EP0320476A1

EP0320476A1 - Single-handedly openable jar lid

Info

Publication number: EP0320476A1
Application number: EP88850410A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Göran SJÖNELL
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-07
Filing date: 1988-12-05
Publication date: 1989-06-14
Also published as: SE8704874L; SE8704874D0

Abstract

A lid (2) is intended here, such that it can be opened single-handedly. The lid is provided with a lid part (3) closing an opening to a package with the aid of a press fit, snap fit or the like. The invention is distinguished in that the lid part (3) is provided with an elongate handle part (4) adapted to extend outwards from the lid part.

Description

The present invention relates to a lid for a package, e.g. a jar, bottle or the like intended for being opened single-handedly. The lid part itself can be of conventional type, intended for closing and opening to the package with the aid of a press or snap fit or the like.
Lids to such packages as jars, bottles and the like nearly always have the task of sealingly closing off the package opening, or preventing the contents in the package from getting outside it. This means that the lid must be retained over the opening with a given stress, achieved by such as a press fit, snap fit, screw-thread or the like. There is thus required a given, not necessarily small, force for opening the jar and removing the lid from the opening. Normally this does not involve any problems, and there are special tools for opening certain kinds of closures.
For handicapped and ailing persons there can be insurmountable difficulties in opening the lid, however. Persons weakened by illness, or persons who only have one usable hand have in these times great difficulty in opening packages such as medicine jars, bottles or the like, without resorting to special measures or special tools, with the imminent risk the whole time of spilling the contents of the package. This means that the person in question is not inclined to re-close the package after use, which in turn can mean that its contents is affected in some way or another, due to the package remaining open.
The present invention has the task of mitigating these drawbacks and providing an opportunity of single-handedly being able to open a package such as a jar, bottle or the like very easily and without any great force. This has been enabled by the invention having been given the distinguishing features disclosed in the claims.
The invention will now be described in more detail in the form of examples and with reference to the drawing, where Figure 1 illustrates a package in the form of a jar, with a lid (in section) placed on the jar,

Figure 2 is a view from above of the package in Figure 1,
Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the package with the lid sectioned,
Figure 4 is a further embodiment of the package with the lid sectioned, and
Figure 5 is a partial section of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In the figures, the numeral 1 denotes a package in the form of a jar or bottle. The opening of the jar or bottle is closeable with the aid of a lid 2. This lid 2 comprises a lid part 3 and a handle part 4. In the illustrated example the lid part 3 is applied to the opening of the package 1 using a snap fit such that a groove in the part 3 engages with a bead 5 extending all the way round the neck of the package. The handle part 4 is formed integrally with the lid part 3 and extends radially out from it, as illustrated in the Figures. The handle part 4 has a length outside the lid part 3 which is somewhat greater than the diameter of the latter.
I Fig. 1 it is shown how the package 1 is provided with a portion 6 extending laterally, which forms a part of the bottom portion of the package. When the package is placed on a substructure, the portion 6 is used for counterbalancing force as the lid 2 is opened by a pressure being applied on the handle part 4. The lid part 3 with the handle part 4 thus acts as a lever with its fulcrum at the edge of the lid part 3 closest to the handle part 4, as indicated by 7 in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a package with a correspond ing lid 2, but wherein the portion 6 has been given a handle part of a shape complementary to the handle part 4. The handle part 4 and portion 6 thus form together a tongs-like grip. In this case no support against a substructure is required for the package.
Fig. 4 can be said to illustrate an arrangement with a lid 2 and a package, in which the characterizing features of Figs. 1 and 3 are combined. The portion 6 has here been divided into two parts, of which one part contains the bottom portion of the package and thus serves as support when the package is opened and a part having the shape of a complementary handle part with the same function as has been described in connection with Fig. 3.
In Fig. 5 there is shown a further embodiment of lid and package, where the lid 2 is hingedly connected to the package 1 with the aid of a hinge-like joint 8. The package 1 can in this case have one of the previously described configurations, of course. The lid 2 does not come away from the package 1 in this embodiment, which can facilitate the use of the package in many cases.
It should be understood that within the scope of the invention lid and package can be varied in shape while retaining the function accounted for in connection with the description of the Figures.

Claims

1. Lid (2) intended for being opened single-handedly and provided with a lid part (3) which closes an opening of a package (1) such as a jar, bottle or the like with the aid of a press fit, snap fit or the like, characterized in that an elongate handle part (4) is arranged on the lid part (3) and extends outwards with a length which is equally as great as, or greater than the diameter of the lid part.

2. Lid as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the handle part (4) extends substantially radially outwards from the lid part (3).

3. Lid as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the package (1) has a laterally extended portion (6) enabling counteraction of forces in co-action with the handle part (4) when the package is opened by removing the lid.

4. Lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle part (4) is formed integrally with the lid part (3).

5. Lid as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said portion (6) and handle part (4) together form a tongs-like grip.

6. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 3-5, characterized in that said portion (6) contains the bottom portion of the jar, bottle or the like.

7. Lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid part (3) is hingedly arranged (8) on the package (1) at the edge of the lid part nearest the handle part (4).