINGE CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE SIDE OF SAID SECOND FRAME AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID FRAMES, SAID FIRST FRAME AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID FRAMES, AN INTEGRAL WALL CLOSING THE AREA WITHIN SAID SECOND FRAME AND DEFINING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SHAKER OPENINGS, A SPOUT SIDE WALL INTEGRALLY CONNECTED BY A SECOND HINGE CONNECTION TO A SECOND SIDE OF SAID SECOND FRAME AND EXTENDING IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND FRAME THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID FIRST FRAME AND ALONG THE OTHER OF SAID INTERSECTING SIDES OF SAID FIRST FRAME, AN IMPERFORATE CLOSURE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND FRAME IN CLOSING RELATION OVER SAID SHAKER PENINGS, AND A THIRD HINGE CONNECTION CONNECTING AN EDGE OF SAID CLOSURE TO AN EDGE OF SAID SECOND FRAME AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH.