Container and Lid

Abstract

A container lid is provided herein having structurally reinforcing ribs therein. The ribs increase the strength of the lid across a central region thereof. Specifically, the lid can have an outer perimeter and the ribs can be spaced inwardly from the outer perimeter. The inwardly spaced ribs can provide a distinct look for consumer differentiation. Additionally, the ribs can be arcuate so that they generally follow a curvature of the outer perimeter of the lid. As such, a label region within the lid central region is preserved, while the lid is still strengthened by the ribs.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A removable lid for a container, the lid comprising:
 a top wall having a planar label portion, the top wall configured to cover an open mouth of a container base;   a skirt extending downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top wall to a bottom free edge;   at least one raised rib extending upwardly from the top wall and forming at least one corresponding cavity on a bottom surface of the lid; and   at least one brace spanning the at least one cavity of the at least one rib and extending at least partially along a bottom surface of the planar label portion of the top wall.   
     
     
         17 . The removable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised rib surrounds at least a portion of the planar label portion of the top wall. 
     
     
         18 . The removable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised rib has a generally rounded top surface. 
     
     
         19 . The removable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised rib has opposing ends and a raised central portion between the opposing ends, each of the opposing ends having an end portion tapering downwardly from the raised central portion to a respective one of the opposing ends. 
     
     
         20 . The removable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one brace includes two or more spanning braces spaced apart from one another along a length of the at least one rib. 
     
     
         21 . The removable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one brace restricts the at least one raised rib from spreading apart as a result of stacking loads being placed on the lid. 
     
     
         22 . The removable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised rib generally follows a shape of the peripheral edge of the lid. 
     
     
         23 . A container comprising:
 a container base having a bottom wall portion, an upstanding sidewall portion that extends to an outwardly extending flange and defines an interior of the container base; and   the container lid having a top wall having a planar label portion and a skirt depending downwardly from a perimeter of the top wall, the skirt configured to engage the flange of the container base to removably secure the container lid to the container base,   the container lid having at least one raised portion extending upward of the planar label portion and at least in part about the planar label portion, an underside of the at least one raised portion forming a cavity, and at least one brace spanning the cavity of the at least one raised portion of the lid, wherein the at least one brace extends at least partially along a bottom surface of the planar label portion of the lid top wall.   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one brace includes a plurality of braces spaced around a length of the cavity of the at least one raised portion of the container lid. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising a foil cover attached to the flange of the container base to enclose the interior of the container base and that is positioned between the container base and container lid. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more raised portions each have opposing ends and a raised central portion between the opposing ends, each of the opposing ends having an end portion tapering downwardly from the raised central portion to a respective one of the opposing ends. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one brace restricts the at least one raised portion from spreading apart as a result of stacking loads being placed on the container lid. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one raised portion generally follows a shape of the perimeter of the container lid. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one raised portion has a generally rounded top surface. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the skirt of the container lid includes an inwardly protruding rib that engages the flange of the container base to removably secure the container lid to the container base. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom wall portion of the container base is shaped to fit within the at least one raised portion of a second container lid in a stacked configuration.