Apparatus for securing gasket prior to lid installation

Abstract

A lid for a container forming an upper rim portion. The lid comprises a central portion and a peripheral skirt portion forming a downwardly disposed channel extending around the periphery of the lid. The channel is adapted to overlie the container upper rim portion and to hold a sealing gasket therein at an upper portion of the channel. The skirt portion forms a plurality of bendable flaps extending within said channel, each of which being movable from a first position wherein each said flap extends across a portion of said channel preventing said gasket from falling out of the channel to a second position wherein each said flap is positioned within a relief pocket formed within said skirt wall. Each flap is urged from said first position to said second position by the rim of the container as it is inserted within said channel and pressed into engagement with said gasket. The flap may be inserted in a clearance fit within said pocket and remains in said pocket once urged therein by said rim portion. Alternately each flap may be pressed into friction fit engagement within said pocket and is fixed within said pocket once pressed therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to plastic containers, and in particular, to lids for such containers and a system for securing a sealing gasket within the lid prior to installation on a container. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] For certain uses of plastic containers, it is known and desirable to use an additional sealing means (such as a gasket or o-ring or the like) between the container upper rim and the downward groove formed around the periphery of the lid which is adapted to overlay the rim. In order to avoid gasket damage caused by inadvertent removal from the lid, it is desirable that gaskets be held firmly in lids during transportation and handling of lids regardless of lid stacking orientation. Known lids using additional seals such as gaskets or the like do not provide means to effectively secure the gasket within the downward peripheral groove of the lid in an economical and efficient manner nor do they secure the gasket in a way which causes no ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides a way to secure a gasket in a lid before putting it on a container. The lid has a central portion and a skirt that forms a channel where the gasket is placed. The skirt has bendable flaps that can be moved from a position that prevents the gasket from falling out of the channel to a position that allows the gasket to be securely positioned in a relief pocket on the skirt. The flaps are pushed from the first position to the second position by the upper rim of the container as it is inserted into the channel. This makes the gasket easier and more efficient to install in the container."

Problems solved by technology

Known lids using additional seals such as gaskets or the like do not provide means to effectively secure the gasket within the downward peripheral groove of the lid in an economical and efficient manner nor do they secure the gasket in a way which causes no further significant interference or additional tensions between lid and container once they are assembled together.

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