Patent Publication Number: US-2017354249-A1

Title: Hermetically sealable storage cabinets

Description:
FIELD 
     The embodiments relate generally to storage cabinets. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Open kitchens have become popular interior designs in homes. However, storage space provided by cupboards is often sacrificed to provide the open kitchen design to an adjacent room, such as a family room. A pantry to store dry food near a kitchen is often unavailable as well. Storage demands for dry food can be exacerbated as families grow in size within the same home. 
     To avoid more frequent grocery shopping, food is often stored in a garage of a home. Moreover, pet food is often stored in a garage even when there is sufficient storage in a kitchen for human food. However, garages and the storage cabinets therein are often not sealed well from outdoor elements such as dirt, insects and rodents. The food stored in a garage can become dirty from the infiltration of dirt and eaten by insects or rodents. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improved dry food storage. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the invention are summarized by the claims that follow below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a sealable storage cabinet in an open door configuration/status. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates the sealable storage cabinet of  FIG. 1A  in a closed door configuration/status. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of portions of the hinged door  116  and a side of the cabinet housing with the sealable storage cabinet in the closed configuration as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate corner portions of an embodiment of a magnetic gasket assembly coupling to a hinged door. 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross sectional views of various embodiments of the magnetic gasket assembly coupled to the hinged door. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a magnified view of a side hinge coupled to outside surfaces of a side panel and the hinged door. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a sealable storage cabinet with double doors each of which has the magnetic gasket assembly coupled to the hinged door to seal over the two open faces in the cabinet. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a top hinge that may be used for the hinged door a double door sealable storage cabinet or hinged doors of a double door sealable storage cabinet. 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  are exploded views of a bottom hinge that may be used for the hinged door a double door sealable storage cabinet or hinged doors of a double door sealable storage cabinet. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a magnified view of a portion of a light bar that is used to light the interior of the sealable storage cabinet. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a sealable storage cabinet with a top hinged door and short front side for easy access. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a sealable storage cabinet with a top hinged door and front side windows to readily view the food storage level of dry food stored in the sealable storage cabinet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details of embodiments are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. However, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     A hermetically sealable storage cabinet for housing dry foods and other items is disclosed. The hermetically sealable storage cabinet includes a housing with a storage compartment, a door for opening and closing an opening into the storage compartment, and a magnetic sealing gasket for providing a substantial air-tight seal around the door when in the closed configuration/state. Without refrigeration, the hermetically sealable storage cabinet is suitable for storing non-refrigerated and dry food goods, such as in the garage of a home. The hermetically sealable storage cabinet protects the stored food goods from dust and insects. Accordingly, the hermetically sealable storage cabinet may also be referred to herein as a hermetically sealable food storage cabinet. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-1B , a perspective view of a hermetically sealable food storage cabinet  100  with a single capacity is shown in an open door configuration. In accordance with some embodiments, the size of the food storage cabinet  100  may be approximately 72 inches (6 feet) tall, 48 inches (4 feet) wide, and 24 inches (2 feet) deep so that it is readily mounted to a wall of a garage. In other embodiments, the storage cabinet  100  may have other dimensions. The hermetically sealable food storage cabinet  100  may also stand alone and include a ballast coupled to the bottom or base  114  of the cabinet. When in a closed door configuration/state, such as shown in  FIG. 1B , a substantial air tight seal is formed around the door by a magnetic gasket assembly. This tight seal prevents insects from entering the container and ravaging the food stored therein. 
     Generally, the food storage cabinet  100  includes two side walls  112 L, 112 R, a bottom  114 , and a top  115  all coupled to a back wall  111 . Edges of the two side walls  112 L, 112 R, the bottom  114 , and the top  115  form a rectangular edge  110  that surrounds a sealable open face  126 . The food storage cabinet  100  further includes a hinged door  116  coupled to one of the two side walls  112 L, 112 R. The hinged door  116  is configured to cover over the opening of the sealable open face  126  to seal the food storage cabinet. The two side walls  112 L, 112 R, the back wall  113 , the bottom  114 , and the top  115  form a housing or body  101  of the food storage cabinet  100 . 
     The food storage cabinet  100  has two configurations or states. An open configuration/state is shown in  FIG. 1A . A closed configuration/state shown in  FIG. 1B . In the open configuration/state shown in  FIG. 1A , an individual can access non-refrigerated and dry food goods (not shown) contained within the food storage cabinet  100 . In the closed configuration/state, the door  116  of the food storage cabinet  100  is shut, forming a substantial air-tight seal between and around the edges of the door  116  and the open face  126 . 
     Components of the food storage cabinet  100 , including the housing or body  101 , may be fabricated from wood, plastic (e.g., polypropylene), or metal. Portions of the hinged door  116  may also be fabricated from wood, plastic or metal. For ready movability, a set of caster wheels  124  may be pivotally coupled to the bottom  114  of the cabinet  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , there may be one or more shelves  121  located inside the food storage cabinet  100 . Like the cabinet, the shelves  121  may be constructed from plastic. To allow light to shine through the shelves  121 , the shelves may have openings formed therein in a grid configuration. The shelves  121  may be adjustable in position with slots being included in the inner portion of the sides  112 L, 112 R of the cabinet. Alternatively or additionally, brackets may be coupled to the inner portion of the sides  112 L, 112 R and of the shelves  121  to hold them in a more rigid configuration. 
     The hinged door  116  has a lockable handle  127  with a latch  117  that mates with a catch  118  coupled to an inner portion of a side wall  112 L, 112 R. Accordingly, the hinged door  116  is configured to be locked over the opening of the open face  126  of the food storage cabinet in the closed configuration. 
     In the closed configuration/state, the hinged door  116  is hermetically sealed (substantially air tight) around edges of the door  116  and the open face  126  by a magnetic gasket assembly  119 . The magnetic gasket assembly  119  substantially keeps dirt, dust, and bugs out of the inside of the food storage cabinet. 
     Magentic Gasket Assembly 
     The food-storage cabinet provides a tight seal (substantially air tight) between the hinged door  116  and the housing or body  101  of the food storage cabinet  100 . The seal prevents insects from gaining entry and consuming the food stored within. The seal also prevents dust and dirt from infiltrating into the inner portion of the food storage cabinet  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3A-3B , the substantial air-tight seal is achieved by a magnetic gasket assembly  119  that is coupled around the periphery edges of the hinged door  116 . The magnetic gasket assembly  119  interfaces with the edges of the two side walls  112 L, 112 R, the bottom side  114 , and the top side  115  around the open face  126  of the cabinet  100 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a cross sectional view of portions of the hinged door  116  and a side  112 R of the housing  101  of the cabinet  100  is shown in the closed configuration.  FIG. 2  shows the magnetic gasket assembly  119  coupled near an edge of the hinged door  116 . The magnetic gasket assembly  119  is releasably and magnetically coupled near an edge of the side  112 R of the housing  101 . A metal attracting strip  219  is coupled near the edge of the side  112 R of the food storage cabinet to magnetically attract the flexible magnet in the magnetic gasket assembly. Unless the cabinet is metal, the metal attracting strip  219  runs around the edges of the two side walls  112 L, 112 R, the bottom side  114 , and the top side  115  around the open face  126  of the cabinet  100 . The metal attracting strip  219  along the edge of the housing  101  interfaces with the magnetic gasket assembly  119  coupled along the periphery edge of the door  116 . 
     The magnetic gasket assembly  119  includes a flexible magnet strip  209  coupled to flexible integrated gasket components  202 , 204 , 206 . The gasket components  202 , 204 , 206  are flexible to adapt to provide the air tight seal around and between the door and the housing  101  of the cabinet. As better seen in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the interfacing gasket component  206  may wrap around the flexible magnetic strip  209  like a rectangular cylinder to hold the flexible magnetic strip  209  coupled to the spring gasket component  204  that is coupled to the mounting gasket component  202 . An outer compliant or pliable surface of the gasket component  206  interfaces and seals against the edge of the housing  101  to provide the substantial air tight (hermetic) bug resistant seal. An outer surface  306  of the gasket component  206  is shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the gasket components  202 , 204  are flexible and act like an accordion to expand into the variable gap between the door  116  and the edge of the housing  101 . The gasket  119  has a variable thickness Dth that expands and contracts as needed to fill the variable gap when the door is in the closed configuration. Accordingly, the flexible gasket components  202 , 204 , 206  are formed of a flexible (compliant or pliable) solid material such as rubber (natural or synthetic—neoprene) or silicone, for example. 
     The magnetic gasket assembly  119  may be coupled to the door  116  in various ways. A magnetic gasket may be mounted to the door by snapping a snap-in fastener into a groove, by pushing a groove into or on a fastener, screwing a screw through a fastening portion, pressing a retainer strip into an opening, or gluing with a high temperature adhesive. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , in accordance with some embodiments, a retaining strip  319  is coupled to the hinged door  116  around the periphery of the door. The retaining strip  319  is coupled near each of the four edges of the door forming a rectangular frame ready to receive an embodiment of the magnetic gasket assembly  119 . The retaining strip  319  is fastened to the door  116  with a plurality of fasteners  320 . The fasteners  320  may be screws, bolts, or nails, for example. The grooved magnetic gasket assembly  119 A, when coupled to the retaining strip  319  and door, forms a rectangular sealing frame to seal against the rectangular edge  110  of the housing  101 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a cross section of a grooved magnetic gasket assembly  119 A coupled to a retaining strip  319 A and a door  116 A. The grooved magnetic gasket assembly  119 A includes the mounting gasket component  202 A with a groove  402 . The retaining strip  319 A has an L-shaped cross section with a tongue protrusion  419  that protrudes out from the surface of the door  116 A. The tongue protrusion  419  of the retaining strip  319 A mates with the groove  402  in the mounting gasket component  202 A of the grooved magnetic gasket assembly  119 A. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4B , a cross section of a pluggable magnetic gasket assembly  119 B is shown coupled to the hinged door  116 B. The hinged door  116 B includes a rectangular groove  416  around the periphery near the edges of the door. The groove  416  includes a narrow surface groove  416 A that leads into an expansion groove  416 B. 
     To couple it to the door  116 B, the pluggable magnetic gasket assembly  119 B includes an expansion plug  422  that is configured to be received by the expansion groove  416 B through the narrow surface groove  416 A. The expansion plug  422  is coupled to a neck  421  that is in turned coupled to the mounting gasket component  202 B. The magnetic gasket assembly  119 B includes the spring gasket component  204  coupled to the mounting gasket component  202 B and the interfacing gasket component  206  coupled to the spring gasket component  204 . The interfacing gasket component  206  includes the flexible magnetic strip  209 . 
     The expansion plug  422  of the pluggable magnetic gasket assembly  119 B is flexible and can contract in size to fit through the narrow surface groove  416 A into the expansion groove  416 B. Once in the expansion groove  416 B, the expansion plug  422  expands out to couple the pluggable magnetic gasket assembly  119 B to the door  116 B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4C , a cross section of a magnetic gasket assembly  119 C is shown coupled to a retaining strip  319 C and a hinged door  116 C. The retaining strip  319 C is coupled to the door  116  with a plurality of fasteners  320 . The retaining strip  319 C includes a base portion  428  and a straight tongue portion  429  extending from the base portion. The straight tongue portion  429  is spaced apart and parallel to the back side surface of the door. The straight tongue portion  429  forms a groove  439  between the door surface and tongue portion around the periphery of the door. The groove  439  is configured to receive a retaining strip  449  of the magnetic gasket assembly  119 C. 
     When mounted, the retaining strip  449  of the magnetic gasket assembly  119 C wraps around the tongue portion  429  and engages the top surface of the base portion  428  of the retaining strip  319 C. The retaining strip  449  is coupled to the mounting gasket component  202 C of the magnetic gasket assembly  119 C. The magnetic gasket assembly  119 C includes the spring gasket component  204  coupled to the mounting gasket component  202 C and the interfacing gasket component  206  coupled to the spring gasket component  204 . The interfacing gasket component  206  includes the flexible magnetic strip  209 . 
     Double Door Assembly 
       FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate a food storage cabinet  100  with a single door  116  and a single storage capacity. Alternatively, a double door configuration of a food storage cabinet may be formed to increase the storage capacity, such as doubling the storage capacity of the food storage cabinet  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a food storage cabinet  600  with two hinged doors  116 L and  116 R is shown to provide for increased storage capacity over that of food storage cabinet  100 . In accordance with some embodiments, the food storage cabinet  600  may measure  6  feet high,  8  feet wide, and  2  feet deep. In other embodiments, the food storage cabinet  600  may have other dimensions. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the right hinged door  116 R is in the closed configuration while the left hinged door  116 L is in the open configuration so you can see part of the interior of the cabinet  600 . The food storage cabinet  600  further includes the left side  112 L, the right side  112 R, the top  113 , the bottom or base  114 , and a center panel  612  all coupled to the back side or back wall  111 . 
     Similar to the cabinet  100 , the cabinet  600  includes one or more shelves  121  and the light bar  170 . With double doors, the cabinet  600  includes left and right switches  172 L, 172 R coupled between the power supply (e.g., battery pack or battery eliminator) and light bar  170 . If either door  116 L, 116 R is opened, the power is coupled into the light bar to illuminate the interior of the cabinet. If both doors are closed, power is decoupled from the light bar  170  to conserve power. With double doors, the cabinet further includes a pair of handles  127  with a controlled latch  117  in each door to interface to a catch  118  on each side of the cabinet. Each of the handles  127  may include a key lock to prohibit rotation when in the locked position with the latch  117  engaged with the catch  118 . 
     The sealable storage cabinet  600  includes a left rectangular edge  110 L formed by edges of the left side  112 L, the top  113 , the bottom or base  114 , and the center panel  612 . The sealable storage cabinet  600  includes a right rectangular edge  110 R formed by the edges of the right side  112 R, the top  113 , the bottom or base  114 , and the center panel  612 . The left hinged door  116 L includes a left magnetic gasket assembly  119 L around its periphery. The right hinged door  116 R includes a right magnetic gasket assembly  119 R around its periphery. The left magnetic gasket assembly  119 L of the left hinged door  116 L seals around the left rectangular edge  110 L and the right magnetic gasket assembly  119 R seals around the right rectangular edge  110 R. The left magnetic gasket assembly  119 L and the right magnetic gasket assembly  119 R each include elements of the magnetic gasket assembly  119  with the flexible magnet  209 . The left magnetic gasket assembly  119 L and the right magnetic gasket assembly  119 R may be coupled to the left and right doors  116 L, 116 R in the various ways discussed herein. 
     To attract the flexible magnet  209  in each of the left magnetic gasket assembly  119 L and the right magnetic gasket assembly  119 R towards the housing  601 , the edges of the left side  112 L, the right side  112 R, the top  113 , the bottom or base  114 , and the center panel  612  include the metallic strip  219  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The sealable storage cabinet  600  may include top hinges  156 U and bottom hinges  156 L, 156 R, to support and pivotally couple the doors  116 L, 116 R to the housing  601 . The doors  116 L, 116 R can pivot around the pins of the hinges  156 U, 156 L, 156 R between an open configuration/state such as shown by the door  116 L in  FIG. 6  and a closed configuration/state such as shown by the door  116 R in  FIG. 6  avoiding interference with the magnetic seal assemblies  119 L, 119 R mounted to the inside surface of the hinged doors  116 L, 116 R. The housing  601  may include a bottom panel  614  to elevate the doors  116 L, 116 R up to allow room to mount the bottom hinges  156 L, 156 R below the doors. 
     Alternate Hinges 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a portion of a food storage cabinet is shown with a side hinge  156 S. The side hinge  156 S may be used for either the single door configuration or double door configuration of the food storage cabinet  100 , 600 . The side hinge  156 S is mounted to the outside surfaces of the side panel  112 L, 112 R and the hinged door  116 , 116 L, 116 R of the food storage cabinet. In this manner, the side hinge  156  avoids interference with the magnetic seal assembly  119  mounted to the inside surface of the hinged door  116 , 116 L, 116 R. 
     The side hinge  156 S includes a first pivotal half  502  and a second pivotal have  504  pivotally coupled together by a pin  506  along a pivot axis. The first pivotal half  502  includes a first plurality of cylinders  512 A- 512 C configured to receive the pin  506 . The second pivotal half  504  includes a second plurality of cylinders  514 A- 514 B configured to receive the pin  506 . The first plurality of cylinders  512 A- 512 C are interlaced with the second plurality of cylinders  514 A- 514 B to concurrently receive the pin and pivotally couple the first pivotal half  502  and the second pivotal have  504  together. 
     The first pivotal half  502  further includes a first plurality of holes  519  each configured to receive a fastener  519  to couple it to the outside surface of either the side panel  112 L for left side pivoting or the side panel  112 R for right side pivoting. The second pivotal half  504  further includes a second plurality of holes  519  each configured to receive a fastener  519  to couple it to the outside surface of the hinged door  116 . 
     Alternatively, top hinges  156 U and bottom hinges  156 L, 156 R, such as shown in  FIG. 6 , may be used for either the single door configuration or double door configuration of the food storage cabinet  100 , 600 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8A-8B , top and bottom hinges  156 U, 156 L, 156 R are now discussed for the single door configuration and the double door configuration of the food storage cabinet  100 , 600 . In the single door configuration, a single top hinge  156 U and a single bottom hinge  156 L, 156 R are used for one hinged door  116 . In the double door configuration, a top hinge  156 U and a left bottom hinge  156 L are used for the left hinged door  116 L and a second top hinge  156 U and a right bottom hinge  156 R are used for the right hinged door  116 R. 
     In  FIG. 7 , an exploded view of the top hinge  156 U is shown. The top hinge  156 U includes a bracket  702  having a base portion and a tongue portion with a downward pivot pin  704 . The base portion of the bracket  702  includes a plurality of holes  706  through which a plurality of threaded male fasteners  708  may pass. The top  115  of the cabinet includes a plurality of holes  710  to receive the plurality of male threaded fasteners  708 . The top hinge  156 U may include a cover  712  that covers over the bracket  702 . The cover  712  includes an opening  714  through which another threaded male fastener  708  may pass into a hole  710  in the top  115  of the cabinet. 
     To mount the door to the hinge, a top edge  716  of the door  116 , 116 R, 116 L has a pivot hole  724  configured to receive the pivot pin  704 . The pivot hole  724  is located near a side edge of the door. The pivot hole  724  may be reinforced with a metal bushing. 
     To allow doors  116 , 116 R, 116 L to be installed and removed after the bracket  702  is coupled to the top  115  of the cabinet, the tongue portion of the bracket  702  with the pivot pin may be offset from the base portion of the bracket by a neck portion. In this case, a user may then be able to lift up a door sliding it further onto the top pivot pin  704  releasing the door from a bottom pivot pin in the bottom hinge so that it can be decoupled from the housing  101 , 601  of the cabinet. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8A , a bottom hinge  156 L is mounted to an edge  812 L of the left side  112 L of the cabinet below the door  116 L. The bottom hinge  156 L includes a bracket  802  having a base portion and a tongue portion perpendicular to the base portion. The tongue portion of the bracket  802  includes an upward pivot pin  804 . A plastic washer  805  may be mounted over the upward pivot pin  804  before the pivot hole (e.g., pivot hole  724  in  FIG. 7 ) in the bottom edge of the door is mounted over the upward pivot pin  804 . The plastic washer reduces friction between a metal bracket  802  and a plastic door when pivoted to reduce wear. The base portion of the bracket  802  has a plurality of holes  806  through which a plurality of male threaded fasteners  808  may pass. The edge  812 L of the side  112 L includes a plurality of holes  810  to receive the plurality of male threaded fasteners  808 . 
     The bottom hinge  156 L may further include a U-shaped support bracket  803  mounted between the hinge bracket  802  and the edge  812 L of the side  112 L. The U-shaped support bracket  803  may support the hinge bracket  802  and protect the plastic edge of the side from wear. The U-shaped support bracket  803  can spread the force on the hinge bracket from the weight of the door over a larger surface area of the edge  812 L. 
     In  FIG. 8B , a bottom hinge  156 R is mounted to an edge  812 R of the right side  112 R of the cabinet below the door  116 R. The bottom hinge  156 R is similar to the bottom hinge  156 L and includes the bracket  802  having a base portion and a tongue portion with the upward pivot pin  804  perpendicular to the base portion. The edge  812 R of the side  112 R includes the plurality of holes  810  to receive the plurality of male threaded fasteners  808  extending through the holes  806  in the bracket  802 . A plastic washer  805  may be mounted over the upward pivot pin  804  before the pivot hole (e.g., pivot hole  724  in  FIG. 7 ) in the bottom edge of the door is mounted over the upward pivot pin  804 . The bottom hinge  156 R may further include a U-shaped washer  803  mounted between the bracket  802  and the edge  812 L of the side  112 L. 
     Light Assembly 
     Some embodiments of the food storage cabinets disclosed herein include an interior lighting system that is responsive to the open and closed configuration/state of the cabinet and door. The lighting system is switched ON to provide light within the cabinet when at least one hinged door is opened. The lighting system is turned OFF when one or both hinged doors are closed. When the hinged door or doors are opened, the light allows a person to clearly see the stored contents within the sealable storage cabinet such as dry food. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 6  the lighting system in the sealable storage cabinet  100 , 600  is now described. The lighting system includes a light bar  170  coupled to the back wall  113  of the sealable storage cabinet  100 , 600 . The lighting system further includes one or more switches  172 , 172 L, 172 R; a battery pack power source  174 ; and a wall charger  176  coupled together by cables  173 , 175 . 
     A cable  171  is coupled to and between the one or more switches  172 , 172 L, 172 R and the light bar  170 . A power cable  173  is coupled to and between the battery pack power source  174  and the one or more switches  172 , 172 L, 172 R. A charger cable  175  is coupled to and between the wall charger  176  and the battery pack power source  174 . 
     When a hinged door  116 , 116 L, 116 R is opened, a switch  172 , 172 L, 172 R closes coupling power from the battery pack  174  to the light bar  170 . When the hinged door is closed, the switch is opened and power from the battery pack  174  is decoupled from the light bar  170 . In this manner, the interior of the hermetically sealed food storage cabinet  100 , 600  is illuminated in response to a hinged door  116 , 116 L, 116 R being opened. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the light bar  170  comprises a housing  900  with a plurality of lamps  902 A- 902 C and a clear bezel diffuser  904  coupled to the housing  900  covering over the lamps. An electrical wire Vplus  906  to carry a positive supply voltage and an electrical wire Vminus  908  to carry a negative supply voltage or ground are coupled to each of the plurality of lamps in the light bar. The pair of electrical wires  906 , 908  are routed in the cable  171  to each of the one or more switches  172 , 172 L, 172 R in the sealable storage cabinets. Power is selectively applied to all the lamps in the light bar through the one or more switches in response to a hinged door  116 , 116 L, 116 R being in an open state. 
     The plurality of lamps  902 A- 902 C in the light bar may be light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes. The direct light from an LED or laser diode can be rather collimated and harsh when viewed directly by a user&#39;s eyes. The clear bezel diffuser  904  over the plurality of lamps diffuses the light out at different angles thereby softening the light within the sealable storage cabinet. 
     Alternate Cabinents 
       FIGS. 1A-1B and 6  illustrate side swinging doors for food storage cabinets  100 , 600  to cover over open face openings and access food through a side opening. However, a food storage cabinet may be configured to have a top side open face with a closable top instead to access food through a top opening. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-11 , alternate embodiments of food storage cabinets with a magnetic gasket assembly are shown. In  FIG. 10 , a perspective view of a hermetically sealable food storage box  1000  is shown in an open lid configuration/state. Generally, the food storage box  1000  includes two side walls  1012 L, 1012 R, a back wall  1013 , a front wall  1016 , a bottom  1014 , and a hinged top lid  1015  coupled to the back wall  1013 . The hinged top lid  1015  is configured to cover over the opening of the open top  1026  of the food storage cabinet  1000 . The hermetically sealable food storage box  1000  includes a magnetic gasket assembly  1019 , similar to the magnetic gasket assembly  119  described herein, coupled to an inner surface of the hinged top lid  1015 . 
     The two side walls  1012 L, 1012 R, the back wall  1013 , the bottom  1014 , and the front wall  1016  form a housing or body  1001  of the food storage cabinet  1000 . Top edges of the two side walls  1012 L, 1012 R, the back wall  1013 , the bottom  1014 , and the front wall  1016  form a rectangular edge  1011 . The rectangular edge  1011  includes a rectangular metal strip (e.g., see metal strip  219  in  FIG. 2 ) to attract the flexible magnet in the magnetic gasket assembly  1019 . 
     For ready movability, a set of handles  1004 L, 1004 R are coupled to the sides  1012 L, 1012 R of the food storage box  1000 . To ease opening the hinged top lid  1015  in overcoming the attraction of the flexible magnet to the metal strip, a lid handle  1010  is coupled to the outer surface of the hinged top lid. To ease reaching into the food storage box  1000 , the height of the front wall  1016  is less than the height of the back wall  1013 . Accordingly, the sides  1012 L, 1012 R of the food storage box  1000  are trapezoids with each having one pair of parallel edges. 
     Components of the of the food storage box  1000 , including the housing or body  1001 , may be fabricated from wood, plastic or metal. Portions of the hinged top lid  1016  may also be fabricated from wood, plastic or metal. 
     The food storage cabinet  1000  has two configurations/states. In an open configuration shown in  FIG. 10 , an individual can access non-refrigerated and dry food goods (not shown) contained within the food storage cabinet  1000 . In the closed configuration, the top lid  1015  of the food storage cabinet  1000  is shut closing over the top opening  1026 . In the closed configuration/state, the magnetic gasket assembly  1019  forms a substantial air-tight seal around the edges of the top lid  1015  and the rectangular edge  1011  of the housing  1001 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a perspective view of a hermetically sealable food storage canister  1100  is shown in an open lid configuration. The food storage canister  1100  may be somewhat shaped in a semicircle cylinder. Generally, the food storage canister  1100  includes two side walls  1112 L, 1112 R, a back wall  1113 , a front wall  1116 , a bottom  1114 , and a hinged top lid  1115  coupled to the back wall  1113 . The two side walls  1112 L, 1112 R, the back wall  1113 , and the front wall  1116  coupled together form a top edge  1111 . The two side walls  1112 L, 1112 R may be arched or curved while a majority of the front wall  1116  is flat from the bottom up and transitioning into a curved portion of the edge  1111 . The two side walls  1112 L, 1112 R, the back wall  1113 , the bottom  1114 , and the front wall  1116  form a housing or body  1101  of the food storage canister  1100 . 
     The hinged top lid  1115  is configured to cover over the opening of the open top  1126  of the food storage canister  1100 . The hinged top lid  1115  may coupled to the back wall  1113  by a plurality of hinges  1106 L, 1106 R. The hinges  1106 L, 1106 R may be similar to the side hinge  156 S show in  FIG. 5  coupled to outside surfaces of the lid  1115  and back wall  1113 . The food storage canister  1100  further includes a magnetic gasket assembly  1119  coupled to the inner surface of the hinged top lid  1115  around its peripheral edges. The magnetic gasket assembly  1119 , similar to the magnetic gasket assembly  119  described herein, includes a flexible magnetic and is configured to seal to the edge  1111 . The edge  1111  includes a metal strip (e.g., see metal strip  219  in  FIG. 2 ) to attract the flexible magnet in the magnetic gasket assembly  1119 . 
     To ease opening the hinged top lid  1115  in overcoming the attraction of the flexible magnet to the metal strip, a lid handle  1110  is coupled to the outer surface of the hinged top lid. A pair of side handles  1104 L, 1104 R are respectively coupled to the sides  1012 L, 1012 R of the food storage canister  1100 . With the side handles  1104 L, 1104 R, the food storage canister  1100  can be readily moved around. 
     Portions of the housing or body  1101  may be fabricated from wood, plastic or metal. Portions of the hinged top lid  1016  may also be fabricated from wood, plastic or metal. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the food storage canister  1100  in an open configuration/state with the hinged lid  1115  pivot away from the open top  1126 . In the open configuration/state, an individual can access non-refrigerated and dry food goods (not shown) contained within the food storage canister  1100 . In the closed configuration, the top lid  1115  of the food storage canister  1100  is shut, such that the magnetic gasket assembly  1119  forms an air-tight seal around the edges of the top lid  1115  and the edge  1111  of the housing  1101  around the open top  1126 . 
     The food storage canister  1100  further includes a plurality of clear plastic windows  1102 A- 1102 D sealed into openings of the front wall  1116 . An approximate level of dry food goods contained within the food storage canister  1100  can be seen through the clear plastic windows  1102 A- 1102 D. Accordingly, in the closed configuration/state, without opening the top lid, a user can visualize and gauge an approximate amount of dry food goods remaining within the food storage canister  1100  through the clear plastic windows  1102 A- 1102 D. In response to a level below the second window  1102 B, a user can be alerted to soon purchase additional dry food goods to restore the level above the second window  1102 B. 
     Conclusion 
     There are a number of advantages of a hermetically sealable food storage cabinet. One advantage is that it provides food storage where none may have previously existed for dry foods, such as a garage of a home. Another advantage is that it prevents access to insects and rodents. Another advantage is that it deters dirt and dust from accumulating inside and mixing into the dry foods. Another advantage is that it is lower in costs than remodeling a home to provide food storage capacity or purchasing a refrigerator in which to store additional food. 
     While the embodiments of the sealable storage cabinet have been described as food storage cabinets to store dry foods, the sealable storage cabinets can be adapted and used to store other items such as clothes, antiques, compact discs, DVDs, and other valuable items in a dirt and bug resistant cabinet. 
     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that the embodiments of the invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 
     For example, certain features that may be described in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that may be described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations, separately or in sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variations of a sub-combination. Accordingly, the claimed invention is limited only by patented claims that follow below.