Container assemblies with additive cups

• US 5,114,011 A
• Filed: 10/18/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Union Planters Bank, NA (Regions Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edward S Robbins IIi (EDWARD S. ROBBINS)
• Inventors: Robbins, Edward S. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US07/598,385
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219-222, 206/568, 206/503, 206/508, 206/509, 206/499, 215/1 A, 215/1 C, 215/6, 215/11.6, 215/251, 215/DIG. 8
• US Class Current: 206/499
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42836 Collapsing or folding the article, e.g. to save space for transport
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/08 of tubes or other profiled members
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0292 Foldable bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/40 Details of walls other container details B65D23/00, B65D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0231 Bottles, canisters or jars whereby the neck or handle project into a cooperating cavity in the bottom B65D81/361 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/063 with flexible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/28 with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/90 Collapsible wall structure

Abstract

Thin-walled containers are foldable and collapsible to have first and second folded portions concentrically adjacent one another in generally surrounding relationship to tapered shoulder and reduced diameter neck portions of the container. Additive cups are detachably supported within the discharge openings of the containers and, after emptying the additives into the containers through one discharge openings, are usable as dispensers of the resultant mixtures through second discharge openings.

Claims

1. A container assembly comprising:

a main container body including a bottom wall, peripheral side wall, an open upper end and a first cap removably securable to said open upper end of said container body;

a cup detachably supported in said open upper end and adapted to hold an additive for mixing with contents of said main container body, said cup having a first dispensing portion for pouring said additive into said main container body, and a second dispensing portion dispensing a mixture of said contents and said additive, wherein said first and second dispensing portions are concentrically arranged and wherein at least said first dispensing portion is closed prior to use by a removable seal accessible from outside said main container body when said first cap is in place on said container body.

2. A container assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second dispensing portions are closed prior to use by a common, removable seal.

3. A container assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said second dispensing portion lies intermediate upper and lower ends of the cup.

4. A container assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second dispensing portions are closed prior to use by separate, removable seals.

5. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein a second cap is provided for closure of said second dispensing portion after an initial use of the container assembly.

6. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second dispensing portion is sized to receive a drinking straw.

7. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cup is integral with said first cap.

8. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein said main container body is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced annular steps formed in said peripheral side wall, said steps adapted to permit said main container body to be collapsed and folded to a compact configuration wherein a pair of concentric, folded peripheral side wall portions lie radially adjacent each other and adjacent said cup.

9. A stack of collapsed and folded containers, each of which comprises a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall extending from said bottom wall, a tapered shoulder section extending from said peripheral side wall, and a reduced diameter neck portion including an opening extending from said tapered shoulder section, said peripheral side wall including at least one portion folded outwardly and upwardly to form a first concentric folded portion extending upwardly to at least said tapered shoulder section;

a cup detachable supported in said opening and adapted to hold an additive for mixing with contents of said container, said cup having a first dispensing portion for pouring said additive into said container, and a second dispensing portion for dispensing a mixture of said contents and said additive.

10. The stack according to claim 9 wherein said peripheral side wall is formed with an annular step defining a fold line for said first folded portion.

11. The stack according to claim 10 wherein said first and second folded portions of each container have uppermost edges which lie in substantial lateral alignment with said cup.

12. The stack according to claim 9 wherein said peripheral side wall includes a second folded portion lying concentrically adjacent said first portion.

13. The stack according to claim 9 and including a package enclosing said stack.

14. A collapsed thin wall container for facilitating compact shipment of a plurality of such containers comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall extending from said bottom wall, a shoulder section extending from said peripheral side wall, and a reduced diameter neck portion including an opening extending from said shoulder section, and said peripheral side wall including at least one portion folded outwardly and upwardly to form a first concentric folded portion extending upwardly at least, to said shoulder section;

a cup detachably supported in said opening and adapted to hold an additive for mixing with contents of said container, said cup having a first dispensing portion for pouring said additive into said container, and a second dispensing portion for dispensing a mixture of said contents and said additive.

15. The container according to claim 14 wherein said peripheral side wall is formed with an annular step defining a fold line for said first concentric folded portion.

16. The container according to claim 14 wherein said peripheral side wall includes a second folded portion lying concentrically adjacent said first folded portion.

17. A container assembly comprising:

a main container body including a bottom wall, a collapsible peripheral side wall, and an upper portion surrounding an opening, said main container body adapted to hold a first material;

a cup having first and second ends, at least one of said first and second ends being temporarily closed by a removable seal, said cup being detachably supported within said opening and said other of said first and second ends located within said main container body;

said cup adapted to hold an additive mixable with said first material upon removal of said cup and said removable seal;

said cup further having a separate dispensing portion adapted to dispense a mixture of said additive and said first material from said main container body portion upon reattachment of said cup to said main container body, wherein prior to mixing, said cup is supported within said opening in a first position and, after mixing, said cup is supported in said opening in a second position inverted relative to said first position.

18. The container assembly of claim 17 wherein said other end of said cup includes a tapered shoulder portion and a narrow neck terminating in said dispensing portion.

19. The container assembly of claim 18 wherein said narrow neck portion is adapted to be severed to provide an opening in said dispensing portion.

20. The container assembly of claim 19 and further comprising a straw insertable within said opening in said dispensing portion.

21. The container assembly according to claim 17 and including a screw cap adapted to attach said cup to said main container body in either of said first or second positions.

22. The container assembly of claim 17 wherein said removable seal comprises a foil provided with adhesive about at least a peripheral edge of one side thereof.

23. The container assembly of claim 17 wherein said dispensing portion extends away from said removable seal.

24. A container assembly comprising:

a main container body including a bottom wall, peripheral side wall and an open upper end, said open upper end having a removable cap attached thereto;

a cup detachably supported in said open upper end and held in place by said removable cap, and adapted to hold an additive for mixing with contents of said main container body, said cup having a first dispensing portion for pouring said additive into said main container body, and a second dispensing portion for dispensing a mixture of said contents and said additive, wherein said removable cap is provided with a removable panel to permit said removable cap to detachably support said cup in both upright and inverted orientations.

25. A container assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said first and second dispensing portions are located at opposite ends of said cup.

26. A container assembly as defined in claim 25 wherein said second dispensing portion is closed prior to use by an integral end portion adapted to be severed from said cup.

27. A container assembly according to claim 24 wherein said second dispensing portion is sized to receive a drinking straw.

28. A container assembly according to claim 24 wherein said main container body is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced annular steps formed in said peripheral side wall, said steps adapted to permit said main container body to be collapsed and folded to a compact configuration wherein a pair of concentric, folded peripheral side wall portions lie radially adjacent each other and adjacent said cup.

29. A collapsed thin wall container for facilitating compact shipment of a plurality of such containers comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall extending from said bottom wall, and an upper end having a discharge opening, a shoulder section extending from said peripheral side wall, said peripheral side wall including first and second folded portions outwardly and upwardly to form first and second concentric folded portions extending upwardly at least to said shoulder section;

a cup detachably supported in said discharge opening and adapted to hold an additive for mixing with contents of said container, said cup having a first dispensing portion for pouring said additive into said container, and a second dispensing portion for dispensing a mixture of said contents and said additive, wherein said first and second folded portions have uppermost edges which lie in substantial lateral alignment with said cup.

30. A container assembly comprising:

a main container body including a bottom wall, a collapsible peripheral side wall, and an upper portion surrounding an opening, said main container body adapted to hold a first material;

a cup having first and second ends, at least one of said ends being temporarily closed by a removable seal, said cup being detachably supported within said opening with said removable seal located exteriorly of said main container body, and said other end located within said main container body;

said cup adapted to hold an additive mixable with said first material upon removal of said cup and said removable seal;

said cup further having a separate dispensing portion adapted to dispense a mixture of said additive and said first material from said main container body portion upon reattachment of said cup to said main container body, wherein said dispensing portion extends toward said removable seal, and wherein said dispensing portion is closed by a second removable seal.

31. The container assembly to claim 30 and further including a cap for use with said dispensing portion upon removal of said second removable seal.