Packaging sealing system and a packaging assembly including such a sealing system

Abstract

A packaging assembly includes a container body defining an interior for housing a product and an opening leading to the interior. The assembly further includes a cap that moves with respect to the container body to move the assembly between a closed position in which the cap covers the opening, and an opened position in which the opening is exposed. A first seal ( 40 ) is defined between the container body and the cap. The first seal includes a protrusion ( 42 ) formed on one of the container body about the opening or the cap, and a groove ( 44 ) formed on the other of the container body about the opening or the cap. The protrusion is received by the groove when the assembly is in the closed position, such that contact is maintained in a sealing relationship around the opening between the groove and the protrusion.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of forming a moisture-tight packaging environment, the method comprising:
 providing a container body having an opening, a rim extending outwardly from a sidewall of the container body, a lip extending upwardly from the rim, the lip having a top surface, an inner surface, and an outer side surface, a cap being connected to the container body by a hinge; and   pivoting the cap with respect to the container body from an opened position to a closed position, in the closed position the cap and container body forming a first seal and a second seal, the first seal comprising mating sealing surfaces arranged between the top surface of the lip of the container body and a horizontal surface on the cap when the assembly is in the closed position, the first seal comprising at least one bump between the top surface of the lip of the container body and the horizontal surface on the cap to create a sealing region.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the second seal comprises mating sealing surfaces arranged at the container body and an inner surface of a skirt of the cap when the assembly is in the closed position, wherein the container body and the inner surface of the skirt of the cap complementarily engage. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein one of the sealing surfaces of the second seal is arranged at an inner surface of a skirt and the other is arranged at the outer side surface of the lip. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein in the open position the opening of the container body is exposed, and wherein in the closed position the cap covers the opening. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the cap comprises a top wall and a skirt depending downwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein at least a portion of the first seal is formed of an elastomeric material and another portion of the first seal is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one bump is spaced at least slightly inwardly from an exterior edge of the lip. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein at least a portion of the top wall of the cap is flat. 
     
     
         47 . The method to  claim 39 , wherein the container body is formed of a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein at least a portion of the first seal is formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the top surface of the lip is perpendicular to a central axis of the assembly. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the cap includes a thumb tab extending outwardly from at least one of the top wall and the skirt. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the thumb tab is located below the first seal along the central axis when the cap is in the closed position. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the thumb tab is located below the second seal along the central axis when the cap is in the closed position. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one bump is compressed in a vertical direction when the cap is in the closed position. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one bump has a symmetrical shape. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one bump has a symmetrical shape on either side of a central peak. 
     
     
         56 . The method to  claim 39 , wherein the mating sealing surfaces of the first seal engage to generate force vectors thereof that are entirely vertical. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein one of the mating sealing surfaces of the first seal is elastomeric and is compressed in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         58 . A method of closing a packaging assembly, the packaging assembly including a cap connected to a container body by a hinge, a rim extending outwardly from a sidewall of the container body, a lip extending upwardly from the rim, the lip having a top surface, an inner side surface, and an outer side surface, the top surface of the lip being perpendicular to a central axis of the container body, the method comprising:
 pivoting the cap with respect to the container body from an open position to a closed position, in the open position an opening leading to an interior of the container body being exposed, in the closed position the cap covering the opening, when the cap is in the closed position the packaging assembly including a first pair of mating sealing surfaces and a second pair of mating sealing surfaces, one of mating sealing surfaces of the first pair being the top surface of the lip and the other of the mating sealing surfaces of the first pair being a horizontal surface on the cap, the first pair of mating sealing surfaces being configured to form a first seal when the cap is in the closed position, one of the mating sealing surfaces of the first pair comprising at least one bump that is symmetrical in cross section, at least a portion of the first seal being formed of an elastomeric material that is compressed, one of the mating sealing surfaces of the second pair being the container body and the other of the mating sealing surface of the second pair being the inner surface of a skirt of the cap, the second pair of mating sealing surfaces being configured to form a second seal when the cap is in the closed position, wherein the mating sealing surface of the second pair complementarily engage.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the cap comprises a top wall and the skirt depending downwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein at least a portion of the first seal is formed of an elastomeric material.