AU2002211076C1

AU2002211076C1 - Foil cover with slanting tear line

Info

Publication number: AU2002211076C1
Application number: AU2002211076A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Louis Rinze Henricus Adrianus Willemsen
Original assignee: Weasy Pack Int Ltd; Weasy Pack International Ltd
Current assignee: Weasy Pack International Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-05
Filing date: 2001-10-02
Publication date: 2008-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-02
Also published as: WO2002032782A1; EP1334045A1; EP1334045B1; AU1107602A; AU2002211076B2

Description

-1- FOIL COVER WITH SLANTING TEAR LINE The invention relates to a container with an opening enclosed by a substantially flat edge, wherein a cover sealing the opening is adhered to the edge, wherein the cover is provided with a pull-tab extending outside the edge, and wherein the cover is manufactured from a flexible tearable material.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Here "flat" is also understood to mean a configuration wherein the upper surface of the edge lies in a flat plane, but wherein for instance a groove or ridge is arranged in the edge.

Such a container is known inter alia from EP-A-0 880 455. They are used for packaging portions of condensed milk, and for mayonnaise, salad dressing and the like, but it is equally possible to use these containers for other types of product such as cosmetics.

In such prior art containers the pull line extends from the distal end of the pulltab to the centre of the container. The user of the container will therefore grasp the container between thumb and forefinger of one hand and then pull the pull-tab open toward the centre of the container with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand.

During this pulling open there is at least one discontinuity encountered in the forces necessary to pull loose the tab and to be generated with the hands.

A significant discontinuity is formed by the position at which the loosened tab leaves the sealing seam between the cover and the upper edge of the container and continues into the cover; in order to pull loose, break through, tear through or tear a sealing seam quite a large amount of force is required, while thereafter it is only necessary to generate a force for tearing loose the foil or other type of material from which the cover is manufactured.

As a result of this discontinuity an uncontrolled movement is often made with the fingers which usually leads to spillage.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

-2-

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According to the invention there is provided a container comprising an interior >space for receiving a substance which is enclosed by a wall having a flat edge, in which

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Z a flexible, tearable cover is adhered to said edge to seal said interior space, in which said cover is provided with a pull-tab extending at least in part beyond the edge of said wall, said pull tab being arranged to receive a pull force and to tear said cover along a tear line IND when a pull force is exerted along a pull line between an end of said pull tab and a Omiddle of a part of said edge which is adjacent to said pull tab, said pull line extending at Sa distance from a centre of said opening, wherein said wall is compressible to allow a reduction of a volume of said interior space, in that a pouring spout is provided extending from said edge of said wall, in that the pull-tab covers at least part of said pouring spout and in that said tear line traverses a flow channel of said pouring spout.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

In one embodiment the pull line, which extends between the distal end of the pull-tab and the middle of that part of the edge adjacent to the pull-tab, extends at a distance from the centre of gravity of the opening.

Because the pull line extends in a different direction, the user will tend to grasp the container in a different direction and then pull in a different, non-radial direction.

Since the direction of pull now extends as a chord, a possible discontinuity in the pulling forces with result in less chance of spillage since the direction of the force is directed not through but along the centre of the container, so that only a smaller quantity of the substance present in the container, which may or may not be liquid, will be able to overflow to the outside.

According to a first preferred embodiment the pull-tab is formed to cause a tear between the pull-tab and at least a part of the cover.

This means that no separate pouring spout need be arranged; such a container is for instance suitable for viscous substances, such as mayonnaise.

This same advantage also applies in greater measure when the pull-tab is formed to cause a tear extending through the cover.

According to yet another embodiment the cover is connected to the edge of the container with a greater strength at least at two adhesion points than elsewhere, and the -2a connecting line between the adhesion points extends relative to the pull line at an angle varying from a right angle. WO 02/32782 PCT/NL01/00719 3 Tearing loose is hereby facilitated; this measure in any case provides the option making the adhesion between the two adhesion points slightly looser, whereby the pulling force to be exerted by the user is more uniform, and the chance of jerking, and thereby of spillage, is again greatly reduced.

In order to bring about a further definition of the tear line, the edge is preferably provided with a continuation extending in the plane of the edge under at least one part of the pull-tab.

Other attractive preferred embodiments are stated in the remaining sub-claims.

The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with r!ference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention with a round cover; figure 2 is a top view of the container shown in figure 1; figure 3 shows a top view of a container with a rectangular cover; figure 4 shows a detailed top view of a variant of the container shown in figures 1 and 2; figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of the container shown in figure 4; and figure 6 is a perspective detail view of a further variant of the container shown in figure 4, wherein the foil serving as cover has been omitted.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.

This first embodiment comprises a container 1 which is provided on its side with a concertina-like configuration so that it can be compressed. Arranged on the upper side of container 1 is an edge 2 on which a foil layer 3 functioning as cover is arranged by means of a sealing seam, not shown in the drawing, which extends all round. Foil layer 3 is provided with a pulltab 4.

WO 02/32782 PCT/NL01/00719 4 This can be seen more clearly in figure 2 which shows a top view of the container shown in figure 1. A pull line 6 extends from the distal end of pull-tab 4, this end being formed in the present case by a point When pull-tab 4 is pulled, the pull-tab 4 will be pulled loose along pull line 6 and the foil 3 will tear along the tear line 7 shown in broken lines.

In order to prevent directional aberrations in tear line 7, there are arranged between foil 3 and container edge 2 two adhesion points 8, the adhesion of which is greater than that of the connection elsewhere between edge 2 and foil 3. This is however a specific embodiment which is not essential for the invention; it is likewise possible to work with a foil adhered uniformly to the edge along the entire length of the edge.

A spout 9 arranged at the position under pull-tab 4 will be released when the latter is torn loose so that the contents can be poured.

Figure 3 shows a corresponding configuration but in a rectangular form. No pouring spout is arranged here, but the pull-tab extends above the container. It will be apparent that other forms of the upper surface of the container are also possible, such as an oval shape or a hexagonal shape. It is also possible in these cases for the container to be optionally provided with a pouring spout.

Figures 4 and 5 show a particularly attractive embodiment. This embodiment is provided with a channel which extends from the content of the container between cover 3 and container edge 2. The channel has a dead-end in the closed situation of the container.

Channel 10 herein fulfils a function comparable to that of pouring spout 9 of the previous embodiment.

The dimensions of channel 10 are chosen such that after a part of cover 3 has been torn loose and the initially blind end of channel 10 is connected to the environment, holding the container 1 with channel WO 02/32782 PCT/NL01/00719 downward does not result in the content of container 1 dripping out, and thereby spillage. This is prevented in that the dimensions of channel 10 are chosen such that the capillary and cohesive forces between the content of container 1 and the channel walls is such that this dripping or leakage is prevented.

The content of container 1 is of course a factor here. It is therefore important to choose the dimensions of the channel subject to the nature, and particularly the capillary and cohesive properties, of the substance packaged in the container.

It is,of course possible however to urge the content out of container i, this by exerting force on the container. This is of course possible by compressing the cover 3 generally manufactured from foil, although for this purpose it is more attractive to make use of a container form as described in EP-A-0 880 455. Container 1 hereby becomes compressible, so that the content can be pressed out of container 1 under pressure of the fingers. It is even possible to leave a part of the content in container 1 and only use this later; leakage is after all no longer possible. The advantages of this embodiment become particularly manifest when the container is formed by a container for condensed milk.

It is then for instance possible to divide the content of the container between two cups of coffee consumed one after the other.

The area surrounding channel 10 will of course have to be formed such that tear line 7 extends over channel 10 and the length of channel 10 covered by the remaining foil layer 3 has the correct length at the given crosssectional dimensions to comply with the requirements for generating the correct cohesive and capillary forces.

In order to bring about this correct length of channel 10, the cover is fixed to the container edge with a normal adhesion in the vicinity of the channel, i.e. the area 11 in figure 4. In area 12 a firm adhesion WO 02/32782 PCT/NL01/00719 6 takes place, so that it is unlikely that the cover be separated there from the container edge. A tear line 7 is hereby created which extends over channel 10. The location of area 12 with a firm adhesion herein determines the location of tear line 7, and thereby the length of channel This also prevents the tear line extending into the part of cover 3 above container i.

The function of area 12 is comparable to that of the adhesion points 8 in the embodiment of figure 2.

Another aspect relates to an area 13 with a firm adhesion. The function of this area 13 is to hold the part of the foil which has been torn loose. The forming of an element requiring separate removal in the waste flow is hereby prevented.

It is also possible to arrange a constriction 14 in channel 10. The pressure at which the channel contains or stops the fluid present in the interior of the container can hereby be precisely determined, subject also to properties such as viscosity of the fluid and the adhesion between the materials from which the container is manufactured and the fluid.

The constriction is preferably arranged in the form of an elevation of the recess forming the channel in the vicinity of the connection between the interior of the container and the channel. It is also possible to employ a channel with the longitudinal section of a diabolo.

Such an embodiment is shown in figure 6.

In the embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5 the channel is closed on its distal end by a part of the continuation of the edge. The foil herein extends in one plane.

It is also possible to have channel 10 extend to the end of the continuation. In order to obtain a good sealing in a closed container, it is then necessary to recess the foil and to cause adhesion to the material of the continuation in the recess, so that the channel is WO 02/32782 PCT/NL01/00719 7 sealed. Tests have shown that a better flow behaviour of the fluid is then obtained.

Further refinements can of course also be added to this design, such as not adhering the cover and the edge to each other at tab part 5. This makes it easy to grip an edge of the cover.

Claims

2. Container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a notch is provided between the pull- tab and the rest of the cover.
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pouring spout is formed by a continuation of said edge of said wall, extending at least in part underneath said pull-tab in a plane formed by said edge.
4. Container according to claim 3, wherein said continuation is provided with a breaking seam underneath said pull-tab.
5. Container as claimed claim 3 or 4, wherein said pouring spout is formed by said continuation of said edge of said wall, said flow channel being recessed under said pull tab of said cover and having an open end in open communication with said interior space and having a blind sealed by said pull-tab.
6. Container as claimed in claim 5, wherein said flow channel is dimensioned to withstand a force of gravity exerted on said substance in a vertical orientation.
7. Container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said flow channel comprises a constriction. r -9-
8. Container as claimed in claim 7, wherein said constriction comprises an elevation of said flow channel in a vicinity of said open end. O
9. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said wall is structured to be compressible along a longitudinal axis of the container traversing said cover. A container substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or :examples.