Container lid release apparatus and method
View Patent ↗A lid release mechanism and a lid locking mechanism for a food processing apparatus are disclosed. The lid release mechanism facilitates removal of a lid from a container via a camming surface in some embodiments. For removal, the lid may be initially tilted to break the seal between the lid and the container. A lid locking mechanism may be included, and in some embodiments, the motion to unlock the lid (e.g., pivoting an arm) also starts lid removal.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a container including an engagement member protruding outwardly from a surface of the container, a curved contact surface being disposed at an upper surface of the engagement member and a locking surface being disposed at a lower surface of the engagement member;
a lid configured to engage with the container;
an arm that is moveable relative to the lid, the arm having a locking member including a recess formed in a sidewall of the arm and defining a protruding ridge, the locking member being configured to receive the engagement member; and
a camming surface;
wherein:
when the lid is engaged with the container, movement of the arm relative to the lid causes the camming surface to make physical contact with the curved contact surface of the engagement member;
the physical contact between the camming surface and the curved contact surface exerts an upward force on the arm causing at least a portion of the lid to move in a direction away from the container;
wherein in a locked configuration, the engagement member is received within the recess of the locking member and contact between the locking surface of the engagement member and the protruding ridge of the locking member restricts movement of the lid in a direction away from the container.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
when the lid is engaged with the container, the arm has a locked configuration where the lid is prevented from being removed from the container, and the arm has an unlocked configuration where the lid is removable from the container.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
in the locked configuration, the engagement member prevents the locking member from moving in a direction away from the container; and
in the unlocked configuration, the locking member is spaced at a distance from the engagement member.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal that provides a sealing engagement between the container and the lid when the lid is engaged with the container.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the arm rotates relative to the lid about a pivot axis;
the arm includes a user-engaging portion, and
a distance from the user-engaging portion to the pivot point is greater than a distance from the pivot axis to the camming surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the user-engaging portion comprises a region of the arm that is further from the pivot axis than all other regions of the arm.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the camming surface is a surface on the engagement member.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the lid is engaged with the container, movement of the arm relative to the lid causes the camming surface to rotate relative to the curved contact surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm is rotatable relative to the lid and rotation of the arm relative to the lid causes the camming surface to move relative to the curved contact surface.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm is pivotally mounted to the lid.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the camming surface relative to the curved contact surface causes the at least a portion of the lid to tilt relative to the container.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a food processor container including an engagement member protruding outwardly from a surface of the container, a curved contact surface being disposed at an upper surface of the engagement member and a locking surface being disposed at a lower surface of the engagement member;
a lid configured to engage with the container;
an arm attached to the lid, the arm being rotatable relative to the lid, the arm having a locking member including a recess formed in a sidewall of the arm and defining a protruding ridge, the locking member being configured to receive the engagement member; and
a protrusion extending from the arm, the protrusion having a rounded surface arranged to make physical contact with and move relative to the curved contact surface when the lid is engaged with the container and the arm is rotated relative to the lid such that the engagement member is received within and hidden from view by the locking member, wherein the physical contact between the protrusion and the contact surface exerts an upward force on the arm;
wherein in a locked configuration, the engagement member is received within the recess of the locking member and contact between the locking surface of the engagement member and the protruding ridge of the locking member restricts movement of the lid in a direction away from the container.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the protrusion extends from an end of the arm.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the arm comprises a handle with a user-engaging portion and the handle is pivotally connected to the lid at a pivot axis; and
the user-engaging portion of the handle is on a first side of the handle relative to the pivot axis, and the protrusion is on a second side of the handle, opposite to the first side, relative to the pivot axis.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a food processor container having a top opening and a rim surrounding the opening, the container including an engagement member protruding outwardly from a surface of the container, the engagement member having an curved contact surface disposed at an upper surface of the engagement member and a locking surface disposed at a lower surface of the engagement member;
a lid configured to engage with the container;
an arm attached to the lid, the arm being rotatable relative to the lid, the arm having a locking member including a recess formed in a sidewall of the arm and defining a, the locking member being configured to receive the engagement member; and
a protrusion extending from the arm, the protrusion having a rounded surface arranged to make physical contact with and move relative to the first curved contact surface when the lid is engaged with the container and the arm is rotated relative to the lid such that the first curved engagement member is received within and hidden from view by the locking member, wherein the physical contact between the first protrusion and the contact surface exerts an upward force on the arm;
wherein in a locked configuration, the engagement member is received within the groove of the locking member and contact between the locking surface of the engagement member and the protruding ridge of the locking member restricts movement of the lid in a direction away from the container.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second curved contact surface with an upwardly facing concave, the second contact surface being attached to an outside of the rim on an opposite side of the container opening relative to the first curved contact surface.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first curved contact surface is positioned on a lock engagement member, the lock engagement member being configured to engage with a locking mechanism on the lid.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the lock engagement member has a curved surface with a downwardly-facing convex surface.