Dispenser package

• US 6,561,391 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Paul Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cartagena, Melvin A
• Application Number:
  US10/026,885
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 222/562, 222/556, 220/15, 220/63, D 7/392, D 7/392.1, D 9/449, D32/37
• US Class Current: 222/556
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1058 Latching mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00074 curved combined with straight sides B65D2543/0012
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/169 the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0838 located at an edge of the base element

Abstract

A dispenser package having a cap and a hollow container, where the container defining an interior volume and a top opening, and the cap has a plurality of sides and a flap. The sides of the cap define a dispensing aperture, and the flap is attached to at least one of the sides by a hinge. The flap has a closed position in which the flap covers the dispensing aperture and an open position to provide access to the container interior volume through the dispensing aperture and the container top opening. At least two of the sides of the cap comprise upper edges having a convex arcuate shape, and the flap has an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the side upper edges.

Claims

1. A dispenser package, comprising;

a cap and a hollow container, the container defining an interior volume and a top opening;

the cap comprising a plurality of sides and a flap, the sides defining a dispensing aperture, wherein the flap is attached to at least one of the sides by a hinge, and the flap has a closed position in which the flap covers the dispensing aperture and an open position to provide access to the container interior volume through the dispensing aperture and the container top opening;

wherein

at least two of the sides comprise upper edges having a convex arcuate shape, and the flap has an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the side upper edges; and

wherein

the base of the container has a ellipsoidal shape;

or

at least a portion of the sides of the cap are generally vertical and substantially flat, or

the base has a ellipsoidal shape, and at least a portion of the sides of the cap are generally vertical and substantially flat.

2. The dispenser package of claim 1, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

3. The dispenser package of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises two long sides, having the arcuate shaped upper edges, and two short sides connecting the long sides, and the flap is attached to one of the short sides.

4. The dispenser container of claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises a notch in a lower edge of one of the sides.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the flap comprises a free end configured to grip one of the sides in the closed position, thereby securely covering the dispensing aperture.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sides having the arcuate shaped edges are generally flat, such that the cap has a partial dome shape when the flap is closed.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an open end, and the cap comprises a skirt configured to be inserted into the container opening.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the container opening and the cap skirt each comprise at least one of a groove or a ridge, configured to provide a snap-fit between the cap and the container.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cap and the container are symmetrical, such that the cap and container may be attached in at least two different orientations to form the container.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cap and the container are symmetrical, such that the cap and container may be attached in two different orientations that are about 180°

apart.

11. A dispenser package, comprising;

a cap and a hollow container, the container defining an interior volume and a top opening;

the cap comprising a plurality of sides, a flap, and a skirt, the sides defining a dispensing aperture, wherein

the flap is attached to at least one of the sides by a hinge,

the flap has a closed position in which the flap covers the dispensing aperture and an open position to provide access to the container interior volume through the dispensing aperture and the container top opening; and

the skirt is configured to be inserted into the top opening of the container; and

wherein

at least two of the sides comprise upper edges having a convex arcuate shape, and the flap has an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the side upper edges.

12. The dispenser package of claim 11, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

13. The dispenser package of claim 11, wherein the cap comprises two long sides, having the arcuate shaped upper edges, and two short sides connecting the long sides, and the flap is attached to one of the short sides.

14. The dispenser container of claim 11, wherein the cap comprises a notch in a lower edge of one of the sides.

15. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the flap comprises a free end configured to grip one of the sides in the closed position, thereby securely covering the dispensing aperture.

16. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the sides having the arcuate shaped edges are generally flat, such that the cap has a partial dome shape when the flap is closed.

17. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the container opening and the cap skirt each comprise at least one of a groove or a ridge, configured to provide a snap-fit between the cap and the container.

18. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the cap and the container are symmetrical, such that the cap and container may be attached in at least two different orientations to form the container.

19. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the cap and the container are symmetrical, such that the cap and container may be attached in two different orientations that are about 180°

apart.