Hermetically sealed container for stick electrodes

Abstract

A container for hermetically sealing stick electrodes is provided. The container comprises a lid and a body such that the lid and body mate to form an hermetic seal. An interference fit is formed between the mating of a seal structure, disposed on either the lid or the body, and its corresponding part thereby hermetically sealing a hollow interior of the container. The hermetic seal is reusable, and, as such, sealing can be reestablished simply by again mating the lid with the body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container for stick electrodes, comprising: 
 a hollow body having a ribbed exterior portion; and    a lid configured to mate with the body, the lid having an interior surface;    wherein an hermetic seal is formed via engagement between the exterior and interior sections to seal an enclosed volume configured to receive a plurality of stick electrodes.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hermetic seal comprises an interference fit between the ribbed exterior portion and the interior surface.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body and lid comprise an injection molded plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the injection molded plastic comprises a high density polyethylene (HDPE).  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbed portion comprises a latching rib adapted to engage a stop rib disposed on the interior surface, wherein engagement between the latching rib and stop rib removably secures the lid to the body.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a separable secondary seal adapted to hermetically seal the container.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator, the indicator adapted to provide visual indication of initial separation of the lid and body.  
     
     
         8 . A container for stick electrodes, comprising; 
 a plastic hollow body having a plurality of ribs disposed continuously about a perimeter of an exterior surface;    a plastic lid having an interior surface, wherein the interior surface and ribs engage to form an interference fit, the interference fit adapted to hermetically seal an enclosed volume configured to receive a plurality of stick electrodes; and    an indicator disposed about a joint of the container, the indicator adapted to indicate initial separation of the lid from the body.    
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator provides a second hermetic seal for the enclosed volume.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the indicator visually indicates breach of the second hermetic seal.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a base portion, the base portion adapted to maintain the hollow body in an upright position.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a flange portion, the flange portion adapted to restrict movement of the lid, and wherein the flange portion and lid mate to form a substantially continuous surface.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a latching rib adapted to engage a stop rib disposed on the interior surface, wherein engagement between the latching rib and stop rib removably secures the lid to the body.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the body and lid comprise a high density polyethylene (HDPE).  
     
     
         15 . A container for stick electrodes, comprising: 
 a first plastic hollow body adapted to carry a plurality of stick electrodes;    a second plastic hollow body adapted to mate with the first hollow body; and    an integrated seal structure disposed on either the first or second body, the integrated seal structure adapted to form an hermetic seal upon mating of the first and second bodies.    
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated seal structure comprise a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the integrated seal structure is reusable.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15 , further comprising a separable sealing ring adapted to hermetically seal the container.  
     
     
         19 . A container for stick electrodes, comprising: 
 a first plastic hollow body, the adapted to mate with a second plastic hollow body thereby forming an enclosure, the enclosure configured to house a plurality of stick electrodes;    packaging at least partially disposed about external surfaces of the first and second bodies, the packing adapted to form an initial hermetic seal for the enclosure; and    an interface between the first and second bodies, the interface adapted to form a reusable hermetic seal independent of the initial hermetic seal.    
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second hollow bodies comprise an injection molded plastic.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the injection molded plastic comprises a high density polyethylene (HDPE).  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the reusable hermetic seal comprises a plurality of ribs disposed on either the first or second body.  
     
     
         23 . A method for hermetically sealing stick electrodes, comprising: 
 forming a hollow plastic body via an injection molding process, wherein the plastic body comprises a plurality of continuous ribs disposed about a perimeter of an exterior surface;    forming a plastic lid via an injection molding process;    disposing at least one stick electrode within the plastic hollow body; and    mating the lid with the body such that the mating of the ribs with an interior surface of the lid forms an hermetic seal between the lid and body.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising visually indicting initial separation of the lid from the body.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising at least partially disposing removable packaging about a joint, the packing adapted to form an initial hermetic seal.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising removably securing the lid to the body.