Abstract:
A lid assembly for a container that effectively seals the contents of the container from the environment and the environment from the contents. The lid assembly includes an upper sealing portion and a lower base portion that are mated together coaxially. Once mated together and secured to the container, the upper portion may be rotated relative to the lower portion to expose the contents of the container through the alignment of dispensing openings in each of the upper and lower portions. During rotation of the sealing portion from a closed position to an open position, the sealing portion is elevated relative to the base portion to form a separation between the sealing portion and the base portion while concurrently aligning the dispensing openings to permit withdrawal of the contents of the container. Upon release of the opening force, the sealing portion retreats away from the elevated position towards the base portion while simultaneously covering and sealing the dispensing opening in the base portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a lid assembly for sealing a container. More particularly, the invention relates to a self-closing sealing lid assembly incorporating a base portion and a sealing portion that rotate respectively to expose the contents of the container. When in a closed position, a seal is created between the base and sealing portions in order to protect the contents of the container from the environment as well as isolating the outside environment from the contents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention provides advantages and/or alternatives over the prior art by providing a lid assembly for a container that effectively seals the contents of the container from the environment. The lid assembly includes an upper sealing portion and a lower base portion that are mated together coaxially. Once mated together and secured to the container, the upper portion may be rotated relative to the lower portion to expose the contents of the container through the alignment of dispensing openings in each of the upper and lower portions. During rotation of the sealing portion from a closed position to an open position, the sealing portion is elevated relative to the base portion to form a separation between the sealing portion and the base portion while concurrently aligning the dispensing openings to permit withdrawal of the contents of the container. Upon release of the opening force, the sealing portion retreats away from the elevated position towards the base portion while simultaneously covering and sealing the dispensing opening in the base portion.  
         [0003]     According to one aspect, the lid assembly may include a torsion spring, or like biasing element, that returns the lid assembly to a closed position when the rotational force used to open the lid assembly is removed.  
         [0004]     According to another aspect, upon rotation, the upper and lower portions may translate axially relative to one another such that when in a closed position, the lower dispensing opening is sealed against the upper sealing portion.  
         [0005]     According to a potentially preferred feature, the upper and lower portions of the lid assembly may incorporate an integral elevation adjusting camming assembly wherein one of the lid portions incorporates one or more male camming members adapted to ride within complimentary angled tracks on an opposing surface of the other lid portion such that relative rotation of the lid portions causes a relative translation in elevation between the portions as the camming members ride within the tracks.  
         [0006]     According to another potentially preferred feature, the lower portion portions of the lid assembly incorporates a depressed well at least partially surrounding the content withdrawal opening with a raised lip disposed at least partially around the depressed well. The raised lip enhances the seal around the depressed well when the upper portion rotates to the closed position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate several exemplary constructions and procedures and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description set forth below, serve to explain operational principles wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates schematically an assembled lid attached to a container;  
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating the major components of the lid assembly;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate schematically a lower base portion of the lid of  FIG. 1  illustrated from two perspectives;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate schematically a lower base portion of the lid of  FIG. 1  as a top plan view and a cutaway cross section taken along line  3 - 3 ;  
         [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate schematically an upper sealing portion of the lid of  FIG. 1  from two perspectives;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate schematically the upper and lower lid portions mated together and rotated to an open position, both as a top plan view and a cutaway cross section taken along line  5 - 5 ;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate schematically the upper and lower lid portions mated together and rotated to a closed position, both as a top plan view and a cutaway cross section taken along line  6 - 6 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates schematically the upper and lower portions mated together and attached to the container. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, to the extent possible, like reference numerals are used to designate like components in the various views.  
         [0017]     Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 1 A depict an exemplary construction of a lid assembly  10  adapted for attached relation to a container  12 . It is contemplated that the container  12  may be of circular cross-section. However, the container  12  may be of polygonal or other cross-section as desired. By way of example and not limitation, the container  12  may have a square, hexagonal, or octagonal cross-section. As illustrated, the container  12  includes a closed end  18  and an open end  20 , the open end  20  being adapted to releasably engage the lid assembly  10  (discussed in further detail below). The container  12  may be adapted to hold a volume of materials (not shown), including for example, liquid, powders, granules, or sheet products such as wiping cloths or the like. The container  12  and lid assembly  10  securely attach together in such a way that the material may be held therein without spillage. By means of example only, and not limitation, the container  12  and/or lid assembly  10  may be constructed of plastic or other polymeric materials, glass, metal, or any other suitable structural material. According to one potentially preferred construction, the container  12  and/or the lid assembly  10  may be constructed of a hard, injection-molded plastic.  
         [0018]     In the illustrated construction, the lid assembly  10  includes a lower or base portion  14  and an upper or sealing portion  16 . Each of the lower and upper portions  14 ,  16  may be substantially cylindrical in shape. According to a potentially preferred embodiment, the upper sealing portion  16  is an incrementally greater diameter than the lower base portion  14  such that the lower and upper portions  14 ,  16  may be mated coaxially. In this relation, the lower base portion  14  resides in male relation within the volume of the upper sealing portion  16  (discussed in greater detail below).  
         [0019]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1A  (and as will be discussed in further detail below) a helical torsion spring  100  is adapted for disposition in substantially nested relation within a molded depression forming a spring bore  40  in the lower base portion  14 . As will be described further hereinafter, the torsion spring  100  engages a central cylinder  62  which projects downwardly from the upper sealing portion  16  such that a torsional biasing force is established between the upper and lower portions of the assembly.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict a potentially preferred embodiment of the lower base portion  14 .  FIG. 2A  depicts the lower base portion  14  in plan view taken generally along line  2 A- 2 A in  FIG. 1A , while  FIG. 2B  depicts an edge view. As shown, the lower base portion  14  may include a substantially cylindrically-shaped body  32 . The body  32  includes a substantially planar first upper surface  30  that intersects a circumferential wall  33  at the perimeter of the first upper surface  30 . A slightly raised edge  36  is preferably disposed at least partially around the upper surface  30  at the intersection with the circumferential wall  33  to facilitate sealing. From the perimeter of the first upper surface  30 , the circumferential wall  33  extends in a downward direction to a flange  48  that extends radially from the circumferential wall  33 . By way of example and not of limitation, as depicted in  FIG. 2A , the flange  48  may be hexagonal. Alternatively, the flange  48  may be of any polygonal or other shape, as may be desired. The flange  48  preferably includes a knurled peripheral edge  50 . The knurled peripheral edge  50  and the angled, polygonal shape of the flange  48  may serve to assist a user in attaching the lower base portion  14  to the container  12  by providing greater leverage and grip.  
         [0021]     According to the illustrated and potentially preferred embodiment, the lower base portion  14  includes a lower dispensing opening  34  defined by a cavity formed within the first upper surface  30 , and disposed between the axis  36  and the periphery of the first upper surface  30 . In the preferred construction, a raised sealing lip  38  may project from the first upper surface  30 , at least partially around the lower dispensing opening  34 . The cavity defining the lower dispensing opening  34  extends downwardly from the first upper surface  30 , and in a potentially preferred embodiment, terminates in a dispensing plate  49 .  
         [0022]     The dispensing plate  49  may include a dispensing aperture  52 . The dispensing aperture  52  is an opening in the dispensing plate  49  that allows access to the interior of the container  12  when the lid assembly  10  is secured to the container  12  and is placed in an open position. According to a contemplated embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 2A , the dispensing aperture  52  may be shaped in a star-like configuration with a plurality of arms projecting outwardly from a central bore. By means of example and not limitation, this star-like configuration is contemplated for use with a container intended for dispensing sheet products, such as woven or non-woven wipes.  
         [0023]     Again referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , it is contemplated that a plurality of male camming members in the form of circumferential guide ridges  46  may be disposed about the circumferential wall  33  of the lower base portion  14 . The circumferential guide ridges  46  may be substantially linear projections that are distributed about the circumferential wall  33 , and are aligned substantially parallel with the first upper surface  30 . In a potentially preferred embodiment, each of the circumferential guide ridges  46  may be substantially equidistant from the first upper surface  30 . In an alternative embodiment, each of the circumferential guide ridges  46  may be of varying distances from the first upper surface  30 . These guide ridges  46  may act as camming surfaces which cause the upper sealing portion  16  to rise relative to the lower base portion  14  as the lid assembly  10  is rotated to an open position, and cause the upper sealing portion  16  to lower relative to the lower base portion  14  when rotated to a closed position (discussed in further detail below).  
         [0024]     As indicated previously, the lower base portion  14  may include a spring bore  40  formed in the first upper surface  30 , the spring bore  40  being dimensioned to accommodate torsion spring  100  within its depth ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The spring bore  40  may be aligned substantially coaxially with the axis of the lower base portion  14 . Communicating with the spring bore  40  is a spring extension groove  42 , formed in the first upper surface  30  and extending tangentially outward from the spring bore  40 . The spring bore  40  and the spring extension groove  42  may terminate in a spring shoulder  54 , upon which the torsion spring  100  rests within the spring bore  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the spring bore  40  may be defined by a first diameter to a depth coinciding with the spring shoulder  54 . It is contemplated that the spring bore  40  may extend beyond and through the spring shoulder  54 , thereafter defined by a second, narrower diameter portion. As best illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the narrowed portion of the spring bore  40  defines a hollow nipple  41 . Hollow nipple  41  may extend in a downward direction beyond the bottommost extent of flange  48 . So constructed, when the lid assembly  10  is attached to the container  12 , the hollow nipple  41  may project into the interior of the container  12 . By means of example only, the hollow nipple  41  may engage the center of a cylindrical roll of wipes to maintain its position coaxial with the container  12 .  
         [0025]     The torsion spring  100  may include a helical coil portion and a tangential extension  102 , which projects outwardly from a first end of the coil in a substantially tangential direction. The torsion spring  100  may further include a torsion bar  104  in a pig tail configuration that extends inwardly from the second end of the coil at least partially across the coil. As will be described further hereinafter, the torsion bar  104  is adapted to be held within the central cylinder  62  projecting downwardly from the upper portion of the assembly.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict a potentially preferred embodiment of the upper sealing portion  16  of the lid assembly  10 .  FIG. 4A  is a top plan view taken generally along line  4 A- 4 A in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 4B  depicts a side view. The upper sealing portion  16  is preferably substantially cylindrically shaped with a hollow interior and a central axis. However, other geometries as may be desired can also be utilized. By way of example only, the upper sealing portion  16  may be polygonal in shape with a hollow cylindrical interior. The upper sealing portion  16  may define a second upper surface  70 , which itself includes a first side  72  and a second side  74 . The first side  72  faces away from the lower base portion  14  when the upper and lower portions  14 ,  16  are mated together coaxially. The second side  74  is opposite the second upper surface  70  from the first side  72 , facing the lower base portion  14  when it is mated to the upper sealing portion  16 . The hollow interior of the upper sealing portion  16  may be defined by the second side  74  and a circumferential downwardly projecting wall portion  80  that intersects and extends away from the second upper surface  70 . The upper sealing portion  16  also includes an upper dispensing opening  66  defined by a cavity formed in the second upper surface  70  between the axis  90  and the periphery of the first upper surface  70 .  
         [0027]     Referring again to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the upper sealing portion  16  may include a handle  68  that projects outwardly from the first side  72  of the second upper surface  70 . In a potentially preferred embodiment, the handle  68  may be a protuberance that extends radially in a direction from the central axis of the upper sealing portion, across the first side  72  towards the intersection with the downwardly projecting wall portion  80 . It is contemplated that the handle  68  may include a plurality of such radially extending protuberances, which may intersect at or near the axis  90 . So configured, the lid assembly  10  may be easily and effectively rotated to between an open and a closed position.  
         [0028]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4B, 5B  and  6 B, it is contemplated that the central cylinder  62  projects away from the second side  74  of the upper sealing portion  16  and is coaxially aligned with the central axis. The central cylinder  62  may be of a substantially split construction including a spring engagement groove  76  that is cut through the central cylinder  62 . When the upper and lower portions  16 ,  14  are in a coaxial mated position, with at least a portion of the lower base portion  14  being within the volume of the interior of the upper sealing portion  16 , the central cylinder  62  may extend through the coil of the torsion spring  100  with the spring engagement groove  76  holding the torsion bar  104 . The spring engagement groove  76  is cut to a depth along the central cylinder  62  sufficient to accept the torsion bar  104  therein and thereby secure the torsion bar  104  within the central cylinder  62 . So positioned, a rotational force applied to the upper sealing portion  16  will bias the torsion spring  100  while the tangential extension  102  is secured within the spring extension groove  42 . As such, it is contemplated that the torsion spring  100  may be in an un-biased condition when the upper sealing portion  16  is placed in a closed position ( FIG. 6A ), while the torsion spring  100  will be biased as the upper sealing portion  16  is rotated towards an open position ( FIG. 5A ). Thus, when the rotational force applied to the upper sealing portion  16  is released, the torsion spring  100  will tend towards its un-biased condition. In so doing, the torsion spring  100  will apply a rotational force between the upper and lower portions  16 ,  14  through their respective securing relation with the torsion bar  104  and the tangential spring extension  102 . This rotational force will tend to return the upper sealing portion  16  to its original, closed position.  
         [0029]     The upper and lower portions  16 ,  14  are depicted in a mated orientation in both  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and  6 A and  6 B. In  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the lid assembly  10  is depicted as being in an open position. In  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the lid assembly  10  is depicted as being in a closed position. As illustrated, when the upper sealing portion  16  is in its closed position, the upper and lower dispensing openings  66 ,  34  are out of alignment as shown in  FIG. 6A . In this position, the first upper surface  30  of the lower base portion  14  blocks access to the interior of the container  12  through the upper dispensing opening  66 . When the upper sealing portion  16  is in an open position, the upper and lower dispensing openings  66 ,  34  are substantially, or at least partially, aligned ( FIG. 5A ). So aligned, the interior of the container  12 , and thus the materials held therein, may be accessed by a user. The materials held within the container  12  may then be effectively removed.  
         [0030]     As indicated previously, according to a particularly beneficial feature of the invention, the upper and lower portions of the lid assembly are adapted to cooperatively form a tight seal around the lower dispensing opening when the upper sealing portion  16  is biased to a closed position. In the preferred construction this sealing relation is effected by the cooperative lowering of the upper sealing portion  16  into sealing contacting relation with the raised sealing lip  38  disposed around the lower dispensing opening  34 . Such a sealed relation in the normally closed position aids in the protection of container contents that are required to remain moist such as pre-saturated wipes and the like that are susceptible to performance degradation due to evaporation.  
         [0031]     In order to achieve the desired sealed relation, it is contemplated that the interior circumferential surface  82  of the upper sealing portion  16  may include a circumferential guide groove  78 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the guide groove  78  is adapted to engage the circumferential guide ridges  46  ( FIG. 2A ) projecting from wall of the lower portion  14  when the upper and lower portions  16 ,  14  are mated such that the circumferential guide ridges  46  are dimensioned ride within the circumferential guide groove  78 .  
         [0032]     According to the illustrated construction, the guide groove  78  is made up of a multiplicity of slots  79  arranged in a discontinuous circumferential arrangement around the interior circumferential surface  82 . Each of the slots is adapted to accept a corresponding guide ridge  46 . Alternatively, the guide groove may be a continuous slot. As shown, the slots  79  forming the guide groove are preferably slightly angled relative to the upper surface  70  so as to have a sight change in elevation along their length. Due to the angle of the slots  79 , as the upper sealing portion  16  is rotated towards the open position ( FIGS. 5A and 5B ), the circumferential guide ridges  46  riding within the slots  79  act as camming surfaces thereby forcing the upper and lower portions  16 ,  14  apart, in opposite directions. In a potentially preferred embodiment, the camming action between guide ridges  46  and the guide groove  78  forces the upper sealing portion  16  in a direction away from the lower base portion  14 , which remains stationary. When the upper sealing portion  16  is released and allowed to rotated towards a closed position, ( FIGS. 6A and 6B ), the camming action between the guide ridges  46  and guide grooves  78  forces the upper and lower portions  16 ,  14  back towards contacting relation with one another. Of course, it is also contemplated that the relative arrangement of the guide grooves  78  and the guide ridges  46  may be reversed if desired. That is, the guide ridges  46  may be carried on the interior circumferential surface  82  of the upper sealing portion  16  and the guide groove  78  may be carried on the circumferential wall  33  of the lower base portion  14 .  
         [0033]     As will be appreciated, during operation the elevation change of the upper sealing portion between the open and closed positions brings the sealing lip  38  into contacting sealing relation with the interior of the upper sealing portion to facilitate a close sealed relation. In particular, it is contemplated that in the closed position, the second side  74  of the upper sealing portion  16  is placed into contacting sealing relation with the sealing lip  38  that bounds the lower dispensing opening  34 . Thus sealed, the contents of the container  12  are protected from the environment outside the container  12 , and vice versa. Conversely, when the lid is moved to the open position, the second side  74  of the upper sealing portion  16  is raised away from the sealing lip  38  without interference.  
         [0034]     In order to promote the controlled opening of the lid assembly, the lower base portion  14  may include an arcuate guide groove  44  in the upper surface  30 . The arcuate guide groove  44  is adapted to receive a guide post  60  ( FIG. 4B ) that projects downwardly from the upper sealing portion  16 . The guide post  60  rides in the arcuate guide groove  44  to maintain the lateral position of the upper sealing portion  16  with respect to the lower base portion  14  as the former is rotated to place the lid assembly  10  is an open or closed position. The length of the arcuate guide groove  44  may be dictated by the angle of rotation required to place the lid assembly  10  in an open position, and thus by the dimensions of the lower dispensing opening  34 . By means of example and not limitation, as depicted in  FIGS. 5A and 6A , the dimensions of the lower dispensing opening  34  are such that a like-dimensioned upper dispensing opening  66  located on the upper sealing portion  16  may be rotated through approximately 90° to fully expose the lower dispensing opening when in an open position, and to fully seal the same when in a closed position. If a narrower lower dispensing opening  30  is utilized (along with a correspondingly narrower upper dispensing opening  66 ), a smaller minimum angle of rotation may be used to fully open and seal the lid assembly  10 . The arcuate guide groove is preferably at least long enough to accommodate the guide post  60  through this angle of rotation.  
         [0035]     The normal bias of the lid assembly  10  to a sealed position is particularly beneficial in avoiding a situation in which the container  12  is left open unintentionally. This sealing relation is potentially beneficial in packaging of a number of different materials that require sealed containment. By way of example only, in one contemplated environment of use, the container  12  may be adapted to hold a continuous sheet of a plurality of wipes  53 , each individual wipe  53  being separated from an adjacent wipe by a line of perforation ( FIGS. 5A and 5B ). As a wipe  53  is pulled through the dispensing aperture  52  having a star-like configuration, the relatively narrow opening imparts tension on the wipe. The tension imparted is such that after a line of perforation is pulled through the dispensing aperture  52 , the adjacent wipes will tear along the line of perforation, thereby releasing a single wipe  53  for use, while retaining the formerly adjacent wipe within the container  12  with a portion thereof extending through the dispensing aperture  52 .  
         [0036]     The dispensing aperture  52  may also be adapted to efficiently and effectively dispense other materials held within the volume of the container  12 . By means of example and not limitation, the dispensing aperture  52  may consist of a plurality of openings, mesh, or grid, which may be effective for dispensing powders, granules, or other like particulate matter, or liquid matter from the container  12  and through the dispensing aperture  52 . As a further alternative, the dispensing aperture  48  may include a spout that may be contained within the volume of the cavity defining the lower dispensing opening  34 . A spout would facilitate the pouring of liquids (as well as particulate matter) while minimizing spillage. It is further contemplated that the lower dispensing opening  34  may be entirely open, and not include the dispensing plate  49 , thereby allowing a user to insert a scoop or like instrument through the lower dispensing opening and into the interior of the container  12  in order to manually remove the material held therein. In another contemplated embodiment, the dispensing plate  49  may be removable and interchangeable with a plurality of dispensing plates, each bearing a different dispensing aperture  52 . This modular design would permit a user to employ the lid assembly  10  of the present invention with containers for a number of different materials.  
         [0037]     It is to be understood that while the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to potentially preferred embodiments, constructions, and procedures, that such embodiments, constructions, and procedures are illustrative only and that the invention is in no event to be limited thereto. Rather, it is contemplated that modifications and variations embodying the principles of the invention will no doubt occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is therefore contemplated and intended that the present invention shall extend to all such modifications and variations as may incorporate the broad aspects of the invention within the true spirit and scope thereof.