U.S. patent application number 13/110366 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for storing device.
Invention is credited to Joakim Ahlstrom, Kristian Eke, Per-Olof Johansson, Olle Mattsson.
Application Number | 20120125937 13/110366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42609542 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ahlstrom; Joakim ; et
al. |
May 24, 2012 |
STORING DEVICE
Abstract
A storing device comprises a lid having on its underside a
sealing ring, and a box having a bottom and a circumferential wall
with an upper portion. The upper portion has an inner surface and
an outer surface. The sealing ring comprises an inner sealing lip
in sealing contact with said inner surface and an outer sealing lip
in sealing contact with said outer surface.
Inventors: |
Ahlstrom; Joakim; (Taby,
SE) ; Eke; Kristian; (STOCKHOLM, SE) ;
Johansson; Per-Olof; (TINGSRYD, SE) ; Mattsson;
Olle; (ASARUM, SE) |
Family ID: |
42609542 |
Appl. No.: |
13/110366 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/0218 20130101;
B65D 2543/00564 20130101; B65D 2543/00212 20130101; B65D 2543/00296
20130101; B65D 2543/0099 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/378 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/02 20060101
B65D053/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 18, 2010 |
EP |
10163140.6 |
Claims
1. A storing device, the storing device comprising: a lid having on
its underside a sealing ring; and a box having a bottom and a
circumferential wall with an upper portion, the upper portion
having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sealing
ring comprises an inner sealing lip in sealing contact with said
inner surface and an outer sealing lip in sealing contact with said
outer surface.
2. The storing device according to claim 1, wherein said inner
surface and said outer surface converge upwards.
3. The storing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said
sealing ring with the sealing lips is made in one piece.
4. The storing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the
sealing ring comprises an intermediate portion located between the
sealing lips, the intermediate portion being in contact with the
top of said upper portion.
5. The storing device according to claim 4, wherein the
intermediate portion and the sealing lips are made in one
piece.
6. The storing device according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 5,
wherein the inner and outer sealing lips are flexible and arranged
to bend away from each other to provide said sealing contact with
the inner surface and the outer surface, respectively.
7. The storing device according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 5,
wherein at least one of the sealing lips is supported by a flange
projecting downwards from the underside of the lid.
8. The storing device according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 5,
wherein the box comprises an outwardly protruding portion on which
the lid is supported.
9. The storing device according to claim 8, wherein said outwardly
protruding portion is circumferential and supports the lid with an
outer sealing therebetween.
10. The storing device according to claim 9, wherein said sealing
ring and said outer sealing are made in one piece.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a storing device comprising
a lid having on its underside a sealing ring, and a box having a
bottom and a circumferential wall with an upper portion, the upper
portion having an inner surface and an outer surface.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is known in the art that storing containers may have some
kind of sealing between the container and its lid to improve the
seal of the container. A basic sealing may consist of a rubber
layer between the container and the lid. The rubber layer is
usually pressed onto the rim of the container opening, as the lid
is put onto the container.
[0003] Often, a plastic container has a container body and a lid
with a peripheral sealing layer. The lid edge has a peripheral
collar onto which the sealing layer is attached. The collar and the
sealing layer sit inside the edge of the container body when the
container is closed. The collar with the attached sealing layer is
slightly larger than the opening of the container body so that the
lid is held inside the container body.
[0004] One problem with the aforementioned container is that the
lid with the collar and the sealing layer must be larger than the
opening of the container body in order for the lid to be held in
place. This makes opening and closing of the container
difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present application is directed to providing a
user-friendly and secure storing device.
[0006] The present application relates to a storing device
comprising a lid having on its underside a sealing ring, and a box
having a bottom and a circumferential wall with an upper portion,
the upper portion having an inner surface and an outer surface,
wherein the sealing ring comprises an inner sealing lip in sealing
contact with the inner surface and an outer sealing lip in sealing
contact with the outer surface.
[0007] When the lid is put onto the box the sealing lips are
pressed against the upper portion of the circumferential wall of
the box. The lips may be bent away from each other on the
respective side of the circumferential wall to provide a firm
sealing. In addition, the storing device may provide a double
sealing effect, i.e. sealing is provided on the interior side of
the storing device and on the exterior side of the storing device.
For instance, if a liquid is stored in the box, the interior
sealing serves to prevent leakage from the box. The exterior
sealing protects the contents inside the storing device from outer
contamination. If a liquid is kept in the storage device the
exterior sealing will provide a safer environment for the liquid.
In addition, articles that should be protected from rain water or
humidity, such as a camera when going fishing or dry clothes in a
canoe, may be kept in the storing device and be protected mainly by
the exterior sealing. Other examples of articles that may be stored
in the storing device, and thus protected from water and humidity,
include measuring instruments, computers and other electronic
equipments.
[0008] The inner surface and the outer surface of the upper portion
of the circumferential wall may converge upwards. Having the
circumferential wall of the box tapering upwards may improve the
sealing effect and may also facilitate closing and opening of the
storage device. In order to have an acceptable sealing the sealing
lips may be firmly pressed onto the inner and outer surfaces of the
upper portion of the circumferential wall of the box, respectively.
As the inner and outer surfaces converge upwards, the sealing lips
may be gradually pressed onto the upper portion of the
circumferential wall of the box as the lid is put onto the box.
[0009] Further, the distance from a point of contact between the
inner surface and the inner sealing lip to a point of contact
between the outer surface and the outer sealing lip when the lid is
put on the box may be larger than the distance between the
corresponding points on the inner and outer sealing lips when the
lid is separated from the box. In other words, the sealing lips are
bent away from each other as the lid is pressed onto the box.
[0010] The sealing ring with the sealing lips may be made in one
piece having the sealing lips integrally formed with the sealing
ring on a common structure. In other words, in an embodiment, the
sealing ring may not have any joints or seams across the ring
circumference. This may minimize the risk of leakage between
different portions of the sealing ring. It may also improve
durability of the seal and give lower costs of production.
[0011] The sealing ring may comprise an intermediate portion
located between the sealing lips. The intermediate portion may be
supported on the box by the top of the upper portion of the
circumferential wall. Thus, the sealing lips, located on each side
of the intermediate portion, may serve for the main sealing and the
intermediate portion provides basis for support of the lid on the
box.
[0012] Additionally, the intermediate portion may have sealing
contact with the box adjacent to the top of the upper portion of
the circumferential wall. As the lid is placed onto the box, the
intermediate portion may be pressed towards the top of the upper
portion of the circumferential wall of the box. Thus, the
intermediate portion may give an additional sealing effect. The
intermediate portion and the sealing lips may be made in one piece
having the sealing lips integrally formed with the intermediate
portion on a common structure. It is suitable that the inner and
outer sealing lips are flexible and arranged to bend away from each
other to provide the sealing contact with the inner surface and the
outer surface, respectively.
[0013] It may be preferred to have at least one of the sealing lips
supported by a flange projecting downwards from the underside of
the lid. The sealing lip is in this way made stiffer and prevented
from flexing too much. The flange may be made of the same material
as the lid, which may be a plastic such as polypropene (PP).
Polypropene is not a completely stiff material which means that the
flange may have some flexibility. However the flexibility of the
flange should be less than the flexibility of the sealing lip in
order for the flange to serve as a support for the sealing lip.
[0014] The box may comprise an outwardly protruding portion on
which the lid may be supported. The protruding portion may be
circumferential to provide maximum support for the lid. Further if
the protruding portion is circumferential the lid may be supported
on the protruding portion having an outer sealing between the
protruding portion and the lid. The outer sealing may serve as an
additional external seal to protect the outer sealing lip in for
instance pelting rain or stormy weather. The outer sealing may also
serve as a shock absorber when the lid is put onto the box and
additionally as a decoration border on the storing device.
According to one embodiment the outer sealing is made in one piece
with the sealing ring.
[0015] Further objects and features of the present invention will
be apparent from the description and the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will now be described in more detail,
with reference to the appended drawings showing one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view and shows a storage device
according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2a is a cross sectional view and shows, schematically,
a portion of an open storage device according to the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2b is a cross sectional view and shows, schematically,
a portion of a closed storage device according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The invention will now be described in more detail by means
of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a storing device 1 representing an embodiment
of the invention. The storing device 1 includes a storage box 2 and
a lid 3 made of a plastic material such as polypropene. The box 2
has a basically rectangular bottom 6 and a four-sided
circumferential wall 7. The corners of the box 2 are cut, making
the geometrical shape of the box 2 really eight-sided. The upper
portion 8 of the circumferential box wall 7 is formed by a rather
rounded fold which is adapted for fitting into a peripheral hollow
elevation 3a of the lid 3.
[0022] FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of the storing device 1 in an
open position, where the lid 3 is about to be put onto the box 2,
and FIG. 2b shows the storing device 1 in a closed, sealed
position.
[0023] A rubber sealing ring 5 may be attached inside the hollow
elevation 3a, on the underside 4 of the lid 3, to enhance the tight
fit of the lid 3 on the upper portion 8 of the box wall 7. The
upper surface of the sealing ring 5, i.e. the surface of the
sealing ring 5 that is attached to the lid 3, may have the same
shape as the hollow elevation 3a. Thus, the upper surface of this
embodiment of the sealing ring 5 follows the shape of the hollow
elevation 3a. At its very outer portion 14 the sealing ring 5 is
folded, following a peripheral exterior notch in the lid 3. The
outer portion 14 of the sealing ring 5 is visible from the outside
of the storing device 1 even when the storing device 1 is
closed.
[0024] The sealing ring 5 has two sealing lips 11, 12 separated
from each other a distance essentially corresponding to the width
of the upper portion 8 of the wall 7. However, the distance between
the sealing lips 11, 12, when the lid 3 is separated from the box 2
as seen in FIG. 2a, may be slightly smaller than the width of the
upper portion 8, in order to allow the sealing lips 11, 12 to be
bent away from each other when the lid 3 is put onto the box 2, as
is seen in FIG. 2b.
[0025] The sealing ring 5 may have an intermediate portion 15
located between the sealing lips 11, 12. The intermediate portion
15 may be arranged to abut against the top 16 of the upper portion
8 of the wall 7 when the storing device 1 is in a closed, sealed
position, as in FIG. 2b. As described above, this embodiment of the
sealing ring 5 has the same shape as the hollow elevation 3a of the
lid 3. Thus, due to the geometry of the hollow elevation 3a of the
lid 3, which has a sharper and more unsymmetrical shape than the
fold of the upper portion 8 of the box wall 7, the point of contact
between the intermediate portion 15 and the box 2 may be located
slightly exterior of the very top of the upper portion 8.
[0026] In an embodiment, the top 16 of the upper portion 8 is
located between the inner surface 9 and the outer surface 10. In an
embodiment, the top 16 of the upper portion 8 may not be located at
the very top point of upper portion 8. The exact location of the
sealing contact between the box 2 and the intermediate portion 15
of the sealing ring 5 depends on the box 2, lid 3 and sealing ring
5 geometries. For instance, the point of contact may be at a
location slightly below the very top point of upper portion 8 of
the wall 7, as is seen in FIG. 2b.
[0027] To prevent the sealing lips 11, 12 from flexing too much,
the underside 4 of the lid 3 may be provided with two
circumferential flanges 17, 18. The inner sealing lip 11 may be
supported by the inner flange 17 and the outer sealing lip 12 may
be supported by the outer flange 18. In this embodiment, the
flanges 17, 18 are embedded in the sealing lips 11, 12 down to a
certain length of the sealing lips 11, 12. In FIG. 2a such a length
of the support provided by flange 18 for the outer sealing lip 12
is denoted H.sub.s. The total length of the outer sealing lip 12 is
denoted H.sub.L and may be measured on the inner side of the outer
sealing lip 12 where the lip 12 is slightly longer than on the
outer side of the outer sealing lip 12 due to the shape of the lid
3 and sealing ring 5. As can be seen in FIG. 2a, the length of the
support H.sub.s, as measured on the same side of the lip 12 as the
length H.sub.L, is, in this embodiment, about half of the length
H.sub.L of the outer sealing lip 12. A similar ratio may apply to
the relation between the length of the inner sealing lip 11 and the
length of the flange 17 supporting the inner sealing lip 11.
[0028] The length H.sub.L of the outer sealing lip 12 shown in the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2a is between 4 and 12 mm, preferably
between 6 and 10 mm, most preferred between 7 and 9 mm. The length
of the inner sealing lip 11 shown in the exemplary embodiment here
is between 2 and 10 mm, preferably between 4 and 8 mm, most
preferred between 5 and 7 mm.
[0029] The length H.sub.s of the support provided by the respective
flange 17, 18 is typically 30 to 90% of the total length H.sub.L of
the respective lip 11, 12, i.e. H.sub.s=0.3.times.H.sub.L to
0.9.times.H.sub.L.
[0030] The sealing effect of the sealing ring 5 to a large extent
takes place at the points of contact between the sealing lips 11,
12 and the inner and outer portions 9, 10, respectively, of the
upper portion 8 of the box wall 7. However, in an embodiment, the
lid 3 may not be supported on the box 2 by the sealing lips 11, 12.
Instead the lid 3 may be supported by the upper portion 8 of the
wall 7 by a portion, i.e. the top 16, located between the lips 11,
12.
[0031] The sealing ring 5 may be made in one piece, i.e. the
sealing lips 11, 12, the intermediate portion 15 and the outer
portion 14 are integrally formed having the sealing lips 11, 12
integrally formed with the intermediate portion 15 and the outer
portion 14 on a common structure.
[0032] The inner and outer surfaces 9, 10 of the upper portion 8 of
the wall 7 may be inclined making the upper portion 8 tapering
upwards. The sealing lips 11, 12 are gradually pressed onto the
inner and outer surfaces 9, 10, respectively, as the lid 3 is put
onto the box 2. Moreover, fitting the lid 3 onto the box 2, having
the inner sealing lip 11 on the interior side and the outer sealing
lip 12 on the exterior side of the upper portion 8 of the box wall
7 may be facilitated by the tapering shape of the upper portion
8.
[0033] The external side of the upper portion 8 of the box wall 7
may have a shoulder or protruding portion 13 on which the outer
portion 14 of the sealing ring 5 may, according to an embodiment,
be held when the storing device 1 is closed. The shoulder 13 may
support the lid 3. When the lid 3 has been put onto the box 2 the
lid 3 may be held in place by components such as claps or straps
(not shown).
[0034] The storing device 1 may be used for many different kinds of
storing purposes. For example, it may be useful for storing of
either an article that should be protected from water or dust
entering the storing device 1, or storing of different kinds of
liquids that should be prevented from leaking out from the storing
device 1.
[0035] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present
invention by no means is limited to the embodiment described above.
On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible
within the scope of the appended claims. For instance the shape of
the lid 3 with the hollow peripheral elevation 3a may be made
differently. Also the upper portion of the box may have a different
appearance and so may the shape of the box. It may be preferred
that the sealing ring is a made in one continuous piece extending
along the periphery of the lid, but it is possible to have several
ring pieces joined together along the periphery of the lid to form
the sealing ring. The material of the box 2 and the lid 3 may be a
plastic, such as polypropene (PP) or acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS), or any other suitable material. The box 2 and the
lid 3 are not necessarily made of the same material. The sealing
ring 5 may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer or another suitable
material.
[0036] In the exemplary embodiment disclosed above the lid 3 is
supported on the box 2 mainly at two locations, i.e. at the
intermediate portion 15 of the sealing ring 5 and at the outer
portion 14 of the sealing ring 5. However, other arrangements for
supporting the lid may be preferred, depending on the geometry of
the box and the lid. For instance, the lid may be supported by the
box at the intermediate portion 15 only, or at the outer portion 14
only.
* * * * *