Lid assembly
A lid assembly for a container that effectively seals the contents of the container from the environment and the environment from the contents. The lid assembly includes an upper sealing portion and a lower base portion that are mated together coaxially. Once mated together and secured to the container, the upper portion may be rotated relative to the lower portion to expose the contents of the container through the alignment of dispensing openings in each of the upper and lower portions. During rotation of the sealing portion from a closed position to an open position, the sealing portion is elevated relative to the base portion to form a separation between the sealing portion and the base portion while concurrently aligning the dispensing openings to permit withdrawal of the contents of the container. Upon release of the opening force, the sealing portion retreats away from the elevated position towards the base portion while simultaneously covering and sealing the dispensing opening in the base portion.
This invention relates to a lid assembly for sealing a container. More particularly, the invention relates to a self-closing sealing lid assembly incorporating a base portion and a sealing portion that rotate respectively to expose the contents of the container. When in a closed position, a seal is created between the base and sealing portions in order to protect the contents of the container from the environment as well as isolating the outside environment from the contents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides advantages and/or alternatives over the prior art by providing a lid assembly for a container that effectively seals the contents of the container from the environment. The lid assembly includes an upper sealing portion and a lower base portion that are mated together coaxially. Once mated together and secured to the container, the upper portion may be rotated relative to the lower portion to expose the contents of the container through the alignment of dispensing openings in each of the upper and lower portions. During rotation of the sealing portion from a closed position to an open position, the sealing portion is elevated relative to the base portion to form a separation between the sealing portion and the base portion while concurrently aligning the dispensing openings to permit withdrawal of the contents of the container. Upon release of the opening force, the sealing portion retreats away from the elevated position towards the base portion while simultaneously covering and sealing the dispensing opening in the base portion.
According to one aspect, the lid assembly may include a torsion spring, or like biasing element, that returns the lid assembly to a closed position when the rotational force used to open the lid assembly is removed.
According to another aspect, upon rotation, the upper and lower portions may translate axially relative to one another such that when in a closed position, the lower dispensing opening is sealed against the upper sealing portion.
According to a potentially preferred feature, the upper and lower portions of the lid assembly may incorporate an integral elevation adjusting camming assembly wherein one of the lid portions incorporates one or more male camming members adapted to ride within complimentary angled tracks on an opposing surface of the other lid portion such that relative rotation of the lid portions causes a relative translation in elevation between the portions as the camming members ride within the tracks.
According to another potentially preferred feature, the lower portion portions of the lid assembly incorporates a depressed well at least partially surrounding the content withdrawal opening with a raised lip disposed at least partially around the depressed well. The raised lip enhances the seal around the depressed well when the upper portion rotates to the closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate several exemplary constructions and procedures and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description set forth below, serve to explain operational principles wherein:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, to the extent possible, like reference numerals are used to designate like components in the various views.
Turning now to the drawings,
In the illustrated construction, the lid assembly 10 includes a lower or base portion 14 and an upper or sealing portion 16. Each of the lower and upper portions 14, 16 may be substantially cylindrical in shape. According to a potentially preferred embodiment, the upper sealing portion 16 is an incrementally greater diameter than the lower base portion 14 such that the lower and upper portions 14, 16 may be mated coaxially. In this relation, the lower base portion 14 resides in male relation within the volume of the upper sealing portion 16 (discussed in greater detail below).
As illustrated in
According to the illustrated and potentially preferred embodiment, the lower base portion 14 includes a lower dispensing opening 34 defined by a cavity formed within the first upper surface 30, and disposed between the axis 36 and the periphery of the first upper surface 30. In the preferred construction, a raised sealing lip 38 may project from the first upper surface 30, at least partially around the lower dispensing opening 34. The cavity defining the lower dispensing opening 34 extends downwardly from the first upper surface 30, and in a potentially preferred embodiment, terminates in a dispensing plate 49.
The dispensing plate 49 may include a dispensing aperture 52. The dispensing aperture 52 is an opening in the dispensing plate 49 that allows access to the interior of the container 12 when the lid assembly 10 is secured to the container 12 and is placed in an open position. According to a contemplated embodiment, as depicted in
Again referring to
As indicated previously, the lower base portion 14 may include a spring bore 40 formed in the first upper surface 30, the spring bore 40 being dimensioned to accommodate torsion spring 100 within its depth (
The torsion spring 100 may include a helical coil portion and a tangential extension 102, which projects outwardly from a first end of the coil in a substantially tangential direction. The torsion spring 100 may further include a torsion bar 104 in a pig tail configuration that extends inwardly from the second end of the coil at least partially across the coil. As will be described further hereinafter, the torsion bar 104 is adapted to be held within the central cylinder 62 projecting downwardly from the upper portion of the assembly.
Referring again to
As best illustrated in
The upper and lower portions 16, 14 are depicted in a mated orientation in both
As indicated previously, according to a particularly beneficial feature of the invention, the upper and lower portions of the lid assembly are adapted to cooperatively form a tight seal around the lower dispensing opening when the upper sealing portion 16 is biased to a closed position. In the preferred construction this sealing relation is effected by the cooperative lowering of the upper sealing portion 16 into sealing contacting relation with the raised sealing lip 38 disposed around the lower dispensing opening 34. Such a sealed relation in the normally closed position aids in the protection of container contents that are required to remain moist such as pre-saturated wipes and the like that are susceptible to performance degradation due to evaporation.
In order to achieve the desired sealed relation, it is contemplated that the interior circumferential surface 82 of the upper sealing portion 16 may include a circumferential guide groove 78. As best illustrated in
According to the illustrated construction, the guide groove 78 is made up of a multiplicity of slots 79 arranged in a discontinuous circumferential arrangement around the interior circumferential surface 82. Each of the slots is adapted to accept a corresponding guide ridge 46. Alternatively, the guide groove may be a continuous slot. As shown, the slots 79 forming the guide groove are preferably slightly angled relative to the upper surface 70 so as to have a sight change in elevation along their length. Due to the angle of the slots 79, as the upper sealing portion 16 is rotated towards the open position (
As will be appreciated, during operation the elevation change of the upper sealing portion between the open and closed positions brings the sealing lip 38 into contacting sealing relation with the interior of the upper sealing portion to facilitate a close sealed relation. In particular, it is contemplated that in the closed position, the second side 74 of the upper sealing portion 16 is placed into contacting sealing relation with the sealing lip 38 that bounds the lower dispensing opening 34. Thus sealed, the contents of the container 12 are protected from the environment outside the container 12, and vice versa. Conversely, when the lid is moved to the open position, the second side 74 of the upper sealing portion 16 is raised away from the sealing lip 38 without interference.
In order to promote the controlled opening of the lid assembly, the lower base portion 14 may include an arcuate guide groove 44 in the upper surface 30. The arcuate guide groove 44 is adapted to receive a guide post 60 (
The normal bias of the lid assembly 10 to a sealed position is particularly beneficial in avoiding a situation in which the container 12 is left open unintentionally. This sealing relation is potentially beneficial in packaging of a number of different materials that require sealed containment. By way of example only, in one contemplated environment of use, the container 12 may be adapted to hold a continuous sheet of a plurality of wipes 53, each individual wipe 53 being separated from an adjacent wipe by a line of perforation (
The dispensing aperture 52 may also be adapted to efficiently and effectively dispense other materials held within the volume of the container 12. By means of example and not limitation, the dispensing aperture 52 may consist of a plurality of openings, mesh, or grid, which may be effective for dispensing powders, granules, or other like particulate matter, or liquid matter from the container 12 and through the dispensing aperture 52. As a further alternative, the dispensing aperture 48 may include a spout that may be contained within the volume of the cavity defining the lower dispensing opening 34. A spout would facilitate the pouring of liquids (as well as particulate matter) while minimizing spillage. It is further contemplated that the lower dispensing opening 34 may be entirely open, and not include the dispensing plate 49, thereby allowing a user to insert a scoop or like instrument through the lower dispensing opening and into the interior of the container 12 in order to manually remove the material held therein. In another contemplated embodiment, the dispensing plate 49 may be removable and interchangeable with a plurality of dispensing plates, each bearing a different dispensing aperture 52. This modular design would permit a user to employ the lid assembly 10 of the present invention with containers for a number of different materials.
It is to be understood that while the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to potentially preferred embodiments, constructions, and procedures, that such embodiments, constructions, and procedures are illustrative only and that the invention is in no event to be limited thereto. Rather, it is contemplated that modifications and variations embodying the principles of the invention will no doubt occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is therefore contemplated and intended that the present invention shall extend to all such modifications and variations as may incorporate the broad aspects of the invention within the true spirit and scope thereof.
Claims
1. A rotating lid assembly for sealing a container with an open end, the rotating lid assembly comprising:
- a lower base portion adapted to engage the open end of the container, wherein the lower base portion comprises a first upper surface with a first axis, a downwardly extending first circumferential wall intersecting the first upper surface, a first dispensing opening housed within a well in the first upper surface, a raised sealing lip disposed at least partially around a periphery of the well, a spring bore in the first upper surface disposed substantially coaxially with the central axis, a plurality of circumferential guide ridges disposed about the first circumferential wall, and a spring adapted to fit within the spring bore and be secured therein;
- the lid assembly further comprising an upper sealing portion adapted to at least partially surround the first circumferential wall of the lower base portion, the upper sealing portion being adapted to selectively expose the first dispensing opening of the lower base portion when rotated from a closed position to an open position, wherein the upper sealing portion comprises: a second upper surface, a downwardly extending second circumferential wall intersecting the second upper surface, and an upper dispensing opening in the second upper surface, the upper dispensing opening substantially aligning with the lower dispensing opening when the upper sealing portion is in the open position, an extension element projecting downwardly from the second upper surface adapted to engage said spring, and a circumferential guide groove cut into the circular interior surface and adapted to engage the circumferential guide ridges so as to lower the second upper surface and thereby sealably engage the second side of the second upper surface against the sealing lip when the upper sealing portion is in the closed position, the upper sealing portion being normally biased to the closed position by the spring such that a sealed relation is maintained around the well in the absence of an applied opening force.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the spring is a torsion spring including a torsion bar and a tangential extension.
3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the lower base portion further comprises a spring extension groove communicating with the spring bore and extending substantially tangentially therefrom.
4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the extension element is a cylinder adapted to fit within the torsion spring, the cylinder including a spring engagement groove adapted to rotationally engage the torsion bar.
5. The invention of claim 1, further comprising:
- an arcuate guide groove in the first upper surface, the arcuate guide groove defining an arc centered about the first axis; and
- a guide post projecting from the second side of the second upper surface and adapted to be carried by the arcuate guide groove as the lid assembly is rotated between the open and the closed positions.
6. The invention of claim 1, further comprising a handle projecting outwardly from the second upper surface.
7. The invention of claim 6, wherein the handle comprises a pair of intersecting radial protuberances.
8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the lower dispensing opening comprises a dispensing plate with a dispensing aperture cut therethrough.
9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the dispensing aperture is a star-shaped configuration adapted for the selective removal of sheet products from the container.
10. A rotating lid assembly for sealing a container with an open end, the rotating lid assembly comprising:
- a lower base portion adapted to engage the open end of the container, wherein the lower base portion comprises a first upper surface with a first axis, a downwardly extending first circumferential wall intersecting the first upper surface, a first dispensing opening housed within a well in the first upper surface, a raised sealing lip disposed at least partially around a periphery of the well, a spring bore in the first upper surface disposed substantially coaxially with the central axis, a plurality of circumferential guide ridges disposed about the first circumferential wall, and a spring adapted to fit within the spring bore and be secured therein, wherein the spring is a torsion spring comprising a coil defining a substantially cylindrical interior with a torsion bar projecting at least partially across said interior and a tangential extension projecting outwardly from the coil;
- the lid assembly further comprising an upper sealing portion adapted to at least partially surround the first circumferential wall of the lower base portion, the upper sealing portion being adapted to selectively expose the first dispensing opening of the lower base portion when rotated from a closed position to an open position, wherein the upper sealing portion comprises: a second upper surface, a downwardly extending second circumferential wall intersecting the second upper surface, and an upper dispensing opening in the second upper surface, the upper dispensing opening substantially aligning with the lower dispensing opening when the upper sealing portion is in the open position, an extension element comprising a grooved projection extending downwardly from the second upper surface and adapted to engage the torsion bar of said spring, and a circumferential guide groove cut into the circular interior surface and adapted to engage the circumferential guide ridges so as to lower the second upper surface and thereby sealably engage the second side of the second upper surface against the sealing lip when the upper sealing portion is in the closed position, the upper sealing portion being normally biased to the closed position by the spring such that a sealed relation is maintained around the well in the absence of an applied opening force.
11. The invention of claim 10, further comprising:
- an arcuate guide groove in the first upper surface, the arcuate guide groove defining an arc centered about the first axis; and
- a guide post projecting from the second side of the second upper surface and adapted to be carried by the arcuate guide groove as the lid assembly is rotated between the open and the closed positions.
12. The invention of claim 10, further comprising a handle projecting outwardly from the second upper surface.
13. The invention of claim 12, wherein the handle comprises a pair of intersecting radial protuberances.
14. The invention of claim 10, wherein the lower dispensing opening comprises a dispensing plate with a dispensing aperture cut therethrough.
15. The invention of claim 14, wherein the dispensing aperture is a star-shaped configuration adapted for the selective removal of sheet products from the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2007
Inventors: David Nobile (Alta Loma, CA), Pamela Gault (Boiling Springs, SC), Greg McMurray (Des Plains, IL), Daniel Rudolph (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/355,093
International Classification: B65D 51/18 (20060101); B65D 51/00 (20060101); B65D 43/18 (20060101);