A cap is provided for a laboratory vessel. The cap includes a lid that can be rotated relative to the laboratory vessel from a closed position to an open position. The lid includes at least one tab dimensioned and disposed for receiving manual digital pressure for opening and/or closing the lid. The tab is in an offset position to prevent a thumb or forefinger from passing over and in contact with the opening to the vessel. Additionally, the lid includes a shield inwardly from the tab for further preventing contact between a finger and the open top of the vessel.
1. A lid hingedly mounted in proximity to an open top of a laboratory vessel, the lid having a top wall configured for closing the open top in the vessel, first and second tabs projecting outwardly from said top wall for receiving digital pressure for hingedly rotating said lid relative to the vessel, a hinge for defining an axis of rotation for said lid, and an outer wall depending downwardly from said top wall located between said top wall and said tabs, a portion of said outer wall substantially aligned with said tabs defining a shield, said shield being dimensioned and configured with sufficient length extending downwardly from said top wall for preventing digital contact with portions of the vessel adjacent the open top during hinged rotation of said lid relative to the vessel, said shield terminating at an edge, a lower face extending from said edge, said lower face facing downwardly, said lower face being exposed with the lid closing the open top in the vessel, said tabs projecting outwardly from said outer wall to each define a free surface disposed transversely to said shield for receiving digital pressure, said first and second tabs each having a center at a position offset from, and not collinearly aligned with, a line passing through said hinge perpendicular to said axis of rotation, said centers of said first and second tabs being on opposite sides of said line and in alignment with said shield, wherein portions of said outer wall spaced from said shield and said hinge projecting a shorter distance from said top wall than portions of said outer wall that define said shield.
2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein said top wall is substantially planar and wherein said tab is substantially coplanar with said top wail, said shield extending substantially perpendicularly from the substantially planar top wall.
3. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the shield is substantially cylindrically generated and extends through an arc of at least approximately 180° at a location on said lid substantially opposite said hinge.
4. The lid of claim 1 , further comprising an inner wall dimensioned for telescoping into said vessel for sealing said vessel, said shield being between said tab and said inner wall of said lid.
5. The lid of claim 4 , wherein outer surface regions of said inner wall are formed with notches for equalizing pressure during an early stage of opening said lid to avoid generating splashes during opening of said lid.
6. The lid of claim 1 , wherein said shield being substantially symmetrical with a line passing perpendicularly through said axis of rotation.
7. The lid of claim 6 , wherein said shield is substantially cylindrically generated about an axis aligned substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation.
8. The lid of claim 1 , wherein said outer wall is configured for telescoped engagement over said open top of said vessel.