Sealing cover for a container

Abstract

A container comprising a cover and a containing portion, the cover adapted to fit adjacent a portion of an inner edge of the containing portion. The cover including a body portion having an opening therein, and a stopper movable between an open position and a closed position, the stopper adapted to close the opening when the stopper is in the closed position, thereby causing an air-tight seal between the cover and the containing portion and allows the cover to be removed from the container when the stopper is in the open position by releasing the air-tight seal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cover comprising: 
 a body portion substantially surrounded by an outer edge, the body portion having an opening therein; and    a stopper movable between an open position and a closed position, the stopper adapted to close the opening when in the closed position;    wherein the stopper causes a substantially air-tight seal between the cover and a container when in the closed position, and allows the cover to be removed from the container when the stopper is in the open position by releasing the air-tight seal.    
     
     
         2 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes a flap having a portion of the flap removably secured to the body portion of the cover, wherein a remaining portion of the flap removably fills the opening.  
     
     
         3 . The cover as claimed in  claim 2 , the body portion further comprising: 
 an upper surface;    a lower surface having an outer periphery adjacent the outer edge; and    a sealing ring mounted on a substantial portion of the outer periphery of the lower surface of the body portion, wherein the sealing ring in combination with the stopper effects the air-tight seal between the cover and the container when the opening is closed by the flap.    
     
     
         4 . The cover as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a flange attached to the outer periphery of the lower surface, wherein the flange receives the sealing ring.    
     
     
         5 . The cover as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the sealing ring is removable from the flange.  
     
     
         6 . The cover as claimed in  claim 3 , the flange further comprising: 
 an arm extending downwardly from the outer periphery of the cover;    a first flange member extending substantially perpendicular from the arm; and    a second flange member provided extending from the arm and substantially parallel to the first flange member forming a groove between the first and second flange members, wherein the groove receives at least a portion of the sealing ring.    
     
     
         7 . The cover as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the sealing ring is mounted on the outer periphery of the lower surface using adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The cover as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the sealing ring is mounted on an entire outer periphery of the lower surface.  
     
     
         9 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a handle disposed in the body portion.    
     
     
         10 . The cover as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 an indentation in the body portion substantially surrounding the handle.    
     
     
         11 . The cover as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the handle is set within the indentation and a top surface of the handle is substantially flush with an upper surface of the body portion of the cover.  
     
     
         12 . The cover as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the handle is removable from the body portion.  
     
     
         13 . The cover as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the stopper includes a flap having a portion of the flap attached to the handle, wherein a remaining portion of the flap removably fills the opening.  
     
     
         14 . The cover as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an indentation in the body portion substantially surrounding the handle and stopper.    
     
     
         15 . The cover as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the handle and stopper are set within the indentation and top surfaces of the handle and the stopper are substantially flush with an upper surface of the body portion of the cover.  
     
     
         16 . The cover as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the handle and stopper are removable from the body portion.  
     
     
         17 . A container comprising: 
 a cover having a body portion substantially surrounded by an outer edge; and    a containing portion including a sidewall attached to a base, the sidewall having an inner surface;    wherein the outer edge of the cover is adapted to fit adjacent a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall of the containing portion.    
     
     
         18 . The container as claimed in  claim 17 , the body portion further comprising: 
 a top surface;    a bottom surface having an outer periphery adjacent the outer edge; and    a sealing ring mounted on a substantial portion of the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the body portion, wherein the sealing ring effects an air-tight seal between the cover and the containing portion.    
     
     
         19 . The container as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a ridge provided on the sidewall of the containing portion, wherein the sealing ring is adapted to engage the ridge.    
     
     
         20 . The container as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a flange attached to the outer periphery of the bottom surface, wherein the flange receives the sealing ring.    
     
     
         21 . The container as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the sealing ring is removable from the flange.  
     
     
         22 . The container as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the sealing ring is mounted on the outer periphery of the bottom surface using adhesive.  
     
     
         23 . The container as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the sealing ring is mounted on the entire outer periphery of the bottom surface.  
     
     
         24 . The container as claimed in  claim 18 , the flange further comprising: 
 an arm extending downwardly from the outer periphery of the cover; and    a flange member extending substantially perpendicular from the arm, the sealing ring removably engaged with at least a portion of the flange member.    
     
     
         25 . The container as claimed in  claim 24 , the flange further comprising: 
 a second flange member extending from the arm and provided substantially parallel to the first flange member forming a groove between the flange members, wherein the groove removably receives at least a portion of the sealing ring.    
     
     
         26 . The container as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the sealing ring is secured to the groove with adhesive.  
     
     
         27 . The container as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a handle disposed in a top surface of the body portion.    
     
     
         28 . The container as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 an indentation in the body portion substantially surrounding the handle.    
     
     
         29 . The container as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the handle is set within the indentation and a top surface of the handle is substantially flush with the top surface of the body portion of the cover.  
     
     
         30 . The container as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 an opening defined by the body portion of the cover; and    a stopper movable between an open position and a closed position, the stopper adapted to close the opening in the closed position, and expose the opening in the open position;    wherein the stopper causes a substantially air-tight seal between the cover and the containing portion when in the closed position, and allows the cover to be removed from the container when the stopper is in the open position by releasing the airtight seal.    
     
     
         31 . The container as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the stopper includes a flap having a portion of the flap removably secured to the body portion of the cover, wherein the remaining portion of the flap removably fills the opening.  
     
     
         32 . The container as claimed in  claim 31 , the cover further comprising: 
 a top surface;    a bottom surface having an outer periphery adjacent the outer edge; and    a sealing ring mounted on a substantial portion of the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the body portion,    wherein the sealing ring in combination with the stopper effects the airtight seal between the cover and the inner surface of the containing portion when the opening is closed by the flap.    
     
     
         33 . The container as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a flange attached to the outer periphery of the lower surface, wherein the flange receives the sealing ring.    
     
     
         34 . The container as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a ridge provided on the sidewall of the containing portion, wherein the outer edge of the cover is adapted to engage the ridge.    
     
     
         35 . A container comprising: 
 a cover having a body portion substantially surrounded by an outer edge, the body portion having an opening therein;    a stopper and handle combination provided on the body portion, the stopper movable between an open position and a closed position, the stopper adapted to close the opening when in the closed position; and    a containing portion including a sidewall attached to a base, the sidewall having an inner surface,    wherein the outer edge of the cover is adapted to fit against a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall of the containing portion, and the stopper is adapted to cause an air-tight seal between the cover and the containing portion when in the closed position, and allows the cover to be removed from the containing portion when the stopper is in the open position by releasing the air-tight seal.