Container lid removal facilitator

Abstract

A thin, deformable polymer sheet is configured to be placed between an opening in a container and the container lid, particularly when the lid is to be refastened to the container. The sheet creates a barrier between the container and the lid, and more particularly, between the lid and any residual contents of the container, such as paint, that may be on the lid engagement surfaces. The residual content, when it dries, will therefore not adhere the lid to the container and inhibit subsequent removal of the lid.

1 . A device that facilitates removal of a container lid from a container that includes one or more lid engagement surfaces that surround, and define an outer boundary of, a container opening within the container, the container lid configured to be disposed on the container and seal the container opening by engaging the one or more container lid engagement surfaces, the device comprising: 
 a deformable polymer sheet that is dimensioned to extend entirely over the container opening, the sheet configured to be disposed between the container lid and the one or more lid engagement surfaces and having an inner surface, an outer surface, an outer peripheral edge between the inner and outer surfaces, and a thickness of 0.001-inches or less, the sheet dimensioned such that, when installed, (i) an entirety of the outer surface of the sheet within the outer boundary of the container opening is always disposed proximate the container lid and (ii) the outer peripheral surface is exposed when the container lid is disposed to seal the container opening.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 placement indicia on the outer surface, the placement indicia supplying information representative of instructions as to positioning the deformable sheet over the container opening.    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the placement indicia supplies information representative of instructions as to positioning the deformable sheet over a plurality of different sized container openings.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 data recording indicia on the outer surface, the data recording indicia defining a region in which data may be printed using a handwriting instrument.    
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the region defined by the data recording indicia is disposed in an area of the outer surface that is exposed when the sheet is installed.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the deformable polymer sheet comprises a material suitable for printing indicia thereon.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable polymer sheet is configured to have a non-circular in shape.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable polymer sheet is configured to have a circular shape.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable polymer sheet comprises a material having sufficient strength to resist tearing upon subsequent removal of the container lid from the container.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer sheet comprises polyethylene.  
   
   
       11 . A device that facilitates removal of a container lid from a container that includes one or more lid engagement surfaces that surround a container opening within the container, the container lid configured to be disposed on the container and seal the container opening by engaging the one or more container lid engagement surfaces, the device comprising: 
 a deformable polymer sheet that is dimensioned to extend entirely over the opening in the container, the sheet configured to be disposed between the container lid and the one or more lid engagement surfaces and having an outer peripheral edge that is exposed when the container lid is disposed to seal the container opening; and    placement indicia on the outer surface, the placement indicia supplying information representative of instructions as to positioning the deformable sheet over the container opening.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the placement indicia supplies information representative of instructions as to positioning the deformable sheet over a plurality of different sized container openings.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 data recording indicia on the outer surface, the data recording indicia defining a region in which data may be printed using a handwriting instrument.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the region defined by the data recording indicia is disposed in an area of the outer surface that is exposed when the sheet is installed.  
   
   
       15 . A device that facilitates removal of a container lid from a container that includes one or more lid engagement surfaces that surround a container opening within the container, the container lid configured to be disposed on the container and seal the container opening by engaging the one or more container lid engagement surfaces, the device comprising: 
 a deformable polymer sheet that is dimensioned to extend entirely over the opening in the container, the sheet configured to be disposed between the container lid and the one or more lid engagement surfaces and having an outer peripheral edge that is exposed when the container lid is disposed to seal the container opening;    placement indicia on the outer surface, the placement indicia supplying information representative of instructions as to positioning the deformable sheet over the container opening; and    data recording indicia on the outer surface, the data recording indicia defining a region in which data may be printed using a handwriting instrument.    
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the placement indicia supplies information representative of instructions as to positioning the deformable sheet over a plurality of different sized container openings.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the region defined by the data recording indicia is disposed in an area of the outer surface that is exposed when the sheet is installed.