EP3871994A1 - Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons - Google Patents

Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons Download PDF

Info

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Withdrawn
Application number
EP20160216.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Michael Brown
David Holman
Richard WILDSMITH
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pf Concept Uk Operations Ltd
Original Assignee
Pf Concept Uk Operations Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pf Concept Uk Operations Ltd filed Critical Pf Concept Uk Operations Ltd
Priority to EP20160216.6A priority Critical patent/EP3871994A1/fr
Publication of EP3871994A1 publication Critical patent/EP3871994A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
EP20160216.6A 2020-02-28 2020-02-28 Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons Withdrawn EP3871994A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20160216.6A EP3871994A1 (fr) 2020-02-28 2020-02-28 Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20160216.6A EP3871994A1 (fr) 2020-02-28 2020-02-28 Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3871994A1 true EP3871994A1 (fr) 2021-09-01

Family

ID=69743017

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20160216.6A Withdrawn EP3871994A1 (fr) 2020-02-28 2020-02-28 Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3871994A1 (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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
US12005408B1 (en) 2023-04-14 2024-06-11 Sharkninja Operating Llc Mixing funnel
US12084334B2 (en) 2022-11-17 2024-09-10 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container
US12096880B2 (en) 2022-05-13 2024-09-24 Sharkninja Operating Llc Flavorant for beverage carbonation system
US12103840B2 (en) 2022-11-17 2024-10-01 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container with sealing valve
US12116257B1 (en) 2023-03-22 2024-10-15 Sharkninja Operating Llc Adapter for beverage dispenser
US12122661B2 (en) 2023-02-17 2024-10-22 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container valve control

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2219009A1 (de) * 1972-04-19 1973-10-31 Erichson Fa Herbert Abgabeverschluss fuer behaelter, insbesondere fuer fluessigkeiten
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 (fr) * 2011-10-27 2013-05-02 Kershaw Kasey Récipient pouvant être agité comportant un agitateur
US8459502B2 (en) * 2010-09-03 2013-06-11 Calibre Closures, LLC Reclosable dispensing closure with vent

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2219009A1 (de) * 1972-04-19 1973-10-31 Erichson Fa Herbert Abgabeverschluss fuer behaelter, insbesondere fuer fluessigkeiten
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 (fr) * 2011-10-27 2013-05-02 Kershaw Kasey Récipient pouvant être agité comportant un agitateur

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11751585B1 (en) 2022-05-13 2023-09-12 Sharkninja Operating Llc Flavored beverage carbonation system
US11647860B1 (en) 2022-05-13 2023-05-16 Sharkninja Operating Llc Flavored beverage carbonation system
US12096880B2 (en) 2022-05-13 2024-09-24 Sharkninja Operating Llc Flavorant for beverage carbonation system
US12084334B2 (en) 2022-11-17 2024-09-10 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container
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
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
US12103840B2 (en) 2022-11-17 2024-10-01 Sharkninja Operating Llc Ingredient container with sealing valve
US12122661B2 (en) 2023-02-17 2024-10-22 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
US12116257B1 (en) 2023-03-22 2024-10-15 Sharkninja Operating Llc Adapter for beverage dispenser
US12005408B1 (en) 2023-04-14 2024-06-11 Sharkninja Operating Llc Mixing funnel

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP3871994A1 (fr) Ensemble couvercle pour un récipient de boissons
CN108202915B (zh) 杯盖
CN110913729B (zh) 阀组件
KR101774175B1 (ko) 단일 마개 구조를 가지는 액체 용기
US6202877B1 (en) Lip-openable spill-proof container
US6736295B2 (en) High flow carafe
US20060108363A1 (en) Source selecting cap and closure for multiple chamber bottles
AU2023202648A1 (en) Adjustable additive delivery systems and methods
JP4470224B2 (ja) 飲料用容器の中栓
GB2122585A (en) Squeeze bottle self-closing viscous liquid dispensing valve having manually operated positive shut-off
WO2002011587A1 (fr) Recipient anti-gouttes s"ouvrant avec les levres
AU2001281195A1 (en) Lip-openable spill-proof container
US11912471B2 (en) Lid assembly for a container
CN114786541B (zh) 饮料杯及其封闭件
GB2570975A (en) Valve assembly for bags
EP3698677A1 (fr) Dispositif de fermeture pour contenant de liquide
WO2006055508A2 (fr) Capuchon selecteur de source et obturateur pour bouteilles a compartiments multiples
TWI804869B (zh) 蓋組件與帶蓋容器
CN113646566A (zh) 鸭嘴阀及用于制作鸭嘴阀的方法
US20230356892A1 (en) Dispensing system
EP4330153A1 (fr) Ensemble couvercle pour récipient
JPS6330701Y2 (fr)
GB2622947A (en) Beverage container
WO2021224156A1 (fr) Fermeture de bouteille pour boire dotée d'un bouchon de fermeture rotatif pour une bouteille isotherme ou pour une tasse isotherme

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20220302