Container and lid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479554-B2
Application number	US-201414917151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 9, 2013
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A container lid (10) is provided herein having structurally reinforcing ribs (50) therein. The ribs (50) increase the strength of the lid across a central region thereof. Specifically, the lid can have an outer perimeter and the ribs can be spaced inwardly from the outer perimeter. The inwardly spaced ribs (50) can provide a distinct look for consumer differentiation. Additionally, the ribs can be arcuate so that they generally follow a curvature of the outer perimeter of the lid. As such, a label region (56) within the lid central region is preserved, while the lid is still strengthened by the ribs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-circular, removable lid for a container, the lid comprising:
a top wall portion having a raised perimeter including contiguous side edge portions and end edge portions;
a skirt portion depending downwardly from the raised perimeter of the top wall portion and having a free edge, opposite the raised perimeter, with corresponding side edge portions and end edge portions;
two or more raised ribs of the top wall portion extending along the raised perimeter and being entirely spaced from the raised perimeter, the raised ribs defining a planar label region therebetween and strengthening the top wall portion against deformation under stacking loads; and
four or more spanning braces adjacent a bottom surface of the top wall portion, the spanning braces including transverse wall portions spanning across cavities created by the raised ribs on the bottom surface of the top wall portion, the transverse wall portions preventing the raised ribs from spreading apart as a result of stacking loads being placed on the lid;
wherein inward end portions of the spanning braces are chamfered, the spanning braces configured to deflect downwardly with deflection of the top wall portion under a stacking load such that the chamfered end portions minimize contact of the spanning braces with any material spanning beneath the lid.

2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the end edge portions of the raised perimeter are arcuate so that the top wall portion has a generally oval configuration, and the raised ribs include arcuate portions that are generally complementary to the arcuate end edge portions.

3. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the raised perimeter of the top wall portion has a maximum height above the planar label region proximate a middle of the end edge portions and a minimum height about the planar label region proximate a middle of the side edge portions.

4. The lid of claim 3 , wherein the maximum height of the raised perimeter of the top wall portion above the planar label region is substantially the same as a maximum height of each of the raised ribs disposed adjacent the side edge portions of the raised perimeter such that the lid has a position of stability when supported on the raised ribs and end edge portions of the raised perimeter.

5. The lid of claim 4 in a stack of similarly configured lids, wherein the portions of the raised perimeter corresponding to the maximum height thereof and the portions of the raised ribs corresponding to the maximum height thereof are configured to abut adjacent bottom surfaces of an adjacent lid in the stack so that the stack is more stable.

6. The lid of claim 1 in a stack of similarly configured lids, wherein individual ones of the spanning braces are configured to abut portions of the raised perimeter corresponding to a maximum height thereof and portions of the raised ribs corresponding to a maximum height thereof of an upwardly adjacent lid in the stack so that the stack is stable.

7. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the free edge of the skirt portion along the side edge portions thereof has a maximum vertical distance from the planar label region and the free edge of the skirt portion along the end edge portions thereof has a minimum vertical distance from the planar label region such that the lid lacks a position of stability when supported by the free edge of the skirt portion.

8. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the skirt portion has a track-shaped footprint with linear side regions, the linear side regions configured to provide larger engagement surfaces for conveyance machinery to maintain orientation as compared to rounded side regions.

9. The lid of claim 1 , in combination with a container base, wherein the lid is configured to removably engage the container base, the container base including:
a bottom wall portion having a perimeter that includes side edge portions and end edge portions; and
a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom wall portion to a non-circular, planar peripheral rim surrounding an opening, the sidewall portion including a pair of side wall portions, a pair of end wall portions, and upper and lower shoulders extending around the sidewall portion to define a label region therebetween, the upper and lower shoulders having side portions and end portions corresponding respectively to the side wall portions and end wall portions of the sidewall portion.

10. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 9 , wherein the upper shoulder has a saddle-shaped configuration with intermediate high portions on the end portions thereof and intermediate low portions on side portions thereof; and
the free edge of the skirt portion has a saddle-shaped configuration complementary to the configuration of the upper shoulder with intermediate high portions on the end edge portions thereof and intermediate low portions on the side edge portions thereof.

11. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 10 , wherein the lower shoulder has a saddle-shaped configuration generally mirrored to the configuration of the upper shoulder about a horizontal plane through the container base with intermediate low portions on the end portions thereof and intermediate high portions on the side portions thereof.

12. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 9 , wherein the bottom wall portion is configured to fit within the generally planar label region of the top wall portion of the lid between the raised ribs when the container base is stacked onto the lid, the raised ribs being configured to engage the container base sidewall portion to restrict rotation of the container base.

13. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 9 , wherein the container base further comprises a lip extending outwardly from a top edge portion of the sidewall portion, the lip having a track-shaped footprint with linear side regions, the linear side regions configured to provide larger engagement surfaces for conveyance machinery to maintain orientation as compared to rounded side regions.

14. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 9 , wherein the container base further comprises a plurality of vertical ribs extending from the upper shoulder to the peripheral rim thereof, the vertical ribs providing support surfaces inward of the peripheral rim, the support surfaces of the vertical ribs configured to minimize telescoping of a nested second container base under stacking loads.

15. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 14 in combination with a foil cover sealed to the container base, wherein the plurality of vertical ribs include a chamfered upper surface configured to reduce impact on the foil cover when the foil cover is pulled inward with cooling of hot contents within the container base.

16. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 9 , wherein the container base is configured to be nested together in a stack of the container bases, wherein the upper shoulder of a first container base is configured to rest on the peripheral rim of a second container base when nested therein; and the upper shoulder is curvilinear so that vent portions of the upper shoulder of the first container base do not rest on the peripheral rim of the second container base when nested therein, the vent portions configured to provide a venting pathway between the first and second containers when nested together.

17. The combination of the lid and container base of claim 16 , wherein first container further comprises a label secured to the sidewall portion thereof, the label comprising

Assignees

• Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc

Inventors

• Dziaba Michele M
• Tilton Andrew Thomas
• Johnson Jeffrey A
• Miskovic Joseph M

Classifications

• B65D2543/0074

  Massive bead · CPC title

• B65D2543/00527

  NO contact · CPC title

• B65D2543/00083

  oval · CPC title

• B65D2543/00296

  Plastic · CPC title

• B65D43/0212

  only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth (B65D43/0206 takes precedence) · CPC title