# US 11,299,334 B2 · Membrane lid with integrated two-stage tab system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,334 B2 - Document ID: US11299334B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/561,253 - Filed: 2019-09-05 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-05 - Assignees: Sonoco Development, Inc. - Applicants: Sonoco Development, Inc. - Inventors: Scott William Huffer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299334B2 ## CPC - B65D 77/2032: {by peeling or tearing the cover from the container} - B65D 77/2056: {the cover being weakened} - B65D 51/20: Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing {(B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28)} - B65D 65/40: Applications of laminates for particular packaging purposes {(B65D1/0215, B65D1/28, B65D3/22, B65D5/0281, B65D5/563, B65D9/30, B65D29/02, B65D31/02, B65D75/26, B65D77/2024, B65D81/1275, B65D81/3811, B65D81/3823, B65D81/3834, B65D81/3846, B65D81/3858, B65D81/3874, B65D81/3886, B65D81/3897 take precedence; laminates per se or laminated packages characterised by the composition or)} - B65D 2251/0031: Membrane - B65D 2251/0071: of the 17-type - B65D 2577/2041: Pull tabs - B65D 2577/205: integral with the closure - B65D 2577/2091: in cover - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract The present invention relates to a resealable membrane lid for a container comprising a peelable portion and a removable portion. When the resealable peelable portion is peeled back, the seal onto the container is not disturbed. When the removable portion is removed from the container, the container contents may be accessed. The peelable portion may be resealed onto the container at any point in the process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A resealable membrane lid for a container comprising: a peelable portion, the peelable portion comprising: a peelable upper layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, a peelable lower layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adjacent at least a portion of the lower surface of the peelable upper layer and at least a portion of the upper surface of the peelable lower layer, wherein the peelable portion further comprises a central portion and a first pull tab which extends radially from the central portion, and wherein the peelable portion comprises a plurality of score lines which extend at least substantially through the peelable lower layer but do not extend into the peelable upper layer, the score lines comprising: a first score line which is disposed interior of a perimeter of the central portion of the peelable portion, is at least partially circumferential, and defines a peripheral region between the first score line and an edge of the peelable portion, at least one second score line disposed along the perimeter of the central portion of the peelable portion, adjacent the first pull tab, and a third score line which forms the perimeter of a second pull tab; a removable portion, the removable portion comprising: a removable upper layer having an upper surface and a lower surface and a removable lower layer having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a fourth score line disposed circumferentially therethrough, wherein the upper surface of the removable lower layer is affixed to the lower surface of the removable upper layer and the lower surface of the removable lower layer is configured to be sealed to the rim of a container, and a permanent adhesive layer disposed: within the peripheral region, adjacent the removable upper layer and the peelable lower layer, and within at least a portion of the perimeter of the second pull tab, adjacent the removable upper layer and the peelable lower layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein a portion of the second pull tab is adhesive-free between the removable portion and the peelable portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein a portion of the interface between the removable portion and the peelable portion is adhesive-free. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein at least one of the peelable upper layer and the peelable lower layer comprises a polymeric film. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the first score line is substantially circumferential. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is adjacent the entire lower surface of the peelable upper layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the plurality of score lines are continuous score lines. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the plurality of score lines extend fully through the peelable lower layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the removable upper layer comprises a foil layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the removable lower layer comprises a sealant layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the removable upper layer and the removable lower layer are coextruded. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the removable lower layer is coated onto the removable upper layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the second pull tab has a grasping portion and a neck portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The resealable membrane lid of claim 13, wherein the neck portion is permanently adhered to the upper surface of the removable upper layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the removable lower layer is sealed to an open end of a container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The resealable membrane lid of claim 15, wherein the peelable portion is at least partially removable from the container without disturbing the adherence of the removable portion to the container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The resealable membrane lid of claim 15, wherein the peelable portion is resealable onto the container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the first score line is disposed radially inward of the permanent adhesive disposed in the peripheral region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the fourth score line is disposed radially inward of the permanent adhesive disposed in the peripheral region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The resealable membrane lid of claim 1, wherein the fourth score line is disposed radially inward of the first score line. ### Claim 21 A container having a resealable membrane lid comprising: a container body comprising a bottom wall and at least one upwardly extending sidewall, wherein the at least one sidewall terminates in a rim and wherein the rim defines an open end of the container; and a membrane lid comprising: a peelable portion, the peelable portion comprising: a peelable upper layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, a peelable lower layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adjacent at least a portion of the lower surface of the peelable upper layer and at least a portion of the upper surface of the peelable lower layer, wherein the peelable portion further comprises a central portion and a first pull tab which extends radially from the central portion, and wherein the peelable portion comprises a plurality of score lines which extend at least substantially through the peelable lower layer but do not extend into the peelable upper layer, the score lines comprising: a first score line which is disposed interior of a perimeter of the central portion of the peelable portion, is at least partially circumferential, and defines a peripheral region between the first score line and an edge of the peelable portion, at least one second score line disposed along the perimeter of the central portion of the peelable portion, adjacent the first pull tab, and a third score line which forms the perimeter of a second pull tab; a removable portion, the removable portion comprising: a removable upper layer having an upper surface and a lower surface and a removable lower layer having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a fourth score line disposed circumferentially therethrough, wherein the lower surface of the removable lower layer is sealed to the rim of the container, wherein the upper surface of the removable lower layer is affixed to the lower surface of the removable upper layer, and a permanent adhesive layer disposed: within the peripheral region, adjacent the peelable lower layer and the removable upper layer, and within a portion of the perimeter of the second pull tab, adjacent the peelable lower layer and the removable upper layer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The container having a resealable membrane lid of claim 21, wherein the first score line is disposed adjacent an inner edge of the rim of the container. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The container having a resealable membrane lid of claim 21, wherein the second score line is disposed adjacent an outer edge of the rim of the container. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The container having a resealable membrane lid of claim 21, wherein the first score line defines an affixed portion of the peelable lower layer, which remains affixed to the container rim when the lid is peeled open. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The resealable membrane lid of claim 21, wherein the fourth score line is disposed radially inward of an inner edge of the rim of the container. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The resealable membrane lid of claim 21, wherein the fourth score line is disposed adjacent an inner edge of the rim of the container. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The resealable membrane lid of claim 21, wherein the permanent adhesive disposed in the peripheral region is disposed vertically above the rim of the container.