Resealable moisture tight container assembly for strips and the like having a lip snap seal

Abstract

A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items comprising an assembly with a container and a lid, the lid is attached by a hinge to an upper housing portion of the container, the lid includes a lip seal member that depends downwardly from the lid, the lip seal member is configured to abut at least a portion of the interior side of the container when the lid is in the closed position resulting in a substantially moisture tight seal between the lid and the lid, and the container assembly further comprising a base portion and an upper housing portion, the upper housing portion is capable of being snap-fit into the base portion by employing a lip seal mechanism to form a substantially moisture-tight seal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for making a substantially-moisture proof container and lid assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items, the process comprising:
 (a) forming the container to include a container base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the container base, wherein a top of the container is provided with an opening that permits access to an interior of the container, the opening being spaced away from an outer surface of the sidewall of the container by at least a portion of the thickness of the sidewall of the container;   (b) forming the lid arranged to be hingedly coupled to the container, the lid having an outer periphery that extends over at least a portion of the container, the lid having a skirt that extends downwardly therefrom, the skirt of the lid being positioned at a location on the lid that allows the skirt of the lid to close over the top of the container when the lid is subsequently closed on the container to define a closed position, wherein the skirt of the lid fits over a periphery of the top of the container, the skirt of the lid including an inwardly facing extension, a lip of the top of the container including an outwardly facing extension, wherein the inwardly facing extension of the skirt of the lid and the outwardly facing extension of the lip abut and interlock with each other in a snap-fit configuration when the lid is in the closed position, the lid further including a flexible lip seal member that extends downwardly therefrom, the flexible lip seal member of the lid being configured to abut at least a portion of the interior side of the top container surface when the lid and container are in the closed position, and wherein the flexible lip seal member is designed to be sufficiently deflective so as to provide a sealing position when the skirt of the lid is subsequently closed over the top of the container, which results in a substantially moisture proof seal between the lid and the container;   (c) providing a desiccant in the container and lid assembly; and   (d) transferring the container and lid to a capping device which effects the closed condition by closing the lid on the container.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the steps of forming the container and forming the lid comprise injection molding the container and the lid, the process further comprising a step of the capping device closing the lid on the container before the material of the container and the lid have fully set. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the step of transferring occurs without deforming the container. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container comprises closing the lid on the container when the material of the container and the lid have cooled enough such that the lid and the container do not melt into one another. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container occurs within one minute of the container being formed. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the steps of forming the container and the lid, transferring the container and the lid to the capping station and closing the lid on the container occur within a 45 second time frame. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the step of providing a desiccant in the container and lid assembly comprises press-fitting a desiccant plastic liner into the container by inserting the liner within the container before the material of the container has fully set. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container occurs within one minute of the container being formed. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container comprises mating the lid with a rim of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid to the capping device is accomplished using a robotic arm. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a desiccant in the container and lid assembly comprises press-fitting a desiccant plastic liner into the container. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the step of press-fitting a desiccant plastic liner comprises inserting the liner within the container to be held sufficiently snug to prevent unintended disengagement therefrom. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the steps of forming the container and forming the lid comprise injection molding the container and the lid and wherein the step of press-fitting a desiccant plastic liner comprises inserting the liner within the container before the material of the container has fully set. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising a step of delivering the closed container and lid assembly to a delivery receptacle, the step of delivering comprising:
 (a) disposing a sensor on a flipping element of the capping device, the flipping element closing the lid on the container; 
 (b) detecting the closure of the lid on the container by the sensor; and 
 (c) using a signal, indicative of the closure, emitted by the sensor to release the closed container and lid assembly by the capping device into the delivery receptacle. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to the container after the lid and the container are formed. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the lid is welded to the container. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 15  the lid is ultrasonically welded to the container. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container occurs before the material of the lid and container have fully set, thus helping to form a leak-proof seal between the container and the lid. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid to the capping device is accomplished using a robotic arm. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 15  further comprising the step of delivering the closed container and lid assembly to a delivery receptacle, the step of delivering comprising:
 (a) disposing a sensor on a flipping element of the capping device, the flipping element closing the lid on the container; 
 (b) detecting the closure of the lid on the container by the sensor; and 
 (c) using a signal, indicative of the closure, emitted by the sensor to release the closed container and lid assembly by the capping device into the delivery receptacle. 
 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid to the capping device comprises ejecting the container from a mold in a direction along an axis of the container without marking the surface of the container. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21  wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid comprises using an engaging means that does not puncture or damage the container. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the steps of forming the container and forming the lid comprise injection molding the container and the lid in a mold and wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid to a capping device occurs before the material of the container and the lid have fully set. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the step of forming the lid integrally connects the lid to the container to form the hinge coupling. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container occurs within one minute of the container being formed. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 24  wherein the step of closing the lid on the container comprises mating the lid with a rim of the container. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 24  wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid comprises using an engaging means that does not puncture or damage the container. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 27  wherein the engaging means comprises a grasper that grasps an upper edge of the container. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 24  wherein the step of transferring the container and the lid to the capping device comprises ejecting the container from the mold in a direction along an axis of the container. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 24  wherein the step of providing a desiccant in the container and lid assembly comprises press-fitting a desiccant plastic liner into the container.