Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable container lid for releasably mounting to a disposable container. The lid includes a central portion having a rim engaging means about the circumference of the central portion. An access strip is provided by a pair of tear impressions extending from the rim engaging means to a hinge means located in the central portion. By breaking the tear impressions, the access strip can be pivoted back from the hinge means to create an access opening through the lid. The central portion of the lid has a primary slit therein which is preferably arcuate. At each end of the primary slit there is a tab forming slit, each forming an inwardly directed retaining flap. A deflection flap is formed by the combination of the primary slit and the tab forming slits. To lock the access strip in a non-interfering position, it is folded back and pushed against the central portion of the lid thereby causing the deflection flap to deflect down toward the contents of the container.

Abstract: A foamable plastic material is introduced to an extruder to produce a tubular parison of the material that is subsequently clamped between mold halves moving both axially and radially inwardly to form cavities for open mounted containers. Cavities for two containers are provided with each set of mold haves clamped together around the parison at the middle of the mold set to provide individual container cavities extending on either side of the clamped portion, said individual cavities terminating in the mouth portion of the container cavity which is joined in a mouth to mouth relationship with an individual container cavity of the next set of mold halves.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming frangible score lines in rigid plastic sheet material. The apparatus utilizes a flat surface having a serrated edge having points and notches. The rigid plastic sheet material is laid on the flat surface. A scoring means is positioned to strike downwardly on the sheet material whereby the points of the serrated edge of the flat surface will extend into the sheet material a distance further than the notches of the serrated edge to thus form a corrugated fracturable score line in the plastic sheet material. The apparatus is useful for forming score lines in lids for drink cups intended for fast food service.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for making an article, such as a lid for a plastic food container made of plastic having frangible score lines. The article is formed of a sheet of plastic material having substantially constant thickness with score lines defining an offset portion thereof which is connected to the remaining sheet material by a segment that is thinner than said sheet material and being rupturable for the removal of said offset portion. The periphery of the inwardly directed portion of said offset portion overlaps the periphery of the outwardly directed portion of the offset portion on the opposite side of said sheet material. The fracturable score lines are corrugated along their length by a plurality of successive grooves and ridges with the grooves extending deeper into the material than the ridges.

Abstract: A method for making an article, such as a plastic food container lid having frangible score lines. The article is formed of a sheet of plastic material having substantially constant thickness with score lines defining an offset portion thereof which is connected to the remaining sheet material by a segment that is thinner than the sheet material and being rupturable for the removal of the offset portion. The periphery of the inwardly directed portion of the offset portion overlaps the periphery of the outwardly directed portion of the offset portion on the opposite side of the sheet material. The fracturable score lines are corrugated along their length by a plurality of successive grooves and ridges with the grooves extending deeper into the material than the ridges.

Abstract: A method for tearing a thin sheet material and a tearable thin sheet material having a predetermined tear line wherein the material is corrugated along a predetermined tear line to be torn. The corrugations have at least one edge, a base and an apex and the material is torn along said edge.

Abstract: An extruder or the like, continuously issues a heated plastics material in the form of an elongated web, which is moved sequentially to molding and article severing stations. The products cut out are moved to lip rolling printing and drying stations. Articles such as containers are formed by the mechanism which includes a turntable assembly for varying the length of the web travel path between an extruder and forming station to thereby control the residual heat in the web at the time of forming, and a molding drum with improved plug assist devices which are air powered and also include air emitting ports to move the web into intimate engagement with the mold cavities as a final forming step under controlled conditions which assure that the pressure is applied at exactly the proper time. The system includes a lip curling system which feeds containers severed from the web in stepwise fashion through forming roll sections and releases them in timed relation to indexible mandrels.