PIVOTING SLIDE CLOSURE

Abstract

A slider package is illustrated which includes a lid which can be linearly translated and selectively pivoted relative to a container. A slide assembly is provided between the lid and container which may include tracks and at least one follower such as one or more projecting cylindrical tabs which slide against and can be rotated relative to the tracks. Partition spacers may also be employed to separate and space individual units of consumable products. This feature may also be employed in a non-slider package such as a container having a lid which is permanently connected to the container by a living hinge. The packages are preferably formed through plastic molding.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/101,828, filed Oct. 1, 2008, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to product packages and more particularly relates to product packages having containers and removable lids with either slide assemblies and/or spacer elements for holding consumer consumables such as candies, medications or other items that are typically carried in hand held product packages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of product packages are known having a container and a lid and the prior art is replete with numerous examples. The present invention pertains to improvements over the state of the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is directed towards a package having a container and a lid which are connected together by a slide assembly that includes a pivot feature. The slide assembly includes at least one track and at least one follower such that the lid is slideable linearly relative to the container and also pivotable relative to the container as well.

According to one of the embodiments in line with the above aspect, a further inventive aspect is that the lid may be pivotable while being retained to the container by the slide assembly from a position above the container to a position below the container where the container rests upon the lid in an open and “present” position that may display the entire contents of the container.

Another different aspect of the present invention is directed toward a package having a rectangular container with cooperating pairs of spacers and a lid adapted to cover the opening of the rectangular container. The rectangular container includes a rectangular base and an upwardly projecting sidewall defining the opening. The sidewall includes a elongated sides extending generally parallel between ends. Cooperating pairs of spacers project inwardly from each of the elongated sides. The spacers are spaced in a linear array between ends.

Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slider package according to a first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the slider package shown in FIG. 1 taken from the other end, but in an open position in which the lid has been linearly translated relative to the container;

FIG. 3 is another different perspective view of the slider package of the previous drawings, but with the lid in an open and present position in which the lid has been further slid linearly and pivoted around the container from above to below the container in an open and present position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slider package according to a second embodiment shown in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the slider package shown in FIG. 4, but in an open position in which the lid has been linearly translated;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the slider package shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but in an open and pivoted position;

FIGS. 7-9 are different perspective views of a package according to a third embodiment of the present invention that does not include a slider feature, but instead includes a lid and container coupled via a living hinge but which includes a partition spacer feature for consumable products; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of a container interior (that may be employed in any of the previous embodiments) showing the partition spacers for consumable products held by the container.

While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The first embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated as a slider package 10 in FIGS. 1-3, which is configured to hold a single linear row 12 of individual consumable products 14 such as tablets, pills, candy pieces, all of which may or may not be individually wrapped with a wrapper, but that typically can be consumed orally by a consumer. As shown, the slider package 10 has a closed position 10 containing the contents of consumable products 14 in FIG. 1; an open position to allow access to the next available consumable product 14 as shown in FIG. 2 and an open and present position as shown in FIG. 3 in which the entire contents of the container may be available for presentment and removal of product from the container.

The slider package includes a container 20 and a lid 22 which are connected by a slide assembly 24. The container includes a generally rectangular base 26 and an upwardly projecting sidewall 28 that defines an opening 30 that allows access to the contents of the container. The sidewall 28 includes elongated sides that extend generally parallel between a pair of parallel ends 34.

In accordance with one inventive aspect and referring to FIG. 10, container 20 may include cooperating pairs of spacers 36 that project inwardly from each of the elongated sides 32. The spacers 36 are spaced in a linear array between ends and preferably evenly spaced along the sides such that the spacers form a single row for separating the consumable products 14 in an organized manner, such as individually spacing and separating individual units of the consumable products. The spacers may take the form as shown as short fins which are integrally molded into the plastic body of the container 20 and more specifically the container sidewall 28. Fins may be partially or fully cantilevered extending into the cavity within the container. The spacers from opposed sidewalls are aligned with one another and point toward each other. To illustrate this feature, FIG. 10 shows the spacing and arrangement of consumable products 14 within a container utilizing such spacers that may engage snugly or closely arranged proximate the spacers 36.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the lid 22 is adapted to cover the opening 30 of the container and as such includes a cover portion 40 and a downward depending skirt 42. The skirt includes a pair of elongated sidewalls 44 depending over and outside of the sides of the container in parallel relation. The sidewalls 44 extend generally between a stop wall 46 at one end of the lid and a shorter short wall 48 at the other end that provides a recessed gap 50 through which the top of the container 20 can slide through during sliding movement between the container and the lid.

The slide assembly includes at least one track and at least one follower and in the preferred embodiments includes a pair of tracks 54, one track 54 on each side 32 of the container; and at least one follower in which may preferably take the form of tabs 56 which are arranged to slide and translate along the tracks 54. The tabs 56 preferably take the form of a pair of cylindrical bosses that project inwardly from the skirt sidewalls 44 toward each other to ride in the tracks. The tracks 54 may be defined by a pair of raised rails 58 that project laterally outward from each of the sides 32 to define a groove 60 therebetween. Preferably, the rails terminate in closed ends 62 which define the limits or extent of sliding movement of the lid 22 relative to the container. One of the closed ends 62 may alternatively be open to allow access to the groove 60 and thereby facilitate complete removal and/or assembly. Preferably, the container and the lid are molded of plastic material and as such the two can be resiliently snapped together to facilitate initial insertion of the tabs 56 in the grooves 60 of the respective tracks. In this embodiment, the track and thereby the rails and groove have a generally horizontally extending segment 64, and a generally vertically extending segment 66 which are connected by an arcuate segment 68. The lid can be slide relative to the container in a linear translatable fashion along the horizontal segment to various degrees of opening and exposed different consumable products arranged along the row. Upon reaching the arcuate segment and considering that the tab 56 are freely rotatable within the groove 60, a pivot feature can be provided in that the lid 22 can be pivoted relative to the container 20 during the overall movement. For example and as shown in FIG. 3, the lid is pivotable by being retained to the container by the slide assembly from above the container to below the container where the container actually rests upon the lid. The lid may be supported on a table or other flat surface and present the contents of the container in a particular advantageous canted position. The lid can then be slide back to the closed position when desired.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 which shows also a pivoting slider package 80 similar to the first embodiment, but in this embodiment the tracks 82 include only a horizontal segment formed on the outside of the container 84. The tabs 86 of the lid 88 can still pivot within the tracks 82 as shown by comparing FIGS. 4-7. More specifically, the pivot feature in this embodiment is integrally provided proximate one end of the horizontally extending segment of the tracks 82 in that the tabs can rotate in the groove as a result of clearance between the lid and the container which is reached and achieved upon progressively opening the lid 88 relative to the container 84. Preferably, the pivoting action is at least 45° , more typically greater than 80° , and in the case of the first embodiment greater than 270° . This embodiment may also include spacers between the individual units of consumable products as per the first and last embodiments. Other features of this embodiment are similar to the first embodiment.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 as a package 100 that includes a living hinge 102 permanently connecting and allowing for pivoting movement between a container 104 and a lid 106. This embodiment also includes spacers 108 projecting inwardly from the opposed elongated sides of the container to provide for spacing of individual units of the consumable products 14 contained therein.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A package, comprising:

a container having a base and a sidewall projecting upwardly therefrom to define an opening;

a lid adapted to cover the opening;

a slide assembly connecting the lid and the container including at least one track and at least on follower, the slide assembly including a pivot feature, wherein the lid is slideable linearly relative to the container and pivotable relative to the container.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the sidewall including elongated sides extending generally parallel between ends; and wherein the lid includes a cover portion and a downward depending skirt, including a pair of elongated side walls depending over an outside of the sides, the at least one track including a pair of tracks, one on each of the sides and the at least one follower includes a pair of tabs projecting inwardly from the sidewalls into engagement with the tracks.

3. The package of claim 2, wherein the lid includes a stop wall at one end of the pair of elongated sidewalls, and a recessed gap at the other end of the pair of elongated sidewalls providing clearance to facilitate sliding movement of the lid over the container.

4. The package of claim 2, wherein each track includes a pair of raised rails projecting laterally outward from each of the sides to define a groove therebetween receiving one of the tabs.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein the groove and the rails have a generally horizontally extending segment and a generally vertically extending segment connected by an arcuate segment providing at least part of the pivot feature.

6. The package of claim 5, wherein, the lid has a closed position covering the opening an open position when displaced from the closed position with the tabs in the horizontally extending segment, and an open and present position in which the lid is proximate the end of the generally vertically extending segment, with the lid being displaced relative to the closed position from above the container to under the container to provide an under support for the container.

7. The package of claim 4, wherein the groove and the rails have a generally horizontally extending segment, wherein the pivot feature is integrally provided proximate one end of the horizontally extending segment, wherein the tabs can rotate within the groove along a region of the horizontally extending segment as a result of clearance between lid and container.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein the lid is pivotable while being retained to the container by the slide assembly from above the container to below the container wherein the container rests upon the lid.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the package is a handheld package having a length of less than 4 inches, a width of less than 2 inches and a height of less than 2 inches.

10. A package, comprising:

a rectangular container having a rectangular base and an upwardly projecting sidewall defining an opening, the sidewall including elongated sides extending generally parallel between ends;

cooperating pairs of spacers projecting inwardly from each of the elongated sides, the spacers being spaced in a linear array between ends; and

a lid adapted to cover the opening.

11. The package of claim 10, container is plastic, and wherein the spacers are fins integrally molded into the plastic of the container sidewall.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein a plurality of consumable products are mounted in the container, and wherein the spacers individually space and separate individual units of the consumable products.

13. The package of claim 12, wherein the spacers are evenly spaced along the sides and wherein the spacers form a single row for the consumable products.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the package is a handheld package having a length of less than 4 inches, a width of less than 2 inches and a height of less than 2 inches.