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US4460103A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cover for drink containers

Assignee: ALVEX DEVELOPMENT CORP
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Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1984-07-17
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Expires: 2002-07-19
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Abstract

Abstract A cover for a drink container, preferably a disposable container, having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material, preferably a thermoplastic polymer, and comprising a peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge section, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull-tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lord Rama
  • 👤 David Eccles

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 10:15
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/02; B65D43/0235; B65D43/0264; B65D43/0268; B65D47/00; B65D47/04; B65D47/06; B65D47/08; B65D47/0804; B65D47/0833; B65D47/0847; B65D2231/00; B65D2231/02; B65D2231/022; B65D2251/00; B65D2251/10; B65D2251/1008; B65D2543/00; B65D2543/00009; B65D2543/00018; B65D2543/00046; B65D2543/00064; B65D2543/00074; B65D2543/00092; B65D2543/00259; B65D2543/00296; B65D2543/00444; B65D2543/00481; B65D2543/0049; B65D2543/00509; B65D2543/00537; B65D2543/00555; B65D2543/00824; B65D2543/00833; B65D2543/00851

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 195 words
A cover for a drink container having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material and comprising a continuous, uninterrupted peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line within the confines of said cover panel and defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that part of the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge, said hinge being positioned in an essentially radial direction relative to the center of said resilient cover panel so that one of the ends of said hinge is adjacent the opening so formed at the part thereof nearest said peripheral rim section, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull-tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 195 words
A cover for a drink container having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material and comprising a continuous, uninterrupted peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line within the confines of said cover panel and defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that part of the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge, said hinge being positioned in an essentially radial direction relative to the center of said resilient cover panel so that one of the ends of said hinge is adjacent the opening so formed at the part thereof nearest said peripheral rim section, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull-tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover is made from a thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover is made from high-impact polystyrene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flap is so shaped that when opened it exposes a curve-sided opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flap is hinged on its left side as viewed by the drinker.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 230 words
A cover for a drink container having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material and comprising a peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that part of the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull-tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position, said raised pull-tab on the flap having a middle section wider than its end sections, and said well in the cover panel having end sections wider than its middle section, the middle section of said well being narrower than the middle section of the pull-tab, so that when the flap is opened and hinged back with the raised pull-tab nested in the well, the narrow midsection of the latter can pinch and hold the wider midsection of the former, thereby holding the flap open by friction fit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 230 words
A cover for a drink container having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material and comprising a peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that part of the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull-tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position, said raised pull-tab on the flap having a middle section wider than its end sections, and said well in the cover panel having end sections wider than its middle section, the middle section of said well being narrower than the middle section of the pull-tab, so that when the flap is opened and hinged back with the raised pull-tab nested in the well, the narrow midsection of the latter can pinch and hold the wider midsection of the former, thereby holding the flap open by friction fit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 187 words
A cover for a drink container having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material and comprising a peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that part of the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position, said raised pull-tab on the flap having ridges on its surface, and said well in the cover panel having ridges which engage and hold the ridges on the pull-tab when the flap is opened back and the pull-tab is pushed into the well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 187 words
A cover for a drink container having a rim, said cover made from a resilient non-metallic material and comprising a peripheral rim section adapted to fit snugly over the rim of the container and a resilient cover panel extending between the confines of said rim section to cover the container, said cover panel having a weakening line defining a flap and a hinge for the flap, said flap having a raised pull-tab which may be grasped and pulled so that part of the weakening line may be torn and the flap opened by folding at its hinge, said cover panel also having a depressed well section which is of such size and shape and so positioned that when the flap is folded over on its hinge, the pull tab may be nested in the well and the flap thereby retained in an open position, said raised pull-tab on the flap having ridges on its surface, and said well in the cover panel having ridges which engage and hold the ridges on the pull-tab when the flap is opened back and the pull-tab is pushed into the well.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3843037A Cited
US3994411A Cited
US4077538A Cited
US4202459A Cited
US4253582A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-07-17 1988-01-16 1988-07-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-07-17 1992-01-16 1992-07-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-07-17 1996-01-16 1996-07-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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