Internal vent handle cover arrangement; and methods
Aspects and techniques of the present disclosure relate to an internal cover/vent handle arrangement, in association with a container, such as a 5 gallon bucket with a slanted sidewall for evacuating air volume above stored material. The disclosure relates to a squeeze-actuated vent valve arrangement arranged and configured to be easily operated even while deeply recessed in the bucket. The disclosure also relates to a deflectable outer seal arrangement configured to seal against a slanted sidewall of a bucket.
1. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement for enclosing contents in a container, the internal cover/vent handle arrangement comprising:
(a) a main cover body having: an outer perimeter; and, opposite exterior and interior surfaces;
(b) a vent arrangement extending through the main cover body;
(c) a vent handle arrangement comprising: a stationary handle member; and, a squeeze-actuated vent valve arrangement including a movable squeeze-actuated valve member position between a portion of the stationary handle member and the vent arrangement, the vent valve arrangement configured to have:
(i) a first, open, squeezed orientation in which the vent arrangement is open to permit a passage of air through the main cover body; and,
(ii) a second, closed, release orientation in which the vent arrangement is closed to the passage of air through the main cover body; and
(d) a deflectable outer seal arrangement oriented in extension around the outer perimeter of the main cover body;
(i) the deflectable outer seal arrangement including a deflectable perimeter flange arrangement having a rest shape extending non-orthogonal to a direction between the exterior and interior surfaces of the main cover body;
wherein the stationary handle member and the moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member are configured such that a user simultaneously gripping the stationary handle member and the moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member together can: squeeze to move the vent handle arrangement to the first, open, squeezed orientation; and, release to move the deflectable outer seal arrangement.
2. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the outer perimeter of the main cover body extends around a central axis, the central axis being perpendicular to a center plane of the main cover body between the opposite exterior and interior surfaces; and,
(b) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement forms an upper acute angle of extension, in the rest shape, relative to the central axis.
3. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 2 wherein:
(a) the upper acute angle of extension, in the rest shape, of the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement, is within the range of 10° to 80°, inclusive.
4. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement has a radial outward dimension of extension of at least 10 mm.
5. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement has a radial outward dimension of extension of no more than 80 mm.
6. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement comprises a unitary skirt member having a thickness within the range of 0.01 mm to 5 mm.
7. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement has an upper surface; and, an opposite, lower, sealing surface; the lower sealing surface comprising a plurality of radial ribs.
8. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the main cover body has a circular perimeter.
9. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement has an outer remote end defining a circular shape.
10. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the main cover body has an outer perimeter wall; and
(b) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement comprises a portion of a seal member having an attachment base;
(i) the attachment base surrounding, and being secured to, the outer perimeter wall; and,
(ii) the deflectable perimeter flange arrangement being integral with the attachment base.
11. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the main cover body includes an upper end and a central surface portion, the central surface portion being recessed relative to the upper end of the main cover body.
12. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the outer perimeter wall of the main cover body includes an upper, radially outwardly extending, projection and a lower, radially outwardly extending, projection with a peripheral, recessed, groove therebetween;
(i) the attachment base being secured in the recessed groove.
13. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the stationary handle member defines a handle bridge extending between two opposite supports.
14. An internal cover/vent handle arrangement according to claim 1 including:
(a) a biasing arrangement configured to bias the moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member to a second, closed, orientation when released;
(b) the moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member including at least one seal pad configured to be biased against at least a portion of the vent arrangement when the vent handle arrangement is in the second, closed, release orientation.
15. An internal cover/vent assembly comprising:
(a) a main cover body having: an outer perimeter; and, opposite exterior and interior surfaces;
(b) a vent arrangement extending through the main cover body;
(c) a vent handle arrangement comprising: a stationary handle member and a moveable squeeze-actuated vent valve arrangement configured to have:
(i) a first, open, squeezed orientation in which the vent arrangement is open to permit a passage of air through the main cover body; and,
(ii) a second, closed, release orientation in which the vent arrangement is closed to the passage of air through the main cover body;
wherein the squeeze-actuated vent valve arrangement includes a moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member positioned between a portion of the stationary handle member and the vent valve arrangement; and
(d) a deflectable outer seal arrangement oriented in extension around the outer perimeter of the main cover body;
wherein the stationary handle member and the moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member are configured such that a user simultaneously gripping the stationary handle member and the moveable, squeeze-actuated, valve member together can: squeeze to move the vent handle arrangement to the first, open, squeezed orientation; and, release to move the deflectable outer seal arrangement.
16. An internal cover/vent assembly according to claim 15 wherein:
(a) the deflectable outer seal arrangement includes a deflectable perimeter flange arrangement having a rest shape extending at an acute angle to a direction between the exterior and interior surfaces of the main cover body.