JP2008120459A - Audible closing feature for threaded container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a lug and notch closing feature which provides an audible indication when the lid sufficiently closes the container, provides minimal resistance when removing the lid from the container, and reduces or eliminates backoff between the lid and the container during transport and/or storage. <P>SOLUTION: An audible closing feature for threaded containers with a threaded lid, the container and the lid including a lug and notch arrangement that provides an audible indication that the lid sufficiently closes the container as well as providing for minimal resistance when removing the lid from the container. The audible closing feature further reduces or eliminates backoff between the lid and container during transport and or storage. The lid and container contain at least one of either the lugs and notches, and accordingly the lug is received by the notch to provide the audible indication that the lid is sufficiently closing of the container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a threaded container and a audible closing mechanism of the lid, and more particularly to a projection and notch configuration that provides a audible indication that the lid is sufficiently closing the container.

  The threaded container and lid closure structure can have various engagement configurations between them. Typical configurations can be provided with notches or protrusions in or adjacent to one or both screws on the lid and container to achieve various functions.

  One such function is to provide a vent that can relieve pressure in the container. The pressure vent system may include a notch in the lid screw and / or the container screw. A container with a pressure vent system can be used to hold a beverage under pressure, such as a carbonated beverage. U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,089 provides a notch for ventilation in the screw of the lid. U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,089 provides a notch for venting in a container screw. U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,089 provides a notch for venting in both the lid and container screws. However, none of the above-mentioned patents disclose a sound when the lid is fully closing the container.

  Another function of the lid-container engagement configuration is to provide a locking function between the lid and the container. One purpose of this locking feature is to provide a child lock so that the lid does not easily come off the container. U.S. Patent No. 6,057,051 discloses a projection and indentation device in which the lid includes a projection on the lid screw that matches the indentation in the screw of the container. In addition, when trying to remove a closed object from the container, the abutment surface of the protrusion will be in contact with the indentation unless there is sufficient axial force on the closed object that causes the spring to compress through the recess. In cooperation with the contact surface, it is disclosed to prevent the closed lid from being turned open. Patent Document 5 discloses a series of ratchet portions at a threaded end of a container that engages a series of ratchet teeth on a lid. In order to open the container after closing, removing the teeth from the ratchet must first be accomplished before the lid can be rotated in the opening direction. This is done by applying a downward force in the axial direction to the closure or lid to remove the teeth from the ratchet. U.S. Patent No. 6,057,051 discloses a protrusion and detent system on either the lid or the container that provides resistance to rotation of the cap in the direction of rotation that opens. Both the protrusion and the detent are formed on the screw of the respective part (ie lid or container). The protrusion protrudes downward in the shape of a right-angled triangle with side slopes, so that rotation in the opposite direction (ie, the direction to unlock) is due to the vertical side of the protrusion remaining on the detent wall Is greatly hindered. Patent Document 7 discloses a safety fixing function for a child whose lid includes an inner cap, a central cap, and an outer cap. The inner cap has a threaded portion for engaging the threaded portion of the container. The central cap, next to the inner cap, rotates with the inner cap and locks in place where the inner cap is in a fully closed position. To close the lid, the outer cap is rotated and rotated as the center and inner caps are fully closed as it rotates. Once fully closed, the inner and middle caps no longer rotate when the outer cap is rotated. As the outer cap continues to rotate, the outer cap rotates through the central cap while the central cap remains stationary, and clicks as it slides through a portion of the central cap. The sound is produced. A click is produced when the outer cap protrusion contacts the trailing edge of the central cap cam surface, thereby providing a detent when the central cap is in the fully closed position. In order to remove the cap and open the container, the user must apply both rotational and axial forces to unscrew the inner cap thread from the container thread. Such safe devices for children are specifically designed to prevent removal of the lid from the container.

  Another function of the lid-container engagement configuration is to provide a screw-resistant system that prevents the lid from loosening from the closed position during transfer and / or storage, ie, screw loosening. You can avoid it. Patent Document 8 discloses that the lid is fixed at a predetermined position in order to prevent the lid from loosening from the container by providing wedge-shaped teeth along the bottom screw of the lid. The teeth then contact the back of the screw along the container in order to prevent the lid from loosening during transport. Furthermore, this type of arrangement is disclosed to be effective only for applications where it is not desired to immediately remove the closed one. U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,089 provides an alternate row of ridges and dents as part of both lid and container rim threads, with one ridge engaging the other dent. . Patent Document 10 discloses providing a protrusion extending downward, and a joint and a protrusion on the container rim below the screw. The protrusion on the lid engages the joint and causes a clicking sound when the protrusion inside the lid rotates and passes through the joint of the container. The container protrusion is coupled with the lid screw to reduce lid screw loosening during transport and / or storage.

US Pat. No. 6,736,280 US Pat. No. 5,533,633 US Patent 6,006,930 Specification US Pat. No. 6,848,590 US Patent No. 4,084,717 US Pat. No. 3,741,421 US Pat. No. 5,197,616 US Pat. No. 5,169,033 US Pat. No. 4,461,394 US Pat. No. 5,803,287

  However, none of the above documents disclose that sound instructions are given when the lid is sufficiently closed.

  Protrusion and notch closing mechanism that provides an audible indication when the lid fully closes the container, minimal resistance when the lid is removed from the container, and between the lid and container during transfer and / or storage A function that can reduce or eliminate screw loosening is disclosed.

  A container is provided having a body with a neck surrounding the opening and a lid with a top wall and a skirt depending from the top wall. The neck of the container includes an external thread with at least one notch in its position, preferably, but not limited to, at least three approximately equally spaced notches. The base of the lid has a female thread that engages the male thread of the neck, and at least one inwardly extending protrusion, preferably, but not limited to, at least approximately equally spaced per notch It has one protrusion. The protrusion is located between the internal thread and the top wall. In order to produce a sound indicating that the lid has fully closed the container, the protrusions make a noise in the notch in the male thread.

  When the lid is rotated around the neck of the container, the protrusion comes into contact with the inclined portion of the external thread. The protrusion then rises externally on the inclined portion, thereby deforming one or both of the lid and the container. The protrusion snaps into the notch to indicate by sound that the lid is fully rotated and in the closed position, and returns to a state where one or both of the lid and the container are not deformed, i.e. relaxed.

  In another form, the sound closing mechanism includes a similar container and lid. However, the male thread at the neck has at least one radially outwardly extending protrusion, preferably, but not limited to, at least three approximately equally spaced protrusions, and the female thread is at the bottom of the lid. It has at least one notch, preferably but not limited to at least three notches that are approximately equally spaced. A protrusion on the neck of the container is located between the male screw and the opening. The audible indication is caused by a protrusion on the neck snapping into the lid notch.

  In a method for indicating the position of a lid on a container by sound, at least three protrusions of approximately equal spacing are provided between the internal thread and the top wall of the lid, and at least 3 of approximately equal spacing to the male thread on the neck of the container body. At least one notch is provided, and at least one of the neck of the container and the skirt of the lid is deformed by engaging the protrusion with the male thread, and the neck and the skirt of the container are deformed with the protrusion of the male thread. Return to the undeformed state by aligning with the notch.

  A sounding closing mechanism for a container with a threaded lid, in particular a projection and notch configuration, is disclosed and illustrated in FIGS. The container has at least one protrusion on the closure and at least one notch along the thread of the container to receive a sound to indicate when the protrusion has been received and the lid has fully closed the container. The resistance during removal can be minimized and screw loosening between the lid and the container during transport and / or storage can be prevented.

  Both the container and the lid have screws that engage each other to secure the lid to the container. The lid has at least one, preferably at least three protrusions, located between the top surface of the lid and the top of the screw. When the lid fully closes the container, each of the protrusions will correspond with a corresponding notch or gap in the male thread on the neck of the container, or alternatively will have a corresponding notch with only some of the protrusions matching. It is also possible that all protrusions do not match. As the lid is rotated around the container neck, the protrusion with the corresponding matching notch will abut the end of the inclined portion of the male thread. When the protrusion rides on the inclined portion of the male screw and rides on the screw, one or both of the base of the lid and the neck of the container are deformed. If three or more protrusions are used, the deformation can be uniform. The protrusion slides along the screw and eventually fits into the notch in the male screw. When the protrusion is inserted into the notch, an audible indication is made to indicate that the lid is fully rotated and in the closed position, and that the container is properly closed, thereby allowing the consumer to You can be sure that the container is fully closed.

  Furthermore, the engagement between the protrusion and the container screw can prevent the lid from unscrewing from the container when the tamper evident film covers the opening during transport and / or storage of the container. This film increases the resistance to rotation between the lid and the container, and when the protrusion also contacts the film, or when the protrusion is in the notch and the film loads the pressure between the screws. The resistance is increased.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the container 14 includes an opening 24 at one end thereof and a neck 28 surrounding the opening 24 of the container 14. The neck 28 of the container 14 has an external thread 16 for engaging the internal thread 18 of the lid 12. In addition, the male thread 16 of the container 14 includes at least one notch 20 in the thread 16, preferably, but not limited to, at least three notches 20 that are approximately equal and spaced apart. Alternatively, the container 14 may have a ring or continuous threaded protrusion around the neck 28 of the container 14 below the screw 16 with the notch 20.

  A notch 20 in the screw 16 separates the screw into different parts. As a result, a large number of screw portions are formed. The male thread 16 at the neck 28 of the container 14 is discontinuous and is arranged obliquely around the neck 28 of the container 14 such that one end of the male thread overlaps one other tip. If the external thread has at least 3 discontinuous external threads, it preferably has, but is not limited to, at least 4 discontinuous external threads, the angle of which is the uppermost end of the first external thread When the part is at an angle such that it overlaps above the lowermost end of the second male thread, the uppermost end of the first male thread includes a notch, as shown in FIGS. Instead of this form, an opposite overlapping configuration can be used. As an alternative, the screw can be continuous.

  The notch 20 can be placed on the top screw 16, ie the screw closest to the top or opening 24 of the container 14. Further, the notch 20 is disposed near the end point of the top thread of the discontinuous male thread, thereby separating the adjacent portion of the screw 16 into two portions. In other words, the long portion and the short portion are separated by the notch 20.

  The lid 12 includes an internal thread 18 that can be discontinuous. The lid 12 has a top wall 30 and a skirt 32 that hangs from the wall, and this skirt 32 has a screw 18 on the back side thereof. The internal thread 18 of the lid 12 is configured to engage the external thread 16 of the container neck 28 so that the container 14 can be closed. The screw 18 of the lid 12 can be arranged at an angle so that one end overlaps the other end depending on the configuration of the screw 16 on the neck 28 of the container 14. For example, the uppermost end of the first female screw can overlap the lowermost end of the second female screw.

  The lid 12 has at least one projecting member 22 that is located between the uppermost portion of the screw 18 and the backside surface of the top wall 30 of the lid 12. Preferably, but not limited to, at least three equally spaced protrusions 22 can be disposed along the back of the skirt 32 with at least three discontinuous female threads on the lid. The protrusion 22 may contact the upper side of the screw 18 or may be spaced from the upper side. Similarly, the protrusions 22 may contact the intersection of the top wall 30 and the skirt 32, or may be spaced from the intersection. The protrusion 22 of one embodiment is located above the topmost screw 18, where the screw 18 overlaps and, as shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion is the start of the topmost screw 18 in the overlapping position. Located near the point. As another embodiment, the protrusion 22 may be disposed on the upper side of the screw 18 in a portion that is not an overlapping portion, so that the protrusion 22 is only in contact with the screw 18 so that the top wall 30 and the base 32 are not in contact with each other. It can be away from the intersection.

  The size of the protrusion 22 can be fitted into a notch 20 located on the screw 16 of the container 14 and can be various shapes and sizes that are smaller, complementary or larger than the notch 20. be able to. Generally, the protrusion 22 has a front end and a rear end, and further includes a contact surface that contacts the notch 20 when the protrusion 22 is inserted. The surface opposite the contact surface can be a straight end attached to the skirt 32 of the lid 12. The tip of the protrusion 22 is the first end that contacts the notch 20, and the trailing edge is the last part of the protrusion 22 that contacts the notch 20. An example of the shape of the protrusion is a generally trapezoidal shape, with its four straight edges having a 90 ° tip, a different angle of the back, and one of the other straight lines attached to the skirt. . Other shapes of protrusions can have rounded edges and straight edge tops and bottoms. The front end and the rear end may have the same shape, for example, a round shape, and the contact surface of the protrusion may be a straight end, in which case the opposite side of the contact surface may be attached to the skirt to be a straight end. Other possible shapes could be semicircular projections, in which case there would be only two sides, a semicircular side and a straight end attached to the skirt. As yet another shape, it can be a semicircular projection having three side portions. The tip edge may be a straight end where the remaining portion of the contact protrusion is a straight line, and the side attached to the skirt of the lid may be a straight end edge. Furthermore, other shapes of the protruding member 22 are not limited to those described above.

  The shape of the notch 20 is for receiving a protrusion 22 disposed on the lid 12 and can have any number of shapes. The notch 20 can be slightly larger than the protrusion 22, can be sized complementary to the size of the protrusion 22, or can be slightly smaller than the protrusion 22. The notches 20 are preferably sized smaller than the protrusions 22 so that the protrusions 22 are longer than the notches 20 and have a perimeter that is larger than the perimeter of the notches 20. A tighter fit between the two can be achieved. Such a configuration can be an advantage when there is a risk of wear due to repeated use on one or both of the protrusion 22 and the notch 20. The notch 20 preferably extends through at least approximately the entire thread 16 and divides it into two parts.

  The sounding closing mechanism 10 has at least one notch 20 corresponding to at least one protrusion 22, which can provide an audible sound indicating that the lid 12 has sufficiently closed the container. Be When attempting to close the container 14, the lid 12 is placed over the opening 24, and the lid 12 engages the screw 16 of the container neck 28 with its screw 18, like a typical threaded closure system. Rotated to match. The protrusions 22 of the lid 12 initially pass between the screws 16 of the container 14 when the lid is first rotated. However, the audible closing mechanism 10 may have an unequal number of protrusions 22 and notches 20, such as a greater number of protrusions 22 than the notches 20. An example of a sounding closing function 10 having an unequal number of protrusions 22 and notches 20 is one having four protrusions 22 and only two notches 20, so that only two protrusions 22 have two Can be aligned with the notch.

  As the lid 12 approaches its final point of rotation, the protrusion 22 begins to engage the ramp of the screw 16 of the container 14, as shown in FIG. (A-C in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lid 12 placed on the top of the container 14 and shows a view from the inside of the container 14.) The inclination is a discontinuity of the container 14. It can be placed in a short section of the external male thread 16 and end at the notch 20 or it can be placed along a ring around the neck 28 of the container and end at the notch 20. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the protrusion 22 engages the inclined portion and rises while sliding along the inclination on the male screw 16, as the protrusion 22 slides along the inclination, the container 14 The neck 28 is uniformly deformed inward and / or the base 32 of the lid 12 is uniformly deformed outward. When pressure is applied to the screw 16 of the container 14 by the protrusion 22, tension is increased between the lid 12 and the container 14, and uniform deformation of the container 14 and / or the lid 12 can occur. Once the protrusions 22 are aligned with their corresponding notches and the protrusions snap into place in the notches 20, the neck 28 and / or the skirt 32 of the lid 12 are relieved of their undeformed state or force. You can return to the state. C in FIG. 1 shows a fully aligned protrusion 22 and notch 20 and the lid 12 in a fully closed position. When the protrusion 22 snaps into place in the notch 20, an audible sound is produced indicating that the lid 12 has fully closed the container. This preferably occurs at the position of maximum rotation between the lid 12 and the container 14.

  The engagement of the protrusion 22 with the screw 16 can prevent the screw 12 from being loosened from the container 14 during transportation or movement of the container 14. Prior to first use and during transport and / or storage, a tamper-evident film is placed on the lid between the neck 28 of the container 14 and the lid 12 so that the protrusion 22 of the lid 12 is notched 20. Is prevented from aligning with. The film between the lid 12 and the container 14 can coordinate the alignment of the protrusions 22 and the notches 20, preventing access to the notches, and preventing the lid 12 from rotating further toward the notches 20. The protrusion 22 is prevented from falling into the notch 20. In this way, the tension of the protrusion 22 acting on the screw 16 of the container 14 covered with the film can prevent the screw from loosening. Alternatively, the film may increase resistance to rotation between the lid 12 and the container 14, such as a tamper-evident film that does not extend to the screw. The increase in resistance is enhanced when the protrusion 22 contacts the film or when the protrusion 22 is in the notch 20 and the film creates additional pressure between the screws. Furthermore, the configuration of the protrusions 22 and the notches 20 preferably facilitates opening the container 14 by unscrewing the lid 12 from the container 14 by simple rotation of the lid 12 without axial force. is there.

  In other configurations, the protrusion 22 is provided on the neck 28 of the container 14 and the notch 20 is provided on the screw 18 of the lid 12, again producing an audible sound when the protrusion 22 is aligned with the notch 20. Can be with things.

  The number of protrusions 22 on the lid 12 need not necessarily be equal to the number of notches 20 on the container screw 16. It is possible to have a greater number of protrusions 22 than the notches 20, or vice versa. For example, the lid 12 may include four protrusions 22 and the container 14 may include only two notches, in which case the two protrusions 22 of the lid 12 remain unfit in the notches 20. Alternatively, there may be at least one protrusion 22 and at least one corresponding notch 20 for each protrusion 22. Further, preferably, there are at least three protrusions 22 and corresponding notches 20 for each protrusion, for example, at least three notches 20, and more preferably, as shown in FIGS. There may be four separate protrusions 22 and four notches 20. By having at least three protrusions and three notches, a uniform deformation of the neck 28 of the container 14 and / or the base 32 of the lid 12 can be maintained. This further facilitates mating of the protrusions 22 and notches 20 when the container 14 returns to its original, undeformed shape, thereby providing an audible indication.

  From the above, by providing a sounding closing mechanism for the threaded container, the closure and the notch closing system located on the neck of the container can be engaged and when fully closed It can be seen that an audible sound can be produced. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described aspects and embodiments, or is not limited to specific embodiments. Various variations of the sounding closing mechanism result in substantially the same mechanism.

A is a cross-sectional view of the lid protrusion positioned adjacent to the tip of the container neck male thread; B is a cross-sectional view of the lid protrusion positioned over the container neck male thread; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lid protrusion located at the notch in the male thread of the container neck. It is a top view of a container. It is a bottom view of a lid. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container shown with a lid spaced above the neck of the container. It is a perspective view of the container neck which shows an external thread and a notch.

Claims (20)

In a container with a sounding closing mechanism,
A body with a neck surrounding the opening;
A male thread on the neck having at least one notch;
A lid with a top wall and a skirt hanging from the wall;
A female thread in the skirt that engages with the male thread on the neck and at least one protrusion extending radially inwardly, and located between the female thread and the top wall in a notch in the male thread A protrusion inserted with a sound instruction;
A container characterized by comprising.   The male male thread of the neck has at least three notches spaced approximately equally, and the skirt has at least three protrusions extending substantially radially inwardly. The container according to claim 1. The male screw has at least three discontinuous male screws along an outer surface of the neck, the male screw is inclined, and an uppermost end of the first male screw is overlapped with a lowermost end of the second male screw, The uppermost end of the male screw includes a notch;
The female screw has at least three discontinuous screws along the inner surface of the skirt, and the female screw is inclined so that the uppermost end of the first female screw overlaps the lowermost end of the second female screw, and each of the protrusions is , Disposed along the inner surface of the skirt between the uppermost end of adjacent female threads and the inner surface of the top wall;
The container according to claim 2.   The at least three notches are adjacent to the ends of at least three discontinuous male threads so that each of the discontinuous male threads includes a long portion and a short portion separated by the notches. container.   5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the at least three protrusions are adjacent to the end points of at least three discrete female threads.   The container according to claim 5, wherein the number of notches is different from the number of protrusions.   6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the number of notches and protrusions is four.   7. The protrusion of claim 6, wherein the protrusion engages with a discontinuous male thread to deform at least one of the neck of the container and the lid of the lid until the protrusion is aligned with the notch of the neck. container.   9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion engages with an inclined portion of a discontinuous male screw, and the inclined portion is located at a short portion of the discontinuous male screw.   10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the audible indication occurs when the protrusion engages within the notch and indicates that the lid is in a fully rotated and closed position.   The container according to claim 10, wherein a peripheral length of the protrusion is longer than a peripheral length of the notch.   11. The screw according to claim 10, wherein the protrusion engages with a screw of the container to prevent loosening of the screw between the lid and the container during transportation and movement of the container. container.   The container according to claim 10, wherein each of the protrusions has a front end and a rear end, and the front end is a first end edge of the protrusion in contact with the notch, and is curved.   11. The container according to claim 10, wherein each of the protrusions has a front end and a rear end, and the front end is a first end edge of the protrusion in contact with the notch and is linear.   The male thread has four discontinuous male threads along the outer surface of the neck, each male thread has a notch, and the female thread has four discontinuous female threads along the inner surface of the sock. The container according to claim 1, wherein four protrusions are arranged along the inner surface of the skirt between the uppermost end of the female screw and the inner surface of the top wall.   The container according to claim 15, wherein a circumferential length of the protrusion is longer than a circumferential length of the notch.   16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the audible indication occurs when the protrusion engages within the notch and indicates that the lid is fully rotated and closed. In a method for indicating by sound the position of a lid on a container,
Providing at least three protrusions of approximately equal spacing between the internal thread and the top wall of the lid;
Providing at least three notches spaced approximately equal to the male thread on the neck of the container body;
Deforming at least one of the neck of the container and the lid of the lid by engaging the protrusion with the male screw;
Returning at least one of the neck of the container and the bottom of the lid to an undeformed state by aligning the protrusion with the notch of the male thread;
A method comprising the steps. The male screw has at least three discontinuous male screws along an outer surface of the neck, the male screw is inclined, and an uppermost end of the first male screw is overlapped with a lowermost end of the second male screw, The uppermost end of the male screw includes a notch;
The female screw has at least three discontinuous screws along the inner surface of the skirt, and the female screw is inclined so that the uppermost end of the first female screw overlaps the lowermost end of the second female screw, and each of the protrusions is , Disposed along the inner surface of the skirt between the uppermost end of adjacent female threads and the inner surface of the top wall;
The method according to claim 18, wherein: In a container with a sounding closing mechanism,
A lid having a top wall and a skirt hanging from the top wall;
An internal thread in the skirt having at least one notch;
A body with a neck surrounding the opening;
A male thread on the neck for engaging the female thread and at least one outwardly extending protrusion, located between the male thread and the opening, in at least one notch in the female thread A protrusion inserted with an audible sound;
A container characterized by comprising.

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