Patent Abstract:
A container with a granulated or powdered product stores a scoop in or on a threaded closure for the container, in such a way that the scoop will not sink down into the product. Several embodiments are disclosed, including different ways for retaining the scoop on the closure.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns containers for various products, and in particular relates to containers with molded plastic, threaded closures for products such as powdered concentrates that require a scoop. 
     Protein powders, weight gain formulas, weight loss formulas, vitamin and mineral supplement powders and similar products are usually sold in containers with plastic threaded closures. These are often relatively large-mouth containers, often 110 mm or 120 mm in diameter. Powdered products that are for mixing by the consumer into water or other liquid beverages often are sold with a scoop, a simple plastic device placed directly in the container with the powdered product. Even if placed on the top surface of the powdered product, the scoop will work its way down into the powder during shipping, and therefore the consumer must retrieve the scoop by hand, reaching into the powder, which produces a messy and objectionable situation. 
     There have been some approaches to this problem. In one approach, a powdered baby formula container, non-threaded, had a closure secured to the container in a normal way but the closure had an upper part to house a scoop. For access to the scoop the closure was swung upwardly on a hinge. The powdered contents were sealed into the container, with a liner secured to the upper rim of the non-threaded container. See U.S. Published Application No. 2008/0156808. 
     A simpler and more efficient way of storing a scoop separate from a powdered or liquid concentrate product is needed, especially for threaded closures and for the case in which products are for human consumption. 
     In addition to the above published application, the following patents and publications show prior approaches to storing a scoop or utensil in or adjacent to a cap, sometimes to prevent the utensil from being submerged in the contained product: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,175,041, 5,705,212, 5,415,309, 5,090,572, 4,216,875, 3,679,093, 3,624,787, D572,538, U.S. pub. No. 2008/0093366, Japan pub. app. Nos. 2007-137510, 2004-315068, 2000-287807, 2000-107052 and Great Britain pub. app. No. 2 250 271. 
     Of the above patents and publications, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,705,212 and 7,175,041 show storage and retention of a utensil or scoop within some form of cap. In the former the utensil is in a snapped-on, non-threaded overcap; in the latter the scoop is held up against the top panel inside a deep threaded cap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In several embodiments of this invention a scoop is retained to or by a threaded container closure so as not to be submerged in the product. In one form of the invention, the scoop is held in an overcap which fits nestingly together on the top of a normal threaded container closure. The unthreaded overcap is retained to the regular cap in an appropriate manner such as by a shrink-fitted plastic band retained in sealed engagement around the exterior joint between the two caps. The scoop may be retained loosely in the overcap, or it may be fitted closely within the overcap such that little or no movement is permitted, or it may be firmly retained by a novel retention system. 
     In another form of the invention the overcap simply comprises a raised, smaller-diameter portion of a unitary molded cap. An internal shoulder can be provided just below the raised portion for engagement down against the container finish of the threaded cap. If a liner is to be used this can be secured to the container finish prior to installation of the cap. 
     In another form, the invention places the plastic scoop directly inside the container and up against the liner, which is initially assembled into the cap. For example, the scoop can be held in place on the liner by a glue dot, until removed by the consumer. 
     In all cases of a granulated or powdered product, the consumer, after opening the container, can simply place the scoop on the top surface of the powder between uses. The problem of objectionable sinking down into the powder occurs only during shipment. 
     It is therefore among the objects of the invention to conveniently store a scoop of the type used for powder or liquid concentrates in or on a closure for a container of the product, in such a way that the scoop will not sink down into the product. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view in perspective showing one embodiment of a threaded container closure with a scoop retained in the closure separate from the granular or powdered contents of the container. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view in cross section showing the container closure. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view showing the closure. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged and fragmented sectional view showing a portion of the closure. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a scoop to be contained in the closure of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a side elevational view in section showing the scoop. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing a different form of scoop. 
         FIG. 6A  is a side elevational view in section showing the scoop of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view showing a scoop similar to but slightly modified from that of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 6C  is a bottom plan view showing the scoop of  FIG. 6B  retained in a cap or overcap. 
         FIG. 6D  is a detail view in elevational cross section showing engagement of the scoop of  FIG. 6B  within the cap or overcap. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the invention wherein the scoop is contained in an overcap secured on top of a normal threaded closure. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation, slightly perspective view in section showing the closure of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view in section showing the overcap of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a elevation view in section showing an overcap similar to that of  FIGS. 7-9  but with a modified form of scoop retention. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged detail view showing a portion of the overcap of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section view showing a scoop retained in the overcap of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows in exploded view a container  10  having a threaded neck  12 , the container being of the type, usually of injection-molded plastic, for containing powdered or granulated products for human consumption, such as protein powders, weight gain formulas, weight loss formulas, etc. These are usually large, wide mouth containers, for example with 110 or 120 mm container finish  14 , sometimes holding a gallon of product. 
     In this embodiment a sealing liner  16  may be secured to the container finish  14 , typically by conductive heating, i.e. a heated platen engaging the circular liner  16  down against the container finish  14 . In this case the liner is added prior to any closure being attached to the container. As an alternative the liner can be pre-assembled into the cap and later inductively sealed, as explained below. 
     The drawing shows a threaded closure  18 , having lower and upper skirt parts at  20  and  22  and with a top panel  24  extending across the upper end of the upper skirt part  22 . The upper skirt part  22  is smaller in diameter than the lower skirt part  20 , this difference in diameter being sufficient to enable the container finish to seal. A generally horizontal ledge  26  connects the smaller upper skirt part  22  with the larger lower skirt part  20 , providing the seal for the container finish. An internal thread or threads  28  are seen on the inner side of the threaded closure device  18 , which preferably is substantially (or at least generally) transparent. The closure device  18  is preferably injection-molded as a single common integral piece. 
     A scoop  30  is also shown in  FIG. 1 , in an upright orientation in this embodiment, to be fitted into the space defined in the interior of the upper portion of the closure  18 , defined by the upper skirt part  22 . This scoop in one preferred embodiment is retained firmly against the inside of the top panel  24 , and it resides between the top panel  24  and the liner  16  which is fixed to the container finish  14 . The scoop could be in an inverted orientation, as it is in  FIG. 12  explained below. The closure  18  is screwed onto the container neck  12  with the scoop held securely inside the closure. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the threaded closure  18  in sectional elevation and in interior plan view.  FIG. 4  is a fragmented sectional view showing details of the closure.  FIG. 2  shows the lower skirt part  20  formed with the internal thread  28  and having an increased-diameter outwardly extending lip  32 , which is consistent with other large-diameter injection-molded caps of the applicant/assignee for stacking.  FIG. 2  also reveals an internal ridge or bead  34  formed in the upper skirt part  22 , below the surface of the top panel  24 . The bead  34  is seen in better detail, in cross section, in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , this bead is interrupted at an interruption  36 , which may be an approximately 1″ gap, or in any event sufficient to receive a scoop as discussed below. This occurs at two 180°-opposed locations. The purpose of this bead is to retain a scoop, discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 5A , in “bayonet” locking fashion up against the bottom of the top panel  24 . In  FIG. 4  this bead  34  is seen as having sloped surfaces at top and bottom, primarily to enable stripping from the mold. 
     A modified retention band is discussed below with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows the inward step  26  in the diameter of the closure  18 , providing an internal ledge  26   a  for the closure to engage against the container finish. The reduction in diameter, in one example for a 120 mm closure, is from about 4.7″ internal diameter just below the ledge to about 4.37″ internal diameter just above the ledge, thus a difference of 0.36″, or about ⅜″. This provides about 3/16″ radius difference, so that the ledge internally is about 3/16″, providing an adequate distance for engaging against the container finish. This ledge width can vary. Preferably a series of induction sealing rings  38  are included on the ledge, as shown, and the ledge should be wide enough to allow at least two of the rings  38  to engage against the container finish. A liner can be assembled into the closure  18  against this ledge, then inductively heated and sealed onto the bottle finish after the closure is screwed tightly onto the bottle. These will engage down against the liner  16  ( FIG. 1 ), which will already have been secured to the container finish. 
     One form of the scoop  30  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . It is configured especially for being contained in and secured in the closure  18 . As shown in the drawings, the scoop has a handle  42  with an end  43 , and at the opposite end of the scoop, i.e. the pouring end  44 , is a tip flange  46  that extends forward by a small distance, about 1/32″ to 1/16″, as best seen in  FIG. 5A . These two ends of the scoop, the back end  43  of the handle and the tip flange  46 , are essentially coplanar and at the top of the scoop. Both of these edges  46  and  43  preferably have a curvature as shown, which follows a radius from a central point  48  between them and on a median line longitudinally through the cup. This provides for the cup to be “bayonet” mounted into the closure  18 . The tip flange  46  and handle  43 , each of which may be about 0.045″ in thickness, are configured to be inserted in the upper part of the closure  18  which is seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , between respective arcs of the bead  34  and the top panel  24  above.  FIG. 4 , at the top of the drawing, shows this insertion position in some detail. The vertical distance a shown in  FIG. 4 , between a downwardly protruding bump or nipple  50  on the top panel and the start of the top ramp of the bead  34 , is essentially the same as the thickness of the tip flange  46  and the back end  43  of the handle of the scoop, i.e. about 0.045″ to 0.050″. The bump  50 , of which there are two at 180°-opposed positions, is also shown in the bottom plan view of  FIG. 3 . A central bump  52  extending down at the center of the top panel, seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , is a gate well for injection molding. When the scoop is assembled into the cap  18 , it is brought up into the cap in a position generally as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the handle end  43  and the tip flange  46  positioned in the two interruptions  36  between bead segments  34 . This puts the two tips at both ends of the scoop in position to slide above the bead segments  34  when the scoop is rotated. The two opposed nipples or bumps  50 , when reached by the two ends of the scoop, provide a close fit and require that the remaining rotation of the scoop into place be in forced rotation such that the scoop is held tightly in place. In fact, the scoop handle  42  preferably has a series of parallel ridges  54 , seen in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , which will snap or click against the nipple  50  as the scoop is rotated into its final position, providing a tactile and audible feedback. 
       FIGS. 6 through 6D  show modified forms of the scoop  30 .  FIG. 6  shows a modified scoop  30   a  having, in addition to a front pour spout  44   a , side pour spouts  45  at each side, for convenience to the user in dispensing controlled amounts of a powder or granular product. The handle  42  is similar to that of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and the scoop is generally similar to that other embodiment except in regard to the side pour spouts. In this form of scoop  30   a , there is no tip flange such as the tip flange  46  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; this scoop can be retained inverted as shown in  FIG. 12  and explained below. 
       FIG. 6B  shows a somewhat different form of scoop  30   b , with a simpler parameter that includes side pour spouts  45   a , and with a tip flange  46  as in the first-described embodiment. 
       FIG. 6C  shows the scoop  30   b  as secured in a closure or overcap, which could be the top portion of the closure  18  shown in  FIG. 2  or an overcap as described below with reference to  FIGS. 7-9 . The scoop is retained in bayonet style by engaging the handle end  43  and the tip flange  46  under the arcuate bead  34 , as shown in detail in  FIG. 6D . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show another embodiment of the invention, wherein the scoop-containing closure  60  comprises a threaded cap  62  which can be of conventional design, together with an overcap  64  that nests on top of a cap  62 , is without threads, and is bonded to the threaded cap  62 , preferably by a plastic shrink band  66  (indicated in  FIG. 8 ). The scoop  30 , as seen in the other drawings, is contained in the overcap  64 .  FIG. 8  shows the assembly in cross section. The container closure cap  62  is shown screwed onto the container  63  via threads  68  ( FIG. 7 ) in the conventional way. This cap component is fitted with a liner  70  ( FIG. 7 ) in the typical manner, the liner being compressed down against the container finish when the cap is screwed onto the container, then inductively heated to bond the liner to the top of the container finish. The overcap  64  is shown assembled onto the top of the basic cap  62 , in nested relationship via an expanded-diameter annular skirt portion  72  at the bottom end of the overcap&#39;s skirt  74 . This annular recess formed by the skirt tail  72  is of a size to engage closely over the top shoulder of the basic cap  62 , and the feature is known in the industry as a feature of the assignee of this invention, for nesting newly manufactured injection-molded, large-diameter caps together into “logs” for dimensional stability of the caps and for dense packing into cartons. The feature is known as TAPERSTACK on caps, produced by Innovative Molding, Inc. of Sebastopol, Calif. (the assignee herein). 
     The scoop  30 , which can be the same scoop as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , is secured in the overcap  64 , and may be held therein by the same quick “bayonet” type mounting described above, or by a modified retention described below in reference to  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the scoop  30  could simply be retained in the overcap by a glue dot of the type that is easily releasable by the consumer, or the scoop could be dimensioned to be very closely held within the internal diameter of the overcap  64 , without the bayonet mounting. The shrink band  66  is of the kind used commonly to provide a seal over the joint between a cap and a container. The plastic band is held in place and heated to cause shrinking of its diameter to tightly grip the overcap  64  and the regular cap  62  across the joint between them, providing an effective seal. 
       FIG. 9  shows the overcap  64  in cross section, showing the same bayonet mounting structure as shown in the upper cap part  22  in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The difference here is that the overcap has essentially the same internal diameter as the basic cap  62  so that the scoop can be of greater length, the difference being dictated by the dimension of the internal ledge  26   a  between the upper and lower sections of the first embodiment, best seen in  FIG. 4 . The arcuate retention beads are shown at  34 , and one of the interruptions between them shown at  36 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a variation in an overcap  64   a  for retention of a scoop, and this applies equally to the upper skirt part  22  of the first-described closure device  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Here, the arcuate retention bead of the cap  18  is replaced by a helical bead  34   a , which acts as essentially as an internal thread, but not for use in securing the overcap  64   a  to a container. The helical bead or thread  34   a  preferably comprises two separate internal threads with thread starts 180° apart. The thread starts are at the same level, and one thread start  34   b  is visible in the sectional view of  FIG. 10 , while the right side of the drawing shows the end of a different and opposing thread section. 
     These helical beads or threads enable a scoop such as described above to be assembled into the overcap by screwing the scoop into position.  FIG. 12  illustrates a scoop being retained in the overcap  64   a . In this case the scoop is inserted into the overcap with the open upper side of the scoop downward, i.e. with the open side of the scoop facing in the same direction as the opening of the overcap. The scoop can be similar to the scoop  30   a  of  FIGS. 6 and 6A , without a tip flange on the front pour spout  44   a , since the scoop is inverted. The depth of the scoop is such that the scoop can be engaged onto the thread sections  34   a  via the front pour spout edge  44   a  and the handle end  43  as shown in the scoop drawings. One of the scoop designs with a tip flange  46  could be used if desired. The depth of the scoop, and the positioning of the thread sections  34   a , can be such that the pan of the scoop engages up against the top panel  24  of the overcap, or there can be a clearance between the scoop and the top panel as shown in  FIG. 12 . The length of the scoop can be such that, in combination with a slight taper of the overcap (narrower diameter toward the top panel), the handle and tip flange engage or wedge tightly against the internal surface of the overcap skirt, thus firmly holding the scoop in position without requiring engagement against the underside of the top panel. 
       FIG. 11  shows in detail one of the bead or thread sections  34   a  on the inside surface of the overcap  64   a , just above the expanded-diameter annular skirt portion  72  as described above. 
     The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1