HK1231450B - Resealable container with collar and lid - Google Patents

Description

Resealable container with collar and lid

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a container for containing granular products or powdered materials, such as baby food. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a container including a closure having a collar and a lid for resealably securing an open end of the container.

Background Art

There are many products currently packaged in granular or powdered form in containers. These products include, but are not limited to, baby food, flour, coffee, sugar, and nutritional supplements such as protein supplements. Since many of these products are stored, shipped, sold, and distributed from the same container, the container should be designed to withstand the harsh conditions it will be exposed to, yet be user-friendly for the consumer.

Plastic containers are sometimes used to store and transport various granular materials, particularly in the industrial and food sectors. Some of these containers may include lids to allow the container to be opened and closed. However, depending on the particle size of the granular product, the product may leak from the plastic container, particularly in and around the area where the lid seals the container. Therefore, although many plastic containers include resealable lids to allow users to open the container multiple times to remove the product from the container's interior, these resealable lids are often not securely attached to the container's barrel to prevent the granular product from leaking from the container.

Furthermore, many containers that include resealable closures often do not provide complete closure of the container. For example, many caps and other closures for plastic containers still include a very slight gap between the cap and the barrel portion of the container, which, under extreme weather conditions (such as in tropical climates), allows small particles or even small insects to come into contact with the contents of the container.

Furthermore, particularly in the case of food products, the primary seal of the container should be tamper-evident so that the contents of the container are inaccessible prior to purchase and consumption by the user. For example, other prior art closures can open prior to the user's initial opening. When this occurs, the contents of the container may become contaminated, which can render the product unsuitable for consumption by the user.

Therefore, need a kind of more complete sealing container so that prevent the contents of container from leaking out or prevent insects and other pollutants from affecting the closure of the contents of container.In addition, need a kind of closure that keeps anti-tearing before opening for the first time of container.

Thus, the present disclosure provides a bucket having a closure comprising a lid and a ferrule assembly, wherein the ferrule is securely attached to the bucket so that the contents of the bucket will not leak out, and further, such that the ferrule cannot be removed without indicating to the user that it has been removed. Furthermore, when the lid is securely closed and after the primary seal has been removed by the consumer, the ferrule and lid form several sealed areas, thereby reducing the likelihood of external contaminants entering the bucket. Furthermore, the container of the present disclosure includes a closure comprising a ferrule and a lid that securely closes the container so that the product in the container does not leak out between and/or during multiple uses and/or openings of the container.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an improved container is provided. This and other aspects can be achieved by providing a container comprising a barrel having an interior portion formed by a base and at least one wall. More specifically, the container can include a barrel interior portion formed by a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls. In some embodiments, the container includes a closure adapted to releasably seal against the barrel, wherein the closure includes a collar and a lid.

In some embodiments, the collar includes a barrel-matching surface designed to securely engage a collar-matching surface positioned in a groove on the neck of the barrel of the container. In some embodiments, the collar includes at least one thin region and/or multiple thin regions to facilitate assembly of the container. In yet another embodiment, the collar is designed with a laterally extending U-shaped flange that provides flexibility to the collar so that it can be secured to the perimeter of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the barrel may include an anti-rotation element that prevents the ferrule from sliding around the perimeter of the barrel and thereby adds stability to the seal between the ferrule and the barrel. The ferrule may also include an anti-rotation engagement element that engages an anti-rotation element positioned on the barrel, thereby preventing the ferrule from sliding around the perimeter of the barrel and providing further structural stability to the barrel, ferrule, and lid assembly. Additionally, because the anti-rotation element stabilizes the ferrule to which the lid is attached, the lid remains properly positioned on the barrel, allowing the container to be opened and resealably closed multiple times by a user.

In various embodiments, the bucket includes a circumferential channel defined by the wall and the base, wherein the channel is adapted to receive a scoop to facilitate removal of the contents of the container. In some embodiments, the container includes a scoop having a handle coupled to a cylindrical bowl. The radius of the cylindrical bowl can be substantially equal to the radius of the container channel such that the bowl can be received by the channel and allow scooping of the container contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a front view of the bucket.

FIG2 shows a rear view of the bucket.

FIG3 shows a side view of the bucket.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the bucket including its opening.

FIG5 shows a cutaway view of the wall of the bucket comprising an opening flange and a groove.

6 shows the bucket with the closure attached, with the lid in the closed position on the collar and the latch not securely closed to the lid.

7 shows a container having a bucket with a collar and lid attached thereto with the latch sealingly engaged with the lid in a closed position.

FIG8 shows a rear view of the container with the latch hingedly attached to the lid.

FIG. 9A shows a top view of a ferrule including a latch.

FIG. 9B shows the internal features of the ferrule.

FIG. 10A shows the exterior surface and features of the cover.

FIG. 10B shows the interior surfaces and features of the cover.

FIG. 11A provides a view of the ferrule illustrating features of the ferrule.

FIG. 11B shows an enlarged view of a thin area located on the ferrule.

12 shows a cross-sectional view of a bucket, ferrule, and lid including features such as a sealable membrane and gasket.

13A shows a cross-sectional view of a bucket, ferrule, and lid including a ferrule including a U-shaped laterally extending flange.

FIG13B shows a cross-sectional view of the bucket, U-shaped collar, and gasket.

14 shows a cross-sectional view of the bucket, ferrule, gasket and lid with the latch in the closed position on the lid.

FIG. 15 shows a bottom view of the barrel of the container.

FIG. 16 shows multiple containers stacked on top of each other.

FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of a container including a sealable membrane.

18 is a cross-sectional view of the container showing the scoop releasably retained by the scoop attachment mechanism.

19 is a cross-sectional view of a container showing a circumferential channel positioned in the base of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are presented below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the containers of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, features shown or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to produce yet another embodiment.

Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in or will be apparent from the following detailed description. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this discussion is merely a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the present disclosure.

For clarity, not all reference numbers are necessarily present in every drawing. In addition, positional terms (such as "upper," "lower," "side," "top," "bottom," "vertical," "horizontal," etc.) refer to the container when it is in the orientation shown in the drawing. A skilled artisan will recognize that the container can assume different orientations when in use.

In some embodiments, the bucket 10 is open on a side opposite its bottom or base 18 and can have any suitable shape known in the art, including but not limited to cylindrical, conical, parallelepiped, and kidney-shaped. An annular sidewall W of the bucket 10 extends approximately around a vertical central axis Z, thereby defining an opening flange 30. The opening flange 30 defines the opening of the bucket 10. The opening flange 30 can be located on a shallow slope that descends away from the opening 20 (as can be seen in the non-limiting examples shown in Figures 1 and 5) or can be in a horizontal plane that coincides with the plane of the opening 20.

In some embodiments, the cross-section of the bucket 10 perpendicular to the central axis Z may be generally rectangular but with rounded corners. For example, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the cross-section varies slightly along the central axis Z to form a waist to make it easier to grip the container, but these variations may be limited to ensure that the vertical strength of the container is maintained when stacked.

Without implying any limitation, the bucket 10 can be made as a single hot blow molded plastic part. In some embodiments, the plastic part includes a high-efficiency oxygen barrier suitable for use with granulated products (such as milk powder). However, in some embodiments, the bucket can be made of some other material, such as metal, cardboard, or multi-layer boxboard.

In some embodiments, the container may include a base 18 and at least one sidewall. In an embodiment, referring to Figures 1-2, the bucket 10 includes a front wall 12, a rear wall 14, a first sidewall 16a, and a second sidewall 16b. The lower portions of the front wall 12, the rear wall 14, and the first and second sidewalls 16a and 16b are coupled to the base 18. Generally, the base 18 forms the bottom of the bucket 10. The front wall 12, the rear wall 14, the first sidewall 16a, the second sidewall 16b, and the inner surface of the base 18 form an interior space 22 of the bucket in which the granular product can be stored. In addition, the granular product can be placed in and removed from the bucket 10 through the opening 20.

In some embodiments, the upper portion of the tub 10 refers to the top half or top 50% of the front wall 12, rear wall 14, first sidewall 16a, and second sidewall 16b. In some embodiments, the upper portion of the tub 10 refers to the top quarter or top 25% of the front wall 12, rear wall 14, first sidewall 16a, and second sidewall 16b. In other embodiments, the upper portion of the tub refers to the top 10% of the front wall 12, rear wall 14, first sidewall 16a, and second sidewall 16b. However, in some embodiments where the tub 10 includes a sidewall W, the upper portion may refer to the top 50% of the sidewall W. In some embodiments, the upper portion may refer to the top 25% of the sidewall W or the top 10% of the sidewall W.

In some embodiments, an upper portion of the front wall 12, rear wall 14, first side wall 16a, and second side wall 16b of the tub 10 may include a neck 26. The neck 26 of the tub 10 may include an area of the front wall 12, rear wall 14, first side wall 16a, and second side wall 16b in which a closure portion including a lid 50 and a collar 40 may be secured to the tub 10. In embodiments, where the tub 10 includes a side wall W, the upper portion of the side wall W may include the neck 26 of the tub 10.

In some embodiments, the rear wall 14 includes a gripping recess 24 approximately in the middle of the rear wall 14 of the container. The gripping recess 24 can be configured to facilitate the user's hand to grip and pick up the container. In some embodiments, the gripping recess 24 can be ovoid and/or oblong in shape. The gripping recess 24 can also include a variety of shapes, including but not limited to circular, ellipsoidal, oval and/or rectangular. In other embodiments, the gripping recess 24 can be positioned so that the user can grip and open the lid of the container with one hand. Figure 2 shows a rear view of the container, which shows the rear wall 14 with the gripping recess 24 thereon. In addition, Figure 3 shows a side view of the container, which further illustrates the gripping recess 24 positioned in the rear wall 14.

Referring now to FIG4 , a top view of bucket 10 is shown. Front wall 12 , rear wall 14 , first sidewall 16 a, and second sidewall 16 b define bucket interior 22 . Furthermore, bucket 10 includes an opening flange 30 that defines the perimeter of container opening 20 . In some embodiments, opening flange 30 is generally parallel to container base 18 . See FIG5 . In yet other embodiments, opening flange 30 may be generally perpendicular to neck 26 of bucket 10 .

In some embodiments, the opening 22 of the bucket 10 includes an access opening. In certain embodiments, the access opening is functionally sized so that a user's hand fits comfortably within the bucket, while still allowing the opening to be small enough to keep the overall container at a reasonable size. For example, in an embodiment where baby food is stored in a container, the container should be sized so that it fits within a child's diaper bag without taking up too much space in the bag. Additionally, the access opening of the bucket allows a user's hand to fit comfortably within the opening, thereby allowing the user to remove the contents from the bucket without the user's hand touching the opening 22 or the inner wall of the bucket, thereby contaminating the contents of the container.

1 and 5 , the barrel 10 may include a groove 90 positioned generally around the neck 26 of the barrel 10. The groove 90 is designed to engage the ferrule 40, thereby securing the ferrule 40 to the barrel 10. In some embodiments, the groove 90 comprises an annular groove extending around the entire periphery of the neck 26 of the barrel 10. The groove 90 protrudes inwardly into the interior space 22 of the barrel 10 and is open from the outside. See FIG5 . In some embodiments, the barrel 10 includes a ferrule mating surface 90a. The ferrule mating surface 90a may be positioned in the groove 90 of the barrel 10. In some embodiments, the ferrule mating surface 90a may be positioned on the upper surface of the groove 90 of the barrel 10. Typically, the ferrule mating surface 90a is designed to engage the barrel mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40, thereby securing the ferrule 40 to the barrel 10.

In some embodiments, the bucket includes a raised protrusion 410. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1-2, the raised protrusion is positioned generally around the neck 26 of the bucket 10. In some embodiments, the bucket 10 includes at least one raised protrusion 410. In still other embodiments, the bucket 10 includes multiple raised protrusions 410. For example, as shown in Figure 1, one raised portion may be positioned generally around the upper portion of the front wall 12 of the bucket 10, and as shown in Figure 2, another raised portion may be positioned generally around the upper portion of the rear wall 14 of the bucket 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , bucket 10 may include a closure portion comprising a collar 40 and a lid 50. In an embodiment, collar 40 includes a latch 60, which can be used to securely seal lid 50 to bucket 10. Latch 60 can be in either an open or closed position. For example, FIG. 6 shows latch 60 in an open position, while FIG. 7 shows latch 60 in a closed position. In FIG. 7 , a portion of latch 60 is releasably secured to the top surface of lid 50, thereby securing lid 50 to bucket 10 in the closed position. FIG. 8 further illustrates latch 60 in the closed position, securely sealing lid 50 to bucket 10. FIG. 8 further illustrates rear wall 14 and gripping recess 24. Lid 50 may be hingedly attached to collar 40 by at least one hinge 42. In some embodiments, lid 50 may be hingedly attached to collar 40 by at least two hinges (illustrated as 42a and 42b, respectively). In other embodiments, the cover 50 may be hingedly attached to the collar 40 by a plurality of hinges.

Referring now to the collar 40, FIG9A shows a top view of the collar 40. In some embodiments, the latch 60 is integrally molded to the collar 40. In still other embodiments, the latch 60 may be attached to the collar 40 after the collar 40 is molded by any suitable method known in the art. The latch 60 includes a lid engaging flange 62 that engages a hole, opening, or other suitable structure in the lid 50 to secure the latch 60 to the lid. The lid engaging flange 62 may be any shape, including but not limited to circular, ellipsoidal, rectangular, or triangular. In some embodiments, the latch 60 may include multiple lid engaging flanges 62 to further secure the latch 60 to the lid 50, thereby further securing the lid 40 to the bucket 10.

Still referring to FIG9A , the collar 50 may include at least one hinge attachment 43 to hingeably fasten the cover 50 to the collar 40. In some embodiments, the collar 40 may include at least two collar hinge attachments, designated 43a and 43b. In other embodiments, the collar may include multiple hinge attachments.

In addition, the latch 60 includes a cover surface flange 64 that is complementary in shape to the exterior top surface 52 of the cover 50. The cover surface flange 64 is designed to rest on the exterior top surface 52 of the cover 50. The latch 60 may also include a cover sealing wall engaging surface 66 that is designed to engage and/or rest against the exterior surface of the exterior sealing wall 72 of the cover 50. In some embodiments, the features of the latch 60, including the cover engaging flange 62, the cover surface flange 64, and the cover sealing wall engaging surface 66, are designed to complement the overall size and shape of the cover 50.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the lid engaging flange 62 can be generally perpendicular to the plane of the lid surface flange 64 of the latch 60. Additionally, when the latch 60 is in the closed position, the lid engaging flange 62 can be generally parallel to the wall of the bucket 10. As further shown in FIG. 9A , the lid engaging flange 62 extends from the lid surface flange 64 of the latch 60 and is designed to engage the lid 50 when the latch 60 is in the closed position.

In some embodiments, the ferrule 40 may include an outer sealing wall 84 and a barrel mating surface 86, as shown in FIG9B . The barrel mating surface 86 may include a single attachment surface that extends around the entire perimeter of the ferrule 40. In some embodiments, the barrel mating surface 86 includes an annular bead that extends around the entire inner perimeter of the ferrule 40. In still other embodiments, the barrel mating surface 86 includes a flange that extends around the entire perimeter of the ferrule 40.

The collar 40 is similar in shape to the outer surface of the neck 26 of the bucket 10. For example, in embodiments where the sidewall W of the bucket 10 is circular, the collar 40 will include a complementary circular geometry. Similarly, in embodiments where the sidewall W of the bucket 10 is rectangular, the collar 40 will be shaped in a complementary rectangular manner. More specifically, in some embodiments, the bucket includes four corner regions. These regions generally correspond to the corner regions of the bucket, however, these corner regions can include a variety of shapes. Thus, the term corner region is not meant to be limiting and merely describes the region of curvature surrounding the opening 20 of the bucket 10. The collar 40 (including the bucket mating surface 86) can complement the overall corner regions of the bucket 10.

In some embodiments, corner region(s) may be formed where the various walls of the barrel 10 meet. For example, the corner regions may be rounded corners (as shown in FIG. 4 ), or may have any suitable shape known in the art, including but not limited to rectangular, ellipsoidal, or curved geometries with multiple degrees of curvature. In some embodiments, the collar 40 may include complementary corner regions corresponding to the geometry of the barrel's corner regions. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the collar includes at least one recessed region 85. The at least one recessed region may be positioned generally within a corner region of the collar 40. In some embodiments, the collar 40 includes multiple recessed regions 85. In some embodiments, the at least one recessed region is positioned around the barrel mating surface 86.

Typically, the at least one recessed area 85 provides flexibility to the barrel mating surface 86, thereby ensuring that the barrel mating surface 86 does not crack and/or break away from the ferrule 40 when the ferrule 40 is snap-fitted onto the neck 26 of the barrel 10. In some further embodiments, where additional flexibility is necessary, the ferrule 40 may include multiple recessed areas, as generally shown in Figures 9B, 11A, and 11B. Typically, the at least one recessed area 85 of the barrel mating surface 86 is thinned to allow for increased spring force so that the ferrule 40 can be installed over the barrel 10 and snapped into place on the barrel 10.

In some embodiments, the recessed area(s) 85 may be placed anywhere on the bucket mating surface 86. Furthermore, the ferrule 40 may include multiple recessed areas 85; however, assuming a seal is formed between the bucket 10 and the ferrule 40 when the bucket mating surface 86 engages the ferrule mating surface 90a of the bucket 10, the ferrule 40 should not include so many recessed areas 85 that an effective seal is not achieved between the ferrule 40 and the bucket 10. Therefore, in some embodiments, the number and placement of the recessed areas 85 are optimized to promote both flexibility and sealing properties of the ferrule 40, so that the ferrule 40 maintains an effective connection or seal with the bucket and is not damaged when connected to the bucket 10.

In some embodiments, the collar 40 may include at least one stop member 400. In some embodiments, the collar 40 may include multiple stop members 400. In other embodiments, the stop member 400 may include a barrel-engaging surface 401. More specifically, as shown in FIG9B , in some embodiments, the stop member 400 may be positioned generally in a corner region of the collar 40. The stop members 400 may be positioned at various locations around the inside of the collar's outer sealing wall 84. As shown in FIG9B , these stop members 400 typically engage raised protrusions 410 positioned around the neck 26 of the barrel 10 (see FIGS. 1-2 ). For example, one end of a raised protrusion 410 of the barrel 10 may engage at least one surface of the stop member 400 and extend laterally around the neck 26 of the barrel 10, with the second end of the raised protrusion 410 then engaging at least one surface of another stop member 400. Additionally, in some embodiments, one end of the raised protrusion 410 of the tub 10 engages at least one tub engagement surface 401 of the stop member 400 , and the other end of the raised protrusion 410 engages at least one tub engagement surface 401 of another stop member 400 .

More specifically, in some embodiments, when the collar is connected to the neck 26 of the tub 10, the raised protrusion 410 can snap fit or friction fit between the two stop members 400. In some embodiments, the raised protrusion 410 can snap fit between the two tub engaging surfaces 401 of the two stop members 400. Additionally, the tub 10 can include a plurality of raised protrusions 410 that engage the plurality of stop members 400 positioned around the inside of the collar 40. In some embodiments, the collar 40 can include at least four stop members 400 positioned around the inside of the collar 40 to engage the ends of the two raised portions, thereby preventing the collar from rotating around the neck 26 of the tub 10.

In some embodiments, the inside of the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40 can include at least one rib 450. In some embodiments, the inside of the outer sealing wall 84 can include multiple ribs 450. For example, as seen in FIG9B , the ribs 450 can be positioned around the inside of the outer sealing wall 84 generally in the area where the latch 60 is attached to the ferrule 40. Placing the ribs in this position on the ferrule 40 strengthens the ferrule 40 and prevents degradation (including twisting or breaking of the ferrule 40) as the latch 60 is repeatedly manipulated by the user into open and closed positions. Thus, in some embodiments, the ferrule 40 can include multiple ribs 450 strategically placed and/or spaced around the ferrule 40 (including the inside of the ferrule 40) to prevent degradation or damage to the ferrule 40.

In some embodiments, the collar 40 can include a second wall 452 positioned generally between the outer sealing wall 84 and the opening of the collar 40. As can be seen in FIG. 9B , in some embodiments, one side of the second wall 452 engages the inner side of the outer sealing wall 84, thereby providing additional strength to the outer sealing wall 84. However, in some embodiments, the second wall 452 of the collar can include ribs 450 positioned on a surface of the wall that is not in contact with the outer sealing wall 84. In some embodiments, the second wall 452 can include a plurality of ribs 450 positioned thereon. These ribs 450 can provide additional strength to the structure of the second wall 452, thereby strengthening the outer sealing wall 84 of the container and, therefore, the overall structure of the collar 40.

In some embodiments, one side of the second wall 452 of the ferrule engages the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40, and at least a portion of the other side of the second wall 452 can engage the outer surface of the bucket 10. This engagement between the second sealing wall 452 of the ferrule 40 and the bucket 10 can form an additional seal between the bucket 10 and the ferrule 40, thereby strengthening the connection between the bucket 10 and the ferrule 40. This additional seal can further prevent contaminants from entering the bucket 10 and can also strengthen the neck 26 of the bucket 10. Additionally, in embodiments where the second wall 452 of the ferrule 40 includes a rib 450 positioned thereon, the rib 450 can engage the bucket 10 when the ferrule 40 is secured to the bucket 10.

Referring now to Figures 10A-10B, the lid 50 may include an exterior top surface 52. Additionally, the lid 50 may include at least one lid sealing wall 72. The lid 50 may further include a second lid sealing wall 74. In some embodiments, the lid may also include an interior sealing wall 76. The second lid sealing wall 74 may be positioned between the lid sealing wall 72 and the interior sealing wall 76. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the lid sealing wall 72 may include an exterior surface that is generally parallel to the wall(s) of the bucket. An upper portion of the lid sealing wall 76 may contact the outer perimeter of the exterior top surface 52 of the lid 50.

In addition, the lid 50 includes a latch engagement portion 51. Typically, the latch engagement portion 51 of the lid 50 is positioned on a portion of the outer surface of the lid sealing wall 72 and a portion of the outer top surface 52 of the lid 50. See FIG10A. The latch engagement portion 51 may further include an engagement notch 54 for securely engaging the lid engagement flange 62 of the latch 60, thereby securing the collar 40 and the latch 60 to the lid 50 and further securely closing the lid 50 to the bucket 10.

Generally, the recess of the latch engagement portion 51 is complementary in shape and depth to the latch 60. More specifically, the recess may be complementary in shape to the lid surface flange 64 and lid sealing wall engagement surface 66 of the latch 60. The recess may include a lid surface engagement recess 56 and an outer lid sealing wall recess 58. In this manner, the lid surface flange 64 of the latch 60 is complementary in shape to the lid surface engagement recess 56, and the outer lid sealing wall engagement surface 66 of the latch 60 is complementary in shape to the lid sealing wall recess 58. The lid recess is designed to accommodate the dimensions of the latch 60 so that the latch 60 remains flush with both the outer top surface 52 and the outer surface of the lid sealing wall 72 of the lid 50 when the latch 60 is in the closed position. Furthermore, when the latch 60 is moved onto the lid 50 into the closed position, the user will experience a tactile sensation when the latch 60 is securely engaged within the recess of the latch engagement portion 51 of the lid 50. This tactile sensation signals that the latch 60 is securely engaged with the lid 50 of the container.

In some embodiments, the lid engaging flange 62 of the latch 60 can produce an audible sound (which in some embodiments can be described as a "click") when it is inserted into the engaging recess 54 positioned within the latch engaging portion 51 of the lid 50. This click (audible to the user) indicates that the latch 60 has been secured to the lid 50 and, further, that the lid 50 has been securely sealed to the bucket 10.

Lid 50 may include at least one lid hinge attachment 44. In some embodiments, lid 50 may include multiple lid hinge attachments 44a and 44b. See FIG10B. Lid hinge attachments 44a and 44b are designed to hingedly couple with ferrule hinge attachments 43a and 43b, thereby hingedly attaching ferrule 40 and lid 50. When coupled, lid hinge attachments 44a and 44b and ferrule hinge attachments 43a and 43b comprise hinge 42. In some embodiments, where a hinged member is not desired, ferrule 40 may be attached to lid 50 by any suitable method known in the art. Non-limiting examples of methods for attaching lid 50 to ferrule 40 include utilizing heat (such as when molding or welding ferrule 40 and lid 50 together) or utilizing a suitable adhesive. Furthermore, when lid 50 and ferrule 40 are hingedly attached, they may generally be referred to as a closure.

Referring now to FIG. 12 , in some embodiments, the ferrule 40 includes a ferrule flange 87 that extends from the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40 toward the wall of the bucket 10. In some embodiments, the ferrule flange includes a top surface 88. In some embodiments, the ferrule flange 87 can form a curved or rounded corner with the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40. Typically, when the ferrule 40 is mounted to the bucket 10, one end of the ferrule flange 87 includes a bucket mating surface 86. Thus, the ferrule flange 87 can include a variety of shapes and can be bent (as shown in FIG. 12 , FIG. 13A , and FIG. 13B ) to allow the ferrule 40 to snap fit onto the neck 26 of the bucket 10.

When the ferrule 40 is snapped onto the tub 10, the ferrule flange 87 flexes laterally toward the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40, thereby allowing the tub-mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40 to fit into the groove 90 of the tub 10. Once the ferrule 40 is snapped into place within the groove 90 of the tub 10, the ferrule flange end 87 flexes laterally rearward toward the tub 10, thereby promoting a secure engagement between the tub-mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40 and the ferrule-mating surface 90a of the tub 10. In some embodiments, the tub-mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40 continuously engages the ferrule-mating surface 90a of the tub 10 around the entire perimeter of the tub 10.

In some embodiments, the seal formed between the barrel mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40 and the ferrule mating surface 90a of the barrel 10 is labeled C1. In some embodiments, seal C1 is a continuous seal extending around the entire periphery of the barrel 10 and the ferrule 40. Therefore, because the seal of C1 is continuous around the periphery of the barrel 10, it provides additional stability to the overall structure of the container compared to other prior art containers that do not have a continuously attached seal between the ferrule 40 and the barrel 10. In addition, because C1 is continuous around the entire periphery of the barrel 10, it provides a tamper-evident feature. For example, if someone attempts to remove the ferrule 40 from the barrel 10, the ferrule 40 (particularly the ferrule flange 87 and/or the barrel 10) may be damaged. This damage will indicate to the user that someone has tampered with the container.

12 , one end of the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40 rests on the barrel 10, thereby forming a seal area C2. Similar to C1, the seal area C2 is a continuous seal around the entire perimeter of the barrel 10, which is positioned between the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40 and the barrel 10. This continuous seal C2 provides a first defense against foreign contaminants from entering the interior contents of the container, thereby maintaining the sanitary condition of the contents of the container.

The gasket 100 can be positioned on the top surface 88 of the ferrule 40. In some embodiments, the gasket 100 can cover the top surface 88 of the ferrule 40. In other embodiments, the gasket 100 can cover only a portion of the top surface 88 of the ferrule. In some embodiments, the gasket 100 is integrally molded to the top surface 88 of the ferrule 40. In still other embodiments, the gasket 100 is formed separately from the ferrule 40 and can be placed on the ferrule 40 before the ferrule 40 is snapped onto the bucket 10. In still other embodiments, the gasket 100 can be formed separately from the ferrule 40 and placed on the top surface 88 of the ferrule 40 after the ferrule 40 has been snapped into the groove 90 of the bucket 10.

The gasket 100 can be composed of any suitable material known in the art, including but not limited to any thermoplastic elastomer ("TPE"). Non-limiting examples of suitable TPEs that can be used herein include styrenic block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, and any suitable combinations and mixtures thereof.

The lid 50 (when in the closed position) forms a seal C3 between the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40 and the lid sealing wall 72. This seal C3 is a continuous annular seal around the perimeter of the ferrule 40 and lid 50, thereby preventing contaminants from entering the container. Additionally, the second lid sealing wall 74 can form a continuous annular seal C4 with the top surface 88 of the ferrule 40. In some embodiments, the second lid sealing wall 74 forms a continuous annular seal C4 with a gasket 100 positioned on the top surface 88 of the ferrule. In embodiments where the second lid sealing wall 74 forms a continuous annular seal C4 with the gasket 100, the gasket 100 can be designed to include a sealing groove 102 that accommodates the end of the second lid sealing wall 74 distal from the inner top surface 78 of the lid 50. In this embodiment, when the distal end of the lid sealing wall 74 is securely inserted into the sealing groove 102 of the gasket 100, the second lid sealing wall 74 provides a tactile signal to the user that the lid 50 is securely closed.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the inner sealing wall 76 of the lid 50 can form a sealing area C5 with the open flange 30 of the bucket 10. The seal C5 can form a continuous annular seal between the inner sealing wall 76 of the lid 50 and the open flange 30 of the bucket 10. The sealing area C5 provides a first defense against the contents of the bucket 10 from escaping from the bucket 10 and onto the surrounding area and/or the gasket 100 and the ferrule 40.

Thus, in some embodiments, the container of the present disclosure is designed with five continuous annular seals C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5, respectively. Including five continuous annular seals in the container provides enhanced strength to the overall structure of the container, specifically strengthening the attachment between the collar 40, the lid 50, and the barrel 10. Furthermore, these five continuous annular seals enhance the overall sealability of the container, meaning that foreign contaminants are effectively prevented from entering the interior space 22 of the barrel 10 of the container when in the closed position. Consequently, granular product placed in the barrel 10 remains fresher and more sanitary than granular product placed in a barrel that does not include the five continuous annular seals described herein.

13A and 13B , in some embodiments, the collar 40 may include an outer wall 110 and a laterally extending flange 112 extending from the collar's outer wall 110 toward the wall of the bucket 10. The laterally extending flange 112 may include a U-shape or a V-shape. In some embodiments, the U-shaped end of the laterally extending flange 112 includes a bucket mating surface 86 that engages a collar mating surface 90 a of the bucket 10. The collar mating surface 90 a of the bucket 10 may be positioned within a groove 90 on the neck 26 of the bucket 10.

The U-shaped end of the laterally extending flange 112 of the collar 40 may include a gasket 100. See Figures 13A and 13B. For example, when the collar 40 is fastened to the tub 10, one surface of the laterally extending flange 112 generally faces the lid 50, and the other surface of the laterally extending flange 112 generally faces the tub 10. The opening of the U-shaped end of the laterally extending flange 112 may generally face the lid, thereby forming a groove 114 in the collar 40. In some embodiments, the groove 114 of the collar 40 may include a gasket 100. The gasket 100 may fill at least a portion of the groove 114 or may fill the entire groove 114. See Figures 13A and 13B.

In some embodiments, where the ferrule 40 includes a groove 114, the second lid sealing wall 74 can create a sealing contact within the groove 114 positioned on the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 40. In some embodiments, the gasket 100 includes a gasket groove 118 that extends at least partially into the groove 114 of the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 40. In this embodiment, the second lid sealing wall 76 extends into the gasket groove 118, thereby engaging the gasket 100 and sealing the lid 50 to the ferrule 40. In some embodiments, when the second lid sealing wall 76 is secured within the gasket groove 118 positioned within the groove 114 of the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 50, the user will experience a tactile sensation that signals that the lid 50 is securely enclosed on the ferrule 40 and the bucket 10. In some embodiments, when the second cover sealing wall 76 is secured within the gasket groove 118 , the user may hear an audible sound that signals that the cover 50 has been securely engaged with the gasket 100 positioned on the ferrule 40 .

In some embodiments, the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 40 may be thinned at the end toward the barrel mating surface 86. See FIG. 13B . Although the barrel mating surface 86 may extend around the entire perimeter of the barrel and the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 40, the laterally extending flange 112 may include at least one thinned area 120 that provides a spring force to allow the ferrule 40 to snap fit onto the neck 26 of the barrel 10. In some embodiments, the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 40 may include at least two thinned areas 120. For example, the thinned areas 120 of the laterally extending flange 112 of the ferrule 40 allow the ferrule 40 to flex laterally toward the outer sealing wall 84 of the ferrule 40, thereby allowing the ferrule 40 to be installed on the neck 26 of the barrel 10. Once the ferrule 40 has been installed on the neck 26 of the tub 10 , the thin region 120 of the laterally extending flange 112 bends back toward the wall of the tub 10 , allowing the tub mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40 to securely engage the ferrule mating surface 90a of the tub 10 .

Furthermore, the U-shaped groove of the laterally extending flange 112 provides flexibility to the ferrule 40 so that the ferrule 40 will not break when snap-fitted onto the neck 26 of the tub 10. The laterally extending flange 112, including the U-shaped groove, not only provides additional flexibility when the ferrule 40 is snap-fitted onto the tub 10, but also bends toward the wall of the tub 10, thereby strengthening the seal C1 between the ferrule 40 and the tub 10. Furthermore, the U-shaped groove on the laterally extending flange 112 bends toward the wall of the tub 10, thereby strengthening the seal between the tub-mating surface 86 of the ferrule 40 and the ferrule-mating surface 90a of the tub 10.

14 and 15 , the lid 50 of the container can be further shaped to cooperate with features of the base 18 to enable stacking of multiple containers. For example, in some embodiments, the lid 50 is shaped to have a generally convex surface. In this embodiment, the base 18 is designed to include a concave surface that is complementary to the convex surface of the lid 40, so that the convex surface of the lid 50 fits within the concave surface of the base 18.

In some embodiments, the exterior top surface 52 of the lid 50 includes a raised center portion 130. See FIG. 14 . In this embodiment, the base 18 of the bucket 10 may include a recessed center portion 132. See FIG. 15 . The raised center portion 130 of the lid 50 and the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18 are designed to complement each other in overall shape and size. For example, the raised center portion 130 of the lid 50 may have a generally ellipsoidal or oval shape and have a width, length, and height that complement the width, length, and height of the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18. Thus, the raised center portion 130 of the lid 50 can be placed inside the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18, allowing one container to be stacked on top of another. See FIG. 16 .

The raised center portion 130 of the lid 50 and the corresponding recessed center portion 132 of the base 18 can comprise a variety of shapes, including but not limited to rectangular, circular, or ellipsoidal shapes. In some embodiments, the height of the raised center portion 130 of the lid 50 is approximately the same height as the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18, thereby allowing the outer perimeter 134 of the base to rest securely on the perimeter of the outer top surface 52 of the lid 50 when one container is stacked on top of another. See FIG. 16 .

In some embodiments, the latch 60 is designed to include a raised portion to accommodate the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18 when one container is stacked on top of another. As can be seen in FIG14 , the latch 60 of the container is in a closed position in which the lid engaging flange 62 of the latch 60 is securely engaged with the engagement recess 54 on the lid 50, thereby securely closing the container. To provide a complementary surface to the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18, the latch 60 is designed with a raised portion to accommodate stacking of containers.

The container of the present disclosure may also include a sealable film 150. The sealable film allows for vacuum packaging of the contents of the bucket 10 and provides a tamper-evident lining. Referring to Figures 17 and 18, in some embodiments, the sealable film is placed over the opening 20 of the bucket 10. The sealable film 150 can be sealed to the opening flange 30 of the bucket 10. In some embodiments, the sealable film 150 is sealed and/or bonded around the entire periphery of the bucket 10 with a suitable adhesive. The adhesive used to seal the sealable film 150 to the bucket 10 can be any adhesive known and/or used in the art. In some embodiments, heat can be used to bond the sealable film 150 to the bucket.

Those skilled in the art of food packaging will be familiar with such sealable films. Specifically, a sealable film 150 formed of polypropylene, polyethylene laminated foil, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, or other suitable material can be bonded to the opening flange 30 using adhesive or heat to form an airtight seal. Because the sealable film 150 is secured to the opening flange 30 via adhesive and/or mechanically welded, removal of the lid 50 will not interfere with the sealable film 150 unless the sealable film 150 is cut or removed.

As can be seen in FIG18 , the sealable membrane 150 may include a tab 152. Once the lid 50 is in the open position, the tab 152 can be grasped by the user to allow the user to remove the sealable membrane 150 from the opening flange 30 of the bucket 10. In some embodiments, the tab 152 is folded onto the top surface of the sealable membrane 150 and rests on the top surface of the sealable membrane 150 until it is grasped by the user. However, in some embodiments, the tab 152 of the sealable membrane 150 extends laterally away from the opening flange 30 of the bucket 10 and folds to be generally parallel to the outer periphery of the neck 26 of the bucket 10.

In some embodiments, tab 152 is positioned at a corner of the bucket. Placing tab 152 in this position concentrates and directs the initial peeling force, which facilitates easy removal of sealable film 150 from bucket 10. Thus, placing tab 152 roughly corresponding to a corner of bucket 10 allows for complete removal of sealable film 150. Thus, the user does not have to spend extra time removing a piece of sealable film 150 or potentially contaminate or stain the product of bucket 10 while removing sealable film 150.

When the lid 50 is in the closed position, the inner sealing wall 76 of the lid 50 can rest on the surface of the sealable membrane 150 along the opening flange 30 of the bucket 10. However, in some embodiments, the tab 152 of the sealable membrane 150 is positioned so that when the lid 50 is closed, the sealable membrane 150 is not sandwiched between the second lid sealing wall 74 and the ferrule 40 and/or the second lid sealing wall 74 and the gasket 100. In this manner, the integrity of the tab 152 of the sealable membrane 150 is maintained. For example, if the sealable membrane 150 is crushed or pressed down by the second lid sealing wall 74 of the lid 50 when the lid 50 is in the closed position, the sealable membrane 150 (particularly the tab 152 portion) may wrinkle, crack, or rupture. If such damage occurs to the tab 152 of the sealable membrane 150, it may be difficult for the user to remove the sealable membrane 150 from the bucket 10. Therefore, in some embodiments, the tab 152 is designed to have a shape and length such that it will not be captured between the second cover sealing wall 74 and the ferrule 40 and/or gasket 100 .

In some embodiments, the sealable membrane 150 can include a utensil receiving recess 154 that extends into the opening 20 of the bucket 10 when the sealable membrane 150 is secured to the bucket 10. For example, as shown in Figures 17-18, in some embodiments, the utensil receiving recess 154 extends below the opening flange 30 of the bucket 10 into the interior space 22 of the bucket 10. In this manner, the receiving recess 154 ensures that the sealable membrane 150 will not be punctured, torn, or damaged in any way when the scoop 200 is secured in the scoop member 82 positioned on the interior top surface 78 of the lid 50.

Still referring to Figures 17 and 18, in some embodiments, the container can include a scoop 200. The scoop 200 can be a scoop molded from a suitable plastic material, which can be blow molded by extrusion or injection molding. Suitable plastics for forming the dispensing device 200 include, but are not limited to, various food-grade polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleic anhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.

As shown in FIG18 , the scoop 200 has a generally flat handle 202 attached to or integrally formed with a scooping mechanism 204 having a radius R′. Ribs 206 may be utilized and connected to the underside of the handle and scooping mechanism 204 to provide structural stability to the scoop 200. In some embodiments, the scooping mechanism 204 is closed at one end 208 and open at a second end 210. In some embodiments, the scooping mechanism 204 includes a cylindrical bowl. The bowl 204 can be formed in many other shapes, including, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, and the like.

The scoop 200 can be releasably secured to the lid 50 of the bucket 10 by a scoop attachment element 82 positioned on the interior top surface 78 of the lid 50, as shown in FIG18 . The scoop attachment element 82 can include a plurality of flexible tabs 212 arranged to releasably secure the scoop 200 to the interior top surface 78 of the lid 50. The flexible tabs 212 can be centrally positioned on the interior top surface 78 of the lid within the raised center portion 130. In some embodiments, a set of three tabs 212 are arranged to secure the handle portion 202 of the scoop 200, and a set of two tabs 212 are arranged to secure the bowl 204. Each tab 212 can include a protrusion 214 that helps secure the scoop 200 to the lid 50 when the lid 50 is secured to the bucket 10. Furthermore, ribs 216 can be used to reinforce the tabs 212, and two generally triangular ribs can be used to support the bowl 204 of the scoop 200.

Thus, due to the scoop attachment element 82, the scoop 200 does not become buried in the granular material positioned in the bucket 10, thereby eliminating the need for the user to dig through the contents to find the scoop 200. This is particularly important when the contents of the container are for human consumption and contact with hands is undesirable.

Referring now to FIG. 19 , in addition to allowing containers to be stacked, the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18 serves a second purpose. In some embodiments, the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18 forms a circumferential channel 230 at the bottom of the bucket 10. Typically, the channel 230 is formed between the area where the wall(s) of the bucket 10 meet the base 18 and the recessed center portion 132 of the base 18. The channel 230 is sized and shaped to receive the cylindrical bowl 204 of the scoop 200. The channel 230 may further include a radius R. In particular, the radius R' of the cylindrical bowl 204 is approximately equal to or less than the radius of curvature R of the inside surface 232 of the circumferential channel 230.

The recessed center portion 132 of the base 18 and the walls of the bucket 10 cause the granular contents to be drawn into the channel 230 as the product is depleted. Thus, the bowl 204 fits into the channel 230 and allows the user to effortlessly scoop out substantially all of the granular contents in the container (such a channel/bowl arrangement also allows the container to be used for liquid storage and dispensing when desired). Regardless of the shape of the channel 230, the bowl 204 will be sized and shaped to be received in the channel 230. For example, a square channel will require a bowl that fits within the channel. In particular, the bowl 204 will be shaped to facilitate scooping the contents of the bucket 10 out of the channel 230 and, therefore, will most often be the same shape as the channel 230.

All references cited in this specification, including but not limited to all papers, publications, patents, patent applications, presentations, texts, reports, manuscripts, brochures, books, web postings, journal articles, periodicals, and the like, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The discussion of the references herein is intended only to summarize the assertions made by their authors and does not constitute an admission that any reference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited references.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described using specific terms, devices, and methods, such descriptions are for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than limitation. It should be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchangeable in whole or in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained herein.

Claims (17)

1. A container comprising: A bucket having an opening flange defining the opening of the bucket and a continuous groove positioned in the upper portion of the bucket; A collar having a barrel-fitting surface extending around its entire periphery to engage a groove in the barrel, thereby securing the collar to the barrel, and wherein the collar includes an outer wall and a laterally extending flange extending from the outer wall toward the barrel and having a U-shape at the extended end of the laterally extending flange, providing flexibility to the collar by extending the U-shape; and The cover is hinged to the collar. The barrel mating surface includes at least one thin area to facilitate the installation of the collar onto the barrel. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the bucket further includes an anti-rotation element. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the collar further comprises at least one stop member to engage the anti-rotation element of the barrel. 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the continuous groove includes a collar mating surface that engages the barrel mating surface of the collar, thereby providing a continuous annular seal C1 between the barrel and the collar. 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the collar includes an outer sealing wall having one end that contacts the upper portion of the barrel to form a seal C2 between the collar and the barrel. 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the collar further comprises a washer. 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the lid further comprises an outer sealing wall, a second lid sealing wall, and an inner sealing wall, wherein one end of the outer sealing wall engages the ring to form a seal C3 between the lid and the ring, one end of the second lid sealing wall engages at least one surface of the gasket to form a seal C4 between the lid and the gasket, and at least one end of the inner sealing wall engages the opening flange of the barrel to form a seal C5 between the lid and the barrel. 8. A container comprising: A bucket having an opening flange defining the opening of the bucket and a continuous groove positioned in the upper portion of the bucket; A collar having a barrel-fitting surface extending around the entire periphery of the collar to engage the groove of the barrel, thereby securing the collar to the barrel, wherein the collar further includes a washer. A latch, which is attached to the collar; and A lid, which is hinged to the collar, wherein the lid further includes an outer sealing wall, a second lid sealing wall and an inner sealing wall, wherein one end of the outer sealing wall engages the collar to form a seal C3 between the lid and the collar, one end of the second lid sealing wall engages at least one surface of the gasket to form a seal C4 between the lid and the gasket, and at least one end of the inner sealing wall engages the opening flange of the barrel to form a seal C5 between the lid and the barrel; The collar includes at least one thin area to facilitate the attachment of the collar to the barrel. 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the lid further includes a latch engagement portion having an engagement notch thereon, and the latch further includes a lid engagement flange for securely engaging the engagement notch when the container is closed. 10. A container comprising: A bucket having an opening flange defining the opening of the bucket and a groove positioned in the upper portion of the bucket; A collar having a barrel-fitting surface extending around the entire periphery of the collar to engage the groove of the barrel, thereby securing the collar to the barrel, wherein the collar includes at least one thin region to facilitate mounting the collar to the barrel, and wherein the collar includes an outer wall and a laterally extending flange extending from the outer wall toward the barrel and having a U-shape at the extended end of the laterally extending flange, thereby providing flexibility to the collar by extending the U-shape; A cover, which is hinged to the collar and has a top surface and an outer sealing wall; and A latch, which is attached to the collar designed to seal the engagement of the cover; The base of the bucket also includes a recessed central portion, and the lid also includes a raised central portion that is complementary to the recessed central portion of the base, so that multiple containers can be stacked on top of each other. 11. The container of claim 10, wherein the lid further comprises a latch engagement portion including a first recess positioned on the top surface of the lid and a second recess positioned on the outer sealing wall of the lid, wherein the first recess and the second recess are designed to sealably receive the latch. 12. The container of claim 11, wherein the latch engagement portion of the lid includes an engagement recess, and the latch includes a lid engagement flange that securely engages the engagement recess of the lid. 13. The container of claim 10, wherein the container further comprises a spoon, the spoon comprising a handle and a bowl-shaped portion, wherein the bowl-shaped portion has a radius R'. 14. The container of claim 10, wherein the lid further comprises an appliance attachment element, wherein the appliance attachment element comprises at least one flexible tab extending from the center of the protrusion of the lid toward the interior of the container. 15. The container of claim 13, wherein the base of the container includes a circumferential channel having a radius R, and wherein the radius R' of the bowl-shaped portion is equal to or less than the radius R of the circumferential channel, such that the bowl-shaped portion of the spoon is mounted within the circumferential channel. 16. The container of claim 10, wherein the barrel further comprises a neck having at least one anti-rotation element projecting outward from the neck of the barrel, wherein the anti-rotation element further comprises a ring engagement surface for frictionally engaging the ring and preventing movement of the ring around the neck of the barrel. 17. The container of claim 10, further comprising a sealable film adhered to the opening flange of the barrel.