Patent US6423057B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4037748A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container and closure
Assignee: RIGID PAK CORP
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Filing: 1976-02-05
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1996-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A lid has an inverted U-shaped peripheral rim, which rim snaps over the upper edge of a container sidewall. There are three separate sealing zones between the lid and the container. First, the cover portion interior of the snap on rim has a plug fit interference relationship with the interior of the container. Second, the outer leg of the snap on rim has an interference relationship with an outwardly extending sidewall ridge near the upper edge of the container. Third, the outer leg of the snap on rim also has an inwardly facing ridge which snaps over the sidewall ridge and has an interference relationship with the outer surface of the container sidewall. A tear-off strip constitutes the lower portion of the outer leg of the snap on ridge and tears off below the inwardly facing ridge. The lower edge of this tear off strip abuts against a ledge which extends outward from the container sidewall thereby inhibiting tampering with the strip until initial opening is intended. A vertical weakening line adjacent a pull tab on the tear-off strip further inhibits tampering with the tear-off strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Edgar S. Stubbs, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/02; B65D43/0235; B65D43/0237; B65D43/0256; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/15; B65D2401/25; B65D2543/00; B65D2543/00009; B65D2543/00018; B65D2543/00064; B65D2543/00074; B65D2543/00092; B65D2543/00259; B65D2543/00296; B65D2543/00444; B65D2543/00481; B65D2543/0049; B65D2543/00509; B65D2543/00537; B65D2543/00555; B65D2543/00592; B65D2543/00601; B65D2543/00611; B65D2543/00629; B65D2543/00675; B65D2543/00685; B65D2543/00712; B65D2543/00722; B65D2543/0074; B65D2543/00787; B65D2543/00796
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A container and closure therefor comprising: a container having a base, a sidewall and open top, said sidewall having inner and outer surfaces, a snap-on closure to cover said top and be retained on the container, said closure having an inverted circumferential U-shaped rim adapted to fit over the rim of said sidewall, said rim of said closure having a circumferential inner leg and a circumferential outer leg spaced from said inner leg by approximately the thickness of said sidewall of said container, said inner leg of said closure having an first interference fit relationship with said inner surface of said sidewall of said container, an outwardly projecting circumferential first ridge on the outer surface of said sidewall of said container and adjacent said open top of said sidewall, said outer leg of said closure having a second interference fit relationship with said first ridge of said sidewall, an inwardly projecting circumferential second ridge on the inner surface of said outer leg of said closure, said outer surface of said sidewall of said container having a third interference fit relationship with said second ridge, said second ridge snapping over said first ridge as said closure is assembled on said container, said second ridge underlying and spaced below said first ridge in the closed state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A container and closure therefor comprising: a container having a base, a sidewall and open top, said sidewall having inner and outer surfaces, a snap-on closure to cover said top and be retained on the container, said closure having an inverted circumferential U-shaped rim adapted to fit over the rim of said sidewall, said rim of said closure having a circumferential inner leg and a circumferential outer leg spaced from said inner leg by approximately the thickness of said sidewall of said container, said inner leg of said closure having an first interference fit relationship with said inner surface of said sidewall of said container, an outwardly projecting circumferential first ridge on the outer surface of said sidewall of said container and adjacent said open top of said sidewall, said outer leg of said closure having a second interference fit relationship with said first ridge of said sidewall, an inwardly projecting circumferential second ridge on the inner surface of said outer leg of said closure, said outer surface of said sidewall of said container having a third interference fit relationship with said second ridge, said second ridge snapping over said first ridge as said closure is assembled on said container, said second ridge underlying and spaced below said first ridge in the closed state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The container and closure of claim 1 further comprising: an outwardly projecting circumferential ledge below said first ridge on said outer surface of said sidewall, and a circumferential tear-off strip portion of said outer leg below said second ridge, the lower edge of said tear-off strip abutting said ledge of said container when in the closed state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container and closure of claim 2 further comprising: a circumferential notch below said second ridge along the inwardly facing surface of said outer leg, said notch providing the weakening line for removal of said tear-off strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The container and closure of claim 2 further comprising: a tab on said tear-off strip to permit ready removal of said strip, and a vertical weakened line along said tear-off strip adjacent said tab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The container and closure of claim 1 wherein: the magnitude of said first interference fit relationship is substantially less than the magnitude of said second and said third interference fit relationships.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container and closure of claim 5 wherein: the width of the zone of said first interference fit relationship is substantially greater than the width of the zone of said second and said third interference fit relationships.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The container and closure of claim 1 further comprising: a circumferential tear-off strip portion of said outer leg, said strip extending completely around said rim, an outwardly projecting circumferential ledge on said outer surface of said sidewall, said ledge extending completely around said sidewall, the entire lower edge of said tear-off strip abutting said ledge of said container when in said closed state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The container and closure of claim 5 further comprising: a circumferential tear-off strip portion of said outer leg, said strip extending completely around said rim, an outwardly projecting circumferential ledge on said outer surface of said sidewall, said ledge extending completely around said sidewall, the entire lower edge of said tear-off strip abutting said ledge of said container when in said closed state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The container and closure of claim 6 further comprising: a circumferential tear-off strip portion of said outer leg, said strip extending completely around said rim, an outwardly projecting circumferential ledge on said outer surface of said sidewall, said ledge extending completely around said sidewall, the entire lower edge of said tear-off strip abutting said ledge of said container when in said closed state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |