Patent Application
20070241141
The invention relates generally to containers that include a spout for pouring contents therefrom, and more particularly for the pouring of solid material therefrom.
Various food containers having pouring spouts are known. Spout blockages caused by product build-up at the spout can also be a problem.
A need exists for a food container and pouring spout having improved functionality and convenience. A need exists for a pouring spout that is particularly useful for the pouring of solid food products, especially flakes.
This invention addresses the foregoing needs in the art by providing a container with an improved and novel pouring spout that may be used for pouring solid food materials, including flaked food materials while obtaining a relatively free flowing and accurate pour.
The present invention also provides a container that has an opening which enables access for scooping its contents, as well as efficiently pouring its contents into a targeted area, a food receiving receptacle. In one embodiment, a removable lid forms part of the container that can also function as a food receiving receptacle.
In one aspect, the present invention also provides a container that has a cover with a top surface inner portion that is removable and separable from an outer portion to provide a pouring and scooping opening that is surrounded by a spout wall. After the inner portion is removed, the container pouring and scooping opening can be covered with a removable lid which mates with the spout wall when the lid is in place on the container. This eliminates or minimizes unwanted spillage over the spout wall onto the outer portion of the cover, such as might occur if the container is tipped over during storage. Hence, when the lid is removed and the container is opened after tipping, contents are not scattered from the outer portion of the cover into the environment.
In one aspect of the invention a container for storing pourable contents has a body with a sidewall, a closed bottom end and a top end cover. The cover has a top surface with a portion having an opening to the interior of the container. The cover also has a spout wall upwardly extending from the top surface and positioned adjacent at least along a portion of the opening. The spout wall has a pouring section with a first end and a second end, and a front between the first and second ends of the pouring section. The spout wall has a first height at the first end of the pouring section and a second height at the second end of the pouring section. The spout wall has a height at the front that is less than the first height and second heights.
In another aspect of the invention the container has a spout wall that also includes a first spill inhibiting section connected to one side of said pouring section and extends away from the pouring section. The spout wall also has a second spill inhibiting section connected to the other side of the pouring section, also extending away from said pouring section. The first and second spill inhibiting sections inhibit the spilling of contents thereover. In one embodiment, the spill inhibiting section may be composed of a section of the spout wall that projects upwardly from the top surface of the cover to act as a dam. Thus, when the container is tilted to pour the contents from within the container and out the pouring section, the first and second spill inhibiting sections act to help prevent spilling of the contents from other than the pouring section.
In a further aspect of the invention the container is provided with a removable lid. The lid has an inner surface that sealingly mates with the top surface of the spout wall when the lid is mounted on the container. This arrangement provides a seal to help prevent the contents of the container from spilling over the spout wall when the container is in storage and not being used for pouring.
Referring to the drawings generally, and in particular
Top cover 18 has a slightly convex top surface 24 and an opposite bottom surface 26. Top surface 24 also is provided with an inner portion 31 and an outer portion 33. As discussed later in greater detail, inner portion 31 is removable from top 18 to provide an opening 28 for access to the contents within container 10. Appearing on top surface 24, and of particular importance to the present invention, is upstanding spout wall 30. Directing attention to
Flanking either side of pouring section 32 are spill inhibiting sections 40 and 42. Spill inhibiting section 40 extends generally laterally and somewhat rearward from end 34 of pouring section 32. Spill inhibiting section 40 also may include a transition section 41 which provides a transition from pouring section 32 to spill inhibiting section 40. Transition section 41 provides a transition for both spout wall height, as well as the spout wall configuration, between pouring section 32 and spill inhibiting section 40. As best seen in
Transition section 41 also provides a transition of the function between the primary functions of pouring section 32 and spill inhibiting section 40. The direction of the configuration of the forward portion 52 of transitional section 41 cooperates with pour section 32 to provide a surface that directs the pour of contents towards front 38. The direction of the configuration of the rearward portion 54 of transition section 41, on the other hand, tends to cooperate with spill inhibitor section 40 to primarily perform a damming and spill inhibiting function. It is noted that the forward portion 52 may have a length that is approximately Y2 of the length of transition section 41.
Transition section 41 also includes a point or apex 43 which provides the apex of the height of spout wall 30 as it projects from top surface 24. Between apex 43 and end 34 of pouring section 32, the height of transition section 41 gradually reduces. Moving along the opposite direction from apex 43 towards spill inhibiting section 40, the height of transition section 41 also gradually reduces. It can also be observed in
In a like manner, on the other side of pouring section 32, a second spill inhibiting section 42 extends laterally and rearwardly from end 36 while gradually reducing in height to join with uniform height rear section 46 of spout wall 30. Also in a similar manner, a transition section 45 joins pouring section 32 to spill inhibiting section 42. Transition section 45 also has an arc facing opposite than that of pouring sections 32 and spill inhibiting section 42, as well as an apex point 47 of substantially the same height as that of apex 43.
It is noted that spout wall 30 defines the boundary between outer portion 33 of top surface 24 and its removable inner portion 31. To facilitate removal of inner portion 31, cover 18 is provided with an annular score line, or weakened fail portion, 56 adjacent the path of spout wall 30, as best seen in
As seen in
A generally dome shaped lid 70 provides a seal for container 10 after inner portion 31 has been removed. As best viewed in
Referring now to
The mating between inner surface 78 and top surface 80 of spout wall 30 acts to seal opening 28. This prevents unintended passage of the contents from the interior of container 10 to outer portion 33 of top surface 24 when lid 70 is on container 10. Thus, for example, if container 10 tips over while being stored, contents are less likely to be spilled onto outer portion 33. If this were to occur, such contents would spill from the outer portion into the environment when lid 70 is later removed.
The interior surface 78 of lid 70 may also include indicia such as markings 84 so that lid 70 can be utilized as a measuring device. For example, as shown in
It was found that with a container 10 that has an opening 28 of the configuration shown in
It was also discovered that without the reduction of height in front 38 of pouring section 32, the oat flakes would tend to pile up at the front of such unreduced height. This inhibited the flow of the contents out of spout pouring section 32. As a result, the user tended to increase the pouring angle in order to obtain a flow, which in turn resulted in oats flowing over spill inhibitors 40 and 42 landing outside of the intended target lid 70.
Container cover 18 with the opening 28 configuration shown in
It is further noted that spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 extend both laterally and rearwardly from pouring section 32. If spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 only extended in a lateral direction from ends 34, 36, i.e., if spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 are at a 900 angle to a line 66 bisecting opening 28 and passing through front 38, a damming effect is accomplished, but the flow of oats becomes somewhat restricted. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment it is noted that spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 are angled toward the pouring section 32 so that spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 not only provide a damming effect, but additionally act to channel the flakes towards the pour section 32 to provide a consistent free flowing pour.
In this regard, it is noted that the chord taken along the length of arcuate shaped spill inhibiting sections 40 and 42 forms an angle of approximately 45° with line 66 bisecting opening 28 and passing through front 38. It is preferred that such angle be in the approximate range of 30°-55° in order to get at least some adequate level of both a damming action and a flow directing effect of the flakes towards pouring section 32.
For reference, the chord referred to above is taken along the entire length of a spill inhibiting section 40, such as between point 86 and point 88.
If, for example spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 and transition sections 41, 45 are formed as a generally straight line, rather than as an arc, spill inhibiting section 408 and transition section 41 would also be positioned at an angle with line 66 bisecting cover 18 and passing through front 38, that is, in the same 30°-55° range. Whether a of straight line or the preferred arcuate shape, spill inhibiting sections 40, 42 of the present invention act to both dam and to direct the flow of oats out opening 28 without spilling outside the intended target area.
It is noted that opening 28 also includes a portion providing a scooping section opening 90 rearward of the portion providing a pouring section opening 92. Scooping section opening 90 has a greater cross section area than that of pouring section opening 92 to allow a convenient access to the contents by a spoon or other utensil. This gives the user an option as to whether to dispense contents by pouring or scooping through opening 28. For example, the cross sectional area of scooping section opening 90 may be 75%, or greater, than the cross sectional area of opening 28, with the remainder of the area of opening 28 providing pouring opening section 92.
Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
Modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments nor to the theoretical description disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
