WO2008104019A1

WO2008104019A1 - A locking system for the lids of containers

Info

Publication number: WO2008104019A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phin Tjhai; John Dekker
Original assignee: Lid Power Pty Limited; Phin Tjhai
Priority date: 2007-02-26
Filing date: 2008-02-26
Publication date: 2008-09-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lid for a vessel, particularly a lid for a disposable takeaway beverage container, such as a disposable takeaway coffee cup. The lid is provided with a skirt and a recess is provided within the skirt. The recess is arranged to attach the lid to the vessel via a bead around the rim of the vessel. The recess has upper and lower walls which clamp to the bead. This resists motion of the lid vertically. The recess is of such a depth that it can accommodate rims of slightly varying circumference, such as may occur due to manufacturing differences between disposable cups.

Description

A LOCKING SYSTEM FOR THE LIDS OF CONTAINERS

Related Applications

International patent application number PCT/AU2005/001651 in the name of Lid Power Pty Limited filed on 26 October 2005, relating to improvements in lids for containers.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lid for a vessel and a method of affixing a lid to a vessel, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a lid for a drinks container and a method of affixing a lid to a drinks container.

Background to the Invention

Vendors of take away beverages, such as coffee, typically package their beverages in disposable cups. To reduce the risk of spillage (and consequential injury in the case of hot beverages), a lid is usually applied to each coffee cup after filling.

Present lids are designed to be secured to the coffee cup generally by an interference fit with the coffee cup rim. A skirt of the lid fits against the rim of the cup. One problem with this is that the lids do not fit securely and can easily come off. This can result in accidental spillage and even injury (in the case of hot beverages).

Further, although disposable cups may be manufactured to a number of different "standard" sizes (e.g. 8 ounce, 12 ounce, etc) the circumference of the rims of the cups vary. This may be because of poor manufacturing practices and also variations between different manufacturers. This lack of standardisation means there is no one lid that will fit all cups (of a particular designated size).

The vendors of takeaway beverages are faced with a major problem of getting the correct lids to fit their chosen cups. In addition, the lid suppliers also require to stock as many lids as the cups. Thus creating a huge inefficiency in the industry. The global lid industry is 100 billion lids per annum for the hot beverages and 300 billions per annum for the cold beverages.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a lid for a vessel, the lid is engageable with a bead provided about the rim of the vessel by clamping the bead in a vertical direction.

The lid may include a recess, the recess accommodates the rim of a vessel when fitted to the vessel. The recess may be defined by an upper wall and a lower wall.

The recess may extend around the periphery of the lid.

The lid may include promotional or advertising material.

In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a Md for a vessel, the lid comprising a securing mechanism arranged to engage with a rim of the vessel to secure the lid against vertical motion of the lid with respect to the vessel.

In an embodiment, the securing mechanism is arranged to clamp to the rim of the vessel.

In an embodiment, the securing mechanism comprises a recess within which a bead of the rim of the vessel fits.

In an embodiment, the recess is defined by an upper wall and a lower wall. In an embodiment, the recess extends around the periphery of the Ud. In an embodiment, the Hd comprises a skirt, and the recess extends around the skirt.

In an embodiment, the skirt includes a lower portion which is arranged to flare outwards with respect to the lid to facilitate fitting of the lid over the rim of the vessel.

In an embodiment, the securing mechanism has a fit tolerance which enables it to fit to rims of different circumferences. Where the securing mechanism is a recess, the recess is sized to fit to rims of varying circumference. The circumference variation of the lids may be due to variations in manufacturing tolerances, such as in the case of disposable drinks containers.

In an embodiment, the vessel is a disposable drinks container.

In an embodiment, the vessel is a disposable coffee cup.

In an embodiment, the lid bears information, which may be advertising or other promotional material. In an embodiment, the lid bears a sticker which may include information such as promotional or advertising material, and may be in accordance with the applicant's earlier application referenced above.

In accordance with a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of affixing a lid to a vessel, comprising the step of securing the lid against vertical motion with respect to a rim of the vessel.

In an embodiment, the step of securing the lid comprises the step of securing the lid against a bead about the rim of the vessel. In an embodiment, the step of securing the lid, comprises a step of clamping a portion of the lid about the bead.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described- by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a prior ait coffee cup lid;

Figure 2 is a cross section view along the line A-A of figure 1 illustrating the lid being positioned for fitting to a coffee cup;

Figure 3 is a similar view to figure 2 and the lid is shown fitted to the cup; Figure 4 is a schematic top view of figure 3 ;

Figure 5 is a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a cross section view along the line D-D of figure 4 illustrating the Hd being positioned for fitting to a coffee cup; and

Figure 7 is a similar view to figure 5 and the lid is shown fitted to the cup.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, an example of a prior art coffee cup lid 10 is shown. Lid 10 includes a skirt 11 which bears a number of dimples 12 provided about the skirt. Lid 10 attaches to a coffee cup 13 as shown in Figure 3. Skirt 11 fits about the outer circumference of bead 14 and when fitted, is held in place by way of interference fit. The rim of the cup exerts pressure radially on the lid in the direction of arrows B.

The Hd is held in place by 14 which is exerting a radial pressure or force B on the rim of the lid 11. If the rim of the cup is slightly larger, eg: 0.5mm, then it will exert a larger radial pressure. If this pressure is larger than the stretching point of the lid material, then it will cause the lid to split. This is a major problem for the takeaway vendor. So if the cup is slightly larger under the current system: 1. The lid will not fit on the cup easily and properly. 2. If forced fit, the Hd will split easily.

Lids of the type shown in Figure 1 are intended to fit a coffee cup with a particular circumference of bead. It has been found that, for particular sizes of coffee cup such as 8oz, 12 oz etc different manufacturers produce cups which have beads with slightly different outer circumferences. If a lid of the type shown in Figure 1 is force- fitted to a coffee cup with a slightly larger bead than intended, this can lead to splitting of the skirt of the lid due to undue forces in direction B. This in turn leads to increased risk that the Hd of the cup will come off unintentionaUy. In any case, because of the variation in the circumference of rims (as discussed in the "background" section of this document), these prior art lids may be ill fitting for some rims, which may result in them coming off easily if they are too loose.

Referring to Figures 5 to 7, a Hd 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The lid 100 includes a securing mechanism, which is formed by a recess 120, in this embodiment, in a skirt 111 of the Hd 100. The recess 120 extends about the periphery of the skirt. Recess 120 is defined by upper wall 121 and lower wall 122. Prior to fitting Hd 100 to a cup 13, the recess has a height of 2.5mm, in this example.

Referring to Figure 7, lid has been push fitted into engagement with bead 14. Bead 14 13 damped between upper wall 121 and lower wall 122. Upper and lower walls 121, 122 exert force on bead in the direction of arrows C It can be seen that the recess has expanded to a height of 3mm. Further, there is a clearance of 0-5rarn between the outer circumference of bead 14 and the inner circumference of recess 120.

Once the lid is clipped into the recess 120 provided, the hd is held in place by the vertical pressure or forced between the upper 121 and lower wall 122 of the recess and the cup rim 14. So there is no radial pressure or force being exerted on the lid rim 11. In addition, the recess 120 is also flexible because of its shape. Tt behaves like a "spring", and is able to withstand large vertical pressure without the recess 120 breaking.

The recess 120 also has an allowance of at least 0.5τnm all around the lid ritn 11, this accommodates the different rim oτ cup sizes, thus the lid with this type of vertical locking system will fit most of the cups that arc currently cm the market for each size, namely 8oz, 12oz etc. The depth of the recess is made of such a size that it can receive the rims of cups of varying circumference, which may vary due to manufacturing tolerances, differences between manufacturers, as discussed above. This is particularly useful for disposable drinks containers, such as coffee cups and other types of disposable drink containers. lids according to the invention are harder to be removed. The Vendor can buy this lid and only one lid type and know it will fit whatever cαp(s) the vendor buys. The supplier only needs to stock one lid.

Lid 100 can accommodate coffee cup beads having a range of circumferences without splitting- This means that one size of lid can be produced with will fit cups originating from different manufacturers which may have slightly differing bead circumferences. Further, because the bead is clamped in the recess, Kd 100 is more difficult to remove from a cup than Hd 10.

The dimensions of this securing mechanism which are discussed above are for one example embodiment only Different dimensions may apply to different embodiments, sizes of lids, rims, etc.

The lids of the present invention may be any drinks-container Hd for example, coffee, cocoa, fizzy drink, etc. The drinks container lid may be provided at any outlet, e.g. vending machine drinks, cafes, fast food outlets, etc. The drinks container need not be disposable.

The drinks container lid need not be exactly as shown in the drawings as described above, but may include any container hd for covering the mouth of a container.

In the embodiment, the securing mechanism is a recess which extends around the full circumference of the lid. In another variant, only a lower wall which fits under the rim of the container may be provided, instead of a recess. In an alternative embodiment, the upper and lower walls may be formed by a series of projections, rather than a continuous wall. Either the upper or lower wall may be formed by a series of projections.

Lids according to the present invention are suitable for use with me method, device and apparatus for delivering promotion or advertising described and illustrated in the above-referenced application. That application is concerned with providing promotional messages on the top surface of drink lids, by applying stickers to the lids.

The fact that lids of the present invention are difficult to remove from a cup decreases the likelihood that a person will remove the lid from their drink. This provides increased potential exposure to promotional messages that are provided on the top surface of the coffee cup.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations Such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude (he presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention- It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

- C - CLAlIvIS

1. A lid for a vessel, the lid is engageable with a bead provided about the rim of the vessel by clamping the bead in a vertical direction.

2. A lid according to claim 1 wherein the lid includes a recess, the recess accommodates the rim of a vessel when fitted to the vessel.

3. A lid according to claim 2 wherein the recess is defined by an upper wall and a lower wall.

4. A lid according to claim 1 wherein the recess extends around the periphery of the lid.

5. A Hd according to any preceding claim which includes promotional or advertising material.

6. A lid for a vessel, the lid comprising a securing mechanism arranged to engage with the rim of the vessel to secure the lid against vertical motion of the lid in respect of the vessel.

7. A lid in accordance with claim 6, wherein the securing mechanism is arranged to clamp to the rim of the vessel.

8. A lid in accordance with claim 7, wherein the securing mechanism is resilient and arranged to clamp to rims of differing sizes.

9. A Hd in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a recess within which the rim of the vessel fits.

10. A lid in accordance with claim 9, wherein the recess is arranged to be expandable to accommodate and clamp to rims of different sizes.

11. A lid in accordance with claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the recess is arranged to be of such a depth to be able to receive rims of vessels of varying circumference.

12. A Ud in accordance with claim 9, 10 or 11 , wherein the recess comprises an upper wall and a lower wall.

13. A Hd in accordance with any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising a flared skirt extending around the lid below the recess, whereby to facilitate fitting of the lid over the rim of the vessel.

14. A lid in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the vessel is a disposable drinks container.

15. A lid in accordance with claim 14, wherein the vessel is a disposable coffee cup.

16. A lid in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 15, the lid bearing information.

17. A lid in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 15, mounting a label which bears informalion.

18. A method of affixing a lid to a vessel, comprising the step of securing the Ud against vertical motion with respect to a rim of the vessel.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the step of securing the Hd comprises the step of securing the Hd against a rim of the vessel.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the step of securing the lid comprises a step of clamping a portion of the Hd about the rim.