Container lid assembly

A container lid assembly includes a movable lid unit, a cylindrical locking device, an arcuate plate, an annular cover, and a container. A rotation of the movable lid unit and subsequent operations show change of symbol of a symbol ring and capsules in the container can be taken out of the tubular insertion member. It can correctly record the number of times of the container being opened. The container lid assembly further provides a space for storing another kind of medicine in the lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to container lids and more particularly to a lid assembly for a container containing capsules or other granular objects, the lid assembly being capable of correctly recording the number of times of the container being opened for taking out capsules.

2. Description of Related Art

A medicine container, such as a capsule container, generally has a larger opening and it is difficult of taking out the desired number of capsules in one time. It is often that many capsules are taken out. It is further often that a lot of capsules are dropped on the ground due to insufficient care. This can be a serious issue to patients who tend to forget whether they have taken their medicine. And in turn, the patient may take medicine repeatedly or does not take any medicine.

In view of the above, the present inventor invented two container lids capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks. One invention was granted Taiwan Utility Model No. M359519, entitled “Structural improvement of container lid” and the other invention was granted Taiwan Utility Model No. M377396, entitled “Further improvement of container lid”. Patent applications for the same utility models were also filed in the US and were allowed as U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,719, entitled “Container cap” and U.S. Pat. No. 8,136,687, entitled “Cover of container” respectively. The present inventor further devised a container lid assembly which is published as US Publication No. 2020/0399034 A1.

During the actual manufacturing processes, however, the present inventor found that there is a common problem among the patents and publication as detailed below.

Referring toFIG.1, it is a view of US Publication No. 2020/0399034 A1. As shown, the vertically movable member400of the movable lid unit10000is hollow cylindrical and includes threads on an inner surface and an annular bottom400a.

Referring toFIG.2, it is another view of US Publication No. 2020/0399034 A1. As shown, the container600includes an externally threaded neck600aadapted to threadedly secure to the vertically movable member400.

However, capsules may be clogged at the neck600aif the capsules are relatively large in a process of filling the container600with capsules. This can stop the process and lower efficiency.

The present inventor realized the problem and devises a container lid assembly of the present invention which is capable of preventing capsules from being accidentally taken out of a container, correctly recording the number of times of the container being opened, and releasably securing to the container having a large opening so as to facilitate the process of filling large or small capsules in the container.

The container lid assembly of the present invention further provides a space for storing another kind of medicine (e.g., one for first-aid).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a container lid assembly capable of correctly recording the number of times of the container being opened for taking out capsules, having a space in the lid for storing another kind of medicine (e.g., one for first-aid), and the container lid assembly being releasably secured to the container to facilitate capsule management and carrying.

For achieving above and other objects, the invention provides a container lid assembly which can be opened for taking out capsules by performing a series of steps with the number of times of the container being opened recorded and shown so that a patient is fully aware of the number of capsules being taken to prevent a repeat medicine taking from occurring. Further, the container lid assembly is provided with a space in the lid for storing another kind of medicine (e.g., one for first-aid), and the container lid assembly is releasably secured to the container to facilitate capsule management and effect mass production and cost reduction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS.3to10, a container lid assembly1000in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A movable lid unit10includes a rotatable symbol ring11having a plurality of spaced symbols on an outer surface and a plurality of spaced recesses110on an inner surface; and an annular ratchet seat12includes a plurality of spaced cavities121don an outer surface, and two downwardly extending, opposite teeth121each having a downward extending peg121a, a protrusion121b, and a projection121cextending laterally from the downward extending peg121a. The protrusions121bare complimentarily received in the spaced recesses110when the opposite teeth121of the ratchet seat12and the rotatable symbol ring11are assembled. Thus, the rotatable symbol ring11is allowed to rotate in only one direction.

The movable lid unit10further comprises a storing member13including a hollow cylinder131having a closed bottom, an internal space131a, and a rim131bon an underside; an annular flange132on a top, the annular flange132having a plurality of spaced holes132aon an outer surface, and a snapping hole132bon an inner surface; and two opposite ridges133on an outer surface of the hollow cylinder131, each opposite ridge133having an opening133aon a bottom, and a recessed portion133bbetween a bottom of the annular flange132and a top of the opposite ridge133. The hollow cylinder131is disposed in the ratchet seat12.

The movable lid unit10further comprises a cylindrical, moveable housing14including two spaced ribs14eon an outer surface, an opening14a, a bottom14b, a plurality of spaced protuberances14con an inner surface, the protuberances14cconfigured to complementarily dispose in the spaced cavities121d, and a plurality of spaced projecting members14don the inner surface, the spaced projecting members14dconfigured to complementarily dispose in the spaced holes132a. The ratchet seat12is inserted into the moveable housing14with the protuberances14cdisposed in the cavities121drespectively. The bottom14bof the moveable housing14prevents the ratchet seat12from being disengaged from the rotatable symbol ring11. The opening14aof the moveable housing14corresponds to one of the symbols of the rotatable symbol ring11so that any symbol aligned with the opening14ais visible through the opening14a.

The moveable housing14further comprises a hinged lid141including an annular groove142on a bottom, a plurality of snapping holes142aon an inner surface, an annular flange143on a top, a plurality of projecting members143aon an inner surface of the annular flange143, and a projecting element141aon an outer surface of the annular groove142. A chip70is disposed on a central portion of the bottom of the hinged lid141.

A circular member15includes a plurality of projecting members15cconfigured to complementarily dispose in the snapping holes142arespectively, a recessed top15afor covering the chip70, and an annular flange15bon a bottom. The circular member15is disposed in the bottom of the hinged lid141.

A locking device20is a cylindrical body and includes two spaced ribs20aon a surface and an upwardly projecting tubular insertion member201. A locking device20includes a plurality of projecting members20bon an inner surface, a plurality of projecting elements20con the inner surface, an opening202through a surface of the tubular insertion member201, an outward extending rim201aon a top, an inward extending rim201bon the top, two opposite tabs201con the outward extending rim201a, and two spaced recesses201don the inward extending rim201bwith the opposite ridges133moveably disposed therein. The inward extending rim201bis configured to rotate on the recessed portion133b. The tubular insertion member201further comprises a gap201fthrough the outward extending rim201a, the inward extending rim201b, and the surface. The size of the gap201fis flexibly decreased when the tubular insertion member201is in the assembled state. The ratchet seat12is in the moveable housing14and the ratchet seat12and the tubular insertion member201are assembled. The tubular insertion member201may move upward or downward in the ratchet seat12. The downward extending peg121acatches the outward extending rim201aso that the ratchet seat12is prevented from being disengaged from the tubular insertion member201.

An arcuate plate30includes an opening30athrough a surface, a plurality of holes30cthrough the surface, and a flange30bon a bottom. The arcuate plate30is inserted through the bottom of the locking device20into the tubular insertion member201to dispose between the two opposite ridges133. The holes30care blocked by the tubular insertion member201and the flange30burges against the bottom of the locking device20.

An annular cover40includes an annular trough40aon a top with the flange30breceived therein, an annular flange40bin a central portion of the annular trough40a, and an annular groove40con a bottom. The annular cover40is provided at the bottom of the locking device20. The projecting elements20curge against an outer surface of the annular cover40. As a result, the container lid assembly1000is assembled.

A container50includes a plurality of protuberances50aon an outer surface of a narrow upper portion, and an annular protrusion50bon an outer surface of a narrow lower portion. The projecting members143ais on an inner surface of the annular flange143, and the annular flange143on the top of the hinged lid141of the movable lid unit10. The projecting members143aclamp the protrusion50bin a fastened state.

The projecting members20bare fastened by the protuberances50awhen the bottom of the locking device20and the container50are assembled. A top of the container50is rotatably disposed in the annular groove40c.

As shown inFIG.8specifically, it is a perspective view of the assembled container lid assembly1000and the container50with the hinged lid141open. The internal space131acan store another kind of medicine (e.g., one for first-aid). The hinged lid141may be pivoted to close the internal space131aby inserting the projecting element141ainto the snapping hole132b. Also, the annular flange15burges against the storing member13in an airtight manner.

As shown inFIG.9specifically, it schematically depicts three states of use of the container lid assembly1000. The container lid assembly1000is releasably secured to the container50. In the left side ofFIG.9, the movable lid unit10is locked by the locking device20. The movable lid unit10can rotate only but cannot be opened. Thus, it is impossible of taking capsules out of the container50. For taking out the capsules, a person may rotate the movable lid unit10to align the ribs14ewith the ribs20arespectively (see the intermediate portion ofFIG.9). Also, the opposite ridges133are inserted into the recesses201drespectively (seeFIGS.6A and6B). Further, the person may pull the movable lid unit10until being stopped (seeFIG.6C). At this position, the opening133ais aligned with the inward extending rim201b. As shown inFIG.5, the downward extending peg121acatches the outward extending rim201aso that the ratchet seat12is prevented from being disengaged from the tubular insertion member201. Also, the holes30care blocked by the tubular insertion member201, i.e., being closed. As shown inFIG.7, the two opposite tabs201cof the tubular insertion member201is locked in the spaced recess110of the rotatable symbol ring11, i.e., the movable lid unit10positioned.

As shown inFIG.10specifically, it schematically depicts a rotating operation of the ratchet seat12until being stopped at a desired position. In detail, the downward extending peg121aurges against the opposite tabs201c. The projection121cis on a top of the opposite tabs201cto prevent the movable lid unit10from moving downward. The opening202of the tubular insertion member201is aligned with the opening30aof the arcuate plate30, i.e., being open and the rotatable symbol ring11rotates to show change of symbol, i.e., for example from “Mon” to “Tue”. Thus, the capsules can be taken out of the opening202of the tubular insertion member201.

After the capsules have been taken out, a reverse operation of the steps described in the above paragraph closes the opening202. In detail, the rotatable symbol ring11is prohibited from rotating in an opposite direction when the protrusions121bare complimentarily received in the spaced recesses110(seeFIG.6). The person may see the symbol of the rotatable symbol ring11through the opening14ato be aware of the times of the capsules having been taken out.