Patent Application
20230052434
The present invention relates to a container and a lid, wherein the lid produces audible and tactile feedback when the container is closed with the lid. The invention further relates to a method for forming a lid for engagement with a container.
Containers with lids which fit together with threads come in many different arrangements, from simply having complementary threads to having different closing and/or locking features or arrangements. Some provide notches, locks, snaps and/or protrusions to secure the container to the lid. Additionally, these can sometime provide a click or other sound to help the user know when the lid is sufficiently secured to or unsecured from the container.
One such container with lid is shown in in US 2008/0110850 A1. This container and lid secure together with threads, and the lid and the container include a complementary notch and lug to provide an audible indication the lid is sufficiently closed. These notches and lugs are located in a central position of the threads, separating the threads into segments. Another such container is disclosed in EP 2 080 711 A1, which provides a container for a fabric conditioning composition where the lid produces an audible sound by manually forced interengagement of the locking members. The closure is stated that it can be a push-on—push-off lid and could include threads with the interengageable locking members, which preferably would be an outward projection on an outer surface of the dispensing opening and a corresponding inwardly oriented recess on an inner surface of the lid. These can provide audible and tactile feedback to the user.
A number of arrangements are directed toward anti-backoff features for the lid and container, including GB 2203729 A and WO 2016/016207 A1. GB 2203729 A provides a closure system for container which has spaced apart lugs on a neck of a container for engagement by the lugs on the interior of a skirt of a lid. The lugs on the neck also include a rib which project into a space between the lugs of the lid to keep the lid from backing off. The lugs on the neck include a rectangular slot delineated by the rib that receive a bar shaped lug on the lid when the lid is fully on the container. WO 2016/016207 A1 provides a closure for a container with a screw thread on a neck of the container. At the end of the thread, an abutment surface is formed as a stop. A recess or break is provided in the neck screw thread in which a closure screw thread with an anti-backoff formation can releasably engage.
The anti-backoff formation is a shown and described as a flared thread with a portion where the thread segment is thicker vertically in a region forming a rectangular flare. While these anti-backoff features would likely provide a user with tactile feedback when opening or closing, no mention of audio feedback is made.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,530 relates to a stoppering device with an indexed closure position, for a bottle made of glass or another rigid substance.
Nevertheless there is a need for another type of container and lid, wherein the lid produces audible and tactile feedback when the container is closed with the lid, and which allows a user to easily open and close the container. The present invention provides such another type of container and lid.
According to a first aspect of the invention a container with a lid comprises a container neck surrounding an opening; at least one thread on the neck; at least one thread on the lid for engaging the at least one thread on the neck; a bump at the lower part of the lid; an end stop on a lower end of the neck which stops further engagement between the at least one thread on the neck and the at least one thread on the lid; and an engagement portion of the neck corresponding to an area where the bump of the lid will engage the neck when the lid is in a fully engaged position, the engagement portion comprising a recess adjacent to the end stop for receiving and engaging the bump, and a ramp adjacent to the recess leading into or out of the recess by increasing the outer diameter of the neck adjacent to the recess, the engagement portion arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced when the lid is moved into the fully engaged position. The recess extends radially into the neck further than the outer surface of the neck between and around the at least one thread. The engagement portion further comprises an increase in width of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion. The recess and the bump each have a rounded upper portion.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a method of forming a lid and a container neck to produce audible and tactile feedback on engagement and disengagement, the method comprising: producing a lid with at least one thread and a bump at a lower end; and producing a neck with at least one thread for engaging the at least one thread on the lid, and an engagement portion with a recess extending radially inward from the neck surface for receiving the bump, an end stop delineating the recess and an increase in the at least one thread of the neck and/or the outer diameter of the neck at the engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion and bump are formed to produce specific audible and tactile feedback when the lid is engaged or disengaged from the neck. Each of the recess and the bump have an upper rounded portion.
Such a container with lid is able to secure together and provide a user with audible and tactile feedback when engaging or disengaging the lid from the container. This allows a user to know that full engagement has taken place. The sensorial feedback also helps the user to ensure full engagement every time, which is especially useful when container holds things that are prone to spoilage if not properly sealed between uses, for example, food products.
The engagement of the bump with the recess with end stop also allows for secure engagement and prevent over-torqueing and thereby damaging the container or lid. The increase in width of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion results in requiring increasing torque for moving the bump through that portion leading up to full engagement. The recess extending radially inward further from the general outer surface of the neck (between and around the at least one thread) helps to ensure that the bump secures in the recess and does not slip out. This also provides a user with the desired tactile feedback to know when they are reaching full engagement. The rounded upper portions on the recess and bump can help with the movement into and out of the recess, to ensure that the movements are smooth and that the torque required for engagement and disengagement is not so high that an average user would have problems.
According to an embodiment, the recess extends vertically into the increase in width of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion. Such a configuration can also produce the desired audible feedback when the lid is fully engaged and/or has become disengaged.
According to an embodiment, the ramp comprises an increase in the outer diameter of the neck leading up to the recess, and the engagement portion further comprises an additional ramp which leads from the recess up to the increase in thickness of the neck from the ramp for facilitating the exit of the bump from the recess for disengaging the lid from the container. This ramp can help to ensure that the force required to disengage the lid from the container is not so great that a user cannot overcome it, and disengage the lid to access the contents of container. Such ramps can assist in providing tactile feedback to the user in engaging or disengaging the lid from the neck.
According to an embodiment, the audible and/or tactile feedback is produced from one or more of: the engagement of the bump into the recess, the stopping of the bump by the end stop, the movement by the bump through the engagement portion, or the movement of the bump into or out of the recess. Depending on the embodiment, one or more of these work to produce specific audible and/or tactile feedback to the user which has been shown to provide reassurance to a user regarding the lid being engaged or not from the container. One or more of these mechanisms can work together to form a system which not only produces audible and tactile feedback, but also secure the lid to the container.
According to an embodiment, the audible feedback produced comprises a muffled click of when the lid is disengaging from the container and/or a precise click when the lid is moved into a fully engaged position. These sounds and tactile feedback have been shown to be reassuring for users as positive indication of fully closed or opened container. Additionally, users link this reassurance to product within the container being fresh and safe from external contamination.
According to an embodiment, the audible feedback has frequency intensity in the range of about 0.00005-0.0036 watt per square meter (W/m2), preferably from about 0.00005 to 0.003 W/m2, preferably from about 0.0001 to 0.002 W/m2. The engagement and disengagement have unique sound profiles and frequency histograms, respectively, which help the user to feel and hear the engagement and disengagement process. The sound profiles and frequency intensity generated upon engagement and disengagement have been shown to be reassuring for test users.
According to an embodiment, an increase in width of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion and/or the ramp increases torque required to bring the lid into a fully engaged position. Depending on manufacturing techniques, requirements of the seal, the contents of the container, etc.; different techniques for producing the tactile feedback related to engagement and disengagement of the lid can be used. Increasing the width of the thread and/or the neck at the engagement portion can be two such techniques.
According to an embodiment, the sound pressure level of the audible feedback generated is in the range of about 20 dB-120 dB, preferably 30 to 100 dB, preferably 35 to 80 dB, preferably maximally 70 dB. This range has been found to be reassuring for the test users. The sound levels referenced for the audible feedback are generally from a distance of about 0.5 meters, or an arm's length.
According to an embodiment, the audible feedback has a duration of about 0.01 seconds or more, preferably, 0.01 to 0.025 seconds, preferably to 0.02 seconds. This length of audible feedback has been found to give a user surety that the lid was fully and properly engaged to the container, thereby assuring the user of the freshness of the contents of the container.
According to an embodiment, the container with lid further comprises a plurality of bumps and a plurality of engagement portions of the neck for engagement by the plurality of bumps. A plurality of bumps and a plurality of engagement portions can further secure and produce the specific desired audible and tactile feedback when engaging and disengaging lid from the neck.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of forming a lid and a container neck to produce audible and tactile feedback on engagement and disengagement comprises producing a lid with at least one thread and a bump at a lower end; and producing a neck with at least one thread for engaging the at least one thread on the lid, and an engagement portion with a recess for receiving the bump, an end stop delineating the recess and an increase in the at least one thread of the neck and/or the outer diameter of the neck at the engagement portion. The engagement portion and bump are formed to produce specific audible and tactile feedback when the lid is engaged or disengaged from the neck.
Such a lid and container neck include simple features which work together to ensure they can be properly and securely engaged and provide a user with specific audible and tactile feedback such that the user knows they are engaged or disengaged. The features also help to prevent unintentional disengagement and over-torqueing, thereby protecting the seal and/or freshness of anything in the container.
According to an embodiment, the sound pressure level of the audible feedback is in the range of about 20 dB to 120 dB.
Container 10 includes neck 12 with opening 13. Container 10 can be any type of container, but may be particularly useful for the storage of food products, and especially products which are opened and closed a number of times during lifetime use.
Neck 12 includes threads 20, end stops 22 and engagement portion 24 with recess 26, first ramp 28 and second ramp 29. Threads 20 extend around an outer surface of neck 12. In this embodiment, recess 26 is in a rectangular shape, and end stops 22 are formed from a generally vertical wall extending beneath threads 20. Ramps 28, 29 are formed by increasing an outer diameter of neck 12 leading up to and coming out of recesses 26. This is generally a gradual increase, though the slope and/or length can vary. First ramp 28 can extend about 0.1-3 mm and increase such that the outer diameter at high point of ramp 28 is the same as the outer diameter of neck 12 at threads 20, though it would usually be in a range less than threads 30, for example 50% of the height of threads 30. Second ramp 29 is typically much shorter and steeper than first ramp, though it can vary in different embodiments. The length and slope of ramps 28, 29 can be used to help produce the specific desired audible and tactile feedback.
Though container 10 and lid 14 material dimensions can vary in different embodiments, an example lid 14 and container 10 can be a lid 14 comprising polypropylene (PP) and container 10 comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Container 10 can have a volume of about 600 grams, a neck diameter of about 83 mm and a thickness of at least 0.3 mm. Lid 12 can have an external diameter of about 88 mm and a thickness of at least 1 mm. These dimensions and materials can result in the sound profiles and frequency histograms shown in
Lid 14 includes threads 30 and bumps 32. Lid is generally cylindrical in shape on the outer side, and can be formed of a variety of materials. The lid preferably comprises polypropylene or high density polyethylene. Threads 30 extend around an inner surface of lid 14, and bumps 32 are located at a lower side of lid, after threads 30 have terminated. In this embodiment, bumps 32 are trapezoidal in shape, though other embodiments could have differently shaped bumps 32 to engage recesses.
Lid 14 rotates to engage neck 12 such that threads 30 on lid 14 engage threads 20 on neck 12 to secure lid 14 to container 10. Engagement mechanisms are positioned such that bumps 32 must go over ramps 28 and engage recesses 26. Bumps 32 and lid 14 are prevented from further engagement (and over torqueing) at that point by end stops 22. The movement of bumps 32 over ramps 28 provides users with tactile feedback, increasing the torque required for lid 14 engagement as lid 14 comes closer to a fully engaged position. When lid 14 bumps 32 move over ramps 28 into recesses 26, audible feedback is produced, for example, in the form of a click.
To disengage lid 14 from container 10, bumps 32 must be forced up second ramps 29, producing further audible and tactile feedback. The audible feedback in this movement is shown in
As mentioned in the background, some prior art lids and containers have engagement features in the form of notches and lugs or interengaging locking members which can provide audible and/or tactile feedback. The current invention, however, uses a combination of specific features on the lid and the neck, including a bump at a lower end of the lid, a recess on the neck, an end stop and a ramp which work together to produce specific audible and tactile feedback which assures a user of proper engagement or disengagement. These features also work together to secure the lid 14 to the container 10 and prevent overturning. As in the embodiment shown, additional ramps and/or thickening of threads or the neck can also be used to contribute to the specific audible and/or tactile feedback desired.
The use of engagement features on lid 14 and on neck 12 work together secure lid 14 to neck 12 and provide audible and tactile feedback to a user. Bumps 32 provide sensorial feedback when moving over ramps 28, 29 into or out of recess 26. The specific audible range produced, the duration and frequency intensity ranges have been found to demonstrate unique sound profiles and frequency histograms. These specific unique sound profiles and frequency histograms have been shown to help a user know when lid 14 has been engaged or disengaged and therefore feel assured of the freshness of the contents of the container.
The sensorial feedback, including audible and tactile, helps a user to know that lid 14 is properly engaged with container 10, thereby ensuring actual sealing of container 10 and freshness of contents inside. Additionally, ramp 28 leading up to recess 26 can help a user feel when lid 14 is approaching full engagement with container 10, and the settling into recess 26 provides the user specific feedback that the lid 14 is fully engaged. These features also provide the user audible and tactile feedback for the disengagement of lid 14 from container 10, thereby ensuring a user knows that the container 10 and lid 14 were fully engaged and protecting the freshness of the contents of container 10 between uses. The sloping sides of trapezoidal bumps 32 (and ramps 28, 29) can help to allow bumps 32 into and out of recess 26 without too much effort by a user, ensuring that even weaker users are able to engage and disengage lid 14 with container 10 neck 12. Recesses 26 with end stops 22 also help to minimize play between lid 14 and container 10 when fully engaged, thereby helping to prevent any loosening or backing off of lid 14 from neck 12.
Neck 12 includes threads 20, end stop 22 and engagement portion 24 with recess 26, ramp 29 and widened thread 34. Threads 20 extend around an outer surface of neck 12, and increase in width in engagement area leading to recess 26. As can be seen in
Lid 14 includes threads 30 and bumps 32. Threads 30 extend around an inner surface of lid 14, and bumps 32 are located at a lower end of lid, after threads 30 have terminated. In this embodiment, bumps 32 have a rounded upper portion to correspond to the shape of recess 26, though other embodiments could have differently shaped bumps 32 (and recesses 26) for engagement.
Lid 14 engages neck 12 much the same way as the embodiment shown in
When disengaging lid 14 from neck 12, ramp 29 and/or the shape of bump 32 can help to smooth disengagement of bump 32 with recess 26 and re-engagement of bump 32 with threads 20. Audible and tactile feedback are produced through the disengagement or opening, and can be, for example, a muffled click produced when bump 32 moves out of recess. This can be at least partially from the deflection of bump 32 and/or lid 14 in the movement. The audible feedback can be in the range of about 20 to 120 dB, preferably 30 to 100 dB, preferably 35 to 80 dB, preferably maximally 70 dB, with a duration of about 0.01 seconds or more, preferably maximally 0.025 seconds, preferably maximally 0.02 seconds and frequency intensity of about 0.00005 to 0.0036 watt per square metre (W/m2), preferably from about 0.00005 to 0.002 W/m2, preferably from about 0.0001 to 0.001 W/m2 (See
By using a bump 32 at the lower end of lid 14 to engage with a complementary shaped recess 26 (which extends radially inward from the general outer surface of the neck) and widened threads 34 leading up to recess 26, lid 14 and neck 12 are able to provide specific audible and tactile feedback for a user. The widened threads 34 require additional torque to move bump 32 through, and the movement of bump 32 beyond widened threads 34 into recess 26 produces an audible sound. The torque range can be, for example, 0.5 to 8 N.m. End stop 22 and widened thread portion 34 help to secure bump 32 into recess 26, thereby helping to secure lid 14 to neck 12 and prevent any backing off. The shapes and placements of recess 26, bump 32 and engagement portion leading to recess 26 all work together to produce the specific desired audible and tactile feedback for a user as well as to allow a user to be able to engage and disengage lid 14 from neck 12 without too much strain. End stop 22 helps to prevent over torqueing, and therefore damaging the seal which can be produced between proper engagement of lid 14 with neck 12.
In summary, by providing at least one bump at a lower part of lid 14 which can interact with engagement features (including a recess 26 extending radially into neck and an end stop 22) on neck 12 of a container, container 10 and lid 14 can provide a secure connection and specific audible and tactile feedback to a user to indicate full engagement. This can help a user feel more secure about the freshness of the product inside the container 10 when they receive this specific audible and tactile feedback upon disengagement, as well as ensure that the user properly engages lid 14 with neck 12 after each use by twisting until the audible and tactile feedback is produced. This sensorial feedback produced is of such a duration and/or frequency intensity range that an average user feels reassurance that the lid is properly closed & the container will keep the product safe from external contamination.
These features can be especially useful for containers 10 which will be stored and/or transported, thereby ensuring freshness of any product in container 10.
While neck 12 and lid 14 have been shown with a number of threads 20, 30 and a number of engagement features (bumps 32, recesses 26, etc.), these numbers and placements are for example purposes only and could be different in different embodiments. Neck 12 and lid 14 must have at least one bump 32 to engage a recess 26 with an end stop 22, providing audible and tactile feedback through engagement. Similarly, the description and ranges for length, intensity and frequency of the audible feedback of full engagement is for example purposes only, and the ranges can vary depending on materials used, thickness of annular engagement features, profile/design of engagement features, material distribution, contents of container 10, configuration of neck 14 and lid 12, etc. However, the given ranges have been shown to be particularly useful to a wide range of users in providing a desired audible and tactile feedback without being overwhelming to a user.
Some specific examples of containers 10 and lids 14 which could be used to produce desired audible and tactile feedback for a user include containers 10 made of PET and lids 14 formed of PP with the following dimensions:
While these specific examples are given, other containers and lids could produce the desired audible and tactile feedback, and this application is not limited to the specific example dimensions given above.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16162471.3 | Mar 2016 | EP | regional |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16086363 | Sep 2018 | US |
| Child | 17980599 | US |
