Abstract:
A container having a receptacle and a cover is disclosed. The receptacle includes a generally rectangular base portion, a continuous sidewall portion, and a collar. The sidewall portion includes a lower end and an upper end. The lower end of the sidewall portion is coupled to the base portion and the upper end defines an opening. The collar extends around the sidewall portion proximate the upper end. The cover is coupled to the receptacle and includes a top portion, a skirt, a flap, and a tear strip. The skirt extends downwardly from the periphery of the top portion. The flap is hingably coupled to the top portion proximate a corner of the closure and is moveable between an open position in which access is provided to the opening in the receptacle and a closed position in which the opening in the receptacle is closed. The flap includes a closing apparatus to releasably retain the flap in the closed position. The tear strip is removable and is coupled to the flap and the skirt. The tear strip substantially prevents the flap from being moved into the open position until the tear strip is removed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/586,491, filed on Jul. 8, 2004, entitled “Container,” which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention(s) relate to a container. The present invention(s) more specifically relate to a container for retaining matter and for dispensing the matter.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     It is known to provide for containers that may be used for retaining and dispensing matter. Such known containers do not realize certain advantageous features (and/or combination of features). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate different views of a container according one exemplary embodiment.  
         [0005]      FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0006]      FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0007]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 7A-7D  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate different views of a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  illustrates the closure of the container illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8C .  
         [0013]      FIGS. 10A-10C  illustrate different views of the receptacle of the container illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8C .  
         [0014]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the closure of  FIG. 8B  taken along line  11 - 11 .  
         [0015]      FIGS. 12A-12C  illustrate partial cross-sectional views of the engagement structures on a closure and a receptacle according to an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 13  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the engagement structures on a closure and a receptacle according to another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 14A-14C  illustrate different views of a closure for a container according another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 15A-15C  illustrate different views of a closure for a container according to another exemplary embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 16A-16C  illustrate different views of a closure for a container according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     According to various exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGURES, a container  10  may be provided for receiving, holding, storing, transporting, and dispensing various matters or substances, in particular, granular or particulate matter (e.g., pet food, cat litter, etc.). Container  10  may also be provided for use with other types of matter such as liquids, chemicals, or any other viscous materials or fluids. According to various exemplary and alternative embodiments shown in the FIGURES, container  10  may comprise a closure  20  (e.g., cap, cover, etc.) and a receptacle  30  (e.g., bottle, pail, bucket, etc.).  
         [0021]     Receptacle  30  may be provided for receiving, holding, storing, transporting, etc. a wide variety of different materials and substances. According to various exemplary embodiments, receptacle  10  generally includes a bottom  40 , sidewalls  50 , and a collar  52 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-7D ,  8 C, and  10 A- 10 C, bottom  40  of receptacle  30  is a generally flat, rectangular, panel. According to various exemplary embodiments, bottom  40  may include one or more indentations or recesses  42  that facilitate the handling of receptacle  30  by a user. For example, indentations or recesses  42  may be configured and located such that a user may insert his or her fingers into recesses  42  as he or she picks up receptacle  30  or tips it one way or the other, such as to pour out the contents of receptacle  30 . The location of indentations or recesses  42  within bottom  40  of receptacle  30  may depend on certain characteristics of closure  10 , such as the orientation or location of a handle (discussed below) and/or the orientation and location of an opening (discussed below) in closure  10  configured to allow a user to selectively remove the contents of receptacle  30 . According to one exemplary embodiment, at least one indentation or recess  42  is located such that a user may place one hand on a handle of closure  10  and grasp indentation  42  with the other hand to pour or dispense the contents of container  10  out of the opening in closure  10 .  
         [0023]     According to other exemplary embodiments, such as those shown in  FIGS. 4A-7D  and  8 C, bottom  40  may include a lip or rim  44  around the periphery of bottom  40  that a user may grasp when handling receptacle  30  or pouring the contents of receptacle  30 .  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-8A ,  8 C, and  10 A- 10 C, sidewalls  50  are substantially flat and rigid panels or members that extend generally perpendicularly from the periphery of bottom  40  to form a substantially rectangular shaped tube that is closed on one end by bottom  40 . The intersection between the different sidewalls  50  (e.g., the “corners” of the receptacle) may be a sharp corner, or may be radiused to provide a more gradual transition between sidewalls  50 .  
         [0025]     As best shown in  FIGS. 10A-10C , a collar or reinforcement member  52  may be provided around the upper edge of sidewalls  50  to provide support for sidewalls  50  and to provide structure to which closure  20  may be coupled. According to various exemplary embodiments, collar  52  generally extends around the periphery of the upper end of sidewalls  50  (i.e. the end of sidewalls  50  opposite bottom  40 ) and may be solid or may be substantially hollow and include intermittently spaced reinforcing ribs  54  that extend between sidewalls  50  and the inside surface of collar  52 . Collar  52  may extend outwardly from sidewalls  50  such that its outer periphery generally follows the outer periphery of closure  20 .  
         [0026]     According to one exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12A-13 , sidewalls  50  (or collar  52 ) may include one or more projections (e.g., fingers, barbs, locking members, etc.) or recesses  56  proximate the open end of receptacle  30  that are configured to engage corresponding projections or recesses  58  that are provided on closure  20  (see discussion below). The engagement of the projections and/or recesses  56  on receptacle  30  and the projections and/or recesses  58  on closure  20  serves to maintain the coupled condition of receptacle  30  and closure  20 , particularly when closure  20  (and a corresponding handle, described below) are called upon to support the weight of container  10  and its contents.  
         [0027]     A closure  20  may be provided for generally protecting, sealing, enclosing, and/or selectively closing an open end of receptacle  30  to retain or selectively retain the contents of receptacle  30  within receptacle  30 . The closure generally includes sidewalls  60 , a top portion  70 , a handle  80 , and a flap  90 .  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-9 , sidewalls  60  of closure  20  generally form the outer periphery of closure  20  and are configured to couple to sidewalls  50  (or collar  52 ) of receptacle  30  (e.g., generally in the region of collar  52 ).  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 12A-13 , sidewalls  60  may include one or more projections (e.g., fingers, barbs, locking members, etc.) or recesses  58  that engage or lock with projections or recesses  56  provided on sidewalls  50  (or collar  52 ) of receptacle  30  to retain closure  20  in place on receptacle  30 . An example of such projections or barbs  56  and  58  are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/764,819, filed Jan. 26, 2004 (Atty. Dkt. No. 28757-143), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-9 , top portion  70  couples to one end of sidewalls  60  of closure  20  to form a generally rectangular, cup-shaped member that has its opening facing receptacle  30 . When closure  20  is coupled to receptacle  30 , sidewalls  60  of closure  20  and sidewalls  50  of receptacle  30  may overlap so that the corresponding projections or recesses  56  and  58  (discussed above) located on sidewalls  60  of closure  20  and on sidewalls  50  of receptacle  30  engage one another to retain closure  20  on receptacle  30 . Top portion  70  is generally flat and may be configured to receive bottom  40  of a like receptacle  30  that may be stacked on top of closure  20 . To facilitate this stacking, top portion  70  may include one of a recess  72  and a raised region  74  that cooperates with the other one of recess  72  and raised region  74  provided on bottom  40  of receptacle  30 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-8B , closure  20  may include a handle  80  that a user may grasp to pick up container  10 , pour the contents of container  10 , or otherwise maneuver container  10 . According to one exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1D , handle  80  may be stationary and cooperate with a recess  82  in top portion  70  to allow a user&#39;s hand to fit underneath handle  80 . Handle  80  may be formed separately from closure  20  and then coupled to closure  20 , or handle  80  may be integrally formed as a single unitary body with closure  20 .  
         [0032]     According to another exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2D , handle  80  may translate between an extended position in which handle  80  is spaced apart from top portion  70  of closure  20 , and a retracted position in which handle  80  may be located proximate top portion  70  of closure  20 . To accommodate the translational movement of handle  80 , closure  20  and/or receptacle  30  (in particular, sidewalls  50  of receptacle  30  and sidewalls  60  of closure  20 ) may include channels  84  that are configured to guide the translational movement of handle  80 . In order to allow a user to move handle  80  from the retracted position to the extended position, recess  82  may be provided in top portion  70  around and underneath handle  80  to allow a user to place his fingers under handle  80 .  
         [0033]     According to other exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-8C , handle  80  may be a bail-type handle that pivots between a non-use position in which handle  80  is located proximate top portion  70  of closure  20  (and aligned generally parallel with the plane of top portion  70 ), and a use position in which handle  80  is rotated upward (and aligned generally perpendicular with the plane of top portion  70 ). Top portion  70  of closure  20  may include a recess  86  that is configured to receive handle  80  when handle  80  is in the non-use position. Recess  86  allows handle  80  to rest in a position that does not interfere (such as by extending above the general plane of top portion  70  or beyond the general periphery of closure  20 ) with bottom  40  of a receptacle  30  that may be stacked on top of closure  20 . As shown schematically in  FIG. 11 , to couple handle  80  to top portion  70  or sidewalls  60  of closure  20 , handle  80  may include one or more projections  88  that extend from handle  80  and that are received within corresponding recesses  89  provided in top portion  70  or sidewalls  60  of closure  20 . Alternatively, handle  80  may include recesses that are configured to receive projections extending from top portion  70  or sidewalls  60  of closure  20 . According to an exemplary embodiment, projections  88  and recesses  89  are substantially aligned so as to share a common axis around which handle  80  may pivot. Projections  88  and recesses  89  may be sized such that projections  88  frictionally engage recesses  89 . Depending on the amount of friction between projections  88  and recesses  89 , the friction may be sufficient to retain handle  80  in any position until a force sufficient to overcome the friction is applied by a user.  
         [0034]     According to various exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3A-4D  and  6 A- 6 D, the shape of handle  80  may follow the general shape of closure  20  and/or receptacle  30 . According to various other exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS.  1 A- 2 D,  5 A- 5 D, and  7 A- 8 C, the shape and profile of handle  80  may remain within the general shape of closure  20  and/or receptacle  30 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-9  and  14 A- 16 C, closure  20  may include a flap  90  that moves between a closed position, in which no opening is provided in closure  20  for dispensing material within receptacle  30 , and an open position, in which an opening  92  is provided that allows a user to dispense material from receptacle  30  through opening  92 . Flap  90  is coupled to the body of closure  20  (e.g., sidewalls  60  and/or top portion  70 ) by a living hinge  94  that allows flap  90  to move between the open and closed positions. According to various exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A-8B  and  15 A- 15 C, flap  90  and living hinge  94  may be configured so that flap  90  pivots upwardly and inwardly toward the center of closure  20 . According to other various exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 14A-14C  and  16 A- 16 C, flap  90  and living hinge  94  may be configured so that flap  90  pivots upwardly and outwardly away from the center of closure  20 .  
         [0036]     According to various exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A-5D ,  7 A- 8 B,  9 , and  15 A- 15 C, flap  90  may be located in a corner of closure  20 . This has the effect of utilizing the general V-shape of the corner of closure  20  and receptacle  30  to obtain a result similar to that which would be obtained by a similarly shaped spout coupled to closure  20 . The placement of flap  90  and dispensing opening  92  in the corner facilitates the dispensing of the contents of receptacle  30  in a relatively efficient and controlled manner. According to another exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14A-14C , flap  90  may take the form of a flip-out spout and include side portions that help to facilitate the dispensing of the contents of receptacle  30  in a relatively efficient and controlled manner.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-9 , flap  90  may be integrally formed with the other portions of closure  20 . When formed, flap  90  is retained in the closed position by a “tear strip,” or a strip of material  96  that is designed to be removed by the user prior to his or her use of closure  20  and/or flap  90 . When closure  20  is formed, tear strip  96  is coupled to a portion of flap  90  (and may also be coupled to another portion of closure  20 , such as sidewalls  60 ) by a relatively thin web of material. To remove tear strip  96 , the user simply pulls on tear strip  96 , which tears the web of material that couples tear strip  96  to flap  90  (and/or to any other portion of closure  20 ). To assist the user in removing tear strip  96 , tear strip  96  is usually formed with a tab or free end  97  that a user can grasp to remove tear strip  96  from closure  20 .  
         [0038]     According to various exemplary embodiments, tear strip  20  may form a primary portion of the sidewalls  60  in the area of closure  20  immediately adjacent flap  90  such that removing tear strip  96  removes any portion of sidewalls  60  immediately adjacent flap  90  (see  FIGS. 1A-3D  and  8 A- 8 C), or tear strip  96  may form a portion of the sidewalls  60  immediately adjacent flap  90  such that removing tear strip  96  removes only a portion of sidewalls  96  immediately adjacent flap  90  (see  FIGS. 4A-7D ). In the former case, tear strip  96  serves to releasably couple flap  90  to receptacle  30 , whereas in the latter case, tear strip  96  serves to releasably couple flap  90  to sidewalls  60  of closure  20 .  
         [0039]     Once tear strip  96  has been removed, the user may freely open and close flap  90 . In the closed position, a portion of flap  90  couples with or engages a portion of either sidewall(s)  60  of closure  20  or sidewall(s)  50  of receptacle  30  to releasably retain or lock flap  90  in the closed position. Accordingly to one exemplary embodiment, flap  90  and sidewall(s)  60  or receptacle  30  are coupled together through the use of a projection (not shown) extending from one member that engages a recess or detent (not shown) in the other member. According to another exemplary embodiment, flap  90  may be releasably retained in the closed position by frictionally engaging a portion of receptacle  30  and/or sidewall(s)  60  of closure  20 .  
         [0040]     According to another exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14A-14C , flap  90  may be initially retained in the closed position by a label, sticker, or cover  98  that is designed to be removed or torn by the user prior to his or her use of closure  20  and/or flap  90 .  
         [0041]     According to one exemplary embodiment, each of the closure and receptacle is integrally-formed through a molding operation. According to various exemplary embodiments, the assemblies and components of the container, including the closure and the receptacle, may be constructed from one or more separate components assembled together and may be constructed from a variety of suitable materials, including various polymers and elastomers (e.g., plastics, rubbers, etc.). Each element of the container may be made from the same material, or the different portions of the container, such as the handle, for example, may made from a different material than the other elements of the container. According to alternative embodiments, other well known processes may be used to construct the container.  
         [0042]     It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the container as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, angles, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or other elements of the container may be varied, and the nature or number of the projections or recesses may be varied in size, shape and configuration. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the container may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength, durability, or flexibility, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. It should also be noted that the container may be used in association with a variety of materials in a wide variety of different environments and situations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions.