Two-piece polymeric lid clamping ring

A two piece split ring clamp comprising:

• an inwardly opening channel-form split ring formed of polymeric material having an outward surface and oppositely disposed, spaced side surfaces, having a first end, a rearwardly opening pivot shaft receiving notch upstanding from and formed integrally with said outward surface adjacent said first end, said ring having a non-pivoting second end, an integrally formed receiver channel at said second end having oppositely disposed spaced apart sides defining an outwardly disposed opening said sides having mutually inwardly facing internal surfaces slideably movable into nesting adjacency over said spaced side surfaces and said outward surface at said first end, and a ring pivot shaft integrally formed with said receiver channel extending between said spaced apart sides thereof at the outwardly disposed edges thereof;
• and
• a pivot arm formed of polymeric material having a pivot end including an integrally formed, transversely disposed arm pivot shaft inserted within and pivotally movable about said receiving notch of said split ring, a ring shaft receiving notch formed within said pivot arm having a shaft access opening and extending to a shaft bearing surface spaced from said arm pivot shaft a distance selected for drawing together said split ring first and second ends, said shaft bearing surface being pivotally engaged with said ring pivot shaft, said pivot arm extending to an integrally formed lever portion.

In a container assembly wherein a cylindrical container is provided having a bottom and cylindrical side walls extending therefrom to a top portion including a rim structure having an upwardly disposed rim bead, an outwardly disposed side surface portion and an inwardly extending engaging region formed inwardly of and below said rim bead and having an upper contact surface, and wherein a lid is provided having a circular peripheral portion positioned over said rim bead in nesting, container closing fashion, the improved split ring clamp for retaining said lid upon said rim structure, comprising:

• an inwardly opening, channel-form split ring formed of polymeric material, having oppositely disposed sides and a top, one of said sides being positionable in abutting adjacency against said upper contact surface and the side opposite thereof being positionable in abutting adjacency against said lid peripheral portion, said ring having a first end upon which an outwardly extending, rearwardly opening pivot shaft receiving notch is integrally formed, said ring having a non-pivoting oppositely disposed second end including an integrally formed receiver channel having oppositely disposed, spaced apart channel sides defining an outwardly disposed opening and having mutually inwardly facing internal surfaces slideably movable in adjacency over said sides at said first end, and including a ring pivot shaft extending between said spaced apart sides at the outwardly disposed edges thereof;
• and
• a pivot arm formed of polymeric material, having a pivot end formed with a transversely disposed arm pivot shaft, a ring shaft receiving notch having a shaft access opening extending to a shaft bearing surface spaced from said arm pivot shaft a distance selected for drawing together said ring first and second ends to effect securement of said lid upon said rim structure, and extending therefrom to form a lever handle, said arm pivot shaft being slideably engaged with said ring first end receiving notch and said ring shaft receiving notch slideably receiving said ring second end pivot shaft.