Partially openable flip top product package

Abstract

A package is provided for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products. The package includes a container housing having an interior for containing the products and an extending opened filling and dispensing spout. A cover is movably attached to the housing for covering and filling the dispensing spout. The cover is movable from a closed position to a partially opened position wherein only a portion of the filling and dispensing spout is opened to permit dispensing of the product therefrom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/713,050 filed on Aug. 31, 2005, entitled “PARTIALLY OPENABLE FLIP TOP PRODUCT PACKAGE”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a container for containing and dispensing discrete consumable products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flip top container which may be partially opened to dispense product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain discrete consumable products are disposed from a convenient package or container. These consumable products, which may be, for example, mints, candies, gums, vitamins, pharmaceutical tablets and the like may come in a wide variety of shapes. These containers which hold the products may include an openable top so as to dispense one or more of the products. The top is then reclosable for carrying purposes.

As these products are relatively small, the opening from which the products are dispensed from the package must also be small so as to avoid inadvertently dispensing more product than is desired. While these small openings help to prevent excessive product dispensing, it makes the package difficult to fill in an automated environment. Such a problem has necessitated forming a package to have a removable top. The removal top, which may contain the dispensing opening, is removed during the filling process so as to fill the container with product. Thereafter, the top is reassembled to the container and the dispensing opening is used to dispense the product from the package.

It is desirable to provide a package which can then dispense a limited number of products from the container yet can be filled an efficient and automated process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a package for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products. The package includes a container having an interior for containing the products and an extending open-ended filling and dispensing spout. A cover is moveably attached to the housing for covering the filling and dispensing spout. The cover is moveable from a closed position to a partially open position where only a portion of the filling and dispensing spout is open so as to permit dispensing of the product therefrom.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover is pivotally attached to the housing. The cover is also moveable to a fully opened position to permit filling of the housing. The package of the present invention includes cooperative retaining means for restraining the cover from moving inadvertently to the fully opened position. The cooperative retaining means also retains the cover in a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of the package of the present invention in the closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective showing of the package of the present invention in the partially open dispensing position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective showing of the package of the FIG. 1 in the fully opened filling position.

FIG. 4 shows the package of FIG. 3 partially in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A container for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products is provided. Such consumable products may include confectionary products such as candy mints, gum balls, gum pellets as well as pharmaceutical and vitamin tablets. Commonly, these products are sold in a plastic container wherein a plurality of products are housed in the container. The container includes a cover having a opening through which the products can be dispensed. Typically, the user will open the container and dispense a small number of product for immediate consumption and reclose the container for later use.

In order to allow the user to dispense only a small number of products at a time, the dispensing opening must be relatively small. However, providing a small dispensing opening results in difficulties in the automated filling of the container.

Referring to the figures, the package 10 is shown. Package 10 includes two integrally formed components a lower container 12 and an upper cover 14. The container 12 is generally rectangular in shape having a hollow interior 16 which accommodates a plurality of products. Cover 14 may be formed into a rounded configuration and is pivotally connected by a living hinge 18.

In a preferred embodiment shown herein, the container 12 is rectangular while the cover 14 is arcuate in shape. However, any shape and configuration of container and cover may be employed in accordance with the present invention.

Container 12 includes an upwardly extending spout 20 which extends from a rim 22 perimetrically about the upper end of container 12. The rim 22 is designed to seat with a similar rim 24 which perimetrically extends about cover 14 to seat the cover on the container in the closed condition shown in FIG. 1. In that regard, the walls of spout 20 are thinner and more flexible than container 12 and cover 14. In this manner, when the cover 14 overlies spout 20, the cover and the container present a flush surface.

Spout 20 has a generally trapezoidal shape having an open upper end 26 which is in communication with the interior 16 of container 12. The open upper end 26 is defined by an open angular front face 28 have a curved lower end 30 as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and an oppositely tapered rear face 32 extending way from front face 28.

As shown in FIG. 3, the open ended spout 20 provides a substantial filling opening where the container 12 can be filled with product in an automated process. It is contemplated that the package 10 will be filled in the condition shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the cover 14 may be closed onto the container 12 to a position shown in FIG. 1 for shipping and sale.

While the cover 14 is moveable from the fully opened position shown in FIG. 4 for filling purposes, to the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1 for shipping, sale and use, the cover is also openable to a dispensing position shown in FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 2, the dispensing position disposes the cover in a partially open position where the open tapered front face 28 of spout 20 is uncovered. In this position, a small opening is presented for dispensing one or a small number of products therefrom with a reduced risk of dispensing all of the products at one time. In that regard, the cover 14 may be releasably affixed to the container 12 in both the closed position shown in FIG. 1, and the partially open dispensing position shown in FIG. 2.

As more fully shown in FIG. 3, the package 10 includes cooperative retaining means on both the spout 20 and cover 14. Spout 20 includes two pairs of outwardly extending protrusions 40 and 42. Protrusions 40 extend on either side of spout 20 along the upper edge of inwardly sloping face 26. Protrusions 42 are located on either side of spout 20 at a location vertically spaced from protrusions 40. Cover 14 includes a pair of inwardly directed similarly formed protrusions 44 which are positioned along the rim 24 of cover 14. In addition, beneath protrusions 42 on extension 20 are a pair of grooves 46. Grooves 46 are designed to accommodate protrusions 44 of cover 14. The protrusions 40, 42, 44 as well as the grooves 46 form a detent feature for securing and retaining the cover in a closed position shown in FIG. 1 and a partially open position in FIG. 2.

As may be appreciated, in the closed position, the protrusions 44 reside within grooves 46 thereby retaining the cover in the closed position. In order to move the cover from the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the cover may be raised from the container so that the protrusion slides out of groove 46 and over protrusion 42 which helps to hold the cover in the closed position. The package is formed of a relatively resilient deformable plastic, and spout 20 is thin and flexible so that manual movement of the cover is permitted. Once moved out of residence within the groove 46, protrusions 44 ride between protrusions 42 and 40 so as to move the cover to the partially open position shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, it is contemplated that the size and length of the protrusions on the cover and the spout as well as the grooves 46 can be adjusted so as to vary the degree of ease of moving the cover from the closed position. It is further contemplated that the protrusions 40 and 42 and groove 46 may be replaced by other closing techniques, such as a guiding groove and a lid brim.

The cover 14 is held in the partially opened position and prevented from moving to the fully opened position of FIG. 3 by engagement between protrusions 44 of cover 14 and protrusions 40 of container 12. Also, due to the slight frictionally interference between protrusion 44 and the wall of spout 20, the cover is maintained in the partially opened position shown in FIG. 2.

The cover can be returned to the closed position of FIG. 1 by pushing the cover downward toward container 12 and having protrusions 44 ride cover protrusions 42 so that protrusions 44 become seated within grooves 46.

If desired, the cover can be moved to the fully opened position shown in FIG. 3 by pivotally opening cover 14 so that protrusions 44 ride over protrusions 40.

Claims

1. A package for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products comprising:

a container housing having an interior for containing said products and an extending, open filling and dispensing spout; and

a cover moveably attached to said housing for covering said filling and dispensing spout, said cover being moveable from a closed position to a partially open position wherein only a portion of said filing and dispensing spout is open so as to permit dispensing of said product therefrom.

2. A package of claim 1 wherein said cover is pivotally attached to said housing.

3. A package of claim 1 wherein said cover is moveable to a fully open position to permit filling of said housing.

4. A package of claim 3 wherein said filling and dispensing spout includes flexible walls and wherein deformation of said flexible walls permits said movement of said cover to said fully open position.

5. A package of claim 4 wherein said cover and said housing include cooperative retaining means for restraining said cover from moving to said fully open position.

6. A package of claim 5 wherein said cooperative retaining means further retains said cover in said closed position.

7. A package of claim 6 wherein said cooperative retaining means includes said cover having a protrusion and said filling and dispensing spout having a mating protrusion for restraining movement of said cover to said fully open position.

8. A package of claim 7 wherein said cooperative retaining means includes said filling and dispensing spout including a groove for receiving said protrusion of said cover for maintaining said cover in said closed position.

9. A package of claim 1 wherein said cover includes a protrusion and said filling and dispensing spout includes a mating protrusion, said cover protrusion and said spout protrusion being engageable for restraining movement of said cover to said fully open position.

10. A package of claim 9 wherein said filling and dispensing spout includes a groove for receiving said protrusion of said cover for maintaining said cover in said closed position.

11. A package for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products comprising:

a container housing having an interior for containing said products and an extending, open filling and dispensing spout; and

a cover moveably attached to said housing for covering said filling and dispensing spout, said cover being moveable from a closed position to a fully open position.

12. A package of claim 11 wherein said cooperative retaining means further retains said cover in said closed position.

13. A package of claim 12 wherein said cover is further moveable to a partially open position wherein only a portion of said filling and dispensing spout is open so as to permit display of said product therein.

14. A package of claim 11 wherein said cover is moveable to a fully open position to permit filling of said housing.

15. A package of claim 11 wherein said cover is pivotally attached to said housing.