U.S. patent application number 15/932259 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for container closure with integrated utensil.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jack M. Jacobson, Jeffrey D. Jacobson. Invention is credited to Jack M. Jacobson, Jeffrey D. Jacobson.
Application Number | 20180362228 15/932259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64656074 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180362228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jacobson; Jeffrey D. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
Container closure with integrated utensil
Abstract
A container closure with an integrated utensil. The closure is
sized for sealable engagement with the container rim and has a
flexible component that can move from a collapsed and relatively
compact state to an expanded and relatively enlarged state. The
utensil is operably attached to the flexible component.
Inventors: |
Jacobson; Jeffrey D.;
(Seattle, WA) ; Jacobson; Jack M.; (Walla Walla,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Jacobson; Jeffrey D.
Jacobson; Jack M. |
Seattle
Walla Walla |
WA
WA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
64656074 |
Appl. No.: |
15/932259 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62600254 |
Feb 16, 2017 |
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/0204 20130101;
B65D 2543/00129 20130101; B65D 51/246 20130101; B65D 2543/00194
20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D
51/24 20130101; B65D 43/0214 20130101; B65D 2251/06 20130101; A47G
23/00 20130101; B65D 2543/0037 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/24 20060101
B65D051/24; B65D 43/02 20060101 B65D043/02 |
Claims
1. A closure for a container, the container having a rim, the
closure having an integrated utensil, the closure comprising a rim
operably sized for sealable engagement with the container rim; and
a flexible component that can move from a collapsed and relatively
compact state to an expanded and relatively enlarged state; the
utensil operably attached to the flexible component.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
application 62/600,254 filed Feb. 16, 2017 which is hereby
incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of container closures;
more particularly, it relates to container closures including
integrated utensils.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is commonplace to reseal and store unused food in
containers for later use. Unused portions of food sold in cans, for
example, are typically resealed and stored in a refrigerator for
later use. A utensil is typically used and soiled each time a
portion of food is removed from the can. Washing multiple soiled
utensils is an inconvenience and can result in waste of food that
is adhering to the utensil when it is washed. Some varieties of
food such as canned pet food, for example, may also produce
unwanted odors in a cleaning area when a utensil is washed.
[0004] Resealable container closures that have utensils attached in
some way and which may be stored in full or in part in a container
have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,488 to Darflinger discloses
a utensil that is attached to the underside of a container lid. The
utensil is designed to be removed for use, and the use-end of the
utensil remains in a fixed location relative to the lid when
attached to the lid. U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,832 to Tsengas et al.
discloses a lid with a flexible opening, or aperture, for gripping
a removable utensil. The flexible aperture allows a user to alter
the distance of a selected utensil's use-end from the lid by
sliding the utensil's handle one direction or the other within the
aperture. The utensil is a separate element and is not included as
an integral part of the lid.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,725 to Delman et al. discloses a
container closure with an integrated utensil in the form of a
scoop, with one embodiment showing a "nesting" of several scoop
components of diminishing size and which permits the scoop to form
various "expanded" or "collapsed" states. These scoop components
are a structure of discreet elements that may be easily separated,
though they provide for a handle element that remains outside of a
container when the container is sealed.
[0006] A need still exists for a container lid with an attached
utensil that is integrated to function as a single device, with a
means of forming a handle that is exterior to a container for
operation of the utensil, a use end that may be stored inside a
container, and a capacity to easily change the location of the
utensil's use end relative to the lid to "collapse" the device to
permit storage of the use-end inside the container or "expand" the
device for improved access to food within the container. In
addition, the integrated device should provide an airtight seal to
help preserve, prevent spillage, and contain the odor of any unused
contents within the container when attached to a container.
DISCLOSURE
[0007] A new type of container closure device, or lid, for food
containers is disclosed. The device has an integrated utensil with
a use-end (the scoop or tines, for example) that may be stored
inside a container when the lid is attached. The utensil's handle
projects upward from the top of the lid and remains outside of the
container when the container is sealed. The utensil is desirably
part of an expandable and collapsible feature of the lid. When the
feature is in a collapsed state, the utensil's use-end is at a
distance that is relatively closer to the lid. This allows the
device to be used to reseal a food container with the utensil's
use-end stored inside the container. When the feature is in an
expanded state the utensil's use-end extends away from the lid,
increasing the relative distance between the use-end and the lid
for a wider range of maneuverability of the utensil and provides a
user with better access to food within the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows views of the device in a collapsed state, from
top and bottom perspectives
[0009] FIG. 2 shows views of the device in an expanded state, from
top and bottom perspectives
[0010] FIG. 3 shows various views of the device in an expanded
state
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a view of the device in a collapsed state and
attached to a food can
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a view of the expanding and collapsing portion
of the device in an expanded state
[0013] FIG. 6 shows various embodiments of the expanding and
collapsing portion of the device in a collapsed state
[0014] FIG. 7 shows various embodiments of the expanding and
collapsing portion of the device in an expanded state
[0015] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the device with a folding
utensil
[0016] FIG. 9 shows a close-up view of the folding utensil
mechanism of FIG. 8
[0017] FIGS. 10-12 show an embodiment of the expanding and
collapsing portion of the device that is capable expanding in two
different directions
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Advantageously, the disclosed container closure with an
integrated utensil includes: a circular structure with means for
gripping a container's rim; a flexible component that can move from
a collapsed, and relatively compact, state to an expanded, or
enlarged state; and a utensil operably attached to the flexible
component.
[0019] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the
disclosed device is shown in a collapsed state and in an expanded
state. FIG. 1 shows the device in a collapsed state, and FIGS. 2
and 3 show the device in an expanded state. Flexible component 2 is
capable of moving from a collapsed state to an expanded state and
is attached to circular structure 4 with means for gripping
container rim 6 and sealing the container. These figures show a
circular structure that is configured to fit two different sizes of
cans; additional can-sizes are contemplated.
[0020] Utensil consists of a use-end 10 and a handle-end 12. When
the device is in a collapsed state, the utensil's use-end is at a
distance that is relatively closer to the lid (see FIG. 1). This
allows the device to be used to reseal a food container with the
utensil's use-end stored inside the container (see FIG. 4). When
the device is in an expanded state the utensil's use-end extends
away from the lid, increasing the relative distance between the
use-end and the lid (see FIGS. 2 and 3). This allows for a wider
range of maneuverability of the utensil and provides a user with
better access to food within the container.
[0021] Another embodiment with a utensil capable of folding flat
against the lid, is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the
utensil's handle-end 12 and use-end 10, may pivot on a hub 14 that
can be locked in an upright position when the utensil is being
used. A sealing component 16 provides an airtight seal when the
utensil is folded flat into a stored position.
[0022] Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. In this
embodiment, the flexible component can move from a collapsed state
to an expanded state in two different directions. FIG. 10 shows the
device in a collapsed state from a bottom perspective. FIG. 11
shows the device in an expanded state from a side view, with the
flexible component expanded in a downward direction. FIG. 12 shows
the device in an expanded state in a side view with the flexible
component expanded in an upward direction (the dashed lines in FIG.
12 indicate the alternate direction in which the component may
expand). Grooves 18 in the circular structure, shown in FIGS. 11
and 12, indicate that the device may be optimized to grip on to the
rim and seal different sized containers in two different
directions. Advantages of this design would include using the
device to service different sized containers, including, if
desired, the capacity to manipulate how far the flexible component
expands in each direction to better optimize the utility of the
device for use with different sized containers.
[0023] Other embodiments of the disclosed container closure with
integrated utensil include, but are not limited to, the following
variations:
[0024] The utensil may fold flat against the lid in other ways than
those suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, the utensil may be
compressed downward in a way that leverages the resiliency of the
flexible material to maintain a constant seal, in both upright and
stored positions. The utensil's handle-end may snap or clip on the
circular structure to hold the utensil in a stored position.
[0025] To aid in folding and creating a more compact form, the
utensil may have a hinge or pivot in one or more places. For
example, the use-end and/or the handle-end of the utensil may pivot
on a hinge to lay flat against the lid.
[0026] The flexible component that can move from a collapsed state
to an expanded state need not comprise a form that integrates
stepped-collapse zones, as shown in FIG. 5. For example, the
flexible component could employ instead a radiused form, resembling
a half-sphere, with the half-sphere capable of moving between two
different, and opposite, half-spherical directions while holding
its half-spherical form in both directions.
[0027] The circular structure with means for gripping a container's
rim and the flexible component that can move from a collapsed state
to an expanded state may be manufactured from multiple materials,
as suggested in some of the drawings, or they may also be
manufactured from a single, relatively flexible, material.
[0028] The utensil may be integrated with the expandable or
collapsible feature of the lid in a way that allows the utensil to
be removed from the feature. For example, the flexible feature may
be designed to compress, and seat, on to a specific area of the
utensil, such as around a grooved ring, or depression, located in
the middle of the utensil. When the utensil is properly seated, the
device may be moved easily into an expanded state or a collapsed
state and maintain an airtight seal when attached to a container.
This would allow the utensil to be removed and reseated into the
expandable and collapsible feature and still function properly.
FIG. 12 shows how a utensil could be flipped in its orientation and
then reseated.
[0029] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been
described in language more or less specific as to structural
features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is
not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and
construction shown comprise preferred forms of putting the
invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any
of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope
of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance
with the doctrine of equivalents.
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