Container lid

Abstract

A lid 10 for a container comprising a first layer 12 comprising a metal sheet, a printed circuit board (PCB) 20 second layer 14, the PCB having at least one light emitting diode (LED), wherein the fir

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to container lids, and more particularly to light up container lids. BACKGROUND

[0002] Metal containers may be provided with light up lids. For example, novelty containers may include lids with patterns on the outer surface. When the lid is placed on the container, the lid appears to light up, thus creating an aesthetic effect.

[0003] Figure 1 shows a metal container configured to create a light up lid (lid not shown) according to conventional designs. The metal container comprises a base with a plastic tea light screwed into the base. The tea light is on the inside of the container. Although not shown, in conventional containers such as the container shown in Figure 1, the switch for turning the tea light on and off is on the outside of the container. When closed by a lid comprising a hole or perforation, light from the tea light shines through the perforation when the tea light is switched on, thus providing the effect of a light up lid on the container.

[0004] There are, however, limitations in current light up lid designs. As shown in Figure 1, the tea light is relatively large compared to the size of the container. This takes up a large amount of space in the container, and thus limits the amount of contents that can be placed into the container. Additionally, in large containers multiple tea lights are required, which increases the weight of the container. Plastic tea lights are also not easily recyclable, which is another drawback of current designs.

[0005] An objective of the present invention is therefore to overcome at least some of the limitations described above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a lid for a container comprising a first layer comprising a metal sheet, and a second layer comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having at least one light emitting diode (LED), wherein the first layer comprises the outer layer of the lid.

[0007] The lid according to the present invention comprises first and second layers. The first layer comprises a metal sheet and the second layer comprises a printed circuit board carrying at least one light emitting diode (LED). Such a design may provide a lightweight means, compared to the known designs, of providing a lighting effect within a container. Additionally, such a lid may be easy to recycle due to the structure of the individual layers. When the lid is attached to a container body to form a container, the first layer forms the outer layer of the lid and the second layer is located within the container.

[0008] The lid may further comprise a third layer, the second layer being arranged between the first and third layers. The third layer may be configured to protect the printed circuit board from damage. When the lid is attached to a container body to form a container, the first layer forms the outer layer of the lid and the third layer forms the inner layer of the lid and the second layer forms the middle layer of the lid.

[0009] The third layer may be glassine paper. Using a food safe material, such as glassine, means that food contents placed into the container do not require their own protective packaging.

[0010] The first layer may comprise at least one perforation, and the printed circuit board may be mounted on a rigid board and positioned such that when the at least one LED is activated, light is directed through the at least one perforation in the first layer.

[0011] The alignment of the at least one LED and the at least one perforation creates the effect of a light up container lid. The at least one LED may be configured to emit white light or coloured light. There may be a plurality of LEDS and perforations. The perforations may be arranged in different patterns, and the LEDS may be configured to emit different colours of light to create different aesthetic effects.

[0012] The printed circuit board may further comprise a switch, and the third layer may further comprise a hole for accessing the switch.

[0013] The first layer may comprise an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface comprising a hot melt adhesive for sealing the first layer to the second layer.

[0014] The hot melt adhesive may be peelable. This method of sealing allows easy separation of the first layer and the second layer, meaning that the individual layers are easily recyclable.

[0015] The printed circuit board may comprise a power source connected to the at least one LED. The power source may be a chargeable battery, a replaceable battery, or a wind-up mechanism.

[0016] The printed circuit board may further comprise a sensor coupled to the at least one LED and configured to detect when the lid is removed from a corresponding container, wherein in response to detecting the lid is removed from the container, the at least one LED changes state.

[0017] Being able to easily detect when the lid is removed from the container using a change in state of the LED means that it is easy to determine if the contents of the container have been tampered with.

[0018] The printed circuit board may comprise at least one LED configured to emit ultra-violet radiation, the at least one LED configured to emit UV radiation being mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board distal to the first layer and such that it directs UV light away from the first layer.

[0019] UV light being directed away from the first layer, that is towards the inside of a corresponding container, may be useful in containers containing food, where the UV light kills any bacteria present. Thus, the lid may be used to sterilise the contents of a container.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a lid for closing a container comprising: providing an outer layer comprising a metal sheet; providing a middle layer comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having a at least one light emitting diode; and attaching the outer layer to the middle layer.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a lid in accordance with the present invention and a container body BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a metal container used to create a light up lid according to prior art designs;

[0023] Figure 2A is a perspective view of a lid 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2B is a perspective view of the second layer 14 of Figure 2A;

[0025] Figure 3A is a perspective view of a lid 10 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3B is a perspective view of the second layer 14 of Figure 3A; and

[0027] Figure 4 is an image showing two views of a container closed by a lid according to embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Aspects of the present invention provide a light up lid for a container. The lid comprises at least two layers, a first layer (an outer layer) and a second layer comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs direct light through perforations in the lid of the container, thereby creating the effect of a light up lid. The lid according to the present invention is lightweight, and easy to recycle, thus offering advantages over the prior art. In some embodiments, the lid further comprises a third layer such that the lid comprises the outer layer, the layer comprising the PCB as a middle layer and the third (inner) layer which faces the inside of the container when the lid is placed on the container.

[0029] Figure 2A shows a perspective view of a lid 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, the lid comprises a first layer 12, a second layer 14, and a third layer 16. The first layer comprises an outer layer of the lid 10, and the second layer 14 is arranged between the first layer 12 and the third layer 16. The first (outer) layer 12 comprises a metal sheet. The second (middle) layer 14 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 20, the PCB 20 having at least one LED 22. The PCB 20 is mounted on a rigid board, which is advantageous as the second layer 14 is therefore easily recyclable, unlike the tea lights used in the prior art.

[0030] The third (inner) layer 16 protects the PCB 20 from damage. In some embodiments the third layer 16 is made of a food safe material, such as glassine. Accordingly, food contents placed in a corresponding container would not need to be in their own protective packaging.

[0031] The lid 10 is sized to close a corresponding container. Figure 4 shows an image illustrating how the lid 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used to close a container 30. As shown in Figure 4, the container 30 is also metal. In use, the LEDs 22 on the PCB 20 are configured to direct light either towards the inside of the container 30, or towards perforations (two different patterns are shown) in the outer layer 12 of the lid 10.

[0032] In some embodiments, the LEDs 22 direct light towards the inside of a corresponding container 30. This arrangement is useful when the container 30 contains food. The LEDs 22 may be ultraviolet (UV) LEDs. UV light is directed towards the food inside the container, therefore killing any bacteria present. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention may be used to sterilise the contents of a corresponding container.

[0033] As mentioned briefly above, in some embodiments, the LEDs 22 are configured to direct light towards the first, outer layer 12 of the lid 10. Returning to Figure 2A, the first layer 12 comprises perforations (holes) 18. The PCB 20 is positioned within the rigid board so that the LEDs 22 direct light through the perforations 18, thus providing the effect of a light up lid. The LEDS may emit white light (cold or warm), coloured light, or a combination of both, in order to create different aesthetic effects on the lid 10. The perforations 18 may be arranged in any configuration, and in some embodiments, may be arranged in an aesthetic configuration. For example, in Figure 2A the perforations 18 are arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree.

[0034] Figure 2B shows the second, middle layer 14 of the lid 10 of Figure 2A in greater detail. As illustrated, the PCB 20 is shaped and positioned within the rigid board so that the LEDs 22 align with the perforations 18 in the outer layer 12 (shown in Figure 2A), i.e., in the shape of a Christmas tree. The LEDs 22 will therefore direct light through the perforations 18 to give the effect of a light up Christmas tree on the lid 10.

[0035] Figures 3A and 3B show the lid 10 where the perforations (Figure 3A) and the PCB 20 (Figure 3B) are arranged in a different configuration. Therefore, the lid 10 of Figure 3 will provide a different aesthetic effect when the LEDs 22 direct light though the perforations 18. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2A and 3A, the PCB 20 comprises a plurality of LEDs 22 which are arranged to align with the perforations 18 in the first layer 12 of the lid 10. However, in alternative embodiments, a single LED 22 may be used to direct light through a plurality of perforations 18 in the lid 10. For example, if the perforations 18 are small and arranged in an intricate pattern on the first layer 12, a single LED 22 may be able to direct light through multiple perforations 18 simultaneously. Additionally, instead of comprising a plurality of individual LEDs 22, the PCB 20 may comprise a strip of LEDS. The strip may be arranged to direct light through all the perforations 18 in the lid 10.

[0036] To power the LEDs 22, the PCB 20 further comprises a power source. The power source may be, for example, a battery. The PCB 20 may also comprise a switch for turning the LEDs 22 on and off. In embodiments comprising a third layer 16, there is a hole in the third layer 16 so that a user can access the switch and turn the LEDs 22 on and off.

[0037] As described, the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3 show a plurality of perforations in the first layer 12 of the lid 10, and the lid 10 is configured to light up for aesthetic purposes. However, in some embodiments, the present invention may be used to determine if a container has been tampered with.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lid 10 comprises a first layer 12 with one perforation 18 and a second layer 14. The second layer 14 comprises a PCB 20 with at least one LED 22. The PCB 20 is mounted on a rigid board such that the LED 22 is positioned to direct light through the perforation 18. The PCB 20 also comprises a sensor in communication with the LED 22. The sensor is configured to determine when the lid 10 is removed from a corresponding container 30. For example, the sensor may be a light sensor configured to detect a change in light levels that occurs following the lid 10 being removed from the container 30. In response to the change in light levels (detected by the sensor), the LED 22 changes state. For example, the LED 22 may be configured to change from an off state, before the lid 10 has been removed, to an on state, after the lid 10 has been removed. Alternatively, the LED 22 may be configured to change from emitting green light (indicating the lid 10 has not been removed from the container) to emitting red light (indicating the lid 10 has been removed from the container). Even if the lid 10 is placed back onto the container, the LED 22 does not revert back to its original state.

[0039] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may be used to determine if a container, or its contents, have been tampered with. This is particularly useful when the lid 10 is used to close a container containing food. For example, consider the case when a green LED 22 indicates the lid 10 has not been removed, and a red LED 22 indicates the lid 10 has been removed. A red light on the lid 10 indicates to a user that the lid has been removed from the container, and the contents may be spoilt, stale, or tampered with. Additionally, even if a plastic seal on the outside of the container has broken, but the lid 10 shows a green light, the user can determine that the lid 10 has not been removed from the container, and the contents have not been tampered with.

[0040] To manufacture the lid 10 according to the present invention, the first layer 10 is attached to the second layer 14 using a hot melt adhesive. In more detail, the first layer 12 comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. Hot melt adhesive is provided on the inner surface of the first layer 12, and used to seal the first layer to the second layer 14. Accordingly, there is no need for permanent fixtures between the first layer and second layer. The hot melt adhesive may be peelable. This allows easy separation of the first layer 12 and second layer 14, which is advantageous for recycling the individual layers.

Claims

1. A lid (10) for a container comprising:a first layer (12) comprising a metal sheet;a second layer (14) comprising a printed circuit board (20), the printed circuit board having at least one light emitting diode (LED) (22), wherein the first layer (12) comprises the outer layer of the lid (10).

2. The lid (10) of Claim 1 further comprising a third layer (16), the second layer being arranged between the first layer and the third layer.

3. The lid (10) of Claim 2, wherein the third layer (16) comprises glassine paper.

4. The lid (10) of any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the first layer (12) comprises at least oneperforation (18), and wherein the printed circuit board (20) is mounted on a rigid board and positioned such that when the at least one LED (22) is activated, light is directed through the at least one perforation (18) in the first layer (12).

5. The lid (10) of any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the printed circuit board (20) further comprises a switch, and the third layer (16) further comprises a hole for accessing the switch.

6. The lid (10) of any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the first layer (12) comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface comprising a hot melt adhesive for sealing the outer layer (12) to the middle layer (14).

7. The lid (10) of Claim 6, wherein the hot melt adhesive is peelable.

8. The lid (10) of any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the printed circuit board (20) further comprisesa power source connected to the at least one LED (22).

9. The lid (10) of any of Claims 1 to 8, the printed circuit board (20) further comprising a sensor coupled to the at least one LED (22) and configured to detect when the lid (10) is removed from a corresponding container, wherein in response to detecting the lid (10) is removed from the container, the at least one LED (22) changes state.

10. The lid (10) of any preceding claim wherein the printed circuit board (20) comprises at least one LED (22) configured to emit ultra-violet radiation, the at least one LED (22) configured to emit UV radiation being mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board (20) distal to the first layer (12) and such that it directs UV light away from the first layer (12).

11. A method of manufacturing a lid for closing a container comprising:providing a first layer comprising a metal sheet;providing a second layer comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having at least one light emitting diode; andattaching the outer layer to the second layer.

12. A container comprising a lid (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 and a container body.

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