This is wild.. It looks like they changed their lid to be a bit cheaper ? Looking at the version that's not recalled, I would guess it costs more to make.
The one that's not recalled has a pressure release button
Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
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Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#32There is a well known solution. Look at most PET bottles. The thread (mostly on the cap) is not continuous. That's for the pressure to relieve before the cap is off, and that could happen from a coke bottle or so to you.
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would have thought they could design the screwtop so that it would relase pressure before fully disengaging the lid from the flask.
That is what I was wondering. I would have thought it would need to be opened at eye level for the contents to hit the eye before being depressurised.
Nah I think most people would open it at waist level standing with the lid facing up (towards you face as you are looking down), and twisting to open.
I can totally see how that would fly straight up at your face.
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm a little surprised it's a recall - is there some expectation that it should have pressure release? Can you not sell simpler products legally?
Yes, the article seems to be not detailed enough. They show the pictures, and it is evident what the pressure release valve is, but I agree that by this logic any container or any steel water bottle is dangerous. Maybe there is some other additional feature that makes it particularly dangerous compared to other models (like, the new seal keeps higher pressure, or the lid needs fewer rotations to disengage, etc.) that…
I guess the amount of rotation needed between “airtight seal gets broken” and “lid can come off” is fairly short for these thermos.
If the difference is, say, a full 360° turn, pressure will get relieved before the lid can come off.
See also https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48006887. Apparently, many bottles have discontinuities in the threading to allow for that.
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Given that it should be there I've never seen a thermos-style container with a pressure relief in my life. However, I'm European, it appears that in the US (a country where you have to write disclaimers on microwaves that you shouldn't dry hamsters in them) common sense has been going down the toilet. Frankly, I'm all for a bit of darwinism here. It's bewildering that there are people who think it's a good idea to…
Most lids you've ever used have pressure relief. It's not an extra part or valve or anything, it's just the simple geometry to ensure that the seal opens before the lid becomes mechanically free.
Thermos has only been producing flasks since 1904. There shouldn't be an expectation that they already have this on a checklist of things to watch out for in new designs. /s
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#36There is a well known solution. Look at most PET bottles. The thread (mostly on the cap) is not continuous. That's for the pressure to relieve before the cap is off, and that could happen from a coke bottle or so to you.
The malfunction is due to multiple models of containers missing a pressure relief function in the center of the stopper.
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#37There is a well known solution. Look at most PET bottles. The thread (mostly on the cap) is not continuous. That's for the pressure to relieve before the cap is off, and that could happen from a coke bottle or so to you.
The malfunction is due to multiple models of containers missing a pressure relief function in the center of the stopper. They have a well-known solution, but it was not implemented.
You have to activate it manually?
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#38I hate life a little bit more every time I stumble upon stories like this. Anything and everything can happen to you, suddenly, without warning, without planning, not necessarily because of any obvious fault of your own (from your perspective, at least). "Oh, you thought you already had enough problems and worries as it is? Congratulations, now you are blind in one eye, forever, because you wanted to keep your coffee warmer for a little longer."
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#39That sucks. I have both and the ones with the pressure relieve valve are a pain in the ass to clean. You have to pull out the rubber inner thingy, you can't get a towel inside the hole that thingy goes into, and in general the rubber thing gets lost easily. I wish Thermos would send me a few of those 8 million stoppers, I'll promise I won't be a dumbass with them :(
Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision
#40Any (sealed) container designed to hold hot things should have a pressure release system.
It can be seals that buckle before the lid. It can be a tiny hole with a soft rubber stopper. It can be one of many things that cost a couple of cents extra and a bit more engineering and testing effort.
The cheapest disposable coffee cups I've used have a tiny hole for the express purpose of not pressurizing and spilling hot liquid everywhere.
There's a lot of conversation in the comments about "was there was an expectation that the pressure release valve would be there" There absolutely is a safety expectation that a sealed container of hot food is designed with a pressure release system.
BTW the fermented food thing is a misdirection. The pressure release system should have released pressure way before it even reached ballistic territory.