Vacuum packaging

Claim 2

A lid assembly moulded of plastics material for closing a container to be evacuated, the assembly comprising: i. a lid having a portion defining an opening; ii. a generally frusto-conical valve member for closing the opening; iii. means hingedly connecting said valve member to said lid; iv. gripping means connected to said valve member; v. inner and outer lips on said lid for engaging the edge of the opening of a container to be closed by the lid assembly; and vi. first and second lips on said lid portion defining the opening, said first lip extending outwardly of the lid generally perpendicular to the general plane of the lid and said second lip extending generally parallel to the general plane of the lid inwardly of the opening.

Claim 3

A lid assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said valve member comprises a first cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to that of the opening, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening defined by said first lip, a frusto-conical portion connected to a cylindrical portion connected to a frusto-conical portion closed by a domed end portion, the concavity of the end portion facing inwardly of said lid.

Claim 4

A lid assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the opening is covered inwardly of said lid by a perforated bowl for the protection of said valve member.

Claim 5

A lid assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lid comprises a skirt, spaced from said outer lip, which is adapted to enclose the edge portion of the container, said inner lip having an inclined face which bears on the edge of the container and a face extending perpendicular to the general plane of said lid.

Claim 6

A lid assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises a tab provided with an eye having a transversal bar which clips onto a nipple attached to the lid and provided with a groove for receiving said bar.

Claim 7

A lid assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein in use of the lid assembly two annular chambers at intermediate pressure are defined, one chamber between said inner and outer lips and the other chamber between said first and second lips.

Claim 8

A lid assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lid and valve member are moulded of plastics material and said connecting means is a tongue moulded integrally therewith.

Claim 9

A lid assembly for closing a container to be evacuated, the assembly comprising: i. a lid having a portion defining an opening and a skirt for surrounding the open end portion of a container to be closed by said assembly; ii. first and second lip means on said lid portion defining said opening and in said opening, said first lip means extending generally axially of the opening and said second lip means extending generally normal thereto; iii. a generally frusto-conical valve member for closing the opening and comprising a first cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to that of the opening, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to that of the opening defined by said first lip means and a frusto-conical portion engageable by said second lip means, said first and second lip means delimiting a chamber which in use will be at a pressure intermediate that within the container and externally thereof; iv. means for connecting said valve member to said lid; and v. inner and outer lip means on said lid for engaging the edge of the open end of a container to be closed thereby, said inner and outer lip means delimiting a chamber which in use will be at a pressure intermediate that within the container and externally thereof.

Claim 10

A lid assembly for closing a container to be evacuated, the assembly comprising: i. a lid having a portion defining an opening and a skirt for surrounding the open end portion of a container to be closed by said assembly; ii. first and second lip means on said lid portion defining said opening and in said opening, said first lip means extending generally axially of the opening and said second lip means extending generally normal thereto; iii. a generally frusto-conical valve member for closing the opening and comprising a first cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to that of the opening, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to that of the opening defined by said first lip means and a frusto-conical portion engageable by said second lip means, said first and second lip means delimiting a chamber which in use will be at a pressure intermediate that within the container and externally thereof; iv. means for connecting said valve member to said lid; and v. inner and outer lip means on said lid for engaging the edge of the open end of a container to be closed thereby, said inner and outer lip means delimiting a chamber which in use will be at a pressure intermediate that within the container and externally thereof.