Flexible lid engagement

Abstract

A container includes a container section and an annular neck section with at least a first rim and a second rim, a resilient compression fold connecting the first rim and the second rim, the resilient allowing the neck section to compress and decompress in response to a force being exerted on a top edge of the neck section. A shoulder between the container section and the neck section may include a container stop configured to cooperate with a lid stop located on a lid for the container to limit rotation of the lid relative to the neck section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a container section and an annular neck section abutting a top side of the container section;   the neck section further comprising at least a first rim and a second rim, the second rim abutting and positioned above the first rim, the first rim and second rim sharing a common axis;   a first resilient compression fold adjoining and positioned between the first rim and the second rim, the first resilient compression fold sharing the common axis of the first and second rim, the first resilient compression fold being at least partially folded over on itself approximate its midpoint thereby forming a first fold section and a second fold section;   wherein the distance from the top side of the container section to a top edge of the second rim having first height in an uncompressed state and a second height in a compressed state, the second height being less than the first height; and   wherein in the uncompressed state there is a space between the first fold section and the second fold section and in a compressed state the space between the first fold section and the second fold section is reduced in size or closed.   
     
     
         2 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the neck section further comprises a third rim, the third rim abutting and positioned above the second rim, the third rim sharing the common axis of the first and second rim; and
 a second resilient compression fold adjoining the second rim and sharing the common axis of the first and second rim, the second resilient compression fold being at least partially folded over on itself approximate its midpoint thereby forming a third fold section and a fourth fold section; and   wherein in the uncompressed state there is a space between the third fold section and the fourth fold section and in a compressed state the space between the third fold section and the fourth fold section is reduced in size or closed.   
     
     
         3 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid having a top surface and an inner annular skirt, the inner annular skirt having an internal thread and at least one lid stop on a bottom edge of the inner annular skirt, wherein the at least one lid stop is provided with a first generally vertical edge;   wherein the inner annular skirt is provided with an interior diameter larger than an exterior diameter of the neck section thereby allowing the inner annular skirt to fit around the exterior of the neck section when the lid is lowered over the neck section; and   wherein when the lid is lowered over the neck section, an underside of the top surface will come into contact with the top edge of the second rim and may place the neck section into the compressed state and wherein when the lid is raised, the underside of the top surface will be separated from the top edge of the second rim and all the neck section to release to its uncompressed state.   
     
     
         4 . The container as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the top surface of the lid is provided with an outer periphery having a shape corresponding to an exterior shape of the container section. 
     
     
         5 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-vertical shoulder section connecting the container section and the neck section; and   at least one container stop located on the shoulder section, the container stop having a second generally vertical edge.   
     
     
         6 . The container set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-vertical shoulder section connecting the container section and the neck section and wherein the neck section is provided with an external thread;   at least one container stop located on the shoulder section, the container stop having a second generally vertical edge;   
     
     
         7 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid having a top surface and an inner annular skirt, the inner annular skirt having an internal thread and at least one lid stop on a bottom edge of the inner annular skirt, wherein the at least one lid stop is provided with a first generally vertical edge;   a non-vertical shoulder section connecting the container section and the neck section and wherein the neck section is provided with an external thread;   at least one container stop located on the shoulder section, the container stop having a second generally vertical edge;   wherein said inner annular skirt is provided with an interior diameter larger than an exterior diameter of the neck section thereby allowing the inner annular skirt to be lowered over the neck section such that the interior thread of the inner annular skirt may engage the exterior thread of the neck section; and   wherein when the lid is lowered over the neck section and turned to allow the internal thread of the inner annular skirt to engage the external thread of the neck section, turning the lid relative to the neck section in a first direction forces the lid lower relative to the neck section and forces the neck section to the compressed state; and   wherein turning the lid relative to the neck section in a second direction opposite to the first direction allows the lid to move upward relative to the neck section and allows the neck section to return to the uncompressed state.   
     
     
         8 . The container as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the inner annular skirt having at least one lid stop on a bottom edge of the inner annular skirt, wherein the at least one lid stop is provided with a first generally vertical edge;   a non-vertical shoulder section connecting the container section and the neck section and wherein the neck section is provided with at least one container stop located on the shoulder section, the container stop having a second generally vertical edge;   wherein the first generally vertical edge is configured to engage the second generally vertical edge at a desired degree of threading of the lid onto the neck section to prevent further rotation of the lid relative to the neck section in the first direction.   
     
     
         9 . A container, comprising:
 a container section and an annular neck section abutting a top side of the container section;   a lid having a top surface and an inner annular skirt, the inner annular skirt having an internal thread and at least one lid stop on a bottom edge of the inner annular skirt, wherein the at least one lid stop is provided with a first generally vertical edge;   a non-vertical shoulder section connecting the container section and the neck section and wherein the neck section is provided with an external thread;   at least one container stop located on the shoulder section, the container stop having a second generally vertical edge;   wherein said inner annular skirt is provided with an interior diameter larger than an exterior diameter of the neck section thereby allowing the inner annular skirt to be lowered over the neck section such that the interior thread of the inner annular skirt may engage the exterior thread of the neck section; and   wherein when the lid is lowered over the neck section and turned to allow the internal thread of the inner annular skirt to engage the external thread of the neck section, turning the lid relative to the neck section in a first direction forces the lid lower relative to the neck section;   wherein turning the lid relative to the neck section in a second direction opposite to the first direction allows the lid to move upward relative to the neck section; and   wherein the first generally vertical edge is configured to engage the second generally vertical edge at a desired degree of threading of the lid onto the neck section to prevent further rotation of the lid relative to the neck section in the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . A container, comprising:
 a container section and an annular neck section abutting a top side of the container section;   the neck section further comprising at least first rim and a second rim, the second rim abutting and positioned above the first rim, the first rim and second rim sharing a common axis;   a first resilient compression fold adjoining and positioned between the first rim and the second rim, the first resilient compression fold sharing the common axis of the first and second rim, the first resilient compression fold being at least partially folded over on itself approximate its midpoint thereby forming a first fold section and a second fold section;   wherein the distance from the top side of the container section to a top edge of the second rim having first height in an uncompressed state and a second height in a compressed state, the second height being less than the first height;   wherein in the uncompressed state there is a space between the first fold section and the second fold section and in a compressed state the space between the first fold section and the second fold section is reduced in size or closed;   a lid having a top surface and an inner annular skirt, the inner annular skirt having an internal thread and at least one lid stop on a bottom edge of the inner annular skirt, wherein the at least one lid stop is provided with a first generally vertical edge;   a non-vertical shoulder section connecting the container section and the neck section and wherein the neck section is provided with an external thread;   at least one container stop located on the shoulder section, the container stop having a second generally vertical edge;   wherein said inner annular skirt is provided with an interior diameter larger than an exterior diameter of the neck section thereby allowing the inner annular skirt to be lowered over the neck section such that the interior thread of the inner annular skirt may engage the exterior thread of the neck section; and   wherein when the lid is lowered over the neck section and turned to allow the internal thread of the inner annular skirt to engage the external thread of the neck section, turning the lid relative to the neck section in a first direction forces the lid lower relative to the neck section and forces the neck section to the compressed state;   wherein turning the lid relative to the neck section in a second direction opposite to the first direction allows the lid to move upward relative to the neck section and allows the neck section to return to the uncompressed state; and   wherein the first generally vertical edge is configured to engage the second generally vertical edge at a desired degree of threading of the lid onto the neck section to prevent further rotation of the lid relative to the neck section in the first direction.