BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly, to sealing devices for storage containers.

2. Background Information

[0002] Many different materials are stored in fixed volume containers, and many of these containers have a lid that is intended to seal the interior volume of the container to prevent stored material escaping from the container. The term “fixed volume” as used herein refers to a container that maintains an interior volume at rest, as compared to a collapsible bag type container, or other container that can be manipulated to significantly alter the interior volume of the container. Some fixed volume containers are rigid and others are somewhat flexible. Some lids are designed to create an airtight seal when coupled with the container, and others not. A significant problem with most fixed volume containers involves the contained material spoiling; i.e., drying out or otherwise becoming unusable. For example, a lid-closed, half-full one gallon can of latex paint will have a body of ambient air disposed above the paint within the sealed can. That ambient air will very often react with the paint (or gaseous materials within the paint will come out of solution and will enter the interior volume portion not occupied by liquid). As a result, the shelf life of the paint in the can is negatively affected and spoilage occurs sooner than would occur if the entire can were filled with paint.

[0003] Although stored paint spoilage represents a considerable problem, the issue of material spoilage within fixed volume containers is hardly unique to paint or other liquid substances. Indeed, many solids, semi-solids, and other non-liquid, non-gaseous type materials may be subject to spoilage when exposed to ambient air. For example, joint compound, spackle, certain types of putty, and the like can dry out in a very limited period of time when exposed to ambient air. An air-tight lid helps the spoilage problem, but the air-tight seal does not address the ambient air residing in the less than full container. Many food products will spoil quicker when exposed to ambient air. Suffice it to say, these examples represent just a few types of products that will spoil more rapidly when exposed to ambient air.

[0004] Devices are available to remove ambient air from a container, for example, by drawing a vacuum in the container. These devices suffer from numerous issues, however. For example, many lids are not designed to be 100% airtight, so ambient air will enter into the container over time. Even if a container does include an airtight lid, if the lid is not installed correctly no airtight seal is created and ambient air is able to enter the container. Secondly, even if the lid is airtight and the lid is properly installed, the lid must be configured to accept an evacuation device and the end-user must have an evacuation device. Airtight lids are typically more expensive to produce, and airtight lids with an evacuation device port are even more expensive. Furthermore, a container system designed to be used with an evacuation device will require a container having sufficient structural integrity to avoid collapse when a vacuum is drawn in the interior cavity. Many fixed volume storage containers (e.g., plastic food containers) are thin wall containers that will crumple long before a vacuum can be established within its interior cavity.

[0005] What is needed is a device or system that eliminates or at least dramatically decreases the amount of ambient air to which a product stored within a fixed volume container is exposed.

SUMMARY

[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a sealing device for a container is provided that includes a substantially rigid center body and an elastically deformable seal member attached to the center body. The substantially rigid center body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. At least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member extending outwardly past the peripheral edge of the center body.

[0007] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the sealing device may further include a handle mounted to the center body and projecting outwardly from the top surface of the center body.

[0008] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the sealing device may further include a handle attachment mechanism attached to the center body. The handle attachment mechanism is configured to cooperate with a handle to permit selective attachment and detachment of the handle to the center body.

[0009] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the sealing device may further include a view port disposed in the center body. The view port is configured to provide a transparent view through the center body between the top surface and the bottom surface.

[0010] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the sealing device may further include a valve configured to selectively permit air flow through the center body between the bottom surface to the top surface.

[0011] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the elastically deformable seal member may be attached to the peripheral edge of the center body.

[0012] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the elastically deformable seal member may be attached to the bottom surface of the center body, or the top surface of the center body, or both.

[0013] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the center body may include an upper panel and a lower panel, and the seal member is disposed between the upper panel and the lower panel.

[0014] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the center body may be substantially enclosed by the seal member, with a first portion of the seal is disposed in contact with the top surface and a second portion of the seal is disposed in contact with the bottom surface.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a container system is provided. The container system includes a container and a sealing device. The container has a fixed volume interior cavity defined by at least one side wall and a base wall. The at least one side wall and the base wall are substantially rigid and are attached to one another. The at least one side wall extends between the base wall and an upper edge. The upper edge defines a container opening. The at least one side wall includes an interior surface. The sealing device includes a substantially rigid center body and an elastically deformable seal member. The substantially rigid center body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The elastically deformable seal member is attached to the center body. At least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member extends outwardly past the peripheral edge of the center body. The container and the sealing device are relatively configured such that the sealing device may be disposed within the interior cavity of the container in an engaged configuration. In the engaged configuration the sealing device is stationary relative to the container and is substantially parallel to the base wall, and the elastically deformable seal member is biased against the interior surface of the at least one side wall, thereby providing a seal between the at least one side wall and the elastically deformable seal member.

[0016] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein the elastically deformable seal member may be configured with an elastic flexibility that permits air trapped between the base wall and the sealing device to cause at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member to deflect and allow the trapped air to escape between the at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member and the side wall as the sealing device is translated toward the base wall of the container. Once the sealing device is in the engaged configuration, the at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member that deflected to allow the trapped air to escape elastically returns to contact the side wall.

[0017] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the sealing device may further include a valve configured to selectively permit air flow through the center body between the bottom surface to the top surface.

[0018] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the interior cavity of the container has a height that extends between the base wall and the upper edge of the container, and the container and the sealing device may be relatively configured such that the sealing device may be disposed in an engaged configuration at any heightwise position within the interior cavity.

[0019] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the sealing device may include a handle mounted to the center body and projecting outwardly from the top surface of the center body.

[0020] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the sealing device may include a handle attachment mechanism attached to the center body. The handle attachment mechanism is configured to cooperate with a handle to permit selective attachment and detachment of the handle to the center body. [0021] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the container may include at least one groove disposed in the side wall. The groove is open to the interior cavity, and extends around a circumference of the interior cavity.

[0022] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the at least one groove may be configured to receive a portion of the seal member of the sealing device.

[0023] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the at least one groove may have a geometry that is complementary to the portion of the seal member of the sealing device received within the groove.

[0024] In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the interior cavity of the container has a height that extends between the base wall and the upper edge of the container, and the container may include a plurality of grooves disposed in the side wall. Each groove is open to the interior cavity and extends around the circumference of the interior cavity. The grooves are spaced apart from one another along the height of the interior cavity.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a container is provided that includes at least one side wall, a base wall, and a fixed volume interior cavity defined by the side wall and the base wall. The at least one side wall and the base wall are substantially rigid and are attached to one another. The at least one side wall extends heightwise between the base wall and an upper edge, and the upper edge defines a container opening. The at least one side wall includes an interior surface, and one or more grooves disposed in the interior surface of the side wall. Each groove is open to the interior cavity and extends around a circumference of the interior cavity. The grooves are spaced apart from one another along a height of the interior cavity.

[0026] The present disclosure, and all its aspects, embodiments and advantages associated therewith will become more readily apparent in view of the detailed description provided below, including the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 A is a perspective diagrammatic view of a container.

[0028] FIG. IB is a sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 2B is a top planer view of the sealing device embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. [0031] FIG. 3 is a top planar view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectioned partial view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectioned partial view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectioned partial view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic sectioned partial view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a sealing device embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a handle embodiment.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a sealing device embodiment having a fixed handle.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a sealing device embodiment with a pair of handles.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a container and a sealing device.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a container system having a container and a sealing device.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of a container wall embodiment.

[0044] FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of a container wall embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The present disclosure is directed to storage container sealing devices and to container systems that include such a sealing device. As will be clear from the description below, the sealing devices can be used for a wide variety of storage containers that include an interior cavity for holding materials that are in a liquid, solid, semi-solid, or other non-liquid, or non- gaseous form. Embodiments of the present disclosure sealing device provide particular utility because they can be configured for use with many existing types of storage containers (e.g., paint cans, a food storage containers, etc.). The present disclosure also includes a storage container systems that are a combination of a sealing device and a container specially configured for use with a present disclosure sealing device. As will be described herein, the combination of the sealing system and the uniquely configured containers provide a system with advantages not available with commercial containers presently available to the public. [0046] The present disclosure sealing devices can be used with containers (e.g., containers that are currently available to the public) having a variety of different geometric configurations; e.g., cylindrical configurations, square configurations, rectangular configurations, etc. In fact, the present disclosure sealing devices can be configured for almost any container that has one or more substantially rigid side walls and a substantially rigid base wall attached to the side walls to form an interior cavity; i.e., the side walls and base wall define the interior cavity. The term “substantially rigid” as used here to describe the side wall and base wall means that the aforesaid walls have sufficient structurally integrity to form a fixed volume container (e.g., a container that maintains an interior volume at rest). The “substantially rigid” walls may bend or otherwise deform a small amount, but still maintain the geometry of the container at rest. The side walls extend upwardly, away from the base wall, and terminate at an upper edge. The upper edge defines a container opening through which materials may be deposited within the interior cavity of the container. The upper edge may be configured to mate with a lid, but that is not required for the present disclosure. Typically, the side walls are parallel or substantially parallel, and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the base wall. The present disclosure sealing device is not limited to use with containers having parallel walls; e.g., the walls may taper outwardly (e.g., away from one another) as they extend from the base wall toward the upper edge.

[0047] To facilitate the description herein, embodiments of the present disclosure sealing device 20 will be primarily described as it may be used with a single container geometry; e.g., a cylindrical container having a side wall that extends entirely around the circumference of the container, and a base wall that is attached to the side wall around the entirety of the circumference. FIGS. 1 A and IB illustrate an example of such a container 22 having a side wall 24 that extends in a first direction (e.g., along a Y-axis) between a base wall 26 and an upper edge 28. The upper edge 28 defines a container opening 29. The base wall 26 extends in a second direction (e.g., along an X-axis) that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The side wall 24 and the base wall 26 define an interior cavity 30. The side wall 24 has an interior surface 32 and the base wall 26 has an interior surface, both contiguous with the interior cavity 30. To be clear, this cylindrical container 22 configuration is exemplary, and the present disclosure sealing device 20 is not limited to use with cylindrical container geometry. As stated above and as will be described in more detail herein, some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to storage container systems as will be described below. In these aspects, the containers 22 are uniquely configured to engage with a sealing device 20.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 2A-7, sealing device 20 embodiments according to the present disclosure include a center body 34 and a seal member 36. As will be described herein, some embodiments of the sealing device 20 may further include a view port 38, an air escape valve 40, and a handle 42 (see FIG. 11) or a mechanism 43 for attaching a handle 42.

[0049] The center body 34 has a top surface 44, a bottom surface 46, a peripheral edge

48, a diameter, and a depth. The depth extends between the top surface 44 and the bottom surface 46. In a cylindrical configuration (e.g., see FIGS. 2A and 2B), the diameter may be described as residing in an X-Y plane, and the depth along a Z-axis. In rectangular configurations (e.g., see FIG. 3), the center body 34 will have a width extending along an X-axis, and a length extending along a Y-axis, and the depth along a Z-axis. The center body 34 may be a unitary structure (e.g., see FIG. 4), or may include a plurality of elements that collectively form a structure (e.g., see FIG. 8). In a circular configuration, the peripheral edge 48 extends around the outer radial edge of the center body 34. In a rectangular configuration, the peripheral edge 48 extends along both widthwise edges and both lengthwise edges. As will be described below, in some embodiments the peripheral edge 48 may be configured to facilitate attachment of the seal. The center body 34 is configured to have sufficient structural strength to remain in a planar configuration during insertion and retrieval from a container 22, and during use. A center body 34 that has sufficient structural strength to not deflect or only minimally deflect during insertion and retrieval from a container 22, and during use may be described as “substantially rigid”. The center body 34 is not limited to any particular material or combination of materials, but a material that can be readily cleaned, or one that stored material will not adhere to, or one that is inert with respect to the materials to be sealed, or any combination thereof, is preferred. Non-limiting examples of center body materials include polymeric materials such as silicone, metallic materials, tempered glass, and the like. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 46 and/or the top surface 44 may be coated with a material, or a liner (which liner may be disposable) may be attached thereto, to create a surface that can be readily cleaned, or non-adherent, or inert, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the material of the center body 34 may be transparent or semi transparent. [0050] The seal member 36 is attached to the center body 34, and at least a portion of the seal member 36 extends outwardly from the peripheral edge 48 of the center body 34. The seal member 36 is configured to be elastically deformable in a manner that allows the sealing device 20 to be inserted into and removed from the container interior cavity 30, and to permit the seal member 36 to be biased against the interior sidewall surface(s) of a container 22 as will be described below. The seal member 36 may be a unitary structure, or may include a plurality of elements that are attached to one another to form a unitary structure. The seal member 36 is made from a material(s) with sufficient elastic flexibility to permit the seal member 36 to be biased against the interior sidewall surface(s) of a container 22, and one with sufficient impermeability to prevent any meaningful fluid passage through the seal member material. The aforesaid elastic flexibility includes bending deformation (e.g., where the seal member 36 bends from an at rest configuration), compression (e.g., where the seal member 36 compresses from an at rest configuration), or the like. As will be described herein, in some embodiments the seal member 36 is configured with a degree of elastic flexibility adequate to allow pressurized air to escape between the seal member 36 and the side wall 24 of the container 22; i.e., the pressurized air trapped between the sealing device 20 and the contents of the container 22 produces a force (as the sealing device 20 is moved toward the container 22 contents) that is great enough to cause the seal member 36 to deflect and allow the air to escape. When a sufficient amount of air has escaped (and therefore the force decreased), the seal member 36 elastically returns to a wall biased position. Non-limiting examples of a seal member material include rubber and polymeric materials such as silicone. The aforesaid elastic flexibility is a property of seal member 36 within a temperature range that the container 22 will be used to store materials.

[0051] Under the present disclosure, the seal member 36 may assume a variety of different geometries. Relatedly, the manner in which the seal member 36 and the center body 34 are attached to one another can assume a variety of different configurations. For example and referring to FIGS. 4-7, in some embodiments the seal member 36 may have an annular configuration. Within these annular configurations, some seal members 36 may be configured to attach to the peripheral edge 48 of the center body 34. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a seal member 36 that is bonded to the peripheral edge 48, and FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a seal member 36 that is mechanically attached to the peripheral edge 48 (e.g., by mating male and female elements). The present disclosure is not limited to any particular means of attaching the seal member 36 to the peripheral edge 48, including combinations of attachment means such as bonding and mechanical attachment. In other annular seal member 36 configurations, the seal member 36 may overlap with the center body 34; i.e., a portion of the annular seal member 36 extends inwardly past the peripheral edge 48 and is in contact with the top surface 44 or bottom surface 46 of the center body 34, or both. For example in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a portion of the annular seal member 36 extends inwardly from the of the center body 34 and is in contact with the top surface 44 of the center body 34. In this embodiment, the portion of the annular seal member 36 in contact with the top surface 44 may be bonded or mechanically attached to the top surface 44, or some combination thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a portion of the annular seal member 36 extends inwardly from the peripheral edge 48 of the center body 34, and that portion includes a channel configured to receive a portion of the center body 34. Hence, the portion of the annular seal member 36 is in contact with the top surface 44, the bottom surface 46, and the peripheral edge 48 of the center body 34. In this embodiment, the annular seal member 36 may be attached to the center body 34 by an interference fit between the seal member 36 and the center body 34, or the annular seal member 36 may be bonded or mechanically attached to the top and bottom surfaces 44, 46, or some combination thereof.

[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the center body 34 includes a plurality of elements that collectively form the center body (e.g., upper panel 34A and lower panel 34B) and the seal member 36 extends widthwise through the entirety of the sealing device 20. In these embodiments, the seal member 36 extends radially out beyond the peripheral edge 48 of the center body 34. The upper panel 34A, lower panel 34B, and the seal member 36 may be bonded or mechanically attached to one another, or some combination thereof.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the seal member 36 substantially encloses the center body 34, and a portion of the seal member 36 extends radially out beyond the peripheral edge 48 of the center body 34.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 10-12, one or more handles 42 may be attached to the sealing device 20 to facilitate inserting the sealing device 20 into and removing the sealing device 20 from a container 22. In those embodiments wherein two or more handles 42 are included (e.g., see FIG. 12), the handles 42 may be positioned at different positions (e.g., each positioned away from the center of the sealing device 20) to facilitate insertion and removal of the sealing device 20. To facilitate the description herein, a single handle 42 embodiment is described below. The described characteristics of the single handle 42 may be applicable to each handle 42 when more than one handle 42 is included, or different handles may have different characteristics.

[0055] In some embodiments, the handle 42 is independent from and is selectively attachable to and detachable from the sealing device 20 (e.g., see FIGS. 2A and 10). Once the sealing device 20 is inserted into the container 22 (using the handle 42), the handle 42 may be detached from the sealing device 20. Conversely to remove the sealing device 20 from the container 22, the handle 42 may be attached to the sealing device 20 and used to remove the sealing device 20 from the container 22. Once the sealing device 20 is removed and the handle 42 detached, the handle 42 is free to be used with other sealing devices 20. Hence, a single handle 42 may be used with a plurality of sealing devices 20. In these embodiments, the sealing device 20 includes a mechanism 43 for attaching the handle 42 (see FIG. 2A), and the handle 42 is configured to cooperate with the mechanism 43 for attachment purposes; e.g., a mechanical twi st-lock engagement, a threaded engagement, or the like. The sealing device 20 embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3 include a handle attachment mechanism 43 in the form of a female portion of a mating twist lock pair, and FIG. 10 illustrates a detachable handle 42 having a male portion of the mating twist lock pair. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular arrangement for attaching an independent handle 42 to a sealing device 20. In other embodiments, a handle 42 may be attached to a sealing device 20 in a permanent manner; i.e., the sealing device 20 includes a handle 42 that is intended to remain with the sealing device 20 (see FIG. 11). Regardless of whether the handle 42 is independent of the sealing device 20 or permanently attached to the device, the handle 42 is configured to permit a user to grasp the handle 42 for inserting or removing the sealing device 20 from the container 22. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular handle 42 configuration. Furthermore, although a handle 42 facilitates use of a sealing device 20, the present disclosure does not require a handle 42.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, in some embodiments the sealing device 20 may include a view port 38 configured to allow a user to see through the thickness of the sealing device 20; e.g., to permit the user to see the stored material as the sealing device 20 is inserted into the container 22. The view port 38 may include a transparent or semi-transparent material and may extend through the center body 34, and through the seal member 36 in certain embodiments described herein. As an alternative to the inclusion of a view port 38 and as stated above, in some embodiments the center body 34 may be formed from a transparent or semi transparent material. A view port 38 or a transparent center body 34, while not required, can provide the benefit of allowing a user to see the proximity of the sealing device 20 to the material disposed within the container 22; e.g., to ensure most or all of any air entrapped between the sealing device 20 and the material disposed within the container 22 has been removed, or to avoid compression of the stored material, or the like.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, in some embodiments the sealing device 20 may include a one-way air valve 40 that permits the escape of air through the valve 40. More specifically, the one-way air valve 40 is configured to allow air to pass through the thickness of the sealing device 20 (e.g., in a direction from the bottom surface 46 to the top surface 44), but prevents the passage of air through the valve 40 in the opposite direction. As an alternative to a one-way valve, a manually closable valve may be used; e.g., open to allow the air to escape, closed to prevent the passage of air in the opposite direction. As will be described below, a one way air valve 40 (or alternative valve) may facilitate insertion of the sealing device 20 by facilitating the egress of trapped air.

[0058] The following description of the operation of a sealing device 20 refers to a cylindrical sealing device 20 used with a cylindrical container 22 having a cylindrical interior cavity 30. As indicated above, the present disclosure sealing device 20 is not limited to a cylindrical configuration, and the cylindrical configuration is used here solely for the purpose of providing an illustration of sealing device 20 operation.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 13, the cylindrical container 22 has an interior cavity 30 having a diameter Dl, and an axial height AH1 that extends from the base wall 26 of the container 22 to the upper edge 28. A stored material (substantially incompressible) is disposed within the container 22 and partially fills the interior cavity 30. The stored material fills the portion of the interior cavity 30 from the base wall 26 to an axial height AH2, which is below the upper edge 28; i.e., AH2 < AH1. The sealing device 20 has a seal member 36 with an outer diameter D2, and a center body 34 with peripheral edge diameter D3. The seal member outer diameter D2 is greater than the internal cavity diameter Dl, and the internal cavity diameter Dl is greater than the peripheral edge diameter D3; i.e., D2 > Dl > D3. As indicated above, a handle 42 may be attached (permanently or detachably) to the sealing device 20. [0060] To utilize the sealing device 20, the sealing device 20 is translated past the upper edge 28 of the container 22 and into the interior cavity 30 of the container 22. Once the sealing device 20 is translated into the interior cavity 30, the seal member 36 is deflected to permit entry of the sealing device 20 into the interior cavity 30. The deflected seal member 36 (which is elastically deformable) is biased against the interior surface 32 of the interior cavity side wall 24. For purposes of description, it can be assumed that the sealing device 20 is initially translated into the interior cavity 30 to an axial position AH3, which axial position AH3 is disposed below the upper edge 28, but above the stored material (i.e., AH2 < AH3 < AH1). In this axial position, a body of air is trapped between the stored material and the sealing device 20 (i.e., in the portion 30A of the interior cavity 30 between AH2 and AH3) and the seal member 36 forms a seal with the side wall 24 of the container 22. A sealing device 20 disposed in this axial position (i.e., disposed in a stationary position within the container 22, with the sealing device 20 substantially parallel to the base wall 26 of the container 22) may be described as being in an “engaged configuration”. In the engaged configuration, the seal formed between the seal member 36 and the side wall 24 of the container 22 substantially or entirely prevents any flow of air across the seal member 36.

[0061] Absent a means to permit the trapped air to escape, further translation of the sealing device 20 into the interior cavity 30 would be resisted by the trapped body of air. The sealing device 20 is configured to permit the trapped air to escape the interior cavity 30, and thereby permit the sealing device 20 to be translated toward the stored material. Specifically in some embodiments of the sealing device 20, the seal member 36 is configured with a degree of elastic flexibility adequate to allow trapped air to escape between the seal member 36 and the side wall 24 of the container 22; i.e., the trapped air produces a force (as the sealing device 20 is moved toward the stored material) that is great enough to cause the seal member 36 to deflect away from the side wall 24 interior surface 32 and allow the air to escape. In alternative embodiments, the sealing device 20 may include a valve 40 that allows the trapped air to escape. The sealing device 20 may be configured to allow air to escape past the seal member 36 and through a valve 40. The sealing device 20 may be translated toward the stored material until all of the trapped air has escaped (e.g., the sealing device 20 in contact with the stored material), or until only an acceptable amount of trapped air is disposed between the stored material and the sealing device 20. In most applications, the sealing device 20 can be disposed in an engaged configuration at any heightwise position within the interior cavity 30 of the container 22. Consequently, the present disclosure provides considerable utility for protecting stored material regardless of the interior cavity volume occupied by the stored material. The view port 38 (or transparent center body 34) can be used to ascertain the relative positions of the sealing device 20 and the stored material. When the sealing device 20 is positioned within the interior cavity 30 in the desired position, the seal member 36 is biased against the interior surface 32 of the container side wall 24. The biasing force of the seal member 36 may be adequate to maintain the sealing device 20 at that position until the sealing device 20 is removed from the container 22. If a handle 42 is permanently attached to the sealing device 20, it will remain with the sealing device 20. If sealing device 20 is configured to be used with an attachable / detachable handle 42, the handle 42 can be removed. If the container 22 is configured to include a lid, the lid can be attached and the container 22 stored until the user wishes to access the stored material.

[0062] To remove the sealing device 20 from the container 22 and gain access to the stored material, the user simply pulls the sealing device 20 from the interior cavity 30; e.g., using the handle 42. The elastically flexible seal member 36 deflects as necessary to permit the translation of the sealing device 20.

[0063] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the described sealing device

20 may be used with a container 22 configured with features for engaging with the sealing device 20. Together, these components may be referred to as a container system 50.

[0064] As stated above, the present disclosure sealing devices 20 can be used with containers 22 having a variety of different geometric configurations; e.g., cylindrical configurations, square configurations, rectangular configurations, etc. The same holds true for the container system 50; i.e., the container 22 may have a variety of different geometric configurations, and the sealing device 20 is configured to mate with the container 22 as will be described herein. To facilitate the description herein, the container system 50 will be primarily described with a cylindrical configuration, but the present disclosure container systems 50 are not limited to a cylindrical configuration.

[0065] An example of a cylindrically configured container 22 portion of the container system 50 is shown in FIG. 14. The container 22 has a side wall 24 that extends entirely around the circumference of the container 22, and a base wall 26 that is attached to the side wall 24 around the entirety of the container circumference. The side wall 24 extends in a first direction (e.g., along a Y-axis) from the base wall 26 to an upper edge 28. The base wall 26 is substantially perpendicular to the side wall 24 (e.g., along an X-axis). The side wall 24 and the base wall 26 define an interior cavity 30. For description purposes, the container 22 may be described as having a central axis that extends along the Y-axis; e.g., the side wall 24 may be described as being disposed at a radial distance out from the central axis. The side wall 24 has an interior surface 32 and the base wall 26 has an interior surface that is contiguous with the interior cavity 30. The container 22 is useful for holding a variety of different materials that may be in liquid, solid, semi-solid, or other non-liquid, non-gaseous forms. The upper edge 28 defines a container opening 29 through which materials may be deposited or removed from the interior cavity 30 of the container 22. The upper edge 28 may be configured to mate with a lid, but that is not required for the present disclosure. In this example, the side wall 24 is parallel or substantially parallel, and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the base wall 26, but this configuration is not required.

[0066] The container 22 includes one or more grooves 52 disposed in the side wall 24.

The side wall 24 may be described as having a thickness (“WT”) disposed between the interior surface 32 of the side wall 24 and an exterior surface of the side wall 24. In some embodiments, a groove 52 disposed in the side wall 24 is a channel open (opening 54) at the interior surface 32 and extending into the wall thickness a depth (“GD”) that is less than the wall thickness; i.e., GT < WT (See FIG. 14). In some embodiments, the portion of the side wall 24 that defines the groove 52 deviates from the otherwise planar side wall 24; i.e., the side wall thickness remains substantially constant. The groove 52 extends radially outward, producing a groove opening 54 contiguous with the adjacent interior surface 32 of the planar side wall 24 (See FIG. 16). The present disclosure is not limited to any particular groove 52 geometric configuration, other than the groove 52 (regardless of whether it is disposed in the side wall 24, or formed by the side wall 24) is configured to receive a portion of the seal member 36 of a sealing device 20.

[0067] Each groove 52 extends around the circumference of the container 22 at a particular axial position within the interior cavity 30; i.e., at a Y-axis position, such that the groove 52 resides in a plane that is substantially parallel to the base wall 26 of the container 22. In those embodiments that include a plurality of grooves 52, the grooves 52 may be axially spaced apart from one another at different positions, and those axial positions may be uniformly spaced (e.g., each groove separated from adjacent grooves by a uniform distance “D”), or at a plurality of different respective axial spacings.

[0068] The operation of a sealing device 20 within a present disclosure container system

50 is very similar to that described above; e.g., the sealing device 20 is inserted and removed in the same manner and the trapped air escapes in the same manner. The side wall grooves 52 in a container system container 22, however, provide several advantages over conventional containers. As a first example, the groove 52 geometry may be complementary to the seal member 36 geometry in a manner than facilitates the formation of an airtight seal. As a second example, each groove 52 may improve the retention of the sealing device 20 at the given axial position of the groove 52. This may be particularly beneficial when a container 22 is apt to be tilted or otherwise positioned with the base wall 26 of the container 22 at an orientation other than horizontal. As a third example, in those embodiments of the container system 50 wherein the container 22 includes a plurality of grooves 52, the grooves 52 may be configured to provide the user with positional “feedback”; e.g., the container system 50 may be configured such that a seal member 36 of the sealing device 20 encountering a groove 52 will create an audible signal (e.g., a “click”) as the elastically deformable seal member 36 expands into the groove 52 and/or translates past a groove 52. A user may know that the material stored within the container interior cavity 30 is just below the “Nth” groove 52 (where “N” is an integer). To position the sealing device 20 in close proximity to the stored material, the user simply inserts the sealing device 20 until he or she hears “N” clicks. The audible messaging provides a means to position the sealing device 20 without needing to see the stored material (e.g., through a view port 38 or through a transparent center body 34), or when it is not possible to see the stored material (e.g., poor lighting).

[0069] While various aspects of the present disclosure have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure as described herein includes several aspects and embodiments that include particular features. Although these particular features may be described individually, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that some or all of these features may be combined with any one of the aspects and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. References to “various embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

[0070] It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description and in the drawings. It is noted that these connections are general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. A coupling between two or more entities may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection. An indirect connection may incorporate one or more intervening entities. It is further noted that various method or process steps for embodiments of the present disclosure are described in the following description and drawings. The description may present the method and/or process steps as a particular sequence. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the description should not be construed as a limitation.

[0071] Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.