Abstract:
An integrally-formed cover for a container is disclosed. The integrally-formed cover comprises a cylindrical portion, a top portion, a shaker flap, a spooning flap, and an upwardly projecting lip. The top portion has a plurality of shaker openings and a spooning opening. The shaker flap and the spooning flap each have an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt. The shaker flap and spooning flap are configured for selective movement between an open position and a closed position. The lip extends substantially around the shaker flap and the spooning flap and is configured to provide a guide for positioning a bottom of a container stacked on the top portion of the container cover. The cover may also comprise a sealing projection. The sealing projection may be circular and may be disposed inside the cylindrical portion. A container comprising a closed-bottom receptacle having an open and cylindrical upper end to which an integrally-formed cover is secured is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/234,441, filed Sep. 3, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/663,874, filed Sep. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,718, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/374,976, filed Aug. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,517, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/959,399, filed Oct. 28, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,231.  
         [0002]    The present application claims the benefit of priority as available under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120 and 121 of the following applications (which are incorporated by reference): U.S. application Ser. No. 10/234,441, filed Sep. 3, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/663,874, filed Sep. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,718, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/374,976, filed Aug. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,517, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/959,399, filed Oct. 28, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,231. 
     
    
     
       FIELD  
         [0003]    The present inventions generally relate to a cover for a container for storing and dispensing matter.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    The present invention relates to an integrally-formed cover for a container of a type including a receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom. The cover comprises a cylindrical portion, a top portion, a shaker flap, a spooning flap, and an upwardly projecting lip. The cylindrical portion is configured to be coupled to the receptacle. The top portion is formed integrally with the cylindrical portion and has a plurality of shaker openings and a spooning opening. The shaker flap is formed integrally with the top portion, has an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt, is coupled to the top portion, and is configured for selective movement between an open position in which the shaker openings are opened and a closed position in which the shaker openings are closed. The spooning flap is formed integrally with the top portion, has an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt, is coupled to the top portion, and is configured for selective movement between an open position in which the spooning opening is opened and a closed position in which the spooning opening is closed. The lip extends substantially around an outer portion of the shaker flap and an outer portion of the spooning flap and an outer portion of the top portion between the outer portion of the shaker flap and the outer portion of the spooning flap. The integrally-formed cover is configured to make contact with the top of the receptacle beneath the top portion of the cover when the cover is coupled to the receptacle.  
           [0005]    The present invention also relates to an integrally-formed cover for a receptacle of a type having an open top and a closed bottom. The integrally-formed cover comprises a cylindrical portion, a top portion, a shaker flap, a spooning flap, and an upwardly projecting lip. The cylindrical portion is configured to be coupled to the top of the receptacle. The top portion has a plurality of shaker openings and a spooning opening. The shaker flap has an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt, is coupled to the top portion, and is configured for selective movement between an open position in which the shaker openings are opened and a closed position in which the shaker openings are closed. The spooning flap has an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt, is coupled to the top portion, and is configured for selective movement between an open position in which the spooning opening is opened and a closed position in which the spooning opening is closed. The lip extends substantially around an outer portion of the shaker flap and an outer portion of the spooning flap and an outer portion of the top portion between the outer portion of the shaker flap and the outer portion of the spooning flap so that a receptacle to be stacked on the top of the cover can be guided and positioned by the lip.  
           [0006]    The present invention further relates to an integrally-formed cover for a food products container of a type including a receptacle with an open top and a closed bottom. The integrally-formed cover includes a cylindrical portion, a means for coupling the cover to a receptacle, a top portion, a shaker flap, and a spooning flap. The cylindrical portion has a first and a second end. The means for coupling the cover to a receptacle is disposed on an inner surface of the cylindrical portion. The top portion is substantially planar and circular and is coupled to and encloses the first end of the cylindrical portion. The top portion has a plurality of shaker openings disposed on a first side of the top portion and a spooning opening disposed on a second side of the top portion. The shaker flap is formed integrally with the top portion, has an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt, is hingably secured to the top portion to open about a line parallel to a diametral line of the top portion, and is disposed to selectively cover and uncover the plurality of shaker openings. The spooning flap is formed integrally with the top portion, has an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt, is hingably secured to the top portion to open about a line parallel to a diametral line of the top portion, and is disposed to selectively cover and uncover the spooning opening. The cylindrical portion has a first recess disposed to receive the skirt extending from the spooning flap and has a second recess disposed to receive the skirt extending from the shaker flap. The shaker flap and the spooning flap are recessed within the top portion and provide in combination with the outer edge a container supporting surface. The cover is configured so that the open top of the receptacle contacts the cover beneath the top portion when the cover is coupled to the receptacle.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a cross-sectional side view of a container including a cover and receptacle.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a top view of the cover of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a bottom view of the cover.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is schematic representation of a partial plan view of the sealing ring of the cap (not to scale) with the rim of the receptacle.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a partial cross-sectional side view of the sealing ring and receptacle rim.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a partial plan view of the sealing ring of the cap (not to scale) with the rim of the receptacle.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a partial cross-sectional side view of the sealing ring and receptacle rim.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 10-12 are schematic representations of a fragmentary cross sectional views of the cover and receptacle shown in FIGS. 7 and 9.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a cross-sectional side view of a container including a cover and receptacle.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 13.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 13.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of a top view of the cover of FIG. 13. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    It is to be understood that the inventions are not limited to the details of construction in the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventions are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed in this application is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a container  10  having a receptacle  12  and a cap or cover  14 . As shown, cover  14  includes a shaker flap  16  that covers (when closed) shaker openings  18  disposed in planar top portion (or end)  20  of the cover. Cover  14  also includes a spooning flap  22  that similarly covers a larger spooning opening  24  also disposed in top portion  20 .  
         [0023]    The cover (as shown in FIG. 2) is in the form of a substantially cylindrical portion  26 , and top portion  20  which is coupled to an upper end of cylindrical portion  26  to cover cylindrical portion  26 . As shown in FIG. 1, threads  28  are provided on the inner surface of cylindrical portion  26  for coupling cover  14  to the outside of the top of a receptacle  12 . As shown in FIG. 1, mating threads are disposed on an outer indented top portion of receptacle  12  to engage threads  28 . Alternatively, cylindrical portion  26  may be equipped with an inner detent or a raised ring to allow it to be snap connected to the top portion of receptacle  12 . According to an exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, an elongate recess  19  is provided in which shaker flap  16  will fit when flap  16  is in a closed position, to provide a substantially flat upper surface of top portion  20  on which a similar container can be stacked.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 1, receptacle  12  includes a substantially planar bottom portion  30  that is adapted to engage a lip  32  of cover  14 . The bottom portion  30  is adapted to engage lip  32 ; a plurality of containers (see FIGS. 1 and 13) can be stacked one atop the other, lip  32  serving to orient the bottom of the next higher container and intended to keep the containers in proper alignment when stacked. In FIG. 1, two containers are shown (partially) in this stacked arrangement, the bottom of the upper container being shown as dashed line  34  engaging rim  32  when the flaps of the lower container are in a closed position (shown in FIG. 1 as dashed lines when in their closed positions). Bottom portion  30  of receptacle  12  (and hence bottom portion of container  34 ) and top portion  20  of cover  14  with lip  32  are adapted to engage one another. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and  13 , lip  32  is disposed at an outer edge of cover  14  to engage a recess  36  at the junction of bottom  30  and wall  38  of receptacle  12 . By disposing both lip  32  and recess  36  to engage each other near the outer periphery of the container, containers are more easily stacked (and when stacked tend to self-center). A portion of lip  32  is preferably disposed on shaker flap  16 , spooning flap  22  and on the non-hinged sides of top portion  20  as shown in FIG. 4. Each of these portions is preferably disposed at an outer edge of cover  14  (and have substantially the same diameter).  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of shaker openings  18  (preferably substantially circular as shown) are provided to allow foodstuffs within the container to be shaken out when shaker flap  16  is opened. Openings  18  are (preferably) shown arranged along an arc (as shown in FIG. 2). On the underside of shaker flap  16  is an arcuate flange  40  adapted to engage and seal central shaker opening  18  which extends for about 30 degrees around the periphery of its mating opening  18  when in a closed position (as shown in FIG. 5). Flange  40  engages the inner surface of opening  18  and holds the shaker flap closed.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 shows cover  14  in cross-section along a diametral line of the cover. The cross section is shown perpendicular to both the shaker flap hinge  50  and the spooning flap hinge  58 . Flange  40  extends, downward from the underside of shaker flap  16  (and outward) at an angle of between 9 and 25 degrees (preferably of between 5 and 20 degrees) with respect to the longitudinal axis of container  10 . This angular relationship allows the cover, including the flaps, to be readily and integrally molded as a single monolithic piece (in the orientation shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 13, e.g. with flaps as depicted at approximately 15 to 20 degrees from vertical). In addition, this angle allows flange  40  to releasably lock into central opening  18  when shaker flap  16  is closed.  
         [0027]    Shaker flap  16  also includes a skirt  46  that extends downwardly from shaker flap  16 . Skirt  46  is disposed at an outer edge of shaker flap  16 . Skirt  46  is shown as indented into the cap to provide (together with the outer surface of cylindrical portion  26 ), a substantially right circular cylindrical wall.  
         [0028]    Skirt  46  has an indentation  48  shown as disposed at a central outer portion of skirt  46  and is configured to receive a finger or finger nail of the user to allow the user to grasp shaker flap  16  at the indentation and readily open container  10  by lifting upward.  
         [0029]    Skirt  46  preferably extends around cover  14  for an arcuate length of between 60 and 120 degrees (see FIG. 4). According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, skirt  46  forms between 60 and 120 degrees of the circumference of the upper part of cover  14 . Skirt  46  is arcuate (rather than straight) to distribute the grasping load more evenly around the outer edge of shaker flap  16  and is less likely to be bent when the cover is grasped and opened. The arcuate configuration of skirt  46  allows shaker flap  16  to be made thinner and therefore to require less plastic when manufactured.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 3, when the shaker flap  16  is closed, flange  40  engages an outer portion of shaker opening  18  to releasably lock shaker flap  16  to top portion  20  in a closed position. While only a single flange  40  is shown in cross section in FIG. 3, each of the other openings  18  may also have a flange (not shown) to provide additional engagement surfaces for holding the shaker flap closed.  
         [0031]    As shown schematically in FIG. 4, shaker flap  16  is coupled to top portion  20  by a flexible and integrally formed hinge  50  preferably extending the entire length of shaker flap  16 .  
         [0032]    As shown schematically in FIG. 4, spooning flap  22  is coupled to top portion  20  by a flexible and integrally formed hinge  58  preferably extending the entire length of spooning flap  22 . Hinges  50  and  58  are disposed adjacent to a diametral line of cover  14  to allow the flaps to hinge upward and toward the middle of cover  14 .  
         [0033]    According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, spooning flap  22  covers spooning opening  24 . Spooning flap  22  has a flange  52  depending from a lower surface of spooning flap  22  that engages and locks against the inside of opening  24 . Flange  52  extends at an angle (preferably between 9 and 25 degrees) outward and downward from the underside of spooning flap  22 .  
         [0034]    As with flange  40  of the shaker flap, by disposing flange  52  at an angle, cover  14  can be manufactured in a single piece with spooning flap  22  formed integrally with cover  14 . Flange  52  preferably has an arcuate length of between 20 and 180 degrees (shown as approximately 20 degrees). Over this length, flange  52  is intended to engage the inside edge of spooning opening  24  to releasably lock spooning flap  22  to top portion  20  when spooning flap  22  is in a closed position.  
         [0035]    As shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 3, spooning flap  22  includes a skirt  60  (like skirt  46  of shaker flap  16 ). Skirt  60  is shown extending downwardly from spooning flap  22  near an outer edge of spooning flap  22  and has an arcuate shape to define an outer substantially vertical surface of cover  14  when spooning flap  22  is in a closed position. Skirt  60  has an indentation  61  shown disposed at a central outer portion of skirt  60  and configured to receive a finger or fingernail of the user to allow the user to grasp spooning flap  22  at the indentation and readily open container  10 . Skirt  60  preferably extends around the circumference of cover  14  when in the closed position for an angle pi of between 100 and 150 degrees (see FIG. 4). Skirt  60  is arcuate (rather than straight) to distribute the grasping load more evenly around the outer edge of spooning flap  22  and is less likely to be bent when the cover is grasped and opened. The arcuate configuration of skirt  60  allows spooning flap  22  to be made thinner and therefore to require less plastic when manufactured. According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the arcuate length of skirt  60  is greater than the arcuate length of skirt  46  and therefore provides additional strength to spooning flap  22 .  
         [0036]    A recess  62  (shown in FIG. 2) is provided in the cylindrical portion of cover  14  to receive skirt  46  of shaker flap  16 , so that skirt  46  can be set into an outer surface of cover  14  when shaker flap is closed, to reduce the risk that skirt  46  will be accidentally jostled and caught, shaker flap  16  opened and the contents of container  10  spilled; a recess  64  is provided on the opposite side of cover  14  from recess  62  to receive skirt  60  of spooning flap  22 . Skirts  46  and  60  form a smooth and contiguous part of the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of cover  14 .  
         [0037]    As shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 3, rim  70  of receptacle  12  has an upper sealing surface  72  that abuts a projection (shown as sealing ring  74 ) of the cover when the cover is screwed onto the receptacle. According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 through 12, sealing ring  74  is spaced apart from cylindrical portion  26  of cover  14  to form a gap  77 . According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, a sealing projection  74   a  provides a sealing surface that extends from the underside of top portion  20  of cover  14  (within cylindrical portion  26  to provide a gap  77 ).  
         [0038]    As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and  5  through  12 , sealing ring  74  has several separate and distinct sealing surfaces  76 ; surfaces  76  are flat and separated from adjacent sealing surfaces by cylindrical walls  79  (shown as circular and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cap so that sealing surfaces  76  are arranged in a “stair step” fashion, see FIG. 7). Each sealing surface defines a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle and cover. As shown schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7, a “warped” bottle with an oval rim  70  and sealing surface  72  may be screwed into cover  14 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 10-12 show (schematically) a receptacle rim  70  as it approaches sealing surface  76  of cover  14  (as the cover and receptacle are rotated with respect to each other).  
         [0040]    As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, there are four sealing surfaces  76   a  and  76   b  and  76   c  and  76   d  on cover  14  (each having a slightly smaller diameter) so that cover  14  may be attached to receptacles with different rim diameters (e.g. receptacles with a smaller rim diameter will rest on sealing surfaces that also have smaller diameters and receptacles with a larger diameter will nest on sealing surfaces with larger diameters).  
         [0041]    According to alternative embodiments, the arrangement of the cover is intended to accommodate a receptacle having variety of mouth sizes by providing several sealing surfaces against which the mouth of the receptacles can seal and/or to correct the shape of warped bottles (e.g., used with automatic capping machines).  
         [0042]    The present inventions are intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the claims.