U.S. patent application number 09/884301 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-19 for carton with extension for holding a utensil.
Invention is credited to Culeron, Guy Hubert Stephane, Francis Marcel Edgard Koob, Thomas Philippe, Hofte, Paulus Antonius Augustinus, Ormeggi, Alain.
Application Number | 20020190112 09/884301 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25384346 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020190112 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Culeron, Guy Hubert Stephane ;
et al. |
December 19, 2002 |
Carton with extension for holding a utensil
Abstract
A container for granular, particulate or a collection of
individual materials having an extension for receiving a utensil is
disclosed. More particularly containers having at least one
extension that has a hole in the extension so that a utensil can be
hooked into the extension and packaged along with said materials is
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Culeron, Guy Hubert Stephane;
(Braine L'Alleud, BE) ; Hofte, Paulus Antonius
Augustinus; (Sint Martens Latem, BE) ; Francis Marcel
Edgard Koob, Thomas Philippe; (Tournai, BE) ;
Ormeggi, Alain; (Strombeek-Bever, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION
WINTON HILL TECHNICAL CENTER - BOX 161
6110 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Family ID: |
25384346 |
Appl. No.: |
09/884301 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/145 ;
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/245 20130101;
B65D 5/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/145 ;
206/216 |
International
Class: |
B65D 077/30; B65D
005/42 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package, comprising: a) a container formed from a base and at
least four side panels connected to said base to form a cavity,
said cavity having an opening, and each of said side panels having
an upper and a lower edge; b) a lid for closing said opening;
wherein at least one of said side panels has an extension affixed
to said side panel, said extension having an aperture disposed
within said extension.
2. A package, comprising: a) a container formed from a base and at
least four side panels connected to said base to form a cavity,
said cavity having an opening, and each of said side panels having
an upper and a lower edge; b) a lid for closing said opening; and
c) a liner disposed within said container cavity, said liner having
at least one panel, each panel having an upper and lower edge,
wherein at least one panel has an extension affixed to said panel,
said extension having an aperture disposed within said
extension.
3. A package according to claim 1 further comprising a utensil
having a handle capable of being inserted through the aperture of
said extension.
4. A package according to claim 2 further comprising a utensil
having a handle capable of being inserted through the aperture of
said extension.
5. A package, comprising: a) a container formed from a base and at
least four side panels connected to said base to form a cavity,
said cavity having an opening, and each of said side panels having
an upper and a lower edge; b) a lid for closing said opening;
wherein at least one of said side panels has an extension affixed
to said side panel, said extension having an aperture disposed
within said extension, further comprising a utensil affixed to said
extension.
6. A package, comprising: a) a container formed from a base and at
least four side panels connected to said base to form a cavity,
said cavity having an opening, and each of said side panels having
an upper and a lower edge; b) a lid for closing said opening;
wherein at least one of said side panels has an extension affixed
to said side panel, said extension having an aperture disposed
within said extension, further comprising a utensil affixed to said
extension and wherein said cavity contains detergent.
7. A package, according to claim 2 further comprising a utensil
affixed to said extension.
8. A package, according to claim 2 wherein said cavity contains a
detergent composition.
9. A package, according to claim 1 wherein said lid is affixed to
said upper edge of at least one side panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to containers for granular or
particulate materials and in particular powdered household cleaning
products or various other collections of individual materials. More
particularly, the present invention relates to containers having at
least one extension having an aperture such that a utensil can be
affixed to the extension and packaged along with said
materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Utensils for volumetric measuring of granular products,
which are included in retail packages for user convenience, are
well known. One such utensil is a scoop. Such scoops are found
particularly with granular detergent and coffee products where
volumetric measuring is beneficial to obtaining reproducible
results. Measuring scoops are typically manufactured of molded of
plastic and have a measuring portion connected to a handle. The
measuring portion typically has a cylindrical or rectangular body
forming an open cavity of the same shape.
[0003] Customer satisfaction with the scoop is strongly dependent
on scoop accessibility. The ideal case is for the consumer to find
the scoop on top of the product when the carton is initially
opened. However, as is often the case, the scoop sinks into the
product during pre-purchase handling, resulting in consumer
dissatisfaction over the scoop's accessibility.
[0004] Current solutions to the aforementioned problem follow two
distinct routes. In the first, the container is filled with
granular product followed by placement of a small scoop on top of
the product before the container lid is installed. In the second
route, the container is inverted with the top down. The scoop is
placed in the container followed by filling with a granular product
around it. When the container is re-inverted, the scoop is at the
top end of the container where the lid is subsequently opened by
the consumer. The second route is preferable where the scoop is
large relative to the size of the container or where the container
does not have sufficient headspace to accommodate dropping a scoop
on top of the product.
[0005] However, the aforementioned solutions have distinct
disadvantages. In both cases the scoop generally sinks into the
product during transportation of the finished product due to
vibrations and the respective densities of the product versus the
scoop. Additionally, the top filling method necessarily requires
more headspace to allow room for the scoop, which generally limits
the size of the scoop.
[0006] Several attempts have been made in the art to provide an
accessible utensil, yet none has been satisfactory. In many cases
the sophisticated equipment necessary to place the utensil is
prohibitive. Utensils or scoops have been glued into packages.
However, this method leaves the consumer with no way to reattach
the scoop for storage once initially removed. Therefore, the
consumer places the scoop into the product where it is again
subject to sinking.
[0007] Accordingly, the need remains for a carton for packaging
granular materials that provides a dosing scoop which is readily
accessible to the consumer at all times. A need also remains for a
method of reattaching the scoop once initially separated from the
package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention meets the aforementioned needs by
providing a container for granular or powdered products as well as
for collections of small individual items to be packaged together
(i.e. candies, cereal, toys etc.). According to a first embodiment
of the present invention a container defining a cavity for storing
products, said cavity having an opening through which the product
can be removed during use is provided. The container includes a
lid, which may be affixed to the container. When the lid is affixed
it may be affixed by any known means, preferably by a hinge. The
lid covers said cavity opening when in a closed position. The
container further comprises front, back and side panels to form a
cavity with an opening. When the lid is affixed to the container it
may preferably be affixed to an upper portion of the back panel.
The carton further comprises a bottom panel. At least one side
panel of said container has at least one extension for affixing
said utensil. In a preferred embodiment the extension is provided
with an aperture for affixing the utensil, measuring scoop or other
dosing device to the extension. This arrangement provides for an
accessible utensil (e.g., one that has not been buried in the
product of the package), which is easily located by a user of the
package upon first opening of the package. The extension can be
placed anywhere on the side panel so long as the placement provides
an accessible utensil.
[0009] According to an additional embodiment of the invention the
carton, as described above, further comprises a bottom panel and a
liner. The liner is formed from four side panels. At least one side
panel of said liner has at least one extension for affixing said
utensil. In a preferred embodiment the extension is provided with
an aperture for affixing the utensil, measuring scoop or other
dosing device to the extension. This arrangement provides for an
accessible utensil (e.g., one that has not been buried in the
product of the package), which is easily located by a user of the
package upon first opening of the package. The extension can be
placed anywhere on the side panel of the liner so long as the
placement provides an accessible utensil.
[0010] All percentages and proportions herein are by weight, and
all references cited are hereby incorporated by reference, unless
otherwise specifically indicated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
package according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2. is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
package according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3. is a plan view of a carton blank before
assembly.
[0014] FIG. 4. is a plan view of a carton liner before
assembly.
[0015] FIG. 5. is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the
package according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6. is a perspective view of a laundry detergent package
according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 7. is a perspective view of a laundry detergent package
and utensil according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying figures. As discussed more fully
hereafter, the present invention is directed to a carton for
containing granular, powdered or other contents, provided with a
utensil, which is affixed to the carton via extension of the carton
or the carton liner. It is understood that the words carton,
package and container are interchangeable within the context of
this disclosure. By utensil is meant any type of measuring device,
or tool that may be supplied in a container for the purpose of
dispensing the product contained therein. A particularly preferred
carton or package 10 made in accordance with the present invention
is illustrated in FIG. 1. The package 10 is illustrated as a
six-sided carton having a lid 12 formed from flaps 14, 16, 18, and
20 and interconnected with a container 22 formed from a base 24 and
side panels 26, 28, 30 and 32. The lid, base and side panels each
have inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surfaces are
disposed within the interior of the package 10 and the outer
surfaces are disposed about the exterior of the package. The side
panels 26, 28, 30 and 32 each having upper edges 31, and lower
edges 33. At least one side panel 26, 28, 30 or 32 is provided with
at least one extension 48. In a preferred embodiment an extension
48 is affixed to upper edge 31. Said extension 48 has an aperture
50 to which a utensil can be easily affixed. The size and shape of
aperture 50 is determined by the particular utensil intended to be
supplied in the package.
[0019] Another embodiment of package 10 made in accordance with the
present invention is illustrated by way of FIG. 2. The package 10
is as described above in FIG. 1 wherein the carton is additionally
provided with a liner 34, as shown more fully in FIG. 4. The
preferred liner 34 has side panels 36, 38, 40, and 42 each having
upper edges 44 and lower edges 46 (not visible in FIG. 2). The
liner may have only one side panel, or up to as many side panels as
the carton itself. The liner 34 also has at least one extension 48.
Preferably the extension 48 is affixed to the upper edge 44. Said
extension 48 has an aperture 50 wherein a utensil can be easily
affixed. The size and shape of aperture 50 is determined by the
particular utensil intended to be supplied in the package.
[0020] The package 10 is preferably used to store powdered or
granular products, examples of which might include laundry
detergents, foods, and the like. In addition, the package 10 can be
used to store any other products where it is desired to provide a
utensil. The terms "granular" and "powdered" are used
interchangeably herein and are intended to refer to any products
comprising solid or semi-solid particles. While the present
invention is described herein with reference to the exemplary
six-sided package of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that the
present invention can be adapted for use with other package
configurations and shapes. For example, the present invention can
be used with packages having one or more curved or curvilinear
panels and the like. Further, the present invention can be used
with bottom fill and side-fill cartons. While the package 10 is
illustrated in FIG. I with the lid 12 disposed at the top of the
carton, it is contemplated that the lid 12 can be placed at other
locations, multiple lids can be provided and other lid
configurations can be accommodated.
[0021] Additionally, it is contemplated that the extension 48 may
be placed in a corner of the package 10, or just below the upper
edges 31, 44, of any of said side panels 26, 28, 30, and 32 or
liner side panels 36, 38, 40, and 42 respectively. One such
embodiment is exemplified in FIG. 5.
[0022] The package 10 can be formed from the blank 60 illustrated
in FIG. 3. The blank 60, has a section corresponding to each of the
lid flaps 14, 16, 18 and 20 and each of the side panels 26, 28, 30
and 32, as shown. For purposes of discussion, it is the interior
surfaces of the flaps and panels of the blank 60, which are visible
in FIG. 3. The base 24 of the package 10 is preferably formed from
base flaps 62, 64, 66 and 68. The blank 60 also includes a glue
flap 70 disposed along an edge of the side panel 32. The flaps and
panels of the blank 60, are integrally interconnected with each
other by score lines, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 89, 91,
and 93. The score lines are cut deep enough to facilitate bending
of the various flaps and panels about their respective score lines
without fracture or separation of the flaps and panels from their
neighboring flap or panel.
[0023] The liner 34 can be formed from blank 90 illustrated in FIG.
4. The blank 90 has a section corresponding to each of the side
panels 36, 38, 40, and 42 integrally interconnected with each other
by score lines 92, 94, 96, and 98. The blank 90 further comprises
an extension flap 48 integrally connected to an upper edge 44 of at
least one side panel 36, 38, 40, and/or 42 by a score line 100. The
extension flap 48 has an aperture 50.
[0024] Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention
are shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 exemplifies a package
according to the present invention wherein the package 10 further
comprises a laundry detergent composition. FIG. 7 also exemplifies
a package according to the present invention wherein the package 10
further comprises a laundry detergent composition and a measuring
scoop.
[0025] The package 10 is preferably used to store powdered or
granular products, examples of which might include laundry
detergents, foods, cleaning products and the like. In addition, the
package 10 can be used to store any other products where it is
desired to provide an easily accessible utensil in the package.
[0026] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention, have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or
variations are possible and contemplated in light of the above
teachings by those skilled in the art, and the embodiments
discussed were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the
principles of the invention and its practical application.
* * * * *