CONTAINER, SEAL WITH BLISTER ELEMENT, AND SCOOP THEREFOR

Abstract

A container for a powdered nutritional product is provided, the container comprising a can having a base and an upstanding sidewall defining an interior space, the sidewall extending to a rim defining an opening to the interior space, a seal attached to the rim and serving to sealingly close the opening, wherein the seal is provided with a scoop recess formed between the seal and a blister element connected to the seal. Additionally, a lid is provided having an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part has a greater radius than the upper part, and wherein the radius of the upper part is smaller than the radius of the rim of the can. Further, a scoop is provided for use with the described container, the scoop comprising a bowl and a handle attached to an upper part of the bowl, the handle extending downwardly away from the bowl forming a downward extension until reaching a deflection point, and extending horizontally away from the bowl from said deflection point thereby forming a horizontal extension.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A container for a powdered nutritional product, the container comprising: a can having a base and an upstanding sidewall defining an interior space, the sidewall extending to a rim defining an opening to the interior space; a seal and blister element combination, wherein the seal is attached to the rim to sealingly close the opening and the blister element is attached to an underside of the seal, whereby a scoop recess is formed between the blister element and the seal and the seal and blister element combination can be removed as a single element to gain access to the interior space; and a scoop, sealed within the scoop recess, the scoop having a minor dimension and a major dimension.

24. The container according to claim 23, further comprising a lid, connectable to the can to cover the seal or to close the opening.

25. The container according to claim 23, wherein a height between an underside of the lid and an upper surface of the seal is less than the minor dimension of the scoop.

26. The container according to claim 23, wherein the seal comprises a pull-tab for peeling off the seal and blister element combination from the can.

27. The container according to claim 26, wherein the scoop recess is elongate and the pull-tab is provided in a substantially perpendicular relation to a longitudinal axis of the blister element.

28. The container according claim 23, wherein the blister element is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

29. The container according to claim 23, wherein the seal comprises aluminum.

30. The container according to claim 23, further comprising a quantity of infant formula within the interior space.

31. The container according to claim 24, wherein the lid has an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part has a greater radius than the upper part, and wherein the radius of the upper part is smaller than a radius of the rim of the can.

32. The container according to claim 31, wherein the upper part of the lid has a profiled outer circumference that is complementary with the base of the container, allowing stacking therewith.

33. The container according to claim 24, wherein the lid comprises a holding element for holding a scoop.

34. The container according to claim 33, wherein the holding element comprises a pin extending from the underside of the lid arranged to hold the scoop in any diametric orientation with respect to the lid.

36. The container according to claim 23, wherein the can is a tin can having a circular cross-section and a diameter between 9 and 12 cm.

37. A scoop for dosing powdered infant formula for use with the container of claim 23, the scoop comprising a bowl, open at its upper part and having one or more openings extending through a lower part of the bowl, a handle attached to the upper part of the bowl, the handle extending downwardly away from the bowl forming a downward extension until reaching a deflection point, and extending horizontally away from the bowl from said deflection point thereby forming a horizontal extension, extending parallel to the lower part of the bowl.

38. The scoop according to claim 37, wherein the downward extension has a curvature.

39. The scoop according to claim 37, wherein the downward extension of the handle is at least partly bifurcated into two sub-extensions, so that the handle is attached to the bowl at two separate locations, and wherein each of said two sub-extensions has a width that is smaller than a width of the horizontal extension of the handle.

40. The scoop according to claim 37, comprising an opening in the horizontal extension of the handle for attaching the scoop to an underside of a lid.

41. The scoop according to claim 37, wherein a height of the bowl increases gradually from a central point on sides of the bowl towards a front of the bowl and towards the handle of the scoop, thereby forming concave, curved sides, so that the scoop can be leveled against a rim of a can.

42. A container for a powdered nutritional product, the container comprising: a can having a base and an upstanding sidewall defining an interior space, the sidewall extending to a rim defining an opening to the interior space; a seal and blister element combination, attached to the rim to sealingly close the opening and comprising a scoop recess formed between the blister element and the seal; a scoop, sealed within the scoop recess, the scoop comprising a bowl, open at its upper part, a handle attached to the upper part of the bowl, the handle extending downwardly away from the bowl forming a downward extension until reaching a deflection point, and extending horizontally away from the bowl from said deflection point thereby forming a horizontal extension, extending parallel to the lower part of the bowl; and a lid, connectable to the can to cover the seal and close the opening, the lid comprising a pin extending from the underside of the lid arranged to hold the scoop in any diametric orientation with respect to the lid, with the bowl opening downwards.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a container according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 schematically depicts a seal with a blister element and a scoop according to a further embodiment the invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 schematically depicts a lid for a container according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 schematically depicts a scoop according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 5 schematically depicts a process of manufacture of a blister element on a seal and a container and according to an aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a container 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the container 100 being provided with a blister element 102 for attachment onto a seal 104. The container has a base 103 a sidewall 105 defining an interior space 107. The seal 104 is on a can 106. The can 106 has a rim 108, and a bottom panel 110. The rim 108 has an upper edge 109, the rim defining an opening 111. The blister element 102 contains a scoop 112. A top-view of the can 106 is also shown. The blister element 102 which is provided on a seal 104 has been attached to the rim 106 of the can 106, and contains a scoop 112.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a blister element 200 holding a scoop provided on a seal 202 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The blister element 200 holds a scoop 204. The seal 202 has an upper surface 203 further comprises a pulltab 206. FIG. 3 shows a lid 300 having a stepped, vertical cross-section. The lid 300 has an upper part 302 with a radius 302a, and a lower part 304 with a radius 304a. The radius 302a is smaller than the radius 304b.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a top view and a side view of scoop 400 with a bowl 402. The bowl 402 having an opening 404 and having concave sides 406a, b, and a height at the frontal area 404 and at the rear area 406 which is greater than the height of the sides 402a, b. The scoop has a handle 408 that is attached at an upper area of the scoop bowl 402. The handle is bifurcated into two parts 410a, b.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows various processes of manufacture of various embodiments according to the invention. In a process 502, a blister matrix 502a is formed, containing a plurality of blisters, each blister holding a scoop.

[0033] In a process 504, a blister and seal combination 504a is formed, wherein a blisters each containing a scoop are respectively attached to a seal.

[0034] In a process 506, a blister and seal combination (such as 504a above) is attached to a rim of an empty can, which can is not provided with a bottom panel.

[0035] In a process 508, a can (such as the can 506a) is filled with a powdered nutritional product through its bottom opening. A bottom panel is subsequently attached to the bottom edge of the can, and a lid for closing the can is applied. The present invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.