Display Container

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/975,972, filed Oct. 28, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/786,089, filed May 28, 2021, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/669,649, filed Nov. 9, 2018, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. D923,475, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002]The specification relates to display containers.

BACKGROUND

[0003]U.S. Pat. No. 9,630,747 B2 (Smith et al.) discloses a container for displaying, visualizing, and aroma sampling botanical materials—such as tea, cannabis, and the like including a container body, lid, and lens. The container body and the lid form an airtight seal. A sample may be visualized through the lens. In a preferred embodiment, the lid is shaped to define scent openings permitting aroma sampling of a sample contained within.

[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 9,334,086 B2 (Bean et al.) discloses a locking sample case used for displaying high-valued aromatic materials. The sample case has a stage for holding the material, a cover configured to mate with the stage, and a base to mate with the mated stage and cover assembly. The base has a lock mechanism to lock the stage to the base. The cover has tabs that secure the cover to the stage. The sample case is configured so that when the stage is mated to the base, the tabs cannot disengage from the base, so the cover cannot be removed from the stage when the stage is mated with the base. The cover has windows and closable vents to allow a potential buyer to see and smell the aromatic material. The sample case is configured to have a tether that can only be detached when the base is decoupled from the stage.

SUMMARY

[0005]The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the applicant's teaching, but not to define any invention.

[0006]According to some aspects, a display container includes: (a) an enclosure including a body portion defining an interior chamber of the enclosure and a lid portion mounted to the body portion, the body portion having a transparent viewing area through which the interior chamber is viewable, and the lid portion having one or more openings for providing a flow path between the interior chamber and an external environment; (b) a valve assembly mounted to the lid portion and including a sealing member adjacent the one or more openings, the sealing member movable relative to the lid portion between a closed position in which the sealing member blocks the flow path to inhibit fluid communication between the interior chamber and the external environment through the one or more openings, and an open position in which the flow path is unblocked to provide fluid communication between the interior chamber and the external environment through the one or more openings, and the valve assembly including a compression spring biasing the sealing member toward the closed position and accommodating movement of the sealing member toward the open position.

[0007]In some examples, the compression spring remains covered by the valve assembly when the sealing member is in and moves between the open and closed positions.

[0008]In some examples, the compression spring is held axially captive between a first surface fixed relative to the sealing member and a second surface fixed relative to the lid portion and directed toward the first surface, the compression spring pushing the first and second surfaces axially apart for biasing the sealing member toward the closed position.

[0009]In some examples, when the sealing member is moved from the closed position toward the open position, the first surface is moved inwardly toward the second surface thereby compressing the spring therebetween, and when the sealing member is in the closed position, the compression spring exerts a return force pushing the first and second surfaces apart to urge the sealing member back toward the closed position.

[0010]In some examples, the compression spring extends along a spring axis between a first end bearing against the first surface and a second end bearing against the second surface, and the sealing member translates generally parallel with the spring axis when moving between the open and closed positions.

[0011]In some examples, the sealing member comprises a sealing plate.

[0012]In some examples, the sealing plate is spaced apart from the one or more openings in the open position for unblocking the flow path and is translated toward the one or more openings when moving from the open position toward the closed position for blocking the flow path.

[0013]In some examples, the valve assembly comprises a slide valve assembly, and the sealing plate comprises a slide plate positioned over the one or more openings in the closed position to block the flow path and slidable clear of the one or more openings for movement from the closed position toward the open position to unblock the flow path.

[0014]In some examples, the valve assembly includes an actuation surface fixed relative to the sealing member and engageable by a user for moving the sealing member toward the open position.

[0015]In some examples, the actuation surface comprises a tab.

[0016]In some examples, the valve assembly includes a first abutment surface fixed relative to the sealing member and positioned for engagement with a first stop surface fixed relative to the lid portion when in the open position for stopping the sealing member from moving past the open position.

[0017]In some examples, the valve assembly includes a second abutment surface spaced apart from the first abutment surface and fixed relative to the sealing member for engagement with a second stop surface fixed relative to the lid portion when in the closed position for stopping the sealing member from moving past the closed position.

[0018]In some examples, the enclosure comprises a cylindrical jar.

[0019]In some examples, the body portion comprises a transparent jar body, the jar body having a jar bottom wall and a cylindrical jar sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the jar bottom wall to an upper rim of the jar body, the upper rim circumscribing a jar opening for providing access to the interior chamber, and wherein the lid portion is mounted over the upper rim of the jar body.

[0020]In some examples, the jar body is of integral, unitary, one-piece construction.

[0021]In some examples, the jar opening extends horizontally overtop of at least most of the interior chamber.

[0022]In some examples, at least one of the one or more openings passes vertically through the lid portion.

[0023]In some examples, the one or more openings comprise a plurality of openings.

[0024]A display container includes: (a) a cylindrical jar including (i) a transparent jar body defining an interior of the jar, the jar body having a jar bottom wall bounding the interior from below and a cylindrical jar sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the jar bottom wall to an upper rim of the jar body and horizontally bounding the interior, the upper rim circumscribing a jar opening extending horizontally overtop of at least most of the interior for providing access therein, and (ii) a lid portion mounted over the upper rim of the jar body, the lid portion having one or more lid openings for providing a flow path between the interior of the jar body and an environment external the jar; and (b) a valve assembly mounted to the lid portion. The valve assembly includes: (i) a sealing plate adjacent the one or more lid openings, the sealing plate movable relative to the lid portion between a sealed position in which the sealing plate blocks the flow path to inhibit fluid communication between the interior and the external environment through the one or more lid openings, and an unsealed position spaced apart from the sealed position and in which the flow path is unblocked to provide fluid communication between the interior and the external environment through the one or more lid openings, and (ii) a compression spring held axially captive between a first surface fixed relative to the sealing plate and a second surface fixed relative to the lid portion and directed toward the first surface, the compression spring pushing the first and second surfaces apart relative to each other for biasing the sealing member toward the sealed position, and the compression spring accommodating movement of the sealing member toward the unsealed position.

[0025]A display container includes: (a) an enclosure including a lower portion and an upper portion mounted to the lower portion to generally enclose an interior of the enclosure, the lower portion having a transparent viewing area through which the interior is viewable, and the upper portion having one or more openings for providing fluid communication between the interior of the enclosure and an external environment; (b) a valve assembly mounted to the upper portion and including a sealing member adjacent the one or more openings, the sealing member movable relative to the upper portion between a closed position for inhibiting fluid communication between the interior and the external environment through the one or more openings, and an open position for permitting fluid communication between the interior and the external environment through the one or more openings, and the valve assembly further including a compression spring biasing the sealing member toward the closed position and accommodating movement of the sealing member toward the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026]The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In the drawings:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example display container, with a slide valve assembly of the container shown in a closed configuration;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a top view of the display container of FIG. 1;

[0029]FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the display container of FIG. 1, but showing the slide valve assembly in an open configuration;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a top view of the display container of FIG. 3;

[0031]FIG. 5 is a side view of the display container of FIG. 1;

[0032]FIG. 6 is a side view of the display container of FIG. 3;

[0033]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another example display container, with a slide valve assembly of the container shown in a closed configuration;

[0034]FIG. 8 is a top view of the display container of FIG. 7;

[0035]FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the display container of FIG. 7, but showing the slide valve assembly in an open configuration;

[0036]FIG. 10 is a top view of the display container of FIG. 9;

[0037]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another example display container, with a slide valve assembly of the container shown in a closed configuration;

[0038]FIG. 12 is a top view of the display container of FIG. 11;

[0039]FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the display container of FIG. 11, but showing the slide valve assembly in an open configuration; and

[0040]FIG. 14 is a top view of the display container of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041]Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus or process described below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors, or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.

[0042]Referring to FIG. 1, an example display container 100 is shown. In the example illustrated, the display container 100 includes an enclosure 102 having a container body 104 and a lid 106 mounted to the container body 104 for enclosing an interior chamber of the enclosure 102. In the example illustrated, each of the container body 104 and the lid 106 is formed of a generally transparent material.

[0043]In the example illustrated, the lid 106 has an integrated lens 108 positioned over the interior chamber. Referring to FIG. 2, in the example illustrated, the lens 108 is generally circular, and is off centered toward a first side 109a of the lid 106.

[0044]Referring to FIG. 4, in the example illustrated, one or more openings extend through the lid 106 adjacent the lens 108. In the example illustrated, the one or more openings are in the form of a plurality of ports 110. Referring to FIG. 3, in the example illustrated, the lid 106 includes a generally planar top wall 112 and a sidewall 114 extending downwardly from a periphery of the top wall 112 to a lower peripheral edge of the lid 106. The lens 108 and the ports 110 are in the top wall 112. In the example illustrated, the top wall 112 is generally circular.

[0045]In the example illustrated, the display container 100 further includes a valve assembly for opening and closing the one or more openings. In the example illustrated, the valve assembly is in the form of a slide valve assembly 116 for selectively opening and closing the ports 110. In the example illustrated, the slide valve assembly 116 is on an exterior of the lid 106 overtop the ports 110.

[0046]In the example illustrated, the slide valve assembly 116 includes a track 118 fixed relative to the lid 106 in alignment with the ports 110 and a slide plate 120 slidably received in the track 118. In the example illustrated, the track 118 defines a channel in which the slide plate 120 is received.

[0047]In the example illustrated, the slide plate 120 is slidable back and forth along the track 118 between a first position and a second position. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when in the first position, the slide plate 120 blocks the ports 110. In the example illustrated, the slide plate 120 extends across the ports 110 when in the first position. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the slide plate 120 is the second position, the ports 110 are unblocked. In the example illustrated, the slide plate 120 is clear of the ports 110 when in the second position. Referring to FIG. 2, in the example illustrated, the ports 110 and the slide valve assembly 116 are between the lens 108 and a second side 109b of the lid 106. The second side 109b is opposite the first side 109a of the lid 106. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the example illustrated, the track 118 and the slide plate 120 are generally arcuate and curve in a direction generally about the lens 108.

[0048]In the example illustrated, the slide valve assembly 116 includes a tab 122 fixed to and projecting transversely from the slide plate 120 for operating the slide valve assembly 116. In the example illustrated, the tab 122 extends through a slot 124 fixed relative to the lid 106. The slot 124 has at least one stop surface 126 for engagement with the tab 122 to limit movement of the slide plate 120 past at least the second position. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the example illustrated, the tab 122 projects from the slide plate 120 to a distal end 128 of the tab 122. The distal end 128 is positioned outboard the lid 106 for engagement by a user.

[0049]Referring to FIGS. 7-10, another example display container 1100 is illustrated. The display container 1100 has similarities to the display container 100, and like features are identified using like reference characters, incremented by 1000. In the example illustrated, the display container 1100 includes an enclosure 1102 having a container body 1104 and a lid 1106 mounted to the container body 1104. Referring to FIG. 10, the lid 1106 has an integrated lens 1108 and a plurality of ports 1110. The display container 1100 further includes a valve assembly 1116. In the example illustrated, the valve assembly 1116 has a slide plate 1120 slidable back and forth along a track 1118, between a first position (FIG. 8) in which the slide plate 1120 blocks the ports 1110 and a second position (FIG. 10) in which the ports 1110 are unblocked. In the example illustrated, the valve assembly 1116 includes a spring 1130 biasing the slide plate 1120 toward the first position. The spring 1130 comprises a compression spring in the example illustrated. In the example illustrated, the slide plate 1120 is formed of a generally transparent material.

[0050]Referring to FIGS. 11-14, another example display container 2100 is illustrated. The display container 2100 has similarities to the display container 1100, and like features are identified using like reference characters, incremented by 1000. Referring to FIG. 11, in the example illustrated, the display container 2100 includes an enclosure 2102 having a container body 2104, a lid 2106 with an integrated lens 2108 and a plurality of ports 2110, and a valve assembly 2116. In the example illustrated, the lid 2106 has a generally rectangular shape.