Pull tab on tear strip on plastic cover plastic cover, including break tab feature, and related apparatus and methods

A method of closing and opening a container, including the steps of:

• providing a container lid having a tearstrip, said tearstrip being injection molded as part of said lid prior to removal of said tearstrip from the remainder of said lid, said tearstrip including a pull structure affixed to one end and positioned in an outer flange of said lid, said pull structure having a portion shaped to receive at least one finger of a user's hand to assist the user to initiate tearing of said tearstrip from said lid, said removal of said tearstrip permitting opening of said lid from its associated container, said shaped portion configured to eliminate the need to grip said tearstrip between opposing digits on the user's hand;
• assembling said lid on said container;
• engaging at least one finger with said shaped portion of said pull structure;
• pulling with said at least one finger to tear said tearstrip from said lid;
• and
• removing said lid from said container.

A method of closing and opening a container, including the steps of:

• providing a container lid having a tearstrip, said tearstrip being injection molded as part of said lid prior to removal of said tearstrip from the remainder of said lid, said tearstrip including a pull structure affixed to one end and positioned in an outer flange of said lid, said pull structure having a portion shaped to at least partially wrap around a manipulator and provide selective engagement with said manipulator to assist in tearing of said tearstrip from said lid, said removal of said tearstrip permitting opening of said lid from its associated container;
• assembling said lid on said container;
• engaging at manipulator with said shaped portion of said pull structure;
• pulling with said manipulator to tear said tearstrip from said lid;
• and
• removing said lid from said container.

A lid assembly comprising:

• a tearstrip having a first end and a second end;
• and
• an extendible connection member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said extendible connection member operatively affixed to said first end of said tearstrip;
• wherein said tearstrip and said connection member are each integrally molded substantially along the periphery of the lid, said tearstrip forms part of a downwardly-depending skirt at that periphery.

A lid assembly comprising:

• a tamper evidence tearstrip having a first end and a second end, said tearstrip being injection molded as an integral part of the lid prior to removal of said tearstrip from the remainder of the lid;
• and
• a pull ring affixed to said first end of said tearstrip, said pull ring having a portion shaped to receive at least one finger of a user's hand;
• wherein said pull ring is integrally molded substantially along the periphery of the lid within a plane defined by a downwardly-depending skirt and not extending below the bottom of said skirt.

A lid in combination with a container comprising:

• a tamper evidence tearstrip having a first end and a second end, said tearstrip being injection molded as an integral part of the lid prior to removal of said tearstrip from the remainder of the lid;
• at least one pull ring affixed to at least one of said first end and said second end of said tearstrip, said pull ring having a portion shaped to receive a manipulator, said pull ring being positioned within a downwardly-depending skirt and does not interfere with nesting of like-shaped and sized lids;
• and
• a satellite ring extending outward from the container to substantially abut and underlie a downwardly-depending skirt of the lid, said ring extending generally peripherally about the container, said satellite ring helping to provide evidence of tampering after said lid is assembled on said container.