Abstract:
A container comprises a storage compartment and a lid. The storage compartment may be formed of plastic, and may include indicia of measuring. The lid may be removably attached to the storage compartment by a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism may be sturdy enough to contain the contents of the storage compartment, even when those contents are substantially heavy. The contents of the storage compartment may pass through an opening in the lid. The opening may be covered by a removably attached closure, and the closure may include indicia of measuring. The closure may thus be removed from the lid, and used as a measuring device. A scoop may be removably attached to the inside of the lid, may include indicia of measuring, and may be used as a measuring device.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/097,898, filed Sep. 18, 2008, and hereby incorporates by reference all subject matter disclosed therein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed to storage containers, and more particularly to an improved storage bin, lid, latching mechanism, handle arrangement, date indicator, pour opening, pour closure, and measuring scoop. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    Durable containers having a storage compartment and a removable lid are known in the art as being useful for storing food stuffs, including dry ingredients such as flour or sugar. 
         [0006]    Such dry ingredients are often removed from such containers by use of a scoop, ladle, or spoon. Such known containers, though, present a number of problems, including: that the lid may not be attached securely enough to support the weight of heavier ingredients, such that the container may accidentally open and spill the contents thereof; that the lid may be difficult to close or open, for example by a user having arthritis or smaller hands; that the scoop may be separated from the container, or lost within the storage compartment under the contents thereof; that the contents of the container may expire after a period of time, but the user may have no indication of the length of time the contents have been stored in the container; that the container may slip on or scratch a surface upon which it may be placed; and that the container may be heavy and unwieldy, such that a user may have difficulty grasping the container and pouring the contents therefrom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A container comprises a storage compartment; a lid, removably attached to said storage compartment, comprising at least an inside and an outside; an opening in said lid, through which the contents of the storage compartment may pass; a closure over said opening, hingedly attached to the outside of said lid; and a scoop, removably attached to the inside of said lid. 
         [0008]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following attached detailed description and drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following attached detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced. 
           [0010]    The construction and function of preferred embodiments of the container and lid arrangement will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like components are designated by the same reference numeral in the several figures. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of a container and lid in accordance with the present invention showing the lid latched to the container; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the container and lid; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the container and lid; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the container and lid; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective top view of the container and lid showing the lid detached from the container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following attached description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0017]    While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the invention. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , in preferred embodiments, the container  10  of the present invention includes a storage compartment  20  and a lid  30 . The storage compartment  20  may include a bottom  40 , a first side panel  50 , a second side panel  60 , a front panel  70 , and a back panel  80 . The bottom  40  may merge with the side panels  50  and  60 , and with the front and back panels  70  and  80  in order to form a compartment suitable for storing food stuff such as flour or sugar and the like. The intersections of the bottom  40 , the side panels  50  and  60 , and the front and back panels  70  and  80  may each form a rounded corner  90 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be configured to form any shape, for example a rectangular, circular, or ovoid. The side panels  50  and  60 , and the front and back panels  70  and  80 , terminate in an upper edge  100 , having an outwardly extending lip  110 . 
         [0019]    The lid  30  may be removably attached to the upper edge  100 , through the use of a latching mechanism  120 . The latching mechanism  120  may include at least one latch  130  that is hingedly attached to an edge  140  of lid  30 , which may extend roughly parallel to the first side panel  50 , passing beyond the outwardly extending lip  110 , and latching thereto. Preferably, the latching mechanism  120  attaches the lid  30  to the upper edge  100  in a fashion secure enough to bear substantial weight (for example, that of a 5 pound bag of flour or sugar) without becoming unintentionally unlatched. The latching mechanism  120  is preferably also attached to the upper edge  100  in a fashion such that it can be easily opened when intentionally unlatched (for example, by a user having arthritis). The latching mechanism  120  may, in a preferred embodiment, include two latches  130 , which may be disposed on opposing sides of the upper edge  100 . 
         [0020]    The lid  30  may include an opening  150 , through which the contents of the storage compartment  20  may be poured. The opening in the lid  150  may be covered by a closure  160 . The closure  160  may be hingedly attached to the lid  30 , such that it may be placed in an open or a closed position, and may be hingedly attached, such that it may be separated from the lid  30 . The closure  160  may be marked with indicia of measuring, so that for example, the user may remove the closure  160  from the lid, and pour a pre-determined amount of the contents of the storage compartment  20  into the closure  160 , using the closure to measure the pre-determined amount. 
         [0021]    The lid  30  may include a configurable indicator  180 . The configurable indicator  180  may be configured to indicate the date the contents of the storage compartment  20  were placed therein, or may indicate some other notable information, such as the contents of the storage compartment  20 , or a date by which the contents should be used. The configurable indicator  180  may include a plurality of wheels  190 , each of which may be independently rotated about a wheel post  200 , which in turn may be attached to the lid  30 . The configurable indicator  180  may further include a wheel cover  210 , which may also be attached to the lid  30 . The wheel cover  210  may be configured such that certain indicia, such as numbers, that are marked on the wheels  190 , may be seen through the wheel cover  210 , when the container  10  is in use. In this way, each wheel  190  may be rotated to display a certain indicia, such that upon subsequent use of the container  10 , a user may observe the indicia. For example, at the time of filling the container  10 , the wheels  190  may be set to indicate the date “09/18/2009,” and upon subsequent use of the container, the configurable indicator  180  may indicate that its contents were placed in the container  10  on the 18th day of September, 2009. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, the configurable indicator  180  may be a digital indicator. For example, e.g., at the time of filling the container  10 , the configurable indicator  180  may be set to indicate the date “09/18/2009” in a digital display, and upon subsequent use of the container, the configurable indicator  180  may indicate that its contents were placed in the container  10  on the 18th day of September, 2009. 
         [0023]    Alternatively, the configurable indicator  180  may be set to indicate the date “09/18/2009” whether in analog or digital format, and upon subsequent use of the container, the configurable indicator  180  may indicate the number of remaining days until an expiration date of the contents. In this embodiment, a counter may automatically count down from the set value (using a drive mechanism (e.g., a servo-motor) for the analog version, or a digital circuit for the digital version), so that when it reaches 0 or a negative number, the configurable indicator  180  may indicate that the contents may be expired and should be discarded. 
         [0024]    The storage compartment  20  may include one or more indentations  220 , disposed on the back panel  80  of the storage compartment  20 , for ease of handling. The indentations  220  may be disposed such that the container  10  can be more easily lifted, carried, and the contents poured therefrom (for example, by a user having arthritis). The indentations  220  may extend only partially up the height of the storage compartment  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or alternately may extend up the entire height of the storage compartment  20 . 
         [0025]    The storage compartment  20  may include indicia of marking  230 , so that, for example, the user may know the amount of the contents of the container  10 . 
         [0026]    The storage compartment  20  may include three or more feet  240  disposed on the bottom panel  40  of the storage compartment  20 . The feet  240  may be relatively small plastic or rubber disks, and may prevent the bottom panel  40  of the storage container  20  from coming in contact with a surface upon which it may be placed. The feet  240  may further be a material that prevents slipping along a surface upon which the storage container  20  may be placed. 
         [0027]    Within a cavity  240  created by the storage compartment  20  and the lid  30 , a scoop  170  may be stored. The scoop  170  may be removably attached to the underside of the lid  30 , such that it is not buried by the contents of the storage compartment  20 , and such that it is readily accessible by the user. The scoop  170  may include indicia of measuring, so that for example, the user may remove the scoop  170  from the lid, and pour a pre-determined amount of the contents of the storage compartment  20  into the scoop  170 , using the closure to measure the pre-determined amount. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the cavity formed at the upper edge  100  will be large enough to comfortably accommodate a user&#39;s hand while maneuvering the scoop  170 . 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, the container  10 , when assembled such that the lid  30  is attached to the storage compartment  20  by the latching mechanism  120 , may be airtight and/or watertight, such that the contents of the storage container  20  do not substantially spill, and such that the contents are unharmed by disturbances such as humidity and pests. 
         [0029]    The elements of the present invention may be made from any materials, but a preferred embodiment may be made of a suitable plastic, most preferably having sufficient rigidity to withstand normal use. 
         [0030]    The above-described container may be made in a variety of sizes, i.e. lengths, widths, and depths, but a preferred size would approximate a 5-pound bag of sugar, or a 5-pound bag of flour, in order to facilitate everyday use. 
         [0031]    The improved, simple and inexpensive container described herein provides a reliable sealing and storage system for food stuff. Various modifications and combinations will occur to persons skilled in the art without involving any departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.