WO2007131806A1

WO2007131806A1 - Container for a scoopable material combined with a scooping member, and such a scooping member

Info

Publication number: WO2007131806A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/004557
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lubbertus Jochem Van Der Molen
Original assignee: Impress Group B.V.
Priority date: 2006-05-17
Filing date: 2007-05-18
Publication date: 2007-11-22
Also published as: NL1031829C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) for a scoopable material combined with a scooping member (4), the container comprising a scooping opening (2) and a closing member for closing the scooping opening, wherein the container and/or the scooping member comprises fastening means for fastening the scooping member inside the container. The invention further relates to a scooping member for applying with such a container combined with a scooping member.

Description

CONTAINER FOR A SCOOPABLE MATERIAL COMBINED WITH A SCOOPING MEMBER, AND SUCH A SCOOPING MEMBER

The present invention relates to a container for a scoopable material combined with a scooping member, the container comprising a scooping opening and a closing member for closing the scooping opening. Such containers exist in many variants. A known variant is a cylindrical can with a removable lid, in which can is arranged food product in powder form, for instance baby milk powder, and a metering scoop. After opening the can, the user can take the scoop out of the powder, whereby a correct quantity of food product can be scooped out of the packaging with the metering scoop, for instance for dissolving the powder in a liquid. Another example is a box of washing powder in which a metering spoon is arranged for scooping the washing powder out of the box.

A drawback of such a packaging is however that, once filled with scoopable material, the scooping member can sink into the scoopable material and become difficult to see when the container is (first) opened by a user, or can sometimes even be taken out of the scoopable material by the user only by touch. This is unhygienic because the content of the packaging can be contaminated, for instance in the case of the baby milk powder, or because a user can soil his/her hands with the scoopable material, which applies both in the case of the baby milk powder and in the case of the washing powder.

The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a combination of a container and a scooping member according to the preamble, wherein the scooping member, at least in the retail state, is present in the container, but wherein a user can locate and remove the scooping member from the container more easily after (first) opening than in the known container with scooping member, wherein the danger of said contamination when taking the scooping member out of the container is no longer present, or is at least reduced. According to the present invention this object is achieved in that the container and/or the scooping member comprises fastening means for fastening the scooping member inside the container. By means of these fastening means the condition is created which enables fastening of the scooping member in the container such that it is immediately visible to a user and it is no longer necessary to search for the scooping member in the scoopable material by touch. There will therefore be less, or no contact between the fingers of a user and the scoopable material in the container. The danger of contaminating fingers or scoopable material is thus reduced. Depending on the degree of filling of material in the container, the scooping member can optionally be fastened in the container wholly above the scoopable material . The invention does however offer wider application options. Containers are also known in which a scoopable material is received and wherein a separate scooping member is combined which is supplied separately, or at least not in the container, with the risk of the scooping member being lost in the distribution chain. An example hereof is an ice cream in a tub, wherein a spoon is supplied separately. There may be different reasons why such a scooping member has heretofore not been co-packaged in the container. In the example of the ice cream a co-packaged spoon could sink into the ice cream after packaging but prior to freezing of the ice cream. This can also happen however if the ice cream defrosts after packaging and freezing, and is later refrozen. It will be apparent that the spoon can then not be removed from the ice cream by the user, except by scooping away the ice cream around it using another scooping member. The scoopable content of the container is possibly of a nature (liquid, a sticky substance or the like) such that a user will find it too messy to remove a co-packaged scooping member from the content. In the above stated cases the fastening of the scooping member at a suitable location inside the container can also provide a solution.

It is recommended that the fastening means are adapted to fasten the scooping member close to the scooping opening. 'Close to' is understood to mean that in a container which is oriented "normally" for opening thereof, for instance a container with an upright orientation with the scooping opening directed upward, the scooping member is situated at least partially above the scoopable material . The closer the scooping member is positioned to the opening, the more readily visible and more easily accessible it is to a user.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the fastening means are adapted to fasten the scooping member such that it extends substantially parallel to the scooping opening. Owing to this orientation the scooping member will be situated as much as possible above the scoopable material, assuming at least that a user opens the container with the scooping opening oriented upward.

It is recommended that at least part of the fastening means is provided on or close to only one outer end of the scooping member. The scooping member can hereby be fastened at the outer end to the container, while it is protected against breakage during filling of the container because of the somewhat resilient fastening.

It is further recommended that at least a part of -the fastening means is provided on or close to opposite ends of the scooping member. In this manner the scooping member can be readily fastened directly to the container with the two ends.

In a preferred embodiment at least a part of the fastening means extends from a wall of the container to the scooping opening. A gradual transition from the wall to the scooping opening can hereby be provided, thereby avoiding blind corners. This can for instance be advantageous when transferring the content from an almost empty container into another, for instance recently opened, full container.

The fastening means preferably further comprise clamping means for clamping the scooping member on the container. The term "on" is here also understood to mean "in" . The fastening means can thus be readily clamped on and/or in the container, and no additional fastening means or steps are required. A simple and inexpensive fastening method is thus provided.

It is further recommended that the fastening means on the container comprise a flange close to the scooping opening and that the fastening means further comprise a groove for receiving at least a part of the flange. The advantages of the preceding paragraph can be fully utilized with such a construction. It is of course also possible that a groove and a part of a flange engage on each other. The container can also be provided with a groove which co-acts with a (part of a) flange.

In a preferred embodiment the fastening means rest on the inner side of the container. By for instance providing a local narrowing of the inner periphery of the container, the scooping member, or the fastening means of the scooping member, can be placed on the narrowing in simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the container and/or the scooping member is provided with a single-use seal of the scooping opening. Such a seal, also referred to as tamper-proof seal, is for instance applied in packages for food products and has the advantage that a purchaser can see whether or not a packaging has been opened prior to sale. In known containers such a seal is arranged directly on the upper edge of the container. In the present invention the fastening means for the scooping member can serve for attaching the seal . The closing member is preferably suitable for repeated opening and closing of the scooping opening. The scoopable material can hereby also be protected by a user after first opening of the container by reclosing the scooping opening. In a preferred embodiment the container is cylindrical. Cylindrical containers such as cans are highly suitable and frequently applied for packaging scoopable products such as food products. Such cans are usually provided with an opening on the (upper) end surface. A circular opening is advantageous because a corresponding closing member requires hardly any orientation since, at least within the plane of the scooping opening, it can be arranged in any orientation. In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention the scooping opening is circular and the fastening means comprise a ring which is provided in the scooping opening and to which the scooping member is releasably connected. A ring, provided it is of the correct size, fits well onto the circular opening of a cylindrical container, and such a combination requires hardly any orientation when the fastening means are arranged in the scooping opening. When the scooping member with the fastening means is manufactured by injection moulding, the connection provides the option of manufacturing these elements in one step as one component. The connection can herein be designed such that on the one hand it is strong enough for the purpose of connecting and thus fastening, but on the other is weak enough to support intentional breaking by a user. It is recommended that the scooping member extends between two opposite positions of the ring. A very simple yet strong construction suffices for this purpose, which results in the scooping member extending close to and parallel to the removal opening. The present invention further relates to a ring as fastening means for fastening a scooping member to a container as described above, wherein the ring is provided with a groove in the peripheral edge for receiving at least a part of an annular peripheral edge of a removal opening of the container. As elucidated above, such a ring is suitable for arranging on a container as fastening means for a scooping member.

The ring is preferably manufactured from a resilient material. The ring can hereby be readily clamped in the scooping opening with elastic deformation .

The present invention further relates to a scooping member for scooping scoopable material out of a container. In accordance with the above stated problem, it is a drawback that such a known scooping member is supplied with a container either adrift in the scoopable material or outside the container. According to the present invention, this problem is solved in that the scooping member is adapted to be applied in a container combined with a scooping member as described above. It will be apparent to a skilled person that such a scooping member can be readily combined with existing containers in order to achieve the desired effect.

It is further recommended that the scooping member comprises fastening means for fastening the scooping member to the container. The fastening means can be adapted to universal containers or to specific containers so as to achieve an optimal effect.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention the fastening means comprise clamping parts for clamping the scooping member on the container. The clamping fastening provides the option of clamping the scooping member on the container without further fastening means. This is a simple and inexpensive fastening method. A further advantage is that the scooping member can hereby be clamped on the container again after being removed from the container.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the fastening means form a part of the scooping member which can be broken off. This allows freedom to optimize the scooping member and the fastening means for the respective purposes. If fastening of the scooping member no longer serves any purpose after opening of the container, the fastening means do not impeded use of the scooping member. The same reference numerals are used in the figures for the same elements.

The present invention will be elucidated in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure Ia is a perspective view of a container combined with a scooping member according to the present invention; Figure Ib is a side view in longitudinal section along line I -I of the container combined with a scooping member of figure Ia,-

Figure Ic is a perspective view of the scooping member of figure Ia,-

Figure 2a is a perspective view of a container combined with a scooping member according to the present invention,-

Figure 2b is a side view in longitudinal section along line II -II of the container combined with a scooping member of figure 2a; and

Figure 2c is a perspective view of the scooping member of figure 2a.

Figure Ia shows a cylindrical can 1 as container having on the upper side a circular scooping opening 2 with a seam-folded edge 3, an upper edge 11 and an outer edge 12. Clamped to flange 3 is a plastic metering spoon 4 which is provided with a handle 5 and a measuring scoop 6, which comprises connecting parts 8 and clamping members 7 at both ends.

Figure Ib shows the same can 1 and metering spoon 4 in cross-sectional view.

Finally, figure Ic shows metering spoon 4 with a handle 5 and a measuring scoop 6 which are connected on the outer ends via breakable connecting parts 8 to two clamping members 7. The metering spoon is manufactured from resilient plastic.

Figure 2a likewise shows cylindrical can 21 with a scooping opening 22 (figure 2b) on which a metering spoon 24 is clamped. A part of a clamping ring 27 with a surface with a skimming edge 29 can further be seen. Clamping ring 27 and metering spoon 24 are mutually connected by means of connecting parts 28. Can 21 further comprises an upper edge 31 and an outer seam- folded edge 32. Metering spoon 24 and the clamping ring are integrally manufactured by injection moulding of plastic .

Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view of cylindrical can 21 with a flange 23 on which metering spoon 24 is clamped by means of a clamping ring 27 made of a resilient plastic. Clamping ring 27 is provided with a groove 30 in which flange 23 is held clampingly. Wall 34 of can 21 is connected to upper edge 31 of can 21 by means of a seam-folded edge 32. Can 21 is provided with an inner peripheral edge 33.

Finally, figure 2c shows clamping ring 27 without the can. Metering spoon 24 is provided on the outer ends with connecting parts 28 which can be broken off and which are connected to clamping ring 27 via handle 25 and measuring scoop 26. Clamping ring 27 is further provided on the inner periphery with a surface with a skimming edge 29 and on the outer periphery with a groove 30. Clamping ring 27 extends slightly spherically from the inner periphery to outer peripheral edge 33.

Cans 1, 21 are shown without content for the sake of clarity, but it will be apparent that cans 1, 21 are filled with a scoopable material in the situation in which they are sold and that in this situation the removal openings 2, 22 are sealed. Sealing takes place by means of a single-use, so-called easy-peel seal (not shown) which is fastened to upper edge 11, 31 of the respective cans or, alternatively, of clamping ring 27 and extends above metering spoon 4, 24. Can 1, 21 is moreover provided with a plastic lid (not shown) which can be fixed in conventional manner over outer edge 12, 32 of a respective can 1, 21 for repeated opening and closing of scooping opening 22.

Looking now at figures Ia-Ic, a metering spoon 4 is provided via breakable connecting parts 8 on both opposite ends with a clamping member 7 having a curved shape corresponding with that of seam- folded edge 3 and with a C-shaped cross-section, the opening of which is formed such that with the exertion of some pressure it can be clamped round seam-folded edge 3 of container 1. Figures Ia and Ib show metering spoon 4 in the situation where metering spoon 4 is clamped round seam- folded edge 3 of container 1. When a user wishes to scoop a part of the content (not shown) out of can 1, he/she can easily detach metering spoon 4 from seam- folded edge 3 by pulling metering spoon 4 upward, optionally while exerting a force with the fingers in order to make metering spoon 4 rotate about the longitudinal axis of metering scoop 4. Material (not shown) can then be scooped therewith from can 1. For this purpose metering spoon 4 is held by handle 5 to scoop content out of can 1 using measuring scoop 6. It is however also possible for a metering spoon to be provided only at the outer end of the handle with a non-detachable clamping member. After use the metering spoon can then be refastened to seam-folded edge 3 by pushing or, more precisely, pulling the clamping member round seam-folded edge 3 while exerting an upward force. This prevents the metering spoon "sinking" into the scoopable content after use. This is for instance advantageous in the case of cans which are transported over distances by a user, as can be the case with cans of babyfood.

Figures 2a-2c show an alternative embodiment of a cylindrical can 21 which is connected via connecting parts 8 to a clamping ring 27 combined with a metering spoon 24. Clamping ring 27 has an outer peripheral edge 33 which fits closely onto wall 34 of can 21 when clamping ring 27 is placed in container 21. The outer peripheral edge 33 is in fact a fraction larger than the inner periphery of wall 34 of can 21, so that outer peripheral edge 33 is pushed against wall 34 of can 21. It is however also possible for peripheral edge 33 of clamping ring 27 to be a fraction smaller than wall 34 of can 21, so that clamping ring 27 rests loosely on a narrowing of the inner periphery of wall 34 of can 21. A gradual transition of wall 34 into scooping opening 22 is hereby formed so that can 21 can be emptied out without residues of the content remaining in a blind corner enclosed by wall 34 and upper edge 31 of can 21. Clamping ring 27 is further provided with a groove 30 which is clamped round a flange 23 of can 21. Skimming edge 29 serves to skim superfluous material from measuring scoop 26.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings show only two embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments do not however have the effect of limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims. It is for instance possible to envisage the container being manufactured from a different material or having a different form. The measuring scoop can further also be arranged on the upper edge of the container. There is then less a case of clamping and more a case of supporting on the upper edge.

Claims

1. Container for a scoopable material combined with a scooping member, the container comprising a scooping opening and a closing member for closing the scooping opening, characterized in that the container and/or the scooping member comprises fastening means for fastening the scooping member inside the container.

2. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means are adapted to fasten the scooping member close to the scooping opening.

3. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the fastening means are adapted to fasten the scooping member such that it extends substantially parallel to the scooping opening.

4. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least a part of the fastening means is provided on or close to only one outer end of the scooping member.

5. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-3, characterized in that at least a part of the fastening means is provided on or close to opposite ends of the scooping member.

6. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least a part of the fastening means extends from a wall of the container to the scooping opening.

7. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the fastening means comprise clamping means for clamping the scooping member on the container.

8. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the fastening means on the container comprise a flange close to the scooping opening and that the fastening means further comprise a groove for receiving at least a part of the flange.

9. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the fastening means rest on the inner side of the container.

10. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container and/or the scooping member is provided with a single-use seal of the scooping opening.

11. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the closing member is suitable for repeated opening and closing of the scooping opening.

12. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container is cylindrical.

13. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the scooping opening is circular and that the fastening means comprise a ring which is provided in the scooping opening and to which the scooping member is releasably connected.

14. Container combined with a scooping member as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the scooping member extends between two opposite positions of the ring.

15. Ring as fastening means for fastening a scooping member to a container as claimed in one or more of the claims 12-14, characterized in that the ring is provided with a groove in the peripheral edge for receiving at least a part of an annular peripheral edge of a removal opening of the container.

16. Ring as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the ring is manufactured from a resilient material .

17. Scooping member adapted to be applied with a container combined with a scooping member as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-14.

18. Scooping member as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the scooping member comprises fastening means for fastening the scooping member to the container.

19. Scooping member as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the fastening means comprise clamping parts for clamping the scooping member on the container.

20. Scooping member as claimed in claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the fastening means form a part of the scooping member which can be broken off.