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US3931925A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Paperboard container lid convertible into a spoon

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-04-05
•
Granted: 1976-01-13
•
Expires: 1994-04-05
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Abstract

Abstract A flat paper lid for a container. The lid is formed with weakened zones such as crease-score lines which enable the lid, that at the time of purchase closes an open-mouthed container holding a ladleable mass of a comestible product, to be quickly and easily converted by manual manipulation into a spoon-like eating implement.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stanley L. Ruff

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 08:57
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G21/00; A47G21/04; B; B65; B65D; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/246; A47G2021/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 226 words
For an open-top food container, a flat lid formed to cooperate with the container as a detachable closure therefor, said lid comprising: a flat panel the periphery of which is shaped to cooperate with the container so as to form a detachable cover therefor, said flat panel having formed therein a plurality of weakened zones so arranged with respect to one another and the panel that the panel is convertible by folding about said zones into a spoon having a handle portion and a bowl portion joined at a throat, the so-formed handle constituting a pleated arrangement extending diametrically of the panel from a perimeter of the panel to the throat of the spoon, and the so-formed bowl constituting a scoop-shaped portion extending from the handle at the throat to the opposite perimeter of the panel, the weakened zones in the handle portion including three zones substantially parallel to one another with the intermediate zone lying substantially on a diameter of the panel, the remaining two zones being outer zones, and the weakened zones of the bowl portion including two outer zones extending away from the inner ends of the outer zones of the handle portion and flaring away from one another, and at least one intermediate zone, the portions of the panel outwardly of the outer zones in the so-formed spoon constituting downwardly extending lips.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 226 words
For an open-top food container, a flat lid formed to cooperate with the container as a detachable closure therefor, said lid comprising: a flat panel the periphery of which is shaped to cooperate with the container so as to form a detachable cover therefor, said flat panel having formed therein a plurality of weakened zones so arranged with respect to one another and the panel that the panel is convertible by folding about said zones into a spoon having a handle portion and a bowl portion joined at a throat, the so-formed handle constituting a pleated arrangement extending diametrically of the panel from a perimeter of the panel to the throat of the spoon, and the so-formed bowl constituting a scoop-shaped portion extending from the handle at the throat to the opposite perimeter of the panel, the weakened zones in the handle portion including three zones substantially parallel to one another with the intermediate zone lying substantially on a diameter of the panel, the remaining two zones being outer zones, and the weakened zones of the bowl portion including two outer zones extending away from the inner ends of the outer zones of the handle portion and flaring away from one another, and at least one intermediate zone, the portions of the panel outwardly of the outer zones in the so-formed spoon constituting downwardly extending lips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A lid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer zones of the bowl portion are convex toward one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
A lid as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bowl portion includes two additional weakened zones each starting at the inner end of the intermediate zone of the handle portion and curving outwardly away from one another to define the side edges of the base of the so-formed bowl.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1521768A Cited
US1633605A Cited
US1851942A Cited
US1907737A Cited
US2375266A Cited
US2453393A Cited
US2598987A Cited
US3204805A Cited
US3458107A Cited
US3828999A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-01-12 1979-07-14 1980-01-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-01-12 1983-07-14 1984-01-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-01-12 1987-07-14 1988-01-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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