Patent ID: 7137524
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. An easy-opening, retortable container comprising: a base portion having a bottom and side and defining an interior space and an opening thereto; a single-layer plastic membrane of sufficient size to cover said opening, said membrane defining first and second sides and having coplanar inner and outer portions, said outer portion being friction welded to said base portion, said inner and outer portions being defined by an annular groove disposed in one of the first and second sides of said membrane; and a grip portion integral to said plastic membrane, said grip portion being disposed on said second side of said plastic membrane and connected to said inner portion, wherein said grip portion is a circumferentially continuous annular pull ring extending generally in a plane substantially parallel to said plastic membrane; and wherein said annular groove defines an annular fail portion between said inner and outer portions of said plastic membrane such that said inner portion is structured to be removed from said outer portion by urging said grip portion away from said outer portion, thereby tearing said annular fail portion and opening the container, and wherein said grip portion defines a circle having a diameter which substantially corresponds to a diameter of said annular groove, each of the annular fail portion defined by the annular groove and the diameter defined by the grip portion being centered about a common axis that is coaxial with a central axis of the container.