Lid for tobacco can

Abstract

A metal lid for a tobacco can is provided. The metal lid includes a circular lid top having a central recess and a shoulder. The shoulder extends radially outwardly from and vertically above the central recess. The side wall is unitarily formed with the shoulder, depends downwardly from the shoulder, and is disposed below the central recess of the lid top. The side wall includes a bead and a hem. The bead extends circumferentially around the side wall. The hem is formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall. The hem functions as a guide, forms a safety edge, and permits the lid to be more easily grasped by a consumer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal lid for a tobacco can, comprising:
 a circular lid top including a central recess and a shoulder, the shoulder extending radially outwardly from and vertically above the central recess; and   a circumferential side wall unitarily formed with the lid top at the shoulder, the side wall depending downwardly from and disposed below the central recess of the lid top, the side wall including a bead and a hem, the bead extending circumferentially around the side wall, the hem formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the side wall forming the hem is folded inwardly toward the central recess. 
     
     
         3 . The metal lid of  claim 2 , wherein the bead projects inwardly toward the central recess further than the distal portion of the hem. 
     
     
         4 . The metal lid of  claim 3 , wherein the hem extends generally parallel and substantially axially relative to a center axis of the lid in contact or almost contact with the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         5 . The metal lid of  claim 3 , wherein a thickness of the hem is between about 0.01 of an inch and about 0.02 of an inch and a height of the hem is between about 0.04 of an inch and about 0.05 of an inch. 
     
     
         6 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein the metal lid is formed from electrolytic tin plate, the tin plate having a thickness of between about 0.005 of an inch and about 0.009 of an inch such that the hem has a hem thickness of between about 0.010 of an inch and about 0.018 of an inch. 
     
     
         7 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of at least one of the lid top, the shoulder, and the side wall are coated with a gold phenolic finish. 
     
     
         8 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein an annular portion of the lid top is spaced apart from a center point of the lid top between about 0.75 of an inch and about 1.25 inches and flat in order to support bead and hem formation. 
     
     
         9 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein an embossing portion of a top surface of the lid top extends radially outwardly from a center point of the lid top up to about one inch, the embossing portion including embossing projecting above the top surface between about 0.01 of an inch and about 0.02 of an inch. 
     
     
         10 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein the bead intermittently circumferentially extends around the side wall. 
     
     
         11 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein the bead projects inwardly toward the lid top between about 0.02 of an inch and about 0.05 of an inch. 
     
     
         12 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein an apex of the shoulder is rounded and extends above a top surface of the central recess between about 0.2 of an inch and 0.04 of an inch. 
     
     
         13 . The metal lid of  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the metal lid is between about two inches and about three inches and a vertical height of the metal lid measured between an apex of the shoulder and a bottom of the hem is between about one tenth of an inch and about half an inch whereby the metal lid is configured for a hand held pocket size smokeless tobacco container. 
     
     
         14 . A metal lid for a non-metallic tobacco can, comprising:
 a lid top including a recessed portion and a circumferential shoulder; and   a circumferential side wall unitarily formed with and depending from the shoulder, the side wall including a bead and a hem, the hem formed by a distal portion of the side wall folded adjacent to an intermediate portion of the side wall, the bead progressing around the side wall and projecting radially inwardly toward the lid top further than the hem such that when the bead seats against the tobacco can the hem is spaced apart from the tobacco can.   
     
     
         15 . The tobacco can of  claim 14 , wherein the distal portion is between about 0.02 of an inch and about 0.06 of an inch and folded inwardly toward the lid top and a gap formed between the hem and the tobacco can is between about 0.005 of an inch and about 0.015 of an inch. 
     
     
         16 . The tobacco can of  claim 14 , wherein the hem on the side wall functions as a guide when fitting the metal lid onto the tobacco can due to the hem being disposed radially outwardly of the bead. 
     
     
         17 . The tobacco can of  claim 14 , wherein the bead is non-symmetrical in axial cross section and the distal portion directly contacts the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         18 . A lid for a non-metallic can, comprising:
 a unitary lid body formed from metal, the lid body including a round lid top, a shoulder, and a side wall, the shoulder extending circumferential around and radially outwardly and upwardly away from a central recess of the lid top, the side wall depending downwardly from the shoulder and away from the central recess of the lid top, a portion of the side wall folded inwardly onto itself to form a hem in a lower portion of the side wall.   
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 18 , wherein the side wall further includes a bead formed between the shoulder and the hem, the bead projecting inwardly toward the round lid top further than the hem.