Plastic water tight container

Abstract

The present invention is an improved plastic container wherein the lid and bowl portions of the container fit together to form a water tight seal without the need for sealing gaskets. The plastic lid portion of the container includes a lid lip having a generally sinusoidal shape including a U shaped portion and a first inverted U shaped portion, the first inverted U shaped portion having a first wall, a first upper portion and an interior, a retaining bead projecting from the first wall into the interior of the first inverted U shaped portion, the U shaped portion having a second wall opposite the first wall of the first inverted U shaped portion. The bowl includes a bowl lip having a second inverted U shaped portion. The second inverted U shaped portion has third and fourth walls, a second upper portion and a lip edge. The third wall extends from a terminal end to the second upper portion, the fourth wall being contiguous with the bowl and the lip edge being positioned between the fourth wall and the top portion. The second inverted U shaped portion is dimensioned and configured to fit snugly within the interior of first inverted U shaped portion such that when the second inverted U-shaped portion is fully inserted into the first inverted U-shaped portion, a first seal is formed by the terminal end of the third wall bearing against a portion of the first wall immediately above the bead, a second seal is formed by a portion of the fourth wall bearing against a portion of the second wall and a third seal is formed by the lip edge bearing against the upper portion of the first inverted U-shaped portion.

Therefore, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic container comprising:
 a lid including a lid lip having a generally sinusoidal shape including a U shaped portion and a first inverted U shaped portion, the first inverted U shaped portion having a first wall, a first upper portion and an interior, a retaining bead projecting from the first wall into the interior of the first inverted U shaped portion, the U shaped portion having a second wall opposite the first wall of the first inverted U shaped portion;   a bowl including a bowl lip having a second inverted U shaped portion, the second inverted U shaped portion having a third and fourth wall, a second upper portion and a lip edge, the third wall extending from a terminal end to the second upper portion, the fourth wall being contiguous with the bowl and the lip edge being positioned between the fourth wall and the top portion;   the second inverted U shaped portion being dimensioned and configured to fit snugly within the interior of first inverted U shaped portion, the first and second inverted U shaped portions being further dimensioned such that when the second inverted U-shaped portion is fully inserted into the first inverted U-shaped portion, a first seal is formed by the terminal end of the third wall bearing against a portion of the first wall immediately above the bead and a second seal is formed by a portion of the fourth wall bearing against a portion of the second wall and a third seal is formed by the lip edge bearing against the upper portion of the first inverted U-shaped portion.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first seal is formed above the second seal. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lip edge is relatively square. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the interior of the first inverted U-shaped portion has an internal diameter measured between the first wall and the second wall and wherein the second inverted U-shaped portion has an exterior diameter measured between the terminal end and the fourth wall, the exterior diameter of the second inverted U-Shaped portion being slightly greater than the interior diameter of the first inverted U-shaped portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the lip edge is just over 90°. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first, second and third seals are arranged in a triangular arrangement which is approximately equilateral. 
     
     
         7 . A container comprising:
 a lid including a lid lip having a generally sinusoidal shape including a U shaped portion and a first inverted U shaped portion, the first inverted U shaped portion having a first wall, a first upper portion and an interior, a retaining bead projecting from the first wall into the interior of the first inverted U shaped portion, the U shaped portion having a second wall opposite the first wall of the first inverted U shaped portion, the second wall being much thicker than then first wall;   a bowl including a bowl lip having a second inverted U shaped portion, the second inverted U shaped portion having a third and fourth wall, a second upper portion and a lip edge, the third wall extending from a terminal end to the second upper portion, the fourth wall being contiguous with the bowl, the lip edge being formed between the fourth wall and the second upper portion, the lip edge being relatively square;   the second inverted U-shaped portion having an external diameter measured between the terminal end and the fourth wall and the first inverted U-shaped portion having an internal diameter measured from the first wall immediately above the bead to the second wall, the outer diameter of the second inverted U-shaped portion and the inner diameter of the first inverted U-shaped portion being selected such that the second inverted U-shaped portion fits snugly within the interior of first inverted U shaped portion, the internal and external diameters of the first and second inverted U-shaped portions, respectively, being further selected such that when the second inverted U-shaped portion is fully inserted into the first inverted U-shaped portion, a first seal is formed by the terminal end of the third wall bearing against a portion of the first wall immediately above the bead and a second seal is formed by a portion of the fourth wall bearing against a portion of the second wall and a third seal is formed by the lip edge bearing against the upper portion of the first inverted U-shaped portion.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  the first, second and third seals are in a triangular arrangement, the triangular arrangement being substantially equilateral.