IES20140061A2 - A scooping device for removing semi-solid and/or viscous material from containers and a support base for said device - Google Patents

Abstract

A scooping device for removing semi-solid and/or viscous material from containers, the device having an elongated handle and a flexible scooping head adapted to enable a user to remove substantially all of the material from a container. The device from the present invention is designed and specifically adapted to provide the user with the means to have complete access to otherwise waste product which would remain as residue in containers including jars, bottles, tubes and/or pouches. The invention also relates to a base for supporting the scooping device when it is not in use and a hygienic way of holding the scooping device is required.

Description

A SCOOPING DEVICE FOR REMOVING SEMI-SOLID AND/OR VISCOUS MATERIAL FROM CONTAINERS AND A SUPPORT BASE FOR SAID DEVICE The present invention relates to a scooping device for removing semi-solid and/or 5 viscous material from containers.

Cosmetics/beauty products are generally contained in tubes and curved bottles/jars.

Many of these cosmetics are expensive to buy and a user would wish to be able to retrieve all of the product, down to the very last amount that can be scraped from the W walls and base of a bottle, tube or jar.

However, in practice it is extremely difficult to retrieve all of such beauty products/cosmetics due to the shape of the jar/bottle, which may include shoulders on the jar and so product residue tends to be inaccessible to the user and hence wasted.

The same problem arises with products contained in tubes having an outlet such as a nozzle for dispensing creams and lotions; a user simply cannot get all the product out of the tube by squeezing the tube.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the disadvantages of the prior art.

Accordingly the present invention provides a scooping device for removing semi-solid and/or viscous material from containers, the device having an elongated handle and a flexible scooping head adapted to enable a user to remove substantially all of the material from a container.

In one aspect, the scooping device has a relatively small dimensioned scooping head adapted for removing lotions, creams and/or gels from containers, and in particular to a scooping device which is specifically adapted to be able to remove substantially all of the lotions, creams and/or gel product contents from a container such as a jar, bottle, or 30 tube, so that all of the product is available for use by a user. In this first aspect, the present Invention Is particularly useful for removing small amounts of beauty products from cosmetics containers which otherwise would remain as expensive and inaccessible residue on the discarded containers.

S86416 In the first aspect, the semi-solid and/or viscous material may comprise lotions, creams and/or gels.

In a second aspect, the scooping device has a relatively large dimensioned scooping head adapted for use for instance in a kitchen, in this second aspect, the handle may be longer than the handle of the scooping device in the first aspect.

In the second aspect, the material may comprise a sauce, paste or semi-solid food product.

The scooping device from the present invention is designed and specifically adapted to provide the user with the means to have complete access to what would otherwise end up as waste product which would remain as residue in containers including jars, bottles, tubes and/or pouches.

The scooping device of the present invention preferably comprises a specially moulded plastic spoon with a curved rubberised handle to fit comfortably in the hand, while the long, elongated and narrow neck has the advantage that it provides easy access into the most constrictive of bottle shapes and the scooping head's unique shape and rubberised end to scoop out the product from a round or square shaped container.

The material from which the scooping device is manufactured is flexible and the scooping device Includes a tip (lip) which has more flexibility such that the lip is adapted to act as a squeegee against the inside walls of the container.

The main material from which the scooping device is manufactured can be any number of core materials such as ABS, polycarbonate, nylon etc, but may also (and most likely) be a composite material.

The most suitable material is based on this design with these cross section profiles and wall thickness. It would not be the only way to achieve the function though (i.e. thinner wall thicknesses with harder material or increased wall thicknesses with softer material).

Realistically, the materia] possibilities are endless as the scooping device needs to provide a degree of flex and strength so the mix composition may be formed from any number of material combinations. Furthermore, the material does not have to be limited to plastics material though preferably, the scooping device is formed of plastics material.

The tip (lip) may be made of any rubberised material, for example, an over-moulded polyurethane. This allows the scooping head to follow rounded or flat surfaces as it will form to shape (this provides a squeegee effect such that the lip of the scooping head can be pressed against inside walls of a container and the lip will scrape against the inside walls, removing any material which is remaining as residue on the inside walls and enable this material to be collected from the container).

The handle area may also be made of over-moulded with rubberised material, but this is optional aesthetic and for comfort so does not affect the function, so may or may not be included.

Another possible construction would be to use a skeleton of flat spring steel with an over-molded main shape of polyurethane. This would mean only one material is visible with no split lines or joins and all the strength and spring is provided by the spring steel. This is a possible option as it would allow better control and strength and potentially reduce manufacturing costs.

The curve (curvature) of the handle is important as it allows the device to be manoeuvred better inside smaller bottles with hard to reach areas.

The scoop head shape has two features, each having its own function. First is the main squeegee area that pushes against the bottle, the other is the raise back surface, that allows a user to remove material from under the rim which allows almost full access to all material left on the inside walls of the container.

Because the materials and construction possibilities are so vast, any number of materials and construction methods can be used that achieve the desired functions described above.

The invention also relates to a base for supporting the scooping device when it is not in use and a hygienic way of holding the scooping device is required.

The present invention also provides a support base which is adapted to receive the scooping device such that the scooping device is held in a secure manner in the support base. This has the advantage that the scooping head is kept clean and storage is achieved in a hygienic way when the scooping device is not required for use. The base is in the form of an elongate substantially undulating wave form having a flattened surface at one end onto which the handle can be placed. At the other end of the elongate wave form base is a ledge on which the scooping head rests.

Advantageously, the support base may comprise at least one locking lug adapted to releaseably engage the scooping device so as to hold the scooping device in a storage position; preferably, the support base comprises a locking fug towards one end of the base and a second locking lug provided towards an opposed end of the base.

Furthermore, the support base may comprise an aperture adapted to receive the handle of the scooping device for providing a temporary resting position for the scooping device.

The scooping device of the present invention and the support base for use with the scooping device in accordance with the present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which is shown, by way of example only, a number of embodiments of the device of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the scooping device of the present invention, viewed from the right hand side; Figure 2 is a side view of the scooping device of the present invention, viewed from the left hand side: Figure 3 is a view from the front of the scooping device; Figure 4 is a plan view from the top of the scooping device; Figure 5 is an isometric view of the scooping device; Figure 6 is a side view of the device; Figure 6(a) is a cross sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 6: Figure 6(b) is an enlarged view of the cross section; Figure 7 is a front view of the device; Figure 7(a) is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B of Figure 7; Figure 7(b) is an enlarged view of the scooping head shown in Figure 7(a); Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device; Figure 8(a) is an enlarged view of the scooping head shown in Figure 8; Figures 9(a), (b) and (c) are cross sectional side views showing the construction of the scooping device; Figures 10(a), (b), (c) and (d) are a sequence of cross sectional drawings through a container showing the operation of the device of the invention, in use, to remove product from the container; Figure 11 is a side view of the scooping device of Figures 1 to 10 shown when out of use and resting on the support base; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the scooping device arid support base of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a further perspective view of the scooping device and support base of Figures 11 and 12; Figures 14(A), (B) and (C) and Figures 15(A), (B) and (C) are respectively front and side views of the scooping device and support base; Figure 16a is a front view of the scooping device and base encased in its display packaging; Figure 16b is a side view of the packaged scooping device and base shown in Figure 5 16a; Figure 16c is a rear view of the packaged scooping device and base of Figs 16a and 16b; Figures 17(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are views of a scooping device in an alternative embodiment; Figure 17(a) is a side view: Figure 17(b) is a front view; Figure 17(c) is an enlarged front view of the scooping head of the scoop device; Figure 17(d) is a plan view of the scooping device; Figure 17(e) is a perspective view of the scooping device; Figures 18(a), (b), (c) and (d) are views of an alternative embodiment of the support base for the scooping device, Figure W(a) is an end view; Figure 18(b) is a side view; Figure 18(c) is a plan view; and Figure 18(d) is a perspective view of the support base.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a scooping device In 35 accordance with the invention; Figure 20 is a side view of the embodiment of the scooping device shown in Fig 19; Figure 21 is a front view of the embodiment of the scooping device shown in Fig 19 and Fig 20; Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of the scooping head of the scooping device of Figs 19 to 21; Figure 23 is an exploded side view from a first side of the scooping head of the scooping device of Fig 22; Figure 24 is an exploded side view from a second side of the scooping head of Figs 22; Figure 25 is an exploded plan view from underneath the scooping head of Figs 22 to 24; Figure 26 is an exploded plan view from above of the scooping head of Figs 22 to 25: Figure 27 is an exploded back view of the scooping head of Figs 22 to 26; Figure 28 is an exploded front view of the scooping head of Figs 22 to 27; Figure 29 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a base adapted to accommodate the scooping device of Figs 22 to 28; Figure 30 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the base of Fig 29; Figure 31 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the base shown in Figs 29 and 30; Figure 32 is a view from one end of the base shown in Figs 29 to 31, inclusive; Figure 33 is a view from the other end of the base shown in Figs 29 to 31, inclusive; and Figure 34 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of scooping device shown at rest accommodated securely in the base of Figs 30 to 33.

In the drawings, the scooping device In the first aspect, i.e. the scooping device for removing lotions, creams and/or gels from containers in accordance with the present invention Is indicated generally by reference number 1.

The device 1 is manufactured of flexible polymeric material· The device is generally in the form of a spoon having an elongated handle and the handle 2 has an arcuate profile.

At one end of the handle 2 is a grip pad 3 which facilitates positioning and gripping of a user's thumb on that end of the handle 2.

The device 1 preferably manufactured as a moulded single unit, or alternatively may be formed in two parts, namely the scooping head and the handle which engage with each other to form the scooping device.

At the other end of the handle Ξ, there is provided a scooping head indicated generally by reference numeral 5. The scooping head 5 is specifically adapted to be able to remove any cream, lotion and/or gel from a container such as a cosmetics container including a pot, jar, and/or a tube including removing any small residual amount of lotion, cream, and or gel which would otherwise be extremely difficult or impossible to remove from the container.

The scooping head 5 includes a flattened lip 6 which functions as a ramp tc facilitate removal of any cream, lotion, and/or gel from the container including residual cream/lotlon/gel which otherwise may be on the walls and base of the container.

The scooping head 5 also includes a mouth 7, an upstanding wall 8 provided at one side of the scooping head 5 and a shoulder 10 at the other side of the scooping head 5. In one embodiment, the upstanding wall 8 does not extend the full length of the scooping head 5 out to the end of the lip 6. Similarly, in one embodiment, the shoulder 10 does not extend the full length of the scooping head 5. This enables the lip 6 to properly function as a ramp, urging any cream, lotion and/or gel in front of the lip to be collected in the scooping head 5 under the action of the user moving the device 1.

In use, the device 1 is held or gripped in a user's hand and the arcute profile of the handle 2 enables ease of holding and manipulating by a user to insert the device 1 into a container C of cream, lotion, and/or gel and to remove a desired amount The device 1 is particularly useful for accessing residual amounts of cream, lotion, and/or gel from an almost empty container so as to lessen or eliminate waste of any such cream, lotion, and/or gel The device 1 is manufactured of flexible material which may be a polymeric material· The flex can be achieved in a number of ways. Most likely core means of achieving it are (1) singular material (natural or composite) that will allow flex through thinner thickness areas or (2) over-moulded rubberized material on more rigid core material (this core may be metal or plastic). There must be sufficient flex in the material to adapt to different bottle shapes and give a squeegee effect to maximise the amount of cosmetic to be removed.

A preferred construction may comprise a simple metal frame in spring steel with over moulded polyurethane (or other composite rubber), so only one material visible and no split lines.

Referring now particularly to Figures 6(a), (b), (c) and (d), when the scooping head 5 is used to remove any cream, lotion, and/or gel, especially when used to scrape from the walls or base of the container, the cream, lotion, and/or gel is urged up along the flattened lip 6 and into the mouth 7 of the scooping head 5. The lotion, cream, and/or gel which has now been collected in the scooping head 5 can be readily accessed by a user who can now use the lotion, cream, and/or gel in the appropriate way and all or substantially all product has been from the container using the device 1 of the present invention.

In the case of a tube, one end of the tube must be cut and the device 1 can then be used to access all the cream, lotion and/or gel in the same way as described above.

The scooping device in the second aspect (not shown in the drawings), i.e. with relatively larger dimensional scooping head and possibly a longer handle such that the scooping device in the second aspect could be used in a kitchen for scraping sauce and such like off the inside walls of the container. The scooping device in the second aspect is formed 5 in the same configuration and in the same way as described above for the scooping device in the first aspect. For kitchen use, the scooping device is manufactured in larger dimensions than for the scooping device for use with cosmetic jars and other cosmetics containers.

Referring now particularly to Figures 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, the present invention also provides a support base 50 which is adapted to receive the scooping device 1 such that the scooping device is held in a secure manner in the support base. This has the advantage that the scooping head 5 is kept clean and storage is achieved in a hygienic way when the scooping device 1 is not required for use. The base 50 is in the form of an elongate substantially undulating wave form having a flattened surface at one end onto which the handle can be placed. At the other end of the elongate wave form base 50 is a ledge 55 on which the scooping head 5 rests.

Referring now to Figure 17, a further alternative embodiment of the scooping device of 20 the present invention is shown and is indicated generally by reference numeral 170.

The scooping device 170 in the embodiment shown in Figure 17 comprises scooping head 175 with wall 178; and a handle 172, holding grip portion 173. The scooping device 170 functions in the same way as described above.

Figure 18 shows an alternative embodiment of the elongated wave form of the support base Indicated by reference numeral 250 for holding the scoop device when not in use.

The support base 250 comprises a locking lug 259 against which the hand grip 193 presses, in use, so as to securely hold the hand grip 193 in position, locking lugs 257 for gripping the handle 192 in the region of the handle close to the scooping head. The 30 support base 250 also comprises a seat 251 on which the support base 250 rests on a surface. The support base 250 also includes a support section 255 for scooping head,, upturned extension 256 from the support section of soooplng head The support base 250 shown in Figure 18 functions in the same way as the base 50 described above in relation to Figures 11 to 16 inclusive.

In use, the scooping device handle 192 presses Into the locking lugs 257 near the scooping head 195. On the extreme other end of the device, the holding grip 193 presses into the locking lug 259. The scooping device 190 is now held securely in the respective locking lugs provided on of the support base 250. This is an advantageous feature which facilitates the scooping device being stored but readily available for use by removing from the respective locking lugs.

Figures 19, 20 and 21 of the present invention show a scooping device 190 scooping head 195, a handle 192, a holding grip 193, a side wall on the scooping head 193. Like reference numerals refer to like features and the scooping device 190 functions in the same way as the scooping device 180.

Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 26 show an enhanced view of the scooping head 195, including a side wall 198, a lip 196, a shoulder wall 199, a neck 191. Like reference numerals refer to like features and the scooping device head 195 functions in the same way as the scooping device head 175.

Figure 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 show an enhanced view of the elongated wave form of the base 290, locking lugs 299 for the holding grip 193, locking lugs 297 for the handle 192 near the scooping head 195, support portion of seat 291, second support section 295 near the scooping head 195, upturned extension 296 from the support section for scooping head 295. The reference numbers refer to like features and the elongated form of the support base 290 functions in the same way as the elongated wave form of the base 250.

However, the scooping device 290 also includes an additional advantageous feature, namely an aperture 294 for facilitating insertion of the handle into the aperture 294 such that the holding grip 193 is inserted into the aperture 294 to temporarily hold the scooping device with the scooping head located upwardly, clear of the base 250. This is a convenient holding position to temporarily park the scooping device during use. scooping device resting aperture 294 of scooping device 190.

In use, the aperture for enabling resting of the scooping device 190 by inserting the scooping device into the aperture functions as a holder for the scooping device 190, the scooping device handle 192 is inserted into the scooping device resting aperture 294. The scooping device resting aperture 294 keeps the scooping device 190 in an upright position while the user takes a short break between use of the scooping device. . The user takes the scooping device 190 from the scooping device resting aperture 294 to resume scooping. After the user is finished scooping, the user can engage the scooping device 190 with the locking lug 299 for the holding grip 192 and the locking lugs 297 for the handle 192 near the scooping head 195.

The scooping device in all embodiments of the present invention can be used conveniently and advantageously, to scoop out the last of the contents of a container and the scooping device is particularly designed to enable the last of the contents to be 10 reached at the end of a container, along the side walls of a container and even underneath the neck of a container.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details herein described, which are given by way of example only, and that various 15 modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A scooping device for removing semi-solid and/or viscous material from containers, the device having an elongated handle and a flexible scooping head adapted to enable a user to remove substantially all of the material from a container, optionally wherein the semi-solid and/or viscous material is in the form of a cream, lotion and/or gel.

2. A scooping device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the device is manufactured of flexible polymeric material.

3. A scooping device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the device is generally in the form of a spoon having an elongated handle and the handle has an arcuate profile: optionally, wherein at one end of the handle is a grip pad which facilitates positioning and gripping of a user's thumb on that end of the handle.

4. A support base for a scooping device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the support base comprises at least one locking lug adapted to releaseably engage the scooping device so as to hold the scooping device in a storage position; optionally wherein the support base comprises a locking lug towards one end of the base and a second locking lug provided towards an opposed end of the base; and optionally wherein the support base comprises an aperture adapted to receive the handle of the scooping device for providing a temporary resting position for the scooping device.

5. A scooping device for removing material such as cream, lotion and/or gel from containers; and a base for said scooping device substantially in accordance with any of the embodiments herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.