Cover for welding wire container

Abstract

A cover for a welding wire container has a body portion provided with an elongate slot through which the welding wire can be withdrawn from the container, and at least one flap formed integrally therewith and partially defining the slot.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A welding wire container lid, said lid comprising:
 an upper body defining a shape to match a container so that the lid can be secured to the container;   side walls extending downward from said upper body;   a protrusion extending upward from said upper body in a direction opposite said side walls; and   an opening which is elongated in a direction extending from said protrusion onto said surface portion toward said side walls, said opening having a first end disposed on said protrusion and a second end disposed on said upper body spaced apart from said first end in the direction of elongation, said opening further having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side spaced apart across said opening, each of said first and second longitudinal sides extending from said first end to said second end;   wherein said first longitudinal side has a first contour and said second longitudinal side has a second contour which is different from said first contour, such that at least a portion of said second longitudinal side is offset in a vertical direction relative to an adjacent portion of said first longitudinal side positioned across said opening from said portion of said second longitudinal side.   
     
     
         18 . The welding container lid according to  claim 17 , wherein said second contour of said second side has a concave shape. 
     
     
         19 . The welding container lid according to  claim 17 , further comprising a retaining member secured to said lid to retain a welding wire to said lid. 
     
     
         20 . The welding container lid according to  claim 19 , wherein said retaining member comprises an elongated groove having two side portions and a channel portion and each of said two side portions contact said lid. 
     
     
         21 . A welding wire container, said container comprising:
 a base; and   a lid, wherein said lid comprises:
 an upper body defining a shape to match the base so that the lid can be secured to the base; 
 side walls extending downward from said upper body; 
 a protrusion extending upward from said upper body in a direction opposite said side walls; and 
 an opening which is elongated in a direction extending from said protrusion onto said upper body toward said side walls, said opening having a first end disposed on said protrusion and a second end disposed on said upper body spaced apart from said first end in the direction of elongation, said opening further having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side spaced apart across said opening, each of said first and said second longitudinal sides extending from said first end to said second end, 
 wherein said first longitudinal side has a first contour and said second longitudinal side has a second contour which is different from said first contour, such that at least a portion of said second longitudinal side is offset in a vertical direction relative to an adjacent portion of said first longitudinal side positioned across said opening from said portion of said second longitudinal side. 
   
     
     
         22 . The welding container lid according to  claim 21 , wherein said second contour of said second side has a concave shape. 
     
     
         23 . The welding container lid according to  claim 21 , further comprising a retaining member secured to said lid to retain a welding wire to said lid. 
     
     
         24 . The welding container lid according to  claim 23 , wherein said retaining member comprises an elongated groove having two side portions and a channel portion and each of said two side portions contact said lid. 
     
     
         25 . A welding wire container lid, said lid comprising:
 upper body defining a shape to match a container so that the lid can be secured to the container;   side walls extending downward from said upper body;   a protrusion extending upward from said upper body in a direction opposite said side walls; and   a retaining member secured to said lid to retain a welding wire to said lid, where said retaining member comprises an elongated groove having two side portions and a channel portion and each of said two side portions contact said lid; and   an opening which is elongated in a direction extending from said protrusion onto said upper body toward said side walls, said opening having a first end disposed on said protrusion portion and a second end disposed on said surface portion spaced apart from said first end in the direction of elongation, said opening further having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side spaced apart across said opening, each of said first and said second longitudinal sides extending from said first end to said second end,   wherein said first longitudinal side has a first contour and a second longitudinal side has a second contour which is different from said first contour, such that at least a portion of said second longitudinal side is deflected in a vertical direction relative to an adjacent portion of said first longitudinal side positioned across said opening from said portion of said second longitudinal side.   
     
     
         26 . The welding wire container lid according to  claim 25 , wherein one of said first and second contours follows a contour of said upper body and said protrusion.