EP1712485A1

EP1712485A1 - Multi-corner container

Info

Publication number: EP1712485A1
Application number: EP05075878A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franck Philippe Dathy; Leon Lagendijk
Original assignee: Impress Group BV
Current assignee: Trivium Packaging Group Netherlands BV
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: WO2006108704A3; WO2006108704A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-corner container (1)such as a rectangle, triangle or pentagon, comprising a box (2) with an opening and a lid (3) closing the opening, wherein the lid (3) is provided with a central lid part (4), which may have a concave or convex form, and with clamping means (9) for clamping the lid on the box, such that the lid part in the concave form the lid is in clamping engagement with the box and in the convex form out of clamping engagement with the box.

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-corner container, which may have the form of a rectangle, a square, triangle or pentagon. This container is provided according to the invention with a unique opening and closing system, so called click-clack system, which provides this multi-corner container with a special appearance. This upgraded container due to its appearance will improve its advertisement and sale value. Still, the multi-corner container according to the invention is provided with a reliable closure, which is reclosable, easy to open, is save in handling.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a multi-corner container, such as a rectangle, triangle or pentagon, comprising a box with an opening and a lid closing the opening, wherein the lid is provided with a central lid part, which may have a concave or convex form, and with clamping means for clamping the lid on the box, such that with the lid part in the concave form the lid is in clamping engagement with the box and in the convex form out of clamping engagement with the box. This multi-corner container has a central lid part which due to a change from its concave form into its convex form operates clamping means which change from a clamping engagement into an out of clamping engagement. Thus, by exerting a pressure on this central lid part opening and closing of the container by the user is obtained. The multi-corner container has straight ribs between the corners of the lid and these corners are provided with the clamping means. By the click-clack movement from a concave to a convex form or reverse, stress intensity between this central lid part and the straight edges will result in a movement of the clamping means out and into clamping engagement. Thus, the form (concave or convex) of the central lid part determines the clamping engagement and is thereby reliable.
According to a preferred embodiment the lid is provided with ribs connecting the corners of the lid in the central lid part. The pressure of these ribs in the lid connecting the corners and the central lid part will result in a reduction in the force required for changing this central lid part from its concave into its convex form and reverse.
According to another preferred embodiment the lid is provided with a rib surrounding the lid part, which lid is preferably round or more preferably circular. This rib may have any form. Aesthetically, this rib has the form of the multi-container, for instance a form of a triangle when the multi-container is triangular. Due to the presence of this rib surrounding the lid part, the central lid part in its convex form with the clamping means out of clamping engagement, will be a stable form such that the central lid part will not change back from its convex form into its concave form when the force exerted on the central lid part is removed. With the convex form of the central lid part is a stable from it will be required for closing that a force is exerted on the clamping means. This force will result in a stress intensity in the lid and in the central lid part which thereby will move back from the convex form into the concave form.
In a preferred embodiment the lid or box is provided with a gasket for airtight closure of the lid on the box. In this form the lid is in an airtight closing engagement with the box of the multi-corner container according to the invention. This has for its object to control the content of the multi-corner container particularly when goods are present in the container which require a particular climate in view of the quality. In this form of the multi-corner container according to the invention it is of eminent use as a container for cigars.
In another preferred embodiment are all the lid edges between the lid corners provided with clamps. In another embodiment only opposing lid edges are provided with clamping means. A reliable closing is obtained when at least one other lid is provided with arresting means, arresting the lid on the box against an undesired release. It is noted that under circumstances only opposing lids are to be provided with clamping means and the arresting means are formed by the airtight gasket arresting the lid against a translation over and out of engagement with the box.
According to another preferred embodiment the arresting means comprise hinge means for hingingly connecting the lid to the box. In this embodiment the arresting means are formed by hinge means which allow the continuous connection between lid and box even in the open form.
According to a further preferred embodiment the lid edges between the lid corners are provided with clamps and the box is provided with arresting means cooperating with the clamping means when in clamping engagement. In this embodiment the clamping means cooperate with the arresting means which will provide a very simple construction.
According to a further preferred embodiment the bottom of the box is provided with a raised bottom part. This raised bottom part has a form such that when the multi-corner boxes are stacked, the central lid part with its concave form will reside within the space allowed by this raised bottom part. Accordingly, in stacked position the central lid part can not change into its convex form and thereby releasing the lid from the box because no force is exerted on the central lid part by the upper stacked containers.
Mentioned and other characteristic features of the multi-corner container according to the invention will be described hereafter with reference to several embodiments which are given by way of example without limiting the invention thereto. Reference will be made to the annexed figures in which:

Figure 1 a perspective view of a rectangular multi-corner container according to the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 cross-sections according to the line II-II of figure 1 with the central lid part in concave form and engaged with the box, respectively in convex form out of engagement with the box;
Figures 4-6 other multi-corner containers according to the invention with the form of a rectangle, triangle and pentagon respectively;
Figures 7A and 7B another embodiment of the multi-corner container of the invention provided with a hinge; and
Figure 8 still another embodiment of the multi-corner container of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a multi-corner container of the invention which has the form of a rectangle. The container 1 comprises a box 2 provided with an open end which is closed off by a lid 3. The lid 3 is provided with a central lid part 4. This central lid part 4 is connected to the four corner of the lid 3 via a rib 6 connecting the central part 4 and the corners 5. The lid 3 is further provided with a circular rib 7 which surrounds the central part 5.
The straight edges 8 of the lid 3 are provided with clamping means 9. The clamping means 9 comprise a flange 10 connected to the lid 3 and provided with a curl 11. The mode of operation of the container 1 will be explained with reference to figures 2 and 3.
Figure 2 shows that the central part 4 of the lid 3 is in a concave form. The lid 3 bulges upwardly and outwardly beyond the edges 8 of the container. The clamping flanges 10 reach beyond a clamping rib 12, provided in the upward walls 13 of the box 2. The lid 3 clamped on the box 2.
Figure 3 shows that when the central part 4 of the lid 3 is in the convex form in which the central part extends downwardly and inwardly beyond the edges 8 into the lid 2, the clamping flanges 10 have moved outwardly and out of clamping engagement with the clamping ribs 12. The lid 3 is out of clamping engagement with the lid 2 and may be removed. This removal will result in a opening of the box 2 and a removal of the gasket 14 present in the lid 3 so that the airtight closure is opened.
Figures 2 and 3 show further that the bottom of the box 2 is provided with a raised bottom part 15 having a height such that when stacking the container 1 the concave central part 4 of an underlying container 1 will reside in the space allowed by the raised bottom part 15.
Figure 4 shows another multi-corner container according to the invention which is provided with the central part 4, the ribs 6 extending between the central part and the corners 5. This container 16 has a lid 17 of which it central part 4 will stay only in the convex form (out of clamping engagement) when force is exerted on the central part. Only the concave form is stable. Accordingly, no forces on the clamping means 9 have to be exerted in order to close the lid on the box.
Figure 5 shows another container 18 according to the invention, which has the form of a triangle. The container 18 has a lid 19 provided with a central and circular part 20 which is connected to the three corners 5 via the ribs 6. The central part 20 is surrounded by the circular rib 7. This container 18 with its typical triangular form is easy to open and to close with the click-clack mechanism according to the present invention.
Figure 6 shows another container 21 according to the invention which has the form of a pentagon. All five corners 5 are connected by ribs 6 to the pentagonal central part 22. The circular rib 7 surrounds the central part. Again, a multi-corner container according to the invention with a particular shape with high advertisement value.
Figures 7A and 7B show another container 23 according to the invention. The lid 3 is provided with the central part 4, the ribs 6 and 7, but with clamping means 9 only at the two opposing edges 24 and 25. The central part 4 is in the convex stable form so that the clamping flange 10 is out of clamping engagement with the rib 12. This lid 3 is connected to the box 2 via a known hinge 26. Accordingly, the lid 3 with the central part 4 in the convex form may be hingingly opened as shown in figure 7b in order to make available the content of the container 23. It is noted that at the inner side of the box 2 may be provided an adhesive tape 27 in order to airtight the hinges provided in the box 2.
Finally, figure 8 shows another container 28 according to the invention which is provided at the opposing edges 24 and 25 with clamping means 9 in the form of clamping flanges 10. With the central part 4 in the concave form the clamping flange 10 is in clamping engagement with the rib 12 of the box 2.
The edges 29 and 30 are not provided with clamping means. Still, a release of the lid 3 from the box 2 by lateral movement is avoided due to the presence of arresting means 31 enclosing and cooperating with the clamping flanges 10.
Reading the full description it will be apparent to the skilled person that the multi-corner containers according to the invention have a special shape and opening and closing mechanism (click-clack) by which they will have a high advertisement and sales value. All walls of the container are such that full colour decoration is possible. The container is easy and reliably to open and to close. It is safely stackable and highly suitable for goods sensitive to environmental conditions, such as cigars.

Claims

A multi-corner container, such as a rectangle, triangle or pentagon, comprising a box with an opening and a lid closing the opening, wherein the lid is provided with a central lid part, which may have a concave or convex form, and with clamping means for clamping the lid on the box, such that with the lid part in the concave form the lid is in clamping engagement with the box and in the convex form out of clamping engagement with the box.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with ribs connecting the corners of the lid and the central lid part.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid is provided with a rib surrounding the central lid part, preferably a round rib or circular rib.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1-3, wherein the lid or box is provided with a gasket for airtight closure of the lid on the box.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1-4, wherein the lid edges between the lid corners are provided with clamping means.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1-4, wherein opposing lid edges are provided with clamping means, and at least another lid edge with arresting means.
Multi-corner container according to claim 6, wherein the arresting means comprise hinge means for hingingly connecting the lid to the box.
Multi-corner container according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the arresting means comprise an arresting element.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1-4, wherein the lid edges between the lid corners are provided with clamps and the box is provided with arresting means cooperating with the clamping means when in clamping engagement.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1-9, or in the bottom of the box is provided with a raised bottom part.
Multi-corner container according to claim 1-10, wherein the box has the form of a rectangular, a square, triangle or pentagon.