EP3871994A1 - Lid assembly for a beverage container - Google Patents
Lid assembly for a beverage container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3871994A1 EP3871994A1 EP20160216.6A EP20160216A EP3871994A1 EP 3871994 A1 EP3871994 A1 EP 3871994A1 EP 20160216 A EP20160216 A EP 20160216A EP 3871994 A1 EP3871994 A1 EP 3871994A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- lid body
- lid
- hole
- lid assembly
- sealing member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/30—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with plug valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by turning a cylindrical or conical plug without axial passageways
- B65D47/305—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with plug valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by turning a cylindrical or conical plug without axial passageways provided with a spout, e.g. "escargot"-type valve
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
- B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
- B65D43/0225—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by rotation
- B65D43/0229—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by rotation only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
- B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
- B65D47/0857—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures made separately from the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
- B65D47/0876—Hinges without elastic bias
- B65D47/089—Hinges without elastic bias located within a flat surface of the base element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2205/00—Venting means
- B65D2205/02—Venting holes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00046—Drinking-through lids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
- B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
- B65D2543/00092—Shape of the outer periphery curved circular
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00231—Overall construction of the lid made of several pieces
- B65D2543/0024—Overall construction of the lid made of several pieces two pieces, one forming at least the whole skirt, the other forming at least the whole upper part
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00259—Materials used
- B65D2543/00296—Plastic
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
Definitions
- the aspects and embodiments thereof relate to the field of lids for beverage containers.
- Beverage containers can be provided with a lid. By virtue of the lid, it may be prevented that the beverage content inside the beverage container spills out.
- Such lids often comprise a drink hole and a vent hole. Using the drink hole, a user can drink via the lid, and by virtue of the vent hole, a pressure inside the beverage container can be equalised with the ambient pressure.
- a sealing member can be provided, which sealing member is hingedly connected to the lid body.
- Such sealing members can be hinged between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, a first sealing surface is formed between the sealing member and the lid body such that fluid flow through the drink hole is blocked, and a second sealing surface is formed between the sealing member and the lid body such that fluid flow through the vent hole is blocked.
- Both the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface comprise a silicone elastomer.
- Silicone elastomer as a material is widely and commonly used for liquid-tight sealing surfaces, for example for its nonreactive, stable, and temperature resistant properties.
- the silicone elastomer may be comprised by the lid body, by the sealing member, or by both.
- a lid for a beverage cup which may be more easy to manufacture, by for example requiring less assembling steps, requiring less components, and/or comprising less different types of materials.
- An aspect of the invention provides a lid assembly for liquid-tightly sealing off a beverage container, comprising a lid body with a connection element for connection with the beverage container, wherein the lid body comprises a first through hole; and a sealing member, which is hingedly connected to the lid body and is hingeable between an open state and a closed state.
- the sealing member in the open state, allows a fluid flow through the first through hole, and in the closed state, a sealing surface comprised by the sealing member and the lid body form a liquid-tight seal such that the fluid flow through the first through hole is blocked.
- the sealing surface of this lid assembly is free of silicone elastomer.
- the sealing surface is free of silicone elastomer
- no separate inserts comprising silicone elastomer are required to create the liquid-tight seal between the sealing member and the lid body.
- Such a separate insert may be disadvantageous for example for hygienic reasons.
- a space between the insert and the lid body may be harder to clean and/or the insert itself may be a breeding ground for micro-organism.
- the sealing surface can be made from the same material as the rest of the lid body.
- the general inventive concept of the aspect may thus be seen as providing a liquid-tightly sealing lid assembly, wherein the sealing surface between the lid body and the sealing member is free of silicone elastomer.
- Silicon elastomers are also known as silicone rubbers, polysiloxanes or polydimethylsiloxanes. Silicon elastomers may be defined as polymers containing silicium, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon.
- a beverage container may in examples be a beverage cup or bottle.
- the beverage container may be used for containing cold and/or hot beverages, such as tea, coffee, sports drinks and water.
- a sealing member being hingedly connected to a lid body implies that the sealing member may rotate or swivel relative to the lid body.
- the hinge may in embodiments be a living hinge, a barrel hinge or a pivot hinge.
- the sealing member and the lid body may be shaped complementary to each other such that an axis of rotation is provided to the sealing member relative to the lid body.
- the rotation is the only degree of freedom for the sealing member relative to the lid body.
- the lid body may comprise one or more chambers for receiving one or more parts of the sealing member.
- the one or more chambers and one or more parts may be shaped complementary to allow rotation of the parts in the chambers, but to block or restrict other movements, such as a translation of the sealing member relative to the lid body.
- connection element for connection with the beverage container comprised by the lid body may comprise one or more threads for coupling with one or more threads comprised by a beverage container.
- connection element may be a skirt part comprised by the lid body and arranged to form a snap-fit connection or press-fit connection with a beverage container.
- the connection element may deform radially complementary to each other to for a liquids-tight connection between the skirt part and the beverage container.
- a liquid tight connection may be achieved between the beverage container and any part of the lid body.
- the first through hole may be a drink hole, a vent hole, or a combination thereof.
- the sealing member may be at least partially complementary to the first through hole.
- the first through hole provides a fluid connection between a container side of the lid body and a drinking side of the lid body, such that beverage may be poured through the through hole from inside the beverage container for example to a drinking user or for pouring beverage out of the beverage container.
- a through hole being blocked implies that no beverage can pass from the container side of the lid body through the through hole and subsequently past the liquid-tight sealing surface.
- a small volume may be present between the through hole and the sealing member in the closed state, depending for example on the particular shape of the lid body around the through hole.
- the lid assembly may consist of the lid body and the sealing member.
- the lid assembly is such a case is defined as the assembly of all components which are required for forming a liquid-tight seal for a beverage container and/or all components required for forming a liquid-tight lid body. Any additional components, such as a carrying member for convenient carrying of the lid body is not considered part of the lid assembly.
- the lid body may in embodiments be a monolithic body.
- the sealing member may be a monolithic body.
- Monolithic may be defined as being formed or composed of material without joints or seams, being cast as a single piece, being one rigid whole piece, and/or any combination thereof.
- a monolithic part can for example by formed in a casting, injection moulding, machining, additive manufacturing, or extrusion process.
- both the lid body and the sealing member may be formed in a single manufacturing step.
- one or both of the lid body and the sealing member may consist of a single material composition.
- the lid body may consist of the same single material composition as the sealing member, or the lid body may consist of a different single material composition than the sealing member.
- one or both of the lid body and sealing member may comprise materials based on thermoplastic polymers, for example polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, acrylonitriles such as styrene-acrylonitrile resin (also known as SAN), polystyrene, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyesters, polyaryletherketone materials, polycarbonates, bio-based polymers such as poly(lactic acid) or any combination thereof.
- polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene
- acrylonitriles such as styrene-acrylonitrile resin (also known as SAN), polystyrene, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyesters, polyaryletherketone materials, polycarbonates, bio-based
- a component substantially consisting of a single material composition implies in the context of the present description that the component may be a monolithic part, formed for example in an injection moulding process.
- a single material composition may consist of a single material, or a mixture of multiple materials which may be a substantially homogenous mixture.
- Substantially consisting of implies that some part of the component may comprise another material. For example, when ink is printed on the component, this component still substantially consist of a single material although the component carries the ink.
- the sealing member may be formed as a spout comprising a drinking passage having an inlet and an outlet, which inlet is aligned with the first through hole when the spout is in the open state and is not aligned with the first through hole when the spout is in the closed state.
- a fluid connection may be provided between the inside of the beverage container via the drinking passage to a user for drinking beverage from the beverage container.
- the sealing surface of the spout as the sealing member may be provided adjacent to the inlet, or may in particular embodiments even fully surround the inlet.
- the lid body may comprise a first annular ridge surrounding the first through hole and protruding away from a container side of the lid body, and in the closed state, the liquid tight seal is formed by direct contact between the first annular ridge and the sealing surface of the spout.
- direct contact is maintained between the spout and the first annular ridge.
- Direct contact in the context of the present description implies that no intermediate part, such as a resilient sealing ring made for example from silicone, is present between the two components that are in direct contact.
- a liquid tight seal may be formed by direct contact between the first annular ridge and the sealing surface of the spout, which seal provides a leak free flow path for beverage through the first through hole and the drinking passage.
- the spout comprises a spherical section comprising the sealing surface which is arranged to form the liquid-tight seal with the lid body.
- the spherical section may be shaped as a part of a complete ball.
- the drinking passage may pass through the spherical section.
- the inlet may be provided in the spherical section. The inlet may hence be surrounded by the sealing surface.
- the spherical section may provide a higher stiffness than the first annular ridge.
- the first annular ridge when the spout is connected to the lid body, the first annular ridge may be deformed due to the presence of the spherical section.
- the deformation may be a substantially radially deformation, in examples an outwardly radially deformation.
- the lid assembly comprises a first plug, and in the closed state, the first plug directly contacts the first through hole for blocking fluid flow through the first through hole.
- the first plug may be a substantially solid plug, or may be formed by a ridge encircling a hollow chamber.
- the ridge may be a substantially thin-walled ridge, wherein thin-walled may imply that the wall thickness of the ridge is smaller than a height of the ridge.
- the spout When the sealing member if formed as the spout, the spout may be hingeable around a rotation axis. Furthermore, an outer surface of the spherical section, or at least the sealing surface comprised by the spout, may be provided at a substantially constant first radius relative to a centre point on the rotation axis.
- the first annular ridge may extend to a substantially constant second radius relative to the centre point, wherein the first radius is equal to or larger than the second radius.
- the first radius is larger than the second radius.
- a plug may extend from the spout in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drinking passage.
- a lid body may comprise any number of through-holes, such as one through-hole, two through-holes, three through-holes, or even more than three through-holes.
- the sealing member may comprise any number of plugs and any number of spherical sections, wherein any number may also imply zero.
- embodiments of a sealing member may comprise two plugs for sealing two separate through-holes, or a spherical section and a plug for sealing two separate through-holes.
- Figs. 1A and 1B show a particular embodiment of a lid assembly 100, comprising the lid body 102 and a sealing member 200.
- the sealing member 200 is arranged to hinge around a rotation axis 202 relative to the lid body 102.
- the sealing member 200 is hingeable between the closed state shown in Fig. 1A , and the open state shown in Fig. 1B .
- the rotation axis 202 is provided near or through a centre line 103 of the lid body 102. In other examples, the rotation axis 202 can be provided further away from the centre line 103 of the lid body.
- the sealing member 200 is hingeable over an angle approximately between 160 degrees and 180 degrees, which angle corresponds to the shape of the lid body 102.
- a surface of the lid body 102 through which the through holes are provided may be at an angle relative to another surface of the lid body 102 through which no through holes are provided.
- the angle of rotation of the sealing member 200 may correspond to the angle between these two surfaces.
- a drink hole 104 as an example of a through hole comprised by the lid body 102 becomes accessible.
- a vent hole 106 as another example of a through hole comprised by the lid body 102 becomes accessible.
- both the drink hole 104 and the vent hole 106 comprise bevelled edges 108 in a transition between a top surface 110 of the lid body 102 and the respective through hole.
- the bevelled edges 108 may allow easier insertion of a plug compared to a through-hole with a sharp edge.
- the top surface 110 is in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1B a substantially flat surface.
- the part of the top surface 110 surrounding the drink hole 104 is a flat surface with no protruding or extending parts protruding or extending away from the top surface 110.
- the sealing member 200 may comprise a plug surface 217 corresponding to the top surface 110, wherein the plug surface 217 is said surface from which plugs of the sealing member 200 protrude.
- the plug surface 217 of the sealing member 200 may thus also be substantially flat.
- the plug surface 217 may be shaped complementary to the one or more curved sections and/or protrusions.
- the sealing member 200 comprises a drink hole plug 204 and a vent hole plug 206. In the closed state, both the drink hole plug 204 and the vent hole plug 206 substantially extend towards a container side of the lid body 102.
- the sealing member 200 comprises two cams 208 protruding parallel to the rotation axis 202.
- Each cam 208 extends into a hinge opening of the lid body 102.
- the cams may be comprised by the lid body, and the hinge openings may be comprised by the sealing member 200.
- the only degree of freedom for the sealing member 200 relative to the lid body 102 is the rotation around the rotation axis 202.
- the drink hole plug 204 is formed by a thin-walled ridge surrounding a drink hole plug chamber 214.
- the drink hole plug 204 may deform to correspond better to the shape of the drink hole 104.
- at least part of the thin-walled ridge may be elastically deformed inwards into the drink hole plug chamber 214.
- Figs. 2A and 2B show a cross-section view of the lid assembly 100 of Figs. 1A and 1B .
- the lid body 102 comprises an optional outer skirt 144 and an optional inner skirt 154.
- the inner skirt 154 is provided with a thread 105 as a connection element for connection with the beverage container.
- the thread 105 protrudes from an outer wall of the inner skirt 154 away from the centre line 103.
- the inner skirt 154 extends further away from the lid body 102 than the outer skirt 144.
- the outer skirt 144 extends further away from the lid body 102 than the inner skirt 154, or the outer skirt 144 extends substantially as far away from the lid body 102 as the inner skirt 154.
- a chamber 155 is defined for receiving a rim of the beverage container.
- the rim may be forced into the chamber 155.
- a sealing surface may be formed between the rim of the beverage container and a part of the outer skirt 144 facing into the chamber 155.
- This sealing surface may be free of silicone elastomer, whereas in known lid assembly 100, a silicone elastomer ring is provided inside the chamber 155 for forming the sealing surface with the rim of the beverage container.
- the drink hole plug 204 is plugged into the drink hole 104, and a sealing surface 104' is formed between the thin-walled ridge comprised by the drink hole plug 204 and the drink hole 104.
- the thin-walled ridge may at least partially be elastically deformed, wherein the ridge is deformed into the hollow chamber 214 to correspond better to the shape of the drink hole 104.
- the vent hole plug 206 is as an example a solid plug, and is in the closed state of Fig. 2A shown plugged into the vent hole 106 to form a liquid-tight sealing surface 106'.
- the vent hole plug 206 may be elastically deformed when plugged into the vent hole 106, such that the vent hole plug 206 exerts a radial force onto the vent hole 106. This may ensure that a liquid-tight seal is achieved, without using silicon elastomer to form the sealing surface 106'.
- Figs. 3A and 3B depict another embodiment of a lid assembly 300 for liquid-tightly sealing off a beverage container in an isometric view.
- the lid assembly 300 comprises a lid body 302, with an outer skirt part 304 as a connection element for connecting with the beverage container.
- the lid assembly 300 further comprises a spout 400 as a sealing member.
- the spout 400 is hingedly connected to the lid body 302, such that the spout 400 can rotate around a rotation axis 402.
- the spout 400 can be hinged between the closed state shown in Fig. 3A and the open state shown in Fig. 3B .
- the rotation angle of the spout 400 between the closed state and the open state may be approximately between 70 degrees and 110 degrees, or even between 80 degrees and 100 degrees.
- the spout 400 comprises a drinking passage 401.
- Figs. 4A and 4B depict the lid assembly 300 of Figs. 3A and 3B in a top view.
- the spout 400 is shown in the closed state
- Fig. 4B the spout 400 is shown in the open state.
- a vent hole 406 provides a fluid connection through the lid body 400.
- the rotation axis 402 is shown in Figs. 4A and 4B .
- the spout 400 may comprise as an option a set of extending hinge parts 440, which when the lid assembly 300 is assembled, rotate in hinge chambers 340.
- the hinge parts 440 may be locked up in the hinge chambers 340, such that only the rotation around the rotation axis 402 is allowed, and any other translation is in normal use of the lid assembly 300 prevented.
- the hinge chambers 340 comprise a wall substantially perpendicular to the angle of rotation of the spout 400.
- the hinge parts 440 are locked by virtue of a snap-fit connections, provided by a shape of the hinge chambers 340 that narrows from the top of the lid body 302 and subsequently widens to a shape substantially equivalent to a shape of the hinge parts 440.
- the hinge chambers 340 comprise a cavity for receiving the hinge parts 440.
- the walls of the hinge chambers 340 are not flush; a first distance between the walls of the hinge chambers 340 is at the top of the lid body 302 smaller than a second distance between the walls of the hinge chambers 340 at the bottom of the hinge chambers 340 or in any case at the location of the hinge chambers 340 where the hinge parts 440 are in operation to be located.
- the cavity may be provided by a gradual increase from the first distance to the second distance or by means of a step function, providing a substantially abrupt transition from the first distance to the second distance.
- This embodiment provides a more reliable, tighter and/or secure fixation of the spout 400 to provide better sealing between the spout 400 and the lid body 302, which will be discussed below in further detail.
- Figs. 5A and 5C depict the lid assembly 300 of Figs. 3A and 3B in a cross-sectional view.
- Figs. 5B and 5D show a detail of the lid assembly 300 of Figs. 5A and 5C , respectively.
- the lid body 302 comprises the optional outer skirt 344, and a further optional inner skirt 354. Both the outer skirt 344 and the inner skirt 354 protrude from the lid body 302 towards a container side of the lid assembly 300.
- the outer skirt 344 comprises a thread 305, which extends from an inner wall of the outer skirt 344.
- the thread 305 may be used as the connection element for connection with the beverage container, wherein the beverage container comprises a complementary thread to the thread 305 of the lid body 302.
- the outer skirt 305 extends further away from the lid body 302 than the inner skirt 354.
- the inner skirt 354 extends further away from the lid body 302 than the outer skirt 305, or the outer skirt 305 extends substantially as far away from the lid body 302 as the inner skirt 354.
- a chamber 355 is defined for receiving a rim of the beverage container.
- the rim may be forced into the chamber 355.
- a sealing surface may be formed between the rim of the beverage container and a part of the outer skirt 344 and/or the inner skirt 354 facing into the chamber 355.
- This sealing surface may be free of silicone elastomer, whereas in known lid assemblies, a silicone elastomer ring is provided inside the chamber 355 for forming the sealing surface with the rim of the beverage container.
- the lid body 102 may be forced onto the beverage container, which may cause elastic deformation of at least one of the lid body 102 and the beverage container.
- at least one of the outer skirt 344 and the inner skirt 354 may be elastically deformed in a radial direction to better correspond to a shape of the beverage container to create a liquid-tight seal.
- the spout 400 comprises a spherical section 408.
- the spherical section 408 has a substantially constant radius relative to a centre point, which centre point lays on the rotation axis 402.
- the spherical section 408 is not necessarily a full sphere, but may only be part of a full sphere.
- Figs. 5B and 5D show a detailed view of the lid assembly 300 of Figs. 5A and 5C , respectively, showing part of the spherical section 408. Also visible in Figs. 5B and 5D is a first annular ridge 361 and an optional second annular ridge 362.
- embodiments of the lid body 302 are envisioned comprising only one annular ridge. Further embodiments of the lid body 302 comprise two annular ridges, three annular ridges, or even four or more annular ridges.
- Figs. 5B and 5D the substantially constant radius r of the outer surface of the spherical section 408 relative to a centre point which lays on the rotation axis 402 is shown. Furthermore, preferably, the annular ridge or annular ridges comprised by the lid body are provided at a constant radius r' relative to the centre point which lays on the rotation axis 402.
- the radius r' defining the distance between the first annular ridge 361 and the rotation axis 402 is smaller than the radius r defining the outer radius of the spherical section 408, a liquid tight seal may be obtained between the first annular ridge 361 and the spherical section 408.
- the difference between radius r and radius r' may be small, for example smaller than the height of the annular ridge.
- a radius between such a further annular ridge may be different than the radius r' defining the distance between the first annular ridge 361 and the rotation axis 402.
- a radius may be larger than the radius r', smaller than the radius r', or may in other embodiments be substantially equal to radius r'.
- the first annular ridge 361 may be deformed elastically complementary to the spherical ridge 408. With this deformation, a sealing surface 404' is formed between the spout 400 and the lid body 302, forms a substantially liquid-tight seal.
- Multiple annular ridges may be used to provide multiple liquid-tight sealing surfaces and may thus act as supplementary annular ridges in case one of the annular ridge does not form a completely liquid-tight seal.
- the difference in stiffness may depend on at least one of: the material comprised by the spherical section 408, the material comprised by the first annular ridge 361, the shape of the first annular ridge 361 and in particular a height and thickness of the first annular ridge 361, the connection between the spout 400 and the lid body 302, the shape of the lid body 302 and in particular the shape of the part of the lid body 302 from which the first annular ridge 361 extends, the shape of the spherical section 408, or any combination thereof.
- a leak free flow path 451 is provided through the drinking passage 401 by virtue of the sealing surface 401' between the first annular ridge 361 and the spherical section 408 of the spout.
- An annular ridge may be a thin-walled annular ridge, wherein thin-walled implies that a height of the ridge is higher than a width of the ridge.
- the height of the ridge may be 1.25 times or more larger than the width of the ridge, 1.5 times or more larger, or even 2 times or more larger.
- the ratio between the height and the width of a ridge may be chosen for example depending on the material composition of the ridge, of the lid body, and/or of the spout.
- the spout 400 further comprises the vent hole plug 406 arranged to be at least partially inserted into the vent hole 306 and to form a liquid-tight surface with the lid body 302.
- the vent hole 306 may be a tapered through-hole, tapered towards the container side of the lid body 302.
- the vent hole plug 406 may hence also be tapered complementary to the vent hole 306.
- the tapering of the vent hole 306 may be formed by virtue of a chamfering, bevelling, honing, or other manufacturing step which causes a decrease in diameter of the vent hole 306 towards the container side of the lid body 302.
- the vent hole plug 406 may hence be substantially conical, frusto-conical, dome-shaped, or otherwise tapered, wherein a diameter of the vent hole plug 406 decreases in a direction away from the spout 400.
- the sealing surface between the vent hole plug 406 and the vent hole 306 may be a line contact where the diameter of the vent hole plug 406, in elastically deformed or un-deformed state, corresponds to a diameter of the vent hole 306.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
A lid assembly is provided for liquid-tightly sealing off a beverage container, comprising a lid body with a connection element for connection with the beverage container, wherein the lid body comprises a first through hole and a sealing member, hingedly connected to the lid body and is hingeable between an open state and a closed state. In this lid, in the open state, the sealing member allows a fluid flow through the first through hole, and in the closed state, a sealing surface comprised by the sealing member and the lid body form a liquid-tight seal such that the fluid flow through the first through hole is blocked. The sealing surface of this lid assembly is free of silicone elastomer. No separate inserts comprising silicone elastomer are required for the liquid-tight seal between the sealing member and the lid body. A separate insert may be disadvantageous for hygienic reasons.
Description
- The aspects and embodiments thereof relate to the field of lids for beverage containers.
- Beverage containers can be provided with a lid. By virtue of the lid, it may be prevented that the beverage content inside the beverage container spills out.
- Such lids often comprise a drink hole and a vent hole. Using the drink hole, a user can drink via the lid, and by virtue of the vent hole, a pressure inside the beverage container can be equalised with the ambient pressure.
- To liquid-tightly seal the drink hole and the vent hole, a sealing member can be provided, which sealing member is hingedly connected to the lid body. Such sealing members can be hinged between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, a first sealing surface is formed between the sealing member and the lid body such that fluid flow through the drink hole is blocked, and a second sealing surface is formed between the sealing member and the lid body such that fluid flow through the vent hole is blocked.
- Both the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface comprise a silicone elastomer. Silicone elastomer as a material is widely and commonly used for liquid-tight sealing surfaces, for example for its nonreactive, stable, and temperature resistant properties. The silicone elastomer may be comprised by the lid body, by the sealing member, or by both.
- It is preferred to provide a lid for a beverage cup which may be more easy to manufacture, by for example requiring less assembling steps, requiring less components, and/or comprising less different types of materials.
- An aspect of the invention provides a lid assembly for liquid-tightly sealing off a beverage container, comprising a lid body with a connection element for connection with the beverage container, wherein the lid body comprises a first through hole; and a sealing member, which is hingedly connected to the lid body and is hingeable between an open state and a closed state. In this lid, in the open state, the sealing member allows a fluid flow through the first through hole, and in the closed state, a sealing surface comprised by the sealing member and the lid body form a liquid-tight seal such that the fluid flow through the first through hole is blocked. The sealing surface of this lid assembly is free of silicone elastomer.
- When the sealing surface is free of silicone elastomer, no separate inserts comprising silicone elastomer are required to create the liquid-tight seal between the sealing member and the lid body. Such a separate insert may be disadvantageous for example for hygienic reasons. A space between the insert and the lid body may be harder to clean and/or the insert itself may be a breeding ground for micro-organism. Furthermore, when no separate insert is required, one less assembly step is required for assembling the lid assembly. Also, when the lid body does not comprise silicone elastomer, the sealing surface can be made from the same material as the rest of the lid body.
- The general inventive concept of the aspect may thus be seen as providing a liquid-tightly sealing lid assembly, wherein the sealing surface between the lid body and the sealing member is free of silicone elastomer.
- Silicon elastomers are also known as silicone rubbers, polysiloxanes or polydimethylsiloxanes. Silicon elastomers may be defined as polymers containing silicium, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon.
- A beverage container may in examples be a beverage cup or bottle. The beverage container may be used for containing cold and/or hot beverages, such as tea, coffee, sports drinks and water.
- A sealing member being hingedly connected to a lid body implies that the sealing member may rotate or swivel relative to the lid body. The hinge may in embodiments be a living hinge, a barrel hinge or a pivot hinge. In embodiments, the sealing member and the lid body may be shaped complementary to each other such that an axis of rotation is provided to the sealing member relative to the lid body.
- Preferably, the rotation is the only degree of freedom for the sealing member relative to the lid body. To significantly prevent movement of the sealing member relative to the lid body other than the rotation that allows the sealing member to hinge relative to the lid body, the lid body may comprise one or more chambers for receiving one or more parts of the sealing member. The one or more chambers and one or more parts may be shaped complementary to allow rotation of the parts in the chambers, but to block or restrict other movements, such as a translation of the sealing member relative to the lid body..
- The connection element for connection with the beverage container comprised by the lid body may comprise one or more threads for coupling with one or more threads comprised by a beverage container. Additionally or alternatively, the connection element may be a skirt part comprised by the lid body and arranged to form a snap-fit connection or press-fit connection with a beverage container. For the snap-fit or press-fit connection, at least one of the skirt part and the beverage container may deform radially complementary to each other to for a liquids-tight connection between the skirt part and the beverage container. In further embodiments, by virtue of the connection element, a liquid tight connection may be achieved between the beverage container and any part of the lid body.
- The first through hole may be a drink hole, a vent hole, or a combination thereof. The sealing member may be at least partially complementary to the first through hole. The first through hole provides a fluid connection between a container side of the lid body and a drinking side of the lid body, such that beverage may be poured through the through hole from inside the beverage container for example to a drinking user or for pouring beverage out of the beverage container.
- When a through hole is blocked, no or substantially no beverage can pass through the through hole. In particular, a through hole being blocked implies that no beverage can pass from the container side of the lid body through the through hole and subsequently past the liquid-tight sealing surface. Hence, a small volume may be present between the through hole and the sealing member in the closed state, depending for example on the particular shape of the lid body around the through hole.
- The lid assembly may consist of the lid body and the sealing member. The lid assembly is such a case is defined as the assembly of all components which are required for forming a liquid-tight seal for a beverage container and/or all components required for forming a liquid-tight lid body. Any additional components, such as a carrying member for convenient carrying of the lid body is not considered part of the lid assembly.
- The lid body may in embodiments be a monolithic body. Additionally or alternatively, the sealing member may be a monolithic body. Monolithic may be defined as being formed or composed of material without joints or seams, being cast as a single piece, being one rigid whole piece, and/or any combination thereof. A monolithic part can for example by formed in a casting, injection moulding, machining, additive manufacturing, or extrusion process. In particular embodiments, both the lid body and the sealing member may be formed in a single manufacturing step.
- In embodiments, one or both of the lid body and the sealing member may consist of a single material composition. In particular, the lid body may consist of the same single material composition as the sealing member, or the lid body may consist of a different single material composition than the sealing member.
- For example, one or both of the lid body and sealing member may comprise materials based on thermoplastic polymers, for example polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, acrylonitriles such as styrene-acrylonitrile resin (also known as SAN), polystyrene, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyesters, polyaryletherketone materials, polycarbonates, bio-based polymers such as poly(lactic acid) or any combination thereof.
- A component substantially consisting of a single material composition implies in the context of the present description that the component may be a monolithic part, formed for example in an injection moulding process. A single material composition may consist of a single material, or a mixture of multiple materials which may be a substantially homogenous mixture. Substantially consisting of implies that some part of the component may comprise another material. For example, when ink is printed on the component, this component still substantially consist of a single material although the component carries the ink.
- In particular embodiments, the sealing member may be formed as a spout comprising a drinking passage having an inlet and an outlet, which inlet is aligned with the first through hole when the spout is in the open state and is not aligned with the first through hole when the spout is in the closed state. Hence, when the lid assembly is connected to a beverage container, a fluid connection may be provided between the inside of the beverage container via the drinking passage to a user for drinking beverage from the beverage container.
- The sealing surface of the spout as the sealing member may be provided adjacent to the inlet, or may in particular embodiments even fully surround the inlet.
- When the sealing member is formed as the spout, the lid body may comprise a first annular ridge surrounding the first through hole and protruding away from a container side of the lid body, and in the closed state, the liquid tight seal is formed by direct contact between the first annular ridge and the sealing surface of the spout.
- In embodiments, in the closed state as well as in the open state, and in examples also between the closed state and the open state, direct contact is maintained between the spout and the first annular ridge.
- Direct contact in the context of the present description implies that no intermediate part, such as a resilient sealing ring made for example from silicone, is present between the two components that are in direct contact.
- As an option, in the open state, a liquid tight seal may be formed by direct contact between the first annular ridge and the sealing surface of the spout, which seal provides a leak free flow path for beverage through the first through hole and the drinking passage.
- When the sealing member is formed as the spout, the spout comprises a spherical section comprising the sealing surface which is arranged to form the liquid-tight seal with the lid body. The spherical section may be shaped as a part of a complete ball. When the spout comprises a spherical section comprising the sealing surface, the drinking passage may pass through the spherical section. In particular, the inlet may be provided in the spherical section. The inlet may hence be surrounded by the sealing surface.
- To form the liquid-tight seal, the spherical section may provide a higher stiffness than the first annular ridge. In such embodiments, when the spout is connected to the lid body, the first annular ridge may be deformed due to the presence of the spherical section. The deformation may be a substantially radially deformation, in examples an outwardly radially deformation.
- In another embodiment, the lid assembly comprises a first plug, and in the closed state, the first plug directly contacts the first through hole for blocking fluid flow through the first through hole. The first plug may be a substantially solid plug, or may be formed by a ridge encircling a hollow chamber.
- The ridge may be a substantially thin-walled ridge, wherein thin-walled may imply that the wall thickness of the ridge is smaller than a height of the ridge. By virtue of the plug being formed by a ridge, the plug may deform substantially radially when plugged into a through-hole.
- When the sealing member if formed as the spout, the spout may be hingeable around a rotation axis. Furthermore, an outer surface of the spherical section, or at least the sealing surface comprised by the spout, may be provided at a substantially constant first radius relative to a centre point on the rotation axis. The first annular ridge may extend to a substantially constant second radius relative to the centre point, wherein the first radius is equal to or larger than the second radius. Preferably, the first radius is larger than the second radius. By virtue of the first radius being equal to or larger than the second radius, the liquid tight seal may be achieved between the spout as the sealing member and the first annular ridge as part of the lid body.
- When the sealing member is formed as the spout, a plug may extend from the spout in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drinking passage.
- In general, a lid body may comprise any number of through-holes, such as one through-hole, two through-holes, three through-holes, or even more than three through-holes. As such, the sealing member may comprise any number of plugs and any number of spherical sections, wherein any number may also imply zero. In particular, embodiments of a sealing member may comprise two plugs for sealing two separate through-holes, or a spherical section and a plug for sealing two separate through-holes.
- The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the general concept of the aspect can be applied to many different embodiments of lids. Two particular embodiments will be elaborated on in the figures, which both make use of the single general inventive concept of providing a liquid-tightly sealing lid assembly, wherein the sealing surface between the lid body and the sealing member is free of silicone elastomer.
- In the figures,
-
Figs. 1A and 1B show a particular embodiment of a lid assembly; -
Figs. 2A and 2B show a cross-section view of the lid assembly ofFigs. 1A and 1B ; -
Figs. 3A and 3B depict another embodiment of a lid assembly; -
Figs. 4A and3B depict the lid assembly ofFigs. 3A and 3B in a top view; -
Figs. 5A and 5B show a cross-section view of the lid assembly ofFigs. 3A and 3B ; -
Fig. 5 C shows a cross-section of the lid assembly in open position; and -
Fig 5 D shows a close-up ofFigure 5 C . -
Figs. 1A and 1B show a particular embodiment of alid assembly 100, comprising thelid body 102 and a sealingmember 200. The sealingmember 200 is arranged to hinge around arotation axis 202 relative to thelid body 102. In particular, the sealingmember 200 is hingeable between the closed state shown inFig. 1A , and the open state shown inFig. 1B . - As an example, the
rotation axis 202 is provided near or through acentre line 103 of thelid body 102. In other examples, therotation axis 202 can be provided further away from thecentre line 103 of the lid body. In this particular embodiment, the sealingmember 200 is hingeable over an angle approximately between 160 degrees and 180 degrees, which angle corresponds to the shape of thelid body 102. - As depicted in
Figs. 2A and 2B , a surface of thelid body 102 through which the through holes are provided may be at an angle relative to another surface of thelid body 102 through which no through holes are provided. The angle of rotation of the sealingmember 200 may correspond to the angle between these two surfaces. - In the open state, a
drink hole 104 as an example of a through hole comprised by thelid body 102 becomes accessible. Furthermore, avent hole 106 as another example of a through hole comprised by thelid body 102 becomes accessible. As an option, both thedrink hole 104 and thevent hole 106 comprise bevellededges 108 in a transition between atop surface 110 of thelid body 102 and the respective through hole. The bevelled edges 108 may allow easier insertion of a plug compared to a through-hole with a sharp edge. - The
top surface 110 is in the embodiment shown inFig. 1B a substantially flat surface. In particular, the part of thetop surface 110 surrounding thedrink hole 104 is a flat surface with no protruding or extending parts protruding or extending away from thetop surface 110. The sealingmember 200 may comprise aplug surface 217 corresponding to thetop surface 110, wherein theplug surface 217 is said surface from which plugs of the sealingmember 200 protrude. - When the
top surface 110 is substantially flat, theplug surface 217 of the sealingmember 200 may thus also be substantially flat. When thetop surface 110 of thelid body 102 is not substantially flat and for example comprises one or more curved sections and/or protrusions, theplug surface 217 may be shaped complementary to the one or more curved sections and/or protrusions. - The sealing
member 200 comprises adrink hole plug 204 and avent hole plug 206. In the closed state, both thedrink hole plug 204 and thevent hole plug 206 substantially extend towards a container side of thelid body 102. - For the sealing
member 200 to be hingeable around therotation axis 202 relative to thelid body 102, as an example shown inFigs. 3A and 3B , the sealingmember 200 comprises twocams 208 protruding parallel to therotation axis 202. Eachcam 208 extends into a hinge opening of thelid body 102. Alternatively, the cams may be comprised by the lid body, and the hinge openings may be comprised by the sealingmember 200. Preferably, by virtue of the hingeable connection, the only degree of freedom for the sealingmember 200 relative to thelid body 102 is the rotation around therotation axis 202. - As shown in
Fig. 1B , thedrink hole plug 204 is formed by a thin-walled ridge surrounding a drinkhole plug chamber 214. When thedrink hole plug 204 is inserted into thedrink hole 104, thedrink hole plug 204 may deform to correspond better to the shape of thedrink hole 104. In particular, at least part of the thin-walled ridge may be elastically deformed inwards into the drinkhole plug chamber 214. -
Figs. 2A and 2B show a cross-section view of thelid assembly 100 ofFigs. 1A and 1B . Thelid body 102 comprises an optionalouter skirt 144 and an optionalinner skirt 154. Theinner skirt 154 is provided with athread 105 as a connection element for connection with the beverage container. Thethread 105 protrudes from an outer wall of theinner skirt 154 away from thecentre line 103. - In the particular embodiment of
Fig. 2A , theinner skirt 154 extends further away from thelid body 102 than theouter skirt 144. In other embodiments, theouter skirt 144 extends further away from thelid body 102 than theinner skirt 154, or theouter skirt 144 extends substantially as far away from thelid body 102 as theinner skirt 154. - Between the
outer skirt 144 and theinner skirt 154, achamber 155 is defined for receiving a rim of the beverage container. In particular, when screwing thelid assy 100 onto the beverage container using thethread 105, the rim may be forced into thechamber 155. By virtue of at least one of a material comprised by the rim and/or by theouter skirt 144, and the shape of the rim and/or theouter skirt 144, a liquid-tight seal may be achieved between the rim and theouter skirt 144. - More specifically, a sealing surface may be formed between the rim of the beverage container and a part of the
outer skirt 144 facing into thechamber 155. This sealing surface may be free of silicone elastomer, whereas in knownlid assembly 100, a silicone elastomer ring is provided inside thechamber 155 for forming the sealing surface with the rim of the beverage container. - In the closed state shown in
Fig. 2A , thedrink hole plug 204 is plugged into thedrink hole 104, and a sealing surface 104' is formed between the thin-walled ridge comprised by thedrink hole plug 204 and thedrink hole 104. The thin-walled ridge may at least partially be elastically deformed, wherein the ridge is deformed into thehollow chamber 214 to correspond better to the shape of thedrink hole 104. - In particular, when the deformation of the thin-walled ridge is elastic, a force is exerted by the ridge against an inner wall of the
drink hole 104 by virtue of the elasticity of the deformed material of the ridge. This may ensure a liquid-tight seal between thedrink hole plug 204 and thedrink hole 104, without requiring silicone elastomer to ensure that the seal in liquid-tight. - The
vent hole plug 206 is as an example a solid plug, and is in the closed state ofFig. 2A shown plugged into thevent hole 106 to form a liquid-tight sealing surface 106'. Thevent hole plug 206 may be elastically deformed when plugged into thevent hole 106, such that thevent hole plug 206 exerts a radial force onto thevent hole 106. This may ensure that a liquid-tight seal is achieved, without using silicon elastomer to form the sealing surface 106'. -
Figs. 3A and 3B depict another embodiment of alid assembly 300 for liquid-tightly sealing off a beverage container in an isometric view. Thelid assembly 300 comprises alid body 302, with anouter skirt part 304 as a connection element for connecting with the beverage container. - The
lid assembly 300 further comprises aspout 400 as a sealing member. Thespout 400 is hingedly connected to thelid body 302, such that thespout 400 can rotate around arotation axis 402. In particular, thespout 400 can be hinged between the closed state shown inFig. 3A and the open state shown inFig. 3B . The rotation angle of thespout 400 between the closed state and the open state may be approximately between 70 degrees and 110 degrees, or even between 80 degrees and 100 degrees. Thespout 400 comprises adrinking passage 401. -
Figs. 4A and 4B depict thelid assembly 300 ofFigs. 3A and 3B in a top view. InFig. 4A , thespout 400 is shown in the closed state, and inFig. 4B , thespout 400 is shown in the open state. In the open state, avent hole 406 provides a fluid connection through thelid body 400. In particular, therotation axis 402 is shown inFigs. 4A and 4B . - As shown in
Figs. 4A and 4B , thespout 400 may comprise as an option a set of extendinghinge parts 440, which when thelid assembly 300 is assembled, rotate inhinge chambers 340. Thehinge parts 440 may be locked up in thehinge chambers 340, such that only the rotation around therotation axis 402 is allowed, and any other translation is in normal use of thelid assembly 300 prevented. - In one embodiment, the
hinge chambers 340 comprise a wall substantially perpendicular to the angle of rotation of thespout 400. Thehinge parts 440 are locked by virtue of a snap-fit connections, provided by a shape of thehinge chambers 340 that narrows from the top of thelid body 302 and subsequently widens to a shape substantially equivalent to a shape of thehinge parts 440. - In another embodiment, the
hinge chambers 340 comprise a cavity for receiving thehinge parts 440. In this embodiment, the walls of thehinge chambers 340 are not flush; a first distance between the walls of thehinge chambers 340 is at the top of thelid body 302 smaller than a second distance between the walls of thehinge chambers 340 at the bottom of thehinge chambers 340 or in any case at the location of thehinge chambers 340 where thehinge parts 440 are in operation to be located. The cavity may be provided by a gradual increase from the first distance to the second distance or by means of a step function, providing a substantially abrupt transition from the first distance to the second distance. - This embodiment, with the cavity in the hinge chambers, provides a more reliable, tighter and/or secure fixation of the
spout 400 to provide better sealing between thespout 400 and thelid body 302, which will be discussed below in further detail. -
Figs. 5A and 5C depict thelid assembly 300 ofFigs. 3A and 3B in a cross-sectional view.Figs. 5B and 5D show a detail of thelid assembly 300 ofFigs. 5A and 5C , respectively. - The
lid body 302 comprises the optionalouter skirt 344, and a further optionalinner skirt 354. Both theouter skirt 344 and theinner skirt 354 protrude from thelid body 302 towards a container side of thelid assembly 300. Theouter skirt 344 comprises athread 305, which extends from an inner wall of theouter skirt 344. Thethread 305 may be used as the connection element for connection with the beverage container, wherein the beverage container comprises a complementary thread to thethread 305 of thelid body 302. - In the particular embodiment of
Fig. 5A , theouter skirt 305 extends further away from thelid body 302 than theinner skirt 354. In other embodiments, theinner skirt 354 extends further away from thelid body 302 than theouter skirt 305, or theouter skirt 305 extends substantially as far away from thelid body 302 as theinner skirt 354. - Between the
outer skirt 344 and theinner skirt 354, achamber 355 is defined for receiving a rim of the beverage container. In particular, when screwing thelid assembly 300 onto the beverage container using thethread 305, the rim may be forced into thechamber 355. By virtue of at least one of a material comprised by the rim, by theinner skirt 354 and/or by theouter skirt 344, and the shape of the rim, theinner skirt 354 and/or theouter skirt 344, a liquid-tight seal may be achieved between the rim and thelid body 302. - More specifically, a sealing surface may be formed between the rim of the beverage container and a part of the
outer skirt 344 and/or theinner skirt 354 facing into thechamber 355. This sealing surface may be free of silicone elastomer, whereas in known lid assemblies, a silicone elastomer ring is provided inside thechamber 355 for forming the sealing surface with the rim of the beverage container. By virtue of thethread 305, thelid body 102 may be forced onto the beverage container, which may cause elastic deformation of at least one of thelid body 102 and the beverage container. In particular, at least one of theouter skirt 344 and theinner skirt 354 may be elastically deformed in a radial direction to better correspond to a shape of the beverage container to create a liquid-tight seal. - In the particular embodiment of
Figs. 3 ,4 , and5 , thespout 400 comprises aspherical section 408. Preferably, thespherical section 408 has a substantially constant radius relative to a centre point, which centre point lays on therotation axis 402. Thespherical section 408 is not necessarily a full sphere, but may only be part of a full sphere. -
Figs. 5B and 5D show a detailed view of thelid assembly 300 ofFigs. 5A and 5C , respectively, showing part of thespherical section 408. Also visible inFigs. 5B and 5D is a firstannular ridge 361 and an optional secondannular ridge 362. In particular, embodiments of thelid body 302 are envisioned comprising only one annular ridge. Further embodiments of thelid body 302 comprise two annular ridges, three annular ridges, or even four or more annular ridges. - In
Figs. 5B and 5D , the substantially constant radius r of the outer surface of thespherical section 408 relative to a centre point which lays on therotation axis 402 is shown. Furthermore, preferably, the annular ridge or annular ridges comprised by the lid body are provided at a constant radius r' relative to the centre point which lays on therotation axis 402. - For example, when the radius r' defining the distance between the first
annular ridge 361 and therotation axis 402 is smaller than the radius r defining the outer radius of thespherical section 408, a liquid tight seal may be obtained between the firstannular ridge 361 and thespherical section 408. The difference between radius r and radius r' may be small, for example smaller than the height of the annular ridge. - When the lid body comprises a further annular ridge next to the first annular ridge, a radius between such a further annular ridge may be different than the radius r' defining the distance between the first
annular ridge 361 and therotation axis 402. In particular, such a radius may be larger than the radius r', smaller than the radius r', or may in other embodiments be substantially equal to radius r'. - In particular, when the
spherical ridge 408 provides a higher stiffness than the firstannular ridge 361, the firstannular ridge 361 may be deformed elastically complementary to thespherical ridge 408. With this deformation, a sealing surface 404' is formed between thespout 400 and thelid body 302, forms a substantially liquid-tight seal. Multiple annular ridges may be used to provide multiple liquid-tight sealing surfaces and may thus act as supplementary annular ridges in case one of the annular ridge does not form a completely liquid-tight seal. - The difference in stiffness may depend on at least one of: the material comprised by the
spherical section 408, the material comprised by the firstannular ridge 361, the shape of the firstannular ridge 361 and in particular a height and thickness of the firstannular ridge 361, the connection between thespout 400 and thelid body 302, the shape of thelid body 302 and in particular the shape of the part of thelid body 302 from which the firstannular ridge 361 extends, the shape of thespherical section 408, or any combination thereof. - As shown in
Figs. 5C and 5D , in the open state, a leakfree flow path 451 is provided through thedrinking passage 401 by virtue of the sealing surface 401' between the firstannular ridge 361 and thespherical section 408 of the spout. - An annular ridge may be a thin-walled annular ridge, wherein thin-walled implies that a height of the ridge is higher than a width of the ridge. In particular embodiments, the height of the ridge may be 1.25 times or more larger than the width of the ridge, 1.5 times or more larger, or even 2 times or more larger. The ratio between the height and the width of a ridge may be chosen for example depending on the material composition of the ridge, of the lid body, and/or of the spout.
- The
spout 400 further comprises thevent hole plug 406 arranged to be at least partially inserted into thevent hole 306 and to form a liquid-tight surface with thelid body 302. Thevent hole 306 may be a tapered through-hole, tapered towards the container side of thelid body 302. Thevent hole plug 406 may hence also be tapered complementary to thevent hole 306. - In particular, the tapering of the
vent hole 306 may be formed by virtue of a chamfering, bevelling, honing, or other manufacturing step which causes a decrease in diameter of thevent hole 306 towards the container side of thelid body 302. Thevent hole plug 406 may hence be substantially conical, frusto-conical, dome-shaped, or otherwise tapered, wherein a diameter of thevent hole plug 406 decreases in a direction away from thespout 400. Hence, the sealing surface between thevent hole plug 406 and thevent hole 306 may be a line contact where the diameter of thevent hole plug 406, in elastically deformed or un-deformed state, corresponds to a diameter of thevent hole 306.
Claims (15)
- Lid assembly for liquid-tightly sealing off a beverage container, comprising:- a lid body with a connection element for connection with the beverage container, wherein the lid body comprises a first through hole; and- a sealing member, which is hingedly connected to the lid body and is hingeable between an open state and a closed state;wherein in the open state, the sealing member allows a fluid flow through the first through hole, and in the closed state, a sealing surface comprised by the sealing member and the lid body form a liquid-tight seal such that the fluid flow through the first through hole is blocked, and wherein the sealing surface is free of silicone elastomer.
- Lid assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly consists of the lid body and the sealing member.
- Lid assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid body is a monolithic body.
- Lid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid body consists of a single material composition.
- Lid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing member is a monolithic body.
- Lid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing member consists of a single material composition.
- Lid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing member is formed as a spout comprising a drinking passage having an inlet and an outlet, which inlet is aligned with the first through hole when the spout is in the open state and is not aligned with the first through hole when the spout is in the closed state.
- Lid assembly according to claim 7, wherein the lid body comprises a first annular ridge surrounding the first through hole and protruding away from a container side of the lid body, and in the closed state, the liquid tight seal is formed by direct contact between the first annular ridge and the sealing surface of the spout.
- Lid assembly according to claim 8, wherein in the open state, a liquid tight seal is formed by direct contact between the first annular ridge and the sealing surface of the spout, which seal provides a leak free flow path for beverage through the first through hole and the drinking passage.
- Lid assembly according to any of the claims 7-9, wherein the spout comprises a spherical section comprising the sealing surface which is arranged to form the liquid-tight seal with the lid body.
- Lid assembly according to claim 10, wherein the inlet is provided in the spherical section.
- Lid assembly according to claim 10 or 11, to the extent dependent on claim 8, wherein the spherical section provides a higher stiffness than the first annular ridge.
- Lid assembly according to any of the claims 10-12, wherein the spout is hingeable around a rotation axis, an outer surface of the spherical section is provided at a substantially constant first radius relative to a centre point on the rotation axis, and the first annular ridge extends to a substantially constant second radius relative to the centre point, wherein the first radius is equal to or larger than the second radius.
- Lid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing member comprises a first plug, and in the closed state, the first plug directly contacts the first through hole for blocking fluid flow through the first through hole.
- Lid assembly according to claim 14, wherein the plug is formed as a ridge encircling a hollow chamber.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP20160216.6A EP3871994A1 (en) | 2020-02-28 | 2020-02-28 | Lid assembly for a beverage container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP20160216.6A EP3871994A1 (en) | 2020-02-28 | 2020-02-28 | Lid assembly for a beverage container |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3871994A1 true EP3871994A1 (en) | 2021-09-01 |
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ID=69743017
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP20160216.6A Withdrawn EP3871994A1 (en) | 2020-02-28 | 2020-02-28 | Lid assembly for a beverage container |
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EP (1) | EP3871994A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11634314B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2023-04-25 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Dosing accuracy |
US11647860B1 (en) | 2022-05-13 | 2023-05-16 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Flavored beverage carbonation system |
US11738988B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2023-08-29 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Ingredient container valve control |
US11745996B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2023-09-05 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Ingredient containers for use with beverage dispensers |
US11751585B1 (en) | 2022-05-13 | 2023-09-12 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Flavored beverage carbonation system |
US11871867B1 (en) | 2023-03-22 | 2024-01-16 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Additive container with bottom cover |
US11925287B1 (en) | 2023-03-22 | 2024-03-12 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Additive container with inlet tube |
US11931704B1 (en) | 2023-06-16 | 2024-03-19 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Carbonation chamber |
US12005408B1 (en) | 2023-04-14 | 2024-06-11 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Mixing funnel |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2219009A1 (en) * | 1972-04-19 | 1973-10-31 | Erichson Fa Herbert | DISPENSING CAP FOR CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR FOR LIQUIDS |
US3884392A (en) * | 1972-11-17 | 1975-05-20 | Polytop Corp | Child-resistant closure |
US4219138A (en) * | 1978-10-16 | 1980-08-26 | Polytop Corporation | Dispensing closure utilizing a sealing element supported by a washer spring |
WO2013063535A1 (en) * | 2011-10-27 | 2013-05-02 | Kershaw Kasey | Shakeable container with agitator |
US8459502B2 (en) * | 2010-09-03 | 2013-06-11 | Calibre Closures, LLC | Reclosable dispensing closure with vent |
-
2020
- 2020-02-28 EP EP20160216.6A patent/EP3871994A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2219009A1 (en) * | 1972-04-19 | 1973-10-31 | Erichson Fa Herbert | DISPENSING CAP FOR CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR FOR LIQUIDS |
US3884392A (en) * | 1972-11-17 | 1975-05-20 | Polytop Corp | Child-resistant closure |
US4219138A (en) * | 1978-10-16 | 1980-08-26 | Polytop Corporation | Dispensing closure utilizing a sealing element supported by a washer spring |
US8459502B2 (en) * | 2010-09-03 | 2013-06-11 | Calibre Closures, LLC | Reclosable dispensing closure with vent |
WO2013063535A1 (en) * | 2011-10-27 | 2013-05-02 | Kershaw Kasey | Shakeable container with agitator |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11647860B1 (en) | 2022-05-13 | 2023-05-16 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Flavored beverage carbonation system |
US11751585B1 (en) | 2022-05-13 | 2023-09-12 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Flavored beverage carbonation system |
US11634314B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2023-04-25 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Dosing accuracy |
US11738988B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2023-08-29 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Ingredient container valve control |
US11745996B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2023-09-05 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Ingredient containers for use with beverage dispensers |
US12006202B1 (en) | 2022-11-17 | 2024-06-11 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Ingredient container valve control |
US11871867B1 (en) | 2023-03-22 | 2024-01-16 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Additive container with bottom cover |
US11925287B1 (en) | 2023-03-22 | 2024-03-12 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Additive container with inlet tube |
US12005408B1 (en) | 2023-04-14 | 2024-06-11 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Mixing funnel |
US11931704B1 (en) | 2023-06-16 | 2024-03-19 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Carbonation chamber |
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