US4039435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unitary compartmentalized container
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-11
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1995-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A container assembly for storing a predetermined quantity of foodstuff, medication or the like product comprises a unitary container divided into upper and lower compartments and having a circumferential inner sidewall portion encircling the container interior and dividing it into the two compartments. The product is prefilled in the lower compartment and a closure member fits within the container and coacts therewith to hermetically seal the product within the lower compartment. In one embodiment, the closure member has an annular depending lip which engages in a complementary groove in the container sidewall to seal the lower compartment, and in an alternative embodiment, the closure member has on its underside a ring of adhesive material which adheres to a complementary surface portion of the container sidewall to effectively seal the lower compartment. The closure member has a foldable pull-tab attached at the center thereof which is foldable along one fold line to extend along the upper face of the closure member to the container inner sidewall and foldable along another fold line to extend upwardly along the sidewall to a location proximate the container rim. The pull-tab lies flush along the inner sidewall of the container so as not to interfere with stacking of the container assemblies one upon another.
Inventors
- 👤 Sydney Paul Narva
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:31
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/70; B65D85/804; B65D85/816; B65D2577/00; B65D2577/10; B65D2577/20; B65D2577/2041; B65D2577/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A container assembly for hermetically storing a product dosage comprising: a container having a sidewall and a bottom wall connected to said sidewall thereby closing one end of the container, said container sidewall having around its interior a radially inwardly extending sidewall portion defining an annular surface which divides said container into upper and lower compartments; and a closure member insertable into said container defining therewith a container assembly and dimensioned to overlie and directly contact the sidewall annular surface when said closure member is in a predetermined position thereby closing said lower compartment while leaving open said upper compartment so that a product dosage can be stored within said lower compartment during use of the container assembly, said closure member having an annular lip depending from its underside coacting with means on said sidewall portion defining an annular groove dimensioned to receive therein said annular lip for hermetically sealing said lower compartment when said closure member is in said predetermined position, said annular lip being solid throughout and having a width slightly wider than that of said annular groove and being composed of compressible material so that said lip compresses inwardly and engages with said groove with a snapfit when said closure member is in said predetermined position, and manually graspable means attached to the top side of said closure member for effecting manual removal thereof from said container to enable access to the product dosage within said lower compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A container assembly for hermetically storing a product dosage comprising: a container having a sidewall and a bottom wall connected to said sidewall thereby closing one end of the container, said container sidewall having around its interior a radially inwardly extending sidewall portion defining an annular surface which divides said container into upper and lower compartments; and a closure member insertable into said container defining therewith a container assembly and dimensioned to overlie and directly contact the sidewall annular surface when said closure member is in a predetermined position thereby closing said lower compartment while leaving open said upper compartment so that a product dosage can be stored within said lower compartment during use of the container assembly, said closure member having an annular lip depending from its underside coacting with means on said sidewall portion defining an annular groove dimensioned to receive therein said annular lip for hermetically sealing said lower compartment when said closure member is in said predetermined position, said annular lip being solid throughout and having a width slightly wider than that of said annular groove and being composed of compressible material so that said lip compresses inwardly and engages with said groove with a snapfit when said closure member is in said predetermined position, and manually graspable means attached to the top side of said closure member for effecting manual removal thereof from said container to enable access to the product dosage within said lower compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container assembly according to claim 1; wherein said annular groove extends between said container sidewall portion and the lowermost portion of the container sidewall inner surface of said upper compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A container assembly according to claim 1; wherein said manually graspable means comprises a foldable pull-tab connected at one end to the topside of said closure member and foldable to lie along the topside surface radially outwardly to the sidewall inner surface and then upwardly along said sidewall inner surface towards the container rim.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A container assembly according to claim 3 wherein said closure member has on its topside a recess dimensioned to accommodate therein that portion of said pull-tab which overlies said closure member so that said pull-tab portion lies flush with the closure member top surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A container assembly according to claim 1; wherein said container lower compartment includes means for facilitating pouring of the product stored therein in response to tipping of said container from its normal upright position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A container assembly according to claim 5; wherein said means for facilitating pouring comprises an arcuate inner sidewall portion within said lower compartment extending from the peripheral edge of said sidewall annular surface downwardly towards said bottom wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
In combination: a container having a sidewall and a bottom wall connected to said sidewall thereby closing one end of the container, said container sidewall having around its interior a radially inwardly extending sidewall portion defining an annular surface which divides said container into upper and lower compartments; a predetermined quantity of product to be dispensed stored in said lower compartment; and a closure member overlying and directly contacting the sidewall annular surface thereby closing said lower compartment while leaving open said upper compartment, said closure member having an annular lip depending from its underside coacting with means on said sidewall portion defining an annular groove dimensioned to receive therein said annular lip for hermetically sealing said lower compartment said annular lip being solid throughout and having a width slightly wider than that of said annular groove and being composed of compressible material so that said lip compresses inwardly and engages in said groove with a snap-fit, and manually graspable means attached to the topside of said closure member for effecting manual removal thereof from said container to enable access to the product stored within said lower compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
188 words
In combination: a container having a sidewall and a bottom wall connected to said sidewall thereby closing one end of the container, said container sidewall having around its interior a radially inwardly extending sidewall portion defining an annular surface which divides said container into upper and lower compartments; a predetermined quantity of product to be dispensed stored in said lower compartment; and a closure member overlying and directly contacting the sidewall annular surface thereby closing said lower compartment while leaving open said upper compartment, said closure member having an annular lip depending from its underside coacting with means on said sidewall portion defining an annular groove dimensioned to receive therein said annular lip for hermetically sealing said lower compartment said annular lip being solid throughout and having a width slightly wider than that of said annular groove and being composed of compressible material so that said lip compresses inwardly and engages in said groove with a snap-fit, and manually graspable means attached to the topside of said closure member for effecting manual removal thereof from said container to enable access to the product stored within said lower compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination according to claim 7; wherein said annular groove extends between said container sidewall portion and the lowermost portion of the container sidewall inner surface of said upper compartment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A combination according to claim 7; wherein said manually graspable means comprises a foldable pull-tab connected at one end to the topside of said closure member and foldable to lie along the topside surface radially outwardly to the sidewall inner surface and then upwardly along said sidewall inner surface towards the container rim.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A combination according to claim 9; wherein said closure member has on its topside a recess dimensioned to accommodate therein that portion of said pull-tab which overlies said closure member so that said pull-tab portion lies flush with the closure member top surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination according to claim 7; wherein said container lower compartment includes means for facilitating pouring of the product stored therein in response to tipping of said container from its normal upright position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A container assembly according to claim 11; wherein said means for facilitating pouring comprises an arcuate inner sidewall portion within said lower compartment extending from the peripheral edge of said sidewall annular surface downwardly towards said bottom wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-01 | 1981-01-31 | 1981-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-01 | 1985-01-31 | 1985-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-01-31 | 1989-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |