METHOD FOR ATTACHING A THERMOMETER TO A BEVERAGE CONTAINER LID

Abstract

A container is provided with a lid having a removable thermometer for measuring the temperature of liquids in the container. A gasket is provided to secure the thermometer to the lid and maintain a hermetic seal between the thermometer and the gasket and between the gasket and the lid. The gasket is resilient to maintain the hermetic seal when the thermometer is subjected to torque or other stresses such as may occur when the lid is attached or detached from the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a thermometer attached to a beverage container lid and methods of making the same.

BACKGROUND

With the greater availability of highly efficient vacuum insulated containers, scalding liquids, such as coffee or other hot beverages, placed inside one of these highly efficient containers will stay scalding for long periods of time. In other words, a beverage placed in a vacuum insulated bottle or tumbler at a temperature that is too hot to sip will remain too hot to sip for hours due to the highly efficient insulating constructions that are readily available today. For this reason, it is desirable to know the temperature of the hot liquid before drinking or sipping to prevent scalding one's tongue, lips or mouth. Also, it is likely that a person has a preferable temperature range within which the coffee or other beverage is most thoroughly enjoyed. A thermometer attached to a beverage container lid will facilitate the user to determine this preferable range and then provide the user with feedback to find cooling methods to obtain the desired temperature range. Once attained, the preferred temperature range will be maintained for hours within the previously described insulated container. Along these same lines, a consumer might have a desirable temperature range for cold liquids. Similarly, the thermometer will educate the user to the boundaries of this specific range and measure their effectiveness in achieving the desired range. The thermometer may also provide feedback and educate a user as to preferred techniques available to achieve the desired temperature range whether for cooling or heating the beverage. The education can facilitate future preparation of the desired beverage.

Numerous attempts have been made to identify the temperature of a liquid within a container. These include cups with bottom mounted temperature sensing devices, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,908, entitled “Double Layer Container Equipped With Temperature Warning Device” and U.S. published patent application 2006/0261233 entitled “Spill-Resistant Beverage Contain With Detection and Notification Indicator.” However, in these devices, the temperature of the liquid is not directly measured. Rather, temperature is sensed through the bottom of the container. Similarly, external sleeves have been designed to hold a beverage container and sense temperature through the outside surface of the container. See, for example, U.S. published patent applications 2008/0142529 entitled “Temperature-Indicating Sleeve And Related Container,” 2008/0283538 entitled “Insulated Retainer Having Thermometer For Beverage Container,” and 2008/028562 entitled “Insulated Retainer With Thermometer For Beverage Container.” Another arrangement places the temperature sensor between the walls of a double walled container, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,864,462 entitled “Electronic Drinking Mug.” And temperature sensing labels to adhere to the side wall of a container have been proposed. See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,373 entitled “Thermometer Indicator for Beverage Container” and U.S. published application 2009/0183669 entitled “Temperature Indicating Label Arrangement and Method.” In the same vein, other designs place a temperature sensor on the outside of the container side wall, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,925 entitled “Temperature Sensing And Indicating Beverage Mug” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,085 entitled “Temperature Cup,” and U.S. published patent application 2006/0207907 entitled “Beverage Container Having A Display.”

Still further designs place a temperature sensor in the inside surface of a beverage container, for example, as shown in U.S. published patent applications 2007/0053406 entitled “Temperature Indicating Container” and 2007/0121702 entitled “Temperature Indicating Container.” Another example is published application WO 2009/037436 in which a clip placed on the side wall of a container, with a first leg containing a temperature sensor that extends into the container and is in contact with the liquid and a second leg that extends outside of the container side wall and provides an audio signal when a desired temperature is reached.

Application WO 2002/101345, entitled “Temperature Indicating Disposable LID For Beverage Container” is directed to an inexpensive disposable lid capable of mass production. Here, a cylindrical cone or protrusion is formed in the lid and extends downwardly into the beverage container. A temperature sensor is positioned at the base of the cone and changes color depending upon the temperature of the liquid. The cone is designed to position the base beneath the surface of the liquid, when the liquid generally fills the container. Thus, the device does not continuously monitor the temperature of the liquid as the liquid is consumed.

U.S. published patent application 2009/0139324 entitled “Liquid Container” is directed to a carafe or container for serving beverages, not an individual container, such as a coffee cup. Here a detecting unit is configured to attach to the open rim of the container and includes a probe that extends into the container to sense temperature of the liquid in the container. An outer package positioned external to the container displays temperature information. U.S. published patent application 2012/0293332 entitled “Temperature Monitoring Beverage Container” is also directed to a carafe or larger container for serving hot beverages. Here, the lid includes a temperature probe that extends into the container and a user interface that includes a temperature display.

The foregoing references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and are hereby made a part of this specification. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a container is provided with a removable lid, a resilient gasket attached to the lid proximate an opening in the lid and a thermometer extending through the gasket with a stem positioned inside the container body to sense the temperature of a liquid in the container body and a display positioned outside the container body visible to a person. In one embodiment the container, lid, gasket and thermometer are reusable, for example, with vacuum insulated containers. In another embodiment, one or each of the container, lid, gasket and thermometer may be disposable.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the gasket is configured to form a hermetic seal with both the stem of the thermometer and the body of the thermometer from with the stem extends. In addition, the gasket is configured to form a hermetic seal with the lid in at least one location. One location is between the body of the gasket and an annular opening in the lid. A second location is between a vertical outer lip of the gasket and a channel formed in the top surface of the lid.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the lid may form a hermetic seal between the inner surface of the container or the outer surface of the container, proximate the open end of the container.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the gasket is configured to accommodate torque applied to the thermometer without losing hermetic sealing. For example, if a lateral force is applied to the stem of the thermometer when the lid is removed from the container due to the stem contacting the inside wall of the container, the gasket will compress and stretch to maintain the hermetic seal between the gasket and the lid and between the thermometer and the gasket. Further still, according to aspects of the present disclosure, should a force applied to the stem of the thermometer be removed, the gasket will act to return the thermometer and gasket to the original unstressed position from the stressed position.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the stem of the thermometer is configured to extend to a position proximate the bottom of the container to sense the temperature of the liquid when the container is full, partially full or nearly empty. In at least some embodiments the thermometer should work with cold and hot beverages, for example, operating in a range between approximately zero and one-hundred degrees centigrade.

According to the present disclosure, in one embodiment a beverage container comprises a container body having an open end, an interior space and a perimeter edge surrounding the open end. The embodiment further comprises a lid having a perimeter side wall configured to engage the perimeter edge of the body and form a hermetic seal between the lid and the body, a top surface extending inwardly from the perimeter side wall, an opening in the top surface, the opening spaced inwardly from the perimeter side wall, a first surface extending from the opening toward the interior space of the container when the lid is secured to the container, the first surface terminating in an annular surface having a first aperture, a channel formed in the top surface, the channel circumscribing the opening, and a first aperture in the top surface configured to dispense liquid from the body. The embodiment also comprises a resilient gasket having a domed portion, the domed portion defining an inner edge and an outer edge, a downwardly depending outer side wall extending from the outer edge and configured to seat within the channel, a downwardly depending inner wall extending from the inner edge, a body portion extending from the inner wall, an aperture extending through the body portion and a groove formed in the body portion and adapted to engage the annular surface of the lid.

In another embodiment, the container further comprises a thermometer having a face and an elongate stem extending from the face, the stem positioned in the aperture of the gasket. The container of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the lid comprises a conical surface.

In another embodiment the body portion of the resilient gasket comprises a cylindrical portion and a conical portion, and wherein the groove is positioned between the cylindrical portion and the conical portion.

In another embodiment the inner side wall of the gasket comprises a shoulder and the thermometer comprises an edge, and the shoulder is configured to secure the edge of the thermometer.

In another embodiment the perimeter side wall of the lid includes an outwardly projecting gasket to form a seal with an inside surface of the container.

In another embodiment the perimeter side wall of the lid threadably engages the container body.

In another embodiment the lid is formed from a thermoplastic material.

In another embodiment, the thermoplastic material is polypropylene or polyester.

In another embodiment, the thermometer comprises a bimetallic dial face.

In another embodiment, the downwardly depending outer side wall comprises a projecting bead and the channel comprises first and second opposed channel side walls, at least one of the channel side walls comprising a groove configured to receive the projecting bead.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, in one embodiment the container comprises a body having a generally cylindrical side wall, a base closing one end of the cylindrical side wall, and an open end opposite the base. A lid is configured to close the open end of the body, the lid comprising a top surface, an opening centrally located on the top surface, the opening defining an annular edge, a channel in the top surface surrounding the opening and a first aperture extending through the lid and configured to allow liquid to be removed from the body. The container further comprises a thermometer having a body portion and a stem extending from the body portion, the body portion including a display for displaying a temperature. A flexible gasket is configured to secure the thermometer to the lid, the gasket having a body portion, the body portion having an outer surface with a circumferential groove in the outer surface and an aperture extending through body portion, an annular surface extending from one end of the body portion, the annular portion having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion terminating in a downwardly depending lip. When the lid, gasket and thermometer are assembled, the stem of the thermometer is configured to friction fit within the aperture of the body portion of the gasket, the annular edge of the centrally located opening in the lid is configured to friction fit in the groove in the outer surface of the gasket body, and the lip of the gasket is configured to friction fit in the channel of the lid.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the gasket comprises a shoulder located between the outer portion and inner portion of the annular surface, the shoulder configured to frictionally engage the body of the thermometer.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the body portion of the gasket comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, and the tapered portion is configured to extend through the centrally located opening in the lid.

In another embodiment, the gasket is made of thermoset silicon.

The attachment of a thermometer must withstand boiling temperatures, freezing temperatures and vapor pressures above and below ambient conditions. In addition, the attachment method must withstand general use and abuse during the cleaning, storing and intended performance of the container lid.

The Summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, reference made herein to aspects of the present disclosure should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description given below, explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tumbler and lid with an attached bimetallic dial face thermometer and elastomeric gasket.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top side of the tumbler lid with an attached bimetallic dial face thermometer and elastomeric gasket illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bimetallic dial face thermometer.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the elastomeric gasket illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a centerline section view of the elastomeric gasket of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tumbler lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a section view of the tumbler lid of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the tumbler and lid with an attached bimetallic dial face thermometer and elastomeric gasket of FIG. 4, further showing the thermometer and gasket in a pivoted position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an insulated bottle with a sip through cap that has an attached bimetallic dial face thermometer.

FIG. 11 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a beverage container 1, such as a tumbler, is shown. A bimetallic dial face thermometer 2 is affixed to the lid 4 of the beverage container 1 such that a hermetic seal is maintained as temperatures vary from boiling point to the freezing point of water, and as pressures vary above and below ambient conditions. A hermetic seal is also maintained while absorbing shock that occurs due to the bimetallic dial face thermometer stem 3 protruding from the tumbler lid 4 or bottle lid 4′, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 10 and 11. As also seen in FIG. 2, the tumbler lid 4 has an oblong opening 5 from which to drink the beverage contents and a small vent opening 6 to allow air to enter the container in reaction to negative pressures that arise when the liquid leaves the container during the activity of drinking. The lid 4 also has a compressible elastomeric ring 7 that acts as a low pressure hermetic seal and the mechanical means by which to secure the lid 4 to the tumbler 1. In FIG. 4, the seal is shown interfacing with an interior surface of the container 1. It should be appreciated that the lid may alternatively overlap the rim of the container 1 and seal against an exterior surface of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the tumbler lid 4 is made from a thermoplastic that is generally considered safe to contact food at temperatures near the boiling temperature of water such as polypropylene or a polyester. In one embodiment, the lid is substantially rigid, such that it does not flex when being detached or attached to the container. In other embodiments, the lid may be flexible such that it distorts in shape when attached or detached from the container.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a bimetallic dial face thermometer 2. A bimetallic dial face thermometer has advantages over electronic thermometers in that it does not require batteries, is reliable, is designed to be in contact with food and is commercially available within the temperature range applicable to beverages. Furthermore, the face 8 is easily recognizable and readable to the public. Also, the face 8 is generally perpendicular to the stem 3 of the thermometer such that the face 8 is easily nested within a beverage container lid 4. The length of the thermometer stem or probe 3 is sized to extend almost the complete length or height of the internal beverage container space 25 to measure the temperature of varying volumes of liquid, including small volumes of liquid that are present as the beverage is consumed over time. The stem 3 is made of a hard thermally conductive material like stainless steel.

In FIG. 4 the bimetallic dial face thermometer 2 is nested in an elastomeric gasket 9 that forms a hermetic seal 10 and 11 between the tumbler lid 4 and bimetallic dial face thermometer stem 3. The hermetic seal is accomplished by sizing the elastomeric gasket sealing diameter 12 (shown in FIG. 5) larger than the mating hole 13 (shown in FIG. 7) of the tumbler lid and sizing the hole 14 of the elastomeric gasket 9 smaller than the bimetallic thermometer stem 3. The net result is that there is an interference fit between hole 13 of lid 4 and sealing diameter 12 of elastomeric gasket 9; as well as, between the bimetallic dial face thermometer stem 3 and elastomeric gasket hole 14 that causes the soft flexible elastomeric gasket to deform and actively press against the harder mating surfaces 3 and 29 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 and to form hermetic seals 10 and 11. Furthermore, hole 13 (shown in FIG. 7) is dimensionally shallow so as to not create a sizeable distance between pressure points that act on the thermometer stem 3 at the top surface and bottom surface of hole 13 and thereby cause resistance to the pivoting motion of the dial face thermometer within the hole 13. Additionally, the thermometer 8 has an external edge 30 that frictionally nests in the shoulder 31 of the surface 32 of gasket 9 that extends between the cylinder 15 and the domed portion 18.

Due to the protruding length of stem 3, the thermometer is subject to impulsive forces while removing the lid from the tumbler with a peeling motion. This is more likely with a rigid lid. The flexible elastomeric gasket 9 of FIG. 5 is intended to absorb the shock from the impulsive forces acting on the stem 3 (shown in FIG. 9) by pivoting within opening 13 of the tumbler lid 4 while maintaining hermetic seals 10 and 11 during the pivoting motion. The soft flexible nature of the elastomeric gasket 9 material and geometry of said elastomeric gasket allow the bimetallic dial face thermometer to pivot under load and return to its original unloaded position as shown in FIG. 4 through the bottom face 27 (shown in FIG. 5) of the cylindrical portion 15 interacting with the rigid annular ring 28 surrounding the opening 13 of the lid 4. The cylinder 15 of the elastomeric gasket 9 acts as a spring to provide the force to return the bimetallic dial face thermometer stem 3 to its unstressed position as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, cylinder 15 of the elastomeric gasket 9 acts as a locating feature to contain the sealing surface 12 of said gasket in the hole 13 of the tumbler lid 4. In addition, the cylinder 15 of the elastomeric gasket 9 shown in FIG. 4 determines the position of the dial face 8 of the bimetallic dial face thermometer 2 relative to the tumbler lid 4 such that said dial face properly nests within the original unstressed form of the elastomeric gasket.

In FIG. 5 the conical end 16 of the elastomeric gasket 9 traps the sealing diameter 12 within the tumbler lid hole 13 and keeps elastomeric gasket cylinder surface 12 of the elastomeric gasket 9 against surface 29 of the hole 13 of the tumbler lid 4 (shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8) as the bimetallic dial face thermometer rotates from a pivoted position of FIG. 9 to an unstressed state within hole 13 of said tumbler lid as shown in FIG. 4.

The outer side wall or vertical lip 17 extending from the domed surface 18 of the elastomeric gasket 9 engages the tumbler lid side walls 19 and 20 of channel 21 of the tumbler lid 4 to form a low pressure seal that keeps beverages from pooling in the tapered cavity 22 below the elastomeric gasket 9 that accommodates the pivoting motion of the bimetallic dial face thermometer 8. When the bimetallic dial face thermometer pivots, the elastomeric gasket deforms to accommodate the travel of the dial face 8. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, as the dial face 8 pivots in a clockwise direction, the right side of the elastomeric gasket 9 sweeps downward and to the right which fully engages the lip 17 into the right-side channel 21 of the tumbler lid 4. As shown, the domed surface 18 on the right side distorts and compresses. The left side of the dial face 8 sweeps upward and to the right as it rotates clockwise. On the opposite side of the gasket, this motion engages lip 17 into the channel side wall 19 thereby engaging the bead 23 of elastomeric gasket 9 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 8) into a mating groove 24 of side wall 19 of channel 21. The engagement of bead 23 into groove 24 acts to resist the upward pull on lip 17 of the elastomeric gasket 9 as the dial face 8 pivots clockwise. After the rebound of the dial face to its home position as shown in FIG. 4 the lip 17 of the elastomeric gasket 9 will be fully engaged with said channel 21 of the tumbler lid as intended in FIG. 4. It is preferable that the elastomeric gasket is made from a thermoset silicon. Silicon has the advantage of maintaining its resilient mechanical properties and resisting a permanent compression set in the hermetic seals 10 and 11 at freezing and boiling temperatures. This is particularly important when the thermometer pivots within the shallow round hole 13 of the tumbler lid 4. The amount of interference between mating surfaces 12 and 13, and 3 and 14 that form the hermetic seals 10 and 11 is sized to accommodate compression set and thermal linear expansion.

Of course, the method of attaching a bimetallic dial face thermometer can be used or applied to other container lids. FIG. 10 shows a vacuum insulated bottle with a drink through lid that has a bimetallic dial face thermometer 3′ and elastomeric gasket 9′ attached. FIG. 11 shows a centerline section view that reveals the duplicate geometry of FIGS. 4 and 9 incorporated into container lid 4′ shown in FIG. 11. The lid 4′ has an oblong opening 5′ from which to drink the liquid from the container and a small vent opening 6′ to allow air to enter the contain in reaction to negative pressures created during the act of drinking. A channel 21′ is formed in the upper surface of the lid 4′ to receive the vertical lip 17′ of the elastomeric gasket 9′. The thermometer 8′ is nested in a gasket 9′ that is shaped to form a hermetic seal with the lid 4′ as described in connection with the prior embodiment. The gasket 9′ includes a cylindrical body 15′ with a conical end 16′. A reduced diameter cylindrical portion 12′ between the cylindrical body 15′ and the conical portion 16′ traps the sealing diameter of the hole 13′ of the lid 4′. Rather than a friction fit between the lid 4′ and the container body, the illustrated lid 4′ threadably engages the container body. Here, the threads 40′ are internal to the lid 4′ and external to the container body, but those of skill in the art will appreciate the location of the threads 40′ may be reversed.

Although the present disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter. It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the trailing edge 32 may have a different profile or shape. The ability of the bottle to roll on its leading edge does not directly involve the shape or contour of the trailing edge 32. Rather than being curved and providing the body with a generally cylindrical shape, the trailing edge 32 may comprise a straight portion, multiple straight portions, a differently curved portion, i.e., differently curved compared to the front portion 30, or multiple differently shaped portions. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Other modifications or uses for the present invention will also occur to those of skill in the art after reading the present disclosure. Such modifications or uses are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A beverage container, comprising: a container body having an open end, an interior space and a perimeter edge surrounding the open end;a lid comprising: a perimeter side wall configured to engage the perimeter edge of the body and form a hermetic seal between the lid and the body;a top surface extending inwardly from the perimeter side wall;an opening in the top surface, the opening spaced inwardly from the perimeter side wall, a first surface extending from the opening toward the interior space of the container when the lid is secured to the container, the first surface terminating in an annular surface having a first aperture;a channel formed in the top surface, the channel circumscribing the opening;a first aperture in the top surface configured to dispense liquid from the body;a resilient gasket having a domed portion, the domed portion defining an inner edge and an outer edge, a downwardly depending outer side wall extending from the outer edge and configured to seat within the channel, a downwardly depending inner wall extending from the inner edge, a body portion extending from the inner wall, an aperture extending through the body portion and a groove formed in the body portion and adapted to engage the annular surface of the lid.

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a thermometer having a face and an elongate stem extending from the face, the stem positioned in the aperture of the gasket.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the lid comprises a conical surface.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the resilient gasket comprises a cylindrical portion and a conical portion, and wherein the groove is positioned between the cylindrical portion and the conical portion.

5. The container of claim 2, wherein the inner side wall of the gasket comprises a shoulder and the thermometer comprises an edge, and the shoulder is configured to secure the edge of the thermometer.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the perimeter side wall of the lid includes an outwardly projecting gasket to form a seal with an inside surface of the container.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the perimeter side wall of the lid threadably engages the container body.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid is formed from a thermoplastic material.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the thermoplastic material is polypropylene or polyester.

10. The container of claim 2, wherein the thermometer comprises a bimetallic dial face.

11. The container of claim 2, wherein the downwardly depending outer side wall comprises a projecting bead and the channel comprises first and second opposed channel side walls, at least one of the channel side walls comprising a groove configured to receive the projecting bead.

12. A container, comprising: a body having a generally cylindrical side wall, a base closing one end of the cylindrical side wall, and an open end opposite the base;a lid configured to close the open end of the body, the lid comprising a top surface, an opening centrally located on the top surface, the opening defining an annular edge, a channel in the top surface surrounding the opening and a first aperture extending through the lid and configured to allow liquid to be removed from the body;a thermometer having a body portion and a stem extending from the body portion, the body portion including a display for displaying a temperature, anda flexible gasket configured to secure the thermometer to the lid, the gasket having a body portion, the body portion having an outer surface with a circumferential groove in the outer surface and an aperture extending through body portion, an annular surface extending from one end of the body portion, the annular portion having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion terminating in a downwardly depending lip;wherein, the stem of the thermometer is configured to form a hermetic seal with the aperture of the body portion of the gasket, the annular edge of the centrally located opening in the lid is configured to form a hermetic seal with the groove in the outer surface of the body portion of the gasket, and the lip of the gasket is configured to form a hermetic seal with the channel of the lid.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the gasket comprises a shoulder located between the outer portion and inner portion of the annular surface, the shoulder configured to frictionally engage the body of the thermometer.

14. The container of claim 12, wherein the body portion of the gasket comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, and the tapered portion is configured to extend through the centrally located opening in the lid.

15. The container of claim 12, wherein the thermometer may move between a first unstressed position where the stem is normal to the lid, and a second stressed position where the stem is not normal to the lid, wherein, when a lateral force is applied to the stem of the thermometer and the stem moves from the first position to the second position the gasket distorts without breaking the seal between the lip and the channel, and when the force is removed the gasket returns the thermometer to the first position.

16. The container of claim 12, wherein the lip comprises an outwardly projecting bead and the channel comprises first and second opposed channel walls with a groove formed in at least one of the channel walls, and wherein the bead engages the groove to form a hermetic seal.

17. The container of claim 12, wherein the thermometer comprises a bimetallic dial face.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid is formed from a thermoplastic material.

19. The container of claim 12, wherein the body portion of the gasket comprises a cylindrical portion and a conical portion, and wherein the circumferential groove is positioned between the cylindrical portion and the conical portion.

20. The container of claim 12, wherein the gasket is made of thermoset silicon.