US3315851A - Dispensing container and closure therefor - Google Patents

Description

R. A. AYOTTE DISPENSING CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR April 25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12., 1965 R m m V m ATTORNEY R. A. AYOTTE A ril 25, 1967 DISPENSING CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1965 Fig. 6

INVENTOR. fiaber/ A, Ayof/e ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,315,851 DISPENSING CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Robert A. Ayotte, Mays Landing, N.J., assignor to Wheaten Plastics Company, Mays Landing, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 424,910 14 Claims. (Cl. 222-559) This invention relates to dispensing containers and closures therefor, and more particularly to -a container including a slidably movable closure member which may be selectively moved either to a dispensing position or to a position in which it is locked in non-dispensing condition.

In many dispensing containers of the type used for dispensing powders, liquids, or the like, a problem is often encountered in providing a seal which is effective, particularly during shipment of the container, to insure against outward sifting of the powder contents of the container or against leakage of the liquid contents thereof, where the container is used for dispensing liquids.

A further disadvantage of most dispensing type containers is that the dispensing closures are so constructed that both hands of the user are required to hold the container and to manipulate the closure device to its open or closed position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispensing container which is so constructed as to prevent undesired powder sifting or liquid leakage from the container, particularly during shipment of the container.

It is another object of the invention to provide a combined dispensing container and closure device wherein the closure device is held in positively locked position to prevent leakage of the contents of the container, particularly during shipment of the filled container, or at other times when the container is not being used for dispensing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dispensing container in which the container and the slidable closure therefor are formed of materials which permit a snap-on engagement between the closure and the container whereby to place constant downward pressure on the closure to insure a tight seal between the closure and the dispensing outlets of the container.

It is another object of the invention to provide the combination of a container having a dispensing plug insent and a closure for the container in which the closure is maintained with constant sealing pressure against the dispensing insert over the range of tolerances of the members.

It is another object of the invention to provide the combination of a container and slidable dispensing closure therefor, in which the closure may be moved to open or closed position with the same hand in which the container is held.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container and slidable dispensing closure therefor in which the members are so constructed that the slidable closure is symmetrically positioned relative to the container when in non-dispensing position.

'In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with this invention a dispensing container and slid-ably movable closure therefor in which the container is preferably formed of a rigid plastic material such as polystyrene or other similar material, and the closure is preferably made of a material such as high impact polystyrene or other similar material. The container includes an upstanding neck having positioned therein an insert plug provided with dispensing holes. The insert plug is 2 preferably formed of a soft plastic material such as poly ethylene or other similar material.

The slidable closure is provided with dispensing holes which may be moved into or out of registry with the d1spensing holes of the insert plug by slidably moving the closure member. The neck of the container extends upwardly from a raised shoulder of substantially rectangular contour including two opposite end edges which serve as limiting abutments for the opening: and closing movements of the slidable closure and two undercut edges which serve as hold-down means and guides for the slidably movable closure.

The slidable closure is held in snap-on engagement with the shoulder due to the engagement of the beads on the closure with the undercut edges of the shoulder, this engagement exerting a constant downward pressure on the closure which is transmitted to the insert plug in the neck of the container, thereby assuring a good siftproof seal between the sliding closure and the insert plug.

A further important feature of the construction is provision of cooperating locking means on the slidable closure and on the neck of the container which positively lock the closure in its non-dispensing position when desired.

The abutment edges of the shoulder which limit the opening and closing movement of the slidable closure are so located with respect to the location of the dispensing holes in the insert plug of the container neck and with respect to the location of the dispensing holes on the slidable closure that the slidable closure is symmetrically positioned relative to the container when the closure is in non-dispensing position, with the closure being in a non-symmetrical position when the closure is in its dispensing position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the dispensing container and closure device therefor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the container and closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container and closure of FIG. 1 with the closure in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view partially broken away of the container and closure device with the closure member slidably moved to its dispensing position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1 with the closure member removed;

FIG. 6 is a view in transverse section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal section taken sub stantially along line 7-7of FIG. 3 showing the slidable closure locked in closed position;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the sliding closure member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the dispensing insert plug member received by the neck of the container; and

FIG. 10 is a'view in front elevation of the insert member of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a container generally indicated at 10 preferably formed of a suitable rigid plastic material such as polystyrene or other similar material. A closure .12 to be described in more detail hereinafter is mounted for sliding engagement on the upper end of container 10. Closure 12 is preferably formed of a plastic material such as high impact polystyrene which has small rubber content to impar-t some flexibility to the closure.

Container 10 includes a substantially fiat top wall 14 which may be slightly downwardly tapered at the opposite ends 16 thereof. Container 10 also includes rcuate downwardly flared front and rear walls 18, 20, ppositely disposed end walls 22, 24, and a bottom wall 6. The dimension of the container which extends beveen the opposite end walls 22 and 24 is hereby defined s the width dimension of the container; and the dimenion of the container which extends between the front nd rear walls 18 and is hereby defined as the front- )-rear or depth dimension of the container. The dimenion of the container which extends between the bottom nd top Walls 26 and 14 thereof is hereby defined as he height dimension of the container.

An integral hollow neck generally indicated at 28 exends above the upper end of the container body, the ower end of the neck merging a short distance above he flat top wall 14 of the container with a four-sided aised shoulder generally indicated at 30.. Shoulder 30 ncludes two edges 32- and 34 which extend in spaced iarallel relation to each other in the width dimension of he container and two transverse edges 36 and 38 which :xtend in the front-to-rear dimension of the container n substantially parallel spaced relation to each other and aerpendicular to the edges 32 and 34.

Raised shoulder 30 is symmetrically positioned rela- .ive to the fron -to-rear dimension of container 10, but s eccentric or offset with respect to the width dimension )f the container. Neck 28 which rises above shoulder 50 is symmetrically positioned with respect to both the width and front-to-rear dimensions of the container. Ihus, raised shoulder 30 is offset or eccentric with respect to neck 28. As best seen in the view of FIG. 5, edge 36 of shoulder 30 is displaced a greater distance from the vertical axis of neck 28 than is edge 38 of the raised shoulder. As will be explained hereinafter, edge 36 of the raised shoulder serves as an abutment which limits the movement of the closure device .12 in moving toward its closed position and edge 38 serves as an abutment which limits the movement of the closure device 12 in moving toward dispensing position.

As best seen in the view of FIG. 6, the edges 32 and 34 of shoulder 30 are undercut for substantially the entire length thereof to provide a guiding and interlocking engagement with the ribs of the sliding closure 12 as will be described more fully hereinafter. T he undercut on each edge 32, 34 tapers downwardly and inwardly relative to the respective edge.

The upstanding neck 28 of container 10 is provided with two diametrically oppositely disposed notches each generally indicated at 40 (FIG. 5) to receive the downwardly depending lugs 44 of flexible insert dispensing plug generally indicated at 42 (FIGS. 9 and 10). Dispensing plug 42 is preferably made of a soft plastic material such as polyethylene which is easily inserted in neck 2-8 of the container and easily conforms to the shape of the container neck. Dispensing plug 42 includes a cylindrical wall portion extending downwardly from top wall 46 which frictionally engages the interior of neck 28 of container 10 and a downwardly flared lower wall portion 52. Top wall 46 of plug 42 includes a plurality of dispensing apertures or passages 54 extending therethrough. Each passage 54 is surrounded by an integral annular head 56. Plug 42 also includes a pair of diametrically opposite overhanging lip portions 58 from each of which one of the lugs 44 depends. The function of the overhanging lips 58 is to cooperate with automatic machinery which may be used for inserting the plug 42 into the neck 28 of container 10, although the plugs may be inserted manually without the aid of such machinery in which case overhanging lips 58 are not necessary.

The cooperation of lugs 44 with notches 40 of the container neck serves to properly orient the dispensing apertures 54 of plug 42 with the dispensing apertures in the slidable closure 12 as will be hereinafter described.

As best seen in the views of FIGS. 6 and 7, the sliding closure generally indicated at 12 includes a flat top wall 60, arcuate front and rear walls 62 and 64, and downwardly tapered end walls 66 and 68. A plurality of dispensing apertures 70 are provided in top wall 60 of closure 12. Apertures 78 are arranged in a circle whose center is eccentric or off center with respect to the width dimension of top wall 60; that is, the center of the circle on which apertures 7%) lie is closer to end wall 68 of the sliding closure 12 than to the end wall 66 of the closure.

As best seen in the view of FIG. 8, sliding closure 12 includes what might be termed an inner cap generally indicated at 72 having the shape of a four-sided figure including opposite vertical side walls 7-4 and 76 which extend in the width dimension of the closure in spaced parallel relation to each other and inwardly spaced from walls 62, 6-4 of the closure; and end walls 78 and 80 which extend in the front-to-rear dimension of the closure is spaced in parallel relation to each other, and inwardly spaced from walls 66, 68 of the closure.

As best seen in the view of FIG. 6, each of the opposite walls 7 4 and 76 of the inner cap is provided adjacent the lower edge thereof with an inwardly projecting bead or rib 82-and 84, respectively, which are adapted to engage the undercut region of side edges 32 and 34 of the raised shoulder 38 on container 10.

The distance between the center of the circle on which apertures 70 of closure 12 lie and the inside surface of end wall 80 of inner cap 72 is made substantially equal to the distance between edge 38 of shoulder 38 and the central vertical axis of neck 28, so that when closure 12 is moved to the dispensing position shown in FIG. 4 in which end wall 80 abuts against edge 38 of shoulder 30, the dispensing holes 70 of closure .12 will be in registry with the dispensing holes 56 of insert plug 42. Also, the location of dispensing holes 70 on closure 12, the distance of shoulder abutment edge 36 from the central vertical axis of neck 28, and the distance of inner cap wall 78 from the central vertical axis of closure 12 are all so correlated that when closure 12 is pushed to the closed position of FIG. 3 in which end wall 78 abuts against shoulder edge 36, the closure cap 12 will be symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of container 10, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7 of the drawings, and the dispensing holes 70 of closure 12 will be out of registry with dispensing holes 56 of insert plug 42.

An important feature of the construction is the provision of cooperating means on opposite sides of neck 28 of the container and on the opposite walls 74 and 76 of inner cap 72 to lock the sliding closure member positively in closed position to prevent any sifting or leakage of powder or other contents of the container, particularly during shipment. For this purpose, neck 28 of the container is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed integrally molded detent ribs or lugs each generally indicated at 86. Ribs 86 are each formed with a pair of tapered vertical surfaces 88, 30 which taper radially outwardly from neck 28 and toward each other to merge at junction line 92, and top and bottom surfaces which respectively taper downwardly and radially outwardly and upwardly and radially outwardly to merge with junction line 92.

Also, the inside wall surface of each of the walls 74, 76 of inner cap member 72 is provided with an inwardly projecting detent rib or lug 94 including a pair of surfaces 96, 98 which taper toward each other to merge at a junction line 100.

The detent ribs 86 of the container neck are proportioned similarly to the detent ribs 94 of closure 12. Detent ribs 86 and 94 are so positioned on the respective members that when closure cap 12 is moved from the dispensing position of FIG. 4 into the locked or non dispensing position in which wall 78 of the closure 12 abuts against edge 36 of shoulder 18, the ribs 84 on the closure cap 12 ride up over the contiguous tapered sur face of the respective ribs 86, past the junction line 92 and snap down into engagement with the other tapered surface into the, locked non-dispensing position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The flexible character of the material of which closure 12 is made permits the ribs 94 on the closure cap to snap past the ribs 86 on the container neck. When the ribs 94 on the closure 12 have snapped past the ribs 86 on the container neck to the position of FIG. 7, the closure cap is held tightly and positively in locked position against accidental movement to dispensing position, with the wall 78 of the closure being held tightly against the abutment edge 36 of shoulder 30. In the locked non-dispensing position of FIGS. 1 and 7, the dispensing holes 70 of closure 12 are not in registry with the dispensing holes 56 of insert plug 42.

The detent ribs 94 of the closure 12 are offset slightly to the right of the central vertical axis of closure .12, with respect to the views shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, whereas the detent ribs 86 on neck 28 of the container lie substantially on the vertical axis of the container neck. The slight offset of detent ribs 94 of closure 12 from the central vertical axis of the closure permits the detent ribs 94 to lie in locked relation with respect to the detent ribs 86 of the container neck when closure 12 is symmetrically positioned with respect to container in the locked position of the closure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7.

In using the container and closure combination hereinbefore described, after the container has been filled with powder or liquid contents, the insert plug 42 is engaged with the upper end of neck 28 of the container, with the downwardly depending lugs 44 being received in the notches 40 of the container neck and with the outer periphery of top wall 46 of the insert plug being seated on the upper surface of the rim of neck 28. Sliding closure 12 is then positioned over neck 28 of the container and the opposite walls 74 and 76 of inner cap 72 flex outwardly sufficiently to permit the inwardly projecting ribs 82 and 84 to clear and pass downwardly past the upper portions of side edges 32 and 34 of shoulder 18, whereby to permit ribs 82 and 84 to snap into the undercut portions of the shoulder edges 32 and 4 3.

The fact that side walls 74 and 76 of inner cap 72 are flexed outwardly from their normal undistorted dimension to permit beads or ribs 82, 84 to become engaged with the undercut shoulder edges 32 and 34, with walls 74, 76 remaining distorted to some degree while ribs 82, 84 are so engaged, causes the inwardly tapered undercut edges 32 and 34 against which the ribs 82 and 84 bear to provide a constant downward pressure of the closure cap 12 against the flexible insert plug 42. This causes the underneath surface of the top wall 60 of closure 12 to constantly exert downward sealing pressure on the upper surface of the annular beads 56 surrounding apertures 54 of dispensing plug 42.

If the sliding closure .12 is already locked in the nondispensing position of FIGS. 1 and 7, it may be moved to dispensing position by manually pushing closure 12 to the left with respect to the views of FIGS. 1 and 7, causing the detent ribs or lugs 94 on the closure 12 to snap to the opposite side of the cooperating detent ribs 86 of the container neck. The movement of closure 12 in the opening position is limited by engagement of wall 80 of closure 12 with edge 38 of shoulder 30. In this position, the dispensing holes of the closure cap are in registry with the dispensing holes of the insert plug.

With the sliding closure in the dispensing position of FIG. 4, it may be moved to locked non-dispensing position by manually moving closure 12 to the right from its position of FIG. 4 to cause detent ribs 94 on the closure 12 to snap to the opposite side of detent ribs 86 on the neck of the container, to lock closure 12 in closed non-dispensing position in which the dispensing holes of closure 12 are not in registry with the dispensing holes of the insert plug 42, and with wall 78 of the closure held tightly against abutment edge 36 of shoulder 30.

The manipulation of the closure 12 to either open or closed position may be accomplished with the same hand in which the container is held.

It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided in accordance with this invention a combined container and slidable closure therefor which has advantages over prior art devices. The container and closure assembly is so constructed as to insure against sifting or leakage of the contents of the container and is provided with a positive locking arrangement for locking the closure in non-dispensing position when desired. The positive locking feature is of particular advantage for preventing sifting or leakage from the container during shipment. The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is particularly adapted for dispensing powder or liquid ma terials, and can be adapted to dispense pills or other products. While the container, closure, and insert plug members are preferably formed of plastic materials such as those described hereinbefore, the container assembly may also be formed of other suitable materials. The closure may also be slidably moved to open or closed position using the same hand as that in which the container is held. The container assembly is also so constructed that the closure is symmetrically positioned relative to the container whenvthe closure is in non-dispensing position. While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 7

What 'I claim as my invention is: I

1. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container including a top wall, a shoulder extending upwardly from said top wall, a neck extending upwardly from said shoulder, said neck having dispensing outlet means therein, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means movable into or out of registry with said dispensing outlet means of said neck in accordance with sliding movement imparted to said closure, said shoulder including a first pair of spaced edges extending in the direction of travel of said slidable closure and a second pair of spaced edges extending substantially transversely of the direction of travel of said slidable closure, said spaced edges of said first pair each respectively having an undercut region extending lengthwise of the direction of travel of said sliding closure, means on said slidable closure engaged with said undercut region of the respective edges of said first pair whereby to hold said closure firmly engaged with said dispensing outlet means of said neck, and means including the respective edges of said second pair for limiting the sliding movement of said closure in either an opening or a closing direction.

2. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container, including a top wall, a shoulder extending upwardly from said top wall, a neck extending upwardly from said shoulder, said neck having dispensing outlet means therein, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means movable into or out of registry with said dispensing outlet means of said neck in accordance with sliding movement imparted to said closure, said shoulder including a first pair of spaced edges extending in the direction of travel of said slidable closure and a second pair of spaced edges extending substantially transversely of the direction of travel of said slidable closure, said spaced edges of said first pair each respectively having an undercut region extending lengthwise of the direction of travel of said sliding closure, means on said slidable closure engaged with said undercut region of the respective edges of said first pair whereby to hold said closure firmly engaged with said dispensing outlet means of said neck, means including e respective edges of said second pair for limiting the ding movement of said closure in either an opening or closing direction, and cooperating means on said clore and on said container for locking said closure in a )n-dispensing position.

3. A dispensing container assembly comprising a coniner, said container including a top wall, a shoulder (tending upwardly from said top wall, a neck extending awardly from said shoulder, said neck having dispensing Jtlet means therein, a slidable closure for said outlet leans, said container and said closure being formed of raterials such that there may be a relative flexing action etween said container and said closure, said closure aving dispensing outlet means movable into or out of :gistry with said dispensing outlet means of said neck 1 accordance with sliding movement imparted to said losure, said shoulder including a first pair of spaced :lges extending in the direction of travel of said slidable losure and a second pair of spaced edges extending subtantially transversely of the direction of travel of said lidable closure, said spaced edges of said first pair each espectively having an undercut region extending lengthlise of the direction of travel of said sliding closure, neans on said slidable closure in snapped engagement lith said undercut region of the respective edges of said irst pair whereby to hold said closure firmly engaged vith said dispensing outlet means of said neck, and neans including the respective edges of said second pair or limiting the sliding movement of said closure in :ither an opening or a closing direction. 7

4. A dispensing container assembly comprising a conainer, said container including a top wall and a neck :xtending above said top wall, said neck being symnetrically located with respect to, the central vertical axis at said container, said neck having dispensing outlet neans therein which are symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said neck, a slidable :losure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means therein which are eccentrically located with respect to the dimension of said closure extending in the direction of sliding movement of said closure, first and second stop means respectively limiting the sliding movement of said closure in closing and opening directions, said first stop means being so located as to stop movement of said closure in a closing direction of movement at a position in which said closure is symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with thedispensing outlet means of said closure being out of registry with the dispensing outlet means of said neck, said second stop means being so located as to stop sliding movement of said closure in an opening direction at a position in which said closure is eccentrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with the dispensing means of said closure being in registry with the dispensing means of said neck.

5. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container including a top wall and a neck extending above said top wall, said neck being symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container, said neck having dispensing outlet means therein which are symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said neck, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means therein which are eccentrically located with respect to the dimension of said closure extending in a direction of sliding movement of said closure, cooperating means on said container and on said closure holding said closure firmly engaged with said dispensing outlet means of said neck, first and second stop means respectively limiting the sliding movement of said closure in a closing and in an opening direction, said first stop means being so located as to stop movement of said closure in a closing direction of movement at a position in which said closure is symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with the dispensing outlet means of said closure being out of registry with the dispensing outlet means of said neck, and a second stop means so located as to stop sliding movement of said closure in an opening direction at a position in which said closure is eccentrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with the dispensing outlet means of said closure being in registry with the dispensing outlet means of said neck.

6. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container including a top wall, a shoulder extending upwardly from said top wall, a neck extending upwardly from said shoulder, said neck being symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container, said neck having dispensing outlet means therein which are symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said neck, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means movable into or out of registry with said dispensing outlet means of said neck in accordance with sliding movement imparted to said closure, said dispensing outlet means of said closure being eccentrically located with respect to the dimension of said closure extending in the direction of sliding movement of said closure, said shoulder including a first pair of spaced edges extending in the direction of sliding travel of said closure and a second pair of spaced edges extending substantially transversely of the direction of travel of Said closure, said spaced edges of said first pair each respectively having an undercut region extending lengthwise of the direction of travel of said closure, means on said closure engaged with said undercut region of the respective edges of said first pair whereby to hold said closure firmly engaged with a downward pressure on said dispensing outlet means of said neck, and means including the respective edges of said second pair for limiting the sliding movement of said closure in either an opening or closing direction.

7. A dispensing container assembly as defined in claim 6 in which said container and said closure are formed of materials such that there may be a relative flexing action between said container and said closure to permit said closure to engage said shoulder with a snap-on action.

8. A dispensing container assembly as defined in claim 6 including an insert plug of flexible material positioned within said neck, said insert plug having dispensing outlet means therein, and means for orienting said plug with the dispensing outlet means of said closure.

9. A dispensing container assembly as defined in claim 6 in which the edges of said second pair respectively constitute first and second stop means respectively limiting the sliding movement of said closure in closing and opening directions, said first stop means being so located as to stop movement of said closure in a closing direction of movement at a position in which said closureis symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with the dispensing outlet means of said closure being out of registry wi-h the dispensing outlet means of said neck, and with said second step means being so located as to stop sliding movement of said closure in an opening direction at a position in which said closure is eccentrically located with respect to the central vertical axis ofsaid container andwith the dispensing outlet means of said closure being in registry with the dispensing outlet means of said neck.

10. A dispensing container assembly as defined in claim 6 including cooperating means on said closure and on said container for locking said closure in a non-dispensing position.

11. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container including a top wall, a shoulder extending upwardly from said top wall, a neck extending upwardly from said shoulder, said neck being symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container, said neck having dispensing outlet means therein which are symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said neck, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means movable into or out of registry with said dispensing outlet means of said neck in accordance with sliding movement imparted to said closure, said dispensing outlet means of said closure being eccentrically located with respect to the dimension of said closure extending in the direction of sliding movement of said closure, said container and said closure being formed of materials such that there may be a relative flexing action between said container and said closure to permit said closure to engage said shoulder with a snap- -on action, said shoulder including a first pair of spaced edges extending in the direction of sliding travel of said closure and a second pair of spaced edges extending substantially transversely of the direction of travel of said closure, said spaced edges of said first pair each respectively having an undercut region extending lengthwise of the direction of travel of said closure, means on said closure in snapped engagement with the undercut regions of said edges of said first pair, the edges of said second pair respectively constituting first and second stop means engaging said closure and respectively limiting the sliding movement of said closure in closing and opening directions of movement, said first stop means being so located as to stop movement of said closure in a closing direction of movement at a position in which said closure is symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with the dispensing outlet means of said closure being out of registry with the dispensing outlet means of said neck, said second stop means being so located as to stop sliding movement of said closure in an opening direction of movement at a position in which said closure is eccentrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said container and with the dispensing outlet means of said closure being in registry with the dispensing outlet means of said neck, and cooperating means on said closure and on said container for locking said closure in a non-dispensing position.

12. A dispensing container assembly as defined in claim 11 including an insert plug of flexible material positioned within said neck, said insert plug having dispensing outlet means therein which are symmetrically located with respect to the central vertical axis of said neck, and means for orienting said plug with respect to the dispensing outlet means of said closure.

13. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container including a top wall and a neck extending above said top wall, an insert plug of flexible material positioned within said neck, said insert plug having dispensing outlet means therein, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said closure having dispensing outlet means movable into or out of registry with said dispensing outlet means of said insert plug in accordance with sliding movement imparted to said closure, means for orienting said plug in a predetermined position within said neck to insure proper registration of the dispensing outlet means of said plug with the dispensing outlet means of said closure, cooperating means on said container and on said closure holding said closure firmly engaged with said dispensing outlet means of said insert plug, means limiting the sliding movement of said closure in either an opening or a closing direction, and cooperating means on said closure and on said container for locking said closure in a non-dispensing position. 14. A dispensing container assembly comprising a container, said container including a top wall and a shoulder extending upwardly from said top wall, a neck extending upwardly from said shoulder, an insert plug of flexible material positioned within said neck, said insert plug having dispensing outlet means therein, a slidable closure for said outlet means, said container and said closure being formed of materials such that there may be a relative flexing action between said container and said closure to permit said closure to engage said shoulder with a snap-on action, said closure having dispensing outlet means movable into or out of registry with said dispensing outlet means of said insert plug in accordance with sliding movement imparted to said closure, means for orienting said insert plug in a predetermined position within said neck to insure proper registration of the dispensing outlet means of said plug with the dispensing outlet means of said closure, cooperating means on said shoulder and on said closure holding said closure firmly engaged with said dispensing outlet means of said insert plug, and means limiting the sliding movement of said closure in either an opening or a closing direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,314,957 9/1919 Gerhardt 222-559 2,097,240 10/1937 Rattey 222-559 2,139,085 12/1938 Lawson 222-559 X 2,273,999 2/ 1942 Rueger 222-480 2,355,062 '8/1944 Erb et al. 222-480 2,563,865 8/1951 Pottle 222-480 3,093,272 6/1963 Esthus 222-480 3,143,256 8/ 1964 Lazure et 'al. 222-480 3,194,455 7/1965 Castelli 222-545 FOREIGN PATENTS 630,752 11/1961 Canada.

71,044 5/ 1950 Denmark. 839,165 12/1938 France.

ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner. CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. K. N. LEIMER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING A TOP WALL, A SHOULDER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID TOP WALL, A NECK EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID SHOULDER, SAID NECK HAVING DISPENSING OUTLET MEANS THEREIN, A SLIDABLE CLOSURE FOR SAID OUTLET MEANS, SAID CLOSURE HAVING DISPENSING OUTLET MEANS MOVABLE INTO OR OUT OF REGISTRY WITH SAID DISPENSING OUTLET MEANS OF SAID NECK IN ACCORDANCE WITH SLIDING MOVEMENT IMPARTED TO SAID CLOSURE, SAID SHOULDER INCLUDING A FIRST PAIR OF SPACED EDGES EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID SLIDABLE CLOSURE AND A SECOND PAIR OF SPACED EDGES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID SLIDABLE CLOSURE, SAID SPACED EDGES OF SAID FIRST PAIR EACH RESPECTIVELY HAVING AN UNDERCUT REGION EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID SLIDING CLOSURE, MEANS ON SAID SLIDABLE CLOSURE ENGAGED WITH SAID UNDERCUT REGION OF THE RESPECTIVE EDGES OF SAID FIRST PAIR WHEREBY TO HOLD SAID CLOSURE FIRMLY ENGAGED WITH SAID DISPENSING OUTLET MEANS OF SAID NECK, AND MEANS INCLUDING THE RESPECTIVE EDGES OF SAID SECOND PAIR FOR LIMITING THE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID CLOSURE IN EITHER AN OPENING OR A CLOSING DIRECTION.

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