U.S. patent application number 10/303449 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for container.
Invention is credited to Fugate, Hagins, Kipperman, Stuart R., Nukuto, George, Paul, Joseph M..
Application Number | 20040099566 10/303449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32325009 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040099566 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kipperman, Stuart R. ; et
al. |
May 27, 2004 |
Container
Abstract
A container for housing granulated products is disclosed. The
container has a box portion having a recessed base, a front wall, a
back wall, and opposing side walls, a closure adapted to be
releasably sealed on the box portion, and a circumferential channel
in the box base. The channel is adapted to receive a scoop bucket
so that the contents of the container can be easily removed.
Inventors: |
Kipperman, Stuart R.;
(Evansville, IN) ; Fugate, Hagins; (Newburgh,
IN) ; Paul, Joseph M.; (Northfield, CT) ;
Nukuto, George; (Des Plaines, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lloyd G. Farr
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP
P.O. Box 11010
Columbia
SC
29211-1070
US
|
Family ID: |
32325009 |
Appl. No.: |
10/303449 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/541 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/245 20130101;
B65D 21/022 20130101; B65D 51/246 20130101; B65D 83/06 20130101;
A61J 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/541 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/04 |
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A container comprising: a. a box portion having a recessed base,
a front wall, a back wall, and side walls; b. a closure adapted to
be releasably sealed on said box portion; and c. a circumferential
channel defined by said box portion walls and said recessed base,
said channel being adapted to receive the bucket of a scoop so that
the bucket fits within said channel.
2. The container in claim 1, further comprising a scoop.
3. The container in claim 2, said scoop having a handle coupled to
a bucket.
4. The container in claim 3, wherein the radius of said bucket is
substantially equal to the radius of said channel.
5. The container in claim 4, said box portion further comprising a
heel intermediate said bottom wall and said front, rear, and side
walls.
6. The container in claim 1, said closure further comprising: a. a
front, a back and side walls; b. a top wall coupled to said front,
back, and side walls; and c. an upwardly extending protrusion
shaped and sized to be received by the recessed base of another
container.
7. The container in claim 6, said closure further comprising a
plurality of downwardly extending flexible tabs located on the
underside of said upwardly extending protrusion, said tabs adapted
to releasably receive a scoop.
8. The container in claim 7, further comprising a scoop having a
handle and a bucket that are engaged by said flexible tabs.
9. The container in claim 6, said closure further comprising: a. a
recessed circumferential portion formed on an inner surface of said
closure walls proximate an edge of said closure walls; and b. a
plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs located on said inner
surface recessed circumferential portion.
10. The container in claim 9, said box portion further comprising:
a. a recessed circumferential portion on an outer surface of said
box portion walls proximate an edge of said box portion walls; and
b. a circumferential flange located on said outer surface recessed
circumferential portion, wherein said inwardly projecting locking
tabs engage said flange for releasably securing said closure to
said box portion.
11. A container closure, said closure comprising: a. a front wall,
a back wall, and side walls; b. a top wall defining an upwardly
projecting member, wherein said top wall is attached to said front,
back and side walls; c. a dispensing utensil; and d. at least four
flexible tabs that engage said utensil to secure said utensil to
the underside of said top wall.
12. The container closure in claim 11, wherein said utensil is a
scoop comprising a handle and a bucket.
13. The container closure in claim 12, wherein at least two
flexible tabs engage said handle and at least two flexible tabs
engage said bucket.
14. The container closure in claim 11, said closure further
comprising: a. a recessed circumferential groove on an inner
surface of said closure walls proximate an edge of said closure
walls; and b. an inwardly projecting flange located on said inner
surface recessed circumferential groove.
15. The container closure in claim 11, said closure further
comprising a plurality of vertical ribs formed on the underside of
said closure.
16. The container closure in claim 14, wherein said inwardly
projecting flange is a plurality of inwardly projecting locking
tabs.
17. A container comprising: a. a box portion having a recessed base
defining a circumferential heel; b. a closure adapted to be
releasably sealed on said box portion, said closure comprising an
upwardly extending projection; c. a scoop comprising a handle and a
bucket; and d. at least four flexible tabs protruding downwardly
from the underside of said closure to releasably secure said scoop
to the underside of said closure, wherein at least two flexible
tabs engage said handle and at least two flexible tabs engage said
bucket.
18. The container in claim 17, wherein said heel defines a
circumferential channel having a size substantially equal to or
smaller than the size of said bucket so that said channel is
capable of receiving said bucket.
19. The container in claim in claim 18, said box portion further
comprising a liner sealed to an upper lip of said box portion for
creating an anti-tamper seal.
20. A container comprising: a. a closure having an upwardly
extending protrusion; and b. a box portion having a recessed base;
wherein said recessed base defines a channel having a size and
shape substantially equal to a dispensing utensil and adapted to
receive said dispensing utensil.
21. The container in claim 20, said container further including a
dispensing apparatus.
22. The container in claim 21, said dispensing apparatus further
comprising: a. a handle; and b. a bucket.
23. The container in claim 22, wherein said bucket and said channel
are shaped so that said bucket can be received in said channel.
24. The container in claim 22, wherein said bucket and said channel
are cylindrically-shaped, and the radius of said channel is
substantially equal to the radius of said bucket.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of container
constructions in general, and more particularly to a combination
container and scoop.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 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 with various container
constructions, including those that facilitate stacking or that
house utensils, such as scoops.
[0003] While various prior art constructions of containers with
scoops are known, the prior art fails to disclose a container that
(1) allows a user to easily scoop the entire contents of the
container, (2) provides adequate structure to easily stack the
containers, and (3) keeps the content scooping means from becoming
buried under the container contents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved container. This and other objects may be achieved by a
container comprising a box portion having a recessed base, a front
wall, a back wall, and opposing side walls, a closure adapted to be
releasably sealed on the box portion, and a circumferential channel
defined by the box portion walls and recessed base with the channel
being adapted to receive a scoop so that the contents of the
container can be removed. The box portion also has a heel
intermediate the bottom wall and the front, rear, and side walls
upon which it rests when sitting upright.
[0005] The scoop has a handle coupled to a cylindrical cup. The
radius of the cylindrical cup is substantially equal to the radius
of the container channel so that the cup can be received by the
channel and allow scooping of the container contents.
[0006] The closure comprises front, back and side walls, a top wall
coupled to the front, back, and side walls, and an upwardly
extending protrusion shaped and sized to be received by the
recessed base of an other like container. A plurality of flexible
downwardly extending tabs located on the underside of the upward
extending protrusion are adapted to releasably receive and hold the
scoop. The closure further contains a recessed circumferential
portion on an inner surface of the closure walls and proximate an
edge of the closure walls. The recessed portion contains a
plurality of inwardly projecting locking tabs located proximate the
edge of the closure walls. These tabs are adapted to receive a
locking flange formed on the box portion walls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the
appended Figures, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the
design of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectioned perspective view along line 2-2
of the container shown in FIG. 1, and illustrating a scoop fit in a
circumferential channel in the base of the container;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of the
container shown in FIG. 1 and having its scoop mounted on the
closure with the container shown in stacked fashion with multiple
other containers;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container closure
illustrated in FIG. 1, from underside of the closure and
illustrating the scoop retaining mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the
present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only,
and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present
invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary
construction. A repeat use of reference characters in the present
specification and drawings represents the same or analogous
features or elements of the invention.
[0013] With reference now to the drawings, 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 used for packaging granulated dry goods. The
container is generally formed from two parts. The first part is a
box portion 20 containing a recessed bottom wall. The second part
is a closure 40 containing a tool holding mechanism and a stacking
member protruding from the top wall. Box portion 20 is adapted for
the removable receipt of closure 40. Box portion 20 and closure 40
may be molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow
molded, by extrusion or injection, so that each may be a unitary
member of uniform wall thickness. Non-uniform thicknesses may also
be used. Suitable plastics for forming the container may include,
but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene,
polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene,
styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate,
polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, box portion 20 is formed from a
bottom wall 21, front wall 22, back wall 23, and opposing side
walls 24 and 25 (shown in FIG. 3). The front and back walls are
connected to the side wails by rounded corners 26. The front, back,
and side walls are integrally formed with the bottom wall and are
connected to the bottom wall by a rounded edge 27. The rounded edge
extends inwardly toward recessed bottom wall 21 and forms a
circumferential heel 28 on which the container rests when standing
upright. The bottom wall defines a recess 30 that opens downwardly
and connects to heel 28. The recess defined by the bottom wall
shown as being generally rectangular in shape, but it may take on
other shapes, such as square, oval, etc.
[0015] The inside surface 31 of the rectangular bottom wall
projects upward from heel 28 and together with the heel, front,
back, and side walls define a circumferential channel 32 around
bottom wall 21. As shown in FIG. 2, channel 32 has a circular
cross-section with a base 33 having a radius R (FIG. 3). Radius R
is substantially equal to or less than the radius R' (FIG. 2) of a
dispensing utensil 60 packaged in container 10. It should be
understood that the cross-section of channel 32 may be formed in
other shapes, for example square, rectangular, oval, etc.
[0016] The front, back, and side walls also contain an inwardly
recessed circumferential portion 35 on their outer surface that is
proximate a top edge 36. The inwardly recessed portion connects to
the outer surface of the wall by an inwardly sloping shoulder 37.
Shoulder 37 forms a closure stop that receives a lower lip 53 of
the closure walls. The recessed portion contains an outwardly
projecting circumferential flange 38 that forms part of a locking
mechanism for securing the closure to the box portion.
[0017] Referring to the figures, and in particular FIGS. 1 and 4,
the closure comprises a horizontal top wall 41 joined to a vertical
front wall 42, back wall 43, and opposing side walls 44 and 45 by a
rounded shoulder 46. Rounded corners 47 join the front, back, and
side walls. In some embodiments, ribs 48 may be coupled to the
underside of front 42, back 43, side walls 44 and 45, and
horizontal top wall 41 to provide structural stability to the
closure. Ribs 48 also prevent flexing of closure 40, especially
when multiple filled containers are stacked one upon the other as
shown in FIG. 3. A generally rectangular upwardly projecting
portion 49 terminating in a horizontally flat top surface 50 is
centrally located in the horizontal top wall. The horizontal flat
top surface is sized and shaped to fit into another box portion's
recessed bottom wall so that multiple containers can be stacked
(FIG. 3). The upwardly projecting rectangular portion defines a
recess 51 in the under side of closure 40. Closure 40 may also be
formed without recess 51. It should be understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art that upwardly projecting portion 49 may
be formed in any shape so long as the mating container's recessed
box portion is sized and shaped to receive the projecting
portion.
[0018] An outwardly sloping shoulder 52, formed circumferentially
on the inside surface of the front, back and side walls of closure
40, defines a recessed groove 54 located proximate to lower lip 53
of the walls (FIG. 4). Outward sloping shoulder 52 defines a box
portion stop and receives upper lip 36 of the box portion walls.
Groove 54 may or may not have both an upper and lower
shoulder--groove 54 may be formed as shown in FIG. 4 without a
lower shoulder thereby terminating at lip 53, or it may terminate
at an inwardly sloping shoulder (not shown) forming a
circumferential groove. Closure 40 is releasably secured to box
portion 20 by intermittent inwardly pointing ridges 55 located on
closure recess group 54 proximate lip 53. The ridges are
wedge-shaped with the wide part of the wedge closest to shoulder
52. Thus, the wedge forms a locking member that snaps over the
outwardly projecting circumferential flange 38 so that closure 40
can be easily removed from and resealed on box portion 20. Finger
tabs 56 aid the user in removing closure 40 from box portion
20.
[0019] A releasable seal (not shown) may be attached to lip 36 to
seal the contents in the container. The releasable seal also allows
for vacuum packaging of the contents in container 10 and provides
an anti-tamper inner liner. One skilled in the art of food
packaging will be familiar with such releasably attached packaging
seals. Specifically, adhesive or heat may be used to attach a seal
formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, foil, or other suitable
material to lip 36 to form an airtight seal. Therefore, removal of
closure 40 will not disturb the seal unless the releasable seal is
cut or removed.
[0020] Dispensing utensil 60 may be a scoop molded from a suitable
plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or
injection. Suitable plastics for forming the scoop include, but are
not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene,
polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene,
styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate,
polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof. As shown in FIGS. 2 and
4, dispensing utensil 60 has a generally flat handle 61 attached to
or integrally formed with a cylindrical bucket 62 having a radius
R'. A rib 63 may be utilized and connected to the underside of the
handle and the cylindrical bucket provides structural stability to
the scoop. The cylindrical bucket is closed at one end 64 and
opened at a second end 65. Bucket 62 may also be formed in many
other shapes, for example square, rectangular, oval, etc.
[0021] Multiple flexible tabs 57 arranged to releasably secure
dispensing utensil 60 to the underside of the closure centrally
located on the bottom side 51 of the upwardly projecting
rectangular portion 48. A set of three tabs 57 are arranged to
secure the handle portion 61 of dispensing utensil 60 and a set of
two tabs 57 are arranged to secure the bucket 62. Each tab may
contain a protrusion 58 that assists in securing dispensing utensil
60 to the closure when the closure is secured to the box portion.
Moreover, a rib 59 may be used to strengthen the ribs and two
generally triangular ribs 66 may be used to support the bucket 62.
Consequently, dispensing utensil 60 does not become buried in the
granulated material and thereby eliminates the need for the user to
dig through the contents in search of the scoop. This is especially
important when the container's contents are for human consumption
and contact with the hands is undesirable.
[0022] In addition to allowing containers to be stacked, recessed
bottom wall 21 serves a second purpose. As previously pointed out,
the recessed bottom wall forms circumferential channel 32 at the
bottom of the box portion. The channel is sized and shaped to
receive cylindrical bucket 62 of dispensing utensil 60. In
particular, the radius R' of cylindrical bucket 62 is approximately
equal to or smaller than the radius of curvature R of the inside
surface 33 of circumferential channel 32. Recess 30 causes the
granulated contents to gravitate into the channel as the product is
being used up. Therefore, the bucket fits into the channel and
allows the user to scoop out substantially all the granulated
contents in the container with little effort (such a channel/bucket
arrangement would also allow the container to be utilized for
liquid containment and dispensing if desired.). No matter what
shape channel 32 is, bucket 62 should be sized and shaped to be
received in channel 32. For example, a square-shaped channel would
require a bucket that would fit in the channel. In particular, the
scoop bucket should be shaped to facilitate scooping the contents
of the container out of channel 32 and is most often the same shape
as the channel.
[0023] 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.
* * * * *