Position adjustable interior lid for containers

Abstract

What is disclosed is a lid for sealing containers containing paint as well as other types of liquids and solids. The lid is flexible and resilient at portions that provide a seal for the container to preserve the contents by reducing off-gas leakage as well as ingress of oxidizing air in order to prevent drying of the contents or other types of deterioration. A handle is provided at a top surface of the lid and which is proximal to the outer structures of the lid. The handle enables a user to utilize thumb and forefinger to squeeze the handle and thereby laterally collapse the lid thereby reducing its lateral dimensions. The central portion of the lid is vertically raised from radially distal portions of the lid to facilitate collapse of the lid when the handle is squeezed. The lateral dimensional reduction enables the lid to more easily fit within the container and furthermore enables its position to be adjusted within the container and thereby enable it to be moved as close to the contents of the container as desired in order to minimize air pockets in the container space directly above the contents. Release of the grip on the handle allows the lid to revert to its original laterally extended position and thereby come into full sealing contact with the interior walls of the container.

Claims

1. An interior lid for a container, comprising: an inner member having end portions, said inner member having a raised portion that is raised relative to said end portions, said raised portion extending in the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the lid; an outer member at said end portions of said inner member; a peripheral member at outer surface of the outer member; a handle at the top surface of the inner member said handle including a pair of gripping members comprising a left gripping member and a right gripping member, said left gripping member and said right gripping member positioned to enable a user to move said pair of gripping members together to collapse said inner member and outer member and said peripheral members horizontally inwardly to reduce horizontal dimension of the lid to facilitate manual insertion of the lid into the container; said pair of gripping members extending vertically upward from said raised portion and extending vertically downward from said raised portion to facilitate collapse of said inner member and outer member via moving said pair of gripping members together.

2. The lid of claim 1 wherein said pair of gripping members is curved outwardly from central area of said inner member and positioned so that they are in opposing orientation to enable squeezing together of said pair of gripping members for horizontally collapsing the lid.

3. The lid of claim 1 wherein said pair of gripping members are semi-cylindrical and have a select degree of curvature and select dimensions to accommodate thumb and forefinger of a user.

4. The lid of claim 1 wherein said left gripping member has left ends and said right gripping member has right ends, said left ends and said right ends extending to said outer member.

5. The lid of claim 1 further including a left main body containing said left gripping member and a right main body containing said right gripping member and wherein said inner member is vertically raised at a central area at maximal extent relative to a plane that includes outer member base ends and center of the lid to facilitate desired folding together of said left main body and said right main body in response to squeezing of said handle to thereby produce desired collapse of the lid.

6. The lid of claim 1 further including a left and right lateral members positioned at said left and right gripping members and at inner surfaces of said outer member and wherein said left gripping member extends vertically upwardly approximately fifteen mm from said left later member and said right gripping member extends vertically upwardly approximately fifteen mm from said right lateral member.

7. The lid of claim 1 wherein said inner member is raised vertically at the apex thereof approximately five mm relative to a plane that includes outer member base ends and center of the lid.

8. The lid of claim 1 wherein said peripheral member is securely attached to said outer member at the outer surface of said outer member and at lower portion of said outer member and extending radially outwardly relative to the center of said inner member and horizontally outwardly from said outer member.

9. The lid of claim 1 wherein said peripheral member is attached to said outer member at medial portion thereof and extending radially outward relative to the center of said inner member and horizontally outward from said outer member and around entirety of said outer member.

10. The lid of claim 1 wherein said peripheral member extends outwardly relative to the center of said outer member so that it is oriented approximately perpendicular to walls of the container when the lid is installed in the container in a desired sealing position.

11. The lid of claim 1 wherein said peripheral member is circular in order to make full sealing contact with walls for the container when installed therein in a desired sealing position.

12. The lid of claim 1 wherein said peripheral member is square in order to accommodate a square in cross-section container to make full sealing contact with walls of the container when installed therein in a desired sealing position.

13. The lid of claim 1 wherein said peripheral member is sufficiently resilient and of a sufficient horizontal radial width to accommodate out of round imperfections in circular shape of corresponding interior walls of the container and thereby provide sealing thereof and wherein said inner member and said outer member are composed of a material having characteristic of memory so that after said handle is released from squeezed position in which said inner and outer and peripheral members are collapsed, said inner, outer and peripheral members revert back to their original orientations in which they provide desired sealing of the container.

14. The lid of claim 6 wherein said left and right lateral members are flat planar and further including a pull tab attached to said outer member at an inner surface thereof, said pull tab extending vertically upward from said outer member and of sufficient dimensional size to enable a user to grasp said pull tab and pull said lid up through the container to facilitate removal of the lid from the container and repositioning of the lid within the container.

15. An interior lid for a container, comprising: an inner member having end portions, said inner member having a raised portion that is raised relative to said end portions, said raised portion extending in the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the lid; an outer member at said end portions of said inner member; a peripheral member at outer surface of the outer member; a handle at the top surface of the inner member said handle including a pair of gripping members comprising a left gripping member and a right gripping member, said left gripping member and said right gripping member positioned to enable a user to move said pair of gripping members together to collapse said inner member and outer member and said peripheral members horizontally inwardly to reduce horizontal dimension of the lid to facilitate manual insertion of the lid into the container; said pair of gripping members extending vertically upward from said raised portion and extending vertically downward from said raised portion and extending downward a considerable distance relative to height of the lid to facilitate collapse of said inner member and outer member via moving said pair of gripping members together; a left main body containing said left gripping member and a right main body, containing said right gripping member; said left gripping member and said right gripping member spaced apart to enable a rotational movement of the left main body and the right main body relative to each other and said left gripping member and said right gripping member are spaced apart a select distance which is sufficiently large to enable an operational rotational movement to be a substantial portion of a total possible range of rotational movement consisting of a change in position from one position in which said left main body and said right main body are in an extended orientation and approximately straight in the same lateral dimension to another position which said left main body and said right main body are folded together so that they are approximately in mutual contact to collapse said inner and outer members and said peripheral members horizontally inwardly to reduce horizontal dimension of the lid to facilitation manual insertion of the lid into the container.

16. The lid of claim 15 wherein said pair of gripping members is curved outwardly from central area of said inner member and positioned so that they are in opposing orientation to enable squeezing together of said pair of gripping members for horizontally collapsing the lid.

17. The lid of claim 15 wherein said pair of gripping members are semi-cylindrical and have a select degree of curvature and select dimensions to accommodate thumb and forefinger of a user.

18. The lid of claim 15 wherein said left gripping member has left ends and said right gripping member has right ends, said left ends and said right ends extending to said outer member.

19. The lid of claim 15 further including a left main body containing a left gripping member and a right main body containing said right gripping member and wherein said inner member is vertically raised at a central area at maximal extent relative to a plane that includes outer member base ends and center of the lid to facilitate desired folding together of said left main body and said right main body in response to squeezing of said handle to thereby produce desired collapse of the lid.

20. The lid of claim 15 further including a left lateral member and a right lateral member positioned at said left gripping member and said right gripping member and at inner surfaces of said outer member and wherein said left gripping member extends vertically upwardly from said left later member and said right gripping member extends vertically upwardly from said right lateral member.

21. The lid of claim 15 wherein said peripheral member is securely attached to said outer member at the outer surface of said outer member and at lower portion of said outer member and extending radially outwardly relative to the center of said inner member and horizontally outwardly from said outer member.

22. The lid of claim 15 wherein said peripheral member is square in order to accommodate a square in cross-section container to make full sealing contact with walls of the container when installed therein in a desired sealing position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an perspective view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the container in phantom and showing the lid positioned in the container in its functional extended configuration in which it provides sealing of the container.

(2) FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the container and its liquid contents in phantom and showing the lid positioned in the container in its functional extended configuration and illustrating the lid proximal to the liquid providing effective storage utility.

(3) FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the lid in its collapsed state and illustrating the configuration of the component structures thereof in the collapsed state and showing the plane of the lid.

(4) FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the lid in its extended state and showing the component structures thereof and showing the plane of the lid.

(5) FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing a front vertical sectional view of the lid taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing a side vertical sectional view of the lid taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

(7) FIG. 7 is a top view of the first embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the component structures thereof.

(8) FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the component structures thereof.

(9) FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the lid of the invention showing a vertical sectional view of the lid taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of the second embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the component structures thereof.

(11) FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the third embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the component structures thereof.

(12) FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the third embodiment of the lid of the invention showing a vertical sectional view of the lid taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

(13) FIG. 13 is a top view of the third embodiment of the lid of the invention Showing the component structures thereof.

(14) FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the fourth embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the component structures thereof.

(15) FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the fourth embodiment of the lid of the invention showing a vertical sectional view of the lid taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

(16) FIG. 16 is a top view of the fourth embodiment of the lid of the invention showing the component structures thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(17) The interior lid of the present invention is designed to be manually inserted into a relatively large mouth container after some of the liquid (or gas, gel, semi-solid, or solid) contents 22 thereof have been removed. The first embodiment 10 of the lid of the present invention is generally and overall circular. The lid 10 includes an inner member 16 which is approximately planar. The lid 10 also includes an outer member 18 which is preferably approximately cylindrical. The outer member 18 is attached to the inner member 16 at longitudinal end portions 20 thereof. The longitudinal end portions 20 are preferably semi-circular in order to enable full contact with the cylindrical outer member 18 for proper attachment thereto. The lid 10 also includes a squeeze handle 24 attached to the inner member 16. The squeeze handle 24 preferably is a pair of gripping members 24 that includes a left gripping member 26 and a right gripping member 28 that are in opposing orientation. The left gripping member 26 is preferably attached to the inner member 16 at its left lateral end portion 30. Similarly, the right gripping member 28 is preferably attached to the inner member 16 at its right lateral end portion 32. The left lateral end portion 30 is semi-circular to approximately conform to the contour of the semi-cylindrical left gripping member 26. Similarly, the right lateral end portion 32 is semi-circular to approximately conform to the contour of the semi-cylindrical right gripping member 28. The inner member 16 includes an apex 34 which is approximately centrally located on the inner member 16. As shown, left and right lateral end portions 30 and 32 are positioned at locations that are outward relative to the apex 34. A peripheral member 36 is attached to the outer member 18 at the outer surface 38 of the outer member 18. The peripheral member 36 is an annular ring structure which preferably includes an edge 40 which extends all the way around the peripheral member 36. When the lid 10 is installed in the container 12, the edge makes approximately full contact with the interior walls 14 of the container 12 to provide sealing between the lid 10 and the walls 14. A left lateral member 42 is located between the outer member 18 and the left gripping member 26 and attached thereto. A right lateral member 44 is located between the outer member 18 and the right gripping member 28 and attached thereto.

(18) As shown in FIG. 4, the left gripping member 26 and the right gripping member 28 extend vertically upward from the inner member 16 and are attached at their left outer gripping member ends 86 and right outer gripping member ends 88 to the outer member 18 The members 26 and 28 are curved away from the inner member 16. The members 26 and 28 are approximately semi-cylindrical. The degree of curvature and the height of the members 26 and 28 provide a good fit for the typical user's thumb and forefinger (or a plurality of forefingers) for comfort and ease of use. The members 26 and 28 are preferably at laterally opposing locations at the end portions 30 and 32 of the inner member 16. With a thumb on the left gripping member 26 and a forefinger on the right gripping member 28 (or vice-versa), the user can bring the members 26 and 28 together in a squeezing motion so that the members 26 and 28 fold together with the left main body 46 and right main body 48 rotating downward about the axis 50. Axis 50 preferably extends longitudinally. This rotation thereby brings the left and right main bodies 46 and 42 into contact or proximal thereby moving the lid into a collapsed configuration. In the collapsed configuration the lateral dimensions of the lid 10 are reduced allowing the lid 10 to laterally clear the interior walls 14. This results in the lid 10 becoming laterally dimensionally smaller facilitating its manual insertion into the container 12. It also generally facilitates its manual movement up and down within the container 12 to facilitate positioning and repositioning of the lid 10 in the container 12. Moreover, in the collapsed configuration the lid 10 may be tilted or rotated in a longitudinal direction to additionally reduce the longitudinal dimensions of the lid 10 relative to the diametrical dimensions of the container 12 rendering the lid 10 diametrically smaller in the longitudinal dimensions further facilitating movement of the lid 10 within the container 12. As a result of this unique collapsed configuration, a user can find it easy to insert the lid 10 into and position the lid 10 within the container 12. The left gripping member 26 and the right gripping member 28 are preferably positioned so that corresponding locations are equidistant from each other and from the axis 50 in order to provide a smoother folding movement. The left main body 46 contains the left gripping member 26, and the right main body 48 contains the right gripping member 28.

(19) Squeezing the handle (or pair of gripping members) 24 may instead tend to rotate the main bodies 46 and 48 in an upward rather than the desired downward direction if the squeezing forces are not properly directed. Therefore, in order to ensure that in response to squeezing of the handle 16 the main bodies 46 and 48 rotate in the desired downward direction the apex 34 of the inner member 16 is positioned in a location in which it is raised relative to left lateral end portion 30 and right lateral end portion 32 as well as to other portions of the lid 10 distal from the apex 34. The inner member 16 slopes downwardly from the apex 34 to distal portions of the lid 10. As a result of this raising or elevation of the inner member 16, the left base portion 46 of the left gripping member 26 and the right base portion 48 of the right gripping member 28 are lower than the apex 34 as well as other portions of the inner member 16 situated between the gripping members 26 and 28. Consequently, the squeezing forces exerted on the inner member 16 are concomitantly lower than the apex 34 thereby tending to induce a rotational movement such that they move the apex 34 upwardly and move the lateral end portions 30 and 32 downwardly. This helps ensure that squeezing the handle 16 will produce the desired downward folding movement of the main bodies 40 and 42. The apex 34 is therefore raised upwardly from the axis 50 approximately five mm when used in a five gallon paint container. Although the apex 34 is not in longitudinal alignment with the axis 50 of rotation, the lid 10 is composed of a flexible material that is sufficiently flexible to enable it to possibly distort i.e., stretch, compress or ripple or the like without undue restriction to such rotation and without breaking or fracturing.

(20) The outer member 18 is preferably cylindrical with its vertical axis 56 extending through the apex 34. The cylindrical shape provides a degree of stiffness and structural strength to the lid 10 and this renders the lid 10 more stable when positioned within and against the walls 14 of the container 12. Consequently, the stability this structure provides renders the lid 10 more likely to remain in its desired sealing position when in use. The outer member 18 is sufficiently thick and tall to enhance its stiffness and structural strength. When used in a container 12 that is a standard five gallon paint container, the outer member 18 is preferably ten mm tall and one mm thick.

(21) The axis 56 is preferably perpendicular to a plane 58 which includes the longitudinal axis 50. The intersection of the longitudinal axis 50 and the vertical axis 56 defines the center 60 of the lid 10. Since the plane 58 is not a physical structure it is shown in phantom in FIG. 6. In addition, the left medial portion 80 of the gripping member 26 and the right medial portion 82 of the gripping member 28 are raised approximately two mm from the plane 58.

(22) The apex 34 of the inner member 16 is preferably raised approximately five mm from the plane 58. Thus, as FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the inner member 16 is in the shape of a cone with the point of the cone at the apex 34.

(23) The left base end 62 of the left gripping member 26 and the right base end 56 of the right gripping member 28 lie in the plane 58. The bottom surface 37 of the peripheral member 36 preferably is in the plane 58. Alternatively, peripheral member 36 may be at a medial location on the outer member 18 or in the plane 58 and thus in alignment with the axis 50. The peripheral member 36 is preferably proximal the base ends 78 of the outer member 18.

(24) The lid 10 also includes a left lateral member 42 and a right lateral member 44. The left lateral member 42 is preferably attached at its inner left lateral member end 66 to the left gripping member 26. The left lateral member 42 is preferably attached at its outer left lateral member end 68 to the outer member 18. The right lateral member 44 is preferably attached at its inner right lateral member end 70 to the right gripping member 28. The right lateral member 44 is preferably attached at its outer right lateral member end 72 to the outer member 18. Left and right lateral members 42 and 44 are outward of the gripping members 26 and 28 where the gripping members 26 and 28 are used to exert the desired rotational folding forces. Therefore, these lateral members 42 and 44 are not needed to effectuate the desired folding movement. Consequently, these lateral members 42 and 44 are positioned lower than most other portions of the lid 10 to bring them closer to the container contents 22 and thereby minimize air pockets. Lateral members 42 and 44 thus are in the plane of the longitudinal axis 50, the left and right base ends 62 and 64 and the outer member base ends 78. Lateral members 42 and 44, left and right base ends 62 and 64 and outer member base ends 78 are co-planar. Left main body 46 contains left lateral member 42, and right main body 48 contains right lateral member 44.

(25) The peripheral member 36 is preferably planar and circular. Peripheral member 36 extends outwardly and radially from the apex (or central area of the inner member) 22. More specifically, peripheral member 36 preferably extends outwardly and radially from the center 60 of the lid 10 as well as the axis 50. This orientation of the peripheral member 36 relative to the center 60 and axis 50 positions the peripheral member 36 approximately perpendicular to the walls 14 of the container 12 thereby providing a more stable engagement of the peripheral member with the walls 14. The peripheral member 36 includes the edge 40 which is located at the perimeter of the peripheral member 36 for direct contact with the walls 14. Edge 40 is preferably composed of silicone or rubber to enhance sealing between the lid 10 and the interior of the container 12. The resilience eliminates or reduces gaps between the edge 40 and the walls 14. In addition, the silicone or rubber composition enables the lid 10 to conform to containers having imperfect diametrical size or other than perfectly circular shape. The peripheral member 36 is preferably sufficiently wide i.e., extending outwardly from the center, that it can bend or deflect in response to the force of pushing downward on the lid 10. When bending, the peripheral member 36 has sufficient structural integrity to be able to maintain its desired seal with the container walls 14. The characteristic of being able to so bend provides a degree of reduction of dimensional diametric size of the lid 10 so that it can conform to smaller sized containers as well as imperfections in diametrical size and circular shape than otherwise. Thus, this feature allows the lid 10 to be installed and used in containers of a desired range of diametrical sizes and circular shapes.

(26) A lift tab 74 is provided to facilitate removal of the lid 10 from the container 12. When the container has been in storage a long time it may become difficult to move up and down within the container. The lift tab 74 is attached to the outer member 18 preferably at an inner surface 76 thereof is sufficiently wide and sufficiently tall to enable a user to easily find, grip and pull it thereby sliding the lid 10 from the container 12.

(27) The lid 10 is preferably sufficiently resilient and flexible to enable easing folding thereof and therefore is preferably composed of silicone, rubber, plastic or polymer. Alternatively, other types of materials having suitable characteristics of flexibility and resiliency may also be used. In addition, the material preferably has memory so that upon release of the squeeze on the squeeze handle 24, the lid 10 will spring back into its original uncollapsed shape and dimensions.

(28) The lid 10 preferably also integral and unitary to provide structural strength and ease of manufacture. Alternatively, however, the components described above as attached may be fused or otherwise bonded by various suitable means.

(29) The second embodiment 110 of the invention also provides an interior lid 110 for insertion in a suitable container 112 filled to a certain extent with contents 122. Embodiment 110 includes a left main body 146 and a right main body 148 as well as a left gripping member 126 and a right gripping member 128. Like the first embodiment, left main body 146 and right main body 148 rotate when desired in response to use of the squeeze handle 124 about the axis 150. The handle 116 has upwardly extending structures forming left gripping members 126 and 128.

(30) Embodiment 110 includes an inner left lateral member end 166 and an outer left lateral member end 168 of left lateral member 142 as well as an inner right lateral member end 170 and an outer right lateral member end 172 of right lateral member 144. Additionally included are left lateral end portion 130, left medial portion 180 and right lateral end portion 132 and right medial portion 182. Also included are outer member base ends 178 and an outer surface 138 of outer member 114. Imaginary plane 158 contains lateral members 130 and 132 and the center 160 of the lid 110.

(31) The second embodiment 110 also includes a lift tab 174 (attached to inner surface 176), an inner member 112, as well as apex (or central area) 122, and an outer member 114 (and axis 156) which are similar to similarly numbered members 12 and 14 of embodiment 10. Additionally, included is a peripheral member 136 having an edge 140 for engaging walls 114. The peripheral member 136 is attached to the inner member 112 as well as to the gripping members 118 and 120 having left base end 162 and right base end 164. However, unlike similarly numbered component structures of lid 10, the outer member 114 is not circular but is instead square and peripheral member 136 is not circular but is instead square. These component structures are square in order to conform to and generally accommodate square (in section) containers such as are purveyed for foods. In all other respects, embodiment 110 is the same as correspondingly numbered structures of embodiment 10 so their description and function will not be repeated in order to promote brevity.

(32) As with the first and second embodiments, the third embodiment 210 of the invention also provides an interior lid 210 for insertion in a suitable container filled to a certain extent. Embodiment 210 includes a left main body 246 and a right main body 248 as well as a left gripping member 226 and a right gripping member 228. Like the first and second embodiments, left main body 246 and right main body 248 rotate when desired in response to use of the squeeze handle 224 about the axis 250. The handle 216 has upwardly extending structures forming left gripping members 226 and 228.

(33) Embodiment 210 includes an inner left lateral member end 266 and an outer left lateral member end 268 of left lateral member 242 as well as an inner right lateral member end 270 and an outer right lateral member end 272 of right lateral member 244. Additionally included are left lateral end portion 230 and a left medial portion 280 and right lateral end portion 232 and right medial portion 282. Also included are outer member base ends 278 and an outer surface 238 of outer member 214. Plane 258 contains lateral members 230 and 232 and the center 260 of the lid 210.

(34) The third embodiment 210 also includes a lift tab 274 (attached to inner surface 276), an inner member 216, as well as apex (or central area) 234 and an outer member 218 (and axis 256) which are similar to similarly numbered members 12 and 14 and structures of embodiment 10. Additionally, a peripheral member 236 having an edge 240 for engaging walls 214 is included. Peripheral member 236 is attached to the inner member 212 as well as to the gripping members 226 and 228 having left base end 262 and right base end 264. However, unlike similarly numbered component structures of lid 10, the inner member 216 is not conical and does not have a cone top, tip or point like the apex 34 of embodiment 10 but is instead curved. The curvature is downward and outward from the apex 234. The inner member 216 is thus convex or dome-shaped. In all other respects, embodiment 210 is the same as correspondingly numbered structures of embodiment 10 so their description and function will not be repeated in order to promote brevity,

(35) As with the first embodiment 10, second embodiment 110 and third embodiment 210, the fourth embodiment 310 of the invention also provides an interior lid 310 for insertion in a suitable container to preserve its contents. Embodiment 310 includes a left main body 346 and a right main body 348 as well as a left gripping member 326 and a right gripping member 328. Like the first and second embodiments, left main body 346 and right main body 348 rotate when desired in response to use of the squeeze handle 324 about the axis 350. The handle 324 has upwardly extending structures forming left and right gripping members 326 and 328.

(36) Embodiment 310 includes an inner left lateral member end 366 and an outer left lateral member end 368 of left lateral member 342 as well as an inner right lateral member end 370 and an outer right lateral member end 372 of right lateral member 344. Additionally included are left lateral end portion 330 and left medial portion 380 and right lateral end portion 332 and right medial portion 382. Also included are outer member base ends 378 and an outer surface 338 of outer member 318. Plane (imaginary) 358 contains lateral members 342 and 344 and the center 360 of the lid 310.

(37) The fourth embodiment 310 also includes a lift tab 374 (attached to inner surface 376), an inner member 316, as well as apex (or central area) 334 and an outer member 318 (and axis 356) which are similar to similarly numbered members 16 and 18 of embodiment 10. Additionally, a peripheral member 336 having an edge 340 is included. Peripheral member 336 is attached to the inner member 316 as well as to the gripping members 326 and 328 having left base end 362 and right base end 364. However, unlike similarly numbered component structures of lid 10, the inner member 316 is not conical and does not have a cone top or point at the apex 334 but is instead approximately longitudinally straight. The left and right lateral end portions 330 and 332 drop downwardly toward longitudinal axis 350. The inner member 316 thus folds along the straight portion 384 via rotation about the axis 350 in response to use of the squeeze handle 324. This design facilitates folding of the lid 310. The straight portion 384 extends straight in a direction parallel to the axis 350. The portion 384 is raised outward from the longitudinal axis 350 and also generally from the center 360. In addition, the lateral members 342 and 344 are not entirely flat and in the plane 358, as in other embodiments. Instead, inner left lateral member portion 390 is curved downward and inner right lateral member portion 392 is curved downward. The inner left lateral member end 366 and inner right lateral member end 370 are not in the plane 358 but are rather below the plane 358. The left medial portion 380 and thus the left base end 362 (at that portion) are preferably approximately two mm below the plane 358. Similarly, the right medial portion 382 and right base end 364 (at that portion) are preferably approximately two mm below the plane 358. In all other respects, embodiment 310 is the same as correspondingly numbered structures of embodiment 10 so their description and function will not be repeated in order to promote brevity.

(38) Accordingly, there has been provided a lid which in response to squeezing of a handle thereof can be sufficiently collapsed to be inserted into a smaller mouth of a container. The collapsed configuration also enables the lid to be moved within the container to place it in a desired position deemed best for sealing of the container and preservation of its contents. The lid may also be removed and reinstalled in that container or in another suitable container for repeated use. Although the invention has been described with regard to the specific embodiments set forth herein, many alternative embodiments, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure set forth herein. Accordingly, it is intended to include all such alternative embodiments, modifications and variations that fall within the sprit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims hereinbelow.