Abstract:
A food storage container for dry or liquid foods and other open air perishable products provides a substantially liquid-tight seal when the lid is in a closed position and easy pouring of contents when in the open position. The container is easy to open, employing a rocker points placed off-center of the container lid&#39;s centerline to allow for a rocking action effective to release the lid from a closed position when a downward force is exerted upon an upper surface of the lid thereby providing an effective opening for pouring. A substantially liquid-tight seal is achieved through the use of a plug section of the lid having a continuous outer peripheral surface which effects a close conforming fit with a similarly positioned surface area on the container body in a continuous and positive manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container assembly having a removable lid primarily designed for the storage of liquid or dry foods. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a container assembly and to a system of achieving a substantially liquid-tight seal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various containers for the storage of food, both liquid and dry are well known. Present day food containers, particularly those utilized for household storage applications display a wide variety of forms, closure systems, seals, and materials dedicated to the short term storage of a variety of dry and liquid foods. With the advent of newer plastic materials having improved properties better suited to meeting the standards and criteria of food container safety, as mandated by FDA standards, higher temperature stability, and the necessary structural requisites of flexibility or stiffness as may be required by individual design, a proliferation of food containers of all types has been made available to the consumer. 
     The majority of these containers however display critical functional inadequacies and drawbacks in respect to easy opening and closing while attempting to maintain a watertight seal in a closed mode. In general, the tighter the cap or lid seal fits the container, the greater the force required for its removal. The negative implications of this judged in terms of known consumer desires and preferences for a simple easy to remove or operate cap or lid while at the same time having the assurance of a watertight seal are readily apparent. 
     The implications of such containers and their limited degree of operability are especially pointed in the case of the elderly, those who suffer from arthritis, others who suffer from some degree of motor impairment, and children. 
     Reusable food storage containers for the short term storage of liquid or dry foods, i.e. juices, cereals, meal leftovers, etc. may be classified into five groups. In the first group are those containers which have a simple interference fit lid. An example of such a container would be commercially available plastic ice cream containers, where consistent water tightness is not required. A second, well-known group utilizes screw-on type lids or caps, often provided with a species of elastomeric seal to provide water tightness. A third group relates to a combination form of the preceding groups in that a screw-top or snap-type lid is used in conjunction with an integrally molded pouring spout provision. A fourth classification embraces container types that depend upon a flexible lid that incorporates an instanding, positive continuous seal contour that engages and locks into a matching negative groove on the container lip. The fifth group consists of containers utilizing a plug-type of closure not always, but often, in conjunction with an elastomeric seal to promote water tightness. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,570, discloses a container with a removable lid, the container having a side wall at the top of which there is provided an outwardly projecting bead or bead portions abutted by the lid, wherein the lid has a skirt with downwardly and/or inwardly facing cams. The container disclosed is said to enable a person with a handicapped hand or impaired vision to remove the lid from the container in a controlled manner such that the user is able to control the lid and/or container so that they do not suddenly slip from the user&#39;s grasp during the removal of the lid. 
     Despite the presence of these various forms of containers, there exists a need for an easy opening, substantially liquid-tight container which overcomes the negative aspects and disadvantages of prior art containers and lid functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided a novel food container designed for the storage of dry or liquid foods such as cereals or juices. The container provides a positive, substantially air and water tight seal when closed with nominal finger pressure. At the same time, the container of the present invention allows for an easy pressure to open same for pouring, without the need for physical removal of the cap from the container body. Additionally, the entire top cap may be easily removed for filling or cleaning purposes. 
     Provided is an easy-opening, substantially liquid-tight food storage container having pour accommodating means, comprising: (a) a container body having substantially upright walls, the walls having an upper rim portion and a bottom portion said upper rim portion having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a peripheral bead means located about the upper rim portion of the walls; and (c) a removable lid, the lid comprising: (i) a cover section having an upper surface and a lower surface; (ii) a plug section integral to the lower surface of the cover section, the plug section having an outer peripheral surface adapted to substantially conform to the inner surface of the upper rim portion of the container body walls for providing a close conforming fit when the lid is installed on the container body; and (iii) a lip integral to the cover section, the lip spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the plug section, wherein said lip combines with said lower surface of said cover section and said outer peripheral surface of said plug section to form a track, said track having a pair of rocker points located at a distance from a centerline of said lid, whereby said rocker points are effective to release said lid from a closed position when a downward force is exerted upon the upper surface of said cover section of said lid. 
     In view therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a good substantially air- and liquid-tight seal between the lid and the periphery of the container body. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a container which is easily opened and closed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container having pour-accommodating means from which the contents of the container can be easily poured without removing the lid. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a container and lid system which is of simple two-piece construction that can be manufactured inexpensively while providing the desired seal and operation functions. 
     Other objects and the several advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and the claims appended thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 presents a side view of one embodiment of the inventive container shown in partial cutaway, the container being depicted with its lid in a closed and sealed position. 
     FIG. 2 presents a side view of the FIG. 1 embodiment of the inventive container, also shown in partial cutaway, the container being depicted with its lid in an open position from which its contents may thus be poured. 
     FIG. 3 presents a back, handle-end view of a container body, depicted with its lid removed. 
     FIG. 4 presents a front, spout-end view of a container body, depicted with its lid removed. A partial cutaway is also provided. 
     FIG. 4A presents Detail &#34;A&#34;, an enlarged view of the cutaway section of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 5 presents a side view of a preferred embodiment of a removable lid of the inventive container shown in partial cutaway. 
     FIG. 5A presents a bottom view of the FIG. 5 removable lid embodiment taken along Section &#34;A--A&#34; of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 5B presents Detail &#34;B&#34;, an enlarged view of the cutaway section of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 6 presents a top view of the FIG. 5 removable lid. 
     FIG. 6A presents an enlarged view of the removable lid embodiment taken along Section &#34;B--B&#34; of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 7 presents a front view of a preferred embodiment of the removable lid of the inventive container. 
     FIG. 7A presents Detail &#34;C&#34;, an enlarged view of a portion of the view of FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The container of the present invention is best understood by referring to the appended figures, which are given by way of example and not of limitation. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, the container 10 is shown with lid 20 installed in a closed position on container body 12. Container body 12, as is preferred, is of a shape and volume suitable for general home use, i.e., available storage space and pertinent human factors considered. Pour accommodating means can be provided, as those skilled in the art will plainly recognize. In a preferred embodiment, such pour accommodating means can be spout 14 which is integral to container body 12. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), such pour accommodating means can be formed in the lid structure, itself, as one can envision by reference to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2 for this purpose, spout 14 can be omitted and the pour accommodating means placed in plug section 26 of lid 20 in the portion of plug section 2 which is exposed when lid 20 is in the open position. Also, a handle 16 may be provided to facilitate ease in handling. Such a handle 16 can be located opposite from pouring spout 14. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the container body 12 can be further divided into a upper rim portion 13 and a bottom portion 15 for the purposes of description. Bottom portion 15 can be seen to be a basically simple open container. Although bottom portion 15 is shown having a plan form outline which is rectilinear as is coupled with a flat base 17 in-use stand-up stability, plan form outlines ranging from circular to rectilinear will produce structures known to be acceptable for these purposes. Upper rim portion 13, as is preferred, has one simple continuous and constant bead means 30 running around its outer surface located substantially near the extreme top edge of the upper rim portion 13 of container body 12 which acts as a seal surface area. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2, container 10 is shown in its open and pourable condition. In this condition, as is shown in the cutaway portion of this figure, a novel and effective means of container venting is provided in this particularly preferred embodiment. As can be appreciated from everyday experience, when pouring a liquid from a container having only one orifice, that orifice being used to dispense the liquid, the liquid will not pour from that container in an even and continuous manner; rather, its flow velocity will rise and fall periodic &#34;chugging&#34; manner. By providing a vent orifice, this phenomena will cease, resulting in a substantially uniform flow condition. As indicated in FIG. 2, vent channel 28 is provided when lid 20 is in the fully open position. As a result of its location and the particular configuration depicted in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, inadvertent spillage from vent channel 28 is avoided. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a back view of container body 12 is shown. As indicated, container volume markings can be provided for enhancing the appeal of such a container to a user. 
     In FIG. 4, a front view of container body 12 is presented. In FIG. 4A, a preferred geometry for bead means 30 is shown in an enlarged view. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a side view of removable container lid 20 of the present invention is shown. Removable lid 20 can generally be described as a rocker-type lid preferably matching the horizontal view plan section shape taken at the aforementioned container upper rim portion 13. As may be seen, in a preferred embodiment, lid 20 has an upwardly inclined rear section 24, in side view. Lid 20 has a cover section 46 having an upper surface 42 and a lower surface 44. Integral to lower surface 44 of cover section 46 is plug section 26. As is preferred, plug section 26 has an outer peripheral surface 48 adapted to substantially conform to the inner surface of the upper rim portion 13 of container body 12. As can be envisioned, such an arrangement provides an effective seal for the container 10. To further enhance sealing, a peripheral bead means 22 is incorporated on outer peripheral surface 48 of plug section 26, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Peripheral bead means 22 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 7A. This peripheral bead means 22 can be advantageously matched to a recessed groove or cut (not shown) of like dimension, formed or machined into the inner surface of upper rim portion 13 of container body 12 to provide a substantially liquid-tight plug-type locking seal. 
     What is meant by the use of the term &#34;substantially liquid-tight&#34; is that, when the container of the present invention is used to store a liquid, it can be so utilized in the conventional manner without the liquid spilling or seeping therefrom. It is to be recognizing that the container is designed to be used in a generally upright position, except of course, when its contents are to be dispensed therefrom, the container to be tilted in the usual manner to effect such dispensing. Therefore, a container produced according to the present invention could be used advantageously to shake a stratified juice-type product to achieve a homogeneous mixture for dispensing, without loss of liquid during that operation--a feature not ordinarily found in most containers designed for that purpose. The use of the term &#34;substantially liquid-tight&#34; is not meant to imply that the container may be turned upside-down or handled in a non-conventional manner without the loss of some liquid, although a container produced according to the present invention, employing preferred embodiments, could achieve such a feature. 
     It can be seen that lid 20 has a outside perimeter lip 32 integral to cover section 46 which, as can be envisioned, acts as a lid retainer. Referring to FIG. 5A, in which a bottom view of the FIG. 5 embodiment taken along Section &#34;A--A&#34; is depicted, lip 32 is spaced apart from outer peripheral surface 48 of plug section 26. As can be appreciated from the depiction of lid 20 in FIGS. 5, 5A and 6A, lip 32 combines with outer peripheral surface 48 of plug section 26 and lower surface 44 of cover section 46 to form track 34. Track 34, as is preferred, is sized to fit upon upper rim portion 13 and over peripheral bead means 30 of container body 12. Within track 34, at the point where cover section 46 angles upward to form upwardly inclined rear section 24, are rocker points 40. As is preferred for ease of operation, rocker points 40 are located at a distance from centerline 50 of lid 20. The advantageous use of rocker points 40, positioned in the manner depicted in FIG. 5A results in an easy opening container whereby the rocker points are effective in releasing the lid from a closed position when a downward force is exerted upon upper surface 42 of cover section 46 of lid 20 in the region of upwardly inclined rear section 24. As can be seen by reference to FIG. 2, rocker points 40 operate by pivoting or rocking upon extreme top rim surface 29 of container body 12. 
     Referring again to FIG. 5A, the inner surface of lip 32, in a preferred embodiment, employs local projected latching ridges 38 (total of 4 shown) to hold lid 20 in place in the closed and sealed position. A local projected latching ridge is shown in greater detail in the enlarged view if FIG. 6A. When container 10 is closed, local projected latching ridges 38 engage peripheral bead means 30 of container body 12, locking the lid closed. Substantially liquid-tight sealing is effected in the closed position, as mentioned above, by the close conforming fit of outer peripheral surface 48 of plug section 26 to the inner surface of upper rim portion 13 of container body 12. A still more effective and preferred sealing of the container is achieved through the use of peripheral bead means 22, shown in FIG. 5, in conjunction with the recessed groove or cut (not shown) of like dimension formed or machined into the inner surface of upper rim portion 13 of container body 12. An even more effective, triple sealing of the container can be effected by employing a continuous latching ridge bead (not shown) about the inner surface of lip 32. Such a bead, as can be envisioned, will engage peripheral bead means 30 of container 12 about the entire outer periphery of container body 12. 
     When the lid is forced to the open condition for pouring, as depicted in FIG. 2, the lid may seek to close somewhat as a result of the fact that it is designed to pivot or rock from an off-center position, unless the user applies a continuous pressure to upwardly inclined rear section 24 during the pouring operation. To remedy this situation and add to the ease of operability of the present invention, a small retaining projected ridge 36 is employed on the inner surface of lip 32 that will in the full open condition engage and latch over the container body 12&#39;s peripheral bead means 30. Retaining projected ridge 36 is shown in greater detail in the enlarged view of FIG. 5B. 
     Materials of choice contemplated for this preferred embodiment include a semi-rigid plastic compound for the body and a softer durometer elastomeric plastic compound for the lid, to further provide a controlled, simple but forgiving seal tolerance condition. 
     Although the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the amended claims.