WO2004099023A1

WO2004099023A1 - Cover for an airtight container

Info

Publication number: WO2004099023A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000277
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaegu Moon
Original assignee: Myoung Moon L C Co Ltd
Current assignee: Myoung Moon L C Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-12
Filing date: 2004-02-12
Publication date: 2004-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2005-08-12

Abstract

The present invention discloses a cover for an airtight container, which can be easily assembled as a packing is directly fit onto the cover and directly pressurized, and which can be used in a microwave oven as being made of soft material. The airtight container cover, which has air discharge means (20), includes: a body (1) including an extension rim (6) extending downwardly from the outer peripheral edge thereof and having a predetermined height and a protruding rim end (2) protruding outwardly from the front end of the extension rim (6); a packing (10) having an edge rim end protruding outwardly from a bottom of the outer periphery thereof and fit around the extension rim (6) of the body (1) in such a manner that the edge rim end of the packing is seated on the protrusion rim end (2) of the body, wherein the edge rim end of the packing is larger in diameter than the protrusion rim end (2) of the body; and a fixing frame (3) having a contact surface (4) closely contacting the extension rim (6) of the body (1) while pressurizing the packing (10) upon the fitting of the fixing frame onto the body.

Description

COVER FOR AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cover for an airtight container molded with plastic material, which can be used in a microwave oven and easily assembled. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cover for an airtight container, which can tightly seal a container due to a pressure difference generated when a packing protruded outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the cover is in a close contact with the inner wall of the container and the inside air of the container is discharged to the outside by air discharge means of the cover due to a volume change within the container if the cover is coupled with the container.

Background Art

Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0286377 discloses a cover for an airtight container for tightly sealing a container using air discharge means, devised by the same inventor as the present invention. ^' In the prior art, when a packing 200 is mounted on the cover in such a manner as to be protruded outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the cover and the cover 100 is coupled with the container 300, the packing 200 of the cover is bent upwardly and closely contacts the container along the inner wall of the container 300. At the same time, the inside air of the container is discharged to the outside by means of the air discharge means 500 due to a volume change of the container generated while the cover is fit into the container, and hence, there occurs a pressure change inside the container and the cover cannot be freely opened. As a result, the airtight container cover can prevent spoiling of foods contained in the container owing to the discharge of the air.

However, the cover 100 has an upper cover and a lower cover coupled with each other, and the packing is pressurized and fixed between the edge portions of the upper and lower covers.

At this time, as the pressurized packing is not escaped from the cover, the cover is made of ABS or PS, which is a solid material.

However, there occurs a problem in that since the ABS or PS is changed into a soft plastic state by microwave of a microwave oven, it cannot be used in the microwave oven. Furthermore, the prior art has several disadvantages in that the airtight container cover must be manufactured in a three-dimensional structure to prevent separation of the cover when the packing is pressurized between the upper and lower covers, and in that the packing cannot have uniform pressure as being indirectly pressurized by the coupling of the upper and lower covers.

Disclosure of Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for an airtight container, which can be easily assembled as a packing is directly fit onto the cover and directly pressurized, and which can be used in a microwave oven as being made of soft material.

To achieve the above object, the airtight container cover according to the present invention is molded with PP (Poly Propylene) capable of maintaining its shape even though being used in the microwave oven. For uniform intensity of the cover made of PP, which is a soft material, the body has an extension rim and a protruding rim end for seating the packing, and a fixing frame, which has a contact surface, is fit onto the packing seated on the protruding rim end while surrounding the outer surface of the extension rim.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIGS. 1 to IE are brief views showing a structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where a cover is coupled with a container.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a rib of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cover having air discharge means.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a pressured state of a packing.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cover body. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a fixing frame of the cover.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional cover for an airtight container.

FIG 12 is a sectional view of the conventional cover for an airtight container. <Explanation on reference numerals of essential parts in drawings>

1 : body 2 : protruding rim end

3: fixing frame 4a: pressure stepped jaw 5: locking groove 6: extension rim

7: locking protrusion 7a: inclined surface

8: pressure protrusion 9: rib

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the components of the present invention have different reference numerals from those of the prior art even though they are the same. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when a cover according to the present invention, which has air discharge means 20 and a packing 10 protruding from the edge, is coupled with a container 30, the packing 10 is coupled with the inner wall of the container 30 in a close contact with the inner wall of the container 30, ^' so that the air inside the container 30 is discharged through the air discharge means 20 and the container 30 can be naturally sealed due to a pressure change inside the container 30. The cover according to the present invention includes: a body 1 having an extension rim 6 extending downwardly from the outer peripheral edge thereof and a protruding rim end 2 protruding outwardly from the front end of the extension rim 6; a packing 10 having an edge rim end protruding outwardly from a bottom of the outer periphery thereof and fit around the extension rim 6 of the body 1 in such a manner that the edge rim end of the packing is seated on the protrusion rim end 2 of the body, wherein the edge rim end of the packing is larger in diameter than the protrusion rim end 2 of the body; and a fixing frame 3 having a contact surface 4 closely contacting the extension rim 6 of the body 1 while pressurizing the packing 10 upon the fitting of the fixing frame onto the body.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the extension rim 6 of the body 1 has a locking groove 5 formed on the outer periphery thereof, to be engaged with a locking protrusion 7 of the fixing frame 3. The fixing frame 3 has a number of pressure protrusions 8, which are separated at regular intervals, and inner spaces 8a formed between the pressure protrusions 8 and widened by pressing the pressure protrusions 8, so that the packing 10 is squeezed into the inner spaces 8a widened by the pressure protrusions 8 when the fixing frame 3 pressurizes the packing 10 so as to prevent the packing 10 from being taken off from the fixing frame 3.

At this time, the pressure protrusions 8 separated at regular^' intervals can prevent deformation of the cover due to expansion and contraction as providing uniform cooling efficiency when the cover is molded.

The locking groove 5 of the extension rim 6 of the body 1 is formed on the upper portion of the extension rim 6, and the locking protrusion 7 of the fixing frame 3 engaged with the locking groove 5 is also formed on the upper portion of the fixing frame 3, so that the fixing frame 3 is not separated from the body 1 when the fixing frame 3 is lifted up to separate the cover from the container. Furthermore, the inner space 8a formed between the pressure protrusions 8 has a rib 9 formed therein to prevent the pressure protrusions 8 from being spread outwardly due to the inner spaces 8a widened at regular intervals when the cover is lifted up.

Moreover, a portion 11 of the packing 10 seated on the protruding rim end 2 of the body is formed thicker and has a stepped jaw 12 to prevent damage and a free separation of the packing 10 and maintain sealing efficiency when the packing 10 is pressurized by the fixing frame 3. It is preferable that the stepped jaw 12 is formed in multiple stages to provide more firm and stable sealing efficiency and prevent separation of the packing 10.

In addition, to precise and exact pressurization of the packing 10 having the stepped jaw 12, the fixing frame 3 also has a pressure stepped jaw 4a to be in a close contact with the stepped jaw 12 of the packing 10, so that the packing 10 can be prevented from shape distortion and damage.

The packing 10 has a reinforced rim 13 extending outwardly from the stepped jaw along the outer periphery thereof to be in a close contact with the inner wall of the container 30, so as to provide a more firm and stable contacting force.

To prevent the free separation of the fixing frame 3, which pressurizes the packing 10, after the fixing frame 3 is fit onto the extension rim 6 of the body 1, there is on means to fix the fixing frame 3 in case where the fixing frame 3 is processed by a precise design. However, due to the limitation of the existing precise processing of plastics, to prevent the free separation of the fixing frame 3, the fixing frame 3 is adhered to the extension rim 6 by means of adhesive agent, the extension rim 6 has an inclined surface 6a slightly inclined downwardly and inwardly from the upper end thereof as shown in FIG. IE, the central portion of the extension rim 6 is convexed as shown in FIG. IC, or the extension rim 6 has the locking groove 5 formed on the inner wall thereof and the fixing frame 3 has the locking protrusion 7 engaged with the locking groove 5 as shown in FIG. ID.

Since the fixing frame 3 must be forcedly fit onto the extension rim 6, if possible, the locking protrusion 7 has an inclined surface 7a slightly inclined upwardly for easy engagement with the locking groove, and in order to prevent the free separation of the fixing frame 3 after the engagement, the upper surface of the locking groove 5 is formed at angles of 90_° or more, and the locking protrusion 7 has the shape corresponding to that of the locking groove (5) to be engaged with the locking groove (5) .

The locking groove 5 and the locking protrusion 7 are engaged with each other at a position where the packing 10 is pressurized at a predetermined pressure after the packing 10 is seated on the protruding rim end 2.

As a test result of the present invention, it was confirmed that the locking protrusion 7 is not separated from the locking groove 5 when the packing 10 is pressurized to the length of about 0.3mm.

Therefore, even though the present invention is molded with PP (Poly Propylene) of a soft material, the body 1 is not distorted as being reinforced by the extension rim 6, and the body 1 has more improved intensity by the extension rim 6 and the protruding rim end 2 extending from the extension rim 6. The packing 10 seated on the protruding rim end 2 is easily mounted and fixed by a direct pressurization due to the contact surface of the fixing frame 3 closely fit onto the extension rim 6, and the packing 10 is in the close contact with the inner wall of the container 30, thereby the present invention can have excellent sealing efficiency.

Lots of air discharge means 20 have been disclosed, but the present invention uses a lid 21 of a silicon material. When the lid 21 is moved vertically inside an air hole 40 formed in the body 1 of the cover, so that an air flow path can be opened and closed.

To easily open and close the flow path, the lid 21 includes: a curved surface 22 protruding outwardly from the upper end thereof to be easily pulled out; driving shafts 23 inserted into the air hole- 40 and having locking ends 24, each of which is formed on the front end of the driving shaft 23 to prevent a free separation of the lid 21 in a state where the locking end 24 is coupled with the air hole 40; and slits 25 of a predetermined depth formed between the locking ends 24 and formed to the lower end of the curved surface 22; and a stop portion 26 formed at the lower end of the curved surface 22, where there is no slit, to close the air hole 40.

Therefore, a user pull out the curved surface 22, the driving shafts 23 are taken off from the air hole 40, and then, the air goes in and out the air hole 40 while the air flow path is formed by the slits 25, which is formed between the driving shafts 23. To stop the entrance of the air, when the user pushes down the driving shafts 23, the stop portion 26 formed at the lower end of the curved surface 22 stops the air hole 40, and thereby, the air hole 40 is sealed.

As the lid 21 is made of silicon material of excellent durability, the present invention is very sanitary and not deformed.

As sown in FIG. 7, the air discharge means 20 includes: a concave portion 41 formed on the top surface of the body 1, the concave portion having an air hole 40 formed in the bottom surface thereof; a cap 50 connected to a side of the concave portion 41 via a shaft 42 to be collapsibly opened and closed and having a fitting hole 51 formed therein; and an adsorption member 60 coupled with the cap 50 for stopping the air hole 40 and having a coupling protrusion 61 to be inserted into the fitting hole 51, the adsorption member 60 being opened and closed by manipulation of the cap 50.

At this time, the cap 50 has a covering body 50a assembled thereto to define an inner space 62 for receiving the coupling protrusion 61 of the adsorption member 60.

Therefore, in the airtight container cover according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, when the user presses the cap 50 after put the cover on the container 30, the edge of the adsorption member 60 mounted on the cap 50 is lifted up by air pressure discharged through the air hole 40, and the air inside the container 30 is automatically discharged out. After that, the air hole 30 is automatically stopped while the adsorption member 6 is in the close contact with the container 30, so that the container 30 can be sealed reliably. In this condition, when the user opens the cap 50, a side of the cap 50 is collapsed by the shaft 42, and then, the adsorption member 60, which is in the close contact with the outer edge portion of the air hole 40, can be easily separated by an inclined angle formed by the collapsed cap 50, so that the cover can be easily separated from the container 30.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the airtight container cover according to the present invention is made of material capable of being used in the microwave oven and allows for mounting of the packing without distortion of shape, thereby preventing separation of the packing, maintaining excellent sealability, and providing good fixibility, economical efficiency and excellent food preservation efficiency.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for an airtight container, which has air discharge means (20) and closely contacts the inner wall of the container (30) and completely sealing the container due to a pressure change inside the container while the inside air of the container is discharged to the outside through the air discharge means (20) , the cover for an airtight container comprising: a body (1) including an extension rim (6) extending downwardly from the outer peripheral edge thereof and having a predetermined height and a protruding rim end (2) protruding outwardly from the front end of the extension rim (6); a packing (10) having an edge rim end protruding outwardly from a bottom of the outer periphery thereof and fit around the extension rim (6) of the body (1) in such a manner that the edge rim end of the packing is seated on the protrusion rim end (2) of the body, wherein the edge rim end of the packing is larger in diameter than the protrusion rim end (2) of the body; and a fixing frame (3) having a contact surface (4) closely contacting the extension rim (6) of the body (1) while pressurizing the packing (10) upon the fitting of the fixing frame onto the body.

2. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the extension rim of the body has a locking groove formed on the outer periphery thereof to be coupled with a locking protrusion formed on the fixing frame.

3. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the fixing frame has a plurality of pressure protrusions for pressurizing the packing.

4. The airtight container cover according to claim 2, wherein the locking groove is formed on the upper portion of the extension rim of the body, and the locking protrusion coupled with the locking groove is formed on the upper portion of the fixing frame .

5. The airtight container cover according to claim 3, wherein the plural pressure protrusions have ribs formed at regular intervals.

6. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the packing (10) has a thicker portion (11) seated on the protruding rim end (2) of the body and having a stepped jaw (12) , and the fixing frame (3) has a pressure stepped jaw (4a) engaged with the stepped jaw (12) of the packing (10) .

7. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the packing (10) has a reinforced rim (13) extending outwardly from the stepped jaw along the outer periphery thereof to be in a tight contact with the inner wall of the container

(30) .

8. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the extension rim (6) has an inclined surface (6a) slightly inclined downwardly and inwardly from the upper end thereof to prevent a free separation of the fixing frame (3) fit onto the extension rim (6), and the fixing frame 3 has the same inclined surface as that of the extension rim (6) to be engaged with the extension rim (6) by forced fitting.

9. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the locking protrusion (7) has an inclined surface (7a) slightly inclined upwardly for easy engagement with the locking groove, a locking surface of the locking groove (5) is formed at angles of 90_° or more, and the locking protrusion (7) has the shape corresponding to that of the locking groove (5) to be engaged with the locking groove (5) .

10. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the air discharge means includes: a concave portion (41) formed on the top surface of the body 1, the concave portion having an air hole (40) formed in the bottom surface thereof; a cap (50) connected to a side of the concave portion (41) via a shaft (42) to be collapsibly opened and closed and having a fitting hole (51) formed therein; and an adsorption member (60) coupled with the cap (50) for stopping the air hole (40) and having a coupling protrusion (61) to be inserted into the fitting hole (51), the adsorption member (60) being opened and closed by manipulation of the cap (50) . a concave portion 41 formed on the upper surface of the body 1 and having the air hole 40 formed in the bottom surface thereof; a cap 50 connected to a side of the concave portion 41 via a shaft 42 to be collapsibly opened and closed and having a fitting hole 51 formed therein; and an adsorption member 60 having a coupling protrusion 61 inserted into the fitting hole 51

11. The airtight container cover according to claim 1, wherein the cap (50) has a covering body (50a) assembled to the upper portion of the cap (50) to define an inner space (62) for receiving a coupling protrusion (61) of the adsorption member

(60) therein.