Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements in sealable containers. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to improvements in sealable food storage containers for household/domestic use. In an especially preferred embodiment the invention relates to an improved food storage container including a lid and a further separate sealing means to be associated therewith, to provide sealing of the Hd to the base of the overall container. Containers of this general type, by reason of the improved sealing effect attributable thereto and exhibited thereby, are suitable for use regardless of temperature, whether freezing/cool or elevated/high temperatures.

Background of the Invention

Household storage containers - especially for the storage of food - are widely known and have enjoyed extensive usage for a significant period of time. Typically such containers may be formed from a suitable resilient plastics material. However, in more recent times containers of this general type are being manufactured from alternative materials, as for example glass. In that regard, therefore, it should be understood that whilst throughout the ensuing specification reference will be made to particular and preferred embodiments of the invention, made principally if not exclusively of a suitable plastics material, the invention is under no circumstances to be considered to be limited to usage of such material. Indeed the arrangement in accordance with the present invention is equally suitable for use with a container constructed principally from glass.

Containers of this general type typically include a base which is adapted, in use, to retain or have located therein a quantity of food or any material for storage, and a lid which in use co-operates with the base whereby to close or seal the overall container.

It must be understood that the degree or effectiveness of sealing provided between the base and the lid of such a container is of great significance. A stronger seal, for example, can be expected to minimise, if not prevent altogether, contamination and deterioration of the contents of the container and hence increase the storage life of such contents. Further an appropriate seal, together with a resilient lid and associated base, will also function to expel a quantity of air from the container base during the procedure of sealing of the overall container thereby creating a reduced pressure within the container itself, again improving the overall efficiency of operation/sealing. Indeed the existence of such a reduced pressure within the container can also result in an improved storage life for the contents thereof.

Prior art arrangements have generally utilised interlocking ribs and grooves to afford sealing or a sealing effect. Such arrangements have been found, in practice, to be sometimes difficult to open and/or close. In an attempt to overcome such a problem, containers have been utilised wherein the lid is retained in place relative to the associated base merely due to the reduced pressure existing within the overall container, once the lid is in place. With such a prior art container a one-way valve or the equivalent in the Hd allows air to escape when manual pressure is applied to deform the lid - made of a suitably resilient material - inwardly. This creates or gives rise to a reduced pressure (when compared with atmosphere or ambient pressure) within the container, serving to retain the lid in position relative to the base, at least to an extent.

However, arrangements such as those referred to above have been found, in practice, to not maintain for any significant period of time any reduced pressure initially achieved within a sealed container. As a consequence, with such prior art containers the improved sealing effect evidenced by the existence of a reduced pressure within the container can be lost over a relatively short period of time, with the pressure within the container with time substantially becoming equalised with that existing externally of the container. The result is that, with such arrangements, the lid may simply be disposed over the base of the container without there being any true and proper seal therebetween. Such seriously reduces the storage life of any contents of such a container.

Examples of prior art arrangements are those of U.S. Patents Nos.7114617, 5181626 and 4494674. The arrangements therein, by virtue of their configuration, do not lend themselves readily for usage in containers of a shape other than round.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a storage container which exhibits a strong seal and associated sealing effect and further allows for maintenance of a reduced pressure within a closed sealed container. The arrangement in accordance with the present invention also acts to in effect mechanically retain the lid in position regardless of temperature. The arrangement in accordance with the present invention further allows for ready application and removal of a sealing lid.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sealable container, whether constructed wholly or in part from a plastics material or of any other suitable material, as for example glass, which functions to maintain a reduced pressure within the overall container, whereby to provide an enhanced sealing effect and improved storage life for the contents of any such container.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved sealable container which acts to mechanically retain a Hd for said container in place relative to the base, regardless of temperature, yet at the same time allows the user to readily remove the lid as and when necessary. It is a further object of the invention to provide a sealable container which is suitable for use in any form of known heating means, including a micro-wave oven.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided a storage container including: a base member including a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending therefrom to a peripheral rim, said peripheral rim of said at least one side wall including, along at least part of the periphery thereof, a flange extending substantially outwardly therefrom; a lid adapted to be associated with said base member and to extend thereacross in a covering relationship, said lid including a main body portion having a peripheral lip extending relatively downwardly from the free edge thereof, said peripheral lip of said lid being adapted, in use, to overlie said flange of said base member; and sealing means adapted, in use, to be interposed between and co-operate with both said at least one side wall of said base member and with said lid, whereby to provide improved sealing for said container, wherein said sealing means is releasably associated with said lid, is constructed from a flexible elastomeric material and is less rigid than both said base member and said lid, and wherein said sealing means is of a substantial L-shape, with one arm thereof being adapted, in use, to co-operate with and be in contact with the interior surface of said at least one side wall member of said container, and the other arm thereof being releasably associated with said lid.

It should be understood that, in real terms, a storage container in accordance with the invention includes three principal components, namely: (i) a base member which is adapted, in use, to afford space for receiving and storing any given product, as for example foodstuffs or the like;

(ii) a lid which, in use, overlays the base member; and (iii) a seal which co-operates with the base member and lid to provide an enhanced sealing effect. The base member may be constructed from either glass or a suitable plastics material and, if of a plastics material, will remain substantially rigid. The lid may be constructed /formed from a suitable plastics material and, like the base member, is intended to remain in a substantially rigid condition in use. The seal, however, will be constructed from a less rigid elastomeric material, as for example silicone or silicone rubber.

Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of an improved storage container in accordance with the present invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG.1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, constructed principally of glass, as assembled;

FIG.2 is a top view (to a different scale to that of FIG.l) of the container of FIG.1; FIG.3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.2;

FIG.4 is a view, similar to FIG.l, but of the base only of a container in accordance with the present embodiment of FIG.1 ; FIG.5 is a top view of the base of FIG.4; FIG.6 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG.5; FIG.7 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG.5;

FIG.8 is a view, similar to FIGS.l and 4, but of a sealing means in accordance with the present invention;

FIG.9 is a top view of the sealing means of FIG.8; FIG.10 is a side view of the sealing means of FIG.8; FIG.11 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG.9;

FIG.12 is a view, similar to FIGS.l, 4 and 8, of a lid for a container in accordance with the present invention; FIG.13 is a top view of the lid of FIG.12;

FIG.14 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG.13;

FIG.15 is a detail view taken at C in FIG.14;

FIG.16 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, constructed principally of a suitable plastics material as assembled;

FIG.17 is a top view (to a different scale to that of FIG.16) of the container of FIG.16;

FIG.18 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.17; FIG.19 is a view, similar to FIG.16, but of the base only of a container in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.20 is a top view of the base of FIG.19;

FIG.21 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG.20;

FIG.22 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG.20; FIG.23 is a view, similar to FIGS.16 and 19, but of a sealing means in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.24 is a top view of the sealing means of FIG.23;

Fig.25 is a side view of the sealing means of FIG.23;

FIG.26 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG.24; FIG.27 is a view, similar to FIGS.16, 19 and 35 of a lid for a container in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.28 is a top view of the lid of FIG.27;

FIG.29 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG.28; and

FIG.30 is a detail view taken at C in FIG.29.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

With reference now to the drawings, and firstly to the embodiment of FIGS.l to 15, a container in accordance with the present invention includes three principal components, namely a base 1 , a Hd 10 and a sealing means 20. These three components will hereinafter be described in more detail. With particular regard now to FIGS.4 to 7 the base 1, constructed in this first embodiment principally of glass, includes a bottom 2 and an upwardly extending peripheral side wall 3. Whilst, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the base 1, lid 10 and sealing means 20 are all substantially parallelepipedal in shape (when viewed in plan), it should be understood that the actual shape thereof (when viewed in plan) is not of the essence of the invention. Indeed the overall container may be circular, oval, square or any other shape (when viewed in plan). The side wall 3 extends upwardly from the bottom 2, preferably substantially normally thereto, to an upper rim 4. Extending outwardly from the rim 4, around at least part of the periphery thereof, is a flange 5. In an especially preferred embodiment such flange, preferably at opposed ends of the container, includes an enlarged section 6 which, in use, acts as a seating for the lid 10 of the container.

In an especially preferred embodiment the flange 5, with enlarged section 6, extends around the entire periphery of the base 1 of the container.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the base 1 of the overall container includes means for receiving and releasably retaining at least one removable indicator tag (not shown), which tag can be attached, in use, to a peripheral rim, a pedestal, or under a peripheral rim to the side wall 3. Tags of this general type (not shown) are described in more detail in, for example, the present applicant's U.S. Patent No.5, 865,339. However such tag, and the means for attachment thereof, do not constitute part of the present invention.

The lid 10 is of a substantially complementary shape to that of the base 1 and is adapted, in use, to overlay said base 1. The lid 10 includes a main body portion 11 having a peripheral lip 12 extending substantially normally thereto. When the lid 10 is in position relative to the base 1, the lip 12 thereof will extend over and be in contact with the flange 5 of the base 1 (to provide an enhanced sealing effect). The lid 10 further includes, spaced from the peripheral lip 12 thereof, juxtaposed spaced-apart projections or locating ribs 13 and 14. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS.14 and 15 at least the rib 14 includes, at a location along the length dimension thereof spaced from the main body portion 11 , an undercut, preferably in the form of a peripheral bead or lateral protrusion 15.

The lid 10 may further include means, generally designated 40, which allows for venting of the container as and when necessary. It should be understood, however, that such does not constitute part of the invention. Indeed any suitable means for venting may be employed.

The sealing means 20 is constructed from a flexible elastomeric material, more preferably silicone. It should be understood, however, that the actual material of construction is not of the essence of the invention. Indeed any suitable flexible resilient food-grade plastics or the like material may be employed.

The sealing means 20 preferably includes a substantially flat base portion 21 having extending substantially normally therefrom a leg or the like projection 22. That leg or the like projection 22 includes, at a position/location along the length dimension thereof, a peripheral groove or hollow 23 of a substantially complementary size and shape to the protrusion 15 of the rib 14 ofthe lid lO.

The principle of operation of the container in accordance with the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 will now be described in more detail.

The sealing means 20 is brought into engagement with the lid 10, with the leg or the like projection 22 thereof being releasably located within the recess or cavity existing between the ribs 13 and 14 of the lid 10. The arrangement is such that the lateral protrusion 15 of rib 14 of the lid 10 will be located within the hollow or groove 23 of the leg or the like projection 22 of the sealing means 20, to assist in retention of the sealing means 20 relative to the lid 10, as well as in location of the Hd 10 relative to the base 1. Thereafter the lid 10, with associated sealing means 20, is brought into juxtaposition with the base 1. The arrangement is such, and the various components are so dimensioned, that an improved seal is achieved, with a reduction in internal pressure of the overall thus sealed container.

With reference now to the embodiment of FIGS. 16 to 30 in like manner to the earlier described embodiment, a container in accordance with the invention again includes three principal components, namely a base 100, a lid 110 and a sealing means 120. These three components will hereinafter be described in more detail.

With particular regard to FIGS. 19 to 21 the base 100, constructed from a suitable plastics material, includes a bottom 101 and an upwardly extending peripheral side wall 102. Whilst, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the base 100, lid 110 and sealing means 120 are all substantially parallelepipedal in shape (when viewed in plan), as with the earlier embodiment the actual shape of the base (when viewed in plan) is not of the essence of the invention. Indeed the overall container may be circular, oval, square or any other shape (when viewed in plan). The sidewall 102 extends upwardly from the bottom 101, preferably substantially normally therefrom, to an upper rim 103. Extending outwardly from the rim 103 around at least part of the periphery thereof is a flange 104. That flange 104 may have disposed, at the end thereof remote from the side wall 102, a downwardly depending lip 105. In an especially preferred embodiment such lip 105 may include, at the extremity thereof and extending around at least part of the periphery of the base 100 - preferably at opposed ends thereof- an enlarged flange 106 which, in use, acts as a seating for the lid 110 of the overall container. In an especially preferred embodiment, the flange 104 extends around the entire periphery of the base 100 of said container and terminates in a downwardly depending lip 105. At opposed ends of said base 100, the enlarged flange 106 is formed at the free, lower end of the lip 105.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the base 100 of the overall container includes means for receiving and releasably retaining at least one removable indicator tag (not shown), which tag can be attached, in use, to a peripheral rim, a pedestal, or under a peripheral rim to the side wall 102 of the base 100. Tags of this general type (not shown) are described in more detail in, for example, the present applicant's U.S. Patent No.5, 865,339. However such tag, and the means for attachment thereof, do not constitute part of the present invention.

The lid 110 is of a substantially complementary size and shape to that of the base 100 and is adapted, in use, to overlay said base 100. The lid 110 includes a main body portion 111 having a peripheral lip 112 extending substantially normally thereto. When the lid 110 is in position relative to the base 100, the lip 112 thereof will extend over the lip 105 of the base 100 (to provide an enhanced sealing effect).

The lid 110 further includes, spaced from the peripheral lip 112 thereof, juxtaposed spaced-apart ribs or projections 113 and 114. In the preferred embodiment illustrated at least the projection 114 includes, at a location thereof spaced from the main body portion 111 , an undercut portion, preferably in the form of a peripheral bead or lateral protrusion 115.

In an especially preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS.16, 17, 27 and 28 the lid 110 further includes at least one tab 116, to assist in placement and removal of the lid 110 relative to the base. Preferably two such tabs 116 may be included, at opposed corners of the lid as shown in the drawings. The lid 110 may further include means, generally designated 140, which allow for venting of the container as and when necessary. It should be understood, however, that such does not constitute part of the invention. Indeed any suitable means for venting may be employed.

The sealing means 120 is preferably constructed from silicone. It should be understood, however, that the actual material of construction is not of the essence of the invention. Indeed any suitable flexible resilient food- grade plastics or the like material may be employed.

The sealing means 120 preferably includes a substantially flat base portion 121 having extending substantially normally therefrom a flange or the like projection 122. That flange or the like projection 122 includes, at a position/location along the length thereof, a peripheral groove or hollow 123.

The principle of operation of a container in accordance with the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 16 to 30 will now be described in more detail.

The sealing means 120 is brought into engagement with the lid 110, with the flange or the like projection 122 thereof being releasably located within the space or cavity existing between the projections 113 and 114 thereof. The arrangement is such that the lateral protrusion 115 of projection 114 of the lid 110 will be located within the hollow or groove 123 of the flange or the like projection 122 of sealing means 120, to assist in retention of the sealing means 120 relative to the lid 110. Thereafter, the lid 110 with associated sealing means 120 is brought into juxtaposition with the base 100. The arrangement is such, and the various components are so dimensioned, that a tight seal is achieved, with a reduction in internal pressure of the overall thus sealed container. The arrangement in accordance with the present invention, when compared with the prior art, affords a better, longer-lasting and more efficient seal. This gives rise to improve shelf life for the contents of such a container.

The significance thereof, in terms of reduction of wastage, should be apparent. With this arrangement the sealing means 20, 120 is readily removable, in other words separable, from the lid 10, 110. This allows for cleaning of all components of the overall container, an important benefit in terms of hygiene.

By being readily separable and cleanable, the overall container exhibits a significantly reduced tendency for unwanted build-up of contaminating bacteria.

The arrangements in accordance with the present invention, as illustrated and described, also exhibit the practical advantage that, by reason of interaction between the lip of the lid and the flange and, with the plastics material container of FIGS. 16 to 30, the lip of the lid, the flange and lip of the base, the lid and associated seal will be readily and accurately located relative to the base to give rise to the optimum sealing effect.

In practical terms, the arrangement in accordance with the present invention provides for an improved sealing effect between the lid and the base, for both static and dynamic situations. An improved mechanical seal is achieved, which is effective regardless of location of the overall container - stored or located in a refrigerator, a freezer, a microwave or even a dishwasher - without failure due to factors such as material degradation, creep, etc.

Since the lid, and its associated ribs, are constructed from a material - whether glass or a plastics material - which is more rigid or stiffer than the seal (formed from a flexible elastomeric material), then the lid provides the mechanical strength required to create an effective seal, by in effect sandwiching the leg of the seal between the two ribs. The leg of the seal is in effect held in place by a combination of friction and undercut. The arrangement is such that, during lid removal - especially if the vent button of that lid 110 is unopened - there will be a force applied to the leg 122 of the Seal 120 in a cantilevered fashion, attempting to strip that leg 122 in a downwards direction. The undercut provides resistance to initial motion, which would break the friction bond between the leg 122 and the supporting ribs 113, 114 allowing it to gradually move down on subsequent loadings (this if the undercut wasn't present). The orientation of the undercut is such that the cantilevered force applied to the seal recess during loading acts to further engage the seal recess onto its making undercut profile of the lid 110.

During heating of the lid 110 (as for example within a microwave oven), due to thermal stress relief there may occur a degree of distortion in the walls of the ribs 113 and 114. To allow for/compensate for this, tests have shown that with the present applicant's arrangement there are four regions of contact between the leg 22 of the seal 20 and the ribs 13, 14 of the lid 10.

Finally, it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.