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
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
  • B65D21/0209—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position
  • B65D21/023—Closed containers provided with local cooperating elements in the top and bottom surfaces, e.g. projection and recess
  • B65D21/0231—Bottles, canisters or jars whereby the neck or handle project into a cooperating cavity in the bottom

Definitions

• the present invention is in the field of receptacles for the packaging of food sensitive to their venting, and more particularly stackable receptacles by stacking. It relates to a modular container composed of several modules stacked and successively assembled to each other.
• Such foods are likely to be foodstuffs, such as a gaseous liquid, or cosmetic and / or therapeutic products for example. These foods are often contained inside a hermetically sealed container that keeps them until they are consumed.
• Such containers are in particular formed by molding a plastic material, such as by blow molding or similar molding technique.
• the consumption of food after opening the container may be spread over time, with the consequence of a risk of deterioration of the food contained inside the container until the latter.
• modular containers composed of several similar elementary containers assembled successively to each other by stacking.
• Such a modular container is generally of cylindrical overall conformation, the elementary containers which compose it comprise a recessed bottom of conical conformation in particular, for the reception by fitting of a complementary shaped neck of an adjacent container.
• the assembly of the elementary receptacles two by two is for example made by means of a flange, by means of screwing means equipping the end of their neck, or through cooperating interlocking members respectively formed in the bottom and on the neck of the elementary containers.
• a difficulty to overcome lies in a quick and reliable assembly of the elementary containers together.
• the assembly methods must be easy to implement so as not to constitute a crippling constraint for the consumer, while being sufficiently robust to make this assembly reliable.
• these assembly methods must be performed taking into account the manufacturing constraints by molding of the elementary containers, and avoiding to induce their bulk therefore likely to undermine the desired contact of the wall of the necks against that of funds.
• this assembly must guarantee the centering and the successive prolongation rigorously aligned elementary receptacles, without risk of deviation from one elementary container to another may be induced under the effect of the efforts provided by the consumer to achieve this assembly, in order to keep the modular container a continuous aesthetic line.
• EP1321370 It has been more particularly proposed by EP1321370 to provide the elementary receptacles with complementary interlocking reliefs which extend at the periphery respectively of their neck and their bottom.
• the interlocking reliefs are of annular conformation and their cooperation is carried out by axial thrust operated by the user. Such axial thrust causes radial deformation of the peripheral wall of the containers to allow the axial passage of one of the reliefs within the other relief.
• the interlocking reliefs are shaped in a circular arc by being arranged as a junction device of the bayonet type.
• Such provisions do not provide satisfactory ergonomics because of the efforts that must deploy the user to assemble the elementary containers together, and / or actions that must perform the user to assemble and separate the elementary containers.
• the methods used for the assembly of the elementary containers do not provide a firmness capable of giving the container a satisfactory overall strength, especially in the case of use of a device bayonet type.
• the assembly methods used induce significant tensions on the walls of the elementary containers, which are detrimental to the durability of the container and more particularly to that of the elementary containers that compose it. These voltages hinder the guarantee of a rigorous centering of the elementary containers relative to each other, and consequently alter the aesthetic line of the container. These tensions are also troublesome compared with ease of handling of the elementary containers for their assembly to each other.
• the ergonomics of the container is ultimately dissuasive for the user, either because of the feeling of fragility of the container, the walls of the elementary containers must be sufficiently malleable to allow their deformation, or because of the consequent axial forces that must exert the user against the deformation of the wall of revolution of the elementary vessels, in this robust case. If the variant consisting in using a device of the bayonet type is likely to reinforce the assembly of the elementary receptacles with each other, it requires a clearance to limit the stresses associated with their assembly, which is not satisfactory with regard to the floating result between the elementary receptacles thus assembled.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a modular container composed of a plurality of elementary containers stacked successively in extension of each other, which offers a satisfactory solution in view of the difficulties that have been stated. It is particularly targeted by the the present invention to allow assembly and separation of the elementary containers between them which is ergonomic and which limit the tensions exerted on the revolution wall of the elementary containers, while ensuring the reliability of the assembly obtained, the durability of the container both structural and 'Regarding the conservation of its overall aesthetic line, and this despite repeated operations of assembly and separation of the desired elementary receptacles potentially the most numerous possible. It is also within the scope of the present invention to propose such a container, the advantages of which do not affect its competitiveness, in particular by enabling it to be obtained at lower cost.
• the modular container of the present invention is composed of a plurality of elementary containers stacked successively in extension of each other.
• the elementary containers comprise a recessed bottom of a conformation of revolution to receive a neck of a similar conformation.
• Cooperating interlocking members are respectively formed at the bottom and on the neck of the elementary receptacles, to constitute means for assembling the elementary receptacles together.
• such a modular container is mainly recognizable in that the interlocking members associate cooperating peripheral ramps by interlocking, which are able to assemble the elementary receptacles between them by rotation for their axial junction, and end stops. stroke of this rotation cooperating by clipping, which constitute means for locking the assembly in rotation of the elementary receptacles together and which are able to prohibit spontaneous reverse rotation.
• the assembly means associates axial engagement means of the elementary receptacles, which are constituted by the ramps, and radial engagement means of the elementary receptacles by elastic deformation, which are constituted by the abutments. These stops are put in cooperation by clipping at the end of the rotary stroke elementary containers relative to each other to lock the assembly obtained by the axial interlocking means.
• These arrangements are such that the assembly of the elementary containers is able to be obtained from a freely rotating movement free of stresses on them and in particular on their wall with a view to their axial joining. Such a movement is easily achieved by the user without effort likely to generate tension on the revolution wall of the elementary containers.
• the stops are integrated with the ramps and cooperate with each other by clipping in response to an elastic deformation of the interlocking members.
• These provisions are such that the engagement of the elementary receptacles by clipping results from an elastic deformation of the interlocking members, preserving the wall of revolution of the elementary receptacles which is excluded from such elastic deformation. It follows that the wall of revolution of the elementary containers is able to be robust because of the necessary absence of its deformation, its resistance to deformation being independent of the assembly of the elementary containers together.
• the interlocking members are elastically deformable by means of the ramp and / or the abutment which they integrate respectively, so as to reduce as much as possible the tensions exerted on the revolution wall of the elementary containers during of their assembly or conversely their separation.
• the ramps are respectively hollowed out and / or projecting indifferently on one and / or the other of the bottom and / or the neck of the elementary containers.
• the abutments are respectively recessed and / or projecting indifferently on one and / or the other of the ramps respectively assigned to the bottom and / or the neck of the elementary receptacles.
• the cooperation surface between the stops is advantageously spherical or similar.
• the abutments are of restricted surface with respect to the totality of the contact surface between two assembled elementary receptacles.
• the arrangement of the cooperation of the abutments by means of spherical bearing surfaces is for example obtained from a conformation of the abutments respectively spherical cap and cup or similarly cylinder or equivalent.
• Such a spherical bearing gives the abutments a cam arrangement capable of progressively provoking the elastic deformation exploited for locking the assembly of the elementary receptacles together. It shows a comfort of handling for the user and a limitation of the tensions likely to be induced on the revolution wall of the elementary containers.
• the interlocking members combine at least one male interlocking member and / or at least one female interlocking member which are indifferently respectively formed at the bottom and the neck.
• the interlocking members and the elementary container which integrates them are advantageously monoblock molding, the interlocking members being advantageously integrated molding the elementary container or in a single operation of molding by overmolding.
• the molding operations are for example injection molding or blow molding operations.
• One advantage of forming the abutments by overmoulding lies in the easy dissociation between the respective constituent materials of the elementary container and the abutments that it incorporates.
• the respective male and female arrangement of the interlocking members, ramps and / or or stops are to be considered in isolation.
• the female interlocking member is preferably arranged on the bottom to form a recess for receiving the male interlocking member which is formed on the neck, without this distribution prejudging the male or female character of the ramp or ramps. and the stop or stops respectively integrated with the interlocking members.
• the male and female interlocking members may be respectively provided with one or more ramps and abutments which are indifferently protruding and recessed not only from one to the other of the interlocking members. but also to each other for the same interlocking member.
• At least one male interlocking member is provided projecting on the neck and incorporates in its edge at least one ramp and at least one stop, while at least one female interlocking member is formed of a hollow receiving the projection being formed on the bottom, and comprises at the periphery at least one complementary ramp and at least one complementary stop which are cooperating respectively with the ramp and with the stop.
• the cooperating ramps are indifferently respectively arranged in female reception ramp of the other male ramp.
• the cooperating abutments are indifferently respectively arranged in receiving female stop of the other male stop.
• the interlocking members and the elementary container which integrates them are advantageously monobloc by being jointly formed by molding.
• the abutments may be indifferently formed by molding together with the interlocking members and / or be reported on the latter, by gluing, welding, overmolding or other similar fastening technique. It is, however, preferred to form the interlocking members, consisting of the boom and abutment, together by molding with the vessel for production gains.
• the cooperating abutments are constituted by complementary clipping reliefs which are indifferently formed at the end of the ramps for a tangential connection of the elementary receptacles with respect to their conformation of revolution, and / or by clipping reliefs formed on the indifferently axial faces. and / or peripheral interlocking members, including ramps, for a radial connection of the elementary receptacles together.
• a male interlocking member is constituted by an integrated molding plate at the bottom or preferably at the neck.
• This plate comprises a plurality of radially evenly distributed ramps of which at least one, and preferably all, integrates at least one stop.
• a female interlocking member is constituted by a recess of complementary shape of inversely integrated molding at the neck or at the bottom.
• the ramps are for example arranged in grooves in the edge of the plate, whose projecting edges and the median recess together constitute a ramp.
• the cooperating abutments are preferably respectively arranged in cap and cup and are indifferently axial extension, being provided on the shoulders respectively formed by the plate and the recess, and / or radially extended by being provided on the respective slices respectively platinum and the recess, and more particularly on the slices of the corresponding ramps, especially bottom bleed. More particularly, the stops are arranged, alone or in combination, on the axial faces or on the peripheral faces of the ramps.
• the ramps are indifferently circular or helical extension, but preferably are helically shaped and constitute axial thrust members against the stops. More particularly, the ramps are indifferently circular or helical extension. However, it is preferred to conform the helical ramps so that they constitute axial thrust members against the stops.
• the ramps are capable of gradually pushing the abutments arranged in axial clipping relief during the relative rotation between the elementary containers. Such a progressive compression contributes to preserving the walls of the elementary receptacles, and promotes the spontaneous cooperation of the stops at the end of the rotational stroke of the elementary receptacles relative to one another. In addition, the user exerts a progressive effort of rotation on the elementary containers until locking their assembly, which improves the ergonomics of the container.
• the ramps are in plurality being radially evenly distributed and being oriented along a generatrix of said conformation of revolution of the recess of the bottom and the neck.
• the interlocking members are mainly oriented along this generatrix, and are capable of extending totally or partially along this generatrix, preferably in a continuous manner without excluding an embodiment according to which the interlocking members are discontinuously extended in sections.
• the interlocking members, and more particularly the ramps comprise respective cooperating abutments which extend tangentially to said conformation of revolution.
• the cooperating abutments are for example constituted by at least one bead and a groove which are respectively formed at the end of one and / or the other of the respective ramps assigned to the bottom and the neck.
• This bead and this groove are in particular of cylindrical conformation for their co-operation of the type similar to a spherical bearing.
• the surfaces of revolution of the bead and groove extend over a range greater than 180 ° to obtain their cooperation by clipping.
• the cooperating stops being formed at the periphery of the bottom and the neck, the extension axes of the bead and the groove are parallel and radially eccentric with respect to the axis of revolution of the bottom and the neck.
• conformation of the outer surface of the modular container is likely to be any such as polygonal and / or circular.
• Preferred but non-limiting applications of the modular container of the invention reside in the packaging of foodstuffs, cosmetics and / or therapeutic for example, or any other perishable food in particular.
• foods are likely to be indifferently liquids, gaseous and / or volatile or not, solids, still powdered and / or gelled and / or pasty state, powders, powder, creams or similar goods.
• the goods contained respectively in the elementary receptacles are likely to be identical or different commodities from one elementary container to another. In the case of different foods, these are likely to be products intended to be mixed extemporaneously to their use for example, or to be products of the same nature but having different characteristics, such as color and / or state and / or texture for example.
• Fig.1 and fig.2 are representations of a modular container according to a first embodiment of the present invention, respectively seen in profile and seen in axial section.
• FIG. 3 is a representation in axial section of a constituent elementary container of the modular container shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Fig.4 is a radial sectional detail of a pair of elementary containers of the type illustrated in Fig.3, assembled to one another.
• Fig.5 is a top view of the elementary container shown in Fig.3.
• Fig.6 is a profile representation of a modular container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig.7 is a profile representation of a constituent elementary container of the modular container shown in Fig.6.
• Fig.8 is a top view of the basic container shown in Fig.7.
• Fig.9 is a profile representation of an elementary container constituting a modular container according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• Fig.1O is a top view of the elementary container shown in Fig.9.
• a modular container is composed of a plurality of elementary receptacles 1 nested axially successively in each other.
• the number of three elementary receptacles 1 as illustrated is not limiting as to the scope of the present invention, this number of elementary receptacles 1 may be at least two.
• These elementary containers 1 are similar and are advantageously obtained by molding from the same mold.
• Each elementary container 1 comprises a neck 2, in particular adapted to be provided with a removable cap 3 as illustrated in FIG.
• the neck 2 comprises a generally cylindrical zone, which is extended by a conical zone.
• the bottom 4 of the elementary container is hollowed out, this recess 5 having a shape complementary to that of the neck 2 to allow the nesting in extension of each other of a plurality of elementary containers 1 to obtain the modular container of the invention.
• the conical areas of the neck 2 and the bottom 4 comprise respective cooperating interlocking members 6 and 7. These interlocking members 6,7 each associate at least one 8.9 ramp and a stop 10, 11 cooperating with a ramp 8 , 9 and a stop 10,11 complementary to a neighboring elementary container 1.
• the abutments 10, 11 are elastically deformable to constitute means for locking the assembly of the elementary receptacles 1 with each other.
• the axial assembly between elementary containers 1 is obtained from their relative rotation by placing the ramps 8,9 in cooperation with each other. The stroke of this rotation is limited by stops 10, 11, which cooperate with each other by clipping to lock the axial assembly of the elementary receptacles 1, prohibiting their spontaneous reverse relative rotation.
• the assembly, and by analogy inversely, the separation of the elementary receptacles 1 are respectively obtained from a relative rotary movement of the elementary receptacles 1.
• a movement simple to perform for the user, provides in a first step an axial assembly of the elementary containers 1 and in a second step and without breaking this gesture, the locking of this assembly.
• the locking and unlocking of the assembly of the elementary containers 1 are obtained from respective gestures which are of a limited extent and which generate limited efforts for the user. These efforts being limited, the elementary containers 1 are preserved, their relative centering is favored during assembly, and the ergonomics of the modular container is optimized by providing a comfortable handling for the user.
• the assembly of the containers elementary 1 is obtained from a relative rotation of the elementary containers 1 quickly and reliably regardless of the effort provided by the user.
• the individual locking of this assembly is free of forces that may alter the conformation and / or alignment of the elementary containers 1 relative to each other, and / or may weaken or even deteriorate.
• the interlocking members 6, 7 are in a plurality being radially equispaced at the periphery respectively of the bottom 4 and the neck 2.
• These engagement members 6, 7 each incorporate a ramp 8,9 and a stop 10,11, and extend in a global orientation corresponding to a generatrix of the conical zones of the bottom 4 and the neck 2. It will be understood that this extension is to be apprehended in the geometric sense of the term, these interlocking members 6.7 having a width extending over an angular range.
• the interlocking members 6, 7 are at least three in number for each of the bottom 4 and the neck 2, distributed at 120 ° so as to reinforce the centering of the elementary receptacles 1 with each other.
• the interlocking members 6 of the neck 2 are placed in partial superposition of the interlocking members 7 of the base 4. Referring also to FIG.4, this partial superposition is intended to allow axial insertion of the neck 2 of a elementary container 1 inside the bottom 4 of another elementary container l 'without having to provide effort for their interlocking one into the other, then to assemble the elementary containers 1, 1' between them by picking from a cooperation between the ramps 8,9 which are respectively provided on the interlocking members 6,7 of the neck 2 and the bottom 4.
• the ramps 8,9 which are shaped for one 9 in a recess in the bottom 4 of the elementary container 1 and opening towards the base of the latter, and for the other 8 in a protrusion arranged on the conical zone of the neck 2 of the other elementary container the.
• the ramp 8 that includes the interlocking member 6 projecting fitted to the neck 2 is in particular shaped in tongue
• the other ramp 9 that includes the interlocking member 7 recessed equipping the bottom 4 is shaped in groove formed in the thickness of the bottom 4.
• the interlocking members 6,7 each extend over an angular range Pl of the order between 50 ° and 70 °, and more particularly over a range of 60 °.
• Ramps 8, 9 extend more particularly over an angular range P2 of the order of between 15 ° and 25 °, and more particularly over a range of 21 °.
• the angular range P_3 superposition of the interlocking members 6.7 between those of the neck 2 and those of the bottom 4 is in turn of the order of 40 °. Note that this encrypted information is indicative without being limiting as to the scope of the present invention.
• the stops 10, 11 are formed at the end of the ramps 8, 9 to lock the axial assembly obtained by the cooperation by hooking of the ramps 8,9 therebetween. This position of the stops 10, 11 offers a clipping lock from their elastic deformation.
• One of the abutments 10 is shaped as a bead formed at the end of the tongue 6, and the other of the abutments 11 is shaped as a groove formed at the bottom of the blind groove 9, for receiving the corresponding bead 10.
• the interlocking members 6, 7 are in the form of a plate 12 for the protruding part 6 formed on the neck 2, and in recess 13 of complementary shape for the 7
• the recess formed in the bottom 4 of the elementary receptacles 1.
• the plate 12 comprises three radially evenly distributed ramps 8 which are formed in its edge so as to extend at the periphery of the corresponding interlocking member 6.
• the recess 13 comprises corresponding ramps 9 of complementary shape.
• Each ramp has a stop 10,11 whose depth is oriented axially. Stops 10 arranged in spherical cap are provided projecting axially to the upper face of the plate 12, while abutments 11 arranged in a cup are hollowed out in the recess 13.
• the ramps 8, 9 are furthermore provided with abutments 14, 15 of complementary shape whose depth is oriented radially.
• the arrangement of the interlocking members allows their easy operation to advantageously cause a progressive elastic deformation of the interlocking members, and a spontaneous locking of the assembly from the release of the interlocking members without the user has to provide a specific effort to obtain the lock. More particularly, on the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the upper face of the plate 12 delimits front ramps 16 which are inclined relative to the axis of the elementary container 1, to form a propeller capable of inducing a thrust against the stops 10, 11 during the assembly movement by rotation between two elementary receptacles 1.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Stackable Containers (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Thermally Insulated Containers For Foods (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38669048

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

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Family Cites Families (15)

• 2007
  • 2007-05-22 FR FR0703612A patent/FR2901543B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-05-23 EP EP07765940A patent/EP2084073B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2007-05-23 WO PCT/FR2007/000863 patent/WO2007135292A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2007-05-23 US US12/227,684 patent/US20090127152A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-05-23 CA CA002657831A patent/CA2657831A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-05-23 JP JP2009511544A patent/JP2009537414A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-05-23 AT AT07765940T patent/ATE530456T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-05-23 BR BRPI0711840-6A patent/BRPI0711840A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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