Container and closure therefor

Claim 1

A container and closure therefore, said container comprising a body having opening means at the top thereof, said top of the container including an upper surface and an upper member spaced thereabove defining a slot therebetween, said container having a downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion extending from said upper surface, a closure received on the top of the container to cover said opening means, said closure having a lower edge portion, first and second diametrically opposed lips extending radially inwardly from said lower edge portion, a tab, a flexible hinge member connecting said tab to the lower edge portion of the closure at substantially the location of said first lip, said tab having a first cam portion on the underside thereof, a second cam portion contiguous with said first cam portion, said first cam portion contacting said downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion of the container adjacent said slot upon downward movement of the tab (assuming the container to be in a generally vertical position), said first cam portion having a configuration applying a generally upward force against the hinge member and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon downward movement of the tab thereby resulting in upward movement of said lower edge portion of the closure and release of said first lip from the slot, said first cam portion being of a length wherebY movement of the tab downwardly to a position where the first cam portion has entirely cammed over said surface of the container adjacent said slot results in said first lip being positioned above said upper member, said first cam portion, when in said latter position, being spaced from said upper member a distance at least equal to the width of said second lip, said second cam portion contacting the surface of the container adjacent said slot upon further downward movement of said tab, said second cam portion having a configuration applying a generally horizontal force against the hinge and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon such further downward movement of said tab thereby resulting in horizontal movement of the closure and release of said second lip from the slot and freeing the closure from the container.