Abstract: A packaging container has an upper top member and a lower bottom member, and at least one cooperating locking means. Each locking means comprises an upstanding post and a cooperating opening or recess formed in extending lips of the top and bottom members. A weakened fault zone is formed in the immediate region of each post, or of each cooperating opening or recess, and circumscribes the same. The packaging container is locked in its closed position after it has been filled, by crimping the end of each post in an axial direction so as to mechanically deform the post. Any attempt to disengage a crimped post will result in failure of the respective weakened fault zone and may be construed as tampering, and thus the damaged material of the package in the region of the failed fault zone is evidence of tampering.

Abstract: A cup lid comprising a base cup lid having a drink-through opening formed therein in a planar top portion thereof, and a rotatable stopper associated therewith so as to selectively provide a sealed and unsealed relationship between said drink-through opening and a opening in said rotatable stopper. The base cup lid and the rotatable stopper are mated to one another by the use of convoluted portions on each part which form a sliding tongue and groove relationship. The rotatable stopper has an actuator that can be used to move the rotatable stopper from a closed position wherein the opening in the rotatable stopper and the drink-through opening in the base cup lid, are not aligned, to an open position where the opening in the rotatable stopper and the drink-through opening in the base cup lid, are aligned. An easily operated resealable cup lid is provided.

Abstract: A disposable cup lid for placement onto the rim of a drinking cup has a cover portion having a drinking access port and a condiment opening, a rim portion, a reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab, a hinge, a post and a recess. The cup lid is structured in such a manner that when the condiment opening is not in use, the condiment opening is reclosable by the condiment tab.

Abstract: A disposable cup lid for placement onto a drinking cup is provided, having a tear tab which is generally aligned with the orientation of the extruded plastic sheet material from which the cup lid is made. There is a first, generally centrally located region in the lid, which has a higher elevation than the cup rim receiving recess at the periphery of the lid; and there is an indentation formed in the central region which is provided so as to accommodate the tear tab when it is folded back around a U-shaped hinge to create a drink-through opening in the cup lid. The indentation has a pair of detents located at its edges so as to hold and retain the tear tab in place when the foldback flap is folded back about the U-shaped hinge and the tear tab is inserted into the indentation. The tear tab is retained below the plane of the central region of the cup lid.

Abstract: A disposable cup lid is substantially circular, and has a downwardly facing cup rim engaging recess extending from 300.degree. to 360.degree. around the periphery. The recess is defined at its outer side by a downwardly depending apron, at its inner side by a downwardly directed recess sidewall, and at its top by a top wall between the apron and the recess sidewall. The apron extends 360.degree. around the periphery. An arcuate portion of the top surface extends radially outwardly to the apron, and has a radially directed axis of symmetry. A depressed "U"-shaped hinge is formed in the arcuate portion, and is oriented so as to be perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. A fault line is stamped into the the arcuate portion, in a location opposed to the "U"-shaped hinge, and is spaced radially inwardly from the apron by a distance which is at least equal to the width of the top wall of the cup rim engaging recess.

Abstract: A disposable dome lid is provided for use with a drinking cup such beverage cups used for the sale of hot and cold beverages. The top surface of a dome lid is elevated above the top surface of the beverage cup rim, when in place. The dome lid is configured so as to make a plug fit onto the beverage cup by the beverage cup rim extending into a downwardly facing recess formed for that purpose. A side surface depends downwardly from a substantially planar top surface of the lid, and is inset from the cup rim engaging recess. A portion of the side surface is displaced outwardly towards the outer periphery of the dome lid, and thus provides a surface for engaging the lower lip of the mouth of the user. A tear-back flap is defined by fault lines stamped into the top surface and a "U"-shaped hinge formed in the top surface.

Abstract: A lid is provided for closing off the open end of one of respective first and second containers, each container a different diameter and having a peripherally disposed bead at its open end. An axially disposed annular inner wall projects downwardly from a central cover portion, and defines a generally circular first annular channel open towards the bottom face of the lid. The upper limit of insertion of the peripherally disposed bead of a first container is defined by a generally planar edge. The wall defining the first annular channel has a radially inwardly extending central portion that forms a first reduced waist portion, which is shaped and dimensioned to retain the peripherally disposed bead of the first container, and also defines the upper limit of insertion of the bead of a second container which has a larger diameter, into a second channel formed in the lid.

Abstract: A disposable cup lid is provided for covering the open end of a beverage cup, especially a hot drinks cup for beverages such as coffee. The cup lid is a foldback lid, whereby an opening is formed in the lid by lifting and tearing the material of the cup lid at a designated portion of the rim thereof, then peeling back the drink-through portion of the lid, with the edges of the drink-through portion of the lid being defined by an orientation grain in the lid caused by extrusion of the sheet material from which it is formed. Two additional tab portions are formed into the rim of the lid, one at either side of the position where the grasp tab is located, so as to present forwardly extending tabs which are gently rounded at each edge of the drink-through portion of the lid after it has been formed, and thereby so as to preclude sharp edges at each edge of the drink-through portion being presented to the lips and tongue of the user.

Abstract: A thin plastic disposable lid for use with a cup, typically a disposable plastic styrofoam or paper container, is disclosed. The lid includes a small foldback portion that is partially removed from the remainder of the lid by tearing it along tear lines that are coincident with the oriented fibers of the plastic material, thus creating an opening in the lid. No pre-formed score lines, slits or notches are required to facilitate proper tearing of the lid. Further, the foldback portion is hinged and retained in intimate engagement by the lid when it is fully open. A specific feature of the lid is that the foldback portion is easy to fold back and to engage. The foldback portion is also resealable over the opening in the lid.

Abstract: A vacuum-formed lid for a large drinks container is disclosed made from extruded sheet plastic. The lid has provision for the user to remove a tear-out portion to leave a hole through which liquid may be poured out of the container. The lid includes a ridge which is gripped between finger and thumb. A slit is located just under the thumb, so that squeezing the ridge is effective to open the slit. The slit runs across the "grain" of the extruded plastic. The effect is that tearing the lid can be easily accomplished, yet the tear may be directed and controlled easily.

Abstract: The vacuum-formed plastic lid for a large disposable container of liquids includes a pouring spout formed into the rim of the lid. A portion of the lid can be torn out, and the liquid poured through the hole. A well in the lid constitutes a receptacle for storing and carrying a number of empty, smaller, drinking cups. The lid includes a ridge, and two cuts, one either side of the ridge. When a person squeezes the ridge, the cuts spread over the ridge, until they meet. The ridge constitutes also a handle, by which the person can manipulate and remove the tear-out portion.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for making sheet-plastic articles, such as lids for disposable drinking cups, by vacuum forming. The invention provides spacers that fit into the holes in the stripper plate of the apparatus for the purpose of matching the size of the hole closely to that of the die impression. The spacers are flanged and in three segments, the segments being so arranged that two of the segments can be first placed in the hole, their flanges being entered into a groove in the hole, then the third is located in the hole and maneuvered radially outwards until its flange too is located in the groove. The segments are retained in place with a spring ring. The segmented spacers can easily be inserted at arm's length and by feel alone. The spacers are themselves radially thin so that the holes in the stripper plate can be packed tightly together.

Abstract: A lid for containers, usually beverage cups which may be for hot beverages or cold beverages, is provided, having a cavity adapted for seating against the bead of the container. A skirt extends downwardly from the cavity, having a number of outwardly extending projections formed in it, each of the projections having a substantially rectangular appearance with a vertical face and vertical side walls. The portions of the skirt between the outwardly extending projections extend inwardly to form a discontinued waist having an undercut which defines the cavity in the waist portion; the cavity being defined by a higher and less inwardly extending undercut over the top portion of each of the outwardly extending projections. Beneath the projections and the waist portions between them there extends outwardly and downwardly a lower band portion; below which may be a vertically extending wall, and which may have an outwardly turned lip at its bottom.