Abstract:
A car cup holder dispensing box has a hexagonal shape with a dispensing closure including a precision stopping mechanism and is all made of one sheet of paper stock. The dispensing opening may be in the top or in one side of the box. The slider may have stops to limit its movement, and may be guided by the box construction. The slider may be attached to an actuation panel extending down one side of the box, and the actuation panel may also serve as a handle for removing the box from the cup holder receptacle, and for handling the box.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS  
       [0001]     This application is continuation-in-part of utility patent application Ser. No. 10/675,318 filed Sep. 29, 2003 of the same title (now abandoned). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to product dispensing packages which may conveniently be stored in a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many vehicles have cup holders in which drinks may be conveniently held. Candy or other small pieces of food, however, are typically sold in flexible paper or plastic bags which are difficult to store in a vehicle. Once the packages are opened, the foodstuff is often spilled onto the car seats and can become sticky, or otherwise soil the interior of the vehicle.  
         [0004]     Dispensing containers are known, and prior patents relating to such dispensers are disclosed in the following patents:  
         [0005]     D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,402 granted Aug. 20, 2002  
         [0006]     D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,942 granted Mar. 26, 2002  
         [0007]     D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,332 granted Aug. 14, 2001  
         [0008]     D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,499 granted Sep. 12, 2000  
         [0009]     C. G. von Stillfried U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,373 granted Apr. 9, 1996.  
         [0010]     These containers are generally rectangular, however, with a size and configuration such that there is normally no convenient place to store them in a vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Accordingly, one important object of the invention is to provide a dispensing package which may be conveniently stored in a vehicle.  
         [0012]     In accordance with one specific illustrative embodiment of the invention a hexagonal package or box for small solid products is provided with a slide which selectively opens and closes an opening in the package; and the cross-sectional extent of the package is about 2 to 3 inches or about five to eight centimeters, so that it readily fits into drink holders normally found in most vehicles.  
         [0013]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hexagonal container or box may have a product-dispensing opening in the top, and a slide integrally formed from the box material may be selectively moved to open or close the opening. The opening is preferably near one side of the top of the hexagonal box, and the slide extends along the inner surface of the top of the box and is secured to an actuating panel extending down the outside of the box, and overlying one side of the hexagonal box. The actuating panel is hingedly secured to the slide, and is adhered to a side panel of the box at an area spaced down from the top of the box to facilitate movement of the slide to open or close the dispensing opening. The actuating panel may also serve as a handle for removing the box from the vehicle drink holding receptacle, and for passing the box to others, for example.  
         [0014]     Additional aspects of the dispenser box may include (1) stops to limit movement of the slide, (2) a gripping arrangement on the slide actuator to facilitate opening and (3) top panels above and below the slide to guide the slide as it is opened and closed. The actuating panel and stops are formed and fit together in such a way to offer precise operation as described herein.  
         [0015]     Incidentally, typical small products which may be dispensed from the box would be candy, chewing gum and medical pills, for examples.  
         [0016]     Instead of a hexagonal configuration, the box may be in other configurations such as 5, 7 or 8-sided boxes, or boxes having equilateral polygonal configuration, scaled to fit into a vehicle cup holder.  
         [0017]     While the dispensing opening is preferably in the top of the box, it may also be located in one side of the box, normally near the top of the box.  
         [0018]     One advantage of the design is the ease of manufacture, in that the final box configuration can be realized by successively folding the extending tabs in an appropriate order, without requiring a separate manufacturing step of inserting the slider into the box assembly, thereby increasing production speed especially in mass production.  
         [0019]     The package of the present invention is most convenient for mothers with small children, as when the kids leave the vehicle the box may be placed in the cup holder avoiding accidents later and making a mess on the vehicle seats. Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a solid product dispensing package or box illustrating the principles of the invention, mounted in one of the drink holders in a vehicle;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the box of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic showing of a blank from which the box of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is formed, shown from the inside of the box;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the box of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative blank for a top dispensing box as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a second alternative blank for the top dispensing box shown above.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the first steps in forming the box of the second-alternative blank.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  shows the second steps in forming this box.  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  shows the third steps in forming this box.  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  shows this box flattened for storage until filling and completing of the box.  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  shows the first steps in closing the top of the box.  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  shows the second steps in closing the top of the box.  
         [0033]      FIG. 14  shows the box with the top closed.  
         [0034]      FIG. 15  shows the loading of candy or other small pieces of food into the bottom of the box.  
         [0035]      FIG. 16  shows the steps in closing the bottom of the box.  
         [0036]     Finally,  FIG. 17  shows the completed box with the bottom closed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]     While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept.  
         [0038]     Referring more particularly to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a product container or box  12  is shown mounted in a drink holder recess  14  of an automobile. Also shown in  FIG. 1  are the gearshift lever  16  and a hand brake actuating lever  18 .  
         [0039]     As shown to advantage in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the container or box  12  has a product-dispensing opening  20  located in the top of the box near one of the sides  22  of the hexagonal box. In addition, a slide  24  is mounted to selectively open and close the product dispensing opening  20 .  
         [0040]     The slide  24  is hingedly coupled to an actuation panel  26  which overlies one of the sides  28  of the hexagonal box  12 . The actuator panel  26  has a lower portion  26 ′ firmly adhered to side  28  of the box, so that the upper portion of actuator panel  26  may be pivoted in and out to move slide  24  to close and open the dispenser opening  20 .  
         [0041]     Also visible in  FIGS. 2 and 3  are the cut-away zone  42  in the top and the cut  44  at the junction between slide  24  and slide actuator  26 , which facilitate opening of the product container or box. Thus, using a fingernail, for example, the cut  44  may be engaged, and the slider  24  pulled back.  
         [0042]     The inner end  24 ′ of the slider  24  is slightly wider than the outer portion of slider, and has shoulders  38  which engage inwardly extending portions of the top or tabs secured to the top to form stops. These stops prevent the slider  24  from being fully pulled out of the box or container.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a view of a blank from which the box or container  12  is formed; and the view is taken from the side of the blank which will subsequently be the inside of the box. To correlate the construction of the box of  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4  with the blank of  FIG. 3 , note that the same reference numerals are used in  FIG. 3  as are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Two sides  52  and  54 , which are not fully visible in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , are shown in  FIG. 3 . The inner top  34 ′ and opening  20 ′ are also shown in  FIG. 3 ; and inner top  34 ′ is adhered in place by flaps  56  and  58 . The outer top  34  is adhered to the sides of the box by flaps  60  and  62 . The slider  24  is therefore guided between the two top layers  34  and  34 ′ as it shifts between the open and the closed positions.  
         [0044]     The bottom  64  of the box  12  is adhesively secured to the sidewalls by the flaps  66  on the bottom  64  and by the flaps  68  at the lower ends of the sidewalls. The flap  70  is adhesively bonded to sidewall  54  to close the sidewall configuration of the box  12 .  
         [0045]     Incidentally, with reference to  FIG. 3 , the darker or bolder line  71  extending part of the way between side wall  54  and actuation panel  26 , represents a cut, while the other lines shown in  FIG. 3  represent fold lines.  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic showing of an alternative hexagonal box or package  82  with an opening  84  on the sidewall thereof. The slider  86  is hingedly secured to the actuator  88 , which in turn is adhesively secured along base strip area  90  to the top  92  of the box  82 . The slider  86  may have an enlarged end, with shoulders  94  engaging the top  92  to provide a retraction stop.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows a blank  102  from which the hexagonal box of  FIGS. 2 and 3  may be formed. The blank  102  of  FIG. 6  is similar to the blank of  FIG. 3 , but the blank  102  of  FIG. 6  has been modified to avoid the need for providing a second opening as shown at reference numeral  20 ′ in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0048]     More specifically, the sides  104 , the bottom  106 , and the slider  108  are substantially the same as shown and discussed above for the corresponding parts of  FIG. 3 . The top  110  is also substantially the same, but may have two additional box securing flaps  112 , while the similar function flaps  56  and  58  have been deleted.  
         [0049]     However, instead of the apertured inner top closure  34 ′ of  FIG. 3 , the embodiment  102  of  FIG. 6  has an “unapertured” flap  114  and optional securing flap  116 . The flap  114  is folded in before the slider  108  followed by the top  110  and the flap  114  provides an inner guide for the slider  108 . With the foregoing sequence of tab folding, the manufacturing steps are simplified, and the slider is automatically located in its proper final position. Also, the embodiment of  FIG. 6  has the advantage of simplicity, as compared with the blank of  FIG. 3 , and avoids the need to punch out the second opening  20 ′ as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 7-17  show an alternate embodiment blank  118  and steps to erect and fill such a hexagonal box similar in some respects to the box  12  described above but offering various improvements. The overall configuration of the box was changed to reduce material costs, strengthen the box, and make it easier to manufacture and operate better.  
         [0051]      FIG. 7  shows the inside (non-print) side of the blank  118  of the hexagonal box. In comparison to the above-described boxes, the inner top  34 ′ ( FIG. 3 ) or top flap  114  (FIG.  6 ) were largely eliminated, and the side flap  70  reduced in size 50% resulting in material savings. Moreover, a newly-shaped slider  120  has angled stop portions  122  that operate more smoothly and without catching on the sides of the box as explained below. Note the small steps  123 ,  143  that engage one another. The opening  124  is oval rather than having any sharp corners. Except for the outer portions the blank  118  is symmetrical simplifying manufacture.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 8-11  show the initial steps in erecting the box. The blank  118  is folded between sidewalls  132  and  134  and between sidewalls  138  and  140  ( FIG. 8 ), and then again between sidewalls  138  and  140  and between  126 / 128  and  132  ( FIG. 9 ). The side flap  144  rectangular-shaped glue area  146  is adhered to the inside side panel  132 , while the inside actuation panel  128  glue area  148  is adhered to the outside sidewall  142  (Fog.  10 ). Then the box can be pressed flat ( FIG. 11 ) and stored until ready to be filled.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 12-17  show the filling process and completion of the final formed package. First the top of the box is closed by folding the four (4) flaps  150 ,  152 ,  154  and  156  ( FIG. 12 ). Next the slider  120  is folded and then the top  160  followed by the two flaps  162 ,  164  ( FIG. 13 ) which completes the top portion of the box ( FIG. 14 ). Then the box is inverted and the contents added through the open bottom and the flaps  166 ,  168  folded ( FIG. 15 ), and the bottom  170  folded including the three (3) flaps  172 ,  174  and  176  completing the forming of the package.  
         [0054]     In closing it is noted that preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail. Various alternatives and modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, however. Thus, by way of example and not of limitation, the product boxes may be made using 5 or 7 sides or other similar polygonal configurations, preferably equilateral and of sizes which are conveniently storable in the drink holders for vehicles. One arrangement for securing the boxes together has been shown, but other equivalent bonding arrangements may not be used, with tabs located in different positions to secure the box closed. The boxes may be formed of cardboard, stiff waxed paper, or sheets of plastic, for examples, with the box materials matched to the intended contents. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific configurations described in detail hereinabove.