Abstract:
A container including a container body with a pivotally mounted top lid utilizing a single generally planar elastomeric member forming a seal section releasably mounted to the undersurface of the lid and engageable with the rim of the container body peripherally thereabout, and a spring section integral with the seal section and extending from the lid into a receiving chamber on the container body adjacent the pivotal mounting of the lid, the spring section being resiliently compressed during the positioning thereof to provide a constant opening biasing force on the lid relative to the container body. An alternately positionable handle is removably mounted, at the option of the user, to either the front wall or the rear wall of the container body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to containers of the type including a container body with an open mouth selectively closed by a spring biased pivotally mounted lid, and more particularly to such containers wherein a seal is provided between the lid and the rim defining the mouth of the container body. 
   Such seals are normally of an appropriate compressible elastomeric material and, inherently due to the elastomeric nature of the seal, tend to slightly move the lid toward an open position upon release of the normally provided lid latch. One example of such a seal will be noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,064 to Sacherer et al which refers to the partial opening of the lid to be followed by a manual opening of the lid to its fully opened position. The prior art also includes many examples of lidded containers wherein the lid, upon release of an appropriate latch, automatically fully or substantially fully moves to an open position by spring action. Such an opening force has normally heretofore relied upon metal springs of various types, including leaf or compression springs, torsion springs, and the like. 
   As a variation and improvement on conventional metal springs, it has, recently, been proposed to use elastically deformable springs such as rubber. Two examples of such usage will be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,037 to Favre, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,221 B1 to Bando et al. 
   Another feature known in the prior art which has a bearing on the present invention is the expedient of providing the container body with a removable handle which may be accommodated in one or more positions about the container body. Note as an example U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,872 to Dunnum. Also note the detachable handle per se disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,533 to Berry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the principal intention of the present invention to advance the art in a significant manner, particularly with regard to those features referred to above as broadly known in the prior art. In doing so, it is intended that containers in accord with the present invention will enhance the seal effect commonly sought, provide a practical and highly efficient spring action to the lid, and provide a reversible handle particularly adopted to the container both with regard to the ease of handling the container and to enable manipulation of the container lid in accord with the desires of the particular user. All of goals of the invention are achieved while at the same time providing for particular economies in manufacture and assembly, specifically with regard to the seal and spring which are uniquely although rather simply formed as a single substantially planar member or panel easily accommodated to both the lid and the container body, and, in conjunction therewith, easily replaceable by the end user. 
   With more specific reference to the container of the invention, the container body, in defining an interior receiving chamber, includes a rear wall or wall portion and an opposed front wall or front wall portion. A complimentary lid engages over the upwardly opening mouth of the container body and is pivotally joined to the rear wall by appropriate hinge means. Appropriate latch means on the container body front wall and cooperating front end of the lid act to selectively retain the lid in the closed position thereof. 
   Substantially duplicate vertical slots are defined in the front and rear walls of the container body for the selective reception of a container handle in accord with the preference of the user of the container. As an example, should the user wish the convenience of releasing the lid latch with the same hand engaging the handle, the handle will mount to the forward wall. Should the user wish to hold the container by one hand and release the latch with the other hand, the handle will mount to the rear wall. Depending upon the nature of the contents of the container, this will also enable the user to conveniently discharge the contents by a pouring thereof from the front of the container. 
   A particularly unique aspect of the invention is the utilization of a single sheet or member of elastomeric material, such as for example silicone, in forming both a seal for effectively sealing the container upon a closing of the lid, and a spring which, upon release of the latch, effects an automatic opening of the lid pivotally away from the container. The seal section or seal of the member or panel is configured to conform to and be coextensive with the rim defining the mouth of the container body. The seal will include inner and outer peripheral edges generally parallel to each other. This seal, as illustrated, is of what might be considered an oblong configuration with opposed truncated ends to conform to the similarly configured container body mouth. Were the container of a more conventional cylindrical configuration, the seal or seal section of the elastomeric member would be annular. 
   At that portion of the seal conforming to the rear of the container body, the elastomeric member extends rearward of the seal section in the manner of a planar extension and defines the spring or spring section. Extending integral from the inner periphery of the seal in alignment with the spring section of the member is an anchoring tongue of a width approximately that of the spring. 
   The elastomeric member mounts to the undersurface or bottom surface of the lid and is retained by a combination of depending ribs and undercut lugs which engage the inner periphery of the seal. The spring extends, upon mounting, laterally from the seal and engages within a spring pocket provided immediately adjacent and inward of the cooperating hinge components on the rear container body wall and the depending lid skirt. The anchoring tongue is retained in intimate engagement with the bottom surface of the lid by a series of sockets defined in the elastomeric tongue and engaged over a corresponding number of stubs depending from the bottom surface. The elastomeric member or panel is both easily removed and readily mounted by the end user for replacement and cleaning as desired. The lateral positioning of the spring to engage within the spring pocket effects a compression of the spring which results in a resilient biasing tending to return the member to its planar position. This in turn continuously biases the lid to its open position away from the container body mouth. This biasing force is substantially increased in the closed position of the lid wherein maximum compression is achieved. Thus, upon a release of the latch means, the lid will rather rapidly, and in fact with a snapping action, move to its fully opened position and will be automatically retained in the fully open position in that the spring remains under compression, although to a lesser degree than with regard to the fully closed lid. The formation of both the seal and the spring utilizing a single planar elastomeric member or panel has been found to be both practical and economical, and has resulted in a particularly effective seal and spring action with the unique simplicity thereof providing for an interchangeability of both components simultaneously and in a manner easily effected by the ultimate user of the product. 
   Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following more detailed description of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Attention is now directed to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the closed container with the handle mounted on the front wall. 
       FIG. 1A  is a bottom plan view, in reduced scale, of the container. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the closed container with the handle mounted on the rear wall. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container with the lid fully open. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the major components of the container. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged vertical cross-section view through the container of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional detail through the container body and open lid at the hinge assembly and with the seal and spring sections mounted in operative position. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged plan view of the elastomeric member which defines the seal and the spring. 
       FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross-section view through the member taken substantially on a plane passing along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-section detail through the upper portion of the closed container. 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-section detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the container  10  includes an upright container body  12  and a container lid  14 . While not limited thereto, the container body  12  has been illustrated as of a generally oval cross section with flat front and rear walls  16  and  18  which, in conjunction with slightly arcuate opposed side walls  20 , terminate in a continuous upper edge or rim  22  defining the open mouth of the body  12 . Side walls  20 , as best appreciated from  FIGS. 1 and 5 , are provided with opposed hand grip depressions  21 , which may if desired be molded of transparent or translucent resin to allow the contents of the container to be seen. 
   The lid  14  pivotally mounts to the container body  12  by cooperating pivot means or hinge components provided on the body and lid. More specifically, the rear wall  18  of the body  12  includes an integral rearwardly extending abutment or enlargement downwardly spaced although closely adjacent to the upper mouth-defining rim  22 . The upper portion of the abutment is rearwardly spaced from the rear surface of the rear wall to define a full width pocket  26  centrally divided by a vertical divider  28  integral with and projecting outward from the rear wall  18 . The abutment  24 , outward of the pocket  26 , includes a pair of outwardly curving hinge knuckles  30 , one to each side of the divider  28  and defining restricted access slots  32  for the snap-in reception of a complementary hinge pin  34  integrally formed with depending ears  36  and a central pin stabilizer  38  which in turn integrally depend from a peripheral lid skirt  40 . Noting  FIG. 9  in particular, it will be seen that, in the closed position of the lid, the rear portion of the lid skirt  40  and the engaged hinge components define a compartment or pocket extension  42  forming a continuous vertical chamber with the pocket  26  therebelow. 
   The lid  14  and the container body  12  are preferably provided with stacking means comprising a divot, or indentation  14 ′, elongated depressions  14 ″ in lid  14 , which in use cooperate with feet  20 ′, three in number, for example, see  FIGS. 1A and 5  on a bottom wall portion  20 ″ of body  12  of another container  10  being stacked thereon. 
   The container body  12  includes a peripheral flange  44  at substantially equal height as the hinge knuckles  30  with the flange  44  extending continuously from the rear hinge assembly about the opposed side and front walls of the container body and spaced below the body rim  22  a distance corresponding to the height of the lid skirt  40  for a seated engagement of the lower edge of the lid skirt  40  thereon in the fully closed and latched position of the lid as shall described subsequently. Stabilizing and guiding gussets  46  can be provided between the flange  44  and the adjacent body walls sufficiently inward of the outer peripheral edge of the flange  44  as to fully accommodate the lid skirt thereon. p The maximum open position of the lid  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is approximately 100° from the container rim whereby an inherent bias to the open position is maintained once the lid is open. The movement of the lid to this open position is limited by an engagement of the pin supports  36  and  38  with an upper edge surface  48  of the rear body abutment  24 . 
   Retention of the lid  14  in its closed position on the container body  12  is effected by a latch assembly including a retaining slot or keeper  50  in the body flange  44  centrally of the front wall  16 , and a spring loaded manually releasable latch  52  integral with the lid  14 . The latch  52  is in the form of a push button pivotally mounted, through opposing projecting pins  54 , to opposed wall segments  56  integral with the lid skirt  40  and extending slightly laterally inward thereof to align to each side of the keeper opening  50  of the body. In order to accommodate the latch and keeper assembly, it will be noted that the peripheral flange  44  of the body extends forward of the front body wall to a greater distance than the extension of the flange  44  along the side walls. Similarly, the forward portion of the lid and the skirt thereon also extend forward to accommodate the latch assembly forward of the body rim  22 . 
   The latch  52  includes an elongate depending latch stem  58  generally aligned with the axis of the pivot pins  54  and including a forwardly or outwardly directed lower hook end which, in the closed and latched position of the lid, engages under a rearwardly directed shoulder  60  defined by the undersurface of the forwardly projecting portion of the body flange  44  immediately forward of the keeper opening  50 . A pair of guide panels  58 ′ act, together with guiding gussets  46 , to position lid  14  to thus minimize deformation of the cover. The latch stem is resiliently biased and retained into this position by an integral spring bar  62  forward of the latch stem and engaged with a transverse abutment  64  forward of the latch stem  58 . The spring bar  62  has an inherent degree of flexible resiliency whereby upon an inward push on the button-like forwardly facing exterior of the latch  52 , the spring bar will flex and accommodate inward movement of the latch to free the latch stem from hooked engagement with the keeper shoulder  60 . In order to accommodate this movement and the flexing of the spring bar  62 , a slight space  66  is provided between the spring bar  62  and the outer pressure-receiving shell of the latch  52 . It will be noted that the actual movement of the latch  52  will be a swinging or pivotal movement about the pivot pins  54 . Re-engagement of the latch  52  is automatically effected upon a closing of the lid  14  with the camming surface  68  on the lower hook portion of the latch stem  58  riding against the forward edge of the keeper opening  50 . Finally, it will be noted that an integral shield  70  depends from the body flange  44  forward of the keeper opening  50  and extends to each side thereof so as to conceal and prevent accidental release of the latch stem hook portion. 
   A combined seal and lid-opening spring is provided uniquely utilizing a single or unitary sheet or panel member  80  formed of an appropriate elastomeric material such as silicone. This member  80 , noting in particular  FIGS. 7 and 8 , is substantially planar and is formed of two sections, a seal or seal section  82  and a spring or spring section  84 . The seal  82  is in the nature of a generally flat loop strip conforming to the configuration of the container body rim  22  and including an inner peripheral edge  86  and an outer peripheral edge  88 . The seal strip is relatively wider than the body rim  22  and includes, toward the outer periphery  88  thereof, a downwardly offset seal seat  90  which, upon a mounting of the member  80 , and a closure of the lid, directly aligns on and with the rim  22  for a compressing of the seal seat  90  by the rim  22  and a positive sealing of the mouth of the container body. The slight depression  92  in the opposed surface of the seal  82 , formed by the downward offsetting of the seal seat  90 , enhances the flexibility of the seat to ensure a complete and positive sealing action. In addition, the continuous depression  92  about the seal will, upon compression of the seal seat  90 , provide for a more positive sealing of the seal to the undersurface of the lid. 
   The spring or spring portion  84  of the elastomeric member  80  is a generally coplanar extension of that portion of the seal  82  corresponding to the rear wall of the container body. The spring is narrower than the seal and, at the outer portion thereof, includes a positioning slot  94  extending inwardly from the outer edge  96  centrally between the opposed side edges of the spring  84 . The spring  84 , inward of the positioning slot  94 , preferably has a thickened inner end area, or wedge  97 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , which extends transversely of the spring  84 , to avoid any tendency for dislodgement of the seal and to provide additional stability in the mounted position as shall be explained subsequently. 
   The elastomeric member  80  is completed by an integral mounting or anchoring tongue  98  narrower than the spring  84  and extending from the inner peripheral edge  86  of the seal in alignment with the spring  84 . The anchoring tongue  98  extends only a minor distance inward of the inner peripheral edge  86  adjacent the spring. The opposed edges of the tongue  98  are inwardly spaced from edge  86  at the opposed sides thereof. The anchoring tongue  98  also includes a plurality, preferably three, of sockets  100  formed therein and opening to the opposite side of the member  80  from the downwardly offset seal seat  90 . 
   In order to position the elastomeric member  80  on the lid  14 , the bottom surface of the lid is provided with both positioning ribs  102  and retaining lugs  104 . Noting  FIG. 3  in particular, the ribs are provided as elongate segments with the retaining lugs  104  interposed therebetween. As will be recognized, the ribs and lugs are intended to engage the inner peripheral edge  86  of the seal or seal section  82  of the elastomeric member  80 . As such, the ribs and lugs are positioned along the opposed sides of the lid with forward most lugs  104 ′ being forwardly or outwardly directed toward the front or latch end of the lid, and with rearmost lugs  104 ″ being directed toward the hinge end of the lid, thus in effect fixing the longitudinal position of the received seal. The remaining lugs are laterally directed toward the corresponding sides of the lid. As seen in the drawings, the lugs  104  are undercut so as to receive and engage over the inner edge  86  of the seal section  82  for a retention of the seal. 
   A further positioning rib  106  is provided transversely of the lid parallel to and spaced from the lid hinge assembly and adapted to correspond to the inner edge of the anchoring tongue  98  of the seal section  82 . Similarly, a series of anchoring stubs  108  are formed in spaced relation adjacent to the rib  106  and corresponding in number to the anchoring tongue sockets  100  for reception thereof. 
   In mounting the combined seal and spring, the seal or seal section  82  is positioned against the bottom surface or undersurface of the lid with the flat strip loop of the seal lying thereagainst in a manner whereby the positioning ribs  102  and undercut anchoring lugs  104  engage and both position and retain the inner peripheral edge  86  of the loop. So positioned, the free edge of the anchoring tongue  98  seats against the transverse positioning rib  106  with the seal to the opposite sides of the anchoring tongue being particularly retained by the anchoring lugs  104 ″. The anchoring tongue is further and firmly anchored to the undersurface of the lid by an engagement of the lid stubs  108  within the formed elastomeric sockets  100  on the anchoring tongue  98 . When so mounted, the downwardly offset seal seat  90  is in direct alignment with the container body rim  22  for a sealed seating engagement therewith upon a closure of the lid. 
   The mounting of the spring or spring section  84 , noting  FIG. 6 , involves a flexing of this spring section, with the lid pivoted fully open for easy access thereto, over the hinge assembly and into the pocket  26  with the positioning slot  94  receiving the divider  28  therein. Such a positioning of the spring requires a resilient compressing, or what might be considered a pre-compressing, of the spring in the open position of the lid  14 . It is this pre-compressing which effectively retains the lid in its fully open position. As will be appreciated from the above described mounting of the elastomeric member, the member, while highly effective when mounted for both its intended sealing and spring functions, is easily removed for cleaning or replacement as desired. 
   Noting  FIG. 9  in particular, upon a closing of the lid  14  to its latched position, whereat the container body rim  22  intimately engages with the seal seat  90 , the spring  84  folds rather neatly within the chamber  42  defined above the divided pocket  26  and between the lid skirt  40  and the wall of the body immediately below the rim  22 . This action effects a further and rather substantial resilient compressing of the spring which in turn provides a substantial biasing force retained only by the latch mechanism. Thus, upon a release of the latch mechanism the lid will, through the action of the heavily compressed spring, rapidly move to its fully open position, and be retained therein by the remaining biasing force of the still compressed spring produced by the initial mounting of the elastomeric member. It will be appreciated that the relationship between the engaged position of the latch and the seal is such as to sufficiently compress the seal against the container body rim as to effect the desired sealing action. 
   The positioning slot  94  in the spring, in addition to properly positioning the spring within the container body pocket  26 , assists in a positive retention of the spring whereby any tendency for the spring to displace from the pocket is specifically precluded. As noted in  FIG. 6  in particular, the enlargement or wedge-shaped protuberance  97  which is preferably provided adjacent the inner end of the slot will enhance this retention capability. Incidentally, it will also be noted that the spring section  84  overlies the hinge assembly in both the closed and open position of the container lid, providing in effect a protective shield for the hinge assembly. 
   The present invention also provides for an alternate positioning of the container handle  110  so as to accommodate the preferences of the ultimate user. In other words, the handle can mount vertically to the front wall  16  of the container in alignment below the latch assembly whereby the user can both grip the handle and manipulate the latch with a single hand. Alternatively, provision is also made for a mounting of the handle to the rear wall  18  of the container body, in which case, one hand will hold the handle, and the other hand will release the latch mechanism. Such a positioning of the handle will also allow for a convenient discharge of the contents from the front of the container. Both positionings of the handle have specific advantages which are available at the option of the user, the handle itself being readily removed and repositioned. At the same time, when mounted, the handle is firmly and rigidly affixed to the container against any possibility of accidental release therefrom. More specifically, the handle  110 , in addition to the handgrip loop  112 , includes a rigid flat mounting bar or plate  114  with opposed vertical edges which taper slightly upward from the lower end thereof and which extends slightly above the grip  112  to provide a projecting upper end or vertical extension  116 . The lower end portion  118  of the mounting plate  114  is slightly wider than the plate thereabove, providing a pair of narrow laterally projecting edge extensions or wing portions  120 . This lower end portion  118  also includes a central rounded knob  122  projecting outward of the plane of the plate  114  to the opposite side thereof from the handgrip  112 . 
   The front and rear walls of the container body include substantially duplicate vertical slots  124  therein, each slot narrowing upward from the open lower end thereof corresponding to the taper of the handle mounting plate  114 . The side edges of the slot  24 , at the lower end portion  126  thereof, are undercut or grooved as at  128  to accommodate the laterally projecting wings  120  of the corresponding lower portion  118  of the mounting plate  114 . Thus, with the lower portion  118  of the mounting plate positioned immediately below the undercut lower portion  126  of the slot  124 , at the open lower end of the slot, the handle can be introduced laterally into the slot and shifted slightly upward to engage the plate side edge extensions  120  within the undercuts or grooves  128  of the mounting slot  124 . There is no need to slide the full length of the handle mounting plate  114  the full length of the corresponding receiving slot  124 . 
   Upon a full seating of the handle mounting plate  114  in the corresponding slot or groove  124 , the knob or projection  122  snap locks into a complementary recess  130  in the inner wall of the handle receiving slot  124  as a means for firmly although releasably retaining the handle on the container body. 
   The upper projecting planar portion  116  of the mounting plate  114  of the handle is in turn received within a downwardly opening pocket  132  at the upper end of each of the front and rear handle slots  124 . The pocket is defined by the inner wall of the slot  124  itself and a parallel short depending outer wall segment  134  which is actually an integral continuation of the respective front and rear container body walls. In order to provide for a snug although releasable reception of the mounting plate extension  116 , the outer wall segment  134 , in each slot  124 , includes a series of spaced vertical ribs  136  facing toward the interior of the pocket. In this manner, a firm retention of the upper portion  116  is provided without any tendency for a jamming or permanent locking of the handle. When fully seated, the mounting plate upper extension  116  will preferably engage the inner end of the pocket  132  simultaneously with the engagement of the knob or protuberance  122  within the slot recess  130 . 
   In order to remove the handle from the slot, the handle need merely be forcibly shifted downward a distance only sufficient so as to vertically retract both the upper mounting plate extension  116  from the corresponding pocket and the lower mounting plate enlargement  118 , and more particularly the opposed side extensions  120  thereof, from the receiving grooves  128  on the lower portions of the side walls of the slot  124 . The handle can then be laterally removed from the container without requiring a longitudinal sliding or withdrawal of the mounting plate along the full height of the slot  124 . Utilizing receiving grooves  128  only at the lower section of the slot  124 , in conjunction with the upper slot pocket  132 , while providing for a firm retention of the handle, does so in a manner which greatly facilitates both a mounting and removal of the handle, and avoids any tendency for the mounting plate to jam within the corresponding slot  124  such as might be the case where the locking grooves  128  to extend the full height of the slot  124  and the mounting plate  114  being required to slidably engage therein along the full height of the plate receiving slot  124 . 
   The mounting of the handle to the front or rear wall of the container body will be in accord with the wishes of the user of the container with the handle being repositionable as desired. When mounted to the front wall, a single hand can be used to both grasp the handle and release the latch. With the handle mounted to the rear wall, release of the latch will normally be by the second hand of the user. This latter arrangement may be preferred by those with a particular lack of manual dexterity whereby one cannot, with a single hand, hold both the container and manipulate the latch. Other factors which may enter into handle positioning include the nature of the contents of the container, and the manner in which the contents are to be accessed. 
   The foregoing is illustrative of the principles of the invention, and while a specific embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail, it is to be appreciated that variations may occur to those skilled in the art, such as dimensional changes resulting in both larger and smaller containers, and containers of shapes other than the basic oval shape illustrated, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.