Storage container

Abstract

A storage container ( 10 ) has a storage vessel ( 12 ) and a lid ( 14 ). The lid has clips ( 16 ) for attaching it to the storage vessel. The storage vessel ( 12 ) has a separate lip ( 20 ) assembled onto an opening flange ( 72 ) of the storage vessel. The lip seals with a circumferential member ( 18 ) of the lid ( 14 ). The lip 20 thus allows the opening flange ( 72 ) to form a seal with the lid ( 14 ). This provides greater freedom in the manufacturing techniques used for the storage vessel ( 12 ) whilst still enabling a seal with the lid ( 14 ).There is also a concertina-type vessel described in combination with the lid.

1 . A storage container comprising a storage vessel and a lid, the lid comprising clips for attaching the lid to the storage vessel and a circumferential member for sealing with a lip of the storage vessel, wherein the lip extends around an upper opening of the storage vessel and is assembled onto a rim or flange of the storage vessel such that it seals with and grips onto the upper opening of the storage vessel, the lip comprising at least three separable components, including a retaining ring, a clamp ring and a sealing member, the clamp ring and the sealing member being retained within a groove of the retaining ring when the lip is in its assembled form on the upper opening of the storage vessel, and the sealing member being arranged to cooperate with the circumferential member to provide the seal between the lip and the lid once the lid is attached to the storage vessel. 
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein both the clamp ring and the sealing member grip opposing sides of a flange surrounding the upper opening of the storage vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is in direct contact with the flange around the full circumference or perimeter of the opening so as to provide a complete direct seal therewith. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is located next to the inside wall of the flange. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring, the clamp ring and the lid are formed using an injection moulding process. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a groove sized to accommodate the retaining ring therein. 
     
     
         8 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the clips are engaged with the clamp ring to secure the lid to the storage vessel. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises at least one vent. 
     
     
         13 . The storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the vent is operated by a sealing member covering a hole in the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the lid comprises a labelling component associated with, or located in alignment with, the vent. 
     
     
         15 . The storage container of  claim 14 , wherein the labelling component is a label cover or a label member attached to the vent. 
     
     
         16 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid has a ridge, flange or elbow for engaging with the sealing member of the lip to form the fluid tight seal between the lid and the storage vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the clips engage with the clamp ring for securing the lid onto the storage vessel, the clamp ring having a single flange onto which all the clips can clip. 
     
     
         18 . A storage container having a concertina form thereon, the concertina form defined by a plurality of concertinas, wherein at least some of the concertinas have an overcentre form provided by a non symmetrical shape in section, with one leg being longer than the other in that section, such that said concertinas can individually be clicked down when collapsed and such that when clicked down it is individually self-maintaining in a collapsed state. 
     
     
         19 . A storage container according to  claim 18 , wherein the concertinas extend around the vessel generally parallel to the upper opening or base of the vessel. 
     
     
         20 . A storage container according to  claim 18  or  claim 19 , wherein there are between three and fifteen concertinas. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A storage container according to  claim 18 , wherein the concertinas allow the storage vessel to be collapsed to a shorter height than its extended, at rest, state to a fully collapsed height of between 30 and 50% of the uncollapsed height. 
     
     
         23 . A storage container according to  claim 18 , wherein the storage vessel is generally round or oval, or curved at its corners. 
     
     
         24 . A storage container according to  claim 23 , wherein the curvature of the outer extremity of the storage container, as viewed in plan, has a minimum radius of not less than 20 mm. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (cancelled) 
     
     
         27 . A storage container according to  claim 24 , wherein the curvature has a minimum radius of not less than 200% of the amplitude of the corrugations. 
     
     
         28 - 43 . (cancelled)