Smokeless tobacco can having a lid with a scoop formed therein

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco can having a lid with a scoop formed therein that reduces the amount of smokeless tobacco that falls from the fingers onto the surrounding area. The scoop is used to transfer smokeless tobacco from the can to between the inner lip and gums. This reduces mess, and reduces the amount of the smokeless tobacco that is wasted, thereby saving a substantial amount of the smokeless tobacco by avoiding repeated losses resulting from repeated use of the fingers to transfer a “pinch” of smokeless tobacco. The scoop formed in the lid includes a curved sidewall that curves upward to meet the upper lid sidewall so as to form a scoop edge, which edge is used to scoop smokeless tobacco from the can bottom. The scoop can hold as much smokeless tobacco as a typical “pinch”. The smokeless tobacco can may also include a cap that protects the scoop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smokeless tobacco can having a can lid for scooping the smokeless tobacco from the can, the smokeless tobacco can comprising:
 a can bottom configured to contain a quantity of smokeless tobacco, the can bottom having a can bottom sidewall; and   a can lid having a top surface, the top surface having a scoop formed therein, the scoop being configured to scoop up smokeless tobacco contained in the can bottom, the can lid having a lid sidewall configured to sealably mate with the can bottom sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The smokeless tobacco can of  claim 1 , wherein the scoop includes a floor, a rear wall, two sidewalls, and a leading curved sidewall, wherein the can lid includes an upper lid sidewall, and wherein the leading curved sidewall curves upward from the floor so as to meet the upper lid sidewall, thereby forming a scoop edge. 
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco can of  claim 1 , the smokeless tobacco can further comprising:
 a cap having a sidewall, the cap being configured to protect the scoop and the top surface of the can lid.   
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco can of  claim 3 , wherein the lid sidewall includes an upper lid sidewall, and wherein the upper lid sidewall is configured to sealably mate with the sidewall of the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco can of  claim 1 , wherein the scoop is configured to accommodate as much smokeless tobacco as a typical “pinch” from the smokeless tobacco contained in the can bottom. 
     
     
         6 . A smokeless tobacco can lid for scooping the smokeless tobacco contained in a can bottom of a smokeless tobacco can, the can bottom having a can bottom sidewall, the smokeless tobacco can lid comprising:
 a top surface, the top surface having a scoop formed therein, the scoop being configured to scoop up smokeless tobacco contained in the can bottom; and   a lid sidewall configured to sealably mate with the can bottom sidewall.   
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco can lid of  claim 6 , wherein the scoop includes a floor, a rear wall, two sidewalls, and a leading curved sidewall, the leading curved sidewall curving upward from the floor so as to meet the upper lid sidewall, thereby forming a scoop edge. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco can lid of  claim 6 , the smokeless tobacco can lid further comprising:
 a cap having a sidewall, the cap being configured protect the scoop and the top surface of the can lid.   
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco can lid of  claim 8 , wherein the lid sidewall includes an upper lid sidewall, and wherein the upper lid sidewall is configured to sealably mate with the sidewall of the cap. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco can lid of  claim 6 , wherein the scoop is configured to accommodate as much smokeless tobacco as a typical “pinch” from the smokeless tobacco contained in the can bottom.