Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEM
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/982,052, entitled
"CONTAINER," which was filed on October 23, 2007.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disclosure generally relates to containers, and
more particularly, to a storage and dispensing system
having a shape and structure for enhanced dispensing of
substances, such as food products.
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BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Liquid food products and solid food products
distributed to consumers are generally stored and
transported in containers. These containers are
typically made of a thermoplastic material and may be
fabricated by injection molding or other manufacturing
techniques. These containers may be integrally formed in
a one-piece, thin-walled container having various
capacities ranging from a few ounces to several gallons,
or more.
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SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to one embodiment, a liquid storage and
dispensing system includes a closure configured with a
spout that is releasably coupled to a body. The body has
a base integrally formed with a front region, a back
region, and two side regions that form a cavity for
storage of a food product. For placement of a product
label, the front region is relatively flatter than the
two side regions and the back region, and the front
region slopes inwardly from the base such that the front
region faces upwardly when the base is placed on a
horizontal surface. Each of the two side regions
includes an indentation proximate the opening and aligned
with a longitudinal axis passing through the center of
body. The indentations form a handle for grasping the
body while dispensing the food product. The front region
and the indentations form a volume in the upper portion
of the body that is less than the lower portion of the
body.
Some embodiments of the disclosure may provide
numerous technical advantages. For example, one
embodiment of the food product storage and dispensing
system may provide enhanced display when confi_gured in
known display racks that display containers in a
declining angle. This example storage and dispensing
system incorporates a front region with an upward facing
surface that exhibits enhanced visibility when placed on
one of these display racks. As another example, the
upwardly facing front region along with indentations
formed on the two side regions also form a volumetric
capacity for the upper portion of cavity that is
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relatively less than its lower portion for enhanced
stability.
Another advantage that may be provided is enhanced
ergonomic directionality that may serve to reduce
spillage caused by improper dispensing of food product
with the spout in an incorrect orientation. The front
region in conjunction with indentations provide touch
points that encourage grasping of the storage and
dispensing system in a consistent manner. The storage and
dispensing system includes an alignment mechanism that
aligns the indentations configured on the body with the
spout such that the spout is oriented properly when
dispensing food product from the storage and dispensing
system.
Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all
of these advantages. Other technical advantages may be
readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the art.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of embodiments of the
disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
5 which:
FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one
embodiment of a food product storage and dispensing
system according to the teachings of the present
disclosure;
FIGURE 2A is a front elevational view of the body of
FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 2B is a side elevational view of the body of
FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 2C is a rear elevational view of the body of
FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of several food
product dispensing systems of FIGURE 1 that are disposed
on a declining display rack;
FIGURE 4A is a perspective view of one embodiment of
a closure that may be configured on the body of FIGURES
2A through 2C;
FIGURE 4B is a top view of the closure of FIGURE 4A;
FIGURE 4C is a bottom view of the closure of FIGURE
4A; and
FIGURE 4D is a partial, elevational view of the
closure of FIGURE 2A in which the cap is in a relaxed
orientation relative to the closure when in the open
position.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
Although an example embodiment of the present
disclosure is illustrated and described, the present
disclosure may be implemented using any quantity and type
of structural variations, whether currently known or in
existence. The present disclosure, therefore, should in
no way be limited to the example embodiment with its
associated drawings illustrated below and described
herein. Additionally, the drawings may not be
necessarily drawn to scale.
FIGURE 1 shows one embodiment of a storage and
dispensing system 10 according to the teachings of the
present disclosure. Storage and dispensing system 10
includes a body 12 that is removably coupled to a closure
14. Body 12 has a cavity for storage of a substance that
may include a liquid substance, such as water, or a solid
substance, such as flour. Although the particular
embodiment shown is directed to storage and dispensing of
a food product, the teachings of the present disclosure
may be directed to storage and dispensing of any
generally amorphous substance that may be, for example,
medicine, juice, or a hygiene product, such as mouthwash.
As will be described in detail below, storage and
dispensing system 10 may provide a system for storing and
dispensing of a substance having benefits not recognized
by other food product storage systems. Storage and
dispensing system 10 includes several features that
function together in a synergistic fashion to provide a
system for storing and dispensing of a substance for
reducing spillage and/or leakage of the substance and may
be relatively ergonomic to use.
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These synergistic effects may enhance consumer
acceptance of storage and dispensing system 10, and thus,
the marketability of its food product in some
embodiments. For example, body 12 has several features
that provide an upwardly converging conical shape, such
that when filled with a food product, has a relatively
low center-of-gravity for enhanced stability. In some
embodiments, the relatively low center-of-gravity may
provide relatively good stability while displayed on rack
designs that display containers at a declining angle.
Other examples of enhanced utility provided by storage
and dispensing system 10 are described below.
FIGURES 2A through 2C show front, side, and back
elevational views of the body 12 of FIGURE 1. Body 12
has a base 16, a front region 18, two side regions 20, a
back region 22, and an upper edge 24. Body 12 also has
an opening 26 for insertion and removal of food product
to and from the cavity, respectively. Although opening
26 is configured with threads 30 for removable coupling
to closure 14, other embodiments may incorporate other
removable coupling mechanisms, such as a structure
suitable for providing a snap-on or a press-on fit of
closure 14 to body 12.
In one embodiment, body 12 has an overall shape such
that the food product stored in body has a center-of-
gravity 34 that is maintained generally along a
longitudinal axis 36. Indentations 38 provided on side
regions 20 provide touch points for body 12 and may form
a portion of the generally upwardly converging conical
shape of body 12. In another embodiment, indentations 38
are aligned along longitudinal axis 36 such that the
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supporting fingers of a user may be aligned with
longitudinal axis 36 when body 12 is lifted.
Several ribs 42 may be provided for enhancing
structural rigidity of body 12. Ribs 42 generally
include elongated recessed portions that are integrally
formed with body 12 during manufacture. Ribs 42 extend
horizontally over at least a portion of its outer
periphery and are generally spaced apart equally from one
another. Ribs 42 may increase the hoop strength of body
12 for reduced buckling under vertical and/or side load
compression forces in some embodiments.
Front region 18 may extend over any portion or over
the entirety of the front side of body 12. In the
particular embodiment shown, front region 18 extends
vertically from an elevational point 40 proximate the
lower portion of body 12 to its upper edge 24. Front
region 18 may also be free of ribs 42 that extend
horizontally around side regions 20 and back region 22.
Front region 18 has a relatively flatter contour than
side regions 20 and back region 22 for placement of a
product label. In one embodiment, the product label may
be formed on front region 18 using a cylindrically shaped
shrink-wrap material that is placed over body 12 and
heated to conform to the shape of body 12. As best shown
in FIGURE 2B, front region 18 slopes inwardly from the
base such that the front region faces upwardly at an
angle 6i when the base is placed on a horizontal surface.
Certain embodiments of front region 18 and its
configuration on body 12 may provide an advantage in
that, because front region 18 extends to upper edge 24,
it may also provide vertical support for other items,
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such as additional storage and dispensing systems 10
placed on top of closure 14 during display and/or
transport.
FIGURE 3 shows several storage and dispensing
systems 10 that are disposed in a display rack 46.
Display rack 46 as shown includes a support platform 48
and one or more rails 50. As an example, display rack 46
may be formed from a plurality of wires that are bent to
form support platform 48 and rails 50. Display rack 46,
however, may be any suitable structure for display and
support of storage and dispensing systems 10, such as
those typically found at grocery stores that sell food
products. Support platform 48 supports storage and
dispensing systems 10 while rails 50 ensure that storage
and dispensing systems 10 remain on support platform 48.
Support platform 48 is oriented at a declining angle ed
such that storage and dispensing systems 10 slide to the
front of support platform 48 when one before it is
removed. In many cases, the declining angle ed of most
display racks is generally in the range of 5 to 20
degrees and most commonly around 15 degrees from
horizontal. This declining angle 6d, however, may make
product labels on known food dispensing systems difficult
to read. When disposed in display rack 46 having a
declining angle 6d of 15 degrees, the inward sloping angle
6i of front region 18 decreases the viewing angle ev to
approximately 5.59 degrees. Thus, in one embodiment, an
inward sloping angle ei of front region 18 may be selected
according to the declining angle ed of any display rack
that is adapted to support and display storage and
dispensing system 10. Thus, the inward sloping angle 6i
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of front region 18 may provide enhanced visualization
while disposed in display rack 46.
The inward sloping characteristic of front region 18
in conjunction with indentations 38 may provide a
5 volumetric capacity for the upper portion of cavity that
is relatively less than its lower portion for enhanced
stability. That is, indentations 38 may reduce the
volumetric capacity in the upper portion of body 12 such
that the center-of-gravity 34 of a fully filled storage
10 and display system 10 is in the lower portion of body 12.
In one embodiment, the center-of-gravity 34 of storage
and display system 10 may be selected according to the
declining angle 6d of most common display racks 46 to
ensure stability while disposed on a display rack 46. In
another embodiment, the center-of-gravity 34 may be
selected for increased stability in a manufacturing line
that produces storage and display systems 10. A
manufacturing process used to fill storage and display
systems 10 with the food product may include various
manufacturing devices, such as conveyor belts or rollers,
that move bodies 12 from one location to another. A
relatively low center-of-gravity 34 may provide increased
stability during movement over the various manufacturing
mechanisms. In a particular embodiment in which storage
and dispensing system 10 is configured to store 32 ounces
of product, the overall height of the body 12 coupled
with the closure 14 may be approximately 9.75 inches
while having a center-of-gravity 34 at approximately
3.327 inches above base 16, which is 34.1 percent of its
overall height. A center-of-gravity 34 that is
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approximately 34.1 percent of its overall height may
provide the benefits described above.
Front region 18, two side regions 20, and back
region 22 below point 40 (FIGURE 2B) generally refers to
a lower portion of body 12 that may be generally
cylindrical in shape. The generally cylindrical shape
may provide enhanced stability of storage and dispensing
system 10 while disposed on display rack 46 and/or during
a manufacturing process in which numerous bodies 12 are
bundled together on a manufacturing mechanism, such as a
conveyor line that manipulates bodies 12 during a product
filling process. The generally cylindrical shape may
also provide storage for an enhanced mass of product that
may in turn, provide a relatively low center-of-gravity
34.
Body 12 may be formed of any suitable material. In
one embodiment, body 12 is formed of a thermoplastic
material, such as a high density polyethylene (HDPE)
plastic material, which is generally "food safe", for
storage of human consumable liquids. However, body 12
may formed from any suitable plastic material appropriate
for the type of substance it is adapted to contain. Body
12 may be manufactured using conventional blow molding
techniques that are well known to those skilled in the
art, or other suitable technique. The body 12 as
disclosed is configured to store approximately 16 fluid
ounces of product; it will be understood however, that a
container having other capacities could be constructed
using the teachings of this disclosure.
FIGURES 4A through 4D show various views of one
embodiment of a closure 14 that may be used with the body
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12 of FIGURES 2A through 2C. Closure 14 generally
includes a closure base 54 having a spout 56 that is
hingedly coupled to a cap 58 having a inwardly directed
protuberance 60 arid a drip-catching member 74. Closure
14 is removably coupled to body 12 using any suitable
removable coupling mechanism as described above. As best
shown in the present embodiment of FIGURE 4D, closure 14
is removably coupled to body 12 using screw-type threads
62 that engage complementary threads 30 configured on
body 12. Closure base 54, spout 56, cap 58, and
protuberance 60 may be integrally formed from one piece
of thermoplastic material, such as high density
polyethylene (HDPE) using an injection molding process.
In another embodiment, closure base 54 and spout 56 may
be fabricated independently of cap 58 and protuberance 60
such that cap 58 may be removed from closure base 54
without a pivoting action. Closure base 54 may also
include a crab-claw seal 64 for sealing the cavity
against the closure 14 when coupled to body 12. Crab-
claw seal 64 generally includes an annular ring that is
integrally formed with closure base 54 and sufficiently
resilient to deform slightly when pressed against the top
of opening 26.
Cap 58 is selectively movable from a closed position
over spout 56 to an open position away from the spout 56.
When in the closed position, the food product stored in
body 12 is isolated from the environment. When in the
open position, spout 56 is exposed for dispensing of the
food product from cavity. In one embodiment, cap 58 is
hingedly attached to closure base 54. In this manner,
the cap 58 may be pivoted from the closed position as
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shown in FIGURE 1 to the open position as shown in
FIGURES 4A through 4D.
Again referring to FIGURE 4D, the upper surface of
cap 58 is generally flat in shape. This generally flat
shape may provide a surface for placement of a label or
other suitable indicia describing the contents of the
storage and dispensing system 10. Labeling on the upper
surface of cap 58 may incorporate embossed or debossed
indicia formed on cap 58 during manufacture.
Closure base 54 is generally cylindrical in shape
having a lower end 66 that is disposed proximate upper
edge 24 when coupled to body 12. This arrangement may
operate in conjurlction with the generally flat front
region 18 to maintain its shape under a vertical top-load
compression force. That is, closure base 54 and upper
edge 24 along with front region 18 are configured to
transfer downward directed forces placed on closure 14,
such as the wei.ght of other storage and dispensing
systems 10 to base 16 in a structurally stable manner.
Closure 14 has a pair of tabs 68 that engage a
corresponding pair of tab stops 70 (FIGURE 2B) when
closure 14 is screwed onto body 12. When tabs 68 engage
tab stops 70, the orientation of spout 56 is maintained
in a consistent direction relative to the orientation of
indentations 38 configured on body 12. In one
embodiment, an anti back-off element 72 is provided
proximate each tab stop 70 for resisting a backward
rotation of closure 14 relative to body 12 when closure
14 is coupled to body 12. Each anti back-off element 72
includes a sloped surface and a vertically oriented
surface for engagement of tab 68. The sloped surface of
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anti back-off element 72 allows relatively free movement
of tab 68 when closure 14 is rotated in a clockwise
direction relative to body 12. Anti back-off element 72
is disposed a predetermined distance from tab stop 70
such that at least a portion of tab 68 abuts the
vertically oriented surface of anti back-off element 72
when tab 68 is engaged with tab stop 70.
The arrangement of tab 68 and the vertically
oriented surface of anti back-off element 72 may be
selected to provide a desired level of angular force
necessary to rotate closure 14 in a counter-clockwise
direction. Thus, tabs 68, tab stops 70, and anti back-
off elements 72 function to ensure alignment of spout 56
with indentations 38 when closure 14 is coupled to body
12. In one embodiment, anti back-off elements 72 may
also serve to maintain a specified level of compression
force on crab-claw seal 64 while closure 14 is configured
on body 12.
Spout 56 is integrally formed with and extends above
closure base 54 when base 16 of body 12 is placed on a
generally level surface. Spout 56 is generally oblong in
shape having a front edge 76 and a rear edge 78. As best
shown in FIGURE 4B, front edge 76 is generally V-shaped
for directing the flow of the food product when dispensed
from body 12. Spout 56 is aligned with the longitudinal
axis 36 of body 12 when closure 14 is threadably coupled
thereto. In one embodiment, spout 56 has a height H
(FIGURE 4D) selected according to an anticipated pour
angle of the food product from body 12. The pour angle
generally refers to an angle in which body 12 is pivoted
by a user to dispense the food product. An insufficient
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pour angle may result in leakage of the food product onto
closure base 54, a condition that may decrease customer
appeal of the food product. The anticipated pour angle
of storage and display system 10 may be selected
5 according to several factors including the fill height of
the food product in cavity and the general viscosity of
the food product. The height H of spout 56 above closure
base 54 may be coordinated with the various factors
affecting the pour angle to reduce leakage of the food
10 product onto closure base 54 when dispensed.
Certain embodiments of spout 56 may provide
synergistic benefits when incorporated with other
features of storage and dispensing system 10. For
example, alignment of spout 56 with indentations 38 and
15 front region 18 of body 12 may provide enhanced control
over the amount and/or rate of the food product that is
dispensed. Alignment of spout 56 with front region 18
and indentations 38 may also provide an ergonomic
directionality for improved dispensing of the food
product. The shape of body 12 provided by indentations
38 and front region 18 provide an ergonomic design that
encourages grasping of body 12 in a consistent manner.
Alignment of the V-shaped spout 56 with indentations 38
and front region 18 may, therefore, ensure that V-shaped
spout 56 is pointed in the correct direction during a
dispensing action. The generally conical shape provided
by the inward sloping front region 18 and indentations 38
may also serve to lower the center-of-gravity for further
enhancing control over the amount and/or rate of the food
product dispensed from the storage and dispensing system
10.
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In one embodiment, the front edge 76 and/or the rear
edge 78 of spout 56 is flared outwardly. The flared
shape of front edge 76 may provide an advantage in that
residual food product remaining on the front edge 76 may
be reduced following a dispensing action of the food
product. The upwardly extending spout 56 may serve to
direct dispensed the food product at a distance from the
closure base 54 for reducing residual build-up of the
food product on closure base 54. The relatively abrupt
contour of the front edge 76 may therefore limit drips
that may occur due to inherent surface tension properties
of water-based materials typical of known food products.
Protuberance 60 may be included to engage the inner
perimeter of spout 56 when in the closed position. In
one embodiment, protuberance 60 is generally resilient
such that it deforms to the shape of spout 56 when
engaged. As best shown in FIGURE 4B, protuberance 60 is
generally hollow having a continuous wall that is
essentially the same shape as spout 56. The wall of
protuberance 60 has a thickness such that it is generally
resilient when integrally fabricated with the other
elements of closure 14. In one embodiment, the outer
perimeter of protuberance 60 resiliently engages the
inner perimeter of spout 56 when cap 58 is moved to the
closed position. In this arrangement, protuberance 60
may provide a wiping action for residual food product
remaining on the inner perimeter of spout 56 following a
dispensing actiorl of food product from body 12.
Particular embodiments incorporating a spout 56 with its
front edge 76 and rear edge 78 flared outwardly provides
a mating surface for engagement of protuberance 60 that
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in turn, provides a relatively smooth closing transition
of cap 58 onto closure base 54.
Drip-catching member 74 as shown has a generally
semi-annular shaped projection formed inside protuberance
60 for trapping residual product. In other embodiments,
drip-catching member 74 may have any size or shape that
is adapted to trap residual product inside protuberance
60 when cap 58 is moved from the closed position to the
open position, or the open position to the closed
position. In the particular embodiment shown (FIGURE
4D), protuberance 60 is also configured with an
additional drip-catching member 76 for trapping residual
product. Additional drip-catching member 76 generally
includes an inwardly directed, semi-annular ring
extending over a portion of the upper edge of
protuberance 60.
In many cases, product may be inadvertently
deposited within protuberance 60. In a particular
example, residual product may be deposited within
protuberance 58 by a shaking motion when cap 58 is in the
closed position. When opened, this residual product may
be trapped within protuberance 60. Drip-catching member
74 and/or drip-catching member 76 may reduce leakage of
residual product by trapping it inside protuberance 60.
In certain embodiments, drip-catching member 74 or 76 may
provide a contour and/or an additional amount. surface
area for utilizing the surface tension properties of
product to enhance its attraction within protuberance 60.
This increased attraction may serve to reduce leakage of
product from protuberance 60 while cap 58 is in the open
position.
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A storage and dispensing system 10 has been
described having several features that operate together
to form benefits over other known food product dispensing
systems. For example, leakage of food product may be
reduced by generally V-shaped spout 56 having a flared
front edge 76 and/or rear edge 78 that directs residual
food product back into cavity following a dispensing
action. Residual food product may be further reduced by
protuberance 60 resiliently engages the inner perimeter
of spout 56 when cap 58 is moved to the closed position.
As another example, inwardly sloping front region 18 and
indentations 38 form a generally upwardly converging
conical shape for providing a relatively low center-of-
gravity when filled with food product. The shape of
front region 18 and indentations 38 may be selected such
that the resulting center-of-gravity may provide suitable
stability when storage and display system 10 is placed in
a display rack 46 having a declining support surface.
Additionally, the inclined characteristic of front region
18 may also provide enhanced visualization of its
labeling when placed in the declining display rack 46.
Although the present invention has been described
with several embodiments, a myriad of changes,
variations, alterations, transformations, and
modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art,
and it is intended that the present invention encompass
such changes, variations, alterations, transformation,
and modifications as they fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
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