BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to containers for fermented foods and, more
particularly, to a container for fermented foods which temporarily holds gas, generated
from fermented foods in the container, and allows the gas to be discharged to the
outside at an appropriate time, thus slowing down the oxidization of the fermented
foods, thereby maintaining the freshness and taste of the fermented foods, and preventing
a refrigerator in which the fermented food container is stored from absorbing the
bad food smell.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Generally, containers to contain therein foods are made of materials such as synthetic
resin, heat resistant glass, heat resistant ceramic material, etc. Particularly, container
products made of synthetic resin are easily adapted for mass production to reduce
production costs thereof, and can be easily handled. Thus, containers made of synthetic
resin have been widely used.
[0003] Such a container has a container body which is manufactured in various sizes. The
container further has a lid which is manufactured in various sizes according to the
size of the container body. Typically, locking units are provided on both the container
bodies and lids to stably preserve and store therein foods and to prevent the foods
from undesirably leaking out.
[0004] A locking unit, which has been widely used, will be described herein below. A plurality
of locking protrusions is provided along a circumferential outer surface of an open
top of a container body at predetermined intervals. A plurality of locking flaps is
provided along a circumferential outer surface of a lid to correspond to the locking
units of the container body. Each locking flap is rotatable around a film hinge upwards
and downwards. The film hinge is a thin film type hinge and couples the locking flap
to the lid. The film hinge helps the locking flap rotate upwards and downwards on
the circumferential outer surface of the lid. Each locking flap has a locking hole
into which each locking protrusion is inserted. To couple the lid to the container
body, the lid is placed on the open top of the container body. In the above state,
the locking flaps of the lid are rotated and pressed toward the container body, so
that each locking flap is elastically hooked to each locking protrusion of the container
body while each locking projection is inserted into the locking hole of the locking
flap. Then, the lid is reliably coupled to the container body.
[0005] Of such containers, a container for fermented foods, such as kimchi, soybean paste
and thick soy paste mixed with red peppers, requires sealing ability superior to other
containers. The reason is to prevent a refrigerator in which the fermented food container
is stored from absorbing the bad food smell due to the leakage of fermentation gas
generated during the fermentation of foods in the container.
[0006] As such, when the fermentation gas is generated by the fermented foods, the fermentation
gas exists along with the fermented foods in the container. For example, in the case
in which kimchi is contained in a container, if fermentation gas is not discharged
from the container to the outside, the fermentation gas promotes oxidation of the
kimchi. As a result, the freshness and taste of the kimchi are deteriorated. To prevent
this, a user must periodically discharge the fermentation gas to the outside.
[0007] Furthermore, as the fermentation of foods stored in the container progresses, the
container gradually swells, thus deforming the container. Just to prevent this, the
fermentation gas must be periodically discharged to the outside.
[0008] However, if the user is not experienced, it is very difficult to determine when the
fermentation gas must be discharged. In addition, if the fermented food is contained
in the container over a long period without discharging fermentation gas to the outside,
when the user opens the lid, part of the fermented food may be expelled with an explosion
from the container.
[0009] In an effort to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a container capable of isolating
fermentation gas from fermented foods and letting the user know an appropriate time
to discharge the fermentation gas to the outside is required, thus maintaining the
freshness and taste of the fermented foods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems
occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a
container for fermented foods which isolates fermentation gas from fermented foods,
thus maintaining freshness and taste of the fermented foods.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for fermented foods
which lets a user know an appropriate time to discharge fermentation gas, generated
from fermented foods contained in the container, to the outside.
[0012] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a container
for fermented foods, including: a container body, with a plurality of locking protrusions
provided along a circumferential outer surface of an open top of the container body
at predetermined intervals; an inner lid to close the open top of the container body,
with an inner valve unit provided at a predetermined position on the inner lid to
discharge gas, generated in the container body, outside the container body; an outer
lid coupled to the container body and spaced apart from the inner lid by a predetermined
distance, thus defining a gas storage space between the inner lid and the outer lid,
with an outer valve unit provided at a predetermined position on the outer lid to
discharge the gas from the gas storage space outside the outer lid; and a plurality
of locking flaps provided on at least one of the inner lid and the outer lid and locked
to the plurality of locking protrusions of the container body.
[0013] The inner valve unit may include a mounting lug part coupled through the inner lid;
and a cover part radially extending outwards from an outer surface of an upper end
of the mounting lug part, thus closing a gas exhaust hole formed through the inner
lid at a predetermined position around the mounting lug part.
[0014] The outer valve unit may include a valve cover provided on the outer lid and rotated
upwards and downwards around a hinge to move away from or toward the outer lid, thus
opening or closing a gas discharge hole formed through on the outer lid; a soft packing
provided in the gas discharge hole of the outer lid; and a valve plug provided on
a lower surface of the valve cover, so that, when the valve cover moves toward the
outer lid, the valve plug is inserted into the gas discharge hole, thus closing the
gas discharge hole.
[0015] The outer valve unit may include a soft film to close a gauge hole formed through
the outer lid at a predetermined position. The soft film is curved towards the gas
storage space in an initial stage. The outer valve unit may further include a gas
volume gauge rod protruding upwards from the soft film to indicate an amount of gas
stored in the gas storage space.
[0016] The inner lid may include an inner lid plate forming an upper plate of the inner
lid, with a sealing channel defined around the inner lid plate and opened downwards,
so that an edge of the open top of the container body is received in the sealing channel
of the inner lid plate; a sidewall part extending upwards from an edge of the inner
lid plate, thus defining the gas storage space among the sidewall part, the inner
lid plate and the outer lid; a plurality of first locking flaps provided around a
circumferential outer surface of the sidewall part of the inner lid at predetermined
intervals and locked to the locking protrusions of the container body; and a plurality
of second locking protrusions provided around an upper part of the circumferential
outer surface of the sidewall part of the inner lid at predetermined intervals. The
outer lid may include a sealing channel provided around an edge of the outer lid to
receive therein an upper edge of the sidewall part of the inner lid; and a plurality
of second locking flaps provided around the circumferential outer surface of the outer
lid and locked to the second locking protrusions.
[0017] Alternatively, the inner lid may include an inner lid plate forming an upper plate
of the inner lid to close the open top of the container body, with the inner valve
unit provided on the inner lid plate; and a sidewall part extending upwards from an
edge of the inner lid plate. The outer lid may include a sealing channel provided
under a lower surface of the outer lid to receive therein an upper edge of the sidewall
part of the inner lid.
[0018] As a further alternative, the container body may include an extension part extending
outwards from the circumferential outer surface of the open top of the container body
and being bent upwards to extend to a predetermined height, thus defining a first
sealing channel between the extension part and the circumferential outer surface of
the open top of the container body, with a plurality of second locking protrusions
provided along a circumferential outer surface of the extension part at predetermined
intervals. The inner lid may include a rim part provided around an edge of a lower
surface of the inner lid, so that, when the inner lid is placed on the open top of
the container body, the rim part is received in the first sealing channel of the extension
part. The outer lid may include a second sealing channel provided on a lower surface
of the outer lid to receive therein an upper edge of the extension part; and a plurality
of second locking flaps provided around a circumferential outer surface of the outer
lid at predetermined intervals and locked to the second locking protrusions of the
extension part of the container body;
[0019] In another aspect, the present invention provides a container for fermented foods,
including: a container body, with a plurality of locking protrusions provided along
a circumferential outer surface of an open top of the container body at predetermined
intervals; and a lid to close the open top of the container body, with a valve unit
provided at a predetermined position on the lid to discharge gas, generated in the
container body, outside the container body. The valve unit has a valve cover provided
on the lid and rotated upwards and downwards around a hinge to move away from or toward
the lid, thus opening or closing a gas discharge hole formed through the lid, a soft
packing provided in the gas discharge hole of the lid, and a valve plug provided on
a lower surface of the valve cover, so that, when the valve cover moves toward the
lid, the valve plug is inserted into the gas discharge hole, thus closing the gas
discharge hole. The container further includes a plurality of locking flaps provided
on the lid and locked to the plurality of locking protrusions of the container body.
[0020] In the present invention, the fermented food container has a double lid structure
so that fermentation gas generated from fermented foods contained in the container
body is temporarily stored in the gas storage space. As such, because the fermentation
gas is isolated from the fermented foods, the freshness and taste of the fermented
foods are maintained. Furthermore, the fermentation gas container of the present invention
lets a user know the appropriate time to discharge the fermentation gas stored in
the gas storage space. Therefore, the user can easily determine the time to discharge
the gas, so that a refrigerator in which the fermented food container is stored is
prevented from absorbing the bad food smell due to the fermentation gas which is undesirably
discharged in the refrigerator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a container for fermented foods, according to a first
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a container for fermented foods, according to a second
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a container for fermented foods, according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a container for fermented foods, according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] The fermented food container according to the first embodiment includes a container
body 10 having a plurality of locking protrusions 15 provided along a circumferential
outer surface of an open top of the container body at predetermined intervals. The
fermented food container further includes an inner lid 20 to close the open top of
the container body 10, and an outer lid 35 which is coupled to the container body
10 and spaced apart from the inner lid 20 by a predetermined distance. In the present
invention, the locking protrusions 15 constituting a locking unit may be provided
in various shapes.
[0025] The inner lid 20 has an inner lid plate 21 which forms an upper plate of the inner
lid 20, with a sealing channel 25 defined around an edge of the inner lid plate 21.
The sealing channel 25 is opened downwards, so that an edge of the open top of the
container body 10 is received in the sealing channel 25 of the inner lid plate 21.
The inner lid 20 further has a sidewall part 22 which extends upwards from the edge
of the inner lid plate 21, thus defining a gas storage space among the sidewall part
22, the inner lid plate 21 and the outer lid 35. The inner lid 20 further has a plurality
of first locking flaps 23 which are provided around a circumferential outer surface
of the sidewall part 22 of the inner lid 20 at predetermined positions adjacent to
the inner lid plate 21. The first locking flaps 23 are spaced apart from each other
at predetermined intervals and locked to first locking protrusions 15 provided around
an outer surface of the container body 10. The inner lid 20 further has a plurality
of second locking protrusions 24 which are provided around an upper part of the circumferential
outer surface of the sidewall part 22 of the inner lid 20 at predetermined intervals.
[0026] The inner lid 20 further has an inner valve unit 30 which is provided at a predetermined
position on the inner lid plate 21 to discharge fermentation gas, generated in the
container body 10, outside the container body 10. An inner valve unit mounting hole
26 is provided at a predetermined position on the inner lid plate 21 to allow the
inner valve unit 30 to be mounted to the inner lid plate 21. Furthermore, a gas exhaust
hole is formed through the inner lid plate 21 around the inner valve unit mounting
hole 26 to discharge fermentation gas outside the container body 10. The inner valve
unit 30 is mounted to the inner lid plate 21 through the inner valve unit mounting
hole 26. The inner valve unit 30 has a mounting lug part 31 which is mounted through
the inner valve unit mounting hole 26 of the inner lid plate 21 such that a lower
end of the mounting lug part 31, which radially extends outwards to a predetermined
distance, is hooked to a lower surface of the inner lid plate 21 of the inner valve
unit mounting hole 26. The inner valve unit 30 further has a cover part 32 which radially
extends outwards from an outer surface of an upper end of the mounting lug part 31,
thus closing the gas exhaust hole 27 formed through the inner lid plate 21. A seating
ring 33 is provided around a circumferential edge of the cover part 32 and protrudes
downwards from a lower surface of the cover part 32, which is in contact with the
inner lid plate 21. Thus, the seating ring 33 keeps the cover part 32 in contact with
the inner lid plate 21 with appropriate force.
[0027] In the present invention, when an internal pressure of the container body 10 is higher
than a predetermined pressure due to fermentation gas generated from fermented foods
stored in the container body 10, the fermentation gas is discharged through the gas
exhaust hole 27 outside the container body 10. That is, the cover part 32 of the inner
valve unit 30 is elastically lifted from the inner lid plate 21 by the pressure of
the fermentation gas, so that the fermentation gas passes through the gas exhaust
hole 27 from the container body 10 to the gas storage space defined between the inner
lid 20 and the outer lid 35.
[0028] The outer lid 35 has a sealing channel 36 which is provided around an edge of the
outer lid 35 to receive therein an upper edge of the sidewall part 22 of the inner
lid 20. The outer lid 35 further has a plurality of second locking flaps 37 which
are provided around the circumferential outer surface of the outer lid 35 at predetermined
intervals and locked to the second locking protrusions 24 of the inner lid 20. A depression
38 is formed at a predetermined position on the outer lid 35. A gas discharge hole
39 is formed through a bottom surface of the depression 38 to discharge fermentation
gas from the gas storage space outside the outer lid 35. An outer valve unit 40 is
provided in the depression 38 to open and close the gas discharge hole 39.
[0029] The outer valve unit 40 has a valve cover 41 which is rotated upwards and downwards
around a hinge to move away from or toward the outer lid 35, thus opening or closing
a gas discharge hole 39. The outer valve unit 40 further has a valve plug 42 which
is provided on a lower surface of the valve cover 41, so that, when the valve cover
41 moves toward the outer lid 35, the valve plug 42 is inserted into the gas discharge
hole 39, thus closing the gas discharge hole 39. Furthermore, a soft packing 47 is
provided in the gas discharge hole 39 to reliably seal the gas storage space when
the valve plug 42 is inserted into the gas discharge hole 39.
[0030] A gauge hole 44 is formed through the outer lid at a predetermined position in the
depression 38 having the outer valve unit 40. The outer valve unit 40 further has
a soft film 45 which is provided in the gauge hole 44 to close the gauge hole 44 and
which is curved towards the gas storage space in an initial stage. The outer valve
unit 40 further has a gas volume gauge rod 46 which protrudes upwards from the soft
film 45 to indicate the amount of gas stored in the gas storage space. A through hole
43 is formed through the valve cover 41 of the outer valve unit 40 at a predetermined
position so that, when the soft film 45 swells towards the outside of the outer lid
35, the gas volume gauge rod 46 protrudes outside the valve cover 41 through the through
hole 43. That is, when the gas storage space is filled with a predetermined amount
of fermentation gas or more, the soft film 45 swells upwards. Thus, the gas volume
gauge rod 46 rises upwards and protrudes outside the valve cover 41 through the through
hole 43. As such, the gas volume gauge rod 46 serves as a gauge to indicate the amount
of fermentation gas filling the gas storage space.
[0031] The operation and effect of the fermented food container of the present invention
having the above-mentioned construction will be described herein below.
[0032] A user puts fermented foods in the container body 10 of the fermented food container.
Thereafter, the inner and outer lids 20 and 35 are sequentially coupled to the container
body 10, thus sealing the container body 10. With the passage of time, fermentation
gas is generated by the fermented foods in the container body 10. When the pressure
of the fermentation gas increases to a predetermined pressure, the cover part 32 of
the inner valve unit 30 is lifted upwards away from the inner lid plate 21 of the
inner lid 20 by the fermentation gas pressure. Then, a part of the fermentation gas
is discharged through the gas exhaust hole 27 of the inner lid plate 21 from the container
body 10 to the gas storage space defined between the inner and outer lids 20 and 35.
[0033] This process is repeated, so that the pressure in the gas storage space increases
due to the fermentation gas. As the fermentation gas pressure in the gas storage space
increases, the gas volume gauge rod 46 gradually rises along with the soft film 45.
By the height of the gas volume gauge rod 46 protruding from the valve cover 41 through
the through hole 43, the user can determine how much fermentation gas is in the gas
storage space.
[0034] When the gas volume gauge rod 46 is raised to a predetermined height, the user pulls
the fermented food container out of the refrigerator. Thereafter, in a well ventilated
place, the user rotates the valve cover 41 of the outer valve unit 40 upwards to open
the gas discharge hole 39. Then, the fermentation gas, which has been in the gas storage
space, is discharged outside the outer lid 35 through the gas discharge hole 39.
[0035] FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of containers for fermented foods, according to
second and third embodiments of the present invention, respectively.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, in the second embodiment, an inner lid 120 is not separately
coupled to a container body 110, but is integrated with an outer lid 135, unlike the
first embodiment. The inner lid 120 has an inner lid plate 121 which forms an upper
plate of the inner lid 120 to close an open top of the container body 110, and a sidewall
part 122 which extends upwards from an edge of the inner lid plate 121. The outer
lid 135 has a sealing channel 141 which is provided under a lower surface of the outer
lid 135 to receive therein an upper edge of the sidewall part 122 of the inner lid
120. The inner lid 120 is coupled to the lower surface of the outer lid 135, thus
defining a gas storage space between the inner and outer lids 120 and 135. An inner
valve unit 30 is provided on the inner lid 120 to discharge fermentation gas from
the container body 110 into the gas storage space. An outer valve unit 40 is provided
on the outer lid 135 to discharge the fermentation gas from the gas storage space
outside the outer lid 135, in the same manner as the first embodiment.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, in the third embodiment, a container body 310 includes an extension
part 313 which extends outwards from a circumferential outer surface of an open top
of the container body 310 and is bent upwards to extend to a predetermined height.
A plurality of locking protrusions 315 are provided along a circumferential outer
surface of the extension part 313 of the container body 310 at predetermined intervals.
A first sealing channel 321 is defined between the extension part 313 and the circumferential
outer surface of the open top of the container body 310. An inner lid 320, which is
received in the extension part 313, has a rim part which is provided around an edge
of a lower surface of the inner lid. Thus, when the inner lid 320 is placed on the
open top of the container body 310, the rim part is received in the first sealing
channel 321. An outer lid 335 has a second sealing channel 343 which is provided on
a lower surface of the outer lid 335 to receive therein an upper edge of the extension
part 313 of the container body 310. The outer lid 335 further has a plurality of locking
flaps 345 which are provided around a circumferential outer surface of the outer lid
335 at predetermined intervals and locked to the locking protrusions 315 of the extension
part 313. The inner lid 320 and the outer lid 335 respectively have an inner valve
unit 30 and an outer valve unit 40 the same as those described for the constructions
of the first and second embodiments.
[0038] In the fermented food container having the above-mentioned construction, fermentation
gas generated from fermented food is first gathered in the gas storage space defined
between the inner lid 20, 120, 320 and the outer lid 35, 135, 335. With the passage
of time, the height of the gas volume gauge rod 46 protruding from the outer lid 35,
135, 335 varies according to the pressure of the fermentation gas, that is, the amount
of fermentation gas accumulated in the gas storage space. The user observes the height
of the gas volume gauge rod 46 and determines whether the amount of fermentation gas
is over a certain amount. When it is determined that the amount of fermentation gas
is over the certain amount, the user rotates the valve cover 41 of the outer valve
unit 40 upwards, thus discharging the fermentation gas through the gas discharge hole
39 from the gas storage space outside the outer lid 35, 135, 335.
[0039] As such, because the fermented food container of the present invention has the separate
gas storage space to gather fermentation gas, oxidation of fermented food slows down
and, as well, freshness and taste of the fermented food are prevented from deteriorating
due to the fermentation gas.
[0040] Furthermore, the user can easily determine an appropriate time to discharge fermentation
gas using the gas volume gauge rod 46. Therefore, when it is desired, the user easily
discharges the fermentation gas outside the fermented food container in a well ventilated
place, thus preventing a refrigerator in which the fermented food container is stored
from absorbing the bad food smell due to the fermentation gas which is undesirably
discharged in the refrigerator.
[0041] In addition, in the first and third embodiments, the gas storage space may serve
as a separate food storage space.
[0042] Furthermore, in each of the first through third embodiments, the inner valve unit
30 is provided on the inner lid plate of the inner lid 20, 120, 320. However, the
fermented food container of the present invention may have only the outer lid having
the outer valve unit 40 without the inner lid 20, 120, 320. The outer lid is directly
coupled to the container body 10, thus constituting the fermented food container.
In this case, fermentation gas generated in the container body 10 is not accumulated
in a separate gas storage space, but, when the pressure of the fermentation gas increases
to a predetermined pressure, the valve cover 41 is opened, thus directly discharging
the fermentation gas to the outside.
[0043] As described above, the present invention provides a container for fermented foods
which slows down the oxidization of fermented foods, thereby maintaining the freshness
and taste of the fermented foods. Furthermore, a user can easily determine an appropriate
time to discharge the fermentation gas, gathered in a gas storage space, using the
gas volume gauge rod. Therefore, the present invention prevents a refrigerator in
which the fermented food container is stored from absorbing the bad food smell due
to the fermentation gas which is undesirably discharged in the refrigerator.
[0044] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for
illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit
of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
1. A container for fermented foods, comprising:
a container body, with a plurality of locking protrusions provided along a circumferential
outer surface of an open top of the container body at predetermined intervals;
an inner lid to close the open top of the container body, with an inner valve unit
provided at a predetermined position on the inner lid to discharge gas, generated
in the container body, outside the container body;
an outer lid coupled to the container body and spaced apart from the inner lid by
a predetermined distance, thus defining a gas storage space between the inner lid
and the outer lid, with an outer valve unit provided at a predetermined position on
the outer lid to discharge the gas from the gas storage space outside the outer lid;
and
a plurality of locking flaps provided on at least one of the inner lid and the outer
lid and locked to the plurality of locking protrusions of the container body.
2. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner valve unit comprises:
a mounting lug part coupled through the inner lid; and
a cover part radially extending outwards from an outer surface of an upper end of
the mounting lug part, thus closing a gas exhaust hole formed through the inner lid
at a predetermined position around the mounting lug part.
3. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer valve unit comprises:
a valve cover provided on the outer lid and rotated upwards and downwards around a
hinge to move away from or toward the outer lid, thus opening or closing a gas discharge
hole formed through on the outer lid;
a soft packing provided in the gas discharge hole of the outer lid; and
a valve plug provided on a lower surface of the valve cover, so that, when the valve
cover moves toward the outer lid, the valve plug is inserted into the gas discharge
hole, thus closing the gas discharge hole.
4. The container as set forth in claim 3, wherein the outer valve unit comprises:
a soft film to close a gauge hole formed through the outer lid at a predetermined
position, the soft film being curved towards the gas storage space in an initial stage;
and
a gas volume gauge rod protruding upwards from the soft film to indicate an amount
of gas stored in the gas storage space.
5. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the inner lid comprises:
an inner lid plate forming an upper plate of the inner lid, with a sealing channel
defined around the inner lid plate and opened downwards, so that an edge of the open
top of the container body is received in the sealing channel of the inner lid plate;
a sidewall part extending upwards from an edge of the inner lid plate, thus defining
the gas storage space among the sidewall part, the inner lid plate and the outer lid;
a plurality of first locking flaps provided around a circumferential outer surface
of the sidewall part of the inner lid at predetermined intervals and locked to the
locking protrusions of the container body; and
a plurality of second locking protrusions provided around an upper part of the circumferential
outer surface of the sidewall part of the inner lid at predetermined intervals, and
the outer lid comprises:
a sealing channel provided around an edge of the outer lid to receive therein an upper
edge of the sidewall part of the inner lid; and
a plurality of second locking flaps provided around the circumferential outer surface
of the outer lid and locked to the second locking protrusions.
6. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the inner lid comprises:
an inner lid plate forming an upper plate of the inner lid to close the open top of
the container body, with the inner valve unit provided on the inner lid plate; and
a sidewall part extending upwards from an edge of the inner lid plate, and
the outer lid comprises:
a sealing channel provided under a lower surface of the outer lid to receive therein
an upper edge of the sidewall part of the inner lid.
7. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the container body comprises:
an extension part extending outwards from the circumferential outer surface of the
open top of the container body and being bent upwards to extend to a predetermined
height, thus defining a first sealing channel between the extension part and the circumferential
outer surface of the open top of the container body, with a plurality of second locking
protrusions provided along a circumferential outer surface of the extension part at
predetermined intervals,
the inner lid comprises:
a rim part provided around an edge of a lower surface of the inner lid, so that, when
the inner lid is placed on the open top of the container body, the rim part is received
in the first sealing channel of the extension part, and
the outer lid comprises:
a second sealing channel provided on a lower surface of the outer lid to receive therein
an upper edge of the extension part; and
a plurality of second locking flaps provided around a circumferential outer surface
of the outer lid at predetermined intervals and locked to the second locking protrusions
of the extension part of the container body;
8. A container for fermented foods, comprising:
a container body, with a plurality of locking protrusions provided along a circumferential
outer surface of an open top of the container body at predetermined intervals; and
a lid to close the open top of the container body, with a valve unit provided at a
predetermined position on the lid to discharge gas, generated in the container body,
outside the container body, the valve unit comprising:
a valve cover provided on the lid and rotated upwards and downwards around a hinge
to move away from or toward the lid, thus opening or closing a gas discharge hole
formed through the lid;
a soft packing provided in the gas discharge hole of the lid; and
a valve plug provided on a lower surface of the valve cover, so that, when the valve
cover moves toward the lid, the valve plug is inserted into the gas discharge hole,
thus closing the gas discharge hole; and
a plurality of locking flaps provided on the lid and locked to the plurality of locking
protrusions of the container body.