Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
Title: Spill-Proof Snack Container
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates generally to spill-proof containers, and more
particularly
to a spill-proof snack container with features adapted for snap-action
resilient
closure and a cover providing a plurality of flexible fingers which permits
easy
access to the container by a hand, but when not in use provides a moisture
seal.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Iverson, U.S. 4,328,904 describes a spill proof container and closure. The
closure incorporates a plurality of overlapping arcuate flaps of a resilient
and flexible
nature. Through the use of the overlapping, arcuate flaps a container
embodying
the closure of the present invention may be relatively tightly sealed to
prevent
spillage and in addition, may be directly accessed by the user by the
penetration of
the user's hand through the approximate center of the closure surface.
Although the
closure is intended for use with the container, the closure may be used for a
variety
of purposes.
Lottick, U.S. 4,494,668 describes a non-spillable drinking container which is
manufactured in assemblable parts and which provides stackability and reduced
manufacturing costs. The drinking container utilizes a pertorated expandable
diaphragm mounted or formed over a base plate. The container is preferably
frusto-
conical in shape to provide stackability. A drinking tube is attachable to the
expandable diaphragm and a top is sealably mountable over the tube. Drinking
is
1
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
accomplished by pulling upwardly on the tube to expand the diaphragm, opening
the
perforations therein, allowing fluid flow through the perforations and up to
the straw
to the mouth of the drinker.
Williams, U.S. 4,714,174 describes a "spill-proof' bowl, particularly suitable
for a child, for a dry, granular foodstuff to be eaten by hand, comprising a
bowl
having a hollow interior therein substantially covered over by a cover located
on an
open end of the bowl for substantially closing off the hollow interior. A
tubular
portion centrally located in the cover terminates with an inwardly curved edge
at its
lower extremity in a relatively small, open end for forming an open closure
spaced in
the hollow interior below the midpoint between the cover and the base to
provide
visual and selective access to the dry, granular foodstuff located in the
hollow
interior of the bowl when open. A portion of the tubular portion extends
upwardly
and terminates in an open, upper end spaced above the cover. A tubular passage
depends downwardly through the tubular portion and communicates with the
hollow
interior of the bowl by means of the open closure means. A cap spaced above
the
bowl cover is removably located on the open, upper end, completely closing off
the
open closure and egress and access to the dry, granular foodstuff. The bowl,
when
suitably sized, can also be used by adults as a "spill-proof' bowl for
foodstuff, and, in
either event, the diameter of the tubular passage is just a little bit greater
than the
lateral dimension of the human hand for whom it was designed, the total
opening to
the hollow interior being otherwise no more than that necessary for hand
access.
Bussard et al, U.S. 4,884,717 describes a container used for nibbling snack
food, including a receptacle and a top cover made of flexible material, the
cover
2
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
having crossing slits forming a circle of tongues which when flexed downwardly
by a
person's fingers reaching inside for picking up the food, thus form a self-
closing
dispensing opening through the cover.
Mengeu et al, U.S. 5,388,731 describes a cap and dispensing fitment
combination for a container. The cap has an end wall and a skirt extending
axially
form the periphery of the end wall, the cap being adapted to engage the neck
of the
container. The end wall of the cap has an annular flange that extends axially
and
radially outwardly therefrom, the annular flange terminating in a free end
surface that
facilitates securing the dispensing fitment to the cap. The dispensing fitment
comprises an end wall having at least one opening therein, the annular flange
engaging into the opening. The dispensing fitment has a sidewall extending
axially
from the periphery of the end wall and is adapted to engage the container when
the
combination is placed on the container and to retain the dispensing fitment on
the
container even as the cap is removed from the container.
Brun, Jr., U.S. 5,449,085 describes a blow molded plastics container
including an injection molded annular neck portion which is sealed by
injection
molding to an annular wall portion of an injection molded top end wall having
a part-
spherical center portion. The center portion has five circumferentially spaced
and
upwardly projecting annular lip seals, two of which surround openings within
the top
end wall. An injection molded rotatable closure snap-fits onto the neck
portion and
has a mating part-spherical center portion which engages the lip seals. The
closure
has one opening which is selectively and progressively alignable with the
annular lip
seals in response to indexing the closure in one direction. An integrally
molded one-
3
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
way latch extends between the center portions of the closure and top end wall
and
prevents reverse rotation of the closure except between a consumer open
position
and a sealed reclosable position.
The prior art teaches various apparatuses for holding foods for human
consumption. However, the prior art does not teach that the container may have
a
cover comprised of two mutually rotatable panels providing a plurality of
flexible
fingers so as to enable easy access inside of the container while protecting
the
contents of the container from an inadvertent spill. Moreover, the prior art
does not
teach that such a container cover may be of a resilient, snap-action type for
preventing spoilage caused by undesirable exposure to dryness or moisture. The
present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages
as
described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which
give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a spill-proof container having a two-panel
cover such than an upper panel is stationary, while a lower panel is enabled
for
rotational motion relative to the upper panel. As each panel has an aperture
in it,
and the lower panel provides a device for manual actuation of the rotational
motion
of the lower panel relative to the upper panel, the invention enables one to
reach
inside of the container when the lower aperture is positioned by the rotative
motion
adjacent to the upper aperture. Therefore, the food is held fresh and
protected from
an exposure to moisture or dryness, while it is easily accessible without
removal of
4
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
the container's cover. This objective is further enhanced by a resilient, snap-
action
engagement of an L-shaped annular groove in the container cover. Additionally,
the
lower panel aperture is provided with a flexible surface which is separated by
radial
slits into flexible fingers. The flexible fingers are such that they are
capable of
bending into the container when a hand reaches inside of the container for
food, and
resiliently return to their initial planar position, automatically closing the
container
when the hand is removed. Consequently, no food will spill out if the
container is
tilted too far or accidentally tipped over.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a spill-proof snack
container having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a spill-proof food container which facilitates
easy access to the contents of the container without removing the container's
cover.
A further objective is to provide a cover for a food container with a snap-
action resilient engagement with the container, thus minimizing food's
exposure to
dryness or moisture of the fresh air and securing freshness of the contents of
the
container.
A further objective is to provide a food container which is adapted for
spillage-
proof use and which permit easy access to the container by hand, but prevents
an
inadvertent spillage of the contents of the container if the container is
tilted too far or
accidentally tipped over.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
5
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of
the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawing illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention showing a lower panel of the cover of the invention in a closed
position;
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof showing the lower panel of the cover being
rotated to position a lower panel aperture adjacent to an upper panel
aperture;
Figure 3 is a partial sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2
and
showing flexible fingers of the lower panel bending, as they might be by
pressure of
a hand reaching into a container;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention as shown in Fig. 1; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 4 showing the flexible
fingers of the lower panel pressed inwardly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Many types of containers and closures are well known in the prior art. Some
of the containers provide for rotatable two-panel covers providing an easy
opening
and reclosing of the container upon rotation of a one cover panel relative to
another.
Other containers have been used having a cover with crossing resilient slits
which,
when flexed downwardly by a person's fingers form a self-closing dispensing
opening through the cover. However, all types of the covers described in the
prior
art exhibit significant disadvantages. Thus, the containers with rotatable two-
panel
6
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
covers are subject to exposure of the contents of the container to spillage
through
the open aperture. While this problem may be considered only an inconvenience
by
adults, the problem is a significant one when the container is intended for
use by
children. The other types of container covers, for instance, those with the
open slits,
while preventing the contents of the container from an inadvertent spillage,
leave the
contents exposed to air, thus exposing the food inside of the container to
dryness,
wetness and potential early spoilage.
The above-described drawing Figures 1 through 5 illustrate the invention, a
storage apparatus 5. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, an embodiment of the present
invention comprises a storage container 10 which includes a side wall 11 and a
bottom wall 12, the side wall 11 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 12 and
is
integral thereto. The sidewall 11 terminates at an open top 13 and provides an
annular lip 13' which projects outwardly from and defines the open top 13 of
the
storage container 10. The storage container 10 is preferably manufactured by
injection molding process of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, in one
piece, thus
making the invention economical in production and available to replace more
elaborate and expensive articles used for the same purposes.
The storage apparatus 5 further comprises a container cover 20 which
provides a container cover annular rim 21. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the
annular
rim 21 is integrally injection molded around a container cover base 20' and
projects
upwardly and outwardly therefrom. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 3, the
container
cover annular rim 21 has an annular groove 22 therewithin such that the
annular lip
13' of the side wall 11 is accepted by the annular groove 22 in a snap-action,
7
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
removable engagement. Thus, the annular groove 22 and the annular lip 13' form
a
positive moisture-tight connection securing the container cover 20 onto the
storage
container 10. In the preferred embodiment, the annular groove 22 of the
container
cover annular rim 21 is L-shaped and consists of two integral elements. While
an
inner rim element 21A is immediately adjacent to the container cover base 20',
a
peripheral rim element 21 B extends downwardly from the element 21A. Thus, the
inner element 21 A and a peripheral element 21 B form a convergent groove
sidewall
surface 22' wherein the peripheral rim element 21 B is enabled for resilient
reception
of the annular lip 13' of the storage container 10. Consequently, when the
annular
lip 13' is pressed into the convergent side wall surface 22', the resilient
lock-action
engagement with the peripheral rim element 21 B tightly locks the annular lip
13'
within the convergent wall side surface 22". The container cover 20 is
preferably
manufactured by injection molding of plastic, such as polyethylene,
polypropylene or
other lightweight structural or semi-structural cost effective plastic
material.
The container cover 20 further provides a stationary upper panel 23 defined
by the container cover annular rim 21 and positioned for covering the open top
13 of
the storage container 10. Inventively, the upper panel 23 is pivotally engaged
by a
pivot means 40 with a lower panel 24 so that the lower panel 24 is enabled for
rotating relative to the upper panel 23. In the preferred embodiment the pivot
means
40 is sized to enable rotational motion of the lower panel 24. Alternatively,
the pivot
means 40 may be a fastener or a bolt which allows the pivot means 40 to
facilitate
the rotational engagement between the lower 23 and the upper 24 panels of the
container's cover.
8
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the lower panel 24 is also defined by the
container cover annular rim 21 and provides a lower panel aperture 28. The
upper
panel 23 has an upper panel aperture 27 therein. The upper 27 and the lower 28
panel apertures are sized and positioned so as to enable a complete closure of
the
container 20 by rotation of the lower panel 24 relative to the upper panel 23.
Advantagageously, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the lower panel aperture 28
comprises a surface 26 which is divided by a plurality of radial slits 26' so
as to
define a plurality of flexible fingers 26". The flexible fingers 26" laying
contiguously
in planar congruence to each other, define a lower panel aperture 28 in the
lower
panel23.
The lower panel 23 further comprises a means for rotational actuation 30 of
the lower panel 24 relative to the upper panel 23. In a preferred embodiment
the
means for rotational actuation 30 is a mushroom-shaped handle, but it may take
any
compact shape within the physical confines of the panels. This handle is
fixedly
attached to the lower panel 23 by any type of common fastener such as a screw,
and extends therefrom generally perpendicularly to the lower panel 23 through
the
upper panel aperture 27. Consequently, the rotational actuation means 30 is
positioned to enable a grip by a hand for the purposes of actuation of the
rotational
motion of the lower panel 24 relative to the upper panel 23. When a rotational
motion is attempted by a hand grasping the means for rotational actuation 30
and
pulling it clockwise or counterclockwise, the means for rotational actuation
30 is
enabled to position the lower panel aperture 28 adjacent to the upper panel
aperture
9
CA 02327897 2001-04-05
27, thus providing access to the contents of the container 10 through the
coinciding
upper 27 and lower 28 panel apertures.
In an open position, when a hand reaches through the upper 27 and the lower
28 panel apertures, hand pressure, directed towards the inside of the
container 10 is
met by the divided surface 26, which causes the flexible fingers 26" to bend
inwardly
into the storage container 10. Inventively, the flexible fingers 26" are
resiliently
biased and, therefore, enabled for returning the planar congruence when
pressure is
released therefrom. Consequently, as shown in Fig. 3, when the hand's pressure
is
applied to the divided surface 26, the flexible fingers 26" bend, forming a
self-closing
dispensing opening through the cover and enabling the hand to reach for the
food
inside of the container 10. After the hand is removed, the pressure on the
flexible
fingers 26" ceases to exist, whereupon the flexible fingers 26" return to
their initial
planar position, thus restoring congruence of the surface 26", which, in turn,
provides relatively tight sealing and prevents the contents of the container
10 from
an inadvertent spill and potential early spoilage.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one
preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the
art that
the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to
be
interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
