Container Assembly with Flexible Seal

Abstract

A storage container assembly comprises, a storage receptacle, a removable lid, and a seal. The storage receptacle has a base and a continuous sidewall connected to the base. The sidewall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The lid has a main body that covers at least a portion of the storage receptacle. The lid has a first and a second receiving channel. The seal has a securing member and a blade portion. The securing member goes into the first receiving channel of the lid to connect the seal to the lid. The blade portion of the seal contacts the interior surface of the sidewall. The exterior surface of the sidewall contacts the second receiving channel. The sidewall of the storage receptacle is within the second receiving channel. The blade portion forms a generally fluid tight seal with the sidewall while the sidewall contacts the second receiving channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage container assembly having a generally fluid tight seal comprising:
 a storage receptacle having a base and a continuous sidewall connected to the base, the sidewall projecting upward from the base and terminating at a peripheral edge, the sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface;   a removable lid having a main body configured to cover the peripheral edge of the storage receptacle, a first receiving channel, and a second receiving channel;   a seal having a securing member and a blade portion, the securing member being at least partially disposed in the first receiving channel of the lid to removably connect the seal to the lid, the blade portion of the seal contacting the interior surface of the sidewall; and   wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall of the storage receptacle contacts the second receiving channel of the lid such that the sidewall is located within the second receiving channel, and the blade portion of the seal forms a generally fluid tight seal with the sidewall when the sidewall is in contact with the second receiving channel.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the blade portion of the seal additionally comprises at least one rib, the rib adapted to contact interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the blade portion of the seal forms an angle of less than about forty-five degrees (45°) from vertical while the blade portion contacts the interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the blade portion of the seal forms an angle of from about ten degrees (10°) to about forty-five degrees (45°) from vertical while the blade portion contacts the interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The storage container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing member of the seal comprises a plurality of ribs configured to create a press fit within the first receiving channel of the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The storage container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent disposed in the removable lid. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a viewing window disposed in the removable lid and configured to provide visual confirmation that a generally fluid tight seal has been formed between the lid and the storage receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming container assembly having a generally fluid tight seal, comprising:
 providing a storage receptacle having a base and a continuous sidewall;   providing a removable lid having a flexible seal, the removable lid having a first receiving channel and a second receiving channel, the flexible seal having a securing member and a blade portion, the securing member of the flexible seal being at least partially disposed in the first receiving channel of the lid;   aligning the removable lid with the storage receptacle, such that the second receiving channel is proximate to the peripheral edge of the sidewall of the storage receptacle; and   securing the lid to the storage receptacle and causing the sidewall of the storage receptacle to displace an exterior wall of the second channel and to displace the blade portion of the seal, and securing the lid to the storage receptacle further causing the sidewall of the storage receptacle to contact both the blade portion of the seal and the exterior wall of the second channel to affix the lid to the storage receptacle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when the sidewall displaces the blade portion of the seal, the blade portion is moved to a generally vertical orientation. 
     
     
         10 . A lid assembly for a storage container comprising:
 a lid portion having a main body, a receiving channel, and a seal receiving portion; and   a seal having a securing member and a blade portion, the securing member interacting with the seal receiving portion of the lid to removably secure the seal to the lid, the blade portion of the seal being flexible to be movable from a first generally horizontal orientation to a second generally vertical orientation to form a sealing surface.   
     
     
         11 . A removable lid with a generally fluid tight seal for use with a storage receptacle having a base and a continuous sidewall connected to the base, the sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the lid comprising:
 a main body configured to cover at least a portion of the base of a storage receptacle, a receiving channel, and a protruding member;   a seal having a securing member and a blade portion, the securing member configured for engagement with the protruding member to removably connect the seal to the lid, and the blade portion of the seal being configured to contact an interior surface of a sidewall of a storage receptacle; and   wherein when the exterior surface of the sidewall of the storage receptacle contacts the receiving channel of the lid, the sidewall is located within the receiving channel, such that the blade portion of the seal forms a generally fluid tight seal with the sidewall, and the sidewall contacts the receiving channel.   
     
     
         12 . The removable lid of  claim 11 , wherein the protruding member of the lid has a barb and the securing member of the seal has a barb receiving element for receiving at least a portion of the barb. 
     
     
         13 . The removable lid of  claim 11 , wherein the blade portion of the seal further comprises at least one rib, the at least one rib being adapted to contact interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The removable lid of  claim 11 , wherein the blade portion of the seal forms an angle of less than about forty-five degrees (45°) from vertical while the blade portion contacts the interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The removable lid of  claim 14 , wherein the blade portion of the seal forms an angle of from about ten degrees (10°) to about forty-five degrees (45°) from vertical while the blade portion contacts the interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The removable lid of  claim 11 , further comprising a vent disposed in a top surface of the lid to release pressure within the container assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The removable lid of  claim 17 , wherein the vent is an automatically activated vent. 
     
     
         18 . The removable lid of  claim 17 , wherein the vent is a manually activated vent. 
     
     
         19 . The removable lid of  claim 11 , further comprising a viewing window configured to provide visual confirmation that a generally fluid tight seal has been formed between the lid and the storage receptacle.