Molded, recyclable, compostable cellulose fiber lid assembly for a container

Abstract

Lid assemblies, containers, and methods of producing them are disclosed herein. A lid assembly, comprising a dome portion, a rim-receiving portion, and a compression ring are configured to attach to a container and provide a seal between the lid assembly and the container. The lid assembly is made of a reusable, recyclable, and compostable material, such as molded paper, pulp, natural cellulose fibers cellulose fiber, tapioca, wood, agricultural recycled crop materials, plastics (PLA), clay, metals, petro plastics, silicone, PVC's, and PET styrene.

1 . A lid assembly for use with a container having a rim around an opening in the container, the lid assembly comprising:
 a dome portion comprising:
 a top portion; 
 a rim-receiving portion connected to the top portion, the rim-receiving portion extending around the dome portion; and 
 a plurality of tabs spaced circumferentially at a perimeter of the rim-receiving portion and extending radially outwardly from the rim-receiving portion; 
   a compression ring configured to fit over the rim-receiving portion and at least a portion of the tabs, the compression ring being sized such that, when the compression ring is placed over the dome portion, the tabs are pressed inwardly to engage the rim of the container to secure the lid assembly over the opening in the container;   wherein the dome portion and the compression ring are made of a compostable material.   
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the compostable material comprises at least one of molded paper, pulp, and natural cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the top portion of the dome portion comprises a drinking spout, and an airhole. 
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dome portion and compression ring are round, triangular, square, rectangular, or polygonal. 
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly of  claim 4  wherein the dome portion and compression ring are each a polygon with between 5 and 8 sides, inclusive. 
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rim-receiving portion has a cross-sectional shape of a generally inverted U, comprising a radially interior segment and a radially exterior segment, connected by a convex portion, wherein the convex portion is shaped to substantially match the rim of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly of  claim 6  wherein the radially interior segment is configured to engage a portion of the container below the rim of the container when the compression ring is in place on the dome portion. 
     
     
         8 . The lid assembly of  claim 6  wherein the radially interior and radially exterior segment of the rim-receiving portion are configured to be pressed against opposing surfaces of the container when the compression ring is placed on the dome portion and moves the tabs radially inward. 
     
     
         9 . The lid assembly of  claim 8  wherein the rim of the container has a cross-sectional shape with an upper and a lower hemisphere, and the radially interior and radially exterior segments of the rim-receiving portion are configured to engage the lower hemisphere of the rolled rim on the inside and outside of the container, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the compression ring comprises a shoulder that extends radially inwardly from a lower portion of the compression ring. 
     
     
         11 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the compression ring has an upper diameter and a lower diameter, wherein the lower diameter is larger than the upper diameter such that the compression ring slopes downwardly and outwardly from an upper portion to a lower portion. 
     
     
         12 . The lid assembly of  claim 11  wherein the compression ring comprises a shoulder that extends radially inwardly from a lower portion of the compression ring, and wherein the dome portion has an outer diameter larger than the upper diameter of the compression ring and larger than the shoulder's radially inward projection, such that the compression ring retains the dome portion. 
     
     
         13 . The lid assembly of  claim 11  wherein the compression ring comprises a shoulder that extends radially outwardly from the lower portion of the compression ring. 
     
     
         14 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dome portion and the compression ring are connected by a connection strip. 
     
     
         15 . The lid assembly of  claim 14  wherein the connection strip is at least one of flexible, perforated, and frangible. 
     
     
         16 . The lid assembly of  claim 14  wherein the compression ring is connected to the dome portion with the compression ring upside-down, such that the compression ring can be folded over and onto the dome portion. 
     
     
         17 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tabs have a cam surface that engages the compression ring and is configured to move radially inwardly and engage a surface of the container to create a seal between the lid assembly and the container when the lid assembly is placed on the container and the compression ring is moved to a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The lid assembly of  claim 17  wherein the cam surface is convex and protrudes upwardly from the tabs. 
     
     
         19 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tabs, dome portion, and compression ring are configured to produce an audible snapping noise when the compression ring is placed over the dome portion and the tabs are pressed radially inwardly to engage the surface of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The lid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of locking portions which extend upwardly from the compression ring, and are configured to be pressed radially inwardly to engage the rim of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the compression ring is made of a shrinkable material, the compression ring being shrunk over the dome portion during assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dome portion and the compression ring are configured to be nested with other lid assemblies. 
     
     
         23 . A container assembly, comprising:
 a container having a body portion and a rim;   a hinge connected to the container; and   a lid assembly connected to the hinge, the lid assembly being made of a compostable material, the lid assembly comprising:
 a dome portion; 
 a rim-receiving portion connected to the dome portion and extending downwardly and radially outwardly from the dome portion, the rim-receiving portion being configured to engage with the rim of the container; 
 a plurality of tabs extending downwardly and outwardly from the rim-receiving portion, the tabs being spaced circumferentially around the rim-receiving portion; and 
 a compression ring sized to be placed over the rim-receiving portion and the plurality of tabs, such that the compression ring presses the tabs downwardly and inwardly over the rim to create a seal between the lid assembly and the container when the lid assembly is in a closed position. 
   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the compostable material comprises at least one of molded paper, pulp, and natural cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23  wherein at least some of the plurality of tabs has a cam surface configured to engage with a portion of the compression ring to cause the compression ring to press the tabs downwardly and inwardly over the rim. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25  wherein the cam surface comprises a convex cam surface that protrudes upward and outward from the tabs. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the rim has a circular cross-sectional shape with an upper and a lower hemisphere, and wherein the rim-receiving portion is configured to engage the rolled rim at the lower hemisphere of the rolled rim at least on the inside or the outside of the container. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 26  wherein the rim-receiving portion is further configured to engage a portion of the container below the rolled rim. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the compression ring has an upper portion with an upper diameter, a lower portion with a lower diameter, and an intermediate portion with an intermediate diameter, and wherein the intermediate diameter is greater than the upper diameter and the lower diameter. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29  wherein the tabs have a diameter that is smaller than the intermediate diameter of the compression ring but greater than at least one of the upper diameter or the lower diameter such that the compression ring retains the lid assembly when the lid assembly is not in the closed position. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the lid assembly is configured to be nested with other lid assemblies.