초록 ▼

A generally cylindrical container comprised of three parts including a top shell, a bottom shell, and a rotatable ring. The top and bottom shells are affixed to each other and hold the ring captive in a race formed by the outer sidewalls and annular retaining edges of the top and bottom shell. A dis

A generally cylindrical container comprised of three parts including a top shell, a bottom shell, and a rotatable ring. The top and bottom shells are affixed to each other and hold the ring captive in a race formed by the outer sidewalls and annular retaining edges of the top and bottom shell. A discharge opening in the ring can be aligned with one or more openings in the sidewalls to allow passage of objects in or out of the container. The ring opening can similarly be aligned away from the sidewall opening(s) to prevent the passage of objects. The container disclosed herein represents a significant advance over known hand-operated containers because, among other things, it is simpler to manufacture, provides more reliable operation, and offers reduced friction against stored objects.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A hand-operated container having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising: a top shell including a substantially circular top and a substantially cylindrical upper outer sidewall extending down from the top, the top overhanging the upper outer sidewall to form an upper annul

What is claimed is: 1. A hand-operated container having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising: a top shell including a substantially circular top and a substantially cylindrical upper outer sidewall extending down from the top, the top overhanging the upper outer sidewall to form an upper annular retaining edge extending away from the upper outer sidewall; a bottom shell including a substantially circular bottom and a substantially cylindrical lower outer sidewall extending up from the bottom, the bottom underhanging the lower outer sidewall to form a lower annular retaining edge extending away from the lower outer sidewall; wherein the top shell and the bottom shell are mated to form an enclosure, a sidewall discharge opening, and a race when the top and bottom shells are place in an assembled relation, the enclosure being defined by the top, the bottom and the upper and lower outer sidewalls and the race being defined by the upper annular retaining edge, the lower annular retaining edge, and the exterior surfaces of the upper and lower outer sidewalls; and a ring having a ring discharge opening and being fitted to the race for rotating in the race, the ring permitting access to the enclosure when the ring is rotated to align the ring discharge opening with the sidewall discharge opening. 2. The hand-operated container of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of interior walls extending between the top and bottom for forming a plurality of compartments within the enclosure. 3. The hand-operated container of claim 2, wherein the interior walls extend radially from the center of the container. 4. The hand-operated container of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sidewall discharge openings, each of the sidewall discharge openings corresponding to one of the compartments. 5. The hand-operated container of claim 1, further comprising: a center column upwardly extending from the bottom; a bore formed in the center column; and a center pin downwardly extending from the top, the center pin frictionally engaging the bore to fasten the top and bottom shells together when the top and bottom shells are placed in the assembled relation. 6. The hand-operated container of claim 1, further comprising: a detent mechanism formed on the exterior surface of at least one the outer sidewalls and the interior surface of the ring. 7. The hand-operated container of claim 1, wherein the ring includes finger grips. 8. The hand-operated container of claim 1, wherein the ring includes a plurality of discharge openings. 9. The hand-operated container of claim 1, further comprising: alignment members extending from the top shell or bottom shell. 10. The hand-operated container of claim 1, further comprising: a magnet attached to the top shell or bottom shell. 11. The hand-operated container of claim 1, in combination with a plurality of dispensable items placed in the enclosure. 12. The hand-operated container of claim 1, wherein the ring has a groove formed on its interior surface for reducing friction between the outer sidewalls and the ring. 13. A hand-operated container having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising: a top shell including a substantially circular top and a substantially cylindrical upper outer sidewall extending down from the top, the top overhanging the upper outer sidewall to form an upper retaining edge extending away from the upper outer sidewall; a bottom shell including a substantially circular bottom and a substantially cylindrical lower outer sidewall extending up from the bottom, the bottom underhanging the lower outer sidewall to form a lower retaining edge extending away from the lower outer sidewall; wherein the top shell and the bottom shell are mated to form an enclosure, a sidewall discharge opening, and a race when the top and bottom shells are place in an assembled relation, the enclosure being defined by the top, the bottom and the upper and lower outer sidewalls and the race being defined by the upper retaining edge, the lower retaining edge, and the exterior surfaces of the upper and lower outer sidewall; and a ring having a ring discharge opening and being fitted to the race for rotating in the race, the ring permitting access to the enclosure when the ring is rotated to align the ring discharge opening with the sidewall discharge opening. 14. The hand-operated container of claim 13, further comprising a magnet attached to the top shell or the bottom shell. 15. The hand-operated container of claim 13, in combination with a plurality of dispensable items placed in the enclosure. 16. A hand-operated container having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising: a top shell including a substantially circular top and a substantially cylindrical upper outer sidewall extending down from the top and a plurality of interior walls extending radially from the center of the top to the upper outer sidewall, the upper outer sidewall having a plurality of half discharge openings formed therein, the top overhanging the upper outer sidewall to form an upper annular retaining edge extending away from the upper outer sidewall; a bottom shell including a substantially circular bottom and a substantially cylindrical lower outer sidewall extending up from the bottom and a plurality of interior walls extending radially from the center of the top to the upper outer sidewall, the lower outer sidewall having a plurality of half discharge openings formed therein, the bottom underhanging the lower outer sidewall to form a lower annular retaining edge extending away from the lower outer sidewall; at least one alignment member formed on the top shell or bottom shell; wherein the top shell and the bottom shell are mated to form a plurality of compartments, a corresponding plurality of sidewall discharge openings and a race when the top and bottom shells are place in an assembled relation, the compartments being defined by the top, the bottom, the interior walls and the upper and lower outer sidewalls and the race being defined by the upper annular retaining edge, the lower annular retaining edge, and the exterior surfaces of the upper and lower outer sidewalls; and a ring having a ring discharge opening and being fitted to the race for rotating in the race, the ring permitting access to each of the compartments when the ring is rotated to align the ring discharge opening with a corresponding one of the sidewall discharge openings. 17. The hand-operated container of claim 16, further comprising: a center column upwardly extending from the bottom; a bore formed in the center column; and a center pin downwardly extending from the top, the center pin frictionally engaging the bore to fasten the top and bottom shells together when the top and bottom shells are placed in the assembled relation. 18. The hand-operated container of claim 16, further comprising a magnet attached to the top shell or the bottom shell. 19. The hand-operated container of claim 18, wherein the magnet is a sheet of magnetic material. 20. The hand-operated container of claim 16, in combination with a plurality of dispensable items placed in at least one of the compartments. 21. The hand-operated container of claim 16, further comprising indicia on the top corresponding to each of the compartments. 22. The hand-operated container of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of finger lugs formed on the outer surface of the top, the bottom or outer surfaces of both the top and bottom. 23. A method for manufacturing a hand-operated container, comprising: providing a top shell including a substantially circular top and a substantially cylindrical upper outer sidewall extending down from the top, the top overhanging the upper outer sidewall to form an upper annular retaining edge extending away from the upper outer sidewall; providing a bottom shell mated to the top shell, the bottom shell including a substantially circular bottom and a substantially cylindrical lower outer sidewall extending up from the bottom, the bottom underhanging the lower outer sidewall to form a lower annular retaining edge extending away from the lower outer sidewall; placing a rotatable ring around lower out sidewall, the ring having a ring discharge opening; and fastening together the top shell and the bottom shell in an assembled relation so that the ring is rotatable around both the lower and upper outer sidewalls, the assembled shells forming an enclosure, a sidewall discharge opening, and a race, the enclosure being defined by the top, the bottom and the upper and lower outer sidewalls and the race being defined by the upper annular retaining edge, the lower annular retaining edge, and the exterior surfaces of the upper and lower outer sidewalls, the ring permitting access to the enclosure when the ring is rotated in the race to align the ring discharge opening with the sidewall discharge opening.