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US4039118A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Container with dispensing means

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-22
•
Granted: 1977-08-02
•
Expires: 1996-07-22
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Abstract

Abstract An automatic dispensing container for containing and dispensing granular material is disclosed which may be constructed from a single piece of sheet material to form a container having an internal ramp partition. The ramp serves to direct the material by force of gravity toward and through a dispensing orifice having a configuration which impedes the free flow of material. The rate at which the material is dispensed is controlled by a structure integral with the ramp which, when moved, serves to assist the flow of material through the orifice.

Inventors

  • 👤 Teru Kawaoka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0225; B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/02; B65D5/0236; B65D5/42; B65D5/72; B65D5/724; B65D83/00; B65D83/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
In a container of the type used for packaging and dispensing flowable, solid materials, having a side wall, the improvement which comprises: a materials dispensing orifice formed in said side wall, said orifice having a configuration adapted to impede the free flow of said materials therethrough; a moveable partition extending substantially across the entire area bounded by said container, said partition being positioned on an incline with a free lower portion thereof adjacent said orifice such that materials within said container may flow by force of gravity and in response to movement of said free lower portion toward and through said orifice; and manually controllable means situated adjacent the exterior face of said orifice for moving said free lower portion for assisting the flow of said materials through said orifice to allow controlled amounts of said material to be dispensed from said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
In a container of the type used for packaging and dispensing flowable, solid materials, having a side wall, the improvement which comprises: a materials dispensing orifice formed in said side wall, said orifice having a configuration adapted to impede the free flow of said materials therethrough; a moveable partition extending substantially across the entire area bounded by said container, said partition being positioned on an incline with a free lower portion thereof adjacent said orifice such that materials within said container may flow by force of gravity and in response to movement of said free lower portion toward and through said orifice; and manually controllable means situated adjacent the exterior face of said orifice for moving said free lower portion for assisting the flow of said materials through said orifice to allow controlled amounts of said material to be dispensed from said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 151 words
A container for packaging and dispensing flowable solid materials comprising: four side walls, each joined along its lateral edges to adjacent side walls, and one of said side walls having a materials dispensing orifice with a configuration adapted to impede the free flow of said materials therethrough; a moveable partition extending substantially across the entire area bounded by said side walls, said partition being positioned on an incline with a free lower portion thereof adjacent said orifice such that materials within said container may flow by force of gravity and in response to movement of said free lower portion toward and through said orifice; and manually controllable means affixed to the lower portion of said partition and extending through said orifice for moving said free lower portion for assisting the free flow of said materials through said orifice to allow controlled amounts of said material to be dispensed from said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 151 words
A container for packaging and dispensing flowable solid materials comprising: four side walls, each joined along its lateral edges to adjacent side walls, and one of said side walls having a materials dispensing orifice with a configuration adapted to impede the free flow of said materials therethrough; a moveable partition extending substantially across the entire area bounded by said side walls, said partition being positioned on an incline with a free lower portion thereof adjacent said orifice such that materials within said container may flow by force of gravity and in response to movement of said free lower portion toward and through said orifice; and manually controllable means affixed to the lower portion of said partition and extending through said orifice for moving said free lower portion for assisting the free flow of said materials through said orifice to allow controlled amounts of said material to be dispensed from said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The container of claim 2 wherein said materials dispensing orifice is configured with a vertical dimension sufficiently small to impede the free flow of said materials therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The container of claim 2 further including a bottom wall having edges which join with the lowermost edges of said side walls, said partition being disposed within said container and above said bottom wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The container of claim 2 further including means attached to said one wall for opening and closing said orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The container of claim 2 further including a panel pivotally attached to said one wall and adapted to close said orifice, and means for securing said panel to said one wall in the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 59 words
The container of claim 6 wherein said flow assisting means is a triangular tab having one edge thereof affixed to the lower portion of said partition, said tab extending generally horizontally through said orifice when the panel is in the open position and disposed between said one wall and said panel when the panel is in the closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 215 words
A container for packaging and dispensing granular, dry pet food comprising: four side walls, each joined along its lateral edges to adjacent side walls, and a bottom wall joined at the edges thereof with the lower most edges of said side walls; one of said side walls having an orifice with a vertical dimension sufficiently small to impede the free flow of said pet food therethrough, said orifice being located on said one wall adjacent said bottom wall; a moveable partition disposed within said container and extending across substantially the entire cross-sectional area thereof, said partition being inclined with a free lower portion thereof adjacent to said orifice to direct said pet food toward and through said orifice in response to gravity and movement of said free lower portion; manually controllable means affixed to the lower portion of said partition and extending through said orifice for vibrating said free lower portion of said partition to dispense controlled amounts of said pet food from said container; a panel attached to said bottom wall at the edge adjacent said one wall, said panel adapted to fold upwardly from an open position to a closed position to cover said orifice and said vibrating means; and means for securing said panel to said one wall in the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 215 words
A container for packaging and dispensing granular, dry pet food comprising: four side walls, each joined along its lateral edges to adjacent side walls, and a bottom wall joined at the edges thereof with the lower most edges of said side walls; one of said side walls having an orifice with a vertical dimension sufficiently small to impede the free flow of said pet food therethrough, said orifice being located on said one wall adjacent said bottom wall; a moveable partition disposed within said container and extending across substantially the entire cross-sectional area thereof, said partition being inclined with a free lower portion thereof adjacent to said orifice to direct said pet food toward and through said orifice in response to gravity and movement of said free lower portion; manually controllable means affixed to the lower portion of said partition and extending through said orifice for vibrating said free lower portion of said partition to dispense controlled amounts of said pet food from said container; a panel attached to said bottom wall at the edge adjacent said one wall, said panel adapted to fold upwardly from an open position to a closed position to cover said orifice and said vibrating means; and means for securing said panel to said one wall in the closed position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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

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