CA2292400A1

CA2292400A1 - Insulated snap fit container lid

Info

Publication number: CA2292400A1
Application number: CA002292400A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kathleen Gay Peeples; Joseph Frank Fiore
Original assignee: Kathleen Gay Peeples; Joseph Frank Fiore; Igloo Products Corp.
Current assignee: Igloo Products Corp
Priority date: 1998-12-15
Filing date: 1999-12-10
Publication date: 2000-06-15
Also published as: US6164484A

Abstract

A snap fit lid for a container is described. The lid can be made to incorporate thermal insulation and engages the container internally and at its edge to form a double seal. An annular gap is formed between the double seals. A groove runs transversely to the annular gap across the internal and external seals to allow pressure equalization in the container with its surrounding environment. The closure straddles the container at its top and snaps to the container top to create a pair of offset opposed seals for a snug fit to the container. The closure is particularly amenable to use in tray sized containers used extensively in foodservice applications.

Description

NOV-24-99 15:14 P.09 R-994 Job-230 11./24/99-18: 17 FAX__ . _ _ DMH PHILA a8A f~ 009 TITLE: INSULATED SNAP FIT CONTAINER LID
INVENTOR(S): JOSEPH F. FIORE and KATHLEEN G. PEEPLES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of this invention relates to closures for a variety of containers, for example, and more specifically to food storage containers, principally useful in volume feeding applications.
BACKGROUND OF TWE INVENTION
Many designs have been developed for snap closures for containers.
Typical of such designs are U.S. Patents 3,805,994; 4,561,562; 4,209,107:
4,574,974; 4,782,976; 5,373,955; 5,383,565; 4,256,240; 3,320,993;
3,101,864; 4,166,548: 2,711,840; 3,339,786; 3.809,284; design 243,231; and design 374,822.
Lacking in the prior designs is a simple structure for a snap fit lid which firmly engages the cor~ainer internally, as well as at its edge, to form a double seal while additionally providing the benefits of thermal insuiafion to keep contents warm or cold, and incorporating into thg design a venting feature which operates bidirectionally to relieve internal overpressure or vacuum due to temperature effects from the contents in the container. Apart from the simple construction incorporating a double seal, the physical execution of the double seal enhances the grip of the closure on the container by preferentially applying as much of the available forces accumulated from assembling the snap fit lid to the container into contact forces to maintain the interns! and external seals. The aspects of the design of the present invention referred to NOV-24-99 15:14 P.10 R-994 Job-230 - _ _11!24/99 16:18 FAX __ . _ ___ __ DMH PHILA 36A X010 above vrnll be more clearly understood irom a review of the preferred embodi-ment described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A snap fit lid for a container is described. The lid can be made to incorporate thermal insulation, and engages the container intemalty and at its edge to form a double seal. An annular gap is formed between the double seals. A groove runs transversely to tine annular gap across the internal and external seals to allow pressure equalization in tt~e container with its sur-1o rounding environment. The closure straddles the container at its top and snaps to the container top to create a pair of offset opposed seals for a snug fat to the container. The closure is particularly amenable to use in tray-sized containers used extensively in foodservice applications.

Figure 1 is a section view of a portion of the container and closure, illustrating the double seal for the container formed by the closure where the closure has a space on its top to accommodate an insulating material or gas or fluid.
20 Figure 2 is an alternative embodiment to Figure 1 which eliminates the insulation feature in the top of the closure.
Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, illustrating the full extent of the vent groove to allow pressure equal-ization as between the internals of the container and its surrounding environ-25 ment.

NOU-24-99 15:14 P.11 R-994 Job-230 11./24/99.. .16: 18 FAX ___ _ DMH PHILA 56A f~ 011 DETAILED DESCRIPTION QF THE PREFERREIS I=MBQDIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, the wall 10 of the container C is shown in a sectional etevational view. Above bend 12 is a vertical or near vertical com-ponent 14 having an internal surface 16. From there, a curved Component 18 extends from the vertical component 14, followed by an end component 20 which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the vertical component 14.
Together, components 18 and 20 define a lip.
The lid 1. has a top component 22 and a bottom component 24 spaced apart from top component 22. Known insulating materials or fluids or gases can be used in the sealed space 26 formed between the top and bottom components 22 and 24. Vacuum panels can be used, or a eutectic material, or gels or aerogels. Extending from the top and bottom components 22 and 24 is an arcuate peripheral component 28, which spans over the curved component 18 of the container C as well as the end component 20 of the ~ 5 container C. The fed L has an end component 30 which extends beyond end component 20 of the container C.
Refierring to Figure 3(b), end component 30 of lid L has a bottom sur-face 32 which is penetrated by a groove 34. Groove 34 extends into interior surface 3f. Internal surface 36 defines two sealing areas, internal sealing 2Q area 38 and external sealing area 40. Thus, groove 34 has one end 42 and bottom surface 32 as shown in Figure 3, and the opposite end 44 through and beyond internal sealing area 38.
Figure 2 is functionally identical to Figure 1 except that the lid L is not configured to incorporate the sealed space 26 and, therefore, has no insulat-NOV-24-99 15:14 p.12 R-994 Job-230 11/Z4/99 16:18 FAX DMH PHILA 38A ~ 012 ing material or liquid or gas in the main part of the lid L far keeping the con-tents in the container C warm or cold, as the case may be.
The principal components of the closure now having been described, those skilled in the art will now be able to discern how it functions. The physi cal gap between internal sealing surface 38 and external sealing surface r40 is less than the distance from internal wall 16 of the container C and its end 46. Thus, when finely pressing down the fEd L on the container C, internal sealing area 38 is dragged down internal wall 16 because end 46 is pushing outwardly on external sealing area 40_ The internal seal is formed by contact 1o between wall 16 and internal sealing area 38, while at the same time the interference fit has the end component 20 of the container G pushing out-wardly on external sealing area 40. As shown in Figure 3, external sealing area 40 has a transition point 48 which helps to engage and locate the end 4G
of the lid L. Because the top of the container C is confitgured as shown in ys Figure 1, the placement of the lid L on the container C takes advantage of opposed nearly hori2ontal forces, which push together the internal sealing area 38 against the wall 16 internally to the container C, while at the same time an opposite force results in an enhancement of the sealing contact of end 46 of the container C onto the transition 48 which forms a part of the external 2o seal area 40.
The fact that the groove 34 extends beyond the internal seal area 38 allows gases but not necessarily f~quids to come through the groove 34 all the way past bottom surface 32 on end component 30 in both directions. Thus, if hot food in the container cools reducing the pressure, fiow through groove 25 34 into the container C occurs, while similarly if the food in the container C is PIOV-24-99 15:14 P.13 R-994 Joh-230 11J24/99 16:19_FAX DMH PHILA aBA I~OlS
warmed to increase the internal pressure with lid L, applied excess pressure buildup exits through the groove 34 while rehaining liquids within the container C. Alternative designs to groove 34 can also be used which involve a short-ening of groove 34 so that it communicates only through the internal seating s area 38. 'The annular gap 50 can be vented to the surrounding atmosphere through small holes such as 52, which will allow gas to pass under a minima!
differential pressure white retaining liquid. T'he holes can be provided in a manner that keeps them liquid tight but allows them to pass gas with fairly minimal differen~ai pressures to avoid blowing the entire lid L off the container 0 C or collapsing it.
Those stalled in the art will appreciate that it is important to maintain the quality and purity of the contents of the container C by having a lid system which maintains proper food temperature as well as provides a good reliable seal at the periphery of the container C. Various standards have been pro-15 mulgated fior food-handling containers, particularly those used in foodservice applications. The double~wall design incorporating the insulation material or gas or liquid in between in sealed space 26 allows for maintenance of the temperature of the contents for a longer period of time. 'the incidence of spillage is reduced, if not eliminated, by.this design which employs a simple 20 snap fd structure where the lid 1. makes two seals wilt the container C
where the seals are opposed and somewhat offset from each other, and the curva-ture of the container C acts to put sealing forces normal to sealing surfaces 38 and 4p for the formation of the double seal. The venting feature accom-plished by groove 34 or alternatively, in conjunction with vent opening 62, 25 allows for the easy passage of gaseous materials in either direction while NOV-24-99 15:14 P.14 R-994 Job-230 11/24/99 18:19 FAX DMH PHILA 36A ~ 014 having an ability to retain t~qu~ds in the container should it become in~dver-tently tipped_ The lid L can be made by blow molding techniques or gas inject tech nology to facilitate the cxeafion of the sealed space 26 for insulafion purposes.
T'he material for the lid can be an elastomeric to fiacifitate the compression necessary to employ the interference fit of the lid L to the container C. The lid L is aggressively captured on the container C by use of the internal and external seals at 38 and 40. Using an elastomeric material helps to cornpen-sate for dimensional inconsistencies in the container C.
1 o The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and Various changes in the size, shape, and materi-als, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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Claims

1. A container and lid combination, comprising:
a container having a wall;
a lid adapted to snap fit over said wall for sealing retention thereto;
said lid formed having thermal insulation thereon.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein:
said lid comprises opposed walls defining a compartment therebetween;
said thermal insulation disposed in said compartment

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein:
said thermal insulation comprises a solid material.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein:
said thermal insulation comprises a gas.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein:
said wall comprises an outer end oriented away from the balance of said wall to define a lip on said wall;
said lid comprising a peripheral component which spans over said lip while extending into said container for said snap fist.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein:
said lid forms a first seal in said container and a second seal with said outer end of said wall.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein:
said outer end is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the balance of said wall such that said snap fit provides opposing forces to maintain said first and second seals, said opposing forces oriented generally perpendicularly to said wall through said lip.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein:
one of said lid and said container further defines a break in at least said first seal to allow pressure equalization through said lid.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein:
said lid and said container define an annular space between said first and second seals and at feast one opening into the annular space for pressure equalization.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein:
said opening is sized to pass gases and retain liquids during pressure equalization.

11. the combination of claim 8, wherein:
said break is in said first and second seals and is formed by a recess in said lid traversing both said seals.

12. A container and lid combination, comprising:
a container having a watt having an outer end;
a lid adapted to snap fit over said wall for sling retention thereto;
said lid forms a first seal in said container and a second seal with said outer end;
one of said lid and said container further defines a break in at least said first seal to allow pressure equalization through said lid.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein:
said lid and said container define an annular space between said first and second seals and at least one opening into the annular space for pressure equalization.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein:
said opening is sized to pass gases and retain liquids during pressure equalization.

15. The combination of claim 12, wherein:
said break is in said first and second seals and is formed by a recess in said lid traversing both said seals.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein:
said lid comprises thermal insulation.

17. The combination of claim 11, wherein:
said wall comprises an outer end oriented away from the balance of said wall to define a lip on said wall;
said lid comprises a peripheral component which spans over said lip while extending into said container for said snap fit.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein:
said lid forms a first seal in said container and a second seal with said outer end of said wall.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein:
said outer end is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the balance of said wall such that said snap fit provides opposing forces to maintain said first and second seals, said opposing forces oriented generally perpendicularly to said wall through said tip.

20. The combination of claim 16, wherein:
said welt comprises an eater end oriented away from the balance of said wall to define a lip on said wall;
said lid comprises a peripheral component which spans over said lip while extending into said container for said snap fit;

said lid forms a first seal in said container and a second seal with said outer end of said wall.
said outer end is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the balance of said wall such that said snap fit provides opposing forces to maintain said first and second seals, said opposing forces oriented generally perpendicularly to said wall through said lip.

21. The combination of claim 1, wherein:
said insulating material comprises a eutectic material.

22. The combination of claim 1, wherein:
said insulating material comprises a gel.