Granted Patent B2

US 12,454,386 · App. 18/771,084 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Inventor: Merrilee Kick (Plano, TX)

Assignee: BUZZBALLZ, LLC

B65D21/0219B65D43/0283B65D55/08B65D55/16B65D2543/00092B65D2543/00537

Abstract

Claims (141)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a container body defining an internal cavity, a first outer diameter, and a second outer diameter, the container body comprising:

a first side wall surrounding the internal cavity, the first side wall defining the second outer diameter of the container body, which second outer diameter is a maximum outer diameter of the first side wall; and

a neck connected to, and extending from, the first side wall, the neck defining the first outer diameter of the container body;

and

a container lid attached to, and sealingly engaged with, the neck of the container body, the container lid comprising:

a first portion detachable from, and re-attachable to, the neck of the container body, the first portion of the container lid comprising:

a second side wall defining axially-opposing first and second end portions; and

a top wall connected to the second side wall at the first end portion of the second side wall;

and

a second portion, the second portion of the container lid comprising a security band and a tether connected thereto, wherein the second portion of the container lid is:

connected to the first portion of the container lid via the tether; and

detachably coupled to the first portion via one or more separable segments distributed along a non-helical circumferentially-extending border between the second portion and the first portion;

wherein the first side wall of the container body is frustospherical or frustospheroidal;

wherein a ratio of the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter is greater than or equal to 1:2;

wherein the tether includes first and second end portions;

wherein the first end portion of the tether is connected to the second side wall at the second end portion of the second side wall;

wherein the second end portion of the tether is connected to the security band;

wherein the first and second end portions of the tether are circumferentially spaced apart such that the tether extends along a circumference of the container lid;

and

wherein the tether extends along the circumference of the container lid through less than 30 degrees so that the second portion of the container lid remains connected to the first portion, via the tether, notwithstanding the second portion of the container lid being detached from the first portion by separation of the one or more separable segments along the non-helical circumferentially-extending border.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the second end portion of the tether is axially recessed within the security band.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 ,

wherein the second end portion of the tether is connected to the security band along a circumferential extension of the security band.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the first end portion of the tether is located circumferentially clockwise, along a circumferential extension of the tether, relative to the second end portion of the tether.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein, when the first portion of the container lid is detached from the neck of the container body:

the first portion of the container lid remains connected to the second portion of the container lid via the tether;

the second portion of the container lid remains attached to the container body; and

the first portion of the container lid is coupled to the container body via:

the connection of the first portion of the container lid to the second portion of the container lid via the tether, and

the attachment of the second portion of the container lid to the container body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the container lid further comprises one or more perforations extending radially through the security band and defining the tether.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more perforations, which extend radially through the security band and define the tether, comprise:

first and second perforations, each of which extends circumferentially; and

third and fourth perforations, each of which extends axially;

wherein the first and third perforations form a first generally L-shaped perforation that partially defines the tether; and

wherein the second and fourth perforations form a second generally L-shaped perforation that partially defines the tether.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the first side wall further defines axially-opposing first and second end portions;

wherein the neck of the container body is connected to, and extends from, the first side wall at the first end portion of the first side wall;

wherein the container body further comprises a bottom wall connected to, and extending from, the first side wall at the second end portion of the first side wall, opposite the neck;

wherein at least part of the second end portion of the first side wall adjoins at least part of the bottom wall so that, in combination, the adjoining parts of the first side wall and the bottom wall define a first contiguous three-dimensional profile of the container body;

wherein at least part of the first end portion of the second side wall adjoins at least part of the top wall so that, in combination, the adjoining parts of the second side wall and the top wall define a second contiguous three-dimensional profile of the container lid;

wherein the second contiguous three-dimensional profile of the container lid is adapted to matingly receive the first contiguous three-dimensional profile of the container body.

9. A method, comprising:

attaching a first container lid to a neck of a container body to sealingly engage the first container lid with the neck of the container body;

wherein the container body defines an internal cavity, a first outer diameter, and a second outer diameter, the container body comprising:

a first side wall surrounding the internal cavity, the first side wall defining the second outer diameter of the container body, which second outer diameter is a maximum outer diameter of the first side wall;

and

the neck connected to, and extending from, the first side wall, the neck defining the first outer diameter of the container body;

wherein the first container lid comprises:

a first portion detachable from, and re-attachable to, the neck of the container body, the first portion of the first container lid comprising:

a second side wall defining axially-opposing first and second end portions; and

a top wall connected to the second side wall at the first end portion of the second side wall;

and

a second portion, the second portion of the first container lid comprising a security band and a tether connected thereto, wherein the second portion of the first container lid is:

connected to the first portion of the first container lid via the tether; and

detachably coupled to the first portion via one or more separable segments distributed along a non-helical circumferentially-extending border between the second portion and the first portion;

wherein the first side wall of the container body is frustospherical or frustospheroidal;

wherein a ratio of the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter is greater than or equal to 1:2;

wherein the tether has first and second end portions;

wherein the first end portion of the tether is connected to the second side wall at the second end portion of the second side wall;

wherein the second end portion of the tether is connected to the security band;

wherein the first and second end portions of the tether are circumferentially spaced apart such that the tether extends along a circumference of the first container lid;

and

wherein the tether extends along the circumference of the container lid through less than 30 degrees so that the second portion of the container lid remains connected to the first portion, via the tether, notwithstanding the second portion of the container lid being detached from the first portion by separation of the one or more separable segments along the non-helical circumferentially-extending border.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

stacking the container body onto a second container lid so that a first three-dimensional profile of the second container lid matingly receives a second three-dimensional profile of the container body, which second three-dimensional profile is located at an end portion of the container body opposite the neck;

wherein the second container lid is identical to the first container lid.

11. The method of claim 10 ,

wherein at least a portion of the second three-dimensional profile of the container body defines a first radius of curvature; and

wherein at least a portion of the first three-dimensional profile of the second container lid defines a second radius of curvature, which second radius of curvature is the same as the first radius of curvature.

12. The method of claim 9 ,

wherein internal threads extend circumferentially around an inside surface of the second side wall of the first container lid, the internal threads defining circumferentially opposing and axially spaced end portions;

wherein external threads extend circumferentially around an outside surface of the neck, the external threads defining circumferentially opposing and axially spaced end portions; and

wherein attaching the first container lid to the neck of the container body comprises:

engaging the end portion of the internal threads of the first container lid furthest from the top wall under the end portion of the external threads of the neck furthest from the first side wall; and

rotating the first container lid relative to the container body to thread the first container lid onto the container body.

13. The method of claim 9 ,

wherein the second end portion of the tether is axially recessed within the security band; and

wherein the second end portion of the tether is connected to the security band along a circumferential extension of the security band.

14. The method of claim 13 ,

wherein the first end portion of the tether is located circumferentially clockwise, along the circumferential extension of the tether, relative to the second end portion of the tether.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detaching, from the neck of the container body, the first portion of the first container lid;

wherein, when the first portion of the first container lid is detached from the neck of the container body:

the first portion of the first container lid remains connected to the second portion of the first container lid via the tether;

the second portion of the first container lid remains attached to the container body; and

the first portion of the first container lid is coupled to the container body via:

the connection of the first portion of the first container lid to the second portion of the first container lid via the tether, and

the attachment of the second portion of the first container lid to the container body.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

re-attaching the first portion of the first container lid to the neck of the container body, comprising effecting relative rotation between the first portion of the first container lid and the container body to thread the first container lid onto the container body;

wherein, when the first portion of the first container lid is re-attached to the neck of the container body:

the first portion of the first container lid remains connected to the second portion of the first container lid via the tether;

the second portion of the first container lid remains attached to the container body; and

the first portion of the first container lid is coupled to the container body via the threading of the first container lid onto the container body, and also via:

the connection of the first portion of the first container lid to the second portion of the first container lid via the tether, and

the attachment of the second portion of the first container lid to the container body.

17. A method, comprising:

attaching a first container lid to a neck of a container body to sealingly engage the first container lid with the neck of the container body;

wherein the container body defines an internal cavity, a first outer diameter, and a second outer diameter, the container body comprising:

a first side wall surrounding the internal cavity, the first side wall defining the second outer diameter of the container body, which second outer diameter is a maximum outer diameter of the first side wall;

and

the neck connected to, and extending from, the first side wall, the neck defining the first outer diameter of the container body:

wherein the first container lid comprises:

a first portion detachable from, and re-attachable to, the neck of the container body, the first portion of the first container lid comprising:

a second side wall defining axially-opposing first and second end portions; and

a top wall connected to the second side wall at the first end portion of the second side wall;

and

a second portion, the second portion of the first container lid comprising a security band and a tether connected thereto, wherein the second portion of the first container lid is connected to the first portion of the first container lid via the tether;

wherein the first side wall of the container body is frustospherical or frustospheroidal;

wherein a ratio of the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter is greater than or equal to 1:2;

wherein the first container lid defines an internal region surrounded by the second side wall; and

wherein the sealing engagement of the first container lid with the neck of the container body comprises:

an engagement of an internal ridge of the first container lid with an outside surface of the neck, the internal ridge extending inwardly and into the internal region; and

an engagement of an internal collar of the first container lid with an inside surface of the neck, the internal collar extending from the top wall and into the internal region.

18. The method of claim 17 ,

wherein the engagement of the internal collar of the first container lid with the inside surface of the neck comprises an engagement of an external bulbous protrusion of the internal collar with the inside surface of the neck.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a container body defining an internal cavity, a first outer diameter, and a second outer diameter, the container body comprising:

a first side wall surrounding the internal cavity, the first side wall defining the second outer diameter of the container body, which second outer diameter is a maximum outer diameter of the first side wall; and

a neck connected to, and extending from, the first side wall, the neck defining the first outer diameter of the container body;

and

a container lid attached to, and sealingly engaged with, the neck of the container body, the container lid comprising:

a first portion detachable from, and re-attachable to, the neck of the container body, the first portion of the container lid comprising:

a second side wall defining axially-opposing first and second end portions; and

a top wall connected to the second side wall at the first end portion of the second side wall;

and

a second portion, the second portion of the container lid comprising a security band and a tether connected thereto, wherein the second portion of the container lid is connected to the first portion of the container lid via the tether;

wherein the first side wall of the container body is frustospherical or frustospheroidal; and

wherein a ratio of the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter is greater than or equal to 1:2;

wherein the first container lid defines an internal region surrounded by the second side wall; and

wherein the sealing engagement of the first container lid with the neck of the container body comprises:

an engagement of an internal ridge of the first container lid with an outside surface of the neck, the internal ridge extending inwardly and into the internal region; and

an engagement of an internal collar of the first container lid with an inside surface of the neck, the internal collar extending from the top wall and into the internal region.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 ,

wherein the engagement of the internal collar of the first container lid with the inside surface of the neck comprises an engagement of an external bulbous protrusion of the internal collar with the inside surface of the neck.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (119)