Patent Application
20180346223
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The field of the invention is scoops for powder and in particular packaged scoops for containers of powdered drink mixes.
In general, scoops for powders in containers do not have separate packaging and are simply dropped into the container for the powder, normally sinking to the bottom. There are videos of people showing how to fish out the scoop with a fork or some other reaching device.
A preferred form of the present invention places a scoop inside a bag inflated with air, forming a bag/scoop assembly. The intent of the bag/scoop assembly is to prevent the scoop from settling below the top surface of the powder without changing the scoop design. The bag/scoop assembly has a convex surface, thus, if powder were to fall on top of the bag/scoop assembly, the curvature of the bag/scoop assembly would allow the powder to slide off the bag more easily due to gravity. The bag/scoop assembly also reduces the difference in surface area of the powder relative to the bag/scoop assembly. This reduction in surface area ratios decreases the space available for the powder to move over the bag/scoop assembly during shaking and vibration of the tub. The bag/scoop assembly is lighter than the powder and is therefore not subject to sinking.
There are other possible bag structure that are workable but not preferred such as a thick bag similar to padded shipping bags or a bubble wrap plastic bag, which would automatically be airtight in the bubbles or a very tight bag that prevents the scoop from acting like a scoop.
These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to
Referring now to
A logo 24 can be affixed to the outside of bag 22 or to the inside of bag 22. Logo 24 can be the logo for the powder or an advertisement. Similarly, insert 26 can be instructions for using the powder or an discount coupon for powder or for a placed advertisement.
In another arrangement, a scoop 18 is packaged for enclosure in a container 12 partially filled with powder 16. The scoop includes a dipper having a bottom and an outer wall affixed to the bottom, forming a receptacle 18R, so that the powder can be held inside the dipper. An elongated handle 18H is affixed to outside of the dipper, so that the dipper and handle form the scoop. A bag 22 completely encloses the scoop so that the receptacle will not fill with powder when enclosed in the container. A preferred bag is an airtight plastic bag but other bags can work though not so well, such as a tightly fitting plastic bag that prevents the scoop from filling or a bubble wrap plastic bag, which can also be airtight.
It can thus be seen that the present invention places the scoop inside a bag inflated with air, forming a bag/scoop assembly. The intent of the bag/scoop assembly is to prevent the scoop from settling below the top surface of the powder without changing the scoop design. The bag/scoop assembly has a convex surface, thus, if powder were to fall on top of the bag/scoop assembly, the curvature of the bag/scoop assembly would allow the powder to slide off the bag more easily due to gravity. The bag/scoop assembly also reduces the difference in surface area of the powder relative to the bag/scoop assembly. This reduction in surface area ratios decreases the space available for the powder to move over the bag/scoop assembly during shaking and vibration of the tub. The bag/scoop assembly is lighter than the powder (air has a lower density than powder) and is therefore not subject to sinking.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and objectives hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the apparatus.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
