Container and Closure Assembly

Abstract

A container and closure assembly includes a container and a closure. The container defines an opening and includes a lip positioned around the opening. The closure includes a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt, a first and second blocking structure, a tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and a plurality of first rib extensions. The skirt defines an internal closure space and including (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the first skirt portion. The second skirt portion includes a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first blocking structure is secured to the skirt. The tab extends downwardly from a second part of the first skirt portion and is positioned in the gap.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to assemblies that include a container and a removable closure associated therewith. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a container and closure assembly having a closure configured to securely engage the container, but be readily removable therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

Manufacturers commonly package and distribute foodstuffs in assemblies, each of which includes a container and a removable closure. Container and closure assemblies simplify the transportation of packaged foodstuffs, provide surface space for nutritional labeling, and in some instances function as the receptacle from which a user consumes the foodstuff. The assembly includes a generally bowl shaped portion and a removable lid. The bowl portion defines a cavity suitable to contain a quantity of dry, liquid, and/or semi-liquid product. The bowl portion typically has a generally cylindrical shape and a generally flat bottom, which stabilizes the container. The removable lid seals the cavity formed by the bowl portion to preserve the freshness of the food product and to prevent the food product from spilling out of the bowl portion. A user may separate the lid from the bowl portion to expose an opening through which the user may remove the product stored within the container. The removable lid may include a pull-tab or other similar device to assist a user in detaching the lid from the bowl portion. After detaching the lid, a user may place the bowl portion in a microwave oven to heat the product before consumption. Accordingly, the bowl portion may be manufactured from a microwave safe material. In general, users place the closure over the opening formed by the removal of the lid before heating the bowl portion in a microwave oven.

The container may further include a lip, which defines the opening of the container. The lid and the lip may be an integral structure, which is attached to the bowl portion. Alternatively, the lip may be formed integrally with the bowl portion and the lid may be removably connected to the lip. In each case, the lip remains connected to the bowl portion after the lid has been removed. A user may not reattach the lid to the lip after the user has separated the lid from the lip.

The closure covers the opening of the container. A user may remove and reattach the closure to the container. During distribution and storage of the container and closure assembly, the closure fits over the lip and the lid. Accordingly, the closure provides a surface upon which a user may stack other container and closure assemblies. During use by a user, the user removes the closure from the container to expose the lid. After the user removes the lid, the user may cover the opening by reattaching the closure to the container. The closure may include vent openings, which enable steam to escape the bowl portion during heating. Additionally, the closure prevents the food product within the bowl portion from splattering out of the container during heating.

The closure may distort and/or deform during heating of the container filled with food and covered by the closure. In particular, during heating the closure may expand or otherwise change shape, such that the heated closure is no longer adequately attached to the container. What is needed, therefore, is an improved container and closure assembly, which includes a closure that securely attaches to its associated container under various thermal conditions including heating, yet is readily removable therefrom.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a container and closure assembly is provided. The container and closure assembly includes a container and a closure. The container defines an opening and includes a lip positioned around the opening. The closure is configured to be attached to the container. The closure includes a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt, a first and second blocking structure, a tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and a plurality of first rib extensions. The skirt defines an internal closure space and includes (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the first skirt portion. The second skirt portion includes a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first blocking structure is secured to the skirt. The tab extends downwardly from a second part of the first skirt portion and is positioned in the gap. The second blocking structure is secured to the tab. The plurality of spaced apart first ribs is misaligned with the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The plurality of spaced apart second ribs is aligned with one of the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart second ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The first plurality of first rib extensions is (i) secured to a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and is (ii) spaced apart from the skirt. A plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between the plurality of first rib extensions and the skirt, and the lip of the container is positioned in each of the first lip spaces when the closure is attached to the container.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a closure assembly is provided, which is adapted to be attached to a container. The closure assembly includes a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt, a first and second blocking structure, a tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and a plurality of first rib extensions. The skirt defines an internal closure space and includes (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the first skirt portion. The second skirt portion has a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first blocking structure is secured to the skirt. The tab extends downwardly from a second part of the first skirt portion and is positioned in the gap. The second blocking structure is secured to the tab. The plurality of spaced apart first ribs is misaligned with the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The plurality of spaced apart second ribs is aligned with one of the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart second ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The plurality of first rib extensions is (i) secured to a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and is (ii) spaced apart from the skirt. A plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between the plurality of first rib extensions and the skirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Features of the present invention should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description with reference to the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container and closure assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the container and closure assembly of FIG. 1, taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view of the container and closure assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the closure of the container and closure assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the bottom side of the closure of the container and closure assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure that is configured to be used with the container of the container and closure assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the present disclosure and referring now to FIG. 1, a container and closure assembly 10 includes a container 14 and a closure 18. The container 14 is configured to hold a quantity of dry, liquid, and/or semi-liquid product, such as a food product for human consumption. As an example, the food product is chicken noodle soup. The closure 18 is configured to attach to the container 14 and be removable therefrom. A user may place the container and closure assembly 10 in a microwave oven to heat the food product contained within the container 14. The closure 18 remains securely attached to the container 14 during the heating process.

As shown in FIG. 2, the container 14 includes a body 22 and a rim structure 23 that defines a lip 26. The body 22 has a generally cylindrical shape, which defines a cavity 32 suitable to contain a food product or any other solid, liquid, or semi-liquid product. Alternatively, the body 22 may be configured to have an elliptical, rectangular, or polygonal cross-sectional shape. The body 22 has a generally flat bottom portion to stabilize the container 14. The bottom of the body 22 is closed to contain the food product within the cavity 32. The rim structure 23 is secured to an upper end portion of the body 22 to define an opening 30 through which the container 14 is filled and emptied. The lip 26 completely surrounds the opening 30. The body 22 may be formed from materials that are conventionally used for the storage and after-purchase heating of food products. For example, the body 22 is formed from an injection moldable thermoplastic.

The rim structure 23 is a metallic component that is coupled to the body 22 in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the rim structure 23 may be integrally formed with the body 22 through a thermoplastic molding process so that both the lip 26 and the body collectively define a single polymeric component.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lip 26 defines a top surface 38, a bottom surface 42 opposed to the top surface, an inner surface 46, and an outer surface 50 opposed to the inner surface. Each of the inner surface 46, the outer surface 50, the top surface 38, and the bottom surface 42 is configured to interface with a portion of the closure 18 when the closure is coupled to the container 14. As an alternative, the rim structure 23 may have a largely rounded shape without prominent corners to define the surfaces 38, 42, 46, 50. Accordingly, the top surface 38, bottom surface 42, outer surface 50, and inner surface 46 refers to respective top, bottom, inner, and outer portions of the rim structure 23 regardless of whether the surfaces are rigidly defined.

The container 14 includes a lid 52, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 2, that a user may separate from the rim structure 23 of the container 14. When the lid 52 is connected to the rim structure 23, the lid covers the cavity 32 of the body 22 and provides an air-tight seal to enable the container 14 to store food products for a substantial period of time without spoiling, as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A score line (not illustrated) may be used between the rim structure 23 and the lid 52 to facilitate separation of the lid from the rim structure 23 and to allow easy opening and access to the product within the body 22 of the container 14. The lid 52 may include a pull-tab (not illustrated) to enable a user to remove the lid from the rim structure 23 without an additional tool, such as a can opener.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the closure 18 of the container and closure assembly 10 surrounds the rim structure 23 and the upper portion of the body 22. A user may detach the closure 18 from the container 14 to expose the lid 52. After the user removes the lid, the user may reattach the closure 18 to the container 14, as shown in FIG. 2. The container and closure assembly 10 (without the lid 52) may be placed in a microwave oven for heating of the food product contained in the container 14. As described below, features of the closure 18 ensure that the closure remains securely fastened to the rim structure 23 of the container 14 during the heating process.

The closure 18 may be made from materials conventionally used for the storage and after-purchase heating of food products. Exemplary materials for making the closure 18 include, but are not limited to, polypropylene (“PP”), linear low-density polyethylene (“LLDPE”), and other injection moldable thermoplastics. In one embodiment, the closure 18 is made from nucleated PP having a density of approximately 0.800 to 1.00 grams per cubic centimeter and a melt index of approximately 50 to 170 grams per 10 minutes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the closure 18 includes a top portion 54 and a skirt 55. The skirt 55 includes an upper skirt portion 58 and a lower skirt portion 62. A reference line 64 delineates the upper skirt portion 58 from the lower skirt portion 62. The top portion 54 defines a periphery of the closure 18. The top portion 54, as illustrated, defines a circular periphery; however, the top portion may define a periphery of any shape as required by the shape of the opening 30. In one embodiment, the top portion 54 is generally circular, has a diameter between approximately 9.0 to 12.0 centimeters, and is formed of a material having a thickness of approximately 0.20 to 0.60 millimeters. The top portion 54 includes a plurality of vent holes 66 to allow steam to pass through the closure 18.

The upper skirt portion 58 extends from the periphery of the top portion 54 to form a cylindrical structure defining an internal closure space 70 (FIG. 2). In a particular embodiment, the upper skirt portion 58 extends downward from the top portion 54 approximately 0.30 to 0.70 centimeters and has a thickness of approximately 0.4 to 0.8 millimeters. The lower skirt portion 62 extends downward from a portion of the upper skirt portion 58. In one embodiment, the lower skirt portion 62 extends from the upper skirt portion 58 approximately 0.7 to 1.2 centimeters. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower skirt portion 62 includes a side edge 74 and a side edge 78 that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap 82. When the closure 18 is connected to the container 14, the outer surface 50 of the rim structure 23 faces the skirt 55.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure 18 further includes a tab 86, which a user may move or pivot from a relaxed position to an unrelaxed position. When the tab 86 is in the unrelaxed position, a user may easily remove the closure 18 from the container 14; however, when the tab is in the relaxed position, the closure positively engages the container 14 and a user may not easily remove the closure from the container. The tab 86 extends downward from a portion of the upper skirt portion 58 and is positioned in the gap 82 between the side edge 74 and the side edge 78 of the lower skirt portion 62, as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the closure 14 includes two blocking structures 90 and 94, which facilitate securing the closure 18 to the container 14. The blocking structures 90 and 94 may be configured as detents, protuberances, or vertex segments. The blocking structure 90 is connected to an inside surface of the lower skirt portion 62. The other blocking structure 94 is connected to an inside surface of the tab 86. Both blocking structures 90 and 94 extend toward the center of the closure 18. As shown in FIG. 3, when the closure 18 is attached to the container 14, the blocking structure 90 contacts the bottom surface 42 of the lip 26 to secure the closure 18 to the container 14. The blocking structure 94 engages the lip 26 as shown in FIG. 2. The blocking structures 90 and 94 overlap the bottom surface 42 between approximately 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters. When the closure 18 is connected to the container 14, the bottom surface 42 faces each of the blocking structures 90 and 94.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the closure 18 includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs 98 positioned at least partially in the internal closure space 70. The ribs 98 are attached to the upper skirt portion 58 and the top portion 54, and are configured to increase the rigidity of the closure 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the rib 98 includes an interiorly facing side 102, an exteriorly facing side 106 secured to the skirt portion 58, an upper side 110 secured to the top portion 54, and a lower side 114. The ribs 98 are interposed between the rim structure 23 and the top portion 54 when the closure 18 is attached to the container 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ribs 116 are aligned with the blocking structures 90 and 94, while the remaining ribs 98 are misaligned with the blocking structures 90 and 94. Accordingly, a plane 118 superimposed on the top portion 54 of the closure 18 so as to intersect both the blocking structure 90 and the blocking structure 94, divides the closure into a first closure half portion and a second closure half portion each having an equal number of ribs 98 that are misaligned with the blocking structures 90 and 94. As shown in FIG. 5, the plane 118 intersects each rib 116 aligned with the blocking structures 90 and 94.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the closure 18 includes rib extensions 122, which are connected to the lower side 114 (FIG. 3) of the ribs 98. Each rib 98 includes an extension 122. The extensions 122 ensure that the closure 18 remains securely connected to the container 14 as the food product within the container is heated. As shown in FIG. 3, the extension 122 includes an exteriorly facing side 126, an interiorly facing side 130, and a lower side 134. The interiorly facing side 130 is flush with the interiorly facing side 102 of the rib 98. When the closure 18 is connected to the container 14, the top surface 38 of the rim structure 23 faces each of the ribs 98 and the inner surface 46 of the lip 26 faces the extensions 122.

A plurality of lip spaces 138, one of which is shown in FIG. 3, is respectively defined between the rib extensions 122 and the skirt 55. Each lip space 138 has a width approximately equal to the distance between the inner surface 46 and the outer surface 50 of the lip 26, such that the lip may enter the lip space in response to the closure 18 being attached to the container 14. In particular, each lip space 138 is configured as a generally U-shaped receptacle formed by the exteriorly facing side 126 of the extension 122, the lower side 114 of the rib 98 to which the extension 122 is connected, and the interiorly facing side of the skirt 55. When the closure 18 is connected to the container 14, a portion of each rib 98 becomes interposed between the lip spaces 138 and the top portion 54.

In operation, the container and closure assembly 10 contains a food product and functions as a receptacle from which a user may consume the food product. To prepare the food product for consumption, a user begins by removing the closure 18 from the container 14. To remove the closure 18, the user moves the tab 86 from the relaxed position to the unrelaxed position in the direction of arrow 146 of FIG. 2. While holding the tab 86 in the unrelaxed position, the user applies an upward force in the direction of arrow 150 (FIG. 2) to the closure 18 to advance the blocking structure 94 past the lip 26 and to separate the closure from the container 14. The tab 86 returns to the relaxed state after the user releases the force on the tab. Next, the user separates the lid 52 from the rim structure 23 by pulling a pull-tab away from the container 14, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Separation of the lid 52 from the rim structure 23 allows the food product to be withdrawn from the container 14.

If the user desires to heat the food product within the container 14, the user reattaches the closure 18 to the container after removing the lid 52. To reattach the closure 18, the user places the closure on the top of the container 14 such that the internal closure space 70 surrounds the rim structure 23. Next, the user applies a downward force (opposite direction of arrow 150) to the top portion 54. The downward force causes the blocking structures 90 and 94 to slide along the rim structure 23 and then advance under the lip 26 to their position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the bottom surface of each of the blocking structures 90 and 94 face the lip 26. Also in this position, when the closure 18 is attached to the container 14, the lip 26 is located in the lip spaces 138.

Once the user has reattached the closure 18 to the container 14, the user then places the container and closure assembly 10 in a microwave oven to heat the food product. During the heating process, the closure 18 is subjected to heat. Nonetheless, the closure 18 remains securely attached to the container 14. In particular, even if the closure 18 exhibits a change in configuration in response to the heat, the closure remains securely connected to the container 14 due to physical interaction of the lip 26, the extensions 122, and/or the skirt 55.

Another embodiment of the closure 18′ of the container and closure assembly 10 is illustrated in FIG. 6. For clarity, like components of the closure 18 and the closure 18′ are labeled with like reference numerals except that the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 includes a prime symbol. The closure 18′ is configured and operates in the exact same manner as the closure 18, except that the closure 18′ does not include extensions 122′ on the ribs 116′ that are aligned with the blocking structures 90′ and 94′, as shown in FIG. 6.

Variations and modifications of the present disclosure are possible; however, all variations and modifications, which are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, are considered to be within the scope of protection granted by this Letters Patent.

Claims

1. A container and closure assembly, comprising:

a container defining an opening and having a lip positioned around said opening;

a closure configured to be attached to said container, said closure including: a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt defining an internal closure space and including (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from said periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of said first skirt portion, said second skirt portion having a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap, a first blocking structure secured to said skirt, a tab extending downwardly from a second part of said first skirt portion and positioned in said gap, a second blocking structure secured to said tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs each of which is misaligned with said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs each of which is aligned with one of said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt, and a plurality of first rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,

wherein a plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of first rib extensions and said skirt, and

wherein said lip of said container is positioned in each of said first lip spaces when said closure is attached to said container.

2. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, the closure further comprising:

a plurality of second rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,

wherein a plurality of second lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of second rib extensions and said skirt, and

wherein said lip of said container is positioned in each of said second lip spaces when said closure is attached to said container.

3. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs includes (i) an interiorly facing side, (ii) an exteriorly facing side secured to said skirt, (iii) a lower side, and (iv) an upper side secured to said top portion, and

said lower side is configured as a flat edge surface that extends from said exteriorly facing side to said interiorly facing side.

4. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said lip is interposed between said first blocking structure and one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs when said closure is attached to said container, and

said lip is interposed between said second blocking structure and another of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs when said closure is attached to said container.

5. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs is interposed between said lip and said top portion when said closure is attached to said container.

6. The container and closure assembly of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs is interposed between said lip and said top portion when said closure is attached to said container.

7. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion, and

said first closure portion and said second closure portion possess an equal number of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs.

8. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure half portion and a second closure half portion.

9. The container and closure assembly of claim 8, wherein said plane further intersects each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs.

10. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of spaced apart first ribs includes a first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs and a second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs,

said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion,

said first closure portion includes said first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs, and

said second closure portion includes said second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs.

11. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said lip defines a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface,

said closure is configured so that, when said closure is attached to said container, (i) said top surface faces each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs and each of plurality of spaced apart second ribs, (ii) said bottom surface faces each of said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, (iii) said outer surface faces said skirt, and (iv) said inner surface faces each of said plurality of first rib extensions.

12. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is respectively defined by (i) an exteriorly facing side of one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) a lower side of one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) an interiorly facing side of said skirt.

13. The container and closure assembly of claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is defined by a generally U-shaped receptacle structure formed by (i) said exteriorly facing side of one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) said lower side of one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) said interiorly facing side of said skirt.

14. A closure assembly adapted to be attached to a container, comprising:

a top portion defining a periphery,

a skirt defining an internal closure space and including (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from said periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of said first skirt portion, said second skirt portion having a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap,

a first blocking structure secured to said skirt,

a tab extending downwardly from a second part of said first skirt portion and positioned in said gap,

a second blocking structure secured to said tab,

a plurality of spaced apart first ribs each of which is misaligned with said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt,

a plurality of spaced apart second ribs each of which is aligned with one of said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt, and

a plurality of first rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,

wherein a plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of first rib extensions and said skirt.

15. The closure assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of second rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,

wherein a plurality of second lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of second rib extensions and said skirt.

16. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein:

each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs includes (i) an interiorly facing side, (ii) an exteriorly facing side secured to said skirt, (iii) a lower side, and (iv) an upper side secured to said top portion.

17. The closure assembly of claim 16, wherein:

a first additional lip space is defined between said first blocking structure and one of said plurality of second ribs, and

a second additional lip space is defined between said second blocking structure and another of said plurality of second ribs.

18. The closure assembly of claim 17, wherein:

said one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs is interposed between said first additional lip space and said top portion, and

said other of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs is interposed between said second additional lip space and said top portion.

19. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs is respectively interposed between said plurality of first lip spaces and said top portion.

20. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein:

said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion, and

said first closure portion and said second closure portion possess an equal number of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs.

21. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure half portion and a second closure half portion.

22. The closure assembly of claim 21, wherein said plane further intersects each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs.

23. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of spaced apart first ribs includes a first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs and a second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs,

said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure to intersect each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion,

said first closure portion includes said first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs, and

said second closure portion includes said second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs.

24. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is respectively defined by (i) an exteriorly facing side of one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) a lower side of one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) an interiorly facing side of said skirt.

25. The closure assembly of claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is further defined by a generally U-shaped receptacle structure formed by (i) said exteriorly facing side of said one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) said lower side of said one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) said interiorly facing side of said skirt.