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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

#71

Post by christophilus »

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #46
jofzar wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really hope we get a video out of this to see how bad it actually is and how much "pressure" is needed for this. > Incidents/Injuries: Thermos has received 27 reports of consumers who were struck by a stopper that forcefully ejected from these containers upon opening, including complaints of impact and laceration injuries requiring medical attention. Three consumers suffered permanent vision loss after being struck…

The pressure build up can be quite a lot from fermentation. I’ve accidentally fermented drinks in glass swing top bottles. And upon attempting to open the bottle the pressure ripped the stopper and the metal parts right off the bottle at high speed. If you were purposely fermenting something, you could build enough pressure to pop the bottle.

Yep. I once had half a bottle of kefir end up all over my kitchen ceiling. After that, I always opened them outside, pointing away from anyone.

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#72

Post by kjellsbells »

mschuster91 wrote: post #18
traceroute66 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why is there an expectation that it should be a required feature? What point are you trying to make here ?!?! Given that it should be there, it is quite clearly a product feature on Thermos jars. So, of many examples that cross my mind.... let's say you were a long-term user of Thermos products. There's your "expectation". I assume it probably features in the product literature that comes in the box too.

> 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…

But all your last statement really does is make the problem someone else's, and more dangerously, because the design doesnt help even with caution.

If I have made an accidental kimchi bomb then I will want to defuse it safely before I dispose of it. If I put it in the trash and leave it for the refuse collector there is risk that it blows up in their face without any warning. That's a much worse outcome. The root issue here is that this thermos design doesnt have a way to safely defuse it.

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#73

Post by atwrk »

mschuster91 wrote: post #18
traceroute66 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why is there an expectation that it should be a required feature? What point are you trying to make here ?!?! Given that it should be there, it is quite clearly a product feature on Thermos jars. So, of many examples that cross my mind.... let's say you were a long-term user of Thermos products. There's your "expectation". I assume it probably features in the product literature that comes in the box too.

> 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…

I bet you actually have. Its those gaps in the threads for screwing on the lid. The pressure get escape through these gaps while the lid still stays on the bottle.

(That hamster-microwave thing is a disinfo campaign from manufacuturers to limit liability of corporations, BTW, see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restau...)

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#74

Post by cucumber3732842 »

brazzy wrote: post #53
roel_v wrote: post #39

That 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 :(

> I'll promise I won't be a dumbass with them :( Can you also guarantee with absolute certainty that you'll never forget them anywhere another person who's unaware of the contents or the danger could find them?

>Can you also guarantee with absolute certainty that you'll never forget them anywhere another person who's unaware of the contents or the danger could find them?

Why does he need to do that?

We're talking about a product that lightly injured ~20 people for ~8mil units sold and seriously injured ~3.

Should be be keeping his champagne in a protective enclosure?

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#75

Post by malfist »

baq wrote: post #42
jofzar wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really hope we get a video out of this to see how bad it actually is and how much "pressure" is needed for this. > Incidents/Injuries: Thermos has received 27 reports of consumers who were struck by a stopper that forcefully ejected from these containers upon opening, including complaints of impact and laceration injuries requiring medical attention. Three consumers suffered permanent vision loss after being struck…

> I wonder what about the design makes it a rocket compared to what I would assume is a pretty standard design? Injuries nonwithstanding, the quality of the seal means it was an exceptionally well designed item for the purpose of storing 99% water. side note: there's a reason you get a visit from the FBI if you buy ten pressure cookers (e.g. if you find a great Black Friday deal and have a large family and plan Chris…

Find me a news story about a person who got a visit from the FBI after buying 10 pressure cookers.

That beggars the imagination. You think the FBI is monitoring the sales of every restaurant supply store?

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#76

Post by malfist »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #68
numpad0 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thermos jars have interior threads for an inner plug and an exterior thread(singular) for the cosmetic cap that doubles as a drinking cup. Maybe there's a condition where the external cup would be holding the inner plug from releasing, and then upon removing the cap, the entire lip starts tapering outward and lets go of the plug without gradually relieving pressure. (to be fair, I don't think an externally threaded c…

All they need is a section of threading that gets looser to release pressure while it is still retained in the top.

Thats all? What happens if the jar is turned upside down in this case? What if something is set on the lid? What if the jar is with someone heading to a camp site in a 4 wheeler and it is vibrated a lot?

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#77

Post by ButlerianJihad »

x______________ wrote: post #2

Initially assumed it was due to some sort of contamination or production defect. Turns out people leave perishable and fermenting foods in the thermos, and after a while when opened, the pressure lifts the lid of the thermos at quasi-unimaginable speeds, striking the curiously unsuspecting humans straight in the face, with some instances causing permanent damage to vision. Coffee is hot, but a pressure release system…

I own a vacuum-insulated flask that is not Thermos®. I purchased it with a one cap and immediately purchased an accessory cap.

The original cap from the store has no pressure-release mechanism, other than the breaking of the seal when unscrewing it. The cap has an integrated carrying handle, which can also help when turning the cap one way or another.

The accessory cap has a "sippy cup" feature along with a pressure-release valve. It is very common to have a second valve with any vessel that pours or dispenses liquid, even a lemonade tank, because that's how pouring works. When you remove liquid from the container, it must be replaced by a commensurate volume of air.

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#78

Post by ReptileMan »

Hobadee wrote: post #70
data-ottawa wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve exhausted the branches of my imagination, what is the danger of 10 pressure cookers?

You can make bombs out of pressure cookers. Since they are so good at holding pressure, you seal off the over-pressure release valves and then pressurize them until they burst (usually via some stupid or illegal means to begin with) then when they burst there is a ton of excess pressure. Big pressure = big boom.

They are exactly as good as any other pot made of 18/10 steel with similar thickness. Other vessels like propane tanks are much better.

Boston marathon worked because - well pressure cookers at the time didn't draw much attention to them.

Re: Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

#80

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

malfist wrote: post #76
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All they need is a section of threading that gets looser to release pressure while it is still retained in the top.

Thats all? What happens if the jar is turned upside down in this case? What if something is set on the lid? What if the jar is with someone heading to a camp site in a 4 wheeler and it is vibrated a lot?

You have a section of threads that seal or have a gasket. This is simpler than a relief valve that can leak or collect bacteria.
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