Self-sealing container

Abstract

An improved container, comprising a receptacle having an opening, a lid adapted to releasably cover at least a portion of the receptacle opening, the lid comprising a lower leaf having a port through which the receptacle opening may be accessed, and an upper leaf which, in a closed position, covers the port in the lower leaf, and which in an open position exposes at least a portion of the port, wherein the upper leaf rotates from the closed to the open position. A spiraling ramp is fixed to one leaf, and engaged by a member fixed to the other leaf, wherein the member and the ramp move relative to one another as the upper leaf is moved from the closed position to the open position, and when the upper leaf is moved from the open position to the closed position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An improved container, comprising: 
 a receptacle having an opening;    a lid adapted to releasably cover at least a portion of the receptacle opening, the lid comprising a lower leaf having a port through which the receptacle opening may be accessed, and an upper leaf which, in a closed position, covers the port in the lower leaf, and which in an open position exposes at least a portion of the port, wherein the upper leaf rotates from the closed to the open position; and    a spiraling ramp coupled to one leaf, and engaged by a member coupled to the other leaf, wherein the member and the ramp move relative to one another as the upper leaf is moved from the closed position to the open position, and when the upper leaf is moved from the open position to the closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the leaf that carries the ramp further comprises a depression for receiving the member when the upper leaf is in the closed position, to assist in maintaining the upper leaf in the closed position.  
     
     
         3 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the leaf that carries the ramp further comprises a trough for receiving the member when the upper leaf is in the open position, to assist in maintaining the upper leaf in the open position.  
     
     
         4 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the upper leaf further comprises an upper axle assembly, and the lower leaf further comprises a lower axle assembly adapted to receive at least a portion of said upper axle assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The improved container of  claim 4  wherein the upper axle assembly comprises a downwardly protruding axle, and the lower axle assembly comprises an axle-receiving bore.  
     
     
         6 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the ramp comprises an energy absorbing member.  
     
     
         7 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the member is a wheel.  
     
     
         8 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the member is a tooth member.  
     
     
         9 . The improved container of  claim 1  further comprising an extension spring having two ends, one end secured to the lower leaf and the other end secured to the upper leaf.  
     
     
         10 . The improved container of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a locking fastener provided with a shoulder and adapted to pass through the axle-receiving bore and fix to the upper axle assembly; and    a compression spring provided about a portion of the locking fastener and juxtaposed between the shoulder and the axle support member.    
     
     
         11 . The improved container of  claim 1 , further comprising means to prevent the upper leaf from over rotating.  
     
     
         12 . The improved container of  claim 11 , wherein the means to prevent the upper leaf from over rotating comprises an interference member fixed to the upper leaf, and a back stop provided in the lower leaf.  
     
     
         13 . The improved container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper leaf further comprises a security baffle.  
     
     
         14 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the ramp is a part of the lower leaf.  
     
     
         15 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the ramp is part of the upper leaf.  
     
     
         16 . The improved container of  claim 1  wherein the ramp is bi-directional.  
     
     
         17 . The improved container of  claim 16  wherein the upper ends of the bi-directional ramp are proximate one another.  
     
     
         18 . The improved container of  claim 17  further comprising a depression proximate the upper ends of the bi-directional ramp, to receive the member to hold the upper leaf in the open position.  
     
     
         19 . An improved container, comprising: 
 a receptacle having a circular upper edge and an opening;    a lid adapted to releasably cover at least a portion of the receptacle opening, the lid comprising a lower leaf having a circular lower edge resting on the receptacle upper edge and defining a plane, and having a port through which the receptacle opening may be accessed, and an upper leaf which, in a closed position, covers the port in the lower leaf, and which in an open position exposes at least a portion of the port, wherein the upper leaf rotates about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane, from the closed to the open position;    a spiraling ramp fixed to the lower leaf, and engaged by a rolling wheel fixed to the upper leaf, wherein the wheel moves up the ramp as the upper leaf is moved from the closed position to the open position, and moves down the ramp when the upper leaf is moved from the open position to the closed position.