Venting Container

Abstract

A venting container including a lid and base having an inner cavity and a side wall that terminates in a rim, the lid including a central panel and a peripheral sealing lip that surrounds the panel, the peripheral sealing lip having a generally inverted U-shaped cross section that defines a lid channel into which the container rim fits, the sealing lip including at least one venting feature in the form of a flexible venting button that is adapted to transition from a first position to a second position upon application of an actuation force, the venting button being further adapted and positioned whereby when the container rim is positioned in the lid channel and the venting button is in the first position, sealed engagement of the lid to the container is effectuated and when the venting button is in the second position a venting air passage is provided from the container cavity to the container surroundings. In a second embodiment, the venting feature is in the form of a downwardly protruding venting boss provided to the lid closure and a boss seat formed in the base closure whereby the venting boss is received with the boss seat when the lid is oriented in a first non venting attachment position and the venting boss abuts against a surface of the base closure to provide a vent passage between the lid and base upon removal and repositioning of the lid to a second venting attachment position.

1 . A venting container, comprising:
 a selectively detachable lid, said lid including a central panel and peripheral sealing lip that surrounds said panel, said peripheral sealing lip having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section that defines a lid channel, said peripheral sealing lip including a venting boss; and   a container bottom having an inner cavity, said container bottom further having a side wall that terminates in a container rim, said container rim being adapted to be positioned in said lid channel, said container rim including a venting boss seat, said boss seat being adapted to receive said venting boss when said container rim is positioned in said lip channel and said lid and container are in a first non-venting position, whereby sealable engagement of said lid and said container are effectuated, and whereby when said lid is rotated relative to said container to a second venting position, wherein said venting boss is disposed distal from said venting boss seat, said container rim is repositioned and in said lip channel a venting air passage is provided from said container cavity to the container surroundings.   
   
   
       2 . The venting container of  claim 1 , wherein when said container rim is positioned in said lid channel and said lid is in said second position, the container remains substantially leak-proof, except in the region proximate said venting boss. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said venting boss is substantially circular in shape. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container lid includes at least one gripping tab and said venting boss is located proximate to the gripping tab. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container lid comprises thermoformed plastic. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container lid comprises injection-molded plastic.