MXPA97007953A - Container for powder product, which has a dosing spoon device in my - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container adapted to be filled with a powder product and comprising: a hollow container body of a desired configuration defining opposite upper and lower end portions, said lower end portion of the container being opened to fill the container with the powder product through said open lower end and said container with an inverted position and being used to close after being filled; an end closure fixed to the upper end portion of the container for closing said upper end portion for daptarel container to be filled through the open lower end portion while the container is in the inverted position, said upper end closure including easy opening means for fitting said container to be easily opened by removing at least a portion of the upper end closure to obtain access to the powder product inside the c the container after filling and closing the lower end portion, and a metering spoon device having an open side and a closed side and that is unrestrably fixed on said closed side to an internal surface of the portion of said upper end closure adapted to be removed during the opening of the container 1 to adapt said spoon device to be remifed and detached to be used after opening the container and 2 to adapt the container to be filled in the inverted position with the open side of the spoon device facing upwards to receive powder product in it during filling to prevent undesirable air from being trapped inside the scoop device

Description

CONTAINER FOR POWDER PRODUCT, WHICH HAS A DQSIFICATION SPOON DEVICE IN THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a container adapted to be filled with a powder product and having a metering spoon or dispenser therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In some containers adapted for packaging-powdered products, such as food products, cleaning products, etc., it is often desirable to place a metering spoon or dispenser, such as a spoon, in the container for removal and use by the operator. consumer after the container has been opened to dispense and supply the powder product. If the bucket is simply placed in the container with the powder product either before or during the filling of the container with the product, the consumer will have to look for the bucket through the product after opening the container, which is annoying and increases the probability of contamination of the product by the hands of the consumer. It has been suggested to fix the measuring spoon to a portion of a container upper end closure so that when the end closure of the container is removed to open the container, the container spoon is easily available to the consumer. However, trapped air may be trapped under the measuring spoon during or after filling the container, which causes problems with the powder product, particularly if the product is susceptible to being contaminated by oxygen. and to place the dosing spoon close to the supepor * closure so that it is readily available to the consumer when opening the container, most current commercial operations involve the insertion of a dosing spoon into the top of a full container and pushing it towards the upper part of the powder product to avoid trapped air and make it available in the upper part of the When opening the container * »However, this operation is slow and annoying and makes the entire manufacturing operation more expensive.

OBJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of this invention is to overcome the above problems and provide a container to be filled with a powder product and having a two-ladle bucket device therein which avoids trapping * air inside the metering ladle device during the filling the container and placing said dosing spoon device for easy access by the consumer when opening the container through the upper end closure .. By means of this invention it has been found that the above object can be achieved by providing a container * that has the following construction. A hollow container body of desired configuration is provided which defines opposite upper and lower end portions. The lower end portion of the container opens to fill the container with powdered product through the lower end and with the container in an inverted position and is adapted to close after being filled. An end closure is attached to the upper end portion of container for closing the upper end portion to adapt the container to be filled through the open lower end portion while the container is in the inverted position. The upper end closure includes easy opening means for adapting the container to be easily opened by removing at least a portion of the upper end closure to gain access to the powder product within the container after filling and closing the lower end portion. A dosing device is provided which has an open side and a closed side. The dosing device is detachably fixed on the closed side to an inner surface of the upper end closure part which is adapted to be removed during the opening of the container.

This construction adapts the dosing scoop device to be removed and detached for use after opening the filled container by removing the part of the upper end closure to which it is attached. This construction also adapts the container to be filled in the inverted position when the open side of the metering spoon device faces upwards so that the powder product fills the spoon device during filling to prevent unwanted air from being trapped inside. of the measuring spoon device during the filling operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects and advantages of this invention have been set forth above; other objects and advantages will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of a full container constructed in accordance with with that invention with a dosing device in the same and having a first embodiment of an upper end closure; Figure 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view, partially uncovered, of the container of Figure 1 and generally taken along line 2-2 of the Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the filled container of Figure 1 illustrating said container when it is being opened; Figure 4A is a sectional elevation view of the container of Figure 1 in an inverted position with the lower end portion open before filling the container with the powder product; Figure 4B is a view, like that of Figure 4A, illustrating the container after filling it with a powder product and illustrating a lower closure in position to be fixed to the container for closing the container; Figure 4C is a view, like Figures 4A and 4B, illustrating full container after a lower closure has been fixed and the container has been inverted to have the upper end portion in the upward position; Figure 5 is a view of the upper portion of a full container constructed in accordance with this invention and having a second embodiment of an upper end closure illustrating said upper end closure after opening it to gain access to the interior of the container; Figure 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the container of Figure 5 in an unopened condition and taken generally along line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view of the upper portion of a filled container constructed in accordance with this invention and having a third embodiment of an upper end closure and illustrating said upper end closure after opening thereof to gain access to the interior of the container; and Figure 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the container of Figure 5 in an unexploded condition with the top layer removed and taken generally along line 8-8 of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a container, generally indicated at 10, which is adapted to be filled with a powdered product in P, such as food products, cleaning products, etc. The container 10 can be any of a desired configuration and can be constructed of any desired material including mixed materials, plastic, metal, etc. However, it is preferred that the container 10 be of a generally cylindrical configuration and be constructed of mixed material of the type normally used to construct containers for powder products P of the type contained in the container 10 of this invention and well understood by those skilled in the art. The technique. The container 10 is a hollow container body 12 that defines opposed upper and lower end portions 13, L4. The lower end portion 14 of the container is opened to fill the container 10 with the powder product P through the open lower end 14 and with the container 10 in an inverted position (as shown in Figures 4A and 41!). This lower end portion 14 of the container is adapted to be closed after being filled by a suitable bottom end closure 15 which is bonded thereto and which may be constructed of metal, mixed matepal, plastic or any suitable material. An end closure 20 is attached to the upper end portion 13 of the container by seams to close the upper end portion 13 in order to adapt the container 10 to be filled through the lower-open end portion 14 while the container 10 is in the inverted position (as shown in Figures 4A and 4B). The upper end closure 20 includes easy opening means (to be defined very specifically below) to adapt the container 10 to be easily opened removing at least a portion of the upper end closure 20 to obtain access to the powder product P within the container 10 after filling and closing the lower end portion 14 (as can be seen par ticularly in Figure 3). A metering ladle device 30, which may preferably be in the form of a ladle, has an open side 31 and a closed side 32. The ladle device two pourer 30 is detachably fixed, by means of an adhesive or other means, in the closed side 32 to an inner surface 22 of the part 21 of the upper end closure 20 which is adapted to be removed during the opening of the container. This arrangement adapts the container 10 to be filled in the inverted position (illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B) with the open side 31 of the bucket device 30 facing upwards to receive a powder product P therein during filling (as shown in FIG. 4B) to prevent undesirable air from being trapped inside the bucket device 30 during the filling operation and after inverting the container 10 to the upright position (as shown in FIG. 4C). During the filling operation, undesirable air can be evacuated from the container, and / or desirable air, such as nitrogen, can be inserted into the container. This described arrangement prevents undesirable air from being trapped inside the ladle device 30 by the powder product P which prevents the evacuation of the same during the completion of the filling operation. This arrangement also adapts the ladle device 30 to be removed with the part 21 of the upper end closure that is removed during the opening of the container so that the ladle device 30 can then be detached from this part 21 for use in dosing or Assortment of the powder product P. The dosing spoon device 30 can be constructed of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, etc.

The container 10 may further include an additional cover 35 constructed of any suitable, preferably plastic, material to be fitted over the upper end closure 20 before and after opening the container 10 in the manner described above for purposes well understood by the experts. in the technique. The container 10 illustrated in Figures 1-4 includes a first embodiment of an upper end closure 20 and easy opening means included therein. This first embodiment of an upper end closure 20 includes a metal end ring 24 of any metallic material including aluminum and steel and which can be either coated or laminated with a heat sealable material. The heat sealable material is preferably in the form of a polyester dispersion in a "can coating" (well known to those skilled in the art) which is applied in a normal or co-formed coating process or a lamination of a film. polimepca to metal. This metal end ring 20 has a deformable outer peripheral area 25 which is attached to the upper end portion 13 of the container in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The metal end ring 24 further includes an internal peripheral area 26 that defines a central internal opening therein to allow access thereto through the interior of the container 10. This inner peripheral area 26 may be bent downwardly and inwardly. (as shown in Figure 2) to prevent someone from being cut or otherwise injuring the hand of a user when the hand is inserted into an open container 10. This first extreme closure mode 20 of Figures 1-4 further includes a membrane patch of sufficient size to cover the central opening in the metallic end ring 24 and defining the part 21 of the end closure that is removed during the opening of the container. The membrane patch or removable part 21 is fixed to an outer surface * of the metal end ring 24 by a union? 8 having a predetermined resistance to maintain the closure of the upper end position 20 of the container while allowing easy opening of the container. end closure 20 by detachment and removal of the membrane patch or replaceable part 21 of the metal end ring 24. This membrane patch 21 can be obtained from any suitable material and the joint 28 can be any suitable joint. It has been found desirable to construct the membrane patch 21 to include a heat seal layer of polypropylene at least at the bottom thereof and a thin film base layer can be included along with any additional desired layer on the of the thin layer to add additional strength to the membrane patch 21. This top layer can be a polyester laminate. The heat sealing layer of polypropylene can be cast polypropylene, blown polypropylene or it can be in the form of a coextrusion. With the use of a lower layer of polypropylene on the membrane patch 21 and an upper layer on the metal end ring 24, the joint 28 between the membrane patch 21 and the metal end ring 24 can be a sealing connection with heat that provides sufficient strength in the direction of shear to resist internal forces within the container 10, while it is sufficiently weak in the direction of tension to allow peeling of the joint 28 for easy opening of the upper ex + paddle 20 of the container 10 The dosing ladle device 30 is detachably fixed on its closed side 32 to the inner surface of the membrane patch 21 by a junction 29 (see * Figure 2) which can also be a heat-suitable sealing joint between the dosing device 30 and the inner polypropylene layer of the membrane patch 21. This sealing connection with heat allows the peeling thereof in the direction of tension for detaching the dosing scoop device 30 from the membrane patch 21 after opening the upper end closure of the container 10. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, in them it is shown in container 10 of this invention with a second embodiment of an upper end closure 20 with easy opening means therein. In this upper end closure mode 20, the upper end portion 13 of the body 12 of the container is bent outward to provide a flat top surface. The upper end closure 20 and the easy opening means of this embodiment include a membrane member of predetermined dimensions for covering the upper end portion 13 of the container and comprising the portion 21 of the upper end cover that is to be removed during the opening of the container. container 10. This membrane member or removable part 21 can be constructed of the same materials described above with respect to the membrane pair 21 of the first embodiment of the upper closure of Figures 1-4 and is attached to the upper end portion 13 of the container by a joint having a predetermined strength to maintain closure of the upper end portion 13 of the container while allowing easy opening of the end closure 20 by detachment and removal of the membrane member 21 from the upper end portion 13 of the container . This connection between the membrane member 21 and the upper end portion 13 of the container can also be a heat sealed joint formed by the polypropylene layer on the lower part of the membrane member 21 and an additional layer of which can be present on the upper surface of the upper end portion 13 of the folded container. To help peel the membrane member 21 from the upper end portion 13 of the container, a taut tab 40 may be incorporated in the membrane member 21. The shear and tension resistances of this invention may be as described before according to the first embodiment of the upper end closure 20 of Figures 1-4. In this embodiment of an upper end closure 20, the dosing spoon device is releasably fixed to the inner surface of the membrane member 21 in the same manner as described above with respect to the first embodiment of the upper end closure 20 of Figures 1-4. . Referring to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, a third upper end closure mode 20 and easy opening means for the container 10 of this invention is shown. This embodiment of an upper end closure * 20 and easy opening means in the ism includes a metallic end member 37 of predetermined dimensions for covering the upper end portion 13 of the container and having a deformable outer peripheral area 38 attached to the upper end portion. 13 of the container (as shown in Figure 8). This metallic end member 37 may be constructed of any suitable metallic material including steel, aluminum or the like. The metal end member 37 includes a line of weakness mark 39 surrounding the removable portion 21 of the metal end ring 37 to be removed during the opening of the upper end closure 20. This line of weakness mark 39 has a predetermined strength to maintain the closure of the upper end portion 13 of the container-while allowing easy opening of the end closure 20 by detachment and removal of the part 21 of the metal end ring 37 along the marked line of weakness 39. For For this purpose, a taut tongue 40 can be incorporated on the metal end member 37. In this embodiment, the dosing spoon 30 is releasably attached in any suitable manner, including a heat seal as described above, to the inner surface of the removable portion 20 of the metallic end member 37. Accordingly, a construction of a co-ordinate has been described herein. container 10 to be filled with a product P that includes various modalities of an end closure 20 that fits the container 10 to be filled through the open lower end portion 14 while the container 10 is in its inverted position. All previously described embodiments of top end closures 20 include easy opening means adapted to container 10 to be easily opened by removing at least a portion? 1 of top end closure 20 to gain access to powder product P within container 10 after of filling and closing the lower end portion 14. A dosing device 30, preferably in the form of a spoon, is detachably fixed on the closed side 32 to an inner surface of the part 21 of the upper end closure 20 adapted to be removed during the opening of the container (1) to adapt the spoon device 30 for be removed and detached to be used after opening the container 10 and (2) to adapt the container 10 to be filled in the inverted position with the open side 31 of the bucket device 30 facing upwards to receive powder product P in the same during filling to prevent undesirable air from being trapped inside the ladle device 30. In the drawings and in the specification, preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth and, although specific terms are employed, these terms are used In a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A container adapted to be filled with a powder product and comprising: a hollow container body of a desired configuration defining opposite upper and lower end portions; said lower end portion of the container being opened to fill the container with the powder product through said open lower end and with said container with an inverted position and being used to close after being filled; an end closure attached to the upper end portion of the container for closing said upper end portion to adapt the container to be filled through the lower open e-row portion while the container is in the inverted position, said upper end closure including easy opening means for adapting said container to be-easily opened by removing at least a portion of the upper end closure to gain access to the powder product within the container after filling and closing the lower end portion; and a dosing device having an open side and a closed side and which is detachably fixed on said closed side to an internal surface of said upper end portion portion adapted to be removed during the opening of container 1 for adapting said spoon device to be removed and detached to be used after opening the container and 2 to adapt the container to be filled in the inverted position with the open side of the spoon device looking up to receive powder product therein during filling to prevent undesirable air from being trapped inside the spooning device.

2. A container, according to claim 1, further characterized in that said closure and said easy opening means included therein comprise a metal end ring having a deformable outer peripheral area to said upper end portion of the container and defines an internal central opening to allow access therethrough to the interior of the container, and a membrane patch of sufficient size to cover the central opening and be detached from an outer surface of the metal end ring by means of a joint having a predetermined resistance to maintain closure of the upper end portion of the container while allowing easy opening of said extreme closure by detachment and removal of the membrane patch from the metal end ring, and in which said metering spoon device is detachably attached to membrane patch.

3. A container, according to claim 1, further characterized in that said extr-emo closure and said easy opening means included therein comprise a membrane means of predetermined dimensions for covering the upper end portion of the container and pair - to be fixed to the upper end portion of the container by means of a joint which has predetermined resistance to maintaining the ci erre of said upper end portion of the container while allowing the easy opening of said closure ex + rerno by detachment and removal of said membrane member from the upper end portion of the container; and in which the dosing spoon device is detachably attached to the membrane member.

4. A container according to claim 1, further characterized in that said end closure and said easy-opening means included therein comprise a metal system member of predetermined dimensions for covering said upper end portion of the container and having a extreme deformable peripheral area joined by stitching union to said upper end portion * of the container and including a marked line of weakness surrounding a part of said metal end member that is to be removed and has a predetermined resistance to maintain the closure of said upper end portion of the container while allowing the easy opening of said extreme closure by detachment and removal of said part of the metallic end member within the marked line of weakness; and in which the dosing spoon device is detachably fixed to the part of the metal end member within the line marked by weakness.

5. A container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further characterized in that said container body- comprises a generally cylindrical configuration and is constructed of mixed material.

6. A container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further characterized in that said dosing spoon device comprises a spoon.

7. A container, according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further characterized in that said container body comprises a generally cylindrical configuration and is constructed of mixed material; and wherein said dosing spoon device comprises a spoon.