Container with selectively vented lid

Abstract

A container ( 100 ) comprises a bowl ( 102 ) having a rim ( 106 ), and a lid ( 104 ) attachable to the bowl ( 102 ). The lid ( 104 ) is configured for attachment to the bowl ( 102 ) in a plurality of different orientations, including (we) a first orientation wherein the lid ( 104 ) is attached to the bowl ( 102 ) and forms a continuous seal with the rim ( 106 ) along the entire perimeter of the rim ( 106 ), thereby sealing the container ( 100 ), and (ii) a second orientation wherein the lid ( 104 ) is attached to the bowl ( 102 ) so as to allow ventilation of the container ( 100 ).

1 . A container comprising: 
 a bowl having a rim about its upper periphery; and    a lid having a lip, said lip having a continuous sealing bead about the periphery of said lid and at least one vent region,    wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a plurality of different orientations, including (we) a first orientation in which said lid is attached to said bowl with said sealing bead in continuous contact with said rim along the entire perimeter of said rim, thereby sealing said container, and (ii) a second orientation in which said lid is attached to said bowl with said at least one vent region providing ventilation of said container.    
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , said rim comprising a flange projecting upward from the upper perimeter of said bowl.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2 , said lip having an inverted V-shape, with said V-shape being sized to accommodate said flange of said rim.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 3 , said sealing bead being formed on the inner surface of said V-shaped lip so as to contact said flange of said rim.  
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 4 , said sealing bead being positioned adjacent the opening of said V-shaped lip along a first portion of the perimeter of said lid, and being positioned adjacent the apex of said V-shaped lip along a second portion of the perimeter of said lid.  
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 5 , said second portion of said perimeter of said lid corresponding to said at least one vent region of said lip.  
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 1 , said rim including at least one recessed portion, which aligns with said at least one vent region when said lid is attached in the second orientation, such that said sealing bead does not contact said rim along said recessed portion, thereby allowing venting of said container.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 1 , said bowl comprising a base and a peripheral wall extending upward therefrom, said rim being disposed at a distal end of said peripheral wall.  
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 8 , said base of said bowl having a plurality of raised ridges protruding from said base into the interior of said bowl.  
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 9 , said plurality of ridges being formed in a parallel arrangement.  
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 10 , each ridge of said plurality of ridges being spaced apart from from each of the other ridges of said plurality of ridges.  
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein said peripheral wall of said bowl is scalloped.  
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one vent region comprises one of a dome, a bubble, an expanded portion, a flared portion, an enlarged portion, and an overhanging portion.  
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one vent region comprises a substantially hemispherical dome.  
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 14 , wherein each said at least one vent region comprises a plurality of substantially hemispherical domes.  
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 1 , said lip further comprising a pair of vent regions, each said vent region comprising a plurality of substantially hemispherical domes.  
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one vent region comprises one of a through-hole, a notch, a recess, and an oblong port.  
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one vent region comprises a through-hole.  
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 18 , wherein each said at least one vent region comprises a plurality of through-holes.  
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 1 , said lip further comprising a pair of vent regions, each said vent region comprising a plurality of through-holes.  
   
   
       21 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein when said lid is attached to said bowl in the first orientation, said container is hermetically sealed.  
   
   
       22 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a third orientation in which said lid is attached to said bowl with said at least one vent region providing greater ventilation of said container than in the second orientation.  
   
   
       23 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a fourth orientation in which said lid is attached to said bowl with said at least one vent region providing greater ventilation of said container than in the third orientation.  
   
   
       24 . A container comprising: 
 a bowl having a rim about its upper periphery; and    a lid configured for attachment to said bowl in a plurality of different orientations, including (we) a first orientation in which said lid is attached to said bowl and forms a continuous seal with said rim along the entire perimeter of said rim, thereby sealing said container, and (ii) a second orientation in which said lid is attached to said bowl so as to allow ventilation of said container,    wherein the second orientation of said lid is offset about the vertical axis relative to the first orientation of said lid.    
   
   
       25 . A container according to  claim 24 , wherein said container is rectangular, and the second orientation of the lid is offset 180 degrees about the vertical axis relative to the first orientation of the lid.  
   
   
       26 . A container according to  claim 24 , wherein said container is square, and the second orientation of the lid is offset 90 degrees about the vertical axis relative to the first orientation of the lid.  
   
   
       27 . A container according to  claim 26 , wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a third orientation wherein said lid is attached to said bowl with said at least one vent region providing greater ventilation of said container than in the second orientation, and wherein the third orientation of the lid is offset 90 degrees about the vertical axis relative to the second orientation of the lid.  
   
   
       28 . A container according to  claim 27 , wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a fourth orientation wherein said lid is attached to said bowl with said at least one vent region providing greater ventilation of said container than in the third orientation, and wherein the fourth orientation of the lid is offset 90 degrees about the vertical axis relative to the third orientation of the lid.  
   
   
       29 . A container comprising: 
 a bowl and a lid attachable thereto, one of said bowl and said lid having a rim extending around the perimeter thereof, and the other of said bowl and said lid having a lip with a continuous sealing bead for engagement with said rim, said sealing bead including at least one stepped portion having a height offset from a remainder of said sealing bead,    wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a plurality of different orientations, including (we) a first orientation in which said sealing bead is in continuous contact with said rim along the entire perimeter of said rim, thereby sealing said container, and (ii) a second orientation in which said stepped portion does not contact said rim, thereby providing ventilation of said container.    
   
   
       30 . A container according to  claim 29 , said rim including at least one stepped portion having a height offset from a remainder of said rim, wherein in the second orientation said stepped portion of said rim is aligned with said stepped portion of said sealing bead.  
   
   
       31 . A container comprising: 
 a bowl and a lid attachable thereto, one of said bowl and said lid having a rim extending around the perimeter thereof, and the other of said bowl and said lid having a lip with a continuous sealing bead for engagement with said rim, said rim including at least one stepped portion having a height offset from a remainder of said rim,    wherein said lid is configured for attachment to said bowl in a plurality of different orientations, including (we) a first orientation in which said sealing bead is in continuous contact with said rim along the entire perimeter of said rim, thereby sealing said container, and (ii) a second orientation in which said stepped portion does not contact said sealing bead, thereby providing ventilation of said container.