Patent Publication Number: US-9422090-B2

Title: Extruded tube spring for container and packaging applications

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/683,751, entitled “System and Method for Urban Mapping and Positioning”, filed on 16-Aug.-2012. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to container lids. More specifically, the present invention relates to self-opening, reclosable lids for use with a container or packaging device or other such apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the packaging industry, around reach-in areas, manufacturers are using springs to create pop-up lids or cover activated closures. They need to have a device that is able to create a force to move the lid when the end-user is activating the opening device. The device also needs to be simple in shape and inexpensive enough in order to provide an easy integration, a low cost of goods, and a low scrap material rate in the manufacturing process. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a silicone extruded tubular spring, which is a device that has the possibility to be folded around an axis perpendicular to its axis of extrusion, thus creating the compression and release like a spring. The fact that it is an extruded tubular shape means there is virtually no material scrap rate. 
     Current silicone springs need to be shaped in different forms, the most common is the T-form. The T-form is already performing the spring function very well, but it is more complex to manufacture as it needs to be punched through a sheet of silicone, and subsequently, the manufacturing process produces a large amount of web (scrap from the punching process). What is needed is a silicone spring product that can be produced quickly and results in less manufacturing process scrap. The spring of the present invention provides this solution as a manufacturer only needs to cut the spring at the right length during the manufacturing process, which results in no scrap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a silicone extruded tubular spring that has the possibility to be folded around an axis perpendicular to its own axis of extrusion, thus creating the compression and release like a spring. 
     In one embodiment, a reach-in device is designed to let a user interact with the silicone extruded tubular spring component to open and close a lid. This application provides a degree of air sealing that allows the lid to effectively separate two environments, above and below itself. 
     The base body of the device of this embodiment is made of any hard material including but not limited to plastic. The base has a reach-in hole on its body to allow the user to reach through. 
     The lid is the base&#39;s capping object, it is designed to cover the reach-in hole of the base. It can be of any size but in the best case, should be designed in a way to limit the area of the remaining gaps of the base&#39;s reach-in hole. The lid is made of any hard material including but not limited to plastic. 
     The extruded tubular spring can store and release energy in order to displace the lid. It can be of any material that provides the appropriate stiffness to activate the lid. 
     The retention latch is the user interface used to make the lid pop-up. It is a part of the cover or can be an additional part assembled to the cover by means of fasteners. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of the spring tube of the present invention in a normal state as depicted in a CAD model; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of the spring tube of the present invention as a component of a container in combination with a spring lid in a closed state as depicted in a CAD model; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of the spring tube of the present invention as a component of a container in combination with a spring lid in an open state as depicted in a CAD model; 
         FIG. 4  is a photograph of a prototype product incorporating the spring clamping system; 
         FIG. 5  is a photograph of a prototype product incorporating the spring clamping system used in combination with the spring tube and container where the spring tube is placed within the clamping mechanism and the clamping system is in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 6  is a photograph of a prototype product incorporating the spring clamping system used in combination with the spring tube and container where the clamping system is in a closed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a photograph of a prototype product showing a sectional view of the spring clamping mechanism in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 8  is a photograph of a prototype product showing a sectional view of the spring clamping mechanism in a locked position; 
         FIG. 9  is a photograph of a prototype product showing a sectional view of the spring clamping mechanism in a locked position with the boss engaged in the hole; 
         FIG. 10  is an illustration of the lid device of the present invention in a closed position on a base; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional illustration of the latch of the lid device of the present invention in a closed position on a base; and 
         FIG. 12  is an illustration of the lid of the present invention provided with a flexible thermoplastic section, which gives the lid button a pop-up feedback. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention. 
     The Figures illustrate the embodiment of a silicone extruded tubular spring  100  that has the possibility to be folded around an axis  101  perpendicular to its own axis of extrusion  102 , thus creating the compression and release as of a spring  100  used in a container  200 . 
     The container device  200  shown in  FIGS. 2-3  is a reach-in container device  200  that is designed to let a user interact with it to open and close a lid  201 . It provides a degree of air sealing that allows the lid  201  to effectively separate two environments above and below itself. 
     The base body  202  is made of any hard material including but not limited to plastic. The base body  202  has a reach-in hole  203  on its body to allow the user to reach through. 
     The lid  201 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , is the base&#39;s capping object; it is designed to cover the reach-in hole  203  of the base body  202 . It can be of any size, but in the best case it should be designed in a way to limit the area of the remaining gaps of the base&#39;s reach-in hole  203 . The lid  201  is made of any hard material including but not limited to plastic. 
     The extruded tubular spring  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , is the device that can store and release energy in order to displace the lid  201 . It can be of any material that provides the appropriate stiffness to activate the lid  201 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-9 , the spring tube  100  is secured by a lock system comprising a boss  401  and hole  402  to attach the spring tube  100  to the lid  201 . The bosses  401  are located on the lid  201  and the corresponding holes  402  are located on a ribbed  403  tab  404  secured by a flexible plastic  404  flap on one side to the lid  201 . When the tab  404  is folded toward the lid  201 , the bosses  401  engage their corresponding holes  404  located on the tab  404  and secure the tab  404  in a closed position with respect to the lid  201 . The ribs  403  secure the spring tube  100  in place when the tab  404  is in a closed position. 
     The base retention latch  103  is the user interface used to make the lid  201  pop-up. It is a part of the cover  104  or can be an additional part assembled to the cover  104  by means of fasteners. Referring to  FIG. 11 , the lid  201 , shown as the green part, seems to be interfering with the base  202 , shown as the white part, in reality, the base retention latch  103  will deform and the lip  105  of the base retention latch  103  will engage in the groove  105  of the on the base side  106 . 
     The base is connected to the lid by means of a physical bonding like a living hinge, or a snap fit providing the possibility of rotation like a post hinge or even with the help of extra fastener like a screw/bolt assembly. 
     The base retention latch  103  is a part of the base  202  or can be an additional part assembled to the cover  201  by means of fasteners. The extruded tubular spring  100  is connected to the lid  201  by means of snap-in features, glue, or fasteners. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , when opened, the extruded tubular spring  100  is relaxed and in a non-folded position. As soon as the lid  201  starts to close, it will start to fold the extruded tubular spring  100  on itself, it will create and store potential energy as elastic energy as shown in  FIG. 2 . Once fully closed, the lid  201  will come in contact with the base retention latch  103  which will keep it in place through geometric features that ensure that the lid  201  moves back in the opening position or moves further down. 
     When the user presses on the base retention latch  103 , it releases the lid  201 ; the force stored in the extruded tubular spring  100  pushes back the lid  201  and this opens all the way back allowing the user to access the content of the pop-up wet tissue container through the reach-in area  203 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , the cover  104 , lid  201 , retention latch  103 , and extruded tubular spring  100  are necessary components for the device that must be used in combination for the present invention to properly function. The reach-in hole  203  shown in  FIG. 10  can be improved by the usage of a soft thermoplastic zone to give a better user experience when dispensing wet tissues, this soft thermoplastic area can be used to give a spring behavior to the retention latch  103 . The flexible thermoplastic  105  is shown as the blue part, which gives the button  106  a pop-up feedback. 
     The base  202 , lid  201 , and retention latch  103  are made from hard plastic to reduce manufacturing cost. The extruded tubular spring  100  is made from extruded silicone and cut at the right length, then all the components are assembled during the assembly process. 
     Shuffling is possible, the extruded tubular spring  100  can be attached to the base  202  and push on the lid  201 . The extruded tubular spring  100  can also be attached to both base  202  and lid  201 . In this embodiment, the base  202 , cover  104 , and retention latch  103  are made from hard plastic to reduce manufacturing costs. The extruded tubular spring  100  is made from extruded silicone and cut at the right length, then, all the components are assembled during the assembly process. 
     For operation, the end-user activates the retention latch  103  to have the lid  201  pop-up open. When opened, the user can push down the lid  201  to have it closed. In an alternative operation, the base  202 , cover  104 , and retention latch  103  are made from hard plastic to reduce manufacturing costs. The extruded tubular spring is made from extruded silicone and cut at the right length, then, all the components are assembled during the assembly process. 
     The present invention can be used as a means for producing an opening force in any container or packaging device. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is glued on a soft pack container, containing wet tissues. In yet another embodiment, the base  202  can be turned into a cover  104  and integrate with a refillable wet tissue container. 
     Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.