Unibody sanitary can with multiple storage compartments
A container for foods or beverages is provided which includes in one embodiment at least one inwardly extending ledge which is formed by creating a bend in the container body proximate to an upper end, and which is adapted to receive a removable sealing membrane to provide multiple storage compartments.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/524,945, filed on Nov. 24, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to containers, and more specifically food and beverage containers with one or more distinct compartments, and including in one embodiment an integral ledge with an easy pour feature which is adapted to support a sealing membrane.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDue to the vast variety of food and beverage items available to the consuming public, it is desirable to have a storage container which is durable, generally airtight, safe, and which is capable of storing multiple associated products in one compact, easy opening container. This type of container helps alleviate the problem of limited shelf space, allows stacking without causing package and/or product deformation, and keeps associated products in close proximity. Thus, products such as a cake mix and the appropriate cake topping may be shipped and stored in one container without misplacement or damage. Other similar products such as yogurt and granola or non perishable items can also be stored in one easy opening, compact container.
Although it is known in the art to provide plastic containers with multiple compartments, these types of containers are not durable, and are susceptible to breaking and cracking during shipping. Additionally, depending on the type of food product being stored, it is possible for the taste of the food to become tainted due to scalping from the plastic materials. Further, since plastic and cardboard products can be squeezed and the shape altered, the internal components can easily become damaged or inadvertently mixed, and based on the limited compressive strength, the materials are generally not conducive to stacking in large volumes.
Although there are a variety of different container shapes used to store food or beverage products, the vast majority of metallic containers and cans have a large open end with a diameter substantially the same as the lower end. This shape allows for stacking, which is highly beneficial and problematic with bottle shaped containers. However, when beverages or flowable food items or powders are poured with a conventional cylinder shaped container, there is often spillage due to the non-controlled rate of flow. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a metallic food or beverage container which has a reduced diameter, funnel type neck to reduce the rate of flow, yet is stackable for storage and shipping purposes. Additionally, the funnel necked ledge of the present invention in one embodiment utilizes a smooth exiting feature which allows for an easy pour container.
It is a further problem in the container industry to change the geometric shape and features of a food or beverage container without having to invest significant capital in machinery, tooling and production lines. Thus, it is significant challenge to make major container design revisions, yet utilize existing container manufacturing equipment and processes. Accordingly, these problems and the others set forth above are addressed herein with the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is thus one aspect of the present invention to provide a cost effective container which has multiple compartments which are substantially isolated to store distinct food or beverage items. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention a first inwardly extending ledge is provided which is adapted to support a selectively removable membrane such as a foil or plastic material, and which is temporarily interconnected to the inwardly extending ledge with an adhesive or other similar material. Preferably the material is substantially impermeable. In another embodiment of the present invention, a second inwardly extending ledge is provided to create at least three distinct and separable compartments. Similar to the first inwardly extending ledge, a second sealable membrane such as aluminum or tin foil or plastic is temporarily sealed to the second inwardly extending ledge until the appropriate time for opening. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, the multiple compartments can be used to preserve and store any variety of foodstuffs or liquids, such as a yogurt and granola, cake batter and cake frosting, assortments of snack foods such as peanuts, almonds, cashews, or any other combination of foods and/or beverages.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a container opening which restricts the flow rate of the product being poured from the container, and thus helps prevent spillage. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention a restricted diameter, funnel shaped neck portion is provided which is integral to the body of the container, and may include a number of different shapes or diameters depending on the specific application. In one embodiment, an integral ledge is provided which has a smooth, easy pouring geometry, yet provides sufficient surface area on an upper surface to allow the removable attachment of a sealing closure such as a heat sealed plastic material.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a restricted diameter neck portion, with the upper end of the container having substantially the same diameter as the lower end, and utilizing a geometric profile which facilitates stacking and shipping. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, the reduced diameter funnel shaped neck portion is formed by at least one inwardly extending ledge, yet the upper end of the container has a sufficient diameter to allow stacking.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a multi-compartment container which can be manufactured with well known metal container manufacturing equipment. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, a container with multiple compartments is originally formed from a blank piece of metal such as aluminum, steel or tin and which is selectively formed to have one or more inwardly oriented ledges which are adapted to support a sealable membrane and/or a sealed end closure.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a metallic container with multiple compartments with a double seamed end closure to provide a durable, stackable container. In one embodiment, the durable double seam is provided to interconnect an end closure to the container which is tamper resistant, airtight and which is generally opened with a can opener. Alternatively, the container open end may be sealed with a substantially impermeable membrane such as plastic, tin or aluminum foil and may or may not be resealable or adapted for repeated use.
Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, a metal container is provided having at least two distinct storage compartments and which comprises:
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- a container body having a closed end, an open end, and side walls extending therebetween;
- a first inwardly extending ledge created generally by a fold in an upper portion of said side walls;
- a peripheral cover hook positioned on said open end of said container body, said peripheral cover hook having substantially no exposed edges;
- a first sealable membrane interconnected to said first inwardly extending ledge; and
- an end closure interconnected to said peripheral cover hook, wherein a first compartment is created below said first sealable membrane and a second compartment is created between said removable lid and said first sealable membrane.
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The following components and numbers associated with the present invention are provided herein for clarity purposes.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments or various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Claims
1. A multi-compartment metallic container, comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical container body having a lower end, an open upper end and side walls extending therebetween;
- a first inwardly extending ledge integrally interconnected to said container body and having an upper surface and a lower surface; and
- a peripheral, cover hook integrally interconnected to said open upper end of said container body and which is adapted for interconnection to an end closure; and
- a sealable membrane removably interconnected to said upper surface of said first inwardly extending ledge and extending across said open upper end to define first compartment below said sealable membrane and a second compartment above said sealable membrane.
2. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a second inwardly extending ledge integrally interconnected to said upper end of said container body, said second inwardly extending ledge having an upper surface and a lower surface.
3. The storage container of claim 2, further comprising a sealable membrane removably interconnected to said upper surface of said second inwardly extending ledge, and extending across said open upper end of said container.
4. The storage container of claim 3, wherein a storage space is defined between said first inwardly extending ledge and said second inwardly extending ledge.
5. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a selectively removable lid which extends over said peripheral cover hook, wherein said selectively removable lid can be repeatedly opened and closed.
6. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said peripheral cover hook has a substantially circular cross sectional geometric profile with substantially no exposed edges.
7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said upper end of said container body further comprises a tapered neck, wherein a funnel effect is created which restricts the rate of flow of materials poured from said container body.
8. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said peripheral curled end section is curled outwardly with respect to an interior of said storage container, and a distal edge of said container material is bent inwardly toward an interior of said storage container.
9. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said sealable membrane is comprised of a substantially impermeable foil with an adhesive material positioned substantially along a peripheral edge.
10. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising an end closure which is sealingly interconnected to said peripheral cover hook, wherein said sealable membrane is substantially sealed from an exterior environment until said end closure is removed.
11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said container body is comprised of at least one of an aluminum, a steel, and a tin material and combinations therein.
12. The storage container of claim 1, wherein said first inwardly extending ledge is created from a fold in said side walls of said container body.
13. A two-piece container having at least two distinct storage compartments, comprising:
- a container body having a closed end, an open end, and side walls extending therebetween;
- a first inwardly extending ledge created by a fold in an upper portion of said side walls;
- a peripheral cover hook positioned on said open end of said container body, said peripheral cover hook having substantially no exposed edges;
- a first sealable membrane interconnected to said first inwardly extending ledge; and
- an end closure interconnected to said peripheral cover hook, wherein a first compartment is created below said first sealable membrane and a second compartment is created between said removable lid and said first sealable membrane.
14. The two-piece container of claim 13, wherein said end closure is double seamed to said peripheral cover hook.
15. The two-piece container of claim 13, wherein said end closure is selectively removable for repeated use.
16. The two-piece container of claim 13, further comprises a second inwardly extending ledge adapted to retain a second sealable membrane, said second inwardly extending ledge created by a fold in an upper portion of said side walls and positioned above said first inwardly extending edge, wherein at least three distinct storage compartments are formed between said lid and said closed end of said two-piece container.
17. The two-piece container of claim 16, further comprising a second sealable and removable membrane interconnected to said second inwardly extending ledge.
18. The two-piece container of claim 13, wherein said one piece metal container further comprises a neck positioned proximate to said open end which has a reduced diameter from said container body.
19. The two-piece container of claim 13, wherein at least said container body is comprised of at least one of an aluminum, a tin, and a steel material and combinations therein.
20. The two-piece container of claim 13, wherein said first sealable membrane has a pull tab to facilitate removal.
21. The two-piece container of claim 13, wherein said first sealable membrane is comprised of at least one of a metal, a plastic, and a paper material and combinations therein.
22. A pourable, one piece container having a reduced diameter ledge adapted for supporting a sealable membrane, comprising:
- a container body having a closed lower end, an open upper end and side walls extending therebetween;
- a first inwardly extending ledge created by an inwardly oriented bend in said container side walls proximate to said open upper end, and comprising a substantially horizontally oriented upper surface, said first inwardly extending ledge having a transition area with an internal diameter which is generally less than an internal diameter of said container body positioned below said first inwardly extending ledge; and
- a peripheral cover hook integrally interconnected to said upper end of said container body and formed by curling an upper edge of said container, wherein there are substantially no exposed edges.
23. The container of claim 22, further comprising a removable end closure which is adapted for interconnection to said peripheral cover hook.
24. The container of claim 22, further comprising a first sealable membrane removably interconnected to said substantially horizontally oriented upper surface of said first inwardly extending ledge.
25. The container of claim 24, wherein said first sealable membrane extends upwardly along a chuck wall positioned between said peripheral cover hook and said first inwardly extending ledge.
26. The container of claim 22, wherein an external diameter of said closed lower end of said container is less than an internal diameter of said peripheral cover hook, wherein said container may be stacked on a second container.
27. The container of claim 22, wherein said transition area has a rounded geometric profile.
28. The container of claim 22, wherein said container is comprised of at least one of an aluminum, a tin, and a steel material, and combinations therein.
29. The container of claim 24, wherein said first sealable membrane is comprised of at least one of a metallic, a paper, and a plastic material and combinations therein.
30. The container of claim 22, further comprising a second inwardly extending ledge which is adapted to receive a second sealable membrane.
31. The end closure of claim 23, wherein said end closure is comprised of a plastic material.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2004
Publication Date: May 26, 2005
Inventor: Howard Chasteen (Golden, CO)
Application Number: 10/959,294