Sealable container lid

• US 7,137,525 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy Gibney
• Original Assignee: Timothy Gibney
• Inventors: Gibney, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M.
• Application Number:
  US10/689,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 220319-321, 220/315, 220/697, 220/679, 206/15.3, 206/15.2, 206/262.3, 206/362
• US Class Current: 220/319
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/127 Covers or lids for paint cans covers or lids for containers of general type B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/22 Caps or cap-like covers with elastic parts adapted to be stretched over the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/34 lever-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2038 with means for establishing or improving vacuum

Abstract

A container lid that is easily sealed to prevent air and other environmental agents from infiltrating the covered container and its contents and to accommodate storage of tools such as paintbrushes or paint rollers. The lid includes a base and lip and a strap surrounding the lip to secure the position of the lid and prevent air from seeping into the container. The base of the lid can be a solid, smooth surface, or it can be configured with special features such as suction vents and pour spouts. The base further includes a hatch and slots for receiving and holding tools suspended from the lid into the container. The hatch includes features including a hatch cover, gasket, and hinge cover that prevent the passage of air into the container that when paired with the easily sealed lid on the container prevents air, pests, and other particles from ruining or contaminating the container contents or tools.

Claims

1. A paint container sealing lid comprising:

a base, said base having a first surface, a second surface, and a continuous edge;

a hatch within said base, said hatch having a first side, a second side, a first end, and as second end, wherein at least said first side includes at least one slot for holding at least one tool, said hatch having dimensions sufficient for receiving at least one tool;

a hatch cover covering said hatch, said hatch cover attached to said hatch by a hinge at said second side of said hatch;

a lip adjacently attached to said continuous edge, said lip having an indentation for enveloping a rim of said container;

a flexible strap proximal said lip, said strap having a first end and a second end;

a fastening mechanism attached to said first end and said second end of said strap;

wherein said fastening mechanism cinches said flexible strap into a water-tight configuration, said strap holding said lip against said container upon closing of said fastening mechanism.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein said lip is a sealed lip.

3. The lid of claim 2 further comprising a holding mechanism wherein said holding mechanism holds said strap next to said sealed lip.

4. The lid of claim 3, wherein said holding mechanism is a series of loops attached to said sealed lip, said series of loops receiving said strap.

5. The lid of claim 3, wherein said holding mechanism is a tube attached to said sealed lip, said tube receiving said strap.

6. The lid of claim 3, wherein said holding mechanism is said sealed lip, said sealed lip being hollow and receiving said strap.

7. The lid of claim 1, wherein said lip is an unsealed lip.

8. The lid of claim 7, wherein said strap is attached to said base.

9. The lid of claim 1, wherein said base is comprised of a rigid material.

10. The lid of claim 1, wherein said lip is comprised a plastic material.

11. The lid of claim 1, wherein said strap is comprised of nylon.

12. The lid of claim 1, wherein said strap is comprised of metal.

13. The lid of claim 1, wherein said fastening mechanism is a toggle latch.

14. The lid of claim 1, wherein said fastening mechanism is a buckle.

15. The lid of claim 1, wherein said fastening mechanism is a hook and loop fastener.

16. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a hasp attached to said strap.

17. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a suction vent and pressure release valve within said base, wherein said suction vent allows air to be removed from said container to create a vacuum within said container and said pressure release valve releases said vacuum created by said suction vent.

18. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a pour opening and an air vent within said base.

19. The lid of claim 18, further comprising a pour spout fitting within said pour opening.

20. The lid of claim 1, wherein said at least one tool is a painting tool.

21. The lid of claim 1, wherein said at least one slot is three slots.

22. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a removable hinge cover.

23. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a fastening mechanism attached to said first side of said hatch and to a side of said hatch cover corresponding to said first side of said hatch, wherein said fastening mechanism coordinates to securely fasten said hatch cover over said hatch.

24. The lid of claim 1, wherein said hatch cover accommodates said at least one tool.

25. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a flexible gasket attached to said second surface of said base beneath said first side of said hatch.

26. The lid of claim 25, wherein said gasket includes at least one slit corresponding to each of said at least one slot of said first side of said hatch, wherein said at least one slit receives said at least tool preventing air from entering said container through said at least one slot in said hatch.

27. A method of storing a paintbrush or paint roller comprising:

sealing a container with a lid comprising;

a base, said base having a first surface, a second surface, and a continuous edge;

a lip adjacently attached to said continuous edge, said lip having an indentation for enveloping a rim of said container;

a flexible strap proximal said lip, said strap having a first end and a second end;

a fastening mechanism attached to said first and second end;

a hatch within said base, said hatch having a first side, a second side, a first end, and as second end, wherein at least said first side includes at least one slot for receiving at least one handle of a paintbrush or paint roller, said hatch having dimensions sufficient to receive an entire painting tool;

a hatch cover covering said hatch, said hatch cover including at least one opening corresponding to said at least one slot for accommodating said at least one handle of a paintbrush or paint roller;

a flexible gasket attached to said second surface of said base beneath said first side of said hatch, said gasket including at least one slit corresponding to said at least one slot of said first side of said hatch, wherein said at least one slit receives said at least one handle preventing air from entering said container through said at least one slot in said hatch;

cinching said flexible strap into a water-tight configuration, said strap holding said lip against said container upon closing of said fastening mechanism;

inserting at least paint brush or paint roller through said hatch and inserting at least one handle from said paint brush or paint roller within said at least one slot of said first side of said hatch and said corresponding at least one slit within said gasket; and

closing said hatch cover over said hatch;

wherein, said at least one paintbrush or paint roller is suspended from said lid within said container; and

wherein, said container is sealed in an air-tight configuration.

28. A paint container sealing lid comprising:

a base, said base having a first surface, a second surface, and a continuous edge;

a hatch within said base, said hatch having a first side, a second side, a first end, and as second end, wherein at least said first side includes at least one slot for holding at least one tool, said hatch having dimensions sufficient for receiving at least one tool;

a hatch cover covering said hatch;

a flexible gasket attached to said second surface of said base beneath said first side of said hatch;

a lip adjacently attached to said continuous edge, said lip having an indentation for enveloping a rim of said container;

a flexible strap proximal said lip, said strap having a first end and a second end;

a fastening mechanism attached to said first end and said second end of said strap;

wherein said fastening mechanism cinches said flexible strap into a water-tight configuration, said strap holding said lip against said container upon closing of said fastening mechanism.

29. The lid of claim 28, wherein said gasket includes at least one slit corresponding to each of said at least one slot of said first side of said hatch, wherein said at least one slit receives said at least one tool preventing air from entering said container through said at least one slot in said hatch.