U.S. patent application number 11/139088 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-30 for container lid adapted for resealing of container.
This patent application is currently assigned to IPL, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dominique Lesquir.
Application Number | 20060266750 11/139088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37462080 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060266750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lesquir; Dominique |
November 30, 2006 |
Container lid adapted for resealing of container
Abstract
A resealing lid has a web. A skirt depends from the web. At
least a first projection and a second projection are formed on the
web. The first projection is spaced from the second projection.
Each of the first projection and the second projection are adapted
to selectively engage a retaining member on the lid. A tear line
formed in the skirt removes a portion of the skirt. A remaining
portion of the skirt connects the first projection to the second
projection.
Inventors: |
Lesquir; Dominique; (Quebec
City, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARDS & ANGELL, LLP
P.O. BOX 55874
BOSTON
MA
02205
US
|
Assignee: |
IPL, Inc.
St-Damien
CA
|
Family ID: |
37462080 |
Appl. No.: |
11/139088 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/276 ;
220/380; 220/782 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2401/15 20200501;
B65D 2543/00518 20130101; B65D 2543/00555 20130101; B65D 2543/00685
20130101; B65D 43/0256 20130101; B65D 2543/00416 20130101; B65D
2543/00629 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00203
20130101; B65D 2543/0074 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D
2543/00805 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/276 ;
220/380; 220/782 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/40 20060101
B65D017/40; B65D 41/18 20060101 B65D041/18; B65D 43/03 20060101
B65D043/03 |
Claims
1. A lid for a container having an opening and lid-retaining member
adjacent the opening, the lid comprising: a web; a skirt depending
from said web; at least a first projection and second projection
are disposed on said skirt, said first projection being spaced from
said second projection, each of said first projection and said
second projection being adapted to selectively engage said
retaining member, a tear line for removing a portion of said skirt,
a remaining portion of said skirt connecting said first projection
to said second projection.
2. The lid of claim 1, wherein said lid has at least one corner,
said remaining portion extending across said at least first
corner.
3. The lid of claim 1, wherein said lid further comprises at least
a second corner, said skirt having at least a second corner, said
at least second corner of said skirt being substantially entirely
removed upon tearing of the tear line.
4. The lid of claim 1, wherein each said projection is disposed
above said tear line.
5. The lid of claim 1, further comprising an at least third
projection, said at least third projection being spaced from each
of said first and second projection and isolated therefrom.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to a container lid and, more
particularly, to a lid adapted to selectively reattach with a
container for resealing of the container.
[0002] Resealable containers are known in the art such as, by way
of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,735,337 and 5,617,968. Generally,
these resealable containers utilize a lid having a projection
mounted about a tear strip. The projection interacts with the
container to maintain the lid on the container. A portion of the
projection is removable with the tear strip as the opening of the
lid is desired. A portion of the projection remains on the lid so
that although the initial retention force is lessened, facilitating
removal of the lid, the remaining projections facilitate
reinstallation of the lid upon the container.
[0003] However, once the tear strip has been removed, these lids
lose a significant amount of the retention force of the lid with
the container. Although the lid is retained in place, the retention
force is so substantially weakened that the integrity of the
container system makes the pail appropriate for only the most
gentle of uses. Accordingly, a resealable lid which maintains its
sealed integrity is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The lid includes a web. A skirt depends from the web. At
least a first projection and a second projection spaced from each
other extend from the skirt and are adapted to engage the
container. A tear line for removing a portion of the skirt extends
along the skirt. The first projection and second projection are
connected by the skirt after removal of the portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is
had to the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the lid constructed in
accordance with the invention showing a portion of the tear line in
phantom;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lid taken along line 2-2
of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lid constructed in
accordance with the invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid constructed in
accordance with the invention showing the tear line in phantom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 wherein a lid,
generally indicated as 10, is provided. Lid 10 has a substantially
square configuration and is adapted to be mounted upon the upper
extremity of a container 12, the container being of
correspondingly, substantially square configuration. Container 12
and lid 10 are preferably manufactured from synthetic plastics such
as linear polyethylene, but may be made from other substantially
rigid materials which allow for a functional tear line such as
aluminum or the like.
[0011] Lid 10 may be fabricated by injection molding and includes a
centrally located web 14. Web 14 includes corners 15a, 15b, 15c,
15d. A vertical wall 16 is connected to a horizontal flange 18. An
external skirt 20 depends from flange 18. Skirt 20, flange 18 and
vertical wall 16 form a substantially U-shaped cavity adjacent web
14 for receiving therein an upper extremity of container 12.
[0012] A retaining member 30 is formed at the upper extremity of
container 12. In a preferred embodiment, retaining member 30 is a
detent or bead extending substantially around the circumference of
container 12. The bead may be provided in segments if desired or
necessary.
[0013] Skirt 20 includes a tear strip 42. The tear strip is that
portion of skirt 20 on the opposite side of a tear line 44 from
flange 18. Tear line 44 is formed as a weakened section of skirt 20
and may be formed either as a thinly molded portion of skirt 20, or
may be formed as a score line or the like. Tear line 44 bifurcates
skirt 20 into a remaining portion 70 and a tear strip 42.
[0014] A finger grip 50 is integrally formed with tear strip 42 and
is connected by a frangible link 52 to an opposite end of tear
strip 42. Finger grip 50 is located, as known in the art, at a
first end of the tear strip. An opening may be provided adjacent
finger grip 50 to allow finger grip 50 to be grasped while removing
tear strip 42 as it separates from a remaining portion 70 of skirt
20. Remaining portion 70 is formed as tabs having thereon
projections 74 in the form of detents which are engagable with the
adjacent portions of retaining member 30. The remaining portions 70
are defined by tear line 44 of tear strip 42 as tear strip 42 is
stripped or removed from skirt 20.
[0015] Because lid 10 is substantially square, skirt 20 is formed
with corners 45 at each corner 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d of lid 10. Tear
line 44 traces a path so that at least one corner 45a of skirt 20
is substantially entirely removed and at least one corner is not
substantially removed. Tear line 44 traces a path which extends
below each of projections 74 so that projections 74 remain with lid
10 after complete tearing of tear strip 42. At least one corner 45b
of skirt 20 remains substantially affixed to lid 10. In this
manner, a corner 15a of skirt 20 bridges a gap 58A between a first
projection 74A and a second projection 74B. Optionally, in a
preferred embodiment, a second corner 45c of skirt 20 bridges a gap
58B between a projection 74B and 74C. An optional projection 74D is
provided on a portion 70 of skirt 20 which is not connected across
a gap. It should be noted that projection 74C need not be connected
projection 74D; however, at least two projections 74 adjacent to
each other across a gap should be connected by a portion of skirt
20.
[0016] By bridging gap 54 with skirt 20, projections 50A, 50D by
way of example are supported by each other in a direction towards
web 14. In other words, skirt 20 maintains the integrity of the
gripping force of the lid projections on the cover bead.
[0017] By removing at least one corner 45 of skirt 20, the overall
gripping force of container 12 by lid 10 is lessened because at
least projection 74D may be more easily deflected to release
projection 74D from detent 32. Therefore, removal of lid 10 from
operative engagement with container 12 is facilitated. Gripping of
one of the tabs 70 and releasing it from operative engagement with
bead 30 by disengaging projection 74 from bead 30 and lifting the
cover up dislodges the lid from engagement with container 12.
[0018] However, when it is desired to replace lid 10 on container
12, detent tabs 74 snap in place immediately. Because of the action
of skirt 20 connecting tabs 74A, 74B, they support each other in
the direction of web 14 and maintain the integrity of the seal even
after resealing.
[0019] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is
not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations,
substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the
art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as described in the claims.
* * * * *