Easy key container lid

Abstract

A lid for a container, such as a food, beverage, or storage container, may include a laterally extending lid body and a tab. The lid body may have a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well. The protrusion and the well may be radially aligned with one another. The tab may be fixed to the lid body. The tab may include a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between the nose and the handle. The tab may be positionable such that the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid for a container, comprising:
 a laterally extending lid body having a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well, wherein the protrusion and the well are radially aligned with one another; and   a tab fixed to the lid body, the tab comprising a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between the nose and the handle;   wherein the tab is positionable such that the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle.   
     
     
         2 . The lid for a container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid body has a circular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The lid for a container of  claim 2 , wherein the well is disposed radially outward of the protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The lid for a container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid body further defines an opening axially aligned with the protrusion and the well. 
     
     
         5 . The lid for a container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid body further comprises an openable tear panel axially aligned with the protrusion and the well. 
     
     
         6 . The lid for a container of  claim 4 , wherein the protrusion depresses the nose of the tab to the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The lid for a container of  claim 1 , wherein the well has a well area and the protrusion has a protrusion area, and wherein the well area is within 20% of the protrusion area. 
     
     
         8 . The lid for a container of  claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter of the lid body defines a tear panel for removing the lid from the container. 
     
     
         9 . The lid for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tab is rotatably fixed to the lid body; and   the tab has a first radial position in which the tab does not contact the protrusion, and a second radial position in which the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle in the first radial position.   
     
     
         10 . A method of opening a lid of a container comprising:
 rotating a tab about a laterally extending lid body of the lid from a first radial position to a second radial position, wherein:
 the tab comprises a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle; 
 the laterally extending lid body comprises a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well in axial alignment; and 
 the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body in the second radial position relative to the handle in the first radial position: 
   grasping the handle of the tab proximate the well; and   lifting the handle of the tab proximally to open the container.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first radial position is characterized by the tab being offset from the protrusion by greater than or about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein grasping the handle of the tab comprises sliding one or more digits underneath the handle into the well. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein, in the second radial position, the protrusion lifts the handle of the tab proximate the well. 
     
     
         14 . An easy-open (EZO) container, comprising:
 a can body;   a laterally extending lid body fixed to a proximal end of the can body, wherein the lid comprises a proximally extending protrusion and a distally extending well, wherein the protrusion and well are radially aligned with one another;   a tab fixed to the lid body, the tab comprising a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle, and wherein the tab is positionable such that the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle.   
     
     
         15 . The EZO container of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lid comprises:
 a center panel; 
 a peripheral curl coupled with a rim of the can; and 
 a chuck wall disposed between the center panel and the peripheral curl; and 
   the chuck wall comprises a substantially horizontal portion.   
     
     
         16 . The EZO container of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the tab is rotatably fixed to the lid body; and   the tab has a first radial position in which the tab does not contact the protrusion, and a second radial position in which the tab contacts the protrusion causing the handle to be lifted proximally away from the lid body relative to the handle in the first radial position.