Scoop dock and assembly methods
A scoop has a bowl ( 142 ) and a handle ( 150 ). A closure has: a frame ( 26 ) for mounting to a container body; a cover ( 28 ); and a scoop dock ( 160 ) hinged relative to the frame by a dock hinge ( 200 ) and holding the scoop.
1. A closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl ( 142 ) and a handle ( 150 ); and
a closure ( 24 ; 300 ) comprising:
a frame ( 26 ) for mounting to a container body;
a cover ( 28 ); and
a scoop dock ( 160 ) hinged relative to the frame by a dock hinge ( 180 ; 302 , 304 , 306 ) and holding the scoop, wherein the scoop dock is hingedly shiftable between:
a closed condition and an open condition.
2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a cover hinge ( 29 ) connecting the cover to the frame.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the cover hinge and dock hinge are living hinges with respective hinge axes parallel to each other.
4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the frame, cover, and cover hinge are unitarily molded as a first piece; and
the scoop dock and dock hinge are unitarily molded as a second piece.
5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the cover hinge is a living hinge; and
the dock hinge is a ball and socket hinge.
6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein:
the dock hinge has multiple degrees of freedom.
7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a latch ( 30 ) having a first portion ( 32 ) on the cover and a second portion ( 34 ) on the frame, the first portion releasably matable to the first portion to retain the cover in a closed condition and release to allow the cover to shift to an open condition.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the scoop dock comprises:
a plate portion having a first face ( 164 ) and a second face; and
a plurality of scoop retaining features ( 166 , 168 , 170 , 174 ) on the first face holding the scoop.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein:
the scoop retaining features comprise fins.
10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
in the scoop dock's closed condition, the scoop dock blocks at least 95% of an opening area of the frame.
11. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a detent mechanism ( 196 , 204 ; 196 , 320 , 322 ) for detenting the scoop dock closed condition.
12. A container comprising the assembly of claim 1 and further comprising:
a container body to which the frame is mated; and
product contained within the container body.
13. The container of claim 12 wherein:
the container body is a can.
14. A closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl and a handle; and
a closure comprising:
a frame for mounting to a container body;
a cover; and
a scoop dock hinged relative to the frame by a dock hinge and holding the scoop, the dock hinge having an end portion received in a slot in the frame.
15. A method for using a container, the container comprising:
a closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl and a handle; and
a closure comprising:
a frame for mounting to a container body;
a cover ( 28 ); and
a scoop dock hinged relative to the frame by a dock hinge and holding the scoop;
a container body to which the frame is mated; and
product contained within the container body,
the method comprising:
shifting the cover from a closed condition to an open condition;
removing the scoop from the scoop dock;
shifting the scoop dock from a closed condition to an open condition; and
scooping the product from the container body.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
unlatching a latch between the frame and the cover and wherein the shifting of the cover comprises a hinged shift.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the shifting of the scoop dock comprises undetenting from the scoop dock closed condition.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
the returning the scoop dock to its closed condition;
reinstalling the scoop to the scoop dock; and
returning the cover to its closed condition.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the shifting of the scoop dock comprises pulling on a fin of the scoop dock.
20. A closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl and a handle; and
a closure comprising:
a frame for mounting to a container body;
a cover;
a cover hinge connecting the cover to the frame, the cover hinge being a living hinge; and
a scoop dock hinged relative to the frame by a dock hinge and holding the scoop, the dock hinge being a ball and socket hinge.