NL2035942B1 - Container lid for cooperation with vacuum stopper - Google Patents

Abstract

Title: Container lid for cooperation with vacuum stopper Abstract A container lid configured to be provided on a container for closing the container during use, said container lid comprising: - a container lid body comprising an opening arranged to cooperate with a vacuum stopper such that the vacuum stopper can be provided airtight in the opening during use; 10 - a resilient flange provided at a lower end of the container lid, wherein the resilient flange forms an airtight seal between the container lid and the container during use; - a container stop ring provided at an upper end of the container lid above the resilient flange. Fig. 5A

Description

P135966NL00

Title: Container lid for cooperation with vacuum stopper

The invention relates to a container lid configured to cover a container during use, a sealing container lid and a container assembly comprising said container lid.

Container lids are widely used and available in various arrangements and sizes. Container lids are usually available in combination with a container such that the container lid fits on the container.

A special subset of containers, is food containers. Such a food container can be a receptacle or vessel specifically designed for storing and transporting food. These containers come in various shapes, sizes and materials to suit different purposes and preference. Food containers may serve several purposes, including storage, portability and preservation.

Food containers can be used to keep leftover food, meal prepped items, and ingredients fresh and protected from contamination. Additionally, food containers may be designed for on-to-go use, making it convenient to carry meals to work, school, or other outings and thus serving the purpose of portability. Finally, food containers may be designed to facilitate preserving food by providing an airtight container that may extend the shelf life of perishable items.

A drawback of known airtight food containers is that they may be rather bulky and may be rather expensive. In addition, airtight food containers may be prone to accidentally undoing of the vacuum, e.g. when handling the container, but there may be no visible indication of the loss of vacuum in the container. As such, a user may not be aware of the loss of vacuum in the container and food may spoil sooner than expected.

The invention aims to counteract the above disadvantages, preferably while retaining the advantages. More specifically, the invention provides a container lid that can be used to provide a vacuum in a container,

give a visible indication if said vacuum is provided, is relatively compact and is cost efficient.

To this end, according to a first aspect of the disclosure there is provided for a container lid, in particular the container lid configured to be provided on a container for closing the container during use according to claim 1. The container lid comprises a container lid body. The container lid body comprises an opening arranged to cooperate with a vacuum stopper such that the vacuum stopper can be provided airtight in the opening during use. The container lid further comprises a resilient flange provided at a lower end of the container lid, wherein the resilient flange forms an airtight seal between the container lid and the container during use. In addition, the container lid comprises a container stop ring provided at an upper end of the container lid above the resilient flange.

In the context of the invention, a container and container lid should be understood as a container used by consumers as opposed to industrial sized containers. Examples of such consumer used containers may be for example food storage containers, mason jars, bento boxes and.

An important aspect of containers used by consumers is that such containers should be conveniently carriable by consumers. Therefore, the containers should not weigh too much and should have relatively small dimensions. For example, the containers should weight less than 300 grams and preferably less than 200 gram. Additionally, the dimensions of the container can be between 5 - 40 centimeters, preferably between 10 - 30 centimeters, more preferably between 15 - 25 centimeters, in any dimension.

For example, such a container may be 5 centimeters high, 15 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters long.

The opening provided in the container lid body, reaching through from the top of the container lid to the bottom of the container lid, allows for the passage of air. Once the container lid is provided on the container, thereby airtightly sealing the container lid and the container via a resilient flange, air may only pass through the opening. Given that said opening is arranged to cooperate with a vacuum stopper, such that the vacuum stopper 1s provided airtight in the opening, air may only pass through the vacuum stop during use. As a result, the container lid, in cooperation with the vacuum stop, allows for an airtight container. Additionally, the vacuum stopper may be used to put the inside of the container under vacuum conditions, e.g. using a vacuum pump arranged to cooperate with the vacuum stop. Such a vacuum stopper and vacuum pump may be a commonly available vacuum stopper and pump, thus providing a cost efficient mechanism to provide vacuum in the container.

The resilient flange can be provided of a resilient material, of a resilient configuration or may be a combination of both. For example, an underside of the container stop ring may be provided with an elastic material, such as rubber material or a closed-cell foam, or another elastically deformable material. When the resilient flange then abuts the container, the material can deform upon vacuuming, and a firm sealing can be obtained. The container stop ring, being more stiff, may then obviate that the container lid 18 pulled into the container. In that example, the container stop ring and the resilient flange may e.g. be simultaneously injection moulded via a two-component injection moulding process. Alternatively, a more elastic material of the resilient flange may be glued or otherwise via an adhesive be connected and/or chemically bonded to the container stop ring. In order to obtain a tight sealing over the circumference of the container, the resilient flange is of a continuous design in circumferential direction.

The resilient flange may also be of a resilient, or elastically deformable, configuration, e.g. a more spring-like configuration may be possible, such as a blade spring-like configuration or a wave spring-like configuration etc. The material is nevertheless a flexible material allowing deformation. Due to the vacuum inside of the container, when the container lid is provided on the container, the resilient configuration of the resilient flange is deformed until a tight abutting of the resilient flange onto the container is obtained. The resilient flange may for example be provided of a thermoplastic composite material, or another material, for example silicon rubber or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), such as styrenic block copolymers, e.g. SEBS.

The resilient flange can be deformable between a rest position in which the resilient flange is undeformed, and a working position in which the resilient flange is deformed. When the container lid is closing a container, a vacuum stopper can be provided in the opening and an inside of the container can be vacuum. In the deformed position of the resilient flange the height of the flange may be smaller than the height of the flange in the undeformed position and/or the length of the flange may be longer than the length of the flange in the undeformed position. The resilient flange may be adjusted to the deformed position because the flange becomes squeezed between the container stop ring above it and the container below it when the inside of the container is vacuumised.

The resilient flange can be adjustable between a rest position, to which rest position the resilient flange can be biased, such that, when the container lid closes a container and a vacuum stopper is provided in the opening, there is no vacuum in the container, and between a working position, in which the resilient flange can seal the container lid and the container and a vacuum stopper is provided in the opening, such that, when the container lid closes the container, there can be vacuum in the container.

The rest position may typically be a basis position in which the resilient flange has its undeformed configuration, as opposed to a deformed position in the working position of the resilient flange. In the working position, the resilient flange is deformed, and, in practice, it is mounted to the container with a negative pressure in the container. By biasing the resilient flange to its rest position, as soon as the vacuum is undone, the resilient member may return to its predefined rest position to which it is biased. The biasing force may assist in further removing the container lid from the container as soon as there 1s a vacuum leakage, either accidentally or on purpose. As such, the resilient flange is deformable between the rest position in which the resilient flange is undeformed, and a working position in which the resilient flange is deformed, when the container lid is positioned on the container and the inside of the container is vacuum. In the deformed position of the 5 resilient flange the height of the flange may be smaller than the height of the flange in the undeformed position and / or the length of the flange may be longer than the length of the flange in the undeformed position. For example, the resilient flange may be adjusted to the deformed position because the flange the flange becomes squeezed between the container stop ring above it and the container below it when the inside of the container is being vacuumised.

When the resilient flange is deformed due to the negative pressure in the container, in its working position, the resilient flange may be of a lesser height than in undeformed rest position. Due to this difference in height between the undeformed rest position and the deformed working position, the user can visually inspect whether there is vacuum in the container or not. When there is a low height of the resilient flange, there is still vacuum in the container, an when the height of the resilient flange is larger, the resilient flange is in its rest position and there is no vacuum in the container. This gives the user an easy to identify visual indication of the vacuum 1n the container. As such, the user can check whether there 1s still vacuum in the container without first undoing the vacuum and then re- vacuuming the container, as is often the case with conventional containers.

In the rest position, the resilient flange can be provided with at least one position around which the resilient flange can hinge and/or deform from the rest position towards the working position. Such a hinge may be a living hinge provided by e.g. a rejuvenation in the material or bend in the material acting as a hinge. The resilient flange may comprise multiple of such living hinges, .e.g. multiple bends that may result in a wave-like pattern. Upon vacuuming, the resilient flange may deform at such living hinges or bends.

The opening can be cylindrically shaped and can comprise a supporting ring provided near a lower end of the opening arranged to support a vacuum stopper present in the opening. Such a cylindrical shape allows for the airtight fit of a vacuum stopper. Preferably, the length of the cylindrical shaped opening is comparable to the length of a longitudinal direction of a vacuum stopper such that most of the vacuum stopper is provided in the opening. This may facilitate a better airtight connection.

Providing a supporting ring may prevent the vacuum stopper from falling through the opening, or being sucked in when the container is vacuumised.

The opening may be tapered, such that side of the opening on the inside of the container has a smaller diameter than the opening on the outside of the container. This may facilitate using vacuum stoppers of different sizes.

The container lid can further comprise an elastic band, the container lid body can comprise a recess across a top surface of the container lid arranged to contain the elastic band. Such an elastic band may be a commonly available elastic band, able to stretch and return to its original shape when a force is applied and then released. The deformation caused by the stretching is an elastic deformation, i.e. no substantial lasting deformation occur as result of the stretching. The elastic band may be stretched and provided in a circumferential direction around a container and container lid, preferably via the recess provided across the top surface of the container, such that the resulting elastic force presses the container lid against the container. Thus, the elastic band may facilitate keeping the container lid in position on the container, thereby ensuring an airtight sealing of the inside of the container from the outside and potentially preventing loss of vacuum. Additionally, in the situation wherein multiple containers are stacked, the elastic band may prevent the stacked containers from sliding of each other. In other words, the elastic band may further act as an anti-slip band. Such an elastic band may be provided as an elastic band from rubber, e.g. a rubber band, or silicon.

The recess can be provided such that the elastic band at least partially covers the opening in the container lid body. Thus the elastic band may cover the vacuum stopper, when present in the opening, further ensuring that the vacuum stopper does not loses its airtight connection with the container lid in case of a sudden impact.

The container lid can further comprise a clip releasably connected to the container lid body and arranged to cover the opening such that the opening can be substantially closed at one end. Preferably, the chp is provided such that, when releasably connected to the container lid body, the clip pushes a vacuum stopper when present in the opening, downwards further into the opening thus further ensuring that the vacuum stopper keeps an airtight connection with the container lid. In a preferred embodiment, the clip only partly covers the vacuum stopper, in particular the valve of the vacuum stopper, such that air can still pass from inside the container to the outside of the container, when the clip is pushed on the vacuum stopper or when the container lid is pressed further down.

Additionally, if an elastic band is present and crosses the opening, the clip may be used to keep the elastic band in place, further facilitation a robust design. Additionally or alternatively, the clip may be provided hingedly to the container lid, such that once the clip is released from the releasably connection, the clip stays attached to the container lid but the opening is uncovered.

The container lid body can be constructed of a rigid plastic, e.g.

ABS, PC or SAN or a flexible plastic, e.g. PE or PP, as these are considered to be plastics that are easy to process and design, therefore reducing the cost of the product.

In a second aspect of the disclosure, a sealing container lid configured to be provided on a container for closing the container airtight during use is provided. The sealing container lid comprises the container lid previously described and a vacuum stopper provided in the opening of the container lid body. The vacuum stopper comprises an elongated body provided airtight into the opening of the container lid body and a valve arranged to be inside of the elongated body for allowing, in use, air to be transported out of the container. Providing the vacuum stopper airtight in the opening can be achieved through various means, for example by having the diameter of the opening slightly smaller than the opening of the vacuum stopper. Since vacuum stoppers are commonly made of an elastic material, they can still be inserted in a slightly undersized opening. Due to the elastic deformation of the vacuum stopper an air tight connection is achieved.

Alternatively, the opening may be tapered such that the diameter of the opening increases towards the side of the opening through which the vacuum stopper is inserted. If the smallest diameter of the opening, i.e. the opposite side of the opening through which the vacuum stopper is inserted, is undersized relative to the vacuum stopper, various sizes of vacuum stoppers may be provided airtight in the opening.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, a container assembly is provided. The container assembly comprises a container lid as described above and a container, said container lid provided on top of a perimeter wall of the container thereby closing the container. The resilient flange is provided between the lid body and the perimeter wall thereby forming an airtight seal between the container lid and the container. The container assembly further comprises a vacuum stopper. The vacuum stopper comprises an elongated body provided airtight into the opening of the container lid body and a valve arranged inside of the elongated body for allowing, in use, air to be transported out of the container.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention are set out in the description and appended claims.

The technical features described in the paragraphs and sentences above can be isolated from the context, and the isolated technical features from the different paragraphs and sentences can be combined. Such combinations are herewith specifically disclosed in this description.

The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are represented in the drawings. The exemplary embodiments are given by way of non-limitative illustration of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 11s an isometric top view of a container lid according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional isometric top view of the container lid along the A-A line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional isometric top view of a different embodiment of the container lid along the A-A line of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional isometric view of a sealing container lid according to a second embodiment of the disclosure;

Figs. 5A and 5B are isometric views of an embodiment of the container assembly; and

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the container assembly.

It is to be noted that the figures are given by way of exemplary examples and are not limiting to the disclosure. The drawings may not be to scale.

Fig. 1 depicts an isometric top view of a container lid 1 according to an example of the disclosure, Fig 2 depicts a cross-sectional isometric view of the container lid 1 of Fig.1 along the A-A line. The container lid 1 is configured to be provided on container, not depicted, for closing the container during use. The container lid 1 comprises a container lid body 2 comprising an opening 3 arranged to cooperate with a vacuum stopper such that the vacuum stopper can be provided airtight in the opening 3 during use. The container lid 1 further comprises a resilient flange 5 provided at a lower end 6 of the container lid 1. The resilient flange 5 forms an airtight seal between the container lid 1 and the container during use. The container lid further more comprises a stop ring 7 provided at an upper end 8 of the container lid 1 positioned above the resilient flange 5. As an example, the container lid body 2 is constructed out of a rigid plastic, e.g. ABS, PC or

SAN, or a flexible plastic, e.g. PE or PP.

In the shown example, the container lid body 2 comprises a recess 9 across the top surface 10 of the container lid 1. In the embodiment, recesses 9 are provided. The recesses 9 are arranged to contain elastic bands, not depicted, such that the elastic bands are substantially restricted in moving across the top surface 10 due to external forces. The elastic bands will be discussed in a later figure. As an example, the recesses 9 are provided such that the elastic bands intersect the position where the vacuum stopper 4 1s provided. In other words, the elastic bands at least partially cover the opening 3 of the container lid body 2. As a result, the vacuum stopper 4 is kept in the opening 3 in the case of unexpected impact on the container lid 1 or if the container lid 1 is kept upside-down.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the container lid 1 further comprises a clip 11. The clip 11 is releasably connected to the container lid body 2 and arranged to cover the opening 3 such that the opening 3 is substantially closed at an end. As an example, the opening 3 is cylindrically shaped and comprises a supporting ring 12 provided near a lower end 13 of the opening 3. The supporting ring 12 is arranged to support a vacuum stopper when present in the opening 3.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the resilient flange 5 is provided of a resilient material. Alternatively, the resilient flange 5 can be provided in a resilient configuration, e.g. a hinge as depicted in Fig. 3. As an example, the resilient flange 5 is deformable between a rest position in which the resilient flange 5 is undeformed, and a working position in which the resilient flange 5 is deformed. In the example of Fig. 2, it can be seen that the resilient flange 5 is attached to the container stop ring 7. In the working position the container lid 1 is closing a container, a vacuum stopper is provided in the opening 3 and an inside of the container is vacuum. As a result, the resilient flange 5 is deformed such that its height is reduced compared to the rest position. The deformed resilient flange 5 thus may be used as a visible indication that the inside of the container is vacuum. In a further example, the resilient flange 5 is adjustable between a rest position, to which the resilient flange 5 is biased. When the container lid 1 is now closing a container and a vacuum stopper is provided in the opening 3, there is no vacuum in the container. In the working position, in which the resilient flange seals 5 the container lid 1 and the container, and a vacuum stopper 1s provided in the opening 3, there is vacuum in the container.

Fig. 3 depicts a cross-sectional isometric top view of a different embodiment of the container lid along the A-A line of Fig.1. In the example, the clip 11 comprises a pair of ribs 14 that are arranged to abut to a vacuum stopper when present in opening 3. The pair of ribs 14 are provided such that the valve of a vacuum stopper present in the opening is not blocked by the clip 11, thus allowing the passage of air from the inside of the container, vla the opening 3, through the valve towards the outside of the container.

Turning to Fig. 4, a cross-sectional isometric view of a sealing container lid 20 according to a second embodiment of the disclosure is shown. The sealing container lid 20 is configured to be provided on a container, not depicted, and for closing the container airtight during use.

The sealing container lid 20 comprises a container lid 1 and a vacuum stopper 21 provided in the opening 3 of the container lid body 2. While the container lid 1 of the sealing container lid 20 could be the container lid of

Figs. 1 and 2, a different embodiment of the container lid 1 is shown. In the shown example of Fig. 4, the resilient flange 5 is provided of a resilient material, at a lower end 6 of the container lid 1. In addition, the resilient flange 5 is deformable between a rest position in which the resilient flange 5 is undeformed, and a working position in which the resilient flange is deformed. In the example, in the rest position, the resilient flange 5 is provided with at least one position around which the resilient flange 5 can hinge and / or deform from the rest position towards the working position.

In the working position, the container lid 1 is closing a container, a vacuum stopper 20 is provided in the opening 3 and an inside of the container is vacuum. As an example, the resilient flange 5 is adjustable between a rest position and a working position, to which rest position the resilient flange 5 is biased, such that, when the container lid 1 closes a container and vacuum stopper is provided in the opening 3, there is no vacuum in the container. In the working position the resilient flange 5 seals the container lid 1 and the container and a vacuum stopper 20 is provided in the opening such that, when the container lid closes the container, there is vacuum in the container. The resilient flange 5 is depicted in the rest position, as opposed to the resilient flange 5 in Figs. 1 and 2 that isin a working position. This can be seen in Fig. 4 by the presence of a space between the resilient flange 5 and the container stop ring 7. In this rest position, the resilient flange 5 is provided with at least one position around which the resilient flange can hinge and / or deform from the rest position towards the working position. As an example, in Fig. 4 the connecting ring 22, protruding radially outward from the container lid 1, can be deformed such that the resilient flange 5 abuts the container lid body 2 and in particular the container stop ring 7. In the shown example, the opening 3 1s cylindrically shaped and comprises a support ring 12 near a lower end 13 of the opening 3 that 1s arranged to support the vacuum stopper 21 present in the opening 3.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the vacuum stopper 20 provided in the opening 3 of the container lid body 2 comprises an elongated body 23 that forms an airtight connection with the walls 24 of the opening 3. The vacuum stopper 20 further comprises a valve 25 arranged to be inside the elongated body 23 for allowing, in use, air to be transported out of the container.

Referring to Figs. 5A and 5B, isometric views of an embodiment of the container assembly 1s depicted. The container assembly 30 comprises a container lid 1, for example the container lid of Figs. 1 - 4, and a container

31. The container lid 1 is provided on a perimeter wall 32 of the container such that the container 31 is closed. The resilient flange 5 1s provided between the lid body 2 of the container lid 1 and the perimeter wall 32 thereby forming an airtight seal between the container lid 1 and the container 30. The container assembly 30 further comprises a vacuum stopper 20. The vacuum stopper 21 comprises an elongated body 23 that is airtight provided into the opening 3 of the container lid body 2 and a valve 25 arranged inside of the elongated body 23 for allowing, in use, air to be transported out of the container 31.

In the shown example depicted in Figs. 5A and 5B, elastic bands 33 are depicted. The elastic bands 33 go around the container, and through the recesses 9 provided in the container lid 1. The elastic bands 33 are further kept in place by clip 34. In Fig. 5A the clip 34 has been depicted in a released state, i.e. not attached or connected to the container lid 1, in Fig. 5B the clip 34 has been depicted in the releasable connected state, 1.e. attached to the container lid 1. In the clip 34 serves multiple functions in the shown example, such as keeping the elastic bands 33 in place and causing them to be under strain, while simultaneously keeping the vacuum stopper 21 in the opening 3. The clip 34 may also be used to press the vacuum stopper 21 in the opening 3, such that a vacuum may be achieved inside the container 31. As an example, the clip 34 only partly covers the vacuum stopper 21, in particular the valve 25 of the vacuum stopper 21, such that air can still pass from inside the container 31 to the outside of the container 31, when the clip 34 is pushed on the vacuum stopper 21 or when the container lid 1 is pressed further down towards the container 31. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that any number of elastic bands 34 can be used, in any configuration. For example, a single elastic band 34 may be used that crosses the opening. Alternatively, more elastic bands 34 can be used, of which at least one does not cross the opening.

Turning to Fig. 6, a further embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment, a container 31 is provided, which is a relatively large container 31 compared to the previous embodiments. Due to the relatively large size of the container 31, three openings 3 comprising each comprising a vacuum stopper, covered by a clip 34, have been provided.

Additionally, the elastic band 34 only partially covers the top surface of the container lid 1, and is also provided in a circumferential direction around the container 31.

Many variations will be apparent to the skilled person in the art.

Such variations are understood to be comprised within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that many different configurations of containers can be used. For example, the containers may comprise multiple subcontainers, which each may individually be airtightly sealed from the other subcontainers or the surrounding. Additionally or alternatively, the container lids may have various shapes. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the shape of the container lid is not relevant to the invention, as long as an airtight seal can be achieved between the container lid and the container.

Claims (12)

Conclusions 1. A container lid adapted to be provided on a container to close the container during use, said lid comprising: - a container lid body, the body including an opening adapted to cooperate with a vacuum plug so that the vacuum plug can be provided airtight within the opening during use; - a resilient flange provided on an underside of the container lid, the resilient flange forming an airtight seal between the container lid and the container during use; - a container sealing ring provided on an upper side of the container lid above the resilient flange. 2. A lid for a container according to claim 1, wherein the resilient flange comprises a resilient material and/or a resilient configuration. 3. A container lid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient flange is deformable between a rest position in which the resilient flange is undeformed and an operating position in which the resilient flange is deformed, when the container lid closes a container, a vacuum stop is provided in the opening and an interior of the container is vacuumed. 4. A container lid according to any preceding claim, wherein the resilient flange is adjustable between a rest position to which the resilient flange is inclined so that when the container lid closes a container and a vacuum stop is provided in the opening there is no vacuum in the container, and an operating position in which the resilient flange seals the container lid and the container and a vacuum stop is provided in the opening so that when the container lid closes the container there is a vacuum in the container. 5. A lid for a container according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, in the rest position, the resilient flange is provided with at least one position about which the resilient flange can pivot and/or deform from the rest position to the operating position. 6. A lid for a container according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is cylindrically shaped and includes a support ring provided near a bottom of the opening adapted to support a vacuum stop present in the opening. 7. A container lid according to any preceding claim, further comprising an elastic band, and wherein the container lid body includes a recess over an upper surface of the container lid adapted to receive the elastic band. 8. A lid for a container according to claim 7, wherein the recess is provided so that the elastic band at least partially covers the opening in the body of a lid of a container. 9. A container lid according to any preceding claim, wherein the container lid further comprises a clip releasably connected to the container lid body and adapted to cover the opening so that the opening is substantially closed at one end. 10. A lid for a container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body of a lid for a container is manufactured from a rigid plastic, for example ABS, PC or SAN, or a resilient plastic, for example PE or PP. 11. A container lid adapted to be provided on a container to seal the container airtight during use, said container lid comprising a container lid according to any one of the preceding claims and a vacuum plug provided in the opening of the container lid body, said vacuum plug comprising an elongated body provided airtight in the opening of the container lid and a valve adapted to be in the elongated body to allow, during use, transfer of air from the container. 12. A tray apparatus comprising a tray lid according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and a tray, said tray lid being provided on a peripheral wall of the tray thereby sealing the tray; said resilient flange being provided between the tray lid body thereby forming an airtight seal between the tray lid and the tray; said tray apparatus further comprising a vacuum plug, said vacuum plug comprising an elongated body hermetically disposed within the opening of the tray lid body and a valve disposed in said elongated body to permit transfer of air from the tray during use.