Air sealable container with automatically actuable pressure equalizing valve

Abstract

An air sealable and preferably air and water sealable container having an automatically actuable pressure equalizing valve primarily adapted for operation upon opening and closing of the container. The pressure equalizing valve, which is in the nature of a pressure relief valve, is automatically actuable to allow air pressure in the container to equalize with an ambient pressure to enable easy opening of a lid of the container.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1  A container capable of having an interior sealed with respect to an ambient atmospheric condition and having a valve which is automatically actuable thereon, said container comprising: 
 a) a container housing:  
 b) openable cover means on said housing and which is openable providing access to an interior compartment;  
 c) locking means for holding said cover means in a closed position with respect to said container housing and enabling a seal of the interior compartment; and  
 d) valve means associated with said cover means or locking means and being actuable in response to an action of opening or closing the cover means or locking same.  
 
     
     
         2  The container of  claim 1  further characterized in that said valve means is located to be actuated by locking of said locking means.  
     
     
         3  The container of  claim 2  further characterized in that said locking means comprises at least one locking latch and said valve means is located to be engaged and actuated by locking of said locking latch.  
     
     
         4  The container of  claim 3  further characterized in that said valve means comprises a valve actuator located on said locking latch and closes said valve when locked and moved to cause an opening of said valve means when said latch is unlocked.  
     
     
         5  The container of  claim 4  further characterized in that said actuator comprises a projection on said latch.  
     
     
         6  The container of  claim 5  further characterized in that said valve means comprises an opening in said container and which is engaged by said projection when said locking latch is locked.  
     
     
         7  The container of  claim 6  further characterized in that said projection has a face which extends over and covers said opening in sealing contact therewith.  
     
     
         8  The container of  claim 6  further characterized in that said projection extends into said opening in sealing contact therewith.  
     
     
         9  A container capable of having an interior compartment sealed with respect to an ambient atmospheric condition and for equalizing pressure conditions in a different ambient atmosphere, an improvement comprising: 
 a) an opening on a housing of the container between said housing interior compartment and an external atmosphere;  
 b) locking means for holding said housing in a closed position and enabling a seal of the interior compartment; and  
 c) valve projection means associated with said locking means and being actuable in response to an action of opening or closing the locking means.  
 
     
     
         10  The improvement in the container of  claim 1  further characterized in that said valve projection means is located to extend with respect to and engage said opening when said locking means is locked.  
     
     
         11  The container of  claim 3  further characterized in that a valve projection engages a face of said opening in sealing contact therewith when said locking means is locked.  
     
     
         12  The container of  claim 10  further characterized in that said projection has a face which extends over and covers said opening in sealing contact therewith.  
     
     
         13  The container of  claim 10  further characterized in that said projection extends into said opening in sealing contact therewith.