Pull tab on tear strip on plastic cover including break tab feature and related apparatus and methods

Abstract

Apparatus and related methods for a container lid include a pull structure affixed to at least one end of a tamper evident tearstrip and positioned in an outer flange of the lid, the pull structure having a portion shaped to receive and engage a manipulator such as at least one finger of a user's hand, to assist the user to initiate tearing of the tearstrip from the lid. The shaped portion of the pull structure is configured to eliminate the need to grip the tearstrip between opposing digits of the user's hand. The lid may further include an extendible connection member positioned on at least one end of the tearstrip in an area or space generally defined as a “well.” Among other things, the extendible connection member can provide additional flex to a hinge portion of the lid, without destroying the subsequent tamper-evidencing value of the lid. A satellite ring may be attached to or provided on the lid or container to provide further tamper evidencing and protection to the lid assembly.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A plastic container and lid,
 wherein the plastic container comprises:
 a container bead on an exterior of the container; 
 a satellite ring below the container bead and extending from and peripherally around the container exterior, wherein the distance the satellite ring extends from the container exterior is greater than the distance the container bead extends from the container exterior; and 
   wherein the lid comprises:
 a central body portion having a generally horizontal orientation; 
 an outer skirt extending generally vertically downward around a periphery of the central body portion; 
 a tearline on the outer skirt extending around the periphery of the central body portion defining between an upper portion of the outer skirt and a lower tearstrip portion of the outer skirt, the tearstrip having a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, wherein a portion of the tearstrip between the first and second lateral ends extends around the periphery of the central body portion, wherein the first lateral end of the tearstrip has an opening therein surrounded by portions of the first lateral end, 
 wherein a lower edge of the tearstrip is configured to extend generally vertically downward to a close proximity with the satellite ring, wherein a distance between a top of the outer skirt and the lower edge of the tearstrip is generally the same around the periphery of the lid; 
 a lid bead on the interior of the tearstrip positioned to be below the container bead; and 
 a gap between an upper edge of the first lateral end and a lower edge of the upper portion of the outer skirt, wherein a distance between the upper edge of the first lateral end and the lower edge of the upper portion of the outer skirt is less than a height of the opening in the first lateral end. 
   
     
     
         36 . The plastic container and lid of  claim 35 , wherein the lid further comprises a connector portion in the gap contacting the upper edge of the first lateral end and the lower edge of the upper portion of the outer skirt. 
     
     
         37 . The plastic container and lid of  claim 35 , wherein the distance between the upper edge of the first lateral end and the lower edge of the upper portion of the outer skirt is less than a distance between an uppermost edge of the opening in the first lateral end and a center of the opening in the first lateral end. 
     
     
         38 . The plastic container and lid of  claim 35 , wherein a height of the opening is greater than a height of the upper portion of the outer skirt. 
     
     
         39 . A plastic container and lid,
 wherein the plastic container comprises:
 a container bead on an exterior of the container; 
 a satellite ring below the container bead and extending from and peripherally around the container exterior, wherein the distance the satellite ring extends from the container exterior is greater than the distance the container bead extends from the container exterior; and 
   wherein the lid comprises:
 a central body portion having a generally horizontal orientation; 
 an outer skirt extending generally vertically downward around a periphery of the central body portion; 
 a tearline on the outer skirt extending around the periphery of the central body portion defining between an upper portion of the outer skirt and a lower tearstrip portion of the outer skirt, the tearstrip having a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, wherein a portion of the tearstrip between the first and second lateral ends extends around the periphery of the central body portion, wherein the first lateral end of the tearstrip has an opening therein surrounded by portions of the first lateral end, 
 wherein a lower edge of the tearstrip is configured to extend generally vertically downward to a close proximity with the satellite ring, wherein a distance between a top of the outer skirt and the lower edge of the tearstrip is generally the same around the periphery of the lid; 
 a lid bead on the interior of the tearstrip positioned to be below the container bead; and 
 a gap between a lateral edge of the first lateral end and a lateral edge of the second lateral end, wherein a distance between the lateral edge of the first lateral end and the lateral edge of the second lateral end is less than a width of the opening in the first lateral end. 
   
     
     
         40 . The plastic container and lid of  claim 39 , further comprising a connector portion in the gap contacting the lateral edges of the first and second lateral ends. 
     
     
         41 . The plastic container and lid of  claim 39 , wherein the distance between the lateral edge of the first lateral end and the lateral edge of the second lateral end is less than a distance between an edge of the opening in the first lateral end that is closest to the lateral edge of the first lateral end and a center of the opening in the first lateral end. 
     
     
         42 . The plastic container and lid of  claim 39 , wherein a height of the opening is greater than a height of the upper portion of the outer skirt. 
     
     
         43 . A lid, comprising:
 a central body portion;   an outer skirt extending around a periphery of the central body portion; and   a tearline on the outer skirt defining between an upper portion of the outer skirt and a lower tearstrip portion of the outer skirt, the tearstrip having a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, wherein the first lateral end has an opening therein surrounded by portions of the first lateral end, wherein the opening is sized to receive a finger therein.   
     
     
         44 . The lid of  claim 43  in combination with a container, the container comprising:
 a sidewall having an upper edge; and 
 a flange below the upper edge and extending from the sidewall, wherein the outer skirt is configured to extend around the upper edge of the sidewall and to a close proximity with the flange. 
 
     
     
         45 . The container and lid of  claim 44 , wherein a distance between an upper edge of the first lateral end and an adjacent portion of the outer skirt is less than a smallest diameter of the opening in the first lateral end, and wherein a distance between a lateral edge of the first lateral end a lateral edge of an adjacent portion of the outer skirt is less than the smallest diameter of the opening in the first lateral end. 
     
     
         46 . The container and lid of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 a first gap between the upper edge of the first lateral end and the adjacent portion of the outer skirt; and   a first connector contacting the upper edge of the first lateral end and the adjacent portion of the outer skirt.   
     
     
         47 . The container and lid of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 a second gap between the lateral edge of the first lateral end the lateral edge of the adjacent portion of the outer skirt; and   a second connector contacting the lateral edge of the first lateral end the lateral edge of the adjacent portion of the outer skirt.   
     
     
         48 . The container and lid of  claim 45 , wherein the lateral edge of the adjacent portion of the outer skirt is a lateral edge of the second lateral end of the tearstrip. 
     
     
         49 . The container and lid of  claim 45 , wherein the second lateral end has an opening therein surrounded by portions of the second lateral end, wherein the opening is sized to receive a finger therein. 
     
     
         50 . The container and lid of  claim 45 , wherein a distance between an upper edge of the second lateral end and an adjacent portion of the outer skirt is less than a smallest diameter of the opening in the first lateral end. 
     
     
         51 . The container and lid of  claim 50 , wherein the tearline defines between the upper edge of the second lateral end and an adjacent portion of the outer skirt. 
     
     
         52 . The lid of  claim 43 , wherein the central body portion of the lid includes a hinge defining between first and second cover portions of the central body portion, wherein the first cover portion pivots between an open position and a closed position, wherein the outer skirt includes a first skirt portion at a periphery of the first cover portion and a second skirt portion at a periphery of the second cover portion, and wherein the tearstrip is located on the first skirt portion. 
     
     
         53 . The lid of  claim 52 , further comprising a first connector contacting a lateral edge of the first lateral end of the tearstrip and an adjacent portion of the second skirt portion. 
     
     
         54 . The lid of  claim 53 , wherein the first connector is longer than the distance between the lateral edge of the first lateral end of the tearstrip and the adjacent portion of the second skirt portion.