US2335016A - Capsule container - Google Patents

Description

N0 23 1943- A. l. LoRENzEN Erm. 2,335,015

CAPSULE CONTAINER Filed April '7, 1942 r/zf. BLUM INVENTORS B'Y/M 5,7

ATTOR S Patented Nov. 23, 1943 2,335,916 CAPSULE comma Arnold I. Lorenzen and John Blum,

assignors to Owenscorporation of Ohio Toledo, Ohio,

Illinois Glass Company, a

Application April 7,' 1942. Serial No. 437,960 Claims. (Cl. 20S-42) Our invention relates to improvements in containers for capsules, etc., and has for its primary object, the provision of simple and comparatively inexpensive means whereby a receptacle may easily be converted from a single compartment package to one having two cells or chambers. Such a construction is especially desirable and advantageous in the convenient packaging of vitamin capsules and the like. As is known, a person often is required to use two different kinds of capsules. Our invention enables the user to have both types packaged in a single container, and is removable from the container after the capsules have been consumed, so as to make it (the container) available for other uses.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a container partitioning insert which is formed from cardboard, kraft paper, or similar material and may be produced from a single sheet by a single die cutting operation.

It is also an object of our invention to form an insert of the above character in such fashion as to provide bottom walls and top or cover aps individual to the compartments which result from placing the insert in a container.

Further it is an object of our invention to provide in the top or cover flaps means permitting dispensing of the contents without lifting the flaps or in some instances means merely facilitating lifting the cover flaps preparatory to dispensing the capsules.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a capsule container showing the improved insert.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the con tainer showing the insert in place.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the insert in blank form showing the folding or score lines in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modined form of insert, the container being shown in dotted lines.

We have shown a hollow container or jar I0 having a neck portion provided with closure engaging threads I2, or like attaching means. A closure I3 engages the threads I2 on the neck thereby sealing the contents of the container.

While we have shown our invention as being applied to a container having a screw threaded closure. it will be readily understood that a container having a friction type of closure could well be used.

An insert generally designated |4 is positioned in the container and has a vertical partition or wall I5 extending the height of the container II). 'Ihis partition when inserted into the container, forms two separate compartments I8 and I1 in which two different types of vitamin capsules or the like, may be placed.

The insert I4 may well be stamped from a onepiece blank I 8 of cardboard. or the like, as shown in Fig. 3. 'I'he vertical wall I5 is composed of two sections I5a and I5b folded along a vertical longitudinal score line I9 and fastened together by staples 20 (Figs. 1 and 2). We have shown these two sections |5 and Iiib fastened together by staples, but they may also be secured together by gluing or by grommets.

Formed at the top of the vertical wall sections I5* and I5b are two top or cover flaps 2| (Fig. 3). These top flaps are folded along the horizontal score line 22, providing covers for the compartments I5 and when the insert is placed in the container I0.

The two cover flaps 2| of the insert I4, each have a semi-circular opening 23 cut medially in the curved periphery thereof (Figs. 1 and 3). The purpose of these openings is tolprovide a convenient way of dispensing the vitamin capsules from the compartments I6 and I1. The openings 23 are of a size slightly larger than the capsules that have been placed in the container.

Formed at the bottom of the vertical wall sections I5a and I5b are two bottom flaps 24 (Fig. 3). These bottom flaps are folded along the score line 25 providing horizontal bottom walls for the compartments I6 and when the insert is placed in the container I0. The bottom flaps 24 are interconnected by staples 26 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) to form a more or less rigid structure which will not become unduly distorted incident to placing the insert in the container.

The vertical wall sections I5 and I5b each have a slot cut therein at or near the lower end thereof and centrally located in each section, so that when the two sections I5* and I5b are folded together to form the vertical wall I5 the two slots coincide to form an opening 2l' in the Wall l5, to allow the staple 26 to be inserted preparatory to fastening.

',I'he two bottom flaps 24 are of such sizeand contour as to t the approximate shape of the lower internal shape of the container I0. The two cover flaps 2| of the insert I4, are of such.

size and-contourl as to fit the internal dimensions of the container neck Il. {I'hus the insert is properly positioned.

` In order to dispense a capsule, the container closure il is met removed. The container is then grasped between the thumb and second finger. The index finger is placed across the cover flaps 2l, covering one of the holes 23, the other hole 2l remaining open. 'Ihe container Il is then tipped and the capsules in one compartment will be dispensed. To dispense the other type of capsule in the other compartment, the container is turned 180 on a vertical axis and the index finger covers the hole 2l that was previously open, and opens the hole 23 that was previously closed. In this manner a person is able to dis.- pense two diierent types of vitamin capsules without either type mixing with the other during the dispensing thereof. We have described one way of dispensing the capsules, but any other convenient way ofaccomplishing the same results may readily be used.

Referring to Fig. we have shown a modified form of insert 34. The insert may be stamped from a blank in the same manner as the insert i4, but instead of stapling the vertical wall sections together, we have shown the sections 35 and 35h of the wall 35 as being glued together..

The insert 34 has two cover flaps 4i that fit the upper internal dimensions of the container I0. Each cover flap 4I has an arcuate opening 43 in the periphery thereof, somewhat similar to the openings 23 in the insert I4. However, the openings 43 are smaller than the openings 23 and provide a means whereby a. person may insert his fingernail or any pointed object under the cover flap 4l to raise it as shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 5. Raising of one of the cover flaps, as shown in Fig. 5, allows the capsules in that respective compartment to be dispensed. The insert has two bottom iiaps 44 that fit the lower internal dimensions of the container ill. The purpose of the bottom iiaps 46 is to lend rigidity to the entire insert in assembling the insert in the container as well as keeping the vertical Wall 35 centered while it is in the container. The bottom flaps also serve to keep the capsules confined in their respective compartments shouldv the insert become accidentally raised or moved.

We have shown our invention as applied to a round container having semi-circular cover flaps formed on the insert, but it should be readily understood that containers of square or oval shape, with the insert to iit the particular container, come within the scope of our invention.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In combination, a hollow container including a body having a lling opening at one end, a closure for said container, and a removable4 insert positioned in the container to form two compartments therein and comprising a vertical wall and pairs of top cover iiaps and bottom wall flaps extending horizontally from the upper and lower ends respectively of the vertical Wall, each top cover ap having a notch in its periphery.

2. In combination, a hollow container for capsules, a closure for said container, an insert adapted to be placed in said container to form compartments therein, said insert comprising a assumo vertical wall formed from a single substantially rectangular piece of cardboard folded along its longitudinal center line, the folds being secured together and extending substantially the height of the container, a cover ilap4 attached to the upper end of each fold to close the compartments, each cover flap having a dispensing opening therein and a horizontally disposed bottom wall flap attached -to the lower end of each fold to provide a bottom wall for the compartments, and means securing said bottom flaps each to the other to hold them against undesired movement relative to each other, during and following positioning of the insert into the container.

3. In combination, a hollow container for capsules, a closure for said container and an insert adapted 'to be placed in said container to form compartments therein, said insert comprising a vertical wall formed from a single substantially rectangular piece of cardboard folded along its longitudinal center line, the folds being secured together and extending substantially the height of the container, a cover flap attached to the upper end of each fold the area of each cover flap being approximately equal to one-half of the internal area of the upper part of said container to close the compartments, each cover ap having a dispensing opening therein and a horizontally disposed bottom Wall ap attached to the lower end of each fold to provide a bottom Wall for the compartments.

4. An insert of the character described formed from a single blank consisting of two rectangular sections defined in part by a score line, said sections being adapted to be folded together on said score line, means securing them together, atop flap formed at the upper endof each rectangular section and dened in part by a score line, said aps being folded on the last named score line and positioned substantially at right angles to said sections, each of said flaps having a dispensing opening in the periphery thereof, and a bottom iiap formed at the lower end of each rectangular section and dened in part by a score line, said bottom flaps beingfolded on the last :named score line and positioned parallel to the folded top aps and means securing said bottom :ilaps each to the other to hold them against undesired movement relative to each other during andrfollowing positioning of the insert into a container.

5. In combination, a hollow container for capsules, a closure for said container and an insert adapted to be placed in said container to form compartments therein, said insert comprising a vertical wall formed from a single substantially rectangular piece .of cardboard folded along its longitudinal center line, the folds being secured together and extending substantially the height of the container, a cover flap attached to the upper end of each fold to close the compartments, the outer periphery of each flap having a notch to provide means facilitating lifting said ap for dispensing purposes and a horizontally disposed bottom flap attached to the lower end of each fold of said vertical wall and extending at right angles to the latter to provide bottom walls for the compartments.

ARNOLD I. LORENZEN. JOHN BLUM.

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