Lid of a container having an integrated ventilation shut-off mechanism

Abstract

Each embodiment relates to a lid of a container having a vent hole that is blocked for storage but is automatically unblocked when the container attached to the lid of the container is heated. Heating of the lid of the container causes a pressure increase inside the container, which pushes up the upper part of the lid of the container. When the upper part of the lid of the container is pushed up, the vent hole is unblocked, allowing air or steam to escape through the vent hole. In this way, the lid of the container can seal the container during storage, but during heating of the lid of the container, it allows automatic ventilation to prevent excessive pressure increase inside the container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lid of a container, and more specifically, to a lid of a container that automatically opens its vent hole as the pressure inside the container rises.

Background Art

[0002] Containers for storing and cooking food have various shapes and sizes. Such containers usually come with corresponding lids sized and structured to cover and seal the container. With the advent of microwave ovens, food is placed in a microwave-compatible container for cooking in the microwave oven, and the remaining food may be stored in the same container in the refrigerator. The food is cooked in the microwave oven, placed in the refrigerator for storage, and then taken out of the refrigerator and placed in the microwave oven for reheating.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Generally, a container is closed by a lid to prevent its contents from spilling or contaminants from entering the container during storage. Then, before putting the container into the microwave oven, the lid is removed to cause an excessive pressure rise inside the container.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] Each embodiment relates to a lid for a container for sealing the container, which automatically vents air or steam when the pressure inside the container exceeds a threshold value. The lid of the container includes a flange, a lower part, and an upper part. The flange is attached to the upper end of the container. The lower part extends downward and inward from the flange. The upper part includes a top and a peripheral part between the top and the flange. The peripheral part is switchable between a first state in which the peripheral part is deformed upward to lift the top from the lower part and a second state in which the peripheral part is deformed downward to lower the top onto the lower part. The peripheral part is formed with one or more vent holes that are blocked by the lower part in the second state but are open in the first state.

[0005] In one or more embodiments, in the first state, the lower part and the peripheral part are separated, and in the second state, the lower part contacts the peripheral part.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, when the pressure inside the container rises and exceeds the threshold value, the peripheral part switches from the second state to the first state.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, at least the peripheral part is made of a flexible material.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the flange, the lower part, and the upper part are integrated as a single unit.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the upper part is bistable in the first state and the second state.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the inner end of the lower part defines a hole that opens towards the container.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the peripheral part is connected to the flange via a connection region having a thickness thinner than that of the peripheral part and the flange.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the thickness of the peripheral part at the second part connected to the top is thicker than that of the first part.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the flange includes an annular body extending outwardly and a hook. The hook has an inner rib and an inner groove that engage in a sealed manner with the container.

[0014] Each embodiment also relates to a method of opening the lid of a container. By deforming the peripheral edge downwardly so that it is lowered onto the lower part of the lid of the container, the peripheral edge of which is attached to the top of the container, one or more vents formed in the peripheral edge of the upper part of the lid of the container are blocked. When the pressure inside the container with the lid attached thereto rises above a threshold value, the vents are unblocked by deforming the peripheral edge upwardly so that the peripheral edge is separated from the lower part of the lid of the container. By venting air or steam through the unblocked one or more vents, the pressure inside the container is reduced.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the vents are blocked by bringing the lower part into contact with the peripheral edge. The vents are unblocked by separating the lower part and the peripheral edge.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, a pressing against the top of the upper part is received so as to block one or more vents by deforming the peripheral edge.

[0017] Each embodiment also relates to a container assembly including a container and a lid of the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] In this specification, each embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the principles disclosed in this specification may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. In the description, well-known functions and techniques may be omitted in order to avoid unnecessarily complicating the understanding of the features of the embodiments. In the drawings, similar reference numerals in each figure indicate similar elements. For clarity, the shapes, sizes, regions, etc. of the drawings may be exaggerated.

[0020] Each embodiment relates to a lid of a container having a ventilation hole, which is blocked for storage but is automatically unblocked when the container attached to the lid of the container is heated. Heating the lid of the container causes a pressure increase inside the container, which pushes up the upper part of the lid of the container. When the upper part of the lid of the container is pushed up, the ventilation hole is unblocked, allowing air or steam to escape through the ventilation hole. In this way, the lid of the container can seal the container during storage, but during heating of the container, it allows automatic ventilation to prevent excessive pressure increase inside the container. In particular, this lid of the container is advantageous because it has an easy-to-use and easy-to-manufacture integrated structure and a highly reliable simple structure that is not easily damaged during daily use.

[0021] The lid of the container according to each embodiment may be assembled on a container for storing food products. After placing the food products in the container, the lid of the container may be fitted into the top opening of the container, and then the top of the lid of the container may be pushed down, whereby the lid of the container may be adhered to the container. Such a pushing operation deforms the peripheral edge of the lid of the container, blocks the ventilation holes in the peripheral edge, thereby preventing contaminants from entering the container through the ventilation holes. The container sealed with the lid of the container may be stored (for example, in a refrigerator). For eating and drinking the food products after storage, the container may be heated (for example, using a microwave oven) with the lid of the container attached. Heating the food products increases the pressure inside the container, and when the increased pressure exceeds a threshold value, it pushes up the top of the lid of the container. In this way, the ventilation holes are automatically unblocked to release air and steam from the container.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly including a lid 110 of a container and a container 120 according to an embodiment. After placing food products in the container 120, the lid 110 of the container is attached to the top opening of the container 120. In FIG. 1, the lid 110 of the container and the container 120 are shaped circular or cylindrical, but in other embodiments, they may have an angular shape or an oval shape (for example, a square or a cylindrical shape).

[0023] The lid 110 of the container is sized to fit into the container 120 and seal the container 120. For this purpose, the lid of the container includes a flange 108 and an upper portion 112. The upper portion 112 includes a top 142 and a peripheral edge 106 between the flange 108 and the top 142. The peripheral edge 106 and the flange 108 are connected via a connection region 152 that functions as a fold line and is made thinner so that the peripheral edge 106 can be bent with respect to it. As will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the flange 108 fits into the container 120.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, when the lid 110 of the container is in the lifted state (e.g., the first state), the top 142 is at the highest position. As shown in FIG. 3, when the lid 110 of the container is in the pushed-down state (e.g., the second state), the top 142 is at a position lower than the flange 108. In FIG. 3, the top is shown as having a flat shape, but the top can take various other forms.

[0025] The peripheral edge 106 is flexible and has a bistable configuration in which the top 142 is lifted in one state (e.g., the first state) and the top 142 is pushed down in the other state (e.g., the second state). The peripheral edge 106 may be made of a material that deforms the peripheral edge 106 between the two states when a certain amount of force or pressure is applied to the lid 110 of the container, and may have such a thickness profile. The peripheral edge 106 is formed with ventilation holes 104 passing through the peripheral edge 106. As will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, these ventilation holes 104 are blocked or unblocked according to the state of the peripheral edge 106.

[0026] The lid 110 of the container may be of an integral structure made of the same material. For example, the entire lid 110 of the container may be made of silicone having different thicknesses at different parts of the lid of the container. In this way, the entire lid 110 of the container may be made using a single injection molding process that does not require separate assembly of parts. Alternatively, the top 142 and the flange 108 may be made of a rigid material (e.g., plastic) while the peripheral edge 106 is made of a flexible material (e.g., silicone).

[0027] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container 120 and the lid 110 of the container according to one embodiment. The container 120 may have a side wall 124 having a rim 126 at the top. As will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the rim 126 may have a structure that allows the flange 108 to be locked to the container 120. In one or more embodiments, the container 120 may be made of a rigid material such as glass or plastic.

[0028] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container 120 with the lid 110 of the container pushed down, according to an embodiment. When the top 142 of the lid 110 of the container is pushed down (e.g., by a user's finger), the peripheral edge 106 deforms to lower the top 142. By doing so, the vent hole 104 is blocked, preventing external contaminants from entering the container 120.

[0029] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a container 120 with the lid 110 of the container lifted, according to an embodiment. The lid 110 of the container has a lower portion 402 that extends downward and inward from the flange 108. The lower portion 402 may be connected to the flange 108, and its lower inner edge defines a hole 432 that opens into the interior of the container 120. In one or more embodiments, the lower portion 402 is made of the same material as the other parts of the lid 110 of the container and is integrated.

[0030] When the container 120 is heated, the expanded gas or vapor passes through the hole 432, applying pressure to the top 142 and the peripheral edge 106 of the lid 110 of the container, and as a result, the top 142 is automatically lifted.

[0031] The flange 108 of the lid 110 of the container fixes the lid 110 of the container to the container 120 in a removable manner. Among the components, the flange 108 may include an annular body 412 connected to the peripheral edge 106, a lower portion 402, and a hook 414 having an inner rib 416. The hook 414 is formed with an inner groove 418 on the surface facing the side wall of the flange 108.

[0032] Container 120 has a rim 420 that protrudes outwardly at its top rim. When the lid 110 of the container is pushed downward toward the container 120 for assembly, the hook 414 deforms outwardly, and then the hook 414 catches the protruding rim 420. That is, the protruding rim 420 is inserted into the inner groove 418, and the inner rib 416 engages the bottom of the protruding rim 420 to lock the lid 110 of the container to the container 120. To remove the lid 110 of the container from the container 120, the lid 110 of the container is pulled from the container 120. This deforms the hook 414 and releases the protruding rim 420 from the inner groove 418.

[0033] The connection region 106 may have a thickness t2 that is thinner than the peripheral portion and the lower portion 402 (thickness t1). The peripheral portion 106 defines a region where most of the deformation occurs when the peripheral portion 106 is deformed downward to contact the lower portion 402, such that the vent hole 104 is completely blocked when the peripheral portion 106 is deformed downward. Further, the peripheral portion 106 may have different thickness profiles at the location where it is connected to the connection region 106 and at another location where it is connected to the top 142.

[0034] In this specification, the container 120 and the lid 110 of the container are described as using a structure consisting of a protruding rim 420 and an inner groove 418 to fix the lid 110 of the container to the container 120, but various other mechanisms such as screws or secure latches may be used to fix the lid 110 of the container to the container 120.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container 120 with the lid 110 of the container pushed downward, according to one embodiment. When the top 142 of the lid 110 of the container is pushed downward, the peripheral portion 106 contacts the lower portion 402, thereby blocking the vent hole 104.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of operating the lid 110 of a container according to an embodiment. After putting food products into the container 120 and assembling the lid 110 of the container to the container 120, the vent hole 104 formed in the peripheral edge portion 106 of the lid 110 of the container is blocked (610) by deforming the peripheral edge portion 106 downward so that the peripheral edge portion 106 contacts the lower portion 402. The peripheral edge portion 106 is deformed, for example, when the user presses down the top portion 142 of the lid 110 of the container. Then, the container 120 may be stored (for example, in a refrigerator).

[0037] Next, the container 120 is taken out from the storage location for eating and drinking and may be heated (for example, by a microwave oven). Heating the food products increases the pressure inside the container 120 (620). When the pressure exceeds the threshold value, the peripheral edge portion 106 deforms and pushes the top portion 142. In this way, the peripheral edge portion 106 is separated from the lower portion 402 of the lid 110 of the container, and the vent hole 104 is unblocked (630). Such deformation of the peripheral edge portion 106 occurs automatically when the pressure inside the container 120 exceeds the threshold value and does not require manual operation by the user other than heating the container 120.

[0038] When the vent hole 104 is unblocked, the pressure inside the container 120 decreases (640) by venting air or steam through the unblocked vent hole. In this way, an excessive pressure increase inside the container may be prevented.

[0039] So far in the present disclosure, several embodiments have been described, but various changes may be made within the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not limiting.

Claims

1. A flange configured to be attached to the upper end of a container, A lower part extending downward and inward from the flange, An upper part including a top and a peripheral part between the top and the flange, the peripheral part being switchable between (i) a first state in which the peripheral part is deformed upward to lift the top from the lower part and (ii) a second state in which the peripheral part is deformed downward to lower the top onto the lower part, the peripheral part being formed with one or more ventilation holes that are blocked by the lower part in the second state but are open in the first state, and the peripheral part being configured to automatically switch from the second state to the first state and release the gas when the pressure of the gas inside the container rises and exceeds a threshold value, and an upper part, A lid for a container comprising the above.

2. The lid for a container according to claim 1, wherein in the first state, the lower part and the peripheral part are separated, and in the second state, the lower part contacts the peripheral part.

3. The lid for a container according to claim 1, wherein at least the peripheral part is made of a flexible material.

4. The lid for a container according to claim 3, wherein the flange, the lower part, and the upper part are integrated as a single unit.

5. The lid for a container according to claim 1, wherein the upper part is bistable in the first state and the second state.

6. The lid for a container according to claim 1, wherein the inner end of the lower part defines a hole opening towards the container.

7. The lid for a container according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral part is connected to the flange via a connection region having a thickness thinner than that of the peripheral part and the flange.

8. The lid for a container according to claim 7, wherein the thickness of the peripheral part at a second part connected to the top is thicker than that of the connection region.

9. The lid for a container according to claim 1, wherein the flange includes an annular body extending outward and a hook, and the hook has an inner rib and an inner groove that engage with the container in a sealed manner.

10. A container including an open top, A lid for the container configured to be attached to the open top of the container, and The lid for the container is A flange configured to be attached to the upper end of the container, A lower part extending downward and inward from the flange, An upper part including a top and a peripheral part between the top part and the flange, the peripheral part being switchable between (i) a first state in which the peripheral part is deformed upward to lift the top from the lower part and (ii) a second state in which the peripheral part is deformed downward to lower the top onto the lower part, the peripheral part being formed with one or more ventilation holes that are blocked by the lower part in the second state but are open in the first state, the peripheral part being configured to automatically switch from the second state to the first state and release the gas when the pressure of the gas inside the container rises and exceeds a threshold value, and an upper part, a container assembly.

11. Blocking one or more ventilation holes formed in the peripheral part of the upper part of the lid of the container by deforming the peripheral part downward so that the peripheral part extends downward from the flange of the lid of the container attached to the top of the container and is lowered onto the lower part of the lid of the container; Increasing the pressure inside the container to which the lid of the container is attached beyond a threshold value; In response to increasing the pressure beyond the threshold value, deforming the peripheral part upward so that the peripheral part is separated from the lower part of the lid of the container to unblock the one or more ventilation holes; Lowering the pressure inside the container by venting air or steam through the unblocked one or more ventilation holes; A method comprising.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more ventilation holes are blocked by bringing the lower part into contact with the peripheral part, and the one or more ventilation holes are unblocked by separating the lower part from the peripheral part.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pressure inside the container is increased by heating the contents of the container.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising accepting a pressing force against the top of the upper part so as to block the one or more ventilation holes by deforming the peripheral part.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least the peripheral part is made of a flexible material.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the upper part is bistable in a first state in which the one or more ventilation holes are blocked and a second state in which the one or more ventilation holes are unblocked.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the inner end of the lower part defines an opening facing the container.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the flange, the lower part, and the upper part are integrated as a single unit.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising fitting a lid of the container onto the top of the container such that an annular body of the flange extending outward and a hook of the flange engage in a sealed manner with the container.

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