Abstract:
The open ended container with resealable lid combination has a seal ring which cooperates with a seal engagement surface to provide a resealable construction to provide at least one of an airtight and watertight configuration after the lid has initially been removed from the container and re-applied. The seal engagement surface preferably provides at least two ramps and the seal ring deforms along at least one, if not both of the ramps.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/318,968 filed Apr. 6, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application is directed to a open end container with an improved seal assembly. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For years the applicant has been requested to provide a five gallon and possibly other sized pail with a lid that can reseal itself. Some applications could be directed to keeping paint fresh or other applications such as, but not limited to, those in which part of the contents were utilized but not all at once so that the remainder of the contents could be kept fresh for later use. 
         [0004]    Additionally, a number of years ago, the applicant obtained U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,691 which has a seal located on an interior wall of the container. That technology is still in use today for particularly robust applications. However, new technology is believed to be useful for still further applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of many embodiments of the invention to provide an improved lid and container assembly. 
         [0006]    The lid could be configured to be initially applied by a manufacturer to seal contents therein such as paint, chemicals or other components therein whereby the ingredients are ready for shipment. A tear-off strip with an internally directed hook (which can protect the seal) could be provided below internally directed threads of outer inwardly directed wall of the lid such as is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 14/956,441 filed Dec. 2, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,691 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety 
         [0007]    Typically manufacturers, if they utilize seals, use a material which does not deform significantly under pressure. These seals are placed against smooth surfaces whether they be substantially flat surfaces like the one shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/956,441 or like the concave surface shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,691. 
         [0008]    However, the applicant&#39;s new design is believed to provide a pail having an improved open end construction providing what is believed to be a unique construction which preferably cooperates with at least one set of threads on a lid. The lid may be screwed on and off and in this process, resealed relative to the contents internal to the container with a seal. The seal has increased surface area to act against based on a series of steps, ridges, or teeth, which can engage a somewhat resilient seal member so as to increase the surface area over which a seal can be formed. Additionally the steps, ridges, or teeth are laterally or even upwardly oriented since the pail, when formed by injection molding is typically ejected from the mold in the direction of top to bottom (i.e., the bottom leads the pail out of the mold). 
         [0009]    Still other embodiments may have a seal member disposed above and/or at an upper rim of the pail in a channel of the lid to provide a seal possibly together with, or instead of, the seal member described above. Some embodiments of the present invention may also have one or more grips formed into the lid for use in opening and/or closing the lid relative to the pail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an external plan view of a container of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a bottom plan view of a lid for use with the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of the container showed in  FIG. 1  together with a cooperating portion of a lid shown in  FIG. 2  connected thereto; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed portion of the connection of the lid to the container as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a detailed portion of a compressed seal shown as detail B in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a top plan view of a lid of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a top perspective view of the lid of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a side plan view of a portion of lid shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a container  10  for use with a lid  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The container  10  may have threads or channels  24 ,  25  which cooperate with corresponding threads or channels  28 ,  29  in lid  22 . Other embodiments may provide push on lids  22  which are downwardly directed onto container  10  as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and do not need to “screw” on. Many embodiments will have a screw on lid  22  as illustrated. Other screw on lids  22  may have fewer or more threads  28 ,  29  or channels as would container  10 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the threads or channels  24 ,  25 ,  28 ,  29  may have multiple starting points so that one need only turn the lid  22  relative to the container  10  a certain amount to begin having threads/channels  28 ,  29 ,  24 ,  25  of the lid  22  and the container  10  engage. Other embodiments may or may not have interrupted threads/channels  24 ,  25 ,  28 ,  29  as are known in the art as well. 
         [0021]    Container  10  has bottom  12  with upwardly extending side walls  14  defining a somewhat cylindrical shape with a substantially round perimeter for many embodiments as would be understood from the description and figures. At the upper end  16  of the container  10  is an opening leading into an internal volume  17  of the container  10 . Satellite ring  18  may extend circumferentially and cantileveredly away from wall  14  and/or may also provide a hook for engaging a tear strip such as is describe in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/956,441, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0022]    In some situations, it may be desirable for a lid  22  and container  10  to reseal after initial opening, such as if all the contents are not utilized. Paint and drywall dry out or degrade once the lid is initially removed from the pail. An improved design is believed to be desirable for such an embodiment and other embodiments. 
         [0023]    To that effect,  FIGS. 3 and 4  shows a portion of the container  10  having an internal seal ring  30 . The container  10  has what is believed to be a new seal engagement surface  32  on the container  10  which is quite different than prior art designs. 
         [0024]    Specifically, the engagement surface  32  preferably has at least two, if not three or more ramps, ledges or teeth  34  which each preferably provide angled surfaces  36 ,  38  which meet at a point or curve  40  that when a resilient first seal ring  30  is compressed against the seal engagement surface  32 , the first seal ring  30  is compressed so as to contact portions of both angled surfaces  36 ,  38  on at least two of the teeth  34 . 
         [0025]    The angled surfaces may include a substantially vertically extending surface  38  and a substantially horizontally extending surface  36 . For other embodiments, the surface  36  may be more vertically oriented, but as it relates to vertical axis  42 , vertically extending surface preferably does not extend at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees (although it could extend vertically as shown, or anywhere between 270 and 360 degrees (or 90 to 180, depending on how it is viewed). There are a lot of different angular relationships that could be provided such as the almost 90 degree relationship between the surfaces  36 ,  38  illustrated. Other embodiments may provide an acute angle between the surfaces  36 ,  38 , while other embodiments may provide an obtuse angle between the surfaces  36 ,  38 . Furthermore, either of surfaces  36 ,  38  need not be planar for all embodiments as illustrated. For many embodiments, it is envisioned that the pail  10  will be directed away from a mold (which fills the cavity  17 , preferably without slides) so that as the pail  10  is ejected, there are no undercuts into an interior wall surface  44 , including the surfaces  36 ,  38  of the teeth  34  of the engagement surface. 
         [0026]    On the lid  22 , a channel  46  may assist in receiving the first seal ring  30  which may be resiliently retained therein, or adhered, so that it could be mechanically and/or chemically retained in positioned. 
         [0027]    When securing the lid  22  relative to the container, the first seal ring  30  preferably compresses and deforms at the teeth  34  so that the first seal ring  30  contacts the curve  40  (or point), as well as at least a portion of the surfaces  36 ,  38  of at least two teeth  34 . In fact, for some embodiments, at least one quarter, one third, if not half of at least one of the surfaces  36 ,  38  is contacted by the first seal ring  30  in-a closed configuration. Other embodiments may have at least one quarter, one third, if not half of both of the surfaces  36 ,  38  is contacted by the seal ring  30  in a closed configuration. Still other embodiments may have the first seal ring  30  contact an intersection  48  of adjacent teeth  34  in a closed configuration, depending on the softness, or resiliency of the first seal ring  30  selected. For many embodiments, it is envisioned that a closed cell neoprene gasket is selected for a seal ring  30  which is particularly soft or resilient. 
         [0028]    For many embodiments, the first seal ring  30  contacts  46  of the lid  22  where it may be retained by a friction fit and/or adhesives. When placing the lid  22  on the container  10 , the first seal ring  30  contacts the teeth  34  of the contact surface  32  to form, in many embodiments an airtight and/or watertight seal of the lid  22  relative to the container  10  with the first seal ring  30 . 
         [0029]    The lid  22  may screw onto the container  10  and or be press fit, depending on the embodiment selected. 
         [0030]    There are many different ways that the lid  22  can connect to a container  10 . Press fitting (like pails containing paint or joint compound are often provided), or screw tops (like the one shown) are options. The first seal ring  30  is shown connected to an inner surface  42  of the lid  10  and the seal engagement surface  32  on the inner surface of the container  10 . Other embodiments could provide the first seal ring  30  and/or the contact engagement surface  32  on other surfaces of the lid  22  and/or container  10 . 
         [0031]    The first seal ring  30  is shown below the threads  24  and/or  25  for many embodiments. Other embodiments may be constructed differently. The first seal ring  30  is also shown positioned above a lowest portion  50  of the lid  22  when installed for many embodiments. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  also shows a second seal ring  52  contacting rim  54  of the pail or container  10 . Some embodiments may just use the second seal ring  52  instead of a first seal ring  30 , and still others may not use a second seal ring  52  at all. The second seal ring  52  may be made of similar or dissimilar material as the first seal ring  30 . When the lid  22  is secured to the container  10 , such as by being screwed into place, the rim  54  may deform and/or seal against the second seal ring  52  to provide a fluid tight connection (such as liquid and/or air tight connection). Neither of the seal rings  30  or  52  are required to have a round cross section, but may shaped with various cross sections. 
         [0033]    Second seal ring  52  may partially deform about inside surface  44  and/or the outside surface  56  at the rim  54  of the container  10 , such as illustrated, or possibly just contact upper surface  58  of the rim  54 . For some embodiments, the second seal ring  52  is sufficient to provide a fluid tight seal of the lid  22  to the container  10  in the closed configuration, such as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows another improvement for some embodiments of a lid  22 . The lid  22  has formed first and second grips  60 ,  62  which are illustrated as symmetrically disposed about a centerline  64 , but could be differently oriented for other embodiments.  FIG. 7  shows the grips  60 ,  62  in a perspective view, which is also helpful to understand the construction. 
         [0035]    Specifically, the grips  60 ,  62  may extend below an upper surface  66  of the lid  22  with a width  68  sufficient for the fingers of a user to extend into a cavity  70  with a palm contacting outer edge  72  of the lid  22  so as to securely grip the lid  22  in a gripping manner. Other embodiments may have the grips extending above an upper surface  66  of the lid  22 . On the outer edge  72 , radially extending outwardly directed ridges  74  can assist in a palm of a user maintaining a connection on the outer edge  72  for at least some embodiments. 
         [0036]    Grips  60 ,  62  are preferably integrally formed into the lid  22 . They are radially spaced from the centerline  64  proximate to the outer edge  72  of the lid  22  whereby a user can place the palm of a hand at the outer edge  72  and fingers into the cavity  70 , if present. 
         [0037]    Internal to the cavity  70  can be internally directed ridges  75 , which may be parallel oriented toward the centerline  64 , radially oriented and/or otherwise provided to assist in providing a connection with the fingers of a user. For some embodiments they may be angled acutely relative to the centerline  64 , but probably not perpendicular thereto. A range of 0 (as shown) to about 60 degrees is preferable for at least some embodiments. The internally directed ridges  75  may be substantially coplanar with the externally directed ridges  74 , and may extend an elevation below the outwardly directed ridges  74  on the outer edge  74  of the lid  22  for at least some embodiments. Shoulder  80  and/or groove  82  may separate the grips  60 ,  62  from the outer edge  72 . Shoulder  80  may be parallel with upper surface  66  for at least some embodiments, or be elevated relative thereto as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0038]    While the grips  60 ,  62  may have generally elongated channels or cavities  70 , they may also have radially outwardly oriented concave shoulders  76 ,  78  to assist in a portion of a user&#39;s fingers being able to push or pull the lid  22  tight when twisting shut as well as when opening, particularly depending on which hand the user selects to operate the lid  22  relative to the container  10 . The grips  60 ,  62  can provide a significant mechanical advantage to the user for at least some embodiments. More than two, or fewer, concave shoulders  76 ,  78  could be provided with other embodiments. 
         [0039]    With a palm of a user on the outer edge  72  and the fingers along the internally directed ridges  75 , in the cavity  70  and/or along the shoulders illustrated as concave shoulders  76 ,  78 , a grip believed to be unique to the container industry can be provided particularly for lids  22  which twist on and off containers  10 . The shoulder  80  and/or groove  82  can provide sufficient spacing to make the hold a comfortable and useful hold for a user to then be able to twist the lid  22  relative to the container  10  as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0040]    These, or still other embodiments, may have a tear off strip  84  such as the one shown in  FIG. 8  which may be similarly or dissimilarly constructed on the inside as provided in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/956,441. The strip  84  can have a double loop tear grip  86  which is believed to be novel for providing a more comfortable hold when removing the strip  84 . The double loop construction for the tear grip  86  provides 50% more connection to the tear strip (three connections  91 ,  93 ,  95  instead of two) over a single loop tear grip so it can be stronger, while also receiving two fingers (one in each hole) instead of a single finger in a single hole. Additionally, a first end  88  of the strip  84  is initially spaced by gap  90  from a second end  92  of the strip  84 . Spars  94 , such as spaced apart spars  94  can span the gap  90  at locations which can readily break when removing the strip  84 . The gap  90  can extend from a bottom edge  96  to a channel  98  where the tear strip  84  pulls away from the lid  22  when removed. The gap  90  preferably terminates within the channel  98 , for at least some embodiments. The gap  90  may also narrow in width  99  from the bottom edge  96  to a termination point  97 , such as within the channel  98 , either continuously as illustrated and/or abruptly. The channel  98  preferably has a narrower thickness than surrounding material to facilitate a location for the tear strip to make the tear when pulling. 
         [0041]    Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.