U.S. patent application number 12/730658 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-07 for container lid, container-lid assembly, and method of manufacture.
Invention is credited to Ambareen Syed.
Application Number | 20100252555 12/730658 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42825336 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100252555 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Syed; Ambareen |
October 7, 2010 |
CONTAINER LID, CONTAINER-LID ASSEMBLY, AND METHOD OF
MANUFACTURE
Abstract
A container lid for sealing a container. The container lid
includes: a base; a wall extending substantially vertically from
the base; and a wall support element positioned remote from the
base. In one aspect, the lid may be made with a paper-based
material. In another aspect, the lid may be configured for
insertion into a container to effect a friction fit between the lid
and the container.
Inventors: |
Syed; Ambareen;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERESKIN AND PARR LLP/S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l.
40 KING STREET WEST, BOX 401
TORONTO
ON
M5H 3Y2
CA
|
Family ID: |
42825336 |
Appl. No.: |
12/730658 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61167319 |
Apr 7, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
220/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/0024 20130101;
B65D 3/06 20130101; B65D 2543/00268 20130101; B65D 43/022 20130101;
B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00046 20130101; B65D 51/1611
20130101; B65D 2543/00509 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
220/200 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/00 20060101
B65D051/00 |
Claims
1. A container lid comprising: a) a base; b) a wall extending
substantially vertically from the base; c) a wall support element
positioned remote from the base; and d) wherein the lid comprises a
paper-based material.
2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the paper-based material is
recyclable.
3. The lid of claim 1, wherein the wall support element comprises a
helically rolled rim.
4. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid base comprises at least one
aperture.
5. The lid of claim 1, wherein an outer wall surface comprises a
water resistant lining.
6. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a coffee cup
lid.
7. The lid of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the base
comprises one or more indicia.
8. An assembly for containing a beverage comprising: a) a
container; b) a lid for insertion into the container, wherein the
lid comprises: i) a lid base; and ii) a lid wall extending from the
lid base; and c) wherein when the lid is inserted into an opening
of the container, a plurality of locations of an inner wall surface
of the container exerts a friction fit force on a corresponding
plurality of locations of an outer wall surface of the lid.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lid and the container
comprise a paper-based material.
10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lid further comprises a
wall support element positioned remote from the base.
11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lid further comprises a
positioning element configured to delimit the extent of insertion
of the lid into the container.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the positioning element
comprises a helically rolled rim, said rim configured to rest
against a top of a container wall when the lid is fully inserted
into an opening of the container.
13. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the container comprises a
coffee cup.
14. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the container comprises a
disposable container.
15. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lid wall and the container
wall are substantially frusto conical proximate the plurality of
corresponding inner wall and outer wall locations.
16. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lid base comprises at
least one aperture.
17. A lid for sealing a container, said lid comprising: a) a lid
base; b) a lid wall extending from the lid base; c) wherein when
the lid is inserted into an opening of the container, a plurality
of locations of an inner wall surface of the container exerts a
friction fit force on a corresponding plurality of locations of an
outer wall surface of the lid; and d) wherein the lid comprises a
paper-based material.
18. The lid of claim 17, wherein the lid wall further comprises an
outwardly biasing lid wall element positioned remote from the lid
base.
19. The lid of claim 18, wherein the outwardly biasing element
comprises a helically rolled rim.
20. The lid of claim 17, wherein the lid is configured to
substantially seal a disposable container.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/167,319, filed Apr. 7, 2009, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The field of the invention relates generally to containers
and container lids.
INTRODUCTION
[0003] Lidded containers are often a convenient mode of
transportation for food and drinks. Some people use resilient
washable (or reusable) containers, while others use disposable,
one-time-use containers. One of the most common uses of a
disposable container is for containing hot and cold beverages, but
containers may be used for food and other products as well.
[0004] Lids specifically adapted for fitting disposable beverage
containers are known in the art. Typically, such lids are
manufactured using a plastic-based material.
SUMMARY
[0005] In view of the ongoing global push for sustainable
development, new and creative ways to reduce the use of materials
with low rates of decomposition are in continuous demand. Plastic
is an example of such an undesirable material and, as mentioned
above, container lids--the use of which is abundant--are often made
from plastic-based materials. The applicant has accordingly
recognized a need for new and improved container lids, which in
some embodiments comprise recyclable material.
[0006] The described embodiments relate to lids for containers,
lid-container assemblies, and methods of manufacture for container
lids.
[0007] In one broad aspect, there is provided a container lid. The
container lid includes: a base; a wall extending substantially
vertically from the base; and a wall support element positioned
remote from the base. The lid is made with a paper-based
material.
[0008] In some instances, the paper-based material may be
recyclable. As well, the wall support element may comprise a
helically rolled rim.
[0009] The base of the lid may include at least one aperture. The
aperture or apertures may serve one or many of a variety of
functions. An aperture may, for example, serve as a pouring
aperture, a drinking aperture, or a venting aperture.
[0010] In some instances, the lid may be in the form of a coffee
cup lid. As well, an outer wall surface of the lid may be
configured to be water resistant. Additionally, the lid base may be
circular in shape and may include an attachment lip to facilitate
the securing of the lid base to the lid wall. The top of the lid
base may be provided with various indicia. Indicia may include
corporate insignia such as company logos/trademarks, tradenames or
slogans, quotes, cartoon characters, photographs, written or
pictorial instructions, and any other visual cue that may be
desirable to have displayed or communicated to a user of the
lid.
[0011] In another broad aspect, there is provided an assembly for
containing a beverage. The assembly includes a container and a lid
for insertion into the container. The lid includes a lid base and a
lid wall extending from the lid base. When the lid is inserted into
an opening of the container, a plurality of locations of an inner
wall surface of the container exerts a friction fit force on a
corresponding plurality of locations of an outer wall surface of
the lid.
[0012] In some instances, the lid and the container may be made
with a paper-based material. The lid may further comprise a wall
support element positioned remote from the base.
[0013] The lid may further comprise a positioning element
configured to delimit the extent of insertion of the lid into the
container. Additionally, the positioning element may comprise a
helically rolled rim configured to rest against the top of a
container wall when the lid is fully inserted into an opening of
the container. The lid wall is substantially shorter in vertical
height than the container wall.
[0014] In some instances, the container may be suitable for
containing a fluid. Also, the container may be in the form of a
coffee cup. Further, the container may take the form of a
disposable container.
[0015] The lid wall and the container wall may be substantially
frusto conical proximate the plurality of corresponding inner wall
and outer wall locations. Also, the base of the lid may comprise at
least one aperture. One or more apertures may serve, for example,
as a pouring aperture, a drinking aperture, and a venting aperture.
A single aperture may provide one or a combination of such aperture
functions.
[0016] The vertical height of the lid wall may be substantially
shorter than the vertical height of the container wall. In some
instances, the vertical height of a lid wall may be less than
fifteen percent of the vertical height of the container wall.
[0017] In some instances, the lid base may be circular in shape and
may include an attachment lip to facilitate the securing of the lid
base to the lid wall. The top of the lid base may be provided with
various indicia. Indicia may include corporate insignia such as
company logos/trademarks, tradenames or slogans, quotes, cartoon
characters, photographs, written or pictorial instructions, and any
other visual cue that may be desirable to have displayed or
communicated to a user of the lid.
[0018] In another broad aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a lid for sealing a container. The lid includes a lid base
and a lid wall extending from the base. When the lid is inserted
into an opening of the container, a plurality of locations of an
inner wall surface of the container exerts a friction fit force on
a corresponding plurality of locations of an outer wall surface of
the lid. The lid of this aspect comprises a paper-based
material.
[0019] In some instances, the lid wall may further comprise an
outwardly biasing lid wall element positioned remote from the lid
base. Additionally, the outwardly biasing wall element may comprise
a helically rolled rim.
[0020] The lid wall may be substantially frusto conical proximate
the plurality of locations of the outer lid wall surface. As well,
the lid may be configured to seal a disposable container. The
vertical height of the lid wall is configured to be substantially
shorter than the vertical height of the container wall.
[0021] In another broad aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of manufacturing a lid. The method may include
providing a base for the lid. A sheet of material from which a wall
for the lid can be formed may be provided. The lateral ends of the
sheet may be loosely rolled and joined to form a lid wall having a
frusto conical shape with a bottom opening and a top opening.
[0022] The lid base may be affixed to the lid wall near the bottom
opening, thereby closing the bottom opening and creating a lid.
[0023] In some instances, the lid base may be circular in shape and
may include an attachment lip to facilitate the securing of the lid
base to the lid wall. The bottom surface of the lid base and the
sheet of material may be treated with a water resistant coating or
liner, and the top of the lid base may be provided with various
indicia. Indicia may include corporate insignia such as company
logos/trademarks, tradenames or slogans, quotes, cartoon
characters, photographs, written or pictorial instructions, and any
other visual cue that may be desirable to have displayed or
communicated to a user of the lid.
[0024] The sheet of material may be in the form of an arcuate blank
and the lid base and the sheet of material may be made with a
paper-based material.
[0025] In another broad aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a second method of manufacturing a lid. The method may
include providing a base for the lid. One or more indicia may be
printed on the top surface of the lid.
[0026] Indicia may include corporate insignia such as company
logos/trademarks, tradenames or slogans, quotes, cartoon
characters, photographs, written or pictorial instructions, and any
other visual cue that may be desirable to have displayed or
communicated to a user of the lid.
[0027] In some instances, the bottom surface of the lid base may be
treated with a water resistant liner or coating. A lid wall
extending substantially vertically from the lid base may be formed,
and the outside surface of the lid wall may be treated with a water
resistant liner or coating. Also, a lid wall support element may be
formed remote from the lid base.
[0028] These and other aspects and features of various embodiments
will be described in greater detail below.
DRAWINGS
[0029] Embodiments are described in further detail below, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1, in perspective view, illustrates an embodiment of a
container lid according to one aspect of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 2, in a front view, illustrates the container lid of
FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a thin slice of the lid of FIG. 1, taken
orthogonal to the lid base and intersecting a centre of the lid
base;
[0033] FIG. 4, in perspective view, illustrates an embodiment of a
container according to another aspect of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 5, in a front view, illustrates the container lid of
FIG. 1, configured for insertion with the container of FIG. 4,
showing the contact surface of the lid;
[0035] FIG. 6, in a front view, illustrates the lid of FIG. 1 fully
inserted into the container of FIG. 4;
[0036] FIG. 7, in perspective view, illustrates the lid of FIG. 1
fully inserted into the container of FIG. 4;
[0037] FIG. 8A illustrates the steps of a method of manufacture for
a container lid;
[0038] FIG. 8B illustrates the steps of an alternate method of
manufacture for a container lid; and,
[0039] FIG. 9, in front view, illustrates a possible configuration
for a sheet of material used to manufacture the lid wall according
to the methods illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a lid according to an
embodiment of the present invention is described. The structure of
the lid 10 includes a base 20 and a wall 30. In an exemplary lid
depicted in the figures, the lid base 20 and the lid wall 30 are
separate components. It will be appreciated, however, that the base
20 and the wall 30 need not be separate components; rather, the lid
10 can be formed as a single piece. Single piece container lids
may, for example, be manufactured using commonly known molding and
casting manufacturing techniques. In some instances, a lid 10 may
include one or more of a wall support element 38, a positioning
element 37, and an outwardly biasing wall element 39, each of which
will be further discussed below.
[0041] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3, the base 20 may be
in the form of a substantially circular sheet of material having an
attachment lip 28 formed by folding the periphery of the base sheet
in a generally downward direction with respect to the unfolded
portion 29 of the base 20. It will be appreciated that the base 20
is not required to be substantially circular in shape. A circular
base 20 may be appropriate for lids 10 meant for use with some
common disposable beverage containers having substantially circular
cross-sections; however, other containers of differing shapes will
require lids 10 whose base 20 generally corresponds to the
cross-sectional shape of the container 50 (FIG. 4) close to the
container's opening 55 (FIG. 4). For example, a container with a
rectangular base and four walls extending from the container base
to form a substantially frusto rectangular container can be paired
with a lid that has a rectangular base and that is also
substantially frusto rectangular in shape.
[0042] The attachment lip 28 of the base 20 can facilitate the
attachment of the base 20 to the wall 30 in the case of a lid 10
with separate base 20 and wall 30 components. An attachment lip
angle .theta. may be formed between the attachment lip 28 and the
unfolded portion 29 of the base 20. The attachment lip angle
.theta. may be slightly less than ninety degrees in order to
produce a substantially frusto conical lid. The attachment lip
angle .theta. is typically selected to be supplementary to the lid
wall angle .alpha. (described in further detail below) formed
between the lid base 20 and the lid wall 30 (i.e. the attachment
lip angle .theta. and the wall angle .alpha. add up to one hundred
and eighty degrees).
[0043] The lid base 20 may be provided with one or more apertures
26 of various shapes and sizes. An aperture 26 may be a drinking
aperture to allow a user to drink from a container 50 (FIG. 4)
without having to remove the lid 10.
[0044] The lid base 20 may also include a pouring aperture to allow
a user to pour out various amounts of the contents of the container
50 (FIG. 4) without being required to remove the lid 10. A pouring
aperture may be desirable when the contents of the container are to
be distributed to multiple other containers (e.g. bowls or cups).
Yet another type of aperture 26 is a venting aperture. A venting
aperture may be useful when a container 50 (FIG. 4) is intended to
carry a hot beverage and it is desirable to substantially seal the
container 50 (FIG. 4) to prevent spillage and allow for the hot
beverage to cool down simultaneously. It will be appreciated that
the base 20 may have multiple apertures 26 all serving different
functions, or alternatively may have a single aperture 26 serving
several functions simultaneously.
[0045] In some instances in which a lid 10 is made with separate
lid base 20 and lid wall 30 components, a lid wall 30 and a lid
base 20 may be attached by folding one end of the lid wall 30
around an attachment lip 28 of the lid base 20 and bonding the two
together. Once the wall 30 and the base 20 are attached, the wall
30 may extend upward and away from the base 20 forming a lid wall
angle .alpha. between the lid wall 30 and the lid base 20. The lid
wall angle .alpha. may be slightly greater than ninety degrees in
order to produce a frusto conical lid 10. The lid wall angle
.alpha. in FIGS. 2 and 3 is slightly exaggerated for demonstrative
purposes in order to more clearly illustrate the frusto conical
shape of some lids 10. Nevertheless, the lid wall angle .alpha. may
be greater or smaller than illustrated depending on the
application. The lid wall angle .alpha. is typically selected to be
similar to the container wall angle .mu. (FIG. 6) formed between
the container base 60 (FIG. 4) and the container wall 70 of the
container 50 within which the lid 10 is designed to fit.
[0046] The construction of the lid 10 may have some similarities to
that of the container 50. For example, a lid 10 designed to mate
with a container 50 in the form of a disposable coffee cup may look
somewhat similar to the coffee cup itself, only shorter. For
example, the vertical height LH of the lid wall 30 is typically
configured to be substantially shorter than the vertical height CH
of the corresponding container wall 70 (see FIG. 6). In some
instances, the vertical height LH of a lid wall 30 may be less than
fifteen percent of the vertical height CH of the container wall 70
it is designed to fit within. The vertical height LH of the lid 10
may be greater or lesser than fifteen percent of the vertical
height CH of the container 50.
[0047] There are also spatial advantages to designing a lid 10 with
a frusto conical, frusto rectangular, or other shape with a wall
angle .alpha. slightly greater than ninety degrees. Lids 10 of this
construction, much like the containers 50 within which they are
designed to fit, are able to fit inside one another to permit an
efficient use of spatial resources when the lids 10 are required to
be stored or transported from one location to another. Also,
maximizing spatial efficiency may help to minimize packaging costs
and packaging waste.
[0048] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a wall support element 38
can be positioned near a remote (and typically upper) end 16 of the
lid wall 30. A wall support element 38 can provide structural
integrity and some rigidity to a lid wall 30 proximate the remote
end 16 of lid wall 30. In some instances, the wall support element
38 may be in the form of a helically rolled rim 40 formed by
tightly rolling the remote end 16 of the lid wall 30 toward the lid
base 20. The structure of a wall support element 38 in the form of
a helically rolled rim is best illustrated in the cross-sectional
slice of a lid 10 shown in FIG. 3. Tightly rolling the lid wall 30
results in an increased concentration of material within the
annular rim formed by the roll. The result is a lid wall 30 with
increased resistance to deformation in and around the area of the
rolled rim 40.
[0049] In FIG. 3, the rim is formed by rolling the remote end 16 of
the lid wall 30 outwardly toward the lid base 20. It will be
appreciated that a rim could also be produced by an inward roll of
the remote end 16 of the lid wall 30. It will also be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that some structural integrity and
rigidity may be provided to a lid 10 at its remote end 16 by means
other than providing a helically rolled rim to the lid wall 30. For
example, a wall support element 38 may be formed by using a
two-plied lid wall 30 whereby the two plies are offset slightly at
the remote end 16 of the wall 30 and folding one ply over the
other. Another example includes folding the remote end 16 of the
lid wall 30 outwardly or inwardly onto itself several times to
produce an accordion-like annular element surrounding the remote
end 16 of the lid wall 30, and fixing the resulting accordion-like
rim in a compressed position. Other ways to provide a wall support
element 38 to the lid 10 may be by increasing the thickness of the
lid wall 30 or by coating an annular portion of, or all of the lid
wall 30 with a high strength substance. Those skilled in the art
will appreciate that there are further ways to provide a wall
support element 38 to a lid 10.
[0050] Reference is now made jointly to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6. A lid
wall 30 may also include a positioning element 37. A positioning
element 37 can function to delimit the extent of the insertion of a
lid 10 into a container 50. A positioning element 37 may also take
on the form of an outwardly helically rolled rim 40. In the case in
which a positioning element 37 in the form of a helically rolled
rim 40 is used and the lid 10 is fully inserted into a container
50, the positioning element 37 may rest atop a wall 70 of a
container 50. Once the positioning element 37 is in contact with
the top of a container wall 70, the lid 10 is physically inhibited
from further insertion into the container 50. As depicted in FIG.
4, a container 50 may incorporate a helically rolled rim 78 at the
upper end of the container wall 70. Consequently, in such
instances, when a lid 10 is fully inserted into the container 50,
the lower surface 41 (FIG. 2) of the lid's 10 positioning element
37 can rest on the upper surface 79 of the container's 50 helically
rolled rim 78, as illustrated in FIG. 6. It will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that an outwardly helically rolled rim 40
can act as both a positioning element 37 and a wall support element
38 simultaneously. Therefore, the illustration of a wall support
element 38 of FIGS. 1-3 is equally applicable to illustrate a
positioning element 37. Those skilled in the art will also
appreciate that the positioning element 37 can be a separate
structural feature of a lid 10, distinct from the wall support
element 38. For example, a frusto conical lid 10 may include an
inwardly helically rolled rim as a wall support element 38 at the
remote end 16 of the lid 10, and may also include a positioning
element formed by an increased thickness of the lid wall 30 at a
distance partway up the lid wall 30.
[0051] A further structural feature that may be integrated into a
lid wall 30 is an outwardly biasing element 39. An outwardly
biasing element 39 can help provide the outward force required from
a lid 10, when inserted into a container 50, to achieve a friction
fit therewith. An outwardly biasing element 39 can be located
remote from the lid base 20 and may be in the form of an outwardly
helically rolled rim 40. In such instances, the outwardly helically
rolled rim 40 can also function as a wall support element 38 and a
positioning element 37 simultaneously. It will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art, however, that an outwardly biasing
element 39, a positioning element 37, and a wall support element 38
can coexist as separate structural features of the lid 10,
independent of one another. For example, a container lid 10 could,
all at once, incorporate a wall support element 38 in the form of
an inwardly helically rolled rim, a positioning element 37
functionally established as a result of a substantially frusto
conical lid construction, and an outwardly biasing element 39
formed by coating an annular portion of the lid wall 30 with a high
strength substance.
[0052] In the case in which a lid 10 is designed to mate with a
container typically used to carry a beverage, it may be desirable
to configure a portion of the lid 10 to be water resistant; for
example, by applying a water resistant coating or liner to the
appropriate portion. The application of water resistant coatings is
known in the art; one example being the polyethylene or wax coating
applied to the inner surface of the wall, and the upper surface of
the base, of disposable paper cups. A water resistant coating or
liner can function to prevent a material from absorbing liquids and
losing its structural integrity, and can facilitate the storing of
liquids in the case of paper cups.
[0053] A similar technique to that used to coat paper cups could be
used to apply a water resistant liner to a container lid 10.
However, in the case of a lid 10, it is the bottom surface 24 of
the base 20 that may require waterproofing, not the top surface 22
of the base 20, as may be the case with some containers 50. As will
be discussed in further detail below, a lid 10 and its mating
container 50 may form a friction fit when the lid 10 is inserted
into the container 50, thereby forming a seal between a plurality
of locations 75 on the inner surface 73 of the container wall 70
(FIG. 4) and a corresponding plurality of locations 36 on the outer
surface 34 of the lid wall 30 (FIG. 5). The corresponding plurality
of locations 36 on the outer surface 34 of the lid 30 (which will
be positioned directly against a container wall's inner surface 73)
may make up the entire outer surface 34 of the lid wall 30, thereby
arguably diminishing the need for the lid wall's 30 outer surface
34 to be treated with a water resistant coating in order to prevent
absorption of liquids and maintain structural integrity of the lid
10. Nevertheless, a water resistant coating of the lid wall's 30
outer surface 34 may be used to complement the friction fit between
the lid 10 and a container 50 to further secure the lid 10 within
the container 50 where the substance used for the liner is slightly
adhesive in nature.
[0054] As was previously mentioned, the water resistant liner can
take the form of a coating of wax or polyethylene. Those skilled in
the art will appreciate, however, that any hydrophobic substance
that has a melting point higher than the temperature of the
contents expected to be carried in the container may be used to
provide the water resistant liner. Alternatively, the liner may be
in the form of a separate substrate mated to the paper-based
material.
[0055] In some instances, a lid 10 may be made from a paper-based
material. Paper-based materials are not limited to paper as it is
commonly known. Rather a paper-based material can be any material
obtained by pressing together moist cellulose-based fibers obtained
from wood pulp, cotton, rags, grasses, sugar cane, straw, waste
paper, and other available sources of cellulose. In addition to
common paper, some examples of paper-based materials include, but
are not limited to paperboard, carton board, and containerboard.
Paper-based disposable container lids may offer advantages over
presently available plastic-based container lids commonly used with
disposable beverage containers. One such potential advantage is the
reduced environmental impact of paper-based materials as compared
to plastic-based materials. The use of paper-based container lids
as contemplated herein may help to address the growing concern
regarding the use of plastic-based materials in view of the low
rate of decomposition of plastic.
[0056] The paper-based material that may be used to make a lid 10
may be recyclable. Further, in some instances, the lid 10 may be
made from the same paper-based material used to make the container
50 with which it is meant to be paired, thereby making the
container and lid assembly recyclable as a unit. Some of the
potential advantages associated with providing a disposable
container lid 10 made from a paper-based material, generally, and
from a material in the same recycling category as its mating
container, more specifically, will now be discussed in more
detail.
[0057] In view of a growing environmental concern surrounding the
use of plastic-based materials due to the low decomposition rate of
plastic, a paper-based disposable container lid offers the
potential advantage of an alternative to the use of plastic. In
addition, a lid and container combination capable of being recycled
as a single unit may offer advantages that benefit not only the
environment, but also users of the lid and container combination as
well as recycled material processing staff.
[0058] Some advantages that may benefit the environment, the user,
and the recycled material processing staff are interrelated. For
example, consider less environmentally conscious consumers who do
not feel compelled to expend the extra energy to separate the
container lid from their disposable container merely for the sake
of recycling. These users typically dispose of their lid and
container combinations as a unit either into a waste receptacle or
into a single recycling receptacle. Depending on their choice of
receptacles, the effect of their actions is either to increase
waste where this can be avoided, or to increase the amount of work
for the recycling plant staff who are required to ensure
non-contamination (i.e. non-mixing) of recycling mediums. Providing
a lid 10 and container 50 combination that falls within one
recycling category may decrease the amount of effort required of
users to properly recycle lid 10 and container 50 combinations
(potential advantage benefiting the user), and therefore may
facilitate recycling (potential advantage benefiting the
environment). It will also be appreciated that the probability of
mixing recyclable materials is decreased as a result of using a
container 50 and lid 10 of the same recycling family.
[0059] Another advantage of making a container lid 50 out of a
paper-based material is that such materials are typically suitable
for printing upon. Consequently, common printing methods may be
used to print various indicia 23 on the top surface 22 of the lid
base 20 (FIG. 1) for example, for advertising purposes. The endless
printing possibilities may include corporate insignia such a
company logos/trademarks, tradenames or slogans, quotes, cartoon
characters, photographs, written or pictorial instructions, and any
other visual cue that may be desirable to have displayed or
communicated to a user of the lid 10.
[0060] Additionally, and in the alternative, a lid 10 may be
coloured according to the colours of a particular brand or the
colours associated with a particular holiday season.
[0061] The contact resulting from the insertion of a lid 10 into a
container 50 is now discussed in further detail with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5. The container 50 depicted in FIG. 4 is similar to
some containers typically used to carry a hot beverage. The
container 50 depicted is substantially frusto conical and has an
outwardly helically rolled rim 78 as its upper most structural
feature.
[0062] A lid 10 may be inserted into an opening 55 of a container
50 in order to substantially seal the container 50 making the lid
and container combination substantially leak and spill resistant.
When the lid 10 is inserted into the container 50 via the container
opening 55, a friction fit is effected between the lid 10 and the
container 50. The friction fit is maintained as a result of equal
and opposite friction fit forces exerted by a plurality of
locations 75 of the inner wall surface 73 of the container 50 on a
corresponding plurality of locations 36 of an outer wall surface 34
of the lid 10, and vice versa. The plurality of locations 75 on the
inner wall surface 73 of the container 50 that experience the
friction fit force make up the cross-hatched surface illustrated in
FIG. 4. Similarly, the corresponding plurality of locations 36 on
the outer wall surface 34 of the lid 10 that experience the
friction fit force make up the cross-hatched surface illustrated in
FIG. 5. For clarity, "plurality of locations" of the inner and
outer wall surface of the container and lid, respectively, will be
referenced when describing the friction fit in terms of forces.
Whereas lid and container "contact surfaces" will be referenced
when describing the friction fit in terms of pressures.
[0063] When a lid 10 is inserted into a container 50 with a
suitable amount of force, the inward and outward pressures acting
at the convergence of a container contact surface 75 and a lid
contact surface 36 create a friction fit thereby causing a snug fit
between the lid 10 and the container 50. In other words, when a lid
10 is inserted into a container 50, the lid 10 will not move within
the container 50 absent a significant force applied to the lid 10
to either push the lid 10 farther into the container 50 or to pull
the lid 10 out of the container 50. A seal is therefore effectively
achieved between the lid 10 and the container 50.
[0064] Once the lid 10 is snugly inserted into the container 50
opening 55, the lid 10 and container 50 define an internal storage
area, shown generally as 77 (FIG. 6), in which food, beverage and
other material may be stored.
[0065] In order to achieve the friction fit necessary for a lid 10
to substantially seal a container 50, a radial cross section of the
lid 10 should substantially correspond to a radial cross section of
the container 50 near the corresponding plurality of container
inner wall locations 75 and lid outer wall locations 36. The size
and shape of the lid 10 relative to the container 50 are selected
in most instances to provide a snug fit of the lid 10 within the
container 50. If this were not the case, a complete seal would not
be established. In some instances, the lid wall 30 (FIG. 1) and the
container wall 70 can be substantially frusto conical around the
container contact surface 75 and the lid contact surface 36. It
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a lid 10 and a
container 50 are not required to be frusto conical proximate the
plurality of corresponding container inner wall locations 75 and
lid outer wall locations 36. Desirable results may be achieved
using appropriately selected shapes of lid 10 and container 50,
provided the outer periphery of the lid contact surface 36
substantially matches (and is preferably slightly greater in size
to ensure a snug fit) the inner periphery at the container contact
surface 75.
[0066] One potential advantage of a lid 10 according to the various
embodiments described herein, generally, and for use with a
disposable beverage container, more specifically, is that the lids
10 may be more ergonomic than many of the lids that are currently
used in the market. The lid 10 according to the various embodiments
described herein may be considered an "inverted" lid in that most
of the lid 10, when removably secured to a container 50, is
internal to the container 50, whereas current lids on the market
are typically external to the container to which they are secured.
The construction of an "inverted" lid 10 and the nature of its fit
within a container 50 can provide more comfort to the user when
drinking by affording room to the upper lip and nose when the
container 50 (and lid 10) is tipped toward a user's mouth for
drinking.
[0067] With reference to the logical flow diagram of FIG. 8A, a
method of manufacture (referred to generally as 100A) for a lid
comprising separate base 20 and wall 30 components is now
discussed. A lid base 20 may be provided at Block 110A. The lid
base 20 may be provided with one or more indicia 23 printed on the
top surface 22 thereof. Also, the bottom surface 24 of the lid base
20 may be treated with a water resistant coating or liner. It will
be appreciated that the optional steps of printing indicia 23 on a
top surface 22 of the lid base 20 and applying a water resistant
coating or liner to a bottom surface 24 of the lid base 20 can be
performed before or after the assembly of the components of the lid
10. However, to streamline the manufacturing process, it may be
desirable for the printing and coating steps to be performed prior
to the assembly of the components of the lid 10.
[0068] At Block 120A of the method 100, a substantially arcuate
sheet of material to be used as a lid wall 30 is provided.
Reference is made briefly to FIG. 9, which shows a sheet of
material 80 in a flattened position. The sheet of material 80 may
have two laterally opposed side edges 83 connected by an arced top
edge 85 and an arced bottom edge 87, giving sheet of material 80 an
arcuate periphery while in a flattened position. It will be
appreciated that multiple sheets of material may be combined to
form the sheet of material 80 that will eventually be rolled or
folded for use as the lid wall 30, and that arcuate sheets of
material may not be appropriate for the formation of all lid walls
30. The use of multiple sheets of material to produce the sheet to
eventually be folded for use as a container wall 70 is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 2,252,360. It will further be appreciated that the
method of manufacture for a lid according to the various
embodiments described in the foregoing discussion can be similar in
some respect to common methods of manufacture for disposable paper
cups, thereby potentially allowing for substantially the same
machinery that is used to manufacture some containers 50 to be
used, with some modification, to manufacture lids 10.
[0069] As with the bottom surface 24 of the lid base 20, a sheet of
material 80 may be provided wherein one or both of its surfaces may
be pre-treated with a water resistant coating or liner.
Alternatively, a subsequent water resistant treatment step may be
performed.
[0070] At Block 130A, the substantially arcuate sheet of material
80 is loosely rolled and the laterally opposed side edges 83 of the
sheet 80 are joined. The side edges 83 may be joined using common
bonding techniques such as adhesive, chemical, mechanical and
others known in the art. A lid wall 30 with a bottom opening and a
top opening can be produced as a result of completion of Block
130A. In some instances (particularly where the container opening
55 that a lid 10 may be designed to fit snuggly within is
substantially frusto conical in shape), the lid wall 30 produced at
step 130A of the method 100A may have a substantially frusto
conical shape.
[0071] At Block 140A of the method 100A, a lid 10 may be formed by
affixing the lid base 20 to the lid wall 30 at a bottom portion (or
end) of the lid wall 30. The bottom end of the lid wall 30 may
coincide with the bottom opening of the lid wall 30. The attachment
may entail folding a bottom end of the lid wall 30 inward and
around an attachment lip 28 formed around a contour of the lid base
20 (see FIG. 3). A skilled person in the art will appreciate that
the lid wall 30 may be secured to the attachment lip 28 of the lid
base 20 using other common known attachment methods including but
not limited to adhesives, mechanical bonds, and chemical bonds. It
will further be appreciated that the lid wall 30 may be secured to
the lid base 20 without the use of an attachment lip 28. For
example, a lid base 20 with a sufficient thickness base be directly
adhered or bonded to the inside surface 32 of the lid wall 30.
Another way to attach the lid wall 30 to the lid base 20 may be to
fold a contour of the lid wall 30 near its bottom opening radially
inward and bond it to the bottom surface 24 of the lid base 20.
[0072] With reference to the logical flow diagram of FIG. 8B, an
alternate method of manufacture (referred to generally as 100B) for
a lid 10 is now discussed. In some instances a lid base 20 may be
provided at Block 110B. At Block 150B, one or more indicia 23 may
be printed on the top surface 22 of the lid base 20. Indicia 23 may
include corporate insignia such as company logos/trademarks,
tradenames or slogans, quotes, cartoon characters, photographs,
written or pictorial instructions, and any other visual cue that
may be desirable to have displayed or communicated to a user of the
lid.
[0073] At Block 160B, the bottom surface 24 of the lid base 20 may
be treated with a water resistant liner or coating. The water
resistant liner or coating may be in the form of a wax or
polyethylene, or may be an alternate hydrophobic substance that has
a melting point higher than the temperature of the contents
expected to be carried in the container.
[0074] At Block 170B, a lid wall 30 may be formed to extend
substantially vertically from the lid base 20. Forming the lid wall
30 may require attaching a separate lid wall 30 component to the
lid base 20, or in the alternative, the lid base 20 and the lid
wall 30 may be a single piece, and forming the lid wall 30 may
require a manipulation of a portion of the single piece in order to
appropriately orient the lid wall 30 portion of the single piece
with respect to the lid base 20 portion of the single piece.
[0075] At Block 180B, the outside surface of the lid wall may be
treated with a water resistant liner or coating. Once again, the
water resistant liner or coating may be in the form of a wax or
polyethylene, or may be an alternate hydrophobic substance that has
a melting point higher than the temperature of the contents
expected to be carried in the container.
[0076] A wall support element 38 may be formed remote from the lid
base 20 at Block 190B. The wall support element 38 may be formed by
rolling the remote end of the lid wall 30 outwardly or inwardly
towards the lid base 20, or by other means described herein (at
paragraph 43).
[0077] The steps of a method in accordance with any of the
embodiments described herein may not be required to be performed in
any particular order, whether or not such steps are described in
the claims or otherwise in numbered or lettered paragraphs.
[0078] The invention has been described with regard to a number of
embodiments. However, it will be understood by persons skilled in
the art that other variants and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *