Bottom-Fill Container and Opening System
OwnerElmer Werthinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The bottom wall of a two-piece or three-piece container is extended outside the base of the container sidewall or chime. The extended bottom wall forms an opening for dispensing the contents of the container and for filling the container. A twistable cap fits over the container opening and defines a cap opening of similar size, which can be moved into a position registered with the container opening.
Claims9
In a container formed of a side wall of predetermined maximum transverse dimension and having opposite first and second ends at predetermined first and second end lines, a first end wall seamed to said side wall at said first end line, and a second end wall in communication with said second end of the side wall, the improvement comprising:
- said second end wall includes an extension wall and an end panel;
- said extension wall is of smaller transverse dimension than said maximum transverse dimension of the side wall, is joined to the side wall at the second end line, and carries said end panel at a position outside said second end line;
- the end panel includes a pre-formed dispensing opening at a position offset from a center of the end panel;
- the extension wall carries a cap having a central panel and a depending side skirt, wherein the side skirt overlaps at least a portion of the extension wall, is rotatably engaged on the extension wall and substantially non-removable from the extension wall;
- and
- said central panel defines a cap opening in a suitable position to be moved with rotation of said cap between a registered and a non-registered position with respect to said pre-formed dispensing opening.
A method of filling a container formed of a side wall of predetermined maximum transverse dimension and having opposite first and second ends at predetermined first and second end lines, comprising:
- forming said first end of said side wall to receive a first end wall by interlocking connection;
- providing a second end wall in communication with said second end and closing the second end, wherein said second end wall includes an extension wall and an end panel, wherein said extension wall is of smaller transverse dimension than said maximum transverse dimension of the side wall, is joined to the side wall at the second end line, and carries said end panel at a position outside said second end line, thereby establishing an interior container volume extending beyond the second end line;
- providing a pre-formed dispensing opening in said end panel at a position offset from a center of the end panel;
- applying a cap over said end panel, wherein said cap includes a central panel and a side skirt, wherein the side skirt overlaps at least a portion of the extension wall, is rotatably engaged on the extension wall and is substantially non-removable from the extension wall;
- providing a cap opening in said central panel in a suitable position to be moved with rotation of said cap between a registered and a non-registered position with respect to said pre-formed dispensing opening;
- filling said container with a contents through said first end;
- and
- after said filling step, applying said first end wall to the first end of the side wall by an interlocking connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.