Patent Application
20170073126
Lids on jars or similar containers can often become stuck and hard to rotate open. For example, the lid may have been closed with too much force, causing the lid to over-rotate beyond its design parameters. As another example, tight manufacturing tolerances may cause the lid to be machined to where it fits the container too closely. As a result, a greater than expected amount of static friction binds the lid to the container. In some instances, viscous fluids or similar substances can accumulate in the interface between the lid and the container and subsequently harden, thereby sealing the lid to the container. Such viscous fluids can include food products (e.g., jams, jellies, syrups, etc.), paints, glues, epoxies, and similar compounds.
These situations often present issues for people attempting to open lids on jars. For example, those with low grip strengths or physical disabilities may not be able to grip the lid tightly enough to rotate the lid. In these examples, the lid will not move no matter how much the individual tries to rotate the lid. As another example, the amount of static friction between a person's hand and the surface of the lid may not be high enough for the person to overcome the amount of static friction binding the lid to the container. In these examples, a person's hand may slip when they attempt to rotate the lid.
Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Disclosed are various approaches to improvements to lids and gripping devices. These approaches facilitate rotating lids that are stuck or hard to rotate, allowing individuals with low grip strength to rotate lids that they would otherwise be unable to rotate. These approaches, as further described below, rely on the rotational torque that a person can generate with his or her body to open a lid instead of relying on an individual's grip strength. As a result, individuals with low grip strength can open lids on jars that they might not otherwise be able to open. Further, the configuration of the lids and gripping devices does not waste storage space. In some instances, the lids may even improve stability when stacking jars or similar containers next to, or on top of, each other.
Generally, the protrusions 109 will be of uniform size and the spacing between the protrusions 109 will be uniform in size. The spacing between the protrusions 109 may also be equal to the width of the protrusions 109 in some embodiments. Such configurations have several benefits. For example, an individual can use the ergonomic lid 106 without having to worry about finger placement. For instance, an individual would not have to first identify a specific space between two of the protrusions 109 for the thumb, a second space for the index finder, a third space for the middle finger, a fourth space for the ring finger, and fifth space for the pinky finger. This simplifies the use of the ergonomic lid 106. However, embodiments where the protrusions 109 and the spacing between the protrusions 109 are shaped for specific fingers (e.g., a specific space for the thumb, a specific space for the index finger, a specific space for the middle finger, a specific space for the ring finger, and a specific space for the pinky finger) may be more comfortable for some users. In addition, protrusions 109 of uniform size spaced apart at uniform distances allows for the respective containers 103 to which the uniform ergonomic lids 106 are attached to be stored more efficiently than if a non-uniform sizing were used. An example of such an embodiment is depicted in
The ergonomic lid 106 of
The lip 203 can be formed from any number of materials. In some embodiments, the lip 203 can be formed from the same material as the ergonomic lid 106. In these instances, the lip 203 may be an integrated portion of the ergonomic lid 106. In other embodiments, the lip 203 can be formed from a different type of material than the ergonomic lid 106. For example, the lip 203 can be formed from a flexible material, such as a rubber or silicone based compound that provides some flexibility and friction to hold the base of a container 103 stacked on top of the ergonomic lid 106.
After the ergonomic apparatus 603 has been placed over the lid 606, the ergonomic apparatus 603 can be rotated to unscrew or otherwise detach the lid 606 from the container 103. Due to the friction provided by the attachment mechanism, the ergonomic apparatus 603 can provide a stronger grip that is less likely to slip relative to an individual's hand attempting to grip and rotate the lid 606.
As depicted, the ergonomic apparatus 603 for rotating the lid 606 can have a number of protrusions 109. Generally, the protrusions 109 may be of uniform size and the spacing between the protrusions 109 may be uniform in size. The spacing between the protrusions 109 may be equal to the width of the protrusions. This configuration has a number of benefits, some of which are further described in this application. A first benefit is that an individual can use the ergonomic apparatus 603 for rotating the lid without having to worry about finger placement. For example, an individual would not have to first identify a specific spaces for the thumb, index finder, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger. This simplifies the use of the ergonomic apparatus 603 for rotating the lid. However, embodiments where the protrusions 109 and the spacing between the protrusions 109 are shaped for specific fingers (e.g., a specific space for the thumb, a specific space for the index finger, a specific space for the middle finger, a specific space for the ring finger, and a specific space for the pinky finger) may be more comfortable for some users.
Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/374,774, filed on Aug. 13, 2016, and entitled “ERGONOMIC GRIP LID,” which is incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62374774 | Aug 2016 | US |
