Lid and container assembly

A lid for a container, the container having a closed bottom end and a container wall element defining an open, interior container space, the container wall element having an upper rim defining an open end of the container and including an outwardly projecting container lip defining a lid-locking receiving space, the lid comprising:

• a central panel;
• a peripheral member extending from a periphery of the central panel, the peripheral member having:
• an inner wall member extending from the periphery of the central member;
• an outer skirt defining an outer perimeter of the lid, wherein the outer skirt is disposed in spaced apart relationship from the inner wall member such that a container rim-receiving space is defined between the inner wall member and the outer skirt that is configured for receiving the upper rim of the container;
• a plurality of lid locking members defined within the outer skirt and disposed at spaced apart intervals about the outer skirt, each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, extending from the outer skirt to a distal end that is free from connection to the outer skirt;
• and
• an inwardly projecting ridge extending from an inner surface of the outer skirt and extending about the inner circumference of the outer skirt such that an inwardly projecting ridge portion is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of lid locking members;
• wherein:
• the plurality of lid locking members are each, independently, configured to flex, relative to the outer skirt;
• each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, includes a lid-locking member support extending outwardly and away from an outer surface of the lid-locking member along the length of the lid locking member as measured along the outer perimeter of the outer skirt, the lid locking member support disposed downwardly relative to the distal end of the lid-locking member;
• and
• while the lid is disposed on the container such that the lid is disposed in a locked condition, such that the container is disposed in a closed condition:
• the upper rim of the container is disposed within the container rim-receiving space;
• the inwardly projecting ridge is disposed below the container lip;
• the plurality of lid locking members are disposed relative to the container lip such that at least a portion of the distal end of each one of the plurality of lid locking members is disposed within the lid-locking receiving space defined by the container lip;
• the plurality of lid locking members are disposed relative to the container lip such that the distal end of each of the plurality of lid locking members is disposed in a first position within the lid-locking receiving space;
• and
• the lid locking member support is disposed beneath the container lip such that application of an upwards force applied to the lid, relative to the container, is with effect that upwards displacement of the lid relative to the container such that the distal end of at least some of the plurality of lid locking members is displaced farther inwardly into the lid-locking receiving space beyond a predetermined amount is resisted by impingement of the lid locking member support against the container lip;
• and
• each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, includes one or more support ribs disposed beneath the lid-locking member support and extending from the outer surface of the lid locking member;
• and
• the lid-locking member support and the one or more support ribs are cooperatively configured such that downwards deflection of the lid-locking member support rib, relative to the outer surface of the lid locking member, in response to impingement of the lid locking member support against the container lip due to upwards forces applied to the lid, relative to the container, while the lid is disposed in the container in the locked condition, is resisted.

A lid for a container, the container having a closed bottom end and a container wall element defining an open, interior container space, the container wall element having an upper rim defining an open end of the container and including an outwardly projecting container lip defining a lid-locking receiving space, the lid comprising:

• a central panel;
• a peripheral member extending from a periphery of the central panel, the peripheral member having:
• an inner wall member extending from the periphery of the central member;
• an outer skirt defining an outer perimeter of the lid, wherein the outer skirt is disposed in spaced apart relationship from the inner wall member such that a container rim-receiving space is defined between the inner wall member and the outer skirt that is configured for receiving the upper rim of the container;
• a plurality of lid locking members defined within the outer skirt and disposed at spaced apart intervals about the outer skirt, each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, extending from the outer skirt to a distal end that is free from connection to the outer skirt;
• and
• an inwardly projecting ridge extending from an inner surface of the outer skirt and extending about the inner circumference of the outer skirt such that an inwardly projecting ridge portion is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of lid locking members;
• wherein:
• the plurality of lid locking members are each, independently, configured to flex, relative to the outer skirt;
• each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, includes a lid-locking member support extending outwardly and away from an outer surface of the lid-locking member along the length of the lid locking member as measured along the outer perimeter of the outer skirt, the lid locking member support disposed downwardly relative to the distal end of the lid-locking member;
• and
• while the lid is disposed on the container such that the lid is disposed in a locked condition, such that the container is disposed in a closed condition:
• the upper rim of the container is disposed within the container rim-receiving space;
• the inwardly projecting ridge is disposed below the container lip;
• the plurality of lid locking members are disposed relative to the container lip such that at least a portion of the distal end of each one of the plurality of lid locking members is disposed within the lid-locking receiving space defined by the container lip;
• the plurality of lid locking members are disposed relative to the container lip such that the distal end of each of the plurality of lid locking members is disposed in a first position within the lid-locking receiving space;
• and
• the lid locking member support is disposed beneath the container lip such that application of an upwards force applied to the lid, relative to the container, is with effect that upwards displacement of the lid relative to the container such that the distal end of at least some of the plurality of lid locking members is displaced farther inwardly into the lid-locking receiving space beyond a predetermined amount is resisted by impingement of the lid locking member support against the container lip;
• and
• each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, further comprises:
• a plurality of lid locking member support ribs disposed at spaced apart intervals along an inner surface of the lid locking member for supporting the lid locking member relative to the outer skirt such that downwards deflection of each one of the plurality of lid locking members, independently, relative to the outer skirt, beyond a predetermined amount is resisted by the plurality of lid locking member support ribs.