# US 9,038,851 B2 · Cover for container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,851 B2 - Document ID: US9038851B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/050,693 - Filed: 2011-03-17 - Published: 2012-09-20 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-17 - Assignees: Chamness Biodegradables, Lll - Applicants: Brad Anthony Picard; Elie Helou, Jr. - Inventors: Brad Anthony Picard; Elie Helou, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038851B2 ## CPC - B65D 43/162: {the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece (B65D43/161 takes precedence)} - B65D 2543/00027: Stackable lids or covers - B65D 2543/00092: circular - B65D 2543/00222: Hollow and made of one piece - B65D 2543/00296: Plastic - B65D 2543/00361: placed on a tray like container - B65D 2543/0062: Groove or hollow bead - B65D 2543/00703: Dots - B65D 2543/00731: Groove or hollow bead - B65D 2543/00814: Dots - B65D 2543/00842: outside of the lid - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A cover for a pie pan or similar type of pan or plate has a ring and a lid pivotally attached to the ring by a flex joint. A pan is placed into the ring with a lip of the pan resting on top of the ring. The cover is folded over and pressed down onto the ring. Interlocking elements on tabs on the ring and lid engage each other and hold the lid down onto the ring, with the lip of the pan between them. The lid may include inwardly projecting teeth spaced apart on an inside surface of the lid, with the teeth adapted to hold the lip of a pan between the ring and the lid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cover comprising: a base and a lid pivotally attached to the base by a flex joint to form an inner surface; a plurality of base tabs on the base and a plurality of lid tabs on the lid; a plurality of inwardly projecting protrusions spaced apart on the inside surface of the lid, with the protrusions adapted to hold a lip of a container between the base and the lid but allow expansion or contraction of the container; with substantially each of the base tabs having a base interlocking element and with substantially each of the lid tabs having a lid interlocking element, and with each base interlocking element adapted to releasably interlock with a corresponding lid interlocking element; wherein the base has a central through opening and the diameter of the central through opening is about 80-95% or more of the total diameter of the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the protrusions comprise teeth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cover of claim 2 with the lid having a top surface joined to an upper end of an upright sidewall and with the lid lip joined to a lower end of the upright sidewall, and further including indentations in the upright sidewall, and with each of the teeth located substantially at a center of an indentation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1 with the base, the lid and the flex joint comprising an integral molded transparent plastic unit having a wall thickness ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 mm, and wherein the base is an annular ring having an inside diameter ranging from about 2.5 to 55 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the base is a ring having an outer diameter of about 0.5 to 5 cm greater than the inner diameter of the ring, excluding the base tabs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cover of claim 5 with the central through opening in the ring having a diameter more than 4 times greater than the radial width of the ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The cover of claim 5 with the lid having a height at least 3 times greater than the height of the ring. ### Claim 8 A container system comprising: a container; and a cover having: a base and a lid pivotally attached to the base by a flex joint; a plurality of base tabs on the base and a plurality of lid tabs on the lid; with substantially each of the base tabs having a base interlocking element and with substantially each of the lid tabs having a lid interlocking element; a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth spaced apart on an inside surface of the lid, with the teeth adapted to hold a lip of the container between the base and the lid; wherein the base has a central through opening and the diameter of the central through opening is about 80-95% or more of the total diameter of the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The container system of claim 8 with the interlocking elements generally on a diameter at least 1 mm greater than the diameter of the container lip, to allow the plate to expand without interfering with the attachment of the cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The container system of claim 8 with the container comprising starch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The container system of claim 8 with the container comprising a pie plate having conical side walls. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The container system of claim 11 with the container lip having a thickness of about 0.15 mm to 5.2 mm. ### Claim 13 A cover for use with a container, the cover comprising: a base having a perimeter; a lid having a perimeter that substantially corresponds to the perimeter of the base, and an inner and an outer surface, wherein the lid is releasably attachable to the base at the perimeter of the lid and base to substantially enclose an open portion of a container when the base is attached to the lid; a plurality of protrusions on the inner surface of the lid, the protrusions configured to substantially hold the container between the base and the lid but allow expansion or contraction of the container; wherein the base has a central through opening and the diameter of the central through opening is about 80-95% or more of the total diameter of the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cover of claim 13, wherein the plurality of protrusions contact the container on a lip of the container and substantially extend about the perimeter of the container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The cover of claim 13, wherein the plurality of protrusions contact the container on a lip of the container at discrete locations about the perimeter of the container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The cover of claim 13, wherein when lid is attached to the base, the lid and base in combination substantially enclose the container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The cover of claim 13, wherein when lid is attached to the base, the lid and base in combination substantially enclose an open portion of the container and do not enclose a closed portion of the container.