Abstract: A snap fit lid for a container is described. The lid can be made to incorporate thermal insulation and engages the container internally and at its edge to form a double seal. An annular gap is formed between the double seals. A groove runs transversely to the annular gap across the internal and external seals to allow pressure equalization in the container with its surrounding environment. The closure straddles the container at its top and snaps to the container top to create a pair of offset opposed seals for a snug fit to the container. The closure is particularly amenable to use in tray sized containers used extensively in foodservice applications.

Abstract: A hinge (16) pivotally connects a lid (14) to a body (12) of a container (10) for releasably holding the cover (14) at both open and closed positions. The hinge (16) has a pair of hinge leaves (22, 22A) and a boss (48) extending from one leaf (22) forms an outer cam surface having a pair of relatively flat cam portions (50, 52) on opposed sides of a high point (54) of the cam. The other leaf (22A) has a lip (42A) extending therefrom with the inner surface of the lip (42A) riding along the outer surface of the cam formed by the one leaf (22) to define a cam follower which forms a latch member. A high portion (54) of the cam by contacting the lip (42A) restrains movement of the cover (14) at both the open and closed positions thereof until an opening force of a predetermined magnitude is exerted against the cover (14) for moving the lip ( 42A) over the high portion (54) of the cam.

Abstract: A flexible accessory bag (35) for releasable attachment to a lid or cover (20) on a container (10), such as an ice chest or cooler, which is pivoted between open and closed positions of the container (10). The accessory bag (35) has a pair of opposed ends (36, 38) which are secured by elastic bands (54, 56) to opposed lid ends (27, 28) and a pair of zippered pockets (40, 42) secured to the bag ends (36, 38) extend over the lid (20).

Abstract: A method for introducing reactants into molds and articles produced. The method involves placing a body member into a receptacle located on a turntable; aligning the body member within the receptacle; positioning a foaming spacer on the body member around an aperture in the body member; lowering a liner on a plug fixture into the body member so that the foaming spacer abuts both the body and the spaced apart liner; inserting a foam machine head into the aperture in the body; injecting suitable reactants through the head, through the spacer, into the chamber formed between the liner and the body; maintaining the contact between the head and the body for a few seconds to allow the reactants to activate and set; removing the head from the aperture of the body; and further rotating the turntable to allow the reactants time to cure. The apparatus for facilitating the introduction of reactants is the foaming spacer of the above method.

Abstract: A thermal container with a lid-mounted quick-release flask. The container has a lid which is pivotally mounted to a body, a hollow flask for thermal material mounted in the lid, and a locking mechanism which releasably secures the lid to the body and releasably holds the flask in the lid.

Abstract: A plastic-like container liner having spaced apart ridges at the bottom of said liner has a non-adhering material positioned on the upper inner surface of each ridge. A lower container body is positioned into a female foaming fixture and an expanding exothermic foam is injected onto the inside bottom surface of the lower container body. A male foaming fixture having spaced apart recesses conforming to the ridges of the liner intimately receives the liner and urges the peripheral flat portion of the liner toward the bottom surface of the lower container body. The foam expands exothermally such that heat released by the foam causes the non-adhering material to flow. The expanding foam is bonded to the lower container body and to the portion of the liner not in contact with the non-adhering material. Resultingly, an integral insulated container is formed having projecting ridges on the bottom surface thereof which assist in resisting the shock of items dropped into the container.