Locking ring

Abstract

A locking ring for a plastic container for fluids, comprising a U-shaped channel fitting over a rim and a lid of the container, and also comprising a novel guide below a sealing ridge, said locking ring having a pre-installed position on the rim and the lid, and in said pre-installed position said guide being balanced evenly and fitting snugly against an outer portion of the rim of the container, said pre-installed position, and so that the locking ring may be pressed onto the rim and the lid with less force than otherwise.

1 . A locking ring for a plastic container for fluid, said locking ring comprising a U-shaped channel fitted for receiving a rim and a lid of a container, said U-shaped channel comprising an inner wall, an inner wall radius and an inner surface and an outer wall and an outer surface, said outer wall being integral to a sealing ridge and said sealing ridge being integral to a guide so that, when and the guide is positioned in a pre-installed position snugly adjacent to an outermost portion of the rim, then the locking ring may be pressed to an installed position in which the sealing ridge contacts a sidewall of the container and the outermost portion of the rim, and the inner wall and the inner wall radius also contact the lid, creating a void between the U-shaped channel and the rim and the lid in the installed position. 
     
     
         2 . The locking ring as in  claim 1 , wherein when atmospheric pressure is less than air pressure inside the container and the lid is forced upward to a loaded position, the sealing ridge presses against the outermost portion of the rim and the U-shaped channel presses against the lid, and holds the lid in place. 
     
     
         3 . The locking ring as in  claim 1 , wherein the locking ring is circular. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The locking ring as in  claim 1 , wherein the locking ring is rectangular with rounded corners. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The locking ring as in  claim 1 , further comprising a first slope between an apex of the sealing ridge and a first point of the sealing ridge, and the first slope is straight between the first point and the apex.