Granted Patent B2

US 7,926,674 · App. 11/615,436 · Granted Apr 19, 2011

Abstract

Claims (112)

1. An apparatus for storing a product, comprising:

a lid including:

a tongue; and

a clamp; and

a container including:

an inner wall;

an outer wall, including a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall and a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion;

a groove at an outer surface of the outer wall, wherein the tongue and the groove form a seal when the lid is coupled to the container; and

a bead at the outer surface of the outer wall, wherein the distance between the center of the bead and the inner wall of the container is greater than the distance between the center of the groove and the inner wall of the container, and wherein the clamp engages with the bead when the lid is coupled to the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bead of the container and the clamp of the lid create a force that keeps the tongue of the lid engaged with the groove of the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an undercut portion of the clamp.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus consists of a single piece lid and a single piece container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a film seal coupled to the outer wall of the container.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bead, the clamp, the tongue and the groove are located below the film seal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first portion includes a outwardly and downwardly sloping portion, and wherein the outwardly and downwardly sloping portion includes a stepped portion.

8. An apparatus for storing a product, comprising:

a lid including:

a tongue; and

a clamp;

a container including:

an inner wall;

an outer wall, including a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall and a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion;

a groove at an outer surface of the outer wall, wherein the tongue and the groove form a seal when the lid is coupled to the container; and

a bead at the outer surface of the outer wall, wherein the clamp engages with the bead when the lid is coupled to the container; and

a film seal coupled to the outer wall of the container,

wherein the first portion includes a outwardly and downwardly sloping portion, wherein the outwardly and downwardly sloping portion includes a stepped portion, and wherein a gap is formed above the stepped portion between the lid and the outwardly and downwardly sloping portion of the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the film seal is at least partially located in the gap that is formed between the lid and the container.

10. An apparatus for storing a product, comprising:

a lid including:

a tongue; and

a clamp; and

a container including:

an inner wall;

an outer wall, including a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall and a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion;

a groove at an outer surface of the outer wall, wherein the tongue and the groove form a seal when the lid is coupled to the container; and

a bead at the outer surface of the outer wall, wherein the clamp engages with the bead when the lid is coupled to the container,

wherein the container includes a bumper return extending from the outer wall and the bumper return includes a break away corner.

11. A container and lid, comprising:

a base of a container;

an inner wall of the container extending upwardly from the container base;

an outer wall of the container, including a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall and a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion, the outer wall including an upper surface configured to contact an edge portion of a film for sealing the top opening of the container;

a central portion of a lid configured to cover the top of the container;

a peripheral portion of the lid configured to extend below a top opening of the container;

a groove at an outer surface of the outer wall of the container;

a tongue at an inner surface of the peripheral portion of the lid configured to engage the groove;

a bead at the outer surface of the outer wall of the container, wherein the distance between the center of the bead and the inner wall of the container is greater than the distance between the center of the groove and the inner wall of the container; and

a clamp at the inner surface of the peripheral portion of the lid configured to engage the bead.

12. The container and lid of claim 11 , further comprising:

a plurality of rib supports between the inner wall and the outer wall of the container.

13. The container and lid of claim 11 , further comprising a film sealing the top opening of the container, the film including an edge portion contacting the upper surface of the outer wall.

14. The container and lid of claim 11 , wherein the outer wall of the container includes a bumper return configured to prevent a user from removing a lid fastened to the container.

15. The container and lid of claim 14 , wherein the bumper return includes a break away tab, the removal of which allows the user to remove the lid from the container.

16. The container and lid of claim 11 , wherein the upper surface of the outer wall includes a flat portion.

17. The container and lid of claim 16 , further comprising a film sealing the top opening of the container, the film including an edge portion contacting the flat portion of the upper surface of the outer wall.

18. The container and lid of claim 16 , wherein the peripheral portion of the lid includes a flat portion corresponding to the flat portion of the upper surface of the outer wall.

19. The container and lid of claim 11 , wherein the upper surface of the outer wall includes an outwardly sloping portion.

20. A container and lid of claim 19 , further comprising:

a film sealing the top opening of the container, the film including an edge portion contacting the outwardly sloping portion of the upper surface of the outer wall.

21. The container and lid of claim 19 , wherein the peripheral portion of the lid includes an outwardly sloping portion corresponding to the outwardly sloping portion of the outer wall.

22. A container and lid,

wherein the container comprises:

an inner wall surrounding an inner cavity of the container; and

an outer wall around the inner wall, the outer wall including: a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall; a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion; a groove; and a bead, wherein the distance between the center of the bead and the inner wall of the container is greater than the distance between the center of the groove and the inner wall of the container; and

wherein the lid comprises a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion including a tongue for contacting the groove and a clamp for clamping the bead.

23. The container and lid of claim 22 , wherein the groove is at a lower end of the second portion of the outer wall of the container, the groove including first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface is a portion of the outer surface of the second portion of the outer wall of the container.

24. The container and lid of claim 23 , wherein the tongue includes a first surface for contacting the first surface of the groove and a second surface for contacting the second surface of the groove.

25. The container and lid of claim 22 , wherein the container further comprises a removable film seal covering the inner cavity of the container.

26. The container and lid of claim 25 , wherein the removable film seal contacts an upper surface of the first portion of the outer wall of the container.

27. The container and lid of claim 26 , wherein a first part of the peripheral portion of the lid is configured to contact the removable seal on the upper surface of the first portion of the outer wall of the container.

28. The container and lid of claim 25 , wherein the removable film seal contacts an upper surface of the second portion of the outer wall of the container.

29. The container and lid of claim 28 , wherein a second part of the peripheral portion of the lid is configured to contact the removable seal on the outer surface of the second portion of the outer wall of the container.

30. A container and lid

wherein the container comprises:

an inner wall surrounding an inner cavity of the container; and

an outer wall around the inner wall, the outer wall including: a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall; a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion; a groove; and a bead;

wherein the lid comprises a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion including a tongue for contacting the groove and a clamp for clamping the bead,

wherein the groove is at a lower end of the second portion of the outer wall of the container, the groove including first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface is a portion of the outer surface of the second portion of the outer wall of the container, and

wherein the bead is at an upper end of the second surface of the groove.

31. A container and lid,

wherein the container comprises:

an inner wall surrounding an inner cavity of the container; and

an outer wall around the inner wall, the outer wall including: a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall; a second portion extending downwardly from an outer end of the first portion; a groove; and a bead;

wherein the lid comprises a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion including a tongue for contacting the groove and a clamp for clamping the bead, and

wherein the outer wall of the container further includes a third portion extending downwardly from the bead.

32. The container and lid of claim 31 , wherein the container further includes a plurality of rib supports contacting the inner wall and the third portion of the outer wall of the container.

33. The container and lid of claim 31 , wherein the third part includes a stepped portion such that an outer surface of the third part below the stepped portion protrudes outwardly from an outer surface of the third part above the stepped portion.

34. The container and lid of claim 31 , wherein the outer wall of the container further includes a fourth portion extending outwardly from the third portion of the outer wall of the container.

35. The container and lid of claim 34 , wherein the outer wall of the container further includes a fifth portion extending upwardly from the fourth portion of the outer wall of the container.

36. The container and lid of claim 35 , where the peripheral portion of the lid further includes a third part for extending to a space directly between the third and fifth portions of the outer wall of the container.

37. The container and lid of claim 34 , wherein the fifth portion of the outer wall of the container includes a removable break away portion.

38. A container and lid,

wherein the container comprises:

a base;

an inner wall extending upwardly and outwardly from the base and surrounding an inner cavity of the container;

an outer wall around the inner wall, the outer wall including:

a first portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the inner wall;

a second portion extending downwardly and outwardly from an outer end of the first portion, wherein the second portion includes a stepped portion such that an outer surface of the second portion below the stepped portion protrudes outwardly from an outer surface of the second portion above the stepped portion;

a groove at a lower end of the second portion, the groove including first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface is a portion of outer surface of the second portion;

a bead at an upper end of the second surface of the groove;

a third portion extending downwardly from the bead;

a fourth portion extending outwardly from a lower end of the third portion;

a fifth portion extending upwardly from an outer end of the fourth portion, wherein the fifth portion includes a removable break away portion;

a removable film seal covering the inner cavity, the removable film seal contacting an upper surface of the first portion and an upper surface of the second portion; and

a plurality of rib supports contacting the inner wall and the third portion of the outer wall; and

wherein the lid comprises:

a central portion, including an edge portion for contacting the removable film seal on the upper surface of the first portion of the outer wall of the container;

a peripheral portion extending around the central portion, including:

a first part for contacting the removable film seal on the upper surface of the first portion of the outer wall of the container;

a second part for contacting the removable film seal on the upper surface of the second portion of the outer wall of the container and contacting the outer surface of the second portion of the outer wall of the container below the stepped portion;

a tongue at a lower end of the second part, including a first surface for contacting the first surface of the groove and a second surface for contacting the second surface of the groove;

a clamp for clamping the bead; and

a third part for extending to a space directly between the third and fifth portions of the outer wall of the container, wherein the third part includes a stepped portion such that an outer surface of the third part below the stepped portion protrudes outwardly from an outer surface of the third part above the stepped portion.

Assignments (17)