Disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid

Abstract

A disposable and conformal liner that completely and internally seals a container and an associated lid. The container has a bottom portion and two pair of side portions. The two pair of side portions of the container extend upwardly from the bottom portion of the container to a rim, and are attached to each other adjacently. The disposable and conformal liner includes a bottom section, two pair of side wall sections, and a pair of flap sections. The two pair of side wall sections extend upwardly from respective sides of the bottom section and are continuous with each other adjacently, so as to form a box-like main body. The box-like body is conformingly received in the container. The pair of flap sections extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections to free ends. The free end of one flap section is folded onto itself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip, leaving a remaining portion of the one flap section a same size as the other flap section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a liner, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid.

Description of the Prior Art

With RVs having limited space and water, cleanup of plastic storage containers is always an issue.

Not only is there a need to overcome this problem, the embodiments of the present invention are both useful and necessary in every household that uses plastic storage containers for leftovers or takes them work/school/gym, parties.

Splatter is caused in a microwave when just the bowl is heated in the microwave and the lid is off. Food can suffer from freezer burn. Containers, such, as a Tupperware plastic storage container, can become stained by foods and become unclean.

Lid portions of the containers are not reconfigurable into different sizes from square to rectangular, etc.

The container or the lid do not work like gaskets when the lid is placed on the container, thus keeping the food fresher for less time.

The liners do not come in different sizes to accommodate different sized containers.

Numerous innovations for container liners have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention, in that they do not teach a disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a plastic storage container and an associated lid. For example:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,263 to Frew et al

U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,263—issued to Frew et al. on Jan. 20, 1976 in U.S. class 215 and subclass 12.1—teaches a container having a disposable liner of a flexible plastic composition. The liner incorporates an elasticized overlap to cooperate with one or more ridges on the container in holding it in place while in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,973 to Ahern

U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,973—issued to Ahern on Oct. 31, 1978 in U.S. class 220 and subclass 495.02—teaches a re-use and extended use paint bucket of conventional form and proportions by disposable, thin, and internal fluid-tight liners that are vacuum-formed from relatively thick thermoplastic sheet material. Each liner has, exceedingly thin bottom and side walls, but is self-sustaining in shape because of circular stiffening by a thick upper rim shaped to snap-lock with, and overhang, the bucket rim, and also because of longitudinal stiffening imparted by several inwardly-projecting hemicylindrical ribs disposed along the side walls where they will serve as vents, which facilitate insertion and removal of the close-fitting bucket liner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,906 to Brown et al

U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,906—issued to Brown et al. on Apr. 4, 1995 in U.S. class 426 and subclass 106—teaches a packaging system for fresh produce, such as, fresh lettuce and the like food products. The packaging system relies upon a quadrilaterally shaped and fairly rigid paperboard container having more than four corner portions therein and with an inner liner used for the storage and transport of the produce, such as, lettuce heads. In a preferred embodiment, the containers are octagonal shaped with four rectangular shaped elongate walls connected at their corner portions by four relatively short angularly located connecting walls. Portions of these containers, and, particularly, the side walls are capable of being reused. Moreover, they are adapted for storage and transport in stacked relationship and also fit upon conventional pallets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,686 to Julian

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,686—issued to Julian on Jan. 11, 2000 in U.S. class 248 and subclass 99—teaches a device for stretching a top of a flexible liner around a top of a waste or storage container to hold it securely within the container for an indefinite period of time by inserting a folded-over or turned-down portion of the liner, which is outside of the container into a slot of an accumulator and rotating the accumulator either right or left until the liner is stretched tightly around the top of the container, then placing a restraining arm under the edge of the stretched liner in a manner to prevent the accumulator from counter-rotating until the restraining arm is released.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,432 to Koehnke

U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,432—issued to Koehnke on Apr. 18, 2000 in U.S. class 215 and subclass 11.3—teaches a disposable, liquid-impermeable, and sterile container for liquid infant foods. The storage container includes an upper portion for receiving the liquid infant foods. The upper portion tapers into a lower portion for containing the liquid infant foods. The upper portion has an enlarged peripheral width relative to the lower portion, with the lower portion having a peripheral width that is less than an internal circumference of a baby feeding bottle. The container has complementarily opposed seal strips that when engaged prevent air ingress to the storage container. The upper and lower portions of the storage container are of general tubular cross-section. The plastic of the storage container is selected to withstand temperatures lower than 32° F. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing apparatus is re-sealable in a Ziploc® storage container. The storage container has in its lower portion markings for fluid capacity.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,762 to Friedland et al

U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,762—issued to Friedland et al. on May 29, 2001 in U.S. class 428 and subclass 43—teaches a covering sheet for applying to a selected surface in substantially fitted and covering relation. The covering includes a flexible sheet of predetermined size and thickness and has a rectangular grid of weakened lines to provide rectilinear yield lines extending in a first direction and in a second direction at right angles to the first direction to enable tearing by hand along selected ones to the grid lines as a tear in a first direction. The sheet has individual perforations extending completely through its thickness and located at the points of intersection of the axes of the weakened lines. The perforations facilitate changes in the direction of a tear at a selected point of intersection and to extend the tear in the second direction so as to achieve a desired size of sheet. The weakened lines further include tear lines extending diagonally between perforations to facilitate changes in the direction of tearing and to provide relieved corners to better fit into locations, such as, the corners of drawers, enclosed shelves, etc. The covering sheet has an adhesive layer, such as, a pressure-sensitive adhesive on its reverse surface, and with the perforations extending also through the adhesive layer and through a release medium covering the adhesive layer face of the sheet. The perforations may include a reticulated series of through-cut and micro-perforations arranged in oriented relation with the edges of the sheet. The release medium is a removable sheet on the reverse face covering the adhesive layer or it is applied in covering relation with the obverse face of the sheet when the covering sheet is supplied in rolled and self-wound form usually upon a cardboard cylinder.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,398 to O'Brien

U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,398—issued to O'Brien on Jan. 20, 2004 in U.S. class 220 and subclass 495.02—teaches a paint container liner system including disposable liners and an open container for receiving at least one of the disposable liners. The liners are sized and configured to fit into the inside of the container and around the rim of the container. The liners are maintained in position in the container by a suction generated during installation in one embodiment, and by a noncuring adhesive interposed between the liner and container in another embodiment. The liners also are stretched around the rim of the container, and in another embodiment, configured with a rounded bottom to retain the liner in place during use. The system also includes a container cap with a slot for supporting a paint brush during periods of non-use.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0267415 to Valenti

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0267415—published to Valenti on Nov. 22, 2007 in U.S class 220 and subclass 495.11—teaches a disposable liner with or without a container, which stores and/or disposes cooking liquids, including grease and other liquids.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0045153 to Schmal et al

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0045153—published to Schmal et al. on Feb. 23, 2012 in U.S. class 383 and subclass 118—teaches a liner having an elastic securing mechanism that is placed in a vessel to form and maintain a barrier between the vessel and objects contained therein. The liner includes an elastic securing band secured around the perimeter of the open top end of the liner using a plurality of spaced-apart tack welds or rivets. In one embodiment, the liner material is folded over the elastic and ultrasonic sealing is used to burn through the elastic and seal the folded liner material to it, thereby securing the elastic to the liner. In use, the liner is placed within a receptacle of the vessel and the open top end is folded outward and downward over a rim of the vessel, such that the elastic engages an outside of the vessel to form a secure and snug fit of the liner to the vessel. A failure to a portion of the elastic is limited to that portion of the elastic only and propagation of the failure is limited by the rivets.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0165170 to Wischusen, III

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0165170—published to Wischusen III on Jun. 28, 2012 in U.S. class 493 and subclass 100—teaches a removable and conformal liner for a beverage container. When the liner is inserted into an internal cavity of a beverage container the body of the liner substantially conforms to the interior cavity. The container liner is adapted to provide snug cuffing over the lip portion of the beverage container. In one embodiment, the container liner is configured for heat shrink cuffing. In another embodiment, the container liner is configured for stretch cuffing. A system for manual, mechanized, and a combination of mechanized and manual installation of the removable conformal liner is also taught.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0183726 to Calkins

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0183726—published to Calkins on Jul. 19, 2012 in U.S. class 428 and subclass 137—teaches a surface covering that is a multilayered composite material. The multilayer composite material includes a top facing layer of polymeric film and a bottom layer of unsupported foam.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for container liners have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide reduced splatter in a microwave even when just the container is heated in the microwave and the lid is off, as a result of the presence of the embodiments of the present invention still containing splatter.

Still another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to reduce freezer burn, as a result of the additional barrier created by embodiments of the present invention.

Yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to keep containers from becoming stained by foods.

Still yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to keep clean a container, such, as a Tupperware® plastic storage container, with only the liner of the embodiments of the present invention becoming dirty and after use it is discarded

Yet still another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to work like gasket when the lid is placed on the container, thus helping to keep the food fresher longer.

Still yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention is that the liner of the embodiments of the present inventions comes in different sizes to accommodate different sized containers.

Briefly stated, yet still another object of the embodiments of the present invention is a disposable and conformal liner that completely and internally seals a container and an associated lid. The container has a bottom portion and two pair of side portions. The two pair of side portions of the container extend upwardly from the bottom portion of the container to a rim, and are attached to each other adjacently. The disposable and conformal liner includes a bottom section, two pair of side wall sections, and a pair of flap sections. The two pair of side wall sections extend upwardly from respective sides of the bottom section and are continuous with each other adjacently, so as to form a box-like main body. The box-like body is conformingly received in the container. The pair of flap sections extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections to free ends. The free end of one flap section is folded onto itself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip, leaving a remaining portion of the one flap section a same size as the other flap section.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable and conformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention completely and internally sealing a plastic storage container and an associated lid;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable and conformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable and conformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention inserted in a container, with the flaps thereof in an open position extending out of the container and with the opposing side sections extending slightly past a pair of opposing edges of the container to form a gasket seal; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable and conformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention inserted in a container, with the flaps thereof in a closed position extending across the container and the opposing side sections extending slightly past a pair of opposing edges of the container to form a gasket seal.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

Introduction

• • 10 disposable and conformal liner of embodiments of present invention for completely and internally sealing container 12 and associated lid 14
  • 12 container
  • 14 lid
  • 16 bottom portion of container 12
  • 18 two pair of side portions of container 12
  • 20 rim of container 12

Overall Configuration of Disposable and Conformal Liner 10

• • 22 bottom section for conformingly overlying bottom 16 of container 12
  • 24 two pair of side wall sections
  • 26 pair of flap sections
  • 28 box-like main body for being conformingly received by container 12
  • 30 free ends of pair of flap sections 26
  • 32 reinforcing strip of free end 30 of one flap section of pair of flap sections 26
  • 34 remaining portion of one flap section of pair of flap sections 26

Specific Configuration of Bottom Section 22

• • 36 perimeter of bottom section 22

Specific Configuration of Two Pair of Side Wall Sections 24

• • 38 top of each side wall section of two pair of side wall sections 24 for overlapping rim 20 of container 12
  • 40 gasket of top of each side wall section of two pair of side wall sections 24

The Specific Configuration of the Pair of Flaps 36

• • 42 end portions of pair of flaps 36 for overlapping rim 20 of container 12 so as to contribute to gasket 40 when lid 14 is pressed applied onto container 12 for purpose of fully covering contents of container 24

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The Introduction

Referring now to the figures, and particularly FIG. 1, the disposable and conformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for completely and internally sealing a container 12 and an associated lid 14, wherein the container 12 has a bottom portion 16 with a shape and size and two pair of side portions 18 with shapes and sizes, and wherein the two pair of side portions of the container 12 extend upwardly from the bottom portion 16 of the container to a rim 20 and are attached to each other adjacently.

It is to be understood that the container 12 is a plastic storage container, such as, but not limited to, Tupperware®, of any shape and size.

The Overall Configuration of the Disposable and Conformal Liner 10

The overall configuration of the disposable and conformal liner 10 can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The disposable and conformal liner 10 is one-piece and comprises a bottom section 22, two pair of side wall sections 24, and a pair of flap sections 26. The two pair of side wall sections 24 extend upwardly from respective sides of the bottom section 22 and are continuous with each other adjacently so as to form a box-like main body 28 for being conformingly received by the container 12. The pair of flap sections 26 extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections 24 to free ends 30. The free end 30 of one flap section 26 is folded onto itself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip 32, leaving a remaining portion 34 of the one flap section 26 a same size as the other flap section 26.

It is to be understood that the one flap section 26 can be folded and bonded onto itself from either the top or the bottom of the one flap 26.

The Specific Configuration of the Bottom Section 22

The specific configuration of the bottom section 22 can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The bottom 16 has a size and a shape defined by a perimeter 36 and is for substantially matching the size and shape of, and for conformingly overlying, the bottom 16 of the container 12.

The Specific Configuration of the Two Pair of Side Wall Sections 24

The specific configuration of the two pair of side wall sections 24 can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The two pair of side wall sections 24 extend upwardly from the perimeter 36 of the bottom 16 to a top 38, in which the tops 38 of a pair of opposing side wall sections 24 are for overlapping the rim 20 of the container 12 so as to form a gasket 40 when the lid 14 is pressed applied onto the container 12 for the purpose of fully covering contents of the container 24, and have shapes and sizes for substantially matching the shapes and sizes of, and for conformingly overlying, the two pair of side portions 18 of the container 12.

The Specific Configuration of the Pair of Flaps 36

The specific configuration of the pair of flaps 36 can best be seen in FIGS. 2-4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The pair of flaps 36 have end portions 42 and extend foldingly from the tops 38 of the other two opposing side wall sections 24, and when in a no-use position, drape freely downwardly (FIG. 3), and when in a in-use position, fold inwardly over contents of the container 12, with the free ends 30 of the other pair of opposing side wall sections 24 overlapping each other with the reinforced strip 32 of the free ends 30 of the other two opposing side wall sections 24 being on the underneath (FIG. 4), and with the end portions 42 being for overlapping the rim 20 of the container 12 so as to contribute to the gasket 40 when the lid 14 is pressed applied onto the container 12 for the purpose of fully covering contents of the container 24.

The liner is placed in the plastic storage container and holds an item to be stored within without the contents making contact with the Tupperware type plastic storage container.

The liners are shaped and sized to fit specific Tupperware type plastic storage containers; in this way the plastic storage containers can be used as the packaging (placing the liners within the plastic storage containers). Obviously, the liners can be sold separately as replacements.

The problems the liner solves include:

• • Eliminating staining of plastic storage containers and lids;
  • Reducing odors;
  • The contents and liner can be removed from the plastic storage container eliminating washing the plastic storage containers thereby saving water;
  • Saved food lasts longer;
  • Eliminating grease from entering drain/septic;
  • Protecting against freezer burn by forming an additional barrier;
  • The liners are microwave safe;
  • BPA free; and
  • Recyclable.

Impressions

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a plastic storage container and an associated lid, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid, wherein the container has a bottom portion with a shape and size and two pair of side portions with shapes and sizes, wherein the two pair of side portions of the container extend upwardly from the bottom portion of the container to a rim and are attached to each other adjacently, and wherein said disposable and conformal liner comprising:

a) a bottom section;

b) two pair of side wall sections; and

c) a pair of flap sections;

wherein said two pair of side wall sections extend upwardly from respective sides of said bottom section;

wherein said two pair of side wall sections are continuous with each other adjacently so as to form a box-like main body;

wherein said box-like body is for being conformingly received by the container;

wherein said pair of flap sections extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections to free ends; and

wherein said free end of one flap section is folded onto itself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip, leaving a remaining portion of said one flap section a same size as the other flap section.

2. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said bottom has a size and a shape defined by a perimeter; and

wherein said size and shape of said bottom is for substantially matching the size and shape of, and for conformingly overlying, the bottom of the container.

3. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 2, wherein said two pair of side wall sections extend upwardly from said perimeter of said bottom to a top;

wherein said tops of a pair of opposing side wall sections are for overlapping the rim of the container so as to form a gasket; and

wherein said two pair of side wall sections have shapes and sizes for substantially matching the shapes and sizes of, and for conformingly overlying, the two pair of side portions of the container.

4. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said pair of flaps have end portions.

5. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 3, wherein said pair of flaps extend foldingly from said tops of the other two opposing side wall sections.

6. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein when said flaps are in a no-use position, they drape freely downwardly.

7. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 3, wherein when said flaps are in an in-use position, they fold inwardly for covering contents of the container;

wherein said free ends of said other pair of opposing side wall sections overlap each other;

wherein said reinforced strip of said free ends of said other two opposing side wall sections is underneath; and

wherein said end portions being for overlapping the rim of said container so as to contribute to said gasket when the lid is pressed onto the container for a purpose of fully covering contents of the container.

8. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said liner is microwave safe.

9. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said liner is BPA free.

10. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said liner is recyclable.