Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container that includes a dispenser, and more particularly to a container having a detachable convenience dispenser for use in measuring and dispensing the contents of the container.
Background of the Invention
Man> industrial and commercial products such as liquid and powdered medications, food mixes, detergents, and pesticides, sold in bulk form, are dispensed from plastic containers in carefully measured portions. For the customer's convenience, some of these containers are sealed with relatively-large snap-on or screw-on caps specially designed to hold measured amounts of the product desired for each use. Examples of some of these types of containers may be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos: 4,706,829; 4,917,268 and 4,993,605, to name a few.
In some containers, as can be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,514,379, 1,768,771 2.738,900, 2.978,142. 4,844,263, 5,699,925, 5,706,974, and D416,438, the prior art is replete \\ilh various container constructions, including those that facilitate stacking or that house
utensils, such as scoops.
However, for dispensing liquids, such as medicine, containers are provided with a removable screw type cap covering the pouring aperture of the bottle for retaining fluid within the bottle. When dispensing the fluid, it is necessary to use a spoon or other device to dispense measured quantities of fluid from the bottle. Due to the assorted sizes and shapes of spoons, the amount of fluid dispensed often times is inaccurate, thus leading to under or over dosages. In other cases, a spoon or other measuring device is not readily available, as when a person is traveling; and when medicine is prescribed to be taken at regular periodic intervals, a burden is placed on the person to acquire some sort of measuring device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,640 to Resio discloses a medicine bottle with a combination plastic spoon and screw cap; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,265 to Soderberg discloses a spoon which can be snapped on and off the neck of a bottle. Each of these measuring dispensers, being appended to the side of its respective container, is vulnerable to damage in shipping and handling. Therefore, they are all typically packaged in an outer wrapping, or box, making it tedious and expensive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,716 to Meany, on the other hand, discloses a spoon stored within the container and thus protected from damage. Unfortunately, the handle of the spoon, is immersed in the container's contents. While satisfactory for their intended purposes, the above-described container and measuring cup combinations lack the convenience and practicability desired by consumers for certain products sold in bulk form. This process often is messy, soiling the user's hands and perhaps clothing or countertop. In addition, it is unsanitary, in that the user's hand contacts, and perhaps contaminates, the material to be consumed.
In most of the liquid dosage forms, it has been suggested to attach the measuring cup to a portion of a top end closure of the container so that when the top end closure of the container is removed for opening of the container, the measuring cup will be readily available to the consumer. However, this type of measuring cups often soils the entire closure of the container, thus making it difficult to get on with, especially while travelling. Being an additional attachment to the container, it is often possible to be misplaced, especially by the elderly patients.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved container and dispensing/measuring cup combinalion, which is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes or ameliorates the foregoing difficulties in others while providing better and more advantageous alternative. Further the invention provides a meaningful dispensing means not only to the liquid dosage forms, but also for solid dosage forms, like dispersible tablets.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel container and detachable dispensing cup combination which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by causing the container and the cup to be molded integral with one another and detachable into separate components for enabling the contents for the container to be conveniently measured and dispensed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an integrally formed container having a snap-fitted dispensing cup protected against damage during shipping by being located within a smooth profile of the container body.
Still another object is to provide a unique container and tucked-in dispensing cup combination which prevents the soiling of the closure of the container and reminds the patients to place it back to the container.

A still further object is to provide a container and a dispensing cup combination which can be readily mass produced by state-of-the-art molding processes, and which can be transported, stored and displayed in close proximity with like containers but with minimal potential for
breakage.
The object of the invention is achieved by providing a container having a detachable measuring and dispensing cup integrally molded within a provision formed in the main body portion of the container. More specifically, the dispensing cup is detachably attached at the bottom of the container which is adapted to be removed during dispensing the contents.
According to general aspect of the invention, there is provided a container and detachable dispensing cup comprising:
a. a container having an opening, a body, and a means in the body for accommodating
suitable dispensing cup;
b. a removable closure applicable to said opening; and
c. a detachable dispensing cup tucked-in to said means of body of the container.
linibodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. For example, while detaching dispensing cup it is meant to slide in the horizontal pathway, entering from one end of the container to other end. For ensuring smooth sliding of the dispensing cup, railings like guiding ridges may be given in the container and the dispensing cup. These ridges provide a locking to the movement of the cup beyond the containers diameter. Further it ensures that the dispensing cup does not dismantle from the container while packing operations, transportation and while storage.
The outer side of the closure may optionally include a wall and a hingedly connected flip-top cap that define a compartment. This compartment is utilized to store the remaining portion of the tablet in cases where the dosage regimen directs the use of half of the tablet. This is a very useful feature in such cases as the half portion when returned back to the container is difficult to procure without removing the entire contents of the container. Moreover, the half portion is more likely to lose some of its contents when mixed with the remaining tablets. The inner side of the closure may optionally include a provision to accommodate a sieve compartment comprising at least one desiccant material to ensure substantially moisture-free environment. 1 he desiccant may be one or more of montmorillonite clay, silica gel, molecular sieve, calcium oxide, calcium sulphate and calcium chloride.

The container, dispensing cup and closure may be made of one or more of thermoplastic resins and may be opaque, colored, transparent or translucent. The container, dispensing cup and closure may be manufactured either by injection molding or blow molding or injection blow molding. The container may have a differential wall thickness across the cross-section.
The container may further include tamper-evident packaging. The tamper-evident packaging may be heat shrink wrappers and film wrappers.
In another general aspect there is provided a combination container and detachable dispensing cup normally protected from damage during shipment and handling, but can be readily detached
by the consumer.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a better understanding of these and other objects and advantages of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the design of the present invention,
shown with its dispensing cup attached;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container and dispensing cup, in the detached position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view ol'the dispensing cup; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container having a closure with a flip-top cap in an
opened position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a closure with a flip-top cap in an opened position.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The inventors have generally developed a combination container and detachable dispensing cup that requires dispensing and measuring the containing materials. The container includes a container with a means for accommodating suitable dispensing cup, a closure and a dispensing cup tucked-in to the said means of the container. The dispensing cup can be detached from said container during usage. The container may be a bottle, cylinder, or other article that functions to hold, for example, pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Referring to Fig, 1-4, and in particular to Fig. 1, an embodiment of the new and improved container generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. The container 10 may be of any shaped having an opening at the top, which is closed with a removable closure 20, The removable closure 20 may be of threading type or snap-fitting type. A dispensing or measuring cup 30 is placed at the bottom of the container 10. As illustrated in the Fig. 2, the dispensing cup 30 is detached from the body of the container 10. The railings like guiding ridges 12 present in the container and similar ridges 32 present in the dispensing cup ensures smooth sliding of the cup into the hollow interior 11 of the container and also provide locking to the movement of the cup beyond the containers diameter. The measuring cup 30 slide in the horizontal pathway, entering from one end of the container to other end. The ridges 32 and 12 are complementary to each other during operation and also ensure that the dispensing cup does not dismantle from the container while packing operations, transportation and while in use.
The dispensing cup 30 as shown in Fig. 3 includes a base 33, sidewalls 34 and 35 extending upwardly from the base to form a dispensing means. The dispensing cup 30 further has a gripping means 31, which enables to maneuver the dispensing cup in effective manner. To assist in the precise measurement, one or more indicia scales are impressed on the inside or outside of the dispensing cup 30. The scales may be graduated in tablespoons or teaspoons and fractions thereof. Of course, the specific graduation of the scales will depend on the nature of the material being dispensed, and for example, can also be in ounces and fractions thereof, etc.
Referring to Fig. 4 and 5, the embodiment of the container 10 includes a two-part closure and a dispensing cup. The closure 20 includes two-parts, 21 and 22, which are hingedly joined by a hinge 23, The side walls 24 of closure part 21 and side walls of 25 of closure part 22 forms a compartment 26. to store any remaining portion of the tablets 29. For example, tablets which are needed to be taken in a portion can be stored in this special area, instead of placing back in the container. This prevents in unsanitary handling by the user. The upper portion of the closure 22 is a snap-fit type and gets fitted on to the circumferential lip(s) 27 of wall, of the lower portion of the closure 21. The upper portion of the closure further includes an extended portion 28 which acts as a lever in opening the lid. Besides functioning as normal removable closure as shown in Fig. 1. the two-part closure as seen in Fig. 4, additionally have a flip-top cap on its closure to provide extra storage facility,
In one of the embodiment of the removable closure or cap 20 has an additional build in compartment for housing a desiccant on its inner side. The details of the arrangement are described in our co-pending Indian Patent Application No. 701/DEL/2006, which is

incorporated here in entirety. The desiccant material accommodated inside the closure, provides substantially moisture-free environment.
I he embodiments of the present invention provide a combination container and detachable dispensing cup. which is integral with the container main body that reminds the user to place the dispensing cup back to the container. This is particularly advantageous for geriatrics persons, who are prone to absentmindedness. It is also considered that since the dispensing cup is placed at the bottom of the container, it prevents soiling the closure after dispensing the contents especially during (ravel.
The container body is constructed from a substantially moisture / gas impermeable, thermoplastic material. While it is contemplated that any polyolefin may be utilized, high density Polyethylene & polypropylene is particularly useful for the construction of the container and cap respectively. Polypropylene is desirable because of its durability, rigidity, flexural resistance and impact resistance after being molded into the form of a container. Particularly, the container and cap are manufactured either by injection molding or blow molding or injection blow molding with suitable combination of polyolefins and elastomers. Suitable polyolefins include one or more of polyethylene and polypropylene & its co-polymers. Suitable elastomers include one or more of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polyurethanes and copolymers, such as poly (styrene-butadiene styrene), ethylene methacrylate copolymer and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. The container, dispensing cup and closure may be opaque, colored, transparent or translucent.
Suitable desiccant materials include one or more of montmorillonite clay, silica gel, molecular sieve, calcium oxide, calcium sulphate and calcium chloride. The desiccant should be a material which does not normally give off fumes or readily forms fine powders either inherently or as a
result of absorbing water.
The sieve on the desiccant compartment may be constructed using any thermoplastic. Particularly, it can be prepared from high density polyethylene (HOPE). HOPE is a high density version of polyethylene. It is harder, stronger and has better chemical resistance than low
density polyethylene.
Hie container and cap may be manufactured either by, for example, the process of injection molding or blow molding or injection blow molding. In this process, plastic parts are molded by using heat and pressure during the molding process of a molten polymer into a desired mold.

The package is designed with a differential wall thickness across the cross-section of the container body which enables it to achieve the requisite air-tightness while keeping the pack easy to open.
li is a desirable option to design the package to be a secure package. For example, a secure pack is one that has an indicator or barrier to entry, which, if breached or missing can reasonably be expected to provide visible evidence to the consumer that tampering has occurred. While nonetheless desirable, this type of packaging is an option and the inventions described herein can be applied to products that do not have a tamper-evident packaging.
lumper-evident packaging can be provided using heat shrink wrappers, film wrappers, sealed tubes, etc. Shrink sleeving is the most widely used due to its ease of use. It involves simply placing the shrink sleeve over the component and applying heat. The sleeve shrinks and encapsulates the component. It also provides good insulation, chemical resistance, toughness and excellent eolourability. The shrink sleeves may be prepared from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene or polyester.
in yet another embodiment, a child-resistant feature may be incorporated into the package.
These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.

WE CLAIM:
1. A container and detachable dispensing cup comprising:
a. a container having an opening, a body, and a means in the body for
accommodating suitable dispensing cup;
b. a removable closure applicable to said opening; and
c. a detachable dispensing cup tucked-in to said means of body of the container.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the removable closure optionally comprises
a wall and a hingedly connected flip-top cap to form a compartment.
3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the removable closure optionally comprises
a provision in the inner side to accommodate a sieve compartment comprising at least
one desiccant material.
4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the body of the container comprise a hollow
means to accommodate the detachable dispensing cup.
5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing cup slides in the horizontal
pathway entering from one end of the container to other end when detaching from the
body of the container.
6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing cup slides through the
complementary ridges present in the container and dispensing cup.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing cup further comprises a
gripping means tor maneuvering the dispensing cup in effective manner.
8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing cup further comprises one or
more indicia scales for precise measurement of the contents of the container.
<•). The container according to the preceding claims comprising tamper-evident packaging.
10. A container and detachable dispensing cup substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.