Scoop dock and use methods
In an assembly of a scoop and a closure, the scoop has a bowl and a handle. A closure has: a frame for mounting to a container body; and a cover hinged relative to the frame by a hinge. The scoop handle has at least one rib. The cover has an underside having a first projection and a second projection positioned to engage the scoop with the scoop in a docked position. The second projection is configured to capture the rib in the docked position.
1. A closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl and a handle, the handle including a rib; and
a closure comprising:
a frame for mounting to a container body; and
a cover hinged relative to the frame by a hinge and having:
an underside;
a first projection positioned to engage the scoop in a docked condition; and
a second projection positioned to engage the scoop handle in the docked condition and having a surface positioned in a locking condition to retain the scoop against the underside in the docked condition, the second projection flexible to an unlocking condition allowing release of the scoop,
wherein:
the second projection has:
a pair of end walls; and
a main wall, wherein:
said surface is along a face of the main wall;
said end walls protrude opposite said face; and
a distal portion of said main wall protrudes distally of the surface to allow user thumb access.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the cover underside has a concave ended projection accommodating a convex surface of the scoop bowl in the docked condition.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the cover underside has a third projection positioned to at least partially block an opening of the scoop bowl in the docked condition.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the first projection is positioned to contact the handle in the docked condition; and
the second projection is positioned to contact the handle proximally of the first projection in the docked condition.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the first projection has a T-shaped cross-section.
6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein:
the first projection has:
a leg of the T-shaped cross-section positioned to contact the handle in the docked condition and extending to the cover underside.
7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said surface of the second projection is an underside of a shoulder between a proximal portion of the main wall and said distal portion of the main wall.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said surface of the second projection is an underside of a shoulder between a proximal portion of the second projection and a distal portion of second projection.
9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the hinge is a living hinge.
10. 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.
11. The container of claim 10 wherein:
the container body is a can.
12. A method for using the container of claim 10 , the method comprising:
shifting the cover from a closed condition to an open condition;
removing the scoop from the scoop dock; and
scooping the product from the container body.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the removing of the scoop comprises pressing the second projection by a user's finger.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the pressing unlatches the scoop.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
reinstalling the scoop to the scoop dock; and
returning the cover to its closed condition.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the reinstalling of the scoop comprises a camming interaction with the second projection.
17. A method for using a container, the container comprising:
a container body;
product contained within the container body; and
a closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl and a handle, the handle including a rib; and
a closure comprising:
a frame mounted to the container body; and
a cover hinged relative to the frame by a hinge and having:
an underside;
a first projection positioned to engage the scoop in a docked condition; and
a second projection positioned to engage the scoop handle in the docked condition and having a surface positioned in a locking condition to retain the scoop against the underside in the docked condition, the second projection flexible to an unlocking condition allowing release of the scoop,
the method comprising:
shifting the cover from a closed condition to an open condition;
removing the scoop from the scoop dock, the removing of the scoop comprising pressing the second projection by a user's finger; and
scooping the product from the container body.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the pressing unlatches the scoop.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
reinstalling the scoop to the scoop dock; and
returning the cover to its closed condition.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein:
the reinstalling of the scoop comprises a camming interaction with the second projection.
21. A closure and scoop assembly comprising:
a scoop comprising a bowl and a handle, the handle including a rib; and
a closure comprising:
a frame for mounting to a container body; and
a cover hinged relative to the frame by a hinge and having:
an underside;
a first projection positioned to engage the scoop in a docked condition; and
a second projection positioned to engage the scoop handle in the docked condition and having a surface positioned in a locking condition to retain the scoop against the underside in the docked condition, the second projection flexible to an unlocking condition allowing release of the scoop,
wherein:
the second projection has:
a pair of end walls; and
a main wall;
a proximal portion of the main wall merges with respective proximal portions of the end walls; and
a distal portion of the main wall is separated by respective gaps from distal portions of the end walls.