Abstract:
A container for granular, particulate or a collection of individual materials having an extension for receiving a utensil is disclosed. More particularly containers having at least one extension that has a hole in the extension so that a utensil can be hooked into the extension and packaged along with said materials is disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to containers for granular or particulate materials and in particular powdered household cleaning products or various other collections of individual materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to containers having at least one extension having an aperture such that a utensil can be affixed to the extension and packaged along with said materials.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Utensils for volumetric measuring of granular products, which are included in retail packages for user convenience, are well known. One such utensil is a scoop. Such scoops are found particularly with granular detergent and coffee products where volumetric measuring is beneficial to obtaining reproducible results. Measuring scoops are typically manufactured of molded of plastic and have a measuring portion connected to a handle. The measuring portion typically has a cylindrical or rectangular body forming an open cavity of the same shape.  
           [0003]    Customer satisfaction with the scoop is strongly dependent on scoop accessibility. The ideal case is for the consumer to find the scoop on top of the product when the carton is initially opened. However, as is often the case, the scoop sinks into the product during pre-purchase handling, resulting in consumer dissatisfaction over the scoop&#39;s accessibility.  
           [0004]    Current solutions to the aforementioned problem follow two distinct routes. In the first, the container is filled with granular product followed by placement of a small scoop on top of the product before the container lid is installed. In the second route, the container is inverted with the top down. The scoop is placed in the container followed by filling with a granular product around it. When the container is re-inverted, the scoop is at the top end of the container where the lid is subsequently opened by the consumer. The second route is preferable where the scoop is large relative to the size of the container or where the container does not have sufficient headspace to accommodate dropping a scoop on top of the product.  
           [0005]    However, the aforementioned solutions have distinct disadvantages. In both cases the scoop generally sinks into the product during transportation of the finished product due to vibrations and the respective densities of the product versus the scoop. Additionally, the top filling method necessarily requires more headspace to allow room for the scoop, which generally limits the size of the scoop.  
           [0006]    Several attempts have been made in the art to provide an accessible utensil, yet none has been satisfactory. In many cases the sophisticated equipment necessary to place the utensil is prohibitive. Utensils or scoops have been glued into packages. However, this method leaves the consumer with no way to reattach the scoop for storage once initially removed. Therefore, the consumer places the scoop into the product where it is again subject to sinking.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, the need remains for a carton for packaging granular materials that provides a dosing scoop which is readily accessible to the consumer at all times. A need also remains for a method of reattaching the scoop once initially separated from the package.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention meets the aforementioned needs by providing a container for granular or powdered products as well as for collections of small individual items to be packaged together (i.e. candies, cereal, toys etc.). According to a first embodiment of the present invention a container defining a cavity for storing products, said cavity having an opening through which the product can be removed during use is provided. The container includes a lid, which may be affixed to the container. When the lid is affixed it may be affixed by any known means, preferably by a hinge. The lid covers said cavity opening when in a closed position. The container further comprises front, back and side panels to form a cavity with an opening. When the lid is affixed to the container it may preferably be affixed to an upper portion of the back panel. The carton further comprises a bottom panel. At least one side panel of said container has at least one extension for affixing said utensil. In a preferred embodiment the extension is provided with an aperture for affixing the utensil, measuring scoop or other dosing device to the extension. This arrangement provides for an accessible utensil (e.g., one that has not been buried in the product of the package), which is easily located by a user of the package upon first opening of the package. The extension can be placed anywhere on the side panel so long as the placement provides an accessible utensil.  
           [0009]    According to an additional embodiment of the invention the carton, as described above, further comprises a bottom panel and a liner. The liner is formed from four side panels. At least one side panel of said liner has at least one extension for affixing said utensil. In a preferred embodiment the extension is provided with an aperture for affixing the utensil, measuring scoop or other dosing device to the extension. This arrangement provides for an accessible utensil (e.g., one that has not been buried in the product of the package), which is easily located by a user of the package upon first opening of the package. The extension can be placed anywhere on the side panel of the liner so long as the placement provides an accessible utensil.  
           [0010]    All percentages and proportions herein are by weight, and all references cited are hereby incorporated by reference, unless otherwise specifically indicated. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the package according to the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2. is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the package according to the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3. is a plan view of a carton blank before assembly.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4. is a plan view of a carton liner before assembly.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5. is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the package according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6. is a perspective view of a laundry detergent package according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7. is a perspective view of a laundry detergent package and utensil according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. As discussed more fully hereafter, the present invention is directed to a carton for containing granular, powdered or other contents, provided with a utensil, which is affixed to the carton via extension of the carton or the carton liner. It is understood that the words carton, package and container are interchangeable within the context of this disclosure. By utensil is meant any type of measuring device, or tool that may be supplied in a container for the purpose of dispensing the product contained therein. A particularly preferred carton or package  10  made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The package  10  is illustrated as a six-sided carton having a lid  12  formed from flaps  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  and interconnected with a container  22  formed from a base  24  and side panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 . The lid, base and side panels each have inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surfaces are disposed within the interior of the package  10  and the outer surfaces are disposed about the exterior of the package. The side panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  each having upper edges  31 , and lower edges  33 . At least one side panel  26 ,  28 ,  30  or  32  is provided with at least one extension  48 . In a preferred embodiment an extension  48  is affixed to upper edge  31 . Said extension  48  has an aperture  50  to which a utensil can be easily affixed. The size and shape of aperture  50  is determined by the particular utensil intended to be supplied in the package.  
         [0019]    Another embodiment of package  10  made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated by way of FIG. 2. The package  10  is as described above in FIG. 1 wherein the carton is additionally provided with a liner  34 , as shown more fully in FIG. 4. The preferred liner  34  has side panels  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  each having upper edges  44  and lower edges  46  (not visible in FIG. 2). The liner may have only one side panel, or up to as many side panels as the carton itself. The liner  34  also has at least one extension  48 . Preferably the extension  48  is affixed to the upper edge  44 . Said extension  48  has an aperture  50  wherein a utensil can be easily affixed. The size and shape of aperture  50  is determined by the particular utensil intended to be supplied in the package.  
         [0020]    The package  10  is preferably used to store powdered or granular products, examples of which might include laundry detergents, foods, and the like. In addition, the package  10  can be used to store any other products where it is desired to provide a utensil. The terms “granular” and “powdered” are used interchangeably herein and are intended to refer to any products comprising solid or semi-solid particles. While the present invention is described herein with reference to the exemplary six-sided package of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that the present invention can be adapted for use with other package configurations and shapes. For example, the present invention can be used with packages having one or more curved or curvilinear panels and the like. Further, the present invention can be used with bottom fill and side-fill cartons. While the package  10  is illustrated in FIG. I with the lid  12  disposed at the top of the carton, it is contemplated that the lid  12  can be placed at other locations, multiple lids can be provided and other lid configurations can be accommodated.  
         [0021]    Additionally, it is contemplated that the extension  48  may be placed in a corner of the package  10 , or just below the upper edges  31 ,  44 , of any of said side panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  or liner side panels  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  respectively. One such embodiment is exemplified in FIG. 5.  
         [0022]    The package  10  can be formed from the blank  60  illustrated in FIG. 3. The blank  60 , has a section corresponding to each of the lid flaps  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  and each of the side panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 , as shown. For purposes of discussion, it is the interior surfaces of the flaps and panels of the blank  60 , which are visible in FIG. 3. The base  24  of the package  10  is preferably formed from base flaps  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 . The blank  60  also includes a glue flap  70  disposed along an edge of the side panel  32 . The flaps and panels of the blank  60 , are integrally interconnected with each other by score lines,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  89 ,  91 , and  93 . The score lines are cut deep enough to facilitate bending of the various flaps and panels about their respective score lines without fracture or separation of the flaps and panels from their neighboring flap or panel.  
         [0023]    The liner  34  can be formed from blank  90  illustrated in FIG. 4. The blank  90  has a section corresponding to each of the side panels  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  integrally interconnected with each other by score lines  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98 . The blank  90  further comprises an extension flap  48  integrally connected to an upper edge  44  of at least one side panel  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and/or  42  by a score line  100 . The extension flap  48  has an aperture  50 .  
         [0024]    Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 exemplifies a package according to the present invention wherein the package  10  further comprises a laundry detergent composition. FIG. 7 also exemplifies a package according to the present invention wherein the package  10  further comprises a laundry detergent composition and a measuring scoop.  
         [0025]    The package  10  is preferably used to store powdered or granular products, examples of which might include laundry detergents, foods, cleaning products and the like. In addition, the package  10  can be used to store any other products where it is desired to provide an easily accessible utensil in the package.  
         [0026]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible and contemplated in light of the above teachings by those skilled in the art, and the embodiments discussed were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application.