Storage container with lid and seal element for use with the lid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage container comprising a container body, a lid placed on the container body, and at least one latch shiftable between a latched position locking the lid in the closed configuration, and an unlatched position permitting to release the lid to the open configuration. The latch is configured to include an actuator portion by which the latch is pivotal between the latched and unlatched positions, and a latch portion having a fulcrum operably carried on the top rim of the container body during the pivotal movement of the latch, and the latch portion pivots upward and downward about the fulcrum to lift and lower the lid so that the lid is movable between the closed and open configurations. The mechanism for opening and closing the storage container by implementing the latch is simple and effortless to operate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage container comprises:
 a container body having a bottom, a side wall extending upward from the bottom, an internal volume surrounded by the side wall, and an open top having a top rim, a lid placed on the open top of the container body and comprising a plate-shaped portion, wherein the lid is movable relative to the open top of the container body between a closed configuration in which the lid covers the open top to close the container body, and an open configuration in which at least a part of the lid moves away from the open top to provide access into the interior volume through the open top,   at least one latch shiftable between a latched position locking the lid in the closed configuration, and an unlatched position permitting to release the lid to the open configuration,   characterized in that,   the latch comprises an actuator portion by which the latch is pivotal between the latched and unlatched positions, and a latch portion having a fulcrum operably carried on the top rim of the container body during the pivotal movement of the latch, and the latch portion pivots upward and downward about the fulcrum to lift and lower the lid so that the lid is movable between the closed and open configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the latch is pivotally mounted on a pivotal side of the lid, and the latch portion is configured to comprise an upper latch tongue, a lower latch tongue, and a side latch tongue connecting the upper and lower latch tongues to define a channel that is sized and configured to releasably receive and retain a flange extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the sidewall of the container body. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the actuator portion is configured as a manipulation tab which protrudes downward from the lower latch tongue at an end thereof away from the side latch tongue. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the lid comprises a cutout portion configured to receive the upper latch tongue when the latch is in the latched position. 
     
     
         5 . The storage container according to  claim 4 , characterized in that one or more engagement blocks are provided on the lower latch tongue to detachably engage to a catch protruding generally downward from an underside of the flange to secure the latch in the latched position. 
     
     
         6 . The storage container according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the upper latch tongue has a leading portion serving as the fulcrum about which the latch portion pivots upward and downward. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein the upper latch tongue is actuated by the actuator portion to pivot about the leading portion to be substantially parallel with and rests on the top rim of the container body when the latch is in the latched position, and to tilt with the leading portion resting on the top rim of the container body when the latch is in the unlatched position. 
     
     
         8 . The storage container according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the leading portion has a step configured to oppose and is brought into abutment on a chamfer brim of the plate-shaped portion of the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The storage container according to  claim 8 , characterized in that a pivotal pin forms outwardly at each of two opposite ends of the channel of the latch; and two lugs in a spaced-apart fashion are formed on the pivotal side of the lid, each of the lug having a lug slot in which the pivotal pin is pivotally received to allow for the pivotal movement of the latch relative to the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The storage container according to  claim 9 , characterized in that a bulge is arranged on the pivotal pin to limit lateral displacement of the latch between the two pivotal pins. 
     
     
         11 . The storage container according to  claim 10 , characterized by comprising a pair of latches pivotally attached to two opposite sides of the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The storage container according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the storage container further comprises a seal element arranged in an annular groove of the lid, and wherein pivoting the latch downward to the latched position causes to bias the seal element against an inner wall of the container body, thereby creating a seal between the container body and the lid, and the seal element is released when the latch is pivoted upward to the unlatched position. 
     
     
         13 . The storage container according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the seal element is provided as a O-ring seal having at least one vent in communication with the internal volume of the container body and positioned to create a venting path together the latch and the top rim of the container body before the lid moves to the closed configuration, and the vent is closed or left closed when the lid is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The storage container according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the vent is configured to comprise an umbrella-shaped base extending through a thickness of the O-ring seal and a stem extending from the base, wherein the vent is caused to bias toward the lid until a top portion of the stem is pressed against and completely enclosed by the lid when the lid is in the closed configuration, so that the internal volume of the container body is hermetically closed. 
     
     
         15 . A seal element, characterized by having at least one vent in communication with an internal volume of a container for venting, and that the vent is configured to comprise an umbrella-shaped base extending through a thickness of the seal element, and a stem extending from the base.