Container and lid with audible and tactile feedback

Abstract

A container with a lid includes at least one thread on a neck of the container; at least one thread on the lid; a bump at the lower part of the lid; an end stop 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 is arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced when the lid moves into a fully engaged position.

1 . A container with a lid comprising:
 a container neck surrounding an opening, the neck with an outer radial surface;   at least one thread on the neck extending radially outward from the outer radial surface;   at least one thread on the lid for engaging the at least one thread on the neck;   a bump at the lower part of the lid;   an end stop on a lower end of the neck which stops further engagement between the at least one thread on the neck and the at least one thread on the lid; 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 comprising a recess extending radially inward with respect to the outer radial surface of the neck, the recess for receiving and engaging the bump, and a ramp adjacent to the recess leading into or out of the recess and extending radially outward from the outer radial surface, the engagement portion arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced by the engagement of the bump, the ramp, the recess and/or the end stop 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 in the neck at the engagement portion and wherein the recess and the bump are complementary in shape to each other and each comprise a rounded upper portion, wherein the upper portion is defined as the portion of the bump and recess closest to the opening of the container when the container is standing upright and the lid is secured to the container.   
     
     
         2 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the recess extends vertically into the increase in width of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion further comprises an additional ramp which leads from the recess up to the ramp for facilitating the exit of the bump from the recess. 
     
     
         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 into the recess, the stopping of the bump by the end stop, the movement by the bump through the engagement portion, or the movement of the bump into or out of the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein audible feedback produced comprises a click when the lid is disengaging from the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback produced when the lid is moved into a fully engaged position comprises a click. 
     
     
         7 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback has frequency intensity in the range of 0.00005 to 0.0036 watt per square metre (W/m2). 
     
     
         8 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein an increase in thickness of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion 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 a sound pressure level of the audible feedback is in the range of 20 to 120 dB. 
     
     
         10 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback has a duration of 0.01 seconds or more. 
     
     
         11 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of bumps and a plurality of recesses in the neck for engagement by the plurality of bumps. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a lid and a container neck to produce audible and tactile feedback on engagement and disengagement, the method comprising:
 producing a lid with at least one thread and a bump at a lower end; and   producing a neck with at least one thread for engaging the at least one thread on the lid, and an engagement portion with a recess for receiving the bump and extending radially inward with respect to the surface of the neck between and around the at least one thread, an end stop delineating the recess and an increase in the at least one thread of the neck and/or a ramp at the engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion and bump are formed to produce audible and tactile feedback by the engagement of the bump, the ramp, the recess and/or the end stop when the lid is engaged or disengaged from the neck, and wherein each of the recess and the bump are complementary in shape to each other and each comprises a rounded upper portion, wherein the upper portion is defined as the portion of the bump and recess closest to the opening of the container when the container is standing upright and the lid is secured to the container.   
     
     
         13 . The container with lid of  claim 10 , wherein the audible feedback has a duration of maximally 0.025 seconds. 
     
     
         14 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the rounded upper portion of the recess extends into the at least one thread. 
     
     
         15 . The container with lid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thread on the neck extends from an upper portion of the neck to the engagement portion of the neck. 
     
     
         16 . A container with a lid comprising:
 a container neck surrounding an opening, the neck with an outer surface;   at least one thread on the neck extending radially outward from the outer surface;   at least one thread on the lid for engaging the at least one thread on the neck;   a bump at the lower part of the lid;   an end stop on a lower end of the neck which stops further engagement between the at least one thread on the neck and the at least one thread on the lid; 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 comprising a recess for receiving and engaging the bump and extending radially inward with respect to the outer surface of the neck, the engagement portion arranged such that audible feedback and tactile feedback are produced by the engagement of the bump, the ramp, the recess and/or the end stop when the lid is moved into the fully engaged position.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , and further comprising a ramp adjacent to the recess leading into or out of the recess and extending radially outward from the outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , and further comprising an increase in width of the at least one thread in the neck at the engagement portion. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the recess and the bump are complementary in shape to each other and each comprise a rounded upper portion, wherein the upper portion is defined as the portion of the bump and recess closest to the opening of the container when the container is standing upright and the lid is secured to the container.