Combination lid with utensil

Abstract

A combination container lid and utensil for dispensing the contents of the container. The utensil is permanently attached to the lid or can be detached and easily reattached to the lid, such that the lid and utensil assembly are stored together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing the contents of a container comprising: a lid adapted to seal such container; and a utensil that is attached to said lid and is adapted to dispense said contents. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said utensil is selected from the group consisting of: a knife; a brush; a spatula; a spoon; a fork; a spork; a knork; a spife; or a splayd. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said utensil is a knife. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said utensil is shaped to the contours of said container to provide for easy dispensing of said contents without excessive scraping. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said utensil is made from at least one material selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), bamboo, silicone or metal. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said utensil is made from a metal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said metal is stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said utensil is made from two or more materials. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said utensil is extendible. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the length of said utensil when in its fully extended configuration is greater than the height of said container. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said knife is an ejector knife. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said knife has a folding blade or sliding blade contained in a handle. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said utensil can be detached and reattached to said lid. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said utensil can be reattached to said lid with a screw mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said contents of said container include a comestible. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said comestible is a spread or condiment. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said comestible comprises a spread selected from the group consisting of: aioli; ajvar; almond butter; amlu; jam; jelly; bean dip; biber salcas; butter; chatni; cheong; chocolate spread; chopped liver; citadel spread; clotted cream; coconut jam; cream cheese; dulce du leche; cretons; egg butter; feroce; foie gras; gianduja; guacamole; hazelnut butter; hazelnut cocoa; honey; hummus; kartoffelkäse; kyopolou; Ijutenica; manjar blanco; manteca colorá; maple butter; margarine; marshmallow crème; mint jelly; moambe; mayonnaise; palm butter; pâté; pesto; pimento cheese; peabutter; pindjur; remoulade; rilettes; schmaltz; sunflower butter; sirop de liège; tahini; tapenade; tartar sauce; and zacusc{hacek over (a)}. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said comestible comprises a nut spread. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said nut spread is acorn butter; almond butter; cashew butter; hazelnut butter; macadamia nut butter; peanut butter; pecan butter; pistachio butter; pumpkin seed butter; sesame seed butter; soybean butter; sunflower seed butter; or walnut butter. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said nut spread is peanut butter.