U.S. patent application number 13/864811 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for closeable silicon container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jonathan Braveman. Invention is credited to Jonathan Braveman.
Application Number | 20140311940 13/864811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51728193 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140311940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Braveman; Jonathan |
October 23, 2014 |
CLOSEABLE SILICON CONTAINER
Abstract
The present invention is a container for storing products,
comprising a base made substantially of silicon comprising an inner
area for containing products, the base having an outer wall of a
particular perimeter, the base having a rim at the very top
thereof, and a cover made substantially of silicon comprising a
wall extending around the outer perimeter thereof which encloses
the rim and the top of the base, the cover also having a lip on the
inside thereof which is parallel to the wall thereof, whereby when
the cover is placed on the base, the rim of the base is gripped
between the lip on the inside of the cover and the wall on the
cover to hold the cover in place. Due to the fact that the
container is comprised substantially of silicon, substantially all
of the products placed therein will be useable such that there will
be no remnants of the product left over.
Inventors: |
Braveman; Jonathan;
(Scottsdale, AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Braveman; Jonathan |
Scottsdale |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51728193 |
Appl. No.: |
13/864811 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.6 ;
220/200; 220/288 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/10 20130101; B65D
2543/00537 20130101; B65D 2543/00518 20130101; B65D 2543/00296
20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101; B65D 43/0231 20130101; B65D
2543/00555 20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.6 ;
220/200; 220/288 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04 |
Claims
1. A container for storing, comprising: a base having an area
therein for containing, the base having an outer wall of a
particular perimeter, and an area near the top thereof of a smaller
perimeter corresponding to the shape of the base, whereby a
shoulder is formed where the reduction of perimeter is fabricated,
the base having a rim at the very top thereof; a cover having the
same perimeter as the top area of base, the cover having a wall
extending around the outer perimeter thereof which encloses the top
area of the base, the cover also having a lip on the inside thereof
which is parallel to the wall thereof; whereby when the cover is
placed on the base, the rim of the base is gripped between the lip
on the inside of the cover and the wall on the cover to hold the
cover in place.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising threads on the base
thereof and corresponding threads on the cover thereof, such that
the cover is threaded onto the base to enclose the inside of the
base.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the base is made wholly of
silicon.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the cover is made wholly of
silicon.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the base has no seams.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein all of the surfaces which come
into contact with whatever may be stored within the container are
fabricated of a non-adherent material.
7. A container for storing products, comprising: a base made
substantially of silicon comprising an inner area for containing
products, the base having an outer wall of a particular perimeter,
the base having a rim at the very top thereof; a cover made
substantially of silicon comprising a wall extending around the
outer perimeter thereof which encloses the rim and the top of the
base, the cover also having a lip on the inside thereof which is
parallel to the wall thereof; whereby when the cover is placed on
the base, the rim of the base is gripped between the lip on the
inside of the cover and the wall on the cover to hold the cover in
place.
8. The container of claim 7, further comprising threads on the base
thereof directly below the rim and corresponding threads on the
inside of the wall of the cover thereof, such that the cover is
threaded onto the base to enclose the inside of the base.
9. The container of claim 7 wherein the base further comprises a
lower outer wall of a particular perimeter, and an upper outer wall
of a smaller perimeter, whereby a shoulder is formed where the
reduction of perimeter is fabricated, whereby when the cover is
placed on the base, the wall of the cover will fully enclose the
upper outer wall of the base, and the rim of the wall of the cover
will rest against the shoulder on the outside of the base.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to closeable
containers in which items are stored. More specifically, the
present invention is drawn to a container made of silicon or other
material with which allow the contents thereof not to adhere
thereto, so that all of the contents will be useable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Prior art containers for cosmetics, medicines, food, and
other items are well known in the art. An issue with some of these
containers is that as the products placed within the container are
used, due to the material on the walls of the container, the last
remaining bits of the product contained within the container will
adhere to the container's walls, making the last bit of product
essentially unusable especially if the container is small.
[0003] Likewise, merely making a container out of a non-adherent
material such as silicon or coating a container with an
anti-adherent coating on all surfaces thereof does not remedy this
issue completely, as when a container is made out of a substance
such as silicon, it is very flexible and difficult for a simple
screw on cover to keep the container closed.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0004] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a
container having a body made substantially of silicon onto which
traditional screw-on threads are fabricated onto the upper outside
thereof proximate the rim. In a preferred embodiment, the threaded
area has a smaller outer circumference (if the container is round)
or a smaller outer perimeter (if the container is any other shape)
than the immediately adjacent body container. The threaded area of
the body of the container also has an upper rim that extends around
the entire upper part thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a
shoulder is formed where the outer perimeter of the body of the
container steps down to the smaller outer perimeter of the threaded
area of the body.
[0005] In order to make the body of the container closeable, in a
preferred embodiment, the container has a separate silicon cover
that is fabricated to completely cover the opening of the body of
the container. In an embodiment, the cover may be fixably attached
to the body of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the cover
has the same is configured so that it has the same outside
circumference (if the container is round) or the same perimeter (if
the container is any other shape) as the circumference/perimeter of
the body of the container proximate to where the cover is mounted.
If the threaded area of the body tapers, the cover will taper
reciprocally.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the cover has a wall extending
from the inside top edge thereof, the wall being substantially the
same depth as the height of the threaded upper area of the body of
the container. The inside of the cover's wall contains threads
corresponding to the threads on the upper area of the container so
that the cover may be screwed on the container using the threads.
In a preferred embodiment, the cover also has a lip on the inside
of the cover that is substantially parallel to the wall of the
cover. The lip is located on the inside of the cover so that when
the cover is screwed onto the body of the container, it is
immediately adjacent and touching the entire inside perimeter of
the rim of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the lip is
configured so that it partially extends past the rim and into the
mouth of the container such that when the cover is mounted onto the
body of the container, the rim of the body of the container is held
in place between the lip and the inside wall of the cover.
[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the cover is
fully engaged on the body of the container, the outer wall of the
cover rests on top of the outermost shoulder of the body of the
container directly below the threaded area. The cover is placed
upon the container either by screwing it on or by snapping the
cover on so that it is in full contact with the rim of the threaded
end of the container. In this manner, the container will remain
closed. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, there are
no threads on either the container or the lid and the lid is held
in place on the container solely by the lip on the inside of the
lid which holds the rim of the container between the lip and the
wall extending from the lid.
[0008] Due to the fact that the container is fabricated of silicon
or other non-adherent material, the contents that are placed within
the container will not permanently stick thereto so that all of the
contents may be removed with little to no residue left inside the
container. In a preferred embodiment, the container of the present
invention can be any shape so long as there is at least an inner
lip and parallel wall on the cover which will grip onto the rim of
the body of the container to hold the cover in place. In other
embodiments, another means of affixing the cover to the container
may be used such as, but not limited to, snapping, hooking or some
other semi-permanent affixing means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A detailed description of the invention will be made with
reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals refer
to like parts and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side functional view of a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the dashed lines in the drawing showing
the relationship of the lid of the silicone container to the base
of the silicone container and forming no part of the claimed
design;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cover of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention thereof.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of the cover of a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the dotted lines in the drawing showing
the relationship of the outer wall of the cover to the inner wall
of the cover.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of the cover of a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the dashed-dot-dot-dashed lines in the
drawing showing the relationship of the outer wall of the base to
the inner wall of the base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] In the following descriptions of the invention, terms such
as "top", "bottom," first "end" and "second end", "horizontal",
"longitudinal", and the like are used herein merely for ease of
description and refer to the orientation of the components shown in
the figures and are not meant to limit the invention in any
way.
[0017] Generally, the present invention may be briefly described as
follows. Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment
of the container 10 of the present invention is shown. The
container 10 comprises a base 12 and a cover 14. In the preferred
embodiment, both the base 12 and the cover 14 are comprised
substantially or wholly of silicon. In an alternate embodiment,
only the inside of the container base 12 and the inside of the
cover 14 are fabricated of silicon or some other non-adherent
material so that any contents contained therein will not cling to
the inside walls of the base 12 and cover 14.
[0018] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the container
base 12 has a bottom 11 which may have any shape. For example, the
base may be round such as shown in FIGS. 1-6 or it may be of any
geometrical shape so long as it has an inner cavity for storing
other items, such as, but not limited to, cosmetics, liquids,
tobacco and other smoking materials, etc. Regardless of the shape
of the base, the base 12 has an inside wall 11a and an outside wall
11b, such as is shown in FIG. 6 which extends from the bottom 11 of
the base 12. In a preferred embodiment, the outside wall 11b of
bottom 11 is connected to outer wall 15a of wall 15 without seams.
In a preferred embodiment, the inside wall 11a of bottom 11 is
connected to the inside wall 15b of wall 15 without seams. In
alternative embodiments, there may be seams where the bottom 11 is
connected to wall 15. Wall 15b steps down in size to create an
upper portion 16 that has a smaller outer perimeter/circumference
than the lower portion 15, creating a circumferential shoulder 22
only on the outside of the base 12. A rim 20 connects the inside
circumference of the container base 12 to the outside
circumference. Regardless of the shape on the outside of the base,
the inside walls of the base always remain smooth from the bottom
of the container to the top. In an alternative embodiment (not
shown) in which the container base is not round, the upper portion
16 of the container base 12 is of a smaller perimeter than the
perimeter of the lower portion of the container base 12, such that
a shoulder 22 will still be created on the outside of base 12.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion
16 has one or more spiraled threads 18 thereon. In alternate
embodiments (not shown), the upper portion 16 of container base 12
does not have spiraled threads 18. In further alternate embodiments
(not shown) the cover has alternate means of enclosing the
container base 12 such as, but not limited to snaps, hooks, and the
like.
[0020] Referring next to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the cover 14 of the
device 10 is shown. The cover 14 comprises an inside surface 24.
The perimeter of the inside surface 24 is surrounded by a wall 26.
Wall 26 has an outer rim 32. In a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the depth/height of wall 26 is the same as the
height of the upper portion 16 of the base 12 such that when the
cover 14 is placed on container base 12, the rim 32 of the cover 14
rests on top of shoulder 22 of base 12.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
inside surface 24 of the cover 14 also comprises a lip 28 which is
parallel to the wall 26. Lip 28 is fabricated so that its perimeter
is slightly smaller than the perimeter of the rim 20 of container
base 12 so that when the cover 14 is placed on top of container
base 12, lip 28 will rest directly against the inside of rim 20. In
a preferred embodiment, when the cover is closed the rim 20 will be
pinched between the wall 26 and lip 28 of the cover 14 so that the
cover is rests tightly on container base 12.
[0022] When the container base 12 and the cover 14 are fabricated
wholly of silicon, they become flexible. Thus, the inner lip 28 on
the cover 14 allows the cover to stay in place as it causes the rim
20 of the base 12 to be gripped tightly between the lip 28 and the
wall 26 of the cover.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment such as shown in FIGS. 1-6, the
cover 14 has spiral threads 30 fabricated onto the inside of wall
26. The threads 30 on cover 14 correspond directly to the threads
18 on base 12. Using this embodiment, when the cover is placed onto
the base 12, the cover 14 is held in place by screwing the cover 14
onto base 12 using the corresponding threads 18 and 30. When the
cover is completely in place on the base 12, the rim 20 of the base
12 is held between lip 28 and the inside of wall 26 of the cover
14. In an alternative embodiment, the cover may be snapped on so
that the rim 20 of the base 12 is held between lip 28 and the
inside of wall 26 to hold the cover 14 in place on top of the base
12.
[0024] Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, the inside walls of the
cover 14 and the container base 12 are respectively shown. Because
the inside walls are fabricated of silicon or some other
non-adherent materials, things placed within the container may not
adhere to the inside thereof so that substantially no remnants of
the product contained within the container 10 will be rendered
unusable.
[0025] The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the
foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein. The embodiments and methods
described above are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, and
departures from, the above-described embodiments without departing
from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Thus, the
construction of the embodiments disclosed herein are not
limitations of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is
to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *