Plastic container with double lock lid and tear band

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 groove is formed in the lid skirt between the upper and lower locks 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. The lid and pail are dimensioned to provide a wedge seal between an unflanged pail rim and the top lock and to maintain a strong connection and seal even after the lower lock is removed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic container including an open top pail and a lid which sealingly fits on to the pail wherein the pail, the combination comprising:
 a pail with a sidewall and an unflanged top rim;   a lid comprising a deck with a top surface surrounded by a peripheral portion defining an inverted U-shaped channel sized to sealingly receive the pail rim therein;   the lid further comprising an outwardly flared skirt with a first annular interior detent groove, a second annular, interior detent groove, and an annular tear mechanism between the two detent grooves, the pail sidewall having formed on the exterior thereof a top annular ring below the rim and spaced relative to said rim to provide a snap fit into the first annular interior detent groove only when the rim is fully, sealingly seated into the channel; the sidewall having formed on the exterior thereof a bottom annular ring spaced below the top annular ring and located to lockingly enter the second detent groove only when the rim is fully and sealingly seated into said channel, said tear mechanism being located to expose, when operated, a newly-formed annular skirt edge that stands radially outwardly from the container sidewall and far enough above said lower annular ring to allow manual grasping of said newly-formed skirt edge for lid removal.   
     
     
         2 . A plastic container as described in  claim 1  wherein the top ring is segmented, the container further including indicia mold-formed on the top surface of the deck lid and indicating lifting locations for lid removal. 
     
     
         3 . A plastic container as described in  claim 1  wherein the lower lock ring is segmented. 
     
     
         4 . A plastic container combination of the type described in  claim 1  wherein the pail and lid are formed of high-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . A plastic container as described in  claim 1  wherein the first detent groove and top ring are configured and sized to produce an audible snap upon being joined.