초록 ▼

A stackable container lid comprising a lid member (80) having a center portion (83a), an edge portion (83b) top and bottom surfaces (82, 84) and closure means (88) adapted to cooperate with the closure device of a container bottom, the lid top surface (82) including a raised boss (100), the raised b

A stackable container lid comprising a lid member (80) having a center portion (83a), an edge portion (83b) top and bottom surfaces (82, 84) and closure means (88) adapted to cooperate with the closure device of a container bottom, the lid top surface (82) including a raised boss (100), the raised boss (100) being disposed in the lid member center portion (83a) and projecting outwardly from the lid member top surface (82), the lid bottom surface (84) including a boss seat (108) adapted to receive the raised boss (100) of another said lid. The raised boss (100) and the boss seat (108) of another said lid are engagable by exerting a force on the lid top surface (82) of said another lid proximate the raised boss (100) of said another lid.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A stackable container lid for a container having a closure device, comprising: a lid member having a center portion, top and bottom surfaces and continuous peripheral closure means surrounding said center portion and adapted to cooperate with the closure device of the contain

What is claimed is: 1. A stackable container lid for a container having a closure device, comprising: a lid member having a center portion, top and bottom surfaces and continuous peripheral closure means surrounding said center portion and adapted to cooperate with the closure device of the container, said lid top surface including an engagement member, said engagement member being disposed in said lid member center portion and projecting outwardly from said top surface, said lid bottom surface including a recessed bottom region, wherein adjacently stacked lids in a vertically aligned lid stack are configurable between a first pre-engaged orientation and a second engaged orientation, wherein said engagement member of a first of said lid is received within said recessed bottom region of a second of said lid when configured in said second engaged orientation, and whereby configuration in said first pre-engaged orientation permits slidable separation of one or more of said lids from said lid stack in a separation direction transverse to a stacking direction of said lid stack. 2. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said lid bottom surface includes a lid stacking seat. 3. The container lid of claim 2, wherein said lid top surface includes a stacking recess that is adapted to receive said lid stacking seat of another said lid. 4. The container lid of claim 3, wherein said stacking recess is substantially rectangular in shape. 5. The container lid of claim 4, wherein said stacking recess has a length in the range of approximately 3.0-12.0 in. and a width in the range of approximately 2.0-10.0 in. 6. The container lid of claim 3, wherein said stacking recess is substantially circular in shape. 7. The container lid of claim 3, wherein said stacking recess includes a substantially planar surface and an inner wall. 8. The container lid of claim 7, wherein said inner wall is tapered inwardly with respect to said recess surface. 9. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said engagement member and said recessed bottom region of another said lid are engagable by exerting a force on said lid top surface of said another lid proximate said engagement member of said another lid. 10. The container lid of claim 9, wherein said engagement member is adapted to cooperate with said recessed bottom region of another said lid to provide self-alignment means for aligning said lids when said lids are in said pre-engaged orientation. 11. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said engagement member is substantially rectangular in shape. 12. The container lid of claim 11, wherein said engagement member has a length in the range of approximately 1.0-3.0 in. and a width in the range of approximately 0.5-2.0 in. 13. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said engagement member has a height in the range of approximately 0.125-0.500 in. 14. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said engagement member has a height in the range of approximately 0.125-0.250 in. 15. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said engagement member includes a substantially continuous wall. 16. The container lid of claim 15, wherein said engagement member wall is tapered inwardly with respect to said recess surface. 17. The container lid of claim 16, wherein said engagement member wall form an angle in the range of approximately 95-120째 with respect to said recess surface. 18. A stackable container lid for a container having a closure device, comprising: a lid member having a center portion, top and bottom surfaces and continuous peripheral closure means surrounding said center portion and adapted to cooperate with the do sure device of the container, said lid top surface including an engagement member, said engagement member being disposed in said lid member center portion and projecting outwardly from said top surface, said lid bottom surface including a recessed bottom region, wherein adjacently stacked lids in a vertically aligned lid stack ale configurable between a first pre-engaged orientation and a second engaged orientation, whereby configuration in said first pre-engaged orientation permits slidable separation of one or more of said lids from said lid stack in a separation direction transverse to a stacking direction of said lid stack, and wherein said engagement member of a first of said lid is receivingly engaged within said recessed bottom region of an adjacently stacked lid when configured in said second engaged orientation, said engagement member and said recessed bottom region of another of said lid being engageable by exerting a force on said lid top surface of said another lid proximate said engagement member of another said lid. 19. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said lid bottom surface includes a lid stacking seat. 20. The container, lid of claim 19, wherein said lid top surface includes a stacking recess that is adapted to receive said lid stacking seat of another said lid when said force is applied to said lid top surface of said another lid. 21. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said stacking recess is substantially rectangular in shape. 22. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said stacking recess is substantially circular in shape. 23. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said stacking recess includes a substantially planar surface and an inner wall, said inner wall being tapered inwardly with respect to said recess surface. 24. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said engagement member is substantially rectangular in shape. 25. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said engagement member has a height in the range of approximately 0.125-0.500 in. 26. The container lid of claim 18, wherein said engagement member includes a substantially continuous wall, said wall being tapered inwardly with respect to said recess surface. 27. A stackable container lid for a container having a closure device, comprising: a lid member having an inner portion, top and bottom surfaces and continuous peripheral closure means surrounding said inner portion and adapted to cooperate with the closure device of the container, said lid top surface including a stacking boss, said stacking boss being disposed in said lid member inner portion and projecting outwardly from said top surface, the lid bottom surface including a boss seat, wherein adjacently stacked lids in a vertically aligned lid stack are configurable between a first pre-engaged orientation and a second engaged orientation, wherein said stacking boss of a first of said lid is received within said boss seat of a second of said lid when configured in said second engaged orientation, and whereby configuration in said first pre-engaged orientation permits slidable separation of one or more of said lids from said lid stack in a separation direction transverse to the stacking direction of said lid stack. 28. The container lid of claim 27, wherein said stacking boss and said boss seat of another said lid are engagable by exerting a force on said lid top surface of said another lid proximate said stacking boss of said another lid. 29. The container lid of claim 28, wherein said lid top surface includes a stacking recess that is adapted to receive said lid stacking seat of said another lid. 30. The container lid of claim 29, wherein said stacking recess is substantially rectangular in shape. 31. The container lid of claim 30, wherein said stacking recess includes a substantially planar surface and an inner wall. 32. The container lid of claim 31, wherein said inner wall is tapered inwardly with respect to said recess surface. 33. The container lid of claim 29, wherein said stacking recess is substantially circular in shape. 34. The container lid of claim 27, wherein said lid bottom surface includes a lid stacking seat. 35. The container lid of claim 27, wherein said stacking boss is substantially cylindrical in shape. 36. The container lid of claim 35, wherein said stacking boss has a mean diameter in the range of approximately 0.500-2.0 in. 37. The container lid of claim 27, wherein said stacking boss has a height in the range of approximately 0.125-0.500 in. 38. The container lid of claim 27, wherein said stacking boss has a height in the range of approximately 0.125-0.250 in. 39. The container lid of claim 27, wherein said stacking boss has a substantially continuous wall. 40. The container lid of claim 39, wherein said stacking boss wall is tapered inwardly with respect to said recess surface. 41. A stackable container lid for a container having a closure device, comprising: a lid member having an inner portion, top and bottom surfaces and continuous peripheral closure means surrounding said inner portion and adapted to cooperate with the closure device of the container, said lid top surface including a stacking boss, said stacking boss being disposed in said lid member inner portion and projecting outwardly from said top surface, the lid bottom surface including a boss seat, wherein adjacently stacked lids in a vertically aligned lid stack are configurable between a first pre-engaged orientation and a second engaged orientation, wherein said stacking boss of a first of said lid is received within said boss seat of a second of said lid when configured in said second engaged orientation, and wherein said stacking boss of a first of said lid is receivingly engaged within said boss seat region of an adjacently stacked lid when configured in said second engaged orientation, said stacking boss and said boss seat of another said lid being engagable by exerting a force on said lid top surface of said another lid proximate said stacking boss of said another lid. 42. A method of stacking container lids, comprising the steps of: providing at least first and second lid members, each of said first and second lid members having a center portion, top and bottom surfaces and continuous peripheral closure means surrounding said center portion, said lid top surface including an engagement member, said engagement member being disposed in said lid member center portion and projecting outwardly from said top surface, said lid bottom surface of said first lid member including a recessed bottom region, said engagement member of said second lid member and said recessed bottom region of said first lid member being engagable by exerting a force on said lid top surface of said first lid member proximate said engagement member of said first lid member; placing said first and second lid members in a vertically aligned lid stack with said lids configured in a pre-engaged orientation whereby said engagement member of said second lid member and said recessed bottom region of said first lid member are aligned and whereby said lids are slidably separable from one another in a separation direction transverse to a stacking direction of said lid stack; and exerting an engagement force on said lid top surface of said first lid member in said lid stack proximate said engagement member of said first lid member while said second lid member is maintained in a substantially stationary position. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said first and second lid members have a substantially similar configuration and size. 44. The method of claim 42, wherein said first and second lid members have a dissimilar configuration and size.