EP0648681A1 - Measuring spoon fastening in metal containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The inventions relate to the mounting and fixing of a measuring and removal spoon 10,11,12,13,14, at the upper end of a metal container to prevent the removal spoon from being submersed in the dry contents of the container 1 during transportation. The container is provided, at its upper end, with a hermetic closure 20,21 which is to be opened once and a reclosable plastic lid 30,31. The measuring spoon 10 can be stuck to the hermetic closure 20 by means of an adhesive point 4. The measuring spoon can also be fixed at the upper end by means of retentions 22a,22b,22c,22d which are fixed to the container, for the purpose of which it is designed at both ends to be either wedge-shaped or notch-shaped, the lid-side fastening having the respective counter-contour. The measuring spoon can also be held by a lowered annular section 22e of a lid ring 22, resting on the latter, a hermetically sealing film being sealed onto the further annular horizontal section, spaced axially away from the annular support 22e. Finally, it is proposed to use the top peripheral bead 1a in the container body 1 as a support for a measuring spoon 14 which corresponds in its dimensions approximately to the diameter and to achieve the other axial bearing of the measuring spoon by means of a lid ring 22 or by means of a film which is sealed onto a container border 3a. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is concerned with the fastening of measuring spoons in metal containers, in particular those metal containers which are medium in size and which can be filled with dry contents, such as baby food or milk powder, are addressed.

In order to avoid that the teaspoon usually added to such containers - this can also be a measuring spoon for dosing the removed part of the filler - is spilled by the contents during transport of the container, the EP 400 708 proposes to put the teaspoon between the reclosable ones Store the cover and the hermetically sealing film in a narrow, flat gap and also transport it there with the can. However, since it is the natural property of a sampling spoon to have at least one trough-shaped depression, this depression must be omitted for the transport condition. For this purpose, the mentioned publication proposes a multitude of designs which store the spoon in two parts between the reclosable cover and the hermetically sealing disposable cover, with it receiving a substantially flat shape in the transport state (see FIG. 2 there) and the two-part one in the open state Spoon can be assembled so that a trough-shaped depression is created with which the dry contents can be removed. The trough-shaped depression is designed in accordance with the proposals in the aforementioned publication as a conical funnel, as a shell having polygonal walls, as a mesh-like grille or as a double-ring fold-out trough with a flexible intermediate connection.

The EP 517 963 discloses a similar flat removal spoon shape for the transport state.

In contrast, the invention takes a different approach and retains the usual spoon with its one-piece shape, consisting of a stem and a trough-shaped front.

Under this condition, it is an object of the invention to keep the spoon out of the contents so that when the metal container is opened it is accessible and usable in the same way, easily and without further assembly measures.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes three basic attachment variants with which the above-mentioned goal is achieved by holding the spoon near the underside of the hermetically sealing closure in such a way that it is immediately apparent after removal of the hermetically sealed closure and not from the dry one Filling material is spilled.

According to the first idea of the invention, the spoon can be attached directly to the hermetically sealing closure with a connection point (gluing point or sealing point), so that it is fixed there for transport, however, after opening the hermetic closure from there by a twisting or shearing movement is remove (claim 1). A sealing film can be used as a hermetically sealed closure (claim 11).

According to the other aspect of the invention, the filling spoon is fixed at its two longitudinal ends, the trough-side end and the handle-side end, in container-fixed holders (claim 2). In concrete terms of this idea, a wedge-shaped interlocking locking can be provided (claim 3, claim 4). The spoon has a geometrical shape at both ends, which is a mirror image of the holder fixed to the container. In this way, an easy snap-in is achieved and at the same time problem-free removal after removal of the hermetically sealed film is possible.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the removal spoon is stored loosely (claim 6) so that it can carry out only a small axial movement. The movement of the spoon is carried out in the direction of the reclosable closure of the container limits the hermetically sealed closure. Towards the bottom of the container, the removal spoon is also limited in its axial movement just below the hermetically sealed closure by means of a circumferential support or by means of at least two inwardly projecting supports. Thus, the removal spoon can carry out slight axial movements and slight tilting movements, but is nevertheless held securely (loosely) between the hermetically sealed film and the supports mentioned (FIG. 4, FIG. 6).

The advantage of a variant of the third aspect is that the measuring spoon can be easily removed after removing the hermetically sealed cover, because no other fixing measures have been taken and the spoon can be removed immediately in this direction if one of the axial movement barriers is removed (FIG. 4). The advantage of another variant of the third aspect of the invention (claims 7ff; Figure 6) is the amazingly simple mounting of the spoon between the top bead of the container body (head bead) and the cover ring (or between the head bead and the film sealed onto the container border). In the first case, the spoon is bent slightly in order to be released in an elastic snap down over the head bead. Then it is slightly inclined to be removed past the cover ring. The spoon release process can be influenced by the shape of the nose (claim 8); a rounded nose shape enables easier release than an angular nose shape.

The mentioned container-side support can be designed on the one hand as an annular angle support (claim 5), which extends radially and axially inwards from a cover ring. The aforementioned container-fixed support can also be designed as a circumferential bead, which is designed so that it protrudes inwardly so close below the hermetic sealing film in the container body that the thickness of the dipper stick or of the trough-shaped projection fits precisely between the cover ring and the initial bead (head bead). Alternatively, when using a film that can be sealed onto the body of the container (Claim 9) the distance from the upper end of the container to the head bead can be selected in accordance with the thickness of the trough-end projection or the handle of the removal spoon.

The plastic inserts still used in the prior art, which separated the contents from the reclosable lid and which were cut out of the container by means of a knife in order to gain access to the dry contents, can be saved in accordance with the concept of the invention; the geometrical shaping of the plastic layers - to accommodate the container spoon in transport condition - can also be omitted.

However, if a plastic layer that would be crimped together with the cover ring can be saved, metal containers manufactured according to the invention become even more environmentally friendly since no plastic residues (after the plastic layer has been separated) remain on the metal container. The question of disposal of the separated plastic layer no longer arises. The result is an even more recyclable sheet metal container, which can also be manufactured more cost-effectively and yet does not dispense with the fixed top storage of a one-piece dispensing spoon for transport purposes. An apparently incidental and nevertheless essential advantage of the invention is the banned risk of injury when piercing or cutting open the folded plastic layer.

An additional bonus of the invention lies in the minor modifications that the removal spoon has to undergo at both ends (trough end or stem end), so that it can continue to be manufactured easily and inexpensively. The modifications to the cover ring, to the sealing film or to the sealing end of a metal container are also minor for realizing the invention, so that the threshold can be lowered to "intervene" in an existing manufacturing process according to the invention.

A plurality of execution examples are intended to explain, deepen and supplement the ideas of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of a milk powder can 1, which is shown broken away at its upper end 3 in partial section to show the removal spoon 10 mounted on the lid. FIG. 1a is an enlarged detail of the area designated Z in the upper end of FIG. 1.

Figure 2 is a comparable picture of a metal can 1, in which the measuring spoon 11 is mounted on the lid side 3 in a different manner. FIG. 2a shows the circular cutout Z to illustrate the snap-like mounting of the removal spoon 11, as is shown completely in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 3a show the upper end 3 of a further metal container 1, the enlarged section Z of which provides a closer look into the removal spoon holder.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 4a illustrate an annular support 22e which, in a further embodiment, supports the removal spoon 13 at the upper end of the metal container 1.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5a show a shape comparable to that of FIG. 1 with a sealing or adhesive point 4 (connection point) which fixes the removal spoon 10, which is shortened in its longitudinal extent relative to the radial internal dimension of the container 1, on the hermetic sealing film 21 in a transport-proof manner.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 6a show a loose holder of a further removal spoon 14 at the upper end of a metal container 1, namely between a head bead 1a and a cover ring 22. On the top of the cover ring 22, a film 21 is sealed circumferentially at 21a. The spoon 14 has a longitudinal extent which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the metal can 1.

A figure (not shown) combines the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6 with that of FIG. 1 and supports the spoon between a head bead 1a and a particularly metallic foil 20 which is sealed on the circumference of a container flange 3a.

Before the figures are explained in more detail, it should be emphasized that a milk powder can is an exemplary use of the metal cans containing baby food, for which the exemplary embodiments of the invention the transport-proof storage of the removal and possibly dosing spoons 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 proposes. Common to all of the exemplary embodiments is that the respective removal spoon 12 to 14 is stored in a transportable manner at the upper end 3 of the metallic container 1 and can be easily removed after opening the hermetic closure 20, 21, be it a sealing foil or a similar foil.

In all examples, the upper end of the container 1 is denoted by 3, it comprises a circumferential double fold 3b or a circumferential torso flange 3a, a hermetic seal, such as the sealing film 20 or 21, and a resealable plastic lid 30 or 31, which is on the edge side over the lid flange 3a or the double seam 3b engages positively. The sealing film 20 is on the fuselage flange 3a, the other sealing film 21 is fastened on a folded-on cover ring 22. At the other end of the container 1, the container base 2 is provided, which has a circumferential double seam. The container bottom itself can be profiled and has the usual design.

The metallic container can have a plurality of concentric beads 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d ... introduced into the fuselage, which stabilize the fuselage 1. They can, but need not, be limited to the central area of the metal body 1. The fuselage 1 can be drawn in at the upper end 3 of the metal container. A straight fuselage can also be realized with the examples.

In all figures, the central container axis 100 is the central axis of the fuselage 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates the attachment of a removal and measuring spoon 10 with a trough-shaped removal tray 10a and a handle 10b via a connection point 4 (sealing or adhesive point) to a heat-sealable foil lid 20. The heat-sealable foil lid 20 is placed on the container flange 3a at 20a (cf. Figure 1a) sealed and forms the hermetic seal of the metal container 1. A plastic cover 30 is shown at the edge, positively reaching over the container flange 3a, which has an annular gripping section 30a and can be reclosed with it over the container flange 3a.

If the metal container 1 according to FIG. 1 is opened by the end user, the plastic cover 30 is first removed and the heat-sealed film 20 is opened. This can be done by piercing or severing the film extensively. When the film 20 is removed, the measuring spoon 10 becomes accessible, which is attached to the sealing film 20 for the transport via the connection point 4.

The connection point 4 can be a sealing point, it can also be a drop of an adhesive (adhesive) which has sufficient strength so that the spoon is securely held on the film 20 for transport. The spoon can be "freed" by shearing or twisting off the handle 10b or by shearing off the separated sealing film 20 and is ready for immediate use.

The connection point 4 is arranged according to the example in the container axis 100, several connection points 4 can also be provided in order to obtain a better mounting of the measuring spoon 10. A particularly favorable fixation of the measuring spoon lies in the center of gravity of the measuring spoon 10. The longitudinal dimension of the measuring spoon 10 is essentially determined by the length of the handle 10b and to a small extent by the diameter of the extraction cup 10a. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 1a, the sum of the diameter of the removal cup 10a and the length of the handle 10b is chosen so that it is smaller than the upper inside diameter of the metal container 1. This makes it easy to remove the spoon 10 since no cover ring is provided is.

In Figure 2 , the measuring and removal spoon 11 is stored at the upper end of the container 1 in axially downwardly projecting holders 22a, 22b for transport. The downwardly projecting brackets 22a and 22b are arranged on the inner end of a cover ring 22 which is connected to the upper end of the fuselage 1 with a double seam. Around the double fold seam an elastic plastic cover 31, at least in the radially outer area, engages as a reclosable cover. The annular section of the cover ring 22, which runs perpendicular to the container axis 100 and parallel to the lid and to the bottom, carries a circular metal foil which is sealed at the periphery at 21a. It forms the hermetic seal 21 of this variant. The spoon 11 has a handle 11b and a removal cup 11a at its front end. The end of the stem is wedge-shaped 11d. The front end of the cup part 11a is also wedge-shaped 11c in the direction of alignment with the stem 11b. Both wedge-shaped ends engage in a corresponding counter-curvature 22a, 22b, which is introduced into the downwardly projecting section of the cover ring 22 parallel to the axis 100. FIG. 2 can exist in two different variants, on the one hand the downwardly projecting sections 22a, 22b are ring segments which have a dimension which corresponds approximately to the handle width of the measuring spoon 11. The other example of the downwardly projecting cover ring section 22a, 22b is a concentric annular shape with a circumferential bead 22a, into which the spoon 11 can be inserted in any angular position.

The axial extent of the holding section 22a or 22b is selected such that the measuring spoon 11 comes to lie only slightly below the sealed foil 21. The cover is formed by the cover ring 22 and film 21 together.

FIG. 3 shows the mirror-image variant of FIG. 2 with the enlargement according to FIG. 3a. A projection 12c is provided on the trough-side end 12a of the measuring spoon 12, which can be inserted into a corresponding arch-shaped or wedge-shaped locking device 22c pointing radially inwards. The stem-side end is also formed at 12d and engages in a container-side, wedge-shaped inward locking 22d. In this exemplary embodiment, too, both a circumferential ring-shaped locking device 22c and a segment-like locking device 22d with a short circumferential angle are possible.

The example according to FIG. 4 does not lock the bucket 13 at the upper end of the container 1 in a bearing abutment concept, but holds it between two axial barriers 21, 22e, so that although it is loosely mounted, its horizontal position at the top Cannot leave end of container (limited loose). One of the two mentioned barriers is formed by a sealed hermetically sealing film 21, which is sealed onto the horizontal section of the cover ring 22 at 21a. Extending inward from this horizontal ring section is an annular wall which is oriented essentially parallel to the container axis 100 and carries at its lower end an inwardly projecting short section 22e which extends essentially perpendicularly to the container axis 100 and on which the measuring spoon 13 has a trough end 13c and 13d rests on the stem. The support 22e can have a further downward-outward curvature which serves to reduce the risk of injury and stabilization.

So the measuring spoon 13 is held loosely at both ends, between the annular support 22e of the cover ring and the sealed hermetic seal 21. If the Closure 21 separated by a tear tab 21b, the one axial lock is removed and the spoon can be removed from above. It is not locked, but its ends can have a slightly beveled shape, so that tilting is avoided in any case and a pushing through of the spoon under the bearing is difficult.

FIG. 5 is a design comparable to FIG. 1, in which the measuring spoon 10 is shortened compared to the inside diameter of the container 1 and is attached to a hermetically sealed closure 21 by means of a sealing or adhesive point 4. The variant according to FIG. 5, with its enlarged detail in FIG. 5a, shows that a cover ring 22 is provided here, on the horizontal ring section of which the film 21 is sealed, which can be separated via a grip tab 21b, so that the spoon 10 can be removed from the can . It can then simply be separated at the hardened connection point 4.

FIG. 6 shows a loose mounting of the removal spoon 14, as has already been explained in FIG. 4, but the cover ring 22 in this example does not have an annular vertical section which merges into a horizontal support 22e, but the horizontal support is provided by the peripheral bead above 1a formed in the container body 1. The abutment on the other side of the measuring spoon 14 is formed by the essentially horizontally running annular horizontal section of the cover ring 22. At the inner end of the cover ring, a downward / outward angled flange 22f can be provided. In order to be able to be held by the peripheral bead (head bead) 1a, the measuring spoon 14 has a short extension 14c at its front end of the cup 14a, which is aligned with the stem 14b. This nose-shaped projection 14c and the other end 14d of the stem enable the horizontal mounting of the measuring spoon 14 between the horizontal section of the cover ring 22 and the mentioned head bead. The length of the Spoon corresponds approximately to the inside diameter of the container body.

The combination of FIG. 6 and FIG. 1 , not shown, combines the advantages of the heat-sealable film 20 on a circumferential cover flange 3a with the advantages of the support 1a, formed by the circumferential head bead. It is very particularly advantageous with the sealing film that a cover ring 22 can be dispensed with and the measuring spoon 14 does not have to be bent easily when removed, but lies open and open after the film 20 has been separated from the container flange 3a.

All exemplary embodiments - with the exception of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 - have in common that after the hermetic closure 20, 21 has been opened, the respective removal spoon, which can also have a dosing function, is again fixed in its horizontal position with respect to the container axis 100 at the upper end of the container can be. If the examples do not have a latching or locking bearing (FIG. 2, FIG. 3), the resealable plastic cover 30, 31 takes on the task of covering and at the same time providing the upper stop of the removal spoon (FIG. 4, FIG. 6).

The removal spoon can be made from a slightly flexible plastic.

Its longitudinal dimension can be chosen to be greatest if, according to the variant of FIGS. 6, 6a, it rests on a head bead 1a in the round metal container 1. All other variants assume a slightly to significantly shorter sampling spoon.

Claims (13)

Removal spoon attachment to or for a metallic container (1), for holding dry contents, especially baby food, in which the removal spoon (10) is transportable by means of a connection point (4) between the spoon handle (10b) and the sealing film (20, 21) is removably attached (Figure 1, Figure 5). Removal spoon attachment to or for a metallic container (1), for holding dry contents, especially baby food, in which the spoon (11, 12, 13) is transportable on both ends on brackets (22a, 22b; 22e; 22c, 22d) is mounted easily removable, which extends below the hermetically sealing container cover (20, 21, 22) into the interior of the metallic container (1) - in particular starting from a cover ring (22) (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 ). Attachment according to Claim 2, in which the spoon (11) has a wedge shape (11c, 11d) at both ends (trough-shaped and stem-shaped) for latching fixing between correspondingly radially outwardly curved holders (22a, 22b) on the container side. Attachment according to Claim 2, in which the spoon (12) has a depression (12c, 12d) at both ends (trough-shaped and stem-shaped), which engage in a snap-in manner with wedge-shaped inwardly projecting container-side holders (22c, 22d). Attachment according to Claim 2, in which the spoon (13) can be placed on both ends (stem and trough end) on an annular, inwardly directed support (22e) which, starting from a cover ring (22), extends below the closure (20, 21) extends, wherein it (22e) has two annular, substantially perpendicular to each other, of which the radially outer is aligned substantially parallel to the container axis (100). Removal spoon attachment to or for a metallic container (1) for holding dry contents, in particular baby food, in which the spoon (14, 13) has an extension (13c, 14c) at its trough end (13a, 14a), the dimensions of which the handle length (13b, 14b) of the spoon (13, 14) is dimensioned such that the spoon (13, 14) is in a position approximately parallel to the container bottom (2) or approximately perpendicular to the container axis (100) on a circumferential (1a , 22e) or two segment-like supports (n), in particular a circumferential indentation (1a), rests (FIG. 6, FIG. 4). Attachment according to Claim 6, in which the circumferential (1a, 22e) or segment-like support is arranged at an axial distance from the closure film (20, 21) on the container body (1) which is somewhat larger than the thickness of the dipper stick (14b, 13b) or trough-end extensions (13c, 14c). Attachment according to Claim 6 or 7, in which the extension (13c, 14c) is designed as a nose and is just opposite the dipper stick (13b, 14b) which extends in the opposite direction. Attachment according to one of Claims 6 to 8, in which the cover (20, 21) is a plastic film which is sealed onto a container body rim (3a) or a cover ring (22) or is coated - in particular film-coated or lacquered - aluminum or steel film. Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, in which the removal spoon (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is a measuring spoon. Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing film (20, 21) is a hermetically sealable film, in particular a film (20, 21) that can be sealed on the edge (3a) or on a cover ring (22). Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, in which the (round) container body (1) carries a multiplicity of concentric stabilizing beads (1a, 1b, 1c ...) spaced apart in the axial direction (100), in particular evenly. Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, in which a plastic reclosure lid (30, 31) above the closure film (20, 21) is held in a form-fitting manner on the edge (3a, 3b).

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