Container with sliding tray

Abstract

A container with an elongated body includes an enclosing wall having a closed first end and an open second end, with an opening of the second end having a predetermined minimum lateral dimension. The container also includes a tray having an elongated at least partially enclosing wall with a lateral dimension less than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension of the body opening to allow the tray wall to be inserted into the open second end of the body. The tray has a cap at one end with a lateral dimension greater than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension of the body opening to prevent at least a portion of the cap from entering the open second end of the elongated body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to containers and in particular to containers having slidable trays.

Containers such as metal tins are well known and generally are formed in two separable pieces, a body and a lid. The contents of the container are visible and accessible once the lid is removed, but to remove the contents, either the opening covered by the lid has to be large in comparison to the contents, such as is common with large, flat and round cookie tins, so the user can pick individual content pieces from the open tin, or else the container must be tipped or inverted to cause the contents to slide from the interior of the container due to the effects of gravity.

Sometimes a separate sleeve, such as a plastic or waxed paper bag is contained in the tin to separately hold the contents, and the bag itself may be grasped and withdrawn from the tin to provide access to the contents of the tin. Oftentimes the containers holding small items are arranged to be stored in a horizontal orientation such that they consume a relatively large shelf or counter space. Containers which are configured to be stored in a vertical orientation provide relatively small openings for removal of the contents of the container, making it difficult to remove the contents.

The present invention addresses and solves these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container with a removable tray which carries the contents of the container, such that when the tray is removed from the body of the container, the contents may be easily accessed from the tray. The elongated container is arranged such that it can be stored in an upright position, consuming minimal shelf space, and the contents can be removed with the container held in a horizontal position, to provide the easy access to the contents.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a container with an elongated body comprising an enclosing wall having a closed first end and an open second end, with an opening of the second end having a predetermined minimum lateral dimension. The container also includes a tray having an elongated at least partially enclosing wall with a lateral dimension less than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension of the body opening to allow the tray wall to be inserted into the open second end of the body. The tray has a cap at one end with a lateral dimension greater than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension of the body opening to prevent at least a portion of the cap from entering the open second end of the elongated body.

In an embodiment, the enclosing body wall extends a full extent of a circumference of the body and the enclosing tray wall extends less than a full extent of a circumference of the tray.

In an embodiment, the cap has a portion that is received in the opening of the second end of the elongated body, and a portion that is larger than the opening of the second end.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a container with an elongated body, and a tray. The body has an enclosing and surrounding elongated wall with a first end being open and a second end being closed. The tray has an elongated wall shaped complementary to a portion of the surrounding body wall, but has a circumferential extent less than that of the surrounding body wall, with an end wall at one end sized to be received in the body open end and a cap at an opposite end sized larger than the body open end.

In an embodiment, the elongated body wall comprises a circular cylindrical wall, and the closed end comprises an end wall secured to the circular cylindrical wall.

In an embodiment, the elongated tray wall comprises a semi-circular cylindrical wall.

In an embodiment, the tray end wall comprises a semi-circular flat wall secured to an end of the semi-circular cylindrical wall.

In an embodiment, the tray cap comprises a circular cylindrical shape secured to the semi-circular cylindrical wall.

In an embodiment, the elongated body wall comprises a non-circular perimeter.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a container with a circular cylindrical body having a closed first end and an open second end, with an opening of the second end having a predetermined diameter. The container also includes a tray having an elongated wall comprising at least a portion of a cylinder with a diameter less than the predetermined diameter and having a cap at one end with a lateral dimension greater than the predetermined diameter to prevent at least a portion of the cap from entering the open end of the cylindrical body.

In an embodiment, the elongated tray wall has a perimeter less than a full circle.

In an embodiment, the container may include a cover for the tray to selectively close off an open portion of the elongated tray wall.

These and other aspects and details of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the detailed description and a review of the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments of the present invention are described herein. The present invention is not intended to be limited to only these embodiments. Changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments and yet fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a container embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of body of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the tray of the container of FIG. 1 viewed from the cap end.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the tray of the container of FIG. 1 viewed from opposite the cap end.

FIG. 5 is an end perspective view of the tray of FIG. 3 viewed from the open side.

FIG. 6 is a partial side sectional view of the cap portion of the tray of FIGS. 1, 3-4.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the body of the container.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tray of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a container 20 with an elongated body 22 comprising an enclosing or surrounding elongated wall 24 having a closed first end 26 and an open second end 28. The closed first end 26 may be formed by a separate end wall 30 which is secured to the enclosing wall, such as by a crimp connection 32 (shown here in an exaggerated and uncrimped condition). The closed first end 26 may be formed integrally with the enclosing wall 24, such as is common with metal beverage containers, or the separate end wall 30 may be secured to the enclosing wall by a different crimping configuration than the arrangement illustrated, or by other means, such as welding when the walls are formed of metal. An opening 34 of the second end 28, which may be formed by a folded over edge 36 of the enclosing wall 24, particularly when the enclosing wall is made of metal, has a predetermined minimum lateral dimension 38.

The container 20 also includes a tray 40 having an elongated and at least partially enclosing or surrounding wall 42 with a lateral dimension 44 less than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension 38 of the body opening 34 to allow the tray wall 42 to be inserted into the open second end 28 of the body 22. The tray has a cap 46 at one end 48 with a lateral dimension 50 greater than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension 38 of the body opening 34 to prevent at least a portion 51 of the cap 46 from entering the open second end 28 of the elongated body 22.

In an embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2, the enclosing body wall 24 extends a full extent of a circumference of the body 22. In an embodiment, as seen in FIG. 3, the enclosing tray wall 42 extends less than a full extent of a circumference of the tray 40. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the present invention provides the tray 40 with the elongated wall 42 which is shaped complementary to a portion of the surrounding body wall 24, but has a circumferential extent less than that of the surrounding body wall, such that the tray will present an opening to the interior of the elongated wall 42 when the tray is withdrawn from the body 22.

With this construction, the container 20 can be used to hold small items, for example, cookies or crackers, and can be stored in a vertical orientation, such that these items are arranged in a stack. When the container 20 is opened, by sliding the tray 40 out of the body 22, the container can be held in a horizontal orientation, and the enclosing tray wall 42 will support the items, yet its open side, running the full length of the tray, will permit easy access to the items so that they can be removed without hindrance.

In an embodiment, the cap 46 has a portion 52 that is received in the opening 34 of the second end 28 of the elongated body 22, and the portion 51 that is larger than the opening of the second end. This will permit a good snug fit for the cap 46 in the open end 28 of the body 22.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the elongated body wall 24 comprises a circular cylindrical wall, and the closed end 26 comprises the end wall 30 secured to the circular cylindrical wall.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the elongated tray wall 42 comprises a semi-circular cylindrical wall.

In an embodiment, the tray 40 includes an end wall 56 which comprises a semi-circular flat wall secured to an end 58 of the semi-circular cylindrical wall 42.

In an embodiment, the tray cap 46 comprises a circular cylindrical shape secured to the semi-circular cylindrical wall 42. For example, a second end wall 60 may be secured to a second end 62 of the semi-circular wall 42 such as by crimping or other known attachment means, and the cap may be secured to the second end wall such as by rivets 64 or other known attachment means. As shown in the detail of FIG. 6, the cap 46 may be formed of a cup-shaped top member 66 with a folded over flange 68 and a cup-shaped bottom member 70 which telescopes inside of the top member 66 in an inverted manner, also with a folded over flange 72, such that the flanges interlock and prevent removal of the two members. The two members 66, 70 may be joined after the rivets 64 have joined the second end wall 60 to the bottom member 70.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the present invention provides a container 120 with an elongated body 122 comprising an enclosing or surrounding elongated wall 124 which comprises a non-circular perimeter, such as the square perimeter illustrated. Other geometric shapes can be provided for the cross section of the body 122, such as oval, rectangular, and other polygonal shapes. The elongated wall 124 may also have a closed first end 126 and an open second end 128. An opening 134 of the second end 128, which may be formed by a folded over edge 136 of the enclosing wall 124, particularly when the enclosing wall is made of metal, has a predetermined minimum lateral dimension 138.

The container 120 also includes a tray 140 having an elongated and at least partially enclosing or surrounding wall 142 with a lateral dimension 144 less than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension 138 of the body opening 134 to allow the tray wall 142 to be inserted into the open second end 128 of the body 122. The tray has a cap 146 at one end 148 with a lateral dimension 150 greater than the predetermined minimal lateral dimension 138 of the body opening 134 to prevent at least a portion 151 of the cap 146 from entering the open second end 128 of the elongated body 122.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the enclosing body wall 124 extends a full extent of a circumference of the body 122. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the enclosing tray wall 142 extends less than a full extent of a circumference of the tray 140. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the present invention provides the tray 140 with the elongated wall 142 which is shaped complementary to a portion of the surrounding body wall 124, but has a circumferential extent less than that of the surrounding body wall, such that the tray will present an opening to the interior of the elongated tray wall 142 when the tray is withdrawn from the body 122.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the present invention provides the container 20 with the circular cylindrical body 22 having the closed first end 26 and the open second end 28, with the opening 34 of the second end having the predetermined diameter 38. The container 20 also includes the tray 40 having the elongated wall 42 comprising at least a portion of a cylinder with the diameter 44 less than the predetermined diameter 38 and having the cap 46 at one end with the lateral dimension 50 greater than the predetermined opening diameter 38 to prevent at least the portion 54 of the cap from entering the open end 28 of the cylindrical body 22.

In an embodiment, the elongated tray wall 42 has a perimeter less than a full circle.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the container 20 may include a cover 74 for the tray 40 to selectively close off an open portion of the elongated tray wall 42. The cover 60 may be detachable and reattachable to the elongated tray wall 42, may be hinged to the elongated tray wall, or may merely rest on the elongated tray wall. The cover 74 may be formed from the same material as the elongated tray wall 42, or may be made of another material, such as a transparent or opaque plastic, even when the tray is formed of metal.

The present invention has been described utilizing particular embodiments. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments and yet fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, various components could be utilized which are sized or configured differently than illustrated. In other embodiments, different attachment arrangements than those arrangements specifically shown and described could be used. The disclosed embodiments are provided only to illustrate aspects of the present invention and not in any way to limit the scope and coverage of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore to be limited only by the appended claims.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

an elongated body, and

a tray, said body having an enclosing and surrounding elongated wall with a first end being open and a second end being closed, said tray having an elongated wall shaped complementary to a portion of said body surrounding wall, but having a circumferential extent less than that of said body surrounding wall, with an end wall at one end sized to be received in said body open end and a cap at an opposite end sized larger than said body open end.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said elongated body wall comprises a circular cylindrical wall.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said tray elongated wall comprises a semi-circular cylindrical wall.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said tray includes an end wall which comprises a semi-circular flat wall secured to an end of said semi-circular cylindrical wall.

5. A container according to claim 3, wherein said tray cap comprises a circular cylindrical shape secured to said semi-circular cylindrical wall.

6. A container according to claim 2, wherein said closed end of said body comprises an end wall secured to said circular cylindrical wall.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein said body elongated wall comprises a non-circular perimeter.

8. A container according to claim 1, including a cover for said tray to selectively close off an open portion of said tray elongated wall.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein said cap has a portion that is received in said opening of said first end of said elongated body, and a portion that is larger than said opening of said first end.

10. A container comprising:

a circular cylindrical body having a closed first end and an open second end, with an opening of said second end having a predetermined diameter, and

a tray having an elongated wall comprising at least a portion of a cylinder with a diameter less than said predetermined diameter and having a cap at one end with a lateral dimension greater than said predetermined diameter to prevent at least a portion of said cap from entering said open end of said cylindrical body.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein said elongated tray wall has a perimeter less than a full circle.

12. A container according to claim 11, including a cover for said tray to selectively close off an open portion of said tray elongated wall.

13. A container according to claim 11, wherein said tray includes an end wall which comprises a semi-circular flat wall secured to an end of said semi-circular cylindrical wall.

14. A container according to claim 11, wherein said tray cap comprises a circular cylindrical shape secured to said semi-circular cylindrical wall.

15. A container comprising:

an elongated body comprising an enclosing wall having a closed first end and an open second end, with an opening of said second end having a predetermined minimum lateral dimension, and

a tray having an elongated and at least partially enclosing wall with a lateral dimension less than said predetermined minimal lateral dimension of said body opening to allow said tray wall to be inserted into said open second end of said body and having a cap at one end with a lateral dimension greater than said predetermined minimal lateral dimension of said body opening to prevent at least a portion of said cap from entering said open second end of said elongated body.

16. A container according to claim 15, wherein said body enclosing wall extends a full extent of a circumference of the body and said tray enclosing wall extends less than a full extent of a circumference of the tray.

17. A container according to claim 15, wherein said elongated body wall comprises a circular cylindrical wall and said tray elongated wall comprises a semi-circular cylindrical wall.

18. A container according to claim 17, wherein said tray includes an end wall which comprises a semi-circular flat wall secured to an end of said semi-circular cylindrical wall.

19. A container according to claim 17, wherein said closed end of said body comprises an end wall secured to said circular cylindrical wall.

20. A container according to claim 15, wherein said cap has a portion that is received in said opening of said second end of said elongated body, and a portion that is larger than said opening of said second end.