P82989PC00

Title: Aid for use with a container for foods.

The invention relates to an aid for use with a container for foods, comprising a body closed upon itself that is provided with a first circumferential edge which is designed to be connected to an opening of the container, while the body closed upon itself is provided with a wipe-off edge of which a curvature corresponds to or is adjustable to a curvature of a spoon.

Such an aid is known from Belgian patent publication BE 1007748. Here, a top ring is described for mayonnaise jars and the like, which is provided with an inwardly directed arcuate sector for wiping the bowl of the spoon thereon after use. German patent application OS 3629 718 describes a container, for, for instance, honey or jam, provided with a ring with a convex and a concave inwardly directed arcuate segment for, after use, wiping the inside and outside, respectively, of the spoon thereon.

These two publications do not relate to containers for foods which would normally be consumed directly from the container, as is the case with, for instance, baby food. Furthermore, such aids have the drawback that they are not suitable to prevent or reduce spilling when the food is consumed directly from the container.

It is an object of the invention to provide an aid for use with containers for foods, with which spilling of the food is prevented or at least reduced.

To that end, according to the invention, an aid is provided which is characterized in that the wipe-off edge is positioned in a manner such that the underside of the spoon can be wiped on the wipe-off edge by brushing the underside of the spoon along the wipe-off edge in a direction which is substantially parallel to a plane in which the first circumferential edge extends. As a result, it is possible to scoop food from the container with the spoon and to wipe the underside (convex) side of the spoon on the wipe-off edge

while, in use, the spoon remains substantially horizontal if the container, as is customary, is positioned horizontally, for instance standing on a table top. As, here, the spoon remains substantially horizontal, the food will not drop from the spoon during wiping of the underside of the spoon. As a result, the food can be consumed in an efficient manner, while the wiped underside of the spoon prevents spilling, for instance if the food is fed to a baby, young child or other person taking liquid or semi-liquid food, such as handicapped people.

It will be clear that with the above-described known aids, the spoon is positioned substantially vertically during wiping for removing the food from the spoon after use. However, when the food is directly consumed from the container, with these aids, the food would fall from the spoon during wiping so that the food cannot be efficiently consumed.

Preferably, the wipe-off edge is formed on an upstanding edge which extends substantially transversely to the first circumferential edge. Thus, it is effected in a simple manner that the underside of the spoon can be wiped on the wipe-off edge by brushing the underside of the spoon along the wipe-off edge in a direction which is substantially parallel to a plane in which the first circumferential edge extends.

Preferably, the wipe-off edge is formed as a recess in an edge of the upstanding wall remote from the first circumferential edge. Thus, in a simple manner, the wipe-off edge is formed.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body is provided with a first clamping part which extends beyond the first circumferential edge for clamping on an outside of the container when the first circumferential edge extends around the opening of the container. Thus, the aid can be clampingly connected to the container while the opening of the container is accessible via the aid. This offers the advantage that the spoon can be wiped on the aid, while the aid remains positioned relative to the container. The first clamping part can be designed as, for instance, a screw part for meshing with a screw thread of the container provided adjacent the opening of the container.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body is provided with a second clamping part which extends beyond the first circumferential edge for clamping on an outside of a lid of the container. This offers the advantage that the aid can be clamped on the lid of the container when the aid is not in use. Thus, the aid cannot be lost and, if desired, can be transported in a compact manner.

Preferably, the first and/or second clamping part comprises a conical surface, in use proximal to the container. This offers the advantage that the conical surface can exert a clamping action in a simple manner, and also makes the aid suitable to a predefined range of container sizes, while a greater cross-section of the conical surface, located nearer the edge of the aid, can engage a container with a larger outer dimension, and a smaller cross section of the conical surface, located nearer the center of the aid, can engage a container with a smaller outer dimension. According to another aspect of the invention, the aid, optionally with the exception of the wipe-off edge, is substantially mirror symmetrical relative to a plane that extends parallel to the first circumferential edge. This offers the advantage that the aid, when not in use, can be connected to the lids of two containers, for instance one container comprising a main meal and one container comprising a dessert, so that a compact meal packet can be formed for, for instance, a baby or a young child.

According to another aspect of the invention, the aid is further provided with an outwardly extending suspension part for suspending the spoon therefrom. Thus, when consuming the food, it is possible to temporarily suspend the spoon, for, for instance, carrying out other operations. What is prevented in this manner is that the spoon itself becomes strongly polluted as the spoon is included in the container with food, or that a surrounding is polluted in that the spoon is put aside, for instance next to the container. Also, as a result, if desired, an assembly of the container, the aid and the spoon can be stored away in a compact manner.

In one embodiment, the aid is manufactured by means of multi- component injection molding, while the wipe-off edge is formed by a part with a relatively low rigidity, for allowing a deformation of the wipe-off edge to the curvature on the underside of the spoon. Thus, the curvature of the wipe -off edge can simply conform to the curvature of the spoon.

The invention also relates to an assembly of at least one container and an aid according to the invention, an assembly of a spoon and an aid according to the invention and an assembly of at least one container, a spoon and an aid according to the invention. Presently, the invention will be further elucidated by way of a non-

Limitative example, on the basis of the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. Ia shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembly of a container, a spoon and an aid according to the invention;

Fig. Ib shows a cross-section of the assembly of Fig. Ia in an inoperative condition;

Fig. Ic shows an elevational view of the assembly from Fig. Ia in an inoperative condition;

Figs. 2a and 2b show cross-sections of an embodiment of an assembly of a container and an aid according to the invention; and Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c show embodiments of an aid according to the invention.

Fig. Ia shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembly 1 of a container 2, a spoon 4 and an aid 6 according to the invention. Fig. Ib shows a cross section of the assembly 1. The aid 6 comprises a body 8 closed upon itself. The body closed upon itself comprises a first open end 10 and, located opposite the first open end, a second open end 12. In this example, the body closed upon itself comprises, in a virtual plane transverse to a longitudinal axis which extends in the direction from the first open end to the second open end, a substantially circular cross section. In this example, the body 8 closed upon itself is designed as a tube which extends from the first

open end 10 to the second open end 12. The body closed upon itself 8 is further provided with a first circumferential edge 14 which is designed to be connected to an opening 16 of the container 2. In this example, the circumferential edge 14 abuts against a circumferential edge of the neck of the container 2. With respect to the first circumferential edge 14, the body 8 closed upon itself is provided with an, in this example continuous, upstanding wall 18. At the first open end 10, the upstanding wall 18 is provided with a second circumferential edge 20. In this example, the upstanding wall 18 is provided with a recess 22. The recess 22 is bounded by a wipe-off edge formed by a curved edge 24. In this example, a curvature of the curved edge 24 corresponds to a curvature of an underside 26 of the spoon 4. It will be clear that it is also possible that the wipe-off edge is formed by at least a part of the second circumferential edge 20 that is manufactured from a deformable material, such as a rubber or soft plastic, so that during wiping, this part of the second circumferential edge 20 can conform to the curvature of the underside 26 of the spoon 4. It is not necessary here that the upstanding wall 18 is provided with the recess 22. Here, the aid 1 can be manufactured by means of multi-component injection molding, while the wipe-off edge is formed by a component with a relatively low rigidity, for allowing the deformation of the wipe-off edge to the curvature of the underside 26 of the spoon 4, a further part of the aid being formed by, for instance, a relatively rigid component, such as rigid plastic.

The wipe-off edge 24 is located at a top of the aid 6. The wipe-off edge 24 is formed by and edge 20 of the upstanding wall 18 remote from the first circumferential edge 14. Therefore, the wipe-off edge 14 is located at the upstanding wall 18 which extends substantially transversely to a plane in which the opening 16 of the container 2 extends. Thus, the wipe-off edge 24 is positioned such that the underside 26 of the spoon 4 can be wiped on the wipe- off edge 24 by brushing the underside 26 of the spoon 4 along the wipe-off edge 24 in a direction which is substantially parallel to a plane in which the first circumferential edge 14 extends.

The assembly 1 described thus far can be utilized as follows. The container 2, provided with the aid 6, is placed on an underground, such as a table top, extending substantially horizontally. With the spoon 4, food (not shown), for instance baby food, is scooped from the container 2. Then, the underside 26 of the spoon 4 is wiped on the wipe-off edge 24. During wiping, the spoon 4 is held substantially horizontally. Thus, the food will not fall from the spoon 4 during wiping of the underside of the spoon 4. Then, the food on the spoon 4 can be consumed.

In this example, an inside diameter of the circumferential edge 14 is smaller than an outside diameter of the circumferential edge of the neck of the container 2. Preferably, the inside diameter of the circumferential edge 14 is smaller than or equal to an inside diameter of the opening 16 of the container 2. This offers the advantage that food wiped on the wipe-off edge can flow via the circumferential edge 14 through the opening 16 of the container 2 into the interior of the container 2, and will substantially not end up on an outside of the container 2 so that pollution of the container is prevented.

In the example of Figs. Ia-Ic, the aid 6 is further provided with a suspension part 28 extending outwardly relative to the body 8 closed upon itself, for suspending the spoon 24 therefrom. In this example, the suspension part 28 is designed as a lip 30 with an opening 32. The shape and size of the opening 32 correspond substantially to the shape and size of a stem 34 of the spoon 4. Preferably, a dimension of the opening 32 is somewhat smaller than a dimension of a cross section of the stem 34, so that the spoon 34 does not completely drop through the opening 32. In use, the spoon 4 can for instance be temporarily placed in the suspension part 28, for instance if one wants to carry out other operations during consumption of the food. Fig. Ib shows a situation where the spoon 4 has been temporarily placed in the suspension part 28.

It is also possible that one wants to connect the spoon 4 to the suspension part 28 for a longer period of time, preferably in clean condition.

This can be tbe case when, for instance, one wants to transport the assembly 1. Such a situation is shown in Fig. Ic.

Figs. 2a and 2b show cross sections of an embodiment of an assembly l'of a container 2 and an aid 6 according to the invention. In these examples, the body closed upon itself 8 is provided with a first clamping part 36 which extends beyond the first circumferential edge 14. The first clamping part 36 is designed for clamping on an outside of the container 2, in this example on an outside of the neck of the container, adjacent the opening 16 of the container 2. The aid 6 can thus be clamped on the container 2. In Fig. 2a it is shown how the first clamping part 36 engages the neck of the opened container 2.

In Fig. 2b, a situation is shown where the aid 6 is provided on an unopened container 2. Thus, the container 2 in Fig. 2b is provided with a lid 38, such as a screw cap. In this example, the body 8 closed upon itself is further provided with a second clamping part 40 which extends beyond the first circumferential edge 14. The second clamping part 40 is designed for clamping on an outside of the lid 38 of the container 2.

Figs. 3a-3c show further variants of the aid 6 according to the invention. In Fig. 3a, the first clamping part 36 is designed as a first conical surface, in use proximal to the container 2. A virtual top corner of the first conical surface 36 is chosen such that the body closed upon itself can be connected to the container 2 by means of the first conical surface 36, in a self- locking manner. In Fig. 3a, the second clamping part 40 is designed as a second conical surface, in use proximal to the container 2. A virtual top corner of the second conical surface 40 is chosen such that the body closed upon itself 8 can be connected to the lid 38, by means of the second conical surface 40, in a self-locking manner. In Fig. 3a, the second conical surface 40 is represented in a staggered manner relative to the first conical surface 36. It will be clear that it is also possible that the first and second conical surface link up with each

other. The virtual top corner of the first conical surface 36 can be equal to or different from the virtual top corner of the second conical surface 40. In Fig. 3b, the first clamping part 36 is designed as means cooperating with a screw thread of the container 2, such as a screw thread 42. In Fig. 3b, the second clamping part 40 is designed as the second conical surface. It is preferred that the aid 1 is manufactured, at least when the clamping part 36 is designed as screw thread, from a sufficiently rigid material, such as a rigid plastic, for instance by means of multi-component injection molding as described on the basis of Figs. Ia-Ic. In Fig. 3c, the first clamping part is designed as a snap-edge 44 which is designed for engaging under a thickening of the neck of the container 2 (see Fig. 2a). In Fig. 3b, the second clamping part 40 is designed as the second conical surface.

In Figs. 3a-3c, the upstanding wall 18 is provided with a third clamping part 46, designed as a third conical surface, in use proximal to the container 2. In these examples, the third conical surface has a diameter and virtual top corner which substantially correspond to a diameter and virtual top corner of the second conical surface. In these examples, the third conical surface 46 of the upstanding wall 18 is therefore substantially mirror symmetrical to the second conical surface of the second clamping part 40 in relation to a plane that extends parallel to the first circumferential edge 14. Thus, it is possible to clampingly connect the third conical surface to the lid of a second container. This offers the advantage that, when not in use, the aid 6 can be connected to the lids of two containers, for instance a container comprising a main meal and a container comprising a dessert, so that a compact meal packet is formed for, for instance, a baby or a young child.

In a special embodiment (not shown), the aid 6, optionally with the exception of the wipe-off edge 24, is substantially mirror symmetrical relative to a plane that extends parallel to the first circumferential edge 14.

The aid can be manufactured from a plastic or relatively hard rubber.

The invention is not limited in any manner to the embodiments described hereinabove. Several variations are possible. It is, for instance, possible that the entire second circumferential edge is manufactured from a deformable material, for forming a wipe-off edge. It is also possible that the second circumferential edge is provided with a plurality of recesses. Here, curvatures of the recesses of the plurality of recesses can mutually differ, for providing a plurality of wipe-off edges for spoons with different curvatures. All such variants are understood to fall within the framework of the invention.