EP2096045B1 - Attachment ring for at least two stacked containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The ring (6) has a peripheral annular upper rim (12) projecting towards the interior and comprising a lower surface fixed against a rim (10) of an upper container (4). A peripheral ferrule (16) has a lower part with retaining pins (14) fixed against a rim (8) of a lower container (2). A radial slit (20) is extended up to a rigidifying pin that concentrates rupture constraints of the ring, when traction is applied on a round tab (18) of a peripheral annular lower rim (28). The rim (28) is projected towards the exterior. A mouthpiece of one container is closed by a cover i.e. membrane seal.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a fastening ring according to claim 1, for at least two superposed containers with their mouths contiguous.

The invention also relates to a multi-compartment packaging, according to claim 11, comprising at least two superimposed containers with their contiguous mouths, which are assembled by means of the aforementioned fastening ring.

Introduction

A trend that is becoming more common in the food sector is to offer consumers products intended to be consumed "in association", such as meat + sauce, snacks + sauces, assorted dishes, etc. Other commodities (such as screws + bolts etc.) can also be marketed in combination.

On the other hand, if one wants to bring together different foods, it is desirable not to mix them to the extent that they can be biologically incompatible.

Moreover, different manufacturers may wish to offer their respective products in combination within the same package.

These applications therefore require separate containers assembled in a common package.

State of the art

Fastening rings are known such as for example that described in the patent US 4,942,974 . The separation is carried out here by breaking a rigid ring wedging the lid against the edge of the container. The rupture is made by raising a leg along lines of weakness. In this document the ring secures the lid on its container.

In the patent application EP 0 962 398 it dissociates by bypassing the bonding weld zones by breaking grooves of low resistance.

The patent application GB 2 260 969 A proposes to dissociate by breaking bridges of low resistance.

In the patent application CA 2 493 063 A1 the separation is done via the rupture of fragile membranes.

These four documents relate to devices for detecting the unauthorized opening of a package.

DE-A-2237745 discloses a securing ring according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the invention

One of the problems related to the placing on the market of containers "associated" in a common packaging is the need for a good connection of the various containers. The securing means must guarantee the integrity of such a package during the various manipulations during logistics operations.

On the other hand, it is necessary for reasons of food safety to ensure the inviolability of packaging.

Moreover, it is necessary that after the purchase, the consumer can easily release the various preferably containers without the aid of a tool.

The object of the invention is to provide a ring for securing containers meeting these requirements.

An object of the invention is a fastening ring capable of assembling at least two superposed containers provided with a flange with their contiguous mouths. This ring has an annular upper peripheral rim protruding inwards, and adapted to be applied by its underside against the rim of the upper container. It further comprises a ferrule provided at its lower portion with retaining lugs adapted to be applied against the rim of the lower container and a tab. A zone of weakness in the form of a radial slot is extended to a stiffening pin intended to concentrate the breaking stresses of the ring when traction is applied to the tab.
The lips of the radial slot are bonded for example by bridges.

Advantageously, the mouth of at least one of the containers is closed by a lid. This measure prevents the contents of the container or containers is mixed with that of others. The lid (s) may be a simple lid.

The fastening ring according to the invention is preferably made of plastic which has the advantage of lightness, economy and disposability. The plastic material is advantageously poly (lactic acid), abbreviated as PLA, a material which has the advantage of being biodegradable and of being produced from renewable sources such as maize.

The slot of the fastening ring according to the invention advantageously has a cutout intended to facilitate the breaking of the ring.

The cutout preferably has the shape of a polygon, one of whose vertices is in the extension of the slot and propagates the rupture of the ring to the stiffening pin.

The cutout may also have a circular shape.

The fastening ring of the invention preferably has at the base of the ferrule a peripheral annular bottom flange projecting outwards and including the tab. This measure allows safer handling of a package provided with such a ring.

Advantageously, the fastening ring of the invention is manufactured by thermoforming. This process offers by its simplicity of implementation and the small amount of material used economic advantages.

The securing ring preferably has a substantially polygonal shape with rounded corners.

Another object of the invention is a multi-compartment packaging comprising at least two superimposed containers with their mouths contiguous, secured by a ring as described above. Such packaging has an obvious advantage over containers in particular in terms of the detection of a possible violation.

Brief description of the figures

Fig.1

est une vue schématique en perspective d'un emballage comprenant deux récipients compartimentés assemblés par l'anneau de l'invention ;

Fig.2

est une vue en plan de l'anneau de l'emballage représenté à la Fig.1;

Fig.3

est une vue en en plan d'une deuxième forme de réalisation de l'anneau de l'invention ;

Fig.4

est une vue en en plan d'une autre forme de réalisation de l'anneau de l'invention.

These and other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings of the figures, in which:

Fig.1

is a schematic perspective view of a package comprising two compartmentalized containers assembled by the ring of the invention;

Fig.2

is a plan view of the ring of the package shown in the Fig.1 ;

Fig.3

is a plan view of a second embodiment of the ring of the invention;

Fig.4

is a plan view of another embodiment of the ring of the invention.

The figures are not drawn to scale. Generally, similar elements are denoted by similar references in the figures.

Detailed description of particular embodiments

To the Fig. 1 are represented a first container 2 and a second container 4 inverted, closed by a lid (not visible) and joined to each other by their upper faces. The two containers each comprise along their upper faces a peripheral rim. A ring 6 encloses the flange 8 of the container 2 and the flange 10 of the container 4 against each other between, on the one hand, an upper annular flange 12 projecting inwards and on the other hand retaining lugs 14 arranged at the bottom of a peripheral shell 16. The lugs 14 of the ring 6 hold the container 2 by snapping under its flange 8.

To the Fig. 2 is represented the ring 6 of the invention comprising in addition to the upper annular flange 12 and the peripheral ring 16 provided with the retaining lugs 14, also a rounded lug 18 provided with a radial slot 20 which is part of a rupture path 25. The lips 22a and 22b thereof are bonded for example by bridges 24 of low resistance. The distal end of the radial slot 20 terminates against a stiffening pin 26 disposed at the bottom of the ferrule 16. The design of the lug 18 makes the opening of the securing ring 6 particularly easy. Indeed, when grasping the lips 22a and 22b with both hands and applying a traction, it initiates the breaking of the tab 18, which propagates via the path of rupture 25, to the ergot of stiffening 26 and then quickly triggers the opening of the ring 6 due to the concentration of the breaking stresses of the ring 6 to this lug 26.

The Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the ring 6 of the invention in which is provided at the base of the ferrule 16 a peripheral annular lower rim 28 protruding outwardly and including the lug 18. The radial slot 20 of the leg 18 is further provided with a cutout 30, here triangle-shaped, the tip of this triangle being directed towards the stiffening pin 26. The presence of this cut 30 has two advantages: first, it transforms by simple mechanical effect the traction exerted on the two lips 22a and 22b in a torsion moment much more effective than a simple traction to cause the rupture of the ring 6. Moreover, its shape gives the radial slot 20 in the form of an arrow, which instinctively attracts the attention of the user who will tend to focus his efforts on the radial slot 20 rather than consider breaking the ring 6 by other means.
It goes without saying that the cutout 30 may have a shape other than triangular, the result (the transformation of the tensile torsion) being obviously identical.
It will be noted that in particular, when working by thermoforming, the embodiment of the blank 30 likewise of the radial slot 20 requires an operation distinct from the forming of the ring 6.

The Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the ring 6 of the invention, similar to that of the Fig. 3 and which is distinguished by a larger surface of the lug 18 and therefore by a better grip for the user without the length of the failure path 25 increases through the arrangement of a larger cutout 30.

As has been observed, the fastening ring structure 6 of the invention is of simple design, which makes it possible to use, in particular, thermoforming which is, as indicated above, an economical method of manufacture.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and described above. The invention comprises, according to the claims, each of the novel features as well as their combination. The presence of reference numbers can not be considered as limiting. The use of the term "includes" in no way excludes the presence of other elements other than those mentioned. The use of the definite article "a" to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements. The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which have a purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting.

Claims (11)

1. Fixing ring (6) able to assemble at least two superimposed receptacles (2, 4) provided with a rim (8, 10) with their mouths up against each other, characterised in that it is provided with a rounded lug (18) and a weak zone, and in that it has a peripheral annular top rim (12) projecting towards the inside and able to be applied by its bottom face against the rim (10) of the top receptacle (4) and a shell (16) provided at its bottom part with holding brackets (14) able to be applied against the rim (8) of the bottom receptacle (2), the weak zone being a radial slot (20) extending as far as a stiffening bracket (26) intended to concentrate the rupture forces of the ring (6) when traction is applied to the lug (18).
2. Fixing ring according to claim 1, characterised in that the mouth of at least one of the receptacles (2, 4) is closed by a cover.
3. Fixing ring according to claim 2, characterised in that the cover is a cap.
4. Fixing ring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is made from plastics material.
5. Fixing ring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the radial slot (20) comprises a cutout (30).
6. Fixing ring according to claim 5, characterised in that the cutout (30) is in the form of a polygon, one of the vertices of which is in line with the radial slot (20).
7. Fixing ring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also has, at the base of the shell (16), a peripheral annular bottom rim (28) projecting outwards and including the lug (18).
8. Fixing ring according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that it is made by thermoforming.
9. Fixing ring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has a substantially polygonal shape with rounded corners.
10. Fixing ring according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that said plastics material is a PLA.
11. Packaging with multiple compartments comprising at least two receptacles (2, 4) superimposed with their mouths up against each other, characterised in that it comprises a fixing ring (6) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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