Opening mechanism for a container

Abstract

An improved and safer opening mechanism for a container, such as a pressurized container, is provided that includes a synchronous relationship between a safety cap and a sealable plate, such that the safety cap covers the sealable plate when it is removed from the container.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a vessel comprising a top edge defining an open top of the vessel and comprising one or more sides defining an outer surface of the vessel; and   a removable lid configured to be coupled about the top edge of the vessel, the removable lid comprising:
 (i) a safety cover configured to cover the open top of the container, wherein an area of a top surface of the safety cover is greater than an area corresponding to the open top of the vessel, the safety cover comprising:
 (a) an overhang configured to receive the top edge of the vessel when the removable lid is coupled to the vessel, wherein the overhang extends downwardly from the safety cover and extends inwardly toward at least one of the top edge or the one or more sides of the vessel; and 
 (b) an opening; 
 
 (ii) a sealable plate disposed below the safety cover and comprising a tab; and 
 (iii) an adhesive bonding the sealable plate to the safety cover, 
   wherein the tab is aligned through the opening of the safety cover, such that the tab is accessible from outside the safety cover.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is pressurized and, when the container is unopened, the sealable plate is joined to the vessel to preserve pressure within the container, and wherein the sealable plate is configured to be separable from the vessel via a pressing seam disposed about the perimeter of the sealable plate. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is configured so that when a user pulls the tab with a force sufficient to separate the sealable plate from the vessel about the pressing seam, the overhang of the safety cover covers an exposed edge of the sealable plate. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the overhang is disposed about the entire perimeter of the safety cover, such that the overhang covers the entire exposed edge of the sealable plate when the sealable plate is removed from the vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the overhang extends inwardly at an angle of between around 20 to 45 degrees relative to a normal direction extending perpendicularly from the open top of the vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is located offset towards an outer edge of the top surface of the safety cover. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is affixed offset towards an outer edge of the top surface of the sealable plate. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the safety cap is made of at least one of a plastic or a rubber material. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a key-hole shaped cut-out disposed within the safety cover. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealable plate is composed of a metal. 
     
     
         12 . A removable lid system for a container, the container comprising a vessel having a top edge defining an open top of the vessel and one or more sides defining an outer surface of the vessel, the removable lid system comprising:
 a safety cap comprising:
 a cover having top and bottom surfaces, wherein an opening is disposed within the cover of the safety cap, and wherein an area of the top surface of the cover is greater than an area of the open top of the vessel; and 
 an overhang disposed about a perimeter of the safety cap, wherein the overhang is configured to couple to the top edge of the container, and wherein the overhang extends downwardly from the perimeter of the safety cap and extends inwardly toward at least one of the top edge or the one or more sides of the vessel; and 
   a sealable plate bonded to one or more locations on the bottom surface of the cover and positioned within a perimeter of the overhang of the safety cap, the sealable plate comprising a tab member affixed to a top side of the sealable plate such that the tab is aligned through the opening of the safety cap and is accessible from above the safety cap.   
     
     
         13 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the overhang extends inwardly at an angle of between around 20 to 45 degrees relative to a normal direction extending perpendicularly from the open top of the vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the opening is located proximate to an outer edge of a top surface of the cover. 
     
     
         15 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the tab is affixed proximate to an outer edge of a top surface of the sealable plate. 
     
     
         16 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the safety cap is made of at least one of a plastic or a rubber material. 
     
     
         17 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive is an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         18 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the opening is key-hole shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the sealable plate is composed of a metal. 
     
     
         20 . The removable lid system of  claim 12 , wherein the container is pressurized.