Patent ID: 7475788

Claim:
A molded plastic container and closure combination comprising: a plastic container having a bottom and a side wall structure terminating in an open top having an out-turned peripheral lip defining a plane; at least one outwardly projecting flange integral with said side wall structure adjacent to and spaced below said lip; a plastic closure having a deck portion approximating the shape and size of the open container top and an inverted U-shaped peripheral channel defined by parallel spaced inner and outer walls; a first undercut in said outer wall to mate with said lip to aid in retaining such closure to said container; a second undercut in said outer wall below the first undercut to mate with said projecting flange to further aid in retaining said closure to said container; a peripheral flange formed around the bottom of said container, wherein said peripheral flange is interrupted to define two opposite smoothly curved lifting surfaces joining the side wall structure to said bottom, said lifting surfaces being intermediate the attachment points of said bail, whereby the container may be lifted by said bail and tipped by one or the other of said smooth surfaces to pour from said container when the closure is removed; a pair of spaced, parallel tear paths in said outer wall between said first and second undercuts and extending continuously but not fully around said closure and terminating at peripherally spaced openings on said outer wall to define a hinge area; said hinge area lying substantially below the plane of said peripheral lip; said openings defining at least one starting tab contiguous to said tear paths whereby the plastic material of said outer wall between said paths may be manually torn away to permit the upper portion of said closure to be lifted from said open top by pivotal motion about said hinge area while the lower portion of said closure remains attached to said container by way of the integral flange in said second undercut; said lip and said first undercut permitting the upper portion of the closure to be re-secured to said open top by way of said lip and first undercut.