Consumer and
`Corporate Affairs Canada
`
`Consommation
`et Corporations Canada
`
`(11)
`
`(A) No. 1 205 024
`(45)
`ISSUED 860527
`
`(52) CLASS 190-64
`
`4
`(51) INT. CL. B65D 1/16
`
`(19) (CA) CANADIAN PATENT (12)
`
`{54} Container for Tobacco Products
`
`(72) Rosson, William M.,
`U.S.A.
`
`(73} Granted to Conwood Corporation
`U.S.A.
`
`(21) APPLICATION No.
`
`407,250
`
`(22) FILED
`
`820714
`
`No. OF CLAIMS
`
`5
`
`Canada
`
`DISTRIBUTED BY THE PAfENT OFFICE. OTTAWA
`CCA-274 (l 1·82)
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 1
`
`
`Corporate Affairs Canada
`
`Consommation
`et Corporations Canada
`
`(11)
`
`(A) No. 1 205 024
`(45)
`ISSUED 860527
`
`(52) CLASS 190-64
`
`4
`(51) INT. CL. B65D 1/16
`
`(19) (CA) CANADIAN PATENT (12)
`
`{54} Container for Tobacco Products
`
`(72) Rosson, William M.,
`U.S.A.
`
`(73} Granted to Conwood Corporation
`U.S.A.
`
`(21) APPLICATION No.
`
`407,250
`
`(22) FILED
`
`820714
`
`No. OF CLAIMS
`
`5
`
`Canada
`
`DISTRIBUTED BY THE PAfENT OFFICE. OTTAWA
`CCA-274 (l 1·82)
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 1
`
`
`
`ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`An all-plastic, air-tight container assembly comprising
`
`an injection or compression molded body member and lid
`
`closure member useful for storing smokeless tobacco products.
`
`5 The body member projects upwardly from a closed end to form
`
`a narrowed neck portion around the exterior of which is
`
`provided a circumferential locking rib. The interior closed
`
`end surface of the lid is provided with a circumferentally
`
`extending reinforcing ridge and mini-rib buttresses annularly;
`
`lOspa'.ced around and projecting from the periphery of the rein(cid:173)
`
`forcing ridge toward a centrally located projecting button
`
`portion. At the upward rim edge of the reinforcing ridge a
`
`circumferential groove is provided traversing the inner
`
`surface of a skirt which projects downwardly from the closed
`
`15end of the lid member. The lid snaps into tight engagement
`
`with the open end neck portion of the body member, the
`
`circumferential groove in the lid matingly receiving the
`
`circumferential interlocking rib located on the exterior of
`
`the narrow neck portion of the body member near the rim
`
`20edge of the open end of the body member. This provides an
`
`improved sturdy securely locked, but easily separable, contniner
`
`functioning as a moisture and £lavor barrier to
`
`prevent the escape of moisture and aromatic flavor components'
`
`in the smokeless oral or nasal tobacco products,such as
`
`25chewing tobacco or snuff, which are stored in the container.
`
`The body and lid members are preferably fabricated from
`
`polypropylene by injection or compression molding and can
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 2
`
`
`
`maintain satisfactory moisture and flavor levels in the
`
`stored tobacco products for periods exceeding six months.
`
`,' •,
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 3
`
`
`
`1.205024
`
`-1-
`
`CONTAINER FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The
`
`invention relates to a molded polypropylene air(cid:173)
`
`tight container for moist, fine or rough cut oral or nasal
`
`5
`
`smokeless tobacco products. The container consists of a
`
`friction-fitting interlocked lid and cylindrical container
`
`body which conserves the moisture content and aroma of the
`
`tobacco product thus maintaining its freshness over rela(cid:173)
`
`tively long periodS' of storage and usage.
`
`10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Containers for storing smokeless tobacco products are
`
`known in the prior art, but are mainly fabricated of a
`
`cardboard body construction and a metal lid. The cardboard
`
`acts as a very inefficient barrier for preventing moisture
`
`15 and flavor loss from the tobacco product.
`
`Chewing tobaccos normally include a, flavoring
`
`cons ti-
`
`tuent which provides a strong pleasing flavorful taste ,·,hen
`
`the tobacco is chewed.
`
`In addition, such products are
`
`often provided with aromatic flavoring constituents.
`
`20 Chewing tobacco products stored in containers of the above
`
`type suffer in flavor and freshness from the loss, over
`
`relatively short periods of time, of the moisture and/or
`
`other volatile aromatic flavoring constituents in the tobacco
`
`product.
`
`25
`
`Such paper or cardboard container constructions are
`
`shm-m for example, in a U.S. patent to Parker, No. 225,LflLe
`
`and are normally dated so the consumer is aware of the age
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 4
`
`
`
`1.205024
`-2-
`
`of the tobacco product and, therefore, its freshness.
`
`Consumers will not purchase these tobacco products if the
`
`stamped date is over 3 or 4 weeks old because after such
`
`period, the product has dried out and has lost most of its
`
`5 moisture, ammonia and/or aroma and therefore its flavor.
`
`Moreover, such cardboard containers are easily crushed
`
`and will allow external moisture, especially in humid
`
`environments, to reach the product.
`
`Moreover, the prior art metal lids are not tight
`
`10 fitting on the container body and will sometimes separate
`
`from the body if the container is accidentally dropped.
`
`Air-tight metal containers are known to the prior art and
`
`such containers are shown in a U.S. patent to Be-rnhardt et al
`
`No. 3,265,238. However, such containers require the use of
`
`15 a prying tool to separate the lid from the container body
`
`and therefore present problems to the user of the container
`
`contents.
`
`Various containers, which are fabricated from plastic
`
`materials and are provided with friction-fitting lids which
`
`20 fit over and mate with an indented neck portion of the
`
`container body are known. Specifically, such container
`
`constructions are shown in a number of U.S. patents, e.go
`
`Irvan No. 2,606,708, Seidler No. 3,133,662 and Fish Noo
`
`3,355,056. However, such plastic container constructions
`
`25 have not been specifically taught for storing smokeless
`
`tobacco products particularly to provide the advantages in
`
`moisture, flavor and aroma retention to the extent desired
`
`for the moist cut oral or nasal tobacco products, described
`
`above, which are necessarily stored or used over relatively
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 5
`
`
`
`1.205024
`-3-
`
`long periods.
`
`Because of problems, such as those described above,
`
`the prior art container constructions have not proved to be
`
`satisfactory for maintaining moisture content and flavor
`
`5 of chewing tobacco and snuff products, especially over long
`
`time storage and use- periods.
`
`OBJECTS AND SUt1J::IARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`With the above background in mind, an object of the
`
`invention is to provide an improved all-plastic container
`
`10 for storing moist fine cut oral or nasal smokeless tobacco
`
`products while maintaining its moisture content and enhanced
`
`flavor and aroma over relatively long periods.
`
`Another object is to provide a container body and
`
`locking lid combination assembly which can be easily and
`
`15 quickly opened and closed without requiring the use of any
`
`special prying tools.
`
`Still another object is to provide a relatively rigid,
`
`easily fabricated container structure which is not easily
`
`crushable and is impervious to the loss of moisture, ammonia
`
`20 and flavor constituents
`
`contained in the stored smokeless
`
`tobacco product.
`
`Another object is to provide a sturdy container con(cid:173)
`
`struction having a tight fitting lid which will not separate
`
`if the container is accidentally dropped but can be quickly
`
`25 separated from the ~ontainer body to open the container wh~n
`
`necessary and desirable.
`
`Another object is to provide a container of long life
`
`construction which will be useful for general storage
`
`purposes after the tobacco product stored therein has been
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 6
`
`
`
`:1205024
`
`completely used by the consumer.
`
`Still another object is to provide for a container of
`
`inexpensively and easily molded polypropylene.
`
`Another object is to provide a container structure for
`
`5 storing moist fine cut oral and nasal tobacco products
`
`which will maintain constant product moisture levels and
`
`enhanced flavor and aroma for at least six months.
`
`The invention herein, therefore, is directed to an
`
`easily fabricated, as by molding all-plastic container body
`
`10 and lid, which easily, quickly and securely snaps tigh~ in
`
`interlocked relationship to provide an air-tight moisture
`
`and aromatic flavor constituent escape barrier for storing
`
`moist fine cut smokeless tobacco products, such as chewing
`
`tobacco or snuff. The container assembly includes a shaped
`
`15 cylindrical plastic body member having a closed end surface
`
`and an open end oppositely spaced therefrom, the interior
`
`surface of said closed end having an inwardly spaced raised
`
`relatively large circular area and a relatively small
`
`elevated button upwardly projecting from a central portion
`
`20 of s~id raised circular area, the extarior surface of said
`
`closed end having an inwardly spaced circular depressed area
`
`congruently corresponding in outline to the said circular
`
`raised area on said interior end surface and a circular
`
`depressed groove centrally located on said circular
`
`25 depressed area and congruently corresponding in outline to
`
`said elevated button, the exterior peripheral surface·of
`
`said container body extending upwardly to form a narrow neck
`
`portion at said opposite open end of said body, the exterior
`
`surface of said neck portion being circumferentially
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 7
`
`
`
`1.205024
`
`-5-
`
`traversed by an outwardly projecting interlocking rib,
`
`located close to the rim of said open end portion, said
`
`container further including a plastic lid member, tho outer
`
`periphery of the interior closed end surface of which is
`
`5 provided with an upwardly projecting circumferential
`
`ridge reinforcing portion and a plurality of mini-rib
`
`buttresses spaced around the annular periphe'!,"Y of said ridge
`
`and extending therefrom toward a~ elevated button centrally
`
`located on said interior closed end surface of said lid
`
`10 member, an annular skirt projecting downwardly from said
`
`exterior closed end surface and having a circumferential
`
`groove extending around the interior peripheral surface of
`
`said annular skirt adjacent the upper rim edge of said skirt
`
`adapted to snap fit over the open end of said narrow neck
`
`15 portion of the container body, said circumferential groove
`
`of. said lid matingly tightly receiving the said circumfer(cid:173)
`
`ential locking rib located on the exterior surface of said
`
`neck portion of said body member to provide a secure easily
`
`separable closure for the open end of said body member"
`
`20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For accomplishing the above purposes and others which
`
`will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the
`
`description below of the invention herein, taken in
`
`conjunction with the following figures of the drawing will
`
`25 be found to be useful, wherein:
`
`Fig. 1
`
`is a view in perspective of the novel molded
`
`plastic container of the invention;
`
`Fig. 2
`
`is a view in side elevation of the container
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 8
`
`
`
`1.205024
`-6-
`
`body;
`
`Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inside surface of the
`
`container lid;
`
`Fig. 3A is a partial sectional view of the lid;
`
`5
`
`Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inside surface of the
`
`container body; and
`
`Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the outside surface of
`
`the container body.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
`10 INVENTION
`
`Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to
`
`Fig. 1, an all-plastic container for storing moist fine
`
`cut smokeless tobacco products is shown. The container
`
`comprises a cylindrical molded polypropylene container body
`
`15 10 and an air-tight interlocked molded polypropylene lid 12.
`
`The container body 10 has a smooth interior wall 13, is
`
`closed at its bottom end 15 and abruptly narrows to a neck
`
`construction 20 (more clearly shown in Figs 2 and 4) at the
`
`top open end of the body thereby forming a shoulder 21. A
`
`20 friction fitting dish shaped lid 12, provided with a
`
`centrally located circular depression 30 and an annular
`
`skirt 34, snaps into interlocking-air-tight contact with the
`
`neck 20 of the container body so that the bottom edge of the
`
`lid skirt 34 lies above the shoulder 21.
`
`25
`
`A side elevational view of the container body is shown
`
`in Fig. 2, in which can be seen a circumferential inter(cid:173)
`
`locking rib or ring 16 (also shown in Fig 4) provided near
`
`the top edge of the reduced neck portion 20 and which mates,
`
`in a snap tight fit with a circumferential groove 17 (see
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 9
`
`
`
`-7-
`
`Figs 3 and 3A) located around the interior surface of the
`
`annular skirt 34 of the container lid 12.
`
`Fig 3, an interior plan view of the container lid 12,
`
`illustrates annularly spaced mini-rib buttresses 14,. which
`
`5 are triangular in elevation, reinforcing the lid structure
`
`and which individually project toward a centrally located
`
`raised button 24 froQ a circumferential ridge reinforcement
`
`element 32 near the outer circumference of the interior
`
`lid surface. A gap 33 between the ridge 32 and the skirt 34
`
`10 serves to receive the upper end of the neck 20 when the lid
`
`12 is snapped into place to close the container.
`
`An interior view of the container body is shown in
`
`Fig. 4 in which a raised area 18 inwardly spaced from the
`
`smooth internal wall 13 can be clearly seen. Centrally
`15 located on the raised area 18 is an upwardly projecting
`
`button 22 (also shown in Fig 2 in dotted-line represen(cid:173)
`
`tation).
`
`Fig. 5 illustrates an external plan view of the bottom
`
`closed end surface of the container body wherein an upwardly
`
`20 spaced depressed portion 26 is shown, which congruently
`
`corresponds in outline with the raised portion 18, described
`
`above on the inside end face of the container body. A
`
`circular depression 28 is centrally located on exterior
`
`depressed area 26 and corresponds in congruent outline with
`
`25 the raised button 22 (shown in Fig. 4).
`
`The dmmward projection of the annular skirt 34 of
`
`the container lid, so that the rim of the neck 20 of the con(cid:173)
`
`tainer body 10 fits between the interior of the annular
`
`skirt 34 and the ridge element 32 of the lid in snap-tight
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 10
`
`
`
`1205024
`
`-8-
`
`interlocked relationship, serves to maintain constant the
`
`moisture content level and flavorful aromatic constituents
`
`in the stored tobacco product.
`
`The plastic container body and lid,preferably made of
`
`polypropylene, may be easily and inexpensively fabricated
`
`in an injection or compression molding apparatus. However,
`
`other well known moldable plastic materials may be used for
`
`this purpose,as for example, polyethylene or polystyrene.
`
`The improved all-plastic container construction of the
`
`invention has been found to maintain constant product
`
`moisture levels for stored fine cut oral tobacco products
`
`for time periods exceeding six months and also signifi(cid:173)
`
`cantly increases
`
`the longevity and constancy of the flavor
`
`due to re-tention of the ammonia constituent concentration
`
`in the tobacco product.
`
`The container, preferably fabricated from polypropy(cid:173)
`
`lene as noted above, consists of a plastic body measuring
`
`about 60 mm. in inside diameter and about 21 mm in height
`
`and a corresponding suitably dimensioned friction fitting
`
`polypropylene lid.
`
`Currently such moist fine cut oral tobacco products
`
`are commonly packaged in containers of similar dimensions;
`
`however, as noted above, the body is of cardboard con~
`
`struction and the lid is metalo The cardboard acts as a
`
`very inefficient barrier to loss of moisture, flavor, and
`
`ammonia.
`
`Currently each cardboard container is dated so the
`
`consumer is aware of the age of the product and, therefore,
`
`its freshness. Consumers will not purchase these products
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 11
`
`
`
`1205024
`
`-9-
`
`if the date is over 3 or 4 weeks old. After this period,
`
`the product has dried out and has lost much of its flavor
`
`and ammonia.
`
`The present container construction constitutes a
`
`5
`
`significant improvement when compared with such currently
`
`used containers for fine cut tobacco products. Some
`
`advantages of the container of the invention include: 1)
`
`rigidity (current cardboard packages are easily crushed),
`
`2) imperviousness to water (current packages will come
`
`10
`
`apart and allow moisture to reach the product if it is
`
`subjected to external moisture), and 3) a tighter fitting
`
`lid (current package lids are more likely to come off if
`
`dropped) and 4) usefulness after the package is empty. The
`
`container of the invention is sturdy enough to be useful
`
`15 as a storage container for small items. The cardboard
`
`package, although potentially useful in the same manner,
`
`is much more fragile and not as secure.
`
`Moreover, to some macro minded chewing tobacco con(cid:173)
`
`sumers the round plastic container protruding from the hip
`
`20 pocket of the faded jeans could represent a badge of
`
`courage. The protruding circular contour of the container
`
`could offer instant visual evidence, from one aficionado
`
`to another, of a tough minded kindred spirit and could
`
`thus prove to be highly popular with this segment of the
`
`25 · chewing tobacco consuming public.
`
`All of the forgoing as well as many other highly im(cid:173)
`
`portant and practical advantages attend the practice of
`
`this invention.
`
`It is apparent from the foregoing that once the broad
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 12
`
`
`
`1.205024
`-10-
`
`aspects of the invention are disclosed, many embodiments
`
`thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the ar~
`
`as well as modifications of the embodiments herein dis(cid:173)
`
`closed. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing
`
`5 disclosure be considered as purely illustrative and not
`
`in a limiting sense.
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 13
`
`
`
`:1205024
`
`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
`
`1. An air-tight, all plastic container adapted to store a
`
`moist fine cut oral or nasal tobacco product and to provide
`
`an impervious barrier preventing the escape of moisture,
`
`ammonia and other aromatic flavor enhancing components from
`
`said tobacco product, said container comprising a shaped
`
`cylindrical plastic body member having a closed end surface
`
`and an open end oppositely spaced therefrom, the interior
`
`surface of said closed end having an inwardly spaced raised
`
`relatively large circular area and a relatively small elevated
`
`button upwardly projecting from a central portion of said
`
`raised circular area, the exterior surface of said closed end
`
`having an inwardly spaced circular depressed area congruently
`
`corresponding in outline to the said circular raised area on
`
`said interior end surface and a circular depressed groove
`
`centrally located on said circular depressed area end
`
`congruently corresponding in outline to said elevated button,
`
`the exterior peripheral surface of said container body extend(cid:173)
`
`ing upwardly to form a narrow neck portion at said opposite
`
`open end of said body, the exterior surface of said neck
`
`portion being circumferentially traversed by an outwardly
`
`projecting interlocking rib, located close to the rim of said
`
`open end portion, said container further including a plastic
`
`lid member, the outer periphery of the interior closed end
`
`surface of which is provided with an upwardly projecting cir(cid:173)
`
`cumferential ridge reinforcing portion and a plurality of
`
`mini-rib buttresses spaced around the annular periphery of said
`
`ridge and extending therefrom toward an elevated button
`
`\\
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 14
`
`
`
`:1205024
`
`centrally located on said interior closed end surface of
`
`said lid member, an annular skirt projecting downwardly from
`
`said exterior clo_sed end surface and having a circumferential
`
`groove extending around the interior peripheral surface of
`
`said annular skirt adjacent the upper rim edge of said
`
`circumferential reinforcing ridge, the interior surface of
`
`said skirt being adapted to snap fit over the open end of said
`
`narrow neck portion of the container body, said circumferen(cid:173)
`
`tial groove of said lid matingly tightly receiving the said
`
`circumferential,locking rib located on the exterior surface
`
`of said neck portion of said body member to provide a secure
`
`easily separable closure for the open end of said body member.
`
`2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body member
`
`and said lid member are fabricated of a plastic selected from
`
`the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and
`
`polystyrene.
`
`3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body member
`
`and said lid member are fabricated from polypropylene.
`
`4. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 which
`
`is injection molded.
`
`5. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 which
`
`is compression molded.
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 15
`
`
`
`34
`
`21
`
`:
`:
`
`FIG.
`
`('6
`
`((20
`
`I )
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I I
`
`' I I II
`I
`
`."
`1, '--2/
`
`I
`
`I
`
`1
`
`t
`
`~----✓ -13
`10--i-;----11
`
`-
`-
`-
`-
`-
`, -
`__ __ , , , - - - - - - - - ' I
`
`,
`,-1--:::-_-1--~ 1--,
`
`- _.,..-:::1-
`I.
`/
`22 ✓
`
`FA.
`
`fFIG.3
`
`14
`
`12
`
`15
`
`26
`
`_(28
`(()
`
`15
`
`------34
`
`32
`
`FIG.3A
`
`10
`
`21
`
`FIG.4
`
`20
`
`FIG.5
`
`RJRV EX 1011
`Page 16
`
`
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