Container Lid Construction for Preventing Leakage

Abstract

A container lid construction minimizes liquid leakage from a seamed liquid container when outfitted thereupon. The container lid construction provides a rim-engaging construction, which when outfitted upon an upper container rim of the seamed liquid container forms a liquid leakage channel at the site of a stepped seam section of the seamed liquid container. The rim-engaging construction defines at least one air pocket construction in adjacency to the liquid leakage channel for enhancing pressure equalization within and without the seamed liquid container when the container lid construction is outfitted thereupon. The rim-engaging construction further includes at least two step-engaging sections that flank each air pocket construction for forming spaced liquid plugs within the liquid leakage channel. Together, the step-engaging sections, air pocket construction(s), and liquid plugs minimize liquid leakage.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid container assembly for minimizing liquid leakage therefrom, the liquid container assembly comprising, in combination:
 a liquid container, the liquid container comprising a container wall and an upper container rim, the container wall comprising inner container wall surfacing and outer container wall surfacing, the upper container rim extending from the inner container wall surfacing to the outer container wall surfacing and comprising a first rim transverse cross-section, the inner container wall surfacing, outer container wall surfacing, and the upper container rim together comprising a stepped section;   a container lid, the container lid comprising a rim-engaging construction, the rim-engaging construction comprising a second, rim-opposing transverse cross-section, the first rim transverse cross-section being shaped differently than the second, rim-opposing transverse cross-section for forming at least one air pocket construction in adjacency to the stepped section of the upper container rim;   the stepped section forming a liquid leakage channel from the inner container surfacing to the outer container surfacing via the upper container rim and rim-engaging construction when the container lid is outfitted upon the liquid container, a pressure differential being present when liquid is present within the liquid container, the pressure differential being equalizable via the liquid leakage channel thereby creating a vacuum effect tending to direct liquid through the liquid leakage channel, the at least one air pocket construction for minimizing the vacuum effect and liquid leakage through the liquid leakage channel.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one air pocket construction extends circumferentially thereby providing at least one circumferentially extending air pocket construction. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 2  wherein the rim-engaging construction provides at least two circumferentially extending air pocket constructions, the at least two circumferentially extending air pocket constructions comprising a radially inner air pocket construction and a radially outer air pocket construction. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 3  wherein the rim-engaging construction provides at least two step-engaging sections, the at least two step-engaging sections flanking each air pocket construction for forming at least two spaced liquid plugs within the liquid leakage channel, the at least two step-engaging sections, radially inner and outer air pocket constructions, and liquid plugs for further minimizing the vacuum effect and liquid leakage. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 2  wherein the at least one air pocket construction is circumferentially discontinuous thereby providing at least one circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction, the at least one circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction for enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction, compartmentalizing the at least one air pocket construction, and enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 5  wherein the at least one circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction is defined by periodically and circumferentially spaced rim engagement zones, the rim engagement zones mimicking the first rim transverse cross-section of the upper container rim for further enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction, compartmentalizing the air pocket construction, and enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 6  wherein the rim engagement zones each comprise an engagement zone arc length and the circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction is characterized by periodically spaced air pocket segments, each air pocket segment comprising a pocket arc length, the engagement zone arc lengths being greater than the pocket arc lengths for further enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction, compartmentalizing the air pocket construction, and enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 6  wherein the rim engagement zones define radially extending external grooves, the radially extending external grooves for further enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction and enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container for minimizing liquid leakage. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one air pocket construction is tapered relative to the upper container rim thereby forming at least one tapered air pocket construction, the at least one tapered air pocket construction for maximizing the strength of the rim-engaging construction and further minimizing liquid leakage. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 9  comprising at least two air pocket constructions, the at least two air pocket constructions being formed by a circumferentially-extending and oppositely-tapered trough construction. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 10  wherein the trough construction is arched in transverse cross-section for enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner container wall surfacing at the upper container rim comprises a radially outwardly and circumferentially extending formation, the rim-engaging construction comprising a radially outwardly and circumferentially extending ridge, the radially outwardly and circumferentially extending ridge being receivable in the radially outwardly and circumferentially extending formation for enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid container assembly of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the stepped section is structurally modified by removing material therefrom before the container lid is outfitted upon the liquid container thereby providing a structurally modified stepped section, the structurally modified stepped section for improving a lid-to-container seal for further minimizing liquid leakage. 
     
     
         14 . A lid construction for minimizing liquid leakage from a seamed liquid container when outfitted thereupon, the seamed liquid container comprising a stepped seam section at an upper container rim, the lid construction comprising a rim-engaging construction, the stepped seam section forming a liquid leakage channel via the upper container rim and rim-engaging construction when the container lid is outfitted upon the liquid container, the rim-engaging construction defining at least one air pocket construction in adjacency to the stepped seam section, a pressure differential being present when liquid is in the liquid container, the pressure differential being equalizable via the liquid leakage channel, the at least one air pocket construction for enhancing pressure differential equalization for minimizing liquid leakage through the liquid leakage channel. 
     
     
         15 . The lid construction of  claim 14  wherein the rim-engaging construction provides at least two air pocket constructions, the at least two air pocket constructions comprising at least one radially inner air pocket construction and at least one radially outer air pocket construction. 
     
     
         16 . The lid construction of  claim 13  wherein the rim-engaging construction comprises at least two step-engaging sections, the at least two step-engaging sections for flanking each air pocket construction for forming at least two spaced liquid plugs within the liquid leakage channel, the step-engaging sections, air pocket construction(s), and liquid plugs for further minimizing liquid leakage. 
     
     
         17 . The lid construction of  claim 13  wherein the at least one air pocket construction is circumferentially discontinuous thereby providing at least one circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction, the at least one circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction for enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction, compartmentalizing the air pocket construction, and enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container. 
     
     
         18 . The lid construction of  claim 17  wherein the at least one circumferentially discontinuous air pocket construction is defined by periodically and circumferentially spaced rim engagement zones, the rim engagement zones mimicking an upper container rim contour for further enhancing the strength of the rim-engaging construction, compartmentalizing the air pocket construction, and enhancing securement of the container lid to the liquid container. 
     
     
         19 . A lid construction for minimizing liquid leakage from a seamed liquid container when outfitted thereupon, the lid construction comprising a rim-engaging construction, a stepped seam section of the seamed liquid container forming a liquid leakage channel when the rim-engaging construction is outfitted upon an upper container rim of the seamed liquid container, the rim-engaging construction defining at least one air pocket construction in adjacency to the liquid leakage channel for enhancing pressure equalization within and without the seamed liquid container when the lid construction is outfitted thereupon, the at least one air pocket construction for minimizing liquid leakage through the liquid leakage channel. 
     
     
         20 . The lid construction of  claim 19  wherein the rim-engaging construction comprises at least two step-engaging sections, the at least two step-engaging sections flanking each air pocket construction for forming spaced liquid plugs within the liquid leakage channel, the step-engaging sections, air pocket construction(s), and liquid plugs for further minimizing liquid leakage.