One- Piece over-cap closure

Abstract

An efficient one-piece cap-style closure device is hereby provided for re-covering a partially emptied cardboard frozen food container. The device is so obvious to operate, that no instruction is needed for immediate usage. The key functional element is the bonded inner lining of resilient material. When pressed down over the open end of the cardboard container, the lining forms a moderately tight fitting seal between the cap and the outer surface of the container. This permits handling and re-storing of the partially emptied container without mishap.

1 . A one-piece closure for placement over an open end of a frozen food cardboard container, comprising:
 (a) a lid that includes a planar member and a lip, and wherein said lip extends downward from a perimeter of said planar member and wherein said lip is disposed in a generally perpendicular direction with respect to said planar member, and wherein a cross-sectional shape taken below said planar member and through said lip includes a shape that corresponds with a cross-sectional shape of an end of said frozen food cardboard container, and wherein said end includes an open end after a planar covering of said frozen food cardboard container has been removed from said end of said frozen food cardboard container; and   (b) a compressible inner lining disposed along an inside surface of said lip;   wherein when said one-piece closure is disposed over said open end of said frozen food cardboard container, and wherein said compressible inner lining provides a seal between an outside surface of said frozen food cardboard container and said one-piece closure that secures said one-piece closure in position.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein said planar member and said lip are formed of a plastic and wherein said cross-sectional shape taken below said planar member and through said lip includes a circular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein said compressible inner lining includes a resilient lining that is bonded to said inside surface of said lip, and wherein said inside surface of said lip includes an inner circumferential surface. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein said resilient lining secures said closure to said open end of said frozen food cardboard container. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein said resilient lining includes a seal that is effective in preventing leakage of a content from said frozen food cardboard container when said closure is disposed over said open end. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein said frozen food container includes a container that includes a material at said open end that is formed of a plastic, glass, or metallic material. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein said cross-sectional shape taken below said planar member and through said lip includes a shape that is other than circular.