Liquid container lid with dispensing and sealing mechanism

• US 7,975,883 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Inventors: Laib, Douglas M., Vaerenbergh, Tom Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/076,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 222/556, 222/484, 222/215, 222/210, 222/209, 222/567, 222/568
• US Class Current: 222/484
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/102 Gripping means formed in the walls, e.g. roughening, cavities, projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0895 one part of the hinge being integral with the hinged closure and the other part with the base element, without any other additional hinge element

Abstract

A liquid container lid for use on a container is disclosed having a pouring spout disposed on an upper surface of the lid, a vent hole disposed on the upper surface of the lid and rear of the pouring spout, a pair of U-shaped lugs disposed on the upper surface of the lid and rear of the vent hole, a seal plate having a trunnion on a lower surface thereof, and a post extending downwardly from the lower surface and opposing the trunnion, a gasket removably disposed over the post on the seal plate, the trunnion of the seal plate pivotally engaging the pair of U-shaped lugs, allowing the seal plate to pivot in a cantilevered motion from a first raised position to a second lowered position wherein the gasket is inserted in the pouring spout and seals the pouring spout.

Claims

1. A liquid container lid for use on a container having an outer wall and an upper peripheral rim bounding an opening, said liquid container lid comprising:

a cut out portion having a sloped rear surface portion, and a flat surface portion forward of said sloped rear surface portion,

a pouring spout disposed on said flat surface portion,

a vent means disposed on said flat surface portion,

a seal plate pivotally attached to said flat surface portion,

a gasket removably disposed on said seal plate,

a vent closing means on said seal plate,

wherein said seal plate is pivotable in a cantilevered motion between a first lowered closed position and a second raised position, and wherein the gasket is inserted in and seals the pouring spout.

2. The liquid container lid of claim 1, wherein said vent means comprises a vent hole.

3. The liquid container lid of claim 2, wherein said vent hole is located rear of said pouring spout, and said vent closing means blocks said vent hole when said seal plate is in said first lowered closed position.

4. The liquid container lid of claim 1, further comprising a pair of U-shaped lugs disposed on said surface portion and rear of said vent means.

5. The liquid container lid of claim 4, wherein the seal plate further comprises a trunnion integral with a lower surface of the seal plate.

6. The liquid container lid of claim 5, wherein said trunnion of said seal plate pivotally engages said pair of U-shaped lugs, and wherein said trunnion is positioned rear of said vent closing means.

7. The liquid container lid of claim 5, wherein said vent closing means is a post integral with and extending downwardly from said lower surface of said seal plate, and wherein said post is dimensioned and configured to be received in said vent hole in order to seal said vent hole.

8. The liquid container lid of claim 1, wherein the gasket is made of silicone.

9. The liquid container lid of claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a pair of opposing depressions disposed on said outer wall proximate and below said upper peripheral rim.

10. The liquid container lid of claim 1, wherein said lid is threadably and removably secured on said container.

11. The liquid container lid of claim 6, further comprising a protrusion extending upwardly from said flat surface portion, and wherein said trunnion includes a cam which engages said protrusion in a wedge-like fit to maintain the seal plate locked in place when in a lowered position.

12. The liquid container lid of claim 1, further comprising a gasket receiving post integral with and extending downwardly from the lower surface of the seal plate, wherein said gasket is removably received over said gasket receiving post.

13. The liquid container lid of claim 12, wherein said gasket further comprises a sealing head having an undercut area, said pouring spout having a second undercut area on an inner part thereof, and wherein said undercut area on said sealing head locks into and engages said second undercut area on said inner part of the pouring spout.

14. The liquid container lid of claim 1, wherein said cut out portion diametrically spans an upper portion of said lid, wherein said cut out portion is defined by a pair of opposing walls, and wherein said flat surface portion is a horizontal surface portion.

15. A liquid container lid for use on a container having an outer wall and an upper peripheral rim bounding an opening, said liquid container lid comprising:

a cut out portion having a sloped rear surface portion, and a flat surface portion forward of said sloped rear surface portion,

a pouring spout disposed on said flat surface portion,

a vent means disposed on said flat surface portion,

a seal plate pivotally attached to said flat surface portion,

a gasket removably disposed on said seal plate,

a vent closing means on said seal plate, wherein said seal plate is pivotable in a cantilevered motion,

wherein said container and said container lid are dimensioned and configured such that a user can grasp said container by one hand and simultaneously press said seal plate to move said seal plate from a first lowered closed position to a second raised open position.

16. The liquid container lid of claim 15, further comprising a pair of opposing depressions disposed on said outer wall proximate and below said upper peripheral rim, and wherein said container is grasped by the user'"'"'s thumb, middle and ring fingers over said opposing depressions, and the user'"'"'s index finger is used to depress said seal plate.

17. The liquid container lid of claim 15, wherein said cut out portion diametrically spans an upper portion of said lid, wherein said cut out portion is defined by a pair of opposing walls, and wherein said flat surface portion is a horizontal surface portion.

18. A method of operating a container lid sealing mechanism, comprising:

providing a cut out portion having a sloped rear surface portion, and a flat surface portion forward of said sloped rear surface portion,

providing a pouring spout on said flat surface portion,

providing a vent hole on said flat surface portion, and rear of said pouring spout,

providing a pair of U-shaped lugs on said flat surface portion, and rear of said vent hole,

providing a seal plate having a trunnion on the lower surface of said seal plate,

providing a post extending downwardly from the lower surface and opposing said trunnion,

providing a gasket removably disposed on said post on the seal plate,

pivotally moving said seal plate on said trunnion and U-shaped lugs in a cantilevered motion from a first closed and lowered position to a second raised position by grasping the container with one hand and at the same time pressing the seal plate with the index finger of the same hand, thus causing a lower rear surface of the seal plate to be received by the sloped rear surface portion as the seal plate moves to the raised position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said cut out portion diametrically spans an upper portion of said lid, said cut out portion being defined by a pair of opposing walls, and wherein a rear, lower surface portion of the seal plate is rocked in a downward motion toward the sloped rear surface when the seal plate is pivoted to the second raised position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said flat surface portion is a horizontal surface portion.