U.S. patent application number 11/412484 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for flip-top closure cap.
Invention is credited to Gilles Decelles, Lisa Marie Decelles, Annie Messier, Phillippe Rousseau, Norman Taylor.
Application Number | 20070251909 11/412484 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38647360 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070251909 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Decelles; Gilles ; et
al. |
November 1, 2007 |
Flip-top closure cap
Abstract
A flip-top cap is provided in which an upper portion is secured
to a lower portion by means of a living hinge. An outer skirt forms
a lever with an integral radial connecting wall on a side of the
cap opposite the living hinge. The outer skirt and the radial
connecting wall may be elastically deformed to permit a detent on
the upper portion of the cap to escape a recess on the outer skirt
for opening the cap. The radial connecting wall is lowered and
thinned with respect to heretofore known designs, facilitating
opening of the cap. Integral ribs are provided on the base and
flip-top portions to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of
the upper portion that could allow for inadvertent opening of the
cap.
Inventors: |
Decelles; Gilles; (Brome
Lake, CA) ; Decelles; Lisa Marie; (Shefford, CA)
; Messier; Annie; (Bromont, CA) ; Rousseau;
Phillippe; (Rock Forest, CA) ; Taylor; Norman;
(Shefford, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patrick S. Yoder;FLETCHER YODER
P.O. Box 692289
Houston
TX
77269-2289
US
|
Family ID: |
38647360 |
Appl. No.: |
11/412484 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/228 ;
215/219; 215/221; 215/235; 220/254.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0828
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/228 ;
220/254.3; 215/235; 215/219; 215/221 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/02 20060101
B65D055/02; B65D 39/00 20060101 B65D039/00; B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18 |
Claims
1. A flip-top cap comprising: a base portion; the flip-top portion
joined to the base by a living hinge, the flip top portion
comprising a detent opposite the living hinge for maintaining the
flip-top portion closed over the base portion; the base portion
comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner
skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall,
the outer skirt forming a latch lever on a side thereof opposite
the living hinge, the latch lever being pivotal by elastic
deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when
a force is exerted on the latch lever and an opposite side of the
cap, the latch lever including a recess for capturing the detent of
the flip-top portion; wherein the radial connecting wall is
disposed at a lower elevation on the outer skirt at a location
adjacent to the latch lever than at a location adjacent to the
living hinge.
2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the outer skirt is substantially
continuous around a circumference of the base portion.
3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes a
plurality of ribs configured to contact the flip-top portion when
closed over the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral
movement of the flip-top portion on the base portion.
4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the flip-top portion includes a
plurality of ribs configured to contact the base portion to prevent
movement of the flip-top portion with respect to the base portion
when closed over the base portion.
5. The cap of claim 1, wherein the latch lever includes a latch
surface that contacts the detent of the flip-top portion to
elastically deform the outer skirt and thereby to permit the detent
to enter into the recess upon closing the flip-top portion over the
base portion.
6. The cap of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bumpers
extending from the base portion for protecting the hinge from
damage.
7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the outer skirt has a non-uniform
circumferential thickness, whereby the latch lever elastically
deforms a different amount than other portions of the outer
skirt.
8. The cap of claim 7, wherein the outer skirt is thicker in
regions adjacent to the latch lever and to the living hinge than at
other locations around its circumference.
9. A flip-top cap comprising: a base portion; the flip-top portion
joined to the base portion by a living hinge, the flip-top portion
comprising a detent opposite the living hinge for maintaining the
flip-top portion closed over the base portion; the base portion
comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner
skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall,
the outer skirt forming a latch lever on a side thereof opposite
the living hinge, the latch lever being pivotal by elastic
deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when
a force is exerted on the latch lever and an opposite side of the
cap, the latch lever including a recess for capturing the detent of
the flip-top portion; wherein the radial connecting wall is
disposed at a lower elevation on the outer skirt at a location
adjacent to the latch lever than at a location adjacent to the
living hinge; and wherein the base portion includes a plurality of
ribs configured to contact the flip-top portion when closed over
the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the
flip-top portion on the base portion.
10. The cap of claim 9, further comprising a pair of bumpers
disposed immediately adjacent to and on either side of the living
hinge.
11. The cap of claim 9, wherein the latch lever includes a latch
surface that contacts the detent of the flip-top portion to
elastically deform the outer skirt and thereby to permit the detent
to enter into the recess upon closing the flip-top portion over the
base portion.
12. The cap of claim 9, wherein the outer skirt is substantially
continuous around a circumference of the base portion.
13. The cap of claim 9, wherein the flip-top portion includes a
plurality of ribs configured to contact the base portion to prevent
movement of the flip-top portion with respect to the base portion
when closed over the base portion.
14. The cap of claim 9, wherein the outer skirt has a non-uniform
circumferential thickness, whereby the latch lever elastically
deforms a different amount than other portions of the outer
skirt.
15. The cap of claim 9, wherein the outer skirt is thicker in
regions adjacent to the latch lever and to the living hinge than at
other locations around its circumference.
16. A flip-top cap comprising: a base portion; the flip-top portion
joined to the base portion by a living hinge, the flip-top portion
comprising a detent opposite the living hinge for maintaining the
flip-top portion closed over the base portion; the base portion
comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner
skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall,
the outer skirt forming a latch lever on a side thereof opposite
the living hinge, the latch lever being pivotal by elastic
deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when
a force is exerted on the latch lever and an opposite side of the
cap, the latch lever including a recess for capturing the detent of
the flip-top portion; wherein the radial connecting wall is
disposed at lower elevation on the outer skirt at a location
adjacent to the latch lever than at a location adjacent to the
living hinge; and wherein the base portion includes a pair of
bumpers configured to contact the flip-top portion when closed over
the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the
flip-top portion on the base portion.
17. The cap of claim 16, wherein the bumpers are disposed
immediately adjacent to and on either side of the living hinge.
18. The cap of claim 16, wherein the latch lever includes a latch
surface that contacts the detent of the flip-top portion to
elastically deform the outer skirt and thereby to permit the detent
to enter into the recess upon closing the flip-top portion over the
base portion.
19. The cap of claim 16, wherein the outer skirt has a non-uniform
circumferential thickness, whereby the latch lever elastically
deforms a different amount than other portions of the outer
skirt.
20. The cap of claim 16, wherein the outer skirt is thicker in
regions adjacent to the latch lever and to the living hinge than at
other locations around its circumference.
21. A flip-top cap comprising: a base portion; the flip-top portion
joined to the base portion by a living hinge, the flip-top portion
comprising a pair of latches disposed at opposite locations with
respect to one another around its periphery for maintaining the
flip-top portion closed over the base portion; the base portion
comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner
skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall,
the outer skirt forming a pair of latch levers at locations of the
latches of the flip-top portion, the latch levers being pivotal by
elastic deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer
skirt when a force is exerted on the latch levers to release the
latches of the flip-top portion for opening the cap; wherein the
base portion includes a plurality of ribs configured to contact the
flip-top portion when closed over the base portion to prevent
twisting and/or lateral movement of the flip-top portion on the
base portion.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of caps
and closures for containers. More particularly, the invention
relates to improvements in a flip-top cap that aid in preventing
unwanted opening of the cap, while ensuring that the cap can be
more easily opened when desired.
[0002] A very wide range of injection molded container caps and
closures have been proposed and are currently in use. Many of these
are multi-piece closures that close and seal an internal volume by
snapping, threading, or otherwise mechanically engaging a separate
base element. Other closures are available that incorporate a
thinned section of material, commonly referred to as a "living
hinge", that allows the cap to be opened, while maintaining the
upper or opening portion of the cap attached to a lower portion.
The lower portion on these caps is generally secured to a mouth of
the container, such as by snapping engagement, threading, and so
forth.
[0003] Improvements in single-piece flip-type caps have been made
such that certain designs can be opened and closed quite easily by
one hand. In one known design, for example, a user depresses an
area of an outer skirt on the base portion of the cap to open the
upper portion. The base portion flexes by deformation of the outer
skirt, allowing a catch on the upper portion of the cap to escape,
thereby freeing the upper portion to open by flexure of a living
hinge. A cap generally of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,860,543 commonly assigned with the present invention. Such caps
provide great utility in allowing users to simply, quickly and
easily open the cap, by squeezing the outer skirt. Such caps can
also be closed very easily by reengagement of the snap closure
opposite the living hinge.
[0004] However, caps of this type have proven to have certain
drawbacks related to their relative ease of opening. That is,
because of the geometry of the outer skirt, the caps may be
inadvertently opened by dropping the container and thereby
contacting the region that is depressed by the user for opening.
Conversely, if the geometry is altered, the cap can prove difficult
to open, requiring significant deformation of the outer skirt
before the latch mechanism is freed. Further, thicknesses of
component portions of the cap may affect the ability or ease of
use. It has been found, for example, that the thickness of a rib or
extension that serves as a fulcrum for the trigger mechanism on the
outer skirt of the type described above may make deformation of the
outer skirt difficult. Finally, in such caps incorporating living
hinges, movement of the upper or opening portion of the cap with
respect to the base, including twisting, front-to-back and
side-to-side movement, can occur about the living hinge, permitting
the cap to snap open in an undesirable manner.
[0005] There is a need, therefore, for improved cap designs that
avoid such drawbacks. The art would benefit from a design generally
similar to those of previous designs such as that described above,
but that effectively permit the cap to be opened when desired,
while precluding or reducing the chances of accidental opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0006] The present invention provides an improved cap designed to
respond to these needs. The cap may be used in any range of
settings, but is particularly well-suited for use with containers
designed for dispensing liquids and particulate materials. In a
current design, for example, the cap itself can form a container by
receipt of an insert or plug that closes a bottom portion of the
cap (such as for holding and dispensing pharmaceuticals). In such
arrangements, the cap itself may partially form the container. The
cap includes an inner skirt that is designed to be affixed to a
container. An outer skirt surrounds the inner skirt and includes a
region that forms a deformable lever. The outer and inner skirt are
part of a base of the cap. An upper or opening portion of the cap
is secured to the base by a living hinge. The upper portion
includes a latch or detent that is engaged with the base when the
cap is closed. The geometry, placement and thickness of molded
sections of the cap facilitate escape of the detent from the
latching portion of the lever when the cap is desired to be
opened.
[0007] The cap is further improved by the provision of one or more
ribs or abutment elements that prevent twisting of the upper
portion of the cap about the living hinge, as well as and lateral
movement of the upper portion on the base. Once closed, then, the
upper portion is prevented from moving and thereby opening. The cap
may also include integral bumpers that protect the living hinge
from damage in the event the cap or container is dropped.
DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood when the following
detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout
the drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary flip-top cap in
accordance with aspects of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cap of FIG. 1 illustrating
placement of a lever portion and a living hinge, along with bumper
elements that prevent damage to the living hinge in the event the
cap is dropped;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cap of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown
with the cap opened;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 3 taken
along line 4-4 and illustrating improved geometries of the lever
and associated elements;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the cap shown in
FIG. 4, illustrating improved placements and configurations of the
components that allow for deformation of the outer skirt for
opening the cap;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the cap shown in section of
FIG. 4, illustrating a placement of a bumper adjacent to the living
hinge to protect the hinge structure, as well as an exemplary rib
that aids in preventing twisting or lateral movement of the upper
portion of the cap when closed; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a more diagrammatical view of an exemplary cap in
accordance with aspects of the invention that incorporates a
plurality of latches rather than a single latch structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Turning now to the drawings, and referring first to FIG. 1,
a cap 10 is illustrated for a container. The cap may be designed to
fit on a mouth of the container to permit dispensing of contents
from the container, particularly liquid or particulate contents
that can flow out of the container through the cap when open. In a
present embodiment, illustrated in the figures, the cap receives a
plug or insert I that closes the bottom of the cap, and creates an
interior volume that may be accessed by opening the cap. Such
arrangements are particularly suitable, for example, for storing
pharmaceuticals and other items. Also, it should be noted that in
such arrangements, the cap itself may be said to partially form the
container.
[0017] The cap 10 generally includes an upper flip-top portion 12
that closes an opening in the cap when placed in the closed
position illustrated in FIG. 1. As described more fully below, the
upper flip-top portion 12 can be snapped into place on a lower
portion 14. The lower portion forms an outer skirt 16 around its
periphery. The outer skirt 16, in turn, presents a front side in
which a depressible lever location 18 is provided. The front side
18 is diametrically opposed to a rear side 20 of the outer skirt.
As more fully described below, by depressing or exerting a force at
the lever location 18 and at a location on the rear side opposite
that location, the upper portion of the cap is permitted to open,
thereby permitting access to the contents of the container.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cap illustrated in FIG. 1.
As more generally shown in FIG. 2, the cap presents a rear side 20
opposite the front side, with a living hinge structure 22 is
disposed on the rear side 20 opposite the depressible lever
location 18 (see FIG. 1). As illustrated in the subsequent figures
and as described more fully below, the living hinge 22 is formed of
a thinned segment of flexible material such that the cap can be
opened and closed repeatedly during its life, with the upper
portion of the cap remaining securely attached to the lower portion
by means of the hinge. Also shown in FIG. 2 are a pair of bumpers
or posts 24 disposed on either side of the living hinge 22. As
described more fully below, the posts 24 serve to protect the hinge
from damage in the event the cap or container is dropped.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cap of FIGS. 1 and 2 with
the upper portion of the cap opened with respect to lower portion.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cap is made up of a base or lower portion
14 and a flip-top upper portion 12. As noted above, the lower
portion or base 14 is secured to the flip-top upper portion 12 by
the intermediary of a flexible living hinge 22. As will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, the cap 10 may be made by
a number of manufacturing processes, although a presently preferred
process includes injection molding. The various features described
herein may be particularly designed to permit a two-piece mold that
allows for extraction of the unitary cap structure (including the
lower base portion 14 and the flip-top upper portion 12).
[0020] As is also visible in FIG. 3, the upper flip-top portion 12
of the cap includes ribs 26 designed to abut structures of the base
portion when the cap is closed. Similarly, the base portion 14
includes ribs 28 at several locations that contact the inner
surface of the upper portion 12 when the cap is closed. As
described in greater detail below, the ribs 26 and 28 act to
prevent or limit twisting movement of the upper portion of the cap
on the lower portion (e.g., about the living hinge 22) as well as
translational movement in side-to-side and front-and-back
directions. Such ribs have been found quite helpful in preventing
unintentional opening of the cap due to such movement. It should be
noted that at least some of the ribs may limit such side-to-side
and front-to-back movement without necessarily contacting the
opposite portion of the cap until some slight movement has
occurred. This is the case for certain of the ribs adjacent to the
lever location 18 in a present embodiment.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 4, which is a
sectional view through the open cap of FIG. 3, the base portion 14
of the cap also includes an inner skirt 30 which extends generally
parallel to the outer skirt 16. A space is provided between the
inner and outer skirts that permits deformation of the outer skirt
for opening and closing of the cap as described below. The outer
skirt 16 is spaced from inner skirt 30 by a radial connecting wall
32. The wall not only secures the skirts with respect to one
another and serves to support the living hinge 22 adjacent the rear
side of the cap, but also serves as a fulcrum point for the front
side of the outer skirt for opening and closing the cap as
described below. The inner skirt 30 is also provided with a
securement structure 34 which, in a present embodiment, may be
adapted for snap-type engagement or threaded engagement with the
upper neck of a container, or for receiving an insert I (or other
structure with which the cap is designed to function). An upper
extension 36 of the inner skirt 30 is designed to contact the upper
portion 28 of the cap when closed and is provided with a sealing
surface around its outer periphery for this purpose.
[0022] The outer skirt 16 extending above the radial connecting
wall 32 is provided with a latch surface 40 below which a recess 42
is formed. As described more fully below, the latch surface 40 and
the recess 42 serve to maintain the upper portion 12 of the cap in
a closed position when latched, but permits flip-type movement of
the upper portion about the living hinge 22 for opening.
[0023] The upper portion 12 of the cap includes a sealing ring 44
that extends from its upper panel toward the inside of the cap.
When closed, sealing ring 44 contacts the sealing surface of the
upper extension 36 of the cap to form a tight seal. Other sealing
structures may, of course, be envisaged, including compressible
structures, tempered-proof arrangements, and so forth, which may be
temporarily or permanently installed in either the lower portion or
the upper portion of the cap. Finally, the upper portion 12 of the
cap is provided with a detent 46 which corresponds in location to
the recess 42 of the outer skirt of the base portion. When the
living hinge 22 is flexed to allow the upper portion to swing over
the lower portion and close the cap, this detent 46 slightly
deforms or toggles the outer skirt by contacting the latch surface
40. When compressed slightly more over the lower portion, the
detent 46 then enters into the recess 42 to latch the upper portion
over the lower portion by relaxation of the deformation in the
outer skirt.
[0024] It should be noted that, as visible in the view shown in
FIG. 4, on the front side of the cap the radial connecting wall 32
is located relatively lower along the outer skirt and inner skirt
than is the case on the rear side 20. As discussed in greater
detail below, the height difference 48 shown in FIG. 4 has been
found to effectively lower the fulcrum point for pivoting the
deformable outer skirt, thereby facilitating opening of the cap.
That is, as described below, on the front side of the cap, radial
connecting wall 32 forms the fulcrum point for pivoting the front
side of the outer skirt when deformed for opening the cap. The
height difference 48 facilitates this operation.
[0025] By way of example, in a presently contemplated embodiment
for a cap of the type illustrated in the figures having a mouth
opening of 1.622 inches (at the smallest diameter of the upper
extension 36), the radial connecting wall 32 at the front side of
the cap has a height difference 48 of approximately 0.140 inches.
In the same cap design, the outer skirt 16 has a height of
approximately 0.835 inches, such that the distance from the upper
surface of the radial connecting wall 32 to the bottom of the outer
skirt is approximately 0.561 inches. Moreover, in the same design,
the radial connecting wall 32 at the same location on the front
side between the inner skirt and outer skirt (as well as at all
other locations around the periphery of the inner skirt) has a
thickness of approximately 0.030 inches.
[0026] As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the lowering of the radial
connecting wall 32 on the front side of the cap, and the thinning
of the radial connecting wall at the same location, as compared
with existing caps, has been found to greatly facilitate opening of
the cap by deformation of the outer skirt 16. In the view of FIG.
5, the normal position of the outer skirt 16 is shown in solid
lines, and a deformed or deflected position is shown in dashed
lines. The cap is opened by exerting a force at the depressible
level location 18 and on the rear side of the cap, which
effectively deforms the outer skirt 14. In a present embodiment,
the wall thickness of the outer skirt 16 on the front and rear
sides is somewhat greater than at other locations around the wall,
stiffening these locations somewhat and causing the deformation of
the outer skirt to be concentrated between these locations.
Similarly, such stiffening of the front side at the depressible
lever location 18 tends to make this section of the outer skirt to
rock without excessive bending along its height. At the same time,
the reduction in thickness of the radial connecting wall, as
compared to earlier designs, causes elastic flexure of the
connecting wall as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5. Such pivoting
motion of the outer skirt and flexure of the connecting wall can
continue until the cap opens. When so deflected, the recess 42 is
moved outwardly permitting the detent 46 of the upper portion of
the cap (see FIG. 4) to escape the recess and thereby allow opening
of the cap.
[0027] By way of example, for a commercially available cap of the
type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,543, mentioned above, the
distance 52 indicated in FIG. 5 is 0.058 inches, whereas, by
lowering the connecting wall 32, distance 52 was increased on a cap
of the same general size to 0.198 inches. For the same two caps,
the distance 54 was consequently decreased from 0.701 inches to
0.561 inches. The thickness 50 of the connecting wall was also
decreased from 0.042 inches to 0.030 inches. As will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art, the inclusion of ribs 26 and 28 (see
FIG. 3) in the inventive design had an effect of limiting movement
of the upper portion of the cap. This constraint, however, reduced
the extent to which the upper portion could be pulled back during
deformation of the outer skirt for opening the cap. However, the
lengthening of the lever extension represented by distance 52
allowed the recess 42 to be more fully withdrawn from the detent of
the upper portion for opening. Any added difficulty due to the
shortening of the lower lever extension represented by distance 54,
then, was at least partially countered by the thinning of the
connecting wall 32.
[0028] The particular design of the cap illustrated in the figures
has been found both to facilitate opening of the cap and to resist
unwanted opening. As noted above, the unwanted opening of
heretofore known caps of similar designs has been attributed, at
least in part, to twisting of the upper portion of the cap with
respect to the base or by lateral (side-to-side and/or
front-and-back) movement of the upper portion, in such a way as to
allow the detent 46 (see FIG. 4) to escape engagement within recess
42 (see FIG. 5). To prevent such twisting and lateral displacement,
the cap provided by the invention has been equipped with integral
ribs 26 and 28 (see FIG. 3). Moreover, to prevent damage to the
living hinge, integral bumpers or posts 24 are provided on either
side of the hinge.
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a section through one of the ribs 28 on
the base portion that prevents movement of the upper portion (in
conjunction with other ribs not visible in the figure). The upper
portion of the cap is shown in its closed position in dashed lines
in FIG. 6. As can be seen in that position, the ribs contact the
inner surface of the upper portion to stabilize the upper portion
in place when closed. Certain of the ribs may be slightly spaced
from the inner surface of the upper portion. In a current design,
two of the ribs on the front side contact the inner surface, while
two other ribs are slightly spaced from it (see FIG. 3).
[0030] Also shown in FIG. 6 is one the integral bumpers or posts 24
(visible behind the sections hinge), which are preferably
immediately adjacent to the living hinge 22 at a location extending
from the outer skirt 16. When the upper portion 12 of the cap is
closed back over the lower portion 14, the posts guard and protect
the hinge from damage.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows an alternative configuration of a flip-tip cap
incorporating the innovations detailed above, but with a pair of
latch structures. In this embodiment, the cap 60 again includes an
upper portion 12 and a lower portion 14 joined by a living hinge
22. An outer skirt 62 again surrounds an inner skirt (not shown).
However, rather than a single latch structure, a pair of latches 64
and 66 are provided on either side of the skirt. The latches may be
generally similar to the latch arrangement described above. The
placement of the latches on either lateral locations (e.g., at 90
degrees of the hinge 22) creates opposed locations 68 and 70 that
are depressed to cause deformation of the outer skirt by exertion
of opposed forces, as indicated by arrows 72.
[0032] While only certain features of the invention have been
illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes
will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be
understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such
modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *