IP Library Granted Patent US 7,918,360
Granted Patent B2
US 7,918,360 · App. 12/078,481 · Granted Apr 5, 2011

Container with overcap

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,918,360
App. No.
12/078,481
Granted
Apr 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A closure for a microwavable container has a top wall and a skirt with at least one tab formed of a pair of straps and a thumb grip. The tab has an internal bead extending about its inner periphery which provides a shoulder which abuts a shoulder on the bead of the container to retain the closure on the container. The tab can be gripped by the user's thumb to apply force outwardly and upwardly to disengage the internal bead.

Claims (10)

1. A snap-on closure, the closure configured for use with a container having a circumferential container bead providing a generally horizontal downwardly facing shoulder, wherein the closure comprises: a top wall and a skirt extending thereabout, said skirt having at least one deflectable tab defined by a pair of circumferentially spaced slots and a central cutout extending into said top wall to provide a pair of straps and a thumb grip, said tab having an internal bead extending about the internal periphery of the tab and providing a generally horizontal upwardly facing shoulder dimensioned and configured to snap under the shoulder of the container bead, said shoulders abutting to secure said closure on the container, and said tab being deflectable outwardly and upwardly by applying force upwardly and outwardly on the thumb grip to disengage the internal bead from the container shoulder.

2. The snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top wall has a ring extending about the lower surface of said top wall and spaced from said skirt, said ring extending into said straps of said tab.

3. The snap-on closure in accordance with claim 2 wherein said closure has spaced ribs between said ring and said skirt to stiffen the closure.

4. The snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top wall has a multiplicity of apertures therein to vent gases from the contents of the container.

5. The snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said skirt has a pair of diametrically spaced tabs.

6. The snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab has a guard projection extending upwardly from said thumb grip to prevent a user's finger from coming into contact with the container bead.

7. A container assembly including a container having a circumferential container bead providing a downwardly facing horizontal shoulder and a closure having a top wall and a skirt extending thereabout, said skirt having at least one deflectable tab defined by a pair of circumferentially spaced slots and a central cutout extending into said top wall to provide a pair of straps and a thumb grip, said tab having an internal bead extending about the internal periphery of the tab and providing a generally horizontal upwardly facing shoulder dimensioned and configured to snap under the shoulder of the container bead, said shoulders abutting to secure said cap on the container, and said tab being deflectable outwardly and upwardly by applying force upwardly and outwardly on the thumb grip to disengage the internal bead from the container shoulder.

8. The container assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said tab has a guard projection extending upwardly from said thumb grip to prevent a user's finger from coming into contact with the container bead.

9. The container assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said top wall has a ring extending about the lower surface of said top wall and spaced from said skirt, said ring extending into said straps of said tab, and said closure has spaced ribs between said ring and said skirt to stiffen the closure.

10. A container assembly including a container having a circumferential container bead providing a downwardly facing horizontal shoulder and a closure having a top wall and a skirt extending thereabout, said skirt having at least one deflectable tab defined by a pair of circumferentially spaced slots and a central cutout extending into said top wall to provide a pair of straps and a thumb grip, said tab having an internal bead extending about the internal periphery of the tab and providing a generally horizontal upwardly facing shoulder dimensioned and configured to snap under the shoulder of the container bead, said shoulders abutting to secure said cap on the container, and said tab being deflectable outwardly and upwardly by applying force upwardly and outwardly on the thumb grip to disengage the internal bead from the container shoulder, and said tab has a guard projection extending upwardly from said thumb grip to prevent a user's finger from coming into contact with the container bead.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 8, 2013
From: SILGAN PLASTICS CORPORATION
To: SILGAN PLASTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 029953/0310 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2008
From: MENGEU, GARY L.; GETSY, STEPHEN B.
To: SILGAN PLASTICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020766/0633 →