Easy Open Container and Lid Structure
A lid structure comprising a metal lid in the form of a disc ( 20 ) and a plastics ring ( 1 ). A lug ( 6 ) on the ring is snap-fitted around the exposed edge ( 25 ) of the lid. The lid structure can be fitted onto a filled container by application of a downward force until a lower profile ( 7 ) on the ring is forced around a curl or other feature on the top edge of the container. Outward expansion of the lid structure provides further retention on the container. The plastics ring of the lid structure has one or more weakened regions which can be torn to release the lid structure from the container without the need for any tool.
1 . A manually removable lid structure comprising:
a metal lid having a centre panel and an outer wall terminating in a generally outwardly extending annulus; and
a plastics ring comprising an inwardly extending annular shoulder and a peripheral skirt depending from the shoulder, the skirt having an inwardly extending lug which clips against an edge of the lid with the shoulder extending over the lid annulus, and a lower profile which is complementary to a profile of an upper edge of a container body to which, in use, the lid structure is to be fixed;
a line of weakening along which at least part of the lower profile of the ring is manually deformable or tearable for opening a container to which the lid structure is attached.
2 . A lid structure according to claim 1 , in which the centre panel of the lid is joined to the outer wall by a generally U-shaped channel.
3 . A lid structure according to claim 2 , further including sealing compound around the lid annulus and adjacent the outer wall.
4 . A lid structure according to claim 2 , in which the line of weakening defines a tamper evident strip or band.
5 . An easy open container comprising:
a metal can body having an open top with an outward curl at the edge of the opening;
a lid structure that includes:
a metal lid having a centre panel and an outer wall terminating in a generally outwardly extending annulus;
a plastics ring comprising an inwardly extending annular shoulder and a peripheral skirt depending from the shoulder, the skirt having an inwardly extending lug which clips against the edge of the lid with the shoulder extending over the lid annulus, and a lower profile which is complementary to the profile of the upper edge of a container body to which, in use, the lid structure is to be fixed; and
a line of weakening along which at least part of the lower profile of the ring is manually deformable or tearable for opening the container to which the lid structure is attached, with the lower profile of the ring engaging the can body curl;
in which the outer wall of the metal lid is seated within the can body and the outer wall and the can body have complementary outwardly extending beads, and
in which, in use, a weakened part is operable manually removing the lid structure from the can body.
6 . A method of sealing an easy open container, the method comprising:
providing a lid structure that includes:
a metal lid having a centre panel and an outer wall terminating in a generally outwardly extending annulus;
a plastics ring comprising an inwardly extending annular shoulder and a peripheral skirt depending from the shoulder, the skirt having an inwardly extending lug which clips against the edge of the lid with the shoulder extending over the lid annulus, and a lower profile which is complementary to the profile of the upper edge of a container body to which, in use, the lid structure is to be fixed; and
a line of weakening along which at least part of the lower profile of the ring is manually deformable or tearable for opening the container to which the lid structure is attached,
placing the lid structure over the open end of a metal container body;
applying downward pressure to force the lid and ring combination down onto the container body so that the lower profile of the plastics ring engages the upper edge of the container body and an outer wall of the lid is adjacent part of the container body side wall; and
maintaining the downward pressure whilst applying a radially outward expansion force to deform the outer wall of the lid and the adjacent body wall into a complementary bead.