EP1336569B1 - A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables - Google Patents

A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1336569B1
EP1336569B1 EP03425170A EP03425170A EP1336569B1 EP 1336569 B1 EP1336569 B1 EP 1336569B1 EP 03425170 A EP03425170 A EP 03425170A EP 03425170 A EP03425170 A EP 03425170A EP 1336569 B1 EP1336569 B1 EP 1336569B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container according
container
stiffening
lid
foregoing
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03425170A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1336569A2 (en
EP1336569A3 (en
Inventor
Alessandro Fornari
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.)
Infia SRL
Original Assignee
Infia SRL
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 Infia SRL filed Critical Infia SRL
Priority to EP05100660A priority Critical patent/EP1526077B1/en
Publication of EP1336569A2 publication Critical patent/EP1336569A2/en
Publication of EP1336569A3 publication Critical patent/EP1336569A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1336569B1 publication Critical patent/EP1336569B1/en
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
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
    • 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
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/40—Details of walls
    • B65D1/42—Reinforcing or strengthening parts or members
    • 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
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
    • B65D43/0212—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth
    • 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
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/16—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
    • B65D43/162—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece
    • 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
    • B65D2205/00—Venting means
    • B65D2205/02—Venting holes
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/10—Details of hinged closures
    • B65D2251/1016—Means for locking the closure in closed position
    • B65D2251/1033—Protuberances and cavities provided on a horizontal flange respectively of the container or base and the closure, and penetrating one into the other, e.g. of the press-button type
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
    • B65D2543/0012—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners
    • B65D2543/00175—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners four straight sides, e.g. trapezium or diamond
    • B65D2543/00194—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners four straight sides, e.g. trapezium or diamond square or rectangular
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
    • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00342—Central part of the lid
    • B65D2543/00351—Dome-like
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00342—Central part of the lid
    • B65D2543/00398—Reinforcing ribs in the central part of the closure
    • B65D2543/00407—Reinforcing ribs in the central part of the closure radial
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00527—NO contact
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00611—Profiles
    • B65D2543/00648—Flange or lip
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00685—Totality
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
    • B65D2543/00731—Groove or hollow bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
    • B65D2543/0074—Massive bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00833—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar
    • B65D2543/00842—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar outside of the lid

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container of transparent plastic material.
  • the container according to the invention is made preferably of PET and is used to hold products, in particular fruit or vegetables.
  • Prior art containers of flexible, transparent plastic material for fruit or vegetables come in various shapes and sizes and consist essentially of an open-top container body and a lid hinged to the container body along one side, designed to close the top of the container and presenting suitable retaining means for keeping the lid in the closed position.
  • the retaining means usually consist of snap-lock press mouldings formed in the edges of the container opposite the hinged side.
  • Prior art containers as e.g. GB 2 339 766, are reinforced to protect the fruit or vegetables they contain (and to enable them to be conveniently stacked for storage and transportation).
  • the reinforcing consists of suitable stiffening ribs in the form of moulded protrusions distributed over the side walls of the container body and of the lid and extending also over the top of the lid.
  • these ribs normally protrude from the plane defined by the walls of the container and have a substantially arc-shaped cross section.
  • Prior art reinforcing ribs of this type have the disadvantage of preventing the products contained from being viewed properly, due principally to the fact that the shape of the ribbing distorts the view of the product inside the container afforded from the outside of the container, which means that consumers are precluded from fully appreciating the quality of the products inside such prior art containers.
  • the present invention provides a product container in particular for fruit or vegetables or similar products, the container comprising a container body and a lid and being characterised in that the container body or the lid, and especially the latter, comprises at least one rib, the rib having at least one stiffening portion that forms a ribbing surface which extends between an upper edge and a lower edge whereby the upper edge of the ribbing surface of the stiffening portion has a curvature radius, and lower edge of the ribbing surface of the stiffening portion has a curvature radius; and whereby the the curvature radius of the lower edge is greater than the curvature radius of the upper edge of the ribbing surface in such a way that the width, or distance between these edges is at its maximum at an intermediate point of the stiffening portion.
  • Ribbing of the type described above confers considerable stiffness on, and reinforces, the container. Further, such ribbing does not deform the view of the products in the container afforded from the outside of the container itself.
  • the side of it opposite that where the lid is hinged to the container body comprises mutual engagement means designed to prevent the lid from sliding sideways relative to the container body.
  • the lid and the container body cooperate more effectively to confer greater structural rigidity on the container in its entirety.
  • the first preferred embodiment 10 of the container according to the present invention is made of transparent plastic material, in particular PET, and comprises an open-top container body 12, having a plurality of side walls, labelled 14, 16, 18, 20 in the drawings, and a substantially horizontal bottom, labelled 22.
  • the container according to the invention also comprises a lid 24 associated with the container body 12 in such a way as to close it and in turn comprising corresponding short side walls 26, 28, 30, 32, each of which is connected, through a respective curved connecting wall, to a horizontal top 34 forming part of the lid.
  • the curved connecting walls, labelled 36, 38, 40, 42 in the accompanying drawings, extend along the sides of the lid according to the directrices of a corresponding cylindrical surface, that is to say, in such a way as to form a sector of a cylindrical surface, which joins the side walls of the lid to the horizontal top 34 of the lid.
  • the connecting walls of the lid 24 comprise a plurality of ribs, collectively labelled 44.
  • the shape of the ribs 44 includes a curved portion 44a which is recessed or indented relative to the respective curved connecting wall 36, 38, 40, 42 and which extends widthways according to the directrices of a corresponding cylindrical surface.
  • the recessed portion 44a of the rib 44 is joined to the corresponding curved connecting wall 36, 38, 40, 42 by opposite lateral reinforcing portions 44b, 44c extending from the opposite edges of the recessed portion 44a and lying in substantially vertical planes.
  • the substantially vertical stiffening portions 44b, 44c form a "segment-like" surface which extends between the recessed rib portion 44a and the curved connecting wall 36, 38, 40, 42 and whose height h (see detail of Figure 6), or radial distance between the curved portions 44a and 36, 38, 40, 42, increases to a maximum (h) at an intermediate point of the stiffening portion 44b, 44c.
  • stiffening portions 44b, 44c shaped in this way confer considerable flexural rigidity on the ribbing.
  • the rib 44 shaped as described above allows the product inside the container to be viewed properly since there are no corrugated or curved surfaces to distort the view of the product, as occurs with the stiffening ribs on prior art containers.
  • hole means 46 are made in the recessed portion 44a of the rib 44.
  • the hole means consist of an elliptic or oblong opening 46, whose width is approximately one third of the width of the recessed portion 44a of the rib 44.
  • the opening is centrally positioned within the recessed portion, as shown in the drawings.
  • the ventilation opening 46 extends for a length substantially equal to the length of the recessed portion 44a, but is slightly longer at the end of it that extends on the top of the lid.
  • the side walls 26, 28, 30, 32 of the lid respectively comprise a vertical lower portion 26a, 28a, 30a, 32a, which is integral with a corresponding horizontal perimetric portion 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, of a lower peripheral lip 33 of the lid.
  • the lower vertical portion 26a, 28a, 30a, 32a is joined, through a substantially horizontal stepped peripheral portion 26b, 28b, 30b, 32b, to an upper wall portion 26c, 28c, 30c, 32c which extends vertically and which, at the top, is integral with the corresponding upper connecting wall 36, 38, 40, 42, through a corresponding substantially horizontal stepped portion 26d, 28d, 30d, 32d.
  • the upper portions 26c, 28c of the lid sides feature stiffening ribs, labelled 48. Looking in more detail, some of these are located at the ribs 44 made on the long sides of the connecting walls of the lid, at the openings 46. As illustrated, the ribs 48 are approximately equal in width to the holes 46 and are designed to reinforce the portions in the proximity of the openings themselves.
  • the ribs 48 comprise a flat recessed portion 48a and opposing side mouldings 48b, 48c.
  • Corresponding stiffening ribs 50 are made in the lower portion of the side wall of the lid at the curved corner portions 25, 27, 29, 31 of the side walls.
  • the ribs 50 comprise a flat recessed portion 50a and opposing side mouldings 50b, 50c.
  • stiffening ribs 48 similar to the wider ribs 44 made in the portions joining the top of the lid, are made in the upper portions of the side walls, at the corner portions of the lid, to coincide with the ribs 50.
  • the corners of the lid are stiffened and highly resistant.
  • the numerals 35 in the drawings denote press mouldings designed to fasten the lid in the closed position and comprising protruding lock portions that snap into matching socket portions made in the container body in such a way as to close the lid and hold it in the closed position.
  • This hinge portion which is denoted in its entirety by the numeral 37 in the drawings, comprises two long moulded portions having a substantially C-shaped cross section, labelled 37a, 37b and joined to each other by a horizontal strip portion, labelled 37c.
  • the side opposite the hinged side also comprises suitable means, denoted in their entirety by the numerals 52 and 54, by which the lid engages with and rests on the container body.
  • portion 52 on the lid acts in conjunction with the portion 54 which protrudes upwardly from the upper edge of the longitudinal wall 14 of the container body.
  • the first engagement means 52 are made in an intermediate area of one of the lid walls and extend from a lower edge of this wall towards the upper edge of a matching wall of the container body to engage with the second engagement means 54 that protrude from the upper edge of the wall of the container body.
  • the first engagement means on the lid take the form of wide teeth 52a, 52b, 52c which fit into the matching spaces between the teeth 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d of the second engagement means on the container body.
  • teeth have convergent lateral contact surfaces 52', 52" and 54', 54" which engage with each other.
  • these means for the engagement and laterally retaining the lid on the container body are made on the side walls opposite the hinge 37 which joins the lid to the container body.
  • the side wall of the lid rests on the matching side wall of the container body, conferring greater flexural rigidity on the lid wall and, hence, greater rigidity on the top of the lid, too.
  • the engagement and sideways retaining means comprise teeth with substantially semicircular profiles, labelled 52a, 52b, 52c, which extend downwardly from the lower lip 33b protruding horizontally from the corresponding vertical wall of the container lid.
  • Matching semicircular teeth 54a, 54b and arc-shaped tooth end portions 54c, 54d, on either side of the central teeth 54a, 54b, extend along the upper edge of the corresponding wall of the container body and are suitably spaced in such a way as to form spaces for accommodating the substantially semicircular teeth 52a, 52b, 52c, of the engagement means on the container lid.
  • the semicircular teeth formed on the container body fit into the semicircular spaces made by the suitably spaced teeth 52a, 52b, 52c formed on the container lid.
  • the tooth configuration described above uniformly distributes the force applied to the tooth, thus preventing excessive strain on the tooth and significantly reducing the risk of the teeth becoming deformed.
  • the thickness of the contact surfaces 52', 52" and 54', 54" of the engagement teeth is such as to guarantee a good distribution of the sideways retaining action between the lid and the container body.
  • the lower teeth extend from a lateral portion of a peripheral lip 33 of the container body, which - thanks to the engagement means 52 and 54 and to the hinge 37 - is kept slightly clear of the peripheral lip 35a of the lid, leaving an air gap S through which the product inside the container is ventilated.
  • the upper portions 26c, 28c, 30c, 32c of the side walls 26, 28, 30, 32 of the lid comprise stiffening portions 56, which protrude from the corresponding wall and which extend from the horizontal stepped portion 26b, 28b, 30b, 32b joining the lower portions 26a, 28a, 30a, 32a of the side walls to the upper portions of the lid side walls.
  • the protruding portions 56 constitute means for stiffening the side walls of the lid.
  • the bottom 22 is joined to the side walls by a corresponding recessed portion 14a, 16a, 18a, 20a in the form of a curved portion connecting the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 to the bottom 22 of the container body.
  • the side walls of the container body 14, 16, 18, 20 are joined to each other by arc-shaped portions denoted by the numerals 15, 17, 21 and 23 in Figure 4.
  • the stiffening ribs on the side walls of the lid are made only at or in the proximity of these curved connecting portions 15, 17, 21, 23 at the corners of the container body.
  • corner stiffening ribs take the form of "fretting" and comprise a first, substantially flat recessed portion, labelled 60a, which is connected by ribbed portions, labelled 60b and 60c, to the adjacent portions of the side wall.
  • stiffening ribbed portions 60b and 60c are upwardly convergent.
  • the corners joining the long sides 14, 16 to the short sides 18, 20 also feature second stiffening ribs.
  • Each of these second "fretted" ribs comprises a recessed portion, labelled 62a, which has lateral portions, labelled 62b and 62c, joining it to the adjacent portions lying in the same plane as the side walls of the container body. Again, these portions of the stiffening ribs 62 are upwardly convergent, as illustrated.
  • the recessed stiffening portions 60, 62 on the container body define analogous recessed stiffening portions 60', 62' in the lowermost section 14a, 16a, 18a, 20a of the container body.
  • the container body further comprises stiffening portions, labelled 66, extending vertically on, and protruding from, the corresponding walls of the container on each side of the corner ribs 62.
  • the lid also has a top surface designed to engage with the bottom of a container placed on top of it, this top surface being bounded by an essentially quadrangular border 34' which extends at a slightly higher level than the topmost point of the connecting portion 36, 38, 40, 42.
  • the lower edge 44'a of the ribbing surfaces - only the rib 44c being shown in Figure 6 - has a curvature radius Ri that is greater than the curvature radius Re of the upper edge 44'c of the ribbing surface 44c.
  • the convexity of these edges which define the ribbing surface, faces upwards, that is to say, it faces the outside of the container.
  • the ratio between the curvature radius Ri of the lower edge 44'a and the curvature radius Re of the upper edge 44'c advantageously ranges from 1,2 to 2 and is preferably between 1,3 and 1,8 ideally 1,5.
  • the curvature radius Re of the upper edge 44'c ranges from 5 to 15 mm and is preferably between 7 and 13 mm, ideally 10 mm, whilst the curvature radius Ri of the lower edge 44'a ranges from 10 to 20 mm and is preferably between 12 and 18 mm, ideally 15 mm.
  • each rib has a lower end that extends from the stepped portion 28d whose thickness or height is less than the maximum height or thickness h of the rib itself, whilst at the opposite end, the edges of the rib are convergent and merge with each other at the top of the lid.
  • the width "L" of the intermediate connecting portion 44a, extending between the first and second side stiffening portions 44b, 44c, ranges from 6 to 18 mm, is preferably between 8 and 14 mm and, ideally, 12 mm. This confers sufficient stiffness on the ribbing while at the same time, being transparent so that the product inside the container can be seen clearly.
  • the oblong ventilation opening 46 is preferably from 4 to 8 mm wide and, ideally, has a width "1" of 5 mm.
  • each of the corner portions 25', 27', 29', 31' has the shape of a vault connecting adjacent side walls to the transversal top surface 34.
  • each vault-shaped corner portion 25', 27', 29', 31' has, in the horizontal plane, a curvature radius "Ro” that ranges from 14 to 20 mm and is preferably 17 mm, whilst the curvature radius "Re" of each vault-shaped corner portion 25', 27', 29', 31' in any vertical plane may range from 5 to 15 mm, preferably between 7 and 13 mm, and is, ideally, 10 mm.
  • the vault-shaped corner portion 25' is laterally delimited by a first stiffening rib 44', made in one portion 36 of the lid, and by a second stiffening rib 44", made on a portion 40 adjacent (and at right angles) to the one where the first stiffening rib is made. This confers considerable rigidity on the corner portion.
  • the height Vl of the side walls 26, 28, 30, 32 is less than the height Vr of the connecting portion 36, 38, 40, 42.
  • the height V'l of the lower vertical portions 26a, 28a, 30a, 32a, and the height V"l of the upper vertical portions 26c, 28c, 30c, 32c of the lid side walls 26, 28, 30, 32 are substantially the same.
  • the container body 12 has stiffening ribs on its side walls solely at the corner portions conferring structural rigidity on the container in its entirety, while at the same time providing a better view inside the container.
  • stiffening ribs made solely at the corner portions of the side walls of the container body 12, are delimited by the vertical protruding stiffening portions 66.
  • Each rib 44 extends past the circumferential border 34' that delimits the top transversal surface 34 and does not protrude upwards relative to this top transversal surface 34, making it possible to obtain a rigid structure that can be made using a simplified, lower-cost mould.
  • Figure 8 illustrates a second preferred embodiment 100 of the container according to the present invention, this embodiment being substantially the same as the first preferred embodiment, from which it differs in that it has a smaller number of ribs, labelled 144, the short sides of the container having only one rib 144 made in each of them.
  • the lid 224 is not hinged to the container body as in the embodiments described above, but is separate from the container body 212.
  • the container, in this third preferred embodiment 200, is substantially square in shape, when viewed from above, and its lid has the same number of ribs 244 on all four sides of it.
  • Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment 300 of the container.
  • the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to those of the first preferred embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters.
  • the ribbing surfaces 344b and 344c of the rib 344 on the lid start at a stepped portion 345, which extends horizontally between the space or recess defined by the ribbing surfaces 344b and 344c, starting from a substantially vertical extension 328e of the horizontal stepped portion 28d of the lid. This confers greater rigidity on the part at the base of the ribbing, making the container as a whole more resistant to vertical loads.
  • the first preferred embodiment of the container illustrated is approximately 187,5 mm long, 118 mm wide and 90 mm high.
  • the second preferred embodiment of the container illustrated is approximately 127,5 mm long, 96,5 mm wide and 80 mm high.
  • the length of the sides is approximately 186 mm and the height is 114 mm.
  • Containers with dimensions other than these are, however, imaginable.
  • the container according to the present invention is made by moulding of plastic material, especially by thermoforming.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP03425170A 2002-03-20 2003-03-19 A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables Expired - Lifetime EP1336569B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05100660A EP1526077B1 (en) 2002-03-20 2003-03-19 A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2002BO000132A ITBO20020132A1 (it) 2002-03-20 2002-03-20 Cestello per il contenimento di prodotti , in particolare di prodottiortofrutticoli
ITBO20020132 2002-03-20

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05100660A Division EP1526077B1 (en) 2002-03-20 2003-03-19 A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1336569A2 EP1336569A2 (en) 2003-08-20
EP1336569A3 EP1336569A3 (en) 2003-10-22
EP1336569B1 true EP1336569B1 (en) 2005-06-01

Family

ID=11439978

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03425170A Expired - Lifetime EP1336569B1 (en) 2002-03-20 2003-03-19 A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables
EP05100660A Expired - Lifetime EP1526077B1 (en) 2002-03-20 2003-03-19 A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05100660A Expired - Lifetime EP1526077B1 (en) 2002-03-20 2003-03-19 A product container, in particular for fruit or vegetables

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1336569B1 (es)
AT (2) ATE296760T1 (es)
DE (1) DE60300723D1 (es)
ES (1) ES2390493T3 (es)
IT (1) ITBO20020132A1 (es)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8308008B2 (en) 2006-12-27 2012-11-13 Abbott Laboratories Container
US8469223B2 (en) 2009-06-05 2013-06-25 Abbott Laboratories Strength container
US8511499B2 (en) 2007-12-18 2013-08-20 Abbott Laboratories Container
US8627981B2 (en) 2009-06-05 2014-01-14 Abbott Laboratories Container
USD733320S1 (en) 2013-04-26 2015-06-30 Abbott Laboratories Container
US9387963B2 (en) 2012-04-27 2016-07-12 Abbott Laboratories Container

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ITBO20050196A1 (it) * 2005-03-25 2006-09-26 Infia Srl Contenitore per il confezionamento di prodotti,in particolare di prodotti ortofrutticoli
US7748561B2 (en) 2006-07-11 2010-07-06 Taylor Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Atmosphere controlled packaging for fresh foodstuffs
US7748560B2 (en) 2006-07-11 2010-07-06 Taylor Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Atmosphere controlled packaging for fresh foodstuffs
US8167166B2 (en) 2007-11-23 2012-05-01 Peninsula Packaging, Llc Container
US8091731B2 (en) 2007-11-28 2012-01-10 Peninsula Packaging, Llc Container
US8261933B2 (en) 2007-11-28 2012-09-11 Peninsula Packaging, Llc Container
IT1400462B1 (it) * 2009-07-17 2013-05-31 Isap Packaging S P A Procedimento ed impianto per l'ottenimento di un corpo contenitore particolarmente adatto per il confezionamento di prodotti alimentari
US8608008B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2013-12-17 Dart Container Corporation Tamper evident container
US9624009B2 (en) 2010-08-26 2017-04-18 Dart Container Corporation Tamper evident container
USD675517S1 (en) 2011-07-29 2013-02-05 Dart Container Corporation Container
FR3032086B1 (fr) * 2015-01-29 2017-08-18 Buvette Abreuvoir a parois renforcees
US10889413B2 (en) 2016-10-28 2021-01-12 Genpak, Llc Tamper-evident container with a tab extending beyond a hinge
US10894635B2 (en) 2016-10-28 2021-01-19 Genpak, Llc Tamper-evident container with a wide tab extending beyond a hinge
US10220985B2 (en) 2016-10-28 2019-03-05 Genpak, Llc Tamper-evident container with a tabbed hinge
US10351310B2 (en) 2016-10-28 2019-07-16 Genpak, Llc Tamper-evident container with a bump near a tabbed hinge
US10723523B2 (en) 2017-01-10 2020-07-28 Fabri-Kal Corporation Tamper evident container having bonded tab
IT201700005771A1 (it) * 2017-01-19 2018-07-19 Corte Parma Alimentare S R L Contenitore

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US3795360A (en) * 1971-12-02 1974-03-05 Safeway Stores Cover for basket-type container and combination thereof
US3837526A (en) * 1972-08-31 1974-09-24 Kirkhof Mfg Corp Cover for produce carton
US4113095A (en) * 1976-11-26 1978-09-12 Van Dorn Company Tray-type processed food containers
FR2399359A1 (fr) * 1977-08-05 1979-03-02 Gatrun Anstalt Recipient thermoforme, son procede de fabrication et moule de formage
JPH05213331A (ja) * 1992-01-29 1993-08-24 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd 合成樹脂発泡体嵌合容器
GB2339766A (en) * 1998-07-23 2000-02-09 Infia Srl A container suitable for fruit and vegetables and the like
US6029803A (en) * 1999-01-14 2000-02-29 Ovadia Corp. Display and storage box with interlocking, friction fitting halves

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8308008B2 (en) 2006-12-27 2012-11-13 Abbott Laboratories Container
US8857645B2 (en) 2006-12-27 2014-10-14 Abbott Laboratories Container
US9505522B2 (en) 2006-12-27 2016-11-29 Abbott Laboratories Container
US11554893B2 (en) 2006-12-27 2023-01-17 Abbott Laboratories Container
US8511499B2 (en) 2007-12-18 2013-08-20 Abbott Laboratories Container
US8469223B2 (en) 2009-06-05 2013-06-25 Abbott Laboratories Strength container
US8627981B2 (en) 2009-06-05 2014-01-14 Abbott Laboratories Container
US9387963B2 (en) 2012-04-27 2016-07-12 Abbott Laboratories Container
US10005596B2 (en) 2012-04-27 2018-06-26 Abbott Laboratories Container
USD733320S1 (en) 2013-04-26 2015-06-30 Abbott Laboratories Container
USD782696S1 (en) 2013-04-26 2017-03-28 Abbott Laboratories Container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE296760T1 (de) 2005-06-15
ITBO20020132A1 (it) 2003-09-22
EP1336569A2 (en) 2003-08-20
ES2390493T3 (es) 2012-11-13
ATE556944T1 (de) 2012-05-15
EP1526077A3 (en) 2005-08-03
EP1336569A3 (en) 2003-10-22
EP1526077A2 (en) 2005-04-27
ITBO20020132A0 (it) 2002-03-20
EP1526077B1 (en) 2012-05-09
DE60300723D1 (de) 2005-07-07

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