MOLDED LID ASSEMBLY WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LATCHING FEATURES

A lid for use with containers such as drums, pails, tubs and cups which is formed as a singular unit from molded plastic and which incorporates a peripherally disposed skirt (34) configured along with a rim structure (40) to provide primary and secondary latching features. A parting groove (60) is positioned within the skirt assembly (34) in conjunction with a tear ring (42) which functions to remove the primary latching assembly following the initial closure of the container with the lid (20). Prior to such removal, the primary latching assembly includes an interference lug having a compression section which engages the upwardly disposed surface (86) of an engaging groove (84) formed within the rim structure (82) of the container. After removal of the primary latching assembly, a secondary latching arrangement is maintained which includes the upper skirt portion (64), a generally semi-cylindrically shaped rim interior portion having a bead conforming surface (94) nestable in seating adjacency with the upwardly disposed container rim bead (90) and a detent defining ridge (102) formed integrally with the skirt upper portion interior surface at a location for snap-on engagement with the rim structure (82) of the container.