Tamper resistant closure overcap for metal spice can

• US 6,422,411 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Henry Crown & Co.)
• Original Assignee: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Henry Crown & Co.)
• Inventors: Gray, Alfred L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US09/350,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 220/254, 220/257, 220/259, 220/256, 220/253, 220/265, 220/270, 220/276, 220/266, 220/214, 220/826, 222/153.06, 222/153.07, 222/153.1, 222/541.5, 222/541.6, 222/541.9, 222/565
• US Class Current: 220/254.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/022 the bottom presenting projecting peripheral elements receiving or surrounding the closure or peripheral elements projecting therefrom B65D21/0222 and B65D21/0223 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0018 of the 43-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0087 of the 47-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/25 Non-metallic tear-off strips
• 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 2543/00527 NO contact
• 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 2543/00657 U-shaped or inverted U
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00685 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0074 Massive bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00796 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0262 leaving only an outside friction after removal of the tamper element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0833 Hinges without elastic bias
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/18 Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/06 for dispensing powdered or granular material B65D83/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A tamper resistant closure overcap for a rectangular metal spice can covers each of the dispensing ports and openable flaps on the serving lid of the can. The closure has a top panel and a downward depending rectangular border that hugs the outer periphery of the serving lid. The closure is supported in spaced relationship with the serving lid to provide a gap for receiving promotional materials. The border includes a skirt and a tear away strip that can be fully or partially disconnected along a scored line of weakness to remove the closure. A support wall extends above the top panel to facilitate vertical stacking of multiple spice containers.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a rectangular metal can including a rectangular bottom panel, a rectangular sidewall having one edge connected to the bottom panel by a metal bead, the bead surrounding a rectangular cavity, the sidewall extending upright from the bottom panel to a terminating beaded edge forming an open end;

a rectangular serving lid including a top plate having inner and outer rectangular flanges depending downwardly from the outer periphery of the plate, the flanges providing a rectangular groove therebetween receiving the beaded edge therein, the inner flange having an outward projecting lip beneath the beaded edge securing the beaded edge and the metal can to the serving lid, the top plate having dispensing ports covered by movable flaps integrally hinged to the top plate at thin webs;

an anchor groove extending around the can defined by the combination of the rectangular sidewall of the metal can and outer flange of the serving lid;

a tamper resistant closure overcap including a top panel enclosing each of the flaps of the serving lid, the top panel having a downwardly depending rectangular skirt surrounding the outer periphery of the server lid, the skirt have downwardly depending tear away strip connected along a scored line of weakness, the scored line of weakness extending at least partially around the rectangular periphery of the skirt, the tear away strip providing an inward peripheral ridge projecting into the anchor groove and engaging the bottom edge of the outer flange to retain the closure on the serving lid, the tear away strip integrally providing a pull tab adapted to be pulled to disconnect the tear away strip from the skirt along the line of weakness.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein skirt is supported by the serving lid to maintain a spaced relationship between the top panel and the top.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the closure is transparent to view said promotional materials through the closure.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure includes an upwardly depending rectangular support wall sized to fit in the cavity in contact with the inner surface of the rectangular bead.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure comprises injection molded plastic, wherein the closure is snapped onto the serving lid.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the metal can includes an annular bead projecting outward from the sidewall and extending around the side wall, the annular bead proximate the bottom edge of the tear away strip and having an outer periphery surface that is about equal to that of the tear away strip such that the tear away strip lies substantial flush with the annular bead.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein disconnecting the tear away strip completely releases the tamper resistant overcap from the serving lid for disposal.

8. A container, comprising:

a canister having a bottom wall and the sidewall extending upright from the bottom wall to a terminating edge forming an open end;

a serving lid including a top plate having an outer flange depending downwardly from the outer periphery of the top plate, the flange surrounding the open edge to enclose the open end, the top plate having dispensing ports adapted to be selectively covered by openable flaps; and

a closure overcap including a top panel covering each of the flaps of the serving lid, a rectangular border depending downwardly from the top panel, generally surrounding the flange of the serving lid, and a ridge projecting inward from the inner periphery of the border, the ridge engaging the bottom edge of the outer flange to retain the closure on the serving lid.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein top panel has a spaced relationship with the top plate to form a gap therebetween sufficient for receiving promotional materials.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the closure is transparent to view promotional materials through the closure.

11. The container of claim 8 wherein the closure overcap includes a tear away strip adapted to be disconnected from the rest of the closure overcap along a line of weakness.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein disconnecting the tear away strip completely releases the tamper resistant overcap from the serving lid for disposal.

13. The container of claim 8 wherein the closure overcap includes an support wall rising above the top panel adapted to support a bottom surface of the canister of another container.