Container with compactor

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.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to containers and more particularly to containers for holding large numbers of small products such as smokeless tobacco or small candy pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers for storing products are generally well known in the art. One particular example where containers are used to store products is the use of a container to store smokeless tobacco. Loose tobacco and related tobacco products are typically packaged and sold in disc-shaped containers. In many cases, the containers comprise a metal lid seated upon either a metal, plastic or cardboard can.

Typically, the user will pinch the product between the thumb and a forefinger to accumulate product and remove it from the can. Unfortunately, as the product is used, the product settles to the bottom of the can making it more difficult to pinch and remove from the can. The settling effect of product within a container is not unique to smokeless tobacco. This may also occur with small product such as for example, small candy pieces including mints, small chocolates, hard coated chocolates or gums.

The present invention is directed towards improvements over the state of the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has several aspects that may be claimed and stand as patentable independently and individually or in combination with other aspects, including but not limited to the following.

In one aspect, the invention provides a container comprising a lid, a container bottom and a compactor. The compactor is positioned within a cavity of the container bottom and adjusts a size of a storage portion of the cavity. The adjustment of the size of the storage portion reduces the volume in which stored product can be distributed to cause the product to collect, accumulate and/or compact.

In one particular embodiment, the lid engages the compactor such that the user can adjust the relative position of the lid and the container bottom to adjust the position of the compactor. In additional embodiments, the compactor and container bottom may have cooperating indexing structure to maintain the position of the compactor after it has been adjusted by the user. However, the indexing structure is only sufficiently secure that the user can then again adjust the position of the compactor when desired.

In another embodiment of the present invention a container is provided that includes a compactor arrangement within the cavity defining a storage portion of the cavity, the compactor arrangement at least partially selectively movable relative to the container bottom to adjust the size of the storage portion of the cavity.

In another implementation of the invention, a method of compacting loose products contained within a container is provided. The method comprising the step of selectively adjusting a storage portion of a cavity of the container to reduce the size of the cavity in which the loose product is stored.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a container10according to the teachings of the present invention. The container10is preferably used for a product that desirably requires packing or accumulation of the product prior to removal from the container, such as for example smokeless tobacco. However, the invention is not limited to those applications. Embodiments of the inventive container may be used for other products such as for small candies including mints or hard coated chocolates or gum pieces for example, such that accumulating or packing the product facilitates easier removal from the container.

With further reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the container10generally includes a lid12, a compactor14and a container bottom16(also referred to as bottom16). The lid12and container bottom16combine to define the outer periphery of the container10.

Prior to sale, the container10may be held together by aesthetically pleasing band type labels which may contain a company's logo or name, or other designs (not shown), which may also provide for sealing the container during storage to maximize the shelf-life of the product stored within the container10. Upon removal of or tearing of the label, a consumer is able to remove and reattach the lid12as many times as desired so as to be able to access the products stored in the container10.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the compactor14is generally located within a cavity17defined, at least in part, by bottom16. The cavity is defined by upstanding sidewall48and bottom wall46. The components of the container10are generally made of a hard plastic material or the like, but in other embodiments could be made from other materials such as a metal or cardboard. Typically, the plastic components will be molded.

With reference toFIG. 2, the lid12is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a circular top wall24with a cylindrical skirt26formed integrally with and depending from the top wall24. However, as illustrated inFIG. 23other embodiments of the invention may have take other shapes such as generally rectangular shaped top and a skirt consisting of a skirt that has four sidewall portions integrally formed with and depending from the rectangular shaped top.

The top wall24of the illustrated embodiment includes a circular recessed inner portion23typically for locating advertising labels; other embodiments of the invention may not necessarily include the recessed inner portion. The outer surfaces of the top wall24or cylindrical skirt may be sufficiently textured such as by including stippling, ribs, grooves, dimples, projections, etc. to facilitate easy gripping of the lid12.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 5, the inner surface32of the top wall24includes a plurality of angularly spaced projections or nibs34that engage cooperating structure of the compactor14to facilitate movement of the compactor14within the bottom16by turning of the lid12. However, other embodiments may not necessarily have these projections and can incorporate other means for engaging the compactor14. For instance, the inner surface32could be smooth and container10could rely on mere friction between the compactor14and the lid12to allow for rotating compactor14.

The skirt26of the lid12projects downwardly from the top wall24and has a diameter large enough to receive a top end of the sidewall48of the bottom16. The skirt26includes an inwardly extending bead36, which engages cooperating structure of the bottom16to releasably secure the lid12in place. The bead36is continuous around the entire inner surface38of the skirt26, however in other embodiments this may not necessarily be the case and could be formed from a plurality of nibs or bead segments. Alternatively, a groove could be provided that receives a bead formed on the container bottom16.

The bottom16of the container comprises a circular bottom wall46with a cylindrical sidewall48formed integrally with and extending from the bottom wall46forming cavity17. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the compactor14is generally located within the cavity17. When the lid12is attached to the bottom16, the lid12and bottom16fully enclose cavity17.

In other embodiments of the invention, the bottom wall may take on other shapes, such as the rectangular shape illustrated in the embodiment ofFIG. 23. In that embodiment, the bottom216includes a series of four sidewall segments that generally bound a cavity.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the bottom wall46includes an annular axial recess50in the inner surface52proximate the juncture of the sidewall48and bottom wall46. This recess50forms an annular channel in which an end55of a sidewall70of the compactor14is located. In embodiments of the invention, the recessed portion50may also have an engagement feature in the form of projections or serrations53as illustrated inFIG. 7. These serrations or projections53can interact with corresponding cooperating engagement structure formed in the distal end55of the sidewall70of the compactor14to maintain the angular position of the compactor14relative to the bottom16.

Returning toFIG. 6, the cylindrical sidewall48has a neck portion58on the upper end of sidewall48opposite bottom wall46. The neck portion58is a radially inward stepped portion of the outer surface of sidewall48and serves to accommodate the skirt26of lid12and has an outer diameter small enough to fit within the lid12. The recessed configuration of neck portion58also serves to cause the outer surface of skirt26to be more flush with the outer surface of sidewall48of the bottom16.

The recessed neck portion58further contains an outwardly extending bead60extending from an outer surface61. The bead60interacts with corresponding bead36of lid12. The bead60continues uninterrupted around the entire outer surface61of the neck portion58. However in other embodiments of the illustrated invention, this may not be the case and bead60may be formed by a plurality of projections. The interaction of bead60and bead36allows the lid12to be releasably connected to the bottom16.

In this embodiment, the inner surface64of the sidewall48is smooth to facilitate easy turning of the compactor14placed within it.

In preferred embodiments, illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the inner surface64of sidewall48may include an inwardly extending bead66(FIG. 8) or a groove67(FIG. 9) to engage a corresponding feature of the compactor14. The corresponding feature of the compactor14may be a bead80(as illustrated) or a corresponding groove. Further, the beads and grooves need not extend the entire circumference of the compactor14or bottom16, but could be intermittent. This engagement axially secures the compactor14within cavity17of the bottom16. This engagement can be particularly beneficial when transporting the combination of the container bottom16and compactor14when no lid is secured thereto.

In this embodiment, the bottom wall46of the bottom16includes an upwardly projecting integrally formed compactor wall62(seeFIG. 2). The compactor wall62is formed in the container bottom16such that the structures are single one-piece construction. As used herein, single one-piece construction does not include components that are formed separately and then attached together such as by bolts or welding. Instead, a single one-piece construction is typically formed by molding the components together in a single process.

The compactor wall62is generally rectangular in shape and extends from inner surface52of the bottom wall46. The compactor wall62preferably has a height similar to the height of sidewall48. Further, the compactor wall62extends radially from a central location of the container bottom16. In a preferred embodiment, the compactor wall62does not radially contact the central location or center point so as to facilitate rotation of the compactor14. Further, the compactor wall62and sidewall48preferably form a gap63radially therebetween to accommodate the cylindrical wall70of the compactor14. This gap63permits the compactor14to be axially inserted into container bottom16without axial interference between the sidewall70and compactor wall62.

The compactor14of the container10comprises a cylindrical wall70and a compactor blade72. The wall70has an outer diameter small enough to provide a clearance to allow it to rest within the sidewall48of the bottom16and the skirt26of the lid12. The wall70also has a thickness that is small enough that will allow it to rest within the recessed outer portion of the inner surface52of the bottom16, and still allow angular movement within the bottom16.

With reference toFIG. 3, there are a series of grooves76formed into the top end74of the compactor wall70, which match up with the nibs34of the lid12. The grooves76and nibs34engage to provide an engagement between the compactor and the lid12. This allows the user to rotate the compactor14relative to container bottom16by rotating lid12relative container bottom16. However, other cooperating engagement structure may be provided between the lid12and the compactor14to transfer torque therebetween. For example, mere friction between an inner surface of lid12and end74may provide sufficient torque transfer therebetween.

With the lid removed, the compactor14in this embodiment floats axially in the bottom16of the container10. However, as indicated previously, in other embodiments, the compactor14may contain an outwardly extending bead80to axially maintain the compactor14within container bottom16. With reference toFIG. 8, the bead80would connect with the bead66of the bottom16to hold the compactor in place within the bottom16. In yet another embodiment of the present invention (seeFIG. 9), the bead80would connect with a groove67in the inner surface64of the sidewall48of the bottom16, which would serve the same purpose of holding the compactor14in the bottom16. Alternatively, bead80may be replaced by a groove that interacts with a corresponding bead of the container bottom48.

Returning again toFIG. 2, the compactor blade72of the compactor14is generally rectangular in shape and projects substantially perpendicularly from a given tangent of the cylindrical wall70(i.e. radially inward). The compactor blade72includes a scraping flange73that is generally triangular in shape and attached to and outwardly (i.e. angularly) extending from the bottom of the compactor blade72and radially inward from sidewall70. In other embodiments a scraping flange73need not be present. As the compactor14rotates relative to the container bottom, the compactor blade72with attached scraping flange73acts as a scoop or scraper to lift product off of the bottom surface52of the container bottom16. Additionally, as the compactor14rotates relative to the container bottom16, the compactor blade72and compactor wall62accumulate and compact any loose products inside the container10.

The ability to rotate the compactor14relative to bottom16is illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 10(without product) as well asFIGS. 11-14. This ability to rotate relative to bottom16permits the compactor14to compact products within cavity17of bottom16.

With reference toFIGS. 11-14, the compactor14, and particularly compactor blade72, separates cavity17into a storage portion77and an empty portion79. The storage portion77is the portion defined between the compactor blade72and compactor wall62in a first angular direction (i.e. the portion in which the product is housed). The empty portion79is the portion defined between the compactor blade72and compactor wall62in a second angular direction (i.e. the portion that is void of product) As the compactor14rotates relative to bottom16, the compactor blade72adjusts the volume of the storage portion77and empty portion79. By reducing the volume of the storage portion77, product stored therein is gathered such that it compacts such that it becomes deeper to facilitate easier removal from the container10. This also facilitates packing for products such as for smokeless tobacco.

As illustrated in the progression fromFIGS. 11-14, product is gathered by the compactor blade72attached to the compactor14, and pushed angularly toward compactor wall62of the bottom16via the turning motion of the compactor14until a desired compression and depth of the product is achieved. When the product becomes sufficiently low, the user can rotate compactor14relative to bottom16to reduce the useable volume of cavity17and cause the product to compact and become deeper (see transition fromFIG. 11toFIG. 12). Particularly, compactor blade72is angularly rotated toward compactor62to reduce the volume of the storage portion77.

Once the product becomes too shallow or sufficiently unpacked in this new orientation of the compactor blade72relative to compactor wall62(seeFIG. 13), the user can once again re-orient the compactor blade72relative to compactor wall62to once again reduce the usable volume of storage portion77and re-pack and re-gather the product therein to once again increase the depth of the product and facilitate easier removal from container10(see transition fromFIG. 13toFIG. 14). Again, typically, this adjustment of the storage volume is performed by rotating the lid12, which engages compactor14, as outlined previously. Further, it should then be apparent that in this embodiment that the incremental decrease in volume of the storage portion77creates an equal incremental increases in volume of the empty portion79. Further, in some orientations, such as illustrated inFIG. 4, the empty portion79may have no volume as the compactor blade72may be abutted against the compactor wall62. This is typically the case when the container is first filled with product.

With reference toFIGS. 15 and 16, in some embodiments of the invention, the compactor14may have indexing structure, illustrated in the form of angularly spaced projections84, which alternatively may be serrations or grooves, that will interact with equivalently spaced grooves86, which could alternatively be cooperating ribs or projections, on the inner surface64of the sidewall48of the bottom16as can be seen inFIG. 15. Typically, only a single feature is needed on one of the compactor14or container bottom16, while the other one will include a plurality of features such that incremental indexing of the compactor14relative to the container bottom16can be easily effectuated.

This interaction of the indexing structure, i.e. ribs/serrations84,86provides some engagement between the bottom16and compactor14to maintain the compactor14in a desired indexed location, and more particularly compactor blade72. However, the engagement therebetween will be less than that of the lid12and the compactor14, such that the user can still facilitate movement between the compactor14and bottom16when the lid12is turned. In this embodiment, the indexing structures radially engage one another.

Similarly, in other embodiments as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 17, the indexing structure could axially engage one another. For example, the bottom wall46could have grooves or projections53that axially engage corresponding projections and serrations88of an end of sidewall70. This interaction would provide an engagement to prevent any unintentional movement of the compactor14relative to bottom16, just as explained with the previous embodiment.

Alternatively, the indexing structure could be formed radially inward from sidewall70and could be formed by compactor blade72and interact with corresponding structure formed in bottom wall46.

However, the arrangement illustrated inFIG. 15is highly desirable as the cooperating indexing structure is hidden or protected from any product that is stored in container10. Thus, no product would get into the indexing structure and interfere with the engagement therebetween. Any interference could prevent the indexing structure from maintaining the compactor14in the indexed angular position relative to bottom16.

A further embodiment of a container200according to the teachings of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 23-25. In this embodiment, the container200is rectangular in profile, rather than circular as in the previous embodiments. The container includes a lid212and a bottom216that combine to define a cavity for storing product.

The container includes a compactor214for adjusting the storage volume of the cavity defined by the bottom216of the container200. The compactor214can be moved axially along the container bottom216to collect and pack product stored within the container bottom216, much like compactor14of previous embodiments. However, rather than rotating about a central axis, this compactor214moves axially.

In this embodiment, a handle218of the compactor214extends axially through a slot220defined in the lid212. The handle218can be grasped by the user to bias the compactor along or parallel to longitudinal axis217of the container212.

The compactor214also includes a compactor blade272that actually separates cavity219of the container bottom216into a storage volume (i.e. the section that includes product) and an empty volume (the section that is void of any product), like compactor blade72of the previous embodiments.

The handle218is operably coupled to compactor blade272to facilitate positioning the compactor blade272. In the illustrated embodiment, handle218and compactor blade272are separate components. However, in alternative embodiments, the two components may be integrally formed in a unitary one-piece body.

Further, the compactor214may include indexing structure like the prior embodiments to maintain the axial position of the compactor214relative to the container bottom216and container lid212when the container200is not being accessed by a user.

The two part configuration of the illustrated embodiment facilitates easier removal of the lid212. However, alternative configurations of the handle218may be implemented to facilitate arrangements where the entire compactor214remains with the container bottom216when the lid212is removed therefrom.

This embodiment illustrates, that other structures may be used, other than the lid, to manipulate the position of the compactor relative to the container bottom of the container. Further, a compactor need not necessarily be able to be manipulated when the lid is attached to the container bottom. For example, a container may only include a container bottom such as container bottom216and a compactor blade272but have a solid lid. In such an arrangement, the user must push the compactor blade272by hand when the lid is removed from the container.