Lid for a pan, plate, bowl or the like

Abstract

A vacuum seal lid for turning existing containers including plate, bowl, pan and even cutting board into a vacuum storage container comprises a top plate having an opening, a sidewall, sealing means for preserving vacuum, and a knob adapted to be at a first position in which it is above the opening to facilitate evacuation and handling, a second position in which it is at least partly below the opening to facilitate stacking and storage and a third position between the first and second positions in which the vacuum is released. The top plate may further comprise a first plate in which the opening is located and a second plate having an elastic membrane and a smooth lower surface constituting part of the sealing means for sealing containers smaller than the lid. The sealing means also comprises a sealing membrane located below the bottom surface or on the outer surface of the sidewall for sealing containers larger than the lid. To improve the seal, the sealing membrane is separable or apart from the bottom or outer surface of the sidewall. To improve the seal further, at least part of the sealing membrane is sloped at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The knob has a knob head, a valve opening, and a valve sealer adapted to clean the valve opening by moving the knob head to improve the reliability of the lid.

1 . A lid for sealing a container comprising:
 a top plate;   a sidewall connected to the top plate;   a knob for facilitating the removal of the lid from the container;   wherein at least one of said top plate and sidewall is adapted to seal to the container to form a closed chamber between said top plate and the container; and   wherein at least part of said knob is adapted to change position relative to the container after the lid is applied to the container.   
     
     
         2 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said knob comprises a body, a base plate to prevent said body from separating from the top plate, and a head protruded out of said body horizontally for one to hold and move said knob between a first position in which said knob is at least partly above said top plate to make said knob readily accessible and a second position in which said knob is at least partly below said top plate to allow a second container to sit on said top plate, thereby allowing stacking of containers. 
     
     
         3 . A lid as defined in  claim 2  wherein said top plate comprises at least one of a recessed section and a depressible section to which said knob is connected. 
     
     
         4 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate comprises an opening adapted to allow said knob to move in said opening between a first position in which said knob is at least partly above said opening and a second position in which said knob is at least partly below said opening. 
     
     
         5 . A lid as defined in  claim 4  wherein said top plate comprises a first plate on which said opening is formed and a second plate to which said knob is connected, said knob being adapted to move in said opening between said first and second positions. 
     
     
         6 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein said second plate is in contact with said first plate when said knob is at said first position to prevent foreign matters from entering between said first and second plates. 
     
     
         7 . A lid as defined in  claim 6  wherein said second plate comprises an elastic membrane and said first plate has a lower surface adapted to cause at least the peripheral section of said membrane to slope downward at a direction from said sidewall to knob, thereby improving the seal to the container. 
     
     
         8 . A lid as defined in  claim 6  wherein said second plate comprises an elastic membrane in a stretched and tensioned condition prior to applying the lid to a container to facilitate the expelling of fluid including at least one of air and water between said first and second plates when said knob moves from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
         9 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein at least part of said knob is sufficiently large to close said opening and allow a layer of air to form between said first and second plates to provide heat insulation for a product in said closed chamber when said knob is at said second position. 
     
     
         10 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein said first plate further comprises a second opening located close to said sidewall and apart from said knob to allow fluid between said plates to pass through. 
     
     
         11 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein said knob comprises a valve opening and a valve sealer for closing said valve opening during storage when said knob is at said second position, said valve sealer being adapted to open said valve opening when said knob is at a third position, said third position being between said first and second positions. 
     
     
         12 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein said opening is sufficiently large to allow a hand to pass through and move said knob from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
         13 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  wherein said opening is adapted to prevent said knob from completely moving out of said opening at least in one of the upward and downward movements of said knob. 
     
     
         14 . A lid as defined in  claim 5  further comprising a seal gasket between said opening and knob body to maintain a vacuum between said first and second plates after said knob is moved from said first to said second position. 
     
     
         15 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane having a peripheral section and a membrane lock comprising a first lock having a first ridge and a first channel for receiving said peripheral section and a second lock having a second ridge and a second channel also for receiving said peripheral section, wherein said first ridge is adapted to end said second channel when said second ridge enters said first channel to lock said peripheral section to said sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . A lid as defined in  claim 15  wherein said first and second ridges are separated only by a vertical section of said peripheral section of said membrane to prevent said membrane from moving out of said channels. 
     
     
         17 . A lid as defined in  claim 15  wherein said second channel has a plurality of channels around said second ridge and said first ridge has a plurality of ridges around said first channel, each of said plurality of ridges having a wider end adapted to pass through each of said plurality of channels, said lock further comprising a side channel sized to receive said wider end of each of said plurality of ridges, wherein at least one of said side channel, said first ridge and said second channel is adapted to break said elastic membrane. 
     
     
         18 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate further comprises a first plate having a channel and a second plate having an elastic membrane, said channel being adapted to cause said elastic membrane to wrap the bottom surface of said first plate to prevent said elastic membrane from moving out of said channel. 
     
     
         19 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane and a membrane lock for locking said elastic membrane to said sidewall, said sidewall being tilted toward the center of the lid to allow a plurality of said lids to stack into each other, said sidewall comprising an inward protrusion at its top end for hosting said membrane lock, thereby facilitate said stacking. 
     
     
         20 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane, said membrane comprises a scar at an edge of said membrane to facilitate the attaching of said membrane to at least one of said sidewall and side knob. 
     
     
         21 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  further comprises an elastic sealer connected to said sidewall and adapted to form an airtight seal to an interior surface of a container. 
     
     
         22 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane adapted to generate a vacuum in said closed chamber and further adapted to convert the vacuum to a downward force applied to said elastic sealer to maintain said airtight seal. 
     
     
         23 . A lid as defined in  claim 22  wherein said elastic membrane has a smooth lower surface accessible to a container to seal to the rim of the container, whereby said membrane allows the lid to seal containers smaller than the lid and said elastic sealer allows the lid to seal containers larger than the lid. 
     
     
         24 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein said elastic sealer comprises a plurality of sealing planes having different angles relative to a horizontal surface, the outer sealing plane being adapted to tilt more upwards from the inner to outer periphery of said sealer than the inner sealing plane. 
     
     
         25 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein said sidewall has a bottom surface in contact with said elastic sealer to apply a force to said sealer to cause said airtight seal, said bottom surface being adapted to be so sloped that the inner face of said sidewall is taller than the outer face. 
     
     
         26 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane, said elastic membrane having a smooth lower surface for enabling the lid to seal to the rim of a container and an outer section that covers at least part of the bottom surface of said sidewall to form said elastic sealer for enabling the lid to seal to the interior surface of a container. 
     
     
         27 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein said sidewall is adapted to change in height when the lid pressed to expel air out of said closed chamber and to have a memory to return to its original height when the lid is not pressed, thereby generating a vacuum in the closed chamber. 
     
     
         28 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein said elastic sealer comprises at least one mini gasket connected to said elastic sealer to improve said airtight seal, said mini gasket comprising a sealing membrane located below and apart from the bottom surface of said elastic sealer. 
     
     
         29 . A lid as defined in  claim 28  wherein said sealing membrane is adapted to collapse to cause at least part of it to touch said bottom surface when the lid stands on the container. 
     
     
         30 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane and a shield below said membrane, said shield being adapted to move away from said elastic membrane as air in said closed chamber is being removed. 
     
     
         31 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said knob comprises a valve opening for communicating said closed chamber with atmosphere and a valve sealer, said valve opening having a valve sidewall of a predetermined length adapted to form a frictional fit to said valve sealer to cause an airtight seal, said valve sealer being adapted to move in said valve opening to cause at least a partial loss of said frictional fit to form an air passage between said closed chamber and atmosphere. 
     
     
         32 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said knob comprises a valve opening for communicating said closed chamber with atmosphere and a valve sealer, said valve sealer being adapted to move among a first position in which said valve sealer forms an airtight seal to said valve opening, a second position in which said valve sealer is at least partly above said valve opening to form a first air passage between said closed chamber and atmosphere, and a third position in which said valve sealer is at least partly below said valve opening to form a second air passage between said closed chamber and atmosphere. 
     
     
         33 . A lid as defined in  claim 32  wherein said knob further comprises a knob head adapted to be pressed to move said valve sealer to form said second air passage, thereby allowing air in said closed chamber to be evacuated, and to be pulled to move said valve sealer to form said first air passage to release the vacuum in said closed chamber, thereby allowing the lid to be removed from the container. 
     
     
         34 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top plate comprises a plurality of elastic membranes in one stack with their peripheral sections connected together to said sidewall. 
     
     
         35 . A lid as defined in  claim 34  wherein said plurality of elastic membranes was bonded together by a bonding process to prevent the leakage of the elastic membrane after extended heavy uses. 
     
     
         36 . A lid for sealing a container comprising:
 a top plate;   a sidewall connected to the top plate;   wherein at least one of said top plate and sidewall comprises an elastic sealer to seal to the container to form a closed chamber between said top plate and container; and   wherein said elastic sealer comprises a sealing membrane adapted to contact and seal to an interior surface of the container, at least part of said sealing membrane being generally sloped at an angle relative to a horizontal plane when the lid is not in use or not applied to the container.   
     
     
         37 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane adapted to cover at least part of a bottom surface of said sidewall, said sealing membrane comprising the part of said elastic membrane below said bottom surface of said sidewall. 
     
     
         38 . A lid as defined in  claim 37  wherein the distance between said sealing membrane and said sidewall is adapted to be changeable to improve said airtight seal. 
     
     
         39 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said top plate comprises an elastic membrane adapted to cover a predetermined height of an outer surface of said sidewall, said sealing membrane comprising the part of said elastic membrane outside said outer surface of said sidewall. 
     
     
         40 . A lid as defined in  claim 38  further comprising a layer of fluid including at least one of air and a liquid between said sealing membrane and said outer surface of said sidewall. 
     
     
         41 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said elastic sealer further comprises a top base adapted to contact at least one of said sidewall and top plate, said sealing membrane being connected to said top base at an angle larger than 15 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         42 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said top plate comprises a first plate and an elastic membrane below said first plate, said elastic membrane being adapted to cover at least part of said side wall and at least part of the bottom surface of said first plate near said sidewall, said sealing membrane comprising the part of said elastic membrane that covers said sidewall or bottom surface of said first plate near said sidewall. 
     
     
         43 . A lid as defined in  claim 42  wherein at least part of said sealing membrane is sloped at an angle of at least 5 degrees relative to the horizontal plane when the lid is not in use or not applied to a container. 
     
     
         44 . A lid as defined in  claim 42  wherein at least part of said sealing membrane is sloped at an angle of at least 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane when the lid is not in use or not applied to a container. 
     
     
         45 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said sidewall comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall located a predetermined distance from said first sidewall, said sealing membrane being sloped between said first and second sidewalls at said angle relative to the horizontal when the lid is not in use. 
     
     
         46 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said elastic sealer is connected to said sidewall, said sealing membrane being sloped and located below and apart from the bottom surface of said elastic sealer. 
     
     
         47 . A lid as defined in  claim 46  wherein said sealing membrane has a first end connected to said elastic sealer and a second end movable relative to the bottom surface of said elastic sealer. 
     
     
         48 . A lid as defined in  claim 47  wherein said second end of said sealing membrane is positioned closer to the outer edge of said elastic sealer than said first end. 
     
     
         49 . A lid as defined in  claim 47  wherein said second end of said sealing membrane comprises a sealing rim thicker than the part of said sealing membrane adjacent to said sealing rim. 
     
     
         50 . A lid as defined in  claim 46  wherein said sealing membrane approximately adapts one of L, C, sloped V, inverted T, inverted Y, U and sloped I shapes, at least part of said sealing membrane designed to contact the interior surface of the container being sufficiently thin and elastic to conform to the indents or protrusions on the interior surface. 
     
     
         51 . A lid as defined in  claim 36  wherein said side wall has at least one elastic pleat adapted to collapse when the lid is pressed, thereby expelling air out of said closed chamber, and to have a memory to rebound to its original height when the lid is not pressed, thus generating vacuum in the closed chamber. 
     
     
         52 . A lid for sealing a container comprising:
 a top plate;   a sidewall connected to the top plate;   a knob located on said top plate;   wherein at least one of said top plate and sidewall is adapted to seal to the container to form a closed chamber between said top plate and container; and   wherein said knob comprises a valve opening for communicating said closed chamber with atmosphere and a valve sealer, said valve opening having a valve sidewall of a predetermined length adapted to form a frictional fit to said valve sealer to cause an airtight seal, said valve sealer being adapted to move in said valve opening to cause at least a partial loss of said frictional fit to form an air passage between said closed chamber and atmosphere.   
     
     
         53 . A lid as defined in  claim 52  wherein said knob further comprises an extension to said valve sidewall, said extension having a channel to cause said at least partial loss of said frictional fit to produce said air passage when said valve sealer moves into said extension. 
     
     
         54 . A lid as defined in  claim 52  wherein said knob is adapted to have a motion sealing distance for said valve sealer between about 0.5 mm and 15 mm to prevent leakage during storage due to accidents or aging. 
     
     
         55 . A lid as defined in  claim 52  wherein said knob further comprises a spring sufficiently strong to overcome the friction force of said frictional fit and cause said valve sealer to return into said valve opening after said valve sealer is moved to cause said at least partial loss of said frictional fit to produce said air passage. 
     
     
         56 . A lid as defined in  claim 55  wherein said spring comprises a plate having a first end connected to the body of said knob and a second end connected to said valve sealer, said plate being adapted to bend sufficiently to cause said valve sealer to move and lose said frictional fit. 
     
     
         57 . A lid as defined in  claim 55  wherein said spring comprises a first spring for moving said valve sealer down and a second spring for moving said valve sealer up, said first and second springs being adapted to keep said valve sealer in said valve opening during storage. 
     
     
         58 . A lid as defined in  claim 57  wherein said second spring is stronger than said first spring to increase the sealing reliability of the lid during storage. 
     
     
         59 . A lid as defined in  claim 55  wherein said knob further comprises a knob head connected to said valve sealer through a valve shaft and a knob body in which said valve sealer is hosted, said spring being adapted to move said valve sealer up and down in said valve opening and having a first end immobilized to said knob head and a second end immobilized to said knob body. 
     
     
         60 . A lid as defined in  claim 52  wherein said knob further comprises a second opening positioned upstream of said valve opening for receiving an evacuation device connected to a vacuum pump to evacuate said closed chamber and a knob head adapted to interact with the evacuation device to cause said at least partial loss of said friction fit when the evacuation device is received in said second opening. 
     
     
         61 . A lid as defined in  claim 52  wherein said knob further comprises a knob head, a knob body having a chamber above said valve opening, and a valve shaft connected to said knob head and valve sealer, 
     
     
         62 . A lid as defined in  claim 52  wherein said valve sealer is adapted to move among a first position in which said valve sealer forms an airtight seal to said valve opening, a second position in which said valve sealer is at least partially above said valve opening to form a first air passage between said closed chamber and atmosphere, and a third position in which said valve sealer is at least partially below said valve opening to form a second air passage between said closed chamber and atmosphere. 
     
     
         63 . A lid as defined in  claim 62  wherein said knob further comprises a knob head, wherein said valve sealer is adapted to form said second air passage when one presses said knob head, thus the lid, to remove the air from said closed chamber and to form said first air passage when one pulls said knob head to remove the lid from the container. 
     
     
         64 . A method of using a lid comprising placing a lid on a container, pressing a knob of the lid down to form a first air passage to evacuate the container, thereby vacuum sealing the lid to the container, and pulling the knob up to form a second air passage to release the vacuum, thereby lifting the lid off the container.