Air purging lid

Abstract

A lid, having an opening area encased by one of the variety of shaped sidewalls with a flexible ribbed portion extending downwardly to one of the variety of shaped bases (e.g., a domed shaped base), is provided for completely purging of atmospheric gases out of a container upon installation so as to eliminate head space by forming an airtight barrier with the container and the lid. A lid rim, having an inside portion connected to the top of the one of the variety of shaped with the flexible ribbed portion and an outside portion is provided for sealing the lid to the container. The dome shaped base is connected to the bottom of the one of the variety of shaped sidewalls forming a circular base of the lid. The one of the variety of shaped sidewalls is provided for manipulating the lid from a relaxed state to an elongated state while being submerged into a liquid to displace an amount of fluid needed to raise the fluid level.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates in general to a container lid, and more particularly to a lid device for purging air of out of a container holding a liquid.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]In today's society, distribution and consumption of consumable beverages have experienced significant growth. Many companies are striving to develop more complex and sophisticated packaging mechanisms for securing consumable liquids, such as wine and other beverages. Many of these packaged beverages are to be sold and distributed throughout the world with a need for greater shelf life. Certain beverages, such as wine, require the consumable liquid be protected from atmospheric gases. As such, a need exists for an air purging lid for protecting the liquid from atmospheric gases.SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS[0005]Many liquids spoil over time when exposed to oxygen and / or other atmospheric gases, and therefore, must be s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Accordingly, various device and method embodiments for a lid device are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a lid, having an opening area encased by one of the variety of shaped sidewalls (e.g., cylindrical shaped sidewalls) with a flexible ribbed (e.g., accordion shaped) portion extending downwardly to a dome (convex) shaped base, is provided for completely purging air out of a container upon installation so as to eliminate head space by forming an airtight barrier with the container and the lid. A lid rim, having an inside portion connected to the top of the one of the variety of shaped sidewalls (e.g., cylindrical shaped sidewalls) and an outside portion for sealing the lid to the container, is also provided. The one of the variety of shaped sidewalls (e.g., cylindrical shaped sidewalls) with the flexible ribbed portion and dome shaped base are submerged within the stored fluid when installed on a container. The flexible ribbed portion of the one of the variety of shaped sidewalls (e.g., cylindrical shaped sidewalls) are elongated as necessary from its relaxed state during the installation of the lid to displace enough stored fluid such that the stored fluid rises along the inside walls of the container to purge out all of the atmospheric gases without the fluid flowing over the container's rim. The flexible ribbed portion of the cylindrical sidewalls allows for the lid to elongate and contract while submerged within the stored fluid to accommodate the stored fluid's thermal contraction and expansion. Once the lid is airtight sealed to the container the atmospheric pressure maintains the force against the lid to hold it in its elongated configuration to maintain the fluid level against the rim of the lid with zero headspace. Once the airtight seal is broken the pressure within the container equalizes with the atmospheric pressure allowing the lid to contract along its flexible ribbed portion, which causes the fluid level to drop from the rim of the container.

Problems solved by technology

Many companies are striving to develop more complex and sophisticated packaging mechanisms for securing consumable liquids, such as wine and other beverages.

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