Reclosable, tamper-evident plastic lid for a container having a circular wall

• US 4,724,979 A
• Filed: 05/05/1987
• Issued: 02/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acorn Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acorn Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Cleevely, Bruce T., George, Harry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/046,210
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 220/266, 220/270, 220/276, 220/307, 220/258, 220/339, 215/235, 215/237
• US Class Current: 220/258.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/103 Membranes with a tearing element

Abstract

A tamper-evident, reclosable, integral rigid plastic lid for use on a container having an upper circular wall provides a double seal for the container contents until opened by a user and a single seal thereafter. The lid has a circular base, with a recess therein and a rupturable planar member extending across the recess, and a hinged closure member secured to a platform which completely covers the recess. The platform is in the shape of a segment of the circle formed by the circular base with a downwardly extending face provided along a chord of the circle which, with an arcuate raised rim about the circular base forms the bounds of the recess.

Claims

1. A lid, for a cylindrical container having a circular wall with an upper edge thereon, said lid comprising:

a circular base, a portion of the circular base having a linear inner wall;

means for securing said circular base to said container

a raised platform on said base, in the shape of a segment of the circle formed by said circular base, providing a downwardly extending face along a chord of said circle;

an arcuate raised rim, having an arcuate inner wall, about the circular base which merges with said linear inner wall to form a recess bounded by said linear inner wall and said arcuate inner wall of the arcuate raised rim;

a planar member extending across said recess;

a rupturable portion on said planar member allowing access to the contents of the cylindrical container when the lid is engaged therewith and said rupturable portion removed;

an integral closure member hingedly secured to said platform adapted to completely cover said recess, and said planar member therein;

locking means securing said closure member to said arcuate raised rim to lock said closure member and seal said container when said planar member is intact and also after removal of said rupturable portion of the planar member; and

said lid formed from a plastic material having a tensile modulus in excess of about 100×

10³ p.s.i., a flexural modulus in excess of about 100×

10³ p.s.i., and a melting point in excess of 140°

C.

2. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said circular base to said container comprises a pair of downwardly depending spaced circular skirts on said base for engagement with the upper edge of said circular wall.

3. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said integral closure member also covers said arcuate raised rim.

4. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturable portion on said planar member is sized so as to provide, when removed from said lid, an opening for access to said container which is at least 80 percent of the area of the circle formed by said circular base.

5. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein the rupturable portion on said planar member comprises a central portion bounded by an outer peripheral portion, and a tear line formed as a weld line, formed intermediate said central and peripheral portions.

6. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein the same is formed completely of polypropylene.

7. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturable portion of said planar member has a pull tab integrally molded with the upper surface thereof.

8. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a downwardly and outwardly directed flap provided on the bottom wall of the closure member which coacts with an inwardly directed bead along the inner wall of the arcuate raised rim.

9. A lid as defined in claim 8 wherein a depending flange is provided about the periphery of the closure member such that, when in closed position, the arcuate raised rim is frictionally secured between said flap and said flange.

10. A lid, for a cylindrical container having a circular wall with an upper edge thereon, said lid comprising:

a circular base, a portion of the circular base having a linear inner wall;

means for securing said circular base to said container

a raised platform on said base, in the shape of a segment of the circle formed by said circular base, providing a downwardly extending face along a chord of said circle;

an arcuate raised rim, having an arcuate inner wall, about the circular base which merges with said linear inner wall to form a recess bounded by said linear inner wall and said arcuate inner wall of the arcuate raised rim;

a planar member extending across said recess;

a rupturable portion on said planar member comprising a central portion bounded by an outer peripheral portion, a tear line formed as a weld line, formed intermediate said central and peripheral portions, and a pull tab is integrally molded with the upper surface of said central portion, allowing access to the contents of the cylindrical container when the lid is engaged therewith and said rupturable portion removed;

an integral closure member hingedly secured to said platform adapted to completely cover said recess, said planar member therein and said arcuate raised rim;

locking means securing said closure member to said arcuate raised rim to lock said closure member and seal said container when said planar member is intact and also after removal of said rupturable portion of the planar member; and

said lid formed from a plastic material having a tensile modulus in excess of about 100×

10³ p.s.i., a flexural modulus in excess of about 100×

10³ p.s.i., and a melting point in excess of 140°

C.