Container sealing system

Abstract

An easily closable and openable container system includes a number of features which facilitate easy opening and closing while maintaining a high seal. In a first embodiment, the opening forces can be concentrated on one narrow side which includes a lip on one side of a lid flange and with an angled portion on the opposite side of the flange to give ease of opening with less force involved. In a second embodiment where one side is not significantly shorter than a longest side, the lid flange is located at a corner to concentrate the leverage for opening. A continuous flange surrounds a generally planar member and mates with a outwardly projecting rim. The flange includes a pair of surfaces, including an inwardly angled surface which acts to form a stable seal, and actually urges the lid downward as the natural sealing force from the flange is applied.

1 . A sealable container comprising:
 a base having an upper wall about the upper periphery of said base;   a lid including:   a flange portion adjacent and outer periphery of said lid and including at least a pair of peripherally inwardly facing surfaces angled with respect to each other; and   a floor portion within said flange portion.   
   
   
       2 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  and wherein said peripherally inwardly facing surfaces angled with respect to each other includes an inwardly angled portion and an adjacent beveled surface. 
   
   
       3 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  and wherein an inward angle normal to a main planar extent of said lid of said inwardly angled portion is less than an outward angle of said adjacent beveled surface. 
   
   
       4 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 2  and wherein said peripherally inwardly facing inwardly angled portion has an angular inclination of from about fifteen to about five degrees from a vertical taken with respect to line normal to a main planar extent of said lid. 
   
   
       5 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 4  wherein said peripherally inwardly facing inwardly angled portion has an angular inclination of about ten degrees from a vertical taken with respect to a main planar extent of said lid. 
   
   
       6 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said base includes a peripherally outwardly directed rim  27  below said upper wall. 
   
   
       7 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flange portion includes a horizontal web and wherein said horizontal web and a vertical web, and wherein an underside of said horizontal web has a downwardly directed rim and a rim capture underside surface between said downwardly directed rim and said vertical web. 
   
   
       8 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flange portion includes a peripherally inwardly directed channel, and wherein said floor portion is connected to said flange portion into said channel. 
   
   
       9 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said upper wall of said base is tilted outwardly from about two to about six degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 9  wherein said upper wall of said base is tilted outwardly with respect to the vertical of about four degrees. 
   
   
       11 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said vertical web has an angle with respect to said horizontal web of from about ninety degrees to about ninety six degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 11  wherein said vertical web has an angle with respect to said horizontal web of about ninety three degrees. 
   
   
       13 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lid includes a safety valve assembly which opens when the pressure inside said sealable container exceeds a predetermined pressure. 
   
   
       14 . The sealable container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flange portion of said lid includes an outwardly projecting lip and where said lid includes a raised, angled portion opposite said lip.