Container with peel-off cover

Abstract

A container comprising a plurality of side walls arranged in a polygonal shape, a bottom surface and a top surface extending from the side walls, a peel-off cover removable from the top surface along a shear line, and a handle attached to the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container comprising: 
 a plurality of side walls arranged in a polygonal shape, a bottom surface and a top surface extending from said side walls;    a peel-off cover removable from said top surface along a shear line; and    a handle attached to said container.    
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is outside said an area bounded by said shear line.  
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle does not significantly jut beyond an outer contour of said container.  
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shear line is at least partially arcuate.  
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said shear line has a polygonal shape.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 5 , wherein said polygonal shape comprises a corner near a corner of said top surface.  
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 5 , wherein said polygonal shape comprises a corner near a side of said top surface.  
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shear line comprises an arcuate portion and a polygonal shape extending from and continuous with said arcuate portion.  
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein a fill hole is formed on said top surface.  
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein said fill hole is formed within an area bounded by said shear line.  
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein said fill hole is formed outside an area bounded by said shear line.  
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is pivotally attached to said container.  
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein said handle is shaped such that when laying flat on said top surface said handle lies outside an area bounded by said shear line.  
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shear line is arranged with respect to said top surface, such that after removal of said cover, a remaining edge of said shear line is in a non-injurious position.  
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover extends from said top surface by means of a fold, and said shear line is located on said fold.  
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein a protective rim is formed on said top surface adjacent said shear line.  
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover extends from said top surface by means of an adhesive, and said shear line is located at the adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising an external cover adapted to seal the container after it has been opened.  
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein said external cover is adapted to be fitted over the outer contour of said top surface of said container.  
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein said external cover is adapted to be placed into an opening created after removing said peel-off cover from said shear line.