Container

Abstract

The current invention provides a container, a lid, a combination of the two, and a method of using the same. The container has a base and a sidewall extending upward from the base forming a continuous sidewall around the base. The upper portion of the sidewall has a rim and a skirt around the perimeter. The skirt has a removable tear tab to allow access to a lid for removing the lid from the container. The lid also has vents for air to exit the container, thereby preventing rising of the lid in low pressure areas. The vents further prevent entry of air into the container when the sealed container is taken to areas of higher pressure. A method of filling the container leaving an air gap between the product and the lid and utilizing the aforementioned vents is also provided.

1 . A container comprising:
 a container having a base, a sidewall extending upward from the base and terminating in a seal rim for engaging a lid;   a container skirt around an outside portion of the sidewall integrally connected between the sidewall and the upper seal rim, the container skirt having a horizontal portion and a relatively vertical portion;   a recess in the container skirt, wherein the recess extends partially through the vertical portion;   a tear-off tab integrally and removably formed in the container skirt to cover the recess wherein the tear-off tab is separable from the container skirt to expose the indent.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising an upper seal rim rib extending outward from and adjacent to the seal rim. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall is connected to the container skirt along the horizontal portion and at intermittent locations along the vertical portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lid channel spaced between the container sidewall and the vertical portion of the container skirt. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container skirt and the container sidewall are connected together by a plurality of vertical ribs. 
     
     
         6 . A lid for sealing a container comprising:
 a lid surface forming a top of the lid;   a lid skirt integrally formed around the lid surface, the lid skirt having a lid channel;   a pair of ribs formed inside the lid channel, comprising:
 a. a continuous rib formed inside the lid channel adjacent the lid channel and the lid surface; 
 b. a non-continuous seal rib formed inside the lid channel adjacent the lid channel and lid skirt, the seal rib having one or more air vents for venting air through the lid channel. 
   
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein the lid skirt forms a lift tab for lifting and removing the lid from a container. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 7  wherein the lift tab is disposed about a corner of the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein the air vents are formed between terminal ends of the seal rib. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein the lid channel comprises an inner and outer wall, said outer wall having the continuous rib and said inner wall having the non-continuous seal rib. 
     
     
         11 . A container and lid combination comprising:
 a container having a base and sidewall extending upward from the base terminating in an upper seal rim;   a container skirt around an outside portion of the sidewall, the container skirt connected between the sidewall and the upper seal rim;   a tear away tab formed in the skirt to expose a recess in the container skirt;   a lid having a lid surface surrounded by a lid skirt and a lid channel;   a pair of ribs formed inside the lid channel, comprising:
 a. a continuous rib formed inside the lid channel adjacent the lid channel and the lid surface; 
 b. a non-continuous seal rib inside the lid channel, the seal rib having one or more terminal ends between which comprises one or more air vents; and 
   the upper seal rim mating inside the lid channel for removably connecting the lid to the container.   
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the container skirt and the container sidewall are connected together by a plurality of vertical ribs. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the lid skirt forms a lift tab for lifting and removing the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the air vents are formed between the terminal ends of the seal rib. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the lift tab is disposed about a corner of the lid. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the lid channel comprises an inner and outer wall, said outer wall having the continuous rib and said inner wall having the non-continuous seal rim. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the upper seal rim includes a rib extending outward from and adjacent to the seal rim. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the container further comprises a plurality of intermittently spaced vertical ribs formed between the container sidewall and the container skirt. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of intermittently spaced vertical ribs are attached to both horizontal and vertical portions of the container skirt. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of intermittently spaced vertical ribs are configured to give strength to the container skirt.