Patent Application
20080041869
Referring now more specifically to the drawings,
As noted, in the illustrated preferred embodiment, the closure lid 10 is circular and engageable within a corresponding cylindrical container 12. Further, and as seen in
The lower panel 18 includes a central portion 22 which is slightly upwardly convex with a peripherally continuous rib 24 about the outer extremity thereof. The lower panel 18, beyond the rib 24 extends, as a portion of the outer side of the rib 24, downwardly and slightly outwardly below the general level of the central area 22 and then turns laterally outward to define a base 28 which seats on the container shoulder 14. A peripheral vertically extending sealing flange 30, integrally formed with the outer edge of the peripheral base 28, extends to a height slightly less than the upper extremity of the rib 24 and terminates in a laterally inwardly directed lip or bead 32.
The lower panel sealing flange 30 has a greater degree of flexible resiliency for a lateral outward flexing thereof into engagement with a container wall upon the application of pressure thereto in a manner to be explained subsequently. This flange also incorporates a substantial degree of elastic memory so as to return to an original position upon release of pressure. As illustrated, this increased flexibility can be achieved by a molding of the flange of a lesser thickness than the remainder of the relatively stiffer lower panel.
The lower panel 18 further includes a pair of laterally spaced upstanding positioning posts 34 centrally of the panel. Each post 34 includes an upper outwardly projecting retaining lug 36 and, downwardly spaced therefrom, an outwardly projecting locking lug 38. The upper lug 36 defines a lower retaining ledge 40. A similar downwardly directed retaining ledge 42 is provided by the lower lug 38. The lower lug 38 also includes an upper sloping camming surface 44.
The posts 34 have a degree of flexibility and an elastic memory which allows the posts to be laterally flexed toward each other for an inward retraction of the lugs and, upon release of pressure on the posts, an automatic returning of the posts and lugs outwardly to their original position. This resilient flexibility can be enhanced by a narrowing of the posts, as at 46, between the panel body itself and the upwardly positioned lower locking lug 38. As noted in
Turning now to the upper panel 20, this panel is upwardly domed or convex to a relatively greater degree than the central area of the lower panel 18 and includes an outer peripheral seal-biasing edge 50. A central opening 52 is provided through the top panel 20 and is of a size to receive the positioning posts 34 of the lower panel upwardly therethrough upon a slight inward flexing of the posts toward each other. Opposed edge portions 54 of the opening 52 are adapted to align with the positioning posts 34 and selectively engage below the positioning and retaining lugs 36 and 38 thereon. These opening edge portions 54 define locking edges and are rigidified by an underlying reinforcing rib 56 integrally depending from the undersurface of the top panel 20 about and slightly outward of the opening 52 defined therein and the locking edges 54 defined by the opening.
A handling knob 58, integral with the top panel 20, surrounds and extends upward from the top panel opening 52. The peripheral wall 60 of the knob 58 is discontinuous at the locking edges 54 to outwardly expose the positioning posts therethrough. The top 62 of the knob will also be slightly recessed, as at 64, in alignment with the wall openings for ensuring free manual access to the positioning posts. It will also be noted that the knob 58 of the upper panel 20 has a pair of downwardly opening chambers 66 therein formed inwardly of the wall 60 openings. Each chamber includes opposed side walls 68 and an inner wall 70. These chambers 66 receive the positioning posts, stabilize the posts relative to the upper panel 20 and assure proper alignment thereof with the locking edges 54.
Noting
When a sealed relationship is desired, the top panel 20, preferably through direct pressure on the upwardly projecting knob 58, is downwardly flexed at the central area thereof to the sealing position. This will move the locking edges of the opening in the top panel along the upper camming surfaces 44 of the lower lugs 38, causing a corresponding slight inward flexing of the positioning posts, until the locking edges 54 snap below the lower lugs 38. The posts 34, through the elastic memory thereof, will then move outwardly to retain the locking edges in their lowermost position. The actual movement of the locking edges 54 below the lower retaining lugs 38 can, if so desired, be effected by a slight manual inward pressure on the positioning lugs 36 of the positioning posts as downward pressure is applied to the knob. The sealed position of the closure lid will be noted in
With continued reference to these figures and the detail of
When the seal of the lid is to be released, one need merely physically inwardly move the positioning posts 34 toward each other by engagement against the relatively wider and thicker upper lugs 36 until the locking edges 54 of the upper panel are released from the lower lugs 38. The elastic memory of the upper panel 20 will then automatically upwardly move the central portion of the upper panel and the locking edges thereon upwardly until the edges engage, in an unflexed condition, below the deeper upper positioning lugs 36. This movement will at the same time inwardly draw the peripheral pressure edge 50 of the upper panel away from the flange seal 32 and release the seal from the peripheral container wall for free withdrawal of the lid from the container.
The foregoing is considered illustrative of the principles of the invention. As modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and manner of use as shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.
