Sealing device

Abstract

A sealing device for a cylindrical container with a collar featuring a variety of different types of inwardly projecting flanges configured to engage with an internally threaded lid. The collar fits over the top and/or the bottom of the container allowing the inward flange to contact the underside of the container's upper rim thereby preventing the collar from being pulled back over the top of the container. Preferred embodiments include an inward flange that can be segmented by slits forming tabs or teeth inside the collar. These tabs can be deformed and pushed aside when the collar is being put into place on the container and then spring back into place to prevent the collar from being removed. Preferred embodiments can include an expansion groove to allow the flange room to flex.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A sealing device for a cylindrical container comprising:
 a collar featuring threads on an external surface of a collar;   an inwardly-projecting, flexible, inelastic flange located on an annular rim of the collar; and   a lid featuring threads complementary to the threads on the collar.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing device of  claim 1  further comprising an annular groove located between the flange and the collar and incompletely separating the flange from the collar. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing device of  claim 2  further comprising a living hinge connecting the flange to an inner surface of the collar. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing device of  claim 2  wherein the flange is tapered such that a portion of the flange connected to the collar is thinner than a portion of the flange that extends away from the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing device of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of vertical slits in the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing device of  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of vertical slits in the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing device of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of vertical slits in the flange. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing device of  claim 3  wherein the groove contains a cushioning material and/or a sealant. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing device of  claim 4  wherein the groove contains a cushioning material and/or a sealant. 
     
     
         10 . The sealing device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a collar featuring threads on an external surface of the collar; 
 an inwardly-projecting, flexible, inelastic wall located on an inner surface of the collar; said wall separated from the inner surface of the collar by a groove that extends around an inner circumference of the collar; and 
 a lid featuring threads on an outer surface, said threads being complementary to the threads on the collar. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sealing device of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of vertical slits in the flange that incompletely divide the flange into a plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         12 . The sealing device of  claim 11  wherein the groove contains a cushioning material and/or a sealant. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing device of  claim 11  wherein the flange is tapered such that a portion of the flange connected to the inner surface of the collar is thinner than a portion of the flange that extends away from the bushing. 
     
     
         14 . The sealing device of  claim 10  wherein the collar extends vertically further than the wall thereby creating space to accommodate a rim of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The sealing device of  claim 11  wherein the collar extends vertically further than the wall thereby creating space to accommodate a rim of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The sealing device of  claim 12  wherein the collar extends vertically further than the wall thereby creating space to accommodate a rim of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The sealing device of  claim 13  wherein the collar extends vertically further than the wall thereby creating space to accommodate a rim of the container. 
     
     
         18 . A sealing device for a cylindrical container comprising:
 a collar featuring threads on an external surface of the collar;   a bushing featuring tabs on an external surface of the bushing that are complementary to a plurality of spaces located on an inner surface of the collar;   an inwardly-projecting, flexible, ineleastic flange located on an inner surface of the bushing; and   a lid featuring threads complementary to the threads on the collar.   
     
     
         19 . The sealing device of  claim 18  further comprising an annular groove located between the flange and the inner surface of the bushing that incompletely separates the flange from the inner wall of the bushing. 
     
     
         20 . The sealing device of  claim 19  wherein the groove contains a cushioning material and/or a sealant.