Reversible lid storage container

Abstract

A storage container has a base with a bottom panel and an upstanding side wall extending generally upward from a perimeter of the bottom panel. The side wall has a top end and a top opening is generally circumscribed by the top end. A reversible lid has a lid perimeter and a cover panel generally within the lid perimeter. The cover panel has a first side and a second side. The reversible lid can be installed on the base in two different selectable orientations including a first orientation with the second cover panel side facing the base and a second orientation with the first cover panel side facing the base. A first seal is created between the reversible lid and the base in the first orientation and a second seal is created between the reversible lid and the base in the second orientation. A first sealed storage space is formed between the base and the reversible lid when in the first orientation and a second sealed storage space is formed between the base and the reversible lid when in the second orientation. The first sealed storage space has a larger volume than a volume of the second sealed storage space.

1 . A storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom panel, a side wall extending generally upward from a perimeter of the bottom panel and having a top end, a top opening defined within the side wall near the top end, and a base seal structure carried near the top opening on a part of the side wall; and    a reversible lid having a cover panel and a lid perimeter, the cover panel having a first side and a second side, the reversible lid having first and second lid seal structures carried near the lid perimeter,    wherein the first lid seal structure engages and forms a seal with the base seal structure when the reversible lid is in a first orientation with the second cover panel side facing the base, a first storage space being formed above the bottom panel, within the side wall, and beneath the second cover panel side when the lid is in the first orientation, and    wherein the second lid seal structure engages and forms a seal with the base seal structure when the reversible lid is in a second orientation with the first cover panel side facing the base, a second storage space of a different volume than the first storage space being formed above the bottom panel, within the side wall, and beneath the first cover panel side when the lid is in the second orientation.    
   
   
       2 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first storage space has a larger volume than the second storage space.  
   
   
       3 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cover panel projects out of plane relative to a reference plane near and parallel to the lid perimeter and in a direction of the first cover panel surface such that the first cover panel surface is generally convex and the second cover panel surface is generally concave.  
   
   
       4 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the reversible lid has a circumferential rim that extends radially outward, wherein a first surface of the rim bears against a top edge of the base with the reversible lid in the first orientation, and wherein a second surface of the rim bears against the top edge of the base with the reversible lid in the second orientation.  
   
   
       5 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the reversible lid has a circumferential rim that extends radially outward from the lid perimeter, wherein the first lid seal structure is on the reversible lid on one side of the rim, and wherein the second lid seal structure is on the reversible lid on the opposite side of the rim.  
   
   
       6 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the reversible lid has an annular skirt depending from the lid perimeter, and wherein the first and second lid seal structures are on an outward facing exterior surface of the annular skirt.  
   
   
       7 . A storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second lid seal structures has an annular depression in the exterior surface of the annular skirt, and wherein the lid seal structure includes an annular rib that projects radially inward from a surface of the base and that seats in a first one of the depressions in the first orientation and that seats in a second one of the depressions in the second orientation.  
   
   
       8 . A storage container according to  claim 7 , wherein the reversible lid has a circumferential rim that extends radially outward from the annular skirt and that is positioned between the first and second depressions.  
   
   
       9 . A storage container according to  claim 8 , wherein one side of the circumferential rim is drawn against a top edge of the base in the first orientation and the other side of the rim is drawn against a top edge of the base in the second orientation.  
   
   
       10 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second lid seal structures has an annular depression in a surface of the reversible lid, and wherein the lid seal structure includes an annular rib that projects from a surface of the base and that seats in a first one of the depressions in the first orientation and that seats in a second one of the depressions in the second orientation.  
   
   
       11 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid seal structure and the base seal structure snap together when engaged in the first orientation, and wherein the second lid seal structure and the base seal structure snap together when engaged in the second orientation.  
   
   
       12 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid seal structure and the base seal structure create a double seal arrangement between the reversible lid and the base in the first orientation, and wherein the second lid seal structure and the base seal structure create a double seal arrangement between the reversible lid and the base in the second orientation.  
   
   
       13 . A storage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the reversible lid has an annular skirt depending from the lid perimeter, wherein the reversible lid also has a circumferential rim extending radially outward from the annular skirt, and wherein, in each of the first and second orientations, a surface of the rim bears against a top edge of the base to form one part of the double seal structure and a surface of the annular skirt bears a seal surface of the base to form a second part of the double seal structure.  
   
   
       14 . A reversible lid storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom panel, a side wall with a top end, and a top opening;    a base seal structure carried near the top opening on a part of the side wall;    a reversible lid having a lid perimeter; and    first and second lid seal structures carried near the lid perimeter,    wherein the first lid seal structure and the base seal structure form a snap fit seal in a standard lid orientation creating a first storage space in the storage container of a first volume, and wherein the second lid seal structure and the base seal form a snap fit seal in an inverted lid orientation creating a second storage space in the storage container of a second volume, the first volume being greater than the second volume.    
   
   
       15 . A reversible lid storage container according to  claim 14 , wherein the lid perimeter defines a lid plane and wherein a cover panel of the lid bulges out of plane relative to the lid plane.  
   
   
       16 . A reversible lid storage container according to  claim 14 , wherein the first lid seal structure and the base seal structure create a double seal arrangement between the reversible lid and the base in the standard orientation, and wherein the second lid seal structure and the base seal structure create a double seal arrangement between the reversible lid and the base in the inverted orientation.  
   
   
       17 . A reversible lid storage container according to  claim 14 , wherein the reversible lid has an annular skirt depending from the lid perimeter, and wherein the first and second lid seal structures are on a surface of the annular skirt  
   
   
       18 . A reversible lid storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the reversible lid has a circumferential rim that extends radially outward from the annular skirt and that is positioned between parts of the first and second lid seal structures.  
   
   
       19 . A reversible lid storage container according to  claim 18 , wherein the rim bears interferingly against a top edge of the base in each of the standard and the inverted lid orientations.  
   
   
       20 . A storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom panel, an upstanding side wall extending generally upward from a perimeter of the bottom panel and having a top end, and a top opening generally circumscribed by the top end;    a reversible lid having a lid perimeter and a cover panel generally within the lid perimeter, the cover panel having a first side and a second side, the reversible lid configured to be installed on the base in a selected one of a first orientation with the second cover panel side facing the base and a second orientation with the first cover panel side facing the base;    a first seal created between the reversible lid and the base in the first orientation and a second seal created between the reversible lid and the base in the second orientation; and    a first sealed storage space between the base and the reversible lid when in the first orientation and a second sealed storage space between the base and the reversible lid when in the second orientation, the first sealed storage space having a larger volume than a volume of the second sealed storage space.