EP1353858B1 - Easy-to-open packaging shell - Google Patents

Abstract

This substantially rigid product packaging shell which defines a volume (3) for the at least partial housing of the product (7), having an opening that is closed using a flexible cover (6), is characterised in that the shell is produced in at least two parts (1a, 1b), which parts can be easily separated, at least partially, and which can come apart on the non-cover (6) side by pivoting in the area (2) next to the shell opening (4).

Description

The invention relates to a substantially rigid packaging shell of a product, defining at least a partial housing volume of the produced, and closed by a lid.

Such shells are known for the packaging of cheeses, for example by the documents EP 0952093, FR 2 773 137 or FR 2 786 471. In these shells, the lid is substantially rigid and can be detach from the shell to access the product. In other packaging known, the lid is a flexible seal that is detached from the shell. In In either case, access to the product in the hull is not always satisfactory, especially if, for example, the product tends to stick to the walls hull; once the lid is removed, it remains to extract the product from the shell. In the case of a food product, this extraction is not necessarily very hygienic or can soil the fingers. The US document 3521805 shows a wrapping shell closed with a film and whose shape makes that by folding it with the fingers, we break a shaped part the neck of the shell, which allows the product to be distributed which is necessarily in fluid form (powder, liquid or paste). The documents DE 7607897U, US 4266667 and US 3075639 shows type packages "blister packs" more or less articulated, intended to contain non such as sterile pencils or needles, but unsuitable for problem of food products such as cheese that we do not want touch with your fingers.

The object of the invention is to propose a package of the type defined above which allows easy access to the product contained in the hull, without having to touch said product, in particular for a solid product such as cheese.

The invention achieves its goal thanks to a packaging shell substantially rigid product, defining a volume of housing at less partial of the product having an opening closed by a lid flexible disposed on an annular marginal region of the hull, the hull being made in at least two parts joined by an opening zone easy, easily separable at least partially and that can deviate on the opposite side to the lid, articulating with the neighboring region of the opening of the hull, characterized in that the hull is substantially hemisphere and the zone is an equatorial zone. In this way, the user access to the product, either by opening the lid (which instead could be used to fill the product in the shell) but by separating the shell in its at least two articulated parts and opening it, which releases the product lodged in the hull and still resting partly on the lid. As the lid is flexible (at least locally in the axis of articulation), it does not oppose the articulation of the two hull parts.

Advantageously, the zone of easy opening is an area weakened, for example thinned, or an open area covered with tear tape.

The invention applies preferably to the conditioning of food products, such as cheese or portioned salted foods that it is easy to eat without getting dirty.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'une coque conforme à l'invention avant son remplissage et sa fermeture,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe schématique de la même coque après remplissage et fermeture par un opercule,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de la coque telle qu'elle se présente au consommateur,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de la même coque après début d'arrachage de la languette d'ouverture,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de la même coque après ouverture et pivotement des demi-coques.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a shell according to the invention before it is filled and closed,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the same shell after filling and closing with a lid,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shell as it is presented to the consumer,
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same shell after tearing of the opening tongue has begun,
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the same shell after opening and pivoting the half-shells.

The substantially hemispherical shell 1 comprises a border annular plane 2 and is made for example of plastic transparent. The shell forms a housing 3, intended to be closed at the its circular opening 4. According to a known technique, the product is introduced (arrow 5) through the opening in the overturned shell 1, then a 6, for example in metal-plastic complex, is brought on the border 2 to be sealed and thus hermetically seal the hull 1 with his product 7.

The shell 1 has an open median equatorial zone 8 separating the shell into two symmetrical half-shells 1a, 1b joined by the border 2. Zone 8 is covered externally by a band 9 of which at least one end 10 forms a tongue which can be entered manually. Band 9 protrudes from both sides (or from one side) of the open zone 8 to be secured to each of the two half-shells 1a, 1b. The band 8 can be put in place at the time of molding of the hull, according to the known techniques of laying labels in molds. When in place, it tightly closes area 8 and therefore allows the filling of the product 7.

To access the product, the consumer enters the tab 10 and pulls, which takes off the band 9 and clears the open area 8.

The two hulls are only joined together by the border 2 and 6. The consumer can then, with one hand if he wants to rotate the two half-shells 1a, 1b substantially around the diameter 11 located at the intersection of the plane of the equatorial zone 8 and the border 2, so as to show the product 7 whose bottom is supported on the operculum 6. The articulation of the two half-shells is easy in the the operculum is flexible and does not interfere with the movement and where the Border 2, though more rigid, is relatively narrow. We can if necessary, provide a line of weakness, for example a thinning, in the border 2 at the diameter 11. It is also possible to provide instead of a fully flexible cover a rigid cover but including a hinge at the diameter 11 so as to allow the joint.

Rather than a strip 9 taking off entirely, one can foresee a band incorporating an opening thread that tears it and allows the uncoupling of the two half-shells. We can also foresee any other system allowing this separation of the shells, as for example a weakened equatorial zone tearing itself easily, one area equatorial formed between two weakening lines and forming itself a tear-off integral tongue.

Claims (2)

1. A substantially rigid product packaging shell defining a volume (3) for the at least partial housing of the product (7), having an opening (4) that is closed using a flexible cover (6) arranged on an annular marginal area (2) of the shell, the shell (1) being produced in at least two parts (1a, 1b) joined by an easy-to-open zone (8), which parts can be easily separated, at least partially, and which can come apart on the non-cover (6) side by pivoting in the area (2) next to the shell opening (4), characterized in that the shell is hemispherical and the zone (8) is an equatorial zone.
2. The shell as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the easy-to-open zone (8) is a breakable, for example thin, zone, or an open zone covered by a peel-off tape.

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