Storage container lids

• US 9,340,330 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Schofield, Robert T., LeBoeuf, William E., Petersen, Sean T., Boda, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, JEFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US12/801,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20110315702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 220/793, 220/796, 220/795, 220/782, 220/200, 220/326, 220/256.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00194 square or rectangular with curved sides B65D2543/00101
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00314 Combination, e.g. laminates, several different materials
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0037 Flexible or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00564 indirect by means of a gasket or similar intermediate ring
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00648 Flange or lip
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00685 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0074 Massive bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00796 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00805 Segments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00842 outside of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00972 Collars or rings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0208 on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container B65D43/0206 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention is directed to storage containers and lids for storage containers which provide for a secure closure and a storage container which is airtight and leakproof. The lid includes a generally U-shaped closure made of a plastic material for securing to a container base; a center window also made of a plastic material and preferably the same as the U-shaped closure; and a thermoplastic material which provides for a sealing gasket on the underside of the U-shaped closure for mating with the container base and a perimeter seal on the outside of the U-shaped closure and around the outer circumference of the center window. The lid may further include a gripping tab made at least in part of thermoplastic material in the lid corner for opening or closing the container, and wings made of a thermoplastic material in one or more portions or corners of the lid.

Claims

1. A storage container lid comprising

a substantially U-shaped closure made of a plastic material structured to secure the lid to a container base,

a center window made of a plastic material,

a one piece combined gasket and perimeter seal structure joining said U-shaped closure and said center window, wherein said one piece combined gasket and perimeter seal structure is made of a thermoplastic material and is structured to serve as (1) a sealing gasket positioned below said U-shaped closure and configured to mate with a vertical wall portion of the container base when the lid is sealingly seated on the container base, and (2) a perimeter seal on an outside portion of the U-shaped closure and configured to extend around the outer circumference of the center window, and wherein said one piece combined gasket and perimeter seal structure is fused to said U-shaped closure and to said center window at respective ends of said one piece combined gasket and perimeter seal structure to join together said U-shaped closure and said center window;

wherein said plastic material of said U-shaped closure is a hard plastic material and said thermoplastic material of said one piece combined gasket and perimeter seal structure is soft in comparison to said plastic material.

2. The storage container lid of claim 1 wherein the substantially U-shaped closure further comprises as a part thereof a gripping tab made at least in part of a thermoplastic material and constructed and arranged for opening and closing the container.

3. The storage container lid of claim 2 wherein the gripping tab includes a recessed portion.

4. The storage container of claim 2 further comprising wing members made of thermoplastic material located adjacent said gripping tab.

5. The storage container lid of claim 2 wherein the container lid is at least substantially square or substantially rectangular and further comprises wing members made of a thermoplastic material located at one or more corners of the lid.

6. The storage container lid of claim 4 further comprising an extension tab extending inwardly from said gripping tab and constructed and arranged for receiving a brand name or ornamentation.

7. The storage container lid of claim 6 wherein the extension tab is made at least in part of a thermoplastic material.

8. The storage container lid of claim 1 wherein any one or all of the plastic material comprises polypropylene and any one or all of the thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The storage container lid of claim 1 wherein any one or all of the plastic material is a different color than any one or all of the thermoplastic material.

10. The storage container lid of claim 1 wherein the substantially U-shaped closure has at least one cutback constructed and arranged for mating with at least one complementary cutback on the container base when the lid is sealingly seated on the container base.

11. The storage container lid of claim 1 further comprising a locking member constructed and arranged to engage the container base when the lid is sealingly seated on the container base.

12. The storage container lid of claim 11 wherein the locking member is made at least in part of a thermoplastic material.

13. The storage container lid of claim 1 wherein the center window comprises a dome configuration.