STORAGE DEVICE INCORPORATING A LIQUID-TIGHT SEALING SYSTEM

Abstract

A plastic storage device for liquids with a novel liquid-tight sealing system made possible by the joining of threads of a lid and a container, and also by juxtaposition of an annular channel against the upper sidewall of the container, so that an innermost side of the channel pushes outwardly against the sidewall, creating pressure to join two additional liquid-tight seals. The plastic is flexible enough to bend to create pressure points necessary for strong seals.

Description

ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a liquid container comprising a threaded container and a threaded lid and further comprising a system for sealing the threaded lid for the liquid container. The threaded lid and threaded container comprise a durable plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the threaded container herein showing container threads on the container.

FIG. 1B is a cross section of one embodiment of the threaded container in Fig. in 1A.

FIG. 1C is an enlargement of one embodiment of the top of the threaded container sidewall on the right side of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A is a cross section of a portion of one embodiment of the threaded lid.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inside of the threaded lid.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the outside of one embodiment of the threaded lid.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a portion of one embodiment of the threads of the threaded container and the threaded lid fully screwed together, and showing three liquid-tight seals.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the threaded container with the lid fully screwed on.

ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein is a storage device 22 incorporating a liquid-tight sealing system comprising a plastic container and lid ideal for storing liquids of all kinds.

In one embodiment, the storage device 22 incorporates a liquid-tight sealing system comprising a threaded container 1 comprising a bottom 4, a sidewall 3 comprising a top 6, an inner surface 18, an outer surface 19 and container threads 2 on the outer surface near the top 6 of the sidewall, and a threaded lid 7 comprising a short sidewall 23 comprising lid threads 8 on an interior surface 24, and a cover 11 surrounded by and integral to a top 25 of the short sidewall 23, and an annular channel 17 near the short sidewall 23 and integral to an inner side 21 of the cover 11, the annular channel open toward the bottom of the threaded container and configured for receiving the top 6 of the sidewall, and the annular channel defined by innermost and outermost nesting sides, respectively 9a, 9b, on each side of a top 13 of the annular channel, and the innermost nesting side 9a configured to push outwardly against the inner surface 18 at the top of the sidewall, such that a first liquid-tight seal 16 is configured to be joined between the container threads 2 and the lid threads 8 when the threaded container and the threaded lid are screwed together, and second and third liquid-tight seals, respectively 14, 15, are configured to be joined when the innermost nesting side 9a of the annular channel 17 pushes outwardly against the top 6 of the sidewall, the second liquid-tight seal 14 being configured to be joined between the innermost nesting side 9a and the inner surface 18 of the sidewall, and the third liquid-tight seal 15 is configured to be joined between the outermost nesting side 9b and the outer surface 19 of the sidewall. In another embodiment of the storage device 22, each of the inner surface and the outer surface, that is, on opposite sides of the top of the sidewall, there are two knobs 6a which outwardly from the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall.

In one embodiment the storage device is used as a sample jar for paint. Prior art sample jars have been threaded but also contain a compressible polymer layer added to the underside of the inside of the lid to provide more sealing than afforded just by threads. These prior art devices however are inadequate because the polymer layer therein eventually is compressed too many times and this compression causes the polymer to lose its resiliency and fail as a liquid-tight seal.

The present invention eliminates the polymer layer, and relies on a novel architecture for creating three liquid tight seals.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the threaded container 1 of the invention showing container threads 2, the sidewall 3, and an opening 5 at the top 6 of the sidewall. The inner surface 18 and outer surface 19 of the sidewall 3 are also shown.

FIG. 1B is a section view of one embodiment of the threaded container 1 showing container threads 2, the sidewall 3, the inner surface of the sidewall 18, a bottom 4 and the opening 5 at the top 6 of the sidewall 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1C, two knobs 6a on opposite sides of the top 6 of the sidewall 3 of the threaded container 1. The knobs, which may be of many different shapes, in one embodiment extend outwardly from the inner and outer surfaces 18, 19 of the sidewall at the top 6 of the sidewall wall. In this embodiment, the container threads 2 are located just below the container threads 2. In other embodiments, not shown, the knobs 6a are shaped differently or are not required, or can be located below the top 6 of the sidewall. An important aspect of the top of the sidewall is that the sidewall fits very snugly in the annular channel 17 as discussed herein. In some embodiments the knobs 6a shown here assist with the snug fit. Additionally, the snug fit is enabled by the innermost nesting side 9a being sized almost to the dimension of the inner surface of the sidewall, so the innermost nesting side pushes outwardly against the sidewall while seated in the annular channel.

In FIG. 2A the annular channel 17 is near the top 25 of the interior surface 24 of the short sidewall 23 of the threaded lid. Two nesting sides, respectively the innermost and the outermost 9a, 9b, and a channel top 13 define an annular channel 17 of the threaded lid 7 in which the top of the sidewall of the threaded container is seated when the container threads 2 and lid threads 8 are tightened fully. In this embodiment, these two nesting sides 9a, 9b engage with the knobs 6a on each side of the top of the container sidewall and create two seals 14, 15 as shown in each of two circles. The innermost nesting surface 9a, in the embodiment in FIGS. 2a and 3, has an extension 10. A cover 11 and an annular ridge 12 of the threaded lid are also shown. The cover has an inner side 21.

FIGS. 2B and 2C are perspective views of the inside and outside of the threaded lid 7, respectively.

As the container threads and lid threads are screwed together, the top of the sidewall of the threaded container comes into contact with the threaded lid, and the threaded lid pushes the top of the container sidewall outwardly, creating pressure for the liquid-tight seal between the knobs 6a and the nesting sides 9a, 9b. FIG. 3 shows the engagement of the corresponding knobs 6a in FIG. 1C with the two nesting sides 9a, 9b of the annular channel 17 in FIG. 2A. Two circles define liquid-tight seals 14, 15, each of these two seals formed by a nesting side being in tight contact with a knob as shown in FIG. 3. The outermost nesting side 9b moves outwardly when the seals 14, 15 are in effect, pushed by innermost nesting side 9a as it pushes the sidewall top 6 outwardly. When outermost nesting side 9b is pressed by the rightmost knob 6a, then outermost nesting side 9b also moves outwardly and allows the top 6 of the sidewall to move outwardly. FIG. 3 shows a first liquid-tight seal 16 (also inside a circle) formed by tight contact between the container threads 2 and the lid threads 8.

The plastic out of which the threaded container and the threaded lid are constructed have strength but they also have sufficient flexibility to allow the much smaller components of the sealing system to bend and allow the components to move in relation to one another, thus giving way to create tight contacts among themselves. This bending creates a better seal than would excessive rigidity. The plastic is flexible enough to bend to create pressure points necessary for strong seals. i.e., the second and third liquid-tight seals.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage device 22 comprising the threaded container 1 engaged with the threaded lid 7, with the system for scaling not visible.

Claims

1. A storage device incorporating a liquid-tight sealing system comprising a. a threaded container comprising a bottom, a sidewall comprising a top, an inner surface, an outer surface and container threads on the outer surface near the top of the sidewall, andb. a threaded lid comprising a short sidewall comprising lid threads on an interior surface of the short sidewall, and a cover surrounded by and integral to a top of the short sidewall, and an annular channel near the short sidewall and integral to an inner side of the cover, the annular channel open toward the bottom of the threaded container and configured for receiving the top of the sidewall, and the annular channel defined by innermost and outermost nesting sides on each side of a top of the annular channel, and the innermost nesting side configured to push outwardly against the inner surface at the top of the sidewall,such that a first liquid-tight seal is configured to be joined between the container threads and the lid threads when the threaded container and the threaded lid are screwed together, and second and third liquid-tight seals are configured to be joined when the innermost nesting side of the annular channel pushes outwardly against the top of the sidewall, the second liquid-tight seal being configured to be joined between the innermost nesting side and the inner surface of the sidewall, and the third liquid-tight seal being configured to be joined between the outermost nesting side and the outer surface of the sidewall.

2. The device as in claim 1 wherein each of the inner surface and the outer surface comprises a knob.