Plastic container with double lock lid

Abstract

An all plastic container comprising the combination of injection molded pail and lid. The lid initially locks onto the container at upper and lower undercuts and seals thereto by virtue of an inverted U-shaped peripheral section. A tear line is formed in the lid skirt to facilitate removal of the lower lock. The upper lock is segmented so as to make removal of the lid easier once the lower lock is removed. Indicia on the lid shows where the gaps in the lock segments are located. The lower lock may also be segmented to provide drainage for overfill which comes out of the pail when the lid is first applied.

1 . A plastic container of the type including an open top pail and a lid which sealingly fits on to the pail wherein the pail wherein the combination comprises:
 a pail with a sidewall and a top rim;   the lid comprising an inverted U-shaped peripheral channel portion integral with a central deck portion and sized to sealingly receive the pail rim;   the lid further comprising an outer skirt with a circumferential tear line dividing the skirt into the upper and lower portions;   an upper lock, between the pail and lid well above the tear line; and   a lower lock between the pail and lid below the tear line; at least the upper lock being circumferentially segmented.   
   
   
       2 . A plastic container of the type described in  claim 1  further including indicia carried on the top surface of the deck lid and indicating gaps between segments of the upper lock. 
   
   
       3 . A plastic container of the type described in  claim 1  wherein the lower lock is segmented to provide drains. 
   
   
       4 . A plastic container of the type described in  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the pail sidewall has a circumferentially continuous bump formed therein to provide a seal with the lid. 
   
   
       5 . A plastic container of the type described in  claim 4  wherein the lid has formed as part of the channel portion an inner wall which seals against the bump on the container inner sidewall surface. 
   
   
       6 . A plastic container combination of the type described in  claim 1  wherein the pail and lid are formed of polyethylene. 
   
   
       7 . A plastic container as described in  claim 1  further including a plurality of radical reinforcing ribs molded into the underside of the lid and extending to and integrally with the annular inner ring. 
   
   
       8 . A plastic container as defined in  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower locks include undercuts on the pail and a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical ribs are formed on and integral with the pail sidewall between the upper and lower undercuts. 
   
   
       9 . An all plastic container comprising:
 a solid plastic pail having a side wall terminating in an annular top rim;   a first annular locking bead formed integrally and externally of said side wall below said rim;   a second annular locking bead formed integrally and externally on said side wall below said first bead and flared outwardly from said side wall;   a solid plastic lid comprising a central deck and, integral therewith, an annular peripheral portion forming an inverted U-shaped annular channel which is sized to sealingly receive therein said top rim; said lid further comprising an annular skirt portion integrally depending from said peripheral portion and radially spaced outwardly from said pail side wall when said lid is placed on said pail;   an upper locking structure formed integrally with said lid within said channel and coacting with said first annular bead to form an upper lock having circumferentially spaced discontinuities; and   a lower locking structure formed on said skirt portion and coacting with said second annular locking bead to form an annular lock between said lid and said pail; and   a tear groove formed in said lid between the upper and lower locking structures to permit selective removal of the lower portion of said skirt portions;   said tear groove being spaced for enough below the upper lock so as to leave sufficient skirt after tearing to allow the remaining skirt to be grasped for removal.   
   
   
       10 . The combination defined in  claim 9  further comprising indicia carried on the top surface of the lid indicating the locations of said discontinuities. 
   
   
       11 . The combination defined in  claim 9  wherein said lid and pail are made of solid, high-density polyethylene. 
   
   
       12 . A container as defined in  claim 9  wherein the pail has a circumferential bump formed on the inner sidewall surface to provide a pinch seal with the lid channel when the lid is on the pail. 
   
   
       13 . A solid plastic pail comprising:
 a sidewall terminating in a top rim;   an upper bead below the rim on the outer sidewall surface;   a lower bead farther below the rim on the outer sidewall surface and spaced farther outwardly from said sidewall than the upper bead; and   a plurality of vertical ribs formed integrally with said outer sidewall and extending substantially between the upper and lower beads.   
   
   
       14 . A pail as defined in  claim 13  wherein an annular seal bump is formed on the inner sidewall surface below the rim. 
   
   
       15 . A solid plastic closure for a plastic pail comprising:
 a deck;   an annular peripheral structure defining an inverted U-shaped channel;   an outer skirt formed as part of said structure;   a segmented upper undercut in said skirt;   a segmented lower undercut in said skirt; and   a tear line between the upper and lower undercuts.