STORAGE CONTAINER WITH LID AND SEAL ELEMENT FOR USE WITH THE LID

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage container comprising a container body, a lid placed on the container body, and at least one latch shiftable between a latched position locking the lid in the closed configuration, and an unlatched position permitting to release the lid to the open configuration. The latch is configured to include an actuator portion by which the latch is pivotal between the latched and unlatched positions, and a latch portion having a fulcrum operably carried on the top rim of the container body during the pivotal movement of the latch, and the latch portion pivots upward and downward about the fulcrum to lift and lower the lid so that the lid is movable between the closed and open configurations. The mechanism for opening and closing the storage container by implementing the latch is simple and effortless to operate.

Claims

1. A storage container comprises: a container body having a bottom, a side wall extending upward from the bottom, an internal volume surrounded by the side wall, and an open top having a top rim, a lid placed on the open top of the container body and comprising a plate-shaped portion, wherein the lid is movable relative to the open top of the container body between a closed configuration in which the lid covers the open top to close the container body, and an open configuration in which at least a part of the lid moves away from the open top to provide access into the interior volume through the open top, at least one latch shiftable between a latched position locking the lid in the closed configuration, and an unlatched position permitting to release the lid to the open configuration, characterized in that, the latch comprises an actuator portion by which the latch is pivotal between the latched and unlatched positions, and a latch portion having a fulcrum operably carried on the top rim of the container body during the pivotal movement of the latch, and the latch portion pivots upward and downward about the fulcrum to lift and lower the lid so that the lid is movable between the closed and open configurations.

2. The storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch is pivotally mounted on a pivotal side of the lid, and the latch portion is configured to comprise an upper latch tongue, a lower latch tongue, and a side latch tongue connecting the upper and lower latch tongues to define a channel that is sized and configured to releasably receive and retain a flange extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the sidewall of the container body.

3. The storage container according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuator portion is configured as a manipulation tab which protrudes downward from the lower latch tongue at an end thereof away from the side latch tongue.

4. The storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that the lid comprises a cutout portion configured to receive the upper latch tongue when the latch is in the latched position.

5. The storage container according to claim 4, characterized in that one or more engagement blocks are provided on the lower latch tongue to detachably engage to a catch protruding generally downward from an underside of the flange to secure the latch in the latched position.

6. The storage container according to claim 5, characterized in that the upper latch tongue has a leading portion serving as the fulcrum about which the latch portion pivots upward and downward.

7. The storage container according to claim 6, wherein the upper latch tongue is actuated by the actuator portion to pivot about the leading portion to be substantially parallel with and rests on the top rim of the container body when the latch is in the latched position, and to tilt with the leading portion resting on the top rim of the container body when the latch is in the unlatched position.

8. The storage container according to claim 7, characterized in that the leading portion has a step configured to oppose and is brought into abutment on a chamfer brim of the plate-shaped portion of the lid.

9. The storage container according to claim 8, characterized in that a pivotal pin forms outwardly at each of two opposite ends of the channel of the latch; and two lugs in a spaced-apart fashion are formed on the pivotal side of the lid, each of the lug having a lug slot in which the pivotal pin is pivotally received to allow for the pivotal movement of the latch relative to the lid.

10. The storage container according to claim 9, characterized in that a bulge is arranged on the pivotal pin to limit lateral displacement of the latch between the two pivotal pins.

11. The storage container according to claim 10, characterized by comprising a pair of latches pivotally attached to two opposite sides of the lid.

12. The storage container according to claim 11, characterized in that the storage container further comprises a seal element arranged in an annular groove of the lid, and wherein pivoting the latch downward to the latched position causes to bias the seal element against an inner wall of the container body, thereby creating a seal between the container body and the lid, and the seal element is released when the latch is pivoted upward to the unlatched position.

13. The storage container according to claim 12, characterized in that the seal element is provided as a O-ring seal having at least one vent in communication with the internal volume of the container body and positioned to create a venting path together the latch and the top rim of the container body before the lid moves to the closed configuration, and the vent is closed or left closed when the lid is in the closed configuration.

14. The storage container according to claim 13, characterized in that the vent is configured to comprise an umbrella-shaped base extending through a thickness of the O-ring seal and a stem extending from the base, wherein the vent is caused to bias toward the lid until a top portion of the stem is pressed against and completely enclosed by the lid when the lid is in the closed configuration, so that the internal volume of the container body is hermetically closed.

15. A seal element, characterized by having at least one vent in communication with an internal volume of a container for venting, and that the vent is configured to comprise an umbrella-shaped base extending through a thickness of the seal element, and a stem extending from the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container constructed consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the container is in a hermetically closed state.

[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the storage container shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the storage container taken along line A-A in FIG. 1

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottom of the lid shown in FIG. 1 with an enlarged view of Section B.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the lid.

[0027] FIGS. 6A and 6B are respectively perspective views of a latch constructed consistent with an embodiment of the invention in different angles of perspective.

[0028] FIGS. 7A and 7B are respectively perspective top and bottom views of an exemplary O-ring seal useful in the storage container of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a cross section in perspective view of the O-ring seal taken along line B-B in FIG. 7A.

[0030] FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C are schematic views of the storage container in cross-section, illustrating the movement of the storage container from a fully closed state to a fully open state.

[0031] In the various figures of the drawings, like reference numbers are used to designate like parts for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] While this invention is illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, the storage container and the seal element of the invention may be produced in many different configurations, sizes, forms and materials.

[0033] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 9C illustrate a storage container 1 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the storage container 1 comprises a container body 12 and a lid 14 placed over the container body 12 to close or open the container body 12. The container body 12 and the lid 14 substantially have a shape similar to a cubic shape or a rectangular cylindrical shape as shown. Other shapes and structures, such as shapes of sphere or circle, are possible for the container body 12 and the lid 14 of the present invention and would fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to a particular container body and a particular peripheral shape or a particular overall contour of the lid.

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 3 show the structural details of the container body 12. The container body 12 has a bottom 121, a continuous side wall 122 extending upward from the bottom, an internal volume surrounded by the side wall 122, an open top having a top rim 123, and a flange 124 extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the sidewall 122 adjacent to the open top. In this embodiment, the side wall 122 and the bottom 121 are substantially rectangular. The lid 14 is movable relative to the open top of the container body 12 between a closed configuration in which the lid 14 is coupled with the container body 12 in a detachable manner and covers the open top to close the container body 12, and an open configuration in which at least a part of the lid 14 lifts away from the open top to provide access into the interior volume through the open top.

[0035] Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated the lid 14 adapted for placement over the container 12. The lid 14 has two opposite pivotal sides 141, 142. The lid 14 further comprises a plate-shaped portion 143, an upper lip 144 extending downward from an underside of the plate-shaped portion 143 along the periphery of the plate-shaped portion 143, and a lower lip 145 extending in substantially parallel with the upper lip 144. The lid 14 further comprises two positioning elements 146 extending laterally from the lower lip 145 on opposite sides of the plate-shaped portion 143 that are perpendicular to the pivotal sides 141, 142. As illustrated, the two positioning elements 146 extend from the middle point of the lower lip 145 and facilitate to position the lid in place when it is required to couple the lid to the container body 12. A notch 1451 is formed at each corner of the lower lip 145 and opens out in the lower lip 145.

[0036] There is a facing outwardly groove between the upper lip 144 and the lower lip 145 to define an annular groove 147 for receiving a seal element 16. When the lid 14 is in the closed configuration, the seal element 16 received in the annular groove 147 is biased against an inner wall of the container body 12 to create a seal between the lid 14 and the container body 12. The seal element 16 located between the lid 14 and the container body 12 helps to preserve items such as food stored in the container body 12. When the lid 14 is in the open configuration, the seal element 16 in the annular groove 147 is released to resume to its original loose and uncompressed state where the lid 14 is easily removed from the container body 12 to access the items stored in the container.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 4, the lid 14 further comprises a cutout portion 148 on each of the pivotal sides 141, 142. Two lugs 149 in spaced-apart fashion are formed on two opposite sides of the cutout portion 148. Each of the lugs 149 comprises a slot therein. The slot comprising a first slot portion 1491 and a second slot portion 1492.

[0038] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrates a latch 18 which is pivotally mounted on the pivotal side 141, 412 of the lid 14, and shiftable between a latched position locking the lid 14 in the closed configuration, and an unlatched position permitting to release the lid to the open configuration. The latch 18 may be separate from the lid 14 or form a unitary structure with the lid 14. The latch 18 comprises a latch portion configured to comprise an upper latch tongue 181, a lower latch tongue 182, and a side latch tongue 183 connecting the upper and lower latch tongues 181, 182 to define a channel 184 that is sized and configured to releasably receive and retain the flange 124 of the container body 12. The latch 18 further comprises an actuator portion by which the latch 18 is actuated to pivot between the latched position and the unlatched position. The actuator portion in this embodiment is configured as a manipulation tab 185 which protrudes downward from an end of the lower latch tongue 18, which ends is away from the side latch tongue 183.

[0039] At two opposite ends of the channel 184 are formed two pivotal pins 186 extending outwardly. The two pivotal pins 186 are pivotally received in the respective first slot portion 1491 of the lugs 149 of the lid 14, allowing to pivot the manipulation tab 185 upward and inwardly. The pivotal movement of the manipulation tab 185 would actuate the latch 18 to pivot relative to the lid 14 through the pivotal pins 186. A bulge 187 protrudes from the pivotal pin 186 on the same side of the opening of the channel 184 to limit lateral displacement of the latch 18 between the two pivotal pins 186 and thus limit the lateral displacement of the lid 14 in the course of coupling the lid 14 to the container body 12.

[0040] The upper latch tongue 181 is sized and shaped to correspond to the cutout portion 148 of the lid 14 so that the upper latch tongue 181 is complementary to the lid 14 in a manner that the upper latch tongue 181 and the lid 14 together form a rectangular lid in integrity, and the upper latch tongue 181 is flush with the lid 14 when the latch 18 is in the latched position. The upper latch tongue 181 has a leading portion 1811 which comes into contact with the top rim 123 of the container body during the operation of opening the lid 14. The leading portion 1811 serves as a fulcrum about which the latch portion pivots upward and downward to respectively lift and lower the lid 14 so that the lid 14 is driven to lift or lower between the closed and open configurations. As best seem in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the upper latch tongue 181 is actuated by the manipulation tab 185 to pivot about the fulcrum of the leading portion 1811 to be substantially parallel with and rests on the top rim 123 of the container body 12 when the latch 18 is in the latched position, and to tilt with the leading portion 1811 being at an acute angle relative to the top rim 123 while still maintaining to act on the top rim 123 when the latch 18 is pivoted to the unlatched position. This will be discussed herein below. The upper latch tongue 181 further has a step 1812 configured to oppose and is brought into abutment on a chamfer brim 1431 of the plate-shaped portion 143 of the lid 14. The abutment of the upper latch tongue 181 against the lid 14 would be able to prevent over-pivoting of the latch 18 and also to limit the latch 18 to snugly mate with the lid 14 during the process of pivoting the latch 18 to the latched position locking the lid 14 in the closed configuration.

[0041] There are two spaced-apart engagement blocks 188 provided on the lower latch tongue 182 in the channel 184. The engagement blocks 188 are detachably engageable with a catch 125 protruding generally downward from an underside of the flange 124 to secure the latch in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0042] The seal element 16 received in the annular groove 147 of the lid is shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8 in greater details, which is provided as a O-ring seal in this embodiment. As illustrated, the O-ring seal has two vents 161 in communication with the internal volume of the container body 12 and protruding from the two sides of the O-ring seal in correspondence to the two pivotal sides 141, 142 of the lid 14 where the latches 18 are located. The vents 161 are positioned so as to create a venting path together the latch 18, the top rim 123 of the container body 12 and the lid 14 before the lid 14 moves to the closed configuration (see FIGS. 9B and 9C), and the vents 161 are closed or left closed when the lid is in the closed configuration (see FIG. 9A). In this embodiment, the vent 161 is configured to comprise an umbrella-shaped base 162 extending through a thickness of the O-ring seal, and a stem 163 extending upward from the base 162. Pivoting the latch 18 downward to the latched position causes to bias the O-ring seal and thus bias the vents 161 toward the lid 14 until a top portion of the stem 163 is pressed against and completely enclosed by the lid 14 when the lid 14 is in the closed configuration, thereby forming an air-tight and water-tight seal for the internal volume of the container body 12 (FIG. 9A); and pivoting the latch 18 upward would cause to release the O-ring seal to its unsealed state and thus allow the vents 161 to stay away from the lid 14. The venting path is resumed for venting (FIGS. 9B and 9C).

[0043] The O-ring seal further has four protrusion 164 arranged on a bottom side of the O-ring seal at four corners of the O-ring seal. The protrusions 164 are shaped and positioned to be engageable with the notches 1451 formed in the lower lip 145 of the lid to better secure the O-ring seal in the lid 14.

[0044] FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic views of the storage container 100 illustrating the movement of the storage container 100 from a fully closed state to a fully open state. As illustrated, when the upper latch tongue 181 of the latch 18 relative to the top rim 123 of the container body 12 is set at a 0-degree angle (i.e. in parallel) (FIG. 9A), the lid 14 seals the container body 12 due to the O-ring seal is compressed to become biased against an inner wall of the container body 12 in the vicinity of the open top, as shown in FIG. 9A. In this position, the stem 163 of the vent 161 is intimately in abutment against the upper lip 144 and deforms so that the top portion of the stem 163 is completely enclosed by the upper lip 144 of the lid 14 to create a hermetically sealed chamber for the internal volume of the container body 12. In the meanwhile the step 1812 of the upper latch tongue 181 is engaged with the chamfer brim 1431 of the lid 14 in a manner that the upper latch tongue 181 is flush with the lid 14.

[0045] When the manipulation tab 185 is pivoted outward and upward, for example manually, about the pivotal pins 186 mounted on the lid 14 relative to the container body 12, the lower latch tongue 182 is caused to pivot outward and upward, which in turn forces the engagement blocks 188 formed thereon to disengage from the catch 125 of the container body 12, such that the flange 124 starts to detach from the channel 184. The upper latch tongue 181 is also caused to pivot upward about the fulcrum of the leading portion 1811 to form a small angle of tilt with respect to the top rim 123 of the container body 12 (FIG. 3B). The leading portion 1811 is always carried on the top rim 123 of the container body 12 and thus applies a pressure onto the top rim 123 during the whole process of the upper latch tongue 181 pivoting upward. In the meanwhile the lid 14 starts to lift, and the chamfer brim 1431 of the lid 14 lifts away from the step 1812 of the upper latch tongue 181, with a result that the lid 14 disengages from the upper latch tongue 181 (FIG. 9B). With the lifting movement of the lid 14, the O-ring seal gradually becomes relaxed, and the vent 161 arranged on the O-ring seal is not subject to the action from the lid 14 and thus re-opened for communicating with the outside of the container 1 through a venting path defined by the latch 18, the top rim 123 of the container body 12 and the lid 14. Therefore, the air or steam in the internal volume of the container body 12 is allowed to vent through this venting path.

[0046] When the manipulation tab 185 continues to pivot outward and upward relative to the container body 12, the flange 124 is completely released from the channel 184 and the lid 14 is driven to continue to lift further away from the container body 12 to form a relatively large angle of tilt with respect to the top rim 123 of the container body 12 under the action of the leading portion 1811 of the upper latch tongue 181 on the top rim 123, releasing the O-ring seal to its un-compressed state (FIG. 9C). In the un-compressed state, the O-ring seal stays away at a small clearance from the inner wall of the container body 12, with the venting path maintaining active to balance the pressure inside and outside the container, therefore allowing the lid 14 to be removed from the container 1 with little effort. With such a structural design of the latch 18, opening the storage container 1 becomes easier without the need of applying a force against the compressed O-ring seal, therefore only a small amount of force is required by a user.

[0047] To close and seal the container body 12 by the lid 14, it is simply to place the lid 14 over the open top of the container body 12, then pivot the manipulation tab 185 downward until the flange 124 of the container body 12 is inserted into the channel 184 of the latch 18, and the engagement blocks 188 of the lower latch tongue 182 engages with the catch 125 of the flange 124. In this position, the upper latch tongue 181 lies to rest on the top rim 123 of the container body 12, and the step 1812 of the upper latch tongue 181 is brought into abutment on the chamfer brim 1431 of the lid 14 in a flush manner. Because the chamfer brim 1431 forces to abut against the step 1812, the upper latch tongue 181 would pivot to snugly rest on the top rim 123 of the container body 12 and is prevented from further pivoting upward from its resting position during the operation of closing the container body 12.

[0048] Because the design of the chamfer brim 1431 of the lid 14 operably in cooperation with the step 1812 of the upper latch tongue 181 and further in view of the pivotal mounting of the latch 18 onto the lid 14, the storage container 1 allows for locking the lid 14 onto the container body 12 by simply pressing downward the lid 14. As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, pressing the lid 14 downward would cause the latch 18 to pivot downward with the manipulation tab 185 moving close to the container body, and the interaction between the chamfer brim 1431 and the step 1812 of the upper latch tongue 181 would result in bring the lid 14 to be flush with the upper latch tongue 181, which in turns leads the insertion of the flange 124 into the channel 184. Therefore, the lid 14 is latched in place by the latch 18.

[0049] The illustrated embodiment shows the lid 14 and the container body 12 having a particular size and shape. However, it should be appreciated that the lid 14 and the container body 12 may have any suitable sizes and/or shapes to accommodate different storage items.

[0050] Thus, the present invention provides a container comprising a container body and a sealable lid with at least a latch discussed above. The lid can be lifted or lowered to release or press the seal element against the container body by the latch acting on the top rim of the container body, which allows the user to open and hermetically close the container with ease, rendering the operation simple and effortless.

[0051] Although the present invention is described in terms of what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and the present invention is intended to comprise various modifications and equivalent structures included within the spirit and protection scope of the claims. The present invention may be modified and changed without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and the application is limited only by the scope of protection of the claims.