Container with a ratcheting lid

Abstract

The present invention is directed to containers for food or other material having a bowl and a ratcheting lid. The ratcheting lid will reduce the headspace in the container thereby increasing the storage life for the food product or other material in the container and maintaining the freshness of the material. The lid includes a peripheral edge having a diameter corresponding generally to the inside diameter of the bowl to provide an improved locking seal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container for adjusting the headspace therein comprising
 a bowl having an inside wall having a plurality of alternating grooves and ridges, thereby providing a track for a ratcheting lid,   a ratcheting lid comprising a base, a handle and a locking mechanism, said base having a peripheral edge constructed and arranged for mating with one or more of said ridges to provide a closure seal, said locking mechanism further comprising a plurality of panels movable in the vertical and horizontal directions and constructed and arranged for engaging a groove in said bowl to lock said lid in said bowl, and   wherein when said lid is inserted into said bowl said panels move freely past said plurality of alternating grooves and ridges and when the lid reaches the desired location for locking said lid, said lid is pulled up and said panels lock in said groove.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said bowl and said lid are round. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of alternating grooves and ridges are evenly spaced over a portion of said inside wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said locking mechanism further includes a plurality of finger members extending generally vertically from said panels. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  where said handle extends vertically from said base and includes notches therein constructed and arranged to each correspondingly engage one of said finger members. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein said handle includes a plurality of gripping ribs and said finger members include a plurality of gripping ribs corresponding to said gripping ribs of said handle. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said base further includes a plurality of support hinges connected to said base and each of said support hinges is further connected to an underside of one of said plurality of panels, said support hinges further including a living hinge adapted to allow vertical movement of said panels. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said bowl and said lid are made of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, nylon and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A container for adjusting the headspace therein comprising
 a bowl having an inside wall having a plurality of alternating grooves and ridges, thereby providing a track for a ratcheting lid,   a ratcheting lid comprising a base, a handle and a locking mechanism, said base having a peripheral edge constructed and arranged for mating with one or more of said ridges to provide a closure seal, said locking mechanism comprising a plurality of panels movable in a horizontal plane and constructed and arranged for engaging a groove in said bowl to lock said lid in said bowl, and   wherein when said lid is inserted into said bowl said panels move freely past said plurality of alternating grooves and ridges and when the lid reaches the desired location for locking said lid, said panels are moved in a horizontal plane by said locking mechanism to lock said panels in said groove.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said bowl and said lid are round. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of alternating grooves and ridges are evenly spaced over a portion of said inside wall. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said locking mechanism includes a plurality of finger members extending generally vertically from said panels and said finger members have a convex portion. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12  where said handle extends vertically from said base and includes a plurality of concave portions therein constructed and arranged to engage said convex portion of said finger members. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of panels include a pin extending from an underside of each of said panels and said base includes a plurality of slots adapted for receiving and retaining said pin, wherein said pin mates with said slots and provides for movement of said panels in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of panels include an elastomeric flexible pin extending from an underside of each of said panels and connected to said base, wherein said pin has sufficient elasticity to allow movement of said plurality of panels. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said bowl and said lid are made of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, nylon and combinations thereof.