Abstract:
A food depressor type lid for a container comprising a central panel having a plurality of integral, transversely extending, reinforcing ribs projecting upwardly therefrom.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to packages for containing fruits, vegetables, and other types of food which are packed in a liquid medium. 
     The invention is particularly concerned with a food depressor type lid which can be used, not only to close the upper end of the container, but also to depress or force the food toward the bottom of the container, so that it remains covered by the liquid medium. This is necessary in certain steps of preparation of the food, because if certain food products extend above the liquid medium they tend to deteriorate. 
     This package represents an improvement over the type of food depressor type lid which is disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,653. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A prior search directed to the subject matter of this application in the United States Patent and Trademark Office disclosed the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 666,159; 1,345,711; 1,608,422; 1,782,915; 1,860,567; 1,88,495; 2,857,068; 3,037,653; 4,192,443. 
     None of the prior art patents uncovered in the search disclosed a food depressor type lid having a main panel comprising a plurality of pie-shaped panel sections interconnected by reinforcing ribs having interlocking engagement with each other in the center of the panel, which serve to reinforce and strengthen the lid, so it can be used to effectively depress food within a tubular container to maintain it in a liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a object of the invention to provide, in a food-type depressor lid of the type described, a horizontal panel having a plurality of transversely extending reinforcing ribs which project upwardly from the main panel to reinforce the lid. 
     A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a lid of the type described which includes a main panel having a plurality of pie-shaped panel sections joined to each other by reinforcing rib members which, in turn, are connected to each other at the center of the structure to provide a reinforced lid arrangement. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded, perspective view of a container and lid embodying features of the invention, with the lid shown in the erected or assembled condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lid structure illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank of foldable sheet material from which the lid illustrated in the other views may be formed; and 
     FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary perspective views of portions of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the manner in which the reinforcing rib members are secured to each other in interlocking relationship. 
     It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements may have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the novel package indicated generally at P includes a food depressor type lid FD adapted to be received within a tubular container indicated generally at C. 
     Lid FD may be formed from a flat unitary blank B of foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, illustrated in FIG. 4. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, lid FD includes a preferably round main or center panel 10 which made up a plurality of generally pie-shaped sections 10a each of which is provided with an opening 11 extending therethrough. 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, in the blank B, panel sections 10a have their side edges spaced from each other with radial center lines of the sections intersecting at the center of the blank. 
     Each pair of adjacent panel sections 10a are connected to each other by a reinforcing rib 12 member having a pair of relatively narrow elongated elements 12a which are foldably joined along their outer edges on fold lines 13 to adjacent side edges of related panel sections 10a and which are foldably joined at their inner edges to each other on fold lines 13a. 
     Lid FD includes an outer peripheral rim portion 14 which is comprised of a plurality of outer or friction flanges 14a foldably joined on fold lines 15 to the outer edges of the panel sections 10a. Flanges 14a are separated from each other by a plurality of radially extending cut lines 17. 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, there is an opening 19 at the center of the blank B between the inner ends of the rib members 12. 
     Still referring to FIG. 4 it will be seen that formed integrally with and projecting into opening 19, in the blank, from the rib members 14 are opposed pairs of male and female lock tabs 20 and 26, respectively. 
     Each of the male lock tabs 20 include a pair of lock sections 24 which are foldably joined to each other by related fold line 13a. Male lock tabs 20 include an enlarged head portion 24 and a reduced neck portion 25. 
     Female lock tabs 26 include a throat or slot 27 located adjacent the rib member to which the female lock tab 26 is connected. 
     In assembling the structure, the rib sections 12a of each of the rib members are folded together in face-to-face relation, which in turn brings adjacent edges of the related panel sections 10a of main panel 10 together to form a generally round complete panel, with the rib members 12 projecting upwardly therefrom to reinforce the panel. As the rib sections are folded together and the inner ends of the rib members are brought together the male lock tabs 20 are moved into interlocking relation with the female lock tabs 26, as best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, so that the male lock tabs 20 are received within the throats 27 of the female lock tabs to provide a tight interlocking engagement between the rib members which serves to maintain the rib members in an erected condition and projecting upwardly from the main panel to reinforce and strengthen the lid. 
     The outer flanges 14a are folded at right angles to their respective panel sections, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, so that when the lid is placed within a container the flanges form a friction fit to maintain the lid snugly within the container.