US3893587A

US3893587A - Coffeemaker lid

Info

Publication number: US3893587A
Application number: US412617A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Frank Loch
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1973-11-05
Filing date: 1973-11-05
Publication date: 1975-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-08
Also published as: AU476990B2; JPS5073773A; CA1029976A; AU7516074A

Abstract

A coffeemaker lid with an annular skirt adapted to fit within a top opening of a coffeemaker container wherein the annular skirt is formed with a plurality of upwardly extending integral plastic fingers for gripping the inside wall of the container to securely hold the lid on the coffeemaker.

Description

Q United States Patent 1191 1111 Loch July 8, 1975 [5 1 COFFEEMAKER LID 3,072,287 1/1963 Sampson............................ 220/245 3,270,911 9 1966 S k 220 55 [751 Invent Frank Center 3,677,434 7/1972 1 220559 Valley, 18034 3,809,285 5/1974 Unger. D7/62 Assignee: General lecric Co p ny Krause Bridgeport. Conn- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed; Nov, 5, 1973 1,454,032 3/1969 Germany 220/42 B [21] Appl' Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Assistant Examiner-R. E. Hart [52] US. Cl 220/356; 220/252 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Leonard J. Plait; George R. [51] Int. Cl 86511 43/08 Powers; John F. Cullen [58] Field of Search 220/24.5, 42, 60, 55 Y,

220/55 K, 59, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356; [57 ABSTRACT 137/59 A coffeemaker lid with an annular skirt adapted to fit $32121n thZZnEETE1Slli i lffiiiifi UNITED STATES PATENTS upwardly extending integral plastic fingers for gripping 955,500 4/19 H) Clark 220/24.5 the inside wall of the container to ecurely the 1,464,584 8/1923 215 317 on the coffeemakfi 1,512,347 10/1924 Lorenz 2l5/3l7 1,609,078 11/1926 Floyd 215/317 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 COFFEEMAKER up BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a coffeemaker, and more particularly, to a plastic lid which is uniquely constructed so that it may be securely held on the coffeemaker.

In the manufacture of electric Coffeemakers. it is conventional to provide a lid for closing the top opening of the coffeemaker container. Such coffeemaker lids usually include downwardly extending skirt portions which are positioned within the upper portion of the coffeemaker container, and it is common practice to provide some mechanism for holding the lid on the coffeemaker so that it may not be inadvertently removed. Perhaps the most common construction is a metal lid which includes an annular skirt having a plurality of outwardly extending bumps or protuberances on the exterior surface of the skirt so that the bumps will provide an interference fit with the surrounding inner surface of the container.

In a prior US. Pat. No. 3,270,911, to Sacks, dated Sept. 6, 1966, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, there is disclosed a flexible metal clip 24 which extends upwardly along the annular skirt of such a lid for holding the lid on the coffeemaker.

It is especially desirable to provide a lid that is easy and simple to remove and also is constructed to have sufficient retention qualities so that it remains on the coffeemaker in the event that the coffeemaker is accidentally tipped over.

Accordingly it is a primary object of my invention to provide an improved coffeemaker lid which may be readily positioned on and removed from the coffeemaker, and which will be reliably held on the coffeemaker in the event that the coffeemaker is accidentally tipped over.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a coffeemaker lid having relatively few parts which may be readily manufactured at relatively low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one of the aspects of this invention, a coffeemaker includes a container having a top opening with downwardly extending side walls, and a lid for closing the top opening. The lid is constructed with a top wall of a size slightly larger than the size of the top opening and an integrally formed skirt wall which extends downwardly from the top wall. The overall size of the skirt wall is generally smaller than the top opening so that it may be inserted within the top opening so that an outwardly extending flange portion of the top wall will rest on top edge surfaces of the side wall of the utensil. A plurality of lid retaining fingers are uniquely formed with the downwardly extending skirt of the lid for securely holding the lid on the coffeemaker. The fingers are integrally formed with a lower portion of the skirt and extend upwardly from the lower portion of the skirt so that they may readily flex outwardly for gripping the downward extending inside wall of the container when the lid is positioned on the container.

With this unique simplified construction, the lower skirt portion of the lid in the vicinity of the fingers may be made thin enough so that it may also flex and act as a torsion bar as the fingers are flexed inwardly and outwardly to thereby enable relatively large inward and outward movement of the fingers as the lid is positioned on and removed from the coffeemaker container. By this arrangement, the flexible fingers are also able to provide sufficient holding power so that the lid will remain on the coffeemaker in the event that a full pot of hot coffee is accidentally tipped over. While a slight amount of coffee may leak through the small gaps between the lid and the body of the coffeemaker, there will not be a splash of hot coffee which could cause scalding or other injury.

In addition, with this integrally molded construction, the flexible fingers may be readily formed of varying thickness or thinness in order to achieve just the right amount of flexibility and holding power. Likewise. the lower skirt portions with which the fingers are integrally formed may also be formed sufficiently thin so that they may flex as the fingers flex inwardly and outwardly. It can also be appreciated that with this construction, the lower skirt portions with which the fingers are integrally formed may be partially slotted from the skirt so that they may extend as far as desired on opposite sides of the fingers to achieve the desired flexibility.

Moreover, with this simplified construction. the outer surfaces of the fingers that grip the inside walls of the utensil may be shaped to complement the shape of the inside wall of the utensil.

While this unique construction provides an improved more effective lid which may be held on the coffeemaker even when the coffeemaker is accidentally tipped over, the construction is achieved with no additional parts. All of the portions of the lid including the flexible fingers and the lower flexible skirt portions to which they are attached may be integrally formed with the plastic Coffeemaker lid at the same time that the lid is being molded. Thus an exceedingly simple, yet effective and reliable coffeemaker lid construction has been achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view partially in crosssection of a Coffeemaker and a lid constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the lid of the coffeemaker shown in FIG. 1 showing the lid in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view generally similar to FIG. 2 showing the lid being removed from the coffeemaker; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view partially in crosssection of the coffeemaker lid shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and first particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a coffeemaker which includes my unique lid construction. The coffeemaker includes a container or body portion 2 which may be conventionally formed of aluminum or stainless steel, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the upper portion 4 of the generally cylindrical side wall of the coffeemaker body tapers outwardly to form an inside wall surface 6 which extends downwardly and outwardly from a top opening 8 in the coffeemaker body.

As shown, the body includes a cut or flat top wall 10 which merges rather abruptly with the inside surface 6 with no rolled curl which is sometimes formed on coffeemaker bodies. It is generally considered that it would be more difficult to provide a lid that would stay on a cut-top body coffeemaker than one that would stay on a coffeemaker with a rolled curl top surface. My improved coffeemaker lid is effective with coffeemaker bodies that are constructed with a rolled curl top or a cut-top, and thus, the preferred embodiment illustrated shows the more difficult cut-top" body.

The lid 3 illustrated in the preferred embodiment includes a generally flat, although somewhat conically shaped top wall 12 which is formed with an outward extending flange portion 14 which abuts the top surface 10 of the cofi'eemaker body to limit the inward or outward movement of the lid. The lid also includes a downward extending annular skirt portion 16 which fits within the open top 8 of the coffeemaker body. The percolator lid may also be provided with a suitable bubbler knob 18 for removing the lid from the coffeemaker and for observing the coffee as it is being perked.

In accordance with my invention, the lid 3 is formed of polycarbonate or other suitable plastic that may be readily molded, and that is somewhat flexible at room temperature as well as the temperature of the heated coffee. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4, a plurality of flexible fingers 20 are integrally formed with lower generally horizontal portions 22 of the skirt 16 for holding the lid on the coffeemaker. In order to achieve this, a plurality of omega shaped slots 24 are formed in the lower portion of the annular skirt for forming a plurality of fingers 20 and their associated lower horizontal Webs 22.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that each of the fingers are shaped to provide a relatively thick side wall portion 26 a short distance downwardly from its top 28 with a gradually reduced thickness portion 30 to its integral juncture with its lower horizontal torsion web 22. It can also be seen that the lower horizontal torsion web 22 is relatively thin as compared with the thickest portion 26 of the fingers.

With this construction, rather rugged flexible fingers 20 and lower horizontal torsion webs 22 are produced which are very difiicult to break away from the skirt 16 of the coffeemaker lid. There is no clear cut line of division between the fingers and the skirt, and thus, both the fingers and the skirt may be subjected to considerable force without breaking. Moreover, with this construction the fingers may be moved inwardly and outwardly far enough to readily grip and hold the lid on the body of the coffeemaker.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, eight flexible fingers 20 are used for holding the lid on the coffeemaker body, and it has been found that this number is sufficiently effective to compensate for any usual manufacturing out of roundness of metal coffeemaker bodies. However, it is to be understood that the number of fingers may be increased or decreased depending on the size of the opening and other construction parameters.

In use, the lid 3 is inserted in the top opening 8 of the coffeemaker and the plurality of lid fingers 20 are deflected out of their rest positions illustrated in FIG. 2 to their deflected positions illustrated in FIG. 3 with the outside surfaces 34 of the fingers being substantially in line with the outside wall surface of the skirt 16. It can be appreciated that the lid may be quickly inserted within the coffeemaker opening 8 and the fingers 20 will readily snap back outwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 as soon as the fingers are moved past the top opening. This is enhanced since the inside wall 6 of the coffeemaker body is tapered so that it extends downward and outward away from the top opening. in other words, the coffeemaker body is constructed with a smaller diameter at the top and increasing diameter downward away from the top.

During lid insertion, each flexible spring finger 20 tends to deflect not only along its length but it also causes deflection in its generally horizontal torsion web 22 which act as a kind of torsion bar suspension for its flexible finger 20.

It can be appreciated that when the lid 3 is removed this process is reversed and the protruding thicker portions 26 of the spring fingers first move into contact with the downward and outward extending side wall of the body member 4 and then the continued upward movement of the lid will force the fingers inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3. Naturally, upon further upward movement of the coffeemaker lid, the fingers will be allowed to snap outwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

One of the important aspects of my invention that concerns the overall shape of the coffeemaker body, the shape of the lid and the selection of a metal coffeemaker body with a polycarbonate coffeemaker lid, is that the lid removal force with this unique selection of shapes and materials is substantially the same with a hot coffeemaker as it is with a relatively cool coffeemaker. Although molded polycarbonate expands more when hot than the complementary metal expands when it is hot, the modulus of elasticity of polycarbonate decreases with an increase in temperature. Thus, there is a tighter fit between the lid and the body when the coffeemaker is hot than when it is cold, but the fingers 20 and the torsion webs 22 are more flexible when they are hot so that the removal force remains about the same. Accordingly, the shape and parameters of the coffeemaker body and the lid of this invention are such that the load or removal force necessary to remove the lid from the coffeemaker is essentially the same with a hot coffeemaker as it is with a cold coffeemaker.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that my unique coffeemaker lid is constructed so that it may be readily positioned on and removed from a coffeemaker and that it possesses sufficient gripping force in relation to the coffeemaker body that it will be effectively held on the coffeemaker body in the event that a hot pot of coffee is accidentally tipped over. The principal portions of the lid are all integrally molded with each other and are readily formed of the desired degree of thickness and thinness. The unique omega shaped slots form the fingers and their associated torsion webs. Thus, an exceedingly simple yet reliable coffeemaker lid is achieved with the use of relatively low cost material and few parts.

What I claim is:

l. A utensil comprising:

a. a container having a top opening and a downwardly extending inside wall;

b. a lid for closing said top opening having a top wall larger than the top opening of said container and a molded plastic skirt wall extending downwardly from the top wall, said skirt wall being generally smaller than the top opening of said container so that it may extend within the container, and said skirt wall having upper and lower wall portions;

c. a plurality of lid retaining fingers integrally formed with said skirt wall, said fingers being integrally formed with the lower wall portion of said skirt and extending upwardly from the lower portion of said skirt for gripping the downwardly extending inside wall of said container when the lid is positioned on said container; and

d. the lower wall portion of said skirt extending a significant distance downwardly from said fingers and the wall portion of said skirt that extends downwardly from said fingers having a generally smooth circular outer surface and being thinner than portions of said fingers.

2. A utensil as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of slots are formed in said skirt wall, each of said slots partially surrounding said fingers for permitting said fingers to be moved inwardly as said lid is positioned on and removed from the opening in said container.

3. A utensil as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said slots is generally omega shaped and includes side portions which extend outwardly away from the lower portions of said fingers to provide flexible horizontal webs for supporting the lower portions of said fingers, the webs being formed with sufficient thinness and flexibility so that they are readily deformed as the skirt and its fingers are positioned within the opening in the container, the resiliency of the webs and the resiliency of the fingers themselves cooperating to form a unified integral lid which may be readily positioned and removed from the utensil without breaking the webs or the fingers.

4. A utensil as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is formed of metal and said lid is integrally formed of a polycarbonate material, said polycarbonate lid expanding upon an increase in temperature but the modulus of elasticity of said polycarbonate material decreasing with an increase in temperature so that the removal force necessary to remove the lid when the utensil is hot is essentially the same as the removal force necessary to remove the lid when the utensil is cold.

5. A coffeemaker comprising:

a. a coffeemaker container having a top opening and a downwardly and outwardly extending inside wall;

b. a lid for closing said top opening having a top wall larger than the top opening of said container and an integrally formed molded plastic skirt wall extending downwardly from the top wall, said skirt wall being generally smaller than the top opening of said container so that it may extend within the container, and said skirt wall having upper and lower wall portions;

c. a plurality of lid retaining fingers formed with said skirt wall, said fingers being integrally formed with the lower wall portion of said skirt and extending upwardly from the lower portion of said skirt, the middle portion of each of said fingers being formed as a relatively thick portion so that the outside wall portion of each of said fingers extend upwardly and outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly for gripping the downwardly and outwardly extending inside walls of said container the fingers being urged outwardly with sufficient force so as to hold the lid on the container in the event the container having hot brewed coffee therein is accidentally tipped over; and

6. A molded plastic lid for closing the top opening of a container comprising:

a. a top wall and an integrally formed molded plastic skirt wall extending downwardly from the top wall, said skirt wall being generally smaller than the top opening of said container so that it may extend within the container, and said skirt wall having upper and lower wall portions;

b. a plurality of lid retaining fingers formed with said skirt wall, said fingers being integrally formed with the lower portion of said skirt and extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower portion of said skirt for gripping the container when the lid is positioned on said container, the fingers being urged outwardly with sufficient force so as to hold the lid on the container in the event the container is accidentally tipped over; and

c. the lower wall portion of said skirt extending a significant distance downwardly from said fingers and the wall portion of said skirt that extends downwardly from said fingers having a generally smooth circular outer surface and being thinner than portions of said fingers.

I i I i

Claims

1. A utensil comprising: a. a container having a top opening and a downwardly extending inside wall; b. a lid for closing said top opening having a top wall larger than the top opening of said container and a molded plastic skirt wall extending downwardly from the top wall, said skirt wall being generally smaller than the top opening of said container so that it may extend within the container, and said skirt wall having upper and lower wall portions; c. a plurality of lid retaining fingers integrally formed with said skirt wall, said fingers being integrally formed with the lower wall portion of said skirt and extending upwardly from the lower portion of said skirt for gripping the downwardly extending inside wall of said container when the lid is positioned on said container; and d. the lower wall portion of said skirt extending a significant distance downwardly from said fingers and the wall portion of said skirt that extends downwardly from said fingers having a generally smooth circular outer surface and being thinner than portions of said fingers.

5. A coffeemaker comprising: a. a coffeemaker container having a top opening and a downwardly and outwardly extending inside wall; b. a lid for closing said top opening having a top wall larger than the top opening of said container and an integrally formed molded plastic skirt wall extending downwardly from the top wall, said skirt wall being generally smaller than the top opening of said container so that it may extend within the container, and said skirt wall having upper and lower wall portions; c. a plurality of lid retaining fingers formed with said skirt wall, said fingers being integrally formed with the lower wall portion of said skirt and extending upwardly from the lower portion of said skirt, the middle portion of each of said fingers being formed as a relatively thick portion so that the outside wall portion of each of said fingers extend upwardly and outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly for gripping the downwardly and outwardly extending inside walls of said container the fingers being urged outwardly with sufficient force so as to hold the lid on the container in the event the container having hot brewed coffee therein is accidentally tipped over; and d. the lower wall portion of said skirt extending a significant distance downwardly from said fingers and the wall portion of said skirt that extends downwardly from said fingers having a generally smooth circular outer surface and being thinner than portions of said fingers.

6. A molded plastic lid for closing the top opening of a container comprising: a. a top wall and an integrally formed molded plastic skirt wall extending downwardly from the top wall, said skirt wall being generally smaller than the top opening of said container so that it may extend within the container, and said skirt wall having upper and lower wall portions; b. a plurality of lid retaining fingers formed with said skirt wall, said fingers being integrally formed with the lower portion of said skirt and extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower portion of said skirt for gripping the container when the lid is positioned on said container, the fingers being urged outwardly with sufficient force so as to hold the lid on the container in the event the container is accidentally tipped over; and c. the lower wall portion of said skirt extending a significant distance downwardly from said fingers and the wall portion of said skirt that extends downwardly from said fingers having a generally smooth circular outer surface and being thinner than portions of said fingers.