Pitcher with locking lid

• US 5,275,307 A
• Filed: 10/26/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Packer Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Freese, Ross J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US07/966,459
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 222/42, 222/153, 222/154, 222/189, 220/298, 220/324
• US Class Current: 222/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/12 Vessels or pots for table use

Abstract

A pitcher and a lid that can be locked in place on the pitcher. The upper rim of the pitcher has an outwardly extending lip provided with two diametrically opposed cutouts. The periphery of the lid has two diametrically opposed lugs each provided with a downwardly extending hook. The lid is applied by aligning the lugs with the cutouts so that the hooks can pass through the cutouts. When the lid is then turned, the hooks fit beneath and interlock with the lip to secure the lid in place. Pour openings in the skirt of the lid are offset 90° from the lugs to assure that the lid is in the locked condition when the liquids in the pitcher are poured.

Claims

1. A container assembly for holding and pouring liquids, comprising:

a pitcher having an open top and a hollow interior for holding liquids, said pitcher including a handle and a pour spout at said top for pouring of liquids from the pitcher;

a lip extending around said pitcher adjacent the top thereof, said lip projecting outwardly and presenting a plurality of cutouts;

a lid for said pitcher having a lid body and a skirt projecting downwardly from the periphery of the lid body to fit closely inside the pitcher adjacent the top thereof when the lid is applied to cover the top of the pitcher, said skirt having a pour opening therein for pouring of liquids from the pitcher when the lid has a first preselected rotational position wherein said opening is aligned with said spout;

a plurality of lugs on said lid projecting outwardly from the periphery of said lid body; and

a plurality of hooks extending downwardly from the respective lugs at locations to align with and pass through said cutouts when the lid has a second preselected rotational position on the pitcher, said hooks being arranged to hook under and interlock with said lip to thereby lock the lid on the pitcher when the lid is rotated from said second position to said first position.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second rotational positions of the lid are offset by a rotational arc of approximately 90°

.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said cutouts are two in number, one of said cutouts being adjacent to said spout and the other cutout being adjacent to said handle.

4. The container assembly of claim 3, wherein said first and second rotational positions of the lid are offset by a rotational arc of approximately 90°

.

5. The container assembly of claim 3, including a second pour opening in said skirt at a location diametrically opposed to the first mentioned pour opening, said second opening comprising a plurality of spaced apart slots located to align with said spout when the lid is in a third rotational position offset from said first position by a rotational arc of approximately 90°

.

6. The container assembly of claim 5, wherein said first and second rotational positions of the lid are offset by a rotational arc of approximately 90°

.

7. The container assembly of claim 1, including means on said lid for indicating visually when said pour opening is aligned with the spout.

8. The container assembly of claim 5, including means on said lid for indicating visually when the first opening is aligned with the spout and when the second opening is aligned with the spout.

9. In a container for holding and pouring liquids, the combination of:

a pitcher having a pitcher body which is open at the top for receiving liquids;

a spout on said pitcher body for pouring liquids;

a handle on said pitcher body at a location diametrically opposed to said spout;

an outwardly projecting lip on said pitcher body adjacent the top thereof, said lip extending around substantially the entirety of the pitcher body and presenting a pair of diametrically opposed cutouts;

a lid for covering the top of the pitcher body, said lid including a main body and a skirt projecting downwardly from the periphery of the main body to fit closely within the top of the pitcher body;

at least one opening in said skirt through which liquids can be poured when the lid is on the pitcher body in a first preselected rotational position wherein said opening is aligned with said spout;

a pair of lugs projecting outwardly from the periphery of the main body of the lid at diametrically opposed locations; and

a pair of hooks extending downwardly from the respective lugs at locations to align with and pass through said cutouts when the lid has a second preselected rotational position on the pitcher, said hooks being arranged to hook under and interlock with said lip to thereby lock the lid on the pitcher when the lid is rotated from said second position to said first position.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said first and second rotational positions of the lid are offset by a rotational arc of approximately 90°

.

11. The combination of claim 9, wherein one of said cutouts is adjacent to said spout and the other cutout is adjacent to said handle.

12. The combination of claim 9, including a second pour opening in said skirt at a location diametrically opposed to the first mentioned pour opening, said second opening comprising a plurality of spaced apart slots located to align with said spout when the lid is in a third rotational position offset from said first position by a rotative arc of approximately 90°

.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said first and second rotational positions of the lid are offset by a rotational arc of approximately 90°

.