Abstract:
A package is provided for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products. The package includes a container housing having an interior for containing the products and an extending opened filling and dispensing spout. A cover is movably attached to the housing for covering and filling the dispensing spout. The cover is movable from a closed position to a partially opened position wherein only a portion of the filling and dispensing spout is opened to permit dispensing of the product therefrom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/713,050 filed on Aug. 31, 2005, entitled “PARTIALLY OPENABLE FLIP TOP PRODUCT PACKAGE”. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a container for containing and dispensing discrete consumable products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flip top container which may be partially opened to dispense product.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Certain discrete consumable products are disposed from a convenient package or container. These consumable products, which may be, for example, mints, candies, gums, vitamins, pharmaceutical tablets and the like may come in a wide variety of shapes. These containers which hold the products may include an openable top so as to dispense one or more of the products. The top is then reclosable for carrying purposes.  
         [0004]     As these products are relatively small, the opening from which the products are dispensed from the package must also be small so as to avoid inadvertently dispensing more product than is desired. While these small openings help to prevent excessive product dispensing, it makes the package difficult to fill in an automated environment. Such a problem has necessitated forming a package to have a removable top. The removal top, which may contain the dispensing opening, is removed during the filling process so as to fill the container with product. Thereafter, the top is reassembled to the container and the dispensing opening is used to dispense the product from the package.  
         [0005]     It is desirable to provide a package which can then dispense a limited number of products from the container yet can be filled an efficient and automated process.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a package for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products. The package includes a container having an interior for containing the products and an extending open-ended filling and dispensing spout. A cover is moveably attached to the housing for covering the filling and dispensing spout. The cover is moveable from a closed position to a partially open position where only a portion of the filling and dispensing spout is open so as to permit dispensing of the product therefrom.  
         [0007]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover is pivotally attached to the housing. The cover is also moveable to a fully opened position to permit filling of the housing. The package of the present invention includes cooperative retaining means for restraining the cover from moving inadvertently to the fully opened position. The cooperative retaining means also retains the cover in a closed position.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective showing of the package of the present invention in the closed condition.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective showing of the package of the present invention in the partially open dispensing position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective showing of the package of the  FIG. 1  in the fully opened filling position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  shows the package of  FIG. 3  partially in section. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     A container for containing and dispensing a plurality of consumable products is provided. Such consumable products may include confectionary products such as candy mints, gum balls, gum pellets as well as pharmaceutical and vitamin tablets. Commonly, these products are sold in a plastic container wherein a plurality of products are housed in the container. The container includes a cover having a opening through which the products can be dispensed. Typically, the user will open the container and dispense a small number of product for immediate consumption and reclose the container for later use.  
         [0013]     In order to allow the user to dispense only a small number of products at a time, the dispensing opening must be relatively small. However, providing a small dispensing opening results in difficulties in the automated filling of the container.  
         [0014]     Referring to the figures, the package  10  is shown. Package  10  includes two integrally formed components a lower container  12  and an upper cover  14 . The container  12  is generally rectangular in shape having a hollow interior  16  which accommodates a plurality of products. Cover  14  may be formed into a rounded configuration and is pivotally connected by a living hinge  18 .  
         [0015]     In a preferred embodiment shown herein, the container  12  is rectangular while the cover  14  is arcuate in shape. However, any shape and configuration of container and cover may be employed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]     Container  12  includes an upwardly extending spout  20  which extends from a rim  22  perimetrically about the upper end of container  12 . The rim  22  is designed to seat with a similar rim  24  which perimetrically extends about cover  14  to seat the cover on the container in the closed condition shown in  FIG. 1 . In that regard, the walls of spout  20  are thinner and more flexible than container  12  and cover  14 . In this manner, when the cover  14  overlies spout  20 , the cover and the container present a flush surface.  
         [0017]     Spout  20  has a generally trapezoidal shape having an open upper end  26  which is in communication with the interior  16  of container  12 . The open upper end  26  is defined by an open angular front face  28  have a curved lower end  30  as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and an oppositely tapered rear face  32  extending way from front face  28 .  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the open ended spout  20  provides a substantial filling opening where the container  12  can be filled with product in an automated process. It is contemplated that the package  10  will be filled in the condition shown in  FIG. 3 . Thereafter, the cover  14  may be closed onto the container  12  to a position shown in  FIG. 1  for shipping and sale.  
         [0019]     While the cover  14  is moveable from the fully opened position shown in  FIG. 4  for filling purposes, to the fully closed position shown in  FIG. 1  for shipping, sale and use, the cover is also openable to a dispensing position shown in  FIG. 2 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the dispensing position disposes the cover in a partially open position where the open tapered front face  28  of spout  20  is uncovered. In this position, a small opening is presented for dispensing one or a small number of products therefrom with a reduced risk of dispensing all of the products at one time. In that regard, the cover  14  may be releasably affixed to the container  12  in both the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , and the partially open dispensing position shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]     As more fully shown in  FIG. 3 , the package  10  includes cooperative retaining means on both the spout  20  and cover  14 . Spout  20  includes two pairs of outwardly extending protrusions  40  and  42 . Protrusions  40  extend on either side of spout  20  along the upper edge of inwardly sloping face  26 . Protrusions  42  are located on either side of spout  20  at a location vertically spaced from protrusions  40 . Cover  14  includes a pair of inwardly directed similarly formed protrusions  44  which are positioned along the rim  24  of cover  14 . In addition, beneath protrusions  42  on extension  20  are a pair of grooves  46 . Grooves  46  are designed to accommodate protrusions  44  of cover  14 . The protrusions  40 ,  42 ,  44  as well as the grooves  46  form a detent feature for securing and retaining the cover in a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and a partially open position in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0021]     As may be appreciated, in the closed position, the protrusions  44  reside within grooves  46  thereby retaining the cover in the closed position. In order to move the cover from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover may be raised from the container so that the protrusion slides out of groove  46  and over protrusion  42  which helps to hold the cover in the closed position. The package is formed of a relatively resilient deformable plastic, and spout  20  is thin and flexible so that manual movement of the cover is permitted. Once moved out of residence within the groove  46 , protrusions  44  ride between protrusions  42  and  40  so as to move the cover to the partially open position shown in  FIG. 2 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the size and length of the protrusions on the cover and the spout as well as the grooves  46  can be adjusted so as to vary the degree of ease of moving the cover from the closed position. It is further contemplated that the protrusions  40  and  42  and groove  46  may be replaced by other closing techniques, such as a guiding groove and a lid brim.  
         [0022]     The cover  14  is held in the partially opened position and prevented from moving to the fully opened position of  FIG. 3  by engagement between protrusions  44  of cover  14  and protrusions  40  of container  12 . Also, due to the slight frictionally interference between protrusion  44  and the wall of spout  20 , the cover is maintained in the partially opened position shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0023]     The cover can be returned to the closed position of  FIG. 1  by pushing the cover downward toward container  12  and having protrusions  44  ride cover protrusions  42  so that protrusions  44  become seated within grooves  46 .  
         [0024]     If desired, the cover can be moved to the fully opened position shown in  FIG. 3  by pivotally opening cover  14  so that protrusions  44  ride over protrusions  40 .