Lid   

Abstract: A lid configured to substantially seal the opening of a container when engaged with the container. The container may be configured to house a consumable substance. The lid may have a circumferential lip and a continuous surface extending from the inner surface of the lid in an amount that is greater than the height of the lip. The continuous surface may be non-collapsible. The lid and continuous surface may be used as a dipping vessel for the consumable substance when disengaged with the container.

FIG. 1A is a diagram of a lid engaged to a jar filed with a consumable substance as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a diagram of a lid disengaged to a jar filed with a consumable substance as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a diagram of a lid placed on a planar surface as a dipping vessel next to a jar filed with a consumable substance as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a diagram of a dipping vessel being filled with a consumable substance from a jar as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1E is a diagram of a dipping vessel filled with a consumable substance next to a jar and chip as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C are diagrams of example embodiments of lids as per aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3A through FIG. 3F are diagrams of example embodiments of lids as per aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a diagram of a sealed lid engaged to ajar filed as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a diagram of a sealed lid as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of a lid with a gasket engaged to a jar filed as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of a lid with a gasket as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are example diagrams of lids wherein the continuous surface comprises at least one measurement indicator as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention..

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C are example diagrams of a lids wherein the continuous surface comprises at least one projecting edge along the circumferential lip as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention..

FIG. 8 is an example diagram of a lid wherein the continuous surface comprises at least one projecting spout as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system may include a container 120 and a lid 110. The container 120 may have an opening 122 and may be configured to house a consumable substance 132. The lid 110 may be configured to substantially seal the opening 122 when engaged with the container 120. According to some embodiments, lid 110 may be configured to be a dipping vessel for the consumable substance 132 when disengaged with container 120. According to some embodiments, lid 110 may be configured with a circumferential lip 220 and a continuous surface 210 extending from the inner surface of the lid 110 in an amount that is greater than the height of the lip 220. The continuous surface 210 may be non-collapsible. According to some embodiments, the container 120 may have an inner volume greater than the inner volume of the dipping vessel.

A lid 110 according to some embodiments may be configured to substantially seal an opening 122 for container 120. The lid 110 may have a circumferential lip 220 and a continuous surface 210 extending from the inner surface of the lid 110 in an amount that is greater than the height of the lip 220. According to some embodiments, the continuous surface 210 may be non-collapsible. The continuous surface 210 may be continuous in the circumferential and height dimensions.

According to some embodiments, the container 120 may have an inner volume greater that the volume formed by the continuous surface 210. Some embodiments may have additional continuous surface(s) (e.g. 210a, 210b, 210c) projecting from the inner surface of the lid 110. Some of these additional continuous surface(s) (e.g. 210a, 210b, 210c) may provide spate areas that may be used to contain various materials or substances.

A portion of the continuous surface 210 may include the same material as at least a portion of the lid 110. The material may be clear, opaque, a combination thereof, or the like. The continuous surface 210 may be self-supporting. In other words, it may be self-sufficient without extra support from other structures such as a metal spring or the like. At least a portion of the continuous surface 210 may include a substantially rigid material.

The continuous surface 210 may be configured to fit in the container opening 122. The continuous surface 210 and the inner surface of the lid 110 may form a bowl.

The lid 110 may be configured to fasten to the opening 122. Mechanisms to fasten the lid 110 with the opening 122 includes, but is not limited to: a thread; a stopper; suction; a snap; friction; a gasket; a clamp; a zipper; a fastener; an adhesive; a combination of the above, or the like. According to some embodiments, the top of the lid 110 may be substantially planar.

FIGS. 2A through 2C and FIGS. 3A through 3F show example shapes for lids as per aspects of some embodiments of the invention. The continuous surface 210 and the inner surface of the lid 110 may form many shapes such as, but not including: a calathiform shape; a calix shape; a cylinder shape; a goblet shape; a chalice shape; a mug shape; s stein shape; a square shape; a rectangular shape; a trapezoidal shape; a circular shape; a combination of the above, or the like.

According to an embodiment, the container 120 may be configured to hold a viscous substance; the lid 110 may be configured to disengage the container 120, and the continuous surface 210 may be configured as a dipping vessel for the viscous substance.

According to at least some embodiments, the container 120 may hold a consumable substance 132. The lid 110 may be configured to disengage the container 120. The continuous surface 210 may be placed on a surface with the continuous surface 210 upright as a dipping vessel for the consumable substance.

According to some embodiments, the container 120 may be configured to hold at least one of the following: soup, stew, salsa, fondue, chips, liquid, a powder substance, gelatinous material, a combination of the above, or the like.

According to some embodiments, the continuous surface 210 may be configured to house a material and be covered with a sealing material 410.

According to some embodiments, the lid 110 may be attached with a container opening 122. The lid 110 may be attached such that it substantially seals the container opening 122. The lid 110 may have a circumferential lip 220 and have a continuous surface 210 extending from the inner surface of the lid 110 in an amount that is greater than the height of the lip 220. The continuous surface 210 may be non-collapsible. The lid 110 may be configured to disengage with the container opening 122 and the volume formed by the continuous surface 210 may be configured to receive a substance obtained through the container opening 122.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of a lid with a gasket 510 as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. The gasket 510 may be used to provide a seal between continuous surface 210 and the side of container 120 when the lid 110 is engaged with container 120.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are example diagrams of embodiments of a lid 110 wherein the continuous surface comprises at least one measurement indicator 610. The measurement indicator(s) 610 may indicate volume quantities of a substance contained by continuous surface 210. The continuous surface 210 may be manufactured with a material that is transparent, semi-transparent, opaque, a combination thereof, and/or the like. The measurement indicator(s) 610 may be dashed lines, discrete line segments, solid lines, a combination of thereof, and/or the like. The measurement indicator(s) 610 may run around the circumference of the continuous surface 210. The measurement indicator(s) 610 may run protrude from the continuous surface 210, recede into the continuous surface 210, imprinted on the continuous surface 210, a combination thereof, and/or the like. The measurement indicator(s) 610 may be inside the continuous surface 210, outside the continuous surface 210, embedded in the continuous surface 210, and/or a combination thereof. The measurement indicator(s) 610 may include text 620.

At least some of the lids as shown in FIG. 6 and other embodiments may be used to measure serving amounts. For example, a person on a diet may use a lid to measure out specific amounts of a substance contained in a container. In another example, bakers may wish to employ different measuring devices for different substances. So that, for example, a baker may use a lid associated with flour container for measuring flour and only flour, but use a lid associated with oil container for measuring oil and only oil. This way, a person may prevent contamination between measuring devices.

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C are example diagrams of embodiments of a lid 110 wherein the continuous surface 210 comprises at least one projecting edge 710 and/or 720 along the continuous surface circumferential lip as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. The projecting edge 710 and/or 720 may be employed to pour a substance out of the continuous surface 210. The projecting edge 710 and/or 720 may have numerous shapes including a spout shape, a chute shape, a channel shape, a pipe shape, a tube shape, a hollow shape, a combination thereof, and/or the like. The continuous surface circumferential lip may have a curved shape 730. The curved lip 730 may assist in the pouring and/or scooping of a substance.

FIG. 8 is an example diagram of a lid 110 wherein the continuous surface 210 comprises at least one projecting spout 810 as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Some embodiments may include an inner lip 820. Inner lip 820 may be configured to minimize spillage of a substance that may be contained by the continuous surface 210.

In this specification, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to be interpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” References to “an” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment.

The disclosure of this patent document incorporates material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, for the limited purposes required by law, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments should not be limited by any of the above described example embodiments. In particular, it should be noted that, for example purposes, the above explanation has focused on the example(s) of providing a lid with a dipping bowl to be used with a jar of salsa. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention could be used to provide a dipping tray built into the lid of a paint can. Similarly, one skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention could be used to provide a measuring vessel. The measuring vessel could have measuring graduated markings. The color of the vessel could be configured to enable clear reading of the graduated markings.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures that highlight any functionality and/or advantages, are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than that shown. For example, the steps listed in any flowchart may be re-ordered or only optionally used in some embodiments.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosure is not intended to be limiting as to the scope in any way.

Finally, it is the applicant\'s intent that only claims that include the express language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase “means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6.