Container and method for lid securement

Abstract

A container and method for lid securement includes a base having a sidewall, a peripheral frame, and an inner securement. The peripheral frame projects vertically upward from the sidewall and surrounds the base chamber such that the base chamber is horizontally inward from the peripheral frame. The inner securement has a base securement portion positioned on the base, is horizontally inward of the peripheral frame, and is configured to releasably connect to a lid.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 (a) a base, including:
 (i) a sidewall at least partially defining a base chamber, and 
 (ii) a peripheral frame projecting vertically upward from the sidewall and surrounding the base chamber such that the base chamber is horizontally inward from the peripheral frame; and 
   (b) an inner securement including a base securement portion positioned on the base, wherein the base securement portion is horizontally inward of the peripheral frame and configured to releasably connect to a lid.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral frame includes an upper sealing surface configured to engage with a lower sealing surface of the lid, wherein the base securement portion is positioned horizontally inward of the upper sealing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral frame defines an opening into the base chamber, wherein the base securement portion includes a first post extending vertically upward toward the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the base securement portion further includes a second post extending vertically upward toward the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the base securement portion further includes a support frame, and wherein each of the first and second posts extends vertically upward from the support frame. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first post includes a first detent projection configured to releasably connect with a first detent recess. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base securement portion includes a plurality of detent features positioned horizontally inward of the peripheral frame and configured to releasably connect to the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid, and wherein the inner securement further includes a lid securement portion configured to releasably connect to the base securement portion on the base. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the peripheral frame includes an upper sealing surface, wherein the lid further includes a lower sealing surface configured to engage with the upper sealing surface with the lid releasably connected to the base, and wherein the lid securement portion is positioned horizontally inward of the lower sealing surface of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the lid securement portion includes a plurality of detent features. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the inner securement has a post and a cap, wherein the cap is configured to releasably receive the post therein. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the base securement portion has the post on the base, and wherein the lid securement portion has the cap on the lid. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the lid includes a plurality of arches formed therein and configured to provide structural rigidity to the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall further includes an adjustable wall configured to selectively deflect between an extended state and a retracted state for adjusting a volume of the base chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the base securement portion of the inner securement are of single, unitary construction. 
     
     
         16 . A container, comprising:
 (a) a base, including:
 (i) a sidewall at least partially defining a base chamber, 
 (ii) a base peripheral frame projecting vertically upward from the sidewall and surrounding the base chamber such that the base chamber is horizontally inward from the base peripheral frame, and 
 (iii) an upper sealing surface on the base peripheral frame surrounding the base chamber, 
   (b) a lid, including:
 (i) a cover at least partially defining a lid chamber, 
 (ii) a lid peripheral frame projecting from the cover and surrounding the lid chamber such that the lid chamber is horizontally inward from the lid peripheral frame, and 
 (iii) a lower sealing surface on the lid peripheral frame surrounding lid chamber; and 
   (b) an inner securement, including:
 (i) a base securement portion positioned on the base, wherein the base securement portion is horizontally inward of the upper sealing surface, and 
 (ii) a lid securement portion positioned on the lid, wherein the lid securement portion is horizontally inward of the lower sealing surface, 
 wherein base securement portion is configured to releasably connect to the lid securement portion to releasably secure the base to the lid such that the upper sealing surface of the base receives the lower sealing surface of the lid thereagainst. 
   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the base securement portion includes a plurality of posts, wherein the lid includes a plurality of caps, and wherein each of the posts is configured to releasably connect within the caps for securing the base to the lid. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , each of the plurality of posts has a detent projection, wherein each of the plurality of caps has a detent recess, and wherein the detent projection is configured to resiliently snap into releasable engagement with the detent recess for securing the base to the lid. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall further includes an adjustable wall configured to selectively deflect between an extended state and a retracted state for adjusting a volume of the base chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A method of sealing a container, the container including (a) a base, including: (i) a sidewall at least partially defining a base chamber, and (ii) a base peripheral frame projecting vertically upward from the sidewall and surrounding the base chamber such that the base chamber is horizontally inward from the base peripheral frame; (b) a lid, including: (i) a cover at least partially defining a lid chamber, (ii) a lid peripheral frame projecting from the cover and surrounding the lid chamber such that the lid chamber is horizontally inward from the lid peripheral frame; and (c) an inner securement, including: (i) a base securement portion positioned on the base horizontally inward of the base peripheral frame, (ii) a lid securement portion positioned on the lid horizontally inward of the lid peripheral frame, wherein base securement portion is configured to releasably connect to the lid securement portion to releasably secure the base to the lid, the method comprising:
 (a) compressing against a portion of the lid horizontally inward of the lid peripheral frame thereby releasably connecting the base securement portion to the lid securement portion and sealing the container.