US20070278229A1

US20070278229A1 - Container lid with push button operation

Info

Publication number: US20070278229A1
Application number: US11/733,657
Authority: US
Inventors: William Li
Original assignee: XTRAORDINARY HOME PRODUCTS LLC
Current assignee: Focus Products Group LLC
Priority date: 2006-06-01
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2007-12-06

Abstract

A container assembly having a lid with a push button actuator that opens the lid with a first push of the button and closes the lid with a second push of the button is provided. The lid assembly includes a lower member threadedly attachable to a container and an up member hingedly or rotatably attached to the lower member. The lower member includes a horizontal aperture therethrough. A button member may be received within the aperture which includes a main shaft that is engageable with the hinge member of the upper member above the pivot point to open the lid when the button is first pushed. The main shaft includes an axially-extending recess that receives a rod member. The rod member is slidably attached to the main shaft on one end, and engageable with one or more bosses on the other end that are located below the pivot point.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/803,676, filed Jun. 1, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to containers and lids therefore. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers with a push button that opens and closes the lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types of containers and lids for containers are known in the art, yet despite the myriad of containers, problems with different containers remain. One problem that remains is that containers for condiments, food, and the like typically have a lid that is threadedly secured to the jar, or have another type of lid that can be difficult for some people to operate easily. While these containers may provide a secure attachment between the container and the lid, people with reduced strength in their hands may not be able to open the container readily, or securely close the container when finished with the contents.
Some other containers may have easier access to the container contents, they do not provide a secure connection. As such, there is a need for a container that opens and closes easily yet still provides a secure seal of the contents when closed. As such, the present invention is hereby presented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of a container assembly may comprise a lid that includes a push button actuator that opens the lid with a first push of the button, and closes the lid with a second push of the button. The lid assembly may comprise a lower member threadedly attachable to a container and an up member hingedly or rotatably attached to the lower member. The lower member may comprise a horizontal aperture therethrough. A button member may be received within the aperture. The button member may have a main shaft that is engageable with the hinge member of the upper member above the pivot point to open the lid when the button is first pushed. The main shaft may also include an axially-extending recess that receives a rod member. The rod member may be slidably attached to the main shaft on one end, and engageable with one or more bosses on the other end that are located below the pivot point. A spring may be located about the main shaft between a first proximal point near the button and the proximal end of the rod member, such that when the button is pushed a second time after the upper lid member is open, the spring provides an urging force on the rod member, which provides a force on the bosses located below the pivot point, to urge the upper lid member to close.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a container assembly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the circled portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is side elevational view of the container assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a second cross-section view of a container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the circled portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the container assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the container assembly of FIG. 4, shown button assembly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lower lid member.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the lower lid member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the lower lid member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the lower lid member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the circled “B” portion of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of an upper lid member.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the upper lid member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the upper lid member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the upper lid member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a second side elevational view of the upper lid member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is cross-sectional view of the upper lid member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a button member.

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the button member of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a top elevational view of the button member of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the button member of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a second perspective view of a button member.

FIG. 24 is an end view of the button member of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the button member of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the button member of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a rod member.

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the rod member of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of the rod member of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a second side elevational view of the rod member of FIG. 27.

FIG. 31 is an end view of the rod member of FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a container with lid assembly 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Lid assembly 10 may comprise lower lid member 14, illustrated in FIGS. 8-11; upper lid member 16, illustrated in FIGS. 13-18; button assembly 30, illustrated in FIGS. 19-26; and rod member 50, illustrated in FIGS. 27-31.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, lower lid member 14 may comprise a generally cylindrical member that may include threads on a bottom portion to connect to a container 12. Alternatively, lower member 14 may be selectively attached to container 12 by any of a plurality of other mechanisms known in the art without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Lower member 14 may additionally comprise a generally horizontal aperture 15 that receives button member 30 and rod member 50.
Lower lid member 14 may also include a notch 17 in an end opposite of the aperture orifice. The notch 17 may have opposing bosses 19 that face each other. Bosses 19 may provide one portion of an attachment mechanism between lower lid member 14 and upper lid member 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 13-18, upper lid member 16 may comprise a generally circular or disk-like structure that can be sized and shaped to be complementary to the upper surface of lower lid member 14. Obviously, the shape of lower lid member 14 and upper lid member 16 can be adapted to the particular preferences of each person and to the particular usage of the assembly.
As best illustrated in FIG. 13, upper lid member 16 may comprise connecting member 18. Connecting member 18 is an example of one embodiment that provides a rotatable connection between upper lid member 16 and lower lid member 14. Connecting member 18 may comprise a plurality of apertures 20 that receive bosses 19 in the notch 17 of lower lid member 14, such that the apertures 20 and bosses 19 form a rotational axis for the upper lid member 16.
As mentioned before, button member 30 is received in horizontal aperture 15 in the lower lid member 14. Button member 30 may comprise one or more detent, sprag, or catch members 44 that prevent the button from coming out of the aperture 15 once installed into the aperture 15. For example, detent members 44 may bias inward upon initial insertion of the button member 30 into aperture 15, and then subsequently may snap into engagement with a shoulder or other suitable surface inside aperture 15.
Button member 30 may also comprise a proximal button 32; a main shaft 34 having a distal end 38; a pair of lateral, axially-extending grooves 36; and a pair of radially extending bosses or other projections 40 near the proximal end, as illustrated in FIG. 19. The grooves 36 may also be formed as a single elongated aperture transversely through the main shaft 34. Grooves 36 may receive bosses 52 on rod member 50 (FIG. 27), as partially illustrated in FIG. 2. As such, rod 50 can preferably translate relative to main shaft 34 within the extent of grooves 36. As illustrated in FIG. 2, main shaft 34 may be cantilevered from button 32, and spring 46 may surround main shaft 34. Spring 46 may be abutted against or attached to bosses 40 on a proximal side, and against proximal end 56 of rod 50. Therefore, when rod 50 translates axially relative to main shaft 34, the spring 46 compresses, and when rod 50 translates distally (i.e., toward end 38) spring 46 expands. Pursuant to the spring action, when the button is pushed inward to open the upper lid member 16, the force of the spring 46 preferably returns the button to its original resting position.
The distal end 54 of rod 50 may abut bosses 22 on connector 18. Bosses 22 are preferably located vertically below the rotational axis of the upper lid member 16 when the upper lid member 16 is closed. Distal end 38 of main shaft 34 may be adjacent to a portion of the connector at a point vertically above the rotational axis of the upper lid member 16 when the upper lid member 16 is closed.
When the user pushes the button with the upper lid member 16 initially closed, distal end 38 of main shaft 34 provides a force upon connecting member 18 at a point 38 a vertically above the rotational axis of upper lid member 16. The force on rod 50 overcomes the spring force, and rod 50 is translated proximally relative to main shaft 34. As the main shaft end 38 continues to apply direct force to the upper lid 16 at surface 38 a above the rotational axis, the distal end 38 of main shaft 34 moves vertically upward and distally, partially due to the main shaft 34 being cantilevered from button 32, and partially due to the angle between surfaces 38 a and 38 b on connector 18 urging the distal end 38 of main shaft 34 upward during opening of upper lid 16. The angle between rod 50 and main shaft 34 is also changing, in that the distal end of rod 50 is vertically higher when the upper lid 16 is opened versus the upper lid closed. In other words, at the same time main shaft 34 is translating, rod 50 is translating relative to main shaft 34, and rod 50 rotates about an axis at its proximal end, such that the net effect is that distal end of rod 50 is vertically raised when the button is fully depressed, which may provide an at least partially downward force on main shaft 34.
When the button 32 is released, the spring 46 urges the button 30 back to its original position, and rod 50 translates back distally relative to the main shaft 34 and may aid in moving the main shaft vertically downward. As the button 32 is released and the main shaft 34 is biased proximally, distal end 38 of main shaft is vertically lowered back to near its original position. When the button 32 is pushed a second time, the distal end of main shaft 34 contacts the lid at a position 38 b vertically below the rotational axis or otherwise such that the lid is rotated in the opposite direction and therefore closed.
In short, when the upper lid 16 is closed and the button 32 is pushed to open it, the distal end of main shaft 34 contacts the upper lid 16 at a point above the rotational axis and is biased vertically upward as the button is fully pressed. When the button retracts, the distal end of the main shaft 34 lowers back down to near its original position. At this point, upon pressing the button a second time, the button contacts a point of the upper lid 16 located vertically below its pivot point, and due to the configuration, does not ride vertically upward when pressed. Therefore, the main shaft 34 closes the upper lid 16.
As will be appreciated by those of skill in this art, the preceding examples are provided, not to limit or define the scope of the present invention, but to illustrate the nature of the present invention and possible uses for the teachings of the present invention. These examples may be modified in many different ways while still obtaining the benefits of the teachings of the present invention. While the invention has been described and illustrated, this description is by way of example only. Additional advantages will occur readily to those skilled in the art, who may make numerous changes without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, representative machines, and illustrated examples in this description. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is to be limited only as necessitated by the accompanying claims. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a body with an opening;

a lid connected to the body to close the opening, the lid having an axis of rotation about which the lid moves between an open and closed position; and

a button connected with the lid and having a surface that contacts the lid above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the closed position and that contacts the lid below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the open opposition.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a lower portion connected to the body and an upper portion moveably connected to the lower portion about the axis of rotation.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the button is moveably received in the lower portion of the lid.

4. The lid of claim 3, wherein the distal end of the button contacts the lid at a point above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the closed position, and the distal end of the shaft contacts the lid at a point below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the lid in the open position.

5. The lid of claim 4, wherein the button further comprises an axially-extending groove, and the lid further comprises a rod having a boss on a proximal end extending into the groove, such that the rod is translatable within the groove relative to the button.

6. The lid of claim 5, wherein the rod engages a boss on the distal end of the button such that an angle between the rod and the button changes when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

7. A lid for sealing a container comprising:

a button having a shaft with a proximal end and a free distal end;

an upper lid member having a connecting member; and

a lower lid member forming a generally horizontal aperture which surrounds the shaft and a notch which is movably connected with the connecting member.

8. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a biasing member for biasing the button member in a resting position.

9. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a rod member received by the horizontal aperture, wherein a proximal end of the rod member engages grooves formed in the shaft, and wherein a distal end of the rod member engages a first boss on the connecting member such that an angle between the rod member and shaft changes when the upper lid member is moved from a closed position to an open position.

10. The lid of claim 9, wherein the notch includes a second boss which is rotationally connected with an aperture formed in the connecting member, and wherein the second boss and aperture rotate about a rotational axis.

11. The lid of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in a closed position, and the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in an open position.

12. The lid of claim 10, wherein the first boss is located vertically below the rotational axis.

13. The lid of claim 7, wherein the lower lid member includes an attachment mechanism for removably connecting the lower lid member with the container.

14. A lid for sealing a container comprising:

an upper lid member having a connecting member;

a lower lid member which is movably connected with the connecting member; and

a button member engaging the upper lid member, wherein depressing the button with the upper lid member in a closed position moves the upper lid member to an open position, and wherein depressing the button with the upper lid member in the open position moves the upper lid member to the closed position.

15. The lid of claim 14 further comprising a biasing member for biasing the button member in a resting position.

16. The lid of claim 14 further comprising a rod member received by a horizontal aperture formed in the lower lid, wherein a proximal end of the rod member engages grooves formed in a shaft of the button member, and wherein a distal end of the rod member engages a first boss on the connecting member such that an angle between the rod member and shaft changes when the upper lid member is moved from a closed position to an open position.

17. The lid of claim 16, wherein the lower lid member forms a notch which includes a second boss that is rotationally connected with an aperture formed in the connecting member, and wherein the second boss and aperture rotate about a rotational axis.

18. The lid of claim 17, wherein the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point above the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in a closed position, and the distal end of the shaft contacts the upper lid member at a point below the rotational axis when the button is depressed with the upper lid member in an open position.

19. The lid of claim 17, wherein the first boss is located vertically below the rotational axis.

20. The lid of claim 14, wherein the lower lid member includes an attachment mechanism for removably connecting the lower lid member with the container.