Patent Publication Number: US-2020277110-A1

Title: Lid for a container for smokeless tobacco products

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/IB2019/053050, filed on Apr. 12, 2019, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/657,327, filed on Apr. 13, 2018, and 62/737,496, filed on Sep. 27, 2018, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety in this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to lids and containers using the same. More particularly, the disclosure relates to lids for packaging products made or derived from tobacco, or that otherwise incorporate tobacco, and are intended for human consumption in a smokeless form. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Various types of containers for dispensing solid objects, particularly solid products intended for human consumption, are known in the art. Such containers are often characterized by a hand-held size that can be easily stored and transported. Example consumable products that are often packaged in such containers include a wide variety of consumer products, including “smokeless” tobacco-related products. 
     Particularly popular smokeless tobacco products are employed by inserting some form of processed tobacco or tobacco-containing formulation into the mouth of the user. See for example, the types of smokeless tobacco formulations, ingredients, and processing methodologies set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,586 to Schwartz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,917 to Levi; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,756 to Pittman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,993 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,269 to Story et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,599 to Tibbetts; U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,907 to Townsend; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,352 to Sprinkle, III et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,839 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,654 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,040 to Atchley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,601 to Atchley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,686 to Atchley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,507 to Dube et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,124 to Strickland et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,728 to Holton, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,901,512 to Quinter et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,168,855 to Nielsen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,336,557 to Kumar et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,036 to Strickland et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,828 to Strickland et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,940,344 to Crawford et al.; U.S. Patent Application Pub. Nos. 2004/0020503 to Williams; 2007/0062549 to Holton, Jr. et al.; 2008/0029116 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0029117 to Mua et al.; 2008/0173317 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0196730 to Engstrom et al.; 2009/0065013 to Essen et al.; and 2010/0291245 to Gao et al.; PCT Pub. Nos. WO 04/095959 to Arnarp et al.; and WO 10/132444 to Atchley; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Representative smokeless tobacco products that have been marketed include those referred to as CAMEL Snus, CAMEL Orbs, CAMEL Strips and CAMEL Sticks by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; GRIZZLY moist tobacco, KODIAK moist tobacco, LEVI GARRETT loose tobacco and TAYLOR&#39;S PRIDE loose tobacco by American Snuff Company, LLC; KAYAK moist snuff and CHATTANOOGA CHEW chewing tobacco by Swisher International, Inc.; REDMAN chewing tobacco by Pinkerton Tobacco Co. LP; COPENHAGEN moist tobacco, COPENHAGEN Pouches, SKOAL Bandits, SKOAL Pouches, RED SEAL long cut and REVEL Mint Tobacco Packs by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company; and MARLBORO Snus and Taboka by Philip Morris USA. 
     Representative types of snuff products, commonly referred to as “snus,” are manufactured in Europe, particularly in Sweden, by or through companies such as Swedish Match AB, Fiedler &amp; Lundgren AB, Gustavus AB, Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni A/S and Rocker Production AB. Snus products previously or currently available in the U.S.A. have been marketed under the trade names such as CAMEL Snus Frost, CAMEL Snus Original, and CAMEL Snus Spice, CAMEL Snus Mint, CAMEL Snus Mellow, CAMEL Snus Winterchill, and CAMEL Snus Robust by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. 
     Snus products, such as CAMEL Snus Original, are commonly supplied in small teabag-like pouches. The pouches are typically a nonwoven fleece material, and contain about 0.4 to 1.5 grams of pasteurized tobacco. These products typically remain in a user&#39;s mouth for about 10-30 minutes. Unlike certain other smokeless tobacco products, snus does not require expectoration by the user. 
     Smokeless tobacco products have been packaged in tins, “pucks” or “pots” that are manufactured from metal or plastic such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,421 to Foster; U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,170 to Boyd; U.S. Pat. No. 8,556,070 to Bried et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,781 to Pipes et al.; and U.S. Patent Application Pub. Nos. 2010/0065076 to Bergstrom et al.; and 2010/0065077 to Lofgreen-Ohrn et al.; each of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     A desirable feature for certain containers configured to store a product such as snus is the protection of the product from environmental effects, particularly those effects that may degrade the product stored in the container. For example, in humid environments, moisture may invade the storage space housing the product, thereby damaging the product or otherwise rendering the product unusable. Conversely, moisture may escape the product and exit the storage space, rendering the product overly dry. 
     It would thus be desirable to provide an improved packaging for smokeless tobacco products and the like, wherein the packaging, particularly the lid, is aesthetically pleasing, reasonable to manufacture, and provides various advantageous features, such as protection from environmental effects by venting the container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect, a lid is provided. The lid may include a laterally-extending wall having opposing first and second surfaces and defining a periphery. The wall may have a central axis extending perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces. A sidewall may extend from the second surface parallel to the central axis and about the periphery of the wall. The wall and the sidewall are formed of a polymeric material. A metallic cladding is engaged with the wall so as to extend laterally across the first surface. 
     In another aspect, a method of manufacturing a lid for a container for storing a smokeless tobacco product is provided. The method may include coating at least a portion of a surface of a metallic cladding with a heat-actuated adhesive coating. The method may also include arranging the metallic cladding adjacent to a first surface of a laterally-extending wall such that the heat-actuated adhesive coating is positioned between the metallic cladding and the first surface and such that the cladding extends laterally across the first surface. The wall may have a second surface opposing the first surface, defining a periphery, having a central axis extending perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces, and having a sidewall extending from the second surface parallel to the central axis and about the periphery of the wall, with the wall and the sidewall being formed of a polymeric material. The method may also include exposing the metallic cladding and the heat-actuated adhesive coating to a magnetic field so as to actuate the heat-actuated adhesive coating to bond the metallic cladding to the first surface. 
     The disclosure includes, without limitation, the following embodiments. 
     Embodiment 1: A lid for a container for storing a smokeless tobacco product, the lid comprising: a laterally-extending wall having opposing first and second surfaces and defining a periphery, the wall having a central axis extending perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces; a sidewall extending from the second surface about the periphery of the wall, with the wall and the sidewall being formed of a polymeric material; and a metallic cladding engaged with the wall so as to extend laterally across the first surface. 
     Embodiment 2: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the sidewall includes a groove recessed in an exterior surface thereof, wherein the groove is configured to receive a peripheral edge of the cladding. 
     Embodiment 3: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the peripheral edge of the cladding is angled to reside in the groove. 
     Embodiment 4: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the groove is recessed radially inward toward the central axis of the wall from the exterior surface of the sidewall by a distance greater than or about equal to a thickness of the cladding. 
     Embodiment 5: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the cladding comprises a metallic sheet. 
     Embodiment 6: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the metallic sheet is embossed. 
     Embodiment 7: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the metallic sheet comprises a raised ridge adjacent to a periphery thereof. 
     Embodiment 8: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the raised ridge is self-supporting. 
     Embodiment 9: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the metallic sheet has a thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm. 
     Embodiment 10: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the sidewall extends substantially parallel to the central axis of the laterally-extending wall. 
     Embodiment 11: The lid of any preceding embodiment, further comprising a rib structure projecting from the second surface of the laterally extending wall, the rib structure comprising a plurality of rib segments arranged in spaced relation proximate the periphery of the wall. 
     Embodiment 12: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the sidewall further comprises a radially inward extending detent extending circumferentially around the central axis of the laterally-extending wall. 
     Embodiment 13: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein an adhesive layer is positioned between the cladding and the first surface. 
     Embodiment 14: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the adhesive layer is a coating pre-applied to the cladding. 
     Embodiment 15: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the adhesive layer is actuated by heat to form a bond between the cladding and the wall when the cladding is subjected to a magnetic field. 
     Embodiment 16: The lid of any preceding embodiment, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat-actuated adhesive. 
     Embodiment 17: A method of manufacturing a lid for a container for storing a smokeless tobacco product, the method comprising: 
     receiving a lid structure comprising a laterally-extending wall having opposing first and second surfaces and defining a periphery, the wall having a central axis extending perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces, and a sidewall extending from the second surface about the periphery of the wall, with the wall and the sidewall being formed of a polymeric material; 
     receiving a metallic cladding; 
     arranging the metallic cladding adjacent to the first surface of the laterally-extending wall such that the cladding extends laterally across the first surface and with a heat-actuated adhesive positioned between the metallic cladding and the first surface; and 
     exposing the metallic cladding and the heat-actuated adhesive to a magnetic field so as to actuate the heat-actuated adhesive to bond the metallic cladding to the first surface. 
     Embodiment 18: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the sidewall includes a groove recessed in an exterior surface thereof, and the method further comprises arranging a peripheral edge of the metallic cladding within the groove. 
     Embodiment 19: The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising embossing the metallic cladding. 
     Embodiment 20: The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising the step of coating the heat-actuated adhesive onto either at least a portion of a surface of the metallic cladding or at least a portion of the first surface of the laterally-extending wall of the lid structure prior to said arranging step. 
     Embodiment 21: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the coating step comprises printing the heat-actuated adhesive on at least a portion of a surface of the metallic cladding. 
     Embodiment 22: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein either the metallic cladding or the lid structure is received pre-treated with the heat-actuated adhesive. 
     Embodiment 23: The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising forming a peripheral ridge in the metallic cladding. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The invention includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the above-noted embodiments as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined in a specific embodiment description herein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosed invention, in any of its various aspects and embodiments, should be viewed as intended to be combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container comprising a lid and a body in a coupled configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the body of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an interior perspective view of the lid of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of a portion of a lid of the container according to one embodiment of the present disclosure along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a detailed sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is an exploded sectional view of  FIG. 4B ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a sectional view of a portion of a lid of the container according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  is a detailed sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a sectional view of a portion of a lid of the container according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6B  is a detailed sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a sectional view of a portion of a lid of the container according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a detailed sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to certain preferred aspects. These aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein; rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The embodiments of lids and containers described in the present application can be used to store a variety of products, but are particularly well-suited for products designed for oral consumption. Example consumable products that are often packaged in such containers include a wide variety of consumer products, including tobacco products in smokeless form. 
     Example tobacco products include pelletized tobacco products (e.g., compressed or molded pellets produced from powdered or processed tobacco, such as those formed into the general shape of a coin, cylinder, bean, pellet, sphere, orb, strip, obloid, cube, bead, or the like), extruded or cast pieces of tobacco (e.g., as strips, films, or sheets, including multilayered films formed into a desired shape), products incorporating tobacco carried by a solid substrate (e.g., where substrate materials range from edible grains to inedible cellulosic sticks), extruded or formed tobacco-containing rods or sticks, tobacco-containing capsule-like materials having an outer shell region and an inner body portion region, straw-like (e.g., hollow formed) tobacco-containing shapes, sachets or packets containing tobacco (e.g., snus-like products), pieces of tobacco-containing gum, and the like. Further, example tobacco products include tobacco formulations in a loose form such as, for example, a moist snuff product. Example loose form tobacco used with the containers of the present disclosure may include tobacco formulations associated with, for example, commercially available GRIZZLY moist tobacco products and KODIAK moist tobacco products that are marketed by American Snuff Company, LLC. 
     Example smokeless tobacco compositions that can be packaged in the containers of the present disclosure are set forth in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,586 to Schwartz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,567 to Speer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,756 to Pittman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,357 to Dusek et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,749 to Toft et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,244 to Kjerstad; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White; U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,839 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,507 to Dube et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,124 to Strickland et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,036 to Strickland et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,828 to Strickland et al.; and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2008/0029116 to Robinson et al. Examples of tobacco-containing gum are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,269 to Story et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,270 to Kehoe; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,498 to Ogren. Various manners or methods for packaging smokeless tobacco products are set forth in U.S. Patent Application Pub. Nos. 2004/0217024 and 2006/0118589 to Arnarp et al.; and 2009/0014450 to Bjorkholm; and PCT Pub. Nos. WO 2006/034450 to Budd; WO 2007/017761 to Kutsch et al.; and WO 2007/067953 to Sheveley et al. All of the above-cited references are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     Smokeless tobacco compositions utilized as the product contained in the containers of the disclosure will often include such ingredients as tobacco (typically in particulate form), sweeteners, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, fillers, flavoring agents, disintegration aids, antioxidants, oral care additives, and preservatives. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,728 to Holton et al., which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The tobacco formulation can be contained within a container, such as a pouch or bag, such as is the type commonly used for the manufacture of snus types of products (e.g., a sealed, moisture permeable pouch that is sometimes referred to as a “portion”). A representative moisture permeable pouch can be composed of a “fleece” type of material. The tobacco formulation is in turn contained within a package, such as the containers of the present disclosure described more fully hereinbelow. The package is closeable, and is composed of a suitable material, such that the atmospheric conditions within that closed package may be modified and/or controlled. In one example, the package can provide a good barrier that inhibits the passage of compositions such as moisture and oxygen therethrough. In addition, the atmosphere within the sealed package can be further modified by introducing a selected gaseous species (e.g., nitrogen, argon, or a mixture thereof) into the package prior to sealing, or by drawing a vacuum therein (vacuum sealing). As such, the atmospheric conditions to which the tobacco composition is exposed may be controlled during conditions of preparation, packing, storage and handling. In other embodiments, the atmospheric conditions are controlled by allowing for air exchange between the interior of the closed package and the ambient environment. Air exchange may be facilitated by the permeability of the materials or through vents or other structures constructed as a portion of the package. A vented container may be particularly suitable for storing fermented moist tobacco products. 
     An example pouch may be manufactured from materials, and in such a manner, such that during use by the user, the pouch undergoes a controlled dispersion or dissolution. Such pouch materials may have the form of a mesh, screen, perforated paper, permeable fabric, or the like. For example, pouch material manufactured from a mesh-like form of rice paper, or perforated rice paper, may dissolve in the mouth of the user. As a result, the pouch and tobacco formulation each may undergo complete dispersion within the mouth of the user during normal conditions of use, and hence the pouch and tobacco formulation both may be ingested by the user. Other example pouch materials may be manufactured using water dispersible film forming materials (e.g., binding agents such as alginates, carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, pullulan, and the like), as well as those materials in combination with materials such as ground cellulosics (e.g., fine particle size wood pulp). Some pouch materials, though water dispersible or dissolvable, may be designed and manufactured such that under conditions of normal use, a significant amount of the tobacco formulation contents permeate through the pouch material prior to the time that the pouch undergoes loss of its physical integrity. If desired, flavoring ingredients, disintegration aids, and other desired components, may be incorporated within, or applied to, the pouch material. Descriptions of various components of snus products and components thereof also are set forth in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0118422 to Lundin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. See, also, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,479 to Linden; U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,899 to Nielsen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,734 to Wydick et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,516 to Derr, and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2005/0061339 to Hansson et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. See, also, the representative types of pouches, and pouch material or fleece, set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,244 to Kjerstad, which is incorporated herein by reference. Snus products can be manufactured using equipment such as that available as SB 51-1/T, SBL 50 and SB 53-2/T from Merz Verpackungmaschinen GmbH. G.D SpA out of Italy also supplies tobacco pouching equipment. Snus pouches can be provided as individual pouches, or a plurality of pouches and can be connected or linked together (e.g., in an end-to-end manner) such that a single pouch or individual portion can be readily removed for use from a one-piece strand or matrix of pouches. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate one container  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The container  10  may be formed by an open-ended body  20  and a lid  40 . The lid  40  is removable from the body  20  to provide access to a product held within the container  10 . The body  20  has a bottom wall  22  (see  FIG. 2 ), which, in some instances, may be substantially planar, and a peripheral flange  24  depending from the bottom wall  22  which, in some instances, may be cylindrical as shown. The peripheral flange  24  may define a peripheral portion of the container  10  such that the peripheral flange includes an outer peripheral surface  28 . The bottom wall  22  and the peripheral flange  24  cooperate to define an internal storage compartment  26  for storage of a plurality of units of a product. In some instances, an upper portion  30  of the peripheral flange  24  may define a lip  32  in such a manner that the upper portion  30  the peripheral flange has a neck region  34  of reduced diameter (as compared to the diameter of the remainder of the outer surface of the peripheral flange). Note that the location of the lip  32  along the peripheral flange  24  of the body  20  can vary without departing from the present disclosure, meaning that distance between the lip  32  and the top edge  38  of the body  20  is not critical to the present disclosure. A projection  39  may extend from the neck region  34  and be provided about the periphery of the upper portion  30  of the peripheral flange  24  to provide an interference fit with the lid  40 . 
     The lid  40  may be provided for enclosing the units of product within the internal storage compartment  26 . In this regard, the lid  40  is typically removably secured to the body  20  by a snap-fit or an interference fit. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lid  40  has a laterally-extending wall  42 , which, in some instances, may be substantially planar. The wall  42  has opposing outer and inner surfaces  44 ,  46  and defines a periphery. The wall  42  has a central axis C extending perpendicularly to the outer and inner surfaces  44 ,  46 . A sidewall  48  extends from the inner surface and about the periphery of the wall. In one embodiment, the sidewall  48  extends parallel to the central axis C. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall  48  is cylindrical. The sidewall  48  of the lid  40  may be received over the peripheral flange  24  of the body  20  so as to form an enclosure therebetween. In instances where the lip  32  is provided on the body  20 , an edge  50  of the sidewall  48  may interact with a surface  36  of the lip  32  to form a stop when the lid  40  is received upon the body  20 . In other words, the edge  50  of the lid  40 , which is typically substantially planar, will abut the surface  36  of the lip  32 , which is also typically substantially planar, when the lid  40  is fully seated upon the body  20 . A cylindrical exterior surface  52  of the lid  40  may have the same approximate size or diameter as the peripheral flange  24  of the body  20  such that the lid and body form a smooth exterior surface when the lid is placed over the neck region  34  of the peripheral flange and fully seated upon the body. In another embodiment, the exterior surface  52  of the lid  40  may have a size or diameter that is larger than the peripheral flange  24  of the body  20  so the user may access the edge  50  of the lid  40  for removing the lid from the body. 
     The material for constructing the body  20  can vary. Example materials include metal, wood, and synthetic plastic materials. In one embodiment, the body  20  is formed from a polymeric material. Polymeric materials that can be extruded and/or molded into desired shapes are typically utilized, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyamide, and the like. 
       FIG. 3  shows an interior perspective view of the lid  40 . A rib structure  60  projects from the inner surface  46  of the laterally extending wall  42 . In some aspects, the rib structure  60  may be integrally formed with the wall  42 . According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the rib structure  60  may be formed by a plurality of rib segments  62  arranged in spaced relation around the periphery of the wall  42  (e.g., positioned circumferentially about the wall  42  where the lid  40  is cylindrical). Any number of rib segments  62  greater than one may be provided in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., about 2 to about 20 rib segments or about 5 to about 15 rib segments). The rib segments  62  are separated from one another by a vent channel  64 . 
     When the lid  40  is engaged with the body  20 , each pair of adjacent rib segments  62  may form a vent channel  64  therebetween that allows venting from the interior of the container  10  to the atmosphere exterior of the container. 
     The sidewall  48  of the lid  40  may include a radially inward extending detent  68  extending circumferentially around the central axis C of the lid  40 . The detent  68  may be configured to engage with the projection  39  of the body  20  to assist with retention of the lid  40  on the body  20 . 
     In an embodiment, the laterally extending wall  42 , sidewall  48 , and rib structure  60  of the lid  40  are integrally formed into a base  70  from polymeric materials. Example polymeric materials that can be formed into the base  70  are materials that can be extruded and/or molded into the desired shapes, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyamide, and the like. 
     The shape of the exterior surface  52  of the lid  40  of the disclosure can vary. Therefore, although the container  10  is represented as a substantially cylindrical “puck” shape, the container  10  may be configured with alternative peripheral shapes, such as a square, a rectangle, various other regular or irregular polygonal shapes, an oval, or other suitable shapes. Further, the sides or edges of the containers of the disclosure could be flattened, rounded, or beveled, and the various surfaces or edges of the container exterior could be concave or convex unless expressly stated otherwise in claimed embodiments. Further, the opposing sides, ends, or edges of the container can be parallel or non-parallel such that the container becomes narrower in one or more dimensions. 
     The dimensions of the containers described herein can vary without departing from the disclosure. However, in some embodiments, the containers of the disclosure can be described as having a cylindrical size suitable for handheld manipulation and operation. Example dimensions for such handheld cylindrical embodiments include diameters in the range of about 50 mm to about 100 mm, and more typically about 60 mm to about 80 mm. Example wall thicknesses include the range of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm, and more typically about 0.8 mm to about 1.4 mm. Example depths for handheld container embodiments of the present disclosure range from about 5 mm to about 50 mm, more typically about 8 mm to about 30 mm, and most often about 15 mm to about 25 mm. 
     The number of solid product units stored in the containers of the disclosure can also vary, depending on the size of the container and the size of the product units. Typically, the number of stored product units will vary from about 5 to about 100, more typically about 10 to about 50, and most often about 15 to about 30. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4A-C , a cross section of the lid  40  according to a first embodiment is illustrated in further detail. Notably, the polymeric base  70  of the lid  40 , which includes at least the laterally extending wall  42  and the sidewall  48 , supports a metallic cladding  80  engaged with the wall  42  so as to extend laterally across the outer surface  44  of the wall. 
     The cladding  80  comprises a metallic material, such as tin, brass, bronze, nickel, aluminum, steel, or tin coated steel plate. The cladding  80  may be formed from a single sheet of metal via punching, stamping, trimming, forming the sheet of metal and/or via other operations. Providing a metallic cladding  80  engaged with a polymeric base  70  may be advantageous in that the illustrated combination may provide an aesthetically appealing appearance by using a metallic material to form the prominent merchandizing portion of the container  10 , while also allowing the remainder of the base  70  and container to be less expensively produced using, for example, an injection molding process. 
     Advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure utilize an adhesive to bond the cladding  80  to the polymeric base  70 . Alternatively, the metallic cladding  80  can be bonded to the polymeric base  70  during a molding operation. For example, insert molding techniques could be used to affix the cladding  80  to the base  70  during an injection molding process used to create the final shape of the base portion of the lid structure. Such processes typically involve placing an insert, in this case a cladding material, within a mold prior to injection of a polymeric material into the mold. As the final polymeric structure is formed, structural integration with the insert takes place. 
     The cladding  80  may provide a merchandizing portion of the lid  40  by being embossed with product branding or other aesthetically pleasing or informative labeling  82 . The labeling  82  may additionally or alternatively be provided integrally with the cladding  80  through other processes such as casting, printing (e.g., infusing dyes into the surface of the cladding), etching (e.g., via various laser, chemical, and/or other suitable etching techniques), or other suitable process for adding text, graphics, and/or other ornamentation to a metal surface. The labeling  82  may alternatively be separately attached to the cladding, such as by use of a labeling sticker. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-C , the cladding  80  may be substantially planar. In one embodiment, the cladding  80  comprises a metallic sheet having a thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm. In one embodiment, the metallic sheet has a thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 0.2 mm. The cladding  80  may be characterized as a foil. In other embodiments, the cladding  80  may be a coating applied to the base  70 . In further embodiments, the cladding  80  may comprise a film applied to the base  70 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-C , the cladding  80  may be engaged with the outer surface  44  of the wall  42  using an adhesive layer  84  disposed therebetween. The adhesive layer  84  may have a thickness of between about 0.01 mm and about 0.5 mm. In one embodiment, as shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 4C , the adhesive layer  84  is a coating applied to a surface of the cladding  80  in a step separate from joining the cladding to the base  70 . In one embodiment, the coating is a solvent-based polyolefin dispersion heat-seal coating, which may be characterized as a heat-actuated adhesive coating. In one example, a suitable coating may be sold under the tradename MORPRIME™ by the Dow Chemical Company. Acrylic, aqueous heat seal coatings available from Roymal Inc. may also be suitable. Aqueous emulsion waterborne heat-seal coatings available from Mico-Corp may also be suitable. The coatings may be applied to the cladding with known processes such as printing, gravure, rotogravure, flexographic, and offset. 
     Use of a heat-seal coating or heat-actuated adhesive coating as the adhesive layer  84  allows the cladding  80  to be pre-coated with the adhesive layer for later attachment to the base  70 . The coating, particularly a heat-seal coating, can then be activated by heat to facilitate a bond between the metallic cladding  80  and the polymeric base  70 . Prior to being heated, the coating may not be tacky, facilitating use of a cladding  80  with an adhesive layer coating in high-speed production lines. 
     In one example, heat for activating the adhesive layer  84  coating may be created using induction heating. Adherence between the cladding  80  with the adhesive layer  84  and the base  70  may be generated using the same or similar methodology as employed within known induction sealing or heat sealing machines. Such machines, including production line machines, are available from companies such as Relco UK, Selig Sealing Products, Inc., and ME.RO S.p.A, and Enercon Industries. Induction sealers would be used to create an electromagnetic field in the presence of the metallic cladding  80 . Exposure of the cladding  80  and heat-actuated adhesive layer  84  to the magnetic field induces eddy currents within the cladding that causes the cladding to quickly generate heat therein, wherein the heat would be conducted to the adhesive layer  84 . The heating of the adhesive layer  84  activates or otherwise actuates the adhesive layer  84  to form a bond between the cladding  80  and the base  70 . Typical induction sealers include a power source, a coil for generating a magnetic field, and a cooling system. 
     The lid  40  may have a maximum height along a direction parallel with the central axis C of less than about 0.35 inches. In another embodiment, the maximum height of the lid  40  may be less than about 0.30 inches and may be less than about 0.28 inches. The height includes both the body  70  and the cladding  80 . The same suitable dimensions may apply to the further embodiments discussed below. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a lid  40   a  according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior of the lid  40   a  may be substantially similar to the lid  40  discussed above, and as a result, the lid  40   a  may be configured to engage the body  20  in the same manner as discussed above. 
     The lid  40   a  illustrates the cladding  80   a  extending across substantially the entirety of the top surface  44  of the wall  42 . Particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the top surface  44  of the polymeric base  70  is substantially entirely hidden from view by the cladding  80   a . The cladding  80   a  may include an adhesive layer  84 , coated thereon in advance, that may be active by heat through an induction bonding machine as discussed hereinabove. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a lid  40   b  according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior of the lid  40   b  may be substantially similar to the lid  40  discussed above, and as a result, the lid  40   b  may be configured to engage the body  20  in the same manner as discussed above. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the cladding  80   b  is engaged with the wall  42  using an adhesive layer  84 , such as the induction bonded, heat seal coating layer described above. 
     The wall  48  of the base  70   b  may also include a groove  49  recessed in the exterior surface  52 . The groove  49  may be configured to receive the peripheral edge  86  of the cladding  80   b . In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral edge  86  may be bent or otherwise angled to reside in the groove  49 . By positioning the peripheral edge  86  within the groove  49 , the cladding  80   b  may be less susceptible to peeling away from the base  70   b . The depth of the groove  49  in the radial direction toward axis C may be selected such that the exterior surface  52  is flush with the surface of the cladding  80   b  when the peripheral edge  86  is disposed within the groove  49 . In another embodiment, the groove  49  is deeper than the thickness of the cladding  80   b  such that the cladding is recessed relative to the exterior surface  52 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show a lid  40   c  according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior of the lid  40   c  may be substantially similar to the lid  40  discussed above, and as a result, the lid  40   c  may be configured to engage the body  20  in the same manner as discussed above. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the cladding  80   c  is engaged with the wall  42  using an adhesive layer  84 , such as the induction bonded, heat seal coating layer described above. 
     The wall  48  of the base  70   b  may also include a groove  49  recessed in the exterior surface  52 . The groove  49  may be configured to receive the peripheral edge  86  of the cladding  80   c . In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral edge  86  may be bent or otherwise angled, such as by stamping, to reside in the groove  49 . By positioning the peripheral edge  86  within the groove  49 , the cladding  80   c  may be less susceptible to peeling away from the base  70   b . The depth of the groove  49  in the radial direction toward axis C may be selected such that the exterior surface  52  is flush with the surface of the cladding  80   c  when the peripheral edge  86  is disposed within the groove  49 . In another embodiment, the groove  49  is deeper than the thickness of the cladding  80   c  such that the cladding is recessed relative to the exterior surface  52 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the cladding  80   c  may be pre-formed, such as by stamping, with a peripheral ridge  87 . The peripheral ridge  87  may assist with the rigidity of the cladding  80   c  and help minimize warping near the center of the cladding. In addition, the peripheral ridge  87  may provide a tactile feature that assist the user with at least one of adding or removing the lid  40   c  from the body  20  ( FIG. 1 ). The material and thickness of the cladding  80   c  may be selected such that the peripheral ridge  87  is self-supporting and would remain raised under force conditions typical to opening or closing the container  10  and force conditions typically encountered during transportation of the container. By being self-supporting, the peripheral ridge  87  of the cladding  80   c  may avoid the use of an upward projection formed from the polymeric material of the base  70   b.    
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , as part of the final packaging process, once the containers  10  of the disclosure are filled with the desired product, the containers can be sealed with a circumferential label or wrapper of a pervious or impervious material. The label or wrapping material useful in accordance with the present disclosure can vary. Typically, the selection of the packaging label or wrapper is dependent upon factors such as aesthetics, desired barrier properties (e.g., so as to provide protection from exposure to oxygen, or so as to provide protection from loss of moisture), or the like. 
     Many modifications and other aspects of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific aspects disclosed and that modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.