LID FOR TOBACCO CAN
A metal lid for a tobacco can is provided. The metal lid includes a circular lid top having a central recess and a shoulder. The shoulder extends radially outwardly from and vertically above the central recess. The side wall is unitarily formed with the shoulder, depends downwardly from the shoulder, and is disposed below the central recess of the lid top. The side wall includes a bead and a hem. The bead extends circumferentially around the side wall. The hem is formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall. The hem functions as a guide, forms a safety edge, and permits the lid to be more easily grasped by a consumer.
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This patent application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/680,333, filed Feb. 28, 2007, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention generally relates to lids for containers and, more particularly, to a lid for a tobacco can.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONLoose tobacco and related tobacco products are typically packaged and sold in disc-shaped containers. In many cases, the containers comprise a metal lid seated upon either a metal, plastic or cardboard can. Often, a band-type label is adhesively secured over the seam between the lid and can to securely fasten the lid and the can. The band type label also typically will positively impact the freshness of the product. The label also typically includes print, images, and information regarding the tobacco product for a potential customer.
Conventionally, the lid includes a relatively flat top cover portion and a surrounding skirt. The skirt terminates in a cut edge. Considering that lids are often formed from metal (plastic lids are also common), a metal edge has the potential to be relatively sharp. If the sharp edges are not properly made smooth, a purchaser of the container may potentially risk suffering a laceration in one of their fingers when prying the lid from the can using the edges. The interface between the can and the lid typically will have a snap fit to facilitate removal and attachment of the lid and the can. The interface between the lid and the can affects breathability and therefore freshness of the tobacco product contained therein. Thus, the interface between the lid and the can include multiple configurations. The present invention is directed towards improvements over the state of the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA lid for a tobacco can is provided. The bottom edge of the lid includes a formed hem instead of a free cut edge. The hem extends outwardly further than a contact point disposed on a bead of a side wall such that the hem functions as a guide when placing the lid onto the can.
In one embodiment, a metal lid for a tobacco can is provided. The metal lid includes a circular lid top, a circumferential shoulder, and a circumferential side wall. The circumferential shoulder is unitarily formed with the lid top and extends radially outwardly from and vertically above the lid top. The circumferential side wall is unitarily formed with the shoulder, depends downwardly from the shoulder, and is disposed below the lid top. The side wall includes a bead and a hem. The bead extends circumferentially around the side wall. The hem is formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall.
In another embodiment, a metal lid for a non-metallic tobacco can is provided. The metal lid includes a lid top, a circumferential shoulder unitarily formed with the lid top, and a circumferential side wall unitarily formed with and depending from the shoulder. The side wall includes a bead and a hem. The hem is formed by a distal portion of the side wall folded adjacent to an intermediate portion of the side wall. The bead progresses around the side wall and projects radially inwardly toward the lid top further than the hem such that when the bead seats against the tobacco can the hem is spaced apart from the tobacco can.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a lid for a non-metallic can. The lid includes a unitary lid body formed from metal. The lid body includes a round lid top, a shoulder, and a side wall. The shoulder extends circumferential around and radially outwardly and upwardly away from the lid top. The side wall depends downwardly from the shoulder and away from the lid top. A portion of the side wall is folded inwardly onto itself to form a hem in a lower portion of the side wall.
Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring to
The container 10 may include features that make the container more aesthetically pleasing such as, for example, color, images or prints, labels, embossing, and the like. The container 10 may also be secured together by, for example, a band-type adhesive label during a packaging process. After the label has been broken, the container 10 may be repeatedly opened and closed such that the consumer may access, as often as desired, a chosen amount of the contents stored in the container 10.
As shown in
Still referring to
As depicted in
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In the illustrated embodiment of
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Moving to
In addition to extending radially outwardly from the lid top 16, the shoulder 18 also projects vertically upwardly from a circular recess in the lid top (e.g., from the flat non-embossed portion 36). From the recessed flat center portion of the lid top 16, the shoulder 18 projects a shoulder height 43 of between about 0.01 of an inch and about 0.04 of an inch. In the illustrated embodiment, an apex 42 of the shoulder 18 is about 0.03 of an inch above the top surface 28 of the lid top 16 and the conical wall along the top surface of the shoulder 18 forms an angle 44 of about twenty-two degrees relative to the top surface 28 of the lid top 16.
As shown, the shoulder 18 also includes a round or radiused corner 46 to facilitate a transition between the lid top 16 and the side wall 20. The side wall 20 extends downward generally perpendicular to the lid top 16. The corner 46 in the illustrated embodiment has a radius of curvature 51 of about 0.039 of an inch relative to an outer surface 48 of the corner. The radius of curvature 51 of the corner 46 may generally be between about 0.03 of an inch and about 0.05 of an inch.
The side wall 20 extends circumferentially around the shoulder 18 and, as oriented in
The bead 38 progresses circumferentially and continuously around the entire side wall 20 of the lid 14. Therefore, as the bead 38 extends around the lid 14, the bead is unbroken and uninterrupted. Even so, in another embodiment the bead 38 may be intermittently formed such that the side wall 20 is, at discrete locations, planar all the way from beneath the corner 46 of the shoulder 18 to just above a bottom 50 of the hem 40. In such embodiments, a thin column or portion of the side wall 20 is not bowed inwardly and instead appears flat when viewed from outside the container 10.
An innermost inflection/contact point 52 of the bead 38, which is intended to contact the can 12 when the lid 14 is seated upon the can (as shown in
Still referring to
The hem 40 is generally a distal portion 66 of the side wall 20 folded inwardly adjacent an intermediate portion 68 of the side wall. In other words, the distal portion 66 is curled inwardly toward the lid top 16 to be in contact or almost contact with the inner surface of the remainder of the side wall 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal portion 66 and the intermediate portion 68 are illustrated slightly spaced apart from each other to form channel 70 between the two portions of the side wall. In the illustrated embodiment, because the hem 40 is a folded piece of metal, the hem generally need not be smoothed, ground, buffed, or otherwise machined to eliminate the terminating cut edge. The hem 40 naturally possesses a bottom 50 that is rounded and smooth. By creating a safety edge at the bottom 50 of the lid 14 through folding instead of otherwise machining as noted above, the lid may be more quickly, easily, and cost-effectively fabricated.
As shown in
The distal portion 66 of the side wall 20 has a height 74 of between about 0.04 of an inch and about 0.05 of an inch. In the illustrated embodiment, the height 74 of the distal portion 66 is 0.046 of an inch. To ensure that formation of the hem 40 does not interfere with or damage the bead 38, the height 74 of the distal portion 66 is generally less than a height 76 of the intermediate portion 68.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lid body 22 is formed entirely from electrolytic tin plate having a thickness 78 of between about 0.005 of an inch and about 0.009 of an inch. In
In the illustrated embodiment of
Referring now to both
The gap 84 permits the hem 40, which is spaced radially outwardly further than the contact point 52 of the bead 38, to function as a guide when fitting the lid 14 onto the can 12. The guide allows the lid 14 to be oriented relative to the can 12 such that the two parts can be telescopically coupled together to form the container 10 and hold the product. In addition, the gap 84 enables the consumer to better grasp or grab the lid 14, particularly the bottom 50 of the hem 40, with their fingers when separating the lid 14 from the can 12.
Referring to
When the lid 14 is biased upwardly as described above, the consumer may be able to secure a hold on the bottom 50 of the hem 40 to make the task of removing the lid easier. When the lid 14 is removed from the can 12, the consumer is able to remove a desired amount of the contents of the container 10 from the storage cavity 24. The process of securing the lid 14 to the can 12 and removing the lid from the can may be repeated as often as access to the contents of the storage cavity 24 is desired.
In an alternative embodiment, the container 10 may include vertical ribs (not shown) or other structure to aid or assist in the venting of the container when the lid 14 is removed from and placed upon the can 12. One example of this type of venting structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,421 to Foster, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto for this reason.
When the lid 14 and the can 12 are engaged together as shown in
From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will recognize that the lid 14 for the tobacco can 12 has a rounded hem 40 that is both safe and easy to grasp. The hem 40, being spaced outwardly further than the bead 38, also helps to guide the lid 14 onto the can 12 when they are operably coupled together.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
1. A metal lid for a tobacco can, comprising:
- a circular lid top including a central recess and a shoulder, the shoulder extending radially outwardly from and vertically above the central recess; and
- a circumferential side wall unitarily formed with the lid top at the shoulder, the side wall depending downwardly from and disposed below the central recess of the lid top, the side wall including a bead and a hem, the bead extending circumferentially around the side wall, the hem formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall.
2. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the side wall forming the hem is folded inwardly toward the central recess.
3. The metal lid of claim 2, wherein the bead projects inwardly toward the central recess further than the distal portion of the hem.
4. The metal lid of claim 3, wherein the hem extends generally parallel and substantially axially relative to a center axis of the lid in contact or almost contact with the intermediate portion.
5. The metal lid of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the hem is between about 0.01 of an inch and about 0.02 of an inch and a height of the hem is between about 0.04 of an inch and about 0.05 of an inch.
6. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein the metal lid is formed from electrolytic tin plate, the tin plate having a thickness of between about 0.005 of an inch and about 0.009 of an inch such that the hem has a hem thickness of between about 0.010 of an inch and about 0.018 of an inch.
7. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of at least one of the lid top, the shoulder, and the side wall are coated with a gold phenolic finish.
8. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein an annular portion of the lid top is spaced apart from a center point of the lid top between about 0.75 of an inch and about 1.25 inches and flat in order to support bead and hem formation.
9. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein an embossing portion of a top surface of the lid top extends radially outwardly from a center point of the lid top up to about one inch, the embossing portion including embossing projecting above the top surface between about 0.01 of an inch and about 0.02 of an inch.
10. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein the bead intermittently circumferentially extends around the side wall.
11. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein the bead projects inwardly toward the lid top between about 0.02 of an inch and about 0.05 of an inch.
12. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein an apex of the shoulder is rounded and extends above a top surface of the central recess between about 0.2 of an inch and 0.04 of an inch.
13. The metal lid of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the metal lid is between about two inches and about three inches and a vertical height of the metal lid measured between an apex of the shoulder and a bottom of the hem is between about one tenth of an inch and about half an inch whereby the metal lid is configured for a hand held pocket size smokeless tobacco container.
14. A metal lid for a non-metallic tobacco can, comprising:
- a lid top including a recessed portion and a circumferential shoulder; and
- a circumferential side wall unitarily formed with and depending from the shoulder, the side wall including a bead and a hem, the hem formed by a distal portion of the side wall folded adjacent to an intermediate portion of the side wall, the bead progressing around the side wall and projecting radially inwardly toward the lid top further than the hem such that when the bead seats against the tobacco can the hem is spaced apart from the tobacco can.
15. The tobacco can of claim 14, wherein the distal portion is between about 0.02 of an inch and about 0.06 of an inch and folded inwardly toward the lid top and a gap formed between the hem and the tobacco can is between about 0.005 of an inch and about 0.015 of an inch.
16. The tobacco can of claim 14, wherein the hem on the side wall functions as a guide when fitting the metal lid onto the tobacco can due to the hem being disposed radially outwardly of the bead.
17. The tobacco can of claim 14, wherein the bead is non-symmetrical in axial cross section and the distal portion directly contacts the intermediate portion.
18. A lid for a non-metallic can, comprising:
- a unitary lid body formed from metal, the lid body including a round lid top, a shoulder, and a side wall, the shoulder extending circumferential around and radially outwardly and upwardly away from a central recess of the lid top, the side wall depending downwardly from the shoulder and away from the central recess of the lid top, a portion of the side wall folded inwardly onto itself to form a hem in a lower portion of the side wall.
19. The lid of claim 18, wherein the side wall further includes a bead formed between the shoulder and the hem, the bead projecting inwardly toward the round lid top further than the hem.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2015
Publication Date: Feb 25, 2016
Applicant: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Rockford, IL)
Inventors: Melvin Lee Welk (East Petersburg, PA), L. Robert McVey (New Providence, PA), Gary Howard Caldwell (Denver, PA)
Application Number: 14/930,100