Container Assembly

Abstract

A container assembly has: a container body having a mouth; and a container closure member having a mounting portion mounted to the body. The closure member mounting portion has a lower portion ( 182 ) having an inward barb projection ( 220 ) which engages an underside of a hollow annular flange ( 250 ) of the body. A closure member mounting portion includes an additional annular projection ( 224 ) above the barb projection and engaging an underside of an outwardly projecting portion of the container body.

1 . A container ( 20 ;  300 ) comprising:
 a tub ( 22 ;  320 ) having a bottom ( 50 ) and four sides ( 56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ), adjacent said sides joined at junctions ( 64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ); and   a closure ( 24 ;  322 ) comprising:
 a frame ( 26 ) mounted to a mouth of the tub; 
 a lid ( 28 ); 
 a living hinge ( 29 ) coupling the lid to the frame so as to allow the lid to shift between a closed condition and an open condition; 
 a web ( 100 ) extending partially across the frame and having a hole ( 160 ) and a first edge ( 142 ); and 
 a scoop ( 120 ) having a bowl ( 122 ) and a handle, in an initial condition unitarily molded with the frame, lid, and web and connected by a frangible junction ( 140 ) and, in a condition post rupture of the frangible junction, mountable partially within the hole ( 160 ) when not in use and, when in use, dimensioned to scoop contents from the container and permit the edge ( 142 ) to level the scoop contents, 
   
       wherein:
 the scoop bowl has a distal profile ( 150 ) complementary to at least one of the side junctions and asymmetrical to a proximal profile ( 132 ) of the scoop. 
 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the distal profile is a shallow arc; and 
 the proximal profile is a tighter rounded corner. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the asymmetry of the distal profile to the proximal profile is effective to key the scoop in the hole. 
 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 said edge is asymmetrically positioned proximate a corner of the planform of the frame; and 
 said scoop bowl in said initial condition nests partially between the web and a location on the frame adjacent the web. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the closure is unitarily molded as a single piece prior to said rupture of said frangible junction. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a latch having a first portion on the lid and a second portion on the frame, the first portion releasably matable to the first portion to retain the lid in the closed condition and release to allow the lid to shift to the open condition. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method for using the container of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 opening the lid;   rupturing the frangible junction;   scooping contents from the container using the scoop; and   mounting the scoop bowl partially within the hole.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein:
 the scooping comprises the distal profile passing along the interior of the tub along said at least one of the side junctions to provide thorough scooping of material. 
 
     
     
         9 . A container assembly ( 20 ) comprising:
 a container body ( 22 ) having a mouth; and   a container closure member ( 24 ) having a mounting portion mounted to the body wherein in cross-section:   the closure member mounting portion has a lower portion ( 182 ) having an inward barb projection ( 220 ) which engages an underside of a hollow annular flange ( 250 ) of the body; and   the closure member mounting portion includes an additional annular projection ( 224 ) above the barb projection and engaging an underside of an outwardly-projecting portion of the container body.   
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 9  wherein:
 below the additional projection, the mounting portion is the second additional inward projection ( 222 ) contacting an inwardly/upwardly tapering surface of the body. 
 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 10  wherein:
 there are no additional sealing projections on the container closure member. 
 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 10  wherein:
 there are no additional sealing between the container body and the container closure member. 
 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a frangible seal across the mouth. 
 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 9  wherein:
 the mounting portion is a frame connected to a cover by a living hinge; 
 said cross-section is continuous around the container assembly; and 
 the mouth planform is non-circular. 
 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 9  wherein:
 the mounting portion is a single piece. 
 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 9  wherein:
 the closure member is unitarily molded as a single piece. 
 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 said edge is asymmetrically positioned proximate a corner of the planform of the frame; and 
 said scoop in said initial condition has the bowl open downward. 
 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the tub has a rounded rectangular planform.