Container Lid Formed as a Laminate Having a Built-In Opening Feature, and Container Incorporating Same

Abstract

A lid for a container having a built-in opening feature comprises a flexible laminate comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, a pair of radially spaced concentric lines of weakness being formed in the upper and lower layers, respectively, wherein the upper and lower layers in an annular region between the lines of weakness are readily peeled apart, and wherein the upper and lower layers outside the annular region are laminated together with an adhesive providing a bond with a greater peel strength than that required to separate the layers in the annular region. An integral strap is formed in the upper layer by a U-shaped cut line. A distal end of the strap opposite from the two ends of the cut line is within an adhesive-free region of the laminate. The ends of the cut line are in an adhesively laminated area of the laminate.

1 . A lid for sealing a container, the lid comprising:
 a flexible laminate comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the laminate having an outer peripheral edge and at least one line of weakness comprising a closed loop spaced radially inward of the outer peripheral edge so as to delineate a removable portion of the laminate severable from an outer peripheral portion of the laminate;   wherein the upper layer of the removable portion is cut along a pair of spaced cut lines to define a strap, each cut line extending from a first end to an opposite second end, the first ends of the cut lines defining a first end of the strap, the second ends of the cut lines defining an opposite second end of the strap, the strap being integrally joined to the upper layer at the first and second ends of the strap;   the adhesive being absent in an adhesive-free region underlying at least a middle portion of the strap so that the middle portion of the strap can be lifted from the lower layer and pulled to cause the laminate to sever along the line of weakness.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the first ends and the second ends of the cut lines defining the strap are located outside the adhesive-free region in an adhesively laminated area of the laminate. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein an outer peripheral region of the laminate is shaped to include a generally cylindrical skirt such that the lower layer of the skirt faces radially outward and the upper layer of the skirt faces radially inward. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one line of weakness is located in the skirt. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lower layer comprises a heat-seal layer forming a lowermost surface of the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 5 , wherein the upper layer comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6 , wherein the lower layer includes an aluminum foil layer. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is shaped to include depressed areas adjacent opposite edges of the pull strap to facilitate grasping the pull strap. 
     
     
         9 . A container comprising:
 a container body comprising a side wall having a top edge encircling an opening of the container body, the side wall having an inner surface;   a lid formed of a flexible laminate comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the lid comprising a central panel that is generally disk-shaped and a generally cylindrical skirt joined to an outer periphery of the central panel and extending upwardly therefrom such that the lower layer of the skirt faces radially outwardly, the skirt being bonded to the inner surface of the container body, the laminate having an outer peripheral edge and at least one line of weakness comprising a closed loop spaced radially inward of the outer peripheral edge so as to delineate a removable portion of the laminate severable from an outer peripheral portion of the laminate;   wherein the upper layer of the removable portion is cut along a pair of spaced cut lines to define a strap, each cut line extending from a first end to an opposite second end, the first ends of the cut lines defining a first end of the strap, the second ends of the cut lines defining an opposite second end of the strap, the strap being integrally joined to the upper layer at the first and second ends of the strap;   the adhesive being absent in an adhesive-free region underlying at least a middle portion of the strap so that the middle portion of the strap can be lifted from the lower layer and pulled to cause the laminate to sever along the line of weakness.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the first ends and the second ends of the cut lines defining the strap are located outside the adhesive-free region in an adhesively laminated area of the laminate. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the lid is shaped to include depressed areas adjacent opposite edges of the pull strap to facilitate grasping the pull strap. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one line of weakness is located in the skirt and comprises an outer line of weakness formed in the upper layer and an inner line of weakness formed in the lower layer at a position spaced below the outer line of weakness, wherein the upper and lower layers in an annular region of the skirt between the outer and inner lines of weakness are readily separated by exerting a peel force on the upper layer, and wherein the upper and lower layers outside the annular region are laminated together with an adhesive providing a bond with a greater peel strength than the peel force required to separate the layers in the annular region. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the lower layer of the skirt is bonded to the inner surface of the container body such that a peel force required for peeling the skirt from the inner surface of the container body exceeds the peel force required for peeling the upper layer from the lower layer in the annular region of the skirt. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive outside the annular region bonds the upper and lower layers together such that a peel force required for peeling the layers apart outside the annular region exceeds the peel force required for peeling the skirt from the inner surface of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the skirt below the inner line of weakness is bonded to the inner surface of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the lower layer of the lid comprises a heat-seal layer forming a lowermost surface of the lid. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the lower layer further comprises an aluminum foil layer, and the heat-seal layer comprises a slip coat of heat-seal material applied to the aluminum foil layer. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the upper layer of the lid comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed between the upper and lower layers in the annular region. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive outside the annular region comprises a laminating adhesive.