Inner Container Lid

Abstract

A lid comprises a main portion and a peripheral lip portion comprising a pair of tapered surfaces, the peripheral lip portion offset relative to a thickness of the main portion toward an upper surface thereof. A living hinge is disposed between and connecting the main portion and the peripheral lip portion. A handle upstands on the upper surface of the main portion. An abutment upstands on the upper surface of the main portion and surrounds the handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to a design patent application, Ser. No. ______ filed concurrently herewith. The disclosure of this co-pending application is hereby incorporated by reference thereto.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

N/A

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

N/A

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification and illustrate various embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container inner lid;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container inner lid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the container inner lid in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front or rear view of the container inner lid in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a right or left side view of the container inner lid in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the container inner lid in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a container inner lid;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the container inner lid in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front or rear view of the container inner lid in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a right or left side view of the container inner lid in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the container inner lid in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 illustrates an elevation view of one embodiment of a container usable in a combination with lid of FIGS. 1-11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a partial construction of a wall of the container in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom view of the container in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 illustrates an elevation view of one embodiment of a container usable in a combination with lid of FIGS. 1-11;

FIG. 16 illustrates a partial construction of a wall of the container in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 illustrates a 3-D view of the container in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 illustrates a bottom view of the container in FIG. A15;

FIG. 19 illustrates a top view of an outer lid configured to close an open end of the container of FIGS. 12-18;

FIG. 20 illustrates a left view of the outer lid of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 illustrates a right view of the outer lid of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 illustrates a rear view of the outer lid of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 illustrates a bottom view of the outer lid of FIG. 19;

FIG. 24 illustrates a front view of the outer lid of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 25 illustrates a 3-D view of the outer lid of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described examples or the application and uses of the described examples. As used herein, the words “example”, “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “example”, “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “exterior,” “interior,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in the Figures. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply examples of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the examples disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

In an embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, a lid 10 comprises a main portion 12 with an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16 spaced apparat from each other to define a thickness of the main portion 12. In one form, both of the upper surface 14 and the lower surface 16 are planar, except for manufacturing tolerances, defining a uniform thickness of the main portion 12. In one form, one or both of upper surface 14 and lower surface 16 can comprise convex or concave portion(s) defining varying thickness(es) of the main portion 12. The main portion 12 can be any one of rigid, flexible, semi-rigid and semi-flexible.

The lid 10 also comprises a peripheral lip portion 20 comprising a pair of surfaces 22 that taper outwardly and toward each other to define a peripheral edge 24 of the lid 10. The surface 22 do not have to taper at the same angle. The peripheral edge 24 can be of any shape. In one form, the surfaces 22 can taper to a sharp point, so that the peripheral edge 24 is essentially defined by a line. In one form, the surfaces 22 can taper so that the peripheral edge 24 comprises a straight surface being generally normal, except for manufacturing tolerances to one or both of upper surface 14 and lower surface 16. In one form, the surfaces 22 can taper so that the peripheral edge 24 comprises a curved surface, as is best shown in FIG. 1-6.

In one form, the peripheral lip portion 20 can be offset relative to a thickness of the main portion 12 toward the upper surface 14 thereof. In one form, the peripheral lip portion 20 can be offset toward the lower surface 16. In one form, the peripheral lip portion 20 can be centered relative to the thickness of the main portion 12. The peripheral lip portion 20 can be any one of rigid, flexible, semi-rigid and semi-flexible.

The lid 10 also comprises a living hinge 30 disposed between and connecting the main portion 12 and the peripheral lip portion 20. As is best shown in FIG. 6, the living hinge 30 is defined by a thickness portion 32 of the lid 10 that is smaller than the thickness of the main portion 12 or the thickness of the peripheral lip portion 20 at its largest end. The living hinge 30 may be defined by a pair of concave surfaces 34. The living hinge 30 enables the peripheral lip portion 20 to flex about the main portion 12 so that the peripheral edge 24 forms a seal with the inner surface of the container.

The lid 10 also comprises a handle 40 upstanding on the upper surface 14 of the main portion 12. The handle 40 can be solid or can comprise a cavity 42 defining a hollow handle 40. The cavity 42 can be sized and shaped to define a uniform thickness of the hollow handle 40. The handle 40 comprises a peripheral surface 44. In one form, the peripheral surface 44 can be straight. In one form, the peripheral surface 44 can be provided as a tapered surface, tapering from a distal end 46 of the handle 40 toward the upper surface 14 of the main portion 12. In one form, the peripheral surface 44 can be provided as a combination of a straight surface portion 48 and tapered surface portion 50.

A cross-sectional shape of the handle 40 and its peripheral surface 44 can have one or more curved portion and/or one or more straight portions. The cross-sectional shape of the handle 40 and its peripheral surface 44 can be any one of a circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, polygon and any combinations thereof either in solid or hollow configuration. The handle 40 can comprise one or more ridges 52 on the exterior peripheral surface 44 thereof to aid in gripping the handle 40 during insertion of the lid 10 into the container or removal of the lid 10 from the container. The one or more ridges 52 may be defined by one or more cavities 54 in the peripheral surface 44 of the handle 40.

The lid 10 may also comprise an optional abutment 58 upstanding on the upper surface 14 of the main portion 12 and surrounding the handle 30. The abutment 58 may be provided as a continuous annular ring or flange.

In an embodiment, the lid 10 comprises a main portion 12, a peripheral lip portion 20 comprising a pair of tapered surfaces 22, a living hinge 30 disposed between and connecting the main portion 23 and the peripheral lip portion 20, a handle 40 upstanding on an upper surface 14 of the main portion 12, and an annular flange upstanding on the upper surface of the main portion 12 and surrounding the handle 40. The peripheral lip portion 20 may be offset relative to a thickness of the main portion 12 toward the upper surface 14 thereof.

In either embodiment, the lid 10 can be manufactured from a polypropylene material.

In an embodiment of FIGS. 12-18, a container 60 comprises an open end 62, a closed end 64 that may comprise a cavity 66, a peripheral side wall 66 defining a hollow interior 68 of the container 60. The peripheral side wall 66 comprises a first straight portion 70 adjacent the open end 62 of the container 60, a second straight portion 72 adjacent the closed end 64 of the container 60, and a main portion 74 disposed between the first and second straight portions, 70 and 72 respectively, and comprising alternatively facing curved portions 76 being disposed in series with each other. In other words, cross-sectional shape of the peripheral side wall 66 along the length of the container 60 is defined by a wave or a corrugation.

There is a peripheral rim 80 upstanding on an exterior surface of the container 60 between the first straight portion 70 and the main portion 74. In an embodiment, a helical ridge 82 upstands on an exterior surface 71 of the first straight portion 70 and defines an external thread.

The container 60 can be manufactured from a PET material.

In an embodiment of FIGS. 19-25, a lid 90 comprises a main portion 92 having a generally uniform thickness, a peripheral wall 94 upstanding on the main portion 92, and, in an embodiment, ridges upstanding on an interior surface 96 of the peripheral wall 94 and defining an internal thread member of the lid 90. The ridges do not have to be continuous and can be provided as both single ridge 99 and double ridges 98a,b in a relationship to the height of the peripheral wall 94. The ridges can be provided as a pair of double ridges 98a,b, spaced apart along a height of the lid 90, and a single ridge 99, disposed in series with double ridges 98 along the periphery of the interior surface 96, as is best shown in FIG. 23. The cross-sectional structure of the ridges 98a,b and 99 is identical and can be a triangle. The ridges 98 and 99 define an internal thread of the lid 90 that compliments, in an embodiment, the helical ridge 80 of the container 60.

The lid 90 can be manufactured from a polycarbonate material.

In an embodiment, a kit comprises the container 60 comprising a closed end 64, an axially opposite open end 62, a hollow interior 68 and a corrugated side wall 66; an inner lid 10 sized to fit within the hollow interior 68; a seal formed by a contact of a peripheral edge 24 of the inner lid 10 and an interior surface of the corrugated side wall 66, when the inner lid 10 is inserted into the hollow interior 68; and an outer lid 90 configured to selectively open and close the open end 62 of the container. The outer lid 90 can be adapted with an internal thread member complimenting an external thread member on the container 60 or can be adapted for slight frictional fit or a snap fit.

The lid 10 can be inserted at an angle other than 180 degrees into the container 60 until a portion of the main portion 12 touches the contents within the container 60. The diametrically opposite portion of the main portion 12 is than manually pushed down, until the main portion 12 either abuts the surface of the contents or is disposed generally parallel to the bottom surface of the container 60 in a close proximity to the surface of the contents within the container 60. It is not necessary for the lid 10 to fit generally parallel and the main portion 12 can be slanted and disposed, in a vertical direction, between a pair of successive curved portion 76, while still providing sufficient operability in preserving the contents.

The removal of the lid 10 from the container 60 can be achieved by first pressing on a portion of the abutment 58 to tilt the main portion 12 and then pulling on the handle 40.

The lid 90 can be simply attached by a rotational motion to engage the threads 82 and 98a,b and 99. Or, it can be pressed down in a case of a snap fit or a frictional fit.

The chosen exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter have been described and illustrated, to plan and/or cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments, for practical purposes so as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. It is therefore intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described exemplary embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As used herein, the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and “configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element, component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing a given function but that the element, component, and/or other subject matter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements, components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as being adapted to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being configured to perform that function, and vice versa. Similarly, subject matter that is recited as being configured to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being operative to perform that function.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer,” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings herein.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Anywhere the term “comprising” is used, embodiments and components “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” are expressly disclosed and described herein.”

Claims

1. A lid comprising:

a main portion;

a peripheral lip portion comprising a pair of tapered surfaces, said peripheral lip portion offset relative to a thickness of said main portion toward an upper surface thereof;

a living hinge disposed between and connecting said main portion and said peripheral lip portion;

a handle upstanding on said upper surface of said main portion; and

an abutment upstanding on said upper surface of said main portion and surrounding said handle.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a cavity.

3. The lid of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises one or more ridges on one or more surfaces thereof.

4. A lid comprising:

a main portion;

a peripheral lip portion comprising a pair of tapered surfaces;

a living hinge disposed between and connecting said main portion and said peripheral lip portion;

a handle upstanding on an upper surface of said middle portion; and

an annular flange upstanding on said upper surface of said main portion and surrounding said handle.

5. The lid of claim 4, wherein said peripheral lip portion offset relative to a thickness of said main portion toward an upper surface thereof.

6. A container comprising:

an open end;

a closed end comprising a cavity;

a peripheral side wall defining a hollow interior of said container, said peripheral side wall comprising: a first straight portion adjacent said open end of said container, a second straight portion adjacent said closed end of said container, and a main portion disposed between said first and second straight portions and comprising alternatively facing curved portions being disposed in series with each other;

a peripheral rim upstanding on an exterior surface of said peripheral side wall between said first straight portion and said main portion; and

a helical ridge upstanding on an exterior surface of said first straight portion.

7. A lid comprising:

a main portion;

a peripheral wall upstanding on said main portion;

ridges upstanding on an interior surface of said peripheral wall and defining an internal thread member of said lid.

8. A kit comprising:

a container comprising a closed end, an axially opposite open end, a hollow interior and a corrugated side wall;

an inner lid sized to fit within said hollow interior;

a seal formed by a contact of a peripheral edge of said inner lid and an interior surface of said corrugated side wall, when said inner lid is inserted into said hollow interior; and

an outer lid configured to selectively open and close said open end of said container.