Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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STACKABLE CONTAINER WITH SECURE SEALING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a stackable container for storing and transporting
items such as food with tight secure sealing mechanism between a container
base and
detachable lid with a tab for ease of detaching the lid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Containers are used for storing and transporting items such as food for many
different commercial and home applications. For commercial application, such
as fast
food or take-out restaurant, it is important that the containers provide tight
and
durable sealing mechanisms between container base and detachable lid to ensure
and
avoid leakage and/or spoilage and to keep away the contents from
contamination.
While providing secure and durable sealing mechanism, it is also important to
provide
a way to easily detach or open the lid. Lid can be detached and attached to
the base
for a number of times and still must protect the contents from spoilage or
contamination. It is, yet, important that the container is stably stackable
for saving
storing space.
US Patent No. 6,056,138, entitled "Triple Seal Container," issued on May 2,
2000, and subsequent US Patent No. 6,196,404, entitled "Triple Seal Container
With
Protrusion," issued on March 6, 2006 both to Chen, disclose a stackable and
nestable
triple sealed container for storing and transporting items such as food. Even
though
the structure provides adequate sealing mechanism between a container base and
lid,
the triple sealing mechanism is not durable enough to prevent breakage. Once
the
first sealing structure or rim is broke, the item or contents inside the
container may
easily be contaminated since it only provides two layers. Further more,
sealing
structure provides an air pocket or space between the base and lid for easing
detaching
and opening of the lid; however, this structure works negatively and makes the
item
inside the container easily be contaminated when the rim is broken. Another
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shortcoming of these inventions is the fact that it does not provide proper
support for
stacking the assembled containers. It provides a loose stacking mechanism,
whereby
the assembled containers may be stacked vertically without proper locking
mechanism. There are wider room to slide side way, thus it is not suitable for
stacking more than a few or transporting stacks of the containers.
In US Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0057207, entitled
"Container with Food Seals," published on March 27, 2003, Wong teaches an
improved sealing mechanism between base and lid of a container, whereby having
four sealing structures with two air pockets or air gaps between the base and
the lid
for maintaining tight sealing while easing effort to detach the lid form the
base or to
attach the lid to the base. However, not having proper means to assist a user
to detach
the lid from the base will still cause spoilage. Even worse, liquid may
penetrate into
these air gaps of the sealing mechanism defined in between the lid and base by
filing
it up, and, when it happens, makes it even harder to detach the lid from the
base.
It is desirable to provide a container that addresses these aforementioned
issues, and the present invention provides solutions to these shortcomings
presented
by these prior art products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stackable container for items, such as
food,
comprising a base and lid with secure sealing mechanisms. Each of the base and
lid
comprises corresponding three rims and three edges being mateable to provide
multiple layers of sealing mechanisms to ensure durable sealing. The lid
further
comprises a sealing lip for locking the lid onto the base and for providing
another
layer of sealing. Each of the base and lid further comprises partially planar
raised
portions and further raised portion around the outer perimeter of the planar
raised
portions for providing stable stacking mechanism. The lid further comprises a
tab for
easing a user to open the lid without spoilage.
According to one aspect of the invention, it provides a stackable container,
comprising: (i) a base, comprising a generally planar bottom portion; a shape
reinforcing structure comprising a curved portion curved upwardly from the
perimeter
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of the bottom portion and a shape reinforcing rim extending outwardly from the
upper
end of the curved portion; a base sidewall extended upwardly from the outer
end of
the reinforcing rim of the shape reinforcing structue; a first base rim region
extended
horizontally and outwardly from the upper end of the base sidewall; a first
base
sealing edge extended upwardly from the outer end of the first base rim
region; a
second base rim region extended horizontally and outwardly from the upper end
of
the first base sealing edge; a second base sealing edge extended upwardly from
the
outer end of the second base rim region; a third base rim region extended
horizontally
and outwardly from the upper end of the second base sealing edge; a third base
sealing edge extended upwardly from the outer end of the third base rim
region; (ii) a
lid, comprising: a generally planar lid top portion; a lid sidewall extended
downwardly from the perimeter of the lid top portion; a first lid rim region
extended
horizontally and outwardly from the bottom end of the lid sidewall; a first
lid sealing
edge extended upwardly from the outer end of the first lid rim region; a
second lid rim
region extended horizontally and outwardly from the upper end of the first lid
sealing
edge; a second lid sealing edge extended upwardly from the outer end of the
second
lid rim region; a third lid rim region extended horizontally and outwardly
from the
upper end of the second lid sealing edge; a third lid sealing edge extended
downwardly from the outer end of the third lid rim region; a sealing lip
extended
inwardly from the inner bottom end of the third lid sealing edge; and a tab at
one
section of the perimeter of the third lid sealing edge for providing a means
for
detaching the lid from the base; and wherein the first base rim and the first
lid rim, the
first base sealing edge and the first lid sealing edge, the second base rim
and the
second lid rim, the second base sealing edge and the second lid sealing edge,
the third
base rim and the third lid rim, the third base sealing edge and the third lid
sealing edge
correspond and are mateable for providing sealing mechanisms while the lid is
attached to the base; and wherein the reinforcing structure reinforces the
shapes of the
base side wall and the base bottom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
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Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation view of the lid and base of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a sectional side view of the base of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2a illustrates a perspective view of the base of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 illustrates a sectional side view of the lid of the container of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3a illustrates a top view of the lid of the container of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3b illustrates a perspective top view of the lid of the container of
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3c illustrates a perspective bottom view of the lid of the container of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the base of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the lid with the
tab
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the lid and base of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, being detached from each other;
Figure 6a illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional side view of the lid and
base
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, being detached from each
other;
Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the lid and base of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, being attached each other;
Figure 7a illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional side view of the lid and
base
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, being attached each
other;
Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the base and
lid,
about to be stacked one over the other;
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Figure 9 illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional side view of the base and
lid,
being stacked one over the other;
Figure 10 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view around the center
of
the base and lid, about to be stacked on each other;
Figure 11 illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional side view around the center
of the base and lid, being stacked on each other;
Figure 12 illustrates a side elevation view of the lid and base being
attached;
Figure 13 illustrates a side elevation view of the lid and base, where the lid
being detached partially from the base; and
Figure 14 illustrates a side elevation view of the lid and base, where the lid
being substantially detached from the base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation view of lid 2 and base 3 of a container
1,
which is circular in configuration, of a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
The lid 2 is attached to the base 3 for sealing the container 1. A shape
reinforcing
structure 19C is located along the side of the bottom portion of the base 3.
Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the base 3 of the
container 1,
and Figure 2a illustrates a perspective view of the base 3 of the container 1
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The base 3 of the container 1
comprises a generally planar bottom base portion 19. The bottom base portion
19
further comprises a partially planar raised central portion 16, surrounded by
a convex
or raised base portion 17, raised slightly above the raised central portion
16. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the partially planar raised
central
portion 16 is circular shape, equally distanced from the edge of the bottom
base
portion 19, and the raised base portion 17 is continuously circular shape
along the
outer perimeter of the raised central portion 16. One purpose of this raised
base
portion 17 is to provide a fitting mechanism so that, by placing the base 3
onto a
corresponding structure (see Figure 3) on the lid 2, it provides a stable and
solid
stacking mechanism.
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The shape reinforcing structure 19C is extended out and curved upwardly
from the perimeter of the bottom base portion 19 of the base 3. Then, a base
sidewall
18 is extended upwardly from the upper end of the shape reinforcing structure
19C.
As it can also be seen in Figure 4, a first base rim region 10 is extended
horizontally
and outwardly from the upper end of the base sidewall 18. Then, a first base
sealing
edge 11 extends upwardly from the outer end of the base rim region 10. Then, a
second base rim region 12 extends further horizontally and outwardly from the
upper
end of the first base sealing edge 11, and a second base sealing edge 13
extends
upwardly from the outer end of the second base rim region 12. A third base rim
region 14 is extended horizontally and outwardly from the upper end of the
second
base sealing edge 13, and a third base sealing edge 15 is extended downwardly
from
the outer end of the third base rim region 14.
Figure 3 illustrates a sectional side view of the lid 2 of the container 1 of
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 3a illustrates a
top view
of the lid 2 of the container 1, Figure 3b illustrates a perspective top view
of the lid 2
of the container 1, and Figure 3c illustrates a perspective bottom view of the
lid 2 of
the container 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lid
2
comprises a lid top portion 29 comprising partially planner raised central
portion 26
surrounded by a convex or raised lid portion 27. In the preferred embodiment
of the
present invention, the partially planar raised central portion 26 is circular
in shape,
equally distanced from the edge of the lid top portion 29, and the raised lid
portion 27
is continuously circular in shape around the outer perimeter of the raised
central
portion 26. It is noted that at least one of raised base or lid portion 17 or
27,
respectively, shall be continuously raised along the outer perimeter of the
raised
center portions 16 or 26, respectively. In this case, the other one of the
raised portions
17 and 27 may be non-continuous. If a certain orientation or alignment of the
containers 1 while stacking is important for a particular application, this
raised
portions 17 and 27 may define a keying structure, where the containers can
only be
settled and fitted when the containers are aligned in a particular direction.
There is a
void 33 around the center of raised central portion 26. The outer end of the
lid top
portion 29, the lid 2 further comprises a raised wall portion 30, before a lid
sidewall
portion 28 extending downwardly. As it can also be seen in Figure 5, at the
bottom
end of the lid sidewall portion 28, a first lid rim region 20 is extended
horizontally
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and outwardly, and a first lid sealing edge 21 is extended upwardly from the
outer end
of the first lid rim region 20.
Then, a second lid rim region 22 extends further horizontally and outwardly
from the first lid sealing edge 21, and a second lid sealing edge 23 extends
upwardly
from the outer end of the second lid rim region 22. Further, a third lid rim
region 24
is extended horizontally and outwardly from the second lid sealing edge 23,
and a
third lid sealing edge 25 is extended downwardly from the outer end of the
third lid
rim region 24. At the end of the third lid sealing edge 25, a sealing lip 32
extended
inwardly to provide a locking mechanism for locking or latching to the base 3.
The
lid 2 further comprises a tab 31 for easing a user to detach the lid 2 by
pulling the tap
31 and pulling it outwardly and upwardly.
Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the base 3 of
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of
the
present invention, the shape reinforcing structure 19C comprising curvature
portion
curved upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom base portion 19 and a shape
reinforcing rim 19D extending outwardly from the upper end of curved portion
of the
shape reinforcing structure 19C. Then, the side base wall 18 extends upwardly
from
the outer end of the reinforcing rim 19D of the shape reinforcing structure
19C. The
width of the shape reinforcing rim 19D may be about 0.6 mm for a food
container
application. However, the width of the shape reinforcing rim 19D depends on
thickness of the side base wall 18, thickness of the bottom base portion 19,
or
combination of two. The shape reinforcing rim 19D reinforces the shape of the
base
bottom portion 19, the curvature of the shape reinforcing structure 19C, and
shape of
the side base wall 18 in the case of containing some contents with high
temperature or
heavier items that may be sufficient to cause deforming the shape of the
containter 1.
And, Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the lid 2
with the tab
31 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the lid 2 and base 3 of
the
container 1, while the lid 2 and base 3 are detached from each other, and
Figure 6a
illustrates the enlarged view of Figure 6 or the enlarged cross-sectional side
view of
the lid 2 and base 3 of the container 1 of the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention, while Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the lid 2
and base 3
being attached each other, and Figure 7a illustrates an enlarged cross-
sectional side
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view of Figure 7 or the container 1 where the lid 2 attached to the base 3 of
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. To attach the lid 2 onto the
base 3,
from the position shown in Figure 6 to Figure 7, the lid 2 is pressed
downwardly onto
the base 3. The first rim region 20 of the lid 2 aligned with the first rim
region 10 of
the base 3; so that the first sealing edge 21 of the lid 2 aligns with the
first sealing
edge 10 of the base 3; the second rim region 22 with the second rim region 12;
the
second sealing edge 23 with the second sealing edge 13; the third rim 24 with
the
third rim 14; and the third sealing edge 25 with the third sealing edge 15.
While
applying the downward force to the lid 2 onto the base 3, the sealing lip 32
will be
pushed and flexed outwardly, sliding along the third sealing edge 15 of the
base 3,
then flexed back inwardly to the end of the third sealing edge 15 to complete
sealing.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sealing lip 32 is
half circular
in shape from the cross-sectional side view, and the radius thereof is
sufficiently large
to provide a first sealing mechanism formed between the sealing lip 32 and the
bottom
end of the third sealing edge 15 of the base 3. It is noted that lengths and
structure of
the first base rim region 10, first base sealing edge 11, second base rim
region 12,
second base sealing edge 13, third base rim region 14, third base sealing edge
15 of
the base 3 correspond to first horizontally extended rim region 20, first
sealing edge
21, second rim region 22, second sealing edge 23, third base rim region 24,
and third
base sealing edge 25 of the lid 2, respectively, so that it provides tight and
secure
sealing mechanism between the base 3 and the lid 2.
The present invention provides at least seven distinct sealing mechanisms.
From inside the container 1, the first sealing mechanism is defined by the
first rims 10
and 20. The second sealing is defined by the first sealing edges 11 and 21;
third
sealing defined by the second rims 12 and 22; the forth sealing defined by the
second
sealing edges 13 and 23; the fifth sealing defined by the third rims 14 and
24; sixth
sealing defined by the third sealing edges 15 and 25; the seventh sealing
defined by
the end of the third edge 15 and the sealing lip 32.
Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the base 3 and
lid
2, where the base 3 is about to be stacked on the top of the lid 2, and Figure
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illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional side view of the base 3 and lid 2,
where the
base 3 is stacked on the top of the lid 2. Note that shape of the base bottom
19,
including the partially planar raised central portion 16 and raised portion 17
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corresponds to the shape or construction of the upper surface of the lid top
portion 29,
including partially planar raised central portion 26 and raised portion 27 to
provide a
sufficient fitting for stable and solid stacking mechanism. The curved end of
base
bottom or shape reinforcing structure 19C of the base 3 and the raised wall
portion of
the lid 2 forms an air gap 40 to avoid the base 3 and lid 2 being stick onto
one another
for easing un-stacking the containers 1.
Figure 10 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional side view around the center
of
the base 2 and lid 3, where the base 2 is about to be stacked on the top of
the lid 2, and
Figure 11 illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional side view around the center
of the
base 2 and lid 3, where the base 3 is stacked on the top of the lid 2. Note
that the
construction of the bottom 19 of the base 3, including partially planar raised
central
portion 16 and raised portion 17, corresponds to the construction of the top
29 of the
lid 2, including partially planar raised central portion 26 and raised portion
27, so that
they fit each other while the base 3 is stacked on the top of the lid 2. It is
also noted
that a void 33 of the lid 2 and partially planar raised central portion 16 of
the base 3
defines an air gap 41 for preventing the lid 2 and base 3 being stick onto one
another
and easing un-stacking the stacked containers 1.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a series of side views of the lid 2 and base
3,
where Figure 12 shows that the lid 2 and base 3 are attached to one another,
Figure 13
shows that the lid 2 is detached partially from the base 3, and Figure 14
shows that the
lid 2 is substantially detached from the base 3. A user pulls the tab 31
outwardly to
disengage the sealing lip 32 from the third base sealing edge 15 and to create
an air
gap (not shown) between rims and edges of the base 3 and lid 2 of the
container, and,
then, upwardly to further disengage the lid 2 from the base 3.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum
dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include
variations in size,
materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use,
are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the
specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, applying the
spirits and principles of the invention into a container in a rectangular
shape is readily
apparent and obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art.
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Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiment shown and described
herein is merely illustration of the principles of this invention and that
various
modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing
from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling
within the scope of the invention. For example, although the embodiment shown
herewith is circular in configuration, the container 1 can be rectangular,
square, oval,
oblong, or any other shape.
