Ventable Storage Container and Method of Use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016332785-A1
Application number	US-201615154316-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a storage container for food and other items and a method of venting a storage container. The storage container may include a container body and a removable lid. The removable lid may include a flexible sealing lip that traverses the perimeter of a rigid central cover portion. At least one venting aperture may extend through the rigid central cover portion. Additionally, the storage container may include a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch may include a gripping portion configured to grip a peripheral rim of the container body and a sealing portion configured to cover the venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position. When the latch occupies the unlatched position, the sealing portion may uncover the venting aperture to permit venting of steam and other gases from within the storage container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A storage container comprising:
a container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim; a removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traversing a perimeter of the rigid central cover portion, the flexible sealing lip being configured to sealingly engage at least one of the sidewall or the peripheral rim of the container body; a first venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid; a first latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position; and the first latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, the gripping portion being configured to grip the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position, the sealing portion being configured to cover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the latched position and uncover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the unlatched position.

2 . The storage container of claim 1 , the first latch being rotationally connected to the removable lid.

3 . The storage container of claim 2 , the first latch being configured to rotate about a rotational axis offset inwardly from the peripheral rim of the container body when the removable lid is secured to the container body.

4 . The storage container of claim 1 , the sealing member of the first latch including a sealing protrusion sized and dimensioned to be inserted into, and seal close, the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the latched position.

5 . The storage container of claim 1 , comprising:
a second latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position; a second venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid; the second latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, the gripping portion being configured to grip the peripheral rim of the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the second latch occupies the latched position, the sealing portion being configured to cover and seal close the second venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position and uncover the venting aperture when the latch occupies the unlatched position; and the first and second latches being arranged on opposite sides of the storage container.

6 . The storage container of claim 1 , the gripping portion of the first latch being configured to snap over the peripheral rim of the container body to removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position.

7 . The storage container of claim 1 , the flexible sealing lip including a wiper seal configured to slidably and sealingly engage an inner surface of the sidewall.

8 . The storage container of claim 1 , an outer peripheral portion of the removable lid being clamped between the gripping portion of the first latch and the peripheral rim of the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position.

9 . The storage container of claim 8 , the flexible sealing lip including a compression seal disposed on an underside of the outer peripheral portion of the removable lid such that the compression seal is clamped between the outer peripheral portion of the removable lid and the peripheral rim of the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position.

10 . The storage container of claim 1 , the flexible sealing lip including a first connector member and the rigid central cover portion including a second connector member, the first and second connector members matingly engaging each other.

11 . The storage container of claim 10 , the first connector member including a cavity sized and dimensioned to receive the second connector member.

12 . The storage container of claim 1 , the first latch including an opening receiving a pin extending from the removable lid to rotationally connect the first latch and the removable lid.

13 . The storage container of claim 1 , comprising a handle extending outwardly from the peripheral rim of the container body and being disposed outwardly of the removable lid.

14 . A method for venting a storage container, the method comprising:
filling a container body of the storage container with food, the container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upward from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim; covering the container body with a removable lid; rotating a latch hinged to the removable lid in a first rotational direction to: (i) cover a venting aperture extending through the removable lid, and (ii) secure the latch to the peripheral rim of the container body; and rotating the latch in a second rotational direction to uncover the venting aperture and vent an interior cavity of the container body to the atmosphere.

15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising placing the storage container in a microwave to heat the food within the storage container.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the latch is rotated in the second rotational direction to uncover the venting aperture and vent the interior of the container body to the atmosphere before heating the food in the microwave.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the latch is rotated in the second rotational direction to uncover the venting aperture and vent the interior of the container body to the atmosphere after heating the food in the microwave.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein covering the container body with the removable lid comprises sliding a wiper seal connected to the removable lid along an inner surface of the sidewall of the container body.

Assignees

• Rubbermaid Inc

Inventors

• Sexton Joseph Michael
• Fulford Evan Allen
• Lint Gianna

Classifications

• B65D45/20

  pivoted · CPC title

• B65D2205/02

  Venting holes · CPC title

• A23L5/34

  using microwaves · CPC title

• B65B25/22

  Packaging articles of food, e.g. fish fillets, intended to be cooked in the package · CPC title

• B65D51/1633

  whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element · CPC title