EP0645315A1 - Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand - Google Patents

Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0645315A1
EP0645315A1 EP93870189A EP93870189A EP0645315A1 EP 0645315 A1 EP0645315 A1 EP 0645315A1 EP 93870189 A EP93870189 A EP 93870189A EP 93870189 A EP93870189 A EP 93870189A EP 0645315 A1 EP0645315 A1 EP 0645315A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
open
easy
container
flange
top lid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93870189A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0645315B1 (de
Inventor
Volker Heiner
Bernd F. Gumz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to AT93870189T priority Critical patent/ATE145376T1/de
Priority to DE69306111T priority patent/DE69306111D1/de
Priority to EP93870189A priority patent/EP0645315B1/de
Priority to PCT/US1994/009925 priority patent/WO1995007844A1/en
Priority to AU78304/94A priority patent/AU7830494A/en
Publication of EP0645315A1 publication Critical patent/EP0645315A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0645315B1 publication Critical patent/EP0645315B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/74—Spouts
    • B65D5/746—Spouts formed separately from the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/50—Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs
    • B65D17/506—Rigid or semi-rigid members, e.g. plugs

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to easy-open/reclosure devices for containers, and more particularly to easy-open/reclosure devices that are intended to be applied to the top lid of a beverage container having a flat top.
  • the easy-open/reclosure device will form a concave trough-shaped pouring spout by deformation of an essentially flat pouring lip upon application to the container.
  • beverage containers are provided with some type of easy-opening feature, examples of which include a pre-scored pull tab in the container's lid or an adhesive tape covering a pre-cut dispensing aperture.
  • easy-open beverage containers are generally acceptable if the container's contents are entirely consumed or dispensed shortly after opening.
  • these containers are objectionable and inconvenient because they cannot be reclosed.
  • the absence of a reclosing feature not only makes it difficult to keep the container's contents fresh and foreign matter such as dirt and dust from entering the container, but also makes it very difficult and awkward Recent attempts to provide an easy-open beverage container with reclosing means have only achieved partial success.
  • Waterbury's articulated closure element does allow a beverage container to be reclosed after it is initially opened, consumers nevertheless find this general type of reclosable container to be objectionable. Specifically, when a portion of the beverage is dispensed, some of the beverage inevitably becomes trapped between the container's dispensing aperture and upstanding rim or runs down its side walls if there is no rim. After the container is returned to its upright position, this residual tends to spread out over the container's lid and side walls and, if the beverage is sweet such as fruit juice, dries to a sticky mess that attracts dust, dirt, insects and other foreign matter.
  • the integral pouring lip/drain surface channels the container's contents up and over the top lid's peripheral edge. Then, when the container is returned to its upright position, the integral pouring lip/drain surface channels any residual product remaining between the top lid's peripheral edge and dispensing aperture back into the container, thereby avoiding the messiness problems discussed above.
  • European application EP-A-291112 discloses a deformable easy-open/reclosure device for rimmed cartons which upon insertion in the top lid of a rimmed carton forms a trough-shaped pouring surface extending beyond the rim and being trough-shaped with the aid of the rim itself.
  • This pouring spout is only useful in the context of rimmed containers.
  • the forming of the trough-shaped pouring surface depends on the rim of the carton and the flexibility, deformability of the pouring spout lip itself.
  • this document does not disclose or suggest how to utilize the beneficial deformability, which is associated to low material consumption and the ability to form a trough-shaped pouring surface in situ as well as easy manufacturing of the overall package, in the context of a flat top container.
  • a principal object of the present invention is to provide a flat top container with an attachable device that can be used to reclose an easy-open container for subsequently storing any remaining beverage and, if applicable, allow the container to be shaken in order to evenly redistribute solids such as fruit pulp.
  • Another principle object of the present invention is to provide a flat-top container with a device that channels the container's contents up and over the container's top lid periphery when the container is tipped and also channels any residual product remaining on the pouring/draining surface into the container when the container is returned to its upright position.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a flat-top container with a reclosing device that has a flexible pouring lip which, when the device is applied to the container's top lid, deforms into a trough-shaped pouring/drainback surface that is independent of the location and orientation of the container's dispensing aperture with respect to the top lid's peripheral edge.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having a pre-scored dispensing aperture with a device that can be used to initially open the container.
  • an easy-open/reclosable device for a container having an essentially flat top lid, in particular not having an upstanding peripheral rim.
  • the device includes a base portion and a moveable portion preferably hingedly attached thereto.
  • the base portion has a dispensing aperture, a depending flange encircling the aperture and a deformable pouring lip/drain surface.
  • the deformable pouring lip/drain surface has depending from its lower side a deformation rim.
  • the device's moveable portion has a plug member depending therefrom which is shaped complementary to the aperture in the base portion. When the device is applied to the container and the moveable portion is in its closed position, the plug member enters and snugly fits within the base aperture, thereby reclosing the container.
  • the flange depending from the base member is pushed through a prescored dispensing aperture in the container's top lid, or snugly pressed into a pre-cut dispensing aperture that was initially covered by, for example, an adhesive tape.
  • the deformation rim comes into contact with the container's flat top lid surface and bends the deformable pouring lip upward and inward such that it assumes an inclined, trough-shaped configuration.
  • This resultant shape provides an excellent surface for channeling product up and over the container's peripheral edge when the container is tipped.
  • the deformed pouring lip/drain surface channels any residual product remaining on this surface back into the container when the container is returned to its upright position.
  • pre-cut generally means an aperture that was cut completely through the top lid at the point of manufacture and initially covered or sealed by, for example, an adhesive tape tab.
  • pre-cut is also intended to include an aperture that was cut in the outer stiff layer of a lid of laminate construction while one or more inner barrier layers are left intact such as that disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,562,936 (Deflander), which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • pre-scored generally means that a line of weakness was formed in the top lid by, for example, scoring the lid or the lid's outer layer if of laminate construction. It is to be understood that the present invention can be readily applied to either type of lid aperture.
  • Figure 1 shows the top portion of a container generally indicated as 10, and an easy-open/reclosing device of the present invention generally indicated as 20 shown before it is applied to container 10.
  • container 10 has a generally square or rectangular cross-section with rounded corners.
  • container 10 may have other cross-sectional configurations such as circular, oval, polygonal, etc.
  • container 10 comprises a top lid 12 having a pre-scored or pre-cut aperture 18, a body portion 14 and a bottom lid (not shown).
  • container 10 is of laminate construction as shown and described in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,562,936 to Deflander, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the top and bottom lids are attached to body portion 14 by any of several operations known to those skilled in the art of container manufacturing such as single or double seaming or is folded from an integral part of the material forming the body portion 14. Regardless of the type of manufacturing operation device 20 of the present invention is intended to be applied to a container having a flat peripheral edge 16 running around the top lid 12.
  • easy-open/reclosing device 20 generally comprises a base portion 22, a moveable portion 24 and a hinge 26 connecting the two.
  • hinge 26 can be eliminated thereby making moveable portion 24 separable from base portion 22.
  • hingedly attached version of the present invention is preferred to avoid losing or mudslinging moveable portion 24.
  • Base portion 22 includes a dispensing aperture 28 and a flange 30 encircling dispensing aperture 28 shaped complementary to lid aperture 18,and projecting downwardly from base portion 22.
  • flange 30 breaks pre-scored lid aperture 18 partially or totally along the line of weakness (the unbroken portion serving to keep the broken-out section from falling into the container), enters lid aperture 18, and tightly engages the aperture due to the friction fit between the two.
  • a separable transport closure may cover lid aperture 18 and have to be removed prior to application of the easy-open/reclosure device 20. As indicated above this may be an adhesive tape with or without a prescored or pre-cut lid aperture 18.
  • flange 30 has a step 31 ( Figure 2) or a snap bead (not shown) projecting therefrom that snaps through lid aperture 18 to even more firmly secure device 20 to lid 12.
  • the bottom edge of flange 30 may be provided with sharp teeth or serrations to reduce the amount of force necessary to press the flange through top lid 12 along the line of weakness.
  • moveable portion 24 includes a plug member 34 depending downwardly therefrom and a grasping tab 36 that provides a convenient means for a consumer to grasp and lift up on moveable portion 24 when it is in its closed position.
  • Plug member 34 is shaped complementary to base aperture 28. When moveable portion 24 is in its closed position, plug member 34 enters and tightly engages base aperture 28, thereby providing a convenient means to reclose container 10 after the initial opening thereof.
  • Base portion 22 of device 20 also includes a deformable pouring lip/drain surface 32 that initially projects outwardly from base dispensing aperture 28 in substantially the same plane as base portion 22 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. From the deformable pouring lip/drain surface 32 depends downwardly a deformation rim 48 as shown in Figure 2.
  • a deformation rim 48 as shown in Figure 2.
  • pouring lip 32 not only provides an ideal surface for channeling product up and over peripheral edge 16 when container 10 is tipped to dispense the product therein, but also one for draining any beverage remaining on pouring lip 32 back into the container when it is returned to its upright position.
  • base portion 22 and integral pouring lip/drain surface 32 can be made from a wide variety of deformable materials such as a thermoplastic, examples of which include polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene.
  • device 20 is of one piece construction made, for example, by using an injection molding technique and apparatus.
  • the present invention hence provides a trough-shaped pouring lip/drain surface 32 after the device 20 has been applied to container 10.
  • Alternative details on the easy-open/reclosure device as disclosed in the prior art as mentioned above are expressly contemplated herein as useful in the context flat-top cartons 10.
  • Figure 3 shows the depending rim 48 from a front perspective not showing the movable portion 24.
  • Figure 4-6 alternative shapes like simple knobs 42 or different extensions of the deformation rim 44,46 in longitudinal and (perpendicular thereto) to lateral direction are also possible.
  • deformation rims instead of the two symmetrically depending deformation rims 42,44,46,48 are possible or even a single deformation rim may be considered as long as it provides the pouring-lip/drain surface with the desired trough-shape on a flat-top carton.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
EP93870189A 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand Expired - Lifetime EP0645315B1 (de)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT93870189T ATE145376T1 (de) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare vorrichtung mit verformbarer giesstülle für schachteln mit flacher oberwand
DE69306111T DE69306111D1 (de) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand
EP93870189A EP0645315B1 (de) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand
PCT/US1994/009925 WO1995007844A1 (en) 1993-09-17 1994-08-30 Easy-open/reclosure device for flat top carton having deformable pour spout
AU78304/94A AU7830494A (en) 1993-09-17 1994-08-30 Easy-open/reclosure device for flat top carton having deformable pour spout

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP93870189A EP0645315B1 (de) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0645315A1 true EP0645315A1 (de) 1995-03-29
EP0645315B1 EP0645315B1 (de) 1996-11-20

Family

ID=8215391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93870189A Expired - Lifetime EP0645315B1 (de) 1993-09-17 1993-09-17 Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit verformbarer Giesstülle für Schachteln mit flacher Oberwand

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0645315B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE145376T1 (de)
AU (1) AU7830494A (de)
DE (1) DE69306111D1 (de)
WO (1) WO1995007844A1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0747283A1 (de) * 1995-06-09 1996-12-11 Automobiles Peugeot Vorrichtung zur Abdichtung von Öffnungen in beliebigen Teilen
DE19635088A1 (de) * 1996-08-30 1998-03-05 Pkl Verpackungssysteme Gmbh Wiederverschließbares Element für Getränkepackungen
WO2001005675A1 (en) * 1999-07-19 2001-01-25 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. An assembly for two products to be mixed just prior to use
WO2006053922A1 (es) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-26 Enrique Muriel Salvador Dispositivo con tapa y embocadura para latas de bebidas
WO2010109090A1 (fr) 2009-03-24 2010-09-30 Ali Messaoudi Dispositif de fermeture, et contenant pourvu d'un tel dispositif en vue de préparer un mélange
WO2014053644A1 (de) * 2012-10-04 2014-04-10 Ruklic Nenad WIEDERVERSCHLIEßBARER VERSCHLUSS FÜR EINEN FALTBAREN FLÜSSIGKEITSBEHÄLTER SOWIE DEN VERSCHLUSS ENTHALTENDER FLÜSSIGKEITSBEHÄLTER

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1286074B1 (it) * 1996-10-31 1998-07-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Dispositivo di apertura su un materiale in foglio da imballaggio

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2321050A (en) * 1941-07-19 1943-06-08 American Can Co Container
EP0291112A2 (de) * 1987-05-12 1988-11-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit einer Giesstülle

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2676744A (en) * 1950-08-10 1954-04-27 American Can Co Container cap with foldable barrier
US4782996A (en) * 1987-10-02 1988-11-08 The Procter & Gamble Company Dispensing package
US4880155A (en) * 1988-10-18 1989-11-14 Packaging Corporation Of America Collapsible foldable dispensing carton
US4934590A (en) * 1989-02-27 1990-06-19 Combibloc, Inc. Package closure

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2321050A (en) * 1941-07-19 1943-06-08 American Can Co Container
EP0291112A2 (de) * 1987-05-12 1988-11-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Leicht zu öffnende, wiederverschliessbare Vorrichtung mit einer Giesstülle

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0747283A1 (de) * 1995-06-09 1996-12-11 Automobiles Peugeot Vorrichtung zur Abdichtung von Öffnungen in beliebigen Teilen
FR2735189A1 (fr) * 1995-06-09 1996-12-13 Peugeot Dispositif d'obturation de trous dans des pieces quelconques
DE19635088A1 (de) * 1996-08-30 1998-03-05 Pkl Verpackungssysteme Gmbh Wiederverschließbares Element für Getränkepackungen
DE19635088C2 (de) * 1996-08-30 2002-01-10 Sig Combibloc Gmbh Wiederverschließbares Element für Getränkepackungen
WO2001005675A1 (en) * 1999-07-19 2001-01-25 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. An assembly for two products to be mixed just prior to use
EP1072530A1 (de) * 1999-07-19 2001-01-31 Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Einheit für zwei gerade vor dem Gebrauch zu vermischende Produkte
WO2006053922A1 (es) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-26 Enrique Muriel Salvador Dispositivo con tapa y embocadura para latas de bebidas
WO2010109090A1 (fr) 2009-03-24 2010-09-30 Ali Messaoudi Dispositif de fermeture, et contenant pourvu d'un tel dispositif en vue de préparer un mélange
FR2943635A1 (fr) * 2009-03-24 2010-10-01 Ali Messaoudi Dispositif permettant de percer la paroi d'un emballage puis de refermer ce percage
WO2014053644A1 (de) * 2012-10-04 2014-04-10 Ruklic Nenad WIEDERVERSCHLIEßBARER VERSCHLUSS FÜR EINEN FALTBAREN FLÜSSIGKEITSBEHÄLTER SOWIE DEN VERSCHLUSS ENTHALTENDER FLÜSSIGKEITSBEHÄLTER

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995007844A1 (en) 1995-03-23
AU7830494A (en) 1995-04-03
DE69306111D1 (de) 1997-01-02
ATE145376T1 (de) 1996-12-15
EP0645315B1 (de) 1996-11-20

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