Granted Patent B2

US 7,963,419 · App. 11/539,892 · Granted Jun 21, 2011

Abstract

Claims (60)

1. A container lid for use on a container having at least one at least partially circumferential protrusion, the comprising:

a top portion having a side portion extending downward with respect to the top portion along the perimeter of the top portion;

a first circumferential rib protruding from the underside of the top lid portion wherein the first circumferential rib and the side portion of the lip top portion form a U-shaped channel;

a first seal created by the first circumferential rib position such that when the lid is placed on the container the first circumferential rib is forced against an interior wall of the container, and wherein the first circumferential rib transitions to a larger diameter, such that the seal created increases in strength as the lid moves further into the container;

a second seal including a second circumferential rib and a third circumferential rib, each extending from the underside of the top lid portion such that when the lid is placed on the container the second rib is deflected by and contacts the third rib but not the container and the third rib is deflected by and contacts the container, the second and third ribs combining to create a single seal wherein the second rib is positioned to exert a spring-like force against the third rib countering the force exerting by the container on the third rib, thereby increasing the strength of the seal between the third rib and the container;

wherein when the lid is in place on the container, the side portion of the lid top portion stretches over a curved lip of the container and contacts the lip, thereby creating an interference seal as a third seal and when the lid positioned on a container having tapered sidwalls, the force exerted by the first circumferential rib on the interior wall of the container is directed outwardly, thereby strengthening the third seal; and

a hook on the side portion facing the container and configured such that when the lid is put in place on the container the hook latches onto one of the at least one circumferential protrusions on the container, thereby securing the lid to the container without threaded engagement: and

wherein the combination of seals forms a liquid tight seal without use of a gasket.

2. The container lid of claim 1 further comprising:

a skirt extending from the lid side portion, the skirt having one or more additional hooks extending from the inner skirt surface toward the outer container wall to engage one or more protrusions on the container outer wall, the skirt having a circumferential tear strip incorporating the additional hook.

3. The container lid of claim 1 further comprising:

a circumferential channel in the top lid portion, wherein the lid side portion forms an outer wall of the channel, the channel having its opening on the lid underside such that the channel accommodates an upper edge of the container; and

wherein the first rib protrudes from within the channel, thereby creating a space between the rib and each channel wall.

4. The container lid of claim 3 wherein the channel is substantially u-shaped and the first rib extends from an upper portion of the channel and projects toward the outer channel wall.

5. The container lid of claim 4 wherein the second rib and third rib protrude from within the channel from an upper portion of the channel and deflect toward the outer channel wall upon placement of the lid on the container.

6. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the second rib is shorter than the third rib.

7. The container lid of claim 1 further comprising:

a circumferential channel in the top lid portion, wherein the lid side portion forms an outer wall of the channel, the channel having an opening on the lid underside such that the channel accommodates an upper edge of the container; and

wherein the second rib and the third rib protrude from within the channel from an upper portion of the channel.

8. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the second rib and third rib deflect in a direction toward the outside of the container.

9. A container and lid assembly comprising:

a lid according to claim 1 ;

a container having sides with a circumferential top edge portion;

wherein the container's top edge fits between the first rib and the lid side portion and forms a seal between the inner surface of the container and the first rib; and

wherein the container's top edge deflects the third rib against the second rib.

10. The container and lid assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

one or more protrusions around the container at given height(s); and

a skirt extending from the lid side portion, the skirt having of one or more additional hooks extending from the inner skirt surface toward the outer container wall to engage one of the container protrusions,the skirt having a circumferential tear strip incorporating the additional hook.

11. The container and lid assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

a circumferential channel in the top lid portion having an opening on the lid underside such that the channel accommodates an upper edge of the container; and

wherein the first rib protrudes from within the channel from an upper portion of the channel, thereby creating a space between the rib and each channel wall.

12. The container and lid assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

a circumferential channel in the top lid portion having an opening on the lid underside such that the channel accommodates an upper edge of the container; and

wherein the second rib and the third rib protrude from within the channel from an upper portion of the channel.

13. The container and lid assembly of claim 12 wherein the channel is substantially u-shaped and the first rib extends from the upper portion of the channel and projects toward the outer channel wall.

14. The container and lid assembly of claim 13 wherein the second and third ribs extend from the upper portion of the channel and project toward the outer channel wall.

15. A container and lid assembly comprising:

a container having a curved lip and tapered side walls;

a lid having a top portion and a side portion extending downward with respect to the top portion along the perimeter of the top portion;

a circumferential channel in the top lid portion, wherein the side portion forms an outer wall of the channel, the channel having an opening on the lid underside such that the channel accommodates the container lip;

a first circumferential rib positioned on the lid such that when the lid is placed on the container the first circumferential rib is forced against an interior surfaceof the container wall due to the tapered container walls, and wherein the first circumferential rib transitions to a large diameter, such that the first circumferential rib exerts a force on the inside of the container wall outward creating a seal that increases in strength as the lid moves further into the container;

a second rib extending from the upper portion of the channel and at an angle from the normal so it extends toward the outer channel wall;

a third rib extending from the upper portion of the channel and at an angle from the normal so it extends toward the outer channel wall, the third rib positioned between the first and second ribs such that when the lid is placed on the container the second rib is deflected by and contacts the third rib but not the container and the third rib is deflected by and contacts the container, the second and third ribs combining to create a single seal wherein the second rib is positioned to exert a spring-like force against the third rib countering the force exerting by the container on the third rib, thereby increasing the strength of the seal between the third rib and the container;

a skirt extending from the lid side portion, the side portion having a first hook and the skirk having a second hook;

the skirt having a tear strip detachable from the side portion at a circumferential position between the first and second hooks;

the container engagable by the first hook and wherein when the lide side portion is stretched over the lip of the container to engage the first hook the lid side portion contacts the lip forming an interference seal that is strengthened by the outward force created by the first circumferential rib on the container side wall; and

the container having at least one circumferential ring engagable by the second hook when the tear strip is in place, wherein the lid is secured on the container without threaded engagement either when the tear strip is in place or after it is removed; and

wherein the combination of seals forms a liquid tight seal without use of a gasket.

16. The container and lid assembly of claim 15 wherein the circumferential ring provides structural support for the container.

17. The container and lid assembly of claim 15 wherein the third rib is longer than the second rib.

18. A method of sealing a container with a lid, the container having a lip and at least one group of one or more circumferential protrusions, and the lid having a top portion and a side portion extending from the top portion, a first circumferential protrusion, a second circumferential protrusion and a third circumferential protrusion extending from the underside of the lid top portion, the side portion having a hook, the method comprising:

positioning the lid on the container so the container wall is between the first rib and the lid side portion and wherein the first rib is forced against the inner wall of the container;

forcing the lid further onto the container so the third rib is deflected by and contacts the container, the third rib contacts and deflects the second rib but the second rid does not contact the container, the second and third ribs combining to create a single seal wherein the second rib is positioned to exert a spring-like force against the third rib countering the force exerting by the container on the third rib, thereby increasing the strength of the seal between the third rib and the container:

stretching the lid side portion over a lip of the container such that the lide side portion contacts and creates a force against the lip, thereby creating an interference seal; and

forcing the lid onto the container to the extent the hook latches onto a protrusion on the container, thus securing the lid on the container without threaded engagement and forming a liquid tight seal without use of a gasket.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the lid has a skirt with a tear strip and a circumferential hook on the tear strip, the method further comprising:

engaging the hook with a circumferential protrusion on the container; and

removing the tear strip.

20. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the first rib is stepped.

21. The container lid of claim 1 configured to fit a 1 to 10 gallon pail and provide a liquid-tight seal when the lid is in place on the container.

Assignments (17)