A container lid and a container having a container lid

Abstract

A container 10 comprising a container body 11 and a container lid 12 and a container lid 12 for closing a container body 11. The container lid 12 having a gasket 32 comprising a gasket seal 36 for sealing against the container body 11 when the container lid 12 is in closed connection with the container body 11. The gasket 32 further comprising a hinge 34 that extends from the gasket seal 36 for connection to the container body 11.

Description

A CONTAINER LID AND A CONTAINER HAVING A CONTAINER LIDTechnical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container lid and to a container having a container lid according to the invention. The container lid of the present invention has been developed principally for use with food or drink containers, although it will have other uses. It will nevertheless be convenient to describe the container lid invention as it applies to these types of containers, however it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to use with these types of containers.Background of Invention

[0002] The discussion of the background to the invention that follows is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] Containers typically include a container body having a container opening for access to or for the discharge of contents, and a container lid is normally provided to close the container opening to retain the contents within the container. Typical containers include drink containers and children's lunch containers for example.Container lids can connect to a container body in a variety of different ways, including by screw thread or by snap fit. For containers that might be suitable for liquid containment, a seal or gasket is often employed between the container body and the container lid to prevent leakage. Seals or gaskets are often employed where the container body and container lid are formed from hard materials, such as metals or hard plastics, which are difficult to seal without an additional seal or gasket. The present invention relates to container lids that include a seal or gasket.

[0004] Container lids are sometimes connected or tethered to the container body they are associated with to prevent the loss or accidental displacement of the container lid relative to the container body. The connection can be by a traditional hinge assembly, in which an axle is attached to one of the container body or thecontainer lid and the axle is secured, such as being received in a recess or opening that allows relative rotation between the container body and the container lid.

[0005] Alternative arrangements to secure a container lid to a container body employ a tether which attaches to each of the container body and the container lid and which has a length sufficient to allow the container lid to be lifted from and reconnected to the container body. The tether can be integrally formed with the container body and / or the container lid, or it can separately connected to one or both of the container body and / or the container lid.

[0006] The applicant has developed the present invention as an alternative to what exists already in this field.Summary of Invention

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a container lid for closing a container body, the container lid having a gasket comprising a gasket seal for sealing against the container body when the container lid is in closed connection with the container body, the gasket further comprising a hinge that extends from the gasket seal for connection to the container body.

[0008] The present invention advantageously provides a gasket that includes a hinge that extends for connection to the container body. This has various advantages including that in container lids that already utilise a gasket, the hinge becomes part of the gasket and does not require further connectors to connect to the container lid. That is, the present invention utilises an existing component of the container lid (the gasket) for connecting the hinge to the container lid. In some prior art arrangements that already use a hinge to connect the container lid to the container body, a hinge is provided that separately connects to the container body and the container lid. This arrangement is often employed in drink containers. In these prior art arrangements, opposite ends of the hinge are formed as or with rings that attach respectively to the container lid and the container body.

[0009] In other prior art arrangements, one end of the hinge is connected integrally to the container lid or the container body and the opposite end is formed as a ring or other connector to attach to the other of the container lid or the containerbody. Accordingly, in this prior art, the hinge requires one or more connectors (the ring or rings discussed above) for connection to the container lid and / or the container body. In contrast, in container lids according to the present invention, the connector is the gasket from which the hinge extends. This arrangement advantageously reduces the material required to form the hinge and reduces the waste if the container lid is discarded. The hinge can also be formed at the same time as the gasket so that the separate manufacturing steps of manufacturing a gasket and a separate hinge can be combined into a single step, such as a moulding step.

[0010] A further advantage of the present invention is that the gasket can be formed from one material, which is an elastic and flexible material, so that the hinge can be formed from the same material as the other parts of the gasket. This is advantageous for container lids that are formed from materials, such as hard plastic, which are not necessarily suitable for use as a hinge. A gasket will typically be formed from an elastic material that is flexible and that is very suitable for use as a hinge. A typical material that is used for gaskets in container lids is silicone and hinges made from silicone are sufficiently flexible to operate effectively as a hinge. Silicone is preferred for example over thermoplastic elastomers, as silicone is considered to perform more consistently over time and be more durable. Silicone performs relatively consistently over time whereas other plastics such as TPU or TPE will lose elasticity and break down more quickly, particularly in an application such as a hinge where the material is repeatedly folded, bent and / or flexed because each fold, bend or flex will cause the hinge material to lose elasticity and become more brittle. Silicone also retains its shape better after being compressed or stretched over TPU or TPE meaning it is more likely to maintain its original thickness after being compressed in normal use or after impacts if dropped. In this respect, a container hinge is subjected to forces in use and represents a potential point or area of failure, particularly if the container is dropped. In a container having a container lid according to the invention, if the hinge fails, the gasket can be replaced without needing to replace the whole container lid or the whole container body. This is in contrast with prior art containers that employ a hinge that is formed integrally with the container lid and / or container body. Moreover, a hinge formed from the same elastic and flexible material as the gasket is less likely to fail if the container is dropped, than if the hinge is formed from a harder and less flexible material, such as a typical material fromwhich the container body and / or the container lid is normally made, for example a hard plastic.

[0011] Furthermore, in a container lid according to the invention, the gasket is detachable from the container lid and so the container lid can be recycled after removal of the gasket, which is beneficial when the gasket is made from a material that is not recyclable, such as silicone. This distinguishes the invention from container lids that are co-moulded with a hinge of different materials, which makes them generally not recyclable.

[0012] The hinge of the gasket can thus be formed integrally as part of the gasket and of the same material. The gasket is formed of or comprises a gasket seal component and a hinge component which can be connected together integrally. Alternatively, hinge of the gasket can be formed separately from the gasket seal and of the same material or of a different material. Where the hinge of the gasket is formed separately from the gasket seal, the hinge can be connected to the gasket seal in any suitable manner, such as by glue, or by co-moulding.

[0013] A container comprising the container lid of the invention has another advantage in that the container will generally take up less space than a container that has a hinge formed of a harder material. This is important where the container is intended to be received or stored within another container, for example, a container intended stored within a lunchbox.

[0014] The gasket can be mounted or connected to the container lid in any suitable manner. In some forms of the invention, the container lid has a recess or channel formed on the inside or underside thereof and the gasket seal is partially or fully accommodated, such as by a friction fit, within the recess or channel so that once the gasket seal is inserted into the recess or channel, the gasket is secured to the container lid. The recess or channel can be formed at or adjacent to the periphery of the container lid and the recess or channel can extend fully or partially about the periphery.

[0015] The gasket seal can be a strip, band or bead that is formed in a loop for accommodation within the recess or channel. The loop can be a circular loop, or a square or rectangular loop, or any other suitable shape depending on the shape ofthe container body and the container lid. The loop can be solid or hollow. The loop would ordinarily be a continuous loop, but the gasket seal could alternatively be formed in discrete and discontinuous sections, or the loop might be a partial loop that has a gap between opposite ends. For example, a container body that includes separate sections for accommodating different items, such as different food items, might have different sealing requirements for the different sections. Accordingly, the gasket seal might seal about only a discrete section or sections of the container body, and the seal might not be about the periphery of the container body.

[0016] The gasket can also be formed in a sheet form, to form a cover or partition for example, that is interposed between the container body and the container lid to separate different sections of the closed container. For example, the container lid may include a storage or containment area separate from a storage or containment area of the container body so that the closed container has storage or containment areas above (in the container lid) and below (in the container body) the gasket. Alternatively, the container body may include two or more separate compartments (as could the container lid) defining two or more container openings and the gasket can be formed to seal one or more of the container openings thereby sealing one or more compartments from the other compartment or compartments. This arrangement might be adopted where the container is constructed to contain different food products, for example that are better stored separately from each other. It might be for example, that the container is a lunch container and is constructed to allow sandwiches to be stored separately from fruit. This would allow the sandwiches to be isolated from any moisture from the fruit so as to retain the sandwiches in an edible condition. In an alternative example, different sections of the container could be used to store small and loose food items, such as nuts and grapes, separate from larger items, such as sandwiches. In these arrangements, the gasket may be formed as a sheet to extend broadly across a container opening and include a sealing bead that is accommodated within a recess or channel in the container lid for securing the gasket in place. In this example, the sealing bead may not provide the only sealing function of the gasket and additionally, the sealing bead may be provided to secure the gasket in place rather than, or in addition to providing a sealing function.

[0017] In the forms of gasket described above, a single hinge, or two or more hinges can extend from the gasket seal (the loop or sheet for example) for connection to the container body.

[0018] In some forms of the invention, the gasket can include one or more tabs or straps that extend for connection to the container body to secure the container lid in closed connection with the container body. The tabs or straps can be formed integrally as part of the gasket and to extend opposite the hinge or hinges, and can be formed to cooperate with a closure or locking formation associated with the container body. Advantageously, these arrangements eliminate the need for traditional closure arrangements that are prone to fail in the event that the container is dropped.

[0019] The hinge of the gasket can also be formed as a tab or strap that extends from one section of the gasket seal for connection to a container body. The hinge can have a unitary construction and can be formed integrally with the gasket seal, and it can be formed of the same material as the gasket seal. The gasket can thus comprise a gasket seal that in some forms is formed in a loop, and hinge that is formed as a tab or strap that extends from a section of the gasket seal for connection to a container body. However, in other forms of the invention, the hinge can comprise two or more hinge sections, that might be spaced apart but generally parallel. These sections might be straps or strips. Formation of the hinge in this manner may allow a stiffer material to be used for the hinge without compromising the ability of the hinge to flex for rotation of the container lid between the closed and open positions.Formation of the hinge in this manner may also allow different materials to be used for the hinge that are either cheaper and / or easier to mould or manufacture. Particularly if the gasket seal is required to be made of a particular material that is stiffer than is desirable for the hinge, formation of the hinge to be thinner in either thickness or width can reduce the stiffness of the hinge and therefore enable the hinge to be formed from the same material as the gasket seal and thus to allow the gasket to be formed as a unitary and integral, single piece component.

[0020] The hinge can have any suitable shape. In some forms of the invention, the hinge will be formed flat and wide so that it has a generally rectangular configuration, so that in cross-section, the hinge has a long dimension and a generally perpendicular short dimension. The hinge can also be longer than wider, so that thehinge is elongate. The hinge can extend or connect to the gasket seal along the long dimension. This arrangement can assist to retain the position of the container lid relative to the container body as the container lid is brought into closed connection with the container body. Each of the width, length and thickness of the hinge can vary so that for example, the dimensions of the hinge at the connection with the gasket seal is different to the dimensions spaced from that connection. In some forms of the invention for example, the end of the hinge that connects with the container body has a rounded or convex shape, whereas the remainder of the hinge that extends to the connection with the gasket seal is of a constant rectangular shape. The dimensions of the hinge can be important however. For example, if the length of the hinge is too long then it will act more like a tether than a hinge, so that it will have little influence on the position of the container lid relative to the container as the container lid is brought into closed connection with the container body, but if it is too short, it might make closure of the container difficult.

[0021] The hinge can include connection facility for connection to a container body and this can be provided at an end of the hinge which is remote from the gasket seal and remote from the connection of the gasket to the container lid. In some forms of the invention, the hinge is detachably connected to the container body, so that the hinge can be disconnected and reconnected to the container body. This allows the combined container lid and gasket to be disconnected from the container body, such as to facilitate access to contents within the container, to facilitate recycling, or to facilitate washing of the container lid separate to the container body.

[0022] The detachable connection can take any suitable form and in some forms of the invention, the detachable connection comprises a hinge opening formed in the hinge, such as at the end of the hinge which is remote from the connection of the gasket to the container lid. The hinge opening can be arranged to cooperate with a connector is attached to or which projects from a side wall of the container body. The connector can be formed as a post or button that extends outwardly from a side wall of the container body and that has a head and shank in which the head has a greater diameter or a greater width or dimension than the shank. The hinge opening is intended to fit over the head and to closely fit about the shank in between the head and the container side wall and to thereby secure the hinge to the connector. The hinge opening is intended to be smaller in size compared to the head so that thehinge opening needs to be resiliently stretched to fit over the head and whereby the resilience of the hinge material allows the hinge opening to recover back to a smaller dimension that is a close fit about the shank, or at least a reduced dimension that is smaller than the head. This provides a very simple and effective connection to be made between the hinge and the container body, while it allows easy detachment and reconnection when required, as well as secure retention of the hinge to the container body. The hinge opening can be of any suitable shape, such as circular or tear drop shaped.

[0023] In the above form of the invention, the hinge opening can be such as to allow the hinge to rotate about the shank of the connector when the container lid is disconnected from the container body. This allows the container lid to be shifted to a position underneath the container body so that the container lid is completely removed from any interference in the use of the container. In this latter form of the invention, contents within the container can be fully accessed without interference from the container lid and without the user needing to disconnect the container lid from the container body. While this advantage of the invention can be achieved with a hinge opening and a shank of any shape, rotation of the hinge on the shank is facilitated most easily when the shank is a circular or cylindrical shape (a circular or cylindrical post for example) and the hinge opening is also circular or tear drop shaped. Alternatively, the shank can have a non-circular shape that assists alignment of the hinge in one or more of the positions it assumes relative to the container body, such as when the container lid is to be closed on the container body. The user will still be able to rotate the hinge about the non-circular shank due to the elastic nature of the hinge, that allows the hinge to stretch or distort as it rotates about the shank. A non-circular shank would assist to retain the hinge from rotating out of the position it should assume when container lid is being moved into closed connection with the container body and can provide a tactile indication as to when the container lid is in the correct position for reconnection to the container body to close the container body. The non-circular shank can be rectangular, square, oval, or otherwise shaped.

[0024] The hinge opening however may require a modified shape to allow the hinge to fit over the head of the connector and that modified shape may include slots or slits that are formed in the periphery of the hinge opening to allow the hinge opening to enlarge to fit over the head. Alternatively, the material of the hinge may besufficiently flexible and the hinge opening of a sufficient size to allow the hinge opening to be resiliently enlarged and sufficiently distorted to fit over the head and to recover back to a smaller opening to fit closely about the shank.

[0025] In other forms of the invention, the hinge can be fitted with a connector that cooperates with the container body to connect the hinge to the container body. For example, the hinge may include an integral or separate male or female snap fit connector that is operable to cooperate with a mating connector that is fitted to or part of the container body.

[0026] The gasket is fitted to the container lid and the hinge extends for connection to a container body. The hinge can extend past the container lid, or through the container lid. Where the hinge extends through the container lid, the container lid can include a void for passage of the hinge. The void can be a section of the container lid that is absent or interrupted, and can be a recess or gap formed in the container lid, or it can be a hole or an opening formed in the container lid.

[0027] In some forms of the invention, the container lid comprises a closure portion and a connection portion whereby the connection portion facilitates connection of the container lid to the container body and the closure portion closes a container opening. The connection portion can comprise a lip or skirt that extends from the closure portion and that is configured for connection with the container, such as about the container opening. The container opening can be a spout or neck for example (such as in a drinking cup or bottle), or it can be an edge or rim of the side wall of a container body (such as in a food container). The hinge can pass through the connection portion of the container lid. The passage through the connection portion is through a lid opening which can be a recess formed in the connection portion that is an open recess, which means that the recess has an open edge for example, or that the recess extends through an edge of the connection portion. Alternatively, the lid opening can be an opening formed in the connection portion that is a closed opening such as a hole, which means it is an opening with a complete periphery.

[0028] The lid opening is a void, such as the recess or opening, and can be configured or dimensioned to be a close fit about the hinge. In some forms of the invention as discussed above, the hinge has a generally rectangular configuration incross-section and in those forms of the invention, the lid opening can likewise be rectangular to generally the same dimensions as the hinge. The recess or opening can be a very close fit about the periphery of the hinge or it can be a loose fit.

[0029] The lid opening can be formed adjacent to the connection of the hinge to the gasket seal. Where the container lid has a recess or channel formed on the inside or underside thereof to accommodate the gasket seal, the lid opening can be formed adjacent to the recess or channel. This is particularly the case where the recess or channel is formed at or adjacent to the periphery of the container lid.

[0030] Where the hinge extends through the container lid, through a hole or an opening, the performance of the hinge can be optimised as the hole or opening in the lid can allow the gasket seal and the hinge to function almost entirely independently. With the hinge extending through a hole or opening in the container lid and supported by the hole or opening, the hinge can be placed in tension allowing the hinge to pull the container lid into connection with the container body. As the user opens the container lid from the container body, the gasket seal will not ordinarily separate or peel away from connection with the container lid because the forces that apply to the hinge are limited by the hole or opening allowing the gasket seal to be mostly unaffected.

[0031] The hole or opening in the container lid can thus function as a gasket seal retainer that resists the gasket seal from being dislodged from the container lid when opening and / or closing the container lid. In alternatives forms of the invention, in which the container lid comprises a void in the form of a lid opening that the hinge passes through, the container lid can comprise a gasket seal retainer separate to the hole or opening in the container lid that resists the gasket seal from being dislodged from the container lid when opening and / or closing the container lid.

[0032] The above described function of the hole or opening is of significant importance to many forms of the invention. Particularly in forms of the invention where the gasket seal is secured within a channel by a friction fit, by securing the hinge in the hole or opening, the gasket is not subject to loading as the user lifts the container lid from the container body and so the gasket is not likely to separate or peel away from the lid. The hole or opening can thus be a sufficiently close fit aboutthe hinge to grip or engage the hinge in the section that passes through the hole or opening. The hinge can be a friction fit within the hole or opening for example. Or the hole or opening can include engagements or grippers for engaging and / or or gripping the section of the hinge that passes through the hole or opening. The engagements or grippers might be a knurled surface of the hole or opening, or it might be one or more projections that extend into the section of the hinge that passes through the hole or opening.

[0033] When a container body and container lid are assembled and the hinge extends through a hole or opening in the container lid, the likelihood of misplacing parts is low as the gasket will not easily separate from the container lid and the hinge is secured to the container body. It may not be possible to remove the gasket from the container lid without first detaching the hinge from the container body so that the user can then pull remove the hinge from within the hole or opening of the container lid.

[0034] The container lid will ordinarily require periodic cleaning and this will often involve disconnecting the gasket from the remaining part of the container lid. To assist with this, the gasket can include a pull tab that can be grasped by hand to disconnect the gasket. In some forms of the invention, the pull tab is an extension of the hinge and in forms of the invention where the gasket comprises a band or bead, the pull tab can extend to the other or opposite side of the band or bead, to the extension of the hinge. That is, the hinge will extend to one side of the band or bead and the pull tab will extend to the opposite side. The pull tab can be formed in the same material as the hinge and can be an integral extension of the hinge, so that the gasket in its entirety including the hinge and pull tab is formed from the one material and in the one manufacturing step.

[0035] The container lid of the invention is intended to be used with containers that comprise a container body having a container opening that is closed by the container lid, such as drink and food containers. However, the container lid of the invention could have other uses with other containers, such as containers that comprise a container body having a flat base and a hollow container lid. Include cake containers for example or containers that are formed as platters. In these forms of containers, the container body itself might not have an opening similar to that of adrink container, but nevertheless, the container lid of the invention could be applied to such a container body.

[0036] The invention also provides a container that comprises a container body and a container lid according to anyone of the embodiments or forms discussed above. The container can be a drink container, or a food container, or any other form of container that includes a gasket or seal positioned between the container body and the container lid when the container lid is in closed connection with the container.

[0037] Accordingly, the present invention provides a container having a container body and a container lid, the container lid having a gasket for sealing against the container body when the container lid is in closed connection with the container body, the container body having a side wall and a connector that extends from the side wall and the gasket comprising a hinge that extends into connection with the connector, the hinge retaining the container lid connected to the container body when the container lid is disconnected from connection with the container body and in an open condition.Brief Description of Drawings

[0038] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

[0039] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container that has a container lid in closed connection with a container body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container body and container lid of Figure 1 , taken from a different angle.

[0041] Figure 3 is a side view of the container body and container lid of Figure 1 .

[0042] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container body and container lid ofFigure 1 with the container lid in open connection with the container body.

[0043] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container body and container lid of Figure 1 taken through V-V of Figure 1 .

[0044] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the container body and container lid of Figure 1 .

[0045] Figure 7 is a view of the container body and container lid of Figure 1 , with the container lid shifted to a position to underlie the container body.

[0046] Figure 8 shows a further form of container according to the invention.

[0047] Figure 9 shows the container of Figure 8 in the closed condition.

[0048] Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of the container of Figure 9 through X-X.

[0049] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a gasket for use in a container lid or a container according to the invention.

[0050] Figure 12 Figure 12 illustrates a container lid according to the invention in isolation.

[0051] Figure 13 shows a gasket that has a gasket seal formed as a bead or loop and a hinge that is formed with two spaced apart straps.

[0052] Figure 14 shows a gasket that has a gasket seal formed as a sheet and a hinge that is formed with two spaced apart straps.

[0053] Figures 15 and 16 show alternative arrangements according to the invention in relation to the opening in a container lid through which a hinge extends.Detailed Description

[0054] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container 10 that includes a container body 11 and a container lid 12 in closed connection with the container body 11 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the container 10 rotated 90° from the position shown in Figure 1 . Figure 3 shows a side view of the container 10 , while Figure 4 shows the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 but with the container lid 12 in an open position relative to the container body 11 .

[0055] With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the container lid 12 comprises a closure portion 14 and a connection portion 16. The connection portion 16 is formed as a lipor skirt that extends from the closure portion 14. The inside surface of the connection portion 16 is configured for connection with the edge 22 of the container body 11 . The container body 11 comprises a base 18 and an upstanding side wall 20. The edge 22 of the side wall 20 terminates in an edge or rim surface 24.

[0056] The container lid 12 connects to the edge 22 of the container body 11 in the closed condition of the container lid 12, by the connection portion 16 connecting with the edge 22 of the container body 11 . In this respect, the edge 22 is formed as a bead with an undercut 26 (see also Figure 5), and the connection portion 16 comprises an abutment 28 that rests under the undercut 26 in the closed condition. The abutment 28 extends fully about the connection portion 16 (see Figure 4) and the connection portion 16 flexes outwardly as the container lid 12 is closed onto the edge 22 of the container body 11 , so that the abutment 28 can ride over the edge 22 and recover to a position underneath the undercut 26.

[0057] The reverse occurs when the container lid 12 is to be disconnected from the container body 11 and moved to the open position, so that the abutment 28 rides over the edge 22 and out of contact with the undercut 26. To assist that reverse movement, the container lid 12 includes a finger grip 30 that can be grasped by hand.

[0058] The container lid 12 includes a gasket 32 that comprises a hinge 34. The gasket 32 is visible in full in Figures 4 and 6, while the hinge 34 is visible in additional Figures 1 , 3 and 5.

[0059] The gasket 32 has a gasket seal 36 that is formed in a continuous loop that has the general rectangular shape of connection portion 16. The gasket seal 36 is circular in cross-section and is accommodated within a channel 38 (Figure 6). The channel 38 is formed between an outer wall 40 of the connection portion 16, and an inner wall 42. The outer wall 40 and the inner wall 42 are generally parallel. The gasket seal 36 is a friction fit within the channel 38 as shown in Figure 5, and is retained within the channel 38 by friction only. It is not expected that the gasket seal 36 will release from the channel 38 inadvertently given the frictional connection between the surfaces of the channel 38 and the gasket seal 36. The frictional connection is however insufficient to prevent removal, such as when it is necessaryfor the container lid 12 to be cleaned and that’s when it is desirable to remove the gasket seal 36 from the channel 38.

[0060] The hinge 34 is formed from the same material as the gasket seal 36 and this is expected to be silicone. Advantageously, this enables the gasket 32 to be formed from a single manufacturing process.

[0061] When the gasket 32 is fitted to the container lid 12, the container lid 12 has a hinge suitable for connection to the container body 11 . This connection is shown in Figures 1 , 3 and 5. With reference to Figure 6, the hinge 34 is generally flat and wide and has a generally rectangular configuration in cross-section. The hinge 34 is also elongate. The hinge 34 connects to the gasket seal 36 along the wide dimension. The end of the hinge 34 that is remote from the gasket seal 36 connects with the container body 11 and has a rounded or convex end 44, and adjacent the end 44 the hinge 34 includes a hinge opening 46. Hinge opening 46 is teardrop shaped, although the shape can be any suitable shape that can be expanded into connection with the container body 11 .

[0062] For connection of the hinge to the container body 11 , the container body 11 includes a connector 48 that has a shank 50 and a head 52. The connector 48 is shown in side view and cross-sectional view in Figures 3 and 5 respectively and from these figures it can be seen that the head 52 has a greater diameter or a greater width or dimension than the shank 50. Moreover, the hinge opening 46 is smaller than the head 52. Accordingly, the hinge opening 46 needs to be expanded or stretched to fit over the head 52 and once the hinge opening 46 has passed the head 52 and has located about the shank 50, the hinge opening 46 will resiliently recover to a close fit about the shank 50. Again, this is evident in Figures 3 and 5 as well as Figure 1 . By this arrangement, the hinge 34 is secured to the connector 48 and thus to the container body 11 and the container lid 12 can be shifted from the closed condition of Figures 1 -3 and 5, to the open position of Figure 4.

[0063] In the embodiment illustrated, the hinge 34 extends through a lid opening in the form of a hole 54 in the outer wall 40 of the connection portion 16. The hole 54 is of generally the same shape as the cross section of the hinge 34 at the section ofthe hinge 34 that extends through the hole 54, and the hinge 34 is a close fit in the hole 54 as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

[0064] With reference to Figure 5, it can be seen that the hinge 34 extends through the hole 54 and then extends downwardly into engagement with the connector 48. A bend in the hinge 34 occurs soon after the hinge 34 exits the hole 54 and is facilitated by the flexibility of the hinge 34. As indicated earlier herein, suitably elastic or flexible materials include silicone.

[0065] The hole 54 is sufficiently close about the hinge 34 that it secures the section of the hinge 34 that passes through the hole 54. While the hinge 34 can be pulled through the hole 54 with force, the hinge 34 is otherwise secured by the hole 54 by frictional engagement with facing edges of the hole 54. This engagement between the edges of the hole 54 and the hinge 34 isolates the gasket seal 36 from the forces or loads that are applied to the hinge 34 when the container lid 12 is shifted into and out of connection with the container body 11 . Advantageously, this means that the gasket seal 36 that is secured within the channel 38 by friction, does not peel out of the channel 38 as a result of the shifting movement of the container lid 12. The hole 54 forms a gasket seal retainer that resists the gasket seal 36 from being dislodged from the container lid 12 when opening and / or closing the container lid 12. Alternative gasket seal retainers can be provided.

[0066] Instead of the lid opening being a closed opening such as a hole 54, which is an opening that is formed fully within the outer wall 40, the lid opening could alternatively be open through to the bottom edge 56 of the outer wall 40 so that a recess is created by the removal of the section of the outer wall 40 indicated by the dimension V in Figure 6.

[0067] As shown in Figures 4-6, the gasket 32 includes a pull tab 58 that extends inwardly of the container lid 12 to underlie the closure portion 14 and that facilitates removal of the gasket 32 from connection to the container lid 12, specifically by pulling the gasket seal 36 out of the channel 38. To completely remove or separate the gasket 32 from the container body 11 and the container lid 12, the hinge 34 is first disconnected from the connector 48 and then, with use of the pull tab 58, the hinge 34is pulled through the hole 54. The gasket 32 is then completely separated as shown in Figure 6.

[0068] The pull tab 58 is formed from the same material as the gasket seal 36 and the hinge 34 which is expected to be silicone. Advantageously again, this enables the gasket 32 to be formed with each of the hinge 34, the gasket seal 36 and the pull tab 58, from a single manufacturing process.

[0069] Figure 4 illustrates how the invention allows the container lid 12 to be removed and displaced from the container body 11 to an open position in which the container opening 60 is available for access to the contents of the container 10.Figure 4 shows one position of the container lid 12 in an open condition and of course with a sufficiently flexible hinge 34, the container lid 12 could be moved to a position which is further displaced if the resting position of the container lid 12 as shown in Figure 4 is not sufficient.

[0070] Figure 7 Illustrates how the container lid 12 can be shifted completely to a position underlying the container body 1 1 . To assume the position shown in Figure 7, the container lid 12 is disconnected from the container body 1 1 from the closed position shown in Figures 1 -3 and 5, and is shifted to a position such as is shown in Figure 4, and then the container lid 12 and the gasket 32 are rotated about the shank 50 through about 180°. When the container lid 12 is appropriately positioned, it can be rotated with the hinge 34 flexing, to bring the container lid 12 to a position underlying the base 18 of the container body 1 1 . In that underlying position, the container lid 12 is completely away from any position of interference in the access to the contents of the container 10.

[0071] Figure 8 shows a further form of container according to the invention. In Figure 8, the container 70 includes a container body 72 and a container lid 74. The container body 72 has a generally square sidewall 76 and a base 78. The sidewall 76 and the base 78 define an interior that is formed into three separate compartments 79, 80 and 81. The container 70 includes a handle 82 and a closure latch comprising cooperating latch parts 83 and 84 formed on the container body 72 and the container lid 74 respectively.

[0072] In Figure 8, the gasket 86 comprises a gasket seal 88 and a pair of hinges 90. The gasket seal 88 is formed as a sheet 92 that extends between the lid sidewall 94. The gasket seal 88 seals against the upper edges of the sidewall 76 and the compartments 79, 80 and 81 when the container lid 74 is in closed connection with the container body 72.

[0073] Figure 9 shows the container 70 in the closed condition and also shows the two hinges 90. The hinges 90 extend through openings 98 in the lid sidewall 94 in the same manner as the hinge 34 extends through the lid opening in the form of a hole 54 in the container lid 12 of the earlier figures. The hinges 90 are likewise secured to the container body 72 on connectors 100 that have the same form as the connectors 48 of the earlier figures.

[0074] Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of the container of Figure 9 and shows the sheet 92 of the gasket 86 that extends across the container lid 74. The gasket 86 has a bead 96 that is upstanding from the sheet 92 and that is secured or captured in a channel 98 in the container lid 74 to secure the sheet 92 to the container lid 74. The bead 96 is secured or captured in a channel 98 by friction.

[0075] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a gasket 120 for use in a container lid according to the invention and is similar to the gasket 86 of Figure 8. The gasket 120 thus includes a gasket seal 122 and a pair of hinges 124. The gasket seal 122 is formed as a sheet 126 to fit to a container lid similar to the container lid 74. The gasket seal 120 has two hinges 124, but different to the gasket 86, the gasket seal 122 includes an integral tab 128. That tab 128 includes an opening 130 for receipt of a connector similar to the connector 48 of the earlier figures that extends from the sidewall of a container body. With the gasket 120, the rear edge 132 is secured in place by the hinges 124, while the frontage 134 is secured in place by the tab 128.

[0076] Figure 12 illustrates a container lid 140 in isolation and shows a void 142 formed in the sidewall 144. The void 142 is formed by an upper edge 146 and a pair of side edges 148. The void 142 is open opposite the upper edge 146 and so it is not a closed opening of the kind described in the earlier Illustrated embodiments. A section of a hinge such as described earlier herein would extend through the void 142. In order to engage and secure that section of hinge, the side edges 148 include extensions or“bumps” 150 which extend into the void 142 and which would push into side edges of a section of the hinge that passes through the void 142.

[0077] Figure 13 shows a gasket 160 that has a gasket seal 162 formed as a bead or loop and a hinge 164 that is formed with two spaced apart straps 166 that connect between the gasket seal 162 and the hinge end 168 that includes an opening 170 for connection to a connector similar to the connector 48 of the earlier figures. Figure 13 shows that the hinge can take different forms to that shown in the earlier figures.

[0078] Figure 14 shows a gasket 180 that has a gasket seal 182 formed as a sheet and a hinge 184 that is formed with two spaced apart straps 186 that connect between the gasket seal 182 and the hinge end 188 that includes two openings 190 each for connection to a connector similar to the connect to 48 of the earlier figures. In Figure 13 the hinge straps 186 are spaced apart a greater amount then the straps 166 of Figure 13 in order to accommodate the greater width of the hinge end 188.

[0079] The gaskets 160 and 180 can be used for different applications to the containers illustrated in the earlier figures but still embody the basic concept all the gasket that includes a hinge to secure a container lid to a container body.

[0080] Figures 15 and 16 show alternative arrangements in relation to the opening through which the hinge extends. The container lids 200 and 200’ each include a closure portion 202, 202’ and a connection portion 204, 204’. While Figures 1 and 9 show the hinges 34 and 90 extending through holes formed in the respective connection portion 16 and the lid sidewall 94, in Figures 15 and 16 holes 206, 206’ are formed in the closure portions 202, 202’ for the hinges 208, 208’ to extend through. The hinges 208, 208’ can connect to a different part of the gasket to extend through the holes 206, 206’ which in some forms of the invention might be advantageous. The arrangement of Figures 15 and 16 is considered to be particularly applicable to the gasket 86 and the gasket 120 which are formed with a sealing sheet.

[0081] Because of the distance from where the hinges 208, 208’ pass through the holes 206, 206’ in the closure portions 202, 202’ and extend over the lid sidewalls 210, 210’ for connection to a container body, the arrangements of Figures 15 and 16 employ retainers 212, 212’.

[0082] Figures 15 and 16 illustrate an alternative that can be adopted if desirable and which embodies the same inventive concept as previously described for the earlier figures.

[0083] The hinges is shown in the drawings are all of a unitary construction and as being integral and formed of the same material as the associated gasket seals. However, as shown, the hinges can comprise two or more hinge sections, such as two or more thinner hinge sections that are spaced apart by a central spacing. Thinner hinge sections may allow a stiffer material to be used without compromising the ability of the hinge to flex and to allow the container lid to be shifted between the closed and open positions. Such thinner sections may allow a different material to be used that is either cheaper and / or easier to mould or manufacture.

[0084] The shape of the hinges can also be quite different to that shown in the drawings and for example, the hinge might extend from a wide dimension where it connects to the gasket seal, to a reduced dimension, a neck for example, in between the connection to the gasket seal and the hinge opening and return to a wider dimension at the hinge opening. Clearly the hinges could take many different forms.

[0085] The hinges have been described above as being formed of an elastic and flexible material and the example material has been given as silicone. However, other flexible materials could be employed and these materials can be of the same material as the gasket seal or of a different material. Where the hinge and the gasket seal are formed of the same material, they can be manufactured as a single, integral component, such as by moulding. Where the hinge and the gasket seal 3 are formed from different materials, they can be connected together, such as by glueing or comoulding.

[0086] The material of the hinges can be different from the material or materials employed for the container body and the container lid. The material employed for the container body and the container lid can be the same material, or they can be different materials. In many forms of the invention, the container body and the container lid are formed from the same hard plastic material, such as polypropylene or thermoplastic elastomers. In other forms of the invention, the container body will be formed from a different material to the container lid, and an example of this is where the containerbody is formed from a metal, such as stainless steel, and the container lid is formed from plastic.

[0087] Where any or all of the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” or “comprising” are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0088] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0089] Future patent applications may be filed in Australia or overseas on the basis of or claiming priority from the present application. It is to be understood that the following provisional claims are provided by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any such future application. Features may be added to or omitted from the provisional claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the invention or inventions.

Claims

Claims1 . A container lid for closing a container body, the container lid having a gasket comprising a gasket seal for sealing against the container body when the container lid is in closed connection with the container body, the gasket further comprising a hinge that extends from the gasket seal for connection to the container body.

2. A container lid according to claim 1 , wherein the gasket is formed from a single material which is an elastic and flexible material, for example silicone.

3. A container lid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinge is formed as a tab or strap.

4. A container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container lid comprises a void in the form of a lid opening, wherein the lid opening is for passage of the hinge to extend into connection to a container body and wherein the container lid comprises a gasket seal retainer that resists the gasket seal from being dislodged from the container lid when opening and / or closing the container lid , and optionally , wherein the gasket seal retainer is the lid opening.

5. A container lid according to claim 4, wherein the void is a recess, gap or hole formed in the container lid.

6. A container lid according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the container lid comprises a closure portion and a connection portion whereby the closure portion closes a container opening and the connection portion facilitates connection of the container lid to a container body, the void being formed in the connection portion.

7. A container lid according to claim 6, wherein the connection portion comprises a lip or skirt that extends from the closure portion.

8. A container lid according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the hinge is a close fit within the void and the hinge is secured by facing surfaces of the void.

9. A container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the hinge comprises two or more hinge sections, that can be spaced apart but generally parallel.

10. A container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container lid has a recess or channel formed on the inside or underside thereof and the gasket seal is partially or fully accommodated within the recess or channel to secure the gasket to the container lid and the hinge extends from the gasket seal.

11. A container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the hinge comprises a connection facility for connection to a container body.

12. A container lid according to claim 11 , wherein the connection facility is a detachable connection facility to allow the hinge to be disconnected and reconnected to the container body.

13. A container lid according to claim 12, wherein the connection facility comprises a hinge opening, such as at the end of the hinge which is remote from the connection of the hinge to the gasket seal, for cooperation with a connector that is associated with a container body.

14. A container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the gasket is detachable from the container lid to allow the gasket to be disconnected from the container lid and, optionally, the gasket comprises a pull tab that can be grasped by hand to disconnect the gasket from the container lid.

15. A container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the gasket comprising a sheet that extends broadly across a container opening and the sheet forms part of the gasket seal.

16. A container that comprises a container body and a container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the container body has a side wall and a connector that extends from the side wall and the hinge extends into connection with the connector, the hinge retaining the container lid connectedto the container body when the container lid is disconnected from connection with the container body and in an open condition.

18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the connector comprises a post or button that extends outwardly from the side wall of the container body and wherein the post or button comprises a head and a shank in which the head has a greater width or dimension than the shank, and wherein the hinge comprises an opening that is resiliently stretchable to fit over the head and to recover back to a smaller dimension to fit about the shank.

19. A container according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the hinge is rotatable about the shank so that when the container lid is in an open position relative to the container body, the container lid can be rotated relative to the container body to position the container lid underneath the container body.

20. A container according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the gasket secures the container lid in closed connection with the container body by the hinge of the gasket connecting to the container body and by the gasket comprising at least one gasket connector such as a strap, tether, clip or latch for releasable connection to at least one container connector on the container body to hold the container lid in closed connection with the container body.

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