Lid

Abstract

Embodiments of a lid are provided. In one embodiment, the lid may be coupled to a container to provide selective access to the contents of the container. In one embodiment, the lid is configured to be stacked.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid comprising:
 a lower portion having an inner edge defining an aperture;   an upper portion including a projecting feature including an upper surface extending between a first wall and a second wall; and   a hinge pivotally coupling the upper portion to the lower portion, the upper portion configured to pivot between a closed configuration in which the upper portion covers the aperture and an open configuration in which the upper portion does not cover the aperture;   wherein the upper portion includes a first engagement portion distal from the hinge;   wherein the lower portion includes a second engagement portion distal from the hinge, the first and second engagement portions configured to latch the upper portion in a closed configuration;   wherein the projecting feature has a perimeter smaller than the perimeter of the inner edge defining the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is generally oval-shaped; and
 wherein the projecting feature is generally oval-shaped.   
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the upper portion is arched. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the upper surface includes a first end, a center point and a second end;
 wherein the upper surface extends upwardly from the first end to the center point; and   wherein the upper surface extends downwardly from the center point to the second end.   
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion has a first end, a middle point, and a second end;
 wherein the first engagement portion includes an arched portion with a width increasing in the direction from the first end toward the middle point and from the second end toward the middle point; and   wherein the arched portion is configured to receive upward force to release the first engagement portion from the second engagement portion.   
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a downwardly extending wall; and
 wherein the downwardly extending wall is configured to contact the lower portion when the lid is in a closed configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes an upwardly extending wall located radially outwardly from the inner edge. 
     
     
         8 . A stack of lids comprising:
 a first lid including:
 a first lower portion having a first inner edge defining an aperture; 
 a first upper portion; 
 a first hinge pivotally coupling the first upper portion to the first lower portion; 
   a second lid including:
 a second lower portion; 
 a second upper portion including a projecting feature; and 
 a second hinge pivotally coupling the second upper portion to the second lower portion; 
   wherein the first lid is stacked on the second lid with the lower portion of the first lid contacting the upper portion; and   wherein the projecting feature of the second lid projects in the aperture with the projecting feature and the first inner edge configured to inhibit movement of the first lid relative to the second lid in at least one direction.   
     
     
         9 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of additional lids staked on the first lid and the second lid;   packaging surrounding the stacked first lid, second lid, and additional lids, the packaging having an inner volume;   wherein the lids are arranged and configured such that when stacked between approximately 30% and approximately 35% more lids may be placed within the inner volume of the packaging than if the lids are unstacked.   
     
     
         10 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , wherein the projecting feature includes an upper surface extending between a first wall and a second wall, the first wall being configured to interact with the first inner edge of the first lower portion to inhibit movement of the first lid relative to the second lid in a first direction, and the second wall being configured to interact with the first inner edge of the first lower portion to inhibit movement of the first lid relative to the second lid in a second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The stack of lids of  claim 10 , wherein the upper surface is arched. 
     
     
         12 . The stack of lids of  claim 11 , wherein the second lid includes a first end, a middle point, and a second end; and
 wherein the height of the first wall increases from the first end toward the middle point and decrease from the middle point toward the second end.   
     
     
         13 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , wherein the first upper portion of the first lid includes a downwardly extending wall; and
 wherein the downwardly extending wall is configured to seal against the first lower portion when the lid is in a closed configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , wherein the first lower portion includes an upwardly extending wall located radially outwardly from the first inner edge and radially inwardly from the outer periphery of the first lower portion. 
     
     
         15 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , wherein the second lower portion includes a second inner edge defining an aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , wherein the first upper portion includes a downwardly extending wall located radially outwardly from and adjacent the outer periphery of the first lower portion when the first lid is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The stack of lids of  claim 8 , wherein the first lower portion of the first lid is generally oval-shaped, including a first diameter and a second diameter disposed in a first plane;
 wherein the second lower portion of the second lid is generally oval-shaped, including a third diameter and a fourth diameter disposed in a second plane; and   wherein the first plane is parallel to the second plane.   
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing lids, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of lids, each lid having a upper portion hinged to a lower portion, the lower portions each including an inner edge defining an aperture, the upper portions each including a projecting feature;   stacking the plurality of lids such that the projecting feature projects into the aperture defined by the inner edge of the above lid; and   packaging the stacked plurality of lids for transport.   
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing lids of  claim 18 , further comprising shipping the plurality of lids to a location where containers are filled to be coupled to the containers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing lids of  claim 18 , wherein the projecting features and the inner edges defining the apertures into which the projecting features project are configured to interact to inhibit movement of the stacked lids in at least one direction relative to one another. 
     
     
         21 . The method of manufacturing lids of  claim 18 , wherein the projecting features each include an arched upper surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method of manufacturing lids of  claim 18 , wherein the lids include a latching portion configured to latch the upper portion in a closed configuration relative to the lower portion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of manufacturing lids of  claim 18 , wherein the packaging defines an inner volume; and
 wherein the step of stacking the lids includes configuring the lids such that between approximately 15% and approximately 50% more stacked lids are packaged with the inner volume of the packaging than if the lids are not stacked.