A storage container for food and other items and a method of venting a storage container. The storage container may include a container body and a removable lid. The removable lid may include a flexible sealing lip that traverses the perimeter of a rigid central cover portion. At least one venting a
A storage container for food and other items and a method of venting a storage container. The storage container may include a container body and a removable lid. The removable lid may include a flexible sealing lip that traverses the perimeter of a rigid central cover portion. At least one venting aperture may extend through the rigid central cover portion. Additionally, the storage container may include a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch may include a gripping portion configured to grip a peripheral rim of the container body and a sealing portion configured to cover the venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position. When the latch occupies the unlatched position, the sealing portion may uncover the venting aperture to permit venting of steam and other gases from within the storage container.
대표청구항▼
1. A storage container comprising: a container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim;a removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traver
1. A storage container comprising: a container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim;a removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traversing a perimeter of the rigid central cover portion, wherein the flexible sealing lip is configured to sealingly engage at least one of the sidewall or the peripheral rim of the container body;a first venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid;a first latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position; andthe first latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, wherein the gripping portion is configured to grip the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position, and wherein the sealing portion is configured to cover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the latched position and uncover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the unlatched position,wherein the sealing portion of the first latch includes a sealing protrusion sized and dimensioned to be inserted into, and sealingly close, the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the latched position. 2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first latch is rotationally connected to the removable lid. 3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the first latch is configured to rotate about a rotational axis offset inwardly from the peripheral rim of the container body when the removable lid is secured to the container body. 4. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising: a second latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position;a second venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid;the second latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, wherein the gripping portion is configured to grip the peripheral rim of the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the second latch occupies the latched position, wherein the sealing portion is configured to cover and seal close the second venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position and uncover the venting aperture when the latch occupies the unlatched position; andwherein the first and second latches are arranged on opposite sides of the storage container. 5. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the gripping portion of the first latch is configured to snap over the peripheral rim of the container body to removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position. 6. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the flexible sealing lip includes a wiper seal configured to slidably and sealingly engage an inner surface of the sidewall. 7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the removable lid is clamped between the gripping portion of the first latch and the peripheral rim of the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position. 8. The storage container of claim 7, wherein the flexible sealing lip includes a compression seal disposed on an underside of the outer peripheral portion of the removable lid such that the compression seal is clamped between the outer peripheral portion of the removable lid and the peripheral rim of the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position. 9. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the flexible sealing lip includes a first connector member and the rigid central cover portion includes a second connector member, wherein the first and second connector members matingly engage each other. 10. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the first connector member includes a cavity sized and dimensioned to receive the second connector member. 11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first latch includes an opening receiving a pin extending from the removable lid to rotationally connect the first latch and the removable lid. 12. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a handle extending outwardly from the peripheral rim of the container body and being disposed outwardly of the removable lid. 13. A method for venting a storage container, the method comprising: filling a container body of the storage container with food, the container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upward from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim;covering the container body with a removable lid, the removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traversing a perimeter of the rigid central cover portion, wherein the flexible sealing lip is configured to sealingly engage at least one of the sidewall or the peripheral rim of the container body;rotating a latch hinged to the removable lid in a first rotational direction to a latched position in which (i) a sealing portion of the latch covers a venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid, and (ii) a gripping portion of the latch grips the container body to secure the latch to the peripheral rim of the container body, wherein the sealing portion of the first latch includes a sealing protrusion sized and dimensioned to be inserted into, and sealingly close, the venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position; androtating the latch in a second rotational direction to an unlatched position in which the sealing portion of the latch uncovers the venting aperture and vents an interior cavity of the container body to the atmosphere. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing the storage container in a microwave to heat the food within the storage container. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the latch is rotated in the second rotational direction to uncover the venting aperture and vent the interior of the container body to the atmosphere before heating the food in the microwave. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the latch is rotated in the second rotational direction to uncover the venting aperture and vent the interior of the container body to the atmosphere after heating the food in the microwave. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein covering the container body with the removable lid comprises sliding a wiper seal connected to the removable lid along an inner surface of the sidewall of the container body. 18. A storage container comprising: a container body including a bottom wall and a sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating at a peripheral rim;a removable lid including a rigid central cover portion and a flexible sealing lip traversing a perimeter of the rigid central cover portion, wherein the flexible sealing lip is configured to sealingly engage at least one of the sidewall or the peripheral rim of the container body;a first venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid;a first latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position; andthe first latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, wherein the gripping portion is configured to grip the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the first latch occupies the latched position, and wherein the sealing portion is configured to cover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the latched position and uncover the first venting aperture when the first latch occupies the unlatched position,wherein the flexible sealing lip includes a wiper seal configured to slidably and sealingly engage an inner surface of the sidewall. 19. The storage container of claim 18, wherein the first latch is rotationally connected to the removable lid, and wherein the first latch is configured to rotate about a rotational axis offset inwardly from the peripheral rim of the container body when the removable lid is secured to the container body. 20. The storage container of claim 18, further comprising: a second latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position;a second venting aperture extending through the rigid central cover portion of the removable lid;the second latch including a gripping portion and a sealing portion, wherein the gripping portion is configured to grip the peripheral rim of the container body and removably secure the removable lid to the container body when the second latch occupies the latched position, wherein the sealing portion is configured to cover and seal close the second venting aperture when the latch occupies the latched position and uncover the venting aperture when the latch occupies the unlatched position; andwherein the first and second latches are arranged on opposite sides of the storage container.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
Lown,John M.; Melvin,David A., Container and sealing cover.
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