Container having base and lid with improved friction seal

Abstract

A container includes a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim and a skirt extending downwardly from the lid rim. The base includes a base rim and a base flange extending outwardly from the base rim. The skirt overlaps the base flange when the container is in a closed configuration, and the skirt includes a sealing ring that engages the base flange to seal the lid to the base in the closed configuration. A plurality of cut-outs are formed in the sealing ring that alleviate concentration of friction between the sealing ring and the base flange when a force is applied to separate the lid from the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a lid comprising a lid rim, and a skirt extending downwardly from the lid rim; and   a base comprising a base rim and a base flange extending outwardly from the base rim;   wherein the skirt overlaps the base flange when the container is in a closed configuration, the skirt comprising a sealing ring that engages the base flange to seal the lid to the base in the closed configuration, wherein a plurality of cut-outs are formed in the sealing ring that alleviate concentration of friction between the sealing ring and the base flange when a force is applied to separate the lid from the base.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a tab extending outwardly from the skirt, and the plurality of cut-outs includes a first cut-out spaced a distance from one end of the tab and a second cut-out spaced a distance from another end of the tab. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second cut-outs are formed in a mirrored relationship, and spaced equal distances from the respective end of the tab. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein an opening is formed in the skirt along a region spanned circumferentially by the tab. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of cut-outs includes a third cut-out formed in the sealing ring along a region spanned by the tab. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cut-outs is arcuate in shape and independently has an arc measure of greater than about 1° and less than about 30°. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of arcuate cut-outs independently has an arc measure of greater than about 1° and less than about 15°. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the skirt includes a series of outwardly-punched notches formed in the sealing ring. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring is formed by a series of inwardly-punched notches formed in the skirt. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is formed of one of a molded fiber material and a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base is formed of a molded fiber material. 
     
     
         12 . A lid for a container, the lid comprising a lid rim sized and shaped to complement a base rim of a base the container, a skirt extending downwardly from the lid rim, a lid flange and a tab each extending outwardly from the skirt, wherein a first portion of the skirt extends downwardly between the lid rim and a contact region of the skirt, the contact region forming a location along the skirt that engages a base flange of the base, and a second portion of the skirt extends downwardly from the contact region to the lid flange and the tab, the second portion defining an inwardly-extending sealing ring, wherein a plurality of elongate cut-outs are formed in the inwardly-extending sealing ring. 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of elongate cut-outs includes a first elongate cut-out spaced a distance from one end of the tab and a second elongate cut-out spaced a distance from another end of the tab. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second elongate cut-outs are formed in a mirrored relationship, and spaced equal distances from the respective end of the tab. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of elongate cut-outs includes a third elongate cut-out formed in the sealing ring along a region spanned by the tab. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein an opening is formed in the skirt along a region spanned circumferentially by the tab. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of elongate cut-outs is arcuate in shape and independently has an arc measure of greater than about 1° and less than about 30°. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of arcuate cut-outs independently has an arc measure of greater than about 1° and less than about 15°. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the skirt includes a series of outwardly-punched notches formed in the sealing ring. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 12 , wherein the sealing ring is formed by a series of inwardly-punched notches formed in the skirt.