Pail with skirt and lid

Abstract

A pail includes a base and at least one wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base to an opening of the pail. A lip protrudes outwardly from an upper edge of the wall adjacent the opening. A skirt curves outwardly and downwardly from an outer surface of the wall below the lip. A lid for the pail includes an upper wall and three latch portions extending downwardly from an outer periphery of the upper wall. The three latch portions are substantially evenly disposed about the outer periphery of the upper wall. A tear away strip connects the three latch portions, to prevent removal of the lid from the pail. When the tear away strip is torn away from the lid, the lid can be removed from the pail by manually deflecting one of the latch portions.

1 ) A pail comprising:
 a base;   at least one wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base to an opening of the pail;   a lip protruding outwardly from an upper edge of the at least one wall; and   a skirt curving outwardly and downwardly from an outer surface of the at least one wall below the lip.   
   
   
       2 ) The pail of  claim 1  wherein the skirt has a generally rounded cross-section. 
   
   
       3 ) The pail of  claim 1  wherein the skirt includes a plurality of cross-ribs generally perpendicular to the at least one wall, the skirt curving outwardly and downwardly over the cross-ribs. 
   
   
       4 ) The pail of  claim 1  further including a handle attachment wall spaced from the at least one wall. 
   
   
       5 ) The pail of  claim 4  wherein the handle attachment wall is generally parallel to the at least one wall. 
   
   
       6 ) The pail of  claim 4  wherein the handle attachment wall extends upwardly from the skirt. 
   
   
       7 ) The pail of  claim 6  wherein the handle attachment wall opens downwardly. 
   
   
       8 ) The pail of  claim 7  wherein the handle attachment wall includes a handle attachment opening. 
   
   
       9 ) The pail of  claim 8  wherein the skirt has a generally rounded cross-section. 
   
   
       10 ) The pail of  claim 9  wherein the skirt includes a plurality of cross-ribs generally perpendicular to the at least one wall, the skirt curving outwardly and downwardly over the cross-ribs. 
   
   
       11 ) The pail of  claim 7  further including a mid-ring protruding outwardly from the at least one wall, the handle attachment wall extending from the mid-ring to the skirt. 
   
   
       12 ) The pail of  claim 11  further including a pair of side walls connecting the at least one wall to the handle attachment wall, the mid-ring and the skirt. 
   
   
       13 ) A pail lid comprising:
 an upper wall;   three latch portions extending downwardly from an outer periphery of the upper wall, the three latch portions substantially evenly disposed about the outer periphery of the upper wall; and   a tear-away strip connecting the three latch portions.   
   
   
       14 ) The pail lid of  claim 13  further including an inner lip protruding downwardly from the upper wall, the inner lip spaced inwardly from the latch portions. 
   
   
       15 ) The pail lid of  claim 14  further including a plurality of ribs protruding downwardly from the upper wall outwardly of the inner lip. 
   
   
       16 ) The pail lid of  claim 15  further including a middle lip protruding downwardly from the upper wall, the plurality of ribs between the inner lip and the middle lip. 
   
   
       17 ) The pail lid of  claim 16  wherein the upper wall is an annular upper wall. 
   
   
       18 ) The pail lid of  claim 17  further including a lower wall, the inner lip extending downwardly from the upper wall to an outer periphery of the lower wall. 
   
   
       19 ) The pail lid of  claim 18  wherein the ribs extend onto a lower surface of the lower wall. 
   
   
       20 ) A pail comprising:
 a base;   at least one wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base to an opening of the pail;   a lip protruding outwardly from an upper edge of the at least one wall;   a skirt curving outwardly and downwardly from an outer surface of the at least one wall below the lip; and   a pail lid including an upper wall having three latch portions extending downwardly from an outer periphery of the upper wall, the three latch portions substantially evenly disposed about the outer periphery of the upper wall.   
   
   
       21 ) The pail of  claim 20  further including a tear-away strip connecting the three latch portions.