Lid with sealing protuberances

Abstract

A pail includes a container and a lid. The container includes a base, a container sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an upper rim, and a sealing rib extending from the container sidewall adjacent to the upper rim. The lid includes a channel for receiving the upper rim of the container, the channel includes a channel base, a plurality of protuberances arranged spaced apart on an inner surface of the channel base and extending downwardly therefrom, a first channel sidewall, and a sealing shoulder that projects inwardly from the first channel sidewall. When the upper rim of the container is received by the channel of the lid, the protuberances abut the upper rim and the sealing rib engages the first channel sidewall and the sealing shoulder. The protuberances can urge the sealing rib downwardly against the sealing shoulder, to thereby form a seal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pail, comprising:
 a container comprising a base, a container sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an upper rim, and a sealing rib extending from the container sidewall adjacent to the upper rim; and   a lid comprising a channel for receiving the upper rim of the container, the channel comprising a channel base, a plurality of protuberances arranged spaced apart on an inner surface of the channel base and extending downwardly therefrom, a first channel sidewall, and a sealing shoulder that projects inwardly from the first channel sidewall,   wherein, when the upper rim of the container is received by the channel of the lid, the protuberances abut the upper rim and the sealing rib engages the first channel sidewall and the sealing shoulder.   
     
     
         2 . The pail of  claim 1 , wherein the protuberances urge the sealing rib downwardly against the sealing shoulder, to thereby form a seal. 
     
     
         3 . The pail of  claim 2 , wherein the channel base comprises an inner end and an outer end, and the first channel sidewall extends downwardly from the outer end of the channel base. 
     
     
         4 . The pail of  claim 3 , wherein the sealing rib extends outwardly from the container sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The pail of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing rib comprises an upper rib surface, a lower rib surface, and a distal rib surface that extends between upper and lower rib surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The pail of  claim 5 , wherein, when the upper rim of the container is received by the channel of the lid, the lower rib surface abuts the sealing shoulder and the distal rib surface abuts the first channel sidewall, to thereby form the seal. 
     
     
         7 . The pail of  claim 6 , wherein the upper rib surface defines a topmost surface of the upper rim. 
     
     
         8 . The pail of  claim 7 , wherein the protuberances bear against upper rib surface, which thereby urges the lower rib surface downwardly against the sealing shoulder. 
     
     
         9 . The pail of  claim 8 , wherein the channel comprises a second channel sidewall, and the second channel sidewall extends downwardly from the inner end the channel base. 
     
     
         10 . The pail of  claim 9 , wherein the second channel sidewall urges the distal rib surface outwardly against the first channel sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The pail of  claim 10 , wherein a channel width is smaller than a rib dimension so that there is an interference fit therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The pail of  claim 11 , wherein the second channel sidewall includes at least one wiper element that projects outwardly to cause the distal rib surface to bear outwardly against the first channel sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The pail of  claim 1 , wherein the protuberances are spaced apart regularly within the channel so that a pitch distance between adjacent protuberances is generally uniform about a perimeter of the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The pail of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the lid has between 50 to 250 of the protuberances disposed within the channel; and/or   the lid has between 150 to 180 of the protuberances disposed within the channel.   
     
     
         15 . The pail of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the protuberances has a height of between about 0.05 inches to 0.07 inches from the inner surface of the channel base; and/or   each of the protuberances is generally circular in cross section and has a diameter of between about 0.04 inches to 0.051 inches; and/or   each of the protuberances is generally cylindrical in shape and has a generally hemispherical outer end.   
     
     
         16 . The pail of  claim 1 , wherein the lid does not comprise a gasket. 
     
     
         17 . A lid for sealing an open end of a container, the container comprising an upper rim and a sealing rib, the lid comprising:
 a channel comprising a channel base, a plurality of protuberances arranged spaced apart on an inner surface of the channel base and extending downwardly therefrom, a first channel sidewall, and a sealing shoulder that projects inwardly from the first channel sidewall,   wherein, when the upper rim of the container is received by the channel of the lid, the protuberances abut the upper rim and the sealing rib engages the first channel sidewall and the sealing shoulder.   
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the channel base comprises an inner end and an outer end, and the first channel sidewall extends downwardly from the outer end of the channel base. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 18 , wherein the channel comprises a second channel sidewall, and the second channel sidewall extends downwardly from the inner end the channel base. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 19 , wherein the second channel sidewall includes at least one wiper element that projects outwardly.