CONTAINER LID

Abstract

A container lid may include a lid body having a generally planar top portion and a circumferential sidewall extending downward from the top portion thereof. A rib member extending downward from the top portion of the container lid may be spaced inward from the sidewall defining a circumferential channel therebetween configured to receive an open end of a container and form a watertight seal about the container. The top portion of the lid body may include a recessed portion adapted for forming a secondary seal with the container.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to removable covers for containers or canisters, more particularly, to lids for welding rod containers.

Welding rods are typically packaged in containers, such as but not limited to, fifty-pound boxes. Welders generally only use a few welding rods at any one time. The open box of welding rods is then typically closed with tape to protect the rods remaining in the box from moisture, contaminants and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reusable container lid forming a watertight seal about an open end of a container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible reusable container lid forming a primary seal and a secondary seal with a container.

SUMMARY

A container lid may include a lid body having a generally planar top portion and a circumferential sidewall extending downward from the top portion thereof. A rib member extending downward from the top portion of the container lid may be spaced inward from the sidewall defining a circumferential channel therebetween configured to receive an open end of a container and form a watertight seal about the container. The top portion of the lid body may include a recessed portion adapted for forming a secondary seal with the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

It is noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a container lid shown in an environment of use with an exemplary container.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container lid shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the container lid shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the container lid shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the container lid shown in FIG. 1 taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of a second embodiment of a container lid shown in an environment of use with an exemplary container;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the container lid shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is bottom plan view of the container lid shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the container lid shown in FIG. 7 taken on line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the container lid shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a container lid is generally identified by the reference numeral 100. The container lid 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be removably secured to cover an open end of a container 102. For purposes of illustration, the shape of the container lid 100 may be, but is not limited to, a square as shown in FIG. 1. It is understood however that the container lid 100 may be formed to mate with any shape of the open end of the container 102.

The container lid 100 may include a lid body having a generally flat or planar top portion 104 and a circumferential sidewall 106 extending downward from the top portion 104 enclosing an open cavity 105, shown in FIG. 5. The top portion 104 of the container lid 100 may include a recessed portion 108 extending into the cavity 105. A circumferential wall 110 may be disposed between and interconnect the recessed top portion 108 of the container lid 100 to the top portion 104. In the instance where the end of the container 102 may include a transverse wall and an opening in the transverse wall, the recessed top portion 108 may extend into the opening and provide a secondary seal with the container 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the underside of the container lid 100 may include a circumferential rib member 112 protruding from the bottom surface 107 of the top portion 104 into the cavity 105. The rib member 112 may extend parallel to and spaced apart the sidewall 106 defining a channel 114 therebetween. The channel 114 may be configured to receive the edge of the open end of the container 102. The width of the channel 114 may be slightly less than the thickness of the edge of the container 102 to secure the container lid 100 to the container 102 so that the sidewall 106 and rib member 112 may be in sealing contact with the container 102 and form a watertight seal about the open end thereof. Sealing engagement with the end of the container 102 may be further facilitated by a circumferential protrusion 118 extending partially into the channel 114 from the sidewall 106. The circumferential protrusion 118 may be integrally formed with the sidewall 106 or otherwise fixedly secured to the sidewall 106 in a manner known in the art.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 5, the container lid 100 may include a finger grip 120 integrally formed with the sidewall 106. The finger grip 120 may project downwardly from the sidewall 106 for a user to grip and pull upward to remove the container lid 100 from the container 102.

The container lid 100 may be fabricated of a flexible polymer material, such as but not limited to, rubber and silicone material. EPDM (ethylene, propylene, diene monomer rubber), for example but without limitation, includes suitable properties in that it is durable, UV resistant, and is sufficiently flexible to provide a watertight seal about the container 102, thereby preventing moisture and other contaminants from entering the container 102. The container lid 100 may be coupled to the container 102 by pressing it on to the open end of the container 102. The upper edge of the container 102 may be received in the channel 114 forming a watertight seal therewith. The circumferential protrusion 118 may function to further grip and seal about the open end of the container 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-10, collectively, a second embodiment of a container lid is generally identified by the reference numeral 200. As evidenced by the use of common reference numerals, the container lid 200 is similar to the container lid 100 with the exception that container lid 200 does not include a finger grip. The container lid 200 may be removed from the container 102 by pulling outwardly upward on the bottom edge 210 of the sidewall 106 thereby breaking the sealing engagement of the container lid 200 with the container 102.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A container lid, comprising: a) a lid body having a generally flat top portion and a circumferential sidewall extending downward from said top portion;b) said lid body including a recessed top portion; andc) a circumferential rib member extending downward from a bottom surface of said top portion, said circumferential rib member and said sidewall spaced apart from one another defining a channel therebetween.

2. The container lid of claim 1 including a circumferential protrusion extending from said sidewall into said channel.

3. The container lid of claim 1 including a finger grip extending downward from said sidewall.

4. The container lid of claim 1 wherein said recessed portion extends downward from said top portion forming a secondary seal with a container.

5. A container lid, comprising: a) a flexible lid body having a substantially planar top portion;b) a circumferential sidewall extending downward from said top portion;c) a circumferential rib member spaced apart from said sidewall extending downward from a bottom surface of said top portion;d) a circumferential groove defined between said sidewall and said circumferential rib member; ande) a circumferential protrusion in sealing engagement about an open end of a container.

6. The container lid of claim 5 including a finger grip extending downward from said sidewall.

7. The container lid of claim 5 including a recessed portion and a circumferential wall interconnecting said recessed portion and said top portion of said lid body.

8. The container lid of claim 7 wherein said recessed portion extends into an open end of a container forming a secondary seal therewith.