Container lid with tool holder

Abstract

A resealable container lid assembly, which may be easily moved from one container to another container of a similar size and which may contain one or more holders for tools, especially flat bladed tools such as a joint compound knife. Generally, the present invention includes an operation platform having a first aperture for providing access to the container and a lid that is pivotally coupled to the operation platform, i.e. with a hinge. The operation platform may include one or more holders for tools, for example a groove for holding a joint compound knife.

1 . A lid assembly for a container, the lid assembly comprising: 
 an operation platform having a first aperture for providing access to the container; and    a lid pivotally coupled to the operation platform for covering the aperture, wherein the operation platform includes a groove for storing a blade of a flat bladed tool.    
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally coupled to the operation platform using a hinge.  
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture has size substantially equal to a size of an opening of the container.  
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one second aperture in the operation platform adapted to store a tool.  
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bail coupled to at least one of the operation platform, the lid, and the container.  
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid gasket mounted to at least one of the operation platform and the lid, 
 wherein the lid gasket provides an airtight seal between the operation platform and the lid.    
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lid includes an inner ring extending into an opening of the container for separating the lid gasket from contents of the container.  
     
     
         8 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform gasket mounted to the operation platform adjacent to the container, 
 wherein the platform gasket provides an airtight seal between the operation platform and the container.    
     
     
         9 . The lid assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the operation platform includes an inner band extending into an opening of the container for separating the platform gasket from contents of the container.  
     
     
         10 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch coupled to one of the lid and the operation platform to latch the lid and the operation platform in a closed position.  
     
     
         11 . The lid assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a foot pedal assembly having a foot pedal coupled to the latch for releasing the latch.  
     
     
         12 . The lid assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the foot pedal assembly further comprises a foot pedal anchor for coupling the foot pedal and the container.  
     
     
         13 . The lid assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising an actuator for moving the lid into an open position upon releasing of the latch.  
     
     
         14 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the operation platform includes an interior surface on a portion thereof adjacent to the first aperture; and the lid includes a lower surface on a portion thereof adjacent to the first aperture, 
 wherein at least one of the interior surface and the lower surface are smooth.    
     
     
         15 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the operation platform is coupled to the container using an extendable fastener.  
     
     
         16 . The lid assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a first fastening member, extending from at least a portion of the operation platform and coupling the operation platform to an outer lip of the container; and    a second fastening member, extending from at least a portion of the operation platform, wherein the extendable fastener causes the second fastening member to come into contact with the outer lip of the container.    
     
     
         17 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool rack coupled to at least one of the lid and the operation platform.  
     
     
         18 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an inside part of the groove is elastic.  
     
     
         19 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a shelf; including: 
 a first part adjacent to the groove; and    a second part adjacent to the groove and opposing the first part, wherein the first part extends beyond the second part to form the shelf.    
     
     
         20 . A lid assembly for a container adapted to receive a removable hard plastic cover, the lid assembly comprising: 
 an operation platform having a first aperture for providing access to the container;    a lid pivotally coupled to the operation platform for covering the aperture;    a groove in the operation platform for storing a blade of a flat bladed tool;    at least one second aperture in the operation platform adapted to store a tool;    a lid gasket mounted to at least one of the operation platform and the lid for providing an airtight seal between the operation platform and the lid;    a platform gasket mounted to the operation platform adjacent to the container for providing an airtight seal between the operation platform and the lid; and    an extendable fastener for coupling the operation platform to the container, wherein the operation platform is removably coupled to the container after the removable hard plastic cover is removed.    
     
     
         21 . The lid assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one bail coupled to at least one of the operation platform, the lid, and the container.  
     
     
         22 . The lid assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a latch coupled to one of the lid and the operation platform to latch the lid and the operation platform in a closed position.  
     
     
         23 . The lid assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a foot pedal coupled to the latch for releasing the latch.  
     
     
         24 . The lid assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising an actuator for moving the lid into an open position upon releasing of the latch.  
     
     
         25 . The lid assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the operation platform includes an interior surface on a portion thereof adjacent to the first aperture; and the lid includes a lower surface on a portion thereof adjacent to the first aperture, 
 wherein at least one of the interior surface and the lower surface are smooth.    
     
     
         26 . The lid assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a tool rack coupled to at least one of the lid and the operation platform.  
     
     
         27 . The lid assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a first fastening member, extending from at least a portion of the operation platform and coupling the operation platform to an outer lip of the container; and    a second fastening member, extending from at least a portion of the operation platform, wherein the extendable fastener causes the second fastening member to come into contact with the outer lip of the container.    
     
     
         28 . A container assembly comprising: 
 a container having container wall structure defining a side wall, a bottom and an opening; and    a lid assembly removably coupled to the container, the lid assembly having:    an operation platform having a first aperture for providing access to the container;    a lid pivotally coupled to the operation platform for covering the aperture;    a groove in the operation platform for storing a blade of a flat bladed tool;    at least one second aperture in the operation platform adapted to store a tool;    a lid gasket mounted to at least one of the operation platform and the lid for providing an airtight seal between the operation platform and the lid;    a platform gasket mounted to the operation platform adjacent to the container for providing an airtight seal between the operation platform and the lid; and    an extendable fastener for coupling the operation platform to the container.    
     
     
         29 . The container assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one bail coupled to at least one of the operation platform, the lid, and the container.  
     
     
         30 . The container assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising a latch coupled to one of the lid and the operation platform to latch the lid and the operation platform in a closed position.  
     
     
         31 . The container assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising a foot pedal coupled to the latch for releasing the latch.  
     
     
         32 . The container assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising an actuator for moving the lid into an open position upon releasing of the latch.  
     
     
         33 . The lid assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the operation platform includes an interior surface on a portion thereof adjacent to the first aperture; and the lid includes a lower surface on a portion thereof adjacent to the first aperture, 
 wherein at least one of the interior surface and the lower surface are smooth.    
     
     
         34 . The lid assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising a tool rack coupled to at least one of the lid and the operation platform.  
     
     
         35 . The lid assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a first fastening member, extending from at least a portion of the operation platform and coupling the operation platform to an outer lip of the container; and    a second fastening member, extending from at least a portion of operation platform, wherein the extendable fastener causes the second fastening member to come into contact with the outer lip of the container.