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WO2007047590A2 - Couvercle a bec verseur refermable - Google Patents

Couvercle a bec verseur refermable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007047590A2
WO2007047590A2 PCT/US2006/040392 US2006040392W WO2007047590A2 WO 2007047590 A2 WO2007047590 A2 WO 2007047590A2 US 2006040392 W US2006040392 W US 2006040392W WO 2007047590 A2 WO2007047590 A2 WO 2007047590A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tab
reclosable
lid
drink
opening
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2006/040392
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2007047590A3 (fr
Inventor
Michael G. Evans
Original Assignee
Waddington North America, Inc.
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 Waddington North America, Inc. filed Critical Waddington North America, Inc.
Publication of WO2007047590A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007047590A2/fr
Publication of WO2007047590A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007047590A3/fr

Links

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
    • 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
    • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
    • B65D43/0212—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth
    • 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
    • B65D47/061—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with telescopic, retractable or reversible spouts, tubes or nozzles
    • B65D47/063—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with telescopic, retractable or reversible spouts, tubes or nozzles with flexible parts
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00259—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
    • B65D2543/00342—Central part of the lid
    • B65D2543/00351—Dome-like
    • 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
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container 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
    • 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
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00509—Cup
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00555—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on both the inside and the outside
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00611—Profiles
    • B65D2543/00638—Rolled edge
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00685—Totality
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
    • B65D2543/00731—Groove or hollow bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00787—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00796—Totality

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a reclosable spout that can be employed on a variety of lids, closures and containers for facilitating drinking, dispensing, or pouring therefrom. More particularly, this invention in one embodiment relates to a drinking-cup Hd having a reclosable spout for providing a reclosable drink-through opening within the lid.
  • Disposable drinking cups and lids are well known in the art and find wide-spread use in restaurants, diners, cafeterias and households. Almost all lids designed for use with drinking cups have a provision for a drink-through opening which allows a user to consume the beverage contained in the drinking cup without removing the lid therefrom. A drink- through opening is particularly desirable while consuming hot beverages such as tea or coffee.
  • a general feature on most common lid designs is a drink-through opening created by tearing away a small section of the lid in the form of a tab or flap.
  • the torn flap section is permanently severed from the cup to reveal the drink-through opening in some designs; while in other designs, the torn flap section is folded back and secured within a tab- retaining or locking feature provided on the surface of the lid.
  • Numerous prior teachings describe lids featuring a removable and/or a tear-back and/or a fold-back type tab for creating a drink-through opening in the lid, including for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,459; 4,753 ,365; 5,392,949;
  • Another category of lid designs features a drink-through opening by merely providing a small unobstructed aperture or hole within the lid so that the customer does not have to tear-off, remove, fold or lock anything to access the beverage.
  • Still another lid design sold by Dart Container Corporation, comprises a two-piece lid assembly wherein the main lid body includes a secondary piece assembled thereto.
  • the secondary piece has a closure tab which is adapted to cover and seal the drink-through opening provided in the main lid body.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,490 teaches yet another lid design which includes an aperture and a flexible tab having a closure thereon that is connected to the main body of the lid; the closure can be bent over the main body of the lid and engage with the aperture so as to seal it.
  • U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,874,649; 6,889,860 and 6,929143 teach a projecting tab that can be partially separated from the rest of the lid along a fault line and pivoted about a hinge and folded back.
  • tear- back flap type lid configurations are either not reclosable or only partially reclosable and therefore not sufficiently leak resistant after the tear-back flap has been deployed.
  • One embodiment of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of prior lids and to provide a lid which obviates the need for having a tear-back flap or tab and does not require subj ecting the lid to any "tearing along a fault line.”
  • Still another aspect of the invention is to obviate any flap-retaining features that are usually provided in lids having tear-back flaps and does not require "tucking away the torn-off flap into a retaining feature on the lid”.
  • Another feature of the present invention is to provide a lid having a reclosable spout which is adapted for forming a drink-through opening in its open position and closing off the drink-through opening in its closed position.
  • Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a lid with a reclosable spout that is integral to the lid and is not a separate piece or assembly.
  • Yet another feature of the invention is to provide a lid with a novel reclosable spout that can be comfortably operated or opened and closed with one hand.
  • One embodiment of the present invention is to provide a drinking- cup lid having a reclosable tab which can be alternated between an open position and a closed position by a user; wherein the reclosable tab in its open position is adapted for creating a drink-through opening in the lid, and in its closed position is adapted for closing the drink-through opening.
  • Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a drinking-cup lid having a reclosable tab and an integral hinge; wherein the reclosable tab is adapted for alternating between an open position and a closed position about the integral hinge; and wherein the reclosable tab in its open position is adapted for creating a drink-through opening in the lid, and in its closed position is adapted for closing the drink-through opening.
  • Yet another feature according to one of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an inj ection-molded polypropylene lid that features a reclosable spout that is adapted for forming a drink-through opening in its open position and closing the drink-through opening in its closed position.
  • a drinking-cup lid having a reclosable tab, an integral hinge and a sealing edge is provided. The reclosable tab can be moved about the integral hinge to an open position by pulling the removable tab away from the sealing edge; or to a closed position by pushing the reclosable tab against the sealing edge.
  • the reclosable tab in its open position, is adapted to define a drink-through opening in the lid through which a user can consume a beverage from the drinking-cup without removing the lid. In its closed position, the reclosable tab is adapted to close the drink-through opening in a leak-resistant manner.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of lid 10 and drinking cup 20 showing reclosable tab 80 in its open position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of lid 10 and drinking cup 20 through reclosable tab 80 shown in its open position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of lid 10 through reclosable tab 80 shown in its open position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a top view of lid 10 showing reclosable tab 80 in its open position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of lid 10 and drinking cup 20 showing reclosable tab 80 in its closed position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the lid 10 through reclosable tab 80 shown in its closed position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a top view of lid 10 showing reclosable tab 80 in its closed position according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the present invention provides a plastic lid with an integral reclosable tab which can be alternated to an open position or a closed position by a user for respectively providing a drink-through opening or closing off the drink-through opening.
  • a particular advantage of the lid made according to an embodiment of the present invention is the ability to create a drink-through opening by pulling-out the reclosable tab; and closing off the drink-through opening by pushing-in the reclosable tab against a sealing edge or a depending surface.
  • the reclosable tab of the present invention allows a user to create a drink- through opening in the lid, without requiring the user to tear-off a tab away from the body of the lid and without requiring the tab to be folded-back or locked into a recessed area within the lid.
  • the lid of the present invention finds particular application in disposable drinking cups typically used for holding cold and hot beverages which are generally constructed from paper, plastic or foam materials.
  • Lid 10 is adapted to rest and fit onto a drinking cup 20 and engage with the cup lip 22 as particularly shown in FIG. 2.
  • Lid 10 has an outer side 30 and an underside 40.
  • the outer side 30 of lid 10 is intended to be on the outside when lid 10 is placed on drinking cup 20 in the intended manner shown typically in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Underside 40 of lid 10 is the side that faces the cup 20 when lid 10 is placed on the cup 20 in the intended manner, again typically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Lid 10 comprises an outer peripheral portion 50, an interim annular portion 60 lying above outer peripheral portion 50, and a central body portion 70.
  • outer peripheral portion 50 of lid 10 is adapted for engaging with drinking cup 20, and underside 40 has an underside peripheral channel 54 which typically has a C-shaped or U- shaped cross-section and which is adapted to grip and receive the cup lip 22 therein, and thereby form a leak-tight seal between the respective perimeters of lid 10 and drinking cup 20.
  • Cup lip 22 may comprise a rolled-lip configuration as shown in FIG. 2. Alternately, cup lip 22 may be in the form of a bead or a turned-down lip or other similar configuration as is well know to those skilled in the art.
  • Outer peripheral portion 50 of lid 10 also has a peripheral skirt 52 which extends downwardly from the underside peripheral channel 54 and flares outwardly therefrom. Peripheral skirt 52 facilitates a good lid-fit by centering and guiding cup lip 22 within peripheral channel 54 when lid 10 is pushed downwardly against cup lip 22.
  • Interim annular portion 60 comprises an outer sidewall 61, a top wall 62 and an inner sidewall 63.
  • Underside peripheral channel 54 is connected to outer sidewall 61 and defines a peripheral recess 56 therebetween; peripheral recess 56 is disposed on the outer side 30 of lid 10.
  • Interim annular portion 60 extends upwardly from the inward edge of peripheral recess 56 along outer sidewall 61, including a top wall portion 62 about the frontal section 65, and slopes downwardly along inner sidewall 63 and circumscribes central body portion 70 of lid 10.
  • Outer sidewall 61, top wall 62 and inner sidewall 63 cooperate to form a raised frontal section 65 and ramp down on either side of the raised frontal section 65 to form a relatively shallow section 67.
  • raised frontal section 65 includes a reclosable tab 80.
  • Reclosable tab 80 has a tab front wall 82 and an arcuate hinge 81 which integrally connects tab front wall 82 to the outer sidewall 61.
  • Tab front wall 82 of reclosable tab 80 has an arcuate tab end 83.
  • Reclosable tab 80 can be alternated between an open position and a closed position by respectively pulling or pushing on tab front wall 82 proximate to arcuate tab end 83 and thereby causing tab front wall 82 to flex about arcuate hinge 81.
  • Arcuate hinge 81 is shown to have a general parabolic shape although other curved profiles are within the scope of the invention. [0039] In FIGS.
  • reclosable tab 80 is shown in its open position; and, in FIGS. 5 through 7, reclosable tab 80 is shown in its closed position.
  • reclosable tab 80 is integral to the lid and arcuate hinge 81 integrally connects tab front wall 82 to the outer side wall 61.
  • the lid 20 is constructed of suitable materials that inherently have a living hinge property. It will be realized that tab front wall 82 is characterized by being flexible enough to allow a user to open and close tab 80 with relative ease.
  • the integral hinge construction may comprise a thin membrane junction between the lid body and the reclosable tab which imparts certain flex characteristics to the reclosable tab thereby allowing its movement about the integral hinge.
  • Raised frontal section 65 also includes a sealing edge 64 provided in the top wall 62.
  • sealing edge 64 has an arcuate periphery which is curved inwardly towards the center of lid 10 and is of opposite curvature compared to the outer sidewall 61 ; in other words sealing edge 64 is concave while outer sidewall 61 is convex.
  • Other sealing configurations and profiles are within the scope of the invention.
  • tab front wall 82 flares outwardly (or convexly) and is spaced away from sealing edge 64 thereby creating a drink-through opening 90 defined by the ' eye-shaped' gap between sealing edge 64 and tab front wall 82 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.
  • Drink-through opening 90 is defined by a stationary or fixed side provided by sealing edge 64 and a reclosable or adjustable boundary provided by the tab front wall 82 in its convex (or open) position.
  • Drink- through opening 90 allows a user to drink therethrough, wherein the shape and size of the opening 90 depends upon the dimensions of the tab 80.
  • Drink-through opening 90 can be closed by pushing tab front wall 82 towards sealing edge 64. In the closed position of reclosable tab 80, tab front wall 82 curves inwardly (or concavely) and seals against sealing edge 64 as best shown in FIG. 6. It will be realized by those of ordinary skill that the sealing edge surface may be further modified to include a smooth bead or depending skirt for facilitating sealing.
  • Arcuate tab end 83 projects slightly above sealing edge 64 as shown in FIG. 6, for allowing accessibility thereto so that a user can comfortably pull tab front wall 82 and reopen reclosable tab 80.
  • Sealing edge 64 is adapted to provide a sealing or depending surface against which reclosable tab 80 can be pushed closed. In its closed position reclosable tab 80 closes drink-through opening 90 as shown in FIGS. 5 through 7.
  • the raised frontal section 65 and reclosable tab 80 are adapted and dimensioned for positioning them between user's lips for comfortably drinking therethrough.
  • Reclosable tab 80 is adapted for allowing a user to open or close drink-through opening 90 by respectively pulling or pushing tab front wall 82 away from or against sealing edge 64.
  • Tab front wall 82 and arcuate tab end 83 are also suitably dimensioned to allow a user to manipulate them with his/her thumb or finger.
  • a feature of the reclosable tab 80 is that it is flexible enough to allows a user to close the drink- through opening 90 by pushing on tab front wall 82; yet it is resilient enough to prevent a user from accidentally or inadvertently closing it while the user is drinking therethrough.
  • the height of the tab 80 in one embodiment extends slightly above the height of the raised front section 65 thereby allowing the user to easily manipulate the tab 80.
  • the inner sidewall 63 of the interim annual portion 60 is connected to the central body portion 70 of lid 10 via mid wall 72.
  • Mid wall 72 may also include a centrally located vent hole 74.
  • Vent hole 74 is adapted for maintaining pressure equilibrium between the interior of the lidded cup and the surroundings to allow the user to comfortably drink from the cup. Vent hole 74 may further serve as a drain hole for any excess beverage that accidentally overflows on the top of central body portion 70.
  • lid 10 is made by the process of inj ection molding.
  • lid 10 can be adapted for manufacture by other known methods of processing plastics.
  • lid 10 is made of a suitable thermoplastic material which can be processed by common polymer processing methods known in the art.
  • the choice of a thermoplastic resin is typically governed by a variety of factors including cost, resin processability and other functional requirements of the plastic part.
  • lid 10 is made from a suitable grade of polypropylene resin that features living-hinge properties for optimal functioning and sustained operation of the integral reclosable tab 80.
  • Numerous other embodiments are possible and within the scope of the invention. For example, although various general functional elements of lid 10 and particularly reclosable tab 80 have been described herein in conjunction with FIGS.
  • lid 10 and reclosable tab 80 in accordance with user and market preferences.
  • the utility of the reclosable spout integrated within lid 10 is not necessarily limited to a drinking-cup lid and can be implemented into other container structures such as a closure for a bottle, a pour spout for a bottle or a carton or a cup.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un couvercle pourvu d'un bec verseur refermable permettant d'obtenir une ouverture refermable par laquelle on peut boire et destiné à être utilisé avec des gobelets jetables. Le couvercle comprend une languette refermable, une charnière intégrée et un bord d'étanchéité, la languette refermable pouvant passer, autour de la charnière intégrée, d'une position ouverte lorsqu'on éloigne la languette refermable du bord d'étanchéité à une position fermée lorsqu'on pousse la languette refermable contre le bord d'étanchéité, et inversement. La languette refermable, dans sa position ouverte, définit une ouverture par laquelle on peut boire dans le couvercle qui permet à un utilisateur de consommer une boisson contenue dans le gobelet sans enlever le couvercle. Dans sa position fermée, la languette refermable est conçue pour fermer l'ouverture par laquelle on peut boire d'une manière étanche. Le bec verseur refermable de la présente invention peut être utilisé sur une multitude de couvercles et de récipients pour qu'il soit plus facile de boire, de distribuer ou de verser un liquide à partir de ceux-ci.
PCT/US2006/040392 2005-10-14 2006-10-13 Couvercle a bec verseur refermable WO2007047590A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72714005P 2005-10-14 2005-10-14
US60/727,140 2005-10-14

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WO2007047590A2 true WO2007047590A2 (fr) 2007-04-26
WO2007047590A3 WO2007047590A3 (fr) 2007-06-28

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US (1) US20070131691A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007047590A2 (fr)

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USD747199S1 (en) 2014-01-15 2016-01-12 B.E. Inventive, Llc Closure for can
USD747649S1 (en) 2014-01-15 2016-01-19 B.E. Inventive, Llc Can end
US9878833B2 (en) 2008-11-26 2018-01-30 B.E. Inventive, Llc Container closure system
CN113842014A (zh) * 2021-08-03 2021-12-28 希诺股份有限公司 一种具有响声结构的旋转式茶水分离杯

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US9878833B2 (en) 2008-11-26 2018-01-30 B.E. Inventive, Llc Container closure system
USD747199S1 (en) 2014-01-15 2016-01-12 B.E. Inventive, Llc Closure for can
USD747649S1 (en) 2014-01-15 2016-01-19 B.E. Inventive, Llc Can end
CN113842014A (zh) * 2021-08-03 2021-12-28 希诺股份有限公司 一种具有响声结构的旋转式茶水分离杯

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Publication number Publication date
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WO2007047590A3 (fr) 2007-06-28

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