Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RECLOSABLE CONTAINER LID
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates generally to container lids, and more
particularly to
a self closing, reclosable lid for use with a container.
2. Relevant Art
[0002] Generally, most containers are made with a corresponding lid used to
close and sometimes seal the container. Typically, container lids may include
a
spout or similar means adapted to permit the flow of the container's contents
from within the container and through the lid.
[0003] However, many existing container lid designs typically require that the
user use two hands to open the container lid. Typically, one hand is used to
secure or hold on to the container and the other is used to "twist" or "pry"
the
container lid on or off and effectively provide access to the container's
contents.
SUMMARY
[0004] A recloseable lid is provided including a lid portion defining an
opening
to dispense the contents of a container, and a closeable flap portion
including a
sealing member and a resilient member. The closeable flap portion is pivotable
between a first position, where the resilient member is flexed and the sealing
member is not engaged with the opening and a second position, where the
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sealing member is engaged with the opening and the resilient member is not
flexed.
[0005] In one aspect, a slide lock may be disposed on the closeable flap
portion
to engage with the lid portion and secure the closeable flap portion in the
second
position.
[0006] In another aspect, a reclosable lid is provided including a lid portion
defining an opening to dispense the contents of a container, and a closeable
flap
portion including a sealing member and a resilient member. The closeable flap
portion is pivotable between a first position, where the resilient member is
in a
flexed state and the sealing member is away from the opening and a second
position, where the sealing member is engaged with the opening and the
resilient
member is in an unflexed state. A slide lock, including a tab, disposed on the
closeable flap portion is also provided. The tab is configured to engage a
corresponding slot on the lid portion when the closeable flap portion is in
the
second position.
[0007] In yet another aspect, a reclosable lid is provided including a lid
portion
defining an opening and including a spout and a handle positioned
diametrically
opposed substantially on a circumference of the lid portion, and a grippable
section formed on a diameter of the lid portion between the spout and handle.
The reclosable lid also includes a closeable flap portion including a front
end, a
mid-section and a rear end, where the front end is configured to extend over
the
spout, the mid-section over the grippable section and the rear end over at
least a
portion of the handle when the closeable flap portion is in a closed position.
The
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closeable flap portion includes a sealing member, a resilient member, and a
hinge structure. The rear end of the closeable flap portion is depressable to
cause the sealing member to rotate about the hinge structure away from the
opening and place the resilient member in a compressed state to move the
closeable flap portion to an opened position. A slide lock including a tab is
disposed on the mid section of the closeable flap portion, where the tab is
configured to mate with a corresponding slot on the lid portion to maintain
the
closeable flap portion in the closed position.
[0008] This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of this
disclosure may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the
disclosure can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description
of
the various embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The foregoing features and other features of the present disclosure
will
now be described with reference to the drawings of an illustrated embodiment.
In
the drawings, the same components have the same reference numerals. The
illustrated embodiment is intended to illustrate, but not to limit the
disclosure. The
drawings include the following Figures:
[0010] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a recloseable container lid without a
slide lock in accordance with an embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a recloseable container lid with a
slide
lock in accordance with an embodiment;
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[0012] FIGS. 2A and 2B are top and bottom views, respectively of the lid
portion
of the reclosable container lid in accordance with an embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of closeable flap portion in
accordance
with an embodiment;
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating the closeable
flap
portion engaged with the lid portion in an open and closed position in
accordance
with an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view illustrating the closeable flap
portion
without a slide lock engaged with the lid portion in a closed position in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the engagement between a sealing member of
the closeable flap portion and an opening defined on the lid portion in
accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a reclosable lid 100 and 100a,
respectively, both adapted to be used with a container 102 in accordance with
embodiments. The container 102 includes a container body 103 that defines a
volume used to hold or contain a substance which may be made to flow from the
container, for example a liquid, a powder and the like. The container body 103
may have a generally circular, oval or rectangular cross-section that
terminates
at a continuous upper edge or rim. The rim defines a circular open top portion
of
the container body 103. In some embodiments, the rim may have formed thereon
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container threads (not shown) for mounting and securing the container body 103
to a lid, for example, reclosable lid 100 or 100a.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1A, in one embodiment, the reclosable lid 100 includes
a lid portion 104, and a closable flap portion 106. In an alternative
embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 1 B, optionally, a slide lock 108 may be integrated into the
closable flap portion 106 to lockably secure the closeable flap portion 106 to
the
lid portion 104 and seal the container body 103. It should be understood that
references to the components described with reference to either recloseable
lid
100 or 100a in FIGS. 1 A and 1 B are generally the same for each embodiment,
with the exception that the slide lock 108 and associated components are
described with reference to the embodiment of recloseable lid 100a in FIG. 1
B.
[0019] Referring now to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 113, the lid
portion 104 of the reclosable lid 100 or 100a includes a generally cylindrical
shaped body portion 110 having a spout 112 formed on a circumference of the
lid
portion 104. The spout 112 is formed diametrically opposed from a handle 114
also formed on the circumference of the lid portion 104. The lid portion 104
includes internal threads 116 (see FIG. 2B) that are positioned to allow the
lid
portion 104 to engage with the corresponding container threads (not shown)
provided at the rim of the container body 103 and secure the lid portion 104
to
the container body 103.
[0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B are top and bottom views, respectively of the lid
portion
104 in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 2A shows the top of the lid portion
with the closeable flap portion 106 removed for clarity. As shown in FIG. 2A,
the
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lid portion 104 includes an annular platform section 202 upon which various
surface features and structures of the lid portion 104 may be formed or
mounted.
As described below, many of the various surface features and structures
matingly correspond to, or operationally interact with various other surface
features and structures that are part of the closable flap portion 106.
[0021] In one embodiment, each of the surface features and structures are
aligned along a diameter of the lid between the spout 112 and the handle 114.
The alignment of the surface features and structures in this manner
facilitates
operation of the closable flap portion 106 using only one hand, if desired.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2A, the platform section 202 defines an opening or
hole 204 that provides a causeway from the underside of lid portion 104
through
the platform section 202. The opening 204 is positioned immediately adjacent
the
spout 112. The opening 204 allows the contents of container 102 to be poured
out from container body 103 via the spout 112 when the lid portion 104 is
coupled to the container body 103.
[0023] Immediately adjacent the opening 204, toward the handle 114 side of the
opening, a raised section 206 is formed on platform section 202. The raised
section 206 is generally formed as a loop of material that provides a hand
grippable section 118 (see FIG. 1A, 1B). The loop defines an open space 119
(see FIG. 1A, 113) that separates the grippable section 118 from the platform
section 202 to provide a space for a user's fingers to curl under the
grippable
section, which allows the user to grasp the reclosable lid. In the embodiment
of
FIG. 113, when the closeable flap portion 106 is positioned on the raised
support
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section 206, a user may grip the reclosable lid 100a, such that the user's
thumb
may become aligned with the direction of travel of the slide lock 108 such
that the
user may more easily manipulate the slide lock 108 between a locked and an
unlocked position.
[0024] The raised section 206 is positioned at a height from platform section
202 that places the raised section 206 slightly below the height of spout 112
and
handle 114. In this way, when closeable flap portion 106 is positioned on the
raised section 206 as described below, the closeable flap portion 106
operationally mates properly with the spout 112, the handle 114 and other
structures described below.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2A, beside providing a means to grasp the lid portion
104, the grippable section 118 may also provide a support surface for
positioning
a raised hinge post 210 that provides a point for the closeable flap portion
106 to
pivot or rotate when the closeable flap portion 106 is being opened or closed.
In
the embodiment of FIG. 1 B, a channel slot 208 may be positioned on the
support
surface for operational use with the slide lock 108 when the slide lock is
used to
place the closeable flap portion 106 in the locked position.
[0026] Referring again to recloseable lid 100 or 100a, a channel 212, having
guide walls 213, is formed on a portion of the platform section 202
immediately
forward of handle 114. The channel 212 is configured to receive and engage
with
a resilient member provided on the closable flap portion 106, such as a spring
mechanism or similarly resilient mechanism. The surface of the channel 212
including the guide walls 213 provides a reactive surface upon which the
resilient
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member may be made to flex, bend or coil when an appropriate force is applied
to the resilient member as described below.
[0027] Handle 114 defines an empty or hollowed section 214 that opens
upward away from platform 202. The hollowed section 214 creates an empty
space configured to receive a rear portion of the closable flap portion 106
when
the closable flap portion 106 is made to rotate about hinge post 210 and open
as
described below. In one embodiment, the hollowed section 214 may include an
abutment 216 used to impede or limit the travel of the closeable flap portion
106
within the hollowed section. The movement of the portion of the closeable flap
portion 106 that enters the hollowed section is limited by the engagement of
the
rear end 314 of the closeable flap portion 106 and a surface of the abutment
216.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of closeable flap portion 106 in
accordance with an embodiment, including the slide lock 108. It should be
understood that the closeable flap portion 106 has the same structure as shown
in FIG. 3, albeit without the slide lock 108 and associated components as
shown
in FIG. 1A.
[0029] The closeable flap portion 106 includes a top wall or top surface 302
that
extends the length of the closeable flap portion 106 upon which are surface
features and structures configured to engage with the surface features and
structures disposed on the lid portion 104 as described above.
[0030] In one embodiment, the top surface 302 includes a front end 304 that is
sized and configured to fit over spout 112 (FIG. 2A). In operation, the front
end
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304 sealingly attaches to the spout 112 when the reclosable flap portion 106
is in
a closed position.
[0031] The top surface 302 also includes a rear end 314 that includes a raised
or upwardly curved surface feature 316. The raised surface feature 316
provides
a resistive surface upon which a user's thumb or finger, for example, may be
placed when the user is grasping handle 114. As described below, the resistive
surface provides a surface upon which the user's thumb may catch or grasp to
allow the user to depress the curved surface feature 316 on rear end 314 to
force
the rear end 314 into the hollowed section 214 of handle 114 allowing the
front
end 304 of the flap portion to pivot to the open position.
[0032] Inward of the front end 304, the closeable flap portion 106 includes a
sealing member 306. The sealing member 306 that extends an appropriate
length from the top surface 302 to come to rest over the opening 204 of lid
portion 104 (FIG. 2A) when the closeable flap portion 106 is in the closed
position. The sealing member 306 is shaped and sized to fit over opening 204
and configured to positively seal the opening 204 when the closeable flap
portion
106 is in the closed position. Although shown generally having a cylindrical
shape, the sealing member 306 may have any shape that fits over the opening
204 and provides the appropriate sealing force when the closeable flap portion
106 is in the closed position.
[0033] Adjacent the sealing member, the closeable flap portion 106 may include
a lock groove 308 that is integrally cut, machined or formed into the top
surface
302. The slide lock 108 may be snap-fit into the open channel 308 and allowed
to
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move or slide within the lock groove 308. The lock groove 308 includes an open
channel 310 configured to engage with a stem 309 of the slide lock 308 that
terminates with an outwardly projecting tab 312 that generally points along
the
travel path of the slide lock 108. The lock groove 308 and corresponding open
channel 310 may have a variety of cross sectional shapes, including but not
limited to rectangular, square, and circular.
[0034] In one embodiment, the slide lock 108 is configured to engage with the
lock groove 308 such that the stem 309 slides within the open channel 310
between a first or locked position and a second or unlocked position.
[0035] Movement of the slide lock 308 into the locked position is effectuated
by
moving the slide lock in a first direction that causes tab 312 to slide into
and
engage with the corresponding slot channel 208 (FIG. 2A and FIG. 4) of lid
portion 104. The slot channel 208 is configured to capture the tab 312 so that
the
closeable flap portion 106 is kept from being allowed to open and prohibits
the
contents of the container 102 from being dispensed. Conversely, the slide lock
108 may be moved in a second direction that removes the tab 312 from the slot
allowing the closeable flap portion 106 to be opened if desired.
[0036] Referring again to FIG. 3, a resilient member 318 is provided on the
closable flap portion 106 to provide an automatic lid biasing means formed of
an
appropriate elastomeric material, such as silicone. The resilient member 318
allows the lid to be self closing, having a constant bias towards returning to
its
uncompressed shaped once the resilient member becomes compressed, flexed
or folded. In one embodiment, the resilient member 318 extends inwardly from a
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positioning member 320 on the top surface 302 and into the channel 212 of lid
portion 104. The resilient member 318 may be formed as a flat loop structure,
a
flat strip of material or other suitable shape that provides the requisite
biasing
means. Alternatively, the resilient member may take the shape of any well
known
biasing structures, for example, coiled springs and the like. In addition, the
resilient member 318 may be made of other than silicone, such as metal and the
like.
[0037] As described below, the resilient member 318 extends into lid portion
104 such that the resilient member 318 is aligned with and made to engage with
the surface of the channel 212 between guide walls 213. In operation, a
properly
placed downward force applied to the closeable flap portion 106 is reacted
with a
counter-force supplied by channel 212 to the resilient member 318 to cause the
resilient member to compress, flex, bend or coil. The engagement between the
resilient member and the channel creates a bias in the closeable flap portion
106
that generally returns the closeable flap portion 106 to the closed position
if the
downward force is not adequately maintained.
[0038] FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating the closeable
flap
portion 106 of recloseable lid 100a operationally engaged with the lid portion
104
in closed and open positions, respectively, and showing the slide lock 108 in
the
locked and unlocked positions in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 4C is a
cross-sectional view illustrating the closeable flap portion 106 of
recloseable lid
100 operationally engaged with the lid portion 104 in a closed position
without the
slide lock 108, in accordance with an embodiment. The open position of
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recloseable lid 100 is as shown in FIG. 4B, albeit without the slide lock 108
and
its associated components.
[0039] In FIGS. 4A and 4C, the recloseable lids 100a and 100, respectively,
are
shown in a first or closed position. In one embodiment, the lid portion 104
includes internal threads 116 used to secure the lid portion 104 onto
corresponding threads disposed on container body 103 (FIG. 1A). It should be
noted that other well known methods of securing lid portion 104 to the
container
body 103 may be implemented, such as for example, force fitting the lid
portion
104 onto the rim of the container body 103.
[0040] When in the closed position, the closeable flap portion 106 is engaged
with the lid portion 104 to be able to positively seal or close the container
body
103.
[0041] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, in the first or closed
position,
the front end 304 of the closeable flap portion 106 is sealingly disposed over
the
spout 112. The sealing member 306 is disposed and seated over the opening
204 to sealingly mate with the opening 204 and ensure that the contents of
container 102 may not pass through the recloseable lid.
[0042] One embodiment of the engagement between the opening 204 and the
sealing member 306 is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, sealing member 306
includes a flexible and resilient end portion 502 fit, formed or coupled to a
positioning member 504. The end portion 502 is sized and shaped larger than
the diameter of the opening 204 and the positioning member 504. The
positioning member 504 has a length that causes a portion of the positioning
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member 504 to enter opening 204 when the closeable flap portion 106 is in the
closed position. Accordingly, since the positioning member 504 may extend into
the opening 204, when the sealing member 306 is made to engage with the
opening 204, the positioning member 504 forces the resilient end portion 502
into
the opening 204. The oversized, resilient end portion 502 is made to engage
with
the internal wall 506 of the opening 204 in a "force fit" manner which creates
a
seal between the end portion 502 and the opening 204.
[0043] Referring again to FIG. 4A, while in the closed position, resilient
member
318 is in a substantially non-flexed or non-compressed position and thus,
there is
no inherent bias setup in the closeable flap portion 106.
[0044] Referring to recloseable lid 100a, when closeable flap portion 106 is
closed, slide lock 108 may be deployed to "lock" the closeable flap portion
106
and keep the closeable flap portion from opening. Generally, a user may grasp
the grippable section 118, such that with the user's thumb is positioned on
the
exterior portion of the slide lock 108. Advantageously, the user can
manipulate
the slide lock 108 with a single hand.
[0045] In one embodiment, the stem 309 of slide lock 108 is configured to
slide
within the open channel 310 and move along the lock groove 308 between a first
or locked position and a second or unlocked position.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 4A, slide lock 108 is moveable along a travel path 404
(arrow 404), which is generally along the diameter of lid portion 104 between
the
spout 112 and the handle 114. The tab 312 of slide lock 108 points outwardly
along the travel path 404, such that when the slide lock 108 is moved in a
first
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direction, for example, towards spout 112, the tab 312 slides into and engages
with slot 406 (FIG. 4B) formed on slot channel 208. The slot 406 captures the
tab
312 so that the front end 304 and the sealing member 306 of closeable flap
portion 106 are maintained in their closed and sealed relationships with the
spout
112 and the opening 204, respectively. In addition, when slide lock 108 is in
the
locked position, the rear end 314 of the closeable flap portion 106 may not be
depressed to open the front end 304.
[0047] Referring again to FIGS. 4A and 4C, to cause the closeable flap portion
106 to open, the closeable flap portion may be made to rotate about a pivot
point,
which causes the front end 304 to rise up and open. A hinge structure 402 may
be positioned on the top surface 302 to engage with hinge post 210, to
facilitate
the rotation.
[0048] In operation, to cause the locked closeable flap portion 106 of
recloseable lid 100a to open as shown in FIG. 4B, the user causes slide lock
108
to be moved in lock groove 308 in a second direction along path 404 that
removes the tab 312 from the slot 406.
[0049] With reference to FIG. 4B, with the slide lock 108 in the unlocked
position as with closeable flap portion 100a or if the slide lock 108 is not
used as
with closeable flap portion 100, in either embodiment, the user may grasp
handle
114 such that the user's thumb may contact the upwardly curved surface feature
316 on the rear end 314 of closeable flap portion 106. The user may push down
or depress (arrow 410) the curved surface feature 316 in a manner that is
similar
to or resembles depressing or pushing a button. When the rear end 314 is
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pushed downward, the closeable flap portion 106 rotates about hinge structure
402. The resilient member 318 is forced into a compressive contact with
channel
212 causing the resilient member to bend or flex. As the rear end 314 is
pushed
downward, the rear end 314 is forced into the space created by the hollowed
section 214 of handle 114. The rear end 314 of closeable flap portion 106 may
be pushed downward until it contacts abutment 216. When contact is made, the
front end 304 is opened to its fullest extent. The opening of front end 304 of
closeable flap portion 106 removes the seal between front end 304 and spout
112 and removes the sealing member 306 from engagement with the opening
204.
[0050] As long as the rear end 314 of closeable flap portion 106 remains
pushed downward, the front end remains open. Therefore, to hold the closeable
flap portion 106 in the open position, the downward force on the rear end 314
is
maintained to overcome the biasing force generated by the flexed resilient
member 318. It should be understood that the closeable flap portion 106
automatically returns to the closed position in the absence of an appropriate
counter-force to the biasing force.
[0051] Once the user removes the counter-force from rear end 314, the
resilient
member 318 may unfold to force the closeable flap portion 106 to counter-
rotate
(arrow 412) about hinge structure 402 back to the closed position.
[0052] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to
specific embodiments, these embodiments are illustrative only and not
limiting.
Many other applications and embodiments of the present disclosure will be
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apparent in light of this disclosure and the following claims.
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