The present invention relates to an accessory for a container containing a spread, particularly for keeping the handle ofthe spreader apart from the spread.

Attached to a container containing a spread, the accessory in accordance with the invention provides better hygiene when the spread is being consumed. If necessary, a container such as a nutrient fat container can be coated with the accessory to be aesthetically more fit for the dining table, not only in private homes but also in canteens. Moreover, the accessory in accordance with the invention allows the volume of a storage container (or the like) to be readily increased.

The following desscription of the advantages of the invention will examine the accessory in connection with a nutrient fat container, since the entire field of application of the invention can be distinctly described using this container by way of example.

At least in Finland, everybody is familiar with the "disposable" spread container for everyday use. In fact, in such a container the spread fills up the entire container (for packaging reasons the space requirement should be minimised) and is defmed by a metal film fixed to the flange member of the container or to a protective paper located slightly below the collar surface. Such containers intended to be placed directly on the dining table involve the problem of the fat tending to spread from the spreader knife to the flange member, from there to the spreader handle, eventually reaching the user's fingers. Thus the smeared collar surface of the container will also smear the container lid and make it unpleasant to handle. What is more, current spread containers usually have the aspect of an advertisement, which we do not necessarily have to cope with even at our everyday meals. In the examination of these containers, it must also be considered a drawback that, although these containers are intended to be used as such at the dinner table, no means have been provided for storing the spreader in connection with the assembly consisting of the container and the lid. In addition, we note that the use of the empty spread container as a storage container will certainly be restricted by its relatively small volume, which is apt to reduce the utilisation of the container in terms of recycling - well- made though containers are nowadays.

The inventive idea consists in providing such a spread container with a replaceable (if necessary) accessory in accordance with the invention, comprising a support face (top edge of the top extension) for the spreader, so that the spreader handle will no longer be smeared. As the accessory further includes a peripheral member coating the container, connected to the top extension, or a protective container covering the container, the aesthetic inconvenience is also eliminated. A slot provided for the spreader in the top extension or a lid fitted in this enables the spreader to be stored in connection with the container assembly. This also eliminates the problem of storing and washing up spreader knives. The top extension can be readily removed for washing for instance, and meanwhile the container (with its collar surface remaining clean) can be equipped with the lid belonging to it or a lid enabling the spreader to be stored in connection with the container and matching the flange member of both the container and the top extension.

On the other hand, since empty nutrient spread containers are being used as storage containers despite their small size, particularly as freezing containers, the invention can be utilised also for the purpose of increasing the container volume. If the top extension (without the peripheral member) is fitted to receive another top extension, the container can be equipped with a set of top extensions locked on top of one another.

The characteristics of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying claims.

The accessory is most appropriately a product made by injection-moulding or vacuum-moulding coloured food plastic, which must be machine washable. In its most straightforward embodiment, the accessoiy merely comprises a top extension extending the container rim, and fitted to be attached to the flange member of the container. The spread container is most appropriately coated with a peripheral member firmly fixed to the top extension, and in that case the accessory is a uniform product made for instance by vacuum moulding. The top extension is most appropriately attached to the container in the same manner as the container lid is attached by self-locking of its lower edge to the flange member of the container. The upper edge of the top extension may be fitted to receive either the lid of the container or a lid specifically made for the top extension - or both. The slot for the spreader may be fitted e.g. as a flange-like part in a separate lid or as a slot (or a section intended to provide a slot) at the upper edge of the top extension. For packaging several units (e.g. of three different coulours) as a set, an upwards tapering shape of the accessory (a top extension equipped with a peπpheral

member) can be conceived as most advantageous in terms of packaging techniques (pilable on top of one another). If the top extension is locked to the container in the same way as the container lid and the upper edge of the top extension is provided with a flange member whose shape and dimensions equal those of the upper edge of the container, the top extension will have the most appropriate form with a view to increase the volume of the empty container - this configuration allows a number of top extensions to be readily added to the container and the assembly to be sealed with the container lid. In that case, the top extension cannot have a solid peripheral member, nor can the top extension be equipped with a slot for the spreader.

The invention and its other features and advantages are disclosed in greater detail by means of the following examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

figure 1 shows a lateral view of an accessory in accordance with the invention consisting merely of a top extension, and a nutrient spread container to which the top extension is fitted to be attached,

figure 2 shows a lateral view of a slightly modified version of the preceding top extension,

figure 3 is a lateral view of a different basic model of the top extension and of a part section of a nutrient spread container coated with a protective container section,

figure 4 shows a front view of a top extension equipped with a different fixing mechanism,

figure 5 shows a top extension with a different cross-section, attached to tis container,

figure 6 shows the accessory equipped with a peripheral member coating the container an sealed with a lid including the spreader,

figures 7 to 12 show sections of various embodiments of the accessory with optional attachments to the container or any protective container, and

figure 13 shows a front view of the attachment of the top extension to a storage basket.

In figure 1 the upwards tapered top extension 1 is ready to be pressed from the top into nutrient spread container 2. Both of them are made by "vacuum moulding techniques". The upper edge of container 2 is provided with a flange member 3, which consists of a planar rim member. At the lower end of top extension 1, there is a similar horizontal surface 4, which is tightly pressed against the collar surface 3 of container 2 with top extension 1 in position. The top extension is locked into container 2 by the same method as the lid belonging to container 2, by utilising imprints 5 formed at the lower edge of top extension 1. These have the effect to contract the range of the lower end of top extension 1 to a length less than that of the outer edge of collar surface 3 of container 2, so that top extension 1, when pressed all the way, is locked into position and protects collar surface 3 of container 2.

The upper edge of top extension 1 is also provided with a flange member 6, which is protruding in this case.

Figure 2 shows top extension 1 made by vacuum moulding techniques. Top extension 1 has been provided with a slot 7 for the spreader and a projection 8 for removing fat from the spreader. In other respects, top extension 1 is identical to the top extension illustrated in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a slightly different top extension 1. The range of the inner wall of the upper and lower end of top extension 1 is identical, and the upper edge of top extension 1 has been equipped with a flange member 3 matching the flange member 3 of container 2 (cf. figure 1 ). Thus top extension 3 can be equipped with the lid 9 belonging to container 2. If the empty nutrient spread container 2 is to be used as a storage container 2 afterwards, e.g. for freezing berries, the embodiment in the figure could be implemented in several layers, e.g. with two on top of one another, and equipped with the lid 9 belonging to container 2. Container 2 is coated with a detached protective container 13. The figure also shows section 7 intended to provide a slot for the spreader, which can be perforated whenever necessary. Top extension 1 shown in the figure can, of course, also be equipped with a separate lid 9 equal to lid 9 of container 2, where the slot 7 for the spreader is located.

The top extension 1 of figure 4 has a basically different locking method than those described above. The attachment of top extension 1 to the flange member 3 of container 2 has been arranged such that top extension 1 can be inserted horizontally

into the flange member 3 of container 2 by utilising three loop-like elements 10 on three sides. Top extension 1 further has a horizontal surface 4 pressed against the collar surface 3 of container 2, which has been omitted at the other end of top extension 1 for clarity's sake ( for better visualisation of the loop-like construction 10). Top extension 1 is further tapered upwards, but here the collar surface 6 of the upper edge is optionally projecting inwards so as to act as a support surface for the spreader. The inwards projecting flange member 6 enables top extensions 1 to be handily piled on top of one another, given the tapered shape of the extension 1 itself.

Figure 5 shows a container 2 with a circular cross-section, e.g. a honey container, to which a top extension 1 with an identical cross-section has been connected in the manner described in connection with figure 1. Top extension 1 is equipped with the lid 9 belonging to container 2 (partly shown in the figure), so that another top extension 1 can be connected to top extension 1 when the empty container 2 is to be used as a storage container 2, e.g. as a freezing container (cf. figure 3).

Figure 6 shows the accessory attached to a nutrient spread container 2. The accessory consists of top extension 1, a peripheral member 1 1 coating container 2 firmly fixed to this, and a lid 9 fitted in top extension 1. The lid 9 has a slot 7, which can be sealed with a flange 12 if necessary. The figure also shows a spreader means, which protrudes through slot 7 in lid 9 and bears against the upper edge of top extension 1. The accessory is attached to container 2 in the same manner as described in connection with figure 1. The peripheral member 1 1 firmly connected to top extension 1 expands downwards and most appropriately extends slightly above the bottom level of container 2 (not supported by the table here). The accessory is now in a form that can be handily piled.

Figure 7 shows a section of the accessory of figure 6 connected to container 2. However, the flange member 6 of the upper edge of top extension 1 protrudes horizontally inwards, which allows even easier piling of the accessory than in figure 6. Top extension 1 equipped with a peripheral member 1 1 is attached to container 2 in the manner described in connection with figure 1.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section of the attachment of top extension 1 of figure 4 to container 2. The figure also shows a cross-section of the lid 9 fitted into top extension 1.

Figure 9 is a section of a slightly modified embodiment of the invention. Top extension 1 has been fitted to be attached to container 2 either by gravitation or "tight fitting". Unlike the preceding examples, container 2 is coated with a separate protective container 13. The lid 9 is fitted to be attached to the reinforced flange member 6 of top extension 1.

Figure 10 shows an embodiment of top extension 1 , in which the lower edge of the inner walls of top extension 1 extends below the collar surface 3 of container 2, inside container 2. This embodiment of the invention is apt to be used in connection with table containers 2 in which the fat surface does not reach the upper edge of container 2. Top extension 1 has been fixed by "tight fitting" in the figure.

Figure 1 1 shows a section of an embodiment which is considerably different from all of the other embodiments of the invention depicted above. Top extension 1 can be moved telescopically on the outer surface of e.g. a cylindrical container 2. For reasons of packaging techniques, top extension 1 is initially in its lowermost position (step 1 ). When container 2 containing for instance a spread is subsequently taken into use, top extension 1 is slightly raised (tight fitting, or grooves on the inner surface of top extension 1 locking container 2 to collar surface 14). When container 2 is empty it may be used as a storage container 2 and top extension 1 can be raised to its extreme position (step 2). In this embodiment, the collar surface 3 of container 2 would not be protected against smearing, nor would replacement of top extension 1 be particularly hygienic, given that it is fixed to the container from below. The "adjustability" may be considered an advantage, for instance for use as a container for freezing berries.

Figure 12 shows a further section of the accessory in accordance with the invention. Top extension 1 has been fitted to be attached to protective container 13 coating container 2 (or a similar container, indicated in the figures only with edges). Nonetheless, the horizontal surface 4 of top extension 1 protects the collar surface 3 of container 2 from being smeared with fat. The attachment has been arranged for a kind of protective container 13, in the same manner as depicted in connection with figure 1. Of course, the accessory illustrated in the figure is apt to improve but the hygienical use and aspect of e.g spread container 2.

Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which can merely be applied with the purpose to increase the volume of storage container 2. In the figure storage basket 2 is equipped with two top extensions 1, fitted to receive also lid 9 when

necessary. Top extension 1 has been fixed to flange member 3 of basket 2 in the manner described in connection with figure 1, and top extension 1 has also been disposed to receive a second top extension 1 in the same manner. When several top extensions 1 are being used on top of one another, especially in connection with a larger storage container 2 (e.g. the basket in the figure), a detachable bottom 15 may be used between two top extensions 2 whenever necessary. It is fixed by pressing inbetween the collar surface 3 of e.g. container 2 or top extension 1 and the horizontal surface 4 (inner surface) of top extension 1.

As an overall remark we note hat the invention is not restricted merely to what has been explained and described above, but instead, the accessory may have any other shape, with top extension 1 expanding upwards etc., the material may be any other than food plastic, the fixing method to container 2 may be any previously known or a combination of a number of fixing methods etc. Moreover, it is understood that the (storage) container also implies a larger container. The accessory can be fitted to be attached also to other containers than those 2 which contain a spread, e.g. a container containing liquid syrup etc., and with the container used as a storage container, it would on principle be possible to use a seal in the same way as detachable bottom 15 between the elements (container/top extension/top extension).