Abstract:
In one embodiment a fluid container includes: a housing having a chamber therein for holding a fluid, the housing defined at least in part by a rectangular box and a one piece, L-shaped lid; and a first leg of the lid extending along and closing a first, open side of the box and a second leg of the lid extending along and interlocked with a closed, second side of the box disposed perpendicular to the first side of the box.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of co-pending PCT/U.S. 2008/063392 filed on May 12, 2008 by Curt Gonzales and entitled FLUID CONTAINER, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Inkjet printers typically utilize a printhead that includes an array of orifices (also called nozzles) through which ink is ejected on to paper or other print media. One or more printheads may be mounted on a movable carriage that traverses back and forth across the width of the paper feeding through the printer. Alternatively, one or more printheads may be mounted on a stationary carriage, as in a page-wide printhead array. A printhead may be an integral part of an ink cartridge or part of a discrete assembly to which ink is supplied from a separate, often replaceable ink container. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of an ink container according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The wrap-around lid is partially exploded away from the body of the container housing in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0004]      FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of a portion of the body of the container housing of  FIG. 1  showing in more detail the dual-taper key on the side of the body that interlocks with a mating keyway on the lid. 
           [0005]      FIG. 4  is a close-up perspective view of a portion of the lid of the container housing of  FIG. 1  showing in more detail the dual-taper keyway in the lid that interlocks with the mating key on the body. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are section views taken along the lines  5 - 5  and  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0007]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are section views taken along the lines  7 - 7  and  8 - 8  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 9  is a section view showing the lid assembled to the body at the location of the component sections shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 10  is a section view showing the lid assembled to the body at the location of the component sections shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 11  is a perspective, exploded view of a portion of an ink container according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 12  is a close-up perspective view of a portion of the body of the ink container housing of  FIG. 11  showing in more detail the dual-taper key on the side of the body that interlocks with a mating keyway on the lid. 
           [0012]      FIG. 13  is a close-up perspective view of a portion of the lid of the container housing of  FIG. 11  showing in more detail the dual-taper keyway in the lid that interlocks with the mating key on the body. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 14 and 15  are section views taken along the lines  14 - 14  and  15 - 15  in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are section views taken along the lines  16 - 16  and  17 - 17  in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 18 and 19  are section views showing the lid assembled to the body at the locations corresponding to the component sections shown in  FIGS. 14 and 16  ( FIG. 18 ) and  FIGS. 15 and 17  ( FIG. 19 ). 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The housing for a replaceable ink container is constructed from two separate molded plastic parts welded together—a body and a lid covering the open top of the body. Where several different colored inks are supplied from a corresponding number of individual ink containers, it may be desirable to match the color of the container to the color of the ink in the container to help the user correctly install each ink container. It is more economical to match the color of the smaller lid to the color of the ink than it is to match the color of the larger body (or the entire housing) to the ink color. The latch used to secure the ink container in the printer may be molded as part of the body of the container housing, which means the latch will be the same color as the body and not the same color as the lid or the ink. 
         [0017]    A wrap-around lid, in which the latch is molded as part of the lid, makes it more economical to match the latch color with the ink color. In some embodiments, it may be desirable for a wrap-around lid to be held tightly to the body both for function and for looks. If that part of the lid near the latch is not held tightly, then it may not align properly with the body, making it difficult to install the ink container into the printer. If the lid flexes to either side, then the container is, in effect, wider than it should be and, if it flexes outward, then the container is, in effect, longer than it should be. A container that is too wide or too long may not fit or function properly in the printer. In addition, a lid that feels loose to the user may give the impression that the container is defective or broken. 
         [0018]    Embodiments of the present disclosure were developed as part of an effort to design a wrap-around lid for a replaceable ink container that can be secured tightly to the body of the container for both proper function and desirable looks. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described, therefore, with reference to a replaceable inkjet printer ink container. Embodiments of the disclosure, however, are not limited to ink containers. Other forms, details, and embodiments may be made and implemented. Hence, the following description should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined in the claims that follow the description. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of an inkjet printer ink container  10  according to one embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , container  10  includes a housing  12  that forms an internal chamber  14  for holding ink  16 . Ink  16  may be held in chamber  16  in a foam block  18  or other suitable ink holding material. Ink  16  may flow from container  10  to a printhead or other downstream component through an outlet  20  at the bottom of housing  12 . Housing  12  includes a body  22  and a lid  24 . Body  22  is a generally rectangular box that includes an open top part  26  and closed front, rear, bottom and side parts  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34 ,  36 . Lid  24  is a one piece generally L-shaped part that wraps around the top and rear parts  26  and  30  of body  22 . A first leg  38  of lid  24  extends along and closes body top part  26  and a second leg  40  of lid  24  extends along and is interlocked with body rear part  30 , as described in detail below. 
         [0020]    A spring loaded lever latch  42  is integrated into or otherwise operatively affixed to lid second leg  40 . For example, latch  42  and lid  24  will typically be molded together as a single part in which latch  42  is biased by its structural configuration to resist pivoting in toward container body  22 . Thus, when latch  42  is pivoted/compressed in toward container body  22  during installation of container  10  into a receiving bay (not shown), it will tend to “spring back” away from body  22  to help latch container  10  into position in the receiving bay. In the embodiment shown, container  10  is secured into a receiving bay through a projecting key  44  at body front  28  and lever latch  42  on lid second leg  40  at body rear  30 . For installation, key  44  is fitted into a mating keyway on the printhead assembly or other receiving part (not shown) and a catch  46  on lever latch  42  snaps into the receiving part as the rear of container  10  is rotated down into the receiving bay. For removal, lever latch  42  is pivoted forward to release catch  46  so that the rear of container  10  may be rotated up and out of the receiving bay. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a key  48  is formed along the outside surface  50  of body rear  30 . A mating keyway  52  is formed along the inside surface  54  of lid second leg  40 . Key  48  and keyway  52  are configured with respect to one another such that lid second leg  40  fits tightly together with body rear part  30  when lid  24  is assembled to body  22 . For example, second leg  40  of lid  24  is slid down on to body rear part  30 , as indicated by direction arrow  56  in  FIG. 2 , until fully in place on body  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Then, lid first leg  30  is welded or otherwise affixed to body  22  along top  26  to secure lid  24  tightly in place on body  22 . This lid-to-body interlock hides the lid retaining features of housing  12 , giving container  10  a clean look, while providing an economically viable way to match the latch color to the ink color. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of a portion of container body  22  showing key  48  in more detail.  FIG. 4  is a close-up perspective view of a portion of container lid  24  showing keyway  52  in more detail.  FIGS. 5 and 6  are section views taken along the lines  5 - 5  and  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 7 and 8  are section views taken along the lines  7 - 7  and  8 - 8  in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 9  is a section view showing lid  24  assembled to body  22  at the location of the component sections shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 .  FIG. 10  is a section view showing lid  24  assembled to body  22  at the location of the component sections shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
         [0023]    Referring first to  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , body key  48  is a dual taper, generally T-shaped part protruding from and extending along body outside surface  50 . T-shaped key  48  may be characterized as having a stem  58  and a crossbar  60 . Stem  58  extends for substantially the full length of surface  50 . Crossbar  60  tapers in width from a wider section  62  at the bottom of outside body surface  50  to a narrower section  64  at a leading edge  66  about mid-way up surface  50 . Leading edge in this context refers to the sequence of motion of assembling lid  24  to body  22 . Hence, leading edge  66  is that part of crossbar  60  that leads into keyway  52 . Crossbar  60  also tapers in thickness from a thicker section  68  corresponding to wider section  62  at the bottom of outside body surface  50  to a thinner section  70  at leading edge  66 . Crossbar  60  may taper in width gradually, as shown, for substantially its full extent and then taper sharply into stem  58  at leading edge  66 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  8 , lid keyway  52  is a dual taper, generally T-shaped slot matching key  48  and extending along lid inside surface  54 . T-shaped keyway  52  may be characterized as having a stem opening  72  and a crossbar opening  74 . Stem opening  72  extends for substantially the full length of surface  54 . Crossbar opening  74  tapers in width from a wider section  76  at a bottom, leading edge  78  of inside lid surface  54  to a narrower section  80  at a middle part  82  of surface  54  corresponding to the location of body key leading edge  66 . Crossbar opening  74  also tapers in depth from a deeper section  84  corresponding to wider section  76  at lid leading edge  78  to a shallower section  86  at middle part  82 . 
         [0025]    In the embodiment shown, key  48  and keyway  52  both include biasing spacers  88  and  90  that help ensure lid  24  fits tightly on body  22 . Spacer  88  is molded into or otherwise formed along one end of key crossbar  60  to bias crossbar  60  in the side to side direction against the opposite end of crossbar opening  74  in keyway  52 . Spacers  90  are molded into or otherwise formed along one wall of crossbar opening  74  to bias key crossbar  60  in the front to back direction against the opposite wall of crossbar opening  74 . Spacers  88  and  90  are sized and shaped to secure but not impede a tight fit for dimensional variations in the parts due to manufacturing tolerances. That to say, spacers  88  and  90  are configured to fill gaps between otherwise loosely fitting parts and to deform, and/or deform the contacting part, so that the spacers  88  and  90  do not impede the assembly of closely fitting parts. Of course, other suitable spacer configurations may be used (or biasing spacers may not be necessary or desirable at all in some implementations). 
         [0026]    This dual taper configuration for key  48  and keyway  52  facilitates easy assembly while still enabling a tight fit. Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the wider and deeper sections  76  and  84  of keyway  52  slide easily over the narrower and thinner sections  64  and  70  of key  48  as lid  24  is assembled on to body  22 . As lid  24  reaches the fully assembled position shown in  FIG. 1 , the matching dual tapers of key  48  and keyway  52  converge to lock lid  24  tightly on to body  22 , as best seen in the section views of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The interlocking fit is secured by, for example, welding lid  24  to body  22  along top  26  using the same thermal or ultrasonic welding processes presently used to secure a conventional ink container lid. Although a dual taper configuration such as that shown and described may not be necessary or desirable in all implementations, the ease with which the dual taper may be implemented in the fabrication of molded plastic parts such as container housing body  22  and lid  24  makes it an attractive and economically viable feature for enabling a tight fit between these parts of the ink container. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 11-19  illustrate another embodiment, implementing a variation of the interlocking system described above, that might be used for larger ink containers, such as a black ink container which is often larger than the other color ink containers. For convenience, the same part numbers are used to designate the same or similar structural features in both embodiments. Referring to  FIGS. 11-19 , in this alternative embodiment a wider key  48  on body  22  and a corresponding wider keyway  52  on lid  24  is used to achieve the desired interlocking fit for the larger container  10 . The T-shapes of key  48  and keyway  52  are retained, but modified to reduce the volume of material needed for form each shape. For key  48 , the modified T-shape looks as if a solid T (as in the first embodiment) is split in half lengthwise along the stem with each half moved outward along surface  50  toward body sides  34  and  36 . Similarly, for keyway  52 , the modified T-shape looks as if the T-shaped slot has been split in half lengthwise along the stem with each half of the slot moved outward along surface  54  toward the sides of lid  24 . 
         [0028]    T-shaped key  48  is formed with a pair of L-shaped flanges  92  that extend generally parallel to one another along outside surface  50 , effectively “removing” part of the center portion of the T shape. As best seen in the section view of  FIGS. 14 and 15 , instead of a T with a solid stem and crossbar (as in the first embodiment), the stem of the T is split into a pair of flange legs  94  separated by a gap  96  and the crossbar of the T is split into a pair of flange legs  98  separated by gap  96 . Crossbar flange legs  98  taper in width from a wider section  62  at the bottom of outside body surface  50  to a narrower section  64  at a leading edge  66  about mid-way up surface  50 , where flanges  92  converge with one another. Each crossbar flange leg  98  also tapers in thickness from a thicker section  68  corresponding to wider section  62  at the bottom of outside body surface  50  to a thinner section  70  at leading edge  66 . 
         [0029]    T-shaped keyway  52  is formed with a pair of L-shaped flanges  100  each defining a slot  102  matching key each key flange  92  and extending along lid inside surface  54 . T-shaped keyway  52  may be characterized as having a stem opening  72  and a crossbar opening  74 . Stem opening  72  extends for substantially the full length of surface  54 . Crossbar opening  74  tapers in width from a wider section  76  at a bottom, leading edge  78  of inside lid surface  54  to a narrower section  80  at a middle part  82  of surface  54  corresponding to the location of body key leading edge  66 . Each slot  102  of crossbar opening  74  tapers in depth from a deeper section  84  corresponding to wider section  76  at lid leading edge  78  to a shallower section  86  at middle part  82 . 
         [0030]    As noted at the beginning of this Description, the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and described above illustrate but do not limit the disclosure. Other forms, details, and embodiments may be made and implemented. The foregoing description, therefore, should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined in the following claims.