Closure system with improved sealing of lid

Abstract

A closure system is provided with a peripheral wall (e.g., as defined either by a top portion of a container for extending from, and defining, an opening or as defined by a separate closure body for extending from a container). The peripheral wall has a laterally inwardly extending sealing member. A lid is provided for being moved from an open position to a closed position on the peripheral wall. The lid has a flange with a peripheral sealable surface for being engaged by the sealing member of the peripheral wall to effect a seal.

1 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container around an opening to the container interior and through which the product can be removed in a discharge direction that is perpendicular to said opening; and    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and wherein 
 (a) said peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of said opening, said sealing member including a tapering first portion that becomes thinner in the radially inward direction, said tapering first portion being defined by an outwardly convex first surface and an inwardly concave second surface, said sealing member including a distal second portion extending from said first portion, said distal second portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration that is defined by 
 (i) a laterally inwardly extending top arcuate surface,  
 (ii) a laterally inwardly extending bottom arcuate surface, and  
 (iii) a sealing surface that is generally parallel to said discharge direction and that extends between, and merges with, said top arcuate surface and said bottom arcuate surface; and  
 
 (b) said lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when said lid is in said closed position, is 
 (i) oriented generally parallel to said discharge direction, and  
 (ii) sealingly engaged with said sealing surface of said distal second portion of said peripheral wall sealing member so as to force said distal second portion laterally outwardly, and in which:  
 (iii) when said lid is in said closed position, said lid flange sealable surface extends inwardly, in the direction opposite to said discharge direction, beyond said peripheral wall sealing member by an amount at least as great as 0.59% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface;  
 (iv) the largest lateral dimension of said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion, as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction and across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion when said lid is opened, is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of said lid flange sealable surface as measured across the locus of the flange periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface whereby, when said lid is closed, said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is forced laterally outwardly by said lid flange sealable surface;  
 (v) said peripheral wall has an interior surface from which said sealing member extends, and  
 wherein said peripheral wall interior surface has a dimension X defined as the largest lateral dimension across the locus defined by said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction;  
 wherein said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion has a dimension Y defined as the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion as measured perpendicular to the discharge direction; and  
 wherein the ratio of X to Y is between about 1.04 and about 1.08; and  
 (vi) said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion sealing surface has a height as measured along said discharge direction, and the ratio of said sealing surface height to said peripheral wall interior surface dimension X is between about 0.08 and about 0.17.  
 
   
   
   
       2 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container around an opening to the container interior and through which the product can be removed in a discharge direction that is perpendicular to said opening; and    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and wherein 
 (a) said peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of said opening, said sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration that is defined by 
 (i) a laterally inwardly extending top arcuate surface,  
 (ii) a laterally inwardly extending bottom arcuate surface, and  
 (iii) a sealing surface that is generally parallel to said discharge direction and that extends between, and merges with, said top arcuate surface and said bottom arcuate surface; and  
 
 (b) said lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when said lid is in said closed position, is 
 (i) oriented generally parallel to said discharge direction, and  
 (ii) sealingly engaged with said sealing surface of said distal second portion of said peripheral wall sealing member so as to force said distal second portion laterally outwardly.  
 
   
   
   
       3 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which 
 said system is a closure that is separate from, but attachable to, a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a body defining said peripheral wall; and    said lid and body are molded as an unitary structure joined by a hinge.    
   
   
       4 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which said lid flange and said peripheral wall sealing member each has an oval configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which, when said lid is in said closed position, said lid flange sealable surface extends inwardly, in the direction opposite to said discharge direction, beyond said peripheral wall sealing member by an amount that is between about 0.5% and 10.0% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface.  
   
   
       6 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which the largest lateral dimension of said sealing surface of said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion, as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction and across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion when said lid is opened, is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of said lid flange sealable surface as measured across the locus of the flange periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface whereby, when said lid is closed, said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is forced laterally outwardly by said lid flange sealable surface.  
   
   
       7 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which said lid flange sealable surface and said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion interfere when said lid is in said closed position so as to force said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion laterally outwardly a distance at least as great as about 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which 
 said peripheral wall has an interior surface from which said sealing member extends; and said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion sealing surface has a height, as measured along said discharge direction, and the ratio of said sealing surface height to the largest lateral dimension across the locus defined by said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction is between about 0.08 and about 0.17.    
   
   
       9 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said sealing surface height is between about 0.10 mm. and about 1.02 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which 
 said peripheral wall has an interior surface from which said sealing member extends; and 
 wherein said peripheral wall interior surface has a dimension X defined as the largest lateral dimension across the locus defined by said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction;  
 wherein said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion has a dimension Y defined as the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion as measured perpendicular to the discharge direction; and  
 wherein the ratio of X to Y is between about 1.04 and about 1.08.  
   
   
   
       11 . The system in accordance with  claim 2  in which 
 said sealing member first portion tapers and becomes thinner in the radially inward direction; and    said sealing member first portion is defined by an outwardly convex first surface and an inwardly concave second surface.    
   
   
       12 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container around an opening to the container interior and through which the product can be removed in a discharge direction that is perpendicular to said opening; and    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and wherein 
 (a) said peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of said opening, said sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion extending from said first portion to define a sealing surface that is generally parallel to said discharge direction; and  
 (b) said lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when said lid is in said closed position, 
 (i) is oriented generally parallel to said discharge direction,  
 (ii) has a minimum lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by the sealable surface that exceeds 40 mm.;  
 (iii) is sealingly engaged with said sealing surface of said distal second portion of said sealing member of said peripheral wall so as to force said distal second portion laterally outwardly; and  
 (iv) extends inwardly, in the direction opposite to said discharge direction, beyond said peripheral wall sealing member by an amount that is between about 0.5% and about 10.0% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface.  
 
   
   
   
       13 . The system in accordance with  claim 12  in which 
 said system is a closure that is separate from, but attachable to, a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a body defining said peripheral wall; and    said lid and body are molded as an unitary structure joined by a hinge.    
   
   
       14 . The system in accordance with  claim 12  in which 
 (1) the largest lateral dimension of said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion, as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction and across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion when said lid is opened, is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of said lid flange sealable surface as measured across the locus of the flange periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface whereby, when said lid is closed, said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is forced laterally outwardly by said lid flange sealable surface;    (2) said peripheral wall has an interior surface from which said sealing member extends, and 
 wherein said peripheral wall interior surface has a dimension X defined as the largest lateral dimension across the locus defined by said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction;  
 wherein said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion has a dimension Y defined as the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion as measured perpendicular to the discharge direction; and  
 wherein the ratio of X to Y is between about 1.04 and about 1.08;  
   (3) said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion sealing surface has a height as measured along said discharge direction, and the ratio of said sealing surface height to said peripheral wall interior surface dimension X is between about 0.08 and about 0.17;    (4) said sealing member first portion tapers and becomes thinner in the radially inward direction; and    (5) said sealing member first portion is defined by an outwardly convex first surface and an inwardly concave second surface.    
   
   
       15 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container around an opening to the container interior and through which the product can be removed in a discharge direction that is perpendicular to said opening; and    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and wherein 
 (a) said peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of said opening, said sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion extending from said first portion to define a sealing surface that is generally parallel to said discharge direction;  
 (b) said lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when said lid is in said closed position, 
 (i) is oriented generally parallel to said discharge direction,  
 (ii) is sealingly engaged with said sealing surface of said distal second portion of said sealing member of said peripheral wall so as to force said distal second portion laterally outwardly; and  
 
 (c) the largest lateral dimension of said sealing surface of said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion, as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction and across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said peripheral wall of said sealing member distal second portion when said lid is opened, is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of said lid flange sealable surface as measured across the locus of the flange periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface whereby, when said lid is closed, said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is forced laterally outwardly by said lid flange sealable surface.  
   
   
   
       16 . The system in accordance with  claim 15  in which 
 said system is a closure that is separate from, but attachable to, a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a body defining said peripheral wall; and    said lid and body are molded as an unitary structure joined by a hinge.    
   
   
       17 . The system in accordance with  claim 15  in which 
 (1) when said lid is in said closed position, said flange sealable surface extends inwardly, in the direction opposite to said discharge direction, beyond said peripheral wall sealing member by an amount that is between about 0.5% and about 10.0% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface;    (2) said peripheral wall has an interior surface from which said sealing member extends, and 
 wherein said peripheral wall interior surface has a dimension X defined as the largest lateral dimension across the locus defined by said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction;  
 wherein said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion has a dimension Y defined as the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion as measured perpendicular to the discharge direction; and  
 wherein the ratio of X to Y is between about 1.04 and about 1.08;  
   (3) said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion sealing surface has a height as measured along said discharge direction, and the ratio of said sealing surface height to said peripheral wall interior surface dimension X is between about 0.08 an 0.17;    (4) said sealing member first portion tapers and becomes thinner in the radially inward direction; and    (5) said sealing member first portion is defined by an outwardly convex first surface and an inwardly concave second surface.    
   
   
       18 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container around an opening to the container interior and through which the product can be removed in a discharge direction that is perpendicular to said opening; and    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and wherein 
 (a) said peripheral wall has an interior surface and further includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered from said interior surface over part of said opening, said sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion extending from said first portion to define a sealing surface that (i) is generally parallel to said discharge direction, and (ii) has a height as measured along said discharge direction, and the ratio of the height of said sealing surface to the largest lateral dimension of said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction is between about 0.08 and about 0.17; and  
 (b) said lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when said lid is in said closed position, is 
 (i) oriented generally parallel to said discharge direction, and  
 (ii) sealingly engaged with said sealing surface of said distal second portion of said peripheral wall sealing member so as to force said distal second portion laterally outwardly.  
 
   
   
   
       19 . The system in accordance with  claim 18  in which 
 said system is a closure that is separate from, but attachable to, a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a body defining said peripheral wall; and    said lid and body are molded as an unitary structure joined by a hinge.    
   
   
       20 . The system in accordance with  claim 18  in which, 
 (1) when said lid is in said closed position, said lid flange sealable surface extends inwardly, in the direction opposite to said discharge direction, beyond said peripheral wall sealing member by an amount that is between about 0.5% and about 10.0% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface;    (2) the largest lateral dimension of said sealing surface of said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion, as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction and across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion when said lid is opened, is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of said lid flange sealable surface as measured across the locus of the flange periphery defined by said lid flange sealable surface whereby, when said lid is closed, said peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is forced laterally outwardly by said lid flange sealable surface;    (3) said peripheral wall has an interior surface from which said sealing member extends, and 
 wherein said peripheral wall interior surface has a dimension X defined as the largest lateral dimension across the locus defined by said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction;  
 wherein said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion has a dimension Y defined as the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus defined by said sealing surface of said sealing member distal second portion as measured perpendicular to the discharge direction;  
 wherein the ratio of X to Y is between about 1.04 and about 1.08;  
   (4) said sealing member first portion tapers and becomes thinner in the radially inward direction;    (5) said sealing member first portion is defined by an outwardly convex first surface and an inwardly concave second surface, and    (6) said sealing surface height is between about 0.10 mm. and about 1.02 mm.