Removable Membrane Having a Truncated Tab

Abstract

A removable membrane, or cover, for a disposable food container includes a membrane portion at least partially defined by a circular outer perimeter edge. The removable membrane further includes a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. The truncated tab portion is at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first and second lateral edges converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. The tab portion is further defined by a forward edge that extends along a straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge, wherein the forward edge is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.

1 . A removable membrane for a disposable food container, the removable membrane comprising:
 a membrane portion, the membrane portion being at least partially defined by a circular outer perimeter edge; and   a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the truncated tab portion being at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the tab portion being further defined by a forward edge that extends along a straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge, wherein the forward edge is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.   
     
     
         2 . The removable membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are symmetrically disposed about a tab axis that extends through a center point of the circular outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. 
     
     
         3 . The removable membrane of  claim 2 , wherein a reference line tangent to a reference circle at the intersection of the reference circle and the tab axis is separated from the forward edge by a distance between about 4 mm and about 10 mm, and wherein the reference circle is concentric with the outer perimeter edge and has a diameter equal to a diameter of the outer perimeter edge. 
     
     
         4 . The removable membrane of  claim 1 , wherein a first rounded corner portion extends from a first end of the forward edge to a distal end of the first lateral edge and a second rounded corner portion extends from a second end of the forward edge to a distal end of the second lateral edge, and the linear edge portion of the forward edge extends between and is disposed between the first and second rounded corner portions. 
     
     
         5 . The removable membrane of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge tangentially intersect the outer perimeter edge. 
     
     
         6 . The removable membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the forward edge forms an angle between about 115 degrees and about 155 degrees with the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         7 . The removable membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the forward edge is disposed at an angle of about 135 degrees relative to the first and second lateral edges. 
     
     
         8 . The removable membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the forward edge comprises a plurality of linear segments arranged to collectively extend along the straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge. 
     
     
         9 . The removable membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the forward edge comprises a plurality of curved segments arranged to collectively extend along the straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge. 
     
     
         10 . A removable membrane for a disposable food container, the removable membrane comprising:
 a membrane portion, the membrane portion being at least partially defined by an outer perimeter edge; and   a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the truncated tab portion being at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the tab portion being further defined by a forward edge that extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge such that the forward edge, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge collectively have the shape of an upper portion of a trapezoid.   
     
     
         11 . The removable membrane of  claim 10 , wherein the forward edge extends along a straight line between the first and second lateral edges. 
     
     
         12 . The removable membrane of  claim 11 , wherein a reference line tangent to a reference circle at the intersection of the reference circle and the tab axis is separated from the forward edge by a distance between about 4 mm and about 10 mm, and wherein the outer perimeter edge has a circular shape and the reference circle is concentric with the outer perimeter edge and has a diameter equal to a diameter of the outer perimeter edge. 
     
     
         13 . The removable membrane of  claim 10 , wherein the forward edge is an arc. 
     
     
         14 . The removable membrane of  claim 13 , wherein the outer perimeter edge has a circular shape, and wherein the arc has a radius of curvature equal to or greater than a radius of curvature of the outer perimeter edge. 
     
     
         15 . The removable membrane of  claim 13 , wherein a first end of the arc non-tangentially intersects a distal end of the first lateral edge and a second end of the arc non-tangentially intersects a distal end of the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         16 . The removable membrane of  claim 10 , wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are symmetrically disposed about a tab axis that extends through a center point of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. 
     
     
         17 . A system for storing a plurality of removable membranes for disposable food containers, the system comprising:
 a magazine having a plurality of vertical rods; and   a plurality of removable membranes stored in the magazine, each removable membrane comprising:
 a membrane portion, the membrane portion being at least partially defined by an outer perimeter edge; and 
 a tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the truncated tab portion being at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the tab portion being further defined by a forward edge that extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge such that the forward edge, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge collectively have the shape of an upper portion of a trapezoid, 
   wherein at least two rods of the plurality of rods are adjacent to portions of the outer perimeter edge, at least one rod of the plurality of rods is adjacent to a distal end of the first lateral edge, and at least one rod of the plurality of rods is adjacent to a distal end of the second lateral edge, whereby the plurality of rods cooperate to prevent one or more removable membrane from rotating relative to the plurality of removable membranes stored in the magazine.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the forward edge extends along a straight line between the first and second lateral edges. 
     
     
         19 . The removable membrane of  claim 18 , wherein a reference line tangent to a reference circle at the intersection of the reference circle and the tab axis is separated from the forward edge by a distance between about 4 mm and about 10 mm, and wherein the outer perimeter edge has a circular shape and the reference circle is concentric with the outer perimeter edge and has a diameter equal to a diameter of the outer perimeter edge. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the forward edge is an arc.