Patent Application
20120031903
The present invention relates to a lid, overcap or similar closure to be applied to a container, with the lid being removably secured to the container opening.
A number of forms of lids and closures are known for covering the open end of a container and for selectively controlling the discharge of material from the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,323 to Freek et al shows a lid for a beverage cup. The lid includes a tear-back portion having a lifting tab formed on a peripheral skirt. Projecting inwardly from the skirt on opposite sides of the lifting tab are two elongated beads. Within the tear-back portion are provided two relatively shorter beads. The elongated beads retain the lid on the rim of the cup. The shorter beads assist in re-securing the tear-back portion on the cup rim, once initially opened.
US 2004/0206757 to Hall et al shows a universal lid to be attached to a plurality of different size food packages. The lid includes a peripheral channel for retaining an open rim of a box. A plurality of vertical protrusions or ribs is formed in a channel to engage the wall of the box and to secure the lid on the rim. A plurality of spaced panels or walls is formed on the bottom surface for conforming the lid to the length of the box. Ribs are also provided within the channels formed by the panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,144 to Strange et al shows a lid for a beverage cup having a peripheral skirt formed for securing the lid to the rim of the cup. A plurality of relatively smaller “protuberances” is provided around the skirt. Within the plurality of the smaller protuberances are provided three oblong protuberances.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,996 to Dogliotti shows a container for granular materials having a separable, hollow plug that forms the cover for the container. The plug includes a pivotable flap for providing access to the interior of the container, through the plug. Outer peripheral surfaces on the plug include a plurality of parallel ribs. A corresponding number of ribs are also provided on the inside surface of the container. Upon insertion of the plug into the open end of the container, the two sets of ribs interfere with one another to retain the plug within the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,255 to Vogel et al shows a container closure or lid having a peripheral skirt portion for securing the lid to the rim of a container. In one embodiment, interfering projections are provided on the inside surface of the skirt and the outside surface of the container rim. The projections overlap one another when the lid is positioned on the rim to secure the lid to the container.
A lid is defined for removably attaching to a hollow container body. The container is contemplated to be of the type having an opening thereon defined by a projecting rim. A bead may be formed on the rim projecting transverse to the direction of the rim projection. The lid includes a body for covering at least a portion of the container opening and a skirt depending from the body portion. The skirt is formed to engage the rim to removably secure the lid on the opening. One or more set of ridges is formed on the inner surface of the skirt at defined locations. The ridges are positioned substantially transverse to the bead and frictionally engaging the bead for securing the lid on the container opening. One or more retention tabs may also be provided on the inside surface of the skirt for engaging the underside of the bead on the rim. The bead of the container rim may also include a corresponding number of set of rim ridges, wherein the skirt ridge sets are positioned at locations for engaging with the sets of rim ridges.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show forms that are presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.
In the figures, where like numerals identify like elements, there is shown an embodiment of a lid and container. In
The lid 10 includes a cover panel 22 foamed to cover all or a portion of the container opening 18. A skirt 24 is provided on the periphery of the cover panel 22. The skirt 24 is dimensioned to fit over the rim 20 of the container 12 and to removably secure the lid 10 on the container 12. As shown, a channel or ridge 26 is formed adjacent the skirt 24 on the upper surface of the cover panel 22. The projection of the channel serves as a stand off rim for the lid and container stacking and may also serve to stiffen the lid. In an alternative structure, the channel may be dimensioned for receipt of the container rim and may provide an additional engagement on the rim along an inside surface of the wall portions of the container. The cover panel 22 of the lid 10 includes a spout flap 30 at one corner thereof. As shown in
In
As shown in
In
The second type of projection formed on the inside surface 36 of the skirt 24 is a projection tab 40. The projection tabs 40 formed on the inside surface 36 of the skirt 24 engage under the rim 20 of the container 12. This relationship is illustrated in
As shown on side Al in
An arrangement of ridge sets 38 and projection tabs 40 is formed each side B1, C1 and D1 of the lid 10, as shown in
The interrelationship of the ridges and grooves is illustrated in
It is typical in the formation of a lid or overcap for a container to have a certain amount of dimensional variation that creates play in the attachment of the lid to the container rim. Further, the container may be formed from paper or a composite material, with a rolled rim. These materials are relatively pliable and the lid can move when placed on the rim. The engagement of the lid on the rim may be compromised during handling and use. For example, the opening of a flap portion may sometimes result in the entire lid separating from the rim, rather than just the hinged flap.
In the present lid 10 and container 12 combination, the engagement of the skirt 24 and the rim 20 is enhanced by the addition of the ridge sets 38 and grooves 42. The projection tabs 40 are provided to initially retain the lid 10 on the rim 20 of the container 12. The tabs 40 are positioned on the inside surface 36 of the skirt 24 at a position where they will move under the bottom edge of the rim 20, as shown in
The lid is contemplated to be integrally formed from a thermoplastic material. However, various assemblies of the structures and other materials are possible. The container may also be molded using a thermoplastic, although other materials are contemplated, including paperboard and composites including paper materials. Further, the rim portion may be molded and separately attached to the walls of the container. The grooves in the rim of the container may be formed as part of the molding process or may be added subsequently. If the rim is made of a paperboard or composited material, a cut or crease may be added to the rim.
It is contemplated that the structures on the rim may include ridges or similar projections that engage with the ridges on the skirt. The skirt may also include formed grooves or the like for engaging the corresponding structure of the container rim. Preferably, the ridges and grooves, or similar engagement structures, are formed in direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the formed rim. However, an angled relationship may also provide the desired engagement between the rim and lid.
In the embodiment shown, the outline of the lid and container opening is generally rectangular. Thus, two sides A and C of the lid and rim are longer than the sides B and D. Other forms are possible. In the structure shown, the lid is limited to two positions on the rim. For example, lid side A1 may be positioned to engage rim side A2 or C2.
In the preferred structure, the ridges 38 and grooves 42 are positioned in opposing corners and align in either position of the lid 10. This places the ridge and groove combinations adjacent the two ends of the hinge H in the cover panel 22. The additional engagement of the ridges and grooves is positioned to hold the body portion 30 on the rim 20 while the flap 28 is separated from the rim 20. In the other corners of the rim 20, there are no grooves and the flap 28 does not included ridges. The flap does not encounter the additional engagement provided by the groove and ridge combination.
The present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a number of exemplary embodiments thereof It should be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, with the scope of the present invention being described by the foregoing claims.
