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Lid assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Receptacles, Closures, Secondary Closure Within Parameter Of Primary Closure, Pivotable Secondary Closure, About Axis At Right Angle To Plane Of ClosureLid assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070187406, Lid assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to a lid assembly for sealing a container. More particularly, the invention relates to a self-closing sealing lid assembly incorporating a base portion and a sealing portion that rotate respectively to expose the contents of the container. When in a closed position, a seal is created between the base and sealing portions in order to protect the contents of the container from the environment as well as isolating the outside environment from the contents. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention provides advantages and/or alternatives over the prior art by providing a lid assembly for a container that effectively seals the contents of the container from the environment. The lid assembly includes an upper sealing portion and a lower base portion that are mated together coaxially. Once mated together and secured to the container, the upper portion may be rotated relative to the lower portion to expose the contents of the container through the alignment of dispensing openings in each of the upper and lower portions. During rotation of the sealing portion from a closed position to an open position, the sealing portion is elevated relative to the base portion to form a separation between the sealing portion and the base portion while concurrently aligning the dispensing openings to permit withdrawal of the contents of the container. Upon release of the opening force, the sealing portion retreats away from the elevated position towards the base portion while simultaneously covering and sealing the dispensing opening in the base portion. [0003] According to one aspect, the lid assembly may include a torsion spring, or like biasing element, that returns the lid assembly to a closed position when the rotational force used to open the lid assembly is removed. [0004] According to another aspect, upon rotation, the upper and lower portions may translate axially relative to one another such that when in a closed position, the lower dispensing opening is sealed against the upper sealing portion. [0005] According to a potentially preferred feature, the upper and lower portions of the lid assembly may incorporate an integral elevation adjusting camming assembly wherein one of the lid portions incorporates one or more male camming members adapted to ride within complimentary angled tracks on an opposing surface of the other lid portion such that relative rotation of the lid portions causes a relative translation in elevation between the portions as the camming members ride within the tracks. [0006] According to another potentially preferred feature, the lower portion portions of the lid assembly incorporates a depressed well at least partially surrounding the content withdrawal opening with a raised lip disposed at least partially around the depressed well. The raised lip enhances the seal around the depressed well when the upper portion rotates to the closed position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate several exemplary constructions and procedures and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description set forth below, serve to explain operational principles wherein: [0008] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an assembled lid attached to a container; [0009] FIG. 1A is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the major components of the lid assembly; [0010] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate schematically a lower base portion of the lid of FIG. 1 illustrated from two perspectives; [0011] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate schematically a lower base portion of the lid of FIG. 1 as a top plan view and a cutaway cross section taken along line 3-3; [0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate schematically an upper sealing portion of the lid of FIG. 1 from two perspectives; [0013] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate schematically the upper and lower lid portions mated together and rotated to an open position, both as a top plan view and a cutaway cross section taken along line 5-5; [0014] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate schematically the upper and lower lid portions mated together and rotated to a closed position, both as a top plan view and a cutaway cross section taken along line 6-6; and [0015] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the upper and lower portions mated together and attached to the container. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, to the extent possible, like reference numerals are used to designate like components in the various views. [0017] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 1A depict an exemplary construction of a lid assembly 10 adapted for attached relation to a container 12. It is contemplated that the container 12 may be of circular cross-section. However, the container 12 may be of polygonal or other cross-section as desired. By way of example and not limitation, the container 12 may have a square, hexagonal, or octagonal cross-section. As illustrated, the container 12 includes a closed end 18 and an open end 20, the open end 20 being adapted to releasably engage the lid assembly 10 (discussed in further detail below). The container 12 may be adapted to hold a volume of materials (not shown), including for example, liquid, powders, granules, or sheet products such as wiping cloths or the like. The container 12 and lid assembly 10 securely attach together in such a way that the material may be held therein without spillage. By means of example only, and not limitation, the container 12 and/or lid assembly 10 may be constructed of plastic or other polymeric materials, glass, metal, or any other suitable structural material. According to one potentially preferred construction, the container 12 and/or the lid assembly 10 may be constructed of a hard, injection-molded plastic. [0018] In the illustrated construction, the lid assembly 10 includes a lower or base portion 14 and an upper or sealing portion 16. Each of the lower and upper portions 14, 16 may be substantially cylindrical in shape. According to a potentially preferred embodiment, the upper sealing portion 16 is an incrementally greater diameter than the lower base portion 14 such that the lower and upper portions 14, 16 may be mated coaxially. In this relation, the lower base portion 14 resides in male relation within the volume of the upper sealing portion 16 (discussed in greater detail below). [0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1A (and as will be discussed in further detail below) a helical torsion spring 100 is adapted for disposition in substantially nested relation within a molded depression forming a spring bore 40 in the lower base portion 14. As will be described further hereinafter, the torsion spring 100 engages a central cylinder 62 which projects downwardly from the upper sealing portion 16 such that a torsional biasing force is established between the upper and lower portions of the assembly. [0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a potentially preferred embodiment of the lower base portion 14. FIG. 2A depicts the lower base portion 14 in plan view taken generally along line 2A-2A in FIG. 1A, while FIG. 2B depicts an edge view. As shown, the lower base portion 14 may include a substantially cylindrically-shaped body 32. The body 32 includes a substantially planar first upper surface 30 that intersects a circumferential wall 33 at the perimeter of the first upper surface 30. A slightly raised edge 36 is preferably disposed at least partially around the upper surface 30 at the intersection with the circumferential wall 33 to facilitate sealing. From the perimeter of the first upper surface 30, the circumferential wall 33 extends in a downward direction to a flange 48 that extends radially from the circumferential wall 33. By way of example and not of limitation, as depicted in FIG. 2A, the flange 48 may be hexagonal. Alternatively, the flange 48 may be of any polygonal or other shape, as may be desired. The flange 48 preferably includes a knurled peripheral edge 50. The knurled peripheral edge 50 and the angled, polygonal shape of the flange 48 may serve to assist a user in attaching the lower base portion 14 to the container 12 by providing greater leverage and grip. Continue reading about Lid assembly... Full patent description for Lid assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Lid assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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