Lid for a can with an improved seal

Abstract

A lid for a paint can having a lid base which is threadably mounted to a mating ring dimensioned to overlie the can chime on the paint can. A seal constructed of a flexible and compressible material is carried by the mating ring and, upon rotation of the mating ring relative to the lid base between an open and a closed position, the mating ring compresses the sealing ring against the can chime to complete a fluid seal.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A lid for a can having a circular chime which forms a circular opening around an inner radial surface, said lid comprising:
 a lid base,   a mating ring dimensioned to overlie the can chime and threadably mounted to said lid base, said mating ring constructed of a non-compressible and flexible material and rotatable relative to said lid base between an open and a closed position,   a seal ring carried by said mating ring and dimensioned to overlie at least a portion of the chime, said sealing ring constructed of a compressible material,   wherein rotation of said mating ring from said open to said closed position sealingly compresses said seal ring against the chime and locks the can to the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said seal is constructed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein a portion of both said mating ring and said seal extend over the inner radial surface of said chime. 
     
     
         4 . The lid as defined in  claim 3  and comprising an inner annular wall on said lid base which extends through the circular opening of the chime, said inner annular wall dimensioned to deflect said mating ring radially outwardly as said mating ring is rotated from its open to its closed position and compress said seal against the inner radial surface of the chime. 
     
     
         5 . The lid as defined in  claim 4  wherein an outer surface of said inner annular wall tapers radially inwardly from said lid base and to a free end of said inner annular wall. 
     
     
         6 . The lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein said lid base and said inner annular wall are of a one piece construction. 
     
     
         7 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the chime includes an outer rim and wherein said mating ring compresses said seal ring against said outer rim as said mating ring is rotated from said open and to said closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the chime has an inner rim with an outer radial surface and wherein said mating ring compresses said seal ring against said inner rim outer surface as said mating ring is rotated from said open and to said closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  and comprising a snap lock mechanism to retain said mating ring to said lid base. 
     
     
         10 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said lid base includes an outer annular wall which extends around an outer rim of the chime and a middle annular wall positioned between the inner and outer annular walls of said mating ring. 
     
     
         11 . The lid as defined in  claim 10  and comprising a radially outwardly extending retainer flange on said inner annular wall of said mating ring which engages and retains said seal ring to said mating ring. 
     
     
         12 . The lid as defined in  claim 10  and comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially inwardly extending chime clips on said mating ring which are positioned underneath and outside of the outer rim of the chime, and wherein said outer annular wall of said lid base is spaced radially outwardly from said chime clips so that, as said mating ring is rotated from said open to said closed position, said outer wall of said mating ring compresses said chime clips radially inwardly and locks said mating ring to the can. 
     
     
         13 . The lid as defined in  claim 12  wherein said outer wall of said lid base is aligned with a radially outwardly extending abutment wall on said mating ring. 
     
     
         14 . The lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the chime includes an inner rim and an outer rim, and wherein said seal ring is generally L-shaped having one leg extending across an inner annular surface of the inner chime rim, and a second leg which extends over an axial end of the inner chime rim and to the outer chime rim.