U.S. patent application number 11/178645 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for spherical container with lid insert.
Invention is credited to Dennis E. Green, Mary Lou Green.
Application Number | 20060254945 11/178645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322254 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Green; Dennis E. ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Spherical container with lid insert
Abstract
A spherical container has a hemispherical base, a hemispherical
lid and a lid insert. The base includes a collar with an upper rim
that seals against the lid insert when the base and lid are secured
together to help prevent the contents of the container from leaking
out or flowing into the interior cavity of the lid.
Inventors: |
Green; Dennis E.;
(Englewood, CO) ; Green; Mary Lou; (Englewood,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORR, CARSON & BIRNEY, P.C.;ONE CHERRY CENTER
501 SOUTH CHERRY STREET
SUITE 800
DENVER
CO
80246
US
|
Family ID: |
46322254 |
Appl. No.: |
11/178645 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29229003 |
May 2, 2005 |
|
|
|
11178645 |
Jul 11, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/457 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/0068 20130101;
A45D 2200/051 20130101; B65D 41/045 20130101; B65D 1/14
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/457 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a generally hemispherical base having an
interior cavity for containing a substance and a collar with an
upper rim; a generally hemispherical lid having an interior cavity
and a circular opening to removably receive and secure the collar
of the base to the lid and thereby form a generally spherical
container; and a lid insert covering the interior cavity of the lid
and removably sealing against the upper rim of the collar of the
base when the base and lid are secured together.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the collar of the base and the
circular opening of the lid are threaded to engage one another.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid insert further
comprises a substantially planar surface extending across the
interior cavity of the lid and sealing against the upper rim of the
collar of the base.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein the lid insert displays printed
information.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid insert comprises a
circular disk.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein of the lid insert is attached
about its periphery to the interior cavity of the lid.
7. A container comprising: a generally hemispherical base having an
interior cavity for containing a substance and a collar with an
upper rim; a generally hemispherical lid having an interior cavity
and a circular opening to removably receive and secure the collar
of the base to the lid and thereby form a generally spherical
container; and a substantially circular lid insert having a lower
face removably sealing against the upper rim of the collar of the
base when the base and lid are secured together, and said lid
insert having a peripheral edge attached to the interior cavity of
the lid.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein the lid insert comprises a
circular disk.
9. The container of claim 7 wherein the lid insert displays printed
information.
10. The container of claim 7 wherein the collar of the base and the
circular opening of the lid are threaded to engage one another.
11. The container of claim 7 wherein the lid insert further
comprises a substantially continuous lower surface extending across
the interior cavity of the lid and sealing against the upper rim of
the collar of the base.
12. A container comprising: a generally hemispherical base having
an interior cavity for containing a substance and a threaded collar
with an upper rim; a generally hemispherical lid having an interior
cavity and a threaded circular opening to removably engage the
collar of the base to the lid and thereby form a generally
spherical container; and a lid insert covering the interior cavity
of the lid and having a substantially planar lower surface sealing
against the upper rim of the collar of the base when the base and
lid are secured together.
13. The container of claim 12 wherein the lid insert comprises a
circular disk having a peripheral edge attached to the interior
cavity of the lid.
14. The container of claim 12 wherein the lid insert displays
printed information.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of the
Applicants' co-pending U.S. Design Pat. Application Ser. No.
29/229,003, entitled "Hemispherical Cap With Insert," filed on May
2, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of
containers for lip balm, sunblock and the like. More specifically,
the present invention discloses a spherical container having a lid
insert.
[0004] 2. Statement of the Problem
[0005] A variety of spherical containers have been used for many
years. For example, the present applicants have marketed spherical
air fresheners under the SNEAKER BALLS.RTM. and SPEEDBALL.RTM.
trademarks for many years. These air fresheners include two
hemispherical plastic shells that are joined by a ring assembly
with a number of openings that can be manually opened or closed to
control the release of fragrance from within the air freshener.
[0006] Spherical containers have an aesthetic or stylistic appeal
due in part to the elegant simplicity of their external shape.
However, the spherical shape has a significant drawback in that the
container can roll freely and thereby creates an increased risk
that the contents of the container will leak. Therefore, a need
exists for a means of addressing this problem in spherical
containers.
[0007] 3. Solution to the Problem
[0008] None of the prior art references discussed above show a
spherical container having a lid insert to prevent leakage of the
contents of the container. In addition, the lid insert can be used
to display printed information for advertising or labeling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] This invention provides a spherical container having a
hemispherical base, a hemispherical lid and a lid insert. The base
includes a collar with an upper rim that seals against the lid
insert when the base and lid are secured together to help prevent
the contents of the container from leaking out or flowing into the
interior cavity of the lid.
[0010] These and other advantages, features, and objects of the
present invention will be more readily understood in view of the
following detailed description and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention can be more readily understood in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container with the lid
20 separated from the base 10.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container with the
lid 20 separated from the base 10.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled
container.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the lid 20 and lid insert 30.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the assembled
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Turning to FIG. 1, an perspective view is provided of the
container with the lid 20 separated from the base 10. Both the base
10 and lid 20 are generally hemispherical in shape, so that the
assembled container is generally spherical. For example, the base
10 and lid 20 can be molded plastic shells.
[0018] The base 10 has an internal recess for holding sunblock, lip
balm, insect repellent, cosmetics or the like 15. A collar 12
extends upward around the perimeter of the opening to the internal
recess. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the collar 12
is threaded and has an outside diameter that is slightly less than
the outside diameter of the base 10.
[0019] The lid 20 also has an interior cavity 22, as shown in the
cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, The interior cavity 22 has a
generally circular opening 24 to removably receive and secure the
collar 12 of the base 10 to the lid 10. In the preferred
embodiment, the circular opening 24 is threaded to engage the
corresponding threads on the outside of the collar 12 of the base
10. However, other means for attaching the lid 20 to the base 10
could be substituted, such as a pin-and-slot mechanism or a
frictional fit between the base 10 and lid 20.
[0020] Under normal use, the weight of the sunblock or lip balm in
the base 10 tends to keep the container in a generally upright
position. However, the container does not always remain in a
completely upright position, particularly if the container is
stored in a handbag, purse or drawer with a multitude of other
objects that can tilt the container. This creates a risk that the
contents of the container can leak out through the seam between the
lid and base.
[0021] The present invention addresses this problem by including a
lid insert 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, the lid
insert 30 can be a circular disk (e.g., a thin sheet of plastic or
paper) that is placed in the circular opening 24 of the lid 20 and
seals the interior cavity 22. The circular peripheral edge of the
lid insert 30 can be bonded or otherwise permanently attached to
the surface of the interior cavity 22 of the lid 20. The specific
embodiment of the lid 20 shown in FIG. 2 includes a flat annular
lip above the threaded circular opening that serves as a seat for
the peripheral edge of the lid insert 30. However, other means
could be used to attach the lid insert 30 within the interior
cavity 22 of the lid 20.
[0022] The upper rim of the collar 12 of the base 10 comes into
contact with the lower surface of the lid insert 30 as the base 10
and lid 20 are secured together. Thus, the lower surface of the lid
insert 30 creates a seal against the upper rim of the collar 12 of
the base 10 when the base 10 and lid 20 are threaded together, as
illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the assembled container
shown in FIG. 3. First, the lid insert 30 helps to prevent leakage
of the contents from the container through the seam between the lid
20 and base 10. Second, the lid insert 30 covers the interior
cavity 22 of the lid 20 and thereby prevents the contents of the
base 10 from migrating into the lid 20, which can be unsightly and
create a mess when the container is opened. For example, many types
of lip gloss and sun block melt easily and could either leak out of
the container or run into the interior cavity 22 of the lid 20.
[0023] The embodiment of the lid insert 30 shown in the drawings
has a substantially planar lower surface. This facilitates printing
information or other graphic material on the lower surface of the
lid insert 30, as shown for example in the bottom view depicted in
FIG. 4. The lid insert 30 can serve as a place for labeling (e.g.,
required information about ingredients, or the sun-protection
factor for sunblock), advertising, or the manufacturer's lot codes,
etc.
[0024] It should be noted that the lid insert 30 could have any of
a variety of alternative shapes and configurations. For example,
the lid insert 30 could be shaped to partially or completely fill
the interior cavity of the lid 20 (e.g., a curved lens shape). The
lid insert 30 can be equipped with a peripheral flange to
strengthen bonding to the interior surface of the lid 20. In
addition, lower surface of the lid insert could be curved,
textured, or have any desired shape or contour.
[0025] The exterior of the container can also be decorated as shown
in FIG. 5. The printed material on the lid insert 30 is not visible
while the container is closed, and thus does not detract from the
desired aesthetic appearance of the container.
[0026] The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of
the present invention described in detail with respect to the
accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate
that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements,
and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the
present invention without departing from the scope of this
invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *