Container sealing device and container system

Abstract

A sealing device for a container and a container system that includes the sealing device is provided. The sealing device includes a substantially rigid center body and an elastically deformable seal member attached to the center body. The substantially rigid center body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. At least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member extending outwardly past the peripheral edge of the center body. The container system includes a container with an interior cavity defined by at least one side wall and a base wall. One or more grooves is disposed in an interior surface of the at least one side wall.

1 . A sealing device for a container, the sealing device comprising:
 a substantially rigid center body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and   an elastically deformable seal member attached to the center body, at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member extending outwardly past the peripheral edge of the center body.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle mounted to the center body and projecting outwardly from the top surface of the center body. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attachment mechanism attached to the center body, the handle attachment mechanism configured to cooperate with a handle to permit selective attachment and detachment of the handle to the center body. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing device of  claim 3 , further comprising a view port disposed in the center body and configured to provide a transparent view through the center body between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a valve configured to selectively permit air flow through the center body between the bottom surface to the top surface. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable seal member is attached to the peripheral edge of the center body. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable seal member is attached to the bottom surface of the center body, or the top surface of the center body, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the center body includes an upper panel and a lower panel, and the seal member is disposed between the upper panel and the lower panel. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the center body is substantially enclosed by the seal member, with a first portion of the seal is disposed in contact with the top surface and a second portion of the seal is disposed in contact with the bottom surface. 
     
     
         10 . A container system, comprising:
 a container having a fixed volume interior cavity defined by at least one side wall and a base wall, the at least one side wall and the base wall are substantially rigid and are attached to one another, and the at least one side wall extends between the base wall and an upper edge, the upper edge defining a container opening, and the at least one side wall includes an interior surface; and   a sealing device that includes:
 a substantially rigid center body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and 
 an elastically deformable seal member attached to the center body, at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member extending outwardly past the peripheral edge of the center body; 
   wherein the container and the sealing device are relatively configured such that the sealing device may be disposed within the interior cavity of the container in an engaged configuration, and in the engaged configuration the sealing device is stationary relative to the container and is substantially parallel to the base wall, and the elastically deformable seal member is biased against the interior surface of the at least one side wall, thereby providing a seal between the at least one side wall and the elastically deformable seal member.   
     
     
         11 . The container system of  claim 10 , wherein the elastically deformable seal member is configured with an elastic flexibility that permits air trapped between the base wall and the sealing device to cause at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member to deflect and allow the trapped air to escape between the at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member and the side wall as the sealing device is translated toward the base wall of the container, and once the sealing device is in said engaged configuration, the at least a portion of the elastically deformable seal member that deflected to allow the trapped air to escape elastically returns to contact the side wall. 
     
     
         12 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing device further comprises a valve configured to selectively permit air flow through the center body between the bottom surface to the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The container system of  claim 10 , wherein the interior cavity of the container has a height that extends between the base wall and the upper edge of the container; and
 wherein the container and the sealing device are relatively configured such that the sealing device may be disposed in an engaged configuration at any heightwise position within the interior cavity.   
     
     
         14 . The container system of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing device includes a handle mounted to the center body and projecting outwardly from the top surface of the center body. 
     
     
         15 . The container system of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing device includes a handle attachment mechanism attached to the center body, the handle attachment mechanism configured to cooperate with a handle to permit selective attachment and detachment of the handle to the center body. 
     
     
         16 . The container system of  claim 10 , wherein the container includes at least one groove disposed in the at least one side wall, the groove is open to the interior cavity, and extends around a circumference of the interior cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one groove is configured to receive a portion of the seal member of the sealing device. 
     
     
         18 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one groove has a geometry that is complementary to the portion of the seal member of the sealing device received within the groove. 
     
     
         19 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the interior cavity of the container has a height that extends between the base wall and the upper edge of the container; and
 wherein the container includes a plurality of said grooves disposed in the at least one side wall, each said groove is open to the interior cavity and extends around the circumference of the interior cavity, and wherein the grooves are spaced apart from one another along the height of the interior cavity.   
     
     
         20 . A container, comprising:
 at least one side wall;   a base wall;   a fixed volume interior cavity defined by the at least one side wall and the base wall;   wherein the at least one side wall and the base wall are substantially rigid and are attached to one another, and the at least one side wall extends heightwise between the base wall and an upper edge, the upper edge defining a container opening, and the at least one side wall includes an interior surface; and   one or more grooves disposed in the interior surface of the at least one side wall, each said groove is open to the interior cavity and extends around a circumference of the interior cavity, and wherein the grooves are spaced apart from one another along a height of the interior cavity.