Container lid and cutting board apparatus

• US 6,142,332 A
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandra Ferrara
• Original Assignee: Sandra Ferrara
• Inventors: Ferrara, Sandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/389,306
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 220/212, 220/212.5, 220/574, 220/796, 220/805
• US Class Current: 220/212
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00194 square or rectangular with curved sides B65D2543/00101
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0049 on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00842 outside of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0218 on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container B65D43/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/36 adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents

Abstract

A container lid and cutting board apparatus includes a rigid central panel portion and a flexible peripheral container-connector portion attached to the central panel portion. The peripheral container-connector portion includes a bridging ring portion attached to the central panel portion, and a container rim reception flange is attached to the bridging ring portion. The central panel portion has a panel thickness. The bridging ring portion has a ring thickness, and the panel thickness is greater than the ring thickness. The central panel portion and the peripheral container-connector portion are made as a unified structure from a single piece of plastic material. When the container lid and cutting board apparatus is placed on a surface upside down, the central panel portion can be used as a cutting board. Then, a container can be turned upside down, and the upper rim of the container can be fitted into the container rim reception flange to fix the container lid and cutting board apparatus and the container together. Then, the combination of the container lid and cutting board apparatus and the container can be inverted and stored in a conventional manner.

Claims

1. A container lid and cutting board apparatus, comprising:

a rigid central panel portion, and

a flexible peripheral container-connector portion attached to said central panel portion,

wherein said peripheral container-connector portion includes;

a bridging ring portion attached to said central panel portion, and

a container rim reception flange attached to said bridging ring portion,

wherein said central panel portion has a panel thickness,

said bridging ring portion has a ring thickness, and

said panel thickness is greater than said ring thickness,

wherein said flexible peripheral container-connector portion and said central panel portion each has a first surface and a second opposed surface,

wherein said flexible peripheral container-connector portion further includes at least one finger-gripping extension integral therewith, and

wherein said finger-gripping extension is arcuate shaped.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central panel portion and said peripheral container-connector portion are made as a unified structure from a single piece of plastic material.

3. A container lid and cutting board apparatus, comprising:

a rigid central panel portion, and

a flexible peripheral container-connector portion attached to said central panel portion,

wherein said peripheral container-connector portion includes;

a bridging ring portion attached to said central panel portion, and

a container rim reception flange attached to said bridging ring portion,

wherein said central panel portion has a panel thickness,

said bridging ring portion has a ring thickness, and

said panel thickness is greater than said ring thickness,

wherein said flexible peripheral container-connector portion and said central panel portion each has a first surface and a second opposed surface, and

wherein said flexible peripheral container-connector portion second opposed surface includes a container rim reception flange and said central panel portion second opposed surface extends beyond said container rim reception flange.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said central panel portion and said peripheral container-connector portion are made as a unified structure from a single piece of plastic material.

5. A container lid and cutting board apparatus, comprising:

a rigid central panel portion, and

a flexible peripheral container-connector portion attached to said central panel portion,

wherein said peripheral container-connector portion includes a bridging ring portion attached to said central panel portion, and

a container rim reception flange attached to said bridging ring portion,

wherein said central panel portion has a panel thickness,

said bridging ring portion has a ring thickness, and

said panel thickness is greater than said ring thickness,

wherein said flexible peripheral container-connector portion and said central panel portion each has a first surface and a second opposed surface, and said first surface of said central panel portion is coplanar with respect to said first surface of said flexible peripheral container-connector portion on said first surface, and

wherein said flexible peripheral container-connector portion second opposed surface includes a container rim reception flange and said container rim reception flange extends beyond said central panel portion second opposed surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said central panel portion and said peripheral container-connector portion are made as a unified structure from a single piece of plastic material.