EP2449351A1

EP2449351A1 - Packaged product with scoop

Info

Publication number: EP2449351A1
Application number: EP10745464A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raphael Louis Mangin; Wei Zhang; Wei Ren; Guangyan Ding; Billy Gonzales Abergas; Katy Saint-Ignan
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2009-06-30
Filing date: 2010-06-23
Publication date: 2012-05-09
Also published as: JP2012530660A; BRPI1016014A2; JP5453528B2; RU2011150417A; CN102472655A; US20100326851A1; RU2576011C2; MX2011013923A; WO2011002639A1

Abstract

A packaged product has (a) a solid product and (b) a scoop for dosing the solid product, and (c) a flexible package containing the solid product and the scoop therein. The scoop has a bowl and a handle. The bowl has a proximal bowl edge. The handle has a proximal handle edge and a distal handle edge. The proximal handle edge connects to the proximal bowl edge. The scoop bowl has a yield point from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa.

Description

PACKAGED PRODUCT WITH SCOOP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaged product containing (a) a solid product, (b) a scoop for dosing the solid product, and (c) a flexible package containing the solid product and the scoop therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scoops have been used in various fields. For example, scoops have been used in granular products such as fabric and home care products (e.g., detergents) for dosing the correct amount. Detergents are normally packed in a package such as cartons, hard plastic containers, and flexible packages. Flexible packages are useful in maintaining not only the freshness of the product stored, but also an aid in preventing moisture or air from entering the enclosed product, as flexible packages typically possess good, if not the best, moisture and air barrier properties for a given weight of packaging material. In addition, a flexible package normally costs less than a comparable carton or hard plastic container.

For consumers to dose a granular product correctly, a scoop may be included with the granular product in the market such as in a carton or a hard plastic container. But a scoop is not typically in a flexible package. In the past, if a harder, more rigid scoop is contained together with a granular product in a flexible package, the scoop may damage the flexible package from inside during shipping and/or storage, sometimes resulting in tearing or puncturing of the flexible package, because the flexible package is generally thinner and weaker than the scoop. If this happens, the granular product may leak out of the tear or the puncture. This can make the flexible package messy and the consumers may not like such a messy or damaged product. In addition, if some produce has leaked out, then consumers may feel they are not getting all the product they are paying for.

Also, if the flexible package containing the scoop and the granular product therein is dropped, the scoop can damage the flexible package from inside and the scoop can be deformed due to a pressure. Further, if a plurality of flexible packages are stacked for storage, shipping or sale, a softer scoop contained in the bottom stack may be deformed by the heavy weight from the upper stacks. A deformed scoop may not be able to measure the correct amount of the granular product, may be difficult to use, and/or may be broken. Accordingly, it is one of the objectives of the present invention to provide a scoop which reduces or even avoids damaging a flexible package during shipping, and/or storage. It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a scoop which balances rigidity, flexibility, and deformation even under heavy weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaged product containing (a) a solid product, (b) a scoop for dosing the solid product, and (c) a flexible package containing the solid product and the scoop therein. The scoop has a bowl and a handle. The bowl has a proximal bowl edge. The handle has a proximal handle edge and a distal handle edge. The proximal handle edge connects to the proximal bowl edge. The scoop bowl has a yield point of from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa.

The inventors have surprisingly found that the packaged product herein is less damaging to the flexible package while the scoop is also less deformable. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the packaged product herein can contain both a solid product and a scoop in a flexible package while minimizing breakage and damage. The scoop can recover to its original shape after being pressed by an external weight due to its resiliency and bowl thickness, while simultaneously reducing damage to a flexible package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is more readily understood by the attached non-limiting drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a scoop of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side plan view of the scoop of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the scoop of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bowl edge of the scoop of FIG. 1 seen along Line 4-4;

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the cross-sectional view of a bowl edge; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a flexible package whose opening is folded and fastened by the scoop of FIG. 1.

The drawings herein are not necessarily drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaged product having (a) a solid product, (b) a scoop for dosing the solid product, and (c) a flexible package containing the solid product and the scoop therein. The scoop has a bowl and a handle. The bowl has a proximal bowl edge and a distal bowl edge. The handle has a proximal handle edge and a distal handle edge. The proximal handle edge connects to the proximal bowl edge. The scoop bowl has a yield point of from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa, from about 10 MPa to about 60 MPa, from about 16 MPa to about 40 MPa, or from about 30 MPa to about 38 MPa.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a scoop of the present invention. The scoop, 20, has a bowl, 21. The bowl, 21, has a proximal bowl edge, 22 and a distal bowl edge, 23, opposed to the proximal bowl edge, 22. The bowl, 21, has a bowl bottom, 24 and a front wall, 25, connecting to the bowl bottom, 24. The bowl, 21, has a first bowl sidewall, 26, connecting the bowl bottom, 24, and the front wall, 25. The bowl, 21, has a second bowl sidewall, 27, opposed to the first bowl sidewall, 26, connecting the bowl bottom, 24, and the front wall, 25. The bowl, 21, has a back wall, 28, opposed to the front wall, 25, and connected to the bowl bottom, 24, the first bowl sidewall, 26, and the second bowl sidewall, 27. In FIG. 1, the front wall, 25, the first bowl sidewall, 26, the second bowl sidewall, 27, and the back wall, 28, start at and are integrally connected with the bowl bottom, 24, and terminate at a bowl edge, 29. These features allow the bowl, 21, to hold the solid product without leaking.

The scoop, 20, has a handle, 30. The handle, 30, has a proximal handle edge, 31 and a distal handle edge, 32, opposed to the proximal handle edge, 31.

As the present invention is intended for smaller volumes, the capacity of the bowl, 21, can range from about 5 ml to about 200 ml, from about 20 ml to about 180 ml, from about 30 ml to about 150 ml, or from about 50 ml to about 100 ml. The capacity of the bowl, 21, can be measured by the maximum volume of water which can be stably held in the scoop, otherwise known in the packaging art as the overflow volume.

The scoop, 20, has a handle, 30, which has a handle length, L, from the proximal handle edge, 31, to the distal handle edge, 32, which his sufficient for a normal adult human hand, preferably an adult female hand, to comfortably hold it. Accordingly, the length, L, may be from about 50 mm to about 100 mm, from 55 mm to about 95 mm, or from about 60 mm to about 90 mm. The bowl, 21, may have measurement markings 33, in the first bowl side wall, 26, the second bowl sidewall, 27, and/or the front wall, 25. The measurement markings, 33, can be used to help the consumer to understand the amount of solid product to be used.

In FIG. 1, the handle, 30, has an optional clip, 40 therein. The clip, 40, has a clip base, 41, connecting to the handle, 30. The clip, 40, also has a free edge, 42, opposite to the clip base, 41. The clip, 40, has an optional undulation, 43, extending from the clip base, 41, toward the free edge, 42. The clip, 40, together with the rest of the handle, 30, may serve as a fastening device when the scoop, 20, is fastened to the flexible package (see FIG. 6 at 100). Without intending to be bound by theory, as the clip is integrated with the handle, the scoop does not need an extra material or device in order to fasten to the flexible package. As the clip protrudes from the distal handle edge toward the proximal handle edge and the bowl, when the scoop is fastened to the flexible package, the clip, the handle side arms and the bowl edge may contact the external surface of the flexible package. It leads to increased contact stability.

The clip, 40, protrudes from the distal handle edge, 32, towards the proximal handle edge, 31. In this specification, the term "protrude towards the proximal handle edge" means that a clip, 40, may be formed so that the clip orientation crosses a space above the bowl, 21. More specifically, the clip, 40, has an imaginary center line connecting the free edge, 42, and a center of the clip base, 41. The imaginary center line may cross the space above the bowl, 21. The configuration can help the scoop, 20, better fasten to the flexible package because a large amount of the bowl edge, 29, may contact the flexible package when the scoop is fastened to the flexible packaged via the clip, 40. This contact increases the coefficient of friction between the flexible package and the scoop.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side plan view of the scoop of FIG. 1. The scoop, 20, extends in a top side, T, and in a bottom side, B. The plane of the bowl edge, 29, is open on the top side, T, while it is closed on the bottom, B.

The material used for the scoop herein may have a flexural modulus from about 800 MPa to about 5,000 MPa, from about 1,000 MPa to about 3,000 MPa, or from about 1,300 MPa to about 2,000 MPa. The flexural modulus is a measurement of an object's ability to resist deformation under a load. The flexural modulus reflects the ratio of stress to strain in flexural deformation, or the tendency for a material to bend. If the material has a very high flexural modulus, this means it is very rigid and inflexible. A scoop made from such a rigid material may be so hard that it may damage a flexible package upon rubbing or jabbing during shipping, handling and/or storage. If the material has a very low flexural modulus indicating that it is soft, then a scoop made from such a material may be too soft, bent or permanently deformed when pressed by a heavy weight. The inventors have found by careful examination that the scoop herein has an appropriate yield point which may not be deformed by a heavy weight while also reducing damage to the flexible package.

The flexural modulus can be measured according to ASTM (American Standard Testing Method) 790, procedure A. A material specimen (0.32 cm x 1.27 cm x 12.7 cm) is placed on two supports and a load is applied at the center. The load at flexural yield is the sample material's flexural modulus. This is the preferred method for use herein.

The scoop herein has a yield point from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa, from about 10 MPa to about 60 MPa, from about 16 MPa to about 40 MPa, or from about 30 MPa to about 38 MPa. Yield point is a pressure or a stress that is needed to create a permanent deformation of a material without increase in the load.

The resiliency of the scoop can be measured by a computational calculation using software ABAQUS 6.8 EFR (Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.) to simulate deformation and to predict structural performance of the scoop under specific conditions. ABAQUS model can predict the performance of a design based on the material properties, such as yield point. Corner squeeze model is typically employed.

CORNER SQUEEZE MODEL

Two corners of the bowl in the scoop opposed to each other were squeezed by two fingers loading, pointing to each other. The computational calculation predicts the resiliency of the scoop, i.e., yield point. The corner squeeze model reflects the stress obliquely applied to the bowl of the scoop.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the scoop of FIG. 1. The scoop, 20, has a bowl edge, 29, having four round corners including two front corners, 46, and two rear corners, 47. The front corner, 46, has a front radius, r_F. The rear corner, 47, has a rear radius, r_R. In the scoop of FIG. 3, the front radius, rp, is larger than the rear radius, T_R. The larger the front radius, rp, is, the less sharp the front corner, 46, becomes. It has been surprisingly found that a majority of the rupturing of the flexible package can be attributed to the front corners, 46, being too sharp (i.e., too small of a rp). A less sharp front corner, rp, is a relatively rounder shape, and it is less likely to cause damage when it rubs or is jabbed into the flexible package. In an embodiment herein, r_F is from about 5 mm to about 20 mm, from about 6 mm to about 18 mm, or from about 7 mm to about 16 mm. In an embodiment herein, T_R is from about 4 mm to about 16 mm, from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or from about 6 mm to about 14 mm. Such a round front corner shape may also feel comfortable and may be gentle to consumers' fingers.

Likewise, the distal handle edge, 32, may have a distal handle corner, 50. The distal handle corner, 50, has a distal handle edge radius, r_DH. In the scoop of FIG. 3, the distal handle edge radius, Γ_DH, is large and it serves to round out the shape of the distal handle edge corner, 50. It has also been surprisingly found that a significant portion of the rupturing of the flexible package can be attributed to the distal handle corners, 50, being too sharp (i.e., too small of a I^* _DH)- A less sharp distal handle corner, Γ_DH, is relatively rounder shape, and it is also less likely to damage the flexible package. The distal handle edge radius, Γ_DH, may be from about 6 mm to about 18 mm, from about 7 mm to about 17 mm, or from about 8 mm to about 15 mm. When both the front corner shape and the distal handle corner shape are round, then the scoop, 20, herein significantly reduces damage to the flexible package when contained in the flexible package.

A plurality of flexible packages containing a solid product may often be stacked for storage, shipping, sale, and so on. When a prior art scoop is included in each flexible package, there is a larger chance that the scoop may damage the flexible package from inside. Especially, when a plurality of flexible packages are stacked, a scoop in the bottom stack may be pressed with a heavy weight because of the tall stacks. Such a scoop may be more likely to damage the flexible package upon contact from inside. Then the prior art scoop inside the flexible package may tear or puncture the flexible package. In contrast, as the yield point of the scoop herein is from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa, from about 10 MPa to about 60 MPa, from about 16 MPa to about 40 MPa, or from about 30 MPa to about 38 MPa, as simulated by the corner squeeze model (see hereinafter), the scoop may be resilient enough to bend when pressed by the weight of additional bags. As the scoop is more resilient, it is not as likely to poke a hole or otherwise puncture the flexible package. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that this may significantly reduce or altogether eliminate such scoop-related damage to the flexible package. At the same time, the scoop herein is rigid enough so as to not be permanently deformed when the flexible packages are stacked high.

In addition, a rounded front corner shape of the bowl in the scoop herein may be gentler to the flexible package and also reduce damage thereto. Also, a rounded distal handle corner shape of the scoop herein may be gentler to the flexible package and also reduce damage thereto.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bowl edge, seen along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. In the cross-section surface of FIG. 4, the bowl, 21, has a bowl edge, 29. The bowl, 21, has a top part, 33, and a bottom part, 34, connected to the top part, 33. The top part, 33, has a top thickness, TH_T, and the bottom part, 34, has a bottom thickness, TH_B. In an embodiment herein, the top thickness, TH_T, is larger than the bottom thickness, TH_B. The top part, 33, includes a bowl edge, 29, which may contact the flexible package when the scoop, 20, is contained therein. Comparing the top part, 33, and the bottom part, 34, the invention herein recognizes that the top part, 33, with an open mouth may need to be more rigid than the bottom part, 34, because of the force needed during scooping. As the top thickness, TH_T, is formed relatively thicker than the bottom thickness, TH_B, the top part, 33, may be less likely to be bent or deformed. In addition, the scoop herein provides a larger top thickness, TH_T, over a bottom thickness, TH_B, which requires less material, thereby balancing the rigidity required, with material savings.

In FIG. 4, the bowl edge, 29, typically has a round shape on the external side (i.e., the distal bowl edge, 23), the first bowl sidewall, 26, and/or the second bowl sideway, 27. As the bowl edge, 29, has a rounded edge shape defined by a radius ri, the scoop, 20, may be less damaging to the flexible package if the bowl edge, 29, contacts the flexible package. When the scoop, 20, is contained in a flexible package and when the flexible package is subjected to shipment and storage, the external side of the bowl edge, 29, may more likely contact the flexible package. The round shape of the external side of the bowl edge, 29, can eliminate the issue of damaging the flexible package from inside, ri is from about 0.05 mm to about 1.0 mm, from about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm, or from about 0.2 mm to about 0.45 mm.

In one embodiment for scooping a granular laundry detergent, the top thickness, TH_T, is from about 1.1 mm to about 2.4 mm, from about 1.2 mm to about 1.8 mm, or from about 1.3 mm to about 1.7 mm. The bottom thickness, TH_B, is from about 0.4 mm to about 1.2 mm, from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm or from about 0.6 mm to about 0.9 mm. The top thickness, TH_T, is typically at least about 15%, at least about 20% or at least about 25% larger than the bottom thickness, TH_B. Without intending to be bound by theory, the difference of the top thickness and the bottom thickness may also improve the stacking of the scoops so that they do not stick to each other. This may be because the top part, 33, of the upper scoop can rest upon, but not enter, the bowl edge, 29, of the lower scoop when stacked thereupon.

FIG. 5 is a similar view as FIG. 4, and illustrates another embodiment of the cross- sectional view of the scoop of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the top thickness, TH_T, and the bottom thickness, TH_B, are also explicitly different from each other. As shown in FIG. 5, the thickness of the bowl wall gradually decreases from the top thickness, TH_T, toward the bottom thickness, TH_B. In FIG. 5, the sectional view of the bowl edge, 29, has a rounded shape, defined by a radius, Yi. In an embodiment herein, Yi is from about 0.05 mm to about 1.0 mm, from about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm, or from about 0.2 mm to about 0.45 mm. Due to this rounded edge shape, the scoop, 20, may further reduce damage to the flexible package.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a flexible package whose opening is folded and fastened by the scoop shown in FIG. 1. When a consumer first opens the flexible package, 100, containing a product inside, a part of the flexible package, 100, is cut or torn away to form an opening at the perimeter, 102. The opening is large enough to use the scoop, 20, to remove some product out of the flexible package, 100. Then the open flexible package, 100, may need reclosing to avoid spillage of the product inside and/or to avoid, moisture or air entering the opened flexible package, 100. The bowl edge, 29, contacts the external surface of the flexible package, 100. The clip (not shown) and the handle, 30, may fasten the flexible package, 100. In FIG. 6, the perimeter, 102, is folded over itself three times. In order to use the clip, 40, a flexible package, 100, is brought close to the free edge, 42, and the folded perimeter, 102, is thereafter guided between the handle, 30, and the clip, 40.

The resiliency of the scoop depends on many factors such as temperature, the shape of the scoop, the structure of the scoop, the thickness of the scoop, the flexural modulus of the material itself, etc. However, current CAD and computer programs can calculate the estimated flexural modulus of virtually any shape. Herein, the flexural modulus is calculated at room temperature (e.g., 25 ⁰C) using the ABAQUS 6.8 EFR (Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.) software to simulate deformation and to predict structural performance of the scoop under specific conditions. The ABAQUS model can predict a design's performance based on the material properties, such as flexural modulus and Young's modulus, the structure, etc. For plastic materials, the physical significance of the flexural modulus is the same as tensile modulus as well as Young's modulus, which describes the elastic properties of a solid undergoing tension of compression in only one direction.

CORNER SQUEEZE MODEL

Two corners of the bowl in the scoop opposed to each other were squeezed by two fingers loading, pointing to each other. The computational calculation predicts the yield point of the scoop. The corner squeeze model reflects the stress obliquely applied to the bowl of the scoop. The yield point can be from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa, from about 10 MPa to about 60 MPa, from about 16 MPa to about 40 MPa, or from about 30 MPa to about 38 MPa. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the yield point within these ranges provide an excellent balance between rigidity during use and deformability during shipping/storage. The scoop herein may be injection molded, which typically provides a finished product which is both durable and sturdy. Other production methods known in the art such as blow molding, vacuum forming, etc. may be also useful to produce the scoop herein.

The scoop herein may be made of any kinds of material, typically a plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, and/or polychlorovinyl. In an embodiment herein the scoop is made from a thermoplastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof. Suitable materials include TitanPro^® SM546 (flexural modulus: 1030 MPa; provided by Titan Chemicals, Pasir Gudang, Malaysia), Hyundai Seetec^® PP R1510 (flexural modulus: 1030 MPa; provided by Seetec, Seoul, South Korea), Hyosung Topilene^® J640A PP (flexural modulus: 1226 MPa; provided by Hyosung Corporation, Seoul, South Korea), TitanPro^® SM668 (flexural modulus: 1275 MPa, provided by Titan Chemicals, Pasir Gudang, Malaysia), Exxon Mobile^® 7033N (flexural modulus: 1310 MPa; provided by Exxon Mobile Chemical, Beijing, China), Yuhwa Polypro^® 4017M (flexural modulus: 1565 MPa; provided by Korean Petrochemical Industry Co., Seoul, South Korea), TitanPro^® PJ914 (flexural modulus: 1710 MPa, provided by Titan Chemicals, Pasir Gudang, Malaysia), Moplen HP648N (flexural modulus: 1870 MPa; provided by Lyondellbasell, Rotterdam, Netherlands).

The packaged product herein contains a flexible package which contains the scoop described hereinbefore and a solid product therein. The flexible package may have a thickness from about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm, from about 0.03 mm to about 2 mm, or from about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm. The material used for the flexible package may be a film package, and may include, but is not limited to, a thermoplastic material (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polychlorovinyl, polyethylene terephthalate, and a combination thereof), a paper material (e.g., paper, cardboard, etc.), a rubber material, and the like. The flexible package may be laminated with another flexible material, such as rubber, a metallic foil (e.g., aluminum), paper, etc.

The packaged product herein contains a solid product. The solid product is contained in the flexible package together with the scoop as described hereinbefore. The solid product may include, e.g., a detergent, a fabric enhancer, a hard surface cleaner, a bleach, a coffee bean, a coffee powder, a milk powder, a pet food, a snack, a cereal, a grain, etc. The solid product may be selected from the group consisting of a powder, a granule, a flake, a tablet and a combination thereof. Such products are per se known in the art of consumer products. The scoop may be transparent, translucent or opaque. The scoop may contain at least one color. The scoop may contain a plurality of colors; i.e., from two to five colors.

EXAMPLE

Scoops similar to that shown in FIG. 1 were manufactured from polypropylene materials below by injection molding. All scoops had exactly the same structure and shape, as they were made from the same master molds.

Option 1 (Exxon Mobile® 7033N, material flexural modulus: 1,310 MPa, Yield Point: 26 MPa), Option 2 (Yuhwa Polypro® 4017M , material flexural modulus: 1,565 MPa, Yield Point: 34 MPa),

Option 3 (TitanPro® PJ914, material flexural modulus: 1,710 MPa; Yield Point: 29 MPa)

The molded scoop was subjected to a shipping and stacking test as shown below. Each scoop was filled into a flexible package (laminate of 12 μm PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and 85 μm PE (polyethylene)) filled with a granular detergent product (Tide^® powder, provided by Procter and Gamble China, 1.55 kg/flexible package) to prepare filled flexible packages. Then the filled flexible packages were sealed. The sealed flexible bags were packed inside a poly woven bag (6 flexible bags (3 rows x 2 columns) per poly woven bag). The poly woven bags were stacked on a pallet (6 stacks per pallet). The pallets were loaded on a container and the container was loaded on a truck. The container was shipped from Nanjing, P. R. China to Beijing, P. R. China by truck (-2,400 km). The poly woven bags were downloaded on a pallet. The poly woven packages were then loaded on a container again. The flexible packages were retrieved from the poly woven packages and stacked on a moving cart, and stacked on a pallet for 4 weeks. Thus resulting flexible packages were subjected to a quality check. In the quality check, the number of (1) scoop deformations and (2) punctures of the flexible package were measured.

(1) Scoop Deformation

After the shipping (2,400 km) and stacking (4 weeks) test above, the deformation of the flexible packages were examined.

Option 1: 25 of 312 scoops were deformed (8 %).

Option 2: 0 of 312 scoops were deformed (0 %).

Option 3: 37 of 312 scoops were deformed (12 %).

(2) Puncture of the flexible package

(i) Shipping and stacking test After the shipping and stacking test above, the puncture of the flexible packages were examined.

Option 1: 1 of 624 flexible bags was punctured (0.2 %).

Option 2: 0 of 624 flexible bags were punctured (0 %).

Option 3: 0 of 624 flexible bags were punctured (0 %).

(ii) Puncture after dropping test

The poly woven bag (accommodating 3 x 2 flexible packages containing the scoop and a granular detergent inside) was dropped from 3 m high to a flat ground. The flexible packages were retrieved out of the poly woven bag and examined.

Option 1: 4 of 30 flexible bags were punctured (13 %).

Option 2: 0 of 36 flexible bags was punctured (0 %).

Option 3: 6 of 36 flexible bags were punctured (17 %).

From the results above, options 1, 2 and 3 are preferable, and option 2 is most preferable among the three. Options 1 to 3 showed almost no punctures by "shipping and stacking test", but if the packages are subjected to "puncture after dropping test", option 2 showed no punctures, while options 1 and 3 showed a small amount of punctures.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purpose only and that various modifications or changes will be suggested to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A packaged product comprising

(a) a solid product,

(b) a scoop for dosing the solid product, the scoop comprising

(1) a bowl comprising a proximal bowl edge and

(2) a handle comprising a proximal handle edge and a distal handle edge, the proximal handle edge connecting to the proximal bowl edge,

wherein the bowl has a yield point of from about 7 MPa to about 70 MPa, and

(c) a flexible package comprising the solid product and the scoop therein.

2. The packaged product according to Claim 1, wherein the bowl comprises a vertical cross section, the vertical cross section comprising a top part comprising a top thickness and the bottom part comprising a bottom thickness, wherein the top thickness is larger than the bottom thickness.

3. The packaged product according to Claim 2, wherein the top thickness is from about 1.1 mm to about 2.4 mm and the bottom thickness is from about 0.4 mm to about 1.2 mm.

4. The packaged product according to Claim 1, wherein the bowl comprises a vertical cross section, the vertical cross section comprising a bowl wall thickness which gradually decreases from the top to the bottom.

5. The packaged product according to Claim 1, the bowl further comprising a proximal bowl edge and a distal bowl edge, the bowl further comprising a front corner at the proximal bowl edge, the front corner comprising a front radius and a rear corner at the distal bowl edge, the rear corner comprising a rear radius, wherein the front radius is larger than the rear radius.

6. The packaged product according to Claim 1, wherein the solid product is selected from the group consisting of a powder, a granule, a flake, a tablet and a combination thereof.

7. The packaged product according to Claim 1, wherein the solid product is selected from the group consisting of a fabric detergent, a fabric enhancer, a hard surface cleaner, a bleach, a coffee bean, a coffee powder, a milk powder, a pet food, a snack, a cereal, a grain, and a combination thereof.

8. The packaged product according to Claim 1, wherein the scoop comprises a plastic.

9. The packaged product according to Claim 8, wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polychlorovinyl and a mixture thereof.

10. The packaged product according to Claim 1, wherein the scoop has a bowl edge and the bowl edge has a round corner comprising a radius of from about 0.05 mm to about 1.0 mm.