Retainable scoop and container

A container with a scoop. The container is adapted to retain the scoop in an opening of the container so that the scoop remains readily accessible to a user. The opening has a slot or a channel defined in an interior sidewall that is adapted to receive a tab and a free end of a handle that extend from a cup portion of the scoop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, such as jars and canisters, and more particularly to containers which contain materials that may be mixed or dispensed according to a measured amount of material.

There are numerous containers in the art that carry products, such as powders, pellets, and liquids, that are combined with other materials according to a measured amount of the product with the other material. The product may be dispensed from the container with a measuring cup or a scoop that is often included within the container with the purchase of the product. In many cases, the scoop may be difficult for the user to retrieve, such as when it has settled in the product during transport or subsequent handling of the container. When confronted with this occurrence, the user must dig through or otherwise extract the contained scoop before it may be used for its intended purpose.

In many instances, the user may elect to retrieve the scoop with their bare fingers. For containers carrying food products, this may present unsanitary handling of the materials. A familiar example of a food product would include coffee grounds or a non-carbonated beverage mix. For containers carrying chemical products, this practice may present health hazards to the individual due to skin contact with the chemicals. In either event, the problem of extricating the scoop may become a recurring problem each time that the user wishes to utilize the scoop.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved method of providing a measured scoop with a container that eliminates the foregoing problems in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, retainable scoop and container includes a containment cavity defined by at least one sidewall and a bottom, a throat opening to the containment cavity; a channel defined in an interior surface of the throat opening; and a scoop having a handle attached to a scoop cup and a tab extending from an opposite side of the scoop cup, wherein a free end of the handle portion and the tab are dimensioned to be received within the channel.

The channel may be defined throughout a circumference of the throat opening. Alternatively, the channel include a first slot dimensioned to receive the tab a second slot dimensioned to receive the free end of the handle portion and support the scoop in the throat opening. The first slot and the second slot are preferably disposed at opposite sides of the throat opening. The Container may also include a lid configured to mate in a sealing engagement with the throat opening. In other embodiments, the container may have a thread defined on an outer surface of the throat opening that engages with a cooperating thread defined on an interior sidewall of the lid.

In other aspects of the invention a retainable scoop has a handle extending from a scoop cup and a tab extending from an opposite side of the scoop cup. A free end of the handle portion and the tab are dimensioned to be received within a channel defined in an interior throat opening of a container. The container may have a containment cavity defined by at least one sidewall and a bottom. A throat opening to the containment cavity has the channel defined in an interior face of the throat opening. Preferably, the channel is defined throughout a circumference of the throat opening. The channel may protrude outwardly from an exterior surface of the throat opening. Alternatively, the channel protrudes inwardly from an interior surface of the throat opening.

In yet other aspects of the invention, a retainable scoop and container includes a containment cavity defined by at least one sidewall and a bottom, a throat opening to the containment cavity. An annular rim is defined in an interior surface of the throat opening. A scoop having a handle attached to a scoop cup and a tab extends from an opposite side of the scoop cup. A free end of the handle portion and the tab are dimensioned to be supported by the annular rim. The annular rim may include a first annular rim and a second annular rim formed in a spaced apart relation defining a channel there between, wherein the tab and the free end of the handle are dimensioned to be received within the channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for retaining a scoop within the throat opening of a container during periods of non-use. When the scoop is needed to dispense a product carried by the container, the scoop may be conveniently removed from the container and used.

As will be appreciated in reference to the drawings ofFIG. 1, a container10is depicted having a containment cavity defined in a lower portion of the container by one or more sidewalls12. The sidewalls12may be configured in almost any geometric shape, such as a rectangle, or the cylindrical shape depicted, to define the containment cavity.

A top portion of the container10may include an opening14through which access to the materials carried in the container10is provided. As with the containment cavity sidewalls12, a throat opening16may be defined by at least one opening sidewall16. In the embodiment depicted, the opening is substantially circular, or cylindrical. The throat opening16may be constricted relative to the container sidewalls12.

The container10will preferably include a removable closure element, such as a lid30, that is used to prevent spillage, protect the materials from contamination, drying, or other spoilage of the container contents. The lid30may be a snap fit lid that removably secures to a rim the throat opening16. Alternatively, a threaded cap30, may utilized. In this case, the cap30may include a threaded portion32, or one or more protrusions to engage with a threaded portion defined around the throat16of the container10that are defined around the opening to the container10.

The interior of the throat opening16to the container10includes a plurality of slots18or a channel18formed in an interior sidewall of the container opening16. The channel18may be formed as an annular rim protruding inwardly towards the interior of the opening14. Alternatively, the channel18may be formed as an annular groove18that protrudes outwardly from the outer sidewall of the container throat16. In other configurations the throat opening16may include an annular rim protruding inwardly from the throat opening16. A first annular rim and a second annular rim may be formed in a spaced apart relation to define a channel18there between.

A scoop20according to embodiments of the invention includes a cup portion22, a handle portion26extending from the cup portion22, and a tab28extending from an opposed side of the cup portion22from the handle portion26. The cup portion22includes an interior cavity that is dimensioned for containing a measured volume of materials carried by the container10. A free end of the handle portion26and a free end of the tab28portion are adapted to be received in the slots18or channel18defined in the opening14. The tab portion28and the handle portion26may extend from a top end of the cup portion22, a bottom end of the cup portion, or any intermediate location between the top end or the bottom end of the cup. A ridge may be defined along a surface of the handle portion26to add rigidity to the handle portion26. The ridge should terminate before reaching the free end of the handle26to avoid interfering with the engagement of the handle26with the channel18.

As contemplated by the present invention, the free ends of the tab28and the handle26are dimensioned to be received within the slots18or the channel18, so as to retain the scoop20in an accessible position in the throat opening16. When the channel is cylindrical, such as that depicted, the free end of the tab28and the handle26may have an arcuate end face to correspond with the curvature of the channel18. As will be appreciated, the tab28and handle26portions of the scoop20may be formed so as to be resilient to facilitate snap fitting of the scoop20into and out of engagement with the channel18.

Where the opening14has a throat portion16between the channel18and a top edge of the opening, the scoop20may be retained in the channel18in an inverted position, such that a base of the scoop20is positioned beneath the lid30or cap closure element. This is desirable when the container10is newly opened and its contents are filled to a level near the top of the containment cavity. This would prevent contact of the scoop portion22, which may be held by the user from contacting the materials carried in the container10. As the contents have been dispensed and the fill level is reduced, the scoop20may be retained in an upright position.