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US 6,604,647 B1Granted
Molded container and lid having strategically positioned drainage opening
AssigneeRopak Corporation
InventorFrano Luburic
Life of this patent
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AssigneeRopak Corporation
InventorFrano Luburic
Estimating the term…
A container includes first and second intersecting surfaces, and has at least one tearstrip opening to permit access to the contents of the container. The opening is positioned substantially at the intersection of those surfaces to permit drainage of substantially all of the contents of the container through the opening formed upon tearing of the tearstrip. Where the intersection is formed by a lid and a container wall, the lid has an outermost edge and the opening is positioned sufficiently near to the outermost edge to permit the desired drainage but also either does not tear the outermost edge (because the opening is sufficiently inwardly from the outermost edge) or does not destroy the hoop strength of a downwardly-depending hoop flange formed at the outermost edge. A plurality of such tearstrips may be provided and may be spaced from each other to provide pouring and/or venting in a variety of directions. The tearstrips may be provided with tab members to assist in their removal from the lid, and may be retained on the lid or completely removed depending upon the application. A shroud element protects the tearstrips from inadvertent dislodgment, and a resealing element closes the opening after removal of the tearstrip. A preferred method of use of the container lid is disclosed.
In a lid for a shipping container, the combination of a central portion of said lid connected to a rim portion of said lid, said rim portion having an outermost edge and at least one downwardly projecting flange;
A container lid, including a bead member thereon for snapping engagement with an associated container, further including a plurality of tearstrips formed slightly inwardly of an edge of said lid and sufficiently near said edge to permit drainage of substantially all of the contents of an associated container through an opening formed by tearing at least one of said tearstrips, in which at least one of said tearstrips is formed under a protective shroud member, said shroud member having an opening to permit access to and manipulation of said at least one tearstrip.
A container assembly for transporting flowable material in an initially substantially leak-proof condition, said assembly being molded from plastic, said assembly having first and second surfaces which intersect and second and third surfaces which intersect, those surfaces and intersections generally forming an elongated channel, said channel generally positioned at a corner of said assembly when said assembly is viewed in cross-section, said assembly further including a tearstrip substantially positioned in said channel, said tearstrip being tearable to permit drainage of substantially all of the fluid from said container assembly.
A container lid, including:
A lid and container combination, including a container having an opening thereon, said opening defined by a substantially vertical lip portion, a lid configured to cover said opening, engagement means for maintaining desired engagement between said lid and said container, said lid including a rim portion configured in a substantially upside-down U-shaped cross-section, said U-shaped cross-section dimensioned and configured to substantially straddle said lip portion of said container, and one or more removable sections of said rim portion positioned adjacent said lip portion of said container and within said U-shaped cross-section and providing a passageway into said container upon removal of said one or more removable sections.
A lid having a perimetrical channel with a tearstrip drainage opening within said perimetrical channel, said tearstrip drainage opening substantially aligned with an edge of a mating shipping container and further located so that said opening permits the contents of the container to be poured therethrough, said drainage opening having no edge coterminous with an edge of said lid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.