Hinged overcap from a container
AssigneeSonoco Development, Inc.
InventorJames P. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An overcap (14) is provided for a container (10) having a hinge (26) supporting a moveable flap (28) to provide access to the container reservoir. First and second skirts (34, 44) are provided for engaging an upper rim on the container body, with one skirt permitting the mounting of the overcap in two alternate positions. In the first position, only the first skirt (34) engages the upper rim, which allows a removable membrane to be positioned on the upper rim of the container. In the second position, the membrane is removed and both the first and second skirts engage the inner and outer edges of the rim of the container.
Claims7
An overcap for a container, the container defined by a sidewall having an upper rim, the overcap positioned on the upper rim, the overcap comprising:
- a top panel;
- a hinge formed across the panel, the hinge dividing the panel into a first moveable portion and a second portion, the first and second portions having a top, a bottom and an outer edge;
- a first skirt extending downward from the outer edge of the first and second panel portions separated from one another adjacent to the hinge, each skirt portion comprising a upper rib and a lower rib formed on the inside of the first skirt and adjacent to the bottom of the respective panel, the upper and lower ribs creating a lower groove there between and an upper groove between the upper rib and the bottom of the respective portion of the panel, the lower groove being sized to engage the upper rim of the container in a first position and the upper groove sized to engage the upper rim of the container in a second position;
- and
- a second skirt extending downwardly from the bottom of the second panel portion, the second skirt spaced inward from the second panel portion of the first skirt such that the second skirt engages the inner edge of the upper rim of the container when the overcap is in the second position.
A storage apparatus comprising:
- a container, the container comprising a hollow body, an open-mouth, an upper rim, and a removable membrane,
- the upper rim located along the perimeter of the open mouth,
- the removable membrane affixed substantially covering the open mouth;
- and
- an overcap, the overcap comprising
- a panel comprising a hinge, the hinge formed bisecting across the panel dividing the panel into a first moveable flap and a second moveable flap, the first and second moveable flap portions comprising a top, a bottom, and an outer side;
- a first skirt extending downward from the outer side of the first and second moveable flap portions, the first skirt comprising a lower rib and an upper rib formed on the inside of the first skirt creating a lower groove between the lower rib and the upper rib and an upper groove between the upper rib and the bottom of the first and second moveable flap portions, the lower groove sized to engage the upper rim of the container in a first position and the upper groove sized to engage the upper rim of the container in a second position;
- and
- a second skirt extending downward from the bottom of the first and second moveable flap portions substantially to the bottom of the upper groove, the second skirt located radially inward from the first skirt and spaced such that the upper rim of the container engages the second skirt and the upper groove in the second position;
- wherein the removable membrane is removed prior to moving the overcap to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.