US4393988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spoon lid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-07-15
•
Granted: 1983-07-19
•
Expires: 2001-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A combination utensil-lid together providing an integral spoon therewith which includes a lid having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a depending perimeter lip adapted to sealingly engage a container, a tab member formed to serve as an eating utensil foldably hinged on the bottom surface of the lid whereby the utensil is adapted to be folded from a stored position parallel to and underlying the bottom lid surface to a deployed position extending beyond the lip, and the lid and hinge formed from a resilient material having a memory whereby the lid and hinge can be respectively deformed and deployed to dispense material within the container with the utensil, and thereafter restored to an original condition for storage of a portion of the material in the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary Burke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:36
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G21/00; A47G21/04; B; B65; B65D; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/246; A47G2021/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A deformable container-lid including a spoon integral therewith comprising in combination: a lid having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a depending perimeter lip adapted to sealingly engage a container, a tab member formed to serve as an eating utensil folded by a hinge on said bottom surface of said lid inboard of said lip whereby said utensil is adapted to be folded from a stored position parallel to and underlying said bottom lid surface to a hinged outwardly deployed position extending beyond said lip, said tab member having crease and score lines thereon to assist deformation, said lid and hinge formed from a resilient material having a memory whereby said lid and hinge can be respectively deformed and deployed to dispense material within said container with said utensil, and thereafter restored to an original condition for storage of a portion of the material in the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A deformable container-lid including a spoon integral therewith comprising in combination: a lid having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a depending perimeter lip adapted to sealingly engage a container, a tab member formed to serve as an eating utensil folded by a hinge on said bottom surface of said lid inboard of said lip whereby said utensil is adapted to be folded from a stored position parallel to and underlying said bottom lid surface to a hinged outwardly deployed position extending beyond said lip, said tab member having crease and score lines thereon to assist deformation, said lid and hinge formed from a resilient material having a memory whereby said lid and hinge can be respectively deformed and deployed to dispense material within said container with said utensil, and thereafter restored to an original condition for storage of a portion of the material in the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein a diametrically disposed first score line is provided on the entire length of said bottom surface of said lid so as to assist in the deformation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 2 wherein a second said score line is provided on said tab member defining said eating utensil, along a portion of the longitudinal length thereof adjacent said hinge, coaxial with said first score line on said lid whereby said utensil area is similarly deformed with said lid is bent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 3 wherein a portion of said utensil abuts against said lip when deployed as an eating utensil so as to provide a form of cantilevered support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 5 wherein both said score lines are disposed in such a manner as to encourage the deformation of said lid and said utensil so that said bottom surface of said lid is concave in shape, thereby providing said top surface as a grasping area for said utensil to allow one's hands to remain uncontaminated by the contents in the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 6 where said utensil includes a narrowed utensil area proximate to said utensil hinge area, and an arcuate utensil leading edge area so as to facilitate in the dispensing of contents within the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said crease line is a "V" crease from an end of said tab member second score line to said narrowed utensil area so as to flatten said leading edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1657325A
Cited
US1625335A
Cited
GB326788A
Cited
GB437392A
Cited
US2453393A
Cited
US2598987A
Cited
US3722779A
Cited
US3931925A
Cited
US4060176A
Cited
US4036398A
Cited
US4218010A
Cited
US4324343A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-18 | 1987-01-17 | 1987-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-18 | 1991-01-17 | 1991-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-18 | 1995-01-17 | 1995-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |