Apparatus for securing gasket prior to lid installation

Abstract

A lid for a container forming an upper rim portion. The lid comprises a central portion and a peripheral skirt portion forming a downwardly disposed channel extending around the periphery of the lid. The channel is adapted to overlie the container upper rim portion and to hold a sealing gasket therein at an upper portion of the channel. The skirt portion forms a plurality of bendable flaps extending within said channel, each of which being movable from a first position wherein each said flap extends across a portion of said channel preventing said gasket from falling out of the channel to a second position wherein each said flap is positioned within a relief pocket formed within said skirt wall. Each flap is urged from said first position to said second position by the rim of the container as it is inserted within said channel and pressed into engagement with said gasket. The flap may be inserted in a clearance fit within said pocket and remains in said pocket once urged therein by said rim portion. Alternately each flap may be pressed into friction fit engagement within said pocket and is fixed within said pocket once pressed therein.

1 . A lid for a container, said container forming an upper rim portion, the lid comprising: a central portion and a peripheral skirt portion forming a downwardly disposed channel extending around the periphery of said lid, said channel adapted to overlie the container upper rim portion and to hold a sealing gasket therein at an upper portion of said channel at a position above said upper rim portion when said channel overlies said upper rim portion, said skirt portion forming a plurality of bendable flaps extending within said channel, each of which being movable from a first position wherein each said flap extends across a portion of said channel preventing said gasket from falling out of the channel to a second position wherein each said flap is positioned within a relief pocket formed within said skirt wall.  
   
   
       2 . A lid as recited in  claim 1  wherein each said flap is urged from said first position to said second position by said rim as said rim is inserted within said channel and pressed into engagement with said gasket.  
   
   
       3 . A lid as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flap extends from said skirt portion at a position below said pocket, and may be bent from said first position into said pocket by said rim portion as it is inserted within said channel.  
   
   
       4 . A lid as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flap is inserted in a clearance fit within said pocket and remains in said pocket once urged therein by said rim portion.  
   
   
       5 . A lid as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lid is formed of resilient material, with each said flap being resiliently biased in said first position.  
   
   
       6 . A lid as recited in  claim 5  wherein each said flap is pressed into friction fit engagement within said pocket and is fixed within said pocket once pressed therein by said rim portion, as said rim is inserted within said channel.  
   
   
       7 . A lid as recited in  claim 6  wherein an portion of the skirt forming an upper portion of the pocket, is downwardly tapered as it extends outwardly from within said pocket, said upper portion of the pocket engages in friction fit an upper portion of said flap within said pocket, thereby securing said flap within said pocket.  
   
   
       8 . A lid as recited in  claim 1  wherein said flaps are positioned around the periphery of the lid at regularly spaced intervals.  
   
   
       9 . A lid as recited in  claim 1  wherein the container further includes upper and lower peripheral, annular outwardly disposed locking flanges, said flanges having undersides for locking engagement with the container lid, the downwardly disposed channel of the lid further adapted to overlie the container locking flanges and the peripheral skirt portion further defining a peripheral groove dividing said skirt into a skirt upper portion located adjacent to the container upper locking flange, and a lower tear-off strip portion located adjacent to the container lower locking flange; the skirt upper portion having inwardly disposed intermittent locking flange segments adapted to engage the underside of the container upper locking flange; the skirt upper portion also being formed with thin membrane windows therein on either side of the locking flange segments and bordering on the peripheral groove; and the tear-off strip portion defining an inwardly disposed locking flange adapted to engage the underside of the container lower locking flange, so that removal of the tear-off strip portion leaves downwardly disposed thin membrane notches on either side of the locking flange segments, the flaps being formed on the upper skirt portion.  
   
   
       10 . A lid as recited in  claim 9  wherein a pair of said flaps are positioned at regularly spaced intervals between adjacent locking flange segments.  
   
   
       11 . A lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the thin membrane windows are formed with openings therethrough bordering on the annular groove, so that removal of the tear-off strip portion leaves downwardly disposed open notches on either side of the locking flange segments.  
   
   
       12 . A lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the thin membrane are formed with strengthening ribs therein.  
   
   
       13 . A lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the periphery of the lid and container is rectangular.  
   
   
       14 . A lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the periphery of lid and container is circular.  
   
   
       15 . A lid as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in said first position each said flap extends across said portion of said channel preventing said gasket from falling out of the channel, and leaves an open portion which allows the gasket to be inserted through into said channel if slightly compressed away from said flap.