Resealable moisture tight container assembly for strips and the like having a lip snap seal

• US 8,528,778 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CSP Technologies North America LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CSP Technologies Incorporated (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Giraud, Jean Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US13/533,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 220/839, 220/259.1, 220/4.21, 220/4.23, 221/45, 221/63, 206/535
• US Class Current: 220/839
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/225 by ultrasonic welding
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/02 responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/20 for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents adding unpacking elements B65B61/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/26 by closing hinged lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1041 The closure having a part penetrating in the dispensing aperture and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/105 The closure having a part fitting over the rim of the container or spout and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/20 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00833 Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0099 Integral supplemental sealing lips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/163 the container and the lid being made separately B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/164 and connected by interfitting hinge elements integrally with the container and the lid formed respectively
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 53/00 Sealing or packing elements sealings in general F16J15/00; Sealings formed by liquid or plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 53/02 Collars or rings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/24 Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with thermal insulation B65D81/38
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/266 for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants B65D51/244, B65D51/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0805 through an aperture in a wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0823 : the articles being pushed and slid through the aperture

Abstract

A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items comprising an assembly with a container and a lid, the lid is attached by a hinge to an upper housing portion of the container, the lid includes a lip seal member that depends downwardly from the lid, the lip seal member is configured to abut at least a portion of the interior side of the container when the lid is in the closed position resulting in a substantially moisture tight seal between the lid and the lid, and the container assembly further comprising a base portion and an upper housing portion, the upper housing portion is capable of being snap-fit into the base portion by employing a lip seal mechanism to form a substantially moisture-tight seal.

Claims

1. A substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items comprising:

an assembly with a container and a lid;

a) the container has a container base, and a sidewall extending upwardly from the container base;

i) a top of the container is provided with an opening that permits access to an interior of the container;

ii) the opening is spaced away from an outer surface of the sidewall of the container”

by at least a portion of the thickness of the sidewall of the container;

iii) the container contains a desiccant;

b) the lid is attached by a hinge to the container, the lid has an outer periphery that extends over at least a portion of the container, the lid is provided with a skirt that extends downwardly therefrom;

i) the skirt of the lid is positioned at a location on the lid that allows the skirt of the lid to close over the top of the container, wherein the skirt of the lid fits over a periphery the top of the container;

wherein the skirt of the lid includes an inwardly facing extension, a lip of the top of the container includes an outwardly facing extension, the inwardly facing extension of the skirt of the lid and the outwardly facing extension of the lip abut and interlock with each other in a snap-fit configuration when the lid is in the closed position; and

ii) the lid further includes a flexible lip seal member that extends downwardly therefrom, the flexible lip seal member of the lid is configured to abut at least a portion of the interior side of the top container surface when the lid is in the closed position;

wherein the flexible lip seal member is designed to be sufficiently deflective so as to provide a sealing position, when the skirt of the lid is closed over the top container, which results in a substantially moisture proof seal between the lid and the container.

2. The substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior of the container is adapted to storing at least one moisture sensitive item.

3. The substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one moisture sensitive item is a diagnostic test strip.

4. The substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the container is adapted to being opened and closed to remove the at least one moisture sensitive item.

5. The substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly of claim 2, wherein the container is adapted to keeping the at least one moisture sensitive item substantially free of moisture such that, when the at least one moisture sensitive item is removed from the container, the at least one moisture sensitive item works for its intended use.

6. The substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the container is a single piece container.

7. The substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible lip seal member of the lid is adapted to be sufficiently deflective so as to be deflected in the closed position.