# US 10,246,244 B2 · Grasping container lid and applications thereof

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- Number: US 10,246,244 B2
- Document ID: US10246244B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/648,897
- Filed: 2017-07-13
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-28
- Assignees: Design Engineering LLC
- Applicants: Design Engineering LLC
- Inventors: Walter Edwin Balfour; Adam Lee Craft; Zachary Fanning
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246244B2

## CPC

- B65D 83/049: {the dispensing means forming a part of a removable closure, e.g. gripping teeth or cavity}
- B65D 43/0202: {without integral tamper element}
- B65D 51/24: combined {or co-operating} with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
- B65D 85/62: for stacks of articles; for special arrangements of groups of articles
- C02F 1/686: {Devices for dosing liquid additives}
- C02F 1/688: {Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound}
- C02F 1/76: with halogens or compounds of halogens {(C02F1/4674 takes precedence)}
- E04H 4/1281: {Devices for distributing chemical products in the water of swimming pools}
- G01F 23/292: Light {, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet}
- C02F 2103/42: from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
- C02F 2209/42: Liquid level
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

A container lid with a finger entry section, a thumb entry section, a grasping section, and a mating section. The finger entry section includes a finger opening for receiving at least one finger of a hand. The thumb entry section includes a thumb opening for receiving a thumb of the hand. The grasping section is coupled to the finger entry section and the thumb entry section. The grasping section functions to grasp an item when compressed via the finger entry section and the thumb entry section and collectively prevent the finger(s) and the thumb from making direct contact with the item. The mating section is coupled to the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and/or the grasping section and functions to mate the container lid with a container body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container lid for coupling to a container body, the container lid comprises:
a finger entry section having a finger opening for receiving at least one finger of a hand, wherein the finger entry section extends into the container body;
a thumb entry section having a thumb opening for receiving a thumb of the hand, wherein the thumb entry section extends into the container body;
a grasping section coupled to the finger entry section and the thumb entry section, wherein the grasping section functions to grasp an item within the container body when compressed via the finger entry section and the thumb entry section, and wherein the grasping section, finger entry section, and the thumb entry section prevents the at least one finger and the thumb from making direct contact with the item; and
a mating section coupled to at least one of the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and the grasping section, wherein the mating section functions to mate the container lid with the container body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container lid of claim 1 further comprises:
the finger entry section and the thumb entry section constructed of a first material; and
the grasping section constructed of a second material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The container lid of claim 2, wherein the first material and the second material comprises different materials from a list of materials that includes: a plastic, a metal, and a rubber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The container lid of claim 1 further comprises:
the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and the grasping section constructed of a common material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The container lid of claim 1 further comprises:
a hinging section coupling the grasping section, the finger entry section, and the thumb entry section together.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The container lid of claim 1, wherein the finger entry section comprises one or more of:
the finger opening having a first shape to accommodate one finger of the hand;
the finger opening having a second shape to accommodate all of the fingers of the hand; and
the finger opening having a series of openings to individually accommodate the fingers of the hand.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The container lid of claim 1 further comprises:
a combination of the finger entry section and the thumb entry section having a circular circumference, wherein the mating section is integrated into the circular circumference.

### Claim 8

A container comprises:
a container body for housing one or more items; and
a container lid that is capable of mating to the container body, the container lid includes:
a finger entry section having a finger opening for receiving at least one finger of a hand, wherein the finger entry section extends into the container body;
a thumb entry section having a thumb opening for receiving a thumb of the hand, wherein the thumb entry section extends into the container body;
a grasping section coupled to the finger entry section and the thumb entry section, wherein the grasping section functions to grasp an item of the one or more items when compressed via the finger entry section and the thumb entry section, and wherein the grasping section, finger entry section, and the thumb entry section prevents the at least one finger and the thumb from making direct contact with the item; and
a mating section coupled to at least one of the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and the grasping section, wherein the mating section functions to mate the container lid with the container body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The container of claim 8, wherein the container lid further comprises:
the finger entry section and the thumb entry section constructed of a first material; and
the grasping section constructed of a second material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The container of claim 8 further comprises:
the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and the grasping section constructed of a common material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The container of claim 8, wherein the container lid further comprises:
a hinging section coupling the grasping section, the finger entry section, and the thumb entry section together.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The container of claim 8, wherein the finger entry section comprises one or more of:
the finger opening having a first shape to accommodate one finger of the hand;
the finger opening having a second shape to accommodate all of the fingers of the hand; and
the finger opening having a series of openings to individually accommodate the fingers of the hand.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The container of claim 8 further comprises:
a combination of the finger entry section and the thumb entry section having a circular circumference, wherein the mating section is integrated into the circular circumference.

### Claim 14

A chemical dispensing container comprises:
a container body for housing water treatment chemical tablets, wherein the container body includes:
a tablet chamber for housing the water treatment chemical tablets and providing a controlled dispersal of the water treatment chemical tablets into water;
a buoyant section coupled to the tablet chamber, wherein the buoyant section functions to keep the chemical dispensing container afloat in the water and in a desired orientation; and
a container mating section coupled to at least one of the tablet chamber and the buoyant section; and
a container lid that is capable of mating to the container body, the container lid includes:
a finger entry section having a finger opening for receiving at least one finger of a hand, wherein the finger entry section extends into the container body;
a thumb entry section having a thumb opening for receiving a thumb of the hand, wherein the thumb entry section extends into the container body;
a grasping section coupled to the finger entry section and the thumb entry section, wherein the grasping section functions to grasp an item when compressed via the finger entry section and the thumb entry section, and wherein the grasping section, finger entry section, and the thumb entry section prevents the at least one finger and the thumb from making direct contact with the item; and
a mating section coupled to at least one of the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and the grasping section, wherein the mating section functions to mate with the container mating section.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The chemical dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the container lid further comprises:
the finger entry section and the thumb entry section constructed of a first material; and
the grasping section constructed of a second material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The chemical dispensing container of claim 14 further comprises:
the finger entry section, the thumb entry section, and the grasping section constructed of a common material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The chemical dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the container lid further comprises:
a hinging section coupling the grasping section, the finger entry section, and the thumb entry section together.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The chemical dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the finger entry section comprises one or more of:
the finger opening having a first shape to accommodate one finger of the hand;
the finger opening having a second shape to accommodate all of the fingers of the hand; and
the finger opening having a series of openings to individually accommodate the fingers of the hand.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The chemical dispensing container of claim 14 further comprises:
a combination of the finger entry section and the thumb entry section having a circular circumference, wherein the mating section is integrated into the circular circumference.