Storage Container

Abstract

A container that includes a container body and a securely attached container lid. The container lid can form an airtight and/or liquidtight seal between the container lid and the container body when the container lid is in the fully closed position and locked position. The container lid is attached to the container body by a hinge. The container lid includes a seal member, cover window portion, and an outer rim portion having a plurality of lid latches. The latches are configured for movement between an unlatched position in which the container contents can be accessed and a latched position in which latch features engage fastening members to secure the container lid in the fully closed and locked position to the container body.

1 . A storage container comprising:
 a container body, said container body including one or more sidewalls forming an interior and exterior sidewall surface and a body cavity between a base of the container body and the one or more sidewalls, and   a container lid, said container lid including an outer rim portion, a center window portion and a sealing member disposed between the outer rim portion and the center window portion, said outer rim portion, said center window portion and said sealing member being separately formed components that have been interconnected together, said outer rim portion including a lid hinge that and a front latch, said lid hinge is connected to said container body, said lid hinge permitting movement of the container lid relative to the container body between an open and a closed position, said front latch configured to move between an unlatched and latched position, said position of said front latch enabling said front latch to engage said container body and to secure said container lid in a closed and locked position.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing member formed of a different material from one or more components selected from the group consisting of said outer rim portion and said center window. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 2 , wherein said container body has a peripheral top surface that encircles an opening in said body cavity, said peripheral top surface including a descending wall portion that is spaced from an outer surface of said sidewall of said container body. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container of  claim 3 , wherein said top peripheral surface includes a channel formed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The storage container of  claim 3 , wherein said container body sidewall includes one or more ribs extending between said outer surface of said sidewall to said inner surface of said descending wall portion of said top peripheral surface. 
     
     
         6 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said outer rim portion of said container lid includes a plurality of latches, each of said latches is configured to move relative to an outer surface of said outer rim portion between a latched position and an unlatched position. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 6 , wherein said container lid includes differently configured latches. 
     
     
         8 . The storage container of  claim 6 , wherein the container lid includes three latches. 
     
     
         9 . The storage container of  claim 6 , wherein two of said latches are configured the same and the other latch is configured differently. 
     
     
         10 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member provides an airtight and/or liquidtight seal between said container lid and said container body when said container lid is in a fully closed and locked position. 
     
     
         11 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the said outer rim portion, said center window, or combinations thereof are formed of an olefin thermoplastic. 
     
     
         13 . The storage container of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing member comprises silicon or thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         14 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said cover window portion of said container lid includes a sealing flange extending downwardly from a bottom surface of said cover window portion, said sealing flange configured to engage an inner surface of said body cavity when said container lid is in said fully closed and lock position. 
     
     
         15 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said lid hinge includes two pivot grooves. 
     
     
         16 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said container body is formed of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         17 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said lid hinge is connectable to said container body to form a permanent connection between said container lid and said container body. 
     
     
         18 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A storage container comprising:
 a container body, said container body including one or more sidewalls forming an interior and exterior sidewall surface and a body cavity between a base of the container body and the one or more sidewalls, and   a container lid, said container lid including an outer rim portion, a center window portion and a sealing member disposed between the outer rim portion and the center window portion, said outer rim portion, said center window portion and said sealing member being separately formed components that have been interconnected together, said sealing member formed of a different material from said center window portion and/or said outer rim portion, said sealing member formed of a more flexible material than said center window portion and/or said outer rim portion, said outer rim portion including a lid hinge and a front latch, said lid hinge is connected to said container body, said lid hinge permitting movement of the container lid relative to the container body between an open and a closed position, said front latch configured to move between an unlatched and latched position, said position of said front latch enabling said front latch to engage said container body and to secure said container lid in a closed and locked position.   
     
     
         28 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said front latch is positioned on an opposite side of said container lid from said lid hinge. 
     
     
         29 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said container lid includes two side latches that are positioned on opposite sides of the container lid from one another, each of said side latches are spaced from said lid hinge and said front latch. 
     
     
         30 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said container body has a peripheral top surface that encircles an opening in said body cavity, said peripheral top surface including a descending wall portion that is spaced from an outer surface of said sidewall of said container body. 
     
     
         31 . The storage container as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said top peripheral surface includes a channel formed therein. 
     
     
         32 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said container body sidewall includes one or more ribs extending between said outer surface of said sidewall to said inner surface of said descending wall portion of said top peripheral surface. 
     
     
         33 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said sealing member provides an airtight and/or liquidtight seal between said container lid and said container body when said container lid is in a fully closed and locked position. 
     
     
         34 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said cover window portion of said container lid includes a sealing flange extending downwardly from a bottom surface of said cover window portion, said sealing flange configured to engage an inner surface of said body cavity when said container lid is in said fully closed and lock position. 
     
     
         35 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , including the further step of connecting said lid hinge to said container body prior to fully closing and locking said container lid to said container body. 
     
     
         36 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said container body has a peripheral top surface that encircles an opening in said body cavity, said peripheral top surface including a descending wall portion that is spaced from an outer surface of said sidewall of said container body, said top peripheral surface includes a channel formed therein, said container body sidewall includes one or more ribs extending between said outer surface of said sidewall to said inner surface of said descending wall portion of said top peripheral surface. 
     
     
         37 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said side latches are configured the same and the front latch is configured differently from said two side latches. 
     
     
         38 . The storage container as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the said outer rim portion, said center window portion, or combinations thereof are formed of an olefin thermoplastic, said sealing member is formed of an elastomeric material, said elastomeric material is silicon or a thermoplastic elastomer, said container body is formed of polycarbonate.