CONTAINER LID
A container lid system is compatible with traditional metal-rimmed paper ice cream containers, and protects the user from interaction with any sharp metal edges or points. The lid system includes a protector strip disposed over the metal rim, which completely shields the user from contact with any sharp rim edges. A selectively removable and replaceable lid allows the containers to be shipped, opened and used while maintaining protection of with the rim. The lid may also serve as, or be provided with, a replaceable night cover compatible with the protected rim. Accordingly, the metal rim strip is never exposed to the user's hands or arms during use of the ice cream container, either during initial removal of the lid or when replacing and subsequently removing of the night cover.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/010,241, filed on Jun. 10, 2014, entitled CONTAINER LID, the entire disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to containers, and, more specifically, to disposable food containers and lid systems useable with the same.
BACKGROUNDFood containers, such as ice cream containers, may be used for bulk delivery of a food product from a manufacturer or distributor to a vendor or end user. For example, in the ice cream industry, ice cream is delivered to ice cream vendors in three gallon wound paper containers. At the upper end of each container is a metal strip which covers the lip of the bucket opening, and serves to maintain the shape and structural integrity of the paper container as ice cream is dispensed. Typically, these three gallon containers are provided with a paper lid which fits over the metal rim to seal the ice cream within the bucket during transportation and delivery.
In some cases, the three gallon container capacity is sufficient for several days of demand for a particular product (e.g., a particular ice cream flavor). At the end of each day after initially opening the bucket, the paper lid may be replaced on the top of the bucket in order to maintain product freshness and prevent contamination. However, the paper lid delivered with the bucket may lose its shape after several uses. In some cases, a “night cover” made of plastic may be provided for overnight storage of a partially used ice cream container, rather than reusing the original paper cover.
The metal rim on the upper lip of the container is typically formed as a metal strip which is folded over the lip, such that the strip mounts to the upper edge of the container with the edges of the metal strip facing downward. In one configuration, this metal strip extends around the circular periphery of the container lip (the container being generally cylindrical), with the ends of the metal strip overlapping one another. An example of this configuration is shown as container 22 in
The present disclosure provides a container lid system compatible with traditional metal-rimmed paper ice cream containers which protects the user from interaction with any sharp metal edges or points. The lid system includes a protector strip disposed over the metal rim, which completely shields the user from contact with any sharp rim edges. A selectively removable and replaceable lid allows the containers to be shipped, opened and used while maintaining protection of with the rim. The lid may also serve as, or be provided with, a replaceable night cover compatible with the protected rim. Accordingly, the metal rim strip is never exposed to the user's hands or arms during use of the ice cream container, either during initial removal of the lid or when replacing and subsequently removing of the night cover.
In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides a container lid system comprising: a container body defining an interior container volume with an access opening; a reinforcement strip fixed to the access opening, the reinforcement strip having an interior portion protruding at least partially into the container volume; a protector strip attached to the reinforcement strip and covering the interior portion of the reinforcement strip; a lid sized to be received over the access opening to substantially seal the interior container volume; and a tear-away strip removably affixed to the lid such that the lid is affixed to the protector strip when the tear-away strip is affixed to the lid, and the lid is removable from the protector strip when the tear-away strip is removed from the lid.
In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a container lid system comprising: a container with a container body defining an interior container volume with an access opening; a reinforcement strip fixed to the access opening, the reinforcement strip having an interior portion protruding at least partially into the container volume; a protector means for protecting a user of the container from the reinforcement strip; a lid means for substantially sealing the interior container volume; and a dislodging means for separating the protector means from the lid means, the dislodging means manipulable by a user of the container lid system to remove the lid means to access the interior container volume.
In yet another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a container comprising: providing a container body defining an interior container volume with an access opening disposed at a boundary of the interior container volume; affixing a reinforcement strip to the access opening, such that an interior portion of the reinforcement strip protrudes at least partially into the container volume; attaching a protector strip to the reinforcement strip to cover the interior portion of the reinforcement strip, such that the interior portion is rendered inaccessible by a user when the protector strip is attached to the reinforcement strip; and providing a lid with a tear-away strip attached thereto, the tear-away strip removably affixed to the lid by a loop of thinned and/or perforated material corresponding to the boundary of the interior container volume.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe present disclosure provides a container lid system including a permanently mounted protector strip and a selectively removable cover which is compatible with the protector strip for transportation and/or storage of the container and contents. For purposes of the present disclosure, “permanently mounted” does not indicate that the protector strip is non-removable from the container to which it is attached, but rather that the protector strip may be mounted to the container prior to delivery to the end user and may remain mounted throughout use by the end user without compromising the intended use and function of the container and lid system.
Turning to
Turning back to
The linear profile of interior portion 42 gives way at its upper end to an outwardly curving arcuate exterior portion 44, which curves radially outwardly around upper rim 40 and exterior portion 38 of reinforcement strip 32 as illustrated. In an exemplary embodiment, the overall length of reinforcement strip 32 is substantially equal to the circumference of upper rim 40, such that the respective ends of protector strip 24 meet at junction 46 (
Referring again to
More specifically, as shown in
Alternative lid 48A and tear away strip 50A adapted for compatibility with alternative container 22A and reinforcement strip 32A. As shown, container 22A has an upper rim 40A which lacks the “rolled” structure depicted in
Protector strip 24A is similarly formed to protector strip 24, and includes interior portion 42A extending below the bottom end of reinforcement strip 32A and a curled exterior portion 44A along its upper end as shown.
Tear-away strip 50A includes a radially-inwardly extending protrusion 52A, similarly configured to protrusion 52 of tear-away strip 50. Physical interaction between protrusion 52A and exterior portions 38A, 44A of reinforcement and protector strips 32A and 24A, respectively, poses a barrier to lifting lid 48A away from container 22A. This barrier ensures that lid 48A cannot be removed from container without removal or substantial deformation of tear-away strip 50A, such that lid 48A may be said to be “permanently” or “non-removably” affixed to container 22A as long as tear-away strip 50A remains in place. Tear-away strip 50A is removable using the same principle as tear-away strip 50, described in further detail below.
Turning to
The thinned and/or perforated boundary 56 forms a loop around the entire circumference of lid assembly 26, such that continued pulling on tab 54 continues this separation until tear-away strip 50 is completely removed from lid 48 as illustrated in
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, both lid 48 and tear-away strip 50 are made from a polymer material. In another exemplary embodiment, lid 48 may be formed from a paper material, and bonded to tear-away strip 50 by welding (e.g., ultrasonic welding) to tear-away strip 50. In still another embodiment, tear-away strip 50 and lid 48 may both be formed from a paper material, with perforation and/or material thinning to facilitate removal of strip 50 from lid 48.
With tear-away strip 50 removed, lid 48 operates as a night cover as noted above, because lid 48 is selectively removable from and reattachable to upper rim 40 of container 22 via protector strip 24. Advantageously, the design of
Turning now to
Lid assembly 126 includes protector strip 124 having interior portion 142 and exterior portion 144 which cooperate to cover and protect reinforcement strip 32, in similar fashion to protector strip 24 described in detail above. Moreover, lid assembly 126 is received upon and interfaces with container 22 in a substantially identical fashion as lid assembly 26 described above. However, lid assembly 126 further includes a central portion or inset 170 which is removably affixed to interior portion 142 of protector strip 124 by a thinned or perforated boundary loop 156 of material, as best seen in
When inset 170 is so affixed to protector strip 124 (
Similar to tear-away strip 50 described above, interior tear-away strip 150 provides a tamper-evident seal for the interior cavity of container 22, in that access to product P requires destruction of the thinned boundary loop 156 via the tearing away of interior tear-away strip 150.
To remove inset 170, a user may grasp tab 154 and pull away tear-away strip 150, carrying inset 170 with it, as illustrated in
If it is desired to reseal access opening 30, a separate night cover 148 may be provided which is sized and shaped to fit over protector strip 24 and rim 40 of container body 28 in similar fashion to lid 48 described in detail above. Specifically, night cover 148 may be advanced downwardly along direction D4 (
Advantageously, container and lid assembly 120 provides the removable inset 170 with less overall material than container and lid assembly 20, which necessarily includes lid 48. Container and lid assembly 120 may therefore selectively exclude night cover 148, such as for users who anticipate or expect to use the entire contents of container 22 without needing to reseal access opening 30 (e.g., for overnight storage of left over product P). Thus, the user of cover and lid assembly 120 is presented with a potential savings as compared to container and lid assembly 20, because the user has the option to use or avoid night cover 148 according to his or her discretion.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A container lid system comprising:
- a container body defining an interior container volume with an access opening;
- a reinforcement strip fixed to said access opening, said reinforcement strip having an interior portion protruding at least partially into said container volume;
- a protector strip attached to said reinforcement strip and covering said interior portion of said reinforcement strip;
- a lid sized to be received over said access opening to substantially seal said interior container volume; and
- a tear-away strip removably affixed to said lid such that said lid is affixed to said protector strip when said tear-away strip is affixed to said lid, and said lid is removable from said protector strip when said tear-away strip is removed from said lid.
2. The container lid system of claim 1, wherein:
- said protector strip comprises a peripheral portion of said lid sized to be received on said reinforcement strip; and
- said tear-away strip comprises an interior tear-away strip disposed between said peripheral portion of said lid and a central portion of said lid, such that said central portion of said lid is removable to unseal said interior container volume while said peripheral portion remains attached to said reinforcement strip.
3. The container lid system of claim 2, wherein said interior tear-away strip is removably affixed to an interior portion of said protector strip by a loop of thinned and/or perforated material corresponding to a circumference of said access opening.
4. The container lid system of claim 2, further comprising a secondary lid sized to be received over said peripheral portion of said lid to selectively reseal said interior container volume after said tear-away strip is removed.
5. The container lid system of claim 4, wherein:
- said reinforcement strip is made of a metal material;
- said protector strip is made of a flexible polymer material;
- said lid is made of one of a paper material and a flexible polymer; and
- said secondary lid is made of a flexible polymer material.
6. The container lid system of claim 1, wherein:
- at least one of said reinforcement strip and said protector strip has an exterior portion protruding radially outwardly beyond an adjacent outer surface of said container body;
- said lid comprises a peripheral portion sized to be received on said protector strip; and
- said tear-away strip comprises an exterior tear-away strip including a radially-inwardly extending protrusion removably affixed to an edge of said peripheral portion of said lid, said radially-inwardly extending protrusion radially overlapping said exterior portion of said reinforcement strip such that said peripheral portion of said lid is fixed to said reinforcement strip until said tear-away strip is removed from said peripheral portion.
7. The container lid system of claim 6, wherein said exterior tear-away strip is removably affixed to an outer portion of said protector strip by a loop of thinned and/or perforated material corresponding to a circumference of said access opening.
8. The container lid system of claim 6, further comprising a secondary lid sized to be received over said peripheral portion of said lid to selectively reseal said interior container volume after said tear-away strip is removed, said secondary lid formed as a part of said lid without said tear-away strip.
9. The container lid system of claim 8, wherein:
- said reinforcement strip is made of a metal material;
- said protector strip is made of a flexible polymer material;
- said lid is made of one of a paper material and a flexible polymer material; and
- said secondary lid is made of a flexible polymer material.
10. A container lid system comprising:
- a container with a container body defining an interior container volume with an access opening;
- a reinforcement strip fixed to said access opening, said reinforcement strip having an interior portion protruding at least partially into said container volume;
- a protector means for protecting a user of said container from said reinforcement strip;
- a lid means for substantially sealing said interior container volume; and
- a dislodging means for separating said protector means from said lid means, said dislodging means manipulable by a user of said container lid system to remove said lid means to access said interior container volume.
11. The container lid system of claim 10, wherein said dislodging means also comprises a tamper-evidencing means for indicating whether the interior container volume has been accessed.
12. The container lid system of claim 10, wherein said lid means comprises a means for selectively resealing said interior container volume after said dislodging means has been used to separate said protector means from said lid means.
13. The container lid system of claim 12, wherein said dislodging means comprises an exterior tear-away strip disposed at a peripheral portion of said lid means, said dislodging means including a barrier means for preventing removal of said lid means from said protector means when said exterior tear-away strip is affixed to said lid means.
14. The container lid system of claim 10, further comprising a means for selectively resealing said interior container volume after said dislodging means has been used to separate said protector means from said lid means.
15. The container lid system of claim 14, wherein said dislodging means comprises an interior tear-away strip disposed between said lid means and said protector means.
16. A method of manufacturing a container comprising:
- providing a container body defining an interior container volume with an access opening disposed at a boundary of the interior container volume;
- affixing a reinforcement strip to the access opening, such that an interior portion of the reinforcement strip protrudes at least partially into the container volume;
- attaching a protector strip to the reinforcement strip to cover the interior portion of the reinforcement strip, such that the interior portion is rendered inaccessible by a user when the protector strip is attached to the reinforcement strip; and
- providing a lid with a tear-away strip attached thereto, the tear-away strip removably affixed to the lid by a loop of thinned and/or perforated material corresponding to the boundary of the interior container volume.
17. The method of claim 16, in combination with a method of selectively accessing the interior volume of the container comprising:
- with the lid secured to the container body, removing the tear-away strip by tearing the tear-away strip away from the lid along the loop of thinned and/or perforated material, while leaving the protector strip affixed to the access opening; and
- removing at least a portion of the lid to expose the interior container volume via the access opening.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the lid includes a peripheral attachment portion sized to be selectively received over the protector strip after said step of removing the tear away strip, the method further comprising:
- removably replacing the lid to re-seal the interior container volume via the access opening, said step of removably replacing comprising attaching the peripheral attachment portion to the access opening over the protector strip.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein:
- the protector strip is formed from a peripheral portion of the lid;
- said step of removing at least a portion of the lid comprises removing a central portion of the lid;
- said step of removing the tear-away strip comprises dislodging the peripheral portion from the central portion to enable said step of removing.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising removably attaching a secondary lid to the protector strip to re-seal the interior container volume via the access opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 9, 2015
Publication Date: Jan 21, 2016
Inventor: Shanna L. Stevens (Le Mars, IA)
Application Number: 14/734,246