Container and lid with audible and tactile feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019071225-A1
Application number	US-201716086363-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 25, 2016
Publication date	Mar 7, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container ( 10 ) and a lid ( 14 ), 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. A container with a lid includes at least one thread ( 20 ) on a neck of the container; at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid; a bump ( 32 ) at the lower part of the lid; an end stop ( 22 ) on a lower end of the neck; 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 ( 24 ) is arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced when the lid moves into a fully engaged position.

First claim

1 . A container ( 10 ) with a lid ( 14 ) comprising:
a container neck ( 12 ) surrounding an opening ( 13 ); at least one thread ( 20 ) on the neck ( 12 ); at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid ( 14 ) for engaging the at least one thread ( 20 ) on the neck ( 12 ); a bump ( 32 ) at the lower part of the lid ( 14 ); an end stop ( 22 ) on a lower end of the neck ( 12 ) which stops further engagement between the at least one thread ( 20 ) on the neck ( 12 ) and the at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid ( 14 ); and an engagement portion ( 24 ) of the neck ( 12 ) corresponding to an area where the bump ( 32 ) of the lid will engage the neck ( 12 ) when the lid ( 14 ) is in a fully engaged position, the engagement portion ( 24 ) comprising a recess ( 26 ) adjacent to the end stop ( 22 ) for receiving and engaging the bump ( 32 ), and a ramp adjacent to the recess leading into or out of the recess ( 26 ) by increasing the outer diameter of the neck adjacent to the recess ( 26 ), the engagement portion arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced when the lid is moved into the fully engaged position, wherein the engagement portion further comprises: an increase in width of the at least one thread ( 20 ) in the neck at the engagement portion and wherein the recess ( 26 ) and the bump ( 32 ) each comprise a rounded upper portion.

2 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 26 ) extends vertically into the increase in width of the at least one thread ( 20 ) in the neck at the engagement portion ( 24 ).

3 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein the ramp ( 28 ) comprises an increase in the outer diameter of the neck leading up to the recess ( 26 ), and the engagement portion further comprises an additional ramp ( 29 ) which leads from the recess ( 26 ) up to the increase in thickness of the neck from the ramp ( 28 ) for facilitating the exit of the bump ( 32 ) from the recess ( 26 ).

4 . The container with lid of any of claim 1 , wherein the audible and/or tactile feedback is produced from one or more of:
the engagement of the bump ( 32 ) into the recess ( 26 ), the stopping of the bump ( 32 ) by the end stop ( 22 ), the movement by the bump ( 32 ) through the engagement portion ( 24 ), or the movement of the bump ( 32 ) into or out of the recess ( 26 ).

5 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein audible feedback produced comprises a muffled click when the lid ( 14 ) is disengaging from the container ( 10 ).

6 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback produced when the lid ( 14 ) is moved into a fully engaged position comprises a precise click.

7 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback has frequency intensity in the range of about 0.00005 to 0.0036 watt per square metre (W/m 2 ).

8 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein an increase in thickness of the at least one thread ( 20 ) in the neck ( 12 ) at the engagement portion ( 24 ) and/or the ramp increases torque required to bring the lid to a fully engaged position.

9 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein the sound pressure level of the audible feedback is in the range of about 20 to 120 dB.

10 . The container with lid of claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback has a duration of about 0.01 seconds or more, preferably maximally 0.025 seconds.

11 . The container with lid of claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of bumps ( 32 ) and a plurality of recesses ( 26 ) of the neck ( 12 ) for engagement by the plurality of bumps ( 32 ).

12 . A method of forming a lid ( 14 ) and a container neck ( 12 ) to produce audible and tactile feedback on engagement and disengagement, the method comprising:
producing a lid ( 14 ) with at least one thread ( 30 ) and a bump ( 32 ) at a lower end; and producing a neck ( 12 ) with at least one thread ( 20 ) for engaging the at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid ( 14 ), and an engagement portion ( 24 ) with a recess ( 26 ) for receiving the bump ( 32 ), an end stop ( 22 ) delineating the recess ( 26 ) and an increase in the at least one thread of the neck and/or the outer diameter of the neck at the engagement portion ( 24 ), wherein the engagement portion ( 24 ) and bump ( 32 ) are formed to produce specific audible and tactile feedback when the lid ( 14 ) is engaged or disengaged from the neck ( 12 ), and wherein each of the recess ( 26 ) and the bump ( 32 ) comprises an upper rounded portion. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sound pressure level of the audible feedback is in the range of about 20 to 120 dB.

Assignees

• Conopco Inc Dba Unilever

Inventors

• Bertram James Alexander
• Coop James Robert
• Van Puffelen Arie Johannes
• Teucher Mark Digby
• Younos Omer Bin

Classifications

• B65D51/248 Primary

  the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles (B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02) · CPC title

• B65D2251/01

  making a sound upon actuation · CPC title

• B65D1/10

  Jars, e.g. for preserving foodstuffs {(B65D81/3837 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D41/0471 Primary

  with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap · CPC title