MXPA05001787A

MXPA05001787A - Container assembly having an overcap with a storage compartment.

Info

Publication number: MXPA05001787A
Application number: MXPA05001787A
Authority: MX
Inventors: J Mark Morrow
Original assignee: Sonoco Dev Inc
Priority date: 2004-02-16
Filing date: 2005-02-14
Publication date: 2005-09-08
Also published as: US20050178677A1; EP1564152A2; EP1564152A3; CA2496269A1; BRPI0500598A

Abstract

There is provided an overcap that includes a storage compartment for receiving a product to be mixed with a hot liquid. The overcap includes a top wall defining the storage compartment in an underside of the top wall surrounded by an annular portion. The overcap includes an aperture in the annular portion. The overcap also includes a skirt extending downward from a rim surrounding the annular portion. The skirt extends below a lowermost surface of the top wall and can define a grip surface which a consumer may use to hold the container assembly, such that the grip surface insulates against heat if a hot liquid is held in the container. The storage compartment is sealed with a membrane that is relatively impermeable to moisture. In addition, the skirt includes a plurality of spacers on the inside surface of the skirt that are circumferentially spaced apart and that extend downwardly from the rim of the overcap.

Description

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY THAT HAS A TOP COVER WITH A STORAGE COMPARTMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to top covers for container assemblies, and more particularly to top covers having a hollow storage compartment for storing a product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART Convenience is an important factor in the design of containers, such as cups to contain consumable liquids, especially containers for "travel" that have the function of facilitating the transport of liquid without spills. For this purpose said containers often have a top or a top cover, which is fixed to the container to limit the spillage of liquids due to changes in the orientation of the container. Another problem in the assortment of consumable liquids in containers is that the consumer often wants to add several products to the liquid, such as sugar or creamer for coffee. However, these products are normally distributed in individual small packages that can not be easily placed or opened to supply their contents in the liquid. The lid of the container can be configured in such a way that it stores products that will be subsequently mixed with a liquid. The patent of E.U.A. No. 3,326,363 to Bennett et al. ("Bennett") discloses a container lid with a plurality of hollow pockets formed integrally to contain products such as sugar, creamer powder, or a non-alcoholic beverage concentrate. A sealing member seals the product that is inside the pockets, and the sealing member can be easily broken or removed to provide access to the product. The Bennett patent, and similar covers with hollow pockets, do not provide an opening for convenient access to the liquid or product that is inside the container, thus requiring the consumer to remove the lid to access the liquid. Containers for consumer liquids, particularly for hot liquids, often include a sleeve to isolate them from the heat of the hot liquid inside the container. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,765,716 to Cai et al. discloses a lid formed integrally with a sleeve that isolates the wall of the container. The sleeve is attached to the lid and is configured to slidably receive the container. The connection of the lid with the container can be difficult for the consumers, since first the container must be inserted in the sleeve and then the attached lid must be rotated to fit the lid to the upper open end. There is a need for a lid or lid for container that provides convenient access to liquids, and that includes a storage compartment for a product that will be mixed with the liquid. There is also a need for a lid that easily attaches to a container and that provides a grip surface that provides insulation against the heat coming from a hot liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention solves the above needs and achieves other advantages by providing a top cover for a container, wherein the top cover can store a product for mixing with a liquid that is contained in the container. The top cover includes a ridge that is configured to engage the container and a top wall defining a storage compartment on a bottom side of the top wall. The top wall also includes a substantially horizontal annular portion that extends radially inward from the edge and that surrounds the storage compartment. The top cover also has a membrane that is removably attached to the underside of the top wall of the top cover, covering the storage compartment to seal a product that is in the storage compartment. The top cover can also be made with a multi-layer polymer material to provide protection against oxygen and against moisture. An opening is defined for drinking in the ring portion, to provide convenient access to liquids that may be contained in the container. Other embodiments of the top cap include a skirt extending downward from the edge and including a defined grip surface on the skirt. The skirt may include a plurality of spacers along an interior surface of the skirt, and the spacers may be circumferentially spaced apart from each other and extending downwardly from the edge of the top cover. The consumer can hold the gripping surface to support the container assembly when a hot liquid is contained in the container. In addition, the separators of the skirt isolate against the heat of the hot liquid, separating the skirt from the wall of the container. Similarly, another embodiment of the present invention provides a top cover for a container, wherein the top cover includes a ridge that is configured to engage with the container and a top wall defining a storage compartment on a bottom side of the upper wall. The top wall also includes a substantially horizontal annular portion that runs radially inward from the edge and that surrounds the storage compartment. The top cover also has a membrane that removably attaches to the underside of the top wall of the top cover covering the storage compartment to seal a product that is contained in the storage compartment. A skirt extends downward from the edge and includes a grip surface defined on the skirt. The gripping surface can be held by the consumer to support the container assembly when a hot liquid is contained in the container, and can insulate it against the heat coming from the hot liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the membrane of the upper lid being removed to expose the product that is inside the storage compartment; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container assembly of Figure 1, showing the product that is stored within the storage compartment; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the membrane of the top cover being removed to expose the product that is inside the storage compartment; Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container assembly of Figure 3, showing the product that is stored within the storage compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, of the embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention can be represented in many different ways and should not be considered as limited to the modalities set forth herein; rather, these modalities are provided so that this description satisfies the applicable legal requirements. Equal numbers refer to similar elements through the present. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an assembly containing 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The container assembly of Figure 1 includes an upper lid 12 and a container 14 defining a cup. Other embodiments of the present invention may comprise alternative containers. The container 14 is structured to contain a liquid, in particular a hot liquid, which can be inserted into the container and can be removed in the container through an upper opening 16. The container 14 of figure 1 is a tapered cup of a paper, plastic or expanded polystyrene material, to list three non-limiting examples. The container 14 includes a bottom wall 18 and a generally tubular side wall 20 that is integrally formed and protrudes from the bottom wall and terminates at an upper edge 22. As can be seen, the side wall 20 can taper in such a manner that the diameter is larger in the opening 16 than in the bottom wall 18. The upper edge 22 surrounds and defines the opening 16 of the container 14. The upper edge 22 may also include a seam that projects radially downward from the edge top of the side wall 20 to provide an improved surface for securing the top cap 12 in the container 14. The top cap 12 illustrated and the container 14 are generally circular, but the present invention may also include container assemblies 10 of any geometric shape or relative size. Also, the container 14 can be a container for containing non-liquid products. The upper lid 12 has an upper wall 24 which is configured to extend over the opening 16 of the container 14, when the upper lid is secured thereto. The upper wall 24 defines a hollow storage compartment 26 in a lower layer of the upper wall. The storage compartment 26 is configured to receive a product 28 which is held in the storage compartment by a membrane 30 removably coupled. The membrane 30 can be removed as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, to provide access to the product 28, preferably when the product is to be mixed with a hot liquid that is in the container 14. The membrane 30 can be removed by complete by the consumer of the top lid 12, when the consumer removes the product 28; however, the membrane can also remain attached to the top cap after removal of the product 28. The membrane 30 is initially attached to the underside of the top wall 24 during manufacture of the container assembly 10 after the product 28 has been placed in the storage compartment 26. The membrane 30 of the illustrated embodiment is constructed of a membrane material that is relatively impervious to moisture. Examples of such membrane materials include, but are not limited to, sheet metal, polyethylene terephthalate, metallized polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, metallized polypropylene, polyethylene naphthalate, metallized polypropylene, polyester coated with metal oxide and silicate, polypropylene coated with metal oxide and silicate, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, and mixtures thereof. The membrane 30 preferably prevents ingress of moisture and discharge of the product 28 while it is completely attached to the underside of the top cover 24. The top wall 24 also includes an annular portion 32 surrounding the storage compartment 26. The annular portion 32 of Figure 1 is a substantially horizontal surface defining a drinking aperture 34. The aperture 34 provides access to a liquid found in the container 14, which may be a hot liquid into which it is mixed the stored product 28, so that a consumer can drink the liquid without removing the top cover 12. The opening 34 of Figure 1 includes two parallel walls joined by two arched walls; however, openings of other embodiments of the invention may have any geometrical pattern or may have any size relative to the annular portion 32. A ridge 36 surrounds the annular portion 32, as illustrated in Figure 2. The ridge 36 defines a recess 38 which is configured to engage the upper edge 22 of the side wall 20 of the container 14. The coupling of the recess 38 and the upper edge 2 holds the upper wall 24 of the upper cover 12 in its position on the opening 6. hollow 38 defines a channel within the ridge 36 and preferably provides an interference fit with the upper edge 22, by virtue of which the width of the gap is less than the thickness of the top edge when the top cap 12 is in a free condition not deformed. The recess 38 preferably engages with the upper edge 22 along the entire circumference of the upper edge to also provide a sealed interface to prevent the product, which is normally a liquid, from passing between the top cover 12 and the edge upper 22. Extending down from the edge 36 is the skirt 40, as can be seen in figure 2. The skirt 40 is a field 36 and surrounds an upper portion 42 of the container 14. The portion 42 of the container 14 is the portion of the side wall 20 opposite the bottom wall 18 and includes the top edge 22. In other words, the top portion 42 is the side wall 20 which is located immediately below the top edge 22. The skirt 40 may extend in perpendicular to the substantially horizontal annular portion, or the skirt may extend generally parallel to the upper portion 42 of the container. Also, the skirt 40 may protrude outwards, as in Figure 2. The skirt 40 preferably extends downwardly below the lowermost surface of the upper wall 24. As illustrated in Figure 2, the lowermost surface of the upper wall 24 is the surface to which the membrane 30 joins. The skirt 40 defines a gripping surface 44, which the consumer can grip to hold the container assembly 10 and which can insulate the consumer from heat if a hot liquid is found in the container 14. The gripping surface 44 can have any axial length that is sufficient to allow a consumer to hold the container assembly 10 with or without touching the remainder of the top cap 12 or container 14 The upper lid 12 of Figure 1 has a gripping surface 44 with a length of at least about 0.197 cm, although the gripping surface preferably has at least 2.54 cm in length. tud and still more preferably is 5.8 cm in length, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

A second embodiment of the container assembly 110 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the top cover 12 includes a skirt 140 that provides a gripping surface 144. The gripping surface 144 extends downwardly from the edge 136 of FIG. the upper lid 112 and intended to be a surface for the consumer to grip to hold the container assembly 1 10 when the liquid in the container is hot. The container 114 includes a bottom wall 118 and a side wall 120 that rises from the bottom wall and terminates at the top edge 122. The top edge 122 surrounds and defines a top opening 116 of the container 1 14, and the edge The top may also include a seam projecting radially outward from the top edge. The upper lid 112 of FIGS. 3 and 4 has an upper wall 124 which is configured to extend over the opening 116 of the container 114 when the upper lid is secured thereto, the upper wall 124 defines a hollow storage compartment 126 on one side from below the upper wall. Storage compartment 126 is configured to receive a product 128 which is sealed in the storage compartment by a membrane 130. Membrane 130 can be removed, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, to provide access to product 128. membrane 130 removably attaches to the surface on the underside of upper wall 124 during manufacture of container assembly 1 10. Membrane 130 is also relatively permeable to moisture.

The upper wall 124 also includes an angular portion 132 surrounding the storage compartment 126. The angular portion 132 of Figure 3 is a substantially horizontal surface defining a drinking aperture 134. The opening 134 provides access to a liquid in the container 1 14 and can have any geometrical pattern or can have any size relative to the annular portion 132. A ridge 136 is surrounding the annular portion 132, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The ridge 136 defines a recess 138 having an annular shape. size suitable for engaging with the upper edge 122 of the side wall 120 of the container 14, to hold the top cover 112 in a position on the opening 116. The recess 138 preferably provides an interference fit with the top edge 122 and engages preferably with the upper edge along the entire circumference of the upper edge to provide a sealed interface. The skirt 140 extends downwardly from the edge 136, as can be seen in Figure 4. The skirt 140 joins the edge 136 and surrounds an upper portion 142 of the container 114. The upper portion 142 of the container 14 is immediately below. of the upper edge 122. The skirt 140 includes a gripping surface 144, which can be held by a consumer to hold the container assembly 110. The gripping surface 144 preferably has an axial length of 5.8 cm in the embodiment illustrated in figure 4. The skirt 140 also extends down below the lowermost surface of the upper wall 124, which is the surface to which the membrane 130 joins, in a similar manner to that of the embodiment of the figure 2. The skirt 140 of Figure 3 also includes a plurality of spacers 146 on an interior surface 148 of the skirt. The spacers 146 are circumferentially spaced from one another and extend downwardly from the edge 136 of the top cover 12, to one end of the skirt 140 opposite the edge. The spacers 146 can improve the coupling between the upper lid 112 and the container 114 if the spacers are sized to create an interference fit with the side wall 120 of the container, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The spacers 146 project radially inward from the interior surface 148 of the skirt 140 and radially separating the skirt from the side wall 120 of the container, to isolate it against the heat of a hot liquid found in the container 1 14, providing a continuous pocket, or individual pockets of air between the side wall 120 and the skirt 140, which reduce the heat transfer of the skirt. Therefore, the skirt 140 of FIGS. 3 and 4 provides a gripping surface 144 that can be gripped by the consumer to hold the container assembly 10 and to isolate the consumer's hand when the liquid is in the container. 114 is hot. The storage compartment 26 and 126 of figures 2 and 4 respectively, is a frusto-conical chamber that includes a flat top surface. This dome portion of the upper wall 24 and 124 defines a storage compartment 26 and 126, respectively. Other embodiments of the present invention include storage compartment of any shape, a non-limiting example is the hemispherical shape. Also, the storage compartment 26 and 126 of the additional embodiments also include a dehydrator to absorb moisture so that the product, which is preferably powder, is exposed to a minimum amount of moisture. The dehydrator can be attached to the inner surface of the storage compartment 26 and 126 or can be incorporated as a layer of the membrane 30 and 130. Non-limiting examples of dehydrating material include dibasic sodium phosphate, calcium oxide, sucrose, gelatin, Bentonite clay, and silica gel. The annular portion 32 and 132 of FIGS. 2 and 4 respectively define a stacking surface on which another container 14 and 114 can be stacked, so that the upper container is firmly supported by the upper lid 12 or 12 of the lower container. . The bottom wall 18 and 1 18 of the container 14 and 1 14, respectively define a structured recess and arranged to receive the upper wall 24 and 124 of the compartment 26 and 126 of the upper lid 12 and 12. Advantageously, the recess of the wall 18 and 118 avoids lateral sliding of the stacked container relative to the lower container. Other embodiments of the upper lid 12 and 112 can define a edge edge 36 and 36, which engages with the bottom of the side wall 20 or 120 to prevent lateral sliding of the stacked container relative to the lower container. Still other embodiments of the present invention may comprise alternative stacking surfaces or features for securing the stacking of an upper container onto the upper lid of a lower container. In order to manufacture the container assembly 10 of the present invention, the container 14 and the upper stage 12 e individually form. Preferably, the top cap 12 is thermofixed, by injection or blow molding, from a polymer material. The top cap 12 can be formed to include a multilayer polymer structure to provide a barrier against oxygen and moisture in case the packaged product requires said barrier. After the top cap 12 hardens, the product 28 can be inserted into the storage compartment 26 and the membrane 30 can be attached to the underside of the top wall 24. The membrane 30 is attached to the top cap 12 by means of any suitable process, including conductive heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, the application of adhesives, or by any other method of joining. Once the product 28 is stored securely in the storage compartment 26, the top cover 12 can be coupled to the container 14 to complete the container assembly 10. Modifications and other embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the present for those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that were described, and that other modifications and other embodiments may be included within the scope of the appended claims, although specific terms are employed herein, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of imitation.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - An upper lid for a container, wherein the upper lid can store a product for mixing it with a liquid that is contained in the container, the upper lid comprises: a rim configured to be coupled to the container; a top wall defining a storage compartment on a bottom side of the top wall, the top wall having a substantially horizontal annular portion extending radially inward from the edge and surrounding the storage compartment, a drinking aperture that is defined in the ring portion; and a membrane that removably attaches to the underside of the top wall of the top cover that covers the storage compartment, to seal a product that is contained in the storage compartment. 2. The top cover according to claim 1, further characterized in that it also comprises a skirt that extends downward from the edge. 3. The top cover according to claim 2, further characterized in that the skirt defines a grip surface. 4 - . 4 - The top cover according to claim 3, further characterized in that the skirt extends below a lower surface of the upper wall of the upper cover. 5 - The top cover according to claim 3, further characterized in that the skirt includes a plurality of spacers that extend along an interior surface of the skirt. 6 - The top cover according to claim 5, further characterized in that the plurality of spacers are circumferentially spaced apart from each other and extend downwards from the edge of the top cover. 7 - The top cover according to claim 1, further characterized in that the storage compartment defines a dome portion. 8. - The top cover according to claim 7, further characterized in that the dome portion has a dehydrating agent incorporated therein. 9. - The top cover according to claim 1, further characterized in that the membrane is relatively impervious to moisture. 10. An upper lid for a container, wherein the upper lid can store a product to mix it with a liquid that is contained in the container, the upper lid comprises: a rim configured to be coupled to the container; a top wall defining a storage compartment on a bottom side of the top wall, the top wall having a substantially horizontal annular portion going inward from the edge and surrounding the storage compartment; a skirt extending downward from the edge, wherein the skirt defines a grip surface; and a membrane that removably attaches to the underside of the upper wall of the upper lid, covering the storage compartment to seal a product that is contained in the storage compartment. 11. - The top cover according to claim 10, further characterized in that the skirt extends below a lower surface of the upper wall of the upper cover. 12. - The top cover according to claim 11, further characterized in that the skirt includes a plurality of spacers that extend along an interior surface of the skirt. 13. The top cover according to claim 12, further characterized in that the plurality of spacers are circumferentially spaced apart from each other and extend downwardly from the edge of the top cover. 14. The top cover according to claim 13, further characterized in that the storage compartment defines a dome portion. 15. - The top cover according to claim 14, further characterized in that the dome portion has itself incorporated a dehydrating agent. 16. - The top cover according to claim 10, further characterized because the membrane is relatively impervious to moisture. 17. - The top cover according to claim 10, further characterized in that it also comprises a drinking opening defined in the annular portion. 18. A container assembly comprising: a container comprising a bottom wall and a tubular side wall that is erected from the bottom wall, the side wall has an upper edge surrounding an upper opening of the container; a lid having a ridge that is configured to mate with the upper edge of the container, the lid has an upper wall defining a storage compartment on a bottom side of the top wall, the top wall having a substantially horizontal annular portion that extends radially inwardly of the edge and surrounding the storage compartment, a drinking aperture is defined in the annular portion; and a membrane removably attached to the underside of the top wall of the top cover, which covers the storage compartment for sealing a product that is contained in the storage compartment. 19. - The container assembly according to claim 18, further characterized in that it also comprises a skirt that extends downward from the edge. 20. - The container assembly according to claim 19, further characterized in that the skirt extends below a lower surface of the upper wall of the upper cover and defines a gripping surface. 21. - The container assembly according to claim 20, further characterized in that the skirt includes a plurality of spacers extending along an interior surface of the skirt, wherein the plurality of spacers are circumferentially spaced apart from each other and extend down from the edge of the top cover. 22. - The container assembly according to claim 18, further characterized in that the membrane is relatively impervious to moisture.