IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,932,451
Granted Patent B2
US 11,932,451 · App. 17/861,892 · Granted Mar 19, 2024

System and method for connecting multi-part container with inter-connecting features

Inventors: Julie Corbett (Oakland, CA); Gregory Rodrigues (San Francisco, CA); Romeo Graham (Ottawa, CA); Robert Watters (Ottawa, CA); Philip Streets (Ottawa, CA); Luc Boucher (Ottawa, CA)
Assignee: ECO.LOGIC BRANDS INC.
B65D25/16B65D25/18B31B2105/00B65D11/08B65D13/04B65D65/466B65D77/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,932,451
App. No.
17/861,892
Granted
Mar 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for integrating multiple portions of a container are provided. The method and system are specifically designed for integrating multiple shell portions with ear lobe-shaped tabs. The method comprises: providing a first set of retention structures to be associated with a plurality of inter-connecting features formed on an edge of a first shell part, wherein the first set of retention structures comprise at least a lead-in feature and a retention feature; providing a second set of retention structures to be associated with a plurality of inter-connecting features formed on an edge of a second shell part, wherein the second set of retention structures comprise at least a deflection feature and a retention feature; and engaging the two shell parts with aid of the retention structures.

Claims (38)

1. A method for forming or assembling a container, the method comprising:

providing a first set of inter-connecting features at a first portion of the container and a second set of inter-connecting features formed at a second portion of the container;

providing at least one retention structure associated with at least one of the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features;

engaging the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features using the at least one retention structure;

locking the first set of inter-connecting features in engagement with the second set of inter-connecting features to form the container, wherein locking the first set of inter-connecting features with the second set of inter-connecting features includes flexing the first set of inter-connecting features against the second set of inter-connecting features; and

retracting the at least one retention structure while retaining the locked engagement between the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising guiding the first set of inter-connecting features into engagement with the second set of inter-connecting features via the at least one retention structure.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one retention structure is mounted to the first portion of the container.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one retention structure is mounted to the second portion of the container.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the container is a first shell part and the second portion of the container is a second shell part and guiding the first set of inter-connecting features further comprises positioning at least one of the first shell part and the second shell part such that the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features are aligned and engaged at a predetermined angle.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined angle is between 1 degree and 50 degrees.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first set of inter-connecting features further comprises a plurality of tab features and the second set of inter-connecting features further comprises a plurality of slit features, and guiding the first set of inter-connecting features further comprises deflecting the plurality of tab features as the plurality of tab features approach the plurality of slit features.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein locking the first set of inter-connecting features with the second set of inter-connecting features further comprises flexing the first set of inter-connecting features against the second set of inter-connecting features.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising timing the retracting the at least one retention structure to release the container.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing at least one retention structure further comprises providing a first set of retention structures associated with the at least one of first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features and providing a second set of retention structures associated with the at least one of first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each retention structure of the first set of retention structures further comprises a lead-in feature and a retention feature which are configured to guide the at least one of first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein each retention structure of the second set of retention structures comprises a deflection feature which is configured to deflect the at least one of first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features to a pre-determined deflection level so as to reduce friction or collision during the engagement the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention structure is provided in a shell loading mode, the method further comprising transforming the at least one retention structure from the shell loading mode to an integration mode.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein transforming the at least one retention structure from the shell loading mode to the integration mode further comprises rotating the at least one retention structure about an axis.

15. A method for forming or assembling a container, the method comprising:

providing a first set of inter-connecting features at a first portion of the container and a second set of inter-connecting features formed at a second portion of the container;

providing at least one retention structure associated with at least one of the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features, the at least one retention structure being in a shell loading mode;

guiding the first set of inter-connecting features into engagement with the second set of inter-connecting features via the at least one retention structure; and

transforming the at least one retention structure from the shell loading mode to an integration mode.

16. A method for forming or assembling a container, the method comprising:

providing a first set of inter-connecting features at a first portion of the container and a second set of inter-connecting features formed at a second portion of the container;

providing at least one retention structure associated with at least one of the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features;

engaging the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features using the at least one retention structure;

locking the first set of inter-connecting features in engagement with the second set of inter-connecting features to form the container;

retracting the at least one retention structure while retaining the locked engagement between the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features; and

timing the retracting the at least one retention structure to release the container.

17. A method for forming or assembling a container, the method comprising:

providing a first set of inter-connecting features at a first portion of the container and a second set of inter-connecting features formed at a second portion of the container;

providing at least one retention structure associated with at least one of the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features, the at least one retention structure is provided in a shell loading mode;

engaging the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features using the at least one retention structure;

locking the first set of inter-connecting features in engagement with the second set of inter-connecting features to form the container;

retracting the at least one retention structure while retaining the locked engagement between the first set of inter-connecting features and the second set of inter-connecting features; and

transforming the at least one retention structure from the shell loading mode to an integration mode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2022
From: CORBETT, JULIE; RODRIGUES, GREGORY; GRAHAM, ROMEO; WATTERS, ROBERT; STREETS, PHILIP; BOUCHER, LUC
To: ECO.LOGIC BRANDS INC.
Reel/Frame 060476/0434 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16561312 · Sep 5, 2019
Continuation PCTUS2018021314 · Mar 7, 2018
Provisional Application 62468255 · Mar 7, 2017
Related Publication 20220340335A1 · Oct 27, 2022