Dispensing cover with tear strip and living hinge

Abstract

A dispensing cover for use with a fiberboard drum having a rolled-in lip which defines a cover-receiving opening includes a main body having a first portion and a second portion which is pivotal with respect to the first portion and which is joined thereto using a living hinge. An inner and outer skirt extends about the periphery of the main body, which skirts are spaced apart from each other to define therebetween a cavity for receiving the rolled-in lip of the fiberboard drum. Molded into the outer skirt at the living hinge is a tear strip. Unless removed, the tear strip prevents the second portion from pivoting with respect to the first portion. Barbs formed on the inner or outer skirts and extending into the cavity defined between them engage the rolled-in lip of the fiberboard drum to secure the dispensing cover to the fiberboard drum at least over the non-pivoting first portion.

1 . A dispensing cover for use with a fiberboard drum, the fiberboard drum having a rolled-over lip, the rolled-over lip defining a perimeter of a cover-receiving opening, the dispensing cover comprising: 
 a main body sized to fit over the perimeter of the cover-receiving opening, the main body having a first portion and a second portion co-planar with and pivotally joined to the first portion, the second portion pivoting with respect to the first portion along a pivot line which runs transversely across the main body;    an inner skirt and an outer skirt, the inner skirt and the outer skirt extending substantially perpendicularly from the main body on the first portion and the second portion and being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other to define therebetween a cavity for receiving the rolled-over lip of the fiberboard drum; and    a tear strip, the tear strip being formed in the outer skirt and positioned in alignment with the pivot line, the tear strip preventing the second portion from pivoting with respect to the first portion, whereupon on removal of the tear strip, the second portion may pivot with respect to the first portion to at least partially uncover the cover-receiving opening of the fiberboard drum in order to dispense contents held by the fiberboard drum.    
     
     
         2 . A dispensing cover as defined by  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 a living hinge, the living hinge pivotally joining the first portion to the second portion, the living hinge being disposed along the pivot line and being in alignment with the tear strip.    
     
     
         3 . A dispensing cover as defined by  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 a plurality of barbs, the plurality of barbs being situated on at least one of the inner skirt and the outer skirt and projecting into the cavity defined between the inner skirt and the outer skirt, each barb of the plurality of barbs having an angled surface and a generally straight surface, the angled surface engaging the rolled-over lip of the fiberboard drum and riding up and over the rolled-over lip when the dispensing cover is inserted onto the fiberboard drum, the straight surface engaging an underside portion of the rolled-over lip to secure the dispensing cover to the fiberboard drum.    
     
     
         4 . A dispensing cover as defined by  claim 3 , which further comprises: 
 a projection extending outwardly from the outer skirt on a side of the dispensing cover, the projection being graspable by a user to disengage at least one selected barb of the plurality of barbs from the rolled-over lip of the fiberboard drum, the projection being situated on the second portion of the main body and in proximity to the at least one selected barb of the plurality of barbs.    
     
     
         5 . A dispensing cover as defined by  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 a plurality of alignment projections, the alignment projections extending upwardly from a surface of the main body and being receivable within a recess defined on the bottom of a fiberboard drum when the fiberboard drum is resting on the dispensing cover.    
     
     
         6 . A dispensing cover for use with a fiberboard drum, the fiberboard drum having a rolled-over lip, the rolled-over lip defining a perimeter of a cover-receiving opening, the dispensing cover comprising: 
 a main body sized to fit over the perimeter of the cover-receiving opening, the main body having a first portion and a second portion co-planar with and pivotally joined to the first portion, the second portion pivoting with respect to the first portion along a pivot line which runs transversely across the main body;    an inner skirt and an outer skirt, the inner skirt and the outer skirt extending substantially perpendicularly from the main body on the first portion and the second portion and being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other to define therebetween a cavity for receiving the rolled-over lip of the fiberboard drum;    a tear strip, the tear strip being formed in the outer skirt and positioned in alignment with the pivot line, the tear strip preventing the second portion from pivoting with respect to the first portion, whereupon on removal of the tear strip, the second portion may pivot with respect to the first portion to at least partially uncover the cover-receiving opening of the fiberboard drum in order to dispense contents held by the fiberboard drum;    a hinge, the hinge pivotally joining the first portion to the second portion, the hinge being disposed along the pivot line and being in alignment with the tear strip;    a plurality of barbs, the plurality of barbs being situated on at least one of the inner skirt and the outer skirt and projecting into the cavity defined between the inner skirt and the outer skirt, each barb of the plurality of barbs having an angled surface and a generally straight surface, the angled surface engaging the rolled-over lip of the fiberboard drum and riding up and over the rolled-over lip when the dispensing cover is inserted onto the fiberboard drum, the straight surface engaging an underside portion of the rolled-over lip to secure the dispensing cover to the fiberboard drum; and    a projection extending outwardly from the outer skirt on a side of the dispensing cover, the projection being graspable by a user to disengage at least one selected barb of the plurality of barbs from the rolled-over lip of the fiberboard drum, the projection being situated on the second portion of the main body and in proximity to the at least one selected barb of the plurality of barbs.