PAPER LID FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a lid for closing a container, preferably a cup, the lid being made from a paper- or a cardboard-material, wherein the lid comprises a topwall which covers the opening of the container and a sidewall directed at an angle relative to the topwall, wherein one end of the sidewall can engage sealingly with the top end of the container. The present invention further relates to a set comprising a lid and a container.

Claims

1. Lid for closing a container, the lid being made from a paper- or a cardboard-material, wherein the lid comprises: a topwall for covering an opening of the container; a sidewall directed at an angle relative to the topwall; and a rolled edge provided at an end of the sidewall; wherein the end of the sidewall can sealingly engage with the top end of the container.

2. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the rolled edge of the lid extends inwardly from the sidewall of the lid.

3. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the rolled edge of the lid extends outwardly from the sidewall of the lid.

4. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the lid is cone-shaped.

5. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the lid is cylindrical.

6. Lid according to claim 1, wherein a shoulder is provided in the sidewall.

7. Lid according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the lid is coated with a liquid repellent agent.

8. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a rim.

9. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the topwall comprises an opening.

10. Set comprising: a lid comprising: a topwall for covering an opening of the container; a sidewall directed at an angle relative to the topwall; and a rolled edge provided at an end of the sidewall; wherein the end of the sidewall can engage sealingly with the top end of the container; and a container comprising: at least one of a rolled edge and a bulge; wherein the at least one of a rolled edge and a bulge engages with the rolled edge of the lid.

11. Set according to claim 10, wherein the rolled edge of the lid extends inwardly from the sidewall of the container.

12. Set according to claim 10, wherein the rolled edge of the lid extends outwardly from the sidewall of the container.

13. Set according to claim 10, wherein the at least one rolled edge and bulge is in contact with at least one of the sidewall of the lid and a shoulder of the lid to secure the position of the lid relative to the container and/or to provide a sealing engagement.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The inventions are now explained in the following section with reference to two exemplary embodiments. These explanations do not limit the scope of protection. The explanations apply to both inventions, respectively.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a side view of a lid attached to a container in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is another side view of the lid and container of FIG. 1 further illustrating section line A-A;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a top view of the lid and container of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the lid and container of FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the lid and container of FIG. 1 taken generally about line A-A (see FIG. 2) in the direction of the arrows;

[0029] FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of the lid and container of FIG. 5;

[0032] FIG. 8A is a top view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 8B is a side view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a side view of a lid attached to a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 10 is another side view of the lid and container of FIG. 9 further illustrating section line A-A;

[0036] FIG. 11 is a top view of the lid and container of FIG. 9;

[0037] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the lid and container of FIG. 9;

[0038] FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of the lid and container of FIG. 9 taken generally about line A-A (see FIG. 2) in the direction of the arrows;

[0039] FIG. 14A is a top perspective view of the lid of FIG. 9;

[0040] FIG. 14B is a bottom perspective view of the lid of FIG. 9;

[0041] FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of the lid and container of FIG. 13;

[0042] FIG. 16A is a top view of the lid of FIG. 9;

[0043] FIG. 16B is a side view of the lid of FIG. 9; and

[0044] FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of a lid and a container illustrating a bulge extending from an inner circumference of the container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. It will be appreciated that any dimensions included in the drawing figures are simply provided as examples and dimensions other than those provided therein are also within the scope of the invention.

[0046] The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0047] FIGS. 1-8B show a first embodiment of the inventive lid 2 and the inventive set. As shown, the lid 2 comprises a sidewall 5 and a topwall 6, both of which may be made from a paper- and/or cardboard-material. This material can be coated with a water- and/or moisture repellent agent at one or both of its surfaces. The sidewall 5 and the topwall 6 can be made from separate blanks, which are formed and connected, for example at a rim 8. In the present case, the sidewall 5 is shaped conically. At the end of the sidewall 5 that is opposite from the end at which the topwall 6 is provided, the sidewall 5 is rolled, so that a rolled edge 10 is provided. In the present case, the sidewall 5 is rolled inwardly; i.e., the rolled edge 10 extends from the inner circumference of the sidewall 5. The sidewall 5 and the topwall 6 can be made from the same material. In the topwall, an opening 7, a sip hole may be provided, via which a liquid contained in the container 1 can be consumed without removing the lid 2 from the container 1. This opening 7 can be prefabricated by a scored line, which may extend only partially around the circumference of the opening. The opening 7 can be provided by pushing or drawing the section within the score away from the topwall 6. As can be seen for example from FIG. 3, the opening 7 is remote from the rim 8 of the lid 2.

[0048] The container 1 comprises a sidewall 4 and a bottomwall 14, which can be made from two separate blanks, which are formed and then connected at a rim 15. The rim 15 can serve as bearing for the container 1. At the end opposite from the bottom, the sidewall 4 may be rolled; i.e., a rolled edge 9 can be provided. In the present case, the rolled edge 9 extends outwardly from the outer circumference of the sidewall 4. The sidewall 4 and the bottomwall 14 of the container 1 can be made from the same material, such as a paper- and/or a cardboard-material. More preferably, the material of the container and the material of the lid are the same.

[0049] In FIGS. 5 and 7, the lid 2 is shown on top of the container 1. It can be clearly seen, that the inwardly rolled edge 10 is in contact with the outwardly rolled edge 9 of the sidewall 4 of the container 1, so that the lid 2 is fixed at the container 1 and/or that a seal is provided. The sidewall of lid may also in contact with the rolled edge 9 of the container to provide a seal and/or to delimit the downward movement of lid relative to the container. This delimitation may be supported by the cone-shape of the sidewall 5 of the lid 2. The inner circumference of the rolled edge 10 and the outer circumference of the rolled edge 9 may be designed such, that a compression of the rolled edge 9 and/or an extension of the rolled edge 10 may take place during the provision of the lid 2 on the container 1, so that a snap-fit takes place when the rolled edge 10 has passed the rolled edge 9.

[0050] A person skilled in the art may recognize that the lid 2 and the container 1 can have essentially the same shape and only differ in size. The lid 2 can also be utilized as a container 1, for example a cup, when the lid stands on the rim 8.

[0051] FIGS. 9-16B show a second embodiment of the inventive lid 2 and the inventive set 3.

[0052] Essentially reference can be made to the disclosure regarding the first embodiment. However, in the present case, the rolled edge 10 at the lid extends from the outer surface of the sidewall 5 of the lid 2, while the rolled edge 9 extends from the inner surface of the sidewall 4 of the container 1. Additionally, the sidewall 5 of the lid 2 comprises a shoulder 11, which here extends from the outer circumference of the sidewall 5 of the lid 2. In the closed state, the rolled edge 9 of the sidewall 4 of the container 1 is provided between the shoulder 11 and the rolled edge 10 of the sidewall 5 of the lid 2. This configuration secures the lid 2 at the container 1 and provides sealing between the container 1 and the lid 2.

[0053] In FIG. 17 yet another embodiment of the invention is shown. In the present case, the sidewall 4 of the container 1 comprises a bulge 16, which can be formed into the sidewall 4. The bulge 16 extends out of the inner circumference of the container and may extend around the entire inner circumference of the container 1. In the closed state, the bulge 16 and the rolled rim 16 are in contact with each other in order to hold the lid 2 in place and/or to provide a seal. The rolled edge 9 of the rim is in the closed state of the set preferably also in contact with the inner circumference of the sidewall 4 of the container 1. During closing, the bulge 16 may be elastically deformed by the rolled edge 9 of the lid 2. However, as soon as this rolled edge 9 of the lid 2 has passed the bulge 16, the bulge 16 forms itself back towards its original shape. The same may happen during removal of the lid 2 from the container 1.

[0054] The inventive set may have the advantage, that it can be recycled without separating the lid 2 from the container 1. The inventive lid 2 can be produced easily. The shoulder 11 can additionally be utilized as a de-stacking device.

[0055] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure and method. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

[0056] The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms having and including and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of optional or may include and not as required. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.