AU2004296894A1

AU2004296894A1 - Hinged lid container with frangible portions

Info

Publication number: AU2004296894A1
Application number: AU2004296894A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Daffurn; Ian Bernard Janetzki
Original assignee: Huhtamaki Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Alto Manufacturing Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-15
Filing date: 2004-12-07
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-07
Also published as: ZA200605811B; WO2005056414A1; AU2004202664A1; EP1720772A4; NZ587724A; NZ585281A; EP1720772A1; AU2010214759B2; AU2010214759A1; AU2004296894B2

Description

WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 1 HINGED LID CONTAINER WITH FRANGIBLE PORTIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to containers. In one form, the inention relates to containers for foodstuffs, such as ice 5 cream, margarine and so: on, and in particular, to containers including a base having a top opening and a lid.secured on the base and extending across the top opening, It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to foodstuff containers, however it should be appreciated that the present invention 10 is not limited to that use orily. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers of the above noted type typically have a snap. fittingly re engageable arrangement between the lid and the base to facilitate removal and re-engagement of the lid Over the top opening of the base. This arrangement 15 ensures that the lid is securely held in place to the base. This type of container design is particularly appropriate when the lid needs to be made of a different material or colour than theibase. The inventor(s) have realized that it is however, advantageous at times to' have the lid at all times attached to the rest of the container to prevent the misplacing of the lid or possible contamination by foreign 20 material if the lid is separted from the base. To this end, it is known to provide containers having a lid hinged to the base. These containers are typically formed in one piece and then foiled along the hinged line to provide the final closed container. The engagement of the lid and base of such one piece containers are however not always parti:ufarly secure. Furthermore, the tooling cost for one 25 piece containers can be high. In addition, it is not convenient to use different materials or colours for their lid and the base. The inventor(s) are aware of a container having a hinge formed by welding a peripheral shirt of the lid Ito a peripheral skirt of the base. A crease Is provided in the peripheral skirt of the lid to act -as a hinge line for the lid. Such an 30 arrangement is.described ih international application no. PCT/BR97/00030. This allows the lid to be pivoted away from the top opening of the base about the hinge line while still remaining secured to the base.

WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 2 The inventor(s) arei aware of another container having a hinge line within the lid itself- This may be achieved by providing a hinge line that extends across the lid with a hinge portion and a lid portion being provided on opposing sides of the hinge line. This hinge portion of the lid may then be fixedly -secured to the 5 base so that the lid portion can be rotated about the hinge line while the hinge portion remains secured !to the base. This then also allows access into the container while at the sarne time allowing the lid to be partially secured to the base of the container. The inventor(s) realize that there is a problem with both these 10 arrangements, in that there is a tendency for the container to break along the hinge line after repeated flexing about that hinge line. The inventor(s) have found that the problem arises because the types of plastic material typically used in the manufacture of foodstuffs containers do tend to weaken after such. repeated flexing. With components made of plastic material such as .polypropylene, the 15 area of the component thot needs to be regularly flexed can be strengthened by flexing the component while the material Is still warm immediately after the injection molding of the component. This acts to align the polymer chains within' the flexed area strengthening this area for repeated flexing. It is not however always possible or convertient to pre-flex the components in this way during the 20 manufacture of the components. Another problem associated with prior art containers known to the inventor(s) is that it is not always possible to provide tamper evidence means for the container. This is particularly important for containers used in the sale of food products where such tamper evidence provides added comfort to purchasers of 25 this product that the conterilts of the container have not been tampered with. Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge In this specification is included ft explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or 30 before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved container and hinged lid arrangement.

WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 3 A further object of the present invention Is to alleviate at least one disadvantage associated vyith the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With this in mind,; according to one aspect of Invention, the present 5 invention provides a lid for a container and/or a method of manufacturing a lid for a container including a base having a top opening, the lid being securable on the base and extendible across the top opening, the lid including a hinge line, and a flexible membrane applied to or formed integrally with a portion of the lid and extending at least substantially over the hinge line of the lid, the membrane being 10 formed of a material having an Initially orientated internal structure to thereby support repeated flexure of the lid about the hinge line. The hinge line may be a web-type hinge formed integrally with a central web of sdid lid. This is Odvantageous. when the container is formed wholly or partly of plastics materials which lend themselves to the providing of web-type 15 hinges. Alternatively, thp hinge line may be a groove extending across the central web of the lid. Tie hinge may be a laminate forced of plastics and/or other material having another composition (whether or not the other material is plastic material). The hinge may also be a label, applied to the lid at or around the hinge line region of their lid. 20 According to a second aspect of invention, the present invention provides a lid for a container, and having at least two sides, and a hinge located between the two sides. The hinge rmay enable at least one portion of the lid to pivot or flex relative to another portion Of the lid. The hinge may be parallel to at least one of the sides. The hinge may 25 extend across or partially across the lid. The hinge may be provided at a distance substantially between 6% and 50% of the distance between the two sides. Preferably, the hinge is provided at approximately 20% of the distance between the two sides. According to a third aspect of invention, the present Invention provides a 30 lid for a container having a base portion, where the hinge is provided on one side of the base portion. The li0 is secured to one portion of the base, and is able to flex or pivot relative to another portion of the base.

WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 4 According to a fourth aspect of invention, the present invention provides a container base having a Ui secured thereto andlor a method of securing the lid to -the base. The lid is preferably secured at one or more points proximate the area of contact between the lid and the container base. However, the lid may be 5 secured via 'wing' section(s) provided on the base, wbich wing section(s) may be removable. One or more of the points at Which the lid is secured include a tamper-evident means, suyh as a frangible section. In one form, the lid may be 'welded' at a point, around which there is provided a frangible section of lid or base. .a container with a lid secured to the and/or a method of manufacture 10 thereof, including a base: having a top opening and a Lid as disclosed herein secured on said base and extending across said top opening. The container may' be initially openable by breakage or deformation of a securing means on one side of a hinge line and rotation or pivoting of the lid portion about the hinge |ine. The breakage or deformation of said securing .15 means in the initial opening of said container is subsequently evident to a user of said container. This provokes a tamper evidence arrangement from the container. In a fifth aspect oi invention, the present invention provides a lid for a container and/or a method of manufacturing a lid for a container. In one embodiment, the lid may iliclude a frangible section. In another embodiment, the 20 lid is adapted to be secured to a container base having a frangible section. The lid may be made by a theninoform process. In a sixth aspect ofi invention, the present invention provides a method of providing a frangible secti n In a plastics malarial article made by a thermoform process, the frangible section being provided by weakening a portion of the 25 plastics material. The weakening is'preferably formed by a cutting, laser etching and/or drilling processes upon the plastics article. Other aspects andi preferred aspects are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention. 30 In essence, in orie aspect, the present invention is based on the inventor(s) realizing that lios for containers according to the present invention are typically made from plastic material such as polypropylene. As previously noted, the problem with such material is that repeated flexing of this material along a line WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 5 can result in breakage or fracture along that line. This is due to the un-orientated polymer chain internal structure of the internal material. The inventor(s) reOlized that a membrane may be applied to an injection moulded lid by locating tioe membrane within the mould for the lid. Subsequent 5 injection moulding of the Ild results in the membrane becoming integrally secured to the injection moulded lid. The inventor(s) have, in part, utilized a manufacturing method known for incorporating labels on lids, and which is known as "in-mould labeling", and applied this to the present application to address problems associated wiyh container lids. The membrane -may, in one 10 embodiment, be providedlas a label as well as providing the additional benefit of supporting the lid along tHe hinge line. The membrane may be laminated and/or integrally incorporated wit6 the lid. The membrane according to the present invention can.also be made of a plastic material such as 0 polypropylene-. However, the membrane will have an 15 initially orientated internal structure which Is more resistant to damage by repeated flexure of the material. In the lid according to the present invention, the provision of the membrane provides support along the hinge line of the lid thereby allowing for the repeated flexure along that hinge line. The provision of the membrane over the hinge line of the lid therefore acts 20 to reinforce the hinge line area of the lid thereby allowing for repeated flexure. This therefore enables thel lid to be used as a hinged closure for the container. The present inventiOn has been found to result in a number of advantages, such as: * By providing a hingo on the lid, the lid can remain secured to the container 25 base, and still flex 9pen to enable access-to the container contents. This avoids, in part, in a propriate disposal of the lid. * The frangible portitjn. provides a. form of tamper evident means on the container. e A label may be useO| in a dual roll, that of labeling or packaging, and that of 30 a hinge or flexible r~gion. Providing the hinges in the lid and/or in the base of the container enables many different shapes of containers with lids to be made. This enables WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 6 containers to be designed more with customer and/or product needs in mind. The present invention is relatively convenient and/or cost effective to manufacture. 5 Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become 10 apparent to those skilled il the art from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further disclosure,: objects, advantages and aspects of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments taken in 15 conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus aIre not limitative of the present invention, and in which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a container according to the present invention, Figure 3 illustrates 4n example of a lid according to the present invention, Figure 4 illustrates Onother view of the container with the lid open, 20 Figure 5 illustrates liinge provided on the base of the container, Figure 6 illustrates 4 closed container, Figure 7 illustrates !a tag fastening according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 illustrates la tear-away section according to one embodiment of 25 the present invention.. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Figiores there is shown a base-and-lid container according to. the invention. The colhtainer is made of plastics material and is of a type suitable for the sale and storage of ice cream for domestic use. However, the 30 invention should not be limited to only containers for this application. Figure 1 shows that the container consists of two parts, namely an open topped base 1 and a lid 3. Figure 2 shows that the base has a floor 5 and four upstanding sidewalls 7 anc upper edges define a rim formation 9.

WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 7 Figure 1 shows that the lid 3 has a central web 11 and a peripheral rim formation 13. The rim formation 9 of the base 1 includes a horizontal flange 15 extending outwardly from an upper edge of the sidewalls 7 and preferably a skirt 17 depending from an outer edge of the flange 15. The rim formation 9 preferably 5 extends around the entire periphery of the base, and may be continuous or only provided at certain locations. In Figure 3, the rim formation of the lid 3 includes a skirt 16 depending from an outer edge of the web 11. Extending inwardly from this skirt 16 is a bead 18 which is provided to interact with the depending skirt 17 of the rim formation 9 of 10 the base 1. In this way, lid 3 can fittingly and/or snap fittingly engage with the base 1. Extending across or at least part way across the central web 11 of the lid on its lower side is a line of reduced thickness forming, in effect, a web-type hinge 2. Alternatively, the hinge line may be a groove formed In a suitable manner 15 such as by deformation, rriolding or cutting and extending across the central web of the lid. In another alternative, the hinge may include a laminate 38 formed of plastics and/or other material having another composition (whether or not the other material is plastic m terial). The hinge may also be a label, applied to the 20 lid at or around the hinge li he region of the lid. The hinge may enable at least one portion of the lid to pivot or flex relative to another portion of the lid. The hinge may extend across or partially across the lid. The hinge 2 serves tp divide the lid into two portions, a hinge portion 21 on one side 40 of the hinge 2 and a lid portion 23 on the other side 41 of the hinge 2. 25 The hinge 2 may be parall'! to at least one of the sides 40 or 41. The hinge 2 may b4 provided at a distance substantially between 5% and 50% of the distance between the two sides 40 and 41. Preferably, the hinge 2 is provided at approximately 20% of the distance between the two sides. The hinge 2 may be -formed between other sides of the lid, the two sides 40 and 41 have 30 been used only for the purposes of illustration. In yet another alterative embodiment, Figure 5 shows the hinge 2 is provided on one side of tHie base portion 1. The lid 3 is. secured to one portion WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 8 42 of the base 1, and is able to flex or pivot relative to another portion 43 of the base. Lid 3 is typically made of a plastic material such as polypropylene in an injection moulding process. During the manufacturing process, a flexible 5 membrane 38 (which is shown in Figure 3 in dotted line and shaded only for illustrative purposes) is p6'ced into the mould cavity for the lid. The membrane 38 may be placed in a manner so that it extends partially or substantially along the length of the hinge 2. The membrane 38 may alternatively comprise one or more (smaller) membranes (noti shown) but placed at intervals along the hinge line 2. 10 During the subsequent injection moulding of the lid, the membrane 38 becomes laminated and/or at least substantially integrated with the lid 3. There are many ways in which the membr ne 38 is attached to or incorporated in the lid and this aspect of invention concerns itself with the provision of the membrane 38. The membrane 38 hnay be a label. The label may substantially cover the 15 lid 3, or be only provided 6n a smaller part of lid 3. The membrane may be itself flexible, providing all or some of the hinging effect. The membrane, may alternatively.or in combination with the description above, be coupled to the lid 3 and/or the base I in a maner which provides some or all flexing of the hinge 2. In other words, the manner in which the membrane 38 is coupled to the lid 3 20 and/or the base 1 may provide or contribute to the hinging effect in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. For example, the membrane 38 may be coupled to the lid 3 and/#r base i at one or more points, in a manner which provides a deformation, molding, cut or weakening which provides some flexibility or hinging. 25 In one embodiment,' the membrane 38 is made of a plaslic material having an initially oriented internal structure. The plastic material can also be polypropylene. The menribrane may otherwise be a label of paper or other material, depending on th§ requirements for the lid 3 and/or container 1. This membrane 38 can be attached or secured over the hinge line 2 and thus act to 30 support the lid 3 for repeated flexure along the hinge line 2. This enables the lid portion 23 of the lid 3 to bd repeatedly rotated away from the base I as shown in Figure 2 to allow access therein.

WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 9 Another aspect of invention is the manner in which the lid 3 is secured or releaseably secured to tho base 1. In use of the container by a food manufacturer, the base 1 is first filled with the product to be contained. The lid 3 is then snap fittingly engaged with the base 5 1. When the lid 3 is in place on the base 1, a portion 44'of the central web 11 abuts a portion of the flande 15 of the rim formation 9 of the base 1. As shown in Figure!6, in securing the lid to the base, the lid 3 is welded (or fastened by some appropriate means) to the base 1. This may be done at one or more points. Figure 6 shows the lid secured at 4 points 10 and 12, each point 10 being at a corner of the container. In the example as shown, two of points 10 are on the hinge portion 21 of the lid 3 and the remaining two points 12 are on the lid portion 23 of the lid 3. Th e hinge line is represented by a dotted line 38. In this embodiment, the welds oh the hinge portion 21 of the lid are made in known fashion by ultrasonic means. That is, the lid portion 21 is secured in a relatively 15 fixed manner to the base 1. Where the container is formed from plastics materials, welding may for example be carried out by the known technique of ultrasonic welding, solve t welding, by thermal means, andlor by adhesive. However, other types of Oecuring means may also be provided, as disclosed herein or are known to thdse skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the 20 lid and base are welded together by ultrasonic means. In another embodinent, strips of fastening, rather than just points of fastening can be used tolfastened the lid to the base at selected parts of the container. The corresponding portions of the lid and base which are located together at region 21 when the lid and base are closed together, may be fastened 25 by application of ultrasonic vibrations to one or both the lid and base, thus welding those portions of tle lid and base by localized melting. The result is spot welding of the lid 3 to the b se 1. The two points 12 also fastened the lid 3 to the base 1 in a suitable manner as disclosed hereih or as known in the art, such as by ultrasonic means. 30 However, in accordance With an aspect of invention, the point(s) 12 include a tamper evident feature, such as a frangible section. That Is, in addition to the fastening points 12 on the lid portion 23 of the lid 3, there are perforations 25 extending through the web 11 of the lid 3. The effect of the perforations 25 is that WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 10 when a user opens the lid;3 away from the base I at the location of the welds 12, the lid will fracture at perforations 25, leaving a piece 45 of the web II still welded to the flange 15 of the bape I (see Figure 1) while the remainder of the lid 3 is flexed open via hinge 38 from the base 1. Material between the individual 5 perforations 25 are broken, during opening. This Is evident in Figure 1 showing the piece 45, and a corresponding hole 46 where the piece 46 was formerly attached to the lid 3. The depending skirt 16 of the lid 3 extends around the entire periphery In a periodic or continuous manner. The skirt 16 is at the outermost extremity of the 10 lid 3. It follows that any attempt to rotate the lid portion 23 of the lid 3 relative to the hinge portion 21 about the hinge line 38, before placement of the lid on the base 1, will be resisted bycompression or extension of the depending skirt 16 of the lid adjacent to the hingo line 2. This is advantageous in that the lid 3 behaves as a substantially rigid single item. 15 However, after placement of the lid 3 on the base 1 and welding of a lid to the base at points 10, su:h resistance is undesirable, as it renders difficult the rotation of the lid portion 23 of the lid relatIve 10 the hinge portion 21 when opening of the container is underway. Therefore, the depending skirt 16 is provided with a reduced thickness section or region 31 ( Figure 3) proximate the 20 hinge line 2. This approach may delimit a zone of breakage or deformation and so prevent excessive.or unwanted damage to the container during opening. The region of reduced strength may include at least one perforation. One or more lines of reduced thickness may also or alternatively be included in the region. In a similar manner, the base I may also or alternatively include areas of 25 reduced thickness 47 to enable the lid to open as shown in Figure 5. The reduced thickness, may be provided as a tamper evident frangible section, or by other means as described hereinbefore. When the lid has been fastened to the container by welds, it can subsequently be opened by a user applying an upward force to and edge 33 of 30 the lid which is parallel to the hinge line 2. The effect is to break the welds 12 leaving pieces 45 welded to the flange 15 of the rim formation 9 of the base 1, and the deform or break the sections of the lid rim formation 31 adjacent to the ends of the hinge line 2. Once the lid portion 23 of the lid 3 Is rotated a sufficient WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 11 distance around the hinge line 2, the contents of the base I can be accessed and removed. Once a desired quantity of the contents of the container has been removed, the lid may be re-closed by rotating the lid portion 23 of the lid about the 5 hinge line 2 until it is agaih in contact with the rim formation 9 of the base, In the last part of this rotation, tie lid portion 23 of the lid snap fittingly re-engages with the rim formation 9 of the base. The container is thus tamper evident, in that once first opened in the manner described above, Ithe fact that its having been opened is readily apparent 10 from the pieces 45 being broken from the lid and remaining attached to the flange 15 of the base, holes 46 in the lid 3 and also by virtue of deformation or fracture of the regions 31 of the ikirt of the rim formation 16 of the lid. A user will also notice when opening the container on second and subsequent occasions that the resistance provided by breaking of the welds 12 is no longer present. 15 Conveniently for production, both the hinge portion and lid portion of the lid may be secured to the base by welding. In this case, the strength of the attachments of the hinge and lid portions to the base may be made different to ensure that the intended lid portions to the base may be made different to ensure that the intended lid portion is the one actually opened by a user. It is preferred 20 'that the lid has a peripheral rim formation engageable with a cooperating peripheral rim formation extending around said top opening of said base, and particularly preferred that the rim formations of said lid and said base: part are snap fittingly engageable with each other. Suitable cooperating rim formations can enhance security against tampering, by preventing access to the container, 25 without damage to the frangible or deformable securing means, through insertion of a thin object into a gap! between lid and base. Snap fitting also gives some certainty of correct closure to a user. The use of other mans of providing tamper evident connections between the parts is also envisaged.' 30 Of course, it is possible to remove the lid completely by prizing both the hinge and lid portions 21, 23 off the base. The welds 10 holding the hinge portion 21 of the lid in place on the base may be made weak enough for this to be a practical step, but stronger than the welds 12 on the lid portion. It will be noted WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 12 that the ability to remove the lid entirely is advantageous where the lid and base are of different materials with different recycling requirements. In another embodiment, the lid may be provide without a hinge line 2 and may be secured to the bose by points 10 and/or 12 as disclosed herein. In this 5 embodiment, separation of the lid from the base will result in a taper evident state as disclosed above. in a further alternative, a kinematic inversion of the embodiment described above can be provided, Where the piece 45 is designed to remain on the lid 3, and a hole 46 is provided in the base 1. 10 To increase the rigidity of the lid, it is provided with grooves 37 inwardly of an extending parallel to tIhe four sides of the lid. At the centre of edge 33 of the lid skirt 16, the skirt is slightly recessed and a lip at the base of the skirt is correspondingly slightly wider than elsewhere along that edge, to facilitate a user gripping it for the purpdse of opening the container. The word "LIFT" is 15 embossed on the lid to show the consumer what to do. The grooves 37,, by stiffening the lifting edge 3,3 of the lid, makes it possible to break the welds 12 by lifting at the centre of e4ge 33, but also reduced the possibility of the lid 3 separating from the base Olong the edge. There are a number of ways in which the lid and the base can be coupled 20 in a tamper evident manner, such as, but with out limitation, as shown in Figure 7. In Figure 7a, a tagi48 is provided. As shown in Figure 7b, the tag has corresponding portions 44a and 48b fixed to both the base I and the lid 3 respectively. A fastening point 10 (or 12) fastens the base and lid via tag portions 48a and 48b respectively. The tag 48 includes a frangible part 49, which, when 25 tag 48 is pulled, tag portions 48a and 48b together with the fastening point 10 is removed, thus the base and the lid are no longer fastened by tag 48. In Figure 8, a frangible section is provided proximate the fastening of the lid 3 and the base 1. Figure 8 shows the frangible section 60 as viewed from above. The frangible section 50 may be provided around or near the fastening 30 points 10 or 12 in a manner that when the lid 3 and the base I (not shown) are separated, the frangible section is broken. The frangible section may remain with one of the base or the lid 4s described above. The frangible section 50 may be provided in a portion of the container such as at a lip, where the lid and base WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 13 adjoin when cLosed. For example the frangible section may be provided where rims 9 and 13 join when the! lid and base are closed. The frangible section may be of any shape, may be external or internal of the container, located anyv here on the container, andfor may be continuous or 5 provided only at certain locations. The lid and base arle particularly well suited to manufacture by injection molding using plastics as ate the various processes described herein. In a further alternative embodiment, the lid and/or container of the present invention may be formed by a Thermoform process. In the thermoform process, a 10 first piece of material (which will become a part of the hinge 38 and which may be a label or other material ao described above) can be placed in the die proximate where the hinge is to be formed in the lid, and a second piece of material (which will form the remainder of the lid material) can be placed in the die overlapping at least a part of the first material. The lid can then be formed by the thermoform 15 process in the usual manner. Alternatively, the lid: may be thermoformed from one piece material, and the hinge provided by later fabrication. The one piece of material may already have two or more components useful in forming a hinge as described herein. Once the lid has been formed, the frangible and/or hinge portions may be 20 further refined through more fabrication. The frangible sections may be formed by laser, cutting, stamping, drilling or otherwise machining the lid to form portions of frangible material at the desired locations. The frangible section may be formed also at least partially during the thermoform process. A container made iin this way is advantageous for manufacturers and 25 users. Both lid and base can be manufactured readily by manufacturers and after filling and sale to the conspmer, the consumer has the comfort of knowing safety and security of the contents that comes from the provision of a tamper evidence capability. convenience and the added benefit retaining the lid with the base for ease of use or for re-closin the lid and base. 30 Steps known in the; art may be taken to provide for nestability of the lids and bases prior to joining. As can be seen in Figure 3, the depending skirt of the rim formation of the lid, and its integrally formed bead, can provide for stacking without the lids in a stack~being difficult to separate. It is also known to provide WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 .14 nesting formations on bases of containers of the present type. These are not shown in diagrams, but are known in the art. Where the hinge portion is secured to the base by welding, for example of the type mentioned above, the arrangement is considered advantageous for 5 example in applications such as lidded tub-type containers for ice cream and like products, where tooling costs for one piece containers may be higher and/or where it may be desired to use different material for the base and lid. While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further 10 modification(s). - This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth. 15 As the present inVention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 20 Various modifications and! equivalent arrangements are intended to be included. within the spirit and scope' of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as 25 performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the'environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a 30 screw are equivalent structures. "Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 15 components or groups thereof." Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like a;re 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 5 limited to".

Claims

1. A lid for a container including a base having a top opening, the lid being securable on the base arid extendible across the top opening, the lid having a 5 body portion and including a hinge line, and a flexible membrane applied to and extending over at least a portion of the hinge line of the lid.

2. A lid as claimed in claim 1. wherein the body portion of the lid is a different material than the membrane. 10

3. A lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane is formed of a material having an initially orientated internal structure adapted to support repeated flexure of the lid about the hinge line. 15

4. A lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane is a label.

5. A lid according to claim 1, wherein the hinge line is provided by a web-type hinge integrally formed in a central web of the lid. 20

6. A lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge line is a laminate of material(s).

7. A lid according to claim 1, wherein the hinge line is provided by a groove extending across the central web. 25

8. A lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane has one or more portions.

9. A lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane extends over 30 substantially a large part of the hinge line. WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 1.7

10. A lid adapted to fit .a container having a base with a top opening, the lid including: a first side and a second side, and a flexible region located between the first side and the second side. I5

11. A lid as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flexible region is a hinge line.

12. A lid as claimed in. claim 10, wherein the flexible region is located at a distance substantially between 5% and 50% of the distance between the first and 10 second sides.

13. A lid adapted to fit a container having a base with a top opening and a first portion adapted to be coupled to the lid, the lid Including: a frangible region formed proximate a second portion on the lid, the 15 second portion being adapted to correspondingly couple with the first portion.

14. A base of a container adapted to fit a lid, the lid having a first portion adapted to be coupled to the base, the base including: a frangible region formed proximate a second portion on the base, the 20 second portion being adapted to correspondingly couple with the first portion.

15. In combination, a container including a base having a top opening, and a lid according to any one of claims I to 13. 25

16. In combination, a container Including a base as claimed in claim 14, and a lid.

17. A combination as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the lid is releasably securable to the base and extends across the top opening. 30

18. A combination as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein a portion of the lid and a portion of the base are fixed together. WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 18

19. A combination as claimed in claim 18, wherein the portion of the lid -and the portion of the base are fixed by welding.

20. A combination according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the hinge 5 line is provided by a-web-type hinge integrally formed in a central web of the lid.

-21. A combination according any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the hinge line is provided by a groove extending across the central web. 10

22. A combination according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the lid includes a hinge portion secured to the base; and a lid portion is secured to said base by frangible ,or deformable securing means, the hinge portion and lid portion being located on opposing sides of the hinge line. 15

23. A combination according to claim 22, wherein said securing means Includes a part of one of:said lid portion and said base that is attached to the other of the said lid portion and said base and that is detached from said one and remains attached to said other upon rotation by a user of said lid portion in initial opening of said container. 20

24. A combination according to claim 23, wherein said part is at least partially surrounded by a region of reduced strength of said one of said lid portion and said base whereby to control the force required to detach said part.

25 25. A combination according to claim 24, wherein said region of reduced strength includes at least one perforation.

26. A combination according to claim 24 or 25, wherein said region of reduced strength includes one or more lines of reduced thickness. 30 WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 19

27. A method of orientating a membrane in association with the manufacture of a lid adapted to be used in. conjunction with a container having a base with a top opening,, the lid being securable on the base and extendible across the top opening, the lid including (in use) a hinge line, the method including the steps of: 5 providing the membrane into a mould, and orientating the membrane to be proximate the hinge line.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the membrane is provided into the mould prior to a moulding operation. 10

29, A method as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein the membrane is orientated so as to extend at least substantially along the hinge line of the lid.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27, 28 or 29, wherein the manufacture 15 includes an injection moulding operation.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the lid is a lid as claimed in any one of claims I to 13. 20

32. A method of forming a lid for a container, the method including the steps of: providing a first material into a die, forming the lid providing frangible portion on the lid by further processing. 25

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the lid is formed by injection molding.

34. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the lid is formed by a 30 thermoform process.

35. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the frangible portions are provided by laser etching, cutting, drilling, stamping processes. WO 2005/056414 PCT/AU2004/001724 20

36. Apparatus adapted to manufacture of a lid adapted to be used in conjunction with a container, said apparatus including: processor means adapted to operate in accordance with a predetermined instruction set, 5 said apparatus, in conjunction with said instruction set, being adapted:to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 35.

37. A computer program product including: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code and 10 computer readable system code embodied on said medium for operating in conjunction with a data processing system, said computer program product including: computer readable code within said computer usable medium for manufacturing a lid adapted to be used in conjunction with a container as claimed 15 in any one of claims 1 to 13.

38. A container substantially as herein. disclosed.

39. A lid substantially as herein disclosed. 20

40. A method substantially as herein disclosed.

41. An apparatus and/or device substantially as herein disclosed, 25