Tamper resistant container with locking rim

• US 8,286,817 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mccormick & Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mccormick & Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Tracie Lynn, Gift, Steve, Coulter, Tom, Sawyer, Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Madison L
• Application Number:
  US12/254,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 220/254.2, 220/254.3, 220/254.4, 220/254.5, 220/266, 220/270, 220/831, 222/480, 222/556, 534/78, 534/85
• US Class Current: 220/254.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1091 Closures made integrally with the base element at a point remote from the hinge
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/25 Non-metallic tear-off strips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0828 and elastically biased towards the open position only

Abstract

A multi-section lid for a can containing edible material includes a lid base, a cover portion, and a tear strip. The lid base can attach the lid to the can. The lid base defines one or more openings that permit access to the edible material. The cover portion includes one or more doors to cover the openings. The tear strip portion is positioned between the lid base and the cover portion. The tear strip portion is connected to the lid base and the cover portion by a plurality of bridges. The mold for forming the lid includes cavities that define flow channels that permit the lid material to flow through bridge cavities to fill the cavities in the mold during formation of the lid such that the lid base, the cover portion, and the tear strip portion are the single integral component.

Claims

1. A multi-section lid for a can containing edible material, comprising:

a lid base to attach the lid to the can, the lid base defining one or more openings where said openings permit access to the edible material;

a cover portion comprising one or more doors to cover said openings; and

a tear strip portion positioned between said lid base and said cover portion, wherein a bottom edge of said tear strip portion is connected to the lid base by a first plurality of bridges and a top edge of the tear strip portion is connected to the cover portion by a second plurality of bridges,

wherein said lid base, cover portion, and tear strip portion are a single integral component with the tear strip portion positioned between the lid base and the cover portion such that the first plurality of bridges is molded between the bottom edge of said tear strip portion and the lid base and the second plurality of bridges is molded between the top edge of said tear strip portion and the cover portion.

2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein two or more of said bridges are trapezoidally shaped.

3. The lid according to claim 1, further comprising:

plug portions integrally formed on an end of each door, wherein

said lid base defines slots to receive each door plug portion, and

said plug portions form door hinges when inserted into said slots.

4. The lid according to claim 3, further comprising:

a locking finger positioned on a back side of each of the door hinges and facing downward into the slots when each of the door is in a closed position,

wherein the locking finger is configured to contact the respective door hinge when the door is in an open position to prevent the door from closing.

5. The lid according to claim 3, wherein the slots each include a base plug configured to prevent sifting of the edible material through the slots when the cover portion is in a folded position.

6. The lid according to claim 2, further comprising:

plug portions integrally formed on an end of each door, wherein

said lid base defines slots to receive each door plug portion, and

said plug portions form door hinges when inserted into said slots.

7. The lid according to claim 6, further comprising:

a locking finger positioned on a back side of each of the door hinges and facing downward into the slots when each of the door is in a closed position,

wherein the locking finger is configured to contact the respective door hinge when the door is in an open position to prevent the door from closing.

8. The lid according to claim 6, wherein the slots each include a base plug configured to prevent sifting of the edible material through the slots when the cover portion is in a folded position.

9. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid base, the cover portion, and the tear strip portion are formed together as the single integral component.

10. A multi-section lid for a can containing edible material, comprising:

a lid base to attach the lid to the can, the lid base defining one or more openings where said openings permit access to the edible material;

a cover portion comprising one or more doors to cover said openings;

a tear strip portion is positioned between said lid base and said cover portion, and said tear strip portion is connected to the lid base and the cover portion by a plurality of bridges;

plug portions integrally formed on an end of each door, said lid base defines slots to receive each plug portion, and said plug portions form door hinges when inserted into said slots; and

a locking finger positioned on a back side of each of the door hinges and facing downward into the slots when each of the door is in a closed position, and the locking finger is configured to contact the respective door hinge when the door is in an open position to prevent the door from closing,

wherein said lid base, cover portion, and tear strip portion are a single integral component.

11. The lid according to claim 10, wherein two or more of said bridges are trapezoidally shaped.

12. The lid according to claim 10, wherein the slots each include a base plug configured to prevent sifting of the edible material through the slots when the cover portion is in a folded position.