OPENING MECHANISM FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract

An improved and safer opening mechanism for a container, such as a pressurized container, is provided that includes a synchronous relationship between a safety cap and a sealable plate, such that the safety cap covers the sealable plate when it is removed from the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/874,775 entitled “Opening Mechanism for a Container,” filed May 15, 2020, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/848,862, entitled “Opening Mechanism for a Pressurized Container,” filed May 16, 2019, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to sealed containers, and more specifically, to improved opening mechanisms for sealed containers, which may be safer and easier to open.

BACKGROUND

There are various types of sealed containers, such as hermetically sealed containers, vacuum-sealed containers, or pressurized containers. Taking as an example the pressurized container, these types of containers are pressure-sealed vessels that may be useful for preserving certain properties of a product sealed inside. For instance, tennis balls are stored in pressurized containers to preserve the air pressure within the balls.

Tennis balls are composed of a hollow rubber core with an outer felt material. They are pressurized with nitrogen or another gas, usually to about 14 psi, to obtain the proper bounce. Tennis balls are commonly contained in cylindrical plastic or metal pressurized containers having a top-end closure made of aluminum or tin sheet metal, which is provided with a tab for easy opening. The top-end closure with the tab may provide a removable pressure seal disposed over the top of the container.

When opening a tennis ball pressurized container, the flip-top tab is flipped forward to break the pressure seal and then the tab is used to pull off the pressure seal. When removed, the exposed outer edge around the perimeter of the pressure seal can be very sharp and creates a hazard to the user's fingers. Therefore, there is a need for an improved opening mechanism that preserves the sealing function of a sealed container and does not damage the removable lid while minimizing the risk of injury to a user of the container.

The presently disclosed opening mechanism for containers is directed to these and other objectives.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the presently disclosed technology include a container comprising a vessel further comprising a top edge defining an open top of the vessel and a removable lid couplable about the top edge of the vessel. The removable lid can comprise a safety cover configured to conceal the open top of the container and comprising: (i) an overhang configured to receive the top edge of the vessel when the removable lid is coupled to the vessel; and (ii) an opening. The removable lid can also comprise a sealable plate disposed below the safety cover including a tab, and an adhesive bonding the sealable plate to the safety cover. The tab can extend through the opening of the safety cover, such that the tab is accessible from outside the safety cover.

In some embodiments, when the container is unopened, the sealable plate can be joined to the vessel to preserve the pressure within the pressurized container and be separable from the vessel via a pressing seam disposed about the perimeter of the sealable plate.

In some embodiments, when the tab is pulled with sufficient force to separate the sealable plate from the vessel about the pressing seam, the overhang of the safety cover can cover an exposed edge of the sealable plate.

In some embodiments, the overhang can be disposed about the entire perimeter of the cover, such that the overhang covers the entire exposed edge of the sealable plate.

In some embodiments, the area of the safety cover is greater than the area of the top of the vessel, e.g., bounded by a perimeter edge around the top of the vessel. For example, the safety cover may be generally circular shaped and have a diameter that is greater than a diameter (or longest diagonal) across the top of the vessel. For instance, if the vessel is a cylindrical tennis ball container having a diameter of around 2.7 inches defined by its top perimeter edge, the safety cover in some disclosed embodiments may comprise a circular area having a diameter of 3 inches, 3.25 inches, 3.5 inches, or greater, which is longer than the top diameter of the tennis ball container.

In some embodiments where the area of the safety cover is greater than the area of the top of the vessel, the overhang of the safety cover may be angled inward toward the top edge of the vessel and/or sides of the vessel. For example, the overhang may be angled inward toward the top edge and/or sides of the vessel by, for example, around 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees, 40 degrees, or a greater angle relative to a normal direction extending perpendicularly from the area of the top of the vessel. As used herein, the “sides” of the vessel may comprise one or more sides defining the outer side surface(s) of the vessel. For example, the sides of a cylindrical vessel may correspond to an outer surface encircling the perimeter of the cylinder. In contrast, a vessel having a square-shaped cross-sectional area may have four distinct sides.

In some embodiments, the overhang of the safety cover may have some curvature so that the overhang curves toward the top edge and/or sides of the vessel when the removable lid is positioned over the top of the vessel.

In some embodiments, the overhang of the safety cover may contact the sides of the vessel when the removable lid is positioned over the top of the vessel. For example, the overhang of the safety cover may physically contact one or more sides of the vessel before the removable lid has been removed to open the vessel, and the overhang also may contact one or more the sides of the vessel after the removable lid has been removed and then replaced over the open top of the vessel.

In some embodiments, the opening can be located proximate an outer edge of the top surface of the safety cover.

In some embodiments, the tab can be affixed proximate an outer edge of the top surface of the sealable plate.

In some embodiments, the safety cap can be made of at least one of a plastic or a rubber material.

In some embodiments, the adhesive can be an epoxy resin.

In some embodiments, the opening can be a key-hole shaped cut-out disposed within the cover.

In some embodiments, the sealable plate can be composed of a metal.

Another embodiment of the presently disclosed technology includes a removable lid system for a container. The removable lid system can comprise a safety cap comprising a cover, and an overhang disposed about a perimeter of the safety cap, the overhang configured to couple with a top edge of the container. The removal lid system can further comprise an opening disposed within the cover of the safety cap and comprise a sealable plate bonded, such as using an adhesive, below the cover and within the overhang of the safety cap, the sealable plate further comprising a tab member affixed to a top side of the sealable plate such that the tab extends through the opening of the safety cap and is accessible from above the safety cap. In some embodiments, when the container is unopened, the sealable plate may be joined to the container to preserve the pressure within the pressurized container, and when the tab is pulled with sufficient force to separate the sealable plate from the internal side wall of the container, the overhang of the safety cap can cover an exposed edge of the sealable plate.

In some embodiments, the area of the cover may be greater than the area of the top of the container. In such embodiments, the overhang may be angled inwardly toward a top edge and/or sides of the container. In addition, the overhang may be configured to physically contact the top edge and/or sides of the container when the removable lid system is positioned over the top of the container. In some embodiments, the overhang may be configured to curve toward the top edge of the container and/or sides of the container when the removable lid system is positioned over the top of the container.

Another embodiment of the presently disclosed technology can comprise an opening mechanism for a pressurized container comprising: (i) a safety cap comprising a safety cover further comprising an opening located proximate an outer edge of a top surface of the cover and an overhang disposed about a perimeter of the safety cover and extending downwardly from the cover; (ii) a sealable plate disposed below the safety cover and comprising a tab affixed proximate an outer edge of the top surface of the sealable plate; and (iii) an adhesive bonding the sealable plate to the safety cover. Additionally, when the tab extends through the opening of the safety cover, such that the tab is accessible from above the safety cover.

In some embodiments, the area of the safety cover may be greater than the area of the top surface of the container. In such embodiments, for example, the overhang may extend downwardly and inwardly toward a top edge and/or sides of the container. In addition, the overhang may be configured to physically contact the top edge and/or sides of the container when the opening mechanism is positioned over the top of the container. In some embodiments, the overhang may be configured to curve toward the top edge and/or sides of the vessel when the opening mechanism is positioned over the top of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an opening mechanism for a container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a container having an opening mechanism coupled to the top of the container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a container having an opening mechanism coupled to the top of the container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a safety cap of the opening mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of a safety cap of the opening mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a container having an opening mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a container having an opening mechanism coupled to the top of the container in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a container having an opening mechanism coupled to the top of the container in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a container having an opening mechanism in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-4 show an exemplary embodiment of a container 100 and opening mechanism 102, in accordance with the presently disclosed technology. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects.

The opening mechanism 102 may be incorporated on any type of sealed container now known or later discovered. While explicit mention is made to tennis ball containers, this is meant to be as an example and is not in any way limiting on the scope of the disclosure, unless explicitly claimed. In some embodiments, these types of pressurized containers may be tennis ball containers, food or beverage containers, or other types of containers for which pressure is used to preserve the contents of the container. Additionally, in some embodiments, the container may be hermetically sealed or vacuum-sealed containers, such as traditional aluminum cans used in canning foods. The container contents may be liquids, solids, or gasses, and it is understood that the described opening mechanism may be used with any container regardless of its intended contents, or combinations thereof.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a container 100 including an improved, easy-to-open, and safer opening mechanism 102. The opening mechanism 102 may comprise a safety cap 104, a sealable plate 114, a tab member 116, and an adhesive 120 which work synchronously to provide a safer opening mechanism. This synchronistic relationship between the safety cap 104 and sealable plate 114 has not been appreciated prior to the presently disclosed technology.

The container 100 comprises a vessel 124 with an open top 126 for receiving and storing contents within the container 100. The container 100 may be any shape or size. In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the container 100 may be cylindrical. Such a cylindrical container may be used to hold tennis balls, for instance.

The safety cap 104 can comprise a cover 106, an overhang 108, and an opening 110. The cover 106 may be located at a top-most portion of the safety cap 104. When the safety cap 104 is coupled to a vessel 124, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cover 106 is disposed above and covers the open top 126 of the vessel 124 and the underlying sealable plate 114. In some embodiments, the safety cap 104 can be composed of a flexible material, such as a plastic or rubber.

In some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, the cover 106 may be flat such that when the opening mechanism 102 is coupled to the container 100, the cover 106 is disposed perpendicular to the container 100. In other embodiments, the cover 106 may comprise a ridge (not shown) disposed about an outer portion of the cover 106. In some embodiments, the ridge may be disposed about the entire perimeter of the cover 106.

The cover 106 can also comprise an opening 110. In some embodiments, the opening 110 is disposed within the cover 106, such that all boundaries of the opening 110 are within the cover 106. In other embodiments, less than all boundaries of the opening 110 are within the cover 106. In some embodiments, the opening 110 can be positioned offset from the center of the cover 106, as illustrated for instance in FIG. 1, such that the opening 100 is proximate an outer edge 112 of the cover 106.

The opening 110 may be any shape so as to accommodate the tab 116 being accessible from outside the cover 106 and through the opening 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening 110 can be key-hole shaped, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In other embodiments, the opening 110 can be approximately the same shape as the tab 116.

The safety cap 104 can also comprise an overhang 108. The overhang 108 can be an extension of the cover 106 that extends downwardly from the cover 106 such that the overhang 108 may receive and couple to a top edge 128 of the vessel 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the overhang 108 can be disposed about the entire perimeter of the safety cap 104 and/or cover 106. This allows the overhang 108 to protect the entire sharp portion of a removed sealable plate 114.

The opening mechanism 102 also comprises a sealable plate 114. The sealable plate 114 can allow for sealing the container 100 when it is unopened. In some embodiments, the sealable plate 114 can be a thin plate of a pliant metal material, such as tin or aluminum, that is ductile enough to allow the plate to flex when the seal is broken.

The sealable plate 114 can also comprise a tab 116 affixed to a top side 122 of the sealable plate 114. In some embodiments, the tab 116 can be positioned offset from a center of the sealable plate 114 such that the tab 116 can be affixed proximate an outer edge 118 of the sealable plate 114. Thus, the tab 116 can line up with the opening 110 of the safety cap 104 such that the tab 116 is accessible from outside the safety cap 104. The tab 116 can be any type of structure (e.g., a ring) that can be pulled or manipulated by a human hand to remove the sealable plate 114 from the container 100 and open the container 100. In some embodiments, the tab 116 can be composed of the same material as the sealable plate 114.

When the container 100 is unopened, the sealable plate 114 can be joined to the vessel 124. For instance, in some embodiments, the sealable plate 114 can be affixed to an internal side edge of the vessel 124. The sealable plate 114 can be removable from the vessel 124 by pulling the tab 116 forward to break the sealable plate 114 along a pressing seam such that the sealable plate 114 can be removed upon pulling the tab 116 away from the sealable plate 114.

The top surface 132 of the sealable plate 114 can be fused to a bottom side 122 of the safety cap 104 and/or cover 106. In some embodiments, the sealable plate 114 can be fused via an adhesive 120, such as an epoxy resin or hot-melt adhesive. The bottom side 122 of the safety cap 104 and/or cover 106 may be attached to top surface of the sealable plate 114 at one or more locations using any adhesives, bonding, fusing, welding, etc. or other suitable attachment means.

When a user goes to open the container 100, the user can access the tab 116 from outside the safety cap 104. The sealable plate 114 can be separable from the vessel 124 via a pressing seal. Upon flipping the tab 116 forward, the pressing seal will break and the entire opening mechanism 102 can be removed. When the opening mechanism 102 is removed, the overhang 108 of the safety cap 104 will cover an exposed edge of the sealable plate 114 thereby decreasing risk of exposure to injury to a user.

FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. 6 illustrate exemplary embodiments in which the surface area of the cover 106 is greater than the cross-sectional area at the top of the vessel 124. In these examples, the top surface of the cover 106 is generally circular. Similarly, the cross-sectional area at the top of the vessel 124 in these examples is also generally circular, e.g., having a circular open top 126. In these exemplary embodiments, the diameter of cover 106 is greater than the diameter of the cross-sectional area at the top of the vessel 124. In other embodiments (not shown) where the vessel 124 may comprise a polygon or other non-circular cross-sectional area, the diameter of the cover 106 may be greater than the longest diagonal across the top of the vessel 124.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. 6, because the diameter of the cover 106 is greater than the diameter of the top of the vessel 124, the cover 106 is therefore also wider than the sealable plate 114 that is joined to the top of the vessel 124 before the opening mechanism 102 is removed from the container 100. Further, when a user removes the opening mechanism 102 using the tab 116, and the sealable plate 114 is removed with the cover 106 because it is attached (e.g., fused, bonded, etc.) to the bottom surface of the cover 106, the fact that the diameter of the cover 106 is greater than that of the sealable plate 114 provides additional spacing between the overhang 108 being handled by the user and the sharp outer edge of the sealable plate 114 after it has been removed from the vessel 124. This added spacing provides further protection against the user contacting the sharp outer edge of the sealable plate 114 and decreases the risk of user injury.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. 6, where the cover 106 is larger in area than the top of the vessel 124, the overhang 108 may extend downwardly and inwardly toward the top edge 128 of the vessel 124 and/or the sides of the vessel 124. For example, in some embodiments the overhang 108 may extend downwardly from the outer edge 112 of the cover 106 and may be angled inwardly toward the top edge and/or sides of the vessel 124 by around 20 to 45 degrees or greater relative to a normal direction extending perpendicularly from the top of the vessel 124. By angling the overhang 108 inwardly in this manner, the opening mechanism 102 can be reattached to the open top 126 of the vessel 124 without creating any substantial air gaps between the overhang 108 and the sides of the vessel 124 due to the cover 106 having a larger area than the open top 126.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the overhang 108 may have some curvature so that the overhang 108 curves toward the top edge and/or sides of the vessel 124 when the opening mechanism 102 is positioned over the top of the vessel. In contrast, FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the overhang 108 comprises substantially straight sides. In either case, the overhang 108 in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. 6 may make physical contact with the outer surface of the vessel 124 and/or top edge 128 of the vessel 124 when the opening mechanism 102 is positioned over the top of the vessel, e.g., before the opening mechanism 102 has been removed to open the container 100 and after the opening mechanism 102 has been replaced over the open top 126 of the vessel 124. Such physical contact between the angled overhang 108 and the vessel 124 may provide a more secure attachment of the opening mechanism 102 to the container 100, particularly when the opening mechanism is reused after having been removed by a user.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to an example embodiment of the presently disclosed technology which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the presently disclosed technology. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the presently disclosed technology are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a vessel comprising a top edge defining an open top of the vessel and comprising one or more sides defining an outer surface of the vessel; and

a removable lid configured to be coupled about the top edge of the vessel, the removable lid comprising: (i) a safety cover configured to cover the open top of the container, wherein an area of a top surface of the safety cover is greater than an area corresponding to the open top of the vessel, the safety cover comprising: (a) an overhang configured to receive the top edge of the vessel when the removable lid is coupled to the vessel, wherein the overhang extends downwardly from the safety cover and extends inwardly toward at least one of the top edge or the one or more sides of the vessel; and (b) an opening; (ii) a sealable plate disposed below the safety cover and comprising a tab; and (iii) an adhesive bonding the sealable plate to the safety cover,

wherein the tab is aligned through the opening of the safety cover, such that the tab is accessible from outside the safety cover.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is pressurized and, when the container is unopened, the sealable plate is joined to the vessel to preserve pressure within the container, and wherein the sealable plate is configured to be separable from the vessel via a pressing seam disposed about the perimeter of the sealable plate.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the tab is configured so that when a user pulls the tab with a force sufficient to separate the sealable plate from the vessel about the pressing seam, the overhang of the safety cover covers an exposed edge of the sealable plate.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the overhang is disposed about the entire perimeter of the safety cover, such that the overhang covers the entire exposed edge of the sealable plate when the sealable plate is removed from the vessel.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the overhang extends inwardly at an angle of between around 20 to 45 degrees relative to a normal direction extending perpendicularly from the open top of the vessel.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the opening is located offset towards an outer edge of the top surface of the safety cover.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the tab is affixed offset towards an outer edge of the top surface of the sealable plate.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the safety cap is made of at least one of a plastic or a rubber material.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an epoxy resin.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the opening is a key-hole shaped cut-out disposed within the safety cover.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the sealable plate is composed of a metal.

12. A removable lid system for a container, the container comprising a vessel having a top edge defining an open top of the vessel and one or more sides defining an outer surface of the vessel, the removable lid system comprising:

a safety cap comprising: a cover having top and bottom surfaces, wherein an opening is disposed within the cover of the safety cap, and wherein an area of the top surface of the cover is greater than an area of the open top of the vessel; and an overhang disposed about a perimeter of the safety cap, wherein the overhang is configured to couple to the top edge of the container, and wherein the overhang extends downwardly from the perimeter of the safety cap and extends inwardly toward at least one of the top edge or the one or more sides of the vessel; and

a sealable plate bonded to one or more locations on the bottom surface of the cover and positioned within a perimeter of the overhang of the safety cap, the sealable plate comprising a tab member affixed to a top side of the sealable plate such that the tab is aligned through the opening of the safety cap and is accessible from above the safety cap.

13. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the overhang extends inwardly at an angle of between around 20 to 45 degrees relative to a normal direction extending perpendicularly from the open top of the vessel.

14. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the opening is located proximate to an outer edge of a top surface of the cover.

15. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the tab is affixed proximate to an outer edge of a top surface of the sealable plate.

16. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the safety cap is made of at least one of a plastic or a rubber material.

17. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the adhesive is an epoxy resin.

18. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the opening is key-hole shaped.

19. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the sealable plate is composed of a metal.

20. The removable lid system of claim 12, wherein the container is pressurized.