Container with sealable lid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016257458-A1
Application number	US-201615059693-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2016
Priority date	Mar 4, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A storage container assembly includes a container and a lid. The lid includes a top lid, a button, a gasket, a gasket pusher, and an arm. The button is moveable in a first axial direction between a projected position in which a top surface of the button is offset from an upper surface of the lid and a depressed position in which the top surface of the button is nearer to the upper surface. The gasket is moveable between a contracted state and an expanded state. The gasket pusher is moveable in a second axial direction, which is transverse to the first axial direction, and pushes the gasket. The arm operatively connects the button with the gasket pusher. Movement of the button from the projected position toward the depressed position results in pivotal movement of the arm and moves the gasket pusher in the second axial direction.

First claim

1 . A storage container assembly comprising:
a container having an opening; a lid for covering the opening, the lid including
a top lid defining an upper surface of the lid;
a button movable in a first axial direction with respect to the top lid between a projected position in which a top surface of the button is offset from the upper surface of the lid and a depressed position in which the top surface of the button is nearer to the upper surface of the lid as compared to the projected position;
a gasket movable between a contracted state and an expanded state;
a gasket pusher movable in a second axial direction, which is transverse to the first axial direction, between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the gasket pusher pushes the gasket toward the expanded state when moving from the retracted position toward the extended position;
an arm operatively connecting the button with the gasket pusher, wherein movement of the button from the projected position toward the depressed position results in pivotal movement of the arm and moves the gasket pusher in the second axial direction, which results in the gasket moving toward the expanded state.

2 . The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid further includes a spring biasing the button toward the projected position.

3 . The storage container assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lid further includes a cam mechanism including a cam and the spring.

4 . The storage container assembly of claim 3 , wherein the cam mechanism is configured to cooperate with the button such that the button maintains the depressed position when moved from the projected position to the depressed position, and the button remains in the depressed position until pressed again while in the depressed position.

5 . The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gasket pusher is one of a plurality of gasket pushers and the arm is one of a plurality of arms, wherein the lid further includes a web, which is an integrally formed piece of plastic material, including the plurality of gasket pushers and a plurality of tensile connector elements, wherein each of the tensile connector elements interconnects adjacent gasket pushers.

6 . The storage container assembly of claim 5 , wherein each tensile connector element is ring-shaped.

7 . The storage container assembly of claim 6 , wherein the web further includes a hub and the plurality of arms, which are each connected with the hub and a respective gasket pusher.

8 . The storage container assembly of claim 7 , wherein each arm includes a first hinge section connecting the respective arm with the hub and a second hinge section connecting a respective gasket pusher with the respective arm.

9 . The storage container assembly of claim 8 , wherein each gasket pusher includes a lower surface normal to the first axial direction, and each gasket pusher and the respective second hinge section moves in a plane parallel with the lower surface to expand and contract the gasket.

10 . The storage container assembly of claim 8 , wherein each gasket pusher includes a gasket contact surface contacting the gasket, wherein the gasket contact surface defines a corner and a line emanating from a center point of the hub bisecting a respective arm is coincident with a respective corner.

11 . The storage container assembly of claim 8 , wherein each gasket pusher includes a gasket contact surface contacting the gasket, wherein the gasket contact surface defines a corner and a line emanating from a center point of the hub bisecting a respective arm is offset from a respective corner.

12 . A method for assembling a lid, the method comprising:
placing a cam mechanism on a base; placing a web on the base, wherein the web includes gasket pushers and tensile connector elements, wherein each tensile connector element interconnects adjacent gasket pushers; connecting a button with the cam mechanism; placing a top lid on the base and connecting the base with the top lid, wherein the top lid includes a button opening receiving the button; and attaching a gasket to the base.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein placing the cam mechanism on the base further includes inserting a spring into or onto a boss provided on the base and placing a cam on the spring.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the web is an integrally formed piece of plastic including a hub and the plurality of arms, which are each connected with the hub and a respective gasket pusher, and connecting the button with the cam mechanism includes inserting a barb on the button through a central opening in the hub.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each gasket pusher includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the method further comprising molding the web in a configuration where a lower end of the hub is offset vertically above the upper surface of each gasket pusher.

16 . A web for expanding a gasket, the web comprising:
a hub; a plurality of arms connected with and extending outwardly from the hub; a plurality of gasket pushers each connected with a respective arm, each gasket pusher including a gasket contact surface for contacting the gasket, wherein movement of the hub in a first axial direction results in movement of the gasket pushers in a second axial direction, which is transverse to the first axial direction; and a plurality of tensile connector elements, each of the tensile connector elements interconnecting adjacent gasket pushers.

17 . The web of claim 16 , wherein each arm includes a first hinge section connecting the respective arm with the hub and a second hinge section connecting a respective gasket pusher with the respective arm.

18 . The web of claim 17 , wherein the each gasket pusher includes a lower surface normal to the first axial direction, and each gasket pusher and the respective second hinge section moves in a plane parallel with the lower surface.

19 . The web of claim 17 , wherein the gasket contact surface defines a corner and a line emanating from a center point of the hub bisecting a respective arm is coincident with a respective corner.

20 . The web of claim 17 , wherein the gasket contact surface defines a corner and a line emanating from a center point of the hub bisecting a respective arm is offset from a respective corner.

Assignees

• Helen Of Troy Ltd

Inventors

• Pentelovitch Noah Ziman
• McNamara Conor Patrick
• Kida Makiko
• Matsumoto Tamotsu
• Ogasawara Nobuyuki
• Nagata Yoshinori

Classifications

• B65D45/32 Primary

  for applying radial {or radial and axial} pressure, e.g. contractible bands encircling closure member · CPC title

• B65D45/327

  the annular member applying radial pressure against the inner surface of the container wall (B65D55/0863, B65D55/0872 take precedence) · CPC title

• B67B1/00

  Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying stoppers (stoppers per se B65D39/00) · CPC title

• B65B7/28

  by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers · CPC title

• B65D39/12 Primary

  expansible, e.g. inflatable · CPC title