Removable locking container cover with slotted outer skirt

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/542,547, filed on Oct. 3, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to removable covers for containers, and more particularly, to removable and reusable covers for use with microwavable containers.

[0003] It is known to provide a removable cover for a container, such as a container of food or drink. Many such containers can be placed in a microwave oven to heat their contents. The cover or closure functions to prevent the contents of the container from spilling when the container is moved, or splattering when being heated in the microwave. However, many prior art container covers have suffered from deficiencies. Depending on their construction, they may be difficult to put on or to remove, or may be too easily removed, thereby resulting in inadvertent removal of the cover.

[0004] It is also known to have a cover with a hole in it, such as a spout, for pouring out the container contents, or for drinking the contents directly from the container. However, a number of prior art container covers provide a poor seal between the cover and the container, such that when the container contents are poured out some of the contents leak from between the container and the cover.

[0005] It is desirable to provide a cover which is easier to put onto and take off of a container, inhibits inadvertent removal, and that seals more dependably.

[0006] The invention is directed to a container cover for use with a container having a neck with an outer bead ring or lip. In exemplary embodiments, the container cover comprises a lid with a skirt extending downward from the circumference of the lid, a concentric plug seal extending downward from the bottom of the lid disposed inside the skirt, and a plurality of locks each having an inwardly projecting wedge, which hold the cover in place on the container by engaging the container neck bead ring. Two types of locks can be used, one type having a hinge that allows the wedge to pivot away from and disengage the bead ring, and the other type without a hinge. The lock without a hinge can be of two types, one type being non-flexing, and the other type provided with a slot extending through the skirt that allows the lock to flex to disengage the bead ring. The lid can optionally have a spout hole (or pour spout), and a spout door hingeably connected to the top of the lid.

[0007] When the cover is installed on the container, the wedges on the inside of the skirt engage the outside of the container neck, and the plug seal sealingly engages the inside of the container neck. In an embodiment, the lid is circular and fits on a container neck with a circular cross section. The cover has a hinged lock disposed at the rear of the lid. In an embodiment, the cover has two non-flexing locks disposed on opposite sides of the cover at the front of the lid. In another embodiment, the cover has two slotted flexing locks disposed on opposite sides of the cover at the front of the lid.

[0008] In an embodiment comprising a lid with a spout hole, a spout plug seal can be located on the bottom of the spout door and designed to snap into place in the spout hole, thereby sealing the spout hole. A lifting tab on the front edge of the spout door can be used to unsnap or release the door and open the spout hole. When open, the lifting tab on the spout door preferably snaps into place under a nub projecting from the inside of the hinged lock, thereby holding the door in an open position and also preventing the hinged lock from being inadvertently unlatched.

[0009] Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings briefly described below.

[0026] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, FIG. 1 shows a container 100 in combination with a removable locking container cover 110 according to the present invention. The container 100 has an upper end 120 having an open mouth. A removable top or shipping seal 122, such as a peel-off top with a ring-like opening tab, may be sealed to a rim or outer edge of the container 100 to prevent the contents of the container from spilling. The user removes the top prior to use to expose the contents (not shown) of the container 100. With the top removed, the container cover 110 may be attached or reattached to the container upper end 120 before moving or heating the container to reduce the risk of the contents spilling while the container is carried or splattering when the container is heated.

[0027] The container 100 may be of any size or shape and may be fabricated from any of a variety of materials. Preferably, the container 100 contains food products which are heated in a microwave oven prior to consumption. Therefore, container 110 is preferably fabricated from a material suitable for use with food products and for heating in a microwave, for example a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene formed by injection molding. The container 100 preferably includes a neck or rim with a protruding lip having an outer bead ring 130, or similar structure proximate to its upper end 120. The outer bead ring 130 may be disposed directly adjacent to the upper end 120 of the container 100 or in close proximity thereto. While the container 100 and cover 110 are illustrated as each having a substantially circular shape, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are applicable to a variety of other shapes. The following description and embodiments of the invention are not intended to describe all cover/container combinations, but are merely illustrative of how the teachings of the present invention may be employed in the context of a preferred container configuration.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the container cover 110 includes a lid 140, having a top, a bottom, a circumferential edge 145, and a spout hole. When installed on the container, the top of the lid faces away from the container, and the bottom of the lid faces into the container. The cover also includes a skirt 150 extending downward from or near the circumferential edge of the lid 140. The skirt 150 has an inner surface (or wall) and an outer surface (or wall). When installed on the container, the outer wall faces away from the container, and the inner wall faces toward the container, and is preferably shaped to fit snugly around the outside of the container neck and/or outer bead ring.

[0029] Container cover 110 also includes a spout door 160. The spout door is attached to the top of the lid preferably via at least one hinge 165. The spout door has an edge 170, and a point on the edge furthest from the hinge defines a front edge of the door. The door is shown in FIG. 1 in its closed position. When the door is in its closed position, the top of the door faces the same direction as the top of the lid, and the bottom of the door faces the same direction as the bottom of the lid. The hinge is disposed on the lid so that the spout hole is completely covered by the door when the door is in its closed position. A point on the circumference of the lid nearest the front edge of the door when the door is in its closed position defines the front of the lid, and a point on the circumference of the lid opposite the front of the lid defines the rear of the lid.

[0030] FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1, shown with the door in its open position, uncovering spout hole 200 with edge 205, and showing the bottom of the spout door. The bottom of the spout door comprises a spout plug seal 210 shaped to fit snugly and sealingly in the spout hole when the door is in its closed position. The hinge 165 is preferably a split level living hinge (e.g., molded integrally to the lid.) Recessed area 225 in the top of the lid is shaped so that when the door is in a closed position, the bottom surface of the door 220 fits into a homologously shaped recess on the lid 225. The portion of the top of the lid adjacent to the spout hole preferably has a concave or sloped surface 230 to help control any spillage of the contents of the container. The container cover has a lip 240 extending upward from the circumferential edge of the lid, which also helps control any spillage of the contents of the container. The lip 240 has a reduced height or notch 245 at the part of the circumference closest to the spout hole, to help control the flow of the contents when being poured out through the spout hole 200 or when the user drinks directly from the spout hole.

[0031] The container cover is held onto the container by a plurality of locks, one of which is a hinged lock 250 at the rear of the lid. The locks engage the outer bead ring on the neck of the container, as will be described hereinafter.

[0032] FIG. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1. The bottom of the lid 140 has a protruding area 260 with a profile similar to the profile of the spout door in its closed position. Plug seal 270 is preferably formed concentrically to the skirt 150 and has a smaller diameter than the skirt. The plug seal 270 extends from the bottom of the lid and preferably connects along its entire length to the bottom of the lid. The plug seal has an outer wall shaped to preferably fit snugly and sealingly against the inside of the neck or rim of the container. A plurality of stop ribs 280 preferably extend from the inside of the skirt and/or the bottom of the lid. The stop ribs are located so that, when the cover is installed on a container, the stop ribs touch the top of the container neck limiting the downward movement of the cover onto the container.

[0033] FIG. 3A is a top view of the cover 110 of FIG. 1 with the door 160 in a mostly open position. A lifting tab 300 is located on the front edge 305 of the door. When the door is in its fully open position, the end of the lifting tab 300 engages a nub 310 that protrudes from the inside of a hinged lock panel 315, so that the door 160 is held in its open position by the nub 310 and the lifting tab 300 prevents the hinged lock panel 315 from moving into an unlatched position. There is at least one and more preferably at least two non-hinged locks 320 located on or near the front of the lid. In the illustrated embodiment, each non-hinged lock 320 is a wedge formed in the shape of a truncated tear drop. It should be readily apparent that other shapes could be used, such as a bulbous protrusion. The radially inmost point of each wedge is preferably located at an angle θ from a longitudinal axis 325, which is preferably in a range of approximately 135 degrees to approximately 155 degrees, and is most preferably 144 degrees. The wedges 320 are preferably equally spaced from and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 325. As will be discussed in more detail below, there is also at least one hinged lock located on the rear of the lid. The hinged lock also includes a wedge 350. The wedge 350 preferably is located on the longitudinal axis 325.

[0034] FIG. 4A is a side cross-sectional view of the cover of FIG. 1 taken along lines 4A-4A in FIG. 3A. This figure more clearly illustrates the door in a mostly open position. As the door swings into its fully open position, the lifting tab 300 will engage the nub 310 on the inside of the hinged lock panel 315, holding the door in its open position, and preventing the hinged lock from inadvertently being unlatched. Spout plug seal 210 is shown on the bottom of the door (facing upward in FIG. 4A). As the door swings into its fully closed position, the spout plug seal 210 will snugly and sealingly fit against the edge 205 of the spout hole 200, and spout plug seal snap 325 will engage the edge 205 of the spout hole.

[0035] The level of the top of the wedges of the hinged and non-hinged locks (i.e., the vertical location of the tops of the wedges on the skirt) is indicated by dashed line 330. The bottom of a stop rib 280 is also visible. The distance d between the bottom of the stop ribs 280 and the top of the lock wedges 330 is sized so that when the cover is installed on a container having a bead ring 130 on its neck, the bottom of the stop ribs 280 touches the top of the neck or the bead ring 130, and the lock wedge engages the bottom of the container bead ring 130, thereby locking the container cover in place.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 1. The truncated tear drop-shaped wedges 340 of the two non-hinged locks 320 are visible from the bottom in the figure, with the feathered part of the wedges pointing toward the hinged lock. The wedge 350 of the hinged lock is also visible, as are the stop ribs 280 extending from the inside of the skirt.

[0037] FIG. 6A is a rear view of the cover according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged rear view of the cover, showing the hinged lock 250. The hinged lock comprises a hinged lock panel 315 preferably of substantially the same thickness as the skirt 150, disposed so that it does not interfere with the plug seal when the cover is installed. The lock panel has an inside, an outside, a top edge, a left edge and a right edge. In the illustrated embodiment, an elastically deformable hinge attaches the hinged lock panel to the skirt. More particularly, a deformable pivot bar 400 is formed on each of the left and right sides of the hinged lock panel 315 at an intermediate point along the height of the panel. The pivot bars are connected to the skirt. Forming the pivot bars as part of the skirt and not attached directly to the plug seal 270 results in the hinged lock remaining comparatively cooler during heating since the hinged lock is not in direct contact with the interior of the container.

[0038] The panel, pivot bars and the skirt are all preferably formed as an integral injection molded unit. The outside surface of the hinged lock panel 315 preferably has a textured area 410 substantially adjacent to the top edge of the panel. The textured area helps keep the fingers of a user from slipping, such as when removing the cover from the container.

[0039] FIG. 3B is an enlarged top view of the cover, showing the hinged lock. The locking wedge 350 extends inward from an inside surface of the hinged lock panel 315. In a latched position, the locking wedge engages the lower edge of outer bead ring of the container. In an unlatched position, the wedge 350 is released from the outer bead ring. The nub 310 extends from the top of the inside surface of the hinged lock panel. Pawls 420 may be formed on the back of the pivot bars 400 at a location which allows them to contact the top surface of the container neck when the hinged lock is latched. This provides additional support for the hinged lock panel when it is actuated from the latched to the unlatched position since the pawls push on the top surface of the container neck, thereby assisting in the pivoting of the hinged lock panel.

[0040] FIG. 4B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tip end portion of the spout door 160. The lifting tab 300 extends from the front edge of the door, and is designed to engage with the nub 310 (FIG. 4C) on the inside of the hinged lock panel when the door is in its open position, thereby holding the door open, as hereinbefore described. The spout plug seal snap 325 protrudes from the spout plug seal 210, and engages an edge of the spout when the door is in its closed position, thereby holding the door closed and sealing the spout hole shut, as hereinbefore described.

[0041] FIG. 4C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinged lock 250. The nub 310 is shown extending inward from the top of the inside surface of the hinged lock panel 315. The textured area 410 is shown on the top of the outside surface of the hinged lock panel 315. The locking wedge 350 extends inward from the bottom of the inside surface of the hinged lock panel 315.

[0042] FIG. 3C is an enlarged partial top view of the cover, showing a non-hinged lock 320. As described above, the non-hinged lock 320 includes the locking wedge 340 which extends from the inner wall of the skirt 150. The wedge 340 can more clearly be seen in this figure in the shape of a truncated tear drop, with the feathered edge 700 extending circumferentially away from the bulbous end (and from the spout.) An opening 710 is preferably formed between the circumference of the lid and the top circumference of the skirt, substantially adjacent to the non-hinged lock wedge 340.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front view of cover 110. As hereinbefore described, openings 710 are substantially adjacent to the non-hinged lock wedges 340. The plug seal 270 extends from the bottom of the lid 140, concentric with the skirt 150 which extends downward from the circumference of the lid. The stop ribs 280 extend from the skirt and the lid, and do not interfere with the plug seal 270 when the cover is installed on a container. Distance d between the bottom of the stop ribs 280 and the top of wedges 340 is sized so that when the cover is installed on a container having a bead ring 130 on its neck, the bottom of the stop ribs 280 touches the top of the neck or bead ring 130, and the wedges engage the bottom of the bead ring 130, thereby locking the container cover 110 in place on the container 100. Although the illustrated embodiment includes opening 710, it should be readily apparent that the openings are not necessary in the cover.

[0044] The container cover of the present invention is preferably formed from thermoplastic material such as polypropylene in a one piece construction using an injection molding process. The container cover can have a hinged drink door and three integral locks. The cover is preferably microwavable and easily removed and reapplied to the container by the user. It is contemplated that the cover can be locked onto the top lip of the container during an assembly process at the factory, keeping the top surface of the container completely sealed, clean and dry during shipping and storage. To remove the cover cap, the user can press inward on the textured portion of the hinged lock panel of the hinged lock. Alternatively, the user can press upward and outward on the bottom of the hinged lock panel of the hinged lock. This mechanical action moves the locking wedge lock away from the container bead ring, while the pawls on the pivot bars push down on the top of the container neck, making it possible to lift the back section of the cover. Simultaneously as the user lifts up on the back section of the cover, the cover is moved forward in an arc, disengaging the two front non-hinged locks.

[0045] In an exemplary implementation, after the user has removed the cover, the user opens the container, such as by pulling upward on the now exposed metal ring tab of a sealed container top, completely separating the top from the container and discarding it. Next the user replaces the cover cap with the door in the open position and places the container with cover into a microwave. When the user places the door into its open position it makes a distinctive snapping sound as the lifting tab engages the nub on the hinged lock panel, securing the door in its open position. The door is left open during the microwaving process to vent steam generated in the container by the heating process.

[0046] In a preferred container/cover configuration, the container has a circular neck, and the cover has one hinged lock located at the rear of the cover and two non hinged locks, one on each side of the front of the cover. The two non-hinged lock wedges are formed as part of the inner wall of the skirt, and the hinged lock wedge is part of the inner wall of the hinged lock panel. This lock approach leaves the plug seal completely free from all connecting obstructions that create unwanted shrinkage and can lead to leakage problems. The stop ribs preferably do not touch the plug seal or cause seal distortions. Because the plug seal is uninterrupted, it is completely round and preferably seals 360 degrees against the inside of the neck of the container. Locating the hinged lock on the skirt allows for simple assembly by simply placing the cover over the container and pressing the cover directly down onto the container. When the hinged lock is engaged it makes a distinct snap sound as it slides over the container bead. The locking action can also be felt by the user through the finger tips as it locks over the container bead.

[0047] The two non-hinged front locks are shaped as truncated teardrops so that they will slip over the container bead as the cover is removed. The two actions of unlatching the hinged lock and lifting the cover need to be done simultaneously to remove the cover. The feathered end of the teardrop points toward the hinged lock, so that the cover can be peeled off of the container bead. Directing the feathered end of the truncated teardrop toward the hinged lock also creates a smooth entry for the container bead to start and slide over the lock as the cover cap is taken off.

[0048] A safety feature of the preferred embodiment is that when the door is placed in its open position, it prevents the hinged lock from being inadvertently unlatched. When the door is placed in its open position, the lifting tab engages a nub on the inner top surface of the hinged lock panel. This prevents a user from inadvertently unlatching the hinged lock and accidentally removing the cover. This reduces the risk of the contents of the container spilling onto the user. The cover can only be unlocked and removed from the container when the door is not in its fully open position.

[0049] Although the above embodiment includes a spout for drinking or pouring the contents of the container, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, an alternate embodiment of the invention 500 is shown that includes the hinged lock 502 and non-hinged locks 504, but does not include a spout. In this embodiment, the cover 500 is simply removed in order to gain access to the contents. As shown, one or more vents 506 can be formed in the cover. In the illustrated embodiment, the vents 506 are formed on the sloping transition section 508 between the lower annular surface 510 and the upper surface 512. This configuration is designed to create a chimney effect whereupon the heat generated during cooking is channeled toward the center of the cover escapes through the vents. This keeps the locks and plug seal cooler. Thus, it results in less harm to the user and maintains a better seal.

[0050] FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention with the drinking spout. In this embodiment 550, in order to facilitate the opening and closing of the spout door 552, the door plug seal 554 is modified to permit additional flexure. Specifically, the door plug seal wall 554 is formed with a different wall thickness in the front 558 and back 556. Preferably the wall in the back 556 is thicker than the wall in the front 558.

[0051] In alternate embodiments, the skirt and non-hinged locks can be modified to permit flexure. Specifically, one or more non-hinged locks can be formed with a slot extending through the skirt and the non-hinged lock wedge. The slots are preferably about 0.06 inch wide and extend about 0.075 inch over the top of the lock wedge, and are preferably located substantially through the center of both non-hinged front locks, although other slot sizes and placements can also be used. The slotted wedges may be symmetrical in shape, rising gradually from the inside surface of the skirt to a thickest portion adjacent to the slot, although other shapes can be used. While FIGS. 11, 12A and 12B show symmetrically shaped non-hinged lock wedges, it should be readily apparent that the non-hinged lock wedges could be teardrop shaped as shown in FIG. 3C.

[0052] FIG. 10 shows a cover substantially similar to the cover of FIG. 1, but with a slot 600 added through the center of each non-hinged front lock. FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 10, showing symmetrical non-hinged lock wedges 340 provided with a central slot, and FIGS. 12A and 12B show enlarged top and bottom views, respectively, of a slotted non-hinged lock. FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14 show perspective top, perspective bottom, and cutaway views, respectively, of the cover of FIG. 10 showing slotted non-hinged front locks provided with slot 600 extending through skirt 150, and through the center of symmetrical wedges 340. FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C show top perspective, side, and bottom views, respectively, of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention, substantially similar to the cover shown in FIG. 8A, with the exception that the cover is provided with slots 600 extending through the center of symmetrical wedges 340 and skirt 150, as described.

[0053] Providing the slots through the skirt and non-hinged lock wedges adds flexibility to the skirt and non-hinged locks. Splitting a single non-hinged lock wedge by the slot effectively forms two non-hinged lock wedges separated by the slot, promoting a tight, secure fit of the cover over the container. The slots allow the skirt and the non-hinged lock wedges to flex outward away from the container rim as the wedges pass over the container bead ring when the cover is applied or removed. When removing the cover, the slots in the skirt enable the lid to flex when the hinged lock is lifted, promoting easy removal of the cover. One portion of the wedge split by the slot can be pulled over the container bead ring slightly before the other portion. This provides the user with greater control of the cover when removing it from a container, reducing the possibility of accidentally spilling the container contents when removing the cover.

[0054] It has also been determined that, as an alternate to the user pivoting the hinged lock to disengage the locking wedge from the container rim bead, the user could, instead, simply lift the bottom edge of the hinged lock which results in reality easy disengagement of the locking wedge from the container rim bead. The user can then lift or peal the lid off of the container with minimal effort.

[0055] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the configuration of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.