Abstract:
A reusable flexible seal is disclosed having a flexible main portion and a peripheral ring surrounding the flexible main portion adapted to engage the rim of a container. The flexible main portion includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and is dimensioned and configured to generally eliminate the head space over the contents of the container when assembled on the container. A venting mechanism includes at least one tab member extending inwardly from the peripheral ring for creating a gap between the lower surface of a portion of the peripheral ring and the upper surface of a portion of the edge of container wall.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is broadly concerned with durable long-lasting reusable container seals, and more particularly, concerned with a reusable flexible container seal adapted to conform to the shape of the foodstuff contents of the container and to provide an air-tight seal for enhanced conservation of food quality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Prior art container seals, such as thermoplastic lids and flexible film covers, have been commonly used to hermetically seal the container to preserve the foodstuff contents such as meat, fish, and vegetables while stored in a freezer. 
         [0003]    However, one of the shortcomings of the prior art seals is that they leave too much air or head space within the container if the foodstuff contents occupy a space smaller than the size of the container. They cannot conform to the shape of the foodstuff contents inside the container, which will result in longer freezing time of the foodstuff and lowered food quality. 
         [0004]    Another shortcoming of the flexible prior art seals is the lack of any proper functioning air valve or vent means for the seal for venting before, during, or after heating the container in a microwave. 
         [0005]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a reusable flexible container seal that can conform to the shape and configuration of the foodstuff contents of the container to reduce the air and eliminated the head space and provide an airtight seal for the container. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a built-in valve mechanism or venting means for the reusable flexible seal to allow venting before, during, or after the container is placed into a microwave. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    These problems and others are addressed by the present invention which comprises a reusable flexible seal having a flexible main portion and a peripheral ring surrounding the flexible main portion adapted to engage the rim of a container. The flexible main portion includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and is dimensioned and configured to generally eliminate the head space over the contents of the container when assembled onto the container. A venting means or valve mechanism includes at least one tab member extending inwardly from the peripheral ring for creating a gap between the lower surface of a portion of the peripheral ring and the upper surface of a portion of the edge of container wall. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other objects of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the following drawings of which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container and the reusable flexible seal assembled in a sealing configuration over the container according to the first representative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the container and the reusable flexible seal according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the container and a bottom perspective view of the reusable flexible seal, wherein the container includes foodstuff therein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container and the reusable flexible seal placed in a sealing configuration over the container illustrating the seal as it conforms to the foodstuff contents inside the container of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the container and the reusable flexible seal taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the container and the reusable flexible seal taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the container and the reusable seal assembled in a vent position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partial side sectional view of the container and flexible reusable seal in a closed position taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partial side sectional enlarged view of the flexible reusable seal assembled in a vent position in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the container and reusable flexible seal in a non-venting sealed position illustrating the venting tabs on the reusable seal engaged underneath the peripheral edge of the container; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side sectional view of the container and the reusable flexible seal illustrating the flexible part of the seal in contact with the foodstuff contents; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the container and the reusable flexible seal in accordance with a second representative embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a side sectional view of the container and the reusable flexible seal in  FIG. 12  in an assembled non-venting position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically  FIGS. 1 to 3 , wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, a container  10  preferably formed of rigid plastic material and a reusable flexible seal  12  each having a generally rectangular shape and configuration are illustrated. It is noted that other shapes and configurations such as, but not limited to, square, oval, triangular or circular-shaped container and seal are also contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]    The container  10  includes a pair of longer sidewalls  14 , a pair of shorter sidewalls  16 , a bottom  18 , and an upper peripheral edge  20  bounding a top opening  22  which provides access within a storage area  24  of the container  10 . 
         [0024]    The upper peripheral edge  20  of the container  10  includes a flat upper sealing surface  26  and a downwardly extending annular leg  28  having an engaging tip  30 . The downwardly extending leg  28  further includes an outer surface  32 . 
         [0025]    The reusable flexible seal  12  is made from silicone approved for food contact or other thin flexible material molded preferably in a self supporting configuration and includes a flexible main portion  34  integrally molded to a substantially stiffer yet flexible mounting peripheral ring  36  having substantially the same rectangular shape and configuration as the container rim but slightly smaller in proportions so to be able to laterally stretch and seal the container  10 . 
         [0026]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , the reusable flexible seal  12  comprises a pair of longer sidewalls  38 , a pair of shorter sidewalls  40  bounding a bottom wall  42  having an upper surface  45  and a lower surface  47 . The peripheral ring  36  is integrally molded around the upper edges  37  of the plurality of sidewalls and includes an outwardly extending and horizontal portion  44  having an upper surface  46  and a lower surface  48 , a downwardly extending leg  50  having a bulbous portion  52  at one end thereof, and an inwardly extending annular flange  54  which, as will be explained herein, engages the engaging tip  30  to secure the reusable flexible seal  12  on the container  10 . 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the container  10  is illustrated having foodstuff  58  disposed therein. In this embodiment, the foodstuff  58  illustrates the underfilled situation wherein the size and amount of the foodstuff  58  contents extends below the peripheral edge of the container  10  thereby creating head space above the foodstuff  58 . It is also contemplated, although not shown, that the foodstuff may create an overfilled situation wherein the foodstuff fills the container above the peripheral edge of the container. 
         [0028]    In order to secure the reusable flexible seal  12  over the container  10 , the horizontal portion  44  of the peripheral ring  36  is placed over the upper peripheral edge  20  of one of the sidewalls of the container, preferably one of the shorter sidewalls  16 , wherein the annular flange  54  engages and is positioned underneath the engaging tip  30 , the inner surface  56  becomes substantially flush with the outer surface  32  of the downwardly extending leg  28 , and the lower surface  48  becomes flush against the flat upper sealing surface  26  of the upper peripheral edge  20 . Similar steps are repeated for the other three sides of the container, preferably the longer sidewalls  14  while the flexible main silicone portion  34  is pressed downwardly over the foodstuff  58  so that the lower surface  47  of the bottom wall  42  contacts and conforms to the shape of the foodstuff  58  while the excess air is vented or “burped” through the unsealed side of the container at the unsealed shorter sidewall  16 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the container  10  is illustrated as containing foodstuff contents  64  of generally liquid form, such as, but not limited to, stew or soup, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the reusable flexible seal  12  generally eliminating the head space over the contents  64  while the bottom wall  42  of the flexible main portion  34  contacts and conforms to the shape of the contents  64 . 
         [0030]    As best seen in  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the reusable flexible seal  12  is laterally stretched by the user pulling on the bulbous head  52  so that the annular flange  54  clears the outer surface  32  of the downwardly extending leg  28  and pressed down while the bottom wall  42  is still pressed over the foodstuff  58 , thereby creating a partially internal vacuum or underpressure while substantially stabilizing the foodstuff  58  within the container for enhanced freshness and conservation of food quality while placed inside the freezer. 
         [0031]    As stated hereinbefore, the flexible main portion  34  of the reusable seal  12  is created as a one-component molded part with the peripheral ring  36  and made from approved silicone or other thin flexible material for use is storing food, and which can stretch to assemble onto the container and return to its original shape and configuration when removed. The reusable flexible seal may if desired be configured so as to be provided with a self-sustaining shape that will allow it to generally retain its original shape and configuration without significantly deforming or collapsing on its own when placed on a support surface. Moreover, manufacturing the reusable flexible seal from silicone or other thin flexible material allows not only using the container and seal directly from the freezer into a microwave, but also using the container and seal in an oven. This assumes that the container is manufactured from a material suitable for use in the oven. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the venting means or the valve mechanism for the reusable flexible seal  12  is illustrated. Broadly, the valve mechanism  60  is preferably positioned in the middle of the opposite longer sidewalls  38  of the seal along the peripheral ring  36 , although, it is also contemplated that the valve mechanism  60  may be positioned on the peripheral ring at the shorter sidewalls, all four sidewalls, any single one of the sidewalls, or corners along the peripheral ring  36 . More specifically, the valve mechanism  60  includes a pair of tabs  62  laterally and inwardly extending from the annular flange  54  of the downwardly extending leg  50 , where in the assembled sealed position of the reusable flexible seal  12  over the container  10 , the pair of tabs  62  is positioned underneath the downwardly extending leg  28 . It is also contemplated that the valve mechanism  60  may also include a single tab, or a plurality of tabs. 
         [0033]    In order to vent the container before, during, or after heating in the microwave, the reusable flexible seal  12  is stretched outwardly by pulling the peripheral ring  36  along the upper edges of the longer sidewalls  38  disengaging the annular flange  54  from the engaging tip  30 . Then, by pulling the longer sides upwardly slightly and placing the pair tabs  62  over the flat upper sealing surface  26 , as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a slight gap  55  is created along a portion of the lower surface  48  of the peripheral ring  36  and the upper sealing surface  26  thereby allowing the air to vent out before completely removing the reusable flexible seal  12  from the container  10 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a second representative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A bowl  110  preferably formed of rigid plastic material and a reusable flexible seal  112  having a generally hemispherical shape and configuration are illustrated. The bowl  110  includes a sidewall  114 , a bottom  118 , and an upper peripheral edge  120  bounding a top opening  122  which provides access within the bowl  110 . 
         [0035]    The upper peripheral edge  120  of the bowl  110  includes a flat upper sealing surface  126  and a downwardly extending annular leg  128  having an engaging tip  130 . The downwardly extending leg  128  further includes an outer surface  132 . 
         [0036]    The reusable flexible seal  112  includes a flexible main portion  134  integrally molded to a substantially stiffer yet flexible mounting peripheral circular band  136  integrally molded around the upper edge  137  of the flexible main portion  134  and includes an outwardly extending and horizontal portion  144  having an upper surface  146  and a lower surface  148 , a downwardly extending leg  150  having a bulbous portion  152  at one end thereof, and an inwardly extending annular flange  154  which engages the engaging tip  130  to secure the reusable flexible seal  112  on bowl  110 . 
         [0037]    The venting means or the valve mechanism  160  is preferably positioned in an opposing configuration on the peripheral ring  136 . More specifically, the valve mechanism  160  includes a pair of tabs  162  laterally and inwardly extending from the annular flange  154  of the downwardly extending leg  150 , where in the assembled sealed position of the reusable flexible seal  112  over the container  110 , the pair of tabs  162  is positioned underneath the downwardly extending leg  128 . It is also contemplated that the valve mechanism  160  may also include a single tab, or a plurality of tabs. 
         [0038]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration only, and this description should not be construed as limiting to the several claims appended hereto.