Abstract:
A container with a granulated, powdered or other loose product stores a scoop within the container adjacent to a 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. Promotional material can be retained below the closure, in addition to or in lieu of the scoop.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/322,175, filed Jan. 28, 2009. 
    
    
     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 in a container, adjacent to a container closure so as not to be submerged in the product. In one form of the invention, the scoop is held 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 another embodiment of the invention the mouth of the container is formed to support the scoop. This can be a channel, slot, lip or ridge formed on the inside surface of the plastic container mouth, such that the scoop, which extends across the interior of the bottle finish, does not interfere with the engagement of the container closure or the seal. 
     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. 
     In some embodiments, promotional materials can be retained in the container, along with the scoop or alternative to the scoop. 
     It is therefore among the objects of the invention to conveniently store a scoop of the type used for powder or liquid concentrates within a container of the product, or to store another article, in such a way that the article 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 elevation view in section showing an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional elevation view showing a container and closure with a scoop, in another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a scoop-retaining basket that forms part of the assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional elevation view showing promotional materials retained within the container rather than a scoop. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view showing a further embodiment wherein a scoop is retained within the neck of a container. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a scoop. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view showing an alternative to the form of scoop retention shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the invention for retaining a scoop  10  in position to prevent the scoop from sinking down into a granular, powdered or liquid product in a container  12  (usually a molded plastic wide-mouthed bottle or jar). In this form of scoop retention the scoop  10  is directly inside the product container  12 , and a closure  14  of conventional design can be used. Between the closure and the container finish  16  is a liner  18 , preferably sealed in place by induction heating. The scoop  10  is simply retained to the underside of the liner by a glue dot  20 , of known composition suitable for contact with food products. The glue dot will readily release the scoop when the scoop is pulled with some force away from the liner by a consumer, who will have first removed the liner from its sealed connection to the container finish after the consumer has removed the cap  14 . 
     In  FIG. 2  is shown another form of scoop retention within the container. Here, a container  22  has an internal ledge  24  in the container finish, forming an annular shelf on which a basket  26  can rest. The basket  26 , shown in plan view in  FIG. 3 , has an outer annular lip  28  that is sized to rest on the ledge  24  so that it is captured in that position and prevented from falling down into the container. The basket can have a perforated bottom, with holes shown at  30  in  FIG. 3 ; the perforated bottom could take other forms as well, such as a lattice work pattern with square openings, although the basket preferably is injection molded, without weaving. 
     A scoop  10  is held within the basket  26 , as shown.  FIG. 2  also shows a closure  32  secured on the container neck  34  via threads. If desired the annular ledge  24  of the container finish can be set at a level such that the container lid  32 , when engaged on the container finish, or a liner  36  on the inside of the container lid, will come into contact with the basket lip  28  or the top surface of the scoop  10  (or approximately into contact), to eliminate or reduce freedom of movement of the basket and the scoop within the container. 
       FIG. 4  shows a modified form of the invention, again with a basket  26   a , in this case a shallow basket, resting on the ledge or rim  24  of the container finish. The container lid is shown at  32 . In this case the basket  26   a  retains something other than a scoop, and this may be promotional materials such as indicated in the basket at  38 . These promotional articles can be printed paper or other material, or bonus items, toys for children, etc. If desired, the container closure  32  can be sufficiently transparent to reveal the promotional material, toy, etc. in the closed container. 
     In the variation shown in  FIG. 5 , a scoop  10   a  is retained directly on the container finish, on an internal ledge  24  as shown, without the need for a retention basket. The scoop, which can be configured as in  FIG. 6 , has a small front end flange  40  and a handle tail end  42 , both of which rest on the annular ledge or rim  24 , the length of the scoop being such that it is captured in position. Again, the dimensions of the container finish, i.e. the distance from the ledge to the top of the finish, can be such as to capture the scoop closely against or adjacent to the inside surface of the container lid  32  or a liner  36  on the inside of the lid. 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative container  22   a , typically an extrusion blow-molded container. A container neck  34   a  of a container formed by this process typically has an annular deformation  46  that forms an internal annular groove  46   a  in the neck, as shown. This can be formed in the blow molding of the neck, and typically an outer bead  46  will also be present as schematically indicated. In an extrusion blow-molded container, the container body is extruded but the container neck  34   a  is formed into the desired configuration in a separate process, which is a blow molding process. This is typically a polyethylene container. Some thickness variation occurs from container to container at the inner side of the container neck due to the blow molding process, but the process affords sufficient control that either a basket (for a retention of a scoop or other items) or a scoop  10   b  without a basket, can rest on the ledge  46   b  formed in the groove  46   a  at the inside of the neck as shown. This requires that the scoop  10   b  (or a basket) be snapped into the groove by a bending deformation of the scoop as it is pushed down into place. Similarly the scoop is deformed slightly on removal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , promotional material can be retained in space just below the cap, and the cap can be sufficiently translucent or essentially transparent to display the materials, bonus items, toys, etc. Promotional material or other generally flat articles can also be held between the scoop and the top panel of the cap in the arrangements shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  7 . The term promotional material is intended to include any such printed or non-printed items. 
     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.