Lid assembly and container having lid assembly

• US 10,329,059 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snack Shaker LLC
• Original Assignee: Snack Shaker LLC
• Inventors: Heilman, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M
• Application Number:
  US16/236,269
• Time in Patent Office: 179 Days
• Field of Search: 2221445, 2221421-1423, 2221427-1429, 222144, 2221454, 222480, 222484, 222483, 2224575, 222129
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0204 and joined together by interconnecting formations forming part of the container, e.g. dove-tail, snap connections, hook elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0233 Nestable containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0025 of the 47-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0093 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/04 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/261 having a rotational or helicoidal movement B65D47/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/20 Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/06 for dispensing powdered or granular material B65D83/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A container and lid assembly are provided. The lid assembly includes an upper lid and a lower lid that cooperate to define a dispensation chamber for product that is provided in the container.

Claims

1. A lid assembly for a container, the lid assembly comprising:

an upper lid comprising;

a first base portion; and

a containment portion extending from the first base portion and comprising a first end and a second end, the containment portion defining an elongated recess and a dispensation opening located at the first end that extends through the containment portion to the elongated recess; and

a lower lid underlying the upper lid and pivotally coupled with the upper lid such that the upper lid is pivotable with respect to the lower lid about an axis between a first position and a second position, the lower lid comprising;

a second base portion at least partially defining a lower opening that is in fluid communication with the elongated recess; and

a divider extending from the second base portion adjacent to the lower opening, the divider being at least partially disposed within the containment portion such that the lower lid and the containment portion cooperate to define a dispensation chamber that extends between the divider and to the first end of the containment portion;

wherein;

when the upper lid is in the first position, the lower opening is proximate the dispensation opening;

when the upper lid is in the second position, the lower opening is spaced further from the dispensation opening than when the upper lid is in the first position such that a portion of the second base portion is exposed beneath the containment portion between the lower opening and the first end of the containment portion and at least partially defines the dispensation chamber; and

when the upper lid is in the second position, the lower lid cooperates with the containment portion to define a tortuous path that extends through the dispensation opening, through the dispensation chamber, and through the lower opening.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the divider overlies the lower opening and defines a lateral opening that is in fluid communication with the lower opening; and

the tortuous path is further defined by the lateral opening.

3. The lid assembly of claim 2 wherein the divider substantially covers the dispensation opening when the lower lid is in the first position.

4. The lid assembly of claim 3 wherein the divider comprises a convex portion that extends at least partially into the dispensation opening when the lower lid is in the first position to facilitate selective retention of the lower lid in the first position.

5. The lid assembly of claim 4 wherein the first end of the containment portion comprises a lateral wall that substantially covers the lateral opening when the upper lid is in the first position.

6. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein the containment portion extends substantially circumferentially about the axis.

7. The lid assembly of claim 6 wherein the containment portion extends only partially around the axis such that the first end and the second end are spaced from each other.

8. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper lid and the lower lid are each formed as a respective individual unitary one-piece construction.

9. The lid assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the lower lid and the upper lid defines a storage receptacle.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a container comprising at least one compartment; and

a lid assembly that overlies the at least one compartment, the lid assembly comprising;

an upper lid comprising;

a first base portion; and

a containment portion extending from the first base portion and comprising a first end and a second end, the containment portion defining an elongated recess and a dispensation opening located at the first end that extends through the containment portion to the elongated recess; and

a lower lid underlying the upper lid and pivotally coupled with the upper lid such that the upper lid is pivotable with respect to the lower lid about an axis between a first position and a second position, the lower lid comprising;

a second base portion at least partially defining a lower opening that is in fluid communication with the elongated recess; and

a divider extending from the second base portion adjacent to the lower opening, the divider being at least partially disposed within the containment portion such that the lower lid and the containment portion cooperate to define a dispensation chamber that extends between the divider and the first end of the containment portion;

wherein;

when the upper lid is in the first position, the lower opening is proximate the dispensation opening;

when the upper lid is in the second position, the lower opening is spaced further from the dispensation opening than when the upper lid is in the first position such that a portion of the second base portion is exposed beneath the containment portion between the lower opening and the first end of the containment portion and at least partially defines the dispensation chamber; and

when the upper lid is in the second position, the lower lid cooperates with the containment portion to define a tortuous path through the dispensation opening, through the dispensation chamber, and through the lower opening.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one compartment comprises a plurality of compartments.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the container comprises a bottom portion and is selectively configured in one of an assembled configuration and a stackable configuration, wherein:

when the container is in the stackable configuration, each compartment of the plurality of compartments can be spaced from each other at the bottom portion of the container; and

when the container is in the assembled configuration, each compartment of the plurality of compartments can be secured to each other at the bottom portion of the container.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each compartment of the plurality of compartments comprises a complimentary retention feature that facilitates releasable coupling of each compartment of the plurality of compartments with an adjacent compartment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the complimentary retention feature comprises at least one of a locking tab and a receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the container comprises an upper portion and each compartment of the plurality of compartments is coupled to an adjacent compartment at the upper portion of the container by a cross-web member.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of compartments defines a receptacle that is located between the plurality of compartments and the container defines a deformation feature that is disposed adjacent to the receptacle.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a sealing substrate disposed over the at least one compartment and configured for selective removal from the container.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein:

the at least one compartment comprises a plurality of compartments;

the sealing substrate comprises separate sealing portions that each correspond to a respective compartment of the plurality of compartments; and

each of the sealing portions are configured to be selectively separated from adjacent ones of the sealing portions.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the divider overlies the lower opening and defines a lateral opening that is in fluid communication with the lower opening;

the tortuous path is further defined by the lateral opening; and

the divider substantially covers the dispensation opening when the lower lid is in the first position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the upper lid, the lower lid, and the container are each formed as an individual unitary one-piece construction.

21. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the container defines a storage receptacle adjacent to the at least one compartment.