Easy opening top closure member for a container

Abstract

An easy opening top closure member for a container having a top member with an aperture of a predetermined configuration. A closure member for the aperture has an exterior portion and an interior portion. The exterior portion is in the form of a retaining ridge that extends upwardly from the interior portion and it functions to provide a surface against which the tip of a finger can be pushed to uncover and also cover the aperture. The interior portion is in the form of a disc whose lateral dimensions are greater than that of the aperture whereby the outer periphery of the disc functions as a pressure sealing lip against the underside of the top member. The lower portion of the retaining ridge is frangibly connected to the disc along a predetermined portion of the retaining ridge whereby either a downward force against a predetermined area of the disc or an upward pulling force against a predetermined portion of the ridge will cause the retaining ridge to separate from the disc along the predetermined frangible portion thereby allowing the closure member to be slid rearwardly and forwardly to respectively open and close the closure member. The lower portion of the retaining ridge that is not frangibly connected to the disc may be of a thickness greater than the frangible portion which allows the thicker portion to function as a hinge connecting the retainer ridge to the disc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.