Container lid for wet or dry applications

Abstract

Apparatus includes a lid and a container/lid combination and associated methods, in which the lid may be used selectively for either dry or liquid-sealed applications. For liquid-sealed applications, a gasket or similar sealing element is provided in a gasket channel. A shoulder or detent prevents the container from entering the gasket channel, but permits the desired liquid-sealing when the gasket or similar sealing element is present in the channel. The sealing element may be foamed-in-place within the channel.

What is claimed is  
     
         1 . A lid for a container, said lid including a channel member at its periphery for engaging with a corresponding portion of the container, said channel member having a cross-section that includes a dry-sealing contact surface, said cross-section further including a wet-sealing contact area for selectively receiving a wet-sealing contact member, said dry-sealing contact surface configured to abut a confronting surface on the container when no wet-sealing contact member is present in said wet-sealing contact area, and said wet-sealing contact area configured to provide liquid sealing between said lid and the container when a wet-sealing contact member is present in said wet-sealing contact area.  
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , further including a wet-sealing contact member in said wet-sealing contact area.  
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 2 , in which said wet-sealing contact member includes a flexible gasket.  
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 2 , in which said wet-sealing contact member includes sealing material foamed-in-place in said wet-sealing contact area.  
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1  or  claim 2  or  claim 3  or  claim 4 , in which said dry-sealing contact surface includes a shoulder formed in said channel, and said wet-sealing contact area includes a deeper portion of said channel that is not normally in direct contact with the container, said deeper portion of said channel configured to receive the wet-sealing contact member.  
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 5 , in which said shoulder is configured to prevent insertion of the container into said wet-sealing contact area.  
     
     
         7 . A container and lid combination, said container having an upper edge having a first portion and a second portion, said lid having a peripheral structure for matingly engaging said upper edge of said container, said peripheral structure including a contacting surface configured to contact said first portion of said upper edge during non-liquid-sealing between said container and said lid, said peripheral structure further including a selective sealing section, said selective sealing section configured to selectively receive a liquid-sealing element and position that element in contact with said second portion of said upper edge during liquid-sealing between said container and said lid.  
     
     
         8 . The container and lid combination of  claim 7 , in which said first and second portions of said upper edge of said container constitute relatively flat adjacent surfaces.  
     
     
         9 . The container and lid combination of  claim 7  or  claim 8 , in which said peripheral structure includes a downwardly disposed outer flange member, and said contacting surface to contact said first portion of said upper edge includes a detent on said flange configured to prevent said second portion of said upper edge from contacting said selective sealing section except if a liquid-sealing element is present in said selective sealing section.  
     
     
         10 . A lid having a generally inverted U-shaped cross section at its periphery, said cross section having a first portion for receiving a corresponding portion of a container in a dry-seal relationship, said cross-section having a further recessed portion for selectively receiving a liquid-sealing member for providing liquid-sealing between said lid and the container.  
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 10 , said cross-section further including a shoulder portion defining said first portion from said recessed portion.  
     
     
         12 . A method of sealing a plurality of containers, including the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of containers having uniform structures for engagement with corresponding lids;    providing a plurality of lids corresponding to said containers, each lid having the same generally inverted U-shaped cross section at its periphery, said cross section having a first portion for engaging said engagement structure of any one of said containers in a dry-seal relationship, said cross-section having a further recessed portion for selectively receiving a liquid-sealing member for providing liquid-sealing between said lid and its associated container; and    selectively inserting a liquid sealing member into said recessed portion of those lids for which liquid-sealing is desired.    
     
     
         13 . A container lid, said lid including: a central lid portion integrally molded with a peripheral step channel, said step channel configured to positively engage an associated container and to provide a gasket compression gap for selective assembly of a compressible gasket element therein.  
     
     
         14 . The container lid of  claim 13 , further including a compressible gasket element assembled in said gasket compression gap.  
     
     
         15 . A multi-purpose container lid including a sealing rim portion and a gasket channel adjacent said sealing rim portion, further including a stop formed to permit insertion of a container into sealing contact with said sealing rim portion and to prevent insertion of that container into said gasket channel.  
     
     
         16 . An integrally molded plastic lid having a central body with a peripheral inner rim, a peripheral outer rim spaced therefrom, and a gasket channel between said inner rim and said outer rim, and a detent also formed between said inner rim and said outer rim to prevent a container from being inserted into said gasket channel.