EP1512637B1 - Closure lid for food containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover has a lower part (I) in the form of an annular ring comprising a circular groove oriented towards a pot. The groove has external and internal edges covering an external flange of the pot. Lugs present on internal side of the external edge are embedded under the flange. An integrated spoon (Q) has a handle comprising a notch complementary to a lug formed on the internal edge.

Description

The present invention relates to a lid for closing food containers.

It is known closure caps of food containers whose nesting on the food containers is not done automatically, hermetically and tamper-proof. This type of lid, as for example that described in the application for DE 297 12 826 , leads to a risk of unintentional opening which can be problematic when the food contained in the pot is intended for infants whose food must be kept sterile. Other known installations of the prior art, such as those described in the patent applications WO 03/022703 and GB 2,250,271 , consist of a lower part and an upper part interconnected by a flexible hinge allowing the folding of the upper part on the lower part. However, these facilities do not have a handle allowing the user to carry the food pot. The lid described in the patent application WO 03/022703 has means of automatic nesting and hermetic on a pot but it does not have an integrated spoon for the handling of the contained food. The lid described in the application for GB Patent 2,250,271 has all the features of the preamble of claim 1. It has an integrated spoon, initially attached to the lid by breakable tabs, but it can not be, after its first use, stored in the pot without being in contact with the food in the pot, which again raises a problem of sterility since the user is likely to have deposited germs on, for example the handle of the spoon during handling. Finally, it is known covers whose shape is not appropriate to stack them on each other during storage before placing on the pot or to stack the pots with their cover on each other. others, which poses problems of congestion and storage instability.

The object of the invention is to propose to solve one or more of the following purposes, namely, a lid for closing food jars having the advantage of allowing an automatic interlocking, hermetic and inviolable lid on the pot, easy port the pot thanks to a handle on the lid also allowing a protection of the closure system, a stack of lids or pots with their lid and a manipulation of the food thanks to an integrated spoon fixable in the lid and without contact with the lid. food to prevent contamination of the food by germs.

This object is achieved by a closure cap according to claim 1.

According to one feature, the integrated spoon is constituted by a rod-shaped handle connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally, in the plane of the ring formed by the lower part, by small removable tabs, scored during the first use of the spoon and connecting the other end of the handle to the lower part of the lid, the complementary means for attachment of the spoon on the lower part of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a notch present at the latter end of the handle of the spoon and of complementary shape to a lug formed on the upper surface of the lower part.

According to another particularity, the integrated spoon consists of a rod-shaped handle connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally in the plane of the ring formed by the lower part, by small removable tabs, breakable during the first use of the spoon and connecting the other end of the handle to the lower part of the lid, the complementary means for attachment of the spoon on the lower part of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a notch present at the latter end of the handle of the spoon and of complementary shape to a stud formed on the inner edge of the lower part.

According to another particularity, the integrated spoon consists of a rod-shaped handle connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally in the plane the ring formed by the lower part, by small removable tabs, breakable during the first use of the spoon and connecting the other end of the handle to the lower part of the lid, the complementary means for the attachment of the spoon on the lower part of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a notch at the latter end of the handle of the spoon and of complementary shape to a hook formed on the inner edge of the lower part.

According to another particularity, the integrated spoon consists of a rod-shaped handle connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally in the plane the ring formed by the lower part, by small removable tabs, breakable during the first use of the spoon and connecting the other end of the handle to the lower part of the lid, the complementary means for the attachment of the spoon on the lower part of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a housing formed on the inner edge of the lower part and of shape complementary to the shape of the latter end of the handle of the spoon to be inserted into this housing.

According to another feature, the lower and upper portions of the closure lid of food containers have, on their diametrically opposite side to the hinge linking them to each other, respectively the female part of a tamper-proof closure system, constituted two fixed lateral tabs linking the lower part of the lid to a removable plate which will be broken during the first opening of the lid and the male part consisting of a lug coming to fit into the female part and under the outer edge of the lower part of the lid and whose dimensions are determined to allow the opening of the lid after destruction of the removable plate of the female part of the closure system.

According to another feature, the lower part of the closure lid of food jars has on its outer edge, on either side of the axis formed by the flexible hinge and the closing system, two axes of rotation each consisting of a short stem with a disc at its end on which are fitted notches fixing a loop, initially secured to the corresponding sides of the upper part of the lid by small breakable tabs when the first use of the handle which, after closure of the upper part of the lid on the lower part, fits automatically on the rotation axes of the lower part of the lid.

According to another feature, the handle is of sufficient size to allow when it is folded towards the tamper-proof closure system, the protection of the closing system of the lid.

According to another feature, the outer surface of the upper part of the closure lid of food containers has a particular shape with in particular on its periphery a circular grooving whole or partial diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner edge of the lower part for stacking lids closed on each other or open on each other in staggered rows.

According to another feature, the outer surface of the upper portion of the closure lid of food containers has a circular recess of diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bottom of the pots for stacking pots with their lid on each other.

According to another feature, the lower part consists of an annular ring and in that the groove forming the inner and outer edges of the lower part is circular, so as to be of suitable shape to the pot on which it is intended to to be nested.

According to another feature, the lower part consists of a rectangular ring and in that the groove forming the inner and outer edges of the lower part is also rectangular, so as to be of suitable shape to the pot on which it is intended to be nested.

According to another feature, the lower part consists of a square ring and in that the groove forming the inner and outer edges of the lower part is also square, so as to be of suitable shape to the pot on which it is intended to be nested.

• les figures 1a et 1b représentent chacune en perspective une vue de dessus du couvercle de fermeture de pots alimentaires respectivement ouvert et fermé selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2a représente le couvercle de fermeture de pots alimentaires retourné en perspective en vue de dessus ;
• la figure 2b représente une vue par transparence d'un empilage sur eux-mêmes de deux couvercles de fermeture refermés, le couvercle du dessous étant emboîté sur un pot alimentaire ;
• les figures 3a et 3b représentent, en vue par transparence, le couvercle de fermeture sur un pot alimentaire, la figure 3b étant un agrandissement de l'encadré figuré sur la figure 3a.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the Figures 1a and 1b each represent in perspective a top view of the closing lid of food containers respectively open and closed according to the invention;
• the figure 2a represents the closure lid of food jars returned in perspective in top view;
• the figure 2b represents a view by transparency of a stack on themselves of two closed closure covers, the bottom cover being fitted on a food pot;
• the Figures 3a and 3b represent, in view of transparency, the closure lid on a food pot, the figure 3b being an enlargement of the box shown on the figure 3a .

The invention will now be described in connection with the Figures 1a to 3b . The invention consists of a lid for closing food containers. Such cover consists of a lower part (I, fig.1a and 1b ), in the form of a ring, for example circular, having a groove, having external edges (I1, fig.2a and 2b ) and internal (I2, fig.2a and 2b ) wrapping the rim (P) of a pot, for example curved outwardly. Under this rim come nibs (I3, fig.2a ) present for example on the inner face of the outer edge of the groove to allow a tamperproof attachment of the lower part of the cover on the pot. The shape of the lid according to the invention may naturally be modified depending on the shape of the pot on which it is intended to be fitted. Thus, if the pot that the cover is intended to cover is of rectangular or square section, it is obvious that the cover will have, respectively, also a rectangular or square shape.

This lower part is secured by a flexible hinge (C, Fig. 1a and 2a ) of an upper part (S) in the form of a lid, to fold over the lower part ( Figures 1a and 1b ) and having at the periphery a lip (S1, Fig. 2b ) coming to cover a portion (I4) of the lower part ( Fig. 2a and 3b ).

The lower (I) and upper (S) portions of the lid for closing food jars have on their side diametrically opposite to the hinge (C) connecting them to each other, respectively the female part (F, fig.1a ) of a tamper-proof closure system, consisting of two fixed lateral tabs linking the lower part of the lid to a removable plate (F2, fig.1a ) which will be broken during the first opening of the lid and the male part (M, fig.1a ), consisting of a lug fitting into the female part and under the outer edge of the lower part of the lid and whose dimensions are determined to allow the lid to be opened after destruction and removal of the removable plate (F2) of the female part (F) of the closure system.

The lower part (I) of the closure lid of food jars has on its outer edge, on either side of the axis formed by the flexible hinge and the closure system, two axes of rotation (R, Fig. 1 a) each consisting of a short rod (R1, Fig. 3b ) with a disk at its end (R2, Fig. 3b ) which are fitted with fixing notches (A1, Fig. 1a and 3b ) a handle (A, Fig. 1 and 3b ), initially secured to the corresponding sides of the upper part of the lid by small tabs (A2, Fig. 1a and 3b ). These small legs (A2) are breakable during the first use of the handle, so that, after closing the upper part of the lid on the lower part, the fixing notches (A1) of the handle (A) is automatically fix on the rotation axes (R) of the lower part of the cover. Then, the notches (A1) fixing the loop (A) being nested on the axes (R) of rotation of the lower part (I), the opening of the lid causes the breaking of the small legs (A2) connecting the handle (A) at the top (S).

The handle is of sufficient size relative to the diameter of the lower part of the lid to allow when it is folded towards the tamper-proof closure system, the protection of the closing system of the lid (F, M, Fig. 1a ).

The lid for closing food jars has an integrated spoon (Q), for example consisting of a rod-shaped handle connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of hollow half-ball. Depending on the type of food contained in the pot that the lid is intended to cover, the spoon can obviously have various forms adapted to the capture and / or dosage of the food. The spoon (Q) is initially fixed by one end of its handle on the lower part (I) of the lid by small breakable removable tabs (Q1, Fig. 2a ) when first using the spoon (Q). The small detachable removable tabs (Q1) of the spoon allow a substantially horizontal support of the spoon, substantially in the plane of the lower part (I) of the lid. The handle of the spoon has on its handle, at the end opposite to that provided with the cavity, means (Q2, Fig. 2a and 3b ) complementary means (E, Fig. 3b ) formed on the lower part (I) of the lid. These complementary means (Q2, E) may consist of a notch (Q2) formed in the latter end of the handle of the spoon (Q) and complementary shape to a lug (E) formed on the upper surface of the lower part (I). ). This lug (E) has a substantially hook shape and allows attachment and maintenance of the spoon (Q) after at least a first use, without the handle is in contact with the food contained in the pot, thus avoiding bacterial pollution of the food. This lug (E) can naturally be replaced by a hook on which the notch (Q2) can be threaded or a stud on which the notch (Q2) can be nested. This stud or hook may be formed on the inner edge (I2) of the lower part (I) and oriented towards the inside of the pot to allow a maintenance of the spoon (Q) in the pot, without its handle being in contact with the food. These complementary means (Q2, E) may also consist of a housing formed on the inner edge (I2) of the lower part (I), oriented towards the inside of the pot and complementary shape to the end (Q2) of the handle spoon to allow the insertion of this end of the handle in the housing and the maintenance of the spoon in the pot, without his handle is in contact with the food in the pot.

The outer surface of the upper part (S) of the closure lid of food containers has a particular shape with in particular on its periphery a grooving (S2) circular whole or partial diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner edge (I2) of the lower part allowing the stacking of the lids closed on one another or open on each other in staggered rows. The outer surface of the upper portion of the food container closure lid also has a circular recess (S3, Fig. 2a and 2b ) of diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bottom of the pots for stacking pots with their lid on each other.

It will be understood that a lid for closing food jars made in a single molding operation with its spoon and handle has thus been made. This lid has the advantage of allowing an automatic nesting, hermetic and inviolable lid on the pot, easy port of the pot thanks to a handle on the cover also for protection of the closure system. During the manufacturing process between the plastic molding plant outlet and the packaging food factory, the specific shape of the lid allows for easy stacking of the covers, either closed on top of one another or open and staggered. lower part of one below the top of another lid. The specific shape of the top surface of the lid also allows easy stacking of filled jars with their lids. The integrated spoon (Q) allows handling of the food and can be fixed in the lid after a first use, this without contact of the handle with the food to prevent contamination of the food by germs worn by the user .

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (13)

1. Closure lid for moulded plastic food containers, having a shape adapted to the container onto which it is intended to be fitted, including an integrated spoon (Q), a lower part (I) joined by means of a flexible hinge (C) to an upper part (S) in the form of a lid, to be bent over the lower part (I) and having a peripheral lip which covers the lower part (I), the lower part (I) consisting of a ring having a groove oriented towards the container onto which the lid is intended to be fitted and defining outer (I1) and inner edges (I2) intended to enclose an outer rim (P) of the container, characterised in that the inner face of the outer edge (I1) of the ring includes lugs intended to fit under the outer rim (I1) of the container, enabling automatic fixing of the lower part (I) of the lid on the container, and on the other hand in that the integrated spoon (Q) has at one end of its handle means (Q2) which are complementary to means (E) formed on the lower part (I) of the lid enabling the attachment and the retention of the spoon (Q) after at least a first use, without the handle being in contact with the food contained in the container.
2. Lid as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the integrated spoon (Q) consists of a handle in the form of a shank connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally, in the plane of the ring formed by the lower part (I), by small removable tabs (Q1) which are breakable during the first use of the spoon and connect the other end of the handle to the lower part (I) of the lid, the complementary means (Q2, E) enabling the attachment of the spoon (Q) on the lower part (I) of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a notch (Q2) present on this latter end of the handle of the spoon (Q) and having a shape complementary to a lug (E) formed on the upper face of the lower part (I).
3. Lid as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the integrated spoon (Q) consists of a handle in the form of a shank connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally, in the plane of the ring formed by the lower part (I), by small removable tabs (Q1) which are breakable during the first use of the spoon and connect the other end of the handle to the lower part (I) of the lid, the complementary means (Q2, E) enabling the attachment of the spoon (Q) on the lower part (I) of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a notch (Q2) present on this latter end of the handle of the spoon (Q) and having a shape complementary to a lug (E) formed on the inner edge (I2) of the lower part (I).
4. Lid as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the integrated spoon (Q) consists of a handle in the form of a shank connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally, in the plane of the ring formed by the lower part (I), by small removable tabs (Q1) which are breakable during the first use of the spoon and connect the other end of the handle to the lower part (I) of the lid, the complementary means (Q2, E) enabling the attachment of the spoon (Q) on the lower part (I) of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a notch (Q2) present on this latter end of the handle of the spoon (Q) and having a shape complementary to a hook (E) formed on the inner edge (I2) of the lower part (I).
5. Lid as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the integrated spoon (Q) consists of a handle in the form of a shank connected at one of its ends to a cavity in the form of a hollow half-ball, and in that it is initially fixed substantially horizontally, in the plane of the ring formed by the lower part (I), by small removable tabs (Q1) which are breakable during the first use of the spoon and connect the other end of the handle to the lower part (I) of the lid, the complementary means (Q2, E) enabling the attachment of the spoon (Q) on the lower part (I) of the lid, after at least a first use, consisting of a recess (E) formed on the inner edge (I2) of the lower part (I) and having a shape complementary to the shape (Q2) of this latter end of the handle of the spoon (Q) to be inserted into this recess (E).
6. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the lower (I) and upper parts (S) of the lid for closure of food containers have, on their side diametrically opposed to the hinge (C) connecting them to one another, respectively the female part (F) of a tamperproof closure system, consisting of two fixed lateral tabs (F1) connecting the lower part of the lid to a removable plate (F2) which will be broken during the first opening of the lid, and the male part (M), consisting of a lug which is fitted into the female part and under the outer edge of the lower part (I) of the lid and of which the dimensions are determined in order to enable to opening of the lid after destruction of the removable plate of the female part of the closure system.
7. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the lower part (I) of the lid for closure of food containers has on its outer edge, on either side of the axis formed by the flexible hinge (C) and the closure system, two axes of rotation (R) each consisting of a short rod (R1) with a disc (R2) at its end on which notches (A1) are fitted for fixing of a loop (A), initially joined to the corresponding sides of the upper part of the lid by small tabs (A2) which are breakable during the first use of the loop which, after closure of the upper part (S) of the lid on the lower part, is automatically fitted on the axes of rotation (R) of the lower part of the lid.
8. Lid as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the loop (A) is of a sufficient dimension that when it is turned back towards the tamperproof closure system it enables the protection of the closure system of the lid.
9. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the outer surface of the upper part of the lid for closure of food containers has a special shape with in particular a peripheral partial or complete grooving (S2) having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner edge of the lower part (I) enabling the stacking of the closed lids on one another or stacking of the open lids on one another in a staggered manner.
10. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the outer surface of the upper part of the lid for closure of food containers has a circular recess having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the base of the containers enabling the containers provided with their lids to be stacked on one another.
11. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the lower part (I) consists of an annular ring and in that the groove formed by the inner (I2) and outer rims (I1) of the lower part (I) is circular in such a way that its shape is adapted to the container onto which it is intended to be fitted.
12. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the lower part (I) consists of a rectangular ring and in that the groove formed by the inner (I2) and outer rims (I1) of the lower part (I) is equally rectangular, in such a way that its shape is adapted to the container onto which it is intended to be fitted.
13. Lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the lower part (I) consists of a square ring and in that the groove formed by the inner (I2) and outer rims (I1) of the lower part (I) is equally square, in such a way that its shape is adapted to the container onto which it is intended to be fitted.

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