Patent Publication Number: US-9896246-B2

Title: Portable beverage container with self opening hinged lid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 15,259,374, filed on Sep. 8, 2016, entitled Portable Beverage Container with Self Opening Hinged Lid, which in turn is a continuation of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of application Ser. No. 14/691,889, filed on Apr. 21, 2015, which issued into U.S. Pat. No. 9,493,279 on Nov. 15, 2016, and entitled Portable Beverage Container With Self Opening Hinged Lid, which in turn is a continuation of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of application Ser. No. 13/733,422, filed on Jan. 3, 2013, which issued into U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,239 on May 5, 2015 and entitled Portable Beverage Container with Self Opening Hinged Lid, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/583,667 filed Jan. 6, 2012 and entitled Portable Beverage Container with Self Opening Hinged Lid under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire contents of each of the foregoing applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to containers and particularly to containers, such as drink bottles, having self-opening hinged lids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heretofore bottles and other portable containers for holding drinks have been provided with lids that are arranged to be opened to enable the user to have access to the contents of the bottle. Some of these prior art products have made use of self-opening lids, e.g., a lid which springs open when the lid is unlatched or actuated from its closed state. The means for opening such prior art lids have typically comprised either coil torsion springs, coil compression springs or elastomeric compression springs, which are arranged to operate to swing the lid from a closed state to an open state when the lid is unlatch or actuated. While each of those springs is generally suitable for effecting the opening of a lid for a bottle, vessel or other container, they never the less suffer from one or more disadvantages. 
     For example, insofar as coil torsion springs are concerned, they are typically unsanitary, since the coils can trap contaminants. In addition, they are difficult to assemble due to the fact that they are composed of multiple components. Further still, those coil torsion springs which can be made small enough to fit in the required size of bottle or container, have a tendency to fail due to fatigue. 
     Coil compression springs also suffer from the fact that they are not particularly sanitary due to the potential to trap contaminants in their coils. Moreover coil compression springs are also typically inserted into a pocket in the bottle or container, thereby resulting in another area that may trap contaminants. Like coil torsion springs, coil compression springs are difficult to assembly due to their multiple components. Lastly coil compression having a controlled variable spring rate are expensive. 
     Elastomeric compression springs also suffer from the disadvantage of not being sanitary. In this regard, such springs, like coil compression springs, are typically mounted or inserted into a pocket, which can serve as a trap for contamination. Moreover, the spring&#39;s pocket also traps air that can push spring out. If the assembly is vented to prevent the trapping of air, such an arrangement increases contamination hazard because the vent allows for flow between the pocket and container, but not enough to properly clean. Moreover, elastomeric compression springs, if biased so that they will not over-compress may not be able to store enough energy to open the lid, when required. In this regard, in order to store enough energy to effectively open the lid, the spring needs to have a high spring rate, thus rendering it susceptible to compression set, or it may be too long to fit in the available confined space within the lid. Lastly, the tolerances in the manufacture of elastomeric compression springs make it difficult, if not impossible, to control a force high enough to open the lid, but not so high as to produce an abrupt or jarring effect when the lid reaches the end of its swing. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a self-opening lid for a bottle or for any other container having an interior which is to be closed off by the lid, and which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     The subject invention addresses those needs by providing a self-opening hinged lid exhibiting a pleasing tactile experience, and which does not add exorbitant cost to the product in which it is located. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of this invention a portable container, is provided for holding a liquid therein. The container basically comprises a hollow vessel (e.g., an insulated, double-walled bottle), a lid pivotably connected to the vessel by a hinge and a spring assembly. The lid is coupled to the spring assembly to selectively close off or expose the interior of the vessel. The spring assembly is arranged to automatically cause the lid to be pivoted from a fully closed state to an opened state upon the release of a catch. The spring assembly comprises an elastomeric member and a contact surface. The contact surface (e.g., a recess) is located at a member (e.g., a cap with a spout) coupled to the container. The elastomeric member is arranged to cooperate with the contact surface, whereupon the elastomeric member operates bi-modally. In particular, in accordance with one exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention the elastomeric member of the spring assembly operates as a reed and compression spring when the lid is in the fully closed state and operates as a reed spring after the lid has begun opening to carry it to its opened state. When the lid is in the fully closed state the elastomeric member pushes against the contact surface to cause the elastomeric member to flex and be in compression to store energy therein. When the catch is released, the energy stored in the elastomeric member is released, whereupon the elastomeric member pushes off of the contact surface to automatically cause the lid to pivot from its fully closed state toward its opened state, with the elastomeric member transitioning from the flexed and compressed state to an unflexed state when the lid is in the opened position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a spring assembly for use in a product having a hollow body and a lid pivotably connected to the body by a hinge. The lid is arranged to selectively close off or expose the interior of the body. To that end the spring assembly is arranged to automatically cause the lid to be pivoted from a fully closed state to an opened state upon the release of a catch. The spring assembly comprises an elastomeric member and a contact surface. The elastomeric member is arranged to cooperate with the contact surface so that the elastomeric member operates bi-modally. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary insulated bottle having a self-opening hinged lid constructed in accordance with the teaching of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with the hinged lid shown in its opened position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the lid portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  shown in an initially opened position, i.e., just after when a latch holding the lid in place in its closed condition has been released, whereupon a spring of the hinge assembly has begun pivoting the lid upward; 
         FIGS. 4A-4J  are vertical sectional views of the lid only, with the spring of its hinge assembly being shown at various stages of spring compression. In particular,  FIG. 4A  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  4 A of  FIG. 3  showing the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element is about to make contact with a portion of a cap of the bottle; 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged sectional view of the spring portion of the hinge assembly shown within the area bounded by the circled designated as  4 B in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  4 C of  FIG. 3  showing the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element initially makes contact with a portion of a cap of the bottle; 
         FIG. 4D  is an enlarged sectional view of the spring portion of the hinge assembly shown within the area bounded by the circled designated as  4 D in  FIG. 4C ; 
         FIG. 4E  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  4 E of  FIG. 3  showing the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element is primarily bending as a reed spring; 
         FIG. 4F  is an enlarged sectional view of the spring portion of the hinge assembly shown within the area bounded by the circled designated as  4 F in  FIG. 4E ; 
         FIG. 4G  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  4 G of  FIG. 3  showing the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element is transitioning from bending to compressing, thereby increasing the spring rate; 
         FIG. 4H  is an enlarged sectional view of the spring portion of the hinge assembly shown within the area bounded by the circled designated as  4 H in  FIG. 4G ; 
         FIG. 4I  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  4 I of  FIG. 3  showing the lid when it is closed and latched and the spring is compressed at its highest spring rate; and 
         FIG. 4J  is an enlarged sectional view of the spring portion of the hinge assembly shown within the area bounded by the circled designated as  4 J in  FIG. 4G ; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at  20  in  FIG. 1  one exemplary embodiment of an insulated bottle including a self-opening lid which is constructed in accordance with this invention. It must be pointed out at this juncture that the bottle  20  is merely illustrative of numerous products, be they containers or other products that can make use of a self-opening lid constructed in accordance with this invention. 
     The bottle is best seen in  FIGS. 1-3  and basically comprises a double walled vessel made up of an assembly of a hollow outer body or vessel  22 , a hollow inner liner or vessel (not shown). The double walled vessel includes a lid  24 , a hinge assembly  26  and a latch or catch  28 . The outer vessel  22  is a hollow member which is blow molded of a thermoplastic material. The hollow inner vessel is also blow molded of a thermoplastic material (e.g., the same plastic material as the vessel  22  or some other material). The inner vessel is disposed within and ultrasonically welded to the outer vessel  22 , so they are separated from each other by an air-gap or space. With this arrangement the inner vessel of the bottle assembly is thermally insulated from the ambient atmosphere. The vessel is arranged to receive any type of liquid, e.g., cold water or soda, hot tea or coffee, etc., to maintain its temperature. The vessel may be constructed in accordance with the teaching of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/567,234, filed on Dec. 6, 2011, entitled Portable Beverage Container With Ultrasonic Welded Joint And Method Of Making The Same, which is assigned to the same assignee as this invention and whose disclosure is specifically incorporated by reference herein. However it must be pointed out that the vessel may take alternative constructions. Thus, it need not be a double-walled insulated bottle. In fact, the container may not even be a bottle. In this regard, the subject invention contemplates a self-opening lid adapted for use on any container or member and which is arranged to automatically open, e.g., pivot from a closed state to an opened state, when actuated, e.g., when an associated catch or latch is released. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 2-3 and 4A  the lid  24  is a generally hollow member formed of any suitable material, e.g., polypropylene, and having a peripheral edge  24 A. The lid is connected to a cap of the double walled vessel by the hinge assembly  26  so that it can be pivoted upward from its closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , to its open position shown in  FIG. 2 , to provide access to the contents of the vessel. The hinge assembly  26  basically comprises a hinge  30  and a spring member  32 . The hinge  30  is mounted on a cap  34 . The cap  34  is also formed of any suitable material, e.g., polypropylene, and is releasably secured to the top of the double walled vessel to close off the interior of the vessel to contain the contents within the vessel. The cap includes a spout  36  which is in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel so that the user can have access to the liquid contents through the spout  36 , when the  24  lid is in its open position. While the cap is shown as releasably secured, by threads  38  ( FIG. 4A ), to the top of the double walled vessel, other types of releasable securement can be used. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3  the lid  24  includes a tubular passageway  40  extending through an upper portion of it. The passageway  40  serves as a means to receive a cord, carabiner or some other member (not shown) to suspend the bottle  20  so that it can be readily carried by the user. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4A  the central portion of the lid  24  includes a diaphragm portion  42 , having an annular recess  44 , which is shaped and arranged to engage the periphery of the spout  36  to seal the spout when the lid is closed and latched. By so doing the contents of the vessel cannot gain egress through the spout to the inside of the lid when the lid is closed and latched. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention the portions  32 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are all one continuous over-molded member which is formed of an elastomeric material e.g., thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) (sometimes also referred to as thermoplastic rubbers) or other copolymers or a physical mix of polymers with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4A , the details of the catch  28  will now be described. The catch  28  basically comprises a tab  46  formed of the same polymer material, e.g., polypropylene, as the cap  24  (in fact it is merely an extension of the cap), but due to its shape can be flexed or bent somewhat. The tab has a recess  48  in its undersurface which is arranged to snap fit and receive a cammed projection  50  which extends outward from the periphery of the cap member  34  when the tab is flexed. The projection  50  is located on the cap member at a position diametrically opposite the location of the hinge  30 . The catch  28  is arranged to hold the lid  24  in its closed position against the urging of the spring member  32 , when the catch is in its closed condition. To release the catch all one has to do is to lift the free end of the tab  46  to flex it outward from the periphery of the cap member, thereby freeing the cammed projection  50  from the recess  48  in the tab. Upon release of the catch the elastomeric spring  32  causes the lid to pivot open to the opened position shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the lid is self-opening. By that it is meant that the lid is arranged to automatically pivot from a closed position, like shown in  FIG. 1 , to an open position, like shown in  FIG. 2 , by the spring  32  when a catch  28  is released. 
     The hinge  30  is best seen in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4B  and basically comprises a pair of ears  52  forming a yoke, a pivot pin  54  and a central member  56 . The pair of ears project outward from the outer surface of the cap member diametrically opposite the location of the catch  28 . The central member is fixedly secured to the lid  24  and is located between the ears  52  of the yoke, with the pivot pin  54  extending through aligned openings in the ears and the central member. A pair of detents  58  is located on the central member. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4B, 4D, 4F, 4H and 4J , the details of the spring element or member  32  will now be described. Basically that member comprises a projection or finger formed of an elastomeric material, e.g., TPE. As mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment shown the spring element  32  is preferably integrally over-molded with the portion of the lid forming the diaphragm  42  and the portions  40  and  44 . The spring element  32  extends downward from the undersurface  60  of the portion of the lid adjacent the hinge  30  and has a free end  62  which is arranged to cooperate with a containment area of the cap member to cause the opening of the lid. The containment area is in the form of a recess  64  in the top surface of the cap adjacent the hinge. The recess  64  includes a bottom contact surface  66  and a front contact surface  68  which projects upward from the bottom contact surface. 
     The spring member  32  projects downward from the undersurface of the lid adjacent the location of the hinge  30  and is arranged to cooperate with the geometry of the containment area recess  64  to produce a variable spring rate. This action is achieved by the fact that the spring member operates bi-modally. For example, the sequence of  FIGS. 4A / 4 B to  4 G/ 4 H shows the lid  24  of the bottle  20  as it is being closed. In particular,  FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element  32  is in what can be referred to as a reed or leaf spring state, where its free end  62  is about to make contact with the containment area (recess)  64  in the cap  34 .  FIGS. 4C and 4D  show the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element, still in its reed spring state, initially makes contact with the bottom contact surface  66  of the recess.  FIGS. 4E and 4F  show the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element is still behaving as a reed spring and begins to bend and slide along the bottom contact surface  66  of the recess towards the front contact surface  68 .  FIGS. 4G and 4H  show the lid at the stage at which the elastomeric spring element begins transitioning to a compression state by its free end  62  engaging the intersection of the bottom contact surface  66  and the front contact surface  68  of the recess, thereby increasing the spring rate. Lastly,  FIGS. 4I and 4J  show the lid at the stage where it is fully closed and the spring is in its maximum compression and flexed state, whereupon the spring rate is the highest. The flexing and compression of the spring as it is brought into this state by the closure of the lid will store energy within the spring. It is this energy which, when the latch  28  is released, causes the lid  24  to automatically spring open against the force of gravity. 
     During opening of the lid, the spring element  32  operates in a reverse manner, i.e., it acts as a compression and reed spring during the initial phase of the opening of the lid and then transitions into solely a reed spring during a later phase of its operation to thereby bring the lid to its open position without any abrupt or jarring action. In particular, as seen in  FIGS. 4I and 4J  when the lid is closed and latched the free end  62  of the elastomeric spring element  32  is trapped between the front contact surface  68  and the bottom contact surface  66  in the recess  64  of the cap, so that the spring element  32  operates as a compression spring with a higher spring rate. This action enables the effective raising the lid when its full weight is on as the catch is released. As the lid  24  pivots upward (raises) as shown in the sequence of  FIGS. 4F, 4D and 4B  its center of gravity moves closer to the fulcrum (i.e., pivot pin  54  of the hinge  30 ), thereby reducing the force required to continue lifting the lid. The spring element  32  continues to act at approximately the same distance from the fulcrum. Once the free end  62  of the spring element is no longer in engagement with either of the contact surfaces  66  or  68 , the spring element becomes solely a reed spring and the momentum of the movement of the lid carries the lid through its upward stroke in a controlled, non-jarring manner until it is open. At this point the pair of detents  58  that is located on the hinge holds the lid in its open position. 
     As will be appreciated from the foregoing the spring of this invention provides variable rate action that exhibits a high force at maximum compression, but one that drops with displacement, thereby providing the proper force to complete the opening motion of the lid with good and non-abrupt tactile feel. By so doing the spring assembly of this invention overcomes many of the problems of prior art springs. For example, the use of a constant rate spring to pivotably open a lid requires overcoming two inherent problems, namely, too low a spring rate will not store enough energy to open the lid, and too high a spring rate will abruptly snap the lid open. Moreover, if the constant spring rate is high enough to assure opening, the momentum of the lid when it reaches its end stop will likely result in a jarring action. Thus, with constant rate springs one has to balance the force produced so that it is not too high or too low. This results in an extremely narrow range in a constant rate spring. If the product incorporating the self-opening, spring-biased lid is a low cost one, such as a drinking bottle, manufacturing tolerances make it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to maintain a balance in that range. While there are conventional variable rate springs that could be used in lieu of the subject invention to exhibit a high force at maximum compression, but with the force dropping with the lid&#39;s displacement to thereby provide the proper force to complete the opening motion (as does the spring assembly of this invention), such conventional variable rate springs require complex geometry that is expensive to make and to accurately control. 
     In contradistinction, the spring assembly of this invention, like conventional variable rate springs, produces a variable spring rate, but unlike such prior art devices, does so with a simple construction. In particular, it makes use of an elastomeric spring element that in cooperation with a containment area operates bi-modally, i.e., as a compression spring and as a reed spring. It should be pointed out at this juncture that the use of the term reed spring is not meant to be limiting. Thus, it encompasses springs which are referred to as leaf springs, whether single or multiple leaf/leaves, or beam springs. The spring assembly of this invention compensates for manufacturing tolerances, produces high energy storage in a short distance, makes use of a reed that is curved slightly to follow the lid&#39;s shape and allows it to be wider to increase its spring rate, is integral with the upper surface to retain the spring in position and eliminates assembly. 
     Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.