Membrane Lid with Recessed Tab, and Container Incorporating Same

Abstract

A membrane lid having a recessed ring pull tab. The membrane lids comprises a permanently deformable layer (e.g., metal foil or thin sheet metal) having a disk portion and a tab projecting from the outer periphery of the disk portion. The tab is folded back onto the upper surface of the disk portion. A region of the disk portion underlying the folded-back tab defines a depression and the tab is folded back such that it is recessed within the depression. A sealing material is provided on the lower surface of the membrane lid for sealing the lid to a metal ring of a container.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a container body having a side wall that terminates in a top edge circumscribing an opening of the container body;   a metal ring affixed to the top edge of the container body, the metal ring including an annular portion that extends radially inwardly from the container body and defines an upper surface, the metal ring having an inner edge circumscribing an aperture through the metal ring for access to an interior of the container body; and   a membrane lid sealed to the upper surface of the metal ring, the membrane lid comprising:
 a permanently deformable layer having a disk portion and a tab projecting from an outer periphery of the disk portion, the tab being folded back onto an upper surface of the disk portion, a region of the disk portion underlying the folded-back tab comprising a depression formed in the disk portion and the tab being folded back into the depression such that the tab is recessed within the depression, the membrane lid further comprising a sealing material on a lower surface of the membrane lid for sealing the lid to the metal ring. 
   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tab defines a finger hole therethrough. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein an outer edge of the tab and an inner edge of the finger hole are rolled to reduce the likelihood of a finger being cut by the tab. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer of the membrane lid comprises a sheet of metal. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the disk portion and the tab comprise integral portions of the sheet of metal. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the sheet of metal has a thickness of about 0.045 to 0.120 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing material of the membrane lid comprises a sealant layer joined to a lower surface of the deformable layer. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the sealant layer covers substantially the entire disk portion of the deformable layer. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the sealant layer also covers the tab. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing material comprises a heat-sealable material. 
   
   
       11 . A membrane lid for a container, comprising:
 a permanently deformable layer having a disk portion and a tab projecting from an outer periphery of the disk portion, the tab being folded back onto an upper surface of the disk portion, a region of the disk portion underlying the folded-back tab comprising a depression formed in the disk portion and the tab being folded back into the depression such that the tab is recessed within the depression; and   a sealing material on a lower surface of the membrane lid for sealing the lid to a container.   
   
   
       12 . The membrane lid of  claim 11 , wherein the tab defines a finger hole therethrough. 
   
   
       13 . The membrane lid of  claim 12 , wherein an outer edge of the tab and an inner edge of the finger hole are rolled to reduce the likelihood of a finger being cut by the tab. 
   
   
       14 . The membrane lid of  claim 11 , wherein the deformable layer of the membrane lid comprises a sheet of metal. 
   
   
       15 . The membrane lid of  claim 14 , wherein the disk portion and the tab comprise integral portions of the sheet of metal. 
   
   
       16 . The membrane lid of  claim 14 , wherein the sheet of metal has a thickness of about 0.045 to 0.120 mm. 
   
   
       17 . The membrane lid of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing material of the membrane lid comprises a sealant layer joined to a lower surface of the deformable layer. 
   
   
       18 . The membrane lid of  claim 17 , wherein the sealant layer covers substantially the entire disk portion of the deformable layer. 
   
   
       19 . The membrane lid of  claim 18 , wherein the sealant layer also covers the tab. 
   
   
       20 . The membrane lid of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing material comprises a heat-sealable material. 
   
   
       21 . The membrane lid of  claim 11 , further comprising a heat-resistant coating on an upper surface of the deformable layer. 
   
   
       22 . The membrane lid of  claim 11 , wherein membrane lid is embossed with a pattern of deformed regions for enhancing stiffness of the lid. 
   
   
       23 . The membrane lid of  claim 22 , wherein the depression is non-embossed.