FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lid design for use in a container, and in particular a lid assembly having disassemble components for cleaning’s sake. This invention also relates to a container comprising such a lid assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typical lids for containers are usually manufactured in one-piece. These typical lids lead problems such as it is difficult for cleaning and the lifespan of these lids is short since damaged or worn-out parts in these lids are not replaceable. Therefore, the present invention seeks to address these problems, or at least to provide an alternative to the public. It is desirable to provide users a lid in a form of assembly having disassemble parts, which can be easily cleaned and maintained. By separating the assembly into individual parts, such as an upper lid, a lower lid, a sealing member, a handle, and etc., it is possible to clean each part separately, which is difficult or impossible with those one-piece lids. This is especially important for containers that hold food or beverages, as they need to be kept clean and hygienic. Additionally, disassembled parts can be easily replaced if they get damaged or worn out, which can extend the lifespan of the lid and the container it is attached to.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid assembly which comprises a handling portion, including: a handle; and a neck member, having an internally threaded bore, a first end connected to the underside of said handle, and a second end opposite to said first end; a utility portion, assembled with said handling portion, including: a base plate, provided with a shank having a threaded outer surface engageable with said internally threaded bore of said neck member; a sealing ring, configured to deform between a first shape and a second shape, having a first end assembled to a lid body and an opposite second end assembled to said base plate; and said lid body having an aperture positioned above said shank allowing said neck member screwed to said shank for the assembling between said utility portion and said handling portion which is rotatable about said shank between a first position where said sealing ring is in said first shape and a second position where said sealing ring is in said second shape; characterized in that: the handling portion further including: a first engagement member, provided on said neck member; a rotation stopper, having a leg member and a second engagement member engageable with said first engagement member, whereby said rotation stopper is configured to slidably sleeve over the outer surface of said neck member axially between a first position where said rotation stopper is adjacent said first end of said neck member and a second position where said rotation stopper is adjacent said second end of said neck member; said base plate is provided with a profiled region into which said leg member of said rotation stopper extending, whereby the rotation of said handling portion is limited by the interaction between said leg member of said rotation stopper and said profiled region of said base plate.

In one embodiment, said profiled region of said base plate is a recessed region having a step member therein, for limiting the movement of said leg member of said rotation stopper in said recessed region, whereby the rotation of said handling portion about said shank is limited by 90 degrees.

In another embodiment, when said handling portion is at said first position, said handling portion can be configured to rotate towards said second position by rotation about said shank in a first direction, or can be disassembled from said utility portion by first turning said lid assembly upside down then rotating said handling portion about said shank in a second direction opposite said first direction.

In a specific embodiment, when said handling portion is at said first position, said handling portion can be configured to rotate towards said second position by rotation about said shank in a first direction, or can be disassembled from said utility portion by first turning said lid assembly upside down then rotating said handling portion about said shank in said first direction.

Suitably, said first engagement member is a step member profiled on the outer surface of said neck member, and said second engagement member is a vertical wall member profiled on the inner surface of said rotation stopper, said vertical wall member sitting on said step member when said rotation stopper is adjacent said second end of said neck member.

Advantageously, said handling portion further including a third engagement member provided on said neck member and a fourth engagement member provided on said rotation stopper, by which the sliding of said rotation stopper over the outer surface of said neck member is assisted. More advantageously, said third engagement member is a guide track member on the outer surface of said neck member; and said fourth engagement member is a finger member projecting from the inner surface of said rotation stopper.

In one embodiment, the lid assembly further comprising a stud member, provided in said recessed region of said base plate, interacts with a leg member, provided to said neck member, whereby the rotation of said handling portion about said shank is limited.

In another embodiment, said lid assembly further comprising a locking means, mounted to said aperture of said lid body, the underside of said handle is provided with a protrusion member engageable with said locking means for retaining said handling portion in its said fist position or said second position.

Suitably, said locking means is provided with a projection member engageable with said protrusion member of said handle for retaining said handling portion in its said fist position or said second position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacture of a lid assembly, comprising the following steps: providing a handle, a neck member having an internally threaded bore and a first engagement member, a rotation stopper having a leg member and a second engagement member engageable with said first engagement member; assembling said handle, said neck member, and said rotation stopper to form a handling portion, wherein, a first end of said neck member connected to the underside of said handle, and said rotation stopper configured to slidably sleeve over the outer surface of said neck member axially between a first position where said rotation stopper is adjacent said first end of said neck member and a second position where said rotation stopper is adjacent a second end of said neck member and said first and second engagement members engaging; providing a lid body having an aperture; a base plate provided with a profiled region and a shank having a threaded outer surface engageable with said internally threaded bore of said neck member, a sealing ring configured to deform between a first shape and a second shape; assembling said lid body, said base plate, and said sealing ring to form a utility portion, wherein, a first end of said sealing ring assembled to said lid body and an opposite second end of said sealing ring assembled to said base plate, and said shank positioned below said aperture of said lid body; assembling said handling portion to said utility portion to form said lid assembly by screwing said neck member to said shank via said aperture of said lid body; wherein, said handling portion rotatable about said shank between a first position where said sealing ring is in said first shape and a second position where said sealing ring is in said second shape; and said leg member of said rotation stopper extending into said profiled region of said base plate, whereby the rotation of said handling portion is limited by the interaction between said leg member of said rotation stopper and said profiled region of said base plate.

In one embodiment, said profiled region of said base plate is a recessed region having a step member therein, for limiting the movement of said leg member of said rotation stopper in said recessed region, whereby the rotation of said handling portion about said shank is limited by 90 degrees.

In another embodiment, when said handling portion is at said first position, said handling portion can be configured to rotate towards said second position by rotation about said shank in a first direction, or can be disassembled from said utility portion by first turning said lid assembly upside down then rotating said handling portion about said shank in a second direction opposite said first direction.

In a specific embodiment, when said handling portion is at said first position, said handling portion can be configured to rotate towards said second position by rotation about said shank in a first direction, or can be disassembled from said utility portion by first turning said lid assembly upside down then rotating said handling portion about said shank in said first direction.

Suitably, said first engagement member is a step member profiled on the outer surface of said neck member, and said second engagement member is a vertical wall member profiled on the inner surface of said rotation stopper, said vertical wall member sitting on said step member when said rotation stopper is adjacent said second end of said neck member.

Advantageously, said handling portion further including a third engagement member provided on said neck member and a fourth engagement member provided on said rotation stopper, by which the sliding of said rotation stopper over the outer surface of said neck member is assisted.

More advantageously, said third engagement member is a guide track member on the outer surface of said neck member; and said fourth engagement member is a finger member projecting from the inner surface of said rotation stopper.

In one embodiment, said lid assembly further comprising a stud member, provided in said recessed region of said base plate, interacts with a leg member, provided to said neck member, whereby the rotation of said handling portion about said shank is limited.

In another embodiment, said lid assembly further comprising a locking means, mounted to said aperture of said lid body, the underside of said handle is provided with a protrusion member engageable with said locking means for retaining said handling portion in its said fist position or said second position.

Suitably, said locking means is provided with a projection member engageable with said protrusion member of said handle for retaining said handling portion in its said fist position or said second position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be explained, with reference to the accompanied drawings, in which: -

Figure 1 illustrates a sealable lid assembly 100 of the present invention;

Figure 2A illustrates an exploded perspective top view of the lid assembly 100;

Figure 2B illustrates an exploded perspective bottom view of the lid assembly

100;

Figure 3 A illustrates a perspective top view of a lid body 110;

Figure 3B illustrates a cross-section view of the lid body 110;

Figures 4A illustrates a side view of a handling portion 120;

Figures 4B illustrates a perspective bottom view of the handling portion 120, at a first angle;

Figures 4C illustrates a perspective bottom view of the handling portion 120, at a second angle;

Figure 5 A illustrates an elevation view of a rotation stopper 130;

Figure 5B illustrates a perspective view of the rotation stopper 130;

Figure 6A illustrates a perspective cross-section view of the assembly between the handling portion 120 and the rotation stopper 130;

Figure 6B illustrates a perspective bottom view of the assembly between the handling portion 120 and the rotation stopper 130; Figure 7A illustrates a perspective top view of a shank 140;

Figure 7B illustrates a bottom view of the shank 140;

Figure 8 A illustrates a perspective top view of a base plate 150;

Figure 8B illustrates a perspective side view of the base plate 150;

Figure 9A illustrates a perspective top view of the assembly between the shank

140 and the base plate 150;

Figure 9B illustrates a perspective top view of the assembly between the rotation stopper 130, the shank 140, and the base plate 150;

Figure 9C illustrates a perspective view of the assembly between the handling portion 120, the shank 140, and the base plate 150, in which the handling portion 120 and the shank 140 are illustrated in its cross-section;

Figure 10A illustrates a perspective view of a sealing ring 160;

Figure 10B illustrates a cross-section view of the sealing ring 160;

Figure 11 A illustrate a cross-section view of the lid assembly 100, corresponding to the handling portion 120 is in a first position;

Figure 1 IB illustrate a cross-section view of the lid assembly 100, corresponding to the handling portion 120 is in a second position;

Figure 12 illustrates an exploded perspective top view of the lid assembly 200;

Figure 13 illustrates the perspective top view of the lid assembly 200.

Figure 14A illustrates the perspective top view of a bottom plate 250.

Figure 14B illustrates the elevation view of the bottom plate 250.

Figure 15 illustrates the perspective bottom view of the assembling of a neck member 224 to a handle 222.

Figure 16 illustrates a neck member 224 with different views, in which, insert A is perspective view; insert B is a bottom view; insert C is a side view showing guide track 224A; and insert D is a side view showing groove 224B;

Figure 17A illustrates a perspective view of a rotation stopper 230;

Figure 17B illustrates an elevation view of the rotation stopper 230;

Figure 18A illustrates the rotation stopper 230 is positioned above a neck member

224;

Figure 18B illustrates the rotation stopper 230 is assembled to the neck member 224;

Figure 19A illustrates the perspective bottom view of the handle 222;

Figure 19B illustrates the underside of the handle 222;

Figure 20A illustrates a perspective bottom view of the assembly between the handle 222, the neck member 224, and the rotation stopper 230, in which these components are illustrated in its cross-section;

Figure 20B illustrates a perspective bottom view of the assembly between the handle 222, the neck member 224, and the rotation stopper 230;

Figure 21 A illustrates a perspective top view of a locking means 270;

Figure 21 B illustrates an elevation view of the locking means 270;

Figure 21 C illustrates a perspective side view of the locking means 270;

Figure 22 illustrates a perspective top view of a lid body 210;

Figure 23A illustrates a perspective top view of the assembly between the lid body 210 and the locking means 270;

Figure 23A illustrates a perspective bottom view of the assembly between the lid body 210 and the locking means 270;

Figure 24A illustrates the state of the lid assembly 200 in a locking process;

Figure 24B illustrates the state of the lid assembly 200 that is completely locked; and

Figure 25 illustrates different shape and dimension of the sealing ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

The present invention is now presented by way of examples with reference to the figures in the following paragraphs. Objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in or are apparent from the following description. It shall be understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art that the following description is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.

Figure 1 illustrates a sealable lid assembly 100 for a container constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The container adapted for use with the lid assembly 100 is not shown, but it would be appreciated that the container has an open top and may have any suitable sizes and/or shapes to accommodate different storage items. The assembling of the lid assembly 100 to the container defines a direction in that the lid assembly 100 is above the container, defining the container with the lid assembly 100 upwardly standing and defining the position of the components and the relationship between components described below.

Figures 2A and 2B respectively illustrate an exploded perspective top view and an exploded perspective bottom view of the lid assembly 100. The sealable lid assembly 100 comprises a lid body 110, a handling portion 120, a rotation stopper 130, a shank 140, a base plate 150 and a sealing ring 160.

The handling portion 120 is rotatably mounted on the lid body 110 in order to operably seal or unseal the container with the sealing ring 160. To seal or unseal the lid assembly 100 to the container, a user rotates the handling portion 120 between a first position and a second position. When the handling portion 120 is rotated from a first position to a second position, the lid assembly 100 is sealed to the container when the lid assembly 100 is assembled to the container. Rotating the handling portion 120 causes the sealing ring 160 to be deformed and thus forming a seal between the lid assembly 100 and the container. The sealing ring 160 between the lid assembly 100 and the container helps to preserve items, such as food items, stored in the container. To access the contents stored in the container, the user rotates the handling portion 120 back to the first position from the second position to deform the sealing ring 160, causing the sealing ring 160 to return to its original state, i.e., restoring to its default shape. As a result, the lid assembly 100 is releasable from the container.

Figure 3 A illustrates a perspective top view of the lid body 110. As illustrated, the topside of the lid body 110 has a recessed portion 112 and a hollow barrel 114 extending upwardly from the topside of the recessed portion 112. The recessed portion 112 is sized and dimensioned to receive the handling portion 120. The hollow barrel 114 is preferably cylindrical. As shown in figure 3B, the rim of the lid body 110 is of a dual-wall design comprising an outer wall 116A and an inner wall 116B, both of which defines a groove 118, as best can be seen in figure 3B. The groove 118 is used to receive the sealing ring 160.

Figures 4A-4C illustrates different views of the handling portion 120. The handling portion 120 comprises a handle 122 and a neck member 124 projecting downwardly from the underside of the handle 122. Depending on actual need or manufacturing, the neck member 124 can be a separate part to the handling portion 120 or can be integrally formed with the handling portion 120. The handling portion 120 is received in the recessed portion 112 of the lid body 110 by passing the neck member 124 through the hollow barrel 114 of the lid body 110. The neck member 124 is preferably cylindrical having a pair of oppositely facing vertical walls and has internally threaded bore. As shown in figures 4B-4C, the oppositely facing vertical walls are provided with a pair of outwardly exposed steps 128. The neck member 124 comprises a pair of legs 126 adjacent the steps 128. Now referring to figures 5A and 5B, which illustrates the shape and configuration of the rotation stopper 130. The rotation stopper 130 comprises a cylindrical bushing having an internal axial bore with a pair of oppositely and inwardly facing vertical walls 132, in which the neck member 124 of the handling portion 120 is slidably received. As shown in figure 5B, the rotation stopper 130 is designed to be provided with a pair of legs 134.

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a perspective cross-section view and a perspective bottom view of the handling portion 120 coupled with the rotation stopper 130, respectively. It can be seen that the coupling between the handling portion 120 and the rotation stopper 130 is obtained by passing the neck member 124 through the internally threaded axial bore of the cylindrical bushing of the rotation stopper 130 in which the pair of oppositely facing vertical walls of the neck member 124 are arranged to couple with, and also slide over, the pair of oppositely and inwardly facing vertical walls 132 of the rotation stopper 130.

It can also be seen that the rotation stopper 130 has an axial length smaller than an axial length of the neck member 124, such that the rotation stopper 330 after mounting thereto is able to slide up and down with respect to the neck member 124.

It can further be seen that, in figure 6 A, the rotation stopper 130 is stopped by the steps 128 of the neck member 124 so as to limit and prevent the rotation stopper 130, after mounting to the neck member 124, from sliding further downwardly to override the neck member 124. The mounting between the rotation stopper 130 and the neck member 124 of the handling portion 120 shown in figures 6A-6B can be disassembled by different means available in the art. For example, the pair of oppositely facing vertical walls of the neck member 124, preferably with the steps 128, is/are configured to be elastic. When said vertical walls of the neck member 124 (and preferably with the steps) are pressed towards each other, the rotation stopper 130 is able to slide further downwardly leaving the neck member 124 or is able to slide to sleeve the neck member 124. Advantageously, the steps 128 are made elastic, whereby snapping the steps 128 inwardly allows the ring 130 to be sleeved to the neck member 124. After that, when the inward force is removed, the steps 128 return to its original state and then stop the ring 130 from leaving the neck member 124. More advantageously, the elasticity provided to the steps 128 is accomplished by providing two slits, on the circumferential wall of the neck member, adjacent steps 128. In further example, the neck member 124 and the handle 122 of the handling portion 120 are two components independently manufactured. It shall be understood that when the neck member 124 is disassembled from the handle 122, the rotation stopper 130 can be removed from the end of the neck member opposite the steps 128. The gist of the present invention includes the removable relationship between the rotation stopper 130 and the neck member 124. Therefore, the examples described in this context shall not be construed as any limitation to the scope of the present invention. Due to the design of the neck member 124 and the rotation stopper 130 with features described above, after the rotation stopper 130 is assembled to the neck member 124 as illustrated in figures 6A-B, the rotation stopper 130 does not rotate about the neck member 124 and is able to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the neck member 124.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate respectively a perspective top view and a bottom view of the shank 140. The shank 140 is of a hollow structure and has an externally threaded surface in mating engagement with the internally threaded bore of the neck member 124. Through the threaded engagement between the shank 140 and the neck member 124, the handling 120 is adapted to rotate about the shank 140 clockwise or anticlockwise, whereby the neck member 124 is displaceable between a first position where the neck member 124 is engaged with the higher section of the shank 140, and a second position where the neck member 124 is engaged with the lower section of the shank 140. At a lower end of the shank 140 is formed a positioning slot 142 extending the center of the bottom surface of the shank 140, as shown in figure 7B.

Figures 8A-8B illustrate the base plate 150, which is arranged at the bottom of the lid assembly shown in figures 2A-2B. On the top surface of the base plate 150 there is provided with a central recessed or depressed area 152 where surrounding wall extends upwards from the topside of the base plate 150. Inside the central recessed area 152, there is formed with a bulge 154 and two opposite studs 156 for securing the assembling of the shank 140 to the base plate 150 by positioning the positioning slot 142 of the shank 140 over the bulge 154.

As shown in figure 9A, the bulge 154 is engageable with the positioning slot 142 of the shank 140, with the bulge 154 inserted into the shank 140. The rim of the base plate 150 is of a dual-plate design defining a groove 158 for receiving the sealing ring 160, as shown in figure 8B.

Figure 9B explains how the rotation stopper 130 works with the base plate 150 that is provided with the shank 140. For the sake of brevity, figure 9B does not show the lid body 110 and the handling portion 120. As seen, the rotation stopper 130 is arranged to seat in the central recessed area 152 and to surround the shank 140. The rotation stopper 130 is configured to rotate about the shank 140 in the central recessed area 152 where it is designed and manufactured to provide two opposite steps 159 to limit the rotation of the rotation stopper 130 in the central recessed area 152 by limiting the rotation of respective legs 134 of the rotation stopper 130 and thus in turn the rotation of the handling portion 120 is limited since the handling portion 120 and the rotation stopper 130 are assembled together when the present invention is in use. It shall be understood that the rotation of the handling portion 120 is configured to rotate about the shank 140 in a predetermined range which is determined by the two steps 159 in the central recessed area 152.

Figure 9C shows the assembling of the handling portion 120 to the base plate 150. For brevity’s sake, figure 9C only illustrates the handling 120 and the shank 140 in cross-section view, and the base plate 150. It can be seen that when the shank 140 is fully received in the threaded bore of the handling portion 120, the leg 126 of the neck member 124 partially overlaps with the studs 156 of the base plate 150, whereby it stops the handing portion 120 from further rotation in one direction, i.e. the direction towards the studs in figure.

Preferably, the neck member 124 and the rotation stopper 130 are made of polyoxymethylene (POM), while the handling portion 120, the lid body 110, the shank 140 and the base plate 150 are made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). It shall be appreciated however that the lid and the other components of the container may be made of any suitable material or materials. It should also be appreciated that the components of the container may be connected or manufactured in any suitable order other than that described above.

Referring to the previous descriptions and figures, in particular to the description relates to figures 6A and 9B, it shall be understood that when the present invention is in use, the handling portion 120 is screwed to the shank 140, by screwing in a first direction, through the thread engagement between the externally threaded surface of the shank 140 and the internally threaded bore of the neck member 124. Due to the clever design of the handling portion 120, the neck member 124, and the rotation stopper 130, it shall be understood that when the lid assembly 100 in figure 1 is inverted upside down, i.e. the handling portion 120 becomes facing downwards, the rotation stopper 130 sleeved on the neck member 124 slides towards the end of the neck member that abuts the handle 122. Then, the handling portion 120 can be configured to screwed away from the shank 140, by screwing in a second direction for disengaging the thread engagement between the externally threaded surface of the shank 140 and the internally threaded bore of the neck member 124.

Figures 10A and 1OB illustrate the sealing ring 160 of the present invention, that is provided between the lid body 110 and the base plate 150. The sealing ring 160 is designed and configured to provide a surrounding wall and an inwardly extended portion 162 that is substantially horizontally extended from one end of the surrounding wall. The surrounding wall comprises a first portion 164 and a second portion 166 adjoining the first portion 164 at crease 168. The second portion 166 as shown in figures 10A and 10B is slanted upwards from the extended portion 162 to the first portion 164. The sealing ring 160 is preferably made of silicone or other flexible and/or elastic and/or deformable material like plastic. In the embodiment as shown in figures lOAand 10B, the sealing ring 160 is configured or manufactured to adapt a first configuration for example as shown in figure 10A and a second configuration in which the surrounding wall of the sealing ring 160 bulges outwardly at the crease 168. The sealing ring 360 is provided with outward flange 161 at the perimeter of the upper end of the surrounding wall of the sealing ring 160, which provide ease of the assembling of the sealing ring 160 to the lid body 110 by fitting the flange 161 into the groove 118 of the lid body 110, as illustrated in figures 11A and 1 IB.

Figures 11A and 1 IB illustrate the operation of sealing the container by rotating the handling portion 120 of the lid assembly 100 according to the present invention. Figure 11A illustrates the handling portion 120 is in a first position where the shank 140 is not fully received in the internally threaded bore of the neck member 124, whereby there is a clearance between the lid body 110 and the base plate 150, such that the sealing ring 160 is in its first configuration when the handling portion 120 is in its first position. Figure 1 IB illustrates the handling portion 120 is in a second position where the shank 140 is essentially fully received in the internally threaded bore of the neck member 124, whereby the lid body 110 and the base plate 150 are mutually proximate to each other, such that the sealing ring 160 is compressed or squeezed to deform into its second configuration by bulging outwards at the crease 168.

With description above, one shall understand that when a user places and seals the lid assembly 100 over a container (not shown in figures), the user rotates the handling portion 120 from the first position (figure 11 A) to the second position (figure 1 IB). Through the interaction between internal threads of the neck member 322 of the handle 320 and the external threads of the shank 340, the lid body 110 and the base plate 150 are mutually proximate to each other. As a result, the sealing ring 160 is compressed or squeezed to deform into its second configuration, with its first portion 164 and second portion 166 slightly flattened, such that the sealing ring 160 is forced to deform to bias towards and press against the container wall, thereby sealing the container. On the contrary, when the user rotates the handling portion 120 from the second position (figure 1 IB) to the first position (figure 11 A), the lid body 110 and the base plate 150 are mutually distant from each other. As a result, the sealing ring 160 is relaxed to restore to its first configuration, such that the lid assembly 100 is removable from sealing ring 160 is forced to deform to bias towards and press against the container wall easily.

It shall also be understood that when the assembly in figures 11A-11B is inverted upside down, that is, the base plate 150 is positioned above the handle 122, the rotation stopper 130 slides towards the underside of the handles 122, then a user is able to only rotate the handle in one direction, for example clockwise, about the shank 140 due to the interaction between legs 126 of the handling portion 120 and the studs 150 of the base plate 150, as shown in figure 9C. By rotating the handle clockwise, the user is able to disassemble the assembly displayed in figures 6A-6B from the lid body 110. The disassembled handle 122 with the neck member and the rotation stopper can be washed for cleaning. With description above, it shall also be understood that the lid body 110, the base plate 150, and the sealing ring 160 can be disassembled from each other for cleaning.

Figure 12 shows a second variant of the lid assembly 200 of present invention, with an exploded perspective top view. The lid assembly 200 comprises a lid body 210, a handle 222, a neck member 224, a rotation stopper 230, a shank 240, a base plate 250, a sealing ring 260, and a locking means 270. For sake of brevity and clarity, only major differences between the lid assembly 100 and the lid assembly 200 are illustrated below. Figure 13 shows the perspective top view of the lid assembly 200. Figure 14A shows the perspective top view of the bottom plate 250. Figure 14B shows the elevation view of the bottom plate 250. It can be seen that the bottom plate 250 is provided with a pair of oppositely facing slots 252 at the rim of the bottom plate 250. Figure 15 shows the perspective bottom view of the assembling of the neck member 224 to the handle 222. Figure 16A-D shows different view of the neck member 224. In figure 16A, it can be seen that the neck member 224 comprises a pair of legs 226 and surrounding vertical walls on which a pair of oppositely facing elongate guide tracks 224A and a pair of oppositely facing grooves 224B are provided. Figures 17A-17B shows different view of the rotation stopper 230. In figure 17A, it can be seen that the rotation stopper 230 is provided with a pair of legs 234 working in the same way as the legs 134 described above, and two recesses 238 at the upper part of the rotation stopper 230. Likewise, the rotation stopper 230 comprises a cylindrical bushing having an internal axial bore with a pair of oppositely facing vertical walls 232, in which the neck member 224 is slidably received. Figure 17B illustrates that the internal axial bore is provided with a pair of fingers 236 projecting inwardly from the cylindrical bushing. In figure 18A, it can be seen that the rotation stopper 230 is positioned above the neck member 224, in which the internal axial bore of the rotation stopper 230 is positioned to be aligned above the neck member 224, the pairs of fingers 236 of the rotation stopper 230 is positioned to be aligned with the guide tracks 224 A of the neck member 224 and the vertical walls 232 of the rotation stopper is positioned to be aligned with the grooves 224B of the neck member 224. When the rotation stopper 230 in figure 18A moves further down to encircle the neck member 224, as shown in figure 18B, it can be seen that the rotation stopper 230 is retained or held by the neck member 224 due to the interaction between the steps 228 of the neck member 224 and the vertical walls 232 of the rotation stopper 230. Due to the design of the neck member 224 and the rotation stopper 230 with features described above, after the rotation stopper 230 assembled to the neck member 224 as illustrated in figure 18B, the rotation stopper 230 does not rotate around the neck member 224 and is able to slide upwards and downwards along the guide tracks 224A and grooves 224B. Figure 19A shows the perspective bottom view of the handle 222. The underside of the handle 222 is dimensioned and manufactured to provide a recessed region including surrounding vertical walls projecting upwardly from the underside of the handle 222. As shown in figure 19A, the recessed region is circular. In the circular region, as shown in figures 19A-B, there are provided with a first pair of protrusions 222A which assist maintaining the neck member 224 in position during assembling. There are also provided with a second pair of protrusions 222B. The two pairs of protrusions 222A and 222B are arranged orthogonally with respect to each other, in which two protrusions 222A face opposite to each other, and two protrusions 222B face opposite to each other.

Referring to figure 16A and 19A, it can be seen that the topside of the neck member 224 has been sized and shaped to provide a pattern that corresponds to the pattern sized and shaped in the recessed region of the handle 222. In these figures, the pattern is square shaped. Figures 20A-20B shows the assembling of the assembly in figure 18B to handle 222. As shown in figure 20A, it can be seen that the patterns between the neck member and the handle provide ease of the assembling between the two components. In addition, figure 20A shows that the recess 238 of the neck member 224 sits over the protrusion 222 A. Figure 20B shows that the vertical wall 232 of the rotation stopper 230 is positioned above the step 228 of the neck member 224.

Figures 21A-21C show the locking means 270 with different views. The locking means 270 in the lid assembly 200 is configured to be an annular ring having a planar plane 272 and a pair of oppositely facing arms 274 projecting upwards therefrom. The arms 274 each is provided with a first projection 276A and a second projection 276B.

Figure 22 is a perspective top view of the lid body 210. Similar to the lid body 110, the lid body 210 has a recessed portion and a hollow barrel 214 extending upwardly from the topside of the recessed portion. The hollow barrel 214 of the lid body 210 is provided with two oppositely facing apertures 214A.

Figures 23A-23B illustrates the assembling of the locking means 270 to the lid body 210. As seen in figure 23 A, the second projection 276B sits on the recessed portion of the lid body 210. Figure 23B shows the underside of the lid body 210 is provided with two oppositely facing slits 216 which are used to couple with the two slots 252 which are oppositely facing to each other in base plate 250 as illustrated in figure 14B. The aid of the interaction between the slits 216 and slots 252 is to assist a user to assemble the lid body 210 and the base plate 250 to each other, with predetermined orientation in correct order.

Figures 24A-24B illustrates the transition of the locking states of the lid assembly 200, in which figure 24A shows the state of the lid assembly 200 in a locking process, and figure 24B shows the state of the lid assembly 200 that is completely locked. For the sake of brevity, these figures illustrate the function and operation of the locking means 270 with perspective elevation view including the handle 222 and locking means 270. As described above, it shall be understood that the handle 222 can be configured to rotate between its first and second positions about the hollow barrel 214 of the lid body 210 and the shank 240. From figures 24A-B, it can be seen that the first projections 276 A of the locking means 270 and the apertures 214A of the barrel 214 of the lid body are positioned slightly biased from the symmetrical axis of the lid body 210. In figure 24 A, it shows that the second pair of protrusions 222B of the handle 222 is approaching proximate to the first projection 276 A of the locking means 270. When the handle 222 in figure 24A rotates clockwise further, the second pair of protrusions 222B slides over the first projection 276A. Since the central recessed area is designed and manufactured to provide two opposite steps to limit the rotation of the rotation stopper in the central recessed area by limiting the rotation of respective legs of the rotation stopper, the rotation stopper 230 together with the handle 222 in figure 24B are thus not able to rotate further clockwise. In other words, the rotation stopper 230 together with the handle 222 is only allowed to rotate anti-clockwise. With the aid of interaction between the first projections 276A of the locking means 270 and the protrusions 222B of the handle 222, the position of the handle can be secured and be prevented from changing by unintentional operation, thereby providing locking to the handle. With description above, it shall be understood that the handle 222 in figure 24B is only allowed to anti-clockwise by 90 degrees. It shall also be understood that when the assembly in figure 24B is inverted upside down, that is, the base plate 250 is positioned above the handle 222, the rotation stopper 230 slides towards the underside of the handles 222, then a user then is able to only rotate the handle in one direction, for example clockwise, to disassemble the assembly displayed in figures 20A-B from the lid body 210 (due to the interaction between legs of the handle and the studs of the base plate, as previously explained). The disassembled handle 222 with the neck member and the rotation stopper can be washed for cleaning. With description above, it shall also be understood that the lid body 210, the base plate 250, and the sealing ring 260 can be disassembled from each other for cleaning.

It shall be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the content of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the content of a single embodiment, may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations. Also, a skilled person in the art will be aware of the prior art which is not explained in the above for brevity purpose. It is to be noted that certain features of the embodiments are illustrated by way of non-limiting examples. For example, the size and shape of the disclosed components can be adaptively changed to cater different users’ need. For example, figure 25 shows different shape and dimension of the sealing ring that can be used in actual product according to the present invention. It shall be understood that the relevant components of the lid assembly for these sealing rings in figure 25 will be adaptively changed. The present disclosure describes that the neck member is provided with a pair of legs, steps, guide tracks, grooves, fingers; the rotation stopper is provided with a pair of legs and a pair of oppositely and inwardly facing vertical walls; the base plate is provided with a pair of studs; the underside of the handle is provided with two pairs of protrusions; the number of locking means and the number of projections thereof; these components, shapes and the positions thereof are all examples to illustrate the present invention only and shall not construe as limiting to the scope of protection. It shall also be understood that the components described in the present disclosure are examples only. Those skilled in the art could adjust and/or modify these components according to actual needs, and variations therefrom also fall into the scope of the present invention. Expression "first", "second", and etc. in the present disclosure has no indication one is in priority or more important than the other one, unless there is otherwise specified.