Patent Publication Number: US-10766671-B2

Title: Lid assembly for container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/510,079 filed on May 23, 2017, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER 
     Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter 
     The disclosed subject matter generally relates to containers for dispensing articles, including for dispensing sheets of material, such as wipes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Containers can be configured for dispensing sheets of material, such as nonwoven material used for cleaning. Such material can be circular, oval or rectangular in shape, and can be stored as a roll or in individual sheets or wipes, and can be stored interleaved, as discrete sheets, perforated or separably connected in a container. The material can be packaged dry, or can be packaged moistened with a cleaning solution or lotion, for example to produce wet wipes. Conventional containers for such material can include boxes, stand-up containers, canisters or the like, and can be configured as a unitary piece with an orifice to dispense the sheets of material therethrough. Such containers can be rigid, or can be made from a relatively flexible material, such as a resin material. 
     The container can further include a separate lid assembly attached thereto. The orifice of the container can thus be covered by the lid assembly, which can be opened by, for example, being cut along a perforated edge, having an adhesive that may be sealed and unsealed repeatedly, or by having a hinged cover that can be opened and closed repeatedly. In this manner, the lid can be opened to allow access to the interior of the container to allow the sheets of material to be individually fed through an orifice in the lid and can be closed to keep the material sanitary and moist. 
     A disadvantage of such containers is that removal of material can deform the lid assembly, which can cause the closure mechanism of the lid assembly to become loose and/or can decrease the effectiveness of the lid orifice to control dispensing of material. Further deformation can cause such closure mechanisms to fail, thus preventing the lid from being secured in a closed position over the container. In some conventional containers, the lids have been known to entirely detach from the container. 
     Another disadvantage of such containers is that the orifice size can affect the dispensing of the material. That is, an orifice that is too small can cause individual sheets of material to tear when pulled out through the orifice. On the other hand, an orifice that is too large can cause the sheets of material to clump or rope when pulled out through the orifice. 
     Thus, there remains a continued need for improved containers, including lid assemblies for containers for dispensing sheets of material, including wipes. The presently disclosed subject matter satisfies these and other needs. Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide a container with an improved lid assembly to reclosably cover the container and dispense sheets of material therefrom. Additionally, lid assemblies described herein can include improved orifice configurations to control dispensing of material, for example, to dispense sheets of material individually without tearing, roping or clumping. 
     SUMMARY 
     The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in and are apparent from the description that follows, as well as will be learned by practice of the disclosed subject matter. Additional advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be realized and attained by the devices particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the disclosed subject matter, as embodied and broadly described, the disclosed subject matter includes a lid assembly for a container. The lid assembly includes a frame including an exterior surface, the exterior surface having a frame latching member extending outwardly therefrom, where the frame latching member includes a frame projection, an inner panel hingedly coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and movable between a closed position and an open position, the inner panel including a bottom surface, a top surface, and a sidewall extending outwardly from a perimeter of the top surface, the top surface having a panel latching member extending outwardly therefrom, the inner panel defining an orifice extending between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the panel latching member includes a biasing member having a panel projection, wherein the frame projection and the panel projection are lockable when the inner panel is in the closed position and the frame projection is disposed between a base of the biasing member and the panel projection when the inner panel is in the closed position to lock the inner panel with the frame, and a cover panel hingedly coupled to the frame along a second longitudinal side thereof opposite the first longitudinal side. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a lid assembly for a container is provided. The lid assembly includes a frame, an inner panel operatively coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and moveable between a closed position and an open position, the inner panel including a bottom surface and a top surface, the inner panel including a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger, where the first finger, the second finger, and the third finger define a first orifice between the bottom surface and the top surface of the inner panel, and a cover panel operatively coupled to the frame along a second longitudinal side thereof. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description and drawings are examples and are provided for purpose of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter in any manner. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the devices of the disclosed subject matter. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter of the application will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top-right perspective view of a lid assembly, with the inner panel and the cover panel in a closed position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom-right perspective view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a top-right perspective view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , with the cover panel in an open position and the inner panel in a closed position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 3A  is a top-right perspective view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , with the cover panel and the inner panel in an open position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 3B  is a right side view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 3A , according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 3C  is a top view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 3A , according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross-sectional view of the lid assembly taken along line D-D of  FIG. 3C , according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 3E  is a cross-sectional view of the lid assembly taken along line E-E of  FIG. 3C , according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 3F  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of region F of  FIG. 3D . 
         FIG. 3G  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of region G of  FIG. 3E . 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are a schematic diagram of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , illustrating moving the inner panel and the cover panel each from an open position to a closed position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , illustrating the inner panel in the cover panel each in a closed position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , illustrating the inner panel in the closed position and the cover panel in a partially open position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic diagram of a portion of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , illustrating the inner panel in a partially open position and the cover panel in an open position, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 7B  is an enlarged schematic diagram of the frame locking member, the panel locking member and the biasing member of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a portion of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , illustrating operation of the frame projection, the panel projection and the biasing member, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a portion of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , illustrating operation of the frame projection, the panel projection and the biasing member, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the inner panel orifice of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1A , according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of alternative embodiments of inner panel orifices, shown side-by-side with the inner panel orifice of  FIG. 1A  for purpose of illustration and comparison, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating testing data of the inner panel orifices of  FIG. 11 , for purpose of illustration and comparison, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of alternative embodiments of inner panel orifices, according to the disclosed subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the system. 
     In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, a lid assembly for a container is provided. The lid assembly includes a frame including an exterior surface, the exterior surface having a frame latching member extending outwardly therefrom, where the frame latching member includes a frame projection, an inner panel hingedly coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and movable between a closed position and an open position, the inner panel including a bottom surface, a top surface, and a sidewall extending outwardly from a perimeter of the top surface, the top surface having a panel latching member extending outwardly therefrom, the inner panel defining an orifice extending between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the panel latching member includes a biasing member having a panel projection, wherein the frame projection and the panel projection are lockable when the inner panel is in the closed position and the frame projection is disposed between a base of the biasing member and the panel projection when the inner panel is in the closed position to lock the inner panel with the frame, and a cover panel hingedly coupled to the frame along a second longitudinal side thereof opposite the first longitudinal side. 
     Solely for purpose of illustration, an embodiment of a lid assembly  1000  is shown in  FIGS. 1A-3G . The examples herein are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter in any manner. With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , lid assembly  1000  generally includes a frame  100 , an inner panel  200  and a cover panel  300 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict lid assembly  1000  with inner panel  200  and cover panel  300  each in a closed position.  FIG. 2  depicts lid assembly  1000  with inner panel  200  in the closed position and cover panel  300  in an open position.  FIGS. 3A-3G  depict lid assembly  1000  with inner panel  200  and cover panel  300  each in the open position. 
     Particularly, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3G , lid assembly  1000  includes a frame  100  having an exterior surface  102 . A frame latching member  110  extends outwardly from exterior surface  102  of frame  100 . Frame latching member  110  includes a frame projection  112  configured to engage a corresponding latching member of inner panel  200  to lock inner panel  200  in the closed position relative frame  100 , as described further herein. As embodied herein, frame projection  112  can include a cammed surface  115  configured to engage a corresponding cammed surface of inner panel  200  when inner panel  200  is urged toward the closed position. 
     For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, frame  100  defines an orifice  120  defined therein. Orifice  120  can align with a corresponding orifice defined in inner panel  200  to allow sheets of material to be dispensed therethrough, as described further herein. 
     Additionally, and as embodied herein, frame  100  can include a frame sidewall  106  extending about a perimeter thereof. Frame sidewall  106  can define a projection  114  therein. Projection  114  can be configured to engage a latching member of cover panel  300  to lock cover panel  300  in the closed position relative frame  100 , as described further herein. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 3A-3G , lid assembly  1000  includes inner panel  200  hingedly coupled to frame  100  along a first longitudinal side  103  of frame  100 . For purpose of illustration and not limitation, inner panel  200  can be hingedly coupled to frame  100  by any suitable hinge configuration, embodied herein as living hinge  130 . Additionally or alternatively, inner panel  200  can be hingedly coupled to frame  100  by a butterfly hinge, a bi-fold hinge, a butt hinge, a concealed hinge, and/or a continuous hinge or the like. 
     As embodied herein, inner panel  200  includes a bottom surface  202 , a top surface  204 , and a sidewall  206  extending outwardly from a perimeter of top surface  204 . Top surface has a panel latching member  210  extending outwardly therefrom. As best shown in  FIG. 3F , panel latching member  210  includes a biasing member  211  having a panel projection  212  and a base  213 . Frame projection  112  and panel projection  212  are configured to engage and interlock when inner panel  200  is in the closed position with frame projection  112  disposed between base  213  of biasing member  211  and panel projection  212  when inner panel  200  is in the closed position, thereby locking inner panel  200  with frame  100 . As embodied herein, panel projection  212  can include a cammed surface  215  configured to engage cammed surface  115  of frame projection  112  when inner panel  200  is urged toward the closed position, as described further herein. In the closed position, as embodied herein, inner panel  200  can be sized to be disposed within sidewall  106  of frame  100 . 
     Additionally, and as embodied herein, inner panel  200  can define an orifice  220  extending between bottom surface  202  and top surface  204 . Orifice  220  can be configured to control dispensing of sheets of material dispensed therethrough, for example, to reduce or prevent roping, clumping or tearing, as described further herein. In this manner, orifice  220  can be configured to align with orifice  120  of frame  100  when inner panel  200  is in the closed position. For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, orifice  120  of frame  100  can be larger than orifice  220  of inner panel  200 . As such, a surface area of frame  100  can be less than a surface area of inner panel  200 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 3A-3G , lid assembly  1000  includes cover panel  300  hingedly coupled to frame  100  along a second longitudinal side  105  of frame  100  opposite first longitudinal side  103 . For purpose of illustration and not limitation, cover panel  300  can be hingedly coupled to frame  100  by any suitable hinge configuration, embodied herein as living hinge  132 . Additionally or alternatively, cover panel  300  can be hingedly coupled to frame  100  by a butterfly hinge, a bi-fold hinge, a butt hinge, a concealed hinge, and/or a continuous hinge and the like. 
     As embodied herein, cover panel  300  includes an inner surface  302  and a free end  304  opposite living hinge  132 . Cover panel  300  includes a cover latching member  310  extending outwardly from inner surface  302 . For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, cover latching member  310  can be disposed along or proximate to free end  304 . For example, and as embodied herein, cover latching member  310  can be configured to engage and lock with projection  114  of frame  100  when inner panel  200  is in the closed position to lock cover panel  300  in engagement with frame  100 . 
     Lid assembly  1000  can be configured to be coupled to a container for containing sheets of material, such as wipes. Examples of such containers include, but are not limited to, containers described in International Publication No. WO 2016/123096 entitled, “Canister and Bracket System and Method” and containers as described in International Publication No. WO 2016/007846 entitled “Container Integration Device and Method of Use,” the contents of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     For purpose of illustration and not limitation, frame  100  can be joined to a container for containing wipes, as embodied herein, by sealing frame  100  to the container opposite exterior surface  102 . Frame  100  can be sealed to the container by any suitable technique, for example and not limitation, by an adhesive, clip, latch, tape, rivet or any other suitable technique. As embodied herein, frame  100  can be sealed to container with orifice  120  of frame  100  and orifice  220  of inner panel  200  aligned with an opening of the container to dispense sheets of material therethrough. The opening of the container can be defined by perforations having a removable central area. The removable central area can be coupled with, or alternatively integral to, a pull tab to detach the removable central area and to define the opening of the container. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  are a schematic diagram illustrating movement of the inner panel  200  and cover panel  300  from the open position to the closed position. For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as shown, inner panel  200  is rotated about living hinge  130  into engagement with frame  100 . As inner panel  200  is urged toward frame  100 , cammed surface  115  of frame projection  112  engages and slides along cammed surface  213  of panel projection  212 , as shown for example in  FIGS. 7A-7B . As inner panel  200  is further urged toward frame  100 , frame latching member  110  and/or panel latching member  210  can flex to allow panel projection  212  to be disposed below and in interlocking engagement with frame projection  112 . In this configuration, with frame  100  secured to a container containing sheets of material, the sheets can be disposed through orifice  120  of frame  100  and orifice  220  of inner panel  200  by pulling the sheets therethrough. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C , with inner panel  200  in the closed position, cover panel  300  is rotated about living hinge  132  into engagement with frame  100 . As cover panel  300  is urged toward frame  100 , cammed surface  315  of cover projection  312  engages and slides along cammed surface  116  of projection  114 , as shown for example in  FIG. 6 . As cover panel  300  is further urged toward frame  100 , projection  114  and/or cover latching member  310  can flex to allow cover projection  312  to be disposed below and in interlocking engagement with projection  114 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating inner panel  200  and cover panel  300  in the closed position. For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, in the closed configuration, a tortuous path  134  is formed between cover panel  300  and inner panel  200 , which can seal orifices  120 ,  220  within cover panel  300 . In this configuration, cover panel  300  can thus seal the opening of the container to prevent unwanted access to sheets of material therein, to prevent exposure of the sheets of material to debris and/or to prevent drying out of the sheets of material if provided in a moistened condition. 
     To move cover panel  300  from the closed position to the open position, cover latching member  310  can be urged outward from frame  100  to move cover projection  312  out of engagement and alignment with projection  114 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating inner cover panel  300  in a partially open position with cover projection  312  disposed above projection  114 . Cover panel  300  can be rotated away from frame  100  about living hinge  132  to allow access to sheets of material through orifices  120 ,  220  and the opening of the container. In this configuration, orifice  220  of inner panel  200  remains aligned with orifice  120  of frame  100  to allow dispensing of sheets of material therethrough. As discussed further herein, orifice  220  of inner panel  200  can be configured to control dispensing of sheets, for example and without limitation, to provide dispensing of individual sheets of material while reducing or preventing roping, clumping or tearing of the sheets. 
     To move inner panel  200  from the closed position to the open position, panel latching member  210  can be urged outward from frame  100  to move panel projection  212  out of engagement and alignment with frame projection  112 .  FIGS. 7A-7B  are schematic diagrams illustrating inner panel  200  in a partially open position with panel projection  212  disposed above frame projection  112 .  FIGS. 8 and 9  are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of panel latching member  210  and biasing member  211 . As shown for example in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , biasing member  211  can be urged inward toward frame latching member  110  to flex panel projection  212  out of engagement and alignment with frame projection  112 . Inner panel  200  can be rotated away from frame  100  about living hinge  130  to move inner panel  200  to the open position. In this configuration, orifice  220  of inner panel  200  is out of alignment with orifice  120  of frame  100  to allow feeding of initial or additional sheets of material through orifice  120  and then through orifice  220 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when sheets of material are dispensed through orifice  220 , engagement of the sheets with boundaries of orifice  220  can cause inner panel  200  to bow upwards and can urge biasing member  211  toward frame latching member  110  as shown in the dashed line above the inner panel. This can thereby urge the panel projection  212  further toward engagement with frame projection  112 . As such, deformation due to dispensing sheets through orifice  220  can thus maintain engagement of inner panel  200  with frame  100 . Such configuration prevents any gaps or dislodging between the interfacing projections of the panel projection  212  and the frame projection  112 . 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a lid assembly for a wipe container is provided. The lid assembly includes a frame, an inner panel operatively coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and moveable between a closed position and an open position, the inner panel including a bottom surface and a top surface, the inner panel including a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger, where the first finger, the second finger, and the third finger define a first orifice between the bottom surface and the top surface of the inner panel, and a cover panel operatively coupled to the frame along a second longitudinal side thereof. 
     As described herein, inner panel  200  has an orifice  220  defined therein. Orifice  220  can be configured to control dispensing of sheets, for example and without limitation, to provide dispensing of individual sheets of material while reducing or preventing roping, clumping or tearing of the sheets. Orifice  220  can have any suitable configuration to allow sheets of material to pass therethrough, and can be configured to separate individual sheets from a chain of sheets, if so configured, and/or to feed additional sheets through orifice  220  to allow the additional sheets to be pulled through orifice  220  for dispensing when desired. 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of an exemplary orifice  220  in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, orifice  220  can defined through bottom surface  202  and top surface  204  of inner panel  200 . As shown for example in  FIG. 10 , inner panel  200  can include a first finger  222 , a second finger  224 , and a third finger  226 . First finger  222 , second finger  224 , and third finger  226  together define orifice  220  having a W-shape. First finger  222 , second finger  224 , and third finger  226  each includes an apex, where, for purpose of illustration and not limitation, apex  223  of first finger  222  and apex  227  of third finger  226  each is directed towards first longitudinal side  103  of frame  100 , and apex  225  of second finger  224  is directed away from first longitudinal side  103  of frame  100 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 10 , apex  223  of first finger  222  is defined by a first inside radius r 1 , and apex  225  of second finger  224  is defined by a second inside radius r 2 . For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, first inside radius r 1  is less than second inside radius r 2 . Apex  227  of third finger  226  is defined by a third inside radius r 3 , and as embodied herein, third inside radius r 3  is less than second inside radius r 2 . Additionally or alternatively, and as embodied herein, first inside radius r 1  can be equal to third inside radius r 3 . The radius configurations described herein can thus be configured to separate individual sheets of material from each other when dispensing the sheets through orifice  220 . First inside radius r 1 , second inside radius r 2 , and/or third inside radius r 3 , if too small, can cause the sheets of material to bind in orifice  220 , yet if too large can cause the sheets of material to rope, e.g., by not separating the sheets when passing through orifice  220 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 10 , orifice  220  can define a width w 1  proximate apex  223  of first finger  222 , a width w 2  proximate apex  225  of second finger  224 , and a width w 3  proximate apex  227  of third finger  226 . For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, w 2  can be about twice the width of w 1  or w 3 . Additionally or alternatively, as embodied herein, w 1  can be about equal to w 3 . The configuration of widths can help spread the sheet of material across the entire orifice  220 , and thus lessen or prevent binding or clumping of the sheet of material when passed through orifice  220 . Additionally or alternatively, the configuration of widths can allow the inner panel  200  to flex proximate apex  223 ,  225  and/or  227  when the sheet of material is passed through orifice  220 , which can thus lessen or prevent binding or clumping of the sheet of material. In addition, or as a further alternative, the larger width w 2  of apex  225  proximate the middle of orifice  220  can allow feeding of the sheet of material therethrough more easily, while the narrowing of the orifice toward apex  223  and  227  can spread the sheet of material across orifice  220  to reduce or prevent binding or clumping. 
     Additionally, and as embodied herein, orifice  220  can define a dimension d 1  between apex  223  of first finger  222  and apex  225  of second finger  224  and a dimension d 2  between apex  225  of second finger  224  and apex  227  of third finger  226 . For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein, orifice  220  can taper along dimension d 1  from apex  225  of second finger  224  toward apex  223  of first finger  222 . Additionally or alternatively, and as embodied herein, orifice  220  can taper along dimension d 2  from apex  225  of second finger  224  toward apex  227  of third finger  226 . In addition, or as a further alternative, and as embodied herein, orifice  220  can taper from a first end toward apex  223  of first finger  222  and/or from a second end toward apex  227  of third finger  226 . 
     Inner panel  200  can have any configuration of orifice described herein.  FIG. 11  shows alternative embodiments of orifices  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c ,  220   d  and  220   e  in accordance with the disclosed subject matter, side-by-side with orifice  220  for purpose of illustration and comparison. For example and without limitation, and as embodied herein, orifices  220   a ,  220   b  and  220   c  each can have a substantially uniform width from a first end thereof to an opposing second end thereof. Alternatively, as embodied herein, orifices  220 ,  220   d , and  220   e  each can have varying widths from a first end thereof to an opposing second end thereof. 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating testing data of the orifices  220 ,  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c ,  220   d  and  220   e  of  FIG. 11 , for purpose of illustration and comparison, according to the disclosed subject matter. A lid assembly  1000  was configured having each orifice  220 ,  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c ,  220   d  and  220   e  and used to dispense the 12 sheets of wet wipes, and the numbers of roping, long tail, tearing and clumping events were counted during dispensing of the sheets. As shown in  FIG. 12 , orifice  220  had the same number or fewer events of roping, long tail, tearing and clumping compared to each other orifice. 
       FIG. 13  shows alternative embodiments of orifices  220   f ,  220   g ,  220   h ,  220   i ,  220   j ,  220   k ,  220   m  and  220   n  in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. Inner panel  200  can be configured having any of these alternative orifice configurations. The inner panels with orifices  220   f ,  220   g ,  220   h ,  220   i ,  220   j , and  220   k  have fingers with circular shapes. The first and third fingers of the panels of  220   f ,  220   g , and  220   h  have a curved side therebetween the first and third respective fingers, whereas the first and third fingers of the panels of  220   i ,  220   j , and  220   k  have a straight edge side therebetween. A further suitable orifice is disclosed in a related copending design application of even date by the same inventors of the instant disclosure, entitled “Container Lid Assembly,” the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The lid assembly can be manufactured by any known method, such as but not limited to, injection molding, thermoform, compression molding, or co-injection molding. The components of the lid assembly and can be made of any suitable material or mixture of materials, including but not limited to polymeric materials, such as flexible resin materials and/or rigid resin materials. For example and not limitation, the frame, inner panel and cover panel can be made from the same materials or different materials depending on the desired application. For example, the cover panel can be made from a relatively rigid material to protect the contents of the container, while the frame and inner panel can be made from relatively flexible materials to allow for flexing during opening, closing and/or dispensing. 
     While the disclosed subject matter is described herein in terms of certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and improvements can be made to the disclosed subject matter without departing from the scope thereof. Moreover, although individual features of one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter can be discussed herein or shown in the drawings of the one embodiment and not in other embodiments, it should be apparent that individual features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of another embodiment or features from a plurality of embodiments. 
     In addition to the various embodiments depicted and claimed, the disclosed subject matter is also directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features disclosed and claimed herein. As such, the particular features presented herein can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the disclosed subject matter such that the disclosed subject matter includes any suitable combination of the features disclosed herein. Thus, the foregoing description of specific embodiments of the disclosed subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed subject matter to those embodiments disclosed. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device and method of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.