US1934138A - Dispensing can - Google Patents

Description

L. R. PAUL ET AL DISPENSING CAN Nov. 7,' 1933.

Filed Jan. 5, 1933 QPQZLZ Z-EZ WZZ-Jtmentom (Ittornegs Patented Nov. 7, 1933 PATE NTT OFFICE DISPENSING CAN Leon R. Paul, Brooklyn, and Samuel E. Witt, New York, N. Y.

Application January 3, 1933. Serial No. 650,002

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a can or metal box designed primarily for holding cut tobacco such as used for filling smoking pipes and making cigarettes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which is collapsible by degrees while in use and during the dispensing of its contents so that after a portion of its contents has been removed it becomes impossible to restore the device to its original appearance. Consequently refilling of old containers with inferior products cannot be successfully accomplished.

Another object is to provide a container of this type having a sectional top or lid which can be opened readily for lling the container and which, when closed, provides a supplemental outlet from which the contents can be delivered accurately intothe bowl of a pipe or other re- 20 ceiver.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and arrangement hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes can be made Without departing' from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the container in its extended position with its supplemental cover raised.

Figure 2 is a section on l'me 2 2, Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view` of a modied form of cover.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of another form of cover.

Referring to the gures by characters of reference 1 designates the bottom section of the container which can be of any preferred size and shape. In the structure illustrated it is shown with fiat sides and rounded ends. This section is closed at the bottom and is provided along both of its flat walls with angular recesses 3 formed by pressing the material of the wall outwardly. These recesses are arranged in series extending from the bottom to the top and each recess has its upper wall disposed at right angles to the inner surface of the container wall so as to form a stop shoulder 4. The bottom Wall of each recess is inclined upwardly and outwardly as at 5. In other words the series of recesses l' notches 3 provide, in effect, elongated ratchet teeth between them.

The top of the container section 1 is open to receive the top section 6 which telescopes thereinto. This top section is open at the top and bottom and is provided in each wall near its lower end with an out-struck ratchet tooth 7 so proportioned that when the section 6 is slid downwardlywitlin the section 1 said ratchet teeth will be seated successively within the respective recesses 3. Each time a tooth is seated in one of these recesses it looks the section 6 against upward movement relative to section 1.

'Ihe top of section 6 is provided with a lid 8 hingedly connected thereto and adapted to lit snugly thereon so as to close the container. The hinge between this lid andthe container has been indicated at 9.

In the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 the lid 8 is formed with an end portion 10 joined thereto by means of a transverse hinge 11. This end portion of the lid constitutes a supplemental lid which normally closes that portion of the container thereunder, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1. The supplemental lid can be swung open, however, without dislodging the main lid 8 and when it is thus opened, as in Figures 1 and 2, the contents of the container can be delivered through the uncovered portion thereof and guided directly into the pipe bowl or other receiver provided therefor.

Normally the teeth 7 are seated in the uppermost notches 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, at which time the container is filled with the material to be packaged.

When it is desired to dispense material from the package the supplemental lid 10 is opened and the material delivered from the uncovered portion of the container. As the bulk of the contained material is reduced the user can press the section 6 further into section 1 until teeth 7 engage in other notches. Thus the material will be held compactly until further delivery makes it desirable to again contract the container. This operation can be repeated until the container has been reduced to its minimum size. As the top sections are interlocked, it is practically impossible to restore the container to its original size without mutilation. Consequently the re-use of the container and possible lling with inferior goods is prevented.

The sections of the container have a certain resiliency which permits movement of theteeth 7 from one notch to another, and maintains the ntertting parts in proper engagement follow- 110 ing each step in the contraction or collapse of the device.

Instead of hingedly connecting the supplemental lid to the main lid in the manner described, it can be mounted to slide as shown in Figure 3. In that form of the device the main lid 12 has one end portion of its top cut away to provide an outlet opening 13. Slots 14. are formed in opposed flanges of the main lid and receive wings 15 extending laterally from a slide 16 constituting the supplemental lid. Obviously with this arrangement the lid can be slid back and forth to open or closed position.

In Figure 4 the main lid 17 has one end of its top cut away to provide an outlet opening 18 and a slot 19 is formed in the flange 20 of the main lid and extends partly around the opening. A plate 21 constitutes the supplemental cover and is extended across opening 18 and within slot 19. One corner portion of this plate is joined to the top of the cover 17 by a pivot pin 22 or the like. To open the supplemental cover 21 it is merely necessary to swing it laterally about pivot 22 and through slot 19. This operation is reversed to close opening 18 and the plate 2l can be formed to bind within one end of slot 19 as indicated for example at 23 when the supplemental lid is closed.

In all three forms of the device illustrated the supplemental lid is held against free movement to open position because of frictional engagement With adjacent parts.

Although the container has been illustrated as formed of two telescoping sections, it is to be understood that it can be made of three or' more sections.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing container including telescopically connected sections, there being a longitudinal series of angular ratchet notches in the inner surface of one of the sections, each providing a stop shoulder at its upper end, an angular tooth upon the outer surface of the other section for engagement with the notches successively when the container is collapsed, thereby to prevent elongation of the container from any position following complete or partial contraction thereof, and a closure for the upper end of one of the sections.

2. A dispensing container including telescopically connected sections, there being a longitudinal series of ratchet notches in the inner surface of the outer section each providing a stop shoulder at its upper end, an angular tooth upon the outer surface of the inner section for engagement with the notches successively when the container is collapsed thereby to prevent elongation of the container from any position following complete or partial contraction thereof, and a closure for the upper end of one of the sections.

3. A dispensing container including telescopically connected sections, there being a longitudinal series of angular ratchet notches in the inner surface of each side Wall of one of the sections, an angular tooth upon the outer surface of each side wall of the other section for wedging between said notched walls and for successive engagement with the notches when the container is collapsed, thereby to prevent elongation of the container from any position following complete or partial contraction thereof, and a closure for the upper end of one of the sections.

LEON R. PAUL.

SAMUEL E. WITI.

Images