STRUCTURE OF INTERMATING MEMBERS
The instant disclosure relates to a structure of intermating members. The structure includes a base and an annular member. The base has an outer surface that is formed with a protrusion. The annular member is fitted over the base and has an inner surface formed with a multiplicity of first and second grooves. Each second groove is in communication with two or more first grooves in forming a sliding path. The protrusion may be navigated within the sliding path to generate the playful effect of solving a maze. The user needs to figure out the appropriate path to move the protrusion out of the sliding path.
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 103208447 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on 2014 May 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The instant disclosure relates to a structure of intermating members, in particular for leisure.
2. Related Art
Typically, conventional drink containers are used only for holding a received drink. However, in response to increasing market competition, in addition to offering new drink flavors, how to enhance drink packaging to attract consumer attention, is one of the issues faced by manufacturers.
SUMMARYIn view of the foregoing, the instant disclosure provides a structure of intermating members, which comprises a base and an annular member. The base has an outer surface formed with a protrusion. The outer surface of the base is fitted with the annular member. The annular member has an inner surface that is formed with a plurality of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of first grooves in defining a sliding path, such that the protrusion may move slidably therein. The complex path defined by the first and second grooves creates a maze-like challenge for the user. The user would have to figure out the correct path so that protrusion can be navigated out of the maze.
For the instant disclosure, the structure of intermating members may be a container. The base further defines a mouth portion and the annular member includes a lid portion. That is to say the annular member acts as a lid for the container. When the annular member is fitted to the outer surface of the base, the mouth portion is covered therewith. In such a configuration, the first grooves are parallel to the lid portion, and the second grooves are perpendicular to the lid portion.
Additionally, the annular member defines an extended groove that communicates with all of the first grooves. In other words, a user can open the container directly without navigating the complex path, by passing the protrusion through the extended groove.
Another aspect of the annular member is that it is labeled with an opening mark. The opening mark is placed such that it corresponds to the location of the extended groove, so the user is clearly shown the location of the extended groove to quickly open the container.
With the first grooves being parallel to the lid portion and the second grooves being perpendicular to the lid portion, the user need only turn the lid portion in a left-right or up-down direction to open the container. The number or the arrangement of the first and second grooves may be varied to change the degree of complexity of the sliding path.
The instant disclosure also provides an alternative structure of intermating members. The structure of intermating members comprises a base and an annular member. The annular member has an inner surface formed with a protrusion. The base has an outer surface in adjacent with the protrusion and corresponds to the inner surface of the annular member. The annular member is fitted to the outer surface of the base, with the outer surface defining a plurality of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of first grooves, to define a sliding path. By determining the appropriate path in order to navigate the protrusion through the sliding path, the user can enjoy the fun of solving a maze.
For the instant disclosure, the structure may be a container. The base further defines a mouth portion and the annular member includes a lid portion. When the annular member is fitted to the outer surface of the base, the mouth portion is covered therewith. That is to say the annular member acts as a lid for the container.
Additionally, the outer surface of the base defines an extended groove in communication with all of the first grooves.
The first grooves may be parallel to the mouth portion, and the second grooves may be perpendicular to the mouth portion.
An opening mark is arranged near the mouth portion of the base to indicate the location of the extended groove.
Optionally the lid portion of the annular member is openable. So when a user prefers to open the container directly, the objective can be achieved by opening the openable lid portion, without needing to navigate through the complex sliding path.
The instant disclosure further provides an annular member. The annular member has an inner surface formed with a multiplicity of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of adjacent first grooves. The annular member includes a cover in connection to one side thereof. The annular member may also define an extended groove in communication with all of the first grooves.
The instant disclosure further provides a containing structure. The containing structure includes a base that defines a mouth portion. The mouth portion is formed at one end of the base. The base has an outer surface formed with a plurality of first and second grooves. Each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of adjacent first grooves. Additionally, the containing structure defines an extended groove in communication with all of the first grooves.
For the containing structure of the instant disclosure, at least one of the first or second grooves is furnished with at least one obstacle portion to provide more fun for the user when navigating the protrusion through the sliding path.
To make a common article more fun and interesting, and to encourage customers to make more purchases, the instant disclosure provides an article based on the variations of a protrusion and grooves and the interaction therebetween, such that a maze-like effect for fun is achieved.
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The first grooves A101 may be parallel to the lid portion A11, and the second grooves A102 may be perpendicular to the lid portion A11. The annular member A may be twisted in a left-right direction or unseated in an up-down direction by the user, for opening the container. The number and arrangement of the first and second grooves A101 and A102 may be varied to create a maze of different complexity.
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Additionally, each of the first grooves B101 may be parallel to the mouth portion B11, and each of the second grooves B102 may be perpendicular to the mouth portion B11. The annular member A may be twisted in a left-right direction or unseated in an up-down direction by the user, for opening the container. The number and arrangement of the first and second grooves B101 and B102 may be varied to create a maze of different complexity.
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For the eighth embodiment, the annular member A substantially resembles a cylindrical closure for sealing the mouth portion B11. The annular member A has the wall portion A10 and the lid portion A11 formed on one end thereof. A ring-shaped portion A40 can further be formed on the lid portion A11 for hanging the container or facilitating the exertion of rotational force on the annular member A. The surface of the wall portion A10 is adjacent to the protrusion B110. The wall portion A10 is particularly formed with the first and second grooves A101 and A102. Each of the second grooves A102 is in communication with at least two adjacent first grooves A101 in forming the sliding path A30, except at the entrance/exit regions of the sliding path A30 as with all previously mentioned embodiments. When the user is twisting the annular member A, the protrusion B110 of the base B is urged to traverse in the sliding path A30. When the protrusion B110 has reached an opposite end of the sliding path A30, the container is ready to be unsealed. That is to say, the annular member A is poised to be separated from the base B. Based on the previously mentioned embodiments, for such a bottle-like structure with a plug-type closure, the maze-like structure can also be formed on the base B instead, with the protrusion being formed on the annular member A to achieve a similar effect.
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While the instant disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. For anyone skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements within the spirit of the instant disclosure are covered under the scope of the instant disclosure. The covered scope of the instant disclosure is based on the appended claims.
Claims
1. A structure of intermating members, comprising:
- a base having an outer surface, the outer surface being annular and having a protrusion; and
- an annular member fitted to the base, the annular member having an inner surface adjacent to the protrusion, the inner surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves,
- wherein each of the second grooves is in communication with at least a pair of first grooves in forming a sliding path, such that the protrusion is capable of traversing in the sliding path.
2. The structure of intermating members of claim 1, wherein the annular member further defines an extended groove intersecting each of the first grooves.
3. The structure of intermating members of claim 2, wherein the annular member is labeled with an opening mark indicating the location of the extended groove.
4. The structure of intermating members of claim 1, wherein the structure of intermating members is a container and the base further has a mouth portion, while the annular member has a lid portion, and wherein when the annular member is fitted over the base, the mouth portion is sealed by the lid portion, with the first grooves parallel to the lid portion and the second grooves perpendicular to the lid portion.
5. The structure of intermating members of claim 4, wherein the lid portion is of a removable type.
6. The structure of intermating members of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first grooves or second grooves has at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
7. A structure of intermating members, comprising:
- an annular member having an inner surface, the inner surface having a protrusion; and
- a base having an outer surface adjacent to the protrusion, the outer surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves,
- wherein each of the first grooves is in communication with at least two adjacent second grooves in forming a sliding path, such that when the annular member is fitted over the base, the protrusion is movable in the sliding path.
8. The structure of intermating members of claim 7, wherein the structure of intermating members further defines an extended groove intersecting each of the first grooves.
9. The structure of intermating members of claim 8, wherein the structure of intermating members is labeled with an opening mark indicating the location of the extended groove.
10. The structure of intermating members of claim 7, wherein the structure of intermating members is a container and the base further has a mouth portion, while the annular member has a lid portion, and wherein when the annular member is fitted over the base, the mouth portion is sealed by the lid portion, with the first grooves parallel to the mouth portion and the second grooves perpendicular to the mouth portion.
11. The structure of intermating members of claim 10, wherein the lid portion is of a removable type.
12. The structure of intermating members of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first or second grooves have at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
13. An structure of intermating members, comprising:
- an annular member having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves, each of the second grooves being communicated with at least two first grooves.
14. The structure of intermating members of claim 13, further comprising a lid portion connected to one side of the annular member.
15. The structure of intermating members of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second grooves has at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
16. A containing structure, comprising:
- a base and a mouth portion defined at one end thereof, the base having an outer surface, the outer surface defining a plurality of first grooves and second grooves, each of the second grooves being communicated with at least two first grooves.
17. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein the first and second grooves form a sliding path, with one end of the sliding path in communication with the mouth portion.
18. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein the outer surface further defines an extended groove intersecting each of the first grooves.
19. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first or second grooves has at least one obstructing portion formed on the bottom surface thereof.
20. The containing structure of claim 16, wherein the containing structure is a drinking bottle, a cup, or a pen tube.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 16, 2015
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2015
Applicant: USEFREE INT'L CO., LTD. (Taipei City)
Inventor: Si-Yi LOU (Taipei City)
Application Number: 14/688,242