U.S. patent application number 15/549041 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-25 for packaging container for scoopable contents.
This patent application is currently assigned to &R Carton Lund Aktiebolag. The applicant listed for this patent is &R Carton Lund Aktiebolag. Invention is credited to Henrik Herlin, Simon Holka, Eva Sunning.
Application Number | 20180022505 15/549041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56564412 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180022505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herlin; Henrik ; et
al. |
January 25, 2018 |
PACKAGING CONTAINER FOR SCOOPABLE CONTENTS
Abstract
A packaging container for scoopable bulk solids comprising a
container body includes a container wall extending from a container
bottom edge to a container body opening in a height direction of
the container, and a closure arrangement including a lid. The
container wall has an inner surface facing towards an inner
compartment in the packaging container and an outer surface facing
away from the inner compartment. The container body has an opening
edge at the container body opening. A combined scraper bar and
scoop holder is arranged at the container body opening and extends
across a bent portion of the container wall between a first
container wall portion and a second container wall portion, the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder including a scraping edge and
a first scoop fastening element for repeated fastening and
releasing of a scoop.
Inventors: |
Herlin; Henrik;
(Kristianstad, SE) ; Holka; Simon; (Staffanstorp,
SE) ; Sunning; Eva; (Lund, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
&R Carton Lund Aktiebolag |
Lund |
|
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
&R Carton Lund
Aktiebolag
Lund
SE
|
Family ID: |
56564412 |
Appl. No.: |
15/549041 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
February 2, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2016/050079 |
371 Date: |
August 4, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 15/08 20130101;
B65D 2543/00527 20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101; B65D 2543/00138
20130101; B65D 2543/00435 20130101; B65D 2251/1016 20130101; B65D
2543/00537 20130101; B65D 51/20 20130101; B65D 51/246 20130101;
B65D 2251/1058 20130101; B65D 77/2024 20130101; B65D 2251/0093
20130101; B65D 2543/00101 20130101; B65D 2543/00148 20130101; B65D
43/169 20130101; B65D 3/12 20130101; B65D 51/247 20130101; B65D
2543/00564 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2251/0021
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 8/00 20060101
B65D008/00; B65D 77/20 20060101 B65D077/20; B65D 51/20 20060101
B65D051/20; B65D 51/24 20060101 B65D051/24; B65D 3/12 20060101
B65D003/12; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2015 |
SE |
1550126-5 |
Claims
1. A packaging container for scoopable bulk solids, said packaging
container comprising a container body (2) comprising a container
wall (3) extending from a container bottom edge (4) to a container
body opening (6) in a height direction (H) of said container (1),
and a closure arrangement comprising a lid (14), said container
wall (3) having an inner surface (7) facing towards an inner
compartment (11) in said packaging container (1) and an outer
surface (8) facing away from said inner compartment (11), said
container body (2) having an opening edge (5) at said container
body opening (6), said container wall comprising a bent wall
portion, said packaging container further comprising a scoop (44,
44a, 44b, 44c) comprising a scoop handle (50) and a bowl portion
(51), said scoop handle (50) having a proximal end (52) at said
bowl portion (51) and a distal end (53) remote from said bowl
portion (51), characterized in that a combined scraper bar and
scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c) is arranged at said container body
opening (6) and extends across said bent wall portion, said
combined scraper bar and scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c)
comprising a scraping edge (41) and a first scoop fastening element
(42, 42a, 42b, 42c) for repeated fastening and releasing of a scoop
(44, 44a, 44b, 44c), and a second scoop fastening element (43, 43a,
43b, 43c) being arranged at said distal end (53) of said scoop
handle (50), said second scoop fastening element (43, 43a, 43b,
43c) being arranged to connect with said first scoop fastening
element (42, 42a, 42b, 42c) on said combined scraper bar and scoop
holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c) and wherein said bowl portion (51) of
said scoop (44, 44a, 44b, 44c) is directed downward into the
container when said second scoop fastening element (43, 43a, 43b,
43c) at said distal end (53) of said scoop handle is connected to
said first scoop fastening element (42, 42a, 42b, 42c) on said
combined scraper bar and scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c).
2. A packaging container according to claim 1, wherein said bent
wall portion is a container wall corner portion, said container
wall corner portion connecting a first container wall portion (3a,
3b) with a second container wall portion (3c, 3d).
3. A packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said
first scoop fastening element (42, 42a, 42b) is a female fastening
element, such as an opening or a depression and wherein said second
scoop fastening element (43, 43a, 43b) is a male fastening element,
such as a hook or a protrusion.
4. A packaging container according to claim 3, wherein said first
scoop fastening element (42, 42a) is an opening and wherein said
second scoop fastening element (43) is a hook.
5. A packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said
first scoop fastening element (42b, 42c) is a male fastening
element, such as a hook or a protrusion and wherein said second
scoop fastening element (43c) is a female fastening element such as
an opening or a depression.
6. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said container wall (3) comprises a front wall
portion (3a), a rear wall portion (3b) and two side wall portions
(3c, 3d) and wherein said lid (14) is hingedly connected to said
rear wall portion (3b) at said opening edge (5) and wherein said
bent wall portion across which said combined scraper bar and scoop
holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40) extends, is a corner wall portion
connecting said front wall portion (3a) with one of said side wall
portions (3c, 3d).
7. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said combined scraper bar and scoop holder (40,
40a, 40b, 40) is provided as a separate part and wherein said
packaging container comprises means for attaching said combined
scraper bar and scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40) at any one of at
least two selectable locations at said access opening (35) of said
packaging container (1).
8. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said scraping edge (41) is a straight edge bridging
said bent wall portion.
9. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein a vertical distance between said combined scraper
bar and scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c) and an inner surface (24)
of said lid (14) in a closed configuration of said packaging
container is smaller than a vertical release distance of said
second scoop fastening element (43, 43a, 43b, 43c).
10. A packaging container according to claim 9, wherein said
vertical distance between said combined scraper bar and scoop
holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c) and said inner lid surface (24) is a
vertical distance between a scoop restraining member (60) arranged
on said inner lid surface (24) and said combined scraper bar and
scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c).
11. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said combined scraper bar and scoop holder (40,
40a, 40b, 40c) is arranged on an upper reinforcing rim (15) which
is attached to said container wall (3) at said container body
opening (6).
12. A packaging container according to claim 11, wherein said
combined scraper bar and scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c) is formed
integrally with said upper reinforcing rim (15).
13. A packaging container according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said
upper reinforcing rim is welded to said inner surface (7) of said
container wall (3), such as by high frequency welding.
14. A packaging container (1) according to any one of claims 11-13,
wherein said upper reinforcing rim forms part of a lid component,
said lid component further comprising a lid part (14a), said upper
reinforcing rim (15) and said lid part (14a) being connected by a
hinge.
15. A packaging container (1) according to according to any one of
claims 11-14, wherein said packaging container (1) further
comprises a frame structure (30), said frame structure (30) being
applied to said packaging container (1) at said container body
opening (6) and being mechanically connected to said upper
reinforcing rim (15).
16. A packaging container (1) according to claim 15, wherein said
frame structure (30) forms part of a lid component (31), said lid
component (31) further comprising a lid part (14a), said frame
structure (30) and said lid part (14a) being connected by a hinge
(29).
17. A packaging container (1) according to any one of claims 10-16,
wherein an inner profile of said reinforcing rim (15) including
said combined scraper bar and scoop holder (40, 40a, 40b, 40c)
defines a shape and a size of an access opening (35), said access
opening (35) being smaller than said container body opening (6) and
having an opening area which is from 85% to 99% of said container
body opening area (6), such as from 90% to 98% of said container
body opening area or from 94% to 97% of said container body opening
area.
18. A packaging container (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said packaging container (1) comprises an inner
peelable or openable sealing membrane (33) forming a
cross-sectional seal between an inner compartment (11) in said
container body (2) and said container opening (6).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention pertains to a packaging container for
scoopable contents, the packaging container comprising a container
body comprising a container wall extending from a container bottom
edge to a container body opening in a height direction of the
container, and a closure arrangement comprising a lid. The
packaging container has an inner compartment for the scoopable
contents and an access-opening for accessing scoopable contents
contained in a compartment in the container body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the area of packaging of consumer goods, and in
particular when packaging dry flowable pulverulent consumer goods
it is common to use rigid paperboard packaging containers which
serve as protective transport and storage containers at the retail
end and as storage and dispensing containers at the consumer end.
Such paperboard containers are usually provided with an openable
and closable lid, and with an inner removable or breakable barrier
membrane which keeps the contents fresh and protected against
contamination up until delivery of the packaging container to a
consumer. It is also important that the contents in the packaging
container are protected from contamination once the inner barrier
has been destroyed in order to gain a first access to the packaged
goods. It is a concern that the packaging container allows repeated
and hygienic removal of packaged goods from the packaging
container, in particular when the packaged goods is intended for
ingestion by humans or animals. A packaging container for bulk
solids usually contains more of the packaged product than will be
used at each dispensing occasion. Thus, it is desirable that the
product remaining in the packaging container remains fresh and
un-contaminated at least for a time period corresponding to the
time it is expected it will take for a consumer to use up all the
contents in the packaging container.
[0003] When using a scoop to take out contents from a packaging
container, it is desired that excess scooped-up pulverulent
material can be conveniently removed by being scraped off from the
scoop and allowed to fall back into the packaging container without
touching the pulverulent material. In this manner, a controlled
amount of the pulverulent material can be taken out of the
container with each scooping and the risk of spilling pulverulent
material from an over-filled scoop is reduced or even eliminated.
Furthermore, users may find it more appealing and hygienic to be
able to take the scoop out of the container without having to dig
it out from the remaining contents in the packaging container. It
is therefore also desirable that the packaging container is
provided with means for conveniently and hygienically holding the
scoop inside the packaging container between dispensing occasions.
It has been suggested to provide attachment members on the inner
surface of the container lid. However, it has been found that users
find attachments in a swinging lid difficult to manipulate with a
single hand with the result that the attachments tend to be less
used than would be desired for hygienic reasons. For this reason it
has been suggested to provide a packaging container with a
ring-shaped scoop-holder placed on an inwardly directed surface of
an edge rim, as disclosed in WO 2014/129887 A1. However, all such
features which extend into the container opening effectively reduce
the size of the container access opening, i.e. the part of the
container opening which is available for accessing the packaged
goods. Furthermore, rounded and irregularly shaped features which
protrude into the container opening, such as the scoop-holder in WO
2014/129887 A1 increases the risk that the feature will come into
contact with the hand of a person taking out contents from the
packaging container and becomes contaminated. Another risk is that
the scoop accidentally catches on the scoop-holder resulting in
that scooped-up material is spilled or that the scoop is dropped
into the contents in the packaging container.
[0004] WO2006125363 A1 discloses a can box with built-in using
tools in the can body, wherein the can body is provided with a
support for a knife, fork or spoon at a portion of the can mouth
inner edge. A tool handle or tool head can be inserted beneath a
securing strip on the support and be held in place at the can
opening. The support has a triangular shape and is arranged with a
corner of the triangle protruding into the can opening and has two
edges which can be used as a scraping means for scraping off excess
material.
[0005] Like the scoop-holder in WO 2014/129887, the tool support in
WO2006125363 A1 has the drawback that it considerably reduces the
size of the access opening of the can.
[0006] Moreover, removal and attachment of a tool handle in the
tool support in WO2006125363 A1 can generally not be made without
touching or even gripping a tool part such as a scoop head at the
opposite end of the tool handle.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to offer
a packaging container having improved capability of protecting dry
bulk solids in the paperboard packaging container from
contamination. A further object of the invention may be to
facilitate hygienic removal of packaged goods from the packaging
container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to the invention, there is offered a paperboard
packaging container for scoopable bulk solids, in accordance with
claim 1, which packaging container offers a more hygienic and
easier access to scoopable bulk solids packaged in the packaging
container. Further embodiments are set out in the dependent
claims.
[0009] The packaging container comprises a container body
comprising a container wall extending from a container bottom edge
to a container body opening in a height direction of the container
and comprising a closure arrangement comprising a lid. The
container wall has an inner surface facing towards an inner
compartment in the packaging container and an outer surface facing
away from the inner compartment. The container body has an opening
edge at the container body opening and the container wall comprises
a bent wall portion. The packaging container further comprises a
scoop comprising a scoop handle and a bowl portion, the scoop
handle having a proximal end at the bowl portion and a distal end
remote from the bowl portion. A combined scraper bar and scoop
holder is arranged at the container body opening and extends across
the bent wall portion. The combined scraper bar and scoop holder
comprises a scraping edge bridging the bent wall portion and
preferably being a straight edge, and a scoop fastening element for
repeated fastening and releasing of the scoop. A second scoop
fastening element is arranged at the distal end of the scoop handle
and is arranged to connect with the first scoop fastening element
on the combined scraper bar and scoop holder. The scoop is held in
the combined scraper bar and scoop holder with the scoop handle
inclined such that the bowl portion of said scoop is directed
downward into the container when the second scoop fastening element
at the distal end of the scoop handle is connected to the first
scoop fastening element on the combined scraper bar and scoop
holder.
[0010] The packaging container as disclosed herein may have any
suitable foot-print shape, such as circular, oval, triangular,
square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, etc. A
packaging container having a polygonal foot-print, the container
body may have curved corner portions instead of being formed with
sharp corners. The only requirement of the container body shape is
that the container body foot-print includes a bent section, e.g. a
corner portion or a curved wall portion which is bridged by the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder. Accordingly, the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder is arranged horizontally or generally
horizontally across the bent wall portion at the periphery of the
container body opening.
[0011] As set out herein, the bent wall portion may be a container
wall corner portion which connects a first container wall portion
with a second container wall portion of a packaging container
having a polygonal foot-print or may be a curved segment of a wall
in a packaging container having a container body with a circular or
oval foot-print or a modified rectangular container body with
rounded corners.
[0012] By combining the holding function with a scraper function in
a single element, the combined scraper bar and scoop holder
intrudes minimally on the open area of the container opening, and
provides the packaging container with a large access opening with a
minimum of irregularities and inwardly protruding parts which may
obstruct the access opening and make it difficult to safely and
hygienically remove contents from the packaging container.
Accordingly, even if provided with the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder as disclosed herein, the packaging container has a
large access opening with a regular contour without protruding
features which greatly facilitates removal of the contents from the
packaging container either by scooping or by pouring. The scraping
function is provided by a single scraping edge which bridges the
bent wall portion whereby the combined scraper bar and scoop holder
intrudes minimally on the access opening of the packaging
container.
[0013] It is generally desired to minimize the presence of
irregularities such as ridges and protrusion on the inner surface
of the packaging container in the vicinity of the container opening
as pulverulent contents in the container may get caught on such
irregularities. A user opening the packaging container and seeing
an upper portion of the container which is soiled by the
pulverulent material in the container, will perceive the packaging
container as being messy and less hygienic than desired.
Furthermore, it is generally desired to keep the packaged
pulverulent material away from the access opening where it is more
exposed to contamination as it may more easily come into contact
with the hands of a person opening the packaging container and
removing contents through the access opening. Contaminated contents
in the packaging container which are caught on features at the
access opening may fall back into the container and may, in turn,
contaminate the remaining contents in the container.
[0014] As the scoop holder provides means for safely holding a
scoop such that it is prohibited from falling down into the
contents of the packaging container, a user opening the container
can easily find the scoop and remove it from the scoop holder when
wishing to use it for taking contents out of the packaging
container.
[0015] The packaging container may be cuboid, having a rectangular
or generally rectangular foot-print with a container wall having
front wall portion, a rear wall portion and two side wall portions.
In a cuboid packaging container having a lid which is hingedly
connected to the rear wall portion, the container wall corner
portion across which the combined scraper bar and scoop holder
extends may be a corner portion which connects the front wall
portion with one of the side wall portions.
[0016] Accordingly, in a packaging container provided with a lid
which is attached with a hinge at a rear edge of the access
opening, it may be preferred that the combined scoop holder and
scraper bar is placed across a forward corner portion of the
packaging container where it is easily accessible both for removing
the scoop from the scoop holder and for scraping off excess
scooped-up contents. The scoop may be placed in the scoop holder
with the opening in the bowl portion facing the contents in the
packaging container, or with the opening in the bowl portion facing
away from the contents in the packaging container. A scoop which is
held in a combined scoop holder and scraper bar arranged at the
front left corner, and with the opening in the bowl portion facing
downward can easily be removed by a right-handed user and be
directly used to scoop up contents without the user having to shift
the grip on the scoop. A scoop which is held in a combined scoop
holder and scraper bar arranged at the front right corner, and with
the opening in the bowl portion facing downward can easily be
removed by a left-handed user and be directly used to scoop up
contents without the user having to shift the grip on the scoop. If
the scoop is placed with the opening in the bowl portion facing
upward, a combined scoop holder and scraper bar is most convenient
to use if arranged in the right front corner for a right-handed
user and in the left front corner for a left-handed user.
[0017] The terms "left" and "right" when applied to the front
corner portions of the packaging container refer to the left and
right of a user having the packaging container placed in front of
him or her with the front side of the packaging container facing
the user.
[0018] The packaging container may be provided with a combined
scoop holder and scraper bar in each corner portion of the access
opening in order to accommodate both left-handed users and
right-handed users. This embodiment may be less preferred as it
diminishes the size of the access-opening.
[0019] The combined scraper bar and scoop holder may be provided as
a separate part which can be attached by a user at any one of at
least two selectable locations at the access opening of the
packaging container. The combined scraper bar and scoop holder is
then preferably provided with snap-in locking means which cooperate
with corresponding snap-in locking means on the packaging
container, e.g. on an upper reinforcing rim allowing the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder to be attached by snapping it in place
at the desired location and/or to detach an already attached
combined scraper bar and scoop holder and move it to another
location.
[0020] The first scoop fastening element may be a female fastening
element, such as an opening or a depression which is arranged to
cooperate with a corresponding male fastening element such as a
hook or a protrusion which is arranged on a scoop.
[0021] Alternatively, the first scoop fastening element may be a
male fastening element, such as a hook or a protrusion which is
arranged to cooperate with a corresponding female fastening element
such as an opening or a depression which is arranged on a
scoop.
[0022] The packaging container as disclosed herein comprises a
scoop comprising a scoop handle and a bowl portion, the scoop
handle having a proximal end at the bowl portion and a distal end
remote from the bowl portion. A second scoop fastening element is
arranged at the distal end of the scoop handle, and is arranged to
connect with the first scoop fastening element on the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder. The first and second fastening
elements are mating fastening elements which means that when the
first scoop fastening element on the combined scraper bar and scoop
holder is a female fastening element, the second fastening element
on the scoop handle is a male fastening element and when the first
scoop fastening element on the combined scraper bar and scoop
holder is a male fastening element, the second fastening element on
the scoop handle is a female fastening element.
[0023] It may be preferred that the first scoop fastening element
is an opening and that the second scoop fastening element is a
hook. The opening may be formed between a cross-bar extending
across the bent wall portion and the bent wall portion, or may be
formed as a hole in a piece of material applied across the bent
wall portion. A scoop with a hook at the end of the handle can be
easily attached to or removed from the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder without needing to overcome an attachment force.
[0024] By arranging the second fastening element at the end of the
scoop handle, it is ascertained that the scoop is held in the scoop
holder with the scoop part directed downward in the packaging
container and with the scoop handle directed towards the container
opening. Thereby, a user can easily lift the scoop out of the scoop
holder without having to touch other parts of the scoop than the
scoop handle. In particular, the scoop can be taken out of the
packaging container without the user touching the bowl part of the
scoop which is the part that will be dipped into the scoopable
contents when taking out contents from the container. Accordingly,
the risk of contamination of the contents is considerably lowered
by ascertaining that the scoop handle is kept away from the
contents in the container compartment. Depending on the degree of
filling of the packaging container, when the scoop is held in the
scoop holder the bowl part may hang freely downward in the
container or may rest on the surface of the pulverulent material in
the container compartment. Hence, when using the provided scoop
holder, no part of the scoop which is handled by a user comes into
contact with the contents in the packaging container and the scoop
is held in the packaging container in a hygienic and readily
accessible way.
[0025] The provision of readily identifiable mating fastener
elements on the scoop handle and on the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder serves to direct a user to apply the scoop in a
correct fashion in the combined scraper bar and scoop holder, with
the mating fastener elements connected with each other and with the
bowl portion of the scoop directed away from the container
opening.
[0026] As set out herein, the bowl portion of the scoop is arranged
to be directed downward into the container when the second scoop
fastening element at the distal end of the scoop handle is
connected to the first scoop fastening element on the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder. The scoop is held with the scoop
handle inclined downwardly, such that the proximal portion of the
scoop handle is located below the distal part of the scoop handle.
The connection between the combined scraper bar and scoop holder
and the scoop may be arranged to allow the inclination of the scoop
handle to increase as the packaging container is successively
emptied of its contents, such as when the fastening elements are
constituted by a hook and an opening.
[0027] In a packaging container as disclosed herein a vertical
distance between the combined scraper bar and scoop holder and an
inner surface of the container lid in a closed configuration of the
packaging container may be smaller than a vertical release distance
of the second scoop fastening element. The vertical distance
between the inner surface of the container lid and the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder is selected to be sufficiently small
to prohibit a scoop which is connected to the combined scraper bar
and scoop holder from moving out of engagement with the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder when the closed packaging container is
moved, shaken, or turned upside-down. The vertical release distance
of the second fastening element is the minimum distance between the
second fastening element and the inner surface of the container lid
which is required in order to be able to move the second fastening
element out of engagement with the first fastening element. The
vertical release distance of the second fastening element is >0
millimeters. It may be preferred that the vertical release distance
of the second fastening element is .ltoreq.30 millimeters.
[0028] The vertical distance between the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder and the inner lid surface may be a distance between a
scoop restraining member arranged on the inner surface of the lid
and the combined scraper bar and scoop holder. The scoop
restraining member may be a protrusion arranged to diminish the
distance between the inner surface of the lid and the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder and may be made integrally with the
inner surface of the lid or as a separate component which is
attached to the lid. The scoop restraining member may be in contact
with the distal end of the scoop handle when the packaging
container is closed or may be placed at a distance from the distal
end of the scoop handle. A scoop restraining member which contacts
the distal end of the scoop handle and optionally exerts a
restraining pressure on the scoop handle may diminish a tendency of
the scoop to rattle inside the packaging container. The scoop
restraining member may be a pressure resilient member which may
serve to dampen scoop movements and to further reduce rattling.
[0029] The packaging containers as disclosed herein are preferably
paperboard packaging containers. As used herein, a paperboard
packaging container is a packaging container wherein the container
body is formed from paperboard web material. The web material may
be provided in the form of a continuous web or may be provided as
individual sheets of material. The paperboard container may be
formed in any manner known in the art, e.g. by forming a container
body by bending a paperboard material into a tubular shape and
longitudinally closing the tube by joining overlapping or abutting
side edges of the paperboard material. The join between the side
edges may be covered by a sealing strip. The container bottom may
be formed from a separate bottom disc which is attached at one end
of the container body tube or may be formed by folding an end
portion of the container body tube.
[0030] As used herein, a paperboard material is a web material
predominantly made from cellulose fibers or paper fibers. The
paperboard material may be a single ply or multi-ply web and may be
a laminate comprising one or more layers of materials such as
polymeric films and coatings, metal foil, etc. The polymeric films
and coatings may include or consist of thermoplastic polymers. The
paperboard material may be coated, printed, embossed, etc. and may
comprise fillers, pigments, binders and other additives as known in
the art. The paperboard materials as disclosed herein may also be
referred to as cardboard or carton materials.
[0031] As used herein, the terms "bulk solids" and "scoopable bulk
solids" refer to a pulverulent solid material, e.g. in the form of
particles or powder. The bulk material may be dry or moist. Bulk
solids in the context of the present application may be digestible,
such as infant formula, coffee, tea, rice, flour, sugar, cereals,
soup powder, custard powder, or the like. Alternatively, the bulk
solids may be non-digestible, such as tobacco, detergent,
fertilizer, chemicals or the like.
[0032] By a pulverulent material as used herein is implied any
material in the form of particles, granules, grinds, plant
fragments, short fibres, flakes, etc.
[0033] The paperboard container may comprise an inner peelable or
openable sealing membrane forming a cross-sectional seal between an
inner compartment in the container body and the container opening.
The inner peelable or openable sealing membrane is a transport and
storage seal which is eventually broken or removed by an end user
of the packaging container.
[0034] By an openable or peelable sealing membrane is meant a
membrane that may be fully or partly removed by a user in order to
provide access to an interior compartment of the packaging
container either by breaking a seal between the sealing membrane
and the inner surface of the container wall, or by tearing or
otherwise breaking the sealing membrane itself. Tearable sealing
membranes may be provided with one or more predefined weakenings,
such as perforations or a cut partly through the membrane.
[0035] A peelable or tearable sealing membrane may be gastight or
gas-permeable. A gastight membrane may be manufactured from any
material or material combination suitable for providing gastight
sealing of a compartment delimited by the sealing membrane, such as
aluminium foil, silicon-coated paper, plastic film, or laminates
thereof. A gastight membrane is particularly advantageous when the
pulverulent material stored in the packaging container is sensitive
to air and/or moisture and to keep fragrances and aromas in the
packaging container and prevent the packaged contents from taking
up scents and flavours from the ambient air. A gastight membrane
provides additional protection of the packaged goods before a first
opening of the packaging container by a presumptive consumer.
[0036] It may be preferred that the inner peelable or openable
sealing membrane is a gas-tight peelable or openable sealing
membrane. It may also be preferred that the packaging container is
a gas-tight packaging container.
[0037] The barrier properties of the packaging containers disclosed
herein, may be designed to meet different requirements of tightness
depending on the goods which is packaged in the packaging
container. By way of example, in a packaging container for dried
peas a lower barrier level may be sufficient than in a packaging
container for e.g. infant formula which is highly sensitive to
oxygen and moisture exposure. A combination of a gas-tight
gasketing seal between the upper edge of the upper reinforcing rim
and the inner surface of the container lid, and a gas-tight weld
seal between the upper reinforcing rim and the inner surface of the
container wall may offer a packaging container with excellent
barrier properties also after the sealing membrane has been
removed.
[0038] The packaging containers as disclosed herein may have
barrier properties which remain largely unaltered even after
removal of the inner sealing membrane. In other words, the contents
in a closed packaging container may be equally well protected or
nearly equally well protected regardless of whether the inner
sealing membrane has been removed or not. This also means that also
temporary seals such as a seal created by between the lid and an
upper reinforcing rim and permanent seals such as a weld seal
between the upper reinforcing rim and the inner wall of the
packaging container preferably have barrier properties offering the
same level of protection of the packaged contents as the inner
sealing membrane and other container components which separate the
contents in the container from the environment outside the
packaging container.
[0039] A packaging container having a volume of approximately 11
may be considered to be gas-tight if it provides an oxygen barrier
of approximately 0.006 cc oxygen/24 h or less at 23.degree. C. and
50% relative humidity.
[0040] The combined scraper bar and scoop holder may be arranged
directly on the inside of the container wall or on an upper
reinforcing rim which is attached to the container wall at the
container body opening and may be formed integrally with the upper
reinforcing rim.
[0041] The reinforcing rim and the combined scraper bar and scoop
holder are preferably made as a single integral component from
thermoplastic material which allows the reinforcing rim and the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder to be thermoformed, e.g. by
injection molding. An injection molding process may be used to form
plastic components having different polymer compositions in
different parts of the plastic component. By way of example, the
surface of a plastic reinforcing rim which is welded to the
container body may be formed from a polymer composition having a
lower softening and melting point than other parts of the
reinforcing rim. Moreover, an abutment surface on the upper
reinforcing rim may be formed from a resilient thermoplastic
polymer.
[0042] The upper reinforcing rim may be attached to the container
wall by any suitable attachment method, including adhesive
attachment, mechanical attachment and welding. It may be preferred
that the upper reinforcing rim is welded to the inner surface of
the container wall. Any suitable welding technique may be used,
such as ultrasonic welding, hot air welding or high frequency
welding, with high frequency welding being preferred.
[0043] By joining the upper reinforcing rim to the inner surface of
the container wall by means of welding, it is possible to obtain a
tighter and slimmer attachment than is possible with an adhesive
attachment. The welded reinforcing rim is preferably a plastic rim
and connects the inner surface of the container wall with the inner
surface of the container lid and contributes to create a barrier
between the container wall and the reinforcing rim.
[0044] The welding process provides a highly controlled way of
creating an optimal join between the plastic rim and the paperboard
container wall. The join is made by supplying energy to heat and
locally soften or melt one or more thermoplastic component in the
plastic rim and/or on the inner surface of the container wall and
by pressing the plastic rim and the container wall together in a
direction perpendicular to the container wall. The thermoplastic
material used to create the weld seal may be provided by the
plastic rim, by a thermoplastic film or coating on the inner
surface of the container wall, or by both the plastic rim and by a
thermoplastic film or coating on the inner surface of the container
wall. It may be preferred that the plastic rim is made from
thermoplastic material. A thermoplastic rim may be produced by any
suitable melt-forming process known in the art, such as injection
molding. By controlling weld temperature, pressure and weld time,
it is possible to adapt the welding process to the welded materials
and to obtain a weld seam with a required level of tightness.
Accordingly, the welding process is accurate and predictable and is
an efficient way of producing a reliable seal with a predetermined
level of tightness. A preferred welding method for the weld seal
between the upper reinforcing rim and the paperboard packaging
container body may be high frequency welding.
[0045] The packaging containers as disclosed herein are containers
for scoopable bulk materials, which are flowable pulverulent
materials capable of being poured or scooped out of the containers.
The scoopable material may be pulverulent or granulated food-stuff.
The containers are generally disposable containers, which are
intended to be discarded when they have been emptied of their
contents. A concern in packaging containers for pulverulent bulk
solids is that the containers are sufficiently tight or at least
"sift-proof" to prevent the pulverulent material from escaping out
of the container for example through a join between an upper
reinforcing rim and the container wall. It has now been found that
by welding a reinforcement rim to the inner surface of the
container wall, a more reliably sift-proof join between the rim and
the carton wall can be achieved, than with an adhesive seal.
Furthermore, an adhesive seal requires a further component to be
added to the packaging container as well as equipment for supplying
and applying the adhesive. Consequently, a gluing process is
generally more expensive and time-consuming than a weld
process.
[0046] As it may be desired to avoid applying adhesive inside the
packaging container, e.g. in order to avoid contact between the
adhesive and the contents packaged in the container, previously
known reinforcement rims are glued to the outside wall of the
packaging container and commonly have a generally U-shaped
cross-sectional profile with an outer leg or flange extending
downwardly on the outside of the container wall and an inner leg or
flange extending downwardly on the inside of the container walls.
Such reinforcement rims are complicated and relatively expensive
structures and are difficult to fit over a paperboard container
edge without damaging the edge. Furthermore, it has proven
difficult to create a sift-proof adhesive seal between the
reinforcing rim and the container wall, much less a satisfactory
fluid proof or moisture proof seal.
[0047] By arranging the seal between the container wall and the
reinforcing rim on the inside of the container wall, the join
between the reinforcement rim and the container wall forms a
continuous barrier on the inside of the container. The plastic
reinforcement rim is more rigid than the container wall and
constitutes a shape stable continuation of or supplement to the
paperboard container wall and may be arranged to provide a first
abutment surface which is resistant to deformation when pressed
against a. The seal which in this manner is created between the lid
and the upper reinforcing rim permits the packaging container to be
repeatedly opened and closed without risk of damaging the opening
edge and thereby impairing container tightness. An effective weld
seal between the reinforcing rim and the inner surface of the
container wall in conjunction with a non-deformable abutment
surface on the reinforcement rim may provide a container as
disclosed herein with improved resealability and tightness after a
first opening of the container by a consumer and after any internal
sealing membrane or other transport seals have been broken.
[0048] The paperboard packaging container may further comprise a
frame structure which is applied to the packaging container at the
container body opening and which is mechanically connected to the
upper reinforcing rim.
[0049] The upper reinforcing rim may form part of a lid component
which further comprises a lid part. The upper reinforcing rim and
the lid part are connected by a hinge. In a corresponding manner
the frame structure may form part of a lid component, which further
comprises a lid part and wherein the frame structure and the lid
part are connected by a hinge.
[0050] A lid hinge may be a live hinge, i.e. a bendable connection
between the lid and the container body or an upper plastic rim or
frame structure. A live hinge may be formed integral with the lid
and/or with an edge rim or frame structure or with an upper edge
portion of a container body or may be a separately formed element
which is attached to the container lid and to the container body or
an edge rim or frame structure. Alternatively, the hinge may be a
two-part hinge, with a first hinge part arranged on the container
lid and a second hinge part arranged on the container body or on an
edge rim or frame structure. The hinge may be arranged at any
suitable location at the container body opening such as at a rear
edge of the opening, at a side edge, etc.
[0051] The closure arrangement on the packaging container may
comprise a locking arrangement which is configured to maintain the
lid in a closed position at the container opening.
[0052] The locking arrangement may comprise a first locking element
arranged on the container body or on an upper reinforcing rim or on
a frame structure connected to an upper reinforcing rim and a
second locking element arranged on the container lid. The first and
second locking elements may be mating locking elements, such as
female/male locking elements including hooks and other protrusions
which are arranged to interengage with ridges, hooks, tracks,
holes, cavities, loops, etc. By way of example, a locking
arrangement may be provided by a locking flap or clasp closure
extending from an edge on the lid, such as from a forward edge on
the lid and comprising at least one locking element which can be
fastened into or onto a corresponding locking element on the
container body or on the upper reinforcement rim or a frame
structure, if present. The locking elements are preferably designed
to allow repeated opening and closing of the locking arrangement.
Manipulation of the locking arrangement may be facilitated by means
of gripping devices such as finger grips, friction enhancing
elements, pull tabs, etc.
[0053] Furthermore, the locking arrangement may comprise a first
profiled element on the lid which first profiled element is
configured to releasably engage with a second profiled element on
an upper reinforcing rim and/or on a frame structure being
connected to the upper reinforcing rim.
[0054] The closure between the container lid and the edge rim or
opening edge is preferably sift-proof and most preferably also gas
tight or at least substantially gas tight. A tight closure between
the container lid and the edge rim may be enhanced by mating
contours on the lid and on the rim and may include snap-fit
features such as interengaging ridges and tracks or protrusions and
holes/cavities, etc.
[0055] In a paperboard packaging container as disclosed herein and
having an upper reinforcing rim an inner profile of the reinforcing
rim including the combined scraper bar and scoop holder defines a
shape and a size of an access opening. The access opening is
smaller than the container body opening and has an opening area
which is from 85% to 99% of the container body opening area, such
as from 90% to 98% of the container body opening area or from 94%
to 97% of the container body opening area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0056] The present invention will be further explained hereinafter
by means of non-limiting examples and with reference to the
appended drawings wherein:
[0057] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging
container;
[0058] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a variant of the
packaging container in FIG. 1 with an open lid;
[0059] FIG. 2a shows a scoop for use with the packaging container
in FIG. 1;
[0060] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the packaging container in
FIG. 1;
[0061] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 1; and
[0062] FIG. 5a-5c show alternative scoop holders and scoops.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0063] It is to be understood that the drawings are schematic and
that individual components, such as layers of material are not
necessarily drawn to scale. The packaging container, reinforcing
rim and lid component shown in the figures are provided as examples
only and should not be considered limiting to the invention. The
combined scraper bar and scoop holder as disclosed herein, may be
used with packaging containers having completely removable lids.
The combined scraper bar and scoop holder as disclosed herein is
also useful in packaging containers having a hinge-lid arrangement
different from the rim/frame arrangement shown in the figures. Such
hinge-lid arrangement may be any suitable hinge-lid arrangement as
known in the art including hinge-lid arrangements where the hinge
is a two-part hinge and hinge-lid arrangement without a reinforcing
rim and/or without a frame-structure. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is determined solely by the appended claims.
[0064] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a paperboard
packaging container 1 for pourable or scoopable bulk solids. The
particular shape of the container 1 shown in the figures should not
be considered limiting to the invention. Accordingly, the
paperboard packaging container according to the invention may have
any useful shape or size.
[0065] The packaging container 1 comprises a container body 2
formed by a tubular container wall 3 including a front wall portion
3a, a rear wall portion 3b and two side wall portions 3c, 3d. The
container wall 3 extends from a container body bottom edge 4 to a
container body opening edge 5 at a container body opening 6 in a
height direction H of the packaging container 1. The container wall
3 has an inner surface 7 facing towards an inner compartment 11 in
the packaging container 1 and an outer surface 8 facing away from
the inner compartment 11 and being exposed to the exterior of the
packaging container 1. A bottom disc 9 is positioned at the bottom
edge 4 of the container body 2. The container body 2 is made from
paperboard material as defined herein. The container body 2 may be
formed by bringing together the side edges of a web of paperboard
causing the material to assume a tubular shape, where after the
side edges are sealed together. Sealing of the side edges may be
made by any suitable method as known in the art, such as by welding
or gluing, with welding being preferred. Sealing of the side edges
of the container body web may involve using a sealing strip, as
known in the art. The bottom disc 9 may be made from paperboard,
metal, plastic, or from any suitable combination of such materials
as known in the art.
[0066] The container body bottom edge 4 is reinforced by a plastic
bottom rim 10 which is applied to the inner surface 7 of the
container wall 3, between the bottom disc 9 and the container body
bottom edge 4 and which has an outwardly directed flange 12 which
covers the container body bottom edge 4 and forms a bottom edge 13
of the packaging container 1. The bottom rim 10 reinforces the
container body paperboard bottom edge 4, stabilizes the shape of
the container body 2 and protects the container body bottom edge 4
from mechanical deformation. The plastic bottom rim 10 also serves
as a protective barrier against water and other fluids which may be
present on a surface on which the packaging container is placed.
The bottom rim 10 delimits a downwardly open space between the
bottom disc 9 and the bottom edge 13 of the packaging container 1
which may be used to accommodate stacking elements arranged at an
upper end of another packaging container when stacking two or more
packaging containers on top of each other.
[0067] As an alternative to a plastic bottom rim, the bottom edge
of the packaging container may be formed by a rolled edge of the
paperboard container body, or may be provided by a simple,
non-rolled join between the bottom disc 9 and the container body
2.
[0068] The container bottom may alternatively be formed without a
bottom disc by folding of the container wall material, as known in
the art.
[0069] The paperboard packaging container 1 is provided with a
closure arrangement comprising a lid 14 and an upper reinforcing
rim 15 extending along the container body opening edge 5 and
defining a perimeter of a container access opening 35 which is
smaller than the container body opening 6 which is defined by the
upper edge 5 of the tubular container body 2.
[0070] The upper reinforcing rim 15 is preferably a plastic rim,
most preferably a thermoplastic rim and is attached to the inner
surface 7 of the container body wall 3 at the container body
opening 6. The upper reinforcing rim 15 has an extension in the
height direction, H, of the container 1 and has a lower rim part 16
with a lower rim edge 17 facing towards the container bottom 9 and
an upper rim part 18 with an upper rim edge 19 facing away from the
container bottom 9. The upper reinforcing rim 15 extends around the
full periphery of the container body opening 6. The upper rim part
18 protrudes upwards in the height direction, H, above the
container body opening edge 5, whereby the upper edge 19 of the
upper reinforcing rim 15 is arranged above the container body
opening edge 5 in the height direction, H, of the packaging
container 1.
[0071] The upper reinforcing rim 15 is joined to the inner surface
7 of the container wall 3 by means of a weld seal 20 extending
around the container opening 6. The weld seal 20 preferably extends
continuously around the container body opening 5 and is a
sift-proof weld seal and is preferably also a moisture proof weld
seal and most preferably a gas-tight weld seal.
[0072] The weld seal 20 is formed by supplying energy to heat and
locally soften or melt one or more thermoplastic component in a
thermoplastic rim 15 and/or in a coating or film on the inner
surface 7 of the container body wall 3 and by pressing the
reinforcing rim 15 and the container wall 3 together in a direction
perpendicular to the container wall 3. The temperature and pressure
can be controlled and adjusted to form a strong and tight seal
without damaging the welded components. The thermoplastic material
used to create the weld seal 20 may be provided by a fully or
partly thermoplastic reinforcing rim 15, by a thermoplastic film or
coating on the inner surface 7 of the container wall 3, or by both
a fully or partly thermoplastic reinforcing rim and by a
thermoplastic film or coating on the inner surface 7 of the
container wall 3. A plastic reinforcing rim 15 is preferably made
from thermoplastic material which allows it to be thermoformed,
e.g. by injection molding. An injection molding process may be used
to form plastic components having different polymer compositions in
different parts of the plastic component. By way of example, the
surface of a plastic reinforcing rim which is welded to the
container body may be formed from a polymer composition having a
lower softening and melting point than other parts of the
reinforcing rim. Moreover, an abutment surface on the upper
reinforcing rim 15 may be formed from a resilient thermoplastic
polymer. Any suitable welding technique may be used, such as
ultrasonic welding or high frequency welding, with high frequency
welding being preferred.
[0073] The lid 14 is formed from an outer lid part 14a and an inner
lid part 14b. The outer lid part 14a is a profiled part with a
three-dimensional shape providing an upper outer surface 25 of the
lid 14. As is shown in FIG. 3, the outer lid part 14a has an inner
surface 26 comprising a pattern of reinforcing ribs 27. The inner
lid part 14b is a planar disk. The inner lid part 14b has an inner
lid surface 24 which faces towards the bottom disc 9 when the lid
14 is closed on the container access opening 35.
[0074] The outer lid part 14a is connected by a hinge 29 to a frame
structure 30, the lid 14 and the frame structure 30 together
forming a lid component 31. The hinge 29 is a live hinge, formed
integrally with the upper lid part 14a and the frame structure 30
as a flexible connection between the upper lid part 14a and the
frame structure 30. As set out herein, the illustrated hinge is
only intended as a non-limiting example and it should be understood
that any other type of functional hinge may be used for the
connection between the frame structure and the lid. Moreover, the
lid may be of the removable kind, without any permanent connection
to the frame structure.
[0075] The frame structure 30 is applied to the packaging container
at the container body opening edge 5 and is mechanically attached
to the upper reinforcing rim 15 by a snap-on connection. The frame
structure 30 is attached to the upper reinforcing rim 15 after the
reinforcing rim 15 has been welded to the inner surface 7 of the
paperboard container wall 3. The frame structure 30 is applied to
the upper reinforcing rim 15 by pressing the frame structure 30
down over the upper edge 19 of the upper reinforcing rim 15 until
the frame structure 30 locks in place on the upper reinforcing rim
15 by means of mating snap-in features on the upper reinforcing rim
15 and the frame structure 30. When the frame structure 30 has been
attached to the upper reinforcing rim 15, it can only be removed
again by breaking or damaging the snap-in connection between the
rim 15 and the frame structure 30.
[0076] The interior compartment 11 is sealed with a fully or partly
removable sealing membrane 33 which is applied over the packaged
goods 34 and which is sealed to the container body wall 3. The
removable sealing membrane 33 may be attached to the container wall
either from the top end of the container body 2 or from the bottom
end of the container body 2. In order to gain a first access to the
packaged goods, a user needs to open the lid 14 and expose the
packaged goods 34 by fully or partly removing the sealing membrane
33. The sealing membrane 33 may be arranged to be peeled away from
the wall 3 of the container body 2 or may be arranged with means
for breaking the membrane 33 so that it can be at least partly
removed from the opening 6, 35. Such means may be in the form of
one or more predefined weakenings, such as perforations or a cut
partly through the membrane. When the membrane is of the tear-open
type, a narrow edge part of the sealing membrane may be left at the
inner surface 7 of the container wall 3. Any such remaining part of
the sealing membrane should preferably not be so large so that it
extends into the access opening which is defined by the inner
perimeter of the upper reinforcing rim. Accordingly, it may be
preferred that a remaining membrane part has an extension
perpendicular to the height direction H of the packaging container
of at most 7 millimeters such as from 1-6 millimeters, from 2-5
millimeters or from 3-4 millimeters. It may be preferred that the
inward extension of a remaining membrane part is 4 millimeters or
less. The sealing membrane 33 is an optional feature of the
disclosed packaging container 1 and may be omitted.
[0077] Once the sealing membrane 33 has been removed, it is
sufficient to open the lid 14 in order to gain access to the
packaged goods 34 in the interior compartment 11 through the access
opening 35. As is seen in FIG. 2, which reveals the inside of the
upper reinforcing rim 15, the area of the access opening 35 is
defined by an inner perimeter 28 or inner contour of the upper
reinforcing rim 15. As the upper reinforcing rim 15 is applied on
the inner surface 7 of the container body wall 3 and adds thickness
to the body wall in an inward direction, the area of the access
opening 35 is always smaller than the area of the container body
opening 6. The upper reinforcing rim 15 which is shown in FIG. 2
carries a combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 which extends
across the front left corner portion of the reinforcing rim 15 as
seen in the figures. The combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40
is provided with a scraping edge 41 for scraping off excess
scooped-up contents from a scoop or spoon 44 and an opening 42
constituting a first scoop fastening element for receiving and
holding a second scoop fastening element in the form of a hook
element 43 on the spoon 44.
[0078] Although not preferred, more than one combined scraper bar
and scoop holder 40 may be provided in the packaging container
1.
[0079] The combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 may be
integrally formed with the upper reinforcing rim 15 or may be
provided as a separate part which can be attached at any one of at
least two selectable locations at the access opening 35 of the
packaging container 1 as disclosed herein. A separately formed
combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 is preferably provided
with snap-in means cooperating with corresponding snap-in means on
the upper reinforcing rim 15 allowing a user to select the most
appropriate corner portion in which to attach the combined scraper
bar and scoop holder 40. The attachment is preferably a
non-permanent attachment so that a user can change the placement of
a combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 according to his/her
preference. By way of example, a combined scraper bar and scoop
holder which has been pre-attached by a manufacturer may be
detached and moved to a more suitable location or different users
such as right-handed users and left-handed users may wish to use
the combined scraper bar and scoop holder in different
locations.
[0080] When the packaging container 1 has a hinged lid 14 as shown
in the figures, it may be preferred that the combined scraper bar
and scoop holder 40 can be attached at least across the container
wall corner portions at the front of the packaging container 1,
i.e. the corner portions formed between the front wall portion 3a
and the side wall portions 3c, 3d.
[0081] As is shown in FIG. 2, the scoop 44 comprises a scoop handle
50 and a bowl portion 51. The scoop handle 50 has a proximal end 52
at the bowl portion 51 and a distal end 53 remote from the bowl
portion 51. The hook element 43 is arranged at the distal end 53 of
the scoop handle 50 and is arranged to be inserted into the opening
42 in the combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40, as shown in
FIG. 2.
[0082] A combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 placed at the
front of the packaging container may be preferred in a packaging
container having a hinged lid 14 as such placement is convenient
both when removing and fastening the scoop 44 and when using the
scraping function. The arrangement of the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder 40 and the scoop 44 shown in FIG. 2 may be preferred
by a right-handed user. Other arrangements are contemplated in the
packaging containers as disclosed herein. The combined scraper bar
and scoop holder 40 may e.g. be placed at the right front corner
portion between the front wall portion 3a and the right side wall
portion 3c or at one of the rear corner portions between the rear
wall portion 3b and one of the side wall portions 3c, 3d. The scoop
44 may be arranged to be placed in the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder 40 with the bowl portion 51 of the scoop 44 directed
downward, towards the contents in the packaging container or with
the bowl portion 51 of the scoop 44 directed upward, away from the
contents in the packaging container as would be the case with the
scoop 44 shown in FIG. 2a.
[0083] The first and second scoop fastening elements are not
limited to the hook-and-opening arrangement shown in FIG. 2.
Further non-limiting examples of useful mating fastener
arrangements are shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c.
[0084] In the scoop fastening arrangement shown in FIG. 5a, the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40a is provided with a female
fastening element in the form of a circular opening 42a
constituting the first scoop fastening element and the scoop 44a is
provided with a resiliently deformable knob 43a at the underside of
the distal end 53 of the handle 50. The deformable knob 43a can be
removably fastened in the circular opening 42a and constitutes the
second scoop fastening element.
[0085] In the scoop fastening arrangement shown in FIG. 5b, the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40b is provided with a female
fastening element in the form of a clamp 42b constituting the first
scoop fastening element and the scoop 44b is provided with a
narrowed handle portion and an end knob 43a at the distal end 53 of
the handle 50. The narrowed handle portion with the end knob 43b
can be removably fastened in the clamp 42b and constitutes the
second scoop fastening element.
[0086] In the scoop fastening arrangement shown in FIG. 5c, the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40c is provided with a male
fastening element in the form of a deformable knob 42c constituting
the first scoop fastening element and the scoop 44c is provided
with a corresponding circular opening 43c at the distal end 53 of
the handle 50. The deformable knob 42c can be removably fastened in
the circular opening 43c which constitutes the second scoop
fastening element.
[0087] When the packaging container 1 is open, a desired quantity
of the packaged goods 34 may be removed from the packaging
container 1 through the access opening 35 by means of the scoop 44.
The scoop is provided together with the packaging container 1. The
scoop 44 may initially be placed on the sealing membrane 33, if
present, may be removably attached to the inner lid surface 24 or
may be attached to the combined scraper bar and scoop holder
40.
[0088] The second scoop fastening element 43, 43a, 43b, 43c on the
scoop 44, 44a, 44b, 44c is arranged to cooperate with the first
scoop fastening element 42, 42a, 42b, 42c on the combined scraper
bar and scoop holder 40, 40a, 40b, 40c, whereby the scoop 44, 44a,
44b, 44c may be attached to the reinforcing rim 15 such that the
handle 50 on the scoop 44, 44a, 44b, 44c is prevented from falling
down into the contents in the packaging container compartment 11
between dispensing occasions. Users find it more appealing and
hygienic to be able to remove the scoop from the container without
having to dig it out from the remaining contents in the packaging
container.
[0089] The scoop 44 is held with the scoop handle inclined
downwardly, such that the proximal end 52 of the scoop handle 50 is
located below the distal end 53 of the scoop handle. The connection
between the combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 and the scoop
44, may be arranged to allow the inclination of the scoop handle to
increase as the packaging container is successively emptied of its
contents, such as when the fastening elements are constituted by a
hook and an opening e.g. as shown in FIG. 2.
[0090] Even if provided with the combined scraper bar and scoop
holder 40 as disclosed herein, the packaging container has a large
access opening with an opening edge without any portion of the edge
being curved or inwardly in the plane of the access opening or
having any edge portion forming an inwardly directed protrusion
from the container body edge. A regularly shaped access opening
edge without any protruding features that may obstruct the access
opening greatly facilitates removal of the contents from the
packaging container by scooping and also by pouring.
[0091] The access opening 35 may have an opening area which is from
85% to 99% of the opening area of the container body opening 6,
such as from 90% to 98% of the container body opening area or from
94% to 97% of the container body opening area.
[0092] A tight closure between the lid 14 and the container body 2
is provided by a first abutment surface 51 on the upper rim edge 19
and a corresponding second abutment surface 52 arranged on the
inner lid surface 24. The first abutment surface 51 on the upper
reinforcing rim 15 is arranged to abut against the second abutment
surface 52 on the lid 14 when the lid is in the closed position on
the container access opening 35 and to form a seal between the
upper reinforcing rim 15 and the lid 14.
[0093] The vertical distance between the combined scraper bar and
scoop holder 40 and the inner lid surface 24 may be smaller than
the vertical release distance of the second scoop fastening element
43 in a closed configuration of the packaging container 1. The
vertical distance between the inner surface 24 of the container lid
14 and the combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 is selected to
be sufficiently small to prohibit a scoop 44 which is connected to
the combined scraper bar and scoop holder from moving out of
engagement with the combined scraper bar and scoop holder when the
closed packaging container 1 is moved, shaken, or turned
upside-down. The vertical release distance of the second fastening
element 43 is the minimum distance between the second fastening
element 43 and the inner surface 24 of the container lid 14 which
is required in order to be able to move the second fastening
element out of engagement with the first fastening element. The
vertical release distance of the second fastening element is >0
millimeters. It may be preferred that the vertical release distance
of the second fastening element is .ltoreq.30 millimeters.
[0094] As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the vertical distance between
the combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40 and the inner lid
surface 24 may be a vertical distance between a scoop restraining
member 60 arranged on the inner surface 24 of the lid 14 and the
combined scraper bar and scoop holder 40. The scoop restraining
member may be a protrusion arranged to diminish the vertical
distance between the inner surface of the lid and the combined
scraper bar and scoop holder and may be made integrally with the
inner surface of the lid or as a separate component which is
attached to the lid. The scoop restraining member may be in contact
with the distal end of the scoop handle when the packaging
container is closed or may be placed at a distance from the distal
end of the scoop handle.
[0095] In order to keep the lid 14 secured in the closed position
between dispensing occasions, the closure arrangement of the
packaging container 1 may further comprise a locking arrangement
45. The locking arrangement 45 may comprise mating locking elements
45a, 45b. A male locking element 45a is arranged on the lid 14 and
a female locking element 45b is arranged on the frame structure 30.
The male locking element 45a is constituted by one or more
protrusions, such as one or more knobs or ribs arranged on a
locking flap 46 and the female locking element 45b is constituted
by one or more corresponding cavities or grooves arranged on the
frame structure 30. The locking arrangement 45 is preferably
designed such that it exerts a force on the connection between the
lid 14 and the upper rim edge 19 by pressing the first and second
abutment surfaces 51, 52 together.
[0096] It is to be understood that the particular closure
construction with a rim and a frame structure as disclosed herein
is not essential to the packaging container of the claimed
invention. Accordingly, the combined scraper bar and scoop holder
as disclosed herein may be applied to any packaging container for
bulk solids having an access opening and being provided with a
scoop for removing bulk solids out of the packaging container
through the access opening.
* * * * *