Sealable containers

Abstract

A container for storage is provided which includes, as principle components, a base member (1) and a lid (100) therefor, with the lid (100) in use overlaying said base member (1) in a sealing relationship, with both the base member (1) and lid (100) having associated therewith a strip or base (5.104) of a color different to the remainder of the base member (1) and lid (100) respectively, the strip or band (5) of the base member (1) being of the same color as the strip of band (104) of the lid (100), thereby to allow for ready matching of the lid (100) with container base (1).

Claims

1. A plurality of storage containers, each storage container including: a base including: a bottom wall and at least one sidewall, said at least one sidewall extending substantially upwardly from said bottom wall an angle other than 90 and terminating in a peripheral rim having an outwardly extending lip; a lid formed from a clear plastics material and adapted to be compatible with and sealingly close the base and to extend thereacross in a covering relationship, wherein the plurality of containers includes differently sized and shaped bases and their compatible lids, each base and its compatible lid including a colored identification means in the form of an area on each of the base and its compatible lid that is of the same color for matching the base with its compatible lid, the colored identification means on any base and its compatible lid being a color that is different to that of the remainder of the base and its compatible lid; wherein differently sized and shaped bases and their compatible lids have colored identification means of different colors; wherein container bases of the same size and shape can stack one in another due to the shape and configuration of the peripheral lip and the angled sidewall; the colored identification means on each of the lids being a sealing means provided on a peripheral underside of each lid to cooperate with the sidewall of a compatible base; and wherein the colored identification means on the base: is a peripheral band or strip on the peripheral lip on a top edge of the base sidewall; and/or comprises an area formed integrally with the sidewall.

2. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said are each constructed principally of a material which is transparent.

3. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means extends around the periphery of said lid.

4. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said colored identification means is joined/associated with said bases and said lids in a co-molding operation.

5. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 4, wherein said colored identification means is of a material which is different to the material of construction of said base and said lid.

6. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base and said lid are each formed from a moldable plastics material.

7. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid of at least one storage container includes a venting means, said venting means being constructed from a material having the same color as the colored identification means of the compatible base.

8. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bases, said lids and said venting means are constructed principally of plastics material.

9. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bases are constructed from glass.

10. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the colored identification means on the sidewall is located at or in the vicinity of the juncture of said at least one sidewall and said bottom wall of said base and extends substantially normally to said bottom wall, and includes markings or indicia thereon providing an indication as to the volume occupied by the content of said container.

11. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means is constructed from a non-rigid elastomeric material, said non-rigid elastomeric material being silicone or silicone rubber.

12. The plurality of storage containers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bases are stackable.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail preferred constructions of an improved container in accordance with the invention. The description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a base for first embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, with the coloured strip or insert being represented by shading;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container base of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the container base of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the container base of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container base of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view from below of the container base of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view, from below, of the base of FIG. 1 an arrangement for retaining a tag;

(9) FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a plurality (in this instance three) of container bases in accord with the prior art when stacked together;

(10) FIG. 9 is a view, similar to FIG. 8, but showing four container bases in accord with the present invention when stacked together;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a lid in accordance with the present invention, for use with the container base of FIG. 1, with the coloured strip or insert being represented by shading;

(12) FIG. 11 is an underneath perspective view of the lid of FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 is a top view of the lid of FIG. 10;

(14) FIG. 13 is a side view of the lid of FIG. 10;

(15) FIG. 14 is an underneath view of the lid of FIG. 10;

(16) FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the lid of FIG. 10;

(17) FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a plurality, in this instance seven of the lids of FIG. 10 when stacked together;

(18) FIG. 17 is a view, similar to FIG. 16 but showing the poor stackability of a plurality of lids in accordance with the prior art;

(19) FIG. 18 is a top perspective view showing a container base and coloured strip, in accordance with the present invention, when separated;

(20) FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the container base and strip of FIG. 18;

(21) FIG. 20 is a plan view of the container base;

(22) FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

(23) FIG. 22 is an exploded top perspective view of a lid in accordance with the present invention, showing the lid itself and the colour-coded band shown separated;

(24) FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view similar to FIG. 22;

(25) FIG. 24 is a top view of a lid in accordance with the invention;

(26) FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of a corner of the lid of FIG. 24;

(27) FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a portion of the periphery of the lid and colour-coded band of FIG. 22;

(28) FIG. 27 is an enlarged view showing the cross-sectional shape of each of the lid and coloured band;

(29) FIG. 28 is a view showing the assembly of the container base and lid in accordance with the invention;

(30) FIG. 29 show enlarged views of both the container of FIG. 1 and the lid of FIG. 10;

(31) FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the container and lid when interconnected;

(32) FIG. 30a is a view, similar to FIG. 30, of an alternative arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

(33) FIG. 31 is a top perspective view of a base for a container in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

(34) FIG. 32 is a top view of the base of FIG. 31;

(35) FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 32;

(36) FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 32;

(37) FIG. 35 is a top view of a lid for a container in accordance with the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 31;

(38) FIG. 36 is a top perspective view of the lid of FIG. 35;

(39) FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a container base in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 31;

(40) FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a lid and separate sealing means for the container base of FIG. 37;

(41) FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a containera combination of base, lid and separate sealing means in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 31; and

(42) FIG. 40 is a further perspective view, from the side, of a container in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(43) Turning to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 30 thereof, a container in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention includes, as principal components, a container base, generally designated 1, and a matching or compatible container lid, generally designated 100. It should be understood, however, that neither the material of construction of the overall container, nor the physical dimensions and shape thereof, are of the essence of the invention. The preferred material of construction is a plastics material but any mouldable material, as for example glass, could equally well be employed. As to overall shape, whilst the container base 1 and lid 100 illustrated are of a substantially oblong or rectangular shape when viewed in cross-section any shape could be employed, as for example, a square, elliptic or oval (round) shape, when viewed in cross-section. The height dimension of the container base 1 also may be varied from product to product, and does not constitute part of the invention.

(44) With particular regard to FIGS. 1 to 6, the container base 1 includes a bottom 2 and an upwardly extending peripheral sidewall 3, with that sidewall 3 extending upwardly from the bottom 2 at an angle other than 90 thereto, such said wall 3 terminating in a shaped peripheral lip 4 depending outwardly and downwardly from the top edge of said peripheral sidewall 3.

(45) In the preferred embodiment illustrated the container base 1 also includes a colour-coded strip 5 (see for example FIG. 21), of a colour different to that of the container 1, and preferably of a material of construction different from that of the container base 1. Preferably the strip 5 will be associated with and formed with the lip 4 of the container base 1 in a co-moulding operation. It should be understood, however, that the method of production of the overall container base 1, and the container lid 100 for that matter, is not of the essence of the invention.

(46) The container base 1 further includes, at or in the vicinity of each corner of the bottom 2 thereof, a dimple or protrusion 6. These act as feet or supporting means for the container base 1, providing a space between the bottom 2 of a given container base 1 and that surface on which any such container base 1 is standing or located, or for that matter between the bottom 2 of one container base 1 and the bottom 2 of another container base 1 if stacked.

(47) The lid 100 as shown, for example, in FIG. 10, is of a complementary size and shape to the container base 1 and is adapted, in use, to overlay and seal that container base 1, giving rise to a sealed container. The lid 100 includes a main body portion 101 having a substantially channel-shaped peripheral lip 102 formed at the outermost edge thereof. When the lid 100 is located to overlap the container base 1, the peripheral lip 102 will extend over and be in contact with the lip 4 of the container base 1 (see for example FIGS. 29 and 30), whereby to provide a sealing effect. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the lid 100 includes opposed tabs 103 at at least two opposed corners thereof, to assist in removal of the lid 100 from the container base 1 when required. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, a tab 103 can be located at each corner of the lid 100.

(48) The lid 100 further includes, to be fixedly located within the peripheral lip 102, a shaped peripheral strip 104 (shown as shaded in FIG. 14, for example). Preferably the strip 104 will be formed with the lid 100 in a co-moulding operation. Preferably the lid 100 will be formed from a clear plastics material or the like, whilst the strip 104 will be of a coloured plastics material (not necessarily the same material as used to form the lid 100). The colour of the strip 104 will be the same as that of the strip 5 of the container base 1.

(49) With regard to FIGS. 8 and 9, such show how a plurality of container bases 1 in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention can be stacked, in an extremely effective and space-saving manner, when compared with the prior art. The fact that the peripheral sidewall 3 extends upwardly from the bottom 2 at an angle other than at right angle, and the shape and configuration of the peripheral lip 4 itself, means that such container bases 1 can be stacked in an optimum fashion with a second container base 1 able to be disposed within a first, similarly sized and shaped container base 1 with the respective lips 4 of adjacent container bases 1 being in contact with one another. For a given area of storage space, or real estate as referred to earlier in this specification, a larger number of container bases 1 can be stored when compared with the prior art, an important marketing advantage.

(50) As shown, for example, in FIG. 12, the lid 100 in an especially preferred embodiment includes, formed in the upper surface thereof, a pattern made from a plurality of spaced-apart parallel lines, which as shown extend across substantially the entire upper surface of the main body portion 101 of the lid 100. In alternative embodiments, not shown in the drawings, a lid in accordance with the present invention may have, formed in the upper surface thereof, other distinguishing patterns, as for example an array of small circles, crescents or indeed any other shapes, extending across at least part of the upper surface thereof.

(51) FIG. 16 shows the improved stackability of lids 100 in accordance with the invention, due primarily to the shape and configuration of the peripheral lip 102, and associated colour-coded strip 104. This should be compared with the prior art, as shown in FIG. 17.

(52) FIGS. 18 and 19, to allow for a better understanding of the invention, show a container base 1 and its associated coloured strip 5 as separate elements. It should be realised, however, that since the overall container base 1 and associated coloured strip 5 are formed in a co-moulding procedure, in practice such will not be separate or distanced/separated one from the other as shown.

(53) FIGS. 22 and 23 are similar to FIGS. 18 and 19, showing the lid 100 and an associated co-moulded colour strip or band 104 as separate elements.

(54) The side wall 3 of the container base of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 includes a shaped peripheral cavity 7 in the vicinity of, but spaced from, the uppermost extension or edge of that sidewall 3, which provides a seating for a protrusion 106 of the coloured strip 104 of the lid 100, to afford an enhanced sealing effect (as shown in FIG. 30 for example).

(55) In that preferred embodiment the coloured strip 104 further includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of, protrusions 104a, in use being in engagement with the surface of the peripheral lip 102 of the container base 1, to provide for a further sealing effect between coloured strip 104 and peripheral lip 103. It should be understood, however, that the existence of such protrusion or protrusions 104a is merely a preferred feature of the invention

(56) In the alternative embodiment shown in, for example, FIG. 30a the coloured band 104 includes, at or in the vicinity of the upper edge thereof, a recess 107. That recess 107, formed integrally of the coloured band 104, assists in manufacture of the overall sealing means, facilitating removal thereof from a die subsequent to manufacture.

(57) The combination of container base 1 and lid 100 in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention exhibits a number of advantages/improvements over the prior art.

(58) Firstly, since both the container base 1 and lid 100 include a band or strip of the same colour, then the task of identifying matching bases and lids is simplified.

(59) Secondly, and by reason of the shape and configuration of the overall container, and in particular the container bases, stackability thereof is improved. For display purposes, a greater number of container bases in accordance with this embodiment of the invention can be stored or displayed in a given area of real estate, when compared with the prior art.

(60) With reference now to FIGS. 31 to 40 of the drawings, there is shown therein another preferred embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, which includes three principal components, namely a container base 400, a lid 410 and a separate sealing means 420.

(61) In this embodiment the container base 400, constructed of any suitable material, as for example a plastics material or glass, in like manner to that of FIGS. 1 to 30 includes a bottom 401 and an upwardly extending peripheral sidewall 402. Whilst, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the base 400, lid 410 and sealing means 420 are all substantially parallelepipedal in shape (when viewed in plan), it should be understood that the actual shape thereof (when viewed in plan) is not of the essence of the invention. Indeed the overall container may be circular, oval, square or any other shape (when viewed in plan). The sidewall 402 extends upwardly from the bottom 401, preferably substantially at a right angle thereto or, in an alternative arrangement, at an angle other than 90 thereto, to an upper rim 403. Extending outwardly from the rim 403, around at least part of the periphery thereof, is a flange 404. In an especially preferred embodiment such flange 404, preferably at opposed ends of the container, includes an enlarged section 405 which, in use, acts as a seating for the lid 410 of the container. The flange 404 preferably extends around the entire periphery of the base 400 of the overall container.

(62) In an especially preferred embodiment, the flange 404 extends around the entire periphery of the base 400 of said container and terminates in a downwardly depending lip 405. At opposed ends of said base 400 an enlarged flange is formed at the free, lower end of the lip 405.

(63) In the preferred embodiment illustrated the base 400 of the overall container may include means for receiving and releasably retaining at least one removable indicator tag (not shown), which tag can be attached, in use, to a peripheral rim, a pedestal, or under a peripheral rim to the sidewall 402. Tags of this general type (not shown) are described in more detail in, for example, the present applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,339. However such tag, and the means for attachment thereof, do not constitute part of the present invention.

(64) The lid 410 is of a substantially complementary shape to that of the base 400 and is adapted, in use, to overlay said base 400. The lid 410 includes a main body portion having a peripheral lip extending substantially at a right angle thereto. When the lid 410 is in position relative to the base 400, the lip 400 thereof will extend over and be in contact with the flange 405 of the base 400 (to provide an enhanced sealing effect).

(65) The lid 410 may further include means, generally designated 440, which allows for venting of the container as and when necessary. It should be understood, however, that such does not constitute part of the invention. Indeed any suitable means for venting may be employed.

(66) The sealing means 420 preferably is constructed from a flexible elastomeric material, more preferably silicone or silicone rubber. It should be understood, however, that the actual material of construction is not of the essence of the invention. Indeed any suitable flexible, resilient, food-grade plastics or the like material may be employed in the construction thereof.

(67) In accordance with the invention the venting means 440 of the lid 410, as well as the sealing means 420, will be of a colour, more preferably the same colour, and more importantly of a colour which is different from that of the material making up the remainder of the lid 410, and of the container base 400. Such can be achieved in any known manner and using any known means, as for example by including a colourant in the plastics or other material during formation of the venting means 440 and sealing means 420. By being of the same colour, such facilitates or assists the user in matching a given lid (with venting means) with a compatiblemeaning of the same size and shapesealing means, in turn facilitating use of any given container. Preferably different colours will be employed for different sized lids and associated sealing means.

(68) Again in accordance with the invention, and this to allow for matching up of a given base 400 with both its compatible lid 410 and sealing means 420, the base 400 includes, preferably in the peripheral side wall 402 thereof, at least one area 430 which is of a different colour to the remainder of that base 400, indeed of the same colour as the compatible lid 410 (with coloured venting means 440) and the compatible sealing means 420. With such an arrangement it becomes a simple task for the prospective user to select, from for example a drawer or the like which contains a number of differently sized and shaped bases 400, lids 410 and sealing means 420, firstly the particular sized and shaped base 400 to satisfy user requirements, and then the compatible lid 410 (with venting means) and separate sealing means 420. This avoids the sometimes hit and miss, and extremely frustrating, procedure necessary with the prior art containers of this general type.

(69) In one preferred embodiment of the invention the differently coloured area or section or area 430 of the container base 400 may be an integral part of the peripheral wall 402 thereof. In an alternative embodiment such may be in the form of a tag or the like adapted to be attached, releasably or permanently, to the peripheral wall 402 of the base 400.

(70) The location or size of the coloured area or section 430 on the container base 400 does not form part of the invention, and such area 430 can be disposed at any suitable location on that base 400. Preferably, however, it will be disposed on the peripheral wall 402 at a physical location at or in the vicinity of the bottom wall 401.

(71) In the especially preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 38 to 40 of the drawings, the coloured area 430 of the peripheral wall 402 of the container base 400 may be appropriately disposed on the base 400, and have graduations or the like indicia appearing thereon, such as to provide the user with an indication as to the volume of content housed within the base 400 at any given time.

(72) The lid 410 in an especially preferred (not shown) may include, formed in the upper surface thereof, a pattern made from a plurality of spaced-apart parallel lines, which can extend across substantially the entire upper surface of the main body portion of the lid 410. In alternative embodiments, again not shown in the drawings, a lid in accordance with the present invention may have, formed in the upper surface thereof, other distinguishing patterns as for example an array of small circles, crescents or indeed any other shapes, extending across at least part of the upper surface thereof.

(73) With the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 30a, both the Container bases and matching lids lend themselves to being stackable, to a greater extent than known containers of this general type. This has advantages, whether in the commercial (sales) or domestic environment, in that more container basis, and more lids, can be stored in a given area.

(74) By having the lid which fits a given container base, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 30a, having a colour coded strip of the same colour as that on the base, this allows the user to readily select, from a plurality of possibilities, both the desired sized and shaped container and, more importantly, the lid therefor.

(75) Finally, it is to be understood that the a foregoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.