Cotainer lid

Abstract

A container lid which seals about a peripheral lip contacting a corresponding container is disclosed. A flexible material, such as a silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like, is attached to at least a peripheral lip formed in a flexible substrate, such as a flexible metal or plastic material, having a first and second surface. The peripheral lip includes notches or slots to create individual sections in the lip to allow inward and outward flexing of the sections. When fitted to a container, the coated flexible substrate forms a seal between the container and the container lid. Preferably, the flexible substrate is formed in such a way that it is bi-stable, thus capable of existing in either a convex or concave state. In one embodiment of the container lid the flexible substrate includes a plurality of grasping teeth (i.e., specialized flexing sections) distributed about the periphery of the flexible substrate.

1 . A container lid comprising:
 a flexible substrate having a body with first and second opposing surfaces and a peripheral lip substantially perpendicular to the body and divided by notches into at least three flexing sections; and   a flexible material attached to at least the flexing sections of the peripheral lip.   
   
   
       2 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is bi-stable. 
   
   
       3 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate further comprises a plurality of openings defined therein through which the flexible material attaches to the substrate. 
   
   
       4 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is attached to the flexing sections and at least one of the first and second surfaces of the flexible substrate. 
   
   
       5 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is attached to only the peripheral lip of the flexible substrate. 
   
   
       6 . The container lid of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible substrate further comprises a plurality of holes defined therein through which the flexible material attaches to the substrate. 
   
   
       7 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is attached to the entire substrate. 
   
   
       8 . The container lid of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible material is chemically adhered to the substrate. 
   
   
       9 . The container lid of  claim 8 , wherein the material is adhered to the substrate using a primer coating. 
   
   
       10 . The container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises a synthetic polymer. 
   
   
       11 . The container lid of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible material comprises silicone rubber. 
   
   
       12 . A container lid comprising:
 a flexible substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral lip substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, wherein the peripheral lip comprises a plurality of grasping sections disposed about the periphery of the flexible substrate; and   a flexible material attached to at least the peripheral lip of the flexible substrate.   
   
   
       13 . The container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible substrate is bi-stable. 
   
   
       14 . The container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible material is attached to the plurality of grasping sections and at least one of the first and second surfaces of the flexible substrate. 
   
   
       15 . The container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible material is attached to the entire flexible substrate. 
   
   
       16 . The container lid of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible material is attached using a primer applied to the flexible substrate. 
   
   
       17 . A container lid comprising:
 a flexible stainless steel substrate having a first and second surface; and   a plurality of grasping sections disposed about the periphery of the flexible substrate;   wherein a primer is applied to the plurality of grasping sections and the first and second surface of the flexible substrate; and   wherein a silicone rubber is adhered to the primer-treated plurality of grasping sections and the first and second surface of the flexible substrate.   
   
   
       18 . The container lid of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible stainless steel substrate is bi-stable. 
   
   
       19 . A combination container and container lid comprising:
 a container body having at least one side wall, defining an open end, and a bottom wall opposite the open end;   a lid formed of a flexible, bi -stable substrate having a peripheral lip and dimensioned to enclose the open end of the container body; and   a flexible material adhered to at least the peripheral lip of the flexible substrate, wherein the substrate is capable of changing configurations between a convex and a concave state relative to the container and the flexible material forms a seal against the container body when the lid is in the concave state and connected to the container body.