Patent Publication Number: US-2012043326-A1

Title: Container and Closure Assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to assemblies that include a container and a removable closure associated therewith. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a container and closure assembly having a closure configured to securely engage the container, but be readily removable therefrom. 
     BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
     Manufacturers commonly package and distribute foodstuffs in assemblies, each of which includes a container and a removable closure. Container and closure assemblies simplify the transportation of packaged foodstuffs, provide surface space for nutritional labeling, and in some instances function as the receptacle from which a user consumes the foodstuff. The assembly includes a generally bowl shaped portion and a removable lid. The bowl portion defines a cavity suitable to contain a quantity of dry, liquid, and/or semi-liquid product. The bowl portion typically has a generally cylindrical shape and a generally flat bottom, which stabilizes the container. The removable lid seals the cavity formed by the bowl portion to preserve the freshness of the food product and to prevent the food product from spilling out of the bowl portion. A user may separate the lid from the bowl portion to expose an opening through which the user may remove the product stored within the container. The removable lid may include a pull-tab or other similar device to assist a user in detaching the lid from the bowl portion. After detaching the lid, a user may place the bowl portion in a microwave oven to heat the product before consumption. Accordingly, the bowl portion may be manufactured from a microwave safe material. In general, users place the closure over the opening formed by the removal of the lid before heating the bowl portion in a microwave oven. 
     The container may further include a lip, which defines the opening of the container. The lid and the lip may be an integral structure, which is attached to the bowl portion. Alternatively, the lip may be formed integrally with the bowl portion and the lid may be removably connected to the lip. In each case, the lip remains connected to the bowl portion after the lid has been removed. A user may not reattach the lid to the lip after the user has separated the lid from the lip. 
     The closure covers the opening of the container. A user may remove and reattach the closure to the container. During distribution and storage of the container and closure assembly, the closure fits over the lip and the lid. Accordingly, the closure provides a surface upon which a user may stack other container and closure assemblies. During use by a user, the user removes the closure from the container to expose the lid. After the user removes the lid, the user may cover the opening by reattaching the closure to the container. The closure may include vent openings, which enable steam to escape the bowl portion during heating. Additionally, the closure prevents the food product within the bowl portion from splattering out of the container during heating. 
     The closure may distort and/or deform during heating of the container filled with food and covered by the closure. In particular, during heating the closure may expand or otherwise change shape, such that the heated closure is no longer adequately attached to the container. What is needed, therefore, is an improved container and closure assembly, which includes a closure that securely attaches to its associated container under various thermal conditions including heating, yet is readily removable therefrom. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a container and closure assembly is provided. The container and closure assembly includes a container and a closure. The container defines an opening and includes a lip positioned around the opening. The closure is configured to be attached to the container. The closure includes a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt, a first and second blocking structure, a tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and a plurality of first rib extensions. The skirt defines an internal closure space and includes (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the first skirt portion. The second skirt portion includes a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first blocking structure is secured to the skirt. The tab extends downwardly from a second part of the first skirt portion and is positioned in the gap. The second blocking structure is secured to the tab. The plurality of spaced apart first ribs is misaligned with the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The plurality of spaced apart second ribs is aligned with one of the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart second ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The first plurality of first rib extensions is (i) secured to a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and is (ii) spaced apart from the skirt. A plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between the plurality of first rib extensions and the skirt, and the lip of the container is positioned in each of the first lip spaces when the closure is attached to the container. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a closure assembly is provided, which is adapted to be attached to a container. The closure assembly includes a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt, a first and second blocking structure, a tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and a plurality of first rib extensions. The skirt defines an internal closure space and includes (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the first skirt portion. The second skirt portion has a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first blocking structure is secured to the skirt. The tab extends downwardly from a second part of the first skirt portion and is positioned in the gap. The second blocking structure is secured to the tab. The plurality of spaced apart first ribs is misaligned with the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The plurality of spaced apart second ribs is aligned with one of the first blocking structure and the second blocking structure. Each rib of the plurality of spaced apart second ribs is (i) positioned in the internal closure space, and is (ii) attached to both the top portion and the skirt. The plurality of first rib extensions is (i) secured to a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and is (ii) spaced apart from the skirt. A plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between the plurality of first rib extensions and the skirt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Features of the present invention should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description with reference to the figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container and closure assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the container and closure assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view of the container and closure assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bottom side of the closure of the container and closure assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the bottom side of the closure of the container and closure assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure that is configured to be used with the container of the container and closure assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to the present disclosure and referring now to  FIG. 1 , a container and closure assembly  10  includes a container  14  and a closure  18 . The container  14  is configured to hold a quantity of dry, liquid, and/or semi-liquid product, such as a food product for human consumption. As an example, the food product is chicken noodle soup. The closure  18  is configured to attach to the container  14  and be removable therefrom. A user may place the container and closure assembly  10  in a microwave oven to heat the food product contained within the container  14 . The closure  18  remains securely attached to the container  14  during the heating process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the container  14  includes a body  22  and a rim structure  23  that defines a lip  26 . The body  22  has a generally cylindrical shape, which defines a cavity  32  suitable to contain a food product or any other solid, liquid, or semi-liquid product. Alternatively, the body  22  may be configured to have an elliptical, rectangular, or polygonal cross-sectional shape. The body  22  has a generally flat bottom portion to stabilize the container  14 . The bottom of the body  22  is closed to contain the food product within the cavity  32 . The rim structure  23  is secured to an upper end portion of the body  22  to define an opening  30  through which the container  14  is filled and emptied. The lip  26  completely surrounds the opening  30 . The body  22  may be formed from materials that are conventionally used for the storage and after-purchase heating of food products. For example, the body  22  is formed from an injection moldable thermoplastic. 
     The rim structure  23  is a metallic component that is coupled to the body  22  in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the rim structure  23  may be integrally formed with the body  22  through a thermoplastic molding process so that both the lip  26  and the body collectively define a single polymeric component. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lip  26  defines a top surface  38 , a bottom surface  42  opposed to the top surface, an inner surface  46 , and an outer surface  50  opposed to the inner surface. Each of the inner surface  46 , the outer surface  50 , the top surface  38 , and the bottom surface  42  is configured to interface with a portion of the closure  18  when the closure is coupled to the container  14 . As an alternative, the rim structure  23  may have a largely rounded shape without prominent corners to define the surfaces  38 ,  42 ,  46 ,  50 . Accordingly, the top surface  38 , bottom surface  42 , outer surface  50 , and inner surface  46  refers to respective top, bottom, inner, and outer portions of the rim structure  23  regardless of whether the surfaces are rigidly defined. 
     The container  14  includes a lid  52 , a portion of which is shown in  FIG. 2 , that a user may separate from the rim structure  23  of the container  14 . When the lid  52  is connected to the rim structure  23 , the lid covers the cavity  32  of the body  22  and provides an air-tight seal to enable the container  14  to store food products for a substantial period of time without spoiling, as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A score line (not illustrated) may be used between the rim structure  23  and the lid  52  to facilitate separation of the lid from the rim structure  23  and to allow easy opening and access to the product within the body  22  of the container  14 . The lid  52  may include a pull-tab (not illustrated) to enable a user to remove the lid from the rim structure  23  without an additional tool, such as a can opener. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 1 , the closure  18  of the container and closure assembly  10  surrounds the rim structure  23  and the upper portion of the body  22 . A user may detach the closure  18  from the container  14  to expose the lid  52 . After the user removes the lid, the user may reattach the closure  18  to the container  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The container and closure assembly  10  (without the lid  52 ) may be placed in a microwave oven for heating of the food product contained in the container  14 . As described below, features of the closure  18  ensure that the closure remains securely fastened to the rim structure  23  of the container  14  during the heating process. 
     The closure  18  may be made from materials conventionally used for the storage and after-purchase heating of food products. Exemplary materials for making the closure  18  include, but are not limited to, polypropylene (“PP”), linear low-density polyethylene (“LLDPE”), and other injection moldable thermoplastics. In one embodiment, the closure  18  is made from nucleated PP having a density of approximately 0.800 to 1.00 grams per cubic centimeter and a melt index of approximately 50 to 170 grams per 10 minutes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the closure  18  includes a top portion  54  and a skirt  55 . The skirt  55  includes an upper skirt portion  58  and a lower skirt portion  62 . A reference line  64  delineates the upper skirt portion  58  from the lower skirt portion  62 . The top portion  54  defines a periphery of the closure  18 . The top portion  54 , as illustrated, defines a circular periphery; however, the top portion may define a periphery of any shape as required by the shape of the opening  30 . In one embodiment, the top portion  54  is generally circular, has a diameter between approximately 9.0 to 12.0 centimeters, and is formed of a material having a thickness of approximately 0.20 to 0.60 millimeters. The top portion  54  includes a plurality of vent holes  66  to allow steam to pass through the closure  18 . 
     The upper skirt portion  58  extends from the periphery of the top portion  54  to form a cylindrical structure defining an internal closure space  70  ( FIG. 2 ). In a particular embodiment, the upper skirt portion  58  extends downward from the top portion  54  approximately 0.30 to 0.70 centimeters and has a thickness of approximately 0.4 to 0.8 millimeters. The lower skirt portion  62  extends downward from a portion of the upper skirt portion  58 . In one embodiment, the lower skirt portion  62  extends from the upper skirt portion  58  approximately 0.7 to 1.2 centimeters. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower skirt portion  62  includes a side edge  74  and a side edge  78  that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap  82 . When the closure  18  is connected to the container  14 , the outer surface  50  of the rim structure  23  faces the skirt  55 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the closure  18  further includes a tab  86 , which a user may move or pivot from a relaxed position to an unrelaxed position. When the tab  86  is in the unrelaxed position, a user may easily remove the closure  18  from the container  14 ; however, when the tab is in the relaxed position, the closure positively engages the container  14  and a user may not easily remove the closure from the container. The tab  86  extends downward from a portion of the upper skirt portion  58  and is positioned in the gap  82  between the side edge  74  and the side edge  78  of the lower skirt portion  62 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the closure  14  includes two blocking structures  90  and  94 , which facilitate securing the closure  18  to the container  14 . The blocking structures  90  and  94  may be configured as detents, protuberances, or vertex segments. The blocking structure  90  is connected to an inside surface of the lower skirt portion  62 . The other blocking structure  94  is connected to an inside surface of the tab  86 . Both blocking structures  90  and  94  extend toward the center of the closure  18 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the closure  18  is attached to the container  14 , the blocking structure  90  contacts the bottom surface  42  of the lip  26  to secure the closure  18  to the container  14 . The blocking structure  94  engages the lip  26  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The blocking structures  90  and  94  overlap the bottom surface  42  between approximately 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters. When the closure  18  is connected to the container  14 , the bottom surface  42  faces each of the blocking structures  90  and  94 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the closure  18  includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs  98  positioned at least partially in the internal closure space  70 . The ribs  98  are attached to the upper skirt portion  58  and the top portion  54 , and are configured to increase the rigidity of the closure  18 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rib  98  includes an interiorly facing side  102 , an exteriorly facing side  106  secured to the skirt portion  58 , an upper side  110  secured to the top portion  54 , and a lower side  114 . The ribs  98  are interposed between the rim structure  23  and the top portion  54  when the closure  18  is attached to the container  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the ribs  116  are aligned with the blocking structures  90  and  94 , while the remaining ribs  98  are misaligned with the blocking structures  90  and  94 . Accordingly, a plane  118  superimposed on the top portion  54  of the closure  18  so as to intersect both the blocking structure  90  and the blocking structure  94 , divides the closure into a first closure half portion and a second closure half portion each having an equal number of ribs  98  that are misaligned with the blocking structures  90  and  94 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the plane  118  intersects each rib  116  aligned with the blocking structures  90  and  94 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the closure  18  includes rib extensions  122 , which are connected to the lower side  114  ( FIG. 3 ) of the ribs  98 . Each rib  98  includes an extension  122 . The extensions  122  ensure that the closure  18  remains securely connected to the container  14  as the food product within the container is heated. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the extension  122  includes an exteriorly facing side  126 , an interiorly facing side  130 , and a lower side  134 . The interiorly facing side  130  is flush with the interiorly facing side  102  of the rib  98 . When the closure  18  is connected to the container  14 , the top surface  38  of the rim structure  23  faces each of the ribs  98  and the inner surface  46  of the lip  26  faces the extensions  122 . 
     A plurality of lip spaces  138 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 3 , is respectively defined between the rib extensions  122  and the skirt  55 . Each lip space  138  has a width approximately equal to the distance between the inner surface  46  and the outer surface  50  of the lip  26 , such that the lip may enter the lip space in response to the closure  18  being attached to the container  14 . In particular, each lip space  138  is configured as a generally U-shaped receptacle formed by the exteriorly facing side  126  of the extension  122 , the lower side  114  of the rib  98  to which the extension  122  is connected, and the interiorly facing side of the skirt  55 . When the closure  18  is connected to the container  14 , a portion of each rib  98  becomes interposed between the lip spaces  138  and the top portion  54 . 
     In operation, the container and closure assembly  10  contains a food product and functions as a receptacle from which a user may consume the food product. To prepare the food product for consumption, a user begins by removing the closure  18  from the container  14 . To remove the closure  18 , the user moves the tab  86  from the relaxed position to the unrelaxed position in the direction of arrow  146  of  FIG. 2 . While holding the tab  86  in the unrelaxed position, the user applies an upward force in the direction of arrow  150  ( FIG. 2 ) to the closure  18  to advance the blocking structure  94  past the lip  26  and to separate the closure from the container  14 . The tab  86  returns to the relaxed state after the user releases the force on the tab. Next, the user separates the lid  52  from the rim structure  23  by pulling a pull-tab away from the container  14 , as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Separation of the lid  52  from the rim structure  23  allows the food product to be withdrawn from the container  14 . 
     If the user desires to heat the food product within the container  14 , the user reattaches the closure  18  to the container after removing the lid  52 . To reattach the closure  18 , the user places the closure on the top of the container  14  such that the internal closure space  70  surrounds the rim structure  23 . Next, the user applies a downward force (opposite direction of arrow  150 ) to the top portion  54 . The downward force causes the blocking structures  90  and  94  to slide along the rim structure  23  and then advance under the lip  26  to their position shown in  FIG. 2 . In this position, the bottom surface of each of the blocking structures  90  and  94  face the lip  26 . Also in this position, when the closure  18  is attached to the container  14 , the lip  26  is located in the lip spaces  138 . 
     Once the user has reattached the closure  18  to the container  14 , the user then places the container and closure assembly  10  in a microwave oven to heat the food product. During the heating process, the closure  18  is subjected to heat. Nonetheless, the closure  18  remains securely attached to the container  14 . In particular, even if the closure  18  exhibits a change in configuration in response to the heat, the closure remains securely connected to the container  14  due to physical interaction of the lip  26 , the extensions  122 , and/or the skirt  55 . 
     Another embodiment of the closure  18 ′ of the container and closure assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For clarity, like components of the closure  18  and the closure  18 ′ are labeled with like reference numerals except that the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes a prime symbol. The closure  18 ′ is configured and operates in the exact same manner as the closure  18 , except that the closure  18 ′ does not include extensions  122 ′ on the ribs  116 ′ that are aligned with the blocking structures  90 ′ and  94 ′, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Variations and modifications of the present disclosure are possible; however, all variations and modifications, which are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, are considered to be within the scope of protection granted by this Letters Patent.