Closure system for containers

Abstract

A closure assembly for sealing a container lid and base is disclosed. The closure assembly includes a male member and a female member that are coupled to a container lid and base, respectively. The female member includes an alignment feature and a gasket channel with a gasket in the gasket channel. The male member includes a corresponding alignment feature and a gasket sealing feature that protrudes into the gasket channel and forms a seal with the gasket when the closure assembly is in a closed position.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A closure assembly for a container having a first wall and a second wall that come together to close the container, the closure assembly comprising:
 a female member comprising—
 a main body including a first compression stop interface; 
 a channel formed in the main body configured to receive the first wall of the container to secure the female member to the first wall of the container; 
 a female alignment feature formed in the first compression stop interface; and 
 a gasket channel in the first compression stop interface, wherein the gasket channel contains a gasket; 
   a male member comprising—
 a main body including a second compression stop interface; 
 a channel formed in the main body configured to receive the second wall of the container to secure the male member to the second wall of the container; 
 a male alignment feature protruding from the second compression stop interface and extending into the female alignment feature; and 
 a male gasket sealing feature protruding from the second compression stop interface and into the gasket channel, wherein the male gasket sealing feature forms a seal with the gasket; 
   a latch coupling the male member to the female member, the latch having an outer extent; and   a bumper extending beyond the outer extent of the latch.   
     
     
         2 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male alignment feature protrudes outwardly from the second compression stop interface a greater extent than the male gasket sealing feature. 
     
     
         3 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein female member and male member are formed according to one of an extrusion process and a pultrusion process. 
     
     
         4 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , where in the channels of the male and female members define a plurality of at least one of grooves and ridges. 
     
     
         5 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second compression stop interface are at least three times a thickness of the first and second walls. 
     
     
         6 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male and female include a plurality of apertures disposed along the channel for receiving fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the male member defines a cutout for receiving the latch. 
     
     
         8 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket channel defines a flared seating surface defining an opening and a gasket chamber connected to the opening, the gasket being positioned within the gasket chamber and the opening being smaller than a width of the chamber, and the male gasket sealing feature being tapered to conform to the flared seating surface. 
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the male member further comprises corner protrusions positioned inwardly from the male alignment feature and the male gasket sealing feature and protruding outwardly from the second compression stop interface a greater extent than the male alignment feature and male gasket sealing feature, the corner protrusions defining first engagement surfaces;   the female member further comprises corner receivers positioned inwardly from the female alignment feature and the gasket channel and extending from the first compression stop interface in a same direction as the female alignment feature, the corner receivers defining second engagement surfaces configured to mate with the first engagement surfaces.   
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male alignment feature defines a taper angle and the female alignment feature defines a flare angle, the flare angle being greater than the taper angle. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising:
 a first container shell defining a first rim;   a second container shell defining a second rim;   a female member comprising
 a main body including a first compression stop interface; 
 a channel formed in the main body having the first rim secured therein; 
 a female alignment feature formed in the first compression stop interface; and 
 a gasket channel in the first compression stop interface, wherein the gasket channel contains a gasket; 
   a male member comprising
 a main body including a second compression stop interface; 
 a channel formed in the main body having the second rim secured therein; 
 a male alignment feature protruding from the second compression stop interface and extending into the female alignment feature; and 
 a male gasket sealing feature protruding from the second compression stop interface and into the gasket channel, wherein the male gasket sealing feature forms a seal with the gasket; 
   a latch coupling the male member to the female member, the latch having an outer extent; and   a bumper extending beyond the outer extent of the latch.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the male alignment feature protrudes outwardly from the second compression stop interface a greater extent than the male gasket sealing feature. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein female member and male member are formed according to one of an extrusion process and a pultrusion process. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , where in the channels of the male and female members define a plurality of at least one of grooves and ridges. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising an adhesive positioned in the channels of the male and female members. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of first fasteners extending through the female member and the first rim and a plurality of second fasteners extending through female member and the second rim. 
     
     
         17 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the male member defines a cutout for receiving the latch. 
     
     
         18 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket channel defines a flared seating surface defining an opening and a gasket chamber connected to the opening, the gasket being positioned within the gasket chamber and the opening being smaller than a width of the chamber, and the male gasket sealing feature being tapered to conform to the flared seating surface. 
     
     
         19 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the male member further comprises corner protrusions positioned inwardly from the male alignment feature and the male gasket sealing feature and protruding outwardly from the second compression stop interface a greater extent than the male alignment feature and male gasket sealing feature, the corner protrusions defining first engagement surfaces;   the female member further comprises corner receivers positioned inwardly from the female alignment feature and the gasket channel and extending from the first compression stop interface in a same direction as the female alignment feature, the corner receivers defining second engagement surfaces configured to mate with the first engagement surfaces.   
     
     
         20 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male alignment feature defines a taper angle and the female alignment feature defines a flare angle, the flare angle being greater than the taper angle.