Lid for tobacco container

Abstract

An improved lid for a tobacco container is provided. The lid includes a top and a circumferential sidewall transverse thereto. The sidewall is unitarily formed with the top and depends downwardly therefrom. The sidewall includes a strengthening feature. In an embodiment, the strengthening feature allows the lid to be interlocked to a tobacco container. In a further embodiment, the strengthening feature permits a thin walled sheet metal to be utilized to manufacture of the lid.

1 . A metal lid for a tobacco container comprising:
 a sheet metal body having a thickness of less than 0.007 inches, the sheet metal body being formed into a lid for a tobacco container and having an annular periphery of between about two and about four inches with a sidewall depending downward and having a strengthening feature formed thereon to accommodate the reduced gauge thickness.   
   
   
       2 . The metal lid of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall maintains a constant radial distance from a center of the lid while depending downward from the upper wall. 
   
   
       3 . The metal lid of  claim 1  wherein the sheet metal body is formed of a double reduced sheet steel having a reduced gauge of less than sixty five pounds to provide a thickness of less than 0.007 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The metal lid of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall depends downward a distance of between about 1/16 to about 1 inch. 
   
   
       5 . The metal lid of  claim 1  wherein the strengthening feature is a curl, having a first curved section extending radially inward from an outer annular wall segment of the sidewall to a radially innermost radial apogee, a second curved section beginning at the radial apogee and transitioning from extending radially inward to radially outward, and a third curved section extending radially inward and terminating proximate the outer annular wall segment, wherein the first, second, and third curved sections define an annular channel such that the radial apogee is radially inward of the outer annular wall segment a distance greater than a thickness of the sheet metal body. 
   
   
       6 . The metal lid of  claim 5  wherein the curl is partially flattened to include top and bottom curved segments and a flattened extension segment joining the two, the flattened extension being flatter relative to the top and bottom curved segments. 
   
   
       7 . The tobacco container of  claim 1  wherein the lid has an outer diameter of between about 2 and 5½ inches. 
   
   
       8 . The tobacco container of  claim 1  wherein the lid is formed from a single unitary piece of sheet metal. 
   
   
       9 . The tobacco container of  claim 5  wherein the outer annular wall segment and the curl form a hook shaped profile. 
   
   
       10 . A method for manufacturing a metal lid for a tobacco container comprising the steps of:
 selecting a sheet metal that is less than sixty five pound double reduced steel sheet material;   forming a lid having a circular periphery and a sidewall from the sheet steel; and   curling a distal end of the sidewall.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of folding a portion of the sidewall radially inward displacing the curl therewith. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of folding a portion of the sidewall radially inward is accomplished by using a single tool. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of folding a portion of the sidewall radially inward is accomplished by using a plurality of tooling, said plurality progressively decreasing an angle between the folded portion of the sidewall. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the steps of forming a sheet metal body and forming a curl are done using a single tool. 
   
   
       15 . A tobacco container comprising:
 a sheet metal body formed into a lid for the tobacco container, said lid having an upper wall with a radius of between about 1 to about 3 inches, an annular sidewall depending downward from the upper wall and having a terminating end, wherein a radially inward extending curl is formed by the terminating end.   
   
   
       16 . The tobacco container of  claim 15  wherein the curl has a first curved section extending radially inward from an outer annular wall segment of the sidewall to a radially innermost radial apogee of the curl, the radial apogee is radially inward of the outer annular wall segment a distance greater than a thickness of the annular sheet metal body, a second curved section beginning at the radial apogee and extending to an axial apogee, and a third curved section extending radially inward from the axial apogee and terminating proximate the outer annular wall segment, wherein the first, second, and third curved sections define an annular channel such that the radial apogee is radially inward of the outer annular wall segment a distance greater than a thickness of the sheet metal body. 
   
   
       17 . The tobacco container of  claim 15  wherein the curl is partially flattened and includes top and bottom curved segments and a flattened extension segment joining the two, the flattened extension being generally parallel to and radially inward of an outer wall segment of the sidewall, the bottom curved segment connects the curl to an outer wall segment of the annular sidewall. 
   
   
       18 . The tobacco container of  claim 16  wherein the third curved section of the curl contacts an inner surface of the outer annular wall segment. 
   
   
       19 . The tobacco container of  claim 15  further comprising a container bottom comprising:
 a bottom wall;   an annular sidewall depending axially upward from the bottom wall; and   a bead located on the annular sidewall of the container bottom and adapted to interlock with the curl to secure the lid to the container bottom.   
   
   
       20 . The tobacco container of  claim 19  wherein the curl releasably interlocks with the bead. 
   
   
       21 . The tobacco container of  claim 20  wherein the lid sidewall forms a cylindrical outer surface when the lid is interlocked with container bottom. 
   
   
       22 . The tobacco container of  claim 19  wherein the container bottom is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard, plastic, and metal. 
   
   
       23 . The tobacco container of  claim 16  wherein the lid sidewall forms a cylindrical outer surface having a constant diameter. 
   
   
       24 . The tobacco container of  claim 16  further including an inner annular wall segment extending generally parallel to the outer annular segment, the inner annular wall segment coupled to the outer annular wall segment by a fold, the inner annular wall segment axially positioning the curl between the fold and the upper wall.