Patent Publication Number: US-2004055903-A1

Title: Slide open container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] This invention relates to a slide open container for articles and, more particularly, to such a container that has a drawer portion and a cover portion slidable between a closed position and an open position, sliding movement of said cover portion being limited by engagement of a stop member projecting into a slot and said cover portion being releasably locked into its closed position by engagement of a lock projection on the drawer portion in a recess formed on a sidewall of the cover portion.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0002] Breath mint strips in the form of tissue-thin film are becoming increasingly popular. Because of the physical characteristics of such strips, containers originally designed for use with more conventional tablet-like breath mints generally do not maximize the ease of use of the strips. A container which reliably protects the strips from contamination but which easily dispenses the strips is a desirable goal.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The invention provides a slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion. The cover portion is slidable between a closed position in which the cover portion at least substantially covers the holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user.  
       [0004] According to an aspect of the invention, the drawer portion has an outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom. The cover portion has a top wall and a side wall. The side wall has an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive the lock projection when the cover portion is in its closed position, to releasably lock the cover portion in the closed position. The cover portion is sufficiently flexible to cause the side wall of the cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on the top wall of the cover portion, to move the lock projection out of the recess.  
       [0005] A preferred feature of the invention is serrations formed on a bottom surface of the drawer portion. The serrations are positioned to be engaged by a first finger of a hand of a user as the user presses on the top wall of the cover portion with another finger of the same hand and, with said other finger, slides the cover portion toward the open position. Another preferred feature is serrations formed on an outer side surface of the side wall of the cover portion. The serrations are positioned to be engaged by a finger of a user. This helps the user maintain a grip on the cover to assist sliding the cover between its open and closed positions.  
       [0006] The desired flexibility of the cover portion may be provided in various ways. In the preferred embodiment, the top wall has a convex outer surface.  
       [0007] As used herein, the term “finger” includes all five digits of the human hand, including the thumb.  
       [0008] The details of the structure of the lock projection and recess and their positioning may also be varied. Preferably, the side wall of the cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom. The outer side surface of the drawer portion has a groove extending therealong. The groove is positioned to slidably receive the tongue as the cover portion slides between its closed and open positions. The lock projection is positioned in the groove, and the recess is formed in the tongue.  
       [0009] A feature of the invention is a side wall of the drawer portion that includes the outer side surface and an upper edge portion. The upper edge portion has an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder. The cover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into the slot. Engagement of the stop member with the rear shoulder defines a limit of sliding movement of the cover portion as the cover portion slides into the open position.  
       [0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the container has a ramped configuration to assist a user in removing an article from the container. Containers with this feature include a drawer portion having a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above the inner surface, and an end wall extending between the inner surface and the upper edge. The end wall has a ramped configuration to guide an article in the drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger and slides the article toward and against the end wall. This enables the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand, to quickly and easily remove the article from the container. In the preferred embodiment, the end wall has a ramp surface that curves continuously from the inner surface to the upper edge. Containers having the feature of a ramped configuration are also preferably provided with the lock projection/recess feature described above.  
       [0011] According to still another aspect of the invention, one of the drawer portion and the cover portion has a slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder. The other of the drawer portion and the cover portion has a stop member projecting therefrom and slidably received into the slot. Engagement of the stop member with the rear shoulder defines a limit of sliding movement of the cover portion as the cover portion slides into the open position. Preferably, engagement with the front shoulder defines a limit of sliding movement as the cover portion slides into the closed position.  
       [0012] The slot may be formed on either the cover portion or the drawer portion. However, to help maximize the simplicity and durability of the container, the slot preferably is formed on an upper edge portion of a side wall of the drawer portion. The stop member projects downwardly from the cover portion into the upwardly opening slot.  
       [0013] The side wall of the drawer portion of a container constructed in accordance with the last mentioned aspect of the invention preferably has an outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom. The cover portion has a side wall with an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive the lock projection when the cover portion is in the closed position, to releasably lock the cover portion in the closed position. In the preferred configuration of the lock projection and recess, the side wall of the cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom. The outer side surface of the drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive the tongue as the cover portion slides between the open and closed positions. The lock projection is positioned in the groove, and the recess is formed in the tongue.  
       [0014] Containers constructed according to this aspect of the invention may also include a variety of preferred features. One such feature is the ramped configuration discussed above.  
       [0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the container is provided with an air-tight seal. The drawer portion has opposite outer side surfaces, and the cover portion has a top wall and opposite side walls. The cover portion is resiliently flexible to cause the side walls of the cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on the top wall. Each side wall of the cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom. Each outer side surface of the drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive a corresponding one of the tongues as the cover portion slides between the closed position and the open position. The grooves have bottoms positioned a first distance apart, and the tongues are positioned a second distance apart. The second distance is less than the first distance to cause the tongues to contact the bottoms of the grooves with sufficient pressure to form a air-tight seal therebetween.  
       [0016] In the currently preferred embodiment of the invention, a container with the air-tight seal feature also includes the feature of a lock projection on the drawer portion extending into a recess on the cover portion. As described above, engagement of the lock projection in the recess releasably locks the cover portion in the closed position.  
       [0017] The material or materials from which the container is made may be varied. Preferably, the cover portion made of a plastic material having a higher elasticity than the drawer portion. The currently most preferred materials are polypropylene for the cover portion and polystyrene for the drawer portion.  
       [0018] These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention that follows. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019] In the drawings, like element designations refer to like parts throughout, and:  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view looking toward the top, one side, and the front of the preferred embodiment of the container, with the cover portion in a closed position.  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the container shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
     [0024]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
     [0025]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the container shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 .  
     [0026]FIG. 7 is like FIG. 1 except that it shows the cover in an open position.  
     [0027]FIG. 8 is like FIG. 7 except that it is taken looking toward the bottom of the container.  
     [0028]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line  9 - 9  in FIG. 6.  
     [0029]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line  10 - 10  in FIG. 9.  
     [0030]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a front end portion of the cover of the container shown in FIGS.  1 - 10 , looking toward the bottom of the cover portion.  
     [0031]FIG. 12 is a similar view of a front end portion of the drawer portion of the container.  
     [0032]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a front corner portion of the container shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , illustrating the releasably locking of the cover in the closed position.  
     [0033]FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment, with the cover portion shown in an open position and the drawer portion shown in elevation.  
     [0034]FIG. 15 is like FIG. 14 except that foreground portions of the drawer portion are cut away and removal of a film strip from the drawer portion is illustrated.  
     [0035]FIG. 16 is like FIG. 6 except that it illustrates the positioning of the side walls of the cover portion when a user is pressing down on the top wall of the cover portion to release the cover portion from its locked closed position.  
     [0036]FIG. 17 is an enlargement of FIG. 4 shown juxtaposed to FIG. 18 for purposes of comparison.  
     [0037]FIG. 18 is a front elevational view illustrating a user grasping the container and pushing down on the top wall of the cover portion to release the closed position locking of the cover portion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0038] The drawings show the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is constructed in accordance with the best mode of the invention currently known to the applicant. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the container  2  is being used for storing and dispensing breath strips W of the tissue-thin configuration mentioned above. It is anticipated that the container of the invention will be used primarily in connection with such edible thin strips. However, it is intended to be understood that the container of the invention may also be used to advantage for storing and dispensing other types of articles, including but not limited to pill-shaped articles.  
     [0039] The container  2  is a slide open container that includes a drawer portion  4  and a cover portion  6 . The drawer portion  4  defines a holding space for articles, such as the breath strips W illustrated in FIG. 15. The cover portion  6  is slidable between a closed position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,  5 ,  6 , and  10 , and an open position, illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8,  14 , and  15 . In the closed position, the cover portion  6  at least substantially covers the holding space. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the cover portion continuously extends over the entire drawer portion. In the open position, the holding space is accessible to a user to allow the user to remove articles from the holding space.  
     [0040] The drawer portion  4  includes a bottom wall  10 , a back wall  12 , opposite side walls  14 , and a front wall  16 . These walls together define the holding space. Except for a short forward portion  18 , the width of the drawer portion  4  is essentially constant. The forward portion  18  has an enlarged width. The bottom surface of the forward portion  18  has ridges or serrations  20  formed thereon. The serrations  20  are positioned to be engaged by a first finger of a user&#39;s hand as the user presses on the top wall  40  of the cover portion  6  with another finger of the same hand and, with that other finger, slides the cover portion  6  toward its open position. An outer rearwardly facing shoulder  32  is formed on each side of the drawer portion  4  where the width of the drawer portion  4  increases to the enlarged width of the front portion  18 .  
     [0041] The cover portion  6  includes a top wall  40 , a rear wall  42 , and opposite side walls  46 . A downwardly facing slot  44  is formed in the rear wall  42 . A user may engage the back wall  12  of the drawer portion  4  by moving a finger through the slot  44  to enable the user to push on the back wall  12  to assist in moving the drawer portion  4  forwardly with respect to the cover portion  6  so that the cover portion  6  moves towards its open position. Preferably, serrations or ridges  48  are formed on the outer side surfaces of the side walls  46  of the cover portion  6  near the rear of the cover portion  6 . The serrations  48  are positioned to be engaged by the fingers of a user to allow the user to obtain a better grip on the cover portion  6 . The top wall  40  of the cover portion  6  extends all the way along the top of the container  2  to the forward edge of the drawer portion  4 . The side walls  46  of the cover portion  6  terminate rearwardly of the front edge. Each side wall  46  has a front end surface  50  that is at least closely adjacent to the outer shoulder  32  on the corresponding side of the drawer portion  4  when the cover portion  6  is in its closed position. A forward end portion  52  of the top wall  40  projects forwardly from the interfaces between the front end surfaces  50  and the top wall  40 .  
     [0042] An important feature of the invention is a slot/stop member arrangement to limit sliding movement of the cover portion  6  as the cover portion  6  slides into its closed position and its open position. One of the container portions  4 ,  6  has a slot  22  extending therealong from a front shoulder  26  to a rear shoulder  24 . The other portion  4 , 6  has a stop member  54  projecting therefrom and slidably received into the slot  22 . In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each side wall  14  of the drawer portion  4  has an upper edge portion with an upwardly opening slot  22  extending therealong from a front shoulder  26  to a rear shoulder  24 . A corresponding stop member  54  projects downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall  40  of the cover portion  6  adjacent to the inner surface of the corresponding side wall  46  of the cover portion  6 . The stop members  54  extend into their corresponding slots  22  to define the limits of sliding movement of the cover portion  6 . Engagement of the stop members  54  with the rear shoulders  24  limits rearward sliding movement of the cover portion  6  and prevents the cover portion  6  from being moved rearwardly beyond its open position. In the closed position of the cover portion  6 , the projections  54  are at least closely adjacent to the front shoulders  26 . They preferably abut the shoulders  26 .  
     [0043] Another important feature of the invention is a lock projection/recess arrangement. The drawer portion  4  has an outer side surface with a lock projection  30  extending laterally outwardly therefrom. A side wall  46  of the cover portion  6  has an inwardly facing recess  56  positioned to receive the lock projection  30  when the cover portion  6  is in its closed position. This releasably locks the cover portion  6  in its closed position. See FIGS. 6 and 13. The cover portion  6  is sufficiently flexible to cause the side wall  46  of the cover portion  6  to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on the top wall  40 , to move the lock projection  30  out of the recess  56 . Preferably, each side wall  14  of the drawer portion  4  has a lock projection  30  extending laterally outwardly therefrom and each side wall  46  of the cover portion  6  has a corresponding recess. To help provide the desired flexibility, the top wall  40  preferably has a convex outer surface that is at least partially flattened by a user pressing down on the outer surface of the top wall  40 . See FIG. 18. The flattening of the top wall  40  bends at least the lower edges of the sidewalls  46  of the cover portion  6  laterally outwardly, to move the lock projections  30  out of the corresponding recesses  56 . The releasing of the locking engagement is illustrated in FIGS.  16 - 18 . To move the cover portion  6  toward its open position, the user presses downwardly and rearwardly on the top wall  40  of the cover portion  6 .  
     [0044] In the preferred embodiment, each side wall  46  of the cover portion  6  includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue  58  projecting laterally inwardly therefrom. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the tongue  58  extends along about  70  percent of the length of the cover portion  6 . The outer side surface of the corresponding side wall  14  of the drawer portion  4  has a groove  28  extending therealong positioned to slidably received the tongue  58  as the cover portion  6  slides between its closed position and its open position. The tongue  58  and groove  28  can best been seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the groove  28  has a bottom  29 , and the top wall of the groove  28  is preferably beveled. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 14, each of the lock projections  30  is positioned in the groove  28  in the corresponding side wall  14  of the drawer portion  4  closely adjacent to the forward end of the groove  28 . Each recess  56  is formed in the corresponding tongue  58 .  
     [0045] Another important feature of the invention is an air-tight seal between the drawer portion  4  and the cover portion  6 . The  5  bottoms  29  of the grooves  28  are positioned a first distance D apart. This distance D is illustrated in FIG. 16. The tongues  58  are positioned a second distance apart that is less than the first distance. This causes the tongues  58  to contact the bottoms  29  of the grooves  28  with sufficient pressure to form an air-tight seal therebetween. The cover portion  6  is resiliently flexible. Preferably the cover portion  6  is made of a plastic material having a higher elasticity than the drawer portion  4 . In the currently preferred embodiment, the cover portion  6  is made polypropylene, and the drawer portion  4  is is made of polystyrene.  
     [0046] Another advantageous feature of the invention is a ramped configuration that assists in the removal of articles from the drawer portion  4 . The bottom wall  10  of the drawer portion  4  has an upwardly facing inner surface. An upper edge of the forward enlarged width portion  18  of the drawer portion  4  is spaced above the inner surface of the bottom wall  10 . The front end wall  16  of the drawer portion  4  extends between the inner surface and the upper edge. The inner surface of the end wall  16  is a ramp surface  34  that extends between the bottom wall inner surface and the upper edge. As can best be seen in FIGS. 10 and 15, the ramp surface curves continuously from the inner surface to the upper edge. It extends forwardly and upwardly from the wall that forms the outer shoulder  32  to the forwardmost upper edge of the drawer portion  4 .  
     [0047]FIG. 15 illustrates the manner in which the ramp surface  34  guides an article W in the drawer portion  4  upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article W with a finger and slides the article W toward and against the end wall  16 . Preferably, as the user slides the article against the ramp surface  34  of the end wall  16 , the user positions another finger of the same hand to grip the article W between the finger sliding the article and the other finger to easily remove the article from the drawer portion  4 .  
     [0048] Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is intended to be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and omissions in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.