Container closure with stored scoop

1. A threaded closure assembly for a container, accompanied by a scoop for a product enclosed within the container, comprising:

an injection-molded threaded closure having a generally cylindrical skirt depending from a top panel of the closure, with internal threads formed on the skirt, and a liner positioned in the closure against an inside surface of the top panel,

an overcap of injection-molded plastic, generally similar in shape to the threaded closure but without threads, the overcap having an overcap top panel and a generally cylindrical overcap skirt depending from the overcap top panel, the overcap skirt having an annular lip of increased diameter extending down at a bottom of the overcap skirt, the lip being closely fitted over a top of the threaded closure,

a scoop contained within the overcap, in a space defined between the overcap top panel and the top panel of the threaded closure when the overcap is fitted over and nested together with the threaded closure, with means for retaining the scoop firmly in the space, and

an annular shrink band extending around the overcap and threaded closure and covering a joint between the overcap and threaded closure and sealing the space within the overcap.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the overcap is of substantially transparent plastic material, revealing the scoop inside.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining the scoop comprises a bead formed on the inside surface of the overcap skirt, the bead being in two helical sections at 180°-opposed positions, acting as opposed helical threads, the scoop having a handle and a tip flange at opposite ends of the scoop, the handle and tip flange defining span of a length generally the same as the inside diameter of the overcap skirt, whereby the scoop can be inserted into the overcap with the scoop's handle and tip flange being positioned at thread starts of the two helical threads, then the scoop can be rotated relative to the overcap to effectively screw the scoop up into the overcap so as to firmly retain the scoop within the closure.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the overcap skirt is slightly tapered to smaller diameter toward the overcap top panel, such that the scoop wedges tightly into a locked position as it is screwed in along the threads.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining the scoop comprises a bead formed on the inside surface of the overcap skirt, the bead being formed in at least two arcuate segments with interruptions between the segments, and the scoop having a handle and a tip flange at opposite ends of the scoop, the handle and tip flange defining span of just slightly less length than the inside diameter of the overcap skirt, whereby the scoop can be inserted into the closure up against the top panel with the scoop's handle and tip flange being positioned at interruptions between the two arcuate bead segments, then the scoop can be rotated relative to the closure to firmly engage the end of the handle and the tip flange between the bead and the overcap top panel so as to firmly retain the scoop within the closure assembly.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further including a series of ridges on the upper surface of the scoop's handle, and a protruding bump on the inside surface of the overcap's top panel positioned to engage in interfering relationship with the ridges when the scoop is placed top upwardly against the overcap top panel and twisted into position to be retained between the bead and the overcap top panel, such that the scoop tangibly and audibly sweeps into proper position in the overcap.

7. A container and threaded closure accompanied by a scoop for a product in the container, comprising:

a container having a generally cylindrical neck with external threads, and a container finish at a top end of the neck;

a liner adhered and sealed to the container finish thus sealing the product within the container;

a threaded closure screwed onto the threaded container neck, the closure having a generally cylindrical lower skirt part with internal threads and with a first skirt diameter, an inwardly extending annular ledge defining an upper end of the lower skirt part and positioned for engagement by the container finish with the liner, and an upper skirt part of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, with a top panel extending across the top of the upper skirt part;

a scoop contained in the closure, in a space defined between the liner and the top panel, with means for retaining the scoop firmly within the space;

wherein the means for retaining the scoop comprises a bead formed on the inside surface of the upper skirt part, and the scoop having a handle and a tip flange at opposite ends of the scoop, the handle and tip flange defining span of a length approximately the same as the inside diameter of the upper skirt portion and engaged above the bead to retain the scoop in the closure adjacent to the top panel; and

wherein the bead is interrupted and formed in at least two arcuate segments, whereby the scoop can be inserted into the closure up against the top panel with the scoop's handle and tip flange being positioned at interruptions between the two arcuate bead segments, then the scoop can be rotated relative to the closure to firmly engage the end of the handle and the tip flange between the bead and the top panel so as to firmly retain the scoop within the closure.

8. A container and threaded closure accompanied by a scoop for a product in the container, comprising:

a container having a generally cylindrical neck with external threads, and a container finish at a top end of the neck;

a liner adhered and sealed to the container finish thus sealing the product within the container;

a threaded closure screwed onto the threaded container neck, the closure having a generally cylindrical lower skirt part with internal threads and with a first skirt diameter, an inwardly extending annular ledge defining an upper end of the lower skirt part and positioned for engagement by the container finish with the liner, and an upper skirt part of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, with a top panel extending across a top of the upper skirt part;

a scoop contained in the closure, in a space defined between the liner and the top panel, with means for retaining the scoop firmly within the space;

wherein the means for retaining the scoop comprises a bead formed on an inside surface of the upper skirt part, and the scoop having a handle and a tip flange at opposite ends of the scoop, the handle and tip flange defining span of a length approximately the same as the inside diameter of the upper skirt part and engaged above the bead to retain the scoop in the closure adjacent to the top panel; and

wherein the bead is in the form of two opposed helical sections along the inside surface of the upper skirt part, arranged as threads with thread starts 180°-opposed, whereby the scoop can be inserted into the closure with the scoop's handle and tip flange positioned at the opposed thread starts, then screwed up into a locked position in the closure.

9. The container and closure of claim 8 , wherein the upper skirt part is slightly tapered to smaller diameter toward the top panel, such that the scoop wedges tightly into the locked position as it is screwed in along the threads.

10. A container and threaded closure accompanied by a scoop for a product in the container, comprising:

a container having a generally cylindrical neck with external threads, and a container finish at a top end of the neck;

a liner adhered and sealed to the container finish thus sealing the product within the container;

a threaded closure screwed onto the threaded container neck, the closure having a generally cylindrical lower skirt part with internal threads and with a first skirt diameter, an inwardly extending annular ledge defining an upper end of the lower skirt part and positioned for engagement by the container finish with the liner, and an upper skirt part of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, with a top panel extending across a top of the upper skirt part;

a scoop contained in the closure, in a space defined between the liner and the top panel, with means for retaining the scoop firmly within the space; and

wherein the means for retaining the scoop comprises a bead formed on the inside surface of the upper skirt part, the bead being in two helical sections at 180°-opposed positions, acting as opposed helical threads, the scoop having a handle and a tip flange at opposite ends of the scoop, the handle and tip flange defining span of a length generally the same as the inside diameter of the upper skirt part, whereby the scoop can be inserted into the closure with the scoop's handle and tip flange being positioned at thread starts of the two helical threads, then the scoop can be rotated relative to the closure to effectively screw the scoop up into the upper skirt part so as to firmly retain the scoop within the closure.

11. The container and closure of claim 10 , wherein the upper skirt part is slightly tapered to smaller diameter toward the top panel, such that the scoop wedges tightly into a locked position as it is screwed in along the threads.

12. A threaded closure assembly for a container, accompanied by a scoop for a product enclosed within the container, comprising:

a threaded closure having an annular skirt depending from a top panel of the closure, with internal threads formed on the skirt, and a liner positioned in the closure against an inside surface of the top panel;

an overcap of plastic, generally similar in shape to the threaded closure, the overcap having an overcap top panel and an overcap skirt depending from the overcap top panel, the overcap skirt having an annular lip of increased diameter extending down at a bottom of the skirt, the lip being fitted over the top of the threaded closure;

a scoop contained within the overcap, in a space defined between the overcap top panel and the top panel of the threaded closure when the overcap is fitted over and nested together with the threaded closure, with means for retaining the scoop in the space; and

an annular shrink band extending around the overcap and threaded closure and covering a joint between the overcap and threaded closure and sealing the space within the overcap.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the overcap is of substantially transparent plastic material, revealing the scoop inside.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the means for retaining the scoop comprises a bead formed on the inside surface of the overcap skirt, the bead being in two helical sections at 180°-opposed positions, acting as opposed helical threads, the scoop having a having a handle and a tip flange at opposite ends of the scoop, the handle and tip flange defining span of a length generally the same as the inside diameter of the overcap skirt, whereby the scoop can be inserted into the overcap with the scoop's handle and tip flange being positioned at thread starts of the two helical threads, then the scoop can be rotated relative to the overcap to effectively screw the scoop up into the overcap so as to firmly retain the scoop within the closure.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the overcap skirt is slightly tapered to smaller diameter toward the overcap top panel, such that the scoop wedges tightly into the locked position as it is screwed in along the threads.