Container lid system with tamper indicator

Abstract

A container lid system is provided. The system has a lid with a top cover and coupling trough and at least two retaining tabs. When the lid is attached to a beverage container, the retaining tabs travel over the bead rim of the container, and grip the lid onto the beverage container. The lid may be detached from the beverage container by lifting on the retaining tab, and thus permanently deforming the tab such that the deformation indicates that the lid has been tampered with. The lid is constructed such that the retaining tabs have sufficient force to grip the beverage container and form a liquid-tight seal with the beverage container's pressurized contents. The lid's retaining tabs, however, are constructed to bend when a force is applied to them, wherein that force is one that a person can exert with a finger. Thus, the lid can be easily press-fitted onto a container and removed by hand.

1 . A beverage container lid for use with a beverage container having a bead rim, the bead rim defining an opening and having a cross-sectional shape with an upper bead point and an outer bead point, the lid comprising:
 a top cover adapted to cover the opening;   a coupling trough connected to the top cover and shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bead rim, wherein the coupling trough is constructed to circumscribe the bead rim and extend from the upper bead point to a position at or higher than the outer bead point;   at least two retaining tabs connected to and extending downwardly away from the coupling trough, the tabs comprising:
 a coupling trough extension shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bead rim, wherein the coupling trough extension is constructed to circumscribe a portion of the bead rim and extend from the coupling trough to a position that is below the outer bead point, wherein the coupling trough extension further comprises a bend axis with a yield strength; 
 a diagonal receiving wall connected to and extending downwardly away from the coupling trough extension, the diagonal receiving wall having a strength rib, a distal end and a length; and 
   wherein the strength rib increases the moment of inertia of the diagonal receiving wall along an axis parallel to the bend axis; and   wherein the bend axis and the diagonal receiving wall length are constructed such that the yield strength is overcome with a force of less than 20 N applied to the diagonal receiving wall distal end.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the top cover comprises a cover strength rib. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the diagonal receiving wall distal end comprises a finger grab area. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container lid of  claim 3 , wherein the finger grab area comprises a downward stamped projection with an exposed grip edge. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket disposed at least partially in the coupling trough. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container lid of  claim 1 , further comprising at least four retaining tabs. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is constructed such that it can elastically withstand a compression force when the lid is pressed onto the beverage container, and wherein the compression force is sufficient to elastically deform the coupling trough extension about the bend axis such that the coupling trough extension can move past the outer bead point and return at least partially to its pre-deformed shape. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage container lid of  claim 7 , further comprising a gasket disposed at least partially in the coupling trough, wherein when the coupling trough extension returns at least partially to its pre-deformed shape, the gasket forms a liquid- and gas-tight seal with the container. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container lid of  claim 8 , wherein the lid comprises a restorative force that returns the coupling trough extension to at least partially its pre-deformed shape, and wherein that restorative force is sufficient to maintain the lid onto the beverage container when the contents of the beverage container exert a pressure of at least 300 KPa on the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container lid of  claim 9 , wherein the contents of the beverage container exert a pressure of at least 500 KPa on the cover. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the bend axis irreversibly deforms when a force of less than 20 N is applied to the diagonal receiving wall distal end, thereby providing a visual indication that the lid has been tampered with. 
     
     
         12 . A beverage container lid for use with a beverage container having a bead rim, the bead rim defining an opening and having a cross-sectional shape with an upper bead point and an outer bead point, the lid comprising:
 a top cover adapted to cover the opening;   a coupling trough connected to the top cover and shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bead rim, wherein the coupling trough is constructed to circumscribe the bead rim and extend from the upper bead point to a position at or higher than the outer bead point;   at least two retaining tabs connected to and extending downwardly away from the coupling trough, the tabs comprising:
 a coupling trough extension shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bead rim, wherein the coupling trough extension is constructed to circumscribe a portion of the bead rim and extend from the coupling trough to a position that is below the outer bead point; 
 a diagonal receiving wall connected to and extending downwardly away from the coupling trough extension, the diagonal receiving wall having a strength rib, a distal end and a length; and 
   the coupling trough further comprising a cut or a stamped score line adjacent to at least one of the coupling trough extensions, wherein the coupling trough extension and the cut or a stamped score line define a bend axis with a yield strength;   wherein the strength rib increases the moment of inertia of the diagonal receiving wall along an axis parallel to the bend axis;   wherein the cut or stamped score line, bend axis and the diagonal receiving wall length are constructed such that the yield strength is overcome with a force of less than 20 N applied to the diagonal receiving wall distal end.   
     
     
         13 . The beverage container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the top cover comprises a cover strength rib. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the diagonal receiving wall distal end comprises a finger grab area. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container lid of  claim 14 , wherein the finger grab area comprises a downward stamped projection with an exposed grip edge. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container lid of  claim 12 , further comprising a gasket disposed at least partially in the coupling trough. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container lid of  claim 12 , further comprising at least four retaining tabs. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the lid is constructed such that it can elastically withstand a compression force when the lid is pressed onto the beverage container, and wherein the compression force is sufficient to elastically deform the coupling trough extension about the bend axis such that the coupling trough extension can move past the outer bead point and return at least partially to its pre-deformed shape. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container lid of  claim 18 , further comprising a gasket disposed at least partially in the coupling trough, wherein when the coupling trough extension returns at least partially to its pre-deformed shape, the gasket forms a liquid- and gas-tight seal with the container. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage container lid of  claim 19 , wherein the lid comprises a restorative force that returns the coupling trough extension to at least partially its pre-deformed shape, and wherein that restorative force is sufficient to maintain the lid onto the beverage container when the contents of the beverage container exert a pressure of at least 300 KPa on the cover. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage container lid of  claim 20 , wherein the contents of the beverage container exert a pressure of at least 500 KPa on the cover. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage container lid of  claim 12 , wherein the bend axis irreversibly deforms when a force of less than 20 N is applied to the diagonal receiving wall distal end, thereby providing a visual indication that the lid has been tampered with.