Abstract:
A closure member is provided for a container which includes a base frame connectable to the container, a first door pivotally connected to the base frame and a second and third door pivotally connected to the base frame, the first door covering the second and third doors when each of the doors is in a closed position. The first door includes a seal member positioned therein which is removable and the first door is pivotally connectable to an edge portion of the base frame. A method of covering a container with the closure member is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is directed to a tri-door dispensing closure which is pivotally connected to a container and from which a product in the container is accessible, such as pepper, spices or powder materials.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Background  
         [0004]     Conventional containers are exemplified by the following patents (the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference):  
         [0005]     Schmidt et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,720)  
         [0006]     DeCoster et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,036),  
         [0007]     Behrend (U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,946)  
         [0008]     Foster (U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,744)  
         [0009]     Goujon (U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,088) and  
         [0010]     Gray (U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,411).  
         [0011]     Heart et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,480)  
         [0012]     Lindstrom (U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,980)  
         [0013]     While the foregoing disclose containers with multiple closure dispensing tops, such tops can result in moisture loss of the product insofar as the doors set forth therein are directly accessible to the exterior of the container and have no sealing member or cover door separating them from the exterior.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     An object of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a closure design in combination with a package so as to permit a significantly reduced moisture loss of the product within a container.  
         [0015]     An additional object of the present invention is to provide for a multiple door closure so as to permit the entire top of the container to be accessible to a user in order to obtain a large or small amount of product at one time.  
         [0016]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closure such that it is possible to easily determine if any tampering of the product has occurred by the utilization of a seal formed in a door which covers other access doors of the closure member.  
         [0017]     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide multipurpose door openings so as to permit a variety of methods of dispensing the product within the container while permitting each of the doors of the closure to be easily closed in a substantially airtight manner.  
         [0018]     A further object is to provide a tamper evident seal type disclosure for a container which is stackable with other containers and which has shaker and pouring outlets that are positioned close the edge of the container closure to enable easier and cleaner dispensing of the product in the container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     Various objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from a review of the attached figures wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view thereof which shows the capability of opening the main door or covering of the closure;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the closure cover;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a closure cover;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the closure and container taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of one of the doors of the closure;  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of an additional door of the closure;  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  is a top, rear and left side respective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view thereof;  
         [0034]      FIG. 15  is a rear elevational view thereon;  
         [0035]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0036]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along lines  17 - 17  in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 18  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0038]      FIG. 19  is a rear elevational view of the closure cover and which shows the second and third doors in an opened position;  
         [0039]      FIG. 20  is a top plan view thereof shown when the first, second and third doors are in an opened position;  
         [0040]      FIG. 21  is a top plan view showing only the second and third doors in an opened position; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 22  is a top, rear and left side respective view of the closure when the first door is closed and each of the second and third doors are in an opened position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     The closure  1  as shown in the attached  FIGS. 1-12  shows a first embodiment of the present invention which utilizes a snap lock design for attachment to the top of a container  2 . The closure is designed to be flushed with the container walls  4 ,  6 ,  8  and is provided with three openable doors, each of which provide a different dispensing feature.  
         [0043]     The closure design in combination with the package permits prevention of moisture loss of the product. The largest door  10  has a door frame  11  and is pivotable so that the entire top of the container is accessible to the user in order to scoop a large or small amount of product at one time. Additionally, in the opened position, it is possible to more easily remove any tampered evident feature such as a plastic sheath beneath the door  10  which is either internally molded into the closure or provided as a separate unit that comes with the closure.  
         [0044]     Two additional doors are provided on the top surface of the door  10 . With door  10  in the closed position, the second door  12 , when opened, allows for controlled pouring through an opening  13  in cover  15  facing part of door  10  and door frame  11  of the product from the container  2 . The third door  14 , when open, allows access to holes  16  provided in cover  15  underneath the door  14  for allowing the user to sprinkle the product from the container  2 . Plugs may also be provided in the bottom part of door  14  which provide a sift proof feature to the closure to organize the holes  16  in cover  15  when used by a consumer. The holes  16  provided in cover  15  may be of varies sizes depending upon the particle size of the product to be dispensed. The underside of the door  14  may have plastic plugs internally molded to it, if desired, for cleaning out any product that may have been become stuck in the holes  16 . Each of doors  10 ,  12  and  14  have a positive locking mechanism  22 ,  24 ,  26  (e.g. a snap fit member) that will keep the doors closed throughout the manufacturing and distribution cycle of the product but allow for ease of opening by the user. The opening feature may consist, for example, of a small tab  22 ,  24 ,  26  with a undercut to allow finger opening access. The tops of the doors may have integrally molded icons on the top thereof to indicate the function of each door. The closure may be constructed of one or more parts to achieve the desired functionality. The closure  1  and container  2  in combination have total unit stackable qualities.  
         [0045]     As can be appreciated from the foregoing discussion and attached figures, the container is graspable, ergonomically friendly, stackable (i.e. the bottom of container is stackable on the top of the closure) and such is scalable to other sizes. The same is true with respect to the second embodiment of the present invention discussed below.  
         [0046]     In the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12-22 , a closure  101  utilizes a snap lock design for attachment to the top of a container  102 . The closure is designed to be flushed with the container walls  104 ,  106 ,  108  and is provided with three openable doors, each of which provide a different dispensing feature.  
         [0047]     The closure design in combination with the package also permits prevention of moisture loss of the product. The largest door  110  is pivotable in a hinge p with respect to a base frame portion  111  thereof which is connected to the container  102  so that the entire top of the container is accessible to the user by opening of door  110  in order to scoop a large or small amount of product at one time. Additionally, in the opened position, it is possible to more easily remove any tampered evident feature such as a plastic sheath beneath the door  110  which is either internally molded into the closure or provided as a separate unit that comes with the closure.  
         [0048]     Two additional doors  112 ,  114  are pivotally provided on the top surface of the door  110  via a frame portion  111  and a center cover member  115 . With door  110  in the closed position and when the seal thereof has been opened, the second door  112  allows for control pouring of the product in the door through an opening  113  from the container  102 . The cover member  115  has holes  116  provided therein for cooperation with plug members  117  formed in the door  114  for allowing the user to sprinkle the product from the container  102  upon opening of door  114 . The plugs  117  are provided in the bottom part of door  114  so as to provide a sift proof feature to the closure when closed by a consumer. The holes  116  provided in cover member  115  may be of various sizes depending upon the particle size of the product to be dispensed. The underside of the door  114  may be provided with the plastic plugs  117  internally molded thereto, if desired, and assist in dislodging any product that may have been become stuck in the holes  110 . Each of doors  110 ,  112  and  114  respectively have a positive locking mechanisms  122 ,  124 ,  126  (e.g. a snap fit member) that will keep the doors closed throughout the manufacturing and distribution cycle of the product but allow for ease of opening by the user. The opening feature will consist of a small tab type lock mechanism  122 ,  124 ,  126  with a undercut to allow finger opening access.  
         [0049]     The tops of the doors may have integrally molded icons on the top thereof to indicate the function of each door. The closure may be constructed of one or more parts to achieve the desired functionality. The closure  101  and container  102  in combination have total unit stackable qualities.  FIG. 15  is a side element as shown with doors  112 ,  114  in a open portion which  FIG. 16  shows a top plan view with door  110  in an opened position.  
         [0050]     The closure and closure container when provided with cover member  115  from which the doors  112 ,  114  pivot and can be made by integral molding. As shown in  FIG. 16 , an openable or pealable seal  142  is provided in an oval opening rim  146  formed in door  110  and a lift tab  144  is provided on the seal  142  to break open the seal. Opening  146  of door  110  is sealable by  147  and is pivotally corrected by a proof hinger p to seal foil or covering the base frame  111 .  
         [0051]     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.