(12) United States Patent
`Giraud
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`*May 26, 2009
`
`US007537137B2
`
`(54) RESEALABLE MOISTURE TIGHT
`CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FOR STRIPS AND
`THE LIKE HAVING A LIP SNAP SEAL
`
`Inventor: Jean-Pierre Giraud, Paris (FR)
`
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ............... .. 215/341,
`215/354, 235, 343, 344; 220/847, 601, 661,
`220/2591, 4.21, 4.23, 839, 837, 254.3, 254.7,
`220/2541, 256.1; 206/535, 204, 524.1, 524.4;
`221/63, 45
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`Assignee: CSP Technologies, Inc., Amsterdam,
`NY (US)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 92 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`Appl. No.: 11/171,171
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 30, 2005
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0258174 A1
`
`Nov. 24, 2005
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/683,311,
`?led on Oct. 10, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,213,720.
`
`Provisional application No. 60/417,533, ?led on Oct.
`10, 2002.
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`B65D 43/18
`(2006.01)
`B65D 8/18
`(2006.01)
`B65D 83/08
`(2006.01)
`B65D 83/04
`(2006.01)
`B65H 1/00
`US. Cl. ................... .. 220/839; 220/423; 220/421;
`220/2591; 220/254.3; 206/535; 221/45
`
`7/1976 Barish ....................... .. 221/45
`3,967,756 A *
`7/1977 Deffeyes
`206/204
`4,036,360 A *
`4,964,539 A * 10/1990 Mueller
`222/94
`5,145,646 A *
`9/1992 Tyranski ......... ..
`422/102
`5,699,912 A * 12/1997 Ishikawa et a1. ..
`206/494
`6,080,350 A *
`6/2000 Hekal .................... .. 264/255
`6,951,292 B2* 10/2005 Bando et a1.
`220/2545
`
`7,213,720 B2* 5/2007 Giraud . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . .. 220/839
`
`2004/0173612 A1* 9/2004 Giraud .................. .. 220/2591
`* cited by examiner
`Primary ExamineriRobin Hylton
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm4Greenberg Traurig, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly for
`storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items comprising
`an assembly with a container and a lid, the lid is attached by
`a hinge to an upper housing portion of the container, the lid
`includes a lip seal member that extends downwardly from the
`lid, the lip seal member is con?gured to abut at least a portion
`of the interior side of the container when the lid is in the closed
`position resulting in a substantially moisture tight seal
`between the lid and the lid, and the container assembly further
`comprising a base portion and an upper housing portion, the
`upper housing portion is capable of being snap-?t into the
`base portion by employing a lip seal mechanism to form a
`substantially moisture-tight seal.
`
`7 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`/M W / V
`
`A w / / / 7
`
`96,5
`
`RG4
`
`23
`23 22
`17
`\H
`
`54
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 5
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 5 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`FIG. 8
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 6 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 7 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`
`
`.(5 5... P
`
`
`
`.50 mum:
`
`8 45 E?
`
`/
`
`SD
`, . 22.4
`
`
`
`wEmaE. .GwO No+
`
`Kc. P
`
`Z .GE
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 8 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`2w? .GE
`
`1w? 6E H
`
`
`
`om? .OE om? .UE
`
`
`
`5 .wm vardm
`
`v Q.
`
`mvo‘NvoP/P
`
`§ .om
`
`. 8.3 _
`
`
`
`IN? .@I GNP .UE mm? .QE wmw
`
`6E
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 9 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`Q
`m
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 2009
`
`Sheet 10 0f 10
`
`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`3
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 11
`
`

`

`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`1
`RESEALABLE MOISTURE TIGHT
`CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FOR STRIPS AND
`THE LIKE HAVING A LIP SNAP SEAL
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of US. applica
`tion Ser. No. 10/683,311, ?led Oct. 10, 2003 now US. Pat.
`No. 7,213,720, Which claims a bene?t under 35 U.S.C. 119(e)
`of US. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/417,533, ?led
`Oct. 10, 2002.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a resealable container and
`lid assembly having a lip snap seal for storing and packaging
`moisture-sensitive items, including but not limited to edible
`breath-freshening strips, drug-delivery strips, diagnostic test
`strips, and effervescent tablets.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a resealable container and
`lid assembly having a lip snap seal for storing and packaging
`moisture-sensitive items, including but not limited to edible
`breath-freshening strips, drug delivery strips, diagnostic test
`strips, and effervescent tablets.
`The container assembly substantially prohibits the ingress
`of moisture into the container assembly through the lid When
`the container is sealed. In other Words, it is substantially
`moisture-proof. In another aspect of the invention, the con
`tainer assembly is provided With a desiccant or similar mate
`rial, Which reduces the moisture present Within the container
`When it is sealed. That is, after the container has been sealed,
`the desiccant absorbs moisture present therein. Likewise,
`after the container has been opened and then resealed, the
`desiccant absorbs moisture that entered the cavity When the
`container Was opened.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the assembly
`comprises a lid and container that may be attached by a hinge.
`The hinge has a recess. The recess forms tWo elements, the
`?rst element being attached to the lid portion and the second
`element being attached to the container portion. In still a
`further embodiment, the recess functions as a bending point
`during the opening and closing of the container assembly.
`The container has a sideWall extending doWnWardly from a
`top container surface. A bottom container surface is joined to
`the sideWall. The top container surface is provided With an
`opening, permitting acces to the interior of the container. The
`opening is bounded by a lip that extends upWard from the top
`container surface. A rim is positioned on the outside of the
`upper end of the lip.
`In one example, the lid portion of the assembly is attached
`to the container portion by a hinge. The lid portion has a base
`portion With an outer periphery that extends over the con
`tainer portion. In one embodiment, a portion of the base
`portion serves as a tab for facilitating the opening and closing
`of the container assembly. In yet another embodiment, the
`base portion is provided With a skirt that extends doWnWardly
`from a central portion of the base portion. The skirt is posi
`tioned at a location on the base portion that alloWs the skirt to
`enter into a closing relationship With lip of the container
`portion, in Which the skirt of the base portion ?ts over the
`periphery of the lip provided on the top container surface (or,
`as the case may be, the skirt ?ts Within the periphery of the
`lip). The skirt of the base portion has an end distal to Where the
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`skirt j oins the lid portion. At the distal end of the skirt, the skirt
`is provided With an inWard extension, Which extends around
`the interior periphery of the skirt. Similarly, the lip of the
`container portion is provided With an end distal to Where the
`lip joins the container portion, and the distal end of the lip is
`provided With an outWard facing extension, Which extends
`around the periphery of the lip. In effect, the extension on the
`skirt and the extension on the lip face each other. In construct
`ing this arrangement on the skirt and lip, the extensions Will
`abut and interlock With each other When the lid is closed on
`the container portion. In this arrangement, the interlocking,
`abutting extensions Will form at least a substantially mois
`ture-tight sealing arrangement With each other.
`In yet another embodiment, the lid and/ or container contain
`a desiccant, in the shape of a disc (e.g., puck), sleeve, or other
`desired shapes.
`In yet another embodiment, the skirt extending doWnWard
`from the base portion has a distal end that is provided With an
`inWard extension. The lip has an end distal to the location
`Where the lip joins the container top surface, Where the recess
`is positioned. The recess is adapted to receive the extension
`When the lid portion is closed upon the container portion.
`In a further embodiment, the container assembly of the
`present invention is formed of a plastic material, by injection
`molding or other suitable molding techniques. For example,
`the assembly may be molded of polypropylene. The assembly
`comprises a base and an upper housing that can be molded
`separately, the base can be loaded With the item to be retained
`in the container, and then the base and upper housing can be
`snap -?t together employing a lip seal in order to provide
`moisture-tightness.
`In one embodiment, the containers of the present invention
`have a relatively small height dimension, making them Well
`adapted to ?t in a handbag, purse, or pocket. Despite this
`small height dimension, the container is Well suited to storing
`items such as candies, edible breath-freshening strips, and
`diagnostic test strips, such as those employed in testing blood
`glucose levels.
`In yet another embodiment, the opening of the container is
`irregular in its shape, not having a uniform radius. In other
`Words, it is not circular.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a container of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a cross sectional vieW of a container of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 3 is a side elevational vieW of a lip seal for a container
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a side elevational vieW of another lip seal for a
`container of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a top plan vieW of a container of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 6 is an exploded vieW of a container of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 7 is a cross sectional vieW of a container of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 7A is a perspective vieW of a feature shoWn in the FIG.
`7 embodiment;
`FIG. 8 is a perspective vieW of a container of the present
`invention, as an item is removed from the container; and
`FIG. 9 is a perspective vieW of a container of the present
`invention in the closed position;
`FIG. 10 is a cross sectional vieW of another embodiment of
`a container of the present invention;
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 12
`
`

`

`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 11 is a perspective vieW showing features of the
`embodiment of FIG. 10; and
`FIGS. 12A to 12N illustrate vieWs of yet another embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 13A to 13E illustrate vieWs of yet another embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional vieW of an enlarged section of
`one end of the base and upper housing assembly illustrating
`the snap lip seal.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention relates to a container and lid assem
`bly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items,
`including but not limited to edible breath-freshening strips,
`drug-delivery strips, diagnostic test strips, and effervescent
`tablets, that substantially prohibits the ingress of moisture
`into the assembly through the lid When the container and lid
`are sealed.
`In one embodiment, the assembly 10 is generally provided
`With a lidpor‘tion 12 and container portion 14 that are attached
`by a hinge 16. The hinge 16 has a recess 16'. The recess 16'
`forms tWo elements, the ?rst element being attached to the lid
`portion and the second element being attached to the con
`tainer portion In still a further embodiment, the recess func
`tions as a bending point during the opening and closing of the
`container assembly.
`In yet another embodiment, shoWn in FIGS. 10 and 11, the
`structure of the lip 22' has a distal end 27' provided With an
`extension 28'. The skirt 26' has a recess 23' positioned near
`Where the skirt extends from the base portion 24'. The recess
`23'is adapted to receive the extension 28' When the lid portion
`is closed upon the container portion. When the lid portion is
`closed on the container portion, the abutting arrangement
`betWeen the lip and the skirt, and presence of the extension
`Within the recess, forms a substantially moisture tight seal.
`FIG. 11 shoWs the con?guration for such an arrangement.
`In yet another embodiment, the lid and/ or container contain
`a desiccant, in the shape of a disc (e. g. puck), sleeve, or other
`shapes. In one embodiment, a desiccant entrained plastic is
`located in a desiccant liner that covers at least a portion of the
`lid and/or container, such as the desiccant-entrained plastic
`sleeve 34 positioned at the bottom of the container. See FIG.
`2, Where the sleeve 34 is shoWn surrounding the item stored
`Within the container on three of the item’s sides. In one
`embodiment, such a sleeve or liner can surround the stored
`item(s) on more or less than three sides. See, e.g., FIG. 7,
`Where the desiccant insert is positioned on the container base.
`The desiccant-entrained plastic contains a desiccant such
`as silica gel or molecule sieve as the desiccant. Depending on
`the application, such as the application intended by the end
`user, molecule sieve or silica gel desiccant can be provided in
`the sleeve. For example, molecule sieve can be used for appli
`cations that require a loW RH (e.g. less than <10%RH) main
`tained over the shelf life. In another example, silica gel can
`maintain a RH of 10-30% over a tWo year shelf life.
`Suitable desiccant entrained plastic include, but are not
`limited to, these desiccant plastics disclosed in US. Pat. Nos.
`5,911,937, 6,214,255, 6,130,263, 6,080,350 and 6,174,952,
`6,124,006, and 6,221,446. These references are incorporated
`herein by reference. By varying the desiccant loading and
`channeling agent in the plastic formulation, the overall mois
`ture capacity and uptake rate of the desiccant entrained plastic
`can be controlled. In embodiments Where containers include
`desiccant material, they may be formed by tWo shot molding
`techniques.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`The containers of the present invention are formed of plas
`tic materials, by injection molding or other suitable molding
`techniques. For example, the containers may be molded of
`polypropylene. In one embodiment, the containers can be
`formed as a single closed unit, With the hinge joining the lid
`portion to the container portion.
`In yet another embodiment, the container assembly com
`prising the base and upper housing portion can be molded
`separately. As such, in one example, the base portion can be
`loaded With the item(s) to be retained in the container assem
`bly, and then the upper housing portion can be snap-?t With
`the base by employing a lip seal mechanism in order to
`provide moisture-tightness. Consequently, the container and
`lid assembly can be ?t together, and the parts joined Without
`the need for additional sealing methods, e.g., by Welding
`(such as by sonic Welding or by thermal Welding).
`FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of the container assem
`bly having a snap-?t by employing a lip seal mechanism. In
`FIG. 14, a lip seal member 300 of the upper housing portion
`extends doWnWardly and extends around the inside of the
`base portion. The lip seal member 300 is positioned interior to
`a skirt Which also extending doWnWardly from the upper
`housing portion. Further, the lip seal member 300 is posi
`tioned to lie interior of a lip that extends upWard from the base
`portion, and abut the interior side of the distal end of the lip,
`When the base portion is snap sealed With the upper housing
`portion. In one example, the lip seal (1) provides a sealing
`position, in addition to the one betWeen the skirt and the lip;
`and (2) applies pressure on the lip from the inside out, Which
`in turn applies pressure on the skirt, thereby applying tight
`ening the seal betWeen the skirt and the lip.
`In a further embodiment of the lip seal mechanism, lip seal
`mechanism is designed to be su?iciently de?ective so as to
`assist in the formation of a seal. As examples, the design of
`degree of de?ection of the ?exible lip can include, but is not
`limited to, the composition of the ?exible lip (e.g. type of
`plastic), the thickness of the ?exible lip, the curvature of the
`?exible lip, the length of the ?exible lip and/or any attach
`ments to the ?exible lip.
`In a further embodiment, the lid and container can be
`formed in a single piece (for example, joined at the hinge), yet
`open, as in a clamshell arrangement. The assembly can be
`?lled With contents, closed shut, and then joined, e.g., Welded
`to form a seal, as described above.
`An embodiment depicting a tWo-part assembly is illus
`trated in FIGS. 6 to 9 and 12. In this embodiment, assembly
`100 is provided With cover component 102 and tray compo
`nent 120. The cover component 102 has a lid portion 104 that
`is joined to upper component 108 by hinge 106. As shoWn, lid
`portion 104 has sideWalls 90 located at the periphery of the lid
`base 92. The hinge 106 is joined to one of the sideWalls 90.
`Within the space of the sideWalls, the underside of the lid base
`92 has a recess 93 in Which the lip 22", extending from the lid
`base 92, is located. As shoWn in FIG. 7, the lip 22", Which
`extends in a loop around a portion of the lid base 92, is
`positioned to be received in the opening 112 of upper com
`ponent 108, When the lid portion is closed on the opening 112.
`The lip 22" is provided With an end 23" distal to Where the lip
`22" is joined to the lid base 92. As best seen in FIG. 7A, the
`distal end 23" of lip 22" has a tapered edge 25", Which is
`adapted to lie substantially ?ush against the surface 132 of the
`edge 130, When the lip 22" of the lid portion 104 is closed on
`the opening 112 of the upper component 108. Thus, When the
`lid portion 104 is closed on the opening 112 of the upper
`component 108, the tapered edge 25"of the lip 22"lies sub
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 13
`
`

`

`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`5
`stantially ?ush against the ?exible edge 130 surrounding the
`opening 112 in the top surface 109 of the cover component
`102.
`Upper component 108 has top Wall 109 from Which side
`Walls 110 and sloped Wall 115 depend doWnWard. Opening
`112 is provided in the top Wall 109. In the embodiment relat
`ing to hooks, hooks con?gured to mate With and compliment
`the hooks 107 on the lid portion 104 are positioned at one end
`of the upper component 108. At the end opposite Where the
`hooks are positioned, hinge 106 is joined to the upper com
`ponent 108. The upper component may have a recess 111 for
`the hinge 106, positioned betWeen elevated portions 109' of
`top Wall 109.
`The tray component 120 is provided With sideWalls 124
`and sloped Wall 126 extending upWard from the base of the
`tray 122. Sloped Wall 126 is complimentary in its shape to the
`sloped Wall 115 of the upper component 108. The sideWalls
`de?ne a cavity 128 Where items can be stored.
`As best seen in FIG. 7, the edges 130 of the opening 112
`provided in the top Wall 109 are formed of a ?exible plastic
`material that slopes doWnWard, into the opening 112. The
`edges extend around the periphery of the opening 112.
`Again, seen in FIG. 7A, the distal end 23" of lip 22" has a
`tapered edge 25", Which is adapted to lie ?ush against the
`surface 132 of the edge 130, When the lip 22" of the lid portion
`104 is closed on the opening 112 ofthe upper component 108.
`Thus, When the lid portion 104 is closed on the opening 112 of
`the upper component 108, the tapered edge 25" of the lip 22"
`lies ?ush against the ?exible edge 130 surrounding the open
`ing 112 in the top surface 109 of the upper component 108,
`thereby sealing the opening from substantial moisture
`ingress.
`In the closed position (FIG. 7), hooks 107, 114, provided
`on the lid portion 104 and the upper component 108, respec
`tively, are engaged With each other, to maintain the lid portion
`104 closed on the upper component 108.
`The cover component 102 is adapted to ?t over the tray
`component 120, in order to form a container assembly. The
`cover component and the tray component can be loaded With
`items to be dispensed through the opening and then joined
`together, in the Ways previously described herein.
`As seen in FIG. 7, a stack of items is positioned in the
`container. Opening 112 is siZed to permit a person to insert at
`least a portion of his or her ?nger therein. As shoWn in FIG. 8,
`a person can slide a portion of the index ?nger inside the hole,
`sliding an item up the sloped Wall of the cavity 128 (FIG. 7),
`and through the opening.
`A desiccant material, such as a desiccant sleeve, can be
`positioned in the container. As shoWn in FIG. 7, the sleeve 34'
`may be positioned along the base 122 of the tray component,
`or anyWhere else along the interior of the assembly, Where the
`item(s) is stored.
`FIG. 9 shoWs the assembly in the closed position. It Will be
`readily appreciated that the assembly is relatively compact,
`and Will ?t Within a purse, handbag, or pocket, Without taking
`up an undesired amount of space.
`FIGS. 12A-12N shoW various vieWs of another embodi
`ment of a container assembly. Features of this embodiment
`are similar to the features of the embodiment depicted in
`FIGS. 6-9, With some differences as described here. The
`shape of the opening is asymmetrical. Also, the cover com
`ponent 102 has a tWo hinge arrangement. Hinge 106 is as
`described above. Hinge 206 joins the ?rst and second lid
`portions 104A and 104B. The lip ofthe lid portion is located
`on component 104B. Lid portion 104B is provided With tabs
`208 that depend doWnWard therefrom. Tabs 208 are siZed and
`positioned to be received in recess 210 located on the top Wall
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`109, and are received therein When the lid portion 104B is
`closed upon the top Wall 109. In one embodiment, lid portion
`104B may never be opened again, once it has been closed as
`described herein. The lid portion 104A is opened and shut at
`hinge 206.
`FIGS. 13A-12E shoW various vieWs of yet another embodi
`ment of a container assembly. Features of this embodiment
`are similar to the features of the embodiment depicted in
`FIGS. 1-5 and 6-9. As shoWn, the shape of the opening is
`asymmetrical. Also, the lid component has a one hinge
`arrangement. The hinge joins the lid to a portion of the con
`tainer. In use, the lid portion is opened and shut at the hinge
`With the lid. In one example of constructing the assembly, the
`container base is made of tWo materialiat least a portion of
`the interior of the base is composed of a desiccant entrained
`plastic and the remaining portion of the base is composed of
`a substantially Water impermeable plastic (e.g. polypropy
`lene, polyethylene). The lid is Welded (e.g. ultrasonic Weld
`ing) to the lid portion. After the container is ?lled With the
`desired material, the lid is joined to container (e. g. ultrasonic
`Welding). The result is a moisture tight container.
`At least some or all of the embodiments of the present
`invention can be molded according to techniques disclosed in
`Us. Pat. Nos. Re 37,676 (a reissue of Us. Pat. No. 5,723,
`085), U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,116, and Us. Pat. No. 4,783,056,
`all of Which are incorporated herein by reference.
`In another embodiment, the present invention relates to
`moisture-tight and resealable container and lid assembly. The
`term “resealable” means that the lid of the container can be
`opened/reopened and closed/reclosed a numerous amount of
`times (eg more than 10 times) and still retain its moisture
`tight properties. As used herein, the terms “moisture-tigh ”
`and “moisture-sensitive” mean the moisture ingress of the
`container (after three days) Was less than about 1500 micro
`grams of Water, in another embodiment, about 500 micro
`grams of Water, in a further embodiment, about 300 micro
`grams of Water, in yet another embodiment, about 150
`micrograms of Water determined by the folloWing test
`method: (a) place one gram plus or minus 0.25 grams of
`molecular sieve in the container and record the Weight; (b)
`fully close the container; (c) place the closed container in an
`environmental chamber at conditions of 80% relative humid
`ity and 72 F.; (c) after one day, Weigh the container containing
`the molecular sieve; (d) after four days, Weigh the container
`containing the molecular sieve; and (e) subtract the ?rst day
`sample from the fourth day sample to calculate the moisture
`ingress of the container in units of micrograms of Water.
`What is claimed is:
`1 . A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly
`for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items compris
`ing:
`an assembly With a container and a lid,
`a) the lid is attached by a hinge to an upper housing
`portion of the container, the lid has an outer periphery
`that extends over at least a portion of the container, the
`lid is provided With a skirt that extends doWnWardly
`therefrom,
`b) the container has a container base, and a sideWall
`extending upWardly from the container base,
`i) a top of the container is provided With an opening that
`permits access to an interior of the container, Wherein
`the opening is spaced aWay from an outer surface of
`the sideWall of the container,
`ii) the opening of the top of the container is bounded by
`a lip that extends upWard from the top of the container,
`the lip of the top of the container extends around the
`periphery of the opening of the top of the container,
`
`CLARIANTX 1002 Page 14
`
`

`

`US 7,537,137 B2
`
`7
`iii) the skirt of the lid is positioned at a location on the lid
`that alloWs the skirt of the lid to enter into a closing
`relationship With the lip of the top of the container,
`Wherein the skirt of the lid ?ts over a periphery of the
`lip of the top of the container,
`iv) the lid further includes a ?exible lip seal member that
`extends doWnWardly therefrom, the ?exible lip seal
`member of the lid is con?gured to abut at least a
`portion of the interior side of the lip of the top con
`tainer surface When the lid is in the closed position,
`Wherein the ?exible lip seal member is designed to be
`su?iciently de?ective so as to provide a sealing posi
`tion, in addition to the closing relationship betWeen
`the skirt of the lid and the lip of the top container When
`the lip of the top of the container applies pressure on
`the ?exible lip seal member from the outside in, Which
`in combination With the closing relationship betWeen
`the skirt of the lid and the lip of the top of the container
`results in a substantially moisture tight seal betWeen
`the lid and the container, and
`Wherein the skirt of the lid includes an inWardly facing
`extension, the lip of the top of the container includes
`an outWardly facing extension, the inWardly facing
`extension of the skirt of the lid and the outWardly
`facing extension of the lip abut and interlock With
`each other in a snap-?t con?guration When the lid is in
`the closed position.
`2. The substantially moisture tight container and lid assem
`bly of claim 1 Wherein a portion of the lid serves as a tab for
`facilitating the opening and closing of the container assembly.
`3. The substantially moisture tight container and lid assem
`bly of claim 1 Wherein at least a portion of the interior of the
`container base is composed of a desiccant entrained plastic.
`4. The substantially moisture tight container and lid assem
`bly of claim 1 Wherein container and lid assembly is reseal
`able.
`5. The substantially moisture tight container and lid assem
`bly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items of
`claim 1 Wherein the degree of de?ection of the ?exible lip is
`determined, at least in part, by the thickness of the ?exible lip
`and the curvature of the ?exible lip.
`6. A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly
`for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items compris
`ing;
`an assembly With a container and a lid,
`a) the lid is attached by a hinge to an upper housing
`portion of the container, the lid has an outer periphery
`that extends over at least a portion of the container, the
`lid is provided With a skiff that extends doWnWardly
`therefrom,
`b) the container has a container base, and a sideWall
`extending upWardly from the container base,
`i) a top of the container is provided With an opening
`that permits access to an interior of the container,
`Wherein the opening is spaced aWay from an outer
`surface of the sideWall of the container,
`ii) the opening of the top of the container is bounded
`by a lip that extends upWard from the top of the
`container, the lip of the top of the container extends
`around the periphery of the opening of the top of the
`container,
`iii) the skirt of the lid is positioned at a location on the
`lid that alloWs the skiff of the lid to enter into a
`closing relationship With the lip of the top of the
`container, Wherein the skirt of the lid ?ts over a
`periphery of the lip of the top of the container,
`iv) the lid further includes a lip seal member that
`extends doWnWardly therefrom, the lip seal mem
`ber of the lid is con?gured to abut at least a portion
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`of the interior side of the lip of the top of the
`container When the lid is in the closed position,
`Wherein the lip seal member provides a sealing posi
`tion, in addition to the one betWeen the skirt of the
`lid and the lip of the top of the container, and
`applies pressure on the lip of the top of the con
`tainer from the inside out, Which in turn applies
`pressure on the skirt of the lid, thereby tightening
`the seal betWeen the skirt of the lid and the lip of the
`top of the container, resulting in a substantially
`moisture tight seal betWeen the lid and the con
`tainer, and
`Wherein the skirt of the lid includes an inWardly facing
`extension, the lip of the top of the container
`includes an outWardly facing extension, the
`inWardly facing extension of the skirt of the lid and
`the outWardly facing extensions of the lip abut and
`interlock With each other in a snap-?t con?guration
`When the lid is in the closed position.
`7. A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly
`for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items compris
`ing;
`an assembly With a container and a lid,
`a) the lid is attached by a hinge to an upper housing
`portion of the container, the lid has an outer periphery
`that extends over at least a portion of the container, the
`lid is provided With a skirt that extends doWnWardly
`therefrom,
`b) the container has a container base, and a sideWall
`extending upWardly from the container base,
`i) a top of the container is provided With an opening that
`permits access to an interior of the container Wherein
`the opening is spaced aWay from an outer surface of
`the sideWall of the container,
`ii) the opening of the top of the container is bounded by
`a lip that extends upWard from the top of the container,
`the lip of the top of the container extends around the
`periphery of the opening of the top of the container,
`iii) the skirt of the lid is positioned at a location on the lid
`that alloWs the skirt of the lid to enter into a closing
`relationship With the lip of the top of the container,
`Wherein the skirt of the lid ?ts over a periphery of the
`lip of the top of the container,
`iv) the lid further includes a ?exible lip seal member that
`extends doWnWardly therefrom, the ?exible lip seal
`member of the lid is con?gured to abut at least a
`portion of the interior side of the lip of the top of the
`container When the lid is in the closed position,
`Wherein the ?exible lip seal member is designed to be
`suf?ciently de?ective so as to provide a sealing posi
`tion, in addition to the closing relationship betWeen
`the skirt of the lid and the lip of the top of the container
`When the lip of the top of the container applies pres
`sure on the ?exible lip seal member from the outside
`in, Which in combination With the closing relationship
`betWeen the skirt of the lid and the lip of the top of the
`container, Wherein the closing relationship b