Receptacles – Closures – Combined or convertible
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2003-08-12
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Combined or convertible
C206S542000, C220S780000, C220S257200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06604645
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to lids and to containers with lids, particularly lids having implements for use in removing the contents of the container. More particularly, the present invention relates to lids having an integral implement in which the lid is tamper proof or is provided with a means indicating that the lid has been interfered with. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a lid and a container having a lid in which the integrally mounted implement is arranged for rotation between a stored position and an in use position and in which the lid is provided with a tamper proof sealing strip providing a visual indication that the lid has been previously removed or at least disturbed from its original position.
Although the present invention will be described by reference to one form of the lid having an integral implement and a tamper proof sealing strip it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but rather the scope of the present invention extends to include other arrangements of the lid and its use in other applications.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
It is known to provide many foods such as, snack foods, convenience foods, takeaway foods, ice-cream, yoghurt, preserved fruit salads, meals such as Asian meals, casseroles, and such like, spreads and the like in containers having a bowl or tub portion for containing the contents in which the container is provided with an upper peripheral rim located around the edge of the opening of the container to which is fitted a lid having a cover portion and a peripheral skirt in which the peripheral skirt engages with the upper edge of the peripheral rim to close or seal the container, regardless of the size of the container. However, it is to be noted that the lid and container and lid combination of the present invention is not restricted to food containers but rather finds application in containers for a variety of materials, not just food.
In some instances a sealing sheet or film which is breakable may extend across the opening defined by the upper peripheral rim and in this instance the lid is usually provided for the purpose of protecting the breakable sealing sheet or film in transit or for re-closing or resealing the container after the sealing sheet has been broken where useable contents remain in the container or reuse at a later time.
In many instances it is the desire of a consumer to eat the food within the container by using an implement such as an eating implement such as a spoon, fork, knife, spade, chopsticks or the like. Other forms of the implement include measuring scoops or dosage units for medicines.
It may also be a desire of a consumer to eat such food in a place, say away from home, where such implement is not readily available and this may be inconvenient.
It is accordingly desirable to provide such an implement with the container and its contents, preferably an integral implement.
Another problem with containers, concerns authorised access to the contents of the container particularly containers for foods, in that the containers can be tampered with or otherwise interfered with so that the contents can be contaminated or adulterated. It has been known for extortionists, terrorists, criminals or the like to remove food packages from supermarket shelves, contaminate the contents and return the containers to the shelves with the aim of either injuring members of the public, or obtaining money from the supermarket or food producer or the like. Hence there is a need to provide some indication on the containers that the lid has been removed without authorisation ie that the container has been tampered with.
It is accordingly desirable to provide a container, particularly a container with a lid having an integral implement with a means of indicating whether or not there has been unauthorised access to the contents of the container by providing the container with a tamper resistant or tamper proof arrangement.
The present invention is not confined to containers for foods as many substances are supplied in containers and require for their use or consumption the use of an implement, and/or to know whether the contents have been tampered with.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a lid for a container which lid comprises:
a cover portion adapted to extend over the container;
an implement adapted for use with contents of the container to assist in removal of the contents from the container; and
a hinge connecting the implement to at least one part of the cover portion or to one part of the lid; wherein the implement is adapted to be rotated about the hinge into a storage position in which the implement lies against or is in close proximity to a part of the cover portion.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a lid for a container in which the lid comprises:
a cover portion adapted to extend over the container said cover being provided with engaging means for engaging with the container to attach the lid to the container in use;
an implement adapted for use with contents of the container to assist in removal of the contents from the container; and
a hinge connecting the implement to the cover portion;
wherein the implement is adapted to be rotated about the hinge into a storage position in which the implement lies against or in close proximity to the cover portion; and
wherein the lid further comprises means for providing an indication that there has been an unauthorised attempt to remove or interfere withe the lid and/or container.
PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
Typically, the hinge allows the implement to rotate between an extended position in which the implement extends outwardly of the lid or cover portion and the storage position in which the implement is aligned within the cover portion. More typically, the implement is rotatable through an angle of about 180° between the extended position and the storage position.
Typically, the implement is detachable from the cover portion at the hinge by a user. More typically, the implement is detachable by rotating the implement in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation from the extended position to the storage position.
Preferably, the hinge comprises at least one frangible tab. More typically, the frangible tab is broken by reverse rotation of the implement.
Typically, the cover portion, the implement and the hinge are formed integrally with each other. More typically, the lid is formed with the integral implement in the or an extended position.
The cover portion further includes retaining means adapted to retain the implement in the storage position. More typically, the retaining means is a clip or a pair of spaced apart bars. Even more typically, the clip is provided on one or more side edges of the implement, particularly for cooperatively engaging with a portion of the cover.
Typically, the cover portion is provided with a recess, preferably, a recess located on the inner surface of the lid in use. More typically, the recess is of a complementary or corresponding shape to the implement.
When the implement is in the storage position, at least a part of the implement may be received in the recess formed in the cover portion. More typically, the edge of the implement cooperatively engages with a side wall of the recess to retain the implement in the recess.
It is preferred that the recess is defined at least in part by a stiffening rib formed in the cover portion.
Where a recess is present in the cover portion, the recess may be adapted to retain the implement in the storage position.
The implement may comprise means whereby a user may grip the implement to unfold the implement from the storage position.
It is preferred, for a lid in any of the above forms, that when the lid is positioned on the container and when the implement is in the storage position, there is defined a cavity between the container and the cover portion and the implement is contained within the cavity.
Preferably, for a l
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Auslid Enterprises Pty LTD A.C.N.
Eloshway Niki M.
Garbe Stephen P.
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