S P E C I F I C A T I O N

A LID FOR A CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the lid for containers used for storing food products, but more specifically to a lid for containers that is provided with a storage reminder mechanism to indicate the storage life of stored products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of the existing lid for containers sold in the market is not provided with storage reminder mechanisms that would supposedly allow the consumer to be reminded of the expiration dates of the food products they have stored. Moreover, existing lid for containers of the type which are secured to the open top of the container by means of a "vacuum effect" are provided with many components parts which complicate their constructional features and are not easy to use and maintain and are expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the aforementioned technical problems of existing lid for containers for storage purposes, the main object of the present invention is to provide for an indication reminder mechanism of the storage life of the product to be stored in order to help the end user program the date when he is supposed to use or consume the food or item being preserved. The lid is provided with a calendar on the frame which is ideal for busy people who keeps a lot of foodstuffs in the refrigerator so they are reminded of expiration dates, or days that they have to use or consume the food, etc.

The herein invention provides for a lid for a container having a bottom wall, sidewalls terminating to a rim at the free end portion thereof, and an open top for receiving therein products to be stored under a vacuum storage condition, said lid comprising : an enforcement ring formed by interconnected upper and lower abbreviated lid members, a handle integrally formed on said enforcement ring and outwardly extending from one portion thereof, a flexible sealing member being secured within the periphery of said enforcement ring and said securing handle, and guide means to secure and detach said enforcement ring on the rim of said container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a lid for a container that is simple in construction, effectively solves the technical problems of existing lids, is cheap and very easy to use and maintain.

Still, another object of the present invention is to provide for a lid for a container that is easy to manufacture using readily available materials and technology.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention for a lid for a container will become more apparent upon a reading of the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention for a lid for a container in operative position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1' of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the lid;

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the lid;

Figure 5 is a top view of the lid, Figure 6 is a front view thereof;

Figure 7 is side sectional view taken along line 7-7'; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the phraseologies and terminologies used herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring now to the different views of the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate the steps, components or elements throughout the ensuing enabling description, there is shown the present invention for a lid for a container designated as

"10".

Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, lid 10 is conformed to be secured by means of a "vacuum effect" on top of a container "C" particularly used for storing foodstuffs and having a bottom wall "W", a sidewall "S" terminating to a rim "R" at the free end portion thereof and an open top "O" for receiving food products "F" to be stored under vacuum conditions.

Lid 10 basically comprises of an enforcement ring 11 formed by upper and lower abbreviated lid members 12 and 13, a securing handle 14 integrally formed from the enforcement ring 11 and outwardly extending from one portion thereof, a sealing member 15 being secured within the periphery "P" of enforcement ring 11 and securing handle 14 and a guide means 16 to assist in detaching the enforcement ring 11 in a "vacuum based" attachment from the rim "R" and the top of the container "C".

Referring to figures 2, 3 and 4, the upper lid member 12 is formed by an outer horizontal wall 12a and terminating to a spaced apart outer and inner vertical walls 12b and 12c forming a

peripheral channel 12d thereon. And the lower lid member 13 is formed by an outer horizontal wall 13a and an upwardly extending vertical wall 13b is secured to peripheral channel 12d and thereby interconnecting the upper and lower lid members 12 and 13. As further shown in the drawings, the handle 14 is formed by upper and lower auxiliary lid members 12' and 13' extending and made integral from the upper and lower members 12 and 13 of the enforcement ring 11, an elevated top portion 14a and an open bottom portion 14b. Referring again to figure 2, the upper auxiliary lid member 12' is formed by an outer horizontal wall 12a' and terminating to a spaced apart outer and inner vertical walls 12b' and 12c' forming a peripheral channel 12d' thereon. And the auxiliary lower lid member 13' is formed by an outer horizontal wall 13a' and an upwardly extending vertical wall 13b' is secured to peripheral channel 12d and thereby interconnecting the upper and lower auxiliary lid members 12' and 13'.

In accordance with the present invention as shown in figures 1, 3 and 5, the reinforcement ring 11 is provided with an indicator means "I" disposed on horizontal wall 12a of the upper lid member 12. The indicator means "I" is provided to indicate the storage life of the product stored inside said container.

According to preferred embodiment of the present invention, the indicator means "I" comprises of a spaced apart date indicators 17 provided on the surface of outer horizontal wall 12a of the upper lid member 12 and an indicator member 18 slidably secured along the enforcement ring 11. The indicator member 18 is a substantially C- shaped body 18a clamped around the horizontal wall 12a and is provided with a window 18b at the top portion thereof. The window 18a is adapted to a viewing correspondence with the date indicators 17.

Referring now to figures 2, 4 and 7, preferably the guide means comprises of a flap 19 being provided below the sealing member 15 and movably secured about handle 14 by means of a transverse pin

20 in order to guide the placement and displacement of the enforcement ring 11 on rim "R" of the container "C".

In operation, the lid 10 is simply placed over the open top "O" of a container "C" containing the food products "F" therein. The sealing member 15 is then pressed with a minimal amount of pressure in the downward direction shown by arrow "A" to seal the inner portion of the container "C" by means of a "vacuum effect" as shown in figure 2. To release the lid from the container, the flap 20 is pushed upwards as shown by the arrow "B" and the handle 14 is lifted up to release the lid 10 from the container "C". The container size should be as such that its rim should not touch the upper and lower lid covers 12 and 13. In this manner, the indicator member 18 can freely slide on the outer horizontal wall 12 of the upper lid member 12 to indicate the storage life of the product by moving through the date indicators 17.

Preferably, the sealing member 15 is made of flexible material such as a polymer material ands is secured within the periphery of the enforcement ring 11 and the extended integral handle 14. More specifically, the edge of the sealing member 15 is secured between the inner vertical walls 12c,12c' and outer horizontal wall 13,13,.

With this features, the lid container 10 can easily be used and is also provided with a reminder mechanism for the storage life of the product in the container using the date indicators 17 and the indicator member 18.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein a lid 10' is provided and is similar in construction with lid 10. The only difference is that 10' is not provided with date indicators and an indicator member.

Additional advantages and modifications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art in view of these teachings. The present invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative contrivances, and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.