Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02822799 2013-06-21
WO 2012/085783
PCT/1B2011/055719
INFANT FORMULA CONTAINER
Field of The Invention
This invention pertains to an improved, tamper evident container for storing
and
dispensing flowable products.
Background of The Invention
Currently, granulated or powder products, such as infant formula, are packaged
in
containers. Consumers or users of such containers have often found that it is
difficult to
open the container and to locate and remove the scoop from the packaging upon
the
first use without experiencing spillage. Once the container lid is removed or
opened, the
granulated or powdered contents are often packed into parts of the interior of
the lid or
top of the container, which results in spillage as the contents fall away from
the lid or
top. While some of the falling powder may fall back into the interior of the
container,
much of it is wasted and contaminated as it spills onto the surrounding
workspace.
Additionally, containers may not adequately seal the contents after the
container has
been opened for the first time, allowing the contents to become oxidized
and/or
contaminated. The design of such containers also may permit undesirable and
inadvertent discharge of the contents from various poorly sealed areas of the
container.
Certain infant formula container designs are known in the art. For example,
U.S.
Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2008/0173657 discloses a container and congruent scoop
assembly with a removable lid for holding powdered material. There is a need
for an
improved infant formula container that is tamper evident, that allows a user
to accurately
measure infant formula to be dispensed, that enables a user to open and re-
open the
container without contaminating the infant formula, that allows a user access
to the
measuring scoop without contamination of the contents, that minimizes pressure
differentials to the container without compromising the contents of the
container and
which minimizes spillage and contamination of the contents of the container.
1
CA 02822799 2013-06-21
WO 2012/085783
PCT/1B2011/055719
Summary of The Invention
The present invention provides a container comprising: a body having a bottom
and a
side wall defining a reservoir; a collar attached to the top end of the body;
a removable
seal to seal the top of the reservoir; and, a lid hingedly engaged with the
collar. The
The lid closes tightly against the collar to seal the can and prevent spillage
of the
The container may also include a tamper evident band on a portion of the lid
and/or
collar to indicate if the container has been opened. It may also include a
tamper strip on
one side which will indicate the amount or condition of the contents.
Features illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and
the relative
sizes of certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate the
features.
Embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures, in
which like
numerals represent like items throughout the figures.
20 FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the infant formula
container
100 in an open position with a scoop 107 held in the lid 104 by a docking
station 106,
with the removable seal 103 over the reservoir in a closed position.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the infant formula
container
100 with the lid 104 in an open position with the seal 103 over the reservoir
101 in a
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the container 100, collar 102 and hingedly
attached lid
104.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a scoop 107.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the infant formula
container
2
CA 02822799 2013-06-21
WO 2012/085783
PCT/1B2011/055719
Detailed Description of The Invention
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a container suitable to hold
flowable contents, such as a powdered or granular infant formula, which
includes a
removable seal to seal in the contents held in the reservoir of the container,
a collar
attached to the top of the container, and a lid hingedly attached to the
collar. When the
lid is open the contents of the container can be dispensed from the reservoir;
when
closed, the lid tightly engages the collar to seal in the contents. The
underside of the
lid, which is inside the container when the lid is closed, contains a docking
station and
sufficient space so that a measuring device, such as a scoop, may be stored
securely
within the can to prevent loss or contamination thereof. Optionally, a
leveling bar for
leveling the contents removed by the scoop is located near the top of the
reservoir.
According to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the
infant formula container 100 in an open position. Infant formula container 100
includes
a reservoir 101 configured to hold contents to be dispensed; a collar 102
affixed to a top
end of the reservoir 101; the collar further comprising a removable seal 103
that seals
the contents held in the reservoir 101; a lid 104, hingedly engaged with the
collar 102,
providing an open position wherein the contents of the container can be
dispensed from
the reservoir 101 or providing a closed position wherein the lid 104 is
resealed to the
collar 102. The lid 104 provides space and a docking station 106 for holding
and storing
a scoop 107. The container further comprises a leveling bar 108 for leveling
the
contents removed by the scoop 107.
The reservoir 101 of the infant formula container 100 is designed to hold
granulated
infant powder, or the like. The body of the container 100 is constructed of a
suitable
metal or plastic material to be a unitary member of approximately uniform wall
thickness.
In one embodiment, the body of the container 100 is constructed from a metal
material, including but not limited to tin, metal plated tin, and aluminum. In
a separate
embodiment, the body of the container 100 is constructed from a suitable
plastic
material that is recyclable or non-recyclable. Suitable plastics for forming
the container
100 include, but are not limited to, polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile,
acrylonitile-
butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleic anhydride, polycarbonate, high density
polyethylene,
polyethylene copolymers, polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers, polyethylene
terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and the like, and blends thereof.
3
CA 02822799 2013-06-21
WO 2012/085783
PCT/1B2011/055719
In one embodiment, the container 100 will have a semi-transparent to
transparent
tamper evident strip as part of the side wall to allow one to see into the
reservoir 101
and thus to visually indicate to a potential user the quality and/or volume of
the
granulated infant formula in the reservoir. Typically, containers of the
invention are
constructed to accommodate infant powder weights of: 100 to 2000g; more
typically 500
to 1000g; for example 900g.
In one embodiment, the container 100 has a cylindrical body, providing a
circular
cross-section, and the collar 102 is circular. In another embodiment, the body
has a
rectangular cross-section and the collar is likewise rectangular. In any case,
the lid 104
is shaped to snugly mate with the collar 102. Those skilled in the art will
readily
understand that other shapes are also feasible in the practice of this
invention; the
invention is not limited to the shapes described herein.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a perspective view of the infant
formula
container 100 with the lid 104 in an open position with the removable seal 103
in the
collar 102 in a partially opened position.
In one embodiment, the lid 104 will have a tamper evident band that is wrapped
around the lid 104 of the infant formula container 100. In one embodiment of
the band,
there is a noticeable red strip between perforated lines to indicate to a user
where to
tear the tamper evident band off, and a container opening icon located in four
places on
the tamper evident band communicating to the user the best way to open the
infant
formula container. The tamper evident band also adds a level of security
preventing the
closure from opening during transporting, handling, shipping, shelf stocking
and
consumer handling.
A removable seal 103 is attached to container 100 at the top of the reservoir
101 to
vacuum seal the contents in the reservoir 101. The removable seal 103 allows
for
vacuum packaging of the contents in the container 100 and acts as an anti-
tamper inner
liner. One skilled in the art of food packaging will be familiar with such
releasably or
removably attached packaging seals. Specifically, metal processing, adhesive
or heat
may be used to attach a seal formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, metal
foil, plastic
foil or other suitable material to form an airtight seal. Therefore, opening
of the lid 100
will not disturb the seal 103 unless the seal 103 is cut or removed by the
use.
Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a side view of the container 100
having
reservoir 101, collar 102, and hingedly attached lid 104. In one embodiment,
the lid
4
CA 02822799 2013-06-21
WO 2012/085783
PCT/1B2011/055719
and collar are constructed from a suitable plastic material that is recyclable
or non-
recyclable.
Suitable plastics for forming the lid and collar include, but are not limited
to, various
polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-
styrene,
styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, high density polyethylene,
polyethylene
copolymers, polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers, polyethylene
terephthalate,
polyvinylcyclohexane, and the like, and blends thereof.
As shown in Fig. 3, the lid 104 is dome shaped and hingedly attached to the
collar
102, in a skirt and a sleeve type arrangement that allows them to snap
together. The lid
104 and the collar 102 are connected together by a butterfly hinge and are
molded as
one piece. When closing the lid 104, the the lid 104 swings into the collar
102 to form a
sleeve type seal. The outer diameter of the lid 104 and the inner diameter of
the collar
102 are designed to have minimum clearance for air passing and to minimize air
oxidation of the contents. On top of the collar 102, there is a sealing rim
(bead), which
has an interference fit with the lid 104, so that when the lid is pushed down
to pass the
sealing bead and the skirt, air is forced out through the minimum space
between lid 104
and the collar 102 and a tight seal is obtained.
In Figure 4, there is shown a perspective view of a scoop 107. The scoop 107
consists of a bifurcated handle attached to a scoop bowl. The scoop handle is
bifurcated where it connects to the scoop bowl to allow the scoop 107 to
efficiently
collect infant powder and avoid powder build-up on the handle, so less powder
spills on
the preparation area.
In one embodiment, the scoop 107 is molded from a suitable plastic material,
which
may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection. Suitable plastics for forming
the scoop
include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene,
polystyrene-
acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleic anhydride,
polycarbonate,
high density polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers, polypropylene,
polypropylene
copolymers, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and the like,
and blends
thereof. In one embodiment, the scoop has a small opening at the bottom of the
bowl to
allow air to exit while collecting infant powder so that the powder will pack
better in the
scoop.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the leveling bar 108.
5
CA 02822799 2013-06-21
WO 2012/085783
PCT/1B2011/055719
Many of the problems of the prior art are solved by the infant formula
container of this
invention, which provides previously unavailable features including improved
sealing
capabilities, new ways to minimize contamination of infant formula and control
spillage
of the contents, integrated dispensing scoops, and strengthened containers
that can
further protect against spillage and damage to product due to adverse pressure
differentials between the sealed product container and the external
environment.
The embodiments of the present invention are suitable for use in many
applications that involve manufacture, distribution, storage, sale, and use of
flowable
substances such as powders, granular materials, or liquids. The configurations
of the
inventive container can be modified to accommodate nearly any conceivable type
of
such materials, and the shape, size, and arrangement of the features and
components
of the novel container can be modified according to the principles of the
invention as
may be required to suit a particular type or quantity of flowable material, as
well as a
preferred mode of use, storage, manufacture, distribution, and/or sales
environment.
Modifications and alternative embodiments which may be necessary or desired
to establish compatibility with the wide variety of possible applications for
the container
of this invention are contemplated herein. Accordingly, even though only a few
embodiments and modifications of the present invention are described and
illustrated, it
is to be understood that the practice of such additional modifications and
embodiments
and the equivalents thereof are within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in
the claims.
6
