Granted Patent B2

US 8,181,819 · App. 12/042,816 · Granted May 22, 2012

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. A container lid comprising:

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

a cork seal mechanism having a substantially u-shaped circumferential protrusion extending downward from the lid top portion with the “u” opening facing upward such that when the lid is placed on the container, u-shaped circumferential protrusion is forced against an interior wall of the container;

the u-shaped circumferential protrusion having a bead positioned to create a single contact point between the u-shaped circumferential protrusion and the interior wall of the container;

a first flexible circumferential rib and a second circumferential rib, each extending from the underside of the top lid portion such that when the lid is placed on the container the first rib is deflected toward and contacts the second rib and the container, wherein the second rib remains substantially non-deflected and does not contact the container when the lid is secured on a container;

wherein the first and second ribs combine to create a single seal wherein the second rib limits the flexure of the first rib and creates a force against the first rib countering the force exerting by the container on the first rib, thereby increasing the strength of the seal between the first rib and the container;

wherein the first and second ribs are between the u-shaped cork seal mechanism and the lid side portion;

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

wherein the seal diameter exceeds the diameter of the container at the apex of the lip of the container; and

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

2. The container lid of claim 1 further comprising:

a tear strip disposed on the lid side portion; and

one or more windows disposed above the tear strip extending down to the tear strip, such that when the tear strip is removed, the windows form slits in the lid side portion opening at the bottom of the lid side portion.

3. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the first rib deflects away from the center of the lid upon placement of the lid on the container.

4. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the second rib is shorter than the first rib.

5. The container lid of claim 1 wherein an interference segment between the inner container wall and the bead on the cork seal flap is in the range of about 0.015 inches and about 0.035 inches.

6. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the side portion of the container lid is sized to create an interference fit with the outer diameter of the container lip.

7. The container lid of claim 6 wherein interference fit is in the range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.030 inches.

8. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the seal diameter exceeds the diameter of the container at the apex of the container lip by a minimum of about 0.020 inches per side.

9. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the seal stop height is in the range of about 0.10 inches to about 0.15 inches.

10. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the side portion has a continuous circumferential hook extending from an interior wall of the side portion of the lid top portion toward the center of the lid to engage the container lip.

11. The container lid of claim 10 wherein when the lid is pressed onto the container the container lip can extend approximately 0.03 inches past the point where the hook engages with the container lip before the first rib contacts the second rib.

12. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the gap distance is in the range of about 0.04 inches to about 0.08 inches.

13. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the first rib is preferably at an angle of between about 8° and about 12°, measured from the vertical toward the lid center.

14. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the first rib height as measured vertically is in the range of about 0.20 inches and about 0.30 inches.

15. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the first rib ranges from a top thickness in the range of about 0.05 inches to about 0.07 inches to a bottom thickness in the range of about 0.020 inches to about 0.03 inches.

16. The container lid of claim 1 further comprising:

a hook extending from an interior wall of the side portion of the lid top portion toward the center of the lid;

wherein the distance from a face of the underside portion from which the first rib protrudes to the top of the hook is in the range of about 0.35 inches to about 0.45 inches.

17. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the distance from the apex of the container lip to the lowest point of the container lip is in the range of about 0.20 inches to about 0.30 inches.

18. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the second rib height is about 60% to about 80% of the first rib height as measured in a non-deflected position.

19. The container lid of claim 1 wherein the height between the container lip apex and the lowest point of a top most satellite ring on the container is in the range of about 1.00 inches to about 1.40 inches.

20. A container and lid system comprising:

a lid according to claim 1 ;

a container having sides with a circumferential top edge portion;

the container has a volume of about 3.5 gallons to about 7 gallons; and

the lid has an outer diameter in the range of about 11 inches to about 13 inches;

wherein the container's top edge fits between the cork seal mechanism and the lid side portion and forms a seal between the outer surface of the container and the cork seal mechanism.

21. The container and lid assembly of claim 18 further comprising:

one or more protrusions disposed circumferentially around the container at a first height; and

one or more protrusions disposed circumferentially around the container as a second height;

a tear strip disposed on the lid side portion; and

one or more windows disposed above the tear strip extending down to the tear strip, such that when the tear strip is removed, the windows form slits in the lid side portion opening at the bottom of the lid side portion.

22. A method of sealing a container with a lid comprising:

providing a container and lid according to claim 20 ;

positioning the lid on the container so the container wall is between the cork seal mechanism and the lid side portion and the cork seal mechanism is forced against the inner wall of the container; and

forcing the lid further onto the container so the container lip contacts the first rib and deflects it toward the second rib such that it makes contact with the second rib; and

wherein the second rib remains substantially non-deflected when the lid is secured on the container; and

wherein the seal diameter exceeds the diameter of the container at the apex of the container lip.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the lid has a hook, the method comprising:

pressing the lid onto the container causing the container lip to extend approximately 0.03 inches past the point where the hook engages with the container lip before the first rib contacts the second rib.

24. The container lid of claim 1 wherein:

the container lid has an outer diameter in the range of about 11 inches to about 13 inches; and

the container lid is configured to create a water-tight seal when secured on a container having a volume in the range of about 3.5 gallons to about 7 gallons.

Assignments (23)