Dispensing cover with liftable sifter for use on spice cans and the like

[57] ABSTRACT

A cover fitting adapted for assembly about a container comprises a cover portion which includes a panel member having a hinge along a weakened, recessed rectilinear portion thereof and which further includes a flap member swingably suspended from the hinge. The hinge defines an axis which subtends a pair of confluent edges of the flap member; and the flap member is pivotable downwardly about the hinge whereby to engage an edge of the container for enclosure about a portion of the cavity defined by the walls of the container, the flap member further being pivotable upwardly about the hinge whereby to disengage from the edge of the container for disclosure of the cavity portion. A sifter web depends from the flap member and is adapted for selective extraction of comminuted matter within the container. A finger element may also depend from the flap member and be spaced from the sifter web whereby to overlie an edge of the container to lock the flap member in a substantially upright or dispensing position, thereby guarding against any unauthorized downward force upon the flap member when sifting of the product is contemplated.

Claims, 13 Drawing Figures

<img file="US3773232A_D0001.tif" />

PATENTED NOY 2 Ο 1973

SHEET 1 CF 2

3,773,232

<img file="US3773232A_D0002.tif" />

PATENTED NOY 20 1973

SHEET 2 CF 2

3,773,232

<img file="US3773232A_D0003.tif" />

3,773,232

DISPENSING COVER WITH LIFTABLE SIFTER FOR USE ON SPICE CANS AND THE LIKE

This invention relates generally to packaging and more particularly to containers for pulverulent products such as powdered condiments.

Powdered condiments, such as nutmeg or cinnamon, often come packaged in small metal containers enclosured by a cover fitting adapted either for selective extraction by shaking or sifting or for extraction by spooning or pouring. However, several disadvantages attend most conventional cover fittings adapted for such purposes. Thus, for example, those conventional hinged cover fittings comprising a base portion for assembly about a container and a flap portion connected to the base portion by a flexible hinge strap, wherein the base portion is apertured with a plurality of dispensing orifices for selective extraction of the product by sifting or shaking, are not adapted to resist leakage of the product therethrough notwithstanding a seemingly secure engagement of the dispensing orifices by corresponding closure plugs depending from the flap portion. Similarly, those conventional cover fittings having a flap member swingably suspended from a weakened, recessed hinge defining an axis extending transversely of the cover fitting intermediate the ends thereof often evidence leakage of the product from the container because of a relatively ineffective and inadequate engagement of an edge of the container by the cover fitting, the leakage sometimes being substantial because of the expanse of the flap member with respect to the width of the container.

Additionally, conventional cover fittings having swingably suspended resilient flap members which have some means for sifting depending therefrom ensure only marginal success with respect to selective extraction (shaking or sifting) of the product from the container; inasmuch as the resilient nature of that portion of an upwardly lifted flap member adjacent the hinge axis and the resiliency of the hinge, which is deformed when the flap member assumes this dispensing position, cause the flap member partially to enclose about the hitherto disclosed cavity defined by the container walls.

Therefore, an important object of the instant invention is to provide a novel container cover fitting which is adapted for effective selective extraction, by shaking or sifting, of comminuted matter and which tends to resist leakage of pulverulent products from the container.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a novel hinge constructed along a recess of the cover fitting whereby a flap member thereof, swingably suspended from tile hinge, is disposed with respect to the container such that engagement of an edge of the container by the cover fitting affords a substantially effective seal therebetween.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide means for locking a flap member of the instant cover fitting in a fixed, substantially upright, dispensing position whereby to facilitate ease of selectively extracting pulverulent products from the container and consequently to promote efficiency with respect thereto.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover fitting in accord with the invention, shown in enclosed assembly about a container body;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover fitting of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3—3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the cover fitting of FIG. 1, showing a flap element thereof residing in an upwardly pivoted, substantially upright or dispensing position whereby a portion of the cavity defined by the walls of the container body is disclosed and whereby several projections of a sifter web depending from the flap element engage an edge of the container body;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5—5 of FIG. 4, showing a projection of the sifter web relative to an edge of the container body and further showing, in broken outline, the sifter web relative to the container body when the flap element is residing in a downwardly pivoted, latched or non-dispensing position for enclosure about a portion of the cavity defined by the walls of the container body;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the cover fitting of FIG. 1, showing a second hinge and a second flap element thereof residing in an upwardly pivoted, dispensing position whereby to disclose a portion of the cavity defined by the walls of the container body for extraction of the product by spooning or by pouring;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7—7 of FIG. 1, showing engagement of an edge of the container body by a channel bead of the cover fitting;

FIG. 8 shows a modified embodiment of the invention, being an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that of FIG. 4, but illustrating a finger element depending from the flap element and overlying an edge of the container body;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover fitting of FIG. 8, illustrating a modified embodiment of the sifter web and further illustrating the finger element relative to the sifter web;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the cover fitting of FIG. 8, showing the modified embodiment of the sifter web and further showing the finger element spaced apart from the sifter web;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially a’ong the line 11—11 of FIG. 9, but showing the cover fitting of FIG. 9 in enclosed assembly about the container body;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 11, but illustrating the finger element and the sifter web relative to an edge of the container body as the flap element of the cover fitting is being pivoted upwardly about the hinge to a dispensing position for disclosure of a portion of the cavity defined by the walls of the container body; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 12, but illustrating the finger element and the sifter web relative to an edge of the container body as the flap element of the cover fitting is being pivoted downwardly about the hinge to a non-dispensing position for enclsure about a portion of the cavity defined by the walls of the container body.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, a container structure, indicated generally by the reference character 10, includes a metal container

3,773,232 body 12 having an open top for assembly with a cover fitting 14 and having a closed bottom (not shown). The cover fitting 14 is formed from a suitable resinous plastics material in a molding operation and includes a substantially rectangular-shaped plate or cover portion 16 having a generally central panel 18 associated with a shaker or sifter flap 20 and with a spooning or pouring flap 22, the flaps 20 and 22 being disposed oppositely from each other and being swingably suspended from the panel 18 by means of hinges 24 and 26, respectively. The hinges 24 and 26 are formed by grooving or otherwise weakening the plate or cover portion 16 of the cover fitting 14 during the molding thereof, the hinges 24 and 26 each defining an axis which subtends respectively a pair of confluent edge members 28 and a pair of confluent edge members 30 of the respective flaps 20 and 22. The reason for having the hinges 24 and 26 extend obliquely or generally diagonally of the plate or cover portion 16 rather than having them extend transversely of the plate 16, as has been the conventional practice, will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

Turning to a consideration of FIG. 2, a sifter web 32, adjacent the hinge 24, is seen to depend from the flap 20. The sifter web 32 comprises an irregularly shaped, substantially flattened structure 34 terminating in a plurality of excurvated, pectinated projections 36 which confront an edge of the container body 12 when the flap 20 is pivoted about the hinge 24 to a substantially upright, dispensing position. Each of the two most prominent projections 37 is reinforced by a frustoconical, downwardly tapered, slender rib 38 depending from the flap 20, the two projections 37 engaging an edge of the container body and thus generally being subjected to stress and wear when the flap 20 is pivoted to its substantially upright position (FIG. 4). Ribs 40 (FIG. 5) and 42, depending from the undersurface of the panel 18, are adjacent the hinges 24 and 26 respectively and run the length of their respective axes whereby to provide support for the panel 18 and to guard against any deformity thereof whenever the flaps are pivoted about their respective hinges.

Turning to a consideration of FIG. 7 and continuing with secondary reference to FIG. 2, the cover fitting 14 includes a downwardly opening channel 44 for assembly to the rim or edge of the container body 12, the channel 44 being defined by an outer skirt 46 and an inner skirt 48 circumferentially depending from the periphery of the cover fitting 14, that segment of the channel 44 within the boundaries of the panel 18 comprising a panel channel portion 50 and that segment of the channel 44 within die boundaries of the flaps 20 and 22 comprising respective flap channel portions 52 (FIG. 5) and 54. The walls or sides of the container body 12 terminate in an edge or rim 56 which includes a rolled and downwardly extending shoulder portion 58. The inner skirt 48 has a bead 60 projecting in a laterally outward direction on the outwardly facing surface thereof, that segment of the bead 60, situated within the boundaries of the panel 18, comprising a panel bead portion 62 circumferentially disposed along the outwardly facing surface of the inner skirt 48 and that segment of the bead 60, situated within the boundaries of the flaps 20 and 22, comprising respective flap bead portions 64 and 66 structurally limited to abbreviated protuberances (FIGS. 4 and 5, and shown in broken outline in FIG. 2) and disposed substantially along a line drawn through lift tabs 68 and 70 which extend laterally outwardly from the outwardly facing surface of that portion of the outer skirt 46 which runs along flaps 20 and 22 respectively. The flap bead portions 64 and 66 engage the shoulder portion 58 of that segment of the edge 56 located within the boundaries of the flaps 20 and 22 respectively to latch the flaps in nondispensing position when the flap channel portions 52 and 54 are assembled about the corresponding edge segment 56 of the container body 12. The panel bead portion 62 is adapted permanently to engage the shoulder portion 58 of that segment of the edge 56 located within the boundaries of the panel 18.

The flap bead portions 64 and 66 must be limited in size to that of abbreviated protuberances whereby to facilitate ease of unlatching or disengagement of the flaps 20 and 22 from the shoulder portion 58 of the edge 56 of the container body 12 (FIG. 5). Were the flap bead portions 64 and 66 to run along the expanse of the outwardly facing surface of that portion of the inner skirt 48 which is within the boundaries of the flaps 20 and 22, disengagement of the flaps from the container body 12 for subsequent upward pivot to their dispensing positions would be extremely difficult. The panel bead portion 62, of course, may be circumferentially disposed along the expanse of the outwardly facing surface of that portion of the inner skirt 48 which is within the boundaries of the panel 18 since it is intended that the panel bead portion 62 permanently engage the corresponding shoulder portion 58.

Furthermore, if the flaps were swingably suspended about hinges having their respective axes extend transversely of the cover fitting, then since the “flap beads” would still be required to assume the structure of abbreviated protuberances for facile disengagement of the flaps from the container body, it therefore follows that a smaller circumferential “panel bead” would result, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the seal between the cover fitting and the container body and hence contributing to greater leakage of the product from the container body. The oblique or generally diagonal disposition of the novel hinges 24 and 26 in the instant cover fitting 14 provides for a panel 18 having a larger circumference and thus having a more extensive panel bead. Thus, a more extensive seal between the cover fitting 14 and the container body 12 is ensured, thereby minimizing leakage of the product from the container body 12. However, as will be appreciated, there is no significant decrease in the volume of product which can be extracted, especially in the case where product extraction is accomplished by sifting.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 1 and turning to a consideration of FIGS. 4 and 6, a first pair of conjoining walls or sides 13 (one wall not shown) of the container body 12 defines therebetween a corner 13α of the container body; and a second pair of conjoining walls 15 (FIG. 6) defines a second comer 15α therebetween, the latter comer 15α of the container body 12 being diagonally opposite the former. That portion of the outer skirt 46 circumferentially depending from the periphery of the panel 18 further includes a first panel skirt member 46α and a second panel skirt member 46b. The panel skirt member 46α snugly confronts the outer surfaces respectively of the first pair of conjoining walls 13 and securely wraps around the corner 13α. Similarly, the panel skirt member 46b snugly confronts the outer surfaces respectively of the second

3,773,232 stantially upright or dispensing position whenever a suitable upwardly directed force is maintained on the undersurface of the lift tab 68.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the hinge 24 is constructed along a rectilinear portion of the plate or cover portion 16, the rectilinear portion of the plate 16 defining the hinge 24 being grooved and having a substantially reduced cross-section. The resultant generally weakened recess facilitates pivotability of the flap 20 either upwardly or downwardly. When the flap 20 has been pivoted to its non-dispensing position, as indicated in broken outline in FIG. 5, the sifter web 32 and its component projections 36 are seen to extend vertically downwardly into the cavity defined by the walls of the container body 12.

With reference to FIG. 6, the flap 22, defined by the pair of confluent edge members 30 subtended by the axis of the hinge 26, is shown in a substantially upright position relative to the panel 18. The flap 22 may be 20 pivoted about the hinge 26 from a latched or nondispensing position to a dispensing position. This may readily be accomplished by the consumer’s placing his thumb or employing another implement on the undersurface of the lift tab 70 and then by directmg an up25 ward force thereon whereby to disengage the flap bead portion 66 (not shown) from the corresponding shoulder portion 58. Continued application the this upward force will urge the flap 22 about the hinge 26. Unlike the flap 20, which has a depending sifter web 32 to limit 30 its upward advance about the hinge 24, the undersurface of the flap 22 is substantially planar, having no element depending therefrom. Thus, there is nothing which can impede the upward progress of the flap 22; and the flap 22, therefore, may travel about the hinge ³⁵ 26 through an arc of substantially 180°. At the conclusion of this journey, application of a downward force upon the undersurface of the lift tab 70 will cause the top surface of the flap 22 to overlie the panel 18 whereby maximum disclosure of a portion of the cavity ⁴⁰ defined by the walls of the container body 12 is obtained for facile and efficient utilization of a suitable extracting utensil therein. Release of the downwardly directed force upon the undersurface of the lift tab 70, together with the natural resiliency of the recessed ⁴⁵ hinge 26 and of the portion of the flap 22 adjacent the hinge 26, cooperate to cause the hinge to spring or retreat to a substantially upright position, the flap channel portion 54 (not shown) being urged in assembly about the edge 56 of the container body when a suit⁵⁰ able downwardly directed force is maintained on the upper surface of the lift tab 70. Continued application of this force causes the flap bead portion 66 to travel past and engage the shoulder portion 58 to latch the flap 22 on the container body 12 in a non-dispensing ⁵⁵ position. The hinge 26 is constructed along another rectilinear portion of the plate or cover portion 16 m a manner very much similar to that discussed with reference to the construction of the hinge 24.

Turning to a consideration of FIG. 3, the flap 20 is ⁶⁰ shown in a latched or non-dispensing position relative to the container body 12, engagement of the flap bead portion 64 with the shoulder portion 58 located within the boundaries of the flap 20 thereby securing the flap 20 in this posture. The panel bead portion 62 circum⁶⁵ ferentially engages the shoulder portion 58 located within the boundaries of the panel 18 whereby permanently to latch the panel 18 on the container body 12.

pair of conjoining walls 15 of the container body and securely wraps around the corner 15α. In compliance with an important feature of the invention, the panel skirt members 46α and 46b thereby cooperate to grip the comers 13α and 15α respectively across a “grip” ! axis coincident with a generally diagonal line drawn substantially through the comers 13α and 15α. The inwardly and generally diagonally directed gripping force established by the cooperative action of the panel skirt members 46α and 46b serves to secure the panel 18 in 1 snug assembly about the container body 12 whereby to resist displacement of the panel 18 therefrom when either or both of the flaps 20 and 22 are pivoted upwardly. . . ,.

As will be appreciated, the grip axis is substantially parallel with the hinge axes of the hinges 24 and 26. This feature serves to establish a gripping force which may more effectively oppose any tendency toward displacement of the panel 18 when the flaps 20 and 22 are being upwardly pivoted. A gripping force directed at a substantial angle with respect to the hinge axes would be somewhat diminished or enervated during the pivoting operation. The factor of a generally diagonal, inwardly directed gripping force ensures a secure assembly of the cover fitting 14 about the container body 12 notwithstanding only two of the four comers thereof are permanently gripped by the cover fitting; and thus, two dispensing flaps, disposed generally oppositely from each other in accordance with the invention, may advantageously be employed.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the sifter flap 20 is shown residing in an upwardly pivoted dispensing position, the projections 36 of the sifter web 32 cooperating with the edge 56 of the container body 12 whereby to form a plurality of dispensing ports 72 therebetween. The dispensing ports 72 regulate the manner in which the product may be extracted from the container body, to wit: sifting, and thus selectively determine the quantity of comminuted matter to be shaken therethrough during a given dispensing operation. To ensure relative uniformity of the size of the dispensing ports 72, and hence control of the quantity of product passing therethrough, and to define the maximum angle subtending the arc through which the sifter flap 20 may be upwardly pivoted about the hinge 24, the two most prominent projections 37 are seen to grip or engage the shoulder portion 58 of the edge 56 of the container body 12 (FIG. 5) when the flap 20 has proceeded to a substantially upright position relative to the panel 18. Thus as hereinabove indicated with respect to FIG. 2, the two projections 37 are provided with reinforcement ribs 38 depending from the flap 20 to protect the projections 37 against continuous stress and wear during the period when the projections 37 engage or grip the metal shoulder portion 58.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 5, when the desired quantity of product has been selectively extracted through the dispensing ports 72, the flap 20 may then be pivoted downwardly about the hinge 24 by maintaining a suitable downwardly directed force on the upper surface of the lift tab 68 whereby the flap channel portion 52 may be urged in assembly about the edge 56. Continued application of this force causes the flap bead portion 64 to engage the shoulder portion 58 whereby to latch the flap 20 on the container body 12 in a non-dispensing position. Conversely, the flap 20 may be pivoted upwardly about the hinge 24 to a sub3,773,232

As hereinabove discussed, the panel 18, with its relatively large circumference, and the corresponding circumferential panel bead portion 62 cooperate to provide an expansive, effective seal between the cover fitting 14 and the container body 12, the sealed relationship therebetween tending to be highly resistant to leakage of pulverulent products.

Turning to a consideration of FIGS. 9 and 10, a modified sifter web 74 is seen to depend from the flap 20. A finger element 76, depending from the flap 20, resides in spaced-apart relation from the sifter web 74. The web 74 terminates in a plurality of excurvated, pectinated projections 78 which, as illustrated in FIG. 8, confront an edge 56 of the container body 12 when the flap 20 is pivoted about the hinge 24 to reside in a substantially upright, dispensing position. The sifter web 74, like the web 32, has two prominent projections 80 and 81 which engage or grip the shoulder portion 58 of that segment of the edge 56 located within the boundaries of the flap 20 when the flap resides in an upright, dispensing position (FIG. 8); but unlike the web 32, only the projection 80 is reinforced by a rib 82 residing in integral apposition therewith and depending from the flap 20, the rib 82 being elongated and having a generally rectangular cross-section and a width substantially approximating the width of the projection 80. Reinforcement becomes necessary to relieve the strain upon the projection 80 during the time it grips or engages the metal shoulder portion 58 of the edge 56. When the flap 20 resides in an upright, dispensing position, the projections 78 cooperate with the edge 56 of the container body 12 whereby to define a plurality of dispensing ports 84 therebetween, the ports 84 functioning to receive the product therethrough in the same manner as do the dispensing ports 72. Similarly, the two prominent projections 80 and 81 engage the shoulder portion 58 to function in a manner described with reference to the two prominent projections 37 of the sifter web 32, to wit: regulation of the relative sizes of the dispensing ports 84 and of the maximum angle subtending th arc through which the flap 20 may be upwardly pivoted about the hinge 24.

Turning to a consideration of FIG. 11 and continuing with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the finger element 76 has a free, resiliently deformable extremity 86 and a proximal root portion 88. A web 90 integral with the finger element 76, joins the root portion 88 to the sifter web 74 and more specifically to the most proximal portion of the projection 81. The web 90 reinforces the projection 81 during the period it engages or grips the metal shoulder portion 58 of the edge 56 and furthermore ensures preselected spacing of the finger element 76 and the sifter web 74 for catching an edge 56 of the container body 12 between the extremity 86 of the finger element 76 and the projection 81 as the flap 20 is being pivoted upwardly about the hinge 24.

With reference to FIG. 12, the relation of the extremity 86 of the finger element 76 to the shoulder portion 58 of the edge 56 of the container body 12 is illustrated as the flap 20 is being pivoted upwardly about the hinge 24. Application of an upwardly directed force upon the undersurface of the lift tab 68 (not shown) to urge the flap 20 to its substantially upright, dispensing position causes the flexible extremity 86 resiliently to deform about the shoulder portion 58 and thence to overlie the edge 56 (shown in broken outline in FIG. 12) whereby to lock the flap 20 in its dispensing position and hence to resist any unauthorized downward force upon the flap 20 during the period when sifting is intended. The flexure of the extremity 86, whereby the finger element overlies the edge 56, permits of engagement of the shoulder portion 58 by the projections 80 (not shown) and 81.

Thus, as will be appreciated, the sifter flap 20 is held in a fixed, substantially upright, dispensing position, the engagement of the shoulder portion 58 by the projections 80 and 81 regulating the angle through which the flap 20 may upwardly traverse about the hinge 24, and the overlying disposition of the finger element 76 relative to the edge 56 resisting any inappropriately downwardly directed force, such as that resulting from the resiliency of the deformed or distorted hinge 24, from acting to urge the flap 20 toward its non-dispensing position.

With reference to FIG. 13, the relation of the extremity 86 to the shoulder portion 58 is illustrated as the flap 20 is being pivoted downwardly about the hinge 24. Application of a suitable downwardly directed force upon the upper surface of the lift tab 68 (not shown) to urge the flap 20 to its non-dispensing position causes the extremity 86 of the finger element 76 resiliently to deform about the edge 56 whereupon to be displaced from its position overlying the edge 56. Continued application of this force causes the extremity 86, in its deformed posture, to travel past the shoulder portion 58. Concurrently therewith, the projections 80 (not shown) and 81 are released from their engaged relation with the shoulder portion 58; and the flap 20 begins to pivot downwardly about the hinge 24 to be latched onto the container body 12.

The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of my invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated in the following claims.