Container Closure with Integral Utensil

Abstract

A container closure includes a utensil and a flexible sleeve adapted for bidirectional movement along a closure axis to collapse the closure to a sealable position, or to extend the closure to an extended position, wherein the sleeve moves with the utensil.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container closure comprising a utensil and a flexible sleeve adapted for bidirectional movement along a closure axis to collapse the closure to a sealable position, or to extend the closure to an extended position, wherein the sleeve moves with the utensil. 
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the utensil is integral with the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising a utensil handle end, wherein the handle end is disposed on an exterior side of the closure. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein a use end of the utensil is extended away from the closure when the closure is off the container and the sleeve is in the extended position. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is a flexible half-sphere. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is comprised of at least one flexible collapse zone. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising a grommet in the sleeve with which to engage the utensil. 
     
     
         8 . A container and closure system, comprising a utensil and a sleeve adapted for bidirectional movement along a closure axis to collapse the closure to a sealable position, or to extend the closure to an extended position, wherein the sleeve moves with the utensil. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the utensil is integral with the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a utensil handle end, wherein the handle end is disposed on an exterior side of the closure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein a use end of the utensil is extended away from the closure when the closure is off the container and the sleeve is in the extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sleeve is a flexible half-sphere. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sleeve is comprised of at least one flexible collapse zone. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a grommet in the sleeve with which to engage the utensil. 
     
     
         15 . A closure for a container, the container having a rim and an axis, the closure having an axis adapted to be substantially congruent with the container axis when the closure is sealed upon the container, the closure further comprising:
 a utensil aligned along the closure axis;   a rim operably sized for sealable engagement with the container rim;   a sleeve adapted for bi-directional movement generally along the closure axis with the utensil to collapse the sleeve to a sealable position, or to extend the sleeve to an extended position such that a use end of the utensil extends from the closure when the sleeve is in the extended position.   
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15  wherein the utensil is integral with the sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 15  further comprising a utensil handle end, wherein the handle end is disposed on an exterior side of the closure. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 15  wherein the sleeve is a flexible half-sphere. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 15  wherein the sleeve is comprised of at least one flexible collapse zone. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 15  further comprising a grommet in the sleeve with which to engage the utensil.