Measuring scoop with molded reusable fit clip

• US 5,347,865 A
• Filed: 11/05/1992
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amway Corporation (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mulry, Patrick E., Gura, Donald S., Tyberghein, Mike B., Plyler, Jeffrey D., Kool, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US07/972,158
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 73/427, 73/429, 30/324, 30/328, 24/30.5 R, 24/30.5 S, D 7/691, D 7/692, D10/46.2
• US Class Current: 73/427
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1625 Small plates or the like made of one piece and presenting slits or a central aperture to jam the neck of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/245 Utensils for removing the contents from the package, e.g. spoons, forks, spatulas B65D77/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 19/002 Measuring spoons or scoops
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/155 Resilient slot bag tie

Abstract

A measuring scoop with molded reusable fit clip is disclosed. The measuring scoop includes a bowl with a scraping lip or shoulder used for more effectively lifting product into the bowl, an elongated handle which is integrally mounted on said bowl and a reusable fit clip on the free end of the handle, which clip is used for sealing closed a bag of product. The design of the handle as well as the design of the reusable fit clip extends the life of the molded friction fit clip by improving the clipping force as well as the clip'"'"'s resistance to deformation from applied stress.

Claims

1. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a bowl;

an elongated handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said elongated handle containing a free end;

a resilient closure means on said free end of said elongated handle for locking closed a bag; and

wherein said bowl is pentagonally-shaped having a rounded bottom wall integrated with a first and a second straight sidewall, a front wall and a left back wall and right back wall separated by an L-shaped ridge.

2. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a bowl;

an elongated handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said elongated handle containing a free end;

a resilient closure means on said free end of said elongated handle for locking closed a bag;

wherein said bowl is pentagonally-shaped having a rounded bottom wall integrated with a first and second straight sidewall, a front wall and a left back wall and right back wall separated by an L-shaped ridge; and

said bowl having a scraping shoulder mounted on said front wall.

3. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a bowl;

an elongated handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said elongated handle containing a free end;

a resilient closure means on said free end of said elongated handle for locking closed a bag;

wherein said bowl is pentagonally-shaped having a rounded bottom wall integrated with a first and second straight side wall, a front wall and a left back wall and right back wall separated by an L-shaped ridge; and

wherein said elongated handle is integrally mounted on said left back wall and said right back wall and said handle travels in a straight line from said left and right back wall to said handle'"'"'s free end.

4. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a pentagonally-shaped bowl with a scraping shoulder mounted on a top edge of said bowl;

an elongated straight handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said handle containing a free end which terminates in a reusable fit clip; and

said elongated handle further comprising a left and right channel on a face of said handle, said channels being bifurcated by an L-shaped rounded ridge and said channels further defined by a flat shoulder enclosing said channels.

5. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a bowl;

an elongated handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said elongated handle containing a free end;

a resilient closure means on said free end of said elongated handle for locking closed a bag;

said bowl having a first convex shelf contained in said front wall and said left sidewall, a second convex shelf contained in said left sidewall and said left back wall, a third convex shelf contained in said right back wall and said right sidewall and a fourth convex shelf contained in said right sidewall and said front wall; and

wherein said bowl is pentagonally-shaped having a rounded bottom wall integrated with a first and a second straight sidewall, a front wall and a left back wall and right back wall separated by an L-shaped ridge.

6. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a bowl;

an elongated handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said elongated handle containing a free end;

a resilient closure means on said free end of said elongated handle for locking closed a bag;

wherein said elongated handle is integrally mounted on said left back wall and said right back wall and said handle travels in a straight line from said left and right back wall to said handle'"'"'s free end;

said handle further comprising a left supporting channel and a right supporting channel on a face of said handle, said supporting channels being further defined by a flat shoulder which encloses said supporting channels, said supporting channels originating in said left and right back wall and terminating at said free end of said handle;

wherein said channels are bifurcated by an L-shaped ridge, said ridge originating in said bottom wall of said bowl and terminating at one end of said resilient closure means; and

wherein said blow is pentagonally-shaped having a rounded bottom wall integrated with a first and a second straight sidewall, a front wall and a left back wall and right back wall separated by said L-shaped ridge.

7. A combination measuring scoop and bag closure apparatus comprising:

a pentagonally-shaped bowl with a scraping shoulder mounted on a top edge of said bowl;

an elongated straight handle integrally mounted on said bowl on one end and said handle containing a free end which terminates in a reusable fit clip; and

said elongated handle further comprising a left and right channel on a face of said handle, said channels being bifurcated by an L-shaped rounded ridge and said channels further defined by a flat shoulder enclosing said channels;

said reusable fit clip further comprising a first and a second end point, a bifurcated angular channel opening, a first and a second channeling wall, a first and a second converging edge and an oval reservoir with a concave wall, wherein when a bag is brought into contact with said first and said second end point, said bag is guided into said reservoir by pulling or pushing said bag along said first and said second channeling walls, said converging edges flexing outward to receive the bag and springing back around said bag when said bag comes into full contact with said concave reservoir wall.