EP1549554B1

EP1549554B1 - Container with handle

Info

Publication number: EP1549554B1
Application number: EP03753497A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johan A. T. Unilever R & D Vlaardingen VAN GINK
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 2002-10-10
Filing date: 2003-10-01
Publication date: 2006-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-01
Also published as: AU2003271677A1; ES2260643T3; DE60305518D1; DE60305518T2; EP1549554A1; WO2004033328A1; ATE327169T1

Abstract

A container (1) suitable for packaging a detergent product, the container comprising: A) a base wall (2) and one or more side walls (4) to define a storage space (6) for storing said detergent product, B) an opening for retrieval of the detergent product from the storage space C) first and second hinged lid members (8, 10) which can be brought together over the opening with the first lid member overlapping the second lid member in a closed position, D) first lid member including a handle (12) extending from and hinged relative to a free end (8a) of the first lid member, E) the handle incorporating a locking tab (16) located within the handle,wherein the container can be closed in a locked position by pressing the first lid member to overlap the second lid member in the direction of the opening whereby the locking tab is inserted under the second lid member to interlock the lid members and the container can be unlocked and opened by pulling the handle.

Description

The present invention relates to a container for a detergent product with an improved closure device.
It is known to provide containers for household products which allow for repeated opening/closure. However, the problem with many known devices is that they can require some considerable manual dexterity to open and/or close/reclose. Locking features are also known, to retain the container in a closed position, however again, operation often requires deft handling (see e.g. DE 3834083).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an container for a detergent product with an improved opening/lockable closure device for repeated use.
According to the present invention, there is provided a container suitable for packaging a detergent product, the container comprising:

a) a base wall and one or more side walls to define a storage space for storing said detergent product,
b) an opening for retrieval of the detergent product from the storage space
c) first and second hinged lid members which can be brought together over the opening with the first lid member
overlapping the second lid member in a closed position, d) first lid member including a handle extending from and hinged relative to a free end of the first lid member,
e) the handle incorporating a locking tab located within the handle,

With this arrangement, the container can be opened by a single action on the part of the user by pulling the handle.
Initially (e.g. prior to sale during transportation) the handle may be lie in a common plane with the lid member. In this case, handle is pulled whereupon it pivots to a position generally orthogonal to the general plane of the first lid member, and then pulled further so it raises the first lid member so as to open the container. Because the handle extends from the first lid member and the locking tab is inserted under the second lid member, pulling on the handle to unlock the container results in its being opened as the locking tab forces the second lid member upwards.
In a similarly convenient manner, the container may be both closed and locked in an efficient manner using the handle: The handle can be pivoted to be generally orthogonal to the general plane of the first lid member, and then pressed where by the first lid member is folded over the second one, and the locking tab is inserted under the second member to interlock the lid members in the closed postion. This action automatically both closes and locks the container shut.
The handle may be located centrally of the free end of the first hinge member.
The locking tab may be located centrally in handle and may be integral therewith. The tab may be formed by a slit such as a U- or V-shaped slit or the like, in the handle. Preferably the tab is nested within the handle.
As used herein, the term U-shaped is intended to include both smoothly curved and angular formations and need not be restricted to a symmetrical formation.
The handle may have a U-shaped shaped outer perimeter and it may have the same general shape as the locking tab.
Preferably, the handle is hinged about an axis, formed along e.g. crease line on the first lid wall, at a position rearwards (that is to say away from the lid wall end portion and toward the lid wall hinge) of the locking tab.
With this arrangement, hinging of the handle results in exposure of the locking tab, which aids insertion of the tab in the second lid member.
Preferably at least the first lid member is substantially rigid, and further preferably the locking tab is also substantially rigid. Even more preferably the second lid member is also substantially rigid. Other parts of the container may also be substantially rigid. Rigidity helps the container maintain its structure during opening/closure. However, the container may comprise flexible portions so long as it has sufficient rigidity such that it does not collapse when the first lid member is depressed for closure.
Rigity of the lid members and locking tab also makes opening and closing/locking more convenient as it reduces flexing of the lid members under pressure.
This is especially useful during closure, as the pressure can be applied in a greater region of a rigid lid member and it will still be transmitted effectively to the locking tab to force this under the second lid member. The greater the flexiblity, the greater the accuracy required on the part of the user as pressure must be applied nearer/directly on the locking tab.
However, visual indicia (e.g. a finger print sign) may still be used to aid use, e.g. to instruct the user to aim for the region of the locking tab.
Rigidity also assists in opening, by ensuring that pulling the handle lifts the lid members upwards away from the opening, to allow greater access to the opening.
The container may be provided as commercial package, containing a detergent product and instructions for use.
The detergent product may be in any form, e.g. a free flowing powder, granulate or the like. Alternatively it may be a pouch of encapsulated free flowing powder, granulate, liquid, gel or paste. Additionally or alternatively, the product may be a tablet which may include other non-tablet portions (a gel portion, for instance).
The container may be transported (prior to sale) with lid members secured in a closed position. Initial opening by the consumer, in this case, involves release of the lid members. The package is then closed/opened as described above.
For transportation purposes, the first lid member may comprise one or more flaps which are fixed to the second lid member but detachable (e.g. by lines of weakening, perforations, or the like) from the first lid member. The consumer can detach the second lid member by e.g. tugging the first lid member upwardly, and then use (opening and closing/locking) is as described above.
Suitable materials for the container include paperboard, cardboard, plastics etc or any combination thereof.
Various non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to one aspect of the invention, shown closed before initial opening; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, shown in the closed position after initial opening.

Similar reference numbers are used throughout the figures to identify common features.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a container 1 (shown orientated upright and viewed in perspective) formed from rigid paperboard, the container 1 comprising a base wall 2 and four side walls 4 to define a storage space 6 for storing a detergent product in the form of a plurality of water soluble capsules (not shown) each containing a measured unit dose of detergent composition. The container has an opening for retrieval of the product from the storage space.
The container has first and second hinged lid members 8, 10 which can be brought together over the opening with the first lid member 8 overlapping the second lid member 10 in a closed position.
A U-shaped handle 12 extends from a free end 8a of the first lid member 8 and is hinged relative thereto along a crease line 14.
The handle 12 incorporates a locking tab 16, defined by a symmetrical U-shaped slit located centrally within the handle 12. The handle and slit are similarly shaped.
The second lid member 10 has an aperture 30 adjacent its free end, and located for alignment with the locking tab 16 when the lid members 8,10 are in the closed position. However an alternative to this would be to have a slot in the free end of the lid member 10. The aperture eases insertion of the tab under the second lid member. The aperture/slot size and tab size (as well as their rigidity) can be adjusted to increase or decrease the strength of the interlock.
The container 1 is provided as commercial package, containing the detergent composition and instructions for use, wherein the first lid member 8 is fixed by glued to the second lid member. The first lid member comprises two flaps 20, 22 which are fixed to the second lid member but detachable, by respective lines of perforations 24, 26, from the first lid member 8. The consumer can detach the second lid member 10 by e.g. tugging the handle portion in a direction away from the container whereupon the lines of perforations 24, 26 give way.
As handle 12 is pulled, it pivots to a position generally orthogonal to the general plane of the first lid member 8, and then pulled further so it raises the first lid member 8 so as to open the container. Because the handle 12 extends from the first lid member 8 and the locking tab 16 is inserted under the second lid member 10, pulling on the handle 12 to unlock the container 1 results in its being opened as the locking tab 16 forces the second lid member 10 upwards.
In a similarly convenient manner, the container 1 may be both closed and locked in an efficient manner. The first lid member 8 is folded over the second lid member 10, and pressed which action automatically both closes and locks the container 1.
Thus, the container 1 can be repeatedly opened and locked/closed, in an efficient and convenient manner.
The container 1 can be opened by a single action on the part of the user by pulling the handle 12 and closed and locked by simply pressing on the first lid member 8.
The lid members 8, 10 are also similarly sized, so that the interlock is formed centrally of the finally formed lid structure.
In this embodiment all portions of the container 1 are rigid paperboard with a moisture barrier layer. The paperboard provides sufficient rigidity such that it does not collapse when the first lid member 8 is depressed for closure.
Rigity of the lid members 8, 10 and locking tab 16 also makes opening and closing/locking more convenient as it reduces flexing of the lid members under pressure.
This is especially useful during closure, as the pressure can be applied in a greater region of the rigid lid member 8 and it will still be transmitted effectively to the locking tab 16 to force this under the second lid member. The greater the flexibility, the nearer the pressure applied must be to the locking tab, and therefore the greater the accuracy required on the part of the user.
In this embodiment visual indicia in the form of a finger print sign (not shown) is used to instruct the user to press on or in the region of the locking tab.
Rigidity also assists in opening, by ensuring that pulling the handle lifts the lid members cleanly away from the opening (rather than flexing), to allow greater access to the opening.
It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

A container (1) suitable for packaging a detergent product, the container comprising:
(a) a base wall (2) and one or more side walls (4) to define a storage space (6) for storing said detergent product,

(b) an opening for retrieval of the detergent product from the storage space,

(c) first and second hinged lid members (8, 10) which can be brought together over the opening with the first lid member (8) overlapping the second lid member 10 in a closed position,

(d) a handle (12)extending from and hinged relative to a free end (8a) of the first lid member (8),

(e) the handle (12) incorporating a locking tab (16) located within the handle (12),
wherein the container can be
(i) closed and locked by pressing the first lid member to overlap the second lid member in the direction of the opening whereby the locking tab is inserted under the second lid member to interlock the lid members and

(ii) unlocked and opened by pulling the handle.
A container (1) according to claim 1 wherein the handle (12) is located centrally of the free end (8a) of the first hinge member (8).
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the locking tab (16) is located centrally in handle (12).
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the locking tab (16) is integral with the handle.
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the locking tab (16) is defined by a slit such as a U- or V-shaped slit or the like, in the handle (12).
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the handle (12) has a U-shaped shaped outer perimeter.
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the handle (12) and locking tab (16) have a common perimeter shape.
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the handle (12) is hinged about an axis, formed along e.g. crease line 8a on the first lid member (8), at a position rearwards (that is to say away from the lid member end portion and towards the lid member hinge) of the locking tab (16).
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the first lid member (8) is rigid, and further preferably the locking tab (16) is rigid.
A container (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the container may comprise flexible portions so long as it has sufficient rigidity such that it does not collapse when the lid member is depressed for closure.
A commercial package, comprising a container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 10 in combination with a detergent product and instructions for use of the product and container
A commercial package, according to any claim 11 wherein the detergent composition comprises tablets.
A commercial package according to any of claims 11 or 12 wherein the detergent composition comprises water soluble capsules containing at least a fluid detergent.