Abstract:
A confectionery container ( 10 ) has a main body ( 12 ) defining an inner volume in which articles can be held. A closure member or lid ( 14 ) is pivotably attached to the main body for movement between an open position in which articles within the inner volume can be dispensed and a closed position in which the articles are retained within the container. To assist the user in opening and closing the container, an over-center mechanism ( 34 ) is provided which is configured to bias the lid ( 14 ) towards the open and closed positions. The container ( 10 ) is preferably formed from a unitary blank of foldable material ( 48 ) and the over-center mechanism may comprise two co-operating panels ( 36, 40 ) connected between the main body ( 12 ) and the lid ( 14 ). A blank ( 48 ) for forming the container and a method of dispensing articles from the container are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/GB2007/004582, which designates the U.S., filed Nov. 29, 2007, which claims the benefit of GB 0625012.0, filed Dec. 15, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is concerned with containers, particularly, although not exclusively, to containers for the containment and dispense of articles in tablet or pellet form, including confectionery items. The invention also relate to blanks for forming such containers and to a method of dispensing articles using the inventive container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Known containers comprise a box-like main body with an open end and having an interior in which contents can be stored. A closure member or lid is pivotably mounted to the body for movement between a closed position in which it closes off the open end and an open position in which a user can gain access to the interior of the container through the open end or in which the contents can be dispensed though the open end. These arrangements are commonly adopted for the containment and dispensing of cigarettes for example and are typically formed from a blank of foldable material such as cardboard or a laminate or the like. However, such known containers are not always suitable for the dispensing of smaller confectionery items or tablet-form medications. Furthermore, the arrangements for opening and closing the closure member can be awkward and/or unreliable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a confectionery container which is suitable for the containment and dispersing of pellet or tablet like articles which may be confectionery articles such as chewing gum pellets or mints or tablet-form medications. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a confectionery container having an improved opening and closing mechanism for the dispensing of such articles. 
     Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide a confectionery container that is simple to make and fill. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a blank for the manufacture of a confectionery container with the abovementioned attributes. 
     It is a yet further object of the invention to provide an improved method of dispensing articles from a confectionery container. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a confectionery container comprising a main body defining an inner volume in which articles can be held and a closure member pivotably attached to the main body for movement between an open position in which articles within the inner volume can be dispensed and a closed position in which the articles are retained within the container, the container further comprising an over-centre mechanism arranged to bias the closure member towards the open and closed positions. 
     In a confectionery container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the over-centre mechanism facilitates opening and closing of the container, thereby requiring minimal direction from a user. Furthermore, the over-centre mechanism positively directs the closure member into the open and closed positions, reducing the possibility of incorrect positioning of the colure member or accidental movement between open/closed positions. This is particularly advantageous where the articles to be dispensed are confectionery articles or medicaments as the over-centre mechanism ensures efficient closure which is important for hygiene reasons and to ensure the integrity of the articles stored in the container. 
     The term “over-centre mechanism” in this context refers to a mechanism having a range of movement between two extremes and having an intermediate transition point between those two extremes, the arrangement being such that the forces applied by the mechanism are different when the mechanism is on one side of the intermediate transition point than when it is on the other. Thus in the present invention, the over-centre mechanism applies a bias force tending to move the closure member towards the open position when the mechanism moves beyond the intermediate position towards an open configuration and applies a bias force tending to move the closure member towards the closed position when the mechanism moves beyond the intermediate position towards a closed configuration. 
     The over-centre mechanism may comprise a pair of pivotably interconnected link members, one link member being pivotably connected to the closure member and the other link member being pivotably connected to the main body. 
     The confectionery container may be constructed from one or more sections of foldable material, such as card, paper or a laminate. In a particularly advantageous arrangement, the container is formed from a unitary blank of foldable material. 
     The over-centre mechanism may comprise two cooperating panels pivotably connected to one another along a first fold line, a first one of the panels being pivotably connected with the closure member and a second of the cooperating panels being pivotably connected with a panel forming part of the main body. The cooperating panels may be configured so as to lie generally in-line with each other when the closure is in the open position, though, the first and second cooperating panels may angle inwardly towards their adjoining ends, such that the first fold line is offset inwardly from the plane of the main body panel. The cooperating panels may be configured so that the first and second cooperating panels overlie one another when the closure member is in the closed position. 
     The cooperating panels may be configured so that, in use, as the closure member moves between the open and closed positions, the first cooperating panel pivots about the first fold line and is inverted, the closure member passing through an intermediate position between the open and closed positions in which the first cooperating panel extends generally perpendicularly to the plane of the second cooperating panel. 
     The cooperating panels may be configured so that, in use when the closure member is moved from the open position to the closed position, during movement of the closure member from the open position to the intermediate position, a force is exerted on the second cooperating panel through the first cooperating panel biasing the second cooperating panel inwardly from an initial position, after which, during further movement of the closure member towards the closed position beyond the intermediate position, the force on the second cooperating panel is removed and the second panel is able to recover towards its initial position biasing the closure member towards the closed position. 
     The cooperating panels may be re arranged so that, in use when the closure member is moved from the closed position to the open position, during movement of the closure member from the closed position towards the intermediate position, a force is exerted on the second cooperating panel through the first cooperating panel biasing the second cooperating panel inwardly from an initial position, after which, during further movement of the closure member towards the open position beyond the intermediate position, the force exerted on the second cooperating panel is removed and the second cooperating panel is able to recover towards its initial position biasing the closure member towards the open position. 
     The first cooperating panel may be a major panel and the second cooperating panel may be a shorter minor panel. 
     In one embodiment, the main body has opposing front and rear panels, the closure member being pivotably connected with a rear panel of the main body, the first cooperating panel being pivotably connected with a forward edge of the closure member and the second cooperating panel being pivotably connected with the front panel of the main body. 
     The closure member may comprise two closure member panels, a first closure member panel pivotably connected with the rear panel of the main body and a second closure member panel which extends substantially perpendicularly to the first closure member panel. The second closure member panel may have a dispensing aperture and may be arranged to at least partially overlie the front panel of the main body and the first and second cooperating panels when the closure member is in the closed position so that the aperture is at least partially obscured. 
     In this arrangement, it is advantageous that the over-centre mechanism biases the second closure member panel into close proximity with the front panel of the main body and the first and second cooperating panels as this helps to close the aperture as far as possible. This not only reduces the risk that articles might inadvertently escape through the aperture but also helps to prevent containments entering the container. It is also an advantage that the user can clearly see the dispensing aperture and how to open the container. 
     The dispensing aperture may be un-obscured when the closure member is in the open position. 
     The closure member may be provided at one end of the main body, the second closure member panel being arranged to extend substantially parallel to a wall which closes an opposing end of the main body when the closure member is in the open position. 
     The dispensing aperture may be provided by means of a push out panel defined in the second closure member panel by means of perforations. 
     In one embodiment, the first closure member panel is connected with the rear panel of the main body by a fold line and to the second closure member panel by a further fold line, the container further comprising a tab member pivotably connected to one of the first cooperating panel and the second closure member panel by a yet further fold line, the tab member being secured to the other of the first cooperating panel and the second closure member panel. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the second closure member panel is connected with the first cooperating panel by means of a fold line and to the first closure member panel by means of a further fold line, the container further comprising a tab member pivotably connected with one of the rear panel of the main body and the first closure member panel by means of a yet further fold line, the tab member being secured to the other of the rear panel and the first closure member panel. 
     In either of the above embodiments, the tab member may be secured using an adhesive. 
     The closure member may further comprise side tabs to enclose the region between the closure member panels and the first cooperating panel when the closure member is in the open position. 
     In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank for forming a confectionery container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. 
     The blank may comprise two cooperating panels pivotably connected with a panel portion forming part of the main body, the two cooperating panels being interconnected by a fold line. 
     In one embodiment, the blank comprises four panel portions connected by fold lines which define front, rear and two side panels of the main body of the container, the blank further comprising a first closure member panel connected to the rear panel portion by a fold line, a second closure member panel connected to the first closure member panel by a fold line, a second cooperating panel connected with the front panel portion by a fold line and a first cooperating panel connected with the second cooperating panel by a fold line, and a tab member connected with one of the first cooperating panel and the second closure member panel by a fold line, the tab member carrying a region of adhesive by means of which it can be affixed to the other of the first cooperating panel and the second closure member panel. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the blank comprises four panel portions connected by fold lines which define front, rear and two side panels of the main body of the container, the blank further comprising a second cooperating panel connected with the front panel portion by a fold line, a first cooperating panel connected with the second cooperating panel by a fold line, a second closure member panel connected with the first cooperating panel by a fold line, and a first closure member panel connected with the second closure member panel by a fold line, and a tab member connected with one of the rear panel portion and the first closure member panel by a fold line, the tab member carrying a region of adhesive by means of which it can be affixed to the other of the rear panel portion and the first closure member panel. 
     The blank may further comprise end closure panels and tabs for forming an end closure at an end of the main body opposite from the closure member. 
     The blank may have adhesive on one or more faces to facilitate assembly of the container. 
     In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of dispensing articles from a confectionery container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising: moving the closure member from the closed position to the open position and manoeuvring the container so as to dislodge articles in the container to be dispensed. 
     The method may further comprise moving the closure member from the open position to the closed position to retain the remaining articles within the container. 
     Where the main body of the confectionery container comprises opposing front and rear panels and the closure member comprises a first closure member panel pivotably connected with the rear panel of the main body, a second closure member panel extending generally perpendicularly to the first closure member panel and which has a dispensing aperture, the second closure member panel being arranged to at least partially overlie the front panel of the main body and the first and second cooperating panels when the closure member is in the closed position, the step of moving the closure member to the closed position may cause the over-centre mechanism to bias the second closure panel into close proximity with the front panel and the first and second cooperating panels so that the aperture is at least partially obscured. 
     Where the closure member comprises a dispensing aperture which is un-obscured in the open position, the method of dispensing articles may comprise moving the closure member from the closed position to the open position and manoeuvring the container so as to dislodge articles in the container through the dispensing aperture. 
     Where the dispensing aperture comprises a push out panel defined in the second closure member by means of perforations, the method of dispensing articles may comprise moving the closure member from the closed position to the open position and removing the push out panel so that articles can be dispensed through the aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:— 
         FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a front/side elevation of a confectionery container in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, which is shown in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 1   a  but showing the container in an open condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of a blank for making the container of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
         FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a front/side elevation of a confectionery container in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, which is shown in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 3   a  but showing the container in an open condition; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of a blank for making the container of  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Throughout this specification, terms such as “upper”, “upwardly”, “lower”, “top” and “bottom”, relate to the container or its parts when in a generally upright position as shown in  FIG. 1   a , and  3   a . It will be appreciated, however, that the container can be held in other orientations and such terms should be construed accordingly. 
     With reference initially to  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b  and  2 , a confectionery container  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention comprises a main body  12  which defines a rectangular prism shaped box having an inner volume. The container also has a closure member or lid  14  connected to a rear panel  16  of the main body by means of a fold line  18 , which forms a hinge for the closure member. The closure member  14  is movable relative to the main body  12  about the fold line  18  between a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1   a  and an open position as shown in  FIG. 1   b . The closure member comprises a dispensing aperture  15 , which is obscured when the closure member is closed and which is un-obscured when the closure member  14  is in the open position so that articles contained in the main body can be dispensed through the aperture  15 . 
     The closure member  14  has a first closure member panel  20  which lies substantially parallel to a wall  21  which closes the opposite, bottom end, of the main body when the closure member  14  is in a closed position. The closure member  14  also has a second closure member panel  22  which extends generally perpendicularly to the first closure member panel and which faces towards the front of the container when the closure member  14  is in the closed position. A rear edge of the first closure member panel  20  is connected to an upper edge of the rear panel  16  of the main body  12  by the fold line  18  and a front edge of the first closure member panel  20  is connected to a rear edge of the second closure member panel  22  by means of a further fold line  24 . The sides of the closure member are formed by inner side tabs  26  connected to the first closure member panel  20  along fold lines  28  and outer side tabs  30  connected with the second closure member panel  22  along fold lines  31 . The inner and outer side tabs  26 ,  30  on either side are affixed together using an adhesive to form the sides of the closure member and to fix the first  20  and second  22  closure member panels in position relative to one another. 
     A forward edge  22   a  of the second closure member panel  22  is connected with a front panel  32  of the main body  12  by means of two cooperating panels which comprise an over-centre mechanism, indicated generally at  34  in  FIG. 1   b , configured to bias the closure member  14  into the open and closed positions. The over-centre mechanism  34  includes a minor panel  36  connected to the front panel  32  of the main body by means of a fold line  38  and a major panel  40  connected to the minor panel along a first, lower edge, by means of a further fold line  42 . As will be described in more detail later, a second, upper edge of the major panel  40  is connected by a fold line  44  with a tab member  46 . The tab member  46  is affixed to the inner surface of the second closure member panel  22  so that the fold line  44  is aligned with the forward edge  22   a  of the second closure member panel  22 . The over-centre mechanism  34  thus provides an articulated connection between the forward edge  22   a  of the second closure member panel  22  and the front panel  32  of the main body. 
     When the closure member  14  is open, as shown in  FIG. 1   b , the minor  36  and major  40  panels extend generally in-line with one another but are angled inwardly slightly towards their common fold line  42 , which is inset from the plane of the front panel  32 . To close the dispenser, the closure member  14  is pivoted forwardly about the rear hinge  18  to bring the second closure member panel  22  down over the front panel  32  of the main body. During an initial phase of movement, the major panel  40  is moved from the open position shown in  FIG. 1   b  to an intermediate position in which it extends generally perpendicularly relative to the plane of minor panel  36 . This movement exerts an inwardly and downwardly directed force on the upper edge of the minor panel, which is forced to bend inwardly and downwardly about the fold line  38  between itself and the front panel  32  to a deflected position. As the closure member  14  continues in its closing movement beyond the intermediate position towards the closed position, the major panel  40  becomes inverted as the second edge  22   a  of the second closure member panel moves beyond the fold line  42  between the major  40  and minor  36  panels. This removes the inwardly and downwardly directed force from the upper edge of the minor panel  36 , which recovers to its initial position pushing the fold line  38  outwardly. This tends to push the closure member  14  towards the fully closed position. 
     The term “inverted” is used herein to indicate simply that the major panel pivots about the fold line  42  from a position in which the majority of the panel is located to one side of the fold line to a position in which the majority of the panel is located to the other side of the fold line  42  rather than to imply that the major panel moves between strictly opposing positions. 
     When the closure member  14  is opened, the above sequence is reversed. Thus the closure member  14  is pivoted about the rear hinge  18  to the intermediate position in which the major panel  40  is aligned substantially perpendicular to the plane of the minor panel  36 , pushing the upper edge of the minor panel  36  inwardly and downwardly. Once the closure member  14  moves beyond the intermediate position towards the open position, the force pushing the upper edge of the minor panel is removed and the minor panel  36  recovers to its initial position biasing the fold line  38  outwardly. This pushes the major panel  40  and the closure member  14  into their open positions. 
     It can be seen, therefore, that the over-centre mechanism  34  biases the closure member  14  firmly into either the open position or the closed position as the closure member moves through the intermediate position. 
     When the closure member  14  is in the closed position, the dispensing aperture  15  overlies part of the front panel  32  of the main body and is obscured by the inner face of the major panel  40 . In the present embodiment, a tab  36   a  on the upper edge of the minor panel  30  extends into the lower edge of the major panel  40  and the fold line  42  between the major and minor panels  40 ,  36  is divided into two portions  42   a ,  42   b , one on either side of the tab. When the closure member  14  is closed, the tab  36   a  projects upwardly from the fold line  38  and lies adjacent, or contacts, the inner surface of the first closure member panel  20  to ensure that none of the articles stored in the main body  12  are able to pass between the fold line  38  and the inner surface of the first closure member panel  20  and out of the aperture  15 . The tab  36   a  can be omitted if not required. 
     When the closure member  14  is open, the second closure member panel  22  extends substantially parallel to the wall  21  which closes off the opposite end of the container. In this position articles in the container can be removed by tipping the container  10  to allow the articles to fall through the aperture  15 . With the closure member open, the foldable panel assembly  34  closes the gap between the front edge  22   a  of the second closure member panel  22  and the front panel  32  of the main body and, together with the first closure member panel  20  and the side tabs  26 ,  30 , ensures that items to be dispensed can only pass out through the dispensing aperture  15 . 
     The confectionery container  10  is formed from a single unitary blank  48  shown in  FIG. 2 . The blank  48  is designed to be of compact form and comprises a first elongate side panel  50  foldably connected to a first side edge  16   a  of the rear panel  16 . A second side panel  52  is foldably connected to a second side edge  16   b  of the rear panel and is foldably connected to a first side edge  32   a  of the front panel  32 . A side tab  54  extends from a second side edge  32   b  of the front panel and is foldably connected thereto. The side tab  54  has a region  56  which is coated in an adhesive for affixing the tab to an inner surface of first side panel  50  when the container is assembled. Bottom end closure panels  58 ,  60  are foldably connected to the lower edges  32   c ,  16   c  of the front and rear panels  32 ,  16  respectively, whilst bottom end closure tabs  62 ,  64  are foldably connected to the lower edges of the first and second elongate side panels. A region of adhesive  66  is provided on one of the end closure panels  60  to affix the panel to the other end closure panels  58  when the container is assembled to hold end wall  21  in position. 
     The first and second elongate side panels  50 ,  52 , the front and rear panels  32 ,  16 , the side tab  54 , the bottom end closure panels  58 ,  60  and the bottom end closure tabs  62 ,  64  together form the main body  12  of the container and define a generally rectangular prism container which is closed at the bottom and open at the top when the main body of the container is formed. 
     In the present embodiment, the closure member panels  20 ,  22  are both connected, directly or indirectly via fold lines with the upper edge of the rear panel  16  of the main body  12 . Thus the first closure member panel  20  is foldably connected directly to an upper edge of the rear panel  16  by the fold line  18 , which forms the main closure member hinge. The second closure member panel  22  is in turn foldably connected to the upper edge of the first closure member panel  20  by means of the fold line  24 . The inner side tabs  26  of the closure member are foldably connected along opposite side edges of the first closure member panel  20  by means of fold lines  28  and the outer side panels of the closure member  30  are foldable connected with opposing side edges of the second closure member panel  22  by means of the fold lines  31 . Regions of adhesive  68  are provided on the outer surface of the inner side tabs  26  to affix the inner and outer side tabs together when the container is assembled 
     The cooperating panels which form the over-centre mechanism  34  are formed integrally with the front panel  32  of the main body  12 . Thus the minor panel  36  is foldably connected to the upper edge of the front panel  32  by means of the fold line  38  and the major panel  40  is foldable connected to the upper edge of the minor panel  36  by means of the split fold line  42   a ,  42   b . The tab  30   a  is defined by means of a first arrangement of perforations A. The tab member  46  for attaching the major panel  40  to the closure member  14  is foldably connected with the upper edge of the major panel  40  via the fold line  44  and carries a region of adhesive  70  by means of which it can be affixed to the inner surface of the second closure member panel  22 . Lines of perforations B, C separate the side edges of the minor panel  36  from the side tab  54  and the second elongate side panel  52  respectively, where these overlap. 
     A further arrangement of perforations D in the second closure member panel  22  define a push out panel  72  when can be removed to form the dispensing aperture  15 . The push out panel may be removed by an end user when the container is first opened or it may be removed as part of the assembly and filling operations. The tab member  46  is shaped so as not to obscure the dispensing aperture  15  and thus includes a cut-out or recess  74  in its upper edge which conforms to the shape of the push out panel  72 . 
     The side edges of the inner and outer side tabs  26 ,  30  to the left (as shown) of the first and second closure member panels  20 ,  22  are separated from the inner side edges of the tab member  46  and the major panel  40  respectively by means of perforations E and F. Similarly, the upper and lower edges of the inner side tabs  26  are separated from the outer side tabs  30  and the first and second elongate side panels  50 ,  52  by means of further lines of perforation G to J. 
     To construct the confectionery container  10 , the main body  12  is formed by folding the front and rear panels  32 ,  16  and the first and second side panels  50 ,  52  and the side tab  54  along their respective fold lines  16   a ,  16   b ,  32   a ,  32   b  and affixing the side tab  54  to the inner surface of the first side panel  50 . The end wall  21  is then formed by folding the bottom end closure tabs  62 ,  64  inwardly followed by a first of the bottom end closure panels  60 . The other bottom end closure panel  58  is then also folded and affixed to the first of the bottom end closure panels  60  by means of the adhesive  66 . The main body  12  of the container is thus formed in a generally conventional manner. At this stage, the items to be contained in the container can be introduced into the receptacle formed by the main body  12  through the open upper end. 
     The closure member is formed by folding the second closure member panel  22  backwardly (as shown) so that it extends generally at right angles to the plane of the first closure member panel  20 . The over-centre mechanism  34  is then attached to the closure member by folding the tab member  46  backwardly (as shown) about the fold line  44  and pressing the tab member  46  into contact with the inner surface of the second hinge panel  22  so that the two are affixed by the adhesive  70 . The inner side tabs  26  are then folded down to close the sides of the closure member  14  and the outer side tabs  30  folded down over the inner side tabs  26  and affixed thereto using the adhesive  68 . This holds the first and second closure member panels  20 ,  22  in position relative to each other. In an alternative arrangement, the inner and outer side tabs  26 .  30  may be folded into position before the tab member  46  is adhered to the second closure member panel  22 . 
     The perforations A, B, C, E, F, G, H I, J can be separated before folding commences or during the folding process as required. 
     It will be appreciated that in an alternative arrangement, the tab member  46  could be connected by a fold line with the second closure member panel  22  and secured to the major cooperating panel  40  by means of the adhesive. Indeed, in the constructed container  10 , the first and second closure member panels  20 ,  22  and the major and minor cooperating panels  40 ,  36  form a continuous chain interconnecting the front  32  and rear  16  panels of the main body when the tab  46  is secured in position and it should be appreciated that the tab  46  can be provided at any suitable point in the chain. 
       FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  4  illustrate a second embodiment of a confectionery container  100  in accordance with the invention. Features of the second embodiment which are the same as or which perform the same function as those of the previous embodiment are given the same reference numeral but increased by 100. 
     The confectionery container  100  in accordance with the second embodiment is constructed and operates essentially in the same manner as the container  10  in accordance with the first embodiment, the main difference between the two embodiments being in the nature of the blank  148  which is used to form the container. Thus, in the second embodiment  100 , the first and second closure member panels  120 ,  122  are attached, either directly or indirectly, to the upper edge of the major panel  140  of the over-centre mechanism  134  rather than to the upper edge of the rear panel  116  as in the first embodiment. In order to attach the closure member  114  to the rear panel  116 , a tab member  146  is foldably attached to the upper edge  116   d  of the rear panel  116  via a fold line  118 , which forms the main hinge of the closure member  114  when the container is assembled. An area of adhesive  170  is provided on the tab member  146  to affix the tab member  146  to the outer surface of the first closure member panel  120  when the container is assembled. 
     The blank  148  for the second embodiment also differs from the first blank  48  in that the first side panel  150  is foldable connected to the second side edge  132   b  of the front panel  132  whilst the side tab  154  is foldable connected to the first side edge  16   a  of the rear panel. 
     To construct the container  100  in accordance with the second embodiment, the front and rear panels  132 ,  116 , the first and second side panels  150 ,  152 , and the side tab  154  are folded and the tab affixed to the inner surface of the first side panel  150 . The bottom end closure wall  121  is then formed as previously described in respect of the first embodiment to complete construction of the main body  112 . The container can then be filled. 
     To form the closure member  14 , the first closure member panel  120  is folded rearwardly (as shown) about the fold line  131  until it extends generally perpendicularly to the plane of the second closure member panel  122  and the tab member  146  is affixed to the inner surface of the first closure member panel  120 . The inner and outer side tabs  126 ,  130  on either side of the closure member panels are then folded into position and affixed to one another. Again, the side tabs  126 ,  130  may be folded and fixed in position before the tab  146  is affixed to the first closure member panel  120  if required. 
     In an alternative arrangement, the closure member tab member  146  may be connected with the first closure member panel  120  by a fold line and secured to the rear panel  116  by means of adhesive. This embodiment illustrates an alternative position for the closure member tab  146  which links the first and second closure member panels  20 ,  22 , the major and minor cooperating panels  36 ,  40  and the front and rear panels  32 ,  16  of the main body  12 . 
     The container  100  once constructed operates in the same manner as the container  10  of the first embodiment the description of which should be referred to for detail. 
     In the second embodiment, there is no tab  136   a  on the upper edge of the minor panel  136 . However, such a tab could be provided if required. 
     Construction of the container  10 ,  100  from the blank  48 ,  148  may be automated in a manner known in the art and it will be appreciated that the order of construction can be varied. The adhesive used may be of any suitable type and may be a pressure or heat sensitive adhesive which is pre-applied to the blank. 
     It can be seen then that a container  10 ,  100  in accordance with the invention can be simply constructed from a singe unitary blank of a suitable material, such as card, a laminate or the like. 
     The container is easy to use and is particularly suitable for containing items in pellet or tablet form and especially confectionery items including chewing gum pellets, mints or the like. However, the container  10 ,  100  can be used to contain and dispense a variety of items including medical tablets. 
     It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments, which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, the main body may be generally square in shape or polygonal in shape, the closure member being of cooperating shape. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that blanks for forming a container in accordance can be constructed in a variety of different ways.