AU754978B2 - Container lid and implement - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 1 CONTAINER LID AND IMPLEMENT The present invention relates generally to lids and to containers with lids, particularly lids having implements for use in removing the contents of the container. More particularly, the present invention relates to lids having an integral implement in which the lid is tamper proof or is provided with a means indicating that the lid has been interfered with. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a lid and a container having a lid in which the integrally mounted implement is arranged for rotation between a stored position and an in use position and in which the lid is provided with a tamper proof sealing strip providing a visual indication that the lid has been previously removed or at least disturbed from its original position.

Although the present invention will be described by reference to one form of the lid having an integral implement and a tamper proof sealing strip it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but rather the scope of the present invention extends to include other arrangements of the lid and its use in other applications.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is known to provide many foods such as, snack foods, convenience foods, takeaway foods, ice-cream, yoghurt, preserved fruit salads, meals such as Asian meals, casseroles, and such like, spreads and the like in containers having a bowl or tub portion for containing the contents in which the container is provided with an upper peripheral rim located around the edge of the opening of the container to which is fitted a lid having a cover portion and a peripheral skirt in which the peripheral skirt engages with the upper edge of the peripheral rim to WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 -2 close or seal the container, regardless of the size of the container. However, it is to be noted that the lid and container and lid combination of the present invention is not restricted to food containers but rather finds application in containers for a variety of materials, not just food.

In some instances a sealing sheet or film which is breakable may extend across the opening defined by the upper peripheral rim and in this instance the lid is usually provided for the purpose of protecting the breakable sealing sheet or film in transit or for reclosing or resealing the container after the sealing sheet has been broken where useable contents remain in the container or reuse at a later time.

In many instances it is the desire of a consumer to eat the food within the container by using an implement such as an eating implement such as a spoon, fork, knife, spade, chopsticks or the like. Other forms of the implement include measuring scoops or dosage units for medicines.

It may also be a desire of a consumer to eat such food in a place, say away from home, where such implement is not readily available and this may be inconvenient.

It is accordingly desirable to provide such an implement with the container and its contents, preferably an integral implement.

Another problem with containers, concerns authorised access to the contents of the container particularly containers for foods, in that the containers can be tampered with or otherwise interfered with so that the contents can be contaminated or adulterated. It has been known for extortionists, terrorists, criminals or the like to remove food packages from supermarket shelves, contaminate the 3 contents and return the containers to the shelves with the aim of either injuring members of the public, or obtaining money from the supermarket or food producer or the like.

Hence there is a need to provide some indication on the containers that the lid has been removed without authorisation ie that the container has been tampered with.

It is accordingly desirable to provide a container, particularly a container with a lid having an integral implement with a means of indicating whether or not there has been unauthorised access to the contents of the container by providing the container with a tamper resistant or tamper proof arrangement.

15 The present invention is not confined to containers for foods as many substances are supplied in containers and require for their use or consumption the use of an S implement, and/or to know whether the contents have been tampered with.

SUMLARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a lid for a container including a cover portion adapted to extend over the container, said cover portion being provided with engaging means for engaging with the container to attach the cover portion to the container in use, an implement shaped for use with contents of the container to assist in removal of the contents from the container and a hinge connecting the implement to at least one part of the cover portion or to one part of the lid, said hinge allowing the implement to be rotated about the hinge between a storage position in which the implement lies against or is in close proximity to a part of the cover portion and an in use position in which the implement extends outwardly of the lid or cover portion to enable the implement to be used to remove contents from the container, wherein the hinge further includes at least one frangible tab such that severing of the frangible tab ,<i7Ndetaches the implement from the cover portion.

4 PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION Typically, the hinge allows the implement to rotate between an extended position in which the implement extends outwardly of the lid or cover portion and the storage position in which the implement is aligned within the cover portion. More typically, the implement is rotatable through an angle of about 1800 between the extended position and the storage position.

Typically, the implement is detachable from the cover 15 portion at the hinge by a user. More typically, the .implement is detachable by rotating the implement in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation from the extended position to the storage position.

•i Preferably, the hinge comprises at least one frangible tab.

*o WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 More typically, the frangible tab is broken by reverse rotation of the implement.

Typically, the cover portion, the implement and the hinge are formed integrally with each other. More typically, the lid is formed with the integral implement in the or an extended position.

The cover portion further includes retaining means adapted to retain the implement in the storage position. More typically, the retaining means is a clip or a pair of spaced apart bars. Even more typically, the clip is provided on one or more side edges of the implement, particularly for cooperatively engaging with a portion of the cover.

Typically, the cover portion is provided with a recess, preferably, a recess located on the inner surface of the lid in use. More typically, the recess is of a complementary or corresponding shape to the implement.

When the implement is in the storage position, at least a part of the implement may be received in the recess formed in the cover portion. More typically, the edge of the implement cooperatively engages with a side wall of the recess to retain the implement in the recess.

It is preferred that the recess is defined at least in part by a stiffening rib formed in the cover portion.

Where a recess is present in the cover portion, the recess may be adapted to retain the implement in the storage position.

The implement may comprise means whereby a user may grip the implement to unfold the implement from the storage position.

WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 6 It is preferred, for a lid in any of the above forms, that when the lid is positioned on the container and when the implement is in the storage position, there is defined a cavity between the container and the cover portion and the implement is contained within the cavity.

Preferably, for a lid in any of the above forms, at least one flat panel is formed in the cover portion.

Where a plurality of such flat panels is formed in the cover portion, it is preferred that such flat panels are coplanar with each other and/or with other portions of the cover portion.

Preferably, for a lid in any of the above forms, there is formed on the cover portion a surface adapted to abut an upper peripheral rim of the container or to abut a sealing sheet adhering to such upper peripheral rim in order to assist in attachment of the lid to the container.

Typically, the implement can take a number of different forms. One form of the implement comprises a pair of arcuate arms arranged on either side of the actual implement. Typically the arms are joined together along a fold line at their respective distal ends. More typically, each arm is connected to the stem of the implement adjacent to the hinge connecting the implement to the cover portion.

Even more typically, the arms are connected to the stem about respective fold lines so that in use the arms may be respectively rotated in directions towards each other to form a handle for the implement. More typically ,the arms are provided with fastening means for securing the two arms to each other. Even more typically, the implement is provided with a fold line located in the stem of the implement so that the distal portion of the implement may be folded upon the proximal portion in order for the WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 7 implement to be angularly inclined to the arms when secured to each other to form the handle. More typically, the two foldable portions of the implement are provided with complementary fastening means for holding the two portions together.

Typically, the embodiment of the implement having a handle portion and a head portion angularly inclined to each other extends the length of the implement beyond the size or dimensions of the container so that the contents of the container are more accessible to facilitate removal of the contents.

Typically, the lid is provided with engagement means allowing containers to which the lid is attached to be stackable or nestable with respect to each other so that the containers can be stacked one upon the other in an array.

Typically, the lid and/or cover portion is provided with an anti-tamper device or a tamper-resistant or tamper-proof arrangement for providing an indication that there has been unauthorised access to the container, lid, cover portion or the like. In one form, the anti-tamper device or similar is located either in full or in part way around the edge of the lid.

Typically, the lid may further comprise a peripheral skirt adapted to engage with at least a part of an upper peripheral rim of the container.

The peripheral skirt may be integrally formed with the cover portion.

The peripheral skirt may comprise a lip adapted to engage an underside of the upper peripheral rim of the container thereby to secure the lid to the container.

WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 8 It is preferred that a frangible region is formed in the lid at the junction between the cover portion and the peripheral skirt, so that a user may separate the peripheral skirt from the cover portion along at least a part of the length of the peripheral skirt to assist in gaining access to the contents of the container and/or to remove the lid from the container.

The frangible region may extend along a part only of the junction between the cover portion and the peripheral skirt so that the lid may be removed from the container by separating the peripheral skirt from the cover portion at the frangible region without fully separating the peripheral skirt from the cover portion.

The frangible region may take the form of a groove formed in the cover portion and/or the peripheral skirt.

Alternatively, the frangible region may take the form of a series of slots defining frangible tabs therebetween.

The peripheral skirt may further include a tab adapted to be grasped and pulled by a user to separate the peripheral skirt from the cover portion at the frangible region. If the frangible region has been interfered with, broken, removed or otherwise disturbed, this provides an indication that the container and/or lid has been tampered with.

In a particularly preferred form of the lid, the periphery of the cover portion is of generally rectangular shape with at least one rounded corner, the hinge is at one corner of the cover portion, and the implement is elongate and when in the storage position lies at least approximately along a diagonal of the generally rectangular shape.

Typically, the frangible region does not extend into the WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 -9region of where the hinge is located so that when the peripheral skirt is separated from the cover portion the area around the hinge remains intact, thus maintaining the implement integrally with the cover portion.

The cover portion and the implement are preferably moulded from a flexible plastics material.

It is particularly preferred that the flexible plastics material is at least substantially transparent.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided, in combination, a container and lid wherein the container comprises at least one tub or bowl portion and has an upper peripheral rim, and wherein the lid is in any of the forms described above. More typically, the peripheral skirt of the lid co-operatively engages with the upper peripheral rim of the container to close or seal the lid to the container.

In such a combination of a container and a lid, the container may further comprise a sealing membrane adhering to the upper peripheral rim of the container. More typically, the sealing membrane is located between the implement and the opening of the container.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a lid for a container comprising moulding the cover portion, implement and hinge integrally with each other, with the implement in a position on completion of such moulding wherein the implement is in a position distinct from the storage position and thereafter rotating the implement about the hinge into the storage position.

Typically, the invention further includes integrally forming the peripheral skirt and frangible region between WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 10 the skirt and the cover.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples as shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container fitted with one form of the lid according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial vertical section of the container and lid shown in Figure i, taken along the line B-B in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area at in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an underneath perspective view of the lid shown in Figure i, wherein the lid is inverted and the implement is shown in the extended position; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further lid according to the invention showing the implement in the storage position; Figure 6 is a perspective cutaway view of the lid shown in Figure 5 but with the implement in the extended position; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further lid according to the invention but with the implement retained in the storage position by clips; Figure 8 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the lid of the present invention having a modified form of the implement in which the actual implement is surrounded by two foldable arms.

WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 11 Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS One form of the lid, generally denoted as 2, according to the present invention, is shown in Figure 1 in position on a container generally denoted as 1. The lid 2 comprises a cover portion 5 and a peripheral skirt 14.

Cover portion 5 extends fully over the upper opening 26 of container i. The peripheral skirt 14 of lid 2 extends partly around the periphery of cover portion 5 and abuts the outer edge of upper peripheral rim 23 of container 1, thus laterally locating lid 2 in position on container 1.

Peripheral skirt 14 comprises a downwardly depending lip arranged to extend along the edge of peripheral skirt 14 remote from cover portion 5. Lip 15 is adapted to engage the underside 16 of the upper peripheral rim 23 of container i, at least if and when the attempt is made to lift lid 2 off container 1, and so assists in retaining lid 2 in position on container 1.

As shown in Figure 4, peripheral skirt 14 extends around the periphery of cover portion 5, except in the region where an implement 3 is secured to cover portion 5 by a hinge 4. In one embodiment hinge 4 comprises a frangible tab 6, so that when the implement 3 is in a position such as that shown in Figure 4 which is the extended position implement 3 may be detached from cover portion 5 by breaking frangible tab 6, particularly by rotating the implement out of the plane away from the storage position.

Implement 3, when thus detached from cover portion 5, is ready for use with the contents 27 of container 1.

WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 12 Implement 3, before detachment from cover portion 5, is rotatable about hinge 4 as shown by arrow in Figure 2.

When, before opening of container 1, the lid 2 is in position on container 1 as shown in Figure 2, implement 3 is in the storage position in which it is received in a recess 8 formed in cover portion 5 and lies against cover portion 5. Recess 8 is defined in part by stiffening ribs 9 formed in cover portion 5 as shown in Figure 4.

Implement 3, when received in recess 8, is slightly wedged in to recess 8 to retain it in position. The position of implement 3 when it is received in recess 8 is here termed the "storage position".

Referring to the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 2, implement 3 is shown in the storage position. It will be noted that with lid 2 in position on container 1, there is defined a cavity II within which implement 3 is contained.

mplement 3 is thereby kept clean until it is detached from cover portion 5, ready for use.

As shown in Figure 2, a sealing membrane 24 adheres to the upper peripheral rim 23 of container 1, and serves to prevent leakage or spoiling of the contents 27. Sealing membrane may be peeled from container 1 after removal of lid 2. It is to be noted that sealing membrane 24 is optional.

It has been found that cover portion 5, implement 3, hinge 4 and peripheral skirt 14 may be moulded integrally, as a single component, with the implement 3 and cover portion in relative positions such as that shown in Figure 4, notwithstanding the presence on peripheral skirt 14 of lip In preparation for placement of lid 2 on container i, implement 3 is rotated about hinge 4 into the storage position.

WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 13 Figure 3 shows in partial cross-section, two positions of implement 3. In chain-dotted lines is shown the position of implement 3 referred to above as suitable for moulding of lid 2 as a single component which is the extended position and in solid lines is shown implement 3 in storage position.

Hinge 4, comprising a frangible tab 6 is required to enable about 1800 of rotation of implement 3 and is achievable through the use of suitable flexible plastics materials known in the art.

Figure 3 shows, also, a projection 25 on implement 3 which, when implement 3 is in the storage position, lies adjacent to the outer edge of upper peripheral rim 23 of container 1 to restrict entry of foreign objects into cavity 11.

Peripheral skirt 14 of lid 2 does not extend along that part of the periphery of cover portion 5 adjacent to which projection 25 lies when implement 3 is in the storage position.

Formed in cover portion 5 are several flat panels 12 which, when lid 2 is made of a transparent plastics material, facilitate viewing of sealing membrane 24 through cover portion 5, for example to view a use-by date marked thereon. Alternatively, the several flat panels 12, being coplanar, may have an adhesive label attached thereto.

Also formed in cover portion 5 is a surface 13 which extends around the periphery of cover portion 5 and, when lid 2 is in position on container 1, abuts either the sealing membrane 24 or the upper peripheral rim 23 of container 1.

Figure 4 shows peripheral skirt 14 of lid 2 partially detached from cover portion 5. To enable such partial detachment of peripheral skirt 14 from cover portion 5 by a WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 14 user, a frangible region 17 is incorporated in lid 2 at the junction between peripheral skirt 14 and cover portion In the example of lid 2 shown in Figures 1 to 4, the frangible region 17 comprises a series of slots 19 defining frangible tabs 20 therebetween. A user, wishing to remove lid 2 from container 1, may grip a tab 21 provided on one end of peripheral skirt 14 and peel peripheral skirt 14 clear of cover portion Frangible region 17 need not, and does not, in the particular example shown in Figures 1 to 4, extend along the whole length of peripheral skirt 14, so that complete detachment from cover portion 5 is discouraged. This may be advantageous in reducing litter, as it is tempting to improperly dispose of very small items such as peripheral skirt 14.

It will be appreciated that since removal of lid 2 from container 1 requires partial peeling off of peripheral skirt 14, an intending user will be able to see whether the lid 2 has been previously removed and is a clear indication that the container and lid have been interfered with.

Thus, the peripheral skirt acts as an anti-tamper device or arrangement and provides a tamper resistant or tamper proof means.

In Figures 1, 2 and 4, implement 3 is shown as a spoon, although of course, other types of implement are possible, including knives, forks, splades, chop sticks, scoops and the like.

To assist in rotating implement 3 out of the storage position for detachment from cover portion 5 and use, grip means 10 in the form of a small projection, is provided on the underside of implement 3.

Figures 5 and 6 show another lid according to the WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 15 invention. In this form, implement 3 is shown in a storage position on the outside face 28 of cover portion Figure 7 shows yet another lid according to the invention.

In this case, the outside face 28 of cover portion 5 is a flat surface, and lip 15 is not continuous along peripheral skirts 14.

Additionally the implement 3 is retained in the storage position by a suitable retaining means such as clip 7 on cover portion 3.

The lids shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 are adapted to be pried off container i, without peeling off of peripheral skirt 14.

With particular reference to Figures 8 and 9, another embodiment of the lid of the present invention will now be described.

This embodiment has a modified form of the implement in which the implement, generally devoted as 40, is connected to the lid portion by hinge 42 allowing rotation of the implement between the storage position and the extended position. Implement 40 is retained in the storage position by a pair of spaced apart bars 44 provided in the undersurface of cover portion 46 which bars cooperate with the edge of the implement. Implement 40 has a pair of generally arcuate arms 48, 50 extending from the central part 52 of the stem portion of implement 40 which is the portion connected to hinge 42. The other ends of arms 48,50 are joined together at their respective distal ends so as to form an annulus like arrangement around the implement, particularly the head 54 of the implement in this case a fork.

Arms 48,50 are connected to central portion 52 by fold WO 99/15423 PCT/AU98/00776 16 lines 55 and are interconnected together at their respective distal ends along fold line 56. Thus, arms 48,50 are rotatable between a planar position as shown in Figures 8 and 9 and an in use position in which the arms are squeezed together out of the plane of fork 54 by rotating along the respective fold lines to form a handle for the implement. Typically, the two arms are folded towards each other so as to adopt a position transverse to the plane containing head 54 of the fork. More typically, the two arms are folded to extend substantially perpendicularly from the plane containing the head of the implement.

The arms are provided with complementary fastening means 58 for retaining the two arms securely together in side by side relationships to form the handle of the implement.

One form of the complementary fastening means includes a stud or post and holes into which the stud or posts are received.

When the studs or posts are received in the aligned holes the two arms are held together which forms a handle for the implement and provides sufficient strength to be able to manipulate fork 54 in use when detached from the cover by breaking the frangible tab forming hinge 52.

Additionally, the stem of the implement is provided with a fold line so that the head of fork 54 is rotatable about central stem part 42 and fastenable thereto to retain the head of fork 54 in a fixed orientation with respect to the arms when in the raised handle configuration. In this arrangement the head of fork 54 extends outwardly from the arc of the arms and thus fork 54 is angularly inclined with respect to the arms. This orientation allows more of the contents of the container to be removed since the implement can be manipulated within the container closer to the wall and base of the container. The effect of the rotatable 17 arms of the implement are to lengthen the length of the implement by forming a handle which extends the length of the implement beyond the size or dimensions of the container and/or lid.

It will be recognised that many variations may be made without departure from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

For example, frangible region 17 may be formed by providing a groove instead of slots 19 and tabs 20 along the junction between peripheral skirt 14 and cover portion 5 so that their connection is thereby weakened.

15 oo oo o o• The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features hereindisclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.

For the purposes of this specification it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the words "comprise" and "comprises" have a corresponding meaning.

It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

Claims (42)

1. A lid for a container including a cover portion adapted to extend over the container, said cover portion being provided with engaging means for engaging with the container to attach the cover portion to the container in use, an implement shaped for use with contents of the container to assist in removal of the contents from the container and a hinge connecting the implement to at least one part of the cover portion or to one part of the lid, said hinge allowing the implement to be rotated about the hinge between a storage position in which the implement S"lies against or is in close proximity to a part of the cover portion and an in use position in which the implement extends outwardly of the lid or cover portion to enable the implement to be used to remove contents from :the container, wherein the hinge further includes at least one frangible tab such that severing of the frangible tab i~ detaches the implement from the cover portion.

2. A lid according to claim I, in which the implement is rotatable through an angle of about 1800 between the extended position and the storage position.

3. A lid according to claim 1 or 2, in which the frangible tab is severed by movement of the implement 25 about the hinge in the opposite or reverse direction of the normal movement of the hinge from the extended position into the storage position.

4. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the cover portion, implement and hinge are formed integrally with each other.

A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the cover portion further includes retaining means adapted to retain the implement in the storage position.

6. A lid according to claim 5, in which the retaining means is a clip or a pair of spaced apart bars, ridges, bosses or protrusions.

A lid according to claim 5 or 6, in which at H.\mbourke\Keep\Speci\91461-98 SPECI.doc 01/03/02 19 least a part of the retaining means is provided on one or more side edges of the implement for cooperatively engaging with a portion of the cover.

8. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the cover portion is provided with a recess for receiving at least a part of the implement when in the storage position.

9. A lid according to claim 8, in which the recess is located on the inner surface of the lid in use and is of a complementary or corresponding shape to that of the implement for receiving a substantial portion of the implement when in the storage position.

10. A lid according to claim 8 or 9, in which when the implement is in the storage position at least a part of the handle portion of the implement and a part of the content contacting portion of the implement are received in the recess formed in the cover portion.

11. A lid according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in :i i which the edge of the implement cooperatively engages with a side wall of the recess to retain the implement in the recess.

12. A lid according to any one of claims 8 to 11, in which the recess is defined at least in part by a stiffening rib formed in the cover portion. 25

13. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the implement further includes grip means whereby a user may grip the implement to unfold the implement from the storage position.

14. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which when the lid is positioned on the container and when the implement is in the storage position there is defined a cavity between the container and the cover portion and the implement is contained within the cavity.

A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the cover portion includes at least one flat panel.

16. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which Sthe cover portion has a plurality of flat panels formed in H,\mbourke\Keep\Speci\91461-98 SPrCI.doc 01/03/02 20 the cover portion such that the flat panels are arranged coplanar with each other.

17. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which a surface is formed on the cover portion such that the surface is adapted to abut an upper peripheral rim of the container to which the lid is to be attached or to abut a sealing sheet adhering to the upper peripheral rim to assist in attachment of the lid to the container.

18. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the lid is provided with an anti-tamper device, a tamper- evident device, or a tamper-resistant or tamper-proof arrangement for providing an indication of authorised access to the container, lid, cover portion or contents of i: the container. 15

19. A lid according to claim 18, in which the anti- S: tamper device or similar is located either in full or in part way around the edge of the lid.

A lid according to any preceding claim, in which i the lid further includes a peripheral skirt adapted to engage with at least part of the upper peripheral rim of the container.

21. A lid according to claim 20, in which the peripheral skirt is integrally formed with the cover portion. 25

22. A lid according to claim 20 or 21, in which the peripheral skirt includes a lip adapted to engage an underside of the upper peripheral rim of the container thereby to secure the lid to the container.

23. A lid according to any one of claims 20 to 22, in which there is a frangible region formed in the lid at the junction between the cover portion and the peripheral skirt so that a user may separate the peripheral skirt from the cover portion along at least a part of the length of the peripheral skirt to assist in gaining access to the contents of the container and/or to remove the lid from the container.

24. A lid according to claim 23, in which the H.\mbourke\Keep\Speci\91461-98 SPECI.doc 01/03/02 21 frangible region extends along a part only of the junction between the cover portion and the peripheral skirt so that the lid may be removed from the container by separating the peripheral skirt from the cover portion at the frangible region without fully separating the peripheral skirt from the cover portion.

A lid according to claim 23 or 24, in which the frangible region is in the form of a groove formed in the cover portion and/or the peripheral skirt.

26. A lid according to any one of claims 23 to 25, in which the frangible region is in the form of a series of slots defining frangible tabs therebetween.

S27. A lid according to any one of claims 23 to 26, in which the peripheral skirt further includes a tab adapted to be grasped and pulled by a user to separate the peripheral skirt from the cover portion at the frangible region thereby providing an indication of unauthorised access to the container. i

28. A lid according to any one of claims 23 to 27, in which the frangible region does not extend into the region where the hinge is located so that when the peripheral skirt is separated from the cover portion the area around the hinge remains in tact, thus maintaining the implement integrally with the cover portion. ooo 25

29. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which oeSo the cover portion and the implement are moulded from a flexible plastics material.

A lid according to claim 29, in which the flexible plastics material is a substantially transparent material.

31. A lid according to any preceding claim, in combination with a container.

32. A lid according to any one of claims 20 to 31, in which the peripheral skirt cooperatively engages with the upper peripheral rim of the container to close or seal the lid through the container. H,\mbYurke\Keep\Speci\91461-98 SPRCI.doc 04/03/02 22

33. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the implement has a head portion and a stem portion wherein the stem portion is hingedly connected to the cover portion.

34. A lid according to claim 33, in which there is a pair of foldable arms located on either side of the implement arranged such that the respective proximal ends of the arms are connected to either side of the stem portion and the respective distal ends of the arms are connected to each other in the region of the head portion of the implement.

A lid according to claim 34, in which the respective proximal portions of the arms are connected to the stem portion by respective fold lines and the 15 respective distal portions of the arms are connected to each other along a fold line.

36. A lid according to claim 34 or 35, in which the two arms surrounding the implement are foldable out of the plane of the implement to form a handle arrangement in which the two arms are securely fastened to each other.

37. A lid according to any one of claims 34 to 36, in which the head portion of the implement is foldable with respect to the stem portion of the implement and fastenable thereto so that the head portion is angularly inclined to the pair of arms in side by side secured .o relationship.

38. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the length of the implement is extended beyond the size or dimensions of the container in order to facilitate removal of contents from the container.

39. A lid according to any preceding claim, in which the lid is provided with engagement means so that when the lid is attached to the container the containers are stackable or nestable by the lower surfaces of the containers being received in the engagement means so as t form an array of stacked or nested containers.

H:\mburke\Keep\Speci\91461-98 SPECi.doc 25/09/02 23 oooor o oo ooo ooooo A lid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. A lid and container in combination, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. A lidded container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 25th day of September 2002 AUS-LID ENTERPRISES PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\91461-98 SPECI.doc 25/09/02 *oe oo o oO oo t 'W 1