VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Turning first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a container 20 being received into a flexible walled, insulated portable cooler 22. The container 20 consists of a lid 24 and a base 26. In the preferred embodiment, the lid 24 and the base 26 are rectangular in shape and correspond to the rectangular shape of the portable cooler 22. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the container 20 may be any shape including but not limited to square, circle, ovid, triangular, hexagonal, etc., provided that the sealing aspects described herein for the container 20 are properly utilized. Also, the container 20 is preferably substantially the same size as the portable cooler 22 such that the entire container 20 may be releasably retained within the portable cooler 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The reasons for this are threefold: (1) the maximum volume of the portable cooler 22 using the container 20 remains available by the user for use with cooled or heated food or beverages; (2) the flexible walled portable cooler 22 receives structured support from the container 20 protecting the contents of the portable cooler 22; and (3) with the exterior of the container 20 abutting the inside of the portable cooler 22, the maximum effectiveness of the insulating properties of the portable cooler 22 are realized.

[0024] In the preferred embodiment, the container 20 is made of a durable, injection molded, plastic material. Alternatively, the container 20 may be made of any other type of material provided the sealing aspects further discussed below are utilized.

[0025] Turning to FIG. 3, the container 20 and, in particular, the lid 24 and the base 26 are more clearly illustrated. The lid 24, in a non-limiting example, is rectangular in shape and has an interior surface 28 and an exterior surface 30 (FIG. 2). Located on the interior surface 28 is an outer wall 32, an inner wall 34, and a channel 36 which separates the outer wall 32 from the inner wall 34. The outer wall 32, the inner wall 34, and the channel 36 remain parallel and adjacent to each other around the entire circumference of the lid 24 on the interior surface 28. The lid 24 is attached to the base 26 by a living hinge 38.

[0026] The base 26, in a non-limiting example, is rectangular in shape and has vertical walls 40a-40d (more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2) and a bottom 42. The vertical walls 40 extend around the entire circumference of the bottom 42 and form an open top 44 within the base 26. The open top 44 permits the container 20 to receive and retain the hot or cold food and beverages. Located at the top of the vertical walls 40 is an extending wall 46. The extending wall 46 is aligned parallel to the vertical walls 40 and is provided around the entire circumference of the vertical wall 40 of the base 26. Situated adjacent to the extending wall 46 is a ledge 48. The ledge 48 extends outwardly from the vertical walls 40 and remains perpendicular to the extending wall 46 around the circumference of the vertical wall 40. In the preferred embodiment and as discussed in further detail below, the ledge 48 is located a distance 50 (FIG. 7) from the top of the extending wall 46 and connects with and is in the same plane as the living hinge 38 (FIG. 9).

[0027] Turning to FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment includes a gasket 52 preferably made of a rubber material. The gasket 52 may be made of any suitable gasket sealing material. The gasket 52 is located on the interior surface 28 of the lid 24 and is positioned in the channel 36 (FIGS. 3, 5) between the outer wall 32 and the inner wall 34. The inner wall 34 is not a constant height around the entire perimeter of the lid 24. Along the back vertical wall 40a, the inner wall 34 is less than or equal to the thickness 54 (FIG. 9) of the gasket 52. The inner wall 34 remains at this nominal height along the vertical wall 40a and around the corners connecting the back vertical wall 40a to the left and right vertical walls 40b and 40c, respectively. This point is designated as position “A” in FIG. 4. The inner wall 34 then ramps upward to a height 56 (FIG. 6) that is maintained around the side vertical walls 40b and 40c and front vertical wall 40d.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the inner wall 34 and the outer wall 32 remain parallel to each other around the entire circumference of the lid 24 and remain substantially the same distance apart. This forms a uniform, constant channel 36 to receive the gasket 52. Along the outer wall 32 adjacent to the living hinge 38, the gasket 52 covers the entire channel 36 and extends over the inner wall 34 (more clearly illustrated in FIG. 9). From position A and for the remainder of the circumference of the lid 24, the gasket 52 fills the entire channel 36 between the outer wall 32 and the inner wall 34 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Turning to FIG. 5, the gasket 52 at position A is more clearly shown. Along the outer wall 32 adjacent to the living hinge 38, the gasket 52 has a width 58. Once the gasket 52 reaches position A, the gasket 52 splints into two sections 60 and 62. Section 60 of the gasket 52 continues around the perimeter of the lid 28 and fills the entire channel 36 between the outer wall 32 and the inner wall 34. Section 62 of the gasket 52 continues past position A, on the opposite side of the inner wall 34 to section 60, and stops slightly past position A. In this manner, Section 60 and 62 coact to form a secure seal at position A in relation to the inner wall 34. FIGS. 6 and 8 further illustrate the gasket 52 and, in particular, Sections 60 and 62 of the gasket 52 in relation to the outer wall 32 after and prior to position A, respectively.

[0029] When the lid 24 is closed over the base 26, the gasket 52 forms a water tight seal between the lid 24 and the base 26 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9. Turning to FIG. 7, the lid 24 is releasably retained to the base 26. Specifically, the extending wall 46 of the base 26 is frictionally received into the channel 36 between the outer wall 32 and inner wall 34 to contact with and compress against the gasket 52. The outer wall 32 continues along the exterior of the extending wall 46 until it engages and becomes flush with the ledge 48. The frictional engagement between the outer wall 32, the inner wall 34, the gasket 52, the extending wall 46, and the edge 48 creates a secure seal between the lid 24 and the base 26. If any liquid within the container 20 penetrates the frictional engagement between the inner wall 34 and the extending wall 46, the gasket 52 provides a barrier that minimizes the possibility of the liquid from penetrating any further or escaping from the container 20.

[0030] Turning to FIG. 9, the lid 24 is rotated about the living hinge 38 and releasably retained to the base 26. Specifically, the extending wall 46 of the base 26 is compressed against the gasket 52 within the channel 36. As the gasket 52 completely covers the inner wall 34, the compression of the gasket 52 by the extending wall 46 creates a tight seal between the outer wall 32 and the inner wall 34. Additionally, the width 58 of the gasket 52 covering the inner wall 34 provides a water tight seal between the interior surface 28 of the lid 24 and the food or liquid in the container 20. Also, the outer wall 32 continues around the exterior of the extending wall 46 until it engages and becomes flush with the living hinge 38. The extending wall 46, the outer wall 32, and the living hinge 38 coact with the gasket 52 to provide a frictional engagement that further enhances the seal to minimize any leakage from the container 20.

[0031] Thus, there has been provided a container that uses a unique interaction of walls and gasket between the lid and base that prevents leakage from liquid accumulating within the container due to cooled or heated food placed within the container. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it in intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.