SNAP OVER-CAP FOR CONTAINER

Abstract: A plastic over-cap for a container includes a top section (10) and a downwardly extending flange or skirt (18). At least one downwardly extending leg (20) is integral with the flange (18) and a bottom edge (38) may be equal with or extend below the lowermost edge (22) of the flange (18). The leg (20) includes an internal engagement section (28) for snapping the over-cap onto the rim of a container. The leg (20) is distinguished or separated from the flange (18) by at least one slot (24) or a weakness line on one side thereof. This configuration allows the leg (20) to flex outwardly for accommodating variations in the rim diameter of the container, and facilitates removal of the over-cap by children, elderly or those with arthritic conditions. Removal is also aided by a cam surface (34) that engages an underside of the container rim.

Description: "SNAP OVERCAP FOR CONTAINER" FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an over-cap for containers, and more particularly to an over-cap which can accommodate large variations in the major diameter of a container rim. Various types of over-caps for containers, such as plastic bowls or metal cans, are currently available. These caps typically include a peripheral section which extends downwardly in the form of a flange or skirt from the outer edge of the top panel of the cap. In the prior art, any downwardly extending peripheral section or flange is continuous and includes an internal section which may engage with the rim of the container and may be snapped thereon for closing or covering the container. The internal section is usually continuous around the internal periphery of the over-cap or might be interrupted. This type of over-cap design functions well with metal containers, such as cans, since the major diameter of an opened can flange is relatively constant due to the high precision with which the metal flange can be made and especially using the currently available seaming tools. An example of the presently available over-cap design is shown in FIG. 1. The prior art design of an over-cap, as described above, suffers from the disadvantage that when the over-cap is removed by pulling-up at one point on the downwardly extending flange, the over-cap, which is generally made of a flexible material such as plastic, tends to bind or pull inwardly against the rim of the bowl or flange of a can, at about 90 degrees from the pull point in either direction around the over-cap. As one can readily appreciate, this bending or flexing of the over-cap would tend to more tightly secure the over-cap on the container as opposed to facilitating its removal. Accordingly, the prior art design makes it difficult to remove the over-cap from its container, especially by children, the elderly and adults with arthritic conditions or the like. The removal of the over-cap is particularly difficult if the downwardly extending flange is relatively long. In addition to the above, currently available over-caps do not work well with containers that are made of plastic, because large diameter variations are normally present as a result of the technological insufficiency to make the major rim diameter with tight tolerances. This is especially true if the container is subjected to a high heat and pressure environment, such as in a retort cooker. In view of the disadvantages associated with the currently available over-cap designs, there is a need in the industry for an over-cap which greatly facilitates its removal from the associated container and which can accommodate relatively large variations in the major diameter of a container, and especially those containers made from a plastic material. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the present invention is to provide an over-cap which overcomes the disadvantages associated with the currently available design. Another object of the present invention is to provide an over-cap which makes it easy to remove the over-cap from an associated container, especially by children, the elderly and those with adverse medical conditions, such as arthritis. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an over-cap which can be easily snapped on and readily removed from an associated container without requiring a major effort. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an over-cap which can accommodate relatively large variations in the major diameter of the container rim. An additional object of the present invention is to provide an over-cap which functions well with metallic as well as plastic containers. In accordance with the above-noted objects, the present invention provides an over-cap in which a downwardly extending peripheral flange is provided with one or more leg portions which include an internal engagement section for snapping on to the rim of an associated container. A slot or weakening line extends along at least on one side of the leg, which allows the leg to flex outwardly for accommodating variations in the rim diameter of the container. Preferably, in a preferred embodiment, the over-cap of the present invention is provided with three equidistantly positioned leg portions around the periphery thereof, and each leg is separated from the downwardly extending flange of the over-cap by a slot or weakening line on both sides thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention set forth below and as illustrated in the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art cap shown mounted on a container; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an over-cap of the present invention shown mounted on a container; FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the over-cap of the invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the over-cap taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the over-cap in FIG. 4, shown mounted on a container (the container being shown by phantom lines); and FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing details of the portion circled in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As is best shown in FIG. 2, the over-cap OC of the present invention includes a top section 10, made of a flexible plastic material, and a central section 12. The central section 12 may be formed of plastic and be integrally molded with top section 10 but may, preferably, be made of a variety of paper or like material and when of different material may be adhesively secured to the over-cap or be received in a peripheral groove 14 in top section 10 (see FIGS. 4-5). Although not shown, a printed label, or the like, substantially corresponding in size to the central section 12, may be provided thereon to convey information to customers and prospective consumers regarding the product contained in container C. The top section 10 includes an annular rim section 16 and integral, downwardly extending peripheral flange, or skirt, portions, 18. The top section 10 further includes at least one, and preferably three legs or leg sections 20 integrally connected therewith and with a flange portion 18. As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each leg 20 may extend below the lowermost edge 22 of a flange 18; however, it is to be understood that the legs 20 may have their lower edge portions co-terminous with the lower edge portions of the flange, or skirt, 18. Such a modification can be easily achieved by either shortening the legs 20 or by extending the peripheral flange, or skirt, 18. Although integral with the top section 10 and flange 18, legs 20 are separated from flange 18 by a line of separation, which may be in the form of a vertical slot 24 on either side, or both sides, of each leg 20. It is noted herewith that although one separation line in the form of a slot on each side of legs 20 is illustrated in the drawings, it is within the scope of this invention to provide only one slot, or a weakness line, or a functionally equivalent division on either side of the legs 20. The main function of providing a weakness line or a slot is to allow the legs to flex outwardly to accommodate variations in the diameter of a container rim, or to facilitate removal of over-cap OC from container C by a user. A line of weakness, rather than a through slot at 24, will also serve as a tamper evidence indicator, if such a feature is appropriate or desired. As is best shown in FIG. 3, legs 20 are equidistantly located about the periphery of flange 18. In this regard, it is noted that the number of legs, and their lengths and locations about the flange 18 may be varied and fall within the scope of this invention. In order to snap the over-cap OC onto a container rim 26 (FIG. 5), legs 20 are provided with an engagement section 28 on an inner surface 30 thereof, as is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, engagement section 28 includes a continuous notch 32 including a radially, inwardly extending, beveled cam surface 34. and a radially inwardly extending beveled surface 36 extends upwardly from the bottom edge 38 of leg 20. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, when over-cap OC is snapped onto container C, container rim 26 would be received in notch 32. In this position, the cam surface 34 would abut lower section 40 of container rim 26, thereby securing the over-cap OC onto the container C. Any one of the several legs 20 can be grasped and flexed outwardly, as shown by arrow X in FIG. 5, to remove over-cap OC from container C. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that when leg 20 is flexed outwardly, cam surface 34 would no longer abut lower section 40 of rim 26, thereby facilitating removal of the over-cap OC from container C. One of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that the provision of cam surface 34 makes it easy to remove the over-cap from the container C even if the over-cap is removed by pulling it upwardly without first flexing any of the legs. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, if the over-cap is pulled directly upwardly at any of the legs 20, the lower section 40 of rim 26 would slide down along the cam surface 34 and, because surface 34 extends downwardly and inwardly, it would function as a cam to automatically flex leg 20 outwardly, as the container rim 26 slides down along surface 34. As can be observed from the foregoing descriptions, the over-cap of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with the heretofore available caps and greatly facilitates removal of an over-cap from an associated container. While the invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as those that come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features herein set forth and fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. An over-cap for a container, said over-cap including an annular rim section and a peripheral skirt portion depending therefrom, at least one leg section extending from said rim section and having separation means to distinguish said leg section from said skirt portion; means on said leg section for engaging a portion of an associated container, and means accommodating flexure of said leg section outwardly from said skirt portion for aiding in release of said over-cap from the container. 2. An over-cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg section includes a radially inwardly extending surface for camming said leg section outwardly upon engagement with a container rim. 3. An over-cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg section includes a notch formed therein for receiving a container rim. 4. An over-cap as defined in claim 3 wherein said notch extends radially inwardly and downwardly for being positioned beneath a container rim 5. An over-cap as defined in claim 2 wherein said leg section includes a notch formed therein for receiving a container rim. 6. An over-cap as defined in claim 5 wherein said notch extends radially inwardly and downwardly for being positioned beneath a container rim. 7. An over-cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg section is longer than said peripheral skirt portion and includes a bottom edge that extends below a lower edge of said skirt portion. 8. An over-cap as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of leg sections contained within said peripheral skirt portion and spaced about said rim section, said separation means comprising a plurality of slots for separating said leg sections from said skirt portion.

Inventors: HEKAL IHAB M, HEKAL, IHAB, M.
Applicants: HEKAL IHAB M, HEKAL, IHAB, M.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D41
IPC codes: B65D43