Container lid and gasket combination without lid pretreatment or gasket adhesive

Abstract

A plastic lid for closing a container neck opening according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a lid body surrounded by an annular rim, the annular rim defining a gasket channel having an open portion at one end opening toward the container neck opening and including a closed base at an opposite end. The annular rim defines a pair of raised annular beads positioned adjacent the open portion of the channel for capturing a gasket received within the gasket channel. The corresponding gasket may be either a preformed gasket that is inserted into the channel or a foamed-in-place gasket that is formed in the gasket channel. No pretreatment of the lid is required for the installed gasket to be retained in the gasket channel.

1 . A plastic lid for closing a container neck opening, said plastic lid comprising: 
 a lid body surrounded by an annular rim, said annular rim defining a gasket channel having an open portion at one end opening toward said container neck opening and including a closed base at an opposite end, said annular rim further defining gasket-retention means positioned adjacent said open portion for capturing a gasket received within said gasket channel; and    a gasket that is foamed-in-place in said gasket channel between said closed base and said gasket-retention means.    
   
   
       2 . The plastic lid of  claim 1  wherein said gasket channel is free of any surface pretreatment for facilitating the securing of the gasket to said gasket channel.  
   
   
       3 . The plastic lid of  claim 1  wherein said gasket channel is free of any adhesive.  
   
   
       4 . The plastic lid of  claim 1  wherein said gasket-retention means includes at least one bead formed as part of said rim and extending across part of said open portion of said gasket channel.  
   
   
       5 . The plastic lid of  claim 4  wherein said bead is an uninterrupted annular member.  
   
   
       6 . The plastic lid of  claim 4  wherein said bead is formed into a plurality of spaced-apart sections.  
   
   
       7 . A plastic lid for closing a container neck opening, said plastic lid comprising: 
 a lid body surrounded by an annular rim, said annular rim defining a gasket channel having an open portion at one end opening toward said container neck opening and including a closed base at an opposite end, said annular rim further defining gasket-retention means positioned adjacent said open portion for capturing a gasket received within said gasket channel; and    a pre-formed gasket inserted into said gasket channel between said closed base and said gasket-retention means.    
   
   
       8 . The plastic lid of  claim 7  wherein said gasket channel is free of any surface pretreatment for facilitating the securing of the gasket to said gasket channel.  
   
   
       9 . The plastic lid of  claim 7  wherein said gasket channel is free of any adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . The plastic lid of  claim 7  wherein said gasket-retention means includes at least one bead formed as part of said rim and extending across part of said open portion of said gasket channel.  
   
   
       11 . The plastic lid of  claim 10  wherein said bead is an uninterrupted annular member.  
   
   
       12 . The plastic lid of  claim 10  wherein said bead is formed into a plurality of spaced-apart sections.  
   
   
       13 . A lid for closing a container neck opening, said lid comprising: 
 a lid body surrounded by an annular rim, said annular rim defining a gasket channel having an open portion at one end opening toward said container neck opening and including a closed base at an opposite end, said annular rim further defining gasket-retention means positioned adjacent said open portion for capturing a gasket received within said gasket channel; and    a gasket that is foamed-in-place in said gasket channel between said closed base and said gasket-retention means.    
   
   
       14 . A method of fabricating a plastic closing lid for a container, said plastic closing lid defining an annular rim that includes a gasket channel, said method comprising the following steps: 
 injection molding a plastic closing lid with an annular rim that defines a gasket channel and includes gasket retention means positioned across part of said gasket channel;    injecting a foamable gasket material into said gasket channel wherein the gasket material foams up, in place; and    performing the injecting step free of any prior pre-treatment step to said gasket channel, such that said foamed-in-place gasket is removable from said gasket channel, intact.    
   
   
       15 . A method of recycling a plastic lid and gasket assembly that is used for closing a neck opening of a container, the gasket being retained in a gasket channel, said method comprising the following steps: 
 removing the plastic lid from the container;    pulling the gasket out of the gasket channel;    recycling the lid material once the gasket is removed; and    performing the recycling step without the need to perform any prior cleaning step to remove gasket residual material left in the gasket channel after the pulling step.