Plastic lid having opening means

Claim 2

In a plastic lid for a container which comprises a lid body and an annular, peripheral gripping flange for retaining the lid on the container, the improvement comprising, in combination: said gripping flange defining at least a pair of spaced, circumferential sections, each section having opposed ends which each define a break-away flange portion, each spaced section defining means permitting outward folding of said section upon breaking away of the connected break-away flange portions.

Claim 3

The plastic lid of claim 1 in which said gripping flange defines a substantially continuous, inwardly extending annular gripping projection.

Claim 4

The plastic lid of claim 1 in which said break-away flange portions can be completely separated from the remainder of said flange.

Claim 5

The plastic lid of claim 1 in which at least three of said spaced sections are present.

Claim 6

The plastic lid of claim 1 in which said lid body carries an annular retaining flange positioned coaxially and radially inwardly from said gripping flange and in spaced relation thereto, to define with said gripping flange an annular chamber for receiving a container lip.

Claim 7

In a plastic lid for a container which comprises a lid body and an annular, peripheral gripping flange for retaining the lid on the container, the improvement comprising, in combination: said flange defining at least three substantially uniformly spaced, circumferential sections, each section having opposed ends which each define a break-away flange portion, each spaced section defining means permitting outward folding of said section upon breaking away of the connected break-away flange portions, said gripping flange defining a substantially continuous, inwardly extending annular gripping projection, portions of said projection being carried by said spaced, circumferential sections.

Claim 8

In a plastic lid for a container which comprises a lid body and an annular, peripheral gripping flange for retaining the lid on the container, the improvement comprising, in combination: said flange defining at least three substantially uniformly spaced, circumferential sections, each section having opposed ends which each define a break-away flange portion, each spaced section defining means permitting outward folding of said section upon breaking away of the connected break-away flange portions, said gripping flange defining a substantially continuous, inwardly extending annular gripping projection, portions of said projection being carried by said spaced, circumferential sections.

Claim 9

The plastic lid of claim 6 in which said lid body carries an annular retaining flange positioned coaxially and radially inwardly from said gripping flange in spaced relation thereto, to define with said retaining flange an annular chamber for receiving a container lip.

Claim 10

The plastic lid of claim 7 in which said break-away flange portions can be completely separated from the remainder of said flange.

Claim 11

In a plastic lid for a container which comprises a lid body and an annular, peripheral gripping flange for retaining the lid on the container, said gripping flange defining a substantially continuous, inwardly extending annular gripping projection, said gripping flange further defining a substantially annular upper portion and a substantially annular lower portion, and circumferential tear line means to permit tearing separation of said lower portion from the upper portion of the gripping flange, the improvement comprising, in combination: said tear line means defining a zigzag path circumferentially about said gripping flange, whereby tearing of said lower portion from the upper portion causes removal of spaced portions of said annular gripping projection from the lid without removing all of said gripping projection from the lid, whereby said lid, after removal of the lower portion, is more easily openable, but can still be retained on the container by the remaining portions of said gripping projection.

Claim 12

In a plastic lid for a container which comprises a lid body and an annular, peripheral gripping flange for retaining the lid on the container, said gripping flange defining a substantially continuous, inwardly extending annular gripping projection, said gripping flange further defining a substantially annular upper portion and a substantially annular lower portion, and circumferential tear line means to permit tearing separation of said lower portion from the upper portion of the gripping flange, the improvement comprising, in combination: said tear line means defining a zigzag path circumferentially about said gripping flange, whereby tearing of said lower portion from the upper portion causes removal of spaced portions of said annular gripping projection from the lid without removing all of said gripping projection from the lid, whereby said lid, after removal of the lower portion, is more easily openable, but can still be retained on the container by the remaining portions of said gripping projection.

Claim 13

The plastic lid of claim 9 in which four of said spaced portions are present.

Claim 14

The plastic lid of claim 10 in which said lid body carries an annular retaining flange positioned coaxially and radially inwardly from said gripping flange and in spaced relation thereto, to define with said gripping flange an annual chamber for receiving a container lip.

Claim 15

The plastic lid of claim 9 in which said lid body carries an annular retaining flange positioned coaxially and radially inwardly from said gripping flange and in spaced relation thereto, to define with said gripping flange an annular chamber for receiving a container lip.