GB2441327A

GB2441327A - Container lid for persons of limited strength and/or manual motor skills

Info

Publication number: GB2441327A
Application number: GB0617142A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allen John Corcoran
Original assignee: NOTEWHEEL Ltd
Current assignee: NOTEWHEEL Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-31
Filing date: 2006-08-31
Publication date: 2008-03-05
Also published as: GB0617142D0

Abstract

A container lid for persons of limited strength and/or manual motor skills comprises a circular rim 14 with a thread 60 disposed on an inner surface thereof and a cap 20, received within the rim, that seals the open end of container and which is displaced from said open end by rotation of the rim. The cap may be retained within the rim by a bead 36a or the like. The rim may be manufactured from plastics or metal, such as stainless steel and the cap from rubber or silicon rubber. The lid may be provided with a tamper evident device such as a button 22 which is depressible once the initial seal between the cap and the open end of the container has been broken. The lid may be arranged so that the rim may be rotated by a predetermined amount before the cap is displaced.

Description

Background

The present invention relates to a lid, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a screw-top lid which is adapted to be removed by people with limited dexterity or impaired motor skills.

Screw top lids generally are in the form of a truncated circular cylinder and comprise a threaded portion disposed around an inner circular surface. The threaded portion is adapted to inter engage with a similar threaded portion formed around the circular surface of a container, such as a jar, tin or tube.

Increasingly, nowadays, where food items are prepared in automated sterile environments, machines are used to close the lids of containers. In addition containers are often vacuum-sealed for purposes of maintaining the contents sterile and fresh. The combination of machine-closed containers and contents under vacuum often gives rise to the fact that it can be extremely difficult to remove a lid from the container it seals, particularly where a person has limited dexterity or strength, for example in the elderly or with those suffering from arthritis. * * S **IS

On some occasions lids had to be pierced to break the vacuum in order to open * them, resulting in damage to an airtight seal with a risk that the lid was not able to *: reseal the container properly.

Prior Art

UK Patent GB 545,500 (Laing) describes a type of container with a threaded lid, which is often referred to as a Kilner (Trade Mark) Jar. These jars or containers have a lid comprising two separate portions. The first portion is a rim portion and is in the form of a circular ring, having a thread disposed on its inner circular surface, and defining a rim. The second portion is a cap in the form of a disc, with a smaller overall diameter than that of the lid itself. The cap is received by the first portion and sits in a recess defined by the rim extending around the circumference of the first portion. These jars were very successful and have been used for many years. One of their advantages is that the first or threaded portion can be removed, with relatively little effort leaving the second or cap portion still sealing the jar or container. In the event of a substantial pressure differential, resulting in a user being unable to remove the cap, a user was able to prise off the cap, for example using a knife or other sharp implement. However, in removing the cap in this manner, there was a risk, on occasions, of damaging the cap. In the event of such damage, the cap was no longer able to re-seal the jar due to imperfections formed by the knife or sharp implement. Thus in these circumstances the jar lost some of its beneficial attributes, namely the ability to close itself in a resealable manner and isolate the contents of the jar from an external environment, once it had been opened. S.

Another disadvantage with two-part lids was that they were often cumbersome, sometimes resulting in spillage of contents of the jar, with the associated risk of contamination of food, particularly where the lid had to be reassembled to close the container. * * * S...

The present invention arose in order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and seeks to provide a lid for use with a container, which is *: relatively easily removed from the container and which may be reused to reseal the container many times.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lid for use with a container comprising: a circular rim, having a thread disposed around an inner circular portion thereof, the rim being suitably dimensioned to receive a cap which, in use, seals the container, characterised in that displacement means is provided, whereby upon rotation of the rim in order to open the container, the cap is caused to displace in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane which it deflnes Ideally the cap and rim are independent of one another and the rim can turn separately from the cap.

Preferably the cap is retained in the rim by a retention means. This is ideally achieved by way of the retention means being disposed around an inner circular portion of the rim. The retention means may be tapered, and is hereinafter referred to as a side skirt or sidewall. An advantage of this is that the cap is retained in the rim and does not get lost. Ideally the cap retention means also acts as the displacement means.

Preferably the displacement means comprises one or more individual pips or raised portions so disposed on the inner circular portion of the rim, so that in use these cause an edge of the cap to flex and deflect upwards. Thus, in use, the vacuum seal breaks or is released as the lid is removed. * ** * S S *. *5

Alternatively displacement of the cap is achieved by way of a gradual levering S...

effect, for example, by way of a tapered or deflecting portion, formed on the cap S...

or the lid, or both. ** In a particularly preferred embodiment the displacement means may be disposed on the rim or lip of the lid and is so dimensioned and arranged as to raise the cap after a predetermined amount of rotation of the lid, for example, this may be less than a complete rotation of the lid or more than a single turn of the lid. An advantage with this embodiment is that if the lid is screwed tightly in place, and with the cap tightly sealing the container, a user only has to overcome initially the force of unscrewing the lid and then subsequently the force of lifting the sealing cap. Previously both these forces had to be overcome at once by an initial twisting effort, with the result that in certain cases of limited dexterity and/or strength, a user was unable to open vacuum-sealed lids that had been screwed tightly closed.

The result of the aforementioned displacement mechanisms is that by rotating the lid through an arc, an upward deflection of the cap is achieved and even though this displacement is relatively small, when compared with the arc subtended by a point on the circumference of the lid, it is sufficient to displace the cap, by a sufficient distance, so as to permit air to enter the container, thereby releasing the vacuum (or partial vacuum) within the container, to an extent which permits the cap to be lifted without substantial effort.

In a particularly preferred embodiment a sealing portion is disposed on an under surface of the cap so as to fomi a better seal around the periphery or mouth of the container and the cap. An advantage of this feature is that even though some minor displacement of the cap occurs, for example during first opening, by way of the displacing means, the portion of the cap that seals the container remains intact and may be reused in subsequent sealing operations, so as to ensure repeated isolation of the contents of the container from the external: ..

environment. *.S.

The rim is ideally formed from an injection-moulded material, such as a synthetic plastics material or from a metal material, such as stainless steel. Examples of synthetic plastics materials include: polypropylene, Nylon or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

Ideally the cap is formed from a synthetic plastics material or metal material so as to withstand higher vacuum forces.

Advantageously a tamper-evident device may also be formed in the cap. This may be in the form of a vacuum button', ideally located centrally on the cap. The tamper-evident device is typically in the form of a depressible button, so configured as to be released when the vacuum within the jar or container is first overcome. That is when the jar or container is opened for the very first time.

Usually the release of the tamper-evident button is accompanied with an audible click or other sound whereby a user is made aware of the fact that the jar or container has remained unopened until the instant of breaking the seal. These tamper-evident devices are intended to be of the once use' type, so that they may not be reset once they have been triggered. Therefore a lid with a tamper-evident cap may be used to indicate the first use or opening of the container. It is to be appreciated that resealing of the container is possible, whereby its contents are maintained isolated from an external environment, as a result of the sealing portion on the cap.

A sealing surface is formed from a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, silicon rubber or synthetic rubber. Upon resealing the jar or container, the cap, which is located within the rim, ensures that the sealing surface is presented to the mouth of the container or jar in the correct manner to ensure sealing. However, in an alternative embodiment, in which the cap is removable from the lid, the removable cap is ideally configured so that it may only ever be: ,-. S.

received by the lid in one orientation. This ensures the sealing portion is always S...

correctly presented to the mouth of the container it is to seal. *... * * . *

Alternatively the lid or cap may be marked with suitable indicia for indicating which way up within the lid the cap is intended to be held. However, ideally the cap is permanently located in the lid and held therein by way of retainers or a retaining lip.

In a yet further alternative embodiment the rim can be defined by a continuous surface that is in many respects similar to an existing lid. For ease of reference this type of lid is hereinafter referred to a closed-top lid; whereas the version of the lid, essentially comprising a rim, is Irinafter referred to as an open-top lid.

Although mention has been mac tq t use of the container to contain food or perishable items, it will be appreqiat ttat the container may be used to contain any other form of item that may cigr, pxidise or otherwise deteriorate once in contact with an atmosphere. ontents include liquids, whether potable beverages or otherwise, oils, sop, cleaning chemicals, chemicals containing alcohol, alcoholic beverages incudlng: wine and beer, greases, industrial oils or any other similar material.

Brief Description of the Figures

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, and with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure la is a part sectional diagrammatical view of a container showing a lid with a rim having a long skirt (sidewall) and a cap closing the container; S.....

S

Figure lb shows in enlarged detail the relationship between the rim, the cap and the displacement mechanism, prior to lifting the cap; :

*.** *5*S..DTD: Figure 2a is a part sectional diagrammatical view of the container in Figure 1, S...

showing the displacement action of the rim against the thread of the container so * . : as to lift the cap; Figure 2b shows in enlarged detail the displacement action of the rim against the thread of the container at the instant the rim lifts the cap; Figure 3 is an overall, part-sectional view of an embodiment of an open-top lid with a long sidewall; Figure 4 is an overall, part-section yiew of an embodiment of a closed-top lid with a long sidewall; Figure 5 is an overa'l, yjw of an open-top lid with long sidewall, partly cut-away, showing a continuous circ.imfprentia 9roove, with rolled perimeter portions; Figure 6 an overall, view of an open-top lid with long sidewall, partly cut-away, showing a continuous circumferent;l groove, with a single discontinuity or Pip; Figure 7 is an overall, view of an open-top lid with a short sidewall, partly c141-away, showing a folded or rollpd-iqder lip disposed circumferentially around th rim; Figure 8 is an overall, part-secfj9naI yiew of a closed-top lid with a short sidewall; and S...

Figure 9 is an overall view of a closed-top lid with a long sidewall showing *5***S opposed depressions between the rim and cap to reduce rattling of the cap in the lid.

iii. ***

S * .. * S * S...

The inner cap will still allow the screw-cap container to be sealed with an *SS* integrated sealing ring and vacuum. e... * . S

SI S

Detailed description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Referring generally to the Figures in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, there are effectively two forms of lid: the open-top or closed-top lid; in each of which the lid may have a relatively long or short sidewall (skirt). This gives four basic types of lid.

The first type has a long sidewall with an open-top which may, for example, allow for the use of a vacuum tamper-evident device, such as a pop-up' button. This type of lid is shown in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6. The second type of lid has a long sidewall with a closed-top, which does not incorporate a tamper-evident pop-up' button, but may include a nonrattle' device, such as a dimple. This type is shown in Figures 4 and 9. The third type of lid has a short sidewall with an open-top, which receives a tamper-evident device and an example of this embodiment is shown in Figure 7. The fourth type of lid has a short sidewall lid with a closed-top which does not incorporate a tamper-evident device, but which may include a non rattle dimple' and an example of this embodiment is shown in Figure 8.

Other alternatives are discussed as variations of these main types.

Referring to the Figures, and particularly Figures la and ib, there is shown a lid for use with a container 12 comprising a circular lid portion or rim 14, a thread 16 is disposed around an inner circular portion of the rim 14 and is arranged to engage a thread 18 disposed on the container 12. Cap 20 has a tamper-evident..

circularly symmetric dimple 22 formed in a generally central region.

Displacement means 24, 26 is provided in the rim 14 and is dimensioned and arranged to impinge upon tapered skirt 30, formed integrally with cap 20. A: ..

rubber sealing portion or seal 28 is disposed around the edge of the cap 20 in a generally circumferential form and acts to seal the container 12. * *** * ** S

In use cap 20 is held firmly against rim edge 32 of container 12 by folded lip 38 of lid 14 operating in conjunction with threaded portion 18 on the container. In this position the contents of the container 12 are sealed from the external environment by way of seal 28. Brief reference to feature X in Figure lb shows a gap between displacement means 26, (formed integrally with the lid 14), and cap 20.

Figures 2a and 2b show in detail how the rim 14 removes the cap 20. Removal of the lid 10 is by way of twisting the rim 14 in the conventional manner. As the thread 18 of the rim 14 presses against skirt 30 of the cap 20, displacement of the cap 20 occurs in a direction that is normal to the plane, defined generally by cap 20. The small gap X (shown open' in Figure la) is shown closed' in Figure 2b, and torsional force is transmitted between the displacement means 26 (defined by an indent 36) to the cap 20 in the form of a compressive force, which exerts a slight bending moment in the direction of arrow A, thereby prising the cap 20 off the container 12.

The displacement force may be transmitted by a series of indents 36, as shown in Figure 3 or depressions 27 as shown in Figure 4; or a single indent 27 as shown in Figure 6. The important aspect is that as the, or each, displacement means is forced against the lower edge of skirt 30 of the cap 20, torsional force that is transmitted from twisting the lid 14 is sufficient to cause an axial force which prises the cap 20, releasing the vacuum and breaking the seal between seal 28 and rim edge 32 of the container.

Once the vacuum is released, rim 14 continues to be twisted and removes the cap 20 by way of threaded edge portion. The cap 20 is retained in position by indent 36, for example on the long skirt lid in Figures 1 and 2; or by a folded: ..

under lip 60 on the short sidewall lid, for example as shown in Figures 7 and 8. SS*

During manufacture the cap 20 is pressed into the rim 14, beyond tapered indent. : 24, by way of tapered skirt 30. Cap 20 is retained in position by indent 36 which acts as a resiliently deformable detent mechanism and may also be the tapered indent 24. Alternatively the cap 20 is maintained in the rim by a rolled lid edge 60. Once inserted into the rim 14 the cap 20 is not removable without damage to either it or the rim.

A lid having a cap 20 that is removable from the rim is envisaged as being within the scope of the invention.

Replacement of the lid 10 is as per a normal container lid and is briefly explained as follows: cap 20 is reseated into position so that seal 28 abuts the edge 32 of the container 12, as a result of downward pressure exerted from the lid portion 14 against the top surface of cap 20. The displacement means 24, 26 slides past the edge of skirt 30 of the cap 20. The rim 14 then continues to urge the cap 20 in a generally downward direction so as to pinch' the skirt 30 urging the cap 20 to close the container 12. As the rim 14 passes beyond the distal edge of the skirt 30, the skirt 30 springs back to its normal, relaxed diameter, in a detent action, so that it is presented to a shelf defined by the displacement means 26 for subsequent opening of the container 12. Further screwing tight of the rim 14 causes the cap 20 to be urged ever tighter against the mouth of the container 12.

It is understood that the outer region of the rim 14 may still be formed as a standard lid with a threaded lip to suit a suitable screw cap container. Thus only minor modification to existing fabrication equipment is required in order to form the displacement means 24, 26.

Rim 14 may include an aperture in its circular surface for exposing cap 20 which: .. *..*

allows use of a vacuum button'. Alternatively the rim 14 may include a solid top with the cap 20 prssed inside it for cleanliness of design and printing requirements. ,,.* : To retain the cap 20 in position one or more inward facing irdents 36 is/are formed in the sidewall around the circumference of the outer lid. These indents press against the bwer edge of the inner cap 20, always retaining it in position but allowing rotatiOn of the cap 20 and the rim 14 independent cihe from another.

In the embodiment having a long side wall of the outer rim, these indents 27 may be replaced by a continuous groove 36a as shown, for example, in Figure 5.

Figure 3, in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, is an overall, part-sectional view of another embodiment of the (open-top long sidewall) lid 10 and shows a cap 20 with a dimple 22 which acts as a tamper-evident device located at a generally circular symmetric position. The tamper-evident device may include one or more dimples. In practice one dimple may be set higher than others to aid vacuum release by distortion of the cap 20 when unscrewing the rim portion 14. In Figure 3 the displacement means comprises a tapered face 24 and a flat horizontal face 26 which enable the cap 20 to be push fitted. Tapered face 24 acts like a one-way retaining shelf for the cap 20.

Figure 4, in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, is an overall, part-sectional view, showing a second embodiment of a lid (closed-top long sidewall) with radially disposed indents or pips 27. Indents or pips 27 have clearance over the threads of the container 12 and they assist in locating the cap in position and lift the cap as the rim 14 is turned which breaks the vacuum seal. Although not depicted, it is understood that the embodiment shown in Figure 4 may still incorporate a tamper-evident or pop-up button that serves to show that the jar or container is vacuum sealed.

Referring now to Figure 5, in which like parts bear the same reference numerals there is shown an overall view of a yet further embodiment of the lid (with an open-top long sidewall). Figure 5 shows a continuous circumferential groove S...

36a, with rolled perimeter portions 60, to remove any sharp edges around an. : inner region of the rim 14 portion.

Turning now to Figure 6, in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, is an overall, view of a yet further embodiment of the (open-top long sidewall) lid 10 and shows a partly cut-away lateral edge, showing a continuous circumferential groove 36a, with a single indent or pip 27. Indent or pip 27 presses against the lower contact edge of the skirt 30 and concentrates upward pressure from the rotating rim 14 thereby exerting maximum force available to deflect the cap 20 and break the vacuum seal. It is noted that peripheral edge 60 of the lid portion 14 has been rolled so as to remove any sharp burrs or edges.

Figure 7, in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, is an overall, view of a yet further embodiment of the (open-top, short sidewall) lid and shows in part cut-away detail a rolled-under lip 60 disposed circumferentially around the rum 14 of the lid as welt as a tamper-evident button 22. The rim 14 is in the form of an open-top lid with a short sidewall. Dtsplacement occurs as leverage on the cap 20 is created by use of a rolled-under lip 60 urging against tapered skirt 30.

Lips or depression can be formed into a side wall of an outer rim and disposed at regular intervals around the rim or periphery. Alternatively there may be a continuous depression around the entire circumference of the rim. These depressions act as one-way inner cap retainers and levering edges.

Figure 8, in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, shows a lid portion 14 in part-sectional view with a central non-rattle' device 50 formed in the lid. The lid operates in a similar manner as the lid in Figure 7. However, it may have a tamper-evident system, which transfers a tamper-evident force from the *:.

cap 20 to the lid portion 14 formed to retain the cap 20 against removal from the: ..

lid portion. **S* * * U.

Figure 9 shows an overall view, with part sectional detail of a lid with dimpled. : pressings to exert mild pressure to stop rattling' of the cap 20 when the complete lid 10 has been removed and to help stop contents of the container, such as food, getting trapped between the cap 20 and the rim 14. These dimples may be pressings of different shapes and act as a means for transmitting force from a tamper-evident device (not shown) in the cap 20 to the rim 14 In Figure 9 the edge of skirt 30 is shown cut short so that it finishes beyond the threaded portion of a container but it is apparent that the skirt 30 is of sufficient length to lend strength to the shape of the cap 20.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and it wilt be understood that features from one or more of the aforementioned embodiments may be incorporated into a different lid. For example the lid portion 14 may have a rolled edge to help retain strength and also to avoid any possible injury from the sharp edges. Another advantage of this is that contents of the container, such as food particles, are less likely to get lodged between the rim and the cap.

It is understood that length of a skirt may vary depending on whether it is a long sidewall lid or a short sidewall lid but all cap skirts ideally have clearance over the thread on the container. It is also understood that the skirt portion, in use, splays outwards a small amount so that when upward pressure is applied against it, it will deflect outwards towards the side wall of the outer rim, keep within its allocated position, and not hinder or impinge the removal of the lid portion. S. t

Various embodiments of the invention have been described, by way of example 5.

S.'...

only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the examples described without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be further appreciated that no changes to the jar or container are required. :.. a a a a * a.. * a I *5

Claims

Claims 1. A lid for use with a container comprises: a circular rim,

having a thread disposed around an inner circular portion thereof, the rim being suitably dimensioned to receive a cap which, in use, seals the container, characterised in that displacement means is provided, whereby upon rotation of the rim in order to open the container, the cap is caused to displace in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane which it defines.

2. A lid according to claim 1 characterised in that a cap retention means retains the cap in the rim.

3. A lid according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the displacement means comprises one or more individual pips disposed on the inner circular portion of the rim, so that in use the displacement means causes an edge of the cap to flex and deflect upwards.

4. A lid according to claim I or 2 characterised in that the displacement means comprises a continuous groove disposed on the inner circular portion of the rim, so that in use the displacement means causes an edge of the cap to flex and deflect upwards. us..' e * 5. A lid according to any preceding claim characterised in that the cap has a tapered side skirt or sidewall.

6. A lid according to claim 5 characterised in that the displacement means comprises one or more individual pips disposed on the inner circular portion of the rim, so that in use the displacement means causes an edge of the tapered side skirt or sidewall to flex and deflect upwards.

7. A lid according to claim 5 characterised in that the displacement means comprises a continuous groove disposed on the inner circular portion of the rim, so that in use the displacement means causes an edge of the tapered side skirt or sidewall to flex and deflect upwards.

8. A lid according to any of claims 3 to 7, when dependent upon claim 2, characterised in that the displacement means also acts as the retention means.

9. A lid according to any preceding claim characterised in that the displacement means is dimensioned and arranged to displace the cap after a predetermined amount of rotation of the lid 1O.A lid according to any of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that at least one complete rotation of the lid is required to remove it. * * *.**

11.A lid according to any preceding claim characterised in that a sealing *..** portion is disposed on an under surface of the cap for forming a seal around the periphery or mouth of the container. ** * * * S *5$ 12.A lid according to claim 11 characterised in that the sealing portion is S... *

formed from a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, silicon S...

rubber or synthetic rubber. .**.

13. A lid according to any preceding claim characterised In that the rim is formed from an injection moulded material, such a synthetic plastics material 14.A lid according to claim 13 characterised in that the material is from the group of materials including: polypropylene, Nylon and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

15.A lid according to any of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the rim is formed from a metal material, 16.A lid according to claim 15 characterised in that the rim is formed from stainless steel.

17A lid according to any preceding claim characterised in that a tamper-evident device is formed in the cap.

18.A lid according to claim 17 characterised in that the tamper-evident device is in the form of a depressible button.

19.A lid according to claim 1 characterised in that the cap is removable from the rim and the removable cap is dimensioned and arranged so that it may * . *.S* only be received by the lid in one orientation. **

20.A lid according to claim 19 characterised in that the lid and/or cap is marked with indicia for indicating which way up within the lid the cap is intended to be held. S.... *..* * . . S. *

21. A lid to any preceding claim characterised in that an anti-rattle device is inhibits the cap from rattling in the lid.

22. A lid substantially as herein described with reference to the Figures.