Resealable closure for a container

Abstract

Resealable closures are disclosed for use in connection with open topped containers. The closure includes a metal lid for closing the container opening and including a peripheral portion for sealingly engaging the rim, and a plastic ring secured to the metal lid and engaging the peripheral portion of the metal lid, the plastic ring including a bead element for engaging the radially outward formation of the container to retain the peripheral portion of the metal lid in sealed engagement on the rim, the plastic ring also including a depending portion extending interiorally of the container when the closure is assembled on the container so that manual manipulation of the depending portion is operative on the bead element to facilitate removal of the closure from the container.

1 . A resealable closure for use with an open topped container containing including a container opening defined by a rim including a radially outward formation, said closure comprising a metal lid for closing the container opening, said metal lid including a peripheral portion for sealingly engaging the rim and a plastic ring secured to said metal lid and engaging said peripheral portion, said plastic ring including at least one element for engaging the radially outward formation of the container to retain said peripheral portion of said metal lid in sealed engagement on said rim, said plastic ring further including a depending portion which extends exterially of the container when said enclosure is assembled thereon, whereby manual manipulation of said depending portion is operative on said at least one element to facilitate removal of said closure from the container.  
     
     
         2 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one element of said plastic ring comprises a bead including a surface which is adapted to seat under the radially outward formation of the container.  
     
     
         3 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said bead includes a ramp surface for camming over the radially outward formation of the container as said closure is applied to the container.  
     
     
         4 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said bead comprises a continuous bead around the periphery of said closure.  
     
     
         5 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said bead is interrupted to provide a plurality of bead lengths around the periphery of said closure.  
     
     
         6 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said depending portion of said plastic ring comprises a skirt which surrounds the container when said closure is assembled thereon.  
     
     
         7 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said depending portion of said plastic ring comprises an extension which depends from only a portion of the periphery of said ring for levering said closure off the container.  
     
     
         8 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said dependent portion is in the form of a handle.  
     
     
         9 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 7  including a plurality of said extensions which depend from spaced portions of the periphery of said ring.  
     
     
         10 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said skirt includes zones of weakness around its periphery for facilitating removal of said closure from the container.  
     
     
         11 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said zones of weakness comprise grooves within said skirt which extends substantially in a direction along the container when said closure and container are assembled.  
     
     
         12 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said grooves extend upwardly through said at least one element for engaging the radially outward formation of the container.  
     
     
         13 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said grooves extend through the thickness of said skirt.  
     
     
         14 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said peripheral portion of said metal lid for sealingly engaging the container rim includes a channel which seats over the container rim.  
     
     
         15 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said channel includes a gasket material which is compressed when said at least one element of said plastic ring engages the radially outward formation of the container.  
     
     
         16 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said plastic ring includes a channel within which at least a portion of the peripheral portion of said metal lid is fitted to secure together said plastic ring and said metal lid.  
     
     
         17 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said peripheral portion of said metal lid is press fitted into said channel of said plastic ring.  
     
     
         18 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said at least one element of said plastic ring comprises a bead which protrudes partially across said channel of said plastic ring to provide for a snap fitting of said plastic ring onto said metal lid.  
     
     
         19 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said plastic ring is molded into said metal lid.  
     
     
         20 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said peripheral portion of said metal lid terminates in an outermost edge which faces generally downwardly and which engages said at least one element of said plastic ring.  
     
     
         21 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said plastic ring includes a tamper evidencing facility for an initial sealed assembly of said closure on the container.  
     
     
         22 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said tamper evidencing facility comprises a tear off strip of at least a peripheral portion of said depending portion of said plastic ring.  
     
     
         23 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said tear off strip tapers in cross section downwardly such that its lower most edge does not extend substantially outwardly of the exterior wall of the container.  
     
     
         24 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said depending portion of said plastic ring includes a shoulder which defines an upwardly facing surface adjacent an uppermost surface of said ring for stacking a container onto said closure or for stacking a plurality of said closures.  
     
     
         25 . A resealable container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said plastic ring includes spaced ribs around the exterior surface of said plastic ring which extend generally vertically and terminate below the outermost surface of said plastic ring, thereby providing upwardly facing surfaces for stacking a plurality of said closures or for stacking a container onto said closure.  
     
     
         26 . A resealable closure as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with an open topped container said container opening being defined by a rim including a radially outward formation wherein said closure is in sealed engagement with said container.