Vial with lid attachment mechanism

Abstract

A re-sealable container is disclosed having a lid, a body, an attachment mechanism, and a seal. The seal may extend from, or be attached to, the lid and engage at least a portion of the body, such as the side wall, including the body sealing surface and/or the lip. The engagement of the seal and body creates a seal that prevents the ingress of moisture and ambient conditions into an interior space of the body. The attachment mechanism may retain the lid in a seated, closed position on the body. The configuration of the seal and attachment mechanism accommodate a degree of error in the joining and placement of the lid and body while allowing for both the formation of a seal between the lid and body and the locking of the lid when the lid is in a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A resealable container comprising:
 a body having a sidewall, a base, and an opening, the base and the opening being disposed at opposite ends of the body, the sidewall being configured to provide an interior space in the body, the interior space being generally disposed between the opening and the base, at least a portion of an inner surface of the sidewall having a body sealing surface;   a lid having a seal, the lid being pivotably joined to the body by a hinge to allow the lid to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the lid being configured to be seated on the body when the lid is in the closed position and allow access to the interior space when the lid is in the open position, the seal configured to extend into at least a portion of the interior space of the body and engage at least a portion of the body sealing surface when the lid is in the closed position to form a sealing relationship between the body sealing surface and the seal,   wherein, when the lid is in the open position, the width across the seal is larger than the width across the body sealing surface to which the at least a portion of the seal abuts when the lid is in a closed position; and   an attachment mechanism configured to secure the lid in the closed position and retain the seal between the body sealing surface and seal when the lid is seated on the body, the attachment mechanism including a free-standing resilient vertical member that enters an aperture in the container to lockingly engage the lid to the body when the lid is in the closed position, the resilient vertical member being configured to deflect radially such that the attachment mechanism ceases to lockingly engage the lid to the body upon transitioning the lid from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the seal and the attachment mechanism are separate, distinct elements. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a first extension, and wherein the lid has a second extension, the lid and body being joined together by the hinge at the first and second extensions. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is an inner ring, and wherein when the lid is in the open position the width across at least a portion of inner ring has a diameter that is larger than the diameter across the body sealing surface to which the at least a portion of the inner ring abuts when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the body sealing surface has a chamfered surface that engages a tapered surface of the seal when the lid is in the closed position to provide a substantially moisture tight seal. 
     
     
         6 . The container of claims  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a claw disposed on the body, the claw having a protrusion that engages the lid when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid includes an aperture and a recess, wherein, when the lid is in the closed position, at least a portion of the claw is located in the aperture and at least a portion of a protrusion of the claw is located in the recess. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a claw disposed on the lid, the body having an aperture, at least a portion of the claw being located in the aperture when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the opening is bounded by a rim and the aperture is located in the rim. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises an outer skirt depending downward therefrom, wherein no portion of the skirt extends below the opening when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , the lid further comprising a thumb tab extending radially therefrom, wherein the resilient vertical member is configured to deflect radially such that the attachment mechanism ceases to lockingly engage the lid to the body, in response to sufficient upward pressure being applied to the thumb tab. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , the lid further comprising a thumb tab extending radially therefrom, wherein the resilient vertical member is configured to deflect radially such that the attachment mechanism ceases to lockingly engage the lid to the body, in response to sufficient upward pressure being applied to the thumb tab. 
     
     
         12 . A resealable container comprising:
 a body having a sidewall, a base, and an opening, the base and the opening being disposed at opposite ends of the body, the sidewall being configured to provide an interior space in the body, the interior space being generally disposed between the opening and the base;   a lid pivotably joined to the body by a hinge to allow the lid to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the lid being configured to be seated on the body when the lid is in the closed position and allow access to the interior space when the lid is in the open position;   a seal operably connected to the lid, the seal having a sealing surface that engages a portion of the body adjacent to the opening when the lid is in the closed position to form a sealing relationship between the body and the lid; and   an attachment mechanism configured to secure the lid in the closed position and retain the sealing relationship between the body and the lid when the lid is seated on the body, the attachment mechanism including a resilient vertical member that enters an aperture in the container to lockingly engage the lid to the body when the lid is in the closed position, the resilient vertical member being configured to deflect radially inward such that the attachment mechanism ceases to lockingly engage the lid to the body upon transitioning the lid from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the seal and the attachment mechanism are separate, distinct elements. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the body includes a rim, the rim being positioned about the opening, and wherein the seal engages at least a portion of the sidewall that extends beyond the rim when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a claw having a protrusion, the claw being disposed on the rim, and wherein the protrusion engages the lid when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the lid includes an aperture and a recess, at least a portion of the claw being located in the aperture when the lid is in the closed position, the recess being configured for the placement of at least a portion of the protrusion when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a claw disposed on the lid, the claw having a protrusion, and wherein the protrusion engages a recess in the body when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the body includes a rim positioned about the opening, wherein the seal engages at least a portion of the sidewall that extends beyond the rim when the lid is in the closed position, the rim having an aperture configured for the placement of at least a portion of the claw when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the body has a first extension, and wherein the lid has a second extension, the lid and body being joined together by the hinge at the first and second extensions. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the lid comprises an outer skirt depending downward therefrom, wherein no portion of the skirt extends below the opening when the lid is in the closed position.