Containers with reclosable lids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9434504-B2
Application number	US-201213536933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2012
Priority date	Jun 28, 2012
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A reclosable food container is provided. The container has a body for storing a food product. The body has a side wall extending between a closed bottom end and a top end including an access opening. The body has a lid including a collar surrounding the body, the collar having a plurality of panels extending therefrom. The collar is movable relative to the body in a direction between a first position wherein the panels overlie and restrict access to the opening and a second position. The second position is closer to the bottom end of the body than the first position. The panels permit access to the opening and are configured to shift in an outwardly direction during contact with the top end of the body during movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reclosable food container comprising:
a body for storing a food product, the body having a side wall extending between a closed bottom end and a top end including an access opening; and
a lid including a collar surrounding the body, the collar having a plurality of panels extending therefrom, the collar being movable relative to the body in a direction between a first position wherein the panels overlie and restrict access to the opening and a second position, the second position being closer to the bottom end of the body than the first position, wherein the panels permit access to the opening, the panels being configured to shift in an outwardly direction during contact with the top end of the body during movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position;
wherein the body is rigid such that a distance from the top end of the side wall of the body to the bottom end of the side wall of the body remains unchanged during movement of the collar from the first position into the second position.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a hinged intersection between the panels and the collar, the intersection being positioned above the top end of the body when the collar is in the first position.

3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the hinged intersection is being positioned below the top end of the body when the collar is in the second position.

4. The container of claim 3 , wherein the panels shift in the outwardly direction about the hinged intersection during the movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position to permit access to the opening.

5. The container of claim 3 , wherein the panels shift in an inwardly direction about the hinged intersection during the movement of the collar from the second position toward the first position to restrict access to the opening.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the panels are biased toward an inwardly direction.

7. The container of claim 1 , wherein each of the panels has two curved sides and a third side forming a linear hinged intersection with the collar.

8. The container of claim 1 , wherein the collar and the panels are separated by a fold line.

9. The container of claim 1 , wherein at least two adjacent panels are joined via at least one recessed panel, the recessed panel being joined to the adjacent panels by at least one fold line.

10. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a stop configured to restrict the collar from moving from the second position past the first position.

11. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a stop configured to restrict the collar from moving from the first position toward the bottom end past the second position.

12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the panels are configured to form a dome when the collar is in the first position.

13. The container of claim 1 , wherein the panels are configured to form a concave surface when the collar is in the first position.

14. The container of claim 1 , wherein the collar is configured to rotate and twist at least a portion of the side wall to block access to the opening.

15. The container of claim 1 , wherein the side wall includes a first threaded portion and the lid assembly includes a complementary second threaded portion that permits the lid assembly to be attached to the body of the container by rotation, the lid assembly being configured to move from the first position toward the second position by rotational movement along the first threaded portion.

16. A method of using the container of claim 1 , the method comprising:
moving the collar in a direction from the first position toward the second position;
bringing the panels into contact with the top end of the body to shift the panels outwardly and permit access to the opening; and
removing the food product from the container.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising moving the collar from the second position toward the first position to allow the panels to shift inwardly at least partially under self-bias to restrict access to the opening.

18. A reclosable food container comprising:
a body for storing a food product, the body having a side wall extending between a closed bottom end and a top end including an access opening; and
a lid including a collar surrounding the body, the collar having a plurality of panels extending therefrom, the collar being movable relative to the body in a direction between a first position wherein the panels overlie and restrict access to the opening and a second position, the second position being closer to the bottom end of the body than the first position, wherein the panels permit access to the opening, the panels being configured to shift in an outwardly direction during contact with the top end of the body during movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position, wherein the panels are not in contact with the top end of the body when the collar is in the first position.

19. The container of claim 18 , wherein the collar is configured to move from the first position toward the second position in a downward direction away from the top end and toward the bottom end to bring the panels into contact with the top end of the body.

20. The container of claim 19 , wherein the top end of the body is configured to urge the panels upward and away from the access opening by the top end of the body when in the contact with the panels during the movement of the collar in the downward direction.

21. A reclosable food container comprising:
a body for storing a food product, the body having a side wall extending between a closed bottom end and a top end including an access opening; and
a lid including a collar surrounding the body, the collar having a plurality of panels extending therefrom, the collar being movable relative to the body in a direction between a first position wherein the panels overlie and restrict access to the opening and a second position, the second position being closer to the bottom end of the body than the first position, wherein the panels permit access to the opening, the panels being configured to shift in an outwardly direction during contact with the top end of the body during movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position, wherein at least two adjacent panels are joined via at least one recessed panel, the recessed panel being joined to the adjacent panels by at least one fold line.

22. A reclosable food container comprising:
a body for storing a food product, the body having a side wall extending between a closed bottom end and a top end including an access opening; and
a lid including a collar surrounding the body, the collar having a plurality of panels extending therefrom, the collar being movable relative to the body in a direction between a first position wherein the panels overlie and restrict access to the opening and a second position, the second position being closer to the bottom end of the body than the first position, wherein the panels permit access to the opening, the panels being configured to shift in an outwardly direction during contact with the top end of the body during movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position, wherein the panels are configured to form a concave surface when the collar is in the first position.

23. A reclosable food container comprising:
a body for storing a food product, the body having a side wall

Assignees

• Fisher Thad J
• Halgren Charles W
• Gati Kyle
• Intercontinental Great Brands Llc

Inventors

• Fisher Thad J
• Halgren Charles W
• Gati Kyle

Classifications

• B65D2401/15

  Tearable part of the closure (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/68 Primary

  Telescope flanged lids · CPC title

• B65D47/242

  moving helically · CPC title

• B65D47/243

  moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion · CPC title

• B65D2101/0023

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic