Receptacles – Closures – Removable closure situated by resilient distortion and...
Utility Patent
1998-06-25
2001-01-02
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Removable closure situated by resilient distortion and...
C220S790000, C220S791000, C220S793000
Utility Patent
active
06168044
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a container useful for storing and transporting items such as food and, more particularly, to a container including a bowl and a snap fit selectively detachable lid.
2. Description of the State of the Art
Containers, particularly those used for reheating foodstuffs in a microwave oven generally should be relatively low in cost and easy to utilize. Additionally, such containers should be versatile to use, that is, capable of withstanding drastically different environments such as occurs when transferring the container directly from the refrigerator or freezer to a microwave oven, for example.
With regard to these microwavable containers, while a primary focus in the art has been on providing a good seal between the lid and the bowl, relatively little attention has been paid to the physical integrity of the mechanical attachment between the lid and the bowl. Further, known commercially available microwavable containers fail to provide an audible sound which is indicative that the lid and the bowl are in sealing engagement upon attachment.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a container including a bowl and a selectively detachable lid including a sealing arrangement which allows for relatively easy attachment and detachment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low cost, high production volume container made from a resilient material.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a container which provides an audible sound upon attachment of the lid to the bowl which is indicative that a good seal has been made.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lid which resists inadvertent detachment from the corresponding bowl.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a resilient container which is useful in various environments such as refrigerator freezers and microwave ovens.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a microwavable container is provided that includes a bowl and a selectively detachable lid, each having outwardly extending lips. The bowl and lid lip have at least one, and preferably, a series of protrusions and flanges thereon which slidingly engage each other during attachment and detachment of the lid from the bowl in such a manner that an audible clicking sound is made to verify that the container is sealed. The cooperation of the protrusions with the flanges, in the sealed position, resists inadvertent detachment of the lid from the bowl. In one embodiment, the bowl lip includes at least one substantially annular outwardly extending flange and the lid lip has at least one inwardly extending protrusion. In an alternative embodiment, the bowl lip includes at least one outwardly extending protrusion while the lid lip includes at least one inwardly extending flange.
The container of the present invention can be economically thermo-formed from any one of a number of known thermoplastic resins including but not limited to polyamides, polyacrylics, polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyetherimides, polyetherketones, polyolefins, polyphenylenes, polyvinylchlorides, and various styrene and liquid crystal polymers, among others.
The various features, objects and advantages of the present invention should become still more apparent from a review of the following description of the drawings and invention in detail.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3065875 (1962-11-01), Negoro
patent: 3401825 (1968-09-01), Weiss
patent: 3458079 (1969-07-01), Gasbarra
patent: 3516572 (1970-06-01), Davis
patent: 3583596 (1971-06-01), Brewer
patent: 4026459 (1977-05-01), Blanchard
patent: 4194645 (1980-03-01), Zabner et al.
patent: 4256240 (1981-03-01), Woinarski
patent: 4293080 (1981-10-01), Letica
patent: 4335827 (1982-06-01), Knize et al.
patent: 4351447 (1982-09-01), Graff
patent: 4457447 (1984-07-01), Kirkis
patent: 4474305 (1984-10-01), Marco
patent: 4494674 (1985-01-01), Roof
patent: 4555043 (1985-11-01), Bernhardt
patent: 4555056 (1985-11-01), Bernhardt
patent: 4702389 (1987-10-01), Bozinovich et al.
patent: 4721210 (1988-01-01), Lawrence et al.
patent: 4741452 (1988-05-01), Holzkopf
patent: 4742934 (1988-05-01), Michaud et al.
patent: 4804092 (1989-02-01), Jones
patent: 4819834 (1989-04-01), Longbottom et al.
patent: 4836407 (1989-06-01), Bruce et al.
patent: 4886184 (1989-12-01), Chamourian
patent: 4976370 (1990-12-01), Cassel
patent: 5092479 (1992-03-01), Wells
patent: 5108768 (1992-04-01), So
patent: 5129517 (1992-07-01), Hustad
patent: 5269430 (1993-12-01), Sclaupitz et al.
patent: 5375719 (1994-12-01), Mittmann et al.
patent: 5377860 (1995-01-01), Littlejohn et al.
patent: 5507407 (1996-04-01), Feer et al.
patent: 5553701 (1996-09-01), Jarecki et al.
patent: 5577613 (1996-11-01), Laidlaw
patent: 5607709 (1997-03-01), Fritz et al.
patent: 5702025 (1997-12-01), Di Gregorio
patent: 5772070 (1998-06-01), Hayes et al.
patent: 5915581 (1999-06-01), Pfirrmann, Jr. et al.
patent: 19 55 162 (1971-05-01), None
patent: 2 136 775 (1984-09-01), None
patent: 2 257 118 (1993-01-01), None
patent: WO 96 15042 (1996-05-01), None
Hodge Donald E.
Schaper Eric B.
Wilson Daniel C.
Zettle Jeffey J.
Cronin Stephen K.
S. C. Johnson Home Storage Inc.
LandOfFree
Container having a snap fit selectively detachable lid does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Container having a snap fit selectively detachable lid, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Container having a snap fit selectively detachable lid will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2484804