Abstract: A metal container having a metal and a metal bottom that slide relative to one another along a sliding axis is provided. The metal container includes a plastic lid insert attached to the metal lid and a plastic bottom insert attached to the metal bottom that operably couple the metal lid to the metal bottom and provide the structures allowing for a relative sliding motion between the metal lid and the metal bottom.

Abstract: A spice container and method of making same is provided. The spice container includes a plastic container body and a plastic lid ultrasonically welded to an open end of the container body. The method of making the spice container includes molding the container body from plastic as a one-piece construction. However, during molding, prior to cooling, the container body has a rectangular outer periphery proximate a closed end and an outer periphery at an opposite end having at least one side that bows radially outward. After molding and after cooling, the outer periphery proximate the opposite end has a generally rectangular shape as the bowed side cools and shrinks to a generally straight side.

Abstract: A container of opening a container is provided. The container includes an outer shell slidably carrying a dispensing cartridge between open and closed states. A cooperating catch arrangement is operably interposed between the outer shell and the dispensing cartridge. The cooperating catch arrangement has a locked state that fixes the dispensing cartridge in the closed state relative to the outer shell and an unlocked state in which the dispensing cartridge is permitted to slide relative to the outer shell from the closed state to the open state. The cooperating catch arrangement is operable to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state by resiliently reducing a width of the outer shell along a compression axis which resiliently expands a thickness of the outer shell along an expansion axis to disengage cooperating catch arrangement. A method of opening includes compressing the outer shell to disengage the cooperating catch arrangement.

Abstract: A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.

Abstract: A hinged connector for joining a metal lid and metal bottom to form a hinged container is provided. The metal lid and metal bottom have generally matching formed edges preventing interfitting of the container lid and bottom. The hinged connector is formed of plastic and includes a pair of ring members that are pivotable relative to one another via an integral hinge. The two ring members are continuous about a periphery that is generally shaped to the periphery of the lid and bottom. The ring members form seats for engaging the formed edges of the lid and bottom. The ring members securely grip the formed edges of the lid and body to form the container. By connecting the lid and bottom through the living hinge, the hinge connector allows the lid and bottom to pivot relative to one another between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A container and method of opening a container are provided. The container includes a dispensing cartridge defining a storage cavity with an access opening. A blocking member is transitionable from a blocked state to an unblocked state relative to the access opening. The blocking member covers a greater portion of the access opening in the blocked state than in the unblocked state. The outer shell includes a piercing mechanism configured to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state. The method includes using the piercing mechanism to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state.

Abstract: A metal container having a metal and a metal bottom that slide relative to one another along a sliding axis is provided. The metal container includes a plastic lid insert attached to the metal lid and a plastic bottom insert attached to the metal bottom that operably couple the metal lid to the metal bottom and provide the structures allowing for a relative sliding motion between the metal lid and the metal bottom.

Abstract: A dispensing container is provided. The dispensing container includes an actuation cover; a dispensing cartridge and an outer shell. The dispensing cartridge includes a storage hopper. The storage hopper includes a first outlet. The storage hopper is configured for gravity feeding product adjacent the first outlet. The outer shell includes a central cavity and a second outlet. The dispensing cartridge is positioned within the central cavity. The dispensing cartridge is transitionable between an open orientation in which the first and second outlets are aligned providing a pathway through both the first and second outlets and a closed orientation wherein the first and second outlets are offset decreasing the size of the pathway.

Abstract: A container having a container lid and container bottom as well as a method of assembling the same is provided. In one aspect, the container lid and container bottom have cooperating locking catch portions that inhibit rotational motion therebetween. In one embodiment, the locking catch portion of the container lid is provided by a segment of a thread thereof. In another aspect, an attachment rib is provided by the container bottom that is interposed between adjacent threads. The attachment rib is used to axially engage a thread of the container lid when axially snapping the container lid to the container bottom. A method of assembling the container lid to the container bottom is provided that includes axially snap engaging the thread of the container lid with the attachment rib of the container bottom.

Abstract: A container of opening a container is provided. The container includes an outer shell slidably carrying a dispensing cartridge between open and closed states. A cooperating catch arrangement is operably interposed between the outer shell and the dispensing cartridge. The cooperating catch arrangement has a locked state that fixes the dispensing cartridge in the closed state relative to the outer shell and an unlocked state in which the dispensing cartridge is permitted to slide relative to the outer shell from the closed state to the open state. The cooperating catch arrangement is operable to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state by resiliently reducing a width of the outer shell along a compression axis which resiliently expands a thickness of the outer shell along an expansion axis to disengage cooperating catch arrangement. A method of opening includes compressing the outer shell to disengage the cooperating catch arrangement.

Abstract: A container and method of opening a container are provided. The container includes a dispensing cartridge defining a storage cavity with an access opening. A blocking member is transitionable from a blocked state to an unblocked state relative to the access opening. The blocking member covers a greater portion of the access opening in the blocked state than in the unblocked state. The outer shell includes a piercing mechanism configured to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state. The method includes using the piercing mechanism to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state.

Abstract: A container having a container lid and container bottom as well as a method of assembling the same is provided. In one aspect, the container lid and container bottom have cooperating locking catch portions that inhibit rotational motion therebetween. In one embodiment, the locking catch portion of the container lid is provided by a segment of a thread thereof. In another aspect, an attachment rib is provided by the container bottom that is interposed between adjacent threads. The attachment rib is used to axially engage a thread of the container lid when axially snapping the container lid to the container bottom. A method of assembling the container lid to the container bottom is provided that includes axially snap engaging the thread of the container lid with the attachment rib of the container bottom.

Abstract: A container is provided. The container includes a lid, a bottom and a compactor. The compactor is contained within the container and serves to collect, accumulate or compact any loose products within the container. The compactor and lid can mate such that rotation of the lid can transfer torque to the compactor to adjust a storage portion of the cavity of the container to collect, accumulate or compact the loose product.

Abstract: A closure formed from a pair of closure halves and methods of forming are provided. In one embodiment a closure having identical closure halves is provided. The first closure half includes a first male hinge portion and a first female hinge portion. The second closure half includes a second male hinge portion and a second female hinge portion. The second male hinge portion interfits with the first female hinge portion and cooperate to form a first hinge arrangement defining a first hinge axis. The second female hinge portion interfits with the first male hinge portion and cooperate to form a second hinge arrangement defining a second hinge axis. The first and second hinge axis are co-axial and the first and second closure halves rotate relative to one another via the first and second hinge arrangements about the first and second hinge axes between open and closed states.

Abstract: A tobacco container is provided. The tobacco container includes a lid, a container body and an insert in the form of a liner. The liner releasably connects the lid to the container body. Each of the lid and container body receive and connect to the liner. The liner can include a compression lip that is deformed when the liner is connected to the container body. The liner connects the container body and lid to one another without the two components contacting each other.

Abstract: A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.

Abstract: A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.