Container

Abstract

A container (210) for holding granular or powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A rotatably removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is pivotally hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket 300 to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates powder control features, a container wall junction (50) preferred geometry and congruent scoop (32) enabling convenient access to the contents, a tolerance variation accommodating and strength improving, J-shaped collar (300) and interlocking indentations (290) and flex clips (310), and a pressure controlling portion (350) that prevents unwanted deformation due to pressure differentials.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A container, comprising:
 a plurality of walls defining an interior space;   a sealing flange with an internal edge that defines an opening to the interior space;   a lid attached to the plurality of walls so that the lid may pivot between an open position to provide access to the interior space via the opening and a closed position to cover the opening, the lid having
 an interior surface; 
 a sealing wall projecting from the lid toward the sealing flange; and 
 a ridge projecting downward from the interior surface around a central portion of the lid and positioned inward from the sealing wall. 
   
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein the lid further comprises a substantially domed central section positioned inward of the ridge. 
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 34 , wherein the substantially domed central section defines an area from about twenty percent to about eighty percent smaller than the entire area defined by the lid. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 33 , further comprising a seal attached to the sealing flange and covering the opening to the interior space. 
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 33 , further comprising
 a scoop having a handle and a bowl; and   a scoop holder capable of retaining the scoop above a product that is within the interior space of the container.   
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37 , wherein the scoop holder projects from the interior surface of the lid inward of the ridge. 
     
     
         39 . The container of  claim 38 , wherein the ridge entirely encircles the scoop holder. 
     
     
         40 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein the lid is attached to the plurality of walls via a collar affixed to an upper portion the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 40 , wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the collar by a living hinge, wherein the living hinge is made of a flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         42 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein a bottom surface of the container assembly comprises a central raised stiffener portion. 
     
     
         43 . A container, comprising:
 a receptacle having
 a bottom wall; 
 a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; 
 an upper edge that defines an opening to an interior space; and 
   a lid attached to the receptacle so that the lid may move between an open position and a closed position, the lid having
 an interior surface defining a central section; and 
 a pair of walls extending downward from the lid and positioned outward from the central portion, the pair of walls forming a recessed portion therebetween, wherein the upper edge is at least partially received within the recessed portion when the lid is closed. 
   
     
     
         44 . The container of  claim 43 , wherein the central section is substantially domed. 
     
     
         45 . The container of  claim 44 , wherein the substantially domed central section defines an area from about twenty percent to about eighty percent smaller than the entire area defined by the lid. 
     
     
         46 . The container of  claim 43 , further comprising a seal attached to the edge and covering the opening to the interior space. 
     
     
         47 . The container of  claim 43 , further comprising
 a scoop having a handle and a bowl; and   a scoop holder capable of retaining the scoop above a product that is within the interior space of the container.   
     
     
         48 . The container of  claim 47 , wherein the bowl of the scoop has a rim with a cross-sectional geometry that is substantially congruent to the cross-sectional geometry of at least one of the following junctions: (i) the front wall and the first side wall, (ii) the front wall and the second side wall, (iii) the rear wall and the first side wall, (iv) the rear wall and the second side wall, and (v) the rear wall, one of the first and second side walls, and the bottom wall, wherein the at least one junction is rounded with a radius that is approximately equal to a radius of the rim of the bowl. 
     
     
         49 . The container of  claim 43 , wherein the lid is attached to the receptacle via a collar affixed to the receptacle. 
     
     
         50 . The container of  claim 49 , wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the collar by a living hinge, wherein the living hinge is made of a flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         51 . The container of  claim 43 , wherein a bottom surface of the container assembly comprises a central raised portion. 
     
     
         52 . The container of  claim 43 , wherein the container has a rectilinear or approximately cuboid shape.