Abstract:
In one embodiment of a container protector the container protector comprises two opposing side skirts, two opposing end skirts, and a interior lip connected to both side skirts and end skirts. The container protector may also include one or more handle extension to facilitate use with a container having one or more handles. The container protector is designed to sealing fit around the top periphery of a container with the interior lip extending upward to prevent material within the container from flowing outward therefrom during transitions. Such transitions may be caused by heating, transportation, or other disturbances. The precise dimensions of the container protector will vary from one embodiment to the next, and the container protector may take any shape depending on the container for which it is designed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from provisional U.S. Pat. App. Nos. 61/347,254 filed on May 21, 2010 and 61/373,713 filed on Aug. 13, 2010, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to containers and lids therefore, and more specifically, to the prevention of spills during cooking or other transitions. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limited of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a first embodiment of the container protector engaged with a container. 
         FIG. 1A  provides a cross-sectional view of the first and second embodiment of the container protector engaged with a container adjacent a container end wall. 
         FIG. 1B  provides a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the container protector having a ridge formed therein. 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of a second embodiment of the container protector engaged with a container. 
         FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of a third embodiment of the container protector engaged with a container. 
         FIG. 4  provides a perspective view of another embodiment of the container protector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Listing of Elements 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 ELEMENT DESCRIPTION 
                 ELEMENT # 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Container protector 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Container 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Container side wall 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 Container end wall 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Container handle 
                 24a 
               
               
                   
                 Interior lip 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Side skirt 
                 32 
               
               
                   
                 End skirt 
                 34 
               
               
                   
                 Handle extension 
                 34a 
               
               
                   
                 Ridge 
                 36 
               
               
                   
                 Container protector with bottom 
                 40 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Before the various embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. As used herein, the term “rectangle” is meant to include any quadrilateral having four right angles. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  provide a perspective view of a first embodiment of the container protector  10  engaged with a container  20 . The embodiment of the container protector  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is configured to engage a container  20  that is rectangular in shape. Such containers  20  typically include two opposing container side walls  22  connected to two opposing container end walls  24  in one integral structure. Container handles  24   a  may be fashioned in the container end walls  24  to facilitate repositioning of the container  20  during use or otherwise moving the container  20 . 
     The first embodiment of the container protector  10  includes two opposing side skirts  32  configured to seal against the container side walls  22 . Two opposing end skirts  34  are configured to seal against the container end walls  34 . The side skirts  32  are affixed to the end skirts  34  so that the shape of the container protector  10  is substantially the same as the shape of the container  20 . Handle extensions  34   a  may be included in the end skirts  34  to seal against the container handle  24   a  in containers  20  that are configured with container handles  24   a . However, container protectors  10  configured for use with containers  20  not having container handles  24   a  may be constructed without handle extensions  34   a.    
     It is contemplated that the container protector  10  will be constructed of a pliable and/or semi-pliable material and configured so that the container protector  10  stretches by a certain amount when engaged with the container  20 , thereby creating a hermetic seal between the container  20  and the container protector  10 . That is, the elastic or semi-elastic nature of the container protector  10  allows it to expand so that it is secured to the container  20 . Accordingly, in many applications the periphery of the container protector  10  will be less than the periphery of the container  20  for which it is designed. During use, attachment of the container protector  10  to the container  20  will require the user to stretch the container protector  10  over the container  20 , thereby ensuring the container protector  10  is adequately secured to the container  20  and that an adequate seal is created between the container protector  10  and container  20 . 
     An interior lip  30  may be connected to both the opposing side skirts  32  and the opposing end skirts  34 . The interior lip  30  is configured to extend inward from the periphery of the container  20 , which is best shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which provide different cross-sectional views of the container protector  10  engaged with a container  20 . 
     A cross-sectional view of a portion of the container protector  10  and container  20  adjacent a container handle  24   a  and a handle extension  34   a  is shown in  FIG. 1A . A cross-sectional view of a portion of the container protector  10  and container  20  along a container side wall  22  and side skirt  32  is shown in  FIG. 1B . As shown in these various figures, the interior lip  30  extends upward beyond the periphery of the container  20  and inward therefrom. This extension of the interior lip  30  combined with the sealing engagement between the end skirts  34  and container end walls  24 , the handle extensions  34   a  and container handles  24   a , and the side skirts  32  and container side walls  22  serves to functionally increase the volume of the container  20 . Accordingly, if material is positioned in the container  20  and the container  20  is subsequently heated, which may expand the material in the container  20 , the container protector  10  may prevent the material from flowing out of the container  20 . One example of such a situation is during cooking, especially baking scenarios. It is contemplated that the first embodiment of the container protector  10  will be sized to seal a nine-inch-by-thirteen-inch, seven-inch-by-eleven-inch, or other rectangular-shaped container  20 . The container  20  may or may not include container handles  24   a , and the container protector  10  may be formed accordingly (i.e., with or without handle extensions  34   a ). 
     A second embodiment of the container protector  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein the container protector  10  is configured to seal against a square-shaped container  20 . The container protector  10  in the second embodiment functions identically to that of the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment of the container protector  10  the container protector  10  is sized to seal an eight-inch-by-eight-inch, nine-inch-by-nine-inch, or other square-shaped container  20 . As with the first embodiment, in the second embodiment the container  20  may or may not include container handles  24   a , and the container protector  10  may be formed accordingly (i.e., with or without handle extensions  34   a ). 
     A third embodiment of the container protector  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein the container protector  10  is configured to seal against a circular-shaped container  20 . The container protector  10  in the third embodiment functions identically to that of the first and second embodiments. However, in the third embodiment of the container protector  10  the container protector  10  is sized to seal circular-shaped container  20 . As with the first and second embodiments, in the third embodiment the container  20  may or may not include container handles  24   a , and the container protector  10  may be formed accordingly (i.e., with or without handle extensions  34   a ). 
     A container protector with bottom  40  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The container protector with bottom  40  functions identically to the other embodiments of the container protector  10  disclosed herein. However, the container protector with bottom  40  includes a bottom portion  38  connecting the side skirts  32  and end skirts  34  so that the container protector with bottom  40  forms a type of vessel with substantially the same shape as the container  20  for which the container protector  10  is designed. The bottom portion  38  may be configured to either allow for or inhibit accumulation of baked-on materials between the container protector with bottom  40  and the container  20 , thereby enhancing removal of food particles after use. 
     As is apparent in light of the present disclosure, when the container protector  10  is fully engaged with a container  20  for which the container protector  10  was designed, a seal is formed along the entire periphery of the container  20 . This seal allows the interior lip  30  of the container protector  10  to act as an extension of the container  10 , thereby effectively increasing the volume of the container  20 . Accordingly, if the material positioned within the container  10  expands during cooking, baking, or during any other transitory condition put upon the material and/or container  20 , the container protector  10  prevents the material from exiting the container  20 . 
     The optimal dimensions of the height of the side skirt  32 , and skirt  34 , and interior lip  30  will depend on several factors, including but not limited to the specific application for the container protector  10  and the height of the container side and end walls  22 ,  24 . However, it is contemplated that for most applications the height of the side skirt and end skirt  34  will be between 0.25 and 2.5 inches, and the height of the interior lip  30  will be between 0.1 and 2.5 inches. The thickness of the interior lip  30 , side skirt  32 , end skirt  34 , and handle extension  34   a  will vary from one embodiment of the container protector  10  to the next, but for many applications a thickness between 0.1 and 0.7 inches will suffice. The length of the side skirts  32  and end skirts will vary depending on the size and configuration of the container  20  for which the container protector  10  is designed. 
     The various elements of the container protector  10  may be integrally formed as one unit, or the various elements may be separately formed and later affixed to one another. The container protector  10  may be formed of any material known to those of ordinary skill in the art that is suitable for the application for which the container protector  10  is used. Such materials include but are not limited to rubber, silicon, other polymers, or combinations thereof. It is contemplated that for some applications the container protector may be constructed of a silicone rubber material that is heat resistant up to 480 F, but the temperature that the material of construction will withstand in no way limits the scope of the container protector  10 . The silicon rubber material is typically used in the construction of other types of bakeware due to its superior durability. 
     Other methods of using the container protector  10  and embodiments thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the methods and embodiments pictured and described herein are for illustrative purposes only. 
     It should be noted that the container protector  10  is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar apparatuses and methods for preventing a material positioned in a container from overflowing the container. Modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the container protector  10 .