U.S. patent application number 15/458416 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-20 for touch and seal self-closing container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ningbo Lisi Houseware Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to LiXin Li.
Application Number | 20180265263 15/458416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63520999 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180265263 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; LiXin |
September 20, 2018 |
TOUCH AND SEAL SELF-CLOSING CONTAINER
Abstract
A container with a self-closing lid. The container has an open
mouth with an upper rim with two lock elongate lock lever cutouts
at opposite ends thereof, and two lock levers pivoted in the lock
lever receiving cutouts, each lock lever having an upper rim with
catch, and a bottom wall spaced below the upper rim. A lid sized
and shaped to cover the open mouth of the container has an outer
rim with a lower surface with downwardly directed projections at
opposite ends thereof, and an upper surface with grooves formed
thereon. When the lid placed on the open mouth of the container and
pushed down, the projections will push on the bottom wall of the
lock levers and rotate them inwardly causing the catches to snap
into the grooves on lid to lock the lock levers on the lid.
Inventors: |
Li; LiXin; (Ningbo,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ningbo Lisi Houseware Co., Ltd. |
Ningbo |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
63520999 |
Appl. No.: |
15/458416 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 53/02 20130101;
B65D 45/20 20130101; B65D 53/00 20130101; B65D 51/1683 20130101;
B65D 47/32 20130101; B65D 2251/1058 20130101; B65D 43/0214
20130101; B65D 2543/00972 20130101; B65D 43/0202 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 45/20 20060101
B65D045/20; B65D 53/00 20060101 B65D053/00; B65D 47/32 20060101
B65D047/32; B65D 43/02 20060101 B65D043/02 |
Claims
1. A container with a self-closing lid, comprising: a container
having an open mouth with an upper rim with two lock lever
receiving locations, and two lock levers with each comprising an
upper rim with a first connector extending from a front edge of the
upper rim, a bottom wall with a front edge, and a back wall joining
the upper rim and the bottom wall, the upper rim, the bottom wall,
and the back wall connected at ends thereof by end walls, wherein
each lock lever is pivotally mounted in the lock lever receiving
location of the container and moves between a unlocked position and
a locked position; and a lid that is sized and shaped to cover the
open mouth of the container, the lid comprising an outer rim with
an upper surface, and a lower surface that in use faces toward the
open mouth of the container and which lower surface has a plurality
of projections extending downwardly therefrom, the upper surface
having second connectors in the vicinity of where the projections
are located, and wherein when the lid is placed on the open mouth
of the container with the lock levers in the unlatched positions
and the lid is pushed down, the projections on the lid will push
downwardly on the bottom wall of the lock levers and cause the lock
levers to rotate inwardly to the locked position where the first
connectors of the lock levers will snap into the second connects on
the outer rim of the lid and lock the lock levers in place on the
lid to retain the lid on the container.
2. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein each
lock lever is pivotally mounted to the lock lever receiving
location of the container along a line located above the bottom
wall and behind a projection line extending between the front edge
of the upper rim and the front edge of the bottom wall.
3. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein the
lock lever receiving locations in the container comprises elongate
lock lever cutouts at opposite ends of the upper rim of the
container into which the lock levers pivotally fit.
4. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 3, wherein the
lock levers are pivotally mounted in the lock lever cutouts by
pivot pins extending from the ends walls of the lock levers which
pivot pins freely rotate in pivot apertures formed into sides edges
of the lock lever cutouts.
5. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 3, wherein the
first connectors of the lock lever comprise catches extending from
a bottom edge of the upper rim thereof, and wherein the second
connectors formed on the upper side of the outer rim of lid
comprises grooves.
6. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 3, wherein two
spaced apart lock notches are formed in each elongate lock lever
cutout, which two lock notches are spaced apart for passage of the
projections extending from the underside of the lid so the
projections may contact the bottom wall of the lock levers.
7. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 6, wherein
positioned between the two spaced apart lock notches is a generally
horizontal stub wall upon which the front edge of the bottom wall
of the lock levers will impinge when the lock levers are moved to
their unlocked position, thereby preventing further rotation of the
lock levers.
8. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein the
back wall of the lock levers is spaced rearwardly from the front
edges of the upper rim and lower wall and joining the upper rim and
the bottom wall, together with the end walls thereby forming a
cavity therein.
9. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein each
lock lever further comprises a grip handle extending above the
upper rim, which grip handle is accessible by a user to manually
move each lock lever from its locked position to the unlocked
position.
10. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein the
lid comprises cutaways at opposite ends of its outer rim, which
cutaways are sized to receive the lock levers, and wherein the
upper surface having the second connectors are located adjacent to
the cutaways.
11. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein the
lid further comprises a seal, wherein the seal has an outer
perimeter that is larger than an inner perimeter of an upper inside
wall surface of the container, and wherein when the lid with the
seal is placed on the open mouth of the container and pushed down,
the seal will engage with the upper inside wall surface of the
container to thereby form a seal therewith, and wherein the seal
will flex and provide a biasing force that tends to push the lid
upwardly away from the open mouth of the container.
12. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein the
seal is detachably attachable to the lid to allow for removal and
cleaning of the seal and the lid.
13. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein as
the lock levers are moved by a user from their locked positions to
their unlocked positions, the bottom walls of the lock levers will
move up and push up on the projections extending from the bottom of
the lid and cause the lid to lift upwardly relative to the open
mouth of the container.
14. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 1, wherein the
lid has an upper surface into which is formed a cavity with an
aperture formed therethrough, which cavity receives a movable air
vent cover, which air vent cover moves between a closed position
where the aperture in the cavity is blocked by the air vent cover,
and an opened position where the air vent cover blocks the aperture
in the cavity.
15. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 14, wherein the
air vent cover pivots on pivot prongs relative to the cavity in the
lid between the opened position and the closed position, and
wherein the air vent cover has an air vent plug which is adapted to
air tightly engage with the aperture in the cavity when the air
vent cover is in the opened position.
16. A container with a self-closing lid, comprising: a container
having an open mouth with an upper rim with two lock elongate lock
lever cutouts at opposite ends of the container, the container
having upper inside walls with an upper inside wall circumference,
two lock levers with each comprising an upper rim with catches
extending from a bottom edge of the upper rim, a bottom wall with a
front edge, and a back wall joining the upper rim and the bottom
wall, the upper rim, the bottom wall, and the back wall connected
at ends thereof by end walls, wherein each lock lever is pivotally
mounted in the elongate lock lever cutouts along a line located
above the bottom wall and behind a projection line extending
between the front edge of the upper rim and the front edge of the
bottom wall; and a lid that is sized and shaped to cover the open
mouth of the container, the lid comprising an outer rim with an
upper surface and a lower surface that in use faces toward the open
mouth of the container and which lower surface has a plurality of
projections extending downwardly therefrom, the upper surface
having grooves formed thereon in the vicinity of the outer rim
where the projections are located, and a seal, wherein the seal has
an outer circumference that is larger than the upper inside wall
circumference of the container, wherein when the lid with seal is
placed on the open mouth of the container and is pushed down, the
projections on the lid will push downwardly on the bottom wall of
the lock levers and cause them to rotate inwardly so that the
catches extending from the front edge of the upper rim will snap
into the grooves on the upper surface of the outer rim and lock the
lock levers in place on the lid to retain the lid on the container,
and wherein the seal will engage with the upper inside walls of the
container to form a seal therewith, and the seal will flex and
provide a biasing force that tends to bias the lid upwardly away
from the open mouth of the container.
17. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein the
lock levers are pivotally mounted in the lock lever cutouts by
pivot pins extending from the ends walls of the lock levers, which
pivot pins freely rotate in pivot apertures formed into sides edges
of the lock lever cutouts.
18. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein two
spaced apart lock notches are formed in each elongate lock lever
cutout, which two lock notches are spaced apart for passage of the
projections extending from the underside of the lid to contact the
bottom wall of the lock levers, the two spaced apart lock notches
being located on the upper rim of the container, and wherein
positioned therebetween is a generally horizontal stub wall upon
which the front edge of the bottom wall of the lock levers will
impinge when the lock levers are moved to their unlocked position,
thereby preventing further rotation of the lock levers.
19. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein the
back wall of the lock levers is spaced rearwardly from the front
edges of the upper rim and lower wall and joining the upper rim and
the bottom wall, together with the end walls thereby forming a
cavity therein.
20. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein each
lock lever further comprises a grip handle extending above the
upper rim.
21. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein the
lid comprises cutaways at opposite ends of its outer rim, which
cutaways are sized to receive the lock levers, and wherein the
upper surface having the second connectors are located adjacent to
the cutaways.
22. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein the
lid has an upper surface into which is formed a cavity, which
cavity movably receives an air vent cover, which air vent cover
moves between a closed position where an aperture in the cavity
will be blocked by the air vent cover, and an opened position where
the air vent cover blocks the aperture in the cavity.
23. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 16, wherein as
the lock levers are moved by a user from their locked positions to
their unlocked positions, the bottom walls of the lock levers will
move up and push up on the projections extending from the bottom of
the lid and cause the lid to lift upwardly relative to the open
mouth of the container.
24. A container with a self-closing lid, comprising: a container
comprising an open mouth with an upper rim with two lock elongate
lock lever cutouts at opposite ends of the container, two lock
levers each comprising an upper rim with at least one catch
extending from a bottom edge of the upper rim and a bottom wall
with a front edge that is spaced below the upper rim, wherein each
lock lever is pivotally mounted to the lock lever receiving cutouts
of the container; and a lid that is sized and shaped to cover the
open mouth of the container, the lid comprising an outer rim with
an upper surface and a lower surface that in use faces toward the
open mouth of the container and which has at least one projection
at opposite ends of the outer rim extending downwardly from the
lower surface of the outer rim, the upper surface having at least
one groove formed thereon in the vicinity of the outer rim where
the at least one projections is located, wherein when the lid is
placed on the open mouth of the container and is pushed down, the
at least one projection at opposite ends of the lid will push
downwardly on the bottom wall of the lock levers and cause them to
rotate inwardly so that the at least one catches extending from the
front edge of the upper rim will snap into the at least one groove
on the outer rim and lock the lock levers in place on the lid to
retain the lid on the container.
25. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein the
lid further comprises a seal, wherein the seal has an outer
perimeter that is larger than an inner perimeter of upper inside
walls of the container, and wherein when the lid with seal is
placed on the open mouth of the container, the seal will engage
with the upper inside walls of the container to form a seal
therewith, and wherein the seal will flex and provide a biasing
force that biases the lid upwardly away from the open mouth of the
container.
26. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein the
lock lever further comprise a back wall joining the upper rim and
the bottom wall, the upper rim, the bottom wall, and the back wall
connected at ends thereof by end walls along a pivot line located
above the bottom wall and behind a projection line extending
between the front edge of the upper rim and the front edge of the
bottom wall.
27. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein two
spaced apart lock notches are formed in each elongate lock lever
cutout, which two lock notches are spaced apart for passage of the
projections extending from the underside of the lid so the
projections may contact the bottom wall of the lock levers.
28. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 27, wherein
positioned between the two spaced apart lock notches is a generally
horizontal stub wall upon which the front edge of the bottom wall
of the lock levers will impinge when the lock levers are moved to
their unlocked position, thereby preventing further rotation of the
lock levers.
29. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein the
back wall of the lock levers is spaced rearwardly from the front
edges of the upper rim and lower wall and joining the upper rim and
the bottom wall, together with the end walls thereby forming a
cavity therein.
30. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein each
lock lever further comprises a grip handle extending above the
upper rim, which grip handle is accessible by a user to manually
move each lock lever from its locked position to the unlocked
position.
31. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein the
lid comprises cutaways at opposite ends of its outer rim, which
cutaways are sized to receive the lock levers, and wherein the
upper surface of the outer rim having the grooves are located
adjacent to the cutaways.
32. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein the
lid further comprises a seal, wherein the seal has an outer
perimeter that is larger than an inner perimeter of an upper inside
wall surface of the container, and wherein when the lid with the
seal is placed on the open mouth of the container and pushed down,
the seal will engage with the upper inside wall surface of the
container to thereby form a seal therewith, and wherein the seal
will flex and provide a biasing force that tends to push the lid
upwardly away from the open mouth of the container.
33. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein as
the lock levers are moved by a user from their locked positions to
their unlocked positions, the bottom walls of the lock levers will
move up and push up on the projections extending from the bottom of
the lid and cause the lid to lift upwardly relative to the open
mouth of the container.
34. The container with a self-closing lid of claim 24, wherein the
lid has an upper surface into which is formed a cavity with an
aperture formed therethrough, which cavity receives a movable air
vent cover, which air vent cover moves between a closed position
where the aperture in the cavity is blocked by the air vent cover,
and an opened position where the air vent cover blocks the aperture
in the cavity.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to containers and more particularly to
a container with an open mouth with a lid which will automatically
be locked into place when pushed down onto the open mouth of a
container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are a wide variety of containers and many have a lower
storage portion with an open mouth, and a lid that fits to cover
the open mouth and close it off.
[0003] In some prior art containers, a seal is provided on the lid
that sealingly engages with a rim of the mouth of the lower storage
portion. When a user wishes to connect the lid to the contain, the
user will place the lid in alignment over the open mouth of the
storage container and push down all along the rim of the lid to
push the lid onto the rim of the storage container. To remove the
lid, the user will then "unpeel" the lid from the storage
container.
[0004] In some other prior art containers, there is a feature to
lock the lid onto the lower storage portion comprising locking
clips that are be manually lifted up to impinge on and be retained
by the lid to thereby lock the lid in place on the container. Thus,
in order to lock a lid to the open mouth of these types of
containers, the user will place the lid onto the mouth of the
container in alignment with the open mouth and push the lid down,
and then manually lift up the lever locks to secure the locked
position of the lid on the storage container. This extra step of
manually lifting the lever locks takes an extra step.
[0005] It would be desirable to have a container with a lid that
not only seals with the open mouth of the container but also
self-locks in place with the user needing to lift locking levers
into place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a container with a self-closing
lid, comprising:
[0007] a container having an open mouth with an upper rim with two
lock lever receiving locations, and two lock levers with each
comprising an upper rim with a first connector extending from a
front edge of the upper rim, a bottom wall with a front edge, and a
back wall joining the upper rim and the bottom wall, the upper rim,
the bottom wall, and the back wall connected at ends thereof by end
walls, wherein each lock lever is pivotally mounted in the lock
lever receiving location of the container and moves between a
unlocked position and a locked position; and
[0008] a lid that is sized and shaped to cover the open mouth of
the container, the lid comprising an outer rim with an upper
surface, and a lower surface that in use faces toward the open
mouth of the container and which lower surface has a plurality of
projections extending downwardly therefrom, the upper surface
having second connectors in the vicinity of where the projections
are located, and wherein when the lid is placed on the open mouth
of the container with the lock levers in the unlatched positions
and the lid is pushed down, the projections on the lid will push
downwardly on the bottom wall of the lock levers and cause the lock
levers to rotate inwardly to the locked position where the first
connectors of the lock levers will snap into the second connects on
the outer rim of the lid and lock the lock levers in place on the
lid to retain the lid on the container.
[0009] In another embodiment the invention provides a container
with a self-closing lid, comprising:
[0010] a container having an open mouth with an upper rim with two
lock elongate lock lever cutouts at opposite ends of the container,
the container having upper inside walls with an upper inside wall
circumference, two lock levers with each comprising an upper rim
with catches extending from a bottom edge of the upper rim, a
bottom wall with a front edge, and a back wall joining the upper
rim and the bottom wall, the upper rim, the bottom wall, and the
back wall connected at ends thereof by end walls, wherein each lock
lever is pivotally mounted in the elongate lock lever cutouts along
a line located above the bottom wall and behind a projection line
extending between the front edge of the upper rim and the front
edge of the bottom wall; and
[0011] a lid that is sized and shaped to cover the open mouth of
the container, the lid comprising an outer rim with an upper
surface and a lower surface that in use faces toward the open mouth
of the container and which lower surface has a plurality of
projections extending downwardly therefrom, the upper surface
having grooves formed thereon in the vicinity of the outer rim
where the projections are located, and a seal, wherein the seal has
an outer circumference that is larger than the upper inside wall
circumference of the container, wherein when the lid with seal is
placed on the open mouth of the container and is pushed down, the
projections on the lid will push downwardly on the bottom wall of
the lock levers and cause them to rotate inwardly so that the
catches extending from the front edge of the upper rim will snap
into the grooves on the upper surface of the outer rim and lock the
lock levers in place on the lid to retain the lid on the container,
and wherein the seal will engage with the upper inside walls of the
container to form a seal therewith, and the seal will flex and
provide a biasing force that tends to bias the lid upwardly away
from the open mouth of the container.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a
container with a self-closing lid, comprising:
[0013] a container comprising an open mouth with an upper rim with
two lock elongate lock lever cutouts at opposite ends of the
container, two lock levers each comprising an upper rim with at
least one catch extending from a bottom edge of the upper rim and a
bottom wall with a front edge that is spaced below the upper rim,
wherein each lock lever is pivotally mounted to the lock lever
receiving cutouts of the container; and
[0014] a lid that is sized and shaped to cover the open mouth of
the container, the lid comprising an outer rim with an upper
surface and a lower surface that in use faces toward the open mouth
of the container and which has at least one projection at opposite
ends of the outer rim extending downwardly from the lower surface
of the outer rim, the upper surface having at least one groove
formed thereon in the vicinity of the outer rim where the at least
one projections is located, wherein when the lid is placed on the
open mouth of the container and is pushed down, the at least one
projection at opposite ends of the lid will push downwardly on the
bottom wall of the lock levers and cause them to rotate inwardly so
that the at least one catches extending from the front edge of the
upper rim will snap into the at least one groove on the outer rim
and lock the lock levers in place on the lid to retain the lid on
the container.
[0015] These and other features of the invention are described
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment
of a container with a self-locking lid that will lock onto the open
mouth of the container when the lid is pushed down and with an air
vent cover in its closed state.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the exemplary
embodiment of the container with a self-locking lid of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a top perspective view and bottom
perspective view, respectively, of an air vent cover of the
self-locking lid of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is top view of the self-locking lid portion of the
container with a self-locking lid of FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 5 is bottom perspective view of the self-locking lid
portion of FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 6 is rear perspective view of an exemplary lock lever
of FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 7 is bottom perspective view of the lid seal of FIG.
2
[0023] FIG. 8 is a detail view in area A of FIG. 2 showing a lock
lever connection point in the container portion.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the container portion of
FIG. 2 without the lock levers.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the container
portion of FIG. 9.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view showing the exemplary
container with self-locking lid of FIG. 1 with the lid valve in its
open state.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view showing the exemplary
container with self-locking lid of FIG. 11 with the lock levers
moved to their unlocked state.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the container portion
with its lid removed.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the container portion
with its lid placed over the open mouth of the container portion
but not pushed down.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the container portion
with its lid placed over the open mouth of the container portion
band and just beginning to be pushed down.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the container portion
with its lid placed over the open mouth of the container portion
band and just full to be pushed down with its lock levers moved to
their locked state.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a cross-section view along lines view lines 17-17
of FIG. 1 showing the lid complete closed on the container portion
with the lever locks in the locked state.
[0033] FIG. 18 is a cross-section view along lines view lines 18-18
of FIG. 1 showing the valve on the lid in its closed state.
[0034] FIG. 19 is a cross-section view along lines view lines 19-19
of FIG. 11 showing the air vent cover on the lid in its opened
state.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a cross-section view along lines view lines 20-20
of FIG. 12 showing a detail of the lid with its lock levers
unlatched from the lid and showing the lid contour and its
interaction to fit with the handle and the upper rim of the bin
portion.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view along lines 21-21 of FIG.
14 showing a detail of the lid when it is first placed on the bin
portion before it is pushed down to lock the lock levers in place
on the lid.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view along lines 22-22 of FIG.
15 showing a detail of the lid when it is just starting to be
pushed down into contact with the rim of the bin, with the lock
levers partially rotated to start to lock the lid in place.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view along lines 23-23 of FIG.
16 showing a detail of the lid when it is mostly pushed down into
contact with the rim of the bin, with the lock levers more fully
rotated to nearly lock the lid in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary
embodiment of a container with a self-locking lid 10. The container
with a self-locking lid 10 includes a container portion 12 and a
lid 14. Lock levers 16 pass between cutaways 18 formed in a flat
rim 24 at opposite ends 26 of the lid 14, and the lid includes an
air vent cover 20 that pivotally fits into a vent cavity 22 formed
in a top surface 56 of the lid 14. The lid 14 also has flat rim
areas 28 at the other sides connected to the flat rim areas 24. The
lid 14 has an outer perimeter 40 and has a gully 58 formed around a
perimeter of its top surface 56 and the top surface is preferably
generally flat and at an elevated height relative to the gulley.
The gully 58 is sized to fit a curved bottom rim 60 of the
container portion 12. The container portion 12 has a side perimeter
portion 30. The lever locks 16 are pivotally attached along end
walls 44 of the container 12 and the container 12 has side walls
46.
[0040] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of
the exemplary embodiment of the container with a self-locking lid
10. The container portion 12, lid 14, lock levers 16, cutaways 18
formed in the flat rim 24 at opposite ends 26 of the lid 14, and
the air vent cover 20 that pivotally fits into the cavity 22 formed
in the lid 14, and a side perimeter portion 30 of the container
portion 12 are shown. At opposite ends 32 of the container portion
12 there are lock lever receiving locations or lock lever cutouts
34 formed at opposite ends 36 of an upper rim portion 38 of the
container portion 12 that surrounds its open mouth 42. A bottom
wall 48 is connected to the two opposite end walls 44 and the two
opposite side walls 46. Between ends 36 of upper rim portion at
each end of the container portion 12 there are two spaced apart
lock notches 160. Between the two spaced apart lock notches 160 is
generally horizontal stub wall 162. The stub wall 162 extends from
a top end 164 of the two opposite end walls 44, and a terminal edge
166 is set back compared to the outer reaches 168 of the opposite
ends 32 of the container portion 12. There are lock lever
connection areas 150 in the ends of the upper rim portion, which
will be further described in FIG. 8. The purpose of stub wall 162,
lock notches 160 and other features the lock lever connection areas
150 are described below. When the lid 14 is placed on the mouth 42
of the container portion 12, the flat rim 24 and flat rim areas 28
of the lid 14 will be generally parallel to the an upper rim
portion 38 of the container portion 12. FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 show a
lid seal 50 is provided and has an annular retention flange 52 and
a sealing ring 54. The sealing ring 54 has an outer edge 156. The
annular retention flange 52 is engaged with the lid 14 as will be
described below, and the sealing ring 54 is sized and dimensioned
to provide a seal with the upper inside surface 158 of the
container portion 12 when the lid 14 is engaged therewith. The seal
may be detachably attachable to the lid to allow for cleaning of
the seal and the lid, or alternately may be permanently affixed to
the lid, e.g., by being molded into the lid. The vent cavity 22 is
formed into a top surface 56 of the lid 14. The vent cavity 22 has
two pivot holes 62 at opposite sides 64 thereof. The air vent cover
20 has a top surface 66, a bottom surface 68, an air vent plug 70
extending from the bottom surface 68, and two pivots 72 extending
from side edges 74 of the air vent cover 20. These features are
also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The vent plug 70 can have a generally
cylindrical share. These features are better shown in FIGS. 3A and
3B. The pivots 72 will pivotally engage with the pivot holes 62 on
the lid 14, to allow the air vent cover 20 to rock relative thereto
between a sealed state (best shown in FIG. 18) and an unsealed
state (best shown in FIG. 19.)
[0041] FIG. 4 is top view and FIG. 5 is bottom perspective view,
respectively, of the self-locking lid portion 14, and has features
described above. The cutaways 18 formed in the flat rim 24 and is
recessed in from outer edges 26 of the flat rim 24, and defines two
opposed cutaway inner ends 80 joined by a cutaway inner edge 82.
One continuous longitudinal groove 84 (or shorter sections of
grooves) is formed adjacent and inwardly of the cutaway inner edge
82. Each cutaway 18 has a width between the two opposed cutaway
inner ends 80 that is slightly wider than a length of the lock
levers 16 from its side wall 136 to side wall 136 (see FIG. 6.) A
vent hole 76 is formed at one end of the cavity 22 in a bottom wall
78 of the vent cavity 22. Extending downwardly from both sections
of the flat rim 24 and spaced inwardly from near the cutaway inner
ends 80 are pairs of spaced apart projections or lock prongs 90.
The lock prongs 90 can be in the form of generally rectangular
extension from the flat rim 24 and they preferably have flat tops
92. The pairs of lock prongs 90 on each of the lid are spaced apart
by a distance so that they can freely pass through the lock notches
160 in the bin portion 12 when the lid 14 is placed over the open
mouth 42 of the bin portion 12. Extending from an underside of the
lid 14 are a pair of spaced apart seal retention walls 86A and 86B.
Defined there between is a space 88 that is sized to snugly receive
the annular retention flange 52 of the lid seal 50 (shown in FIGS.
2 and 7.)
[0042] FIG. 6 is rear perspective view of the exemplary lock lever
16 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Each lock lever 16 has a finger grip portion
120 that extends from an upper edge 122 of an upper rim 124.
Extending from a bottom edge 126 of the upper rim 124 are catches
128. The lock lever 16 has a spaced back, back wall 130 and bottom
wall 132. The bottom wall 132 has a leading edge 134. At both sides
of the lock lever 16 are end walls 136, and the lock lever defines
a space 138. Extending perpendicularly and outwardly from the end
walls 136 are pivots 140. The pivots 140 are spaced on the end
walls 136 above the bottom wall 132 and lay along a line of
rotation (shown in dashed lines.) If an imaginary line were drawn
from of the front of the catches 128 to the leading edge 134 of the
bottom wall 132, a center of rotation of the pivots 140 would be
set back from this line and above the bottom wall 132. Thus, with
the pivots rotatably held to the lid 14, if the bottom wall 132 of
the lock lever 16 is pushed down near its leading edge 134 with a
force F, this will provide a rotational force (curved arrow) that
rotates the lock lever 16. This operation is described further
below.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a detail view in area A of FIG. 2 showing a lock
lever connection area 150 in the container portion 12. The stub
wall 162 extends from the top end 164 of the two opposite end walls
44, and its terminal edge 166 is set back compared to the outer
reaches 168 of the opposite ends 32 of the container portion 12. A
pivot apertures 170 is formed into a pivot wall 172, to purpose of
which is to pivotally receive a pivot pin 140 of the lock levers
16. A cutaway 174 is preferably formed leading from a top rim of
the container so that each pivot pin 140 of the lock levers 16 can
be more easily snapped into the pivot apertures 170. A stop wall
176 with an underside 178 and front edge 180 extends outwardly from
the top end 164. The lock notches 160 are formed between the stop
walls 176 and the stub wall 162. The stop wall 176 will prevent
over-rotation of the lock levers 16 when they ae installed into the
bin portion 12 and are in their open states, as best shown in FIG.
20. The stub wall 162 can serve the same purpose. While the lock
levers 16 are shown as having pivots 140 extending outwardly
therefrom which pivotally engage with the pivot apertures 170, the
position of the pivots and pivot apertures could be changed with
pivots being located in the lock lever connection area 150 and
pivot aperture being located on the lock levers instead, or a
pivoting rod could be run though the pivot lock and through the
lock lever cutouts 34 (not shown.)
[0044] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view and FIG. 10 is a bottom
perspective view, respectively, of the container portion 12 of FIG.
2 without the lock levers 16. The various features described above
are shown here. As can be seen, the lock lever cutouts 34 with lock
lever connection areas 150 at both ends are shown, which will
receive the lock levers. The stub wall 162 and stop wall 176 are
shown.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view showing the exemplary
container 10 with self-locking lid of FIG. 1 with the lid vent
cover 20 is popped to its open state relative to the vent cavity 22
formed in a top surface 56 of the lid 14 are locked onto the lid
14. The lock levers 16 are in their locked state onto the lid 14.
FIG. 17 is a cross-section view along lines view lines 17-17 of
FIG. 11 showing the lid 14 complete closed on the container portion
12 with the lever locks 16 in the locked state. As can be seen in
FIG. 17, when the lid 14 is fully pushed down onto the bin 12, the
lock levers 16 are fully rotated to their latched state, when the
catches 128 on the upper rim 124 of the lock levers 16 are moved
into the groove 84 formed in the lid 14, and the leading edge 134
of the bottom wall 132 of the latch lever 16 is completely pushed
down and rotated by action of the tops 92 of the lock prongs 90
impinging thereon. The lid seal 50 is shown with its flange 52
retained in the space 88 between the pair of spaced apart seal
retention walls 86A and 86B. The sealing ring 54 and its outer edge
156 are shown in full contact with the upper inside surface 158 of
the container portion 12. As can be seen, the outer edge 156 will
bend up slightly as it sweeps on the upper inside surface 158 of
the container portion 12, which helps to form an airtight seal
between the lid 14 and the container portion 14, and also stores a
slight spring force that biases the lid 14 upwardly.
[0046] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view showing the exemplary
container with self-locking lid 10 of FIG. 11 with the lock levers
16 manually pivoted downwardly to their unlocked state from the lid
14, which thereby causes the lid 14 to be lifted up from the
container portion 12. When this is done, the lid 14 will be pushed
up from the open mouth of the container portion 12 and the lock
levers 16 will no longer retain the lid 14. FIG. 20 is a
cross-sectional view along view lines 20-20 of FIG. 12 and show the
orientation of the lock levers 16 relative to the lid 14. As can be
seen in FIG. 20, when the lock levers 16 are pivoted to their
unlatched state, the catches 128 on the upper rim 124 of the lock
levers 16 will disengage from the groove 84 formed in the lid 14,
and the leading edge 134 of the bottom wall 132 of the latch lever
16 will push up on the top 92 of the lock prongs 90 and thereby
cause the lid 14 to be pushed up from the open mouth of the
container portion 12. The lid seal 50 is shown with its flange 52
retained in the space 88 between the pair of spaced apart seal
retention walls 86A and 86B. The sealing ring 54 and its outer edge
156 are shown. As can be seen, the outer edge 156 extends slighting
beyond a vertical projection line (not shown) of the upper inside
surface 158 of the container portion 12.
[0047] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the container portion
12 without the lid 14 showing its open mouth 42. The opposite ends
36 of an upper rim portion 38 of the container portion 12 are show,
and the lock levers 16 rotated to their open positions.
[0048] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the container portion
12 with its lid 14 placed over the open mouth of the container
portion 12 but not pushed yet pushed down. Is this state, the lock
levers 16 remain in its unlatched position. FIG. 21 is a
cross-sectional view along view lines 21-21 of FIG. 14 and show the
orientation of the lock levers 16 relative to the lid 14. As can be
seen in FIG. 21, when the lid 14 is first placed on the bin 12,
lock levers 16 are in their unlatched state, the catches 128 on the
upper rim 124 of the lock levers 16 do not engage with the groove
84 formed in the lid 14, and the leading edge 134 of the bottom
wall 132 of the latch lever 16 will start to be pushed down by the
tops 92 of the lock prongs 90 impinging thereon. The lid seal 50 is
shown with its flange 52 retained in the space 88 between the pair
of spaced apart seal retention walls 86A and 86B. The sealing ring
54 and its outer edge 156 are shown. The sealing ring 54 and its
outer edge 156 are shown. As can be seen, the outer edge 156
extends slighting beyond a vertical projection line (not shown) of
the upper inside surface 158 of the container portion 12.
[0049] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the container portion
12 with its lid 14 placed over the open mouth of the container
portion 12 with the lid 14 just beginning to be pushed down. As can
be seen, the lock levers 16 are just beginning to be rotated by
this action, and without a user being required to manually rotate
the lock levers. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view along view lines
22-22 of FIG. 15 and show the orientation of the lock levers 16
relative to the lid 14. As can be seen in FIG. 22, when the lid 14
is pushed further down onto the bin 12, the lock levers 16 will
continue to rotate inwardly and the catches 128 on the upper rim
124 of the lock levers 16 will move closer to the groove 84 formed
in the lid 14, and the leading edge 134 of the bottom wall 132 of
the latch lever 16 will be pushed down by the tops 92 of the lock
prongs 90 impinging thereon. The sealing ring 54 and its outer edge
156 are shown with the outer edge 156 almost touching the top of
the container 12. As can be seen, the outer edge 156 extends
slighting beyond a vertical projection line (not shown) of the
upper inside surface 158 of the container portion 12.
[0050] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the container portion
12 with its lid 14 placed over the open mouth of the container
portion 12 and pushed down by a user. This action causes the lock
levers 16 to rotate moved to their locked state. FIG. 23 is a
cross-sectional view along view lines 23-23 of FIG. 16 and show the
orientation of the lock levers 16 relative to the lid 14. As can be
seen in FIG. 23, when the lid 14 is pushed down onto the bin 12,
lock levers 16 are rotated to nearly their latched state, when the
catches 128 on the upper rim 124 of the lock levers 16 are close to
engaging with the groove 84 formed in the lid 14, and the leading
edge 134 of the bottom wall 132 of the latch lever 16 is nearly
completely pushed down and rotated by action of the tops 92 of the
lock prongs 90 impinging thereon. The lid seal 50 is shown with its
flange 52 retained in the space 88 between the pair of spaced apart
seal retention walls 86A and 86B. The outer edge 156 of the sealing
ring 54 is shown making contact with the top and of the container
12 and starting to touch the outer edge 156 of the container 12 and
bend up. This contact helps to form an airtight seal between the
lid 14 and the container portion 14, and also stores a slight
spring force that biases the lid 14 upwardly, which helps to pop
the lid 14 up when the lever latches 16 are released.
[0051] The preferred embodiments of this invention have been
disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *