Canister

Abstract

The invention is directed to a canister for packaging and delivering a product such as, but not limited to, infant formula. The canister of the invention includes a container and cover. The cover includes a base and a lid with the base including an easy-open sealing material and / or a utensil for dispensing the product and docking station for holding the utensil when not in use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to canisters for packaging and dispensing product such as, but not limited to, infant formula. More particularly, the invention is directed to a canister having a container and a cover wherein the cover includes a base and a lid and the base may include an easy-open sealing material and / or a utensil for dispensing the product and a docking station for receiving the utensil.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Canisters are known in the art for packaging and dispensing of products, including powder materials such as infant formula. While the present invention is broader than the packaging and delivery of infant formula, the invention will be described in relation to infant formula with the understanding that the invention is not so limited.[0003]Canisters for infant formula should include one or more means to indicate whether the canister has been tampered with. For example, many canisters utilize a seal between the lid and the co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The present invention is further directed to a canister comprising a container and a cover attached to the container, wherein the cover includes a base and a lid. The base further includes an opening for dispensing a material in the container when the lid is in the open position. The base of the cover initially includes a sealable material to enclose the material in the canister. The sealable material may be first attached to the underside of the base. The cover may then be attached to the canister container by induction sealing. The container may include reinforcing ribs and grooves at the rim of the container to add rigidity and strength to the container during the manufacturing process and to the finished container.

Problems solved by technology

For example, some utensils are stored in the infant formula requiring the user to place their hand in the infant formula to remove the utensil, thereby possibly contaminating the infant formula and getting formula on the hands of the user.

However, many of these utensils and their storage means have shortcomings such as (1) the utensils are limited in size and shape due to the storage means in the canister; (2) the utensils are difficult to remove after opening the canister; (3) the utensils are difficult to store after the canister has been opened; and (4) the utensils are difficult to remove from the storage structure.

However, such storage mechanisms, often including a bracket, may be difficult to manufacture and / or use by the consumer.

For example, some utensils are stored in the lid of the canister by brackets making it difficult to place the utensil in the lid or remove the utensil from the lid, sometimes causing the canister to tip and spill formula.

This causes difficulty in closing the canister and spillage of the infant formula.

With known canisters, the utensil is limited in its length due to the size of the container lid in which it is stored.

In some instances, the infant formula will come in contact with the user's hand thereby possibly contaminating the infant formula and making dispensing difficult and messy.

Known canisters also may not withstand substantial pressure.

For example, when pressure is applied to the top of certain known canisters, the canisters may fail, including causing the foil material to burst or tear; causing the cover to separate from the base of the canister or the like.

Additionally, when canisters are transported at different elevations, there is the possibility that an increase in pressure may cause the canister to fail, including bursting of the canister or failure of the foil material sealed to the container rim.

Although known canisters have been provided to package and dispense infant formula, there are disadvantages to the canisters on the market, some of which have been noted above.

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