U.S. patent application number 12/695275 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-28 for container having adjustable vented cover.
Invention is credited to Lawrence John Racana, John E. Rusnak.
Application Number | 20110180543 12/695275 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44308186 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110180543 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rusnak; John E. ; et
al. |
July 28, 2011 |
Container Having Adjustable Vented Cover
Abstract
A food storage container has a cover and a base that provide a
sealed storage area. The cover has a central engagement portion
containing venting holes. The venting holes can be covered or
exposed by an adjustable venting cover.
Inventors: |
Rusnak; John E.; (Aurora,
IL) ; Racana; Lawrence John; (Willowbrook,
IL) |
Family ID: |
44308186 |
Appl. No.: |
12/695275 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/367.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00537
20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 43/0208 20130101; B65D
2543/00416 20130101; B65D 2543/00685 20130101; B65D 2543/00555
20130101; B65D 2543/00509 20130101; B65D 2543/0062 20130101; B65D
2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00027 20130101; B65D 51/1683
20130101; B65D 81/3453 20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/367.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a cover having a first closure portion,
said first closure portion being sealingly engageable with a second
closure portion of a base so that when said first closure portion
and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said
cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area; an
engagement portion; and a venting cover adjustingly attached to the
engagement portion; and the base having a bottom; a peripheral
sidewall extending from said bottom; an open top; and said second
closure portion.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting cover is
rotationally attached to the cover.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting cover is slideably
attached to the cover.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting cover is removeably
attached to the cover.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting cover is
circular.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting cover is
rectangular.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the engagement portion is a
central engagement portion.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the engagement portion of one
cover engages with the engagement portion of a cover of another
container.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting cover is of a lower
durometer material than the material of the cover.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein the central engagement portion
has a large hole and one or more smaller holes.
11. A container comprising: a cover having a first closure portion,
said first closure portion being sealingly engageable with a second
closure portion of a base so that when said first closure portion
and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said
cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area; a
central engagement portion; and a circular venting cover
rotationally attached to the engagement portion; and the base
having a bottom; a peripheral sidewall extending from said bottom;
an open top; and said second closure portion.
12. The container of claim 11 wherein the venting cover is
removeably attached to the cover.
13. The container of claim 11 wherein the central engagement
portion of one cover engages with the central engagement portion of
a cover of another container.
14. The container of claim 11 wherein the venting cover is of a
lower durometer material than the material of the cover.
15. The container of claim 11 wherein the central engagement
portion has a large hole and one or more smaller holes.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a plastic
container having a cover and a base, which when sealingly engaged
together form a sealed storage area, and, more particularly, to
container covers that have an adjustable venting feature. Slots or
holes in the cover are variably exposed by rotating a secondary
venting cover which attaches to the top of the container cover.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Rigid, thermoplastic food containers are generally known.
These containers are substantially airtight, which can present a
variety of problems during consumer use. When the contents of the
container are micro-waved, the contents may heat up and expand with
the evolution of steam causing the cover to violently pop off the
container and resulting in a potential mess. In other storage
applications, it may be desirable to adjustably vent the container.
For example in the storage of fruits and vegetables, it may be
desirable to adjustably control the ventilation and moisture
transmission within the container.
[0003] Prior art examples in U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,703 to Grandi,
U.S. Pat. App. 2002/0148845 to Zettle et al, and U.S. Pat. No.
3,362,565 to Mccormick provide a level of venting as a safety valve
for packages of products to be cooked. The present invention has as
a general aim to provide containers that solve the problems of the
current food containers, which lack the ability to controllably
adjust venting of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a
container comprising a cover having a first closure portion, said
first closure portion being sealingly engageable with a second
closure portion of a base so that when said first closure portion
and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said
cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area; an
engagement portion; and a venting cover adjustingly attached to the
engagement portion; and the base having a bottom; a peripheral
sidewall extending from said bottom; an open top; and said second
closure portion.
[0005] In some embodiments, the container comprises a cover having
a first closure portion, said first closure portion being sealingly
engageable with a second closure portion of a base so that when
said first closure portion and said second closure portion are
engaged with each other, said cover and said base define a
substantially sealed storage area; a central engagement portion;
and a circular venting cover rotationally attached to the
engagement portion; and the base having a bottom; a peripheral
sidewall extending from said bottom; an open top; and said second
closure portion.
[0006] The features of the present invention will become apparent
to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed
description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an perspective view of a container with a cover
and a base according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an perspective view of the base of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional perspective view with the
engagement portion of the cover of FIG. 1 locking engaged with and
engagement portion of a second cover;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a venting cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a venting cover according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a cover with a secondary
venting cover according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a cover with a secondary
venting cover according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a cover with a secondary
venting cover according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a cover according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a secondary venting cover
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like
numerals refer to like parts throughout. For ease of description,
the components of this invention are described in the normal
(upright) operating position, and terms such as upper, lower,
horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will
be understood, however, that the components embodying this
invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold
in an orientation other than the position described.
[0023] Figures illustrating the components of this invention show
some conventional mechanical elements that are known and that will
be recognized by one skilled in the art. The detailed descriptions
of such elements are not necessary to an understanding of the
invention, and accordingly, are herein presented only to the degree
necessary to facilitate an understanding of the novel features of
the present invention.
[0024] All publications, patents and patent applications cited
herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each
individual publication, patent or patent application was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference.
[0025] As used herein and in the claims, the term "comprising" is
inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional unrecited
elements, compositional components, or method steps. Accordingly,
the term "comprising" encompasses the more restrictive terms
"consisting essentially of" and "consisting of".
[0026] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to a "surfactant" includes two or more
such surfactants.
[0027] Unless define otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although
a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice of the present
invention, the preferred materials and methods are described
herein. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended
to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated
herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language
(e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better
illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the
scope of the invention unless otherwise indicated.
[0028] The term "container", as used herein, is meant to mean and
include any storage container for storing food in a refrigerator. A
container may be made of any suitable material, depending upon the
product therein. For example, a container may be made of
plastic.
[0029] An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2. A container 100 includes a flexible cover 102
sealingly engaged to a base 104. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2,
the container 100 is depicted as substantially circular in top plan
view. In other embodiments of the present invention, the container
100 has other shapes such as rectangular, square, or
elliptical.
[0030] The cover 102 includes a central engagement portion 106 that
is lockingly engageable with the central engagement portion of a
second cover (shown in FIG. 3). Circumscribing the engagement
portion 106 of the cover 102 can be at least one articulation
element 108. The engagement portion 106 of the Figures is depicted
as circular but, as with the shape of the container 100 itself,
other shapes are possible. In some embodiments, a standard shape
and configuration of the engagement portion 106 is used with covers
102 of various shapes and sizes. This enhances storage flexibility
by allowing different types of covers 102 to be stored together in
a locked stack.
[0031] The cover 102 includes a first closure portion 110 on the
outer portion of the base. The first closure portion 110 is
sealingly engageable with a second closure portion 210 of the base
104. The first closure portion 110 of the cover 102 can be
sealingly engaged with a second closure portion 210 of the base 104
to provide a leak-resistant, re-sealable closure. When the first
closure portion 110 of the cover 102 and the second closure portion
210 of the base 104 are abutted and sealingly engaged with each
other, the cover 102 and the base 104 define a substantially sealed
storage area within container 100 (FIG. 1).
[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the base 104 of the container 100
includes a bottom 202 and a peripheral sidewall 204 extending
upwardly from the peripheral edge of the bottom 202. The top of the
base 104 is open. The second closure portion 210 of the base 104,
which, as noted above, is adapted to sealingly engage with the
first closure portion 110 of the cover 102, is positioned at the
open end of the peripheral sidewall 204 of the base 104. In one
embodiment, the second closure portion 210 of the base 104 is a
raised locking ring that extends from an upper edge of the
peripheral sidewall 204 of the base 104.
[0033] More particularly with reference to the engagement portion
106, the cover 102 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes the
engagement portion 106 that allows the cover 102 to lockingly
engage with the engagement portion 306 of a second cover 302 to
form a locked stack of covers (FIG. 3). This locking feature makes
the resultant stack of covers more structurally rigid and thus less
precarious than a traditional, non-interlocked, stack of
covers.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 3 the cover 102 is locked together with the
second cover 302 by their central engagement portions 106 and 306
respectively. In the example of FIG. 3, the engagement portion 106
of the cover 102 includes an upper protrusion 118 (see also FIG. 1)
and a lower protrusion 120. Further, the engagement portion of the
second cover 302 likewise includes an upper protrusion 318 and a
lower protrusion 320. Each protrusion 118, 318, 120, and 320 is
convex on one side and concave on the other. The lower protrusion
120 of the cover 102 fits over and receives the upper protrusion
318 of the second cover 302, thus locking the covers 102 and 302
together. In this manner, the covers 102 and 302 are held together
and form a structurally stable cover stack. A third cover (not
shown) may be lockingly engaged with the second cover 302, a fourth
cover with the third and so on to form a stack of any number of
covers.
[0035] The engagement portion 106 can also be chosen to have a
shape or otherwise include elements that provide an aligned or
locked stack of covers 102 with rotational alignment. Rotation, as
used herein, is defined about an axis A (FIG. 1) normal to the
plane formed by orthogonal midlines, i.e., first midline 405A and
second midline 405B at the top surface of the cover 102 as shown in
FIG. 4. The origin of the rotational axis is at the center point
407 at which the orthogonal midlines intersect. For instance,
shapes that inherently require alignment prior to engagement or
that may be self-aligning during the process of connecting
engagement portions would be shapes with linear or curvilinear
sides, vertices or lobes such as triangular, square, rectangular,
or multi-petal shapes. Additionally, the cover may have one or more
elements on or about the engagement portion that require alignment
prior to connection of engagement portions or elements that may be
self-aligning during the process of connecting engagement
portions.
[0036] Other embodiments of the engagement portion may include one
or more of the following features to enable engagement: convex
portions or ribs, concave portions or ribs, linear or curvilinear
undercuts, discrete snap elements or buttons, interference fits,
textured surfaces, or elements that modify surface friction or
tackiness at or around the point of engagement. The engaging areas
that create a locking condition can be continuous about the
engagement portions or discretely segmented about the engagement
portions. In some embodiments, the force required to connect the
cover and the second cover may differ substantially from the force
required to disengage the covers. For instance, it may be
beneficial during manufacturing that the force needed to connect
the covers is less than the force required to separate the covers.
As a result, the covers are relatively easy to connect during
manufacturing, yet they will lock securely and not undesirably
separate during the manufacturing process. To accomplish this, the
protrusions on the engagement portion may be designed where, for a
given protrusion, the upper protrusion edge comprises a gradual
taper whereas the lower protrusion edge comprises a more abrupt
shape. For example, in one embodiment, the shape of the protrusion
may be similar to a barbed hook with gradual taper on the upper
edge of the barb that would impart little resistance during
engagement and with an abrupt shape on the lower edge of the barb
that would impart relatively high resistance during disengagement.
Conversely, it may be beneficial to design the engagement portion
so that the force that needs to be applied to connect the covers is
more than the force required to separate the covers, since the user
may perceive that a high connecting force equates to satisfactory
locking integrity, whereas a weak connecting force may lead the
user to perceive that the cover stack lacks the integrity required
to insure the expected organizational benefit. Thus, the high
connecting force provides the perceived benefit, yet a lower
disengagement force does not require that the user untowardly
struggle during separation of covers. To accomplish this, the
protrusions on the engagement portion may be designed where, for a
given protrusion, the upper protrusion edge comprises an abrupt
shape whereas the lower protrusion edge comprises a more gradual
taper. For example, in one embodiment, the shape of the protrusion
may be a reversed barb with an abrupt shape on the upper edge of
the barb that would impart relatively high resistance during
engagement and with a gradual taper on the lower edge of the barb
that would impart little resistance during disengagement.
Furthermore, during the process where the user applies force to
aligned covers in a direction normal to the general cover plane so
as to lock the covers together, the engagement portion can provide
tactile or audible feedback upon locking. In this way, the user
would sense that the covers are connected and that no further force
need be applied.
[0037] More particularly, the first closure portion 410 and the
second closure portion 210 forms the sealing engagement of the
cover 102 and the base 104. As would be apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art, the present invention can be embodied with a
variety of closure designs including outer closures and/or inner
closures. Related U.S. Patent Application 2009/0166369, co-owned
with the present invention and incorporated in its entirety herein
by reference, further describes the closure portions. However, the
closure portions described therein are examples only, and many
other types of closure portions could be used with the present
invention.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, the central engagement portion 106 of
the cover 502 may contain one or more openings 504 of various
shapes, for example slits, allantoids, rounded openings, etc that
are useful for venting. FIG. 6 shows cover having a central
engagement portion 106 having several smaller openings 504 and one
large opening 506. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the cover 502
having circular openings 508 that fan out from the center. FIG. 8
shows an embodiment of the cover 502 having allantoid openings 510
that fan out from the center.
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a venting cover 902 that can fit over a central
engagement portion 106 of a cover 502 of FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8. The
venting cover 902 has curved slits 904. FIG. 10 shows a venting
cover 1002 having one large opening 1004. In FIG. 11, the venting
cover 902 is rotationally attached over the central engagement
portion (not shown) of the cover 502. In the configuration of FIG.
11, the curved slits 904 are not ventingly connected to openings
(not shown) on the cover 502. FIG. 12 shows the cover 502 with the
venting cover 902 rotated to expose the openings 504. FIG. 13 shows
the venting cover 1002 rotationally attached over the central
engagement portion (not shown) of the cover 502 of FIG. 6 so that
the large opening 1004 of the venting cover 1002 exposes the large
opening 506 of the cover 502. FIG. 14 shows an example of a cover
1402 having a rectangular central engagement portion 1406 with
venting openings 1404. FIG. 15 shows a venting cover 1410 slideably
attached to the central engagement portion 1406 and partially
exposing the venting openings 1404 of the cover 1402.
[0040] The base 104 can be made from any suitable plastic with
sufficient thickness to withstand without deforming the heat of
microwave cooking and of top-shelf dishwashing. It should also
remain sturdy during lifting while laden with hot food. The base
104 can be made from any suitable plastic and can be made by any
suitable technique, such as co-extrusion, lamination, injection
molding, vacuum thermoforming, or overmolding. In one embodiment,
the base 104 is formed from polypropylene. As with the cover 102,
the nominal wall thickness of the base 104 can vary somewhat due to
the manufacturing process.
[0041] The cover 102 can be constructed with a wall thickness
thinner than that of a base 104. The cover 102 can be made from any
suitable plastic and can be made by any suitable technique, such as
vacuum thermoforming processes described herein. In one embodiment,
the cover 102 can be formed from polypropylene. Due to the vacuum
thermoforming process, the wall thickness of the cover 102 can vary
slightly over its nominal thickness. A cover 102 with a nominal
thickness less than the nominal thickness of the base 104, however,
reduces the cost of material for the container 100. Further, with a
thinner cover 102, increased cover flexibility more easily
accommodates the removal of the cover 102 from, and the sealing
engagement with, the base 104. The cover 102 can maintain adequate
flexibility for proper sealing even during typical freezer
temperatures.
[0042] The cover 102 can be made by various plastic molding
processes, including but not limited to vacuum thermoforming and
injection molding. Vacuum thermoforming of the cover 102 is
typically the most economical means for forming the cover 102. As
is well know in the art, vacuum thermoforming involves heating a
suitable plastic sheet of material to a temperature at which the
sheet becomes formable into a shape that is set as the plastic
sheet cools. As used herein, a suitable plastic sheet is a plastic
sheet that may be readily used by the vacuum thermoforming process.
The heated plastic sheet is made to conform to the surface features
of a single surface "male" tool by drawing the heated sheet of
plastic to the surface of the tool by the force of a vacuum applied
to the tool. In vacuum thermoforming, the sealed air space between
the heated plastic and mold is evacuated to draw the heated plastic
to contact the single male surface of the mold.
[0043] Typically, however, in vacuum thermoforming, the thickness
of the finished article formed by the process is nominally uniform.
A side cross-section view through the vacuum thermoformed article
reveals a substantially uniform thickness profile. The "bottom"
surface of the heated plastic sheet that contacts the tool surface
conforms to its shape. The "top" surface of the plastic element
formed in the vacuum thermoforming process does not contact a tool
surface and generally resides at a uniform distance from the bottom
surface of the plastic article. Only nominal thinning of the
plastic material occurs when it bends and stretches around curved
mold features to conform to the path of the curved surfaces of
these features. As used herein, a substantially uniform thicknesses
in side cross-sectional profile is a thickness in a plastic article
that is not sufficiently variable to preclude its manufacture with
typical prior art single male surface vacuum thermoforming
techniques. Conversely, a non-uniform thickness is a profile
thickness in an article that varies enough to preclude the
manufacture of the article with standard prior art vacuum
thermoforming techniques requiring instead other plastic molding
techniques such as injection molding.
[0044] Injection molding of a plastic article involves heating
suitable plastic material in the form of pellets or granules until
a melt is obtained. The melt is next forced into a split-die mold,
sometimes referred to as a split-die tool, where it is allowed to
"cool" into the desired shape. Both the bottom surface and the top
surface of the plastic article are formable by the split-die mold.
Thus, articles may by formed by the injection molding process that
have side cross-sectional profiles of varying non-uniform
thickness. After the plastic melt cools, the split-die mold is
opened and the article is ejected. Since, the mold is separable,
undercut surface on the plastic article may be relieved from the
split-die mold when it is opened. Injection molding, well know in
the art, is typically used to form plastic articles that have large
undercuts and substantially varying thicknesses in side
cross-sectional profile. As used herein undercuts are said to be
large if a molded plastic article having undercut features is
difficult or impossible to remove from a single-surface vacuum
thermoforming mold after it is formed and cooled.
[0045] Since cover 102 as described, contains significant
undercuts, such as included in upper protrusion 118 and lower
protrusion 120 (FIGS. 1 and 3) on the engagement portion 106 of the
cover 102, injection molding would typically be required to form
cover 102. Further, injection molding would typically be required
to form articulation elements 108 that are significantly thinner
than the rest of cover 102.
[0046] The container 100 can be reusable, but it can also be
constructed cheaply enough that consumers see it as a disposable
item, with replacement covers 102 and bases 104 available
separately for retail sale. The base 104 and the cover 102 can be
fabricated by vacuum thermoforming a clarified polypropylene
homopolymer material. In another embodiment, the container 100 may
be fabricated by vacuum thermoforming a clarified random copolymer
polypropylene material. Other plastic materials which would be
suitable for fabricating the cover 102 and the base 104 of the
container 100 by vacuum thermoforming include PS (polystyrene),
CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous
polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC
(polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), and foamed polypropylene.
The material used can be generally transparent to allow a user to
view the contents of the container.
[0047] The container 100 may include a visual indication of closure
between the cover 1102 and the base 104. The visual indication may
be a color change in the area where the cover 102 engages the base
104. In one embodiment, the first closure portion 310 on the cover
102 may be a first color and the second closure portion 416 on the
base 104 may be a second color. When the closure portions are
engaged, the first and second colors produce a third color which is
visible to the user to indicate that the container 100 is
sealed.
[0048] The container 100 may include a rough exterior surface to
reduce slipping and to improve grasping by the user, especially if
the user's hands are wet or greasy.
[0049] The container 100 may be divided to separate foods in the
container. A divider may be integral with the container 100 or may
be a separate component. Either the base 104 only may include a
divider or both the base 104 and the cover 102 may each include a
divider. The divider located in the cover 102 may only partially
engage the divider in the base 104 so as to provide splash
protection, or it may fully engage the divider in the base 104 to
provide varying degrees of inter-compartmental leak resistance. The
container 100 may include a strip indicating the temperature of the
container 100 and its contents.
[0050] The venting cover could be injection molded or thermoformed.
The venting cover could be made of a number of plastic materials as
indicated above, for example polypropylene. The venting cover can
be removably attached to the central engagement portion. An
interference fit between the venting cover and the central
engagement portion can provide a sealing engagement when the
venting cover is in the closed position. If the cover or venting
cover is made from a softer durometer material, the venting could
be more easily closed off in the closed position. Suitable
materials are impact copolymer polypropylene, polyolefin plastomer,
polyolefin elastomer and styrene butadiene rubber.
[0051] This invention has been described herein in detail to
provide those skilled in the art with information relevant to apply
the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized
components as are required. However, it is to be understood that
the invention can be carried out by different equipment, materials
and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the
equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without
departing from the scope of the invention itself. Moreover, any
combination of the above described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
While the invention is described herein in connection with certain
preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit the present
invention to those embodiments.
* * * * *