Container and lid with audible and tactile feedback

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container ( 10 ) and a lid ( 14 ), wherein the lid produces audible and tactile feedback when the container is closed with the lid. The invention further relates to a method for forming a lid for engagement with a container. A container with a lid includes at least one thread ( 20 ) on a neck of the container; at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid; a bump ( 32 ) at the lower part of the lid; an end stop ( 22 ) on a lower end of the neck; and an engagement portion of the neck corresponding to an area where the bump of the lid will engage the neck when the lid is in a fully engaged position. The engagement portion ( 24 ) is arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced when the lid moves into a fully engaged position.

1 . A container ( 10 ) with a lid ( 14 ) comprising:
 a container neck ( 12 ) surrounding an opening ( 13 );   at least one thread ( 20 ) on the neck ( 12 );   at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid ( 14 ) for engaging the at least one thread ( 20 ) on the neck ( 12 );   a bump ( 32 ) at the lower part of the lid ( 14 );   an end stop ( 22 ) on a lower end of the neck ( 12 ) which stops further engagement between the at least one thread ( 20 ) on the neck ( 12 ) and the at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid ( 14 ); and   an engagement portion ( 24 ) of the neck ( 12 ) corresponding to an area where the bump ( 32 ) of the lid will engage the neck ( 12 ) when the lid ( 14 ) is in a fully engaged position, the engagement portion ( 24 ) comprising a recess ( 26 ) adjacent to the end stop ( 22 ) for receiving and engaging the bump ( 32 ), and a ramp adjacent to the recess leading into or out of the recess ( 26 ) by increasing the outer diameter of the neck adjacent to the recess ( 26 ), the engagement portion arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced when the lid is moved into the fully engaged position, wherein the engagement portion further comprises: an increase in width of the at least one thread ( 20 ) in the neck at the engagement portion and wherein the recess ( 26 ) and the bump ( 32 ) each comprise a rounded upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 26 ) extends vertically into the increase in width of the at least one thread ( 20 ) in the neck at the engagement portion ( 24 ). 
     
     
         3 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp ( 28 ) comprises an increase in the outer diameter of the neck leading up to the recess ( 26 ), and the engagement portion further comprises an additional ramp ( 29 ) which leads from the recess ( 26 ) up to the increase in thickness of the neck from the ramp ( 28 ) for facilitating the exit of the bump ( 32 ) from the recess ( 26 ). 
     
     
         4 . The container with lid of any of  claim 1 , wherein the audible and/or tactile feedback is produced from one or more of:
 the engagement of the bump ( 32 ) into the recess ( 26 ),   the stopping of the bump ( 32 ) by the end stop ( 22 ),   the movement by the bump ( 32 ) through the engagement portion ( 24 ),   or the movement of the bump ( 32 ) into or out of the recess ( 26 ).   
     
     
         5 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein audible feedback produced comprises a muffled click when the lid ( 14 ) is disengaging from the container ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback produced when the lid ( 14 ) is moved into a fully engaged position comprises a precise click. 
     
     
         7 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback has frequency intensity in the range of about 0.00005 to 0.0036 watt per square metre (W/m 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein an increase in thickness of the at least one thread ( 20 ) in the neck ( 12 ) at the engagement portion ( 24 ) and/or the ramp increases torque required to bring the lid to a fully engaged position. 
     
     
         9 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the sound pressure level of the audible feedback is in the range of about 20 to 120 dB. 
     
     
         10 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback has a duration of about 0.01 seconds or more, preferably maximally 0.025 seconds. 
     
     
         11 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of bumps ( 32 ) and a plurality of recesses ( 26 ) of the neck ( 12 ) for engagement by the plurality of bumps ( 32 ). 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a lid ( 14 ) and a container neck ( 12 ) to produce audible and tactile feedback on engagement and disengagement, the method comprising:
 producing a lid ( 14 ) with at least one thread ( 30 ) and a bump ( 32 ) at a lower end; and   producing a neck ( 12 ) with at least one thread ( 20 ) for engaging the at least one thread ( 30 ) on the lid ( 14 ), and an engagement portion ( 24 ) with a recess ( 26 ) for receiving the bump ( 32 ), an end stop ( 22 ) delineating the recess ( 26 ) and an increase in the at least one thread of the neck and/or the outer diameter of the neck at the engagement portion ( 24 ), wherein the engagement portion ( 24 ) and bump ( 32 ) are formed to produce specific audible and tactile feedback when the lid ( 14 ) is engaged or disengaged from the neck ( 12 ), and wherein each of the recess ( 26 ) and the bump ( 32 ) comprises an upper rounded portion.   The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sound pressure level of the audible feedback is in the range of about 20 to 120 dB.