EP2598404B1 - Plastic container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plastic container for food in particular, with an inner receiving space for food or other good forming the lower part, which has at least two edge regions separated from each other side walls, and with a cover of the receiving space serving and fixable on an edge of the lower part lid, which is to be deducted from an outer edge region of the plastic container forming an access corner by hand from the plastic container.

Known plastic containers often have a certain corner, from which a lid is deducted ago. At this corner, for example, the plastic container is provided on its lid with a handle flag, which allows easy mounting of the lid. Often a tamper-evident closure is also arranged on the edge of the plastic container forming the access corner. An edge or an edge region is to be understood here as an area that can be seen as the corner region of the plastic container. This does not necessarily have to be bent or angular / angular in the geometric sense, but it can also be formed otherwise curved.

In the US 2010/0181323 A1 discloses a plastic container for food, which has a recessed in this area edge to form an access corner. However, the necessary opening mechanism in this area is comparatively long in radial extent and requires an over the other outer circumference of the container projecting area.

From the US 4,143,805 Also, a container for food is known, which has a comparatively simple closure mechanism in opposite corners. An outwardly projecting part of the lid is inserted through a recess of the edge of the lower part. To open the lid of the lid must be pressed either comparatively strong in the direction of its interior or the edge of the base in the opposite direction to release the lid.

Against the background of an ever aging society, it is the object of the present invention to make the edge region of the plastic container that forms an access corner better recognizable and to facilitate removal of the cover.

The object is achieved by an article according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims back to these claims and the following description.

The plastic container has a circumferential contour running along the edge, which in the region of the edge region forming the access corner is displaced inwards relative to the other edge region inwards towards a vertical central axis. The peripheral contour is therefore, for example, flattened in the region of the corner, whereby the distance from one adjacent side wall to the other adjacent side wall in the area of the access corner is extended. As a result, an optical recognizability of the access corner or of that edge region is achieved, from which the lid is to be pulled up and grasped or separated from the lower part. In addition, arranged in the corner access to the lid, for example, arranged on the lid edge tab or handle plume can be made larger. On the one hand, the tab or grip tab can be made longer along the circumferential direction in the area of the access corner; on the other hand, it can also be formed laterally outward by springing back the corner, without the maximum extent between the access corner and vertical central axis being greater than that between the central axis and the other edge regions. Especially for the elderly, the access area is easier to recognize and handle. The plastic container for food or other good is faster to open.

According to the invention, a plastic container is provided, in which the outer or peripheral contours of the lid and the lower part have different curvatures in the area of the access corner, such that a gripping tab present on the lid at least partially covers a gap formed between edges of the lid and the lower part. Here, the outer contour of the lid is considered in particular neglecting the grip flag. By breaking or loosening a tamper-evident closure, the grip flag is then released. This is formed over a large area in a plane to the ground, since the corner of the lid due to the smaller curvature jumps back more than the corner of the base in the region corresponding to the outside (with respect to a vertical center axis of the container) arranged originality. This is independent of any inner sealing edges of the lower part with the lid sealingly cooperate. Any edges of a lid in the area of the access corner are formed by a directly projecting from the edge handle flag less sharp. The lid can be gripped better due to the larger handle plume.

The peripheral contour represents a section along or preferably parallel to the edge, which is in particular a (horizontal) cross-section parallel to a substrate on which the plastic container is placed.

The object is further achieved by a plastic container having in the region of the access corner a peripheral contour with a mean curvature which is smaller than a curvature of the other, not an access corner forming edge region. Here, a mean curvature (direction change per unit length) is to be understood as meaning the arithmetic mean of the individual curvatures of the circumferential contour in the area of the access corner or of the other edge region. According to the invention, the edge region forming the access corner can likewise be broadened, but additionally also be displaced outwards away from the central axis. Accordingly, the above-described advantages, in particular with regard to recognizability of the access corner and peelability of the lid, also apply to this embodiment according to the invention. Likewise, the ratio of the mean curvatures to one another can also apply to inwardly displaced access corners.

The side walls of the plastic container may have an open structure, but are preferably formed closed, so that liquids or flowable food can be accommodated in the container. Moreover, the side walls of the plastic container are not necessarily designed as predominantly or completely flat surfaces, but may likewise have, for example, curved structures in a cross section or be provided with bends. Preferably, the plastic container according to the invention has four walls and consequently four edge regions, of which at least one forms an access corner.

In such an access corner, a tamper-evident closure is preferably arranged, which can be found more easily on account of the optical indication. Due to the inventive spread of the edge region of the tamper-evident closure can be made larger. For example, the tamper-evident closure have a tab, by their detachment can be released in the invention then greater access to the lid. The lid is therefore easier to peel off.

The mean curvatures of the edge regions which are to be set in relation to one another preferably deviate from one another by at least 10% in order to ensure visual recognition of the edge region, in particular provided with a tamper-evident closure. From the group of the possible radii of curvature, in particular those were selected as safe means for visual recognition of the access corner, in which the ratio K2 to K1 (average curvature of the peripheral contour in the region of the other edge region to mean curvature of the peripheral contour in the region of the access corner) between 1.5 and 10, preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 and in particular 1.8. As a result, an optical recognizability is guaranteed, while still meeting general design requirements. In particular, at a ratio of 1.8 is in conventional side wall widths of rectangular plastic containers between 5 cm and 40 cm good visibility of the corner guaranteed and given a generally perceived as pleasant appearance.

While the edge regions can also have straight sections, in particular a circular arc-shaped edge region can be provided as an access corner. Likewise, the edge area not forming the access corner or the other possibly existing access corners can likewise have a circular-arc-shaped peripheral contour.

Advantageously, a contour of the lid corresponds to the peripheral contour (in plan view) in order to improve the visibility of the access corner, even when viewed from above.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the access corner may be defined by a flat or plane, i. be provided with a curvature of zero-provided section. In a shallow transition between side walls, the access corner is correspondingly wide and easily identifiable, in particular offset from other rounded corners.

The visual recognizability of the access corner and the handling of an article according to the invention can furthermore be improved by way of at least one side wall adjacent to the access corner, in which a stepped grip region is present. This can be formed, for example, offset portions or another surface structure. If preferably both adjacent to the access corner side walls have a handle portion, a plastic container according to the invention can be easily held with one hand, while the other hand pulls the cover at the access corner and separates from there from the lower part. The opening of the container is thus easier.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the container is provided at least at two opposite corners each with a tamper-evident closure. The container according to the invention then has two access corners and can be opened from two sides.

In particular, the cover has a peripheral elevation, which follows the peripheral contour of the container according to the invention. By such a survey, which may be accompanied on the inside of the lid with a corresponding receptacle into which an edge of the lower part can intervene, the visual recognition is further improved. In addition, the lid may have a tamper evident tab or tab that enhances access to the receiving space of the plastic container in the area of the access nook.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstands,

Fig. 2

den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

einen weiteren erfinderischen Gegenstand in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung einer Umfangskontur eines weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstands,

Fig. 5

eine Umfangskontur eines weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstands.

Further advantages and details of the invention can be taken from the following description of the figures. In the schematic figures of the figures shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an article according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the object after Fig. 1 in a plan view,

Fig. 3

another inventive subject matter in a plan view,

Fig. 4

a representation of a peripheral contour of another article according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a circumferential contour of another article according to the invention.

Equal or similar parts are provided with identical reference numerals, if appropriate. Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also lead to developments of the invention with the features of the above-described embodiments.

An embodiment of a plastic container according to the invention Fig. 1 has a lower part 1, which comprises edge regions 2 separate side walls 3. Two of the edge portions 2 are for clarity in the Fig. 1 shown delimited by dashed lines 4. Between the side walls 3 and the edge regions 2, a receiving space is formed, which is covered by a cover 6. The cover 6 is fixed to an unrecognizable edge of the lower part 1, which extends partially within a survey 7. In addition, along the upper edge of the lower part 1, a supporting or additional edge 8, which is in particular used to stabilize the container and is offset outwards and held by support ribs, extends. An access corner 9 is located in the region of the latter forming edge portion 2 a tamper evident 11 integrated. An integrated into the support edge 8 tab 12 is part of the tamper-evident closure. The operation of the tab 12 is preferably carried out via a partially projecting from the edge of the tab flag 13. Folding the tab 12 is an access to a bottom of the lid 6 free. From here, the cover 6 which is otherwise integrated without a manually graspable edge in the support rim can be gripped and pulled away from the lower part 1.

As well in Fig. 1 as well as in the plan view of Fig. 2 It is disclosed that in the area the access corner 9 is displaced inwardly towards a longitudinal central axis 14 along a peripheral contour formed by a horizontal cross-section with respect to the other edge regions 2. The in the Fig. 2 Visible contours follow substantially the circumferential contour, which runs in the upper region of the lower part 1 parallel to the upper edge. The edge regions 2 are formed in a circular arc, which is also reflected in the contour of the lid 6.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 has a plastic container according to the invention on two access corners 9, which are provided with respect to the other edge regions 2 with a tamper evident. It can be clearly seen that the edge region is designed to be longer in the area of the access corner, so that a tab to be arranged in the access corners can be made larger. In addition, the lid on grip tabs 16 for better detection of the lid 6 after opening the tamper-evident closure. The rounded to the outside grip tabs are formed enlarged in comparison to the prior art, since the curvature in the region of the access corner along a peripheral contour of the lid (neglecting the grip plume 16) is smaller than the corresponding outer peripheral contour of the lower part 1 Cover 6 is drawn more towards the interior than that of the lower part 1. The grip tab at least partially covers a gap formed between edges of the cover (6) and the lower part 1. Although it may also be useful to form the edge regions straight in sections in plan view or along a contour, in particular the contours provided with circular arc sections are advantageous because they are visually pleasing and comfortable to handle. The lid is easy to peel off.

The ratio of the curvatures of the upper right edge region in the figure to the lower right edge region in the figure is 1.8.

In the Fig. 4 and 5 are circumferential contours 15 shown, resulting along a section just below the support edge of the associated plastic container according to the invention. While in the Fig. 4 the curvature radii differ comparatively slightly and the ratio of the curvature K2 of the upper right corner to the curvature K1 of the lower right corner is 1.1, the ratio of the curvature K2 of the upper right corner and the right upper edge region to the curvature K1 right lower edge region of the Fig. 5 at 7.3. The attachable there originality can be made large accordingly. The arrows K1 and K2 serve to illustrate the curvatures changing along the edge region 2.

Claims (10)

1. Plastics container, preferably for food, comprising a lower part (1) which forms an internal receiving space for food or other goods and has at least two side walls (3) that are separated from one another by edge regions (2), and comprising a lid (6) which covers the receiving space, can be fixed on a rimof the lower part (1), has a grip lug (16) on one access corner (9) and can be manually pulled off the plastics container from an outer edge region (2) of the plastics container that forms the access corner (9), a peripheral contour (15), extending along the rim, of the plastics containerbeing inwardly offset with respect to the other edge region (2) in the region of the edge region (2) which forms the access corner (9), characterised in that the peripheral contours of the lid (6) and the lower part (1) have different curvatures, such that the grip lug (16) covers at least part of a gap which is created between the rim of the lid (6) and therim of the lower part.
2. Plastics container according to claim 1, characterised in that a mean curvature K1 of a (the) peripheral contour (15) extending along the rim is smaller in the region of the edge region (2) which forms a (the) access corner (9) than a mean curvature K2 of the other edge region (2).
3. Plastics container according to claim 2, characterised in that the ratio of K2:K1 is between 1.1 and 10, preferably between 1.1 and 5.
4. Plastics container according to claim 3, characterised in that the ratio of K2:K1 is between 1.5 and 2.5, in particular 1.8.
5. Plastics container according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tamper-evident closure (11) is arranged on the access corner.
6. Plastics container according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the peripheral contour (15) (in each case) forms an arc in the region of the access corner (9) and/or of the other edge region (2).
7. Plastics container according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in plan view, the lid (6) has a contour which at least substantially corresponds to the peripheral contour (15).
8. Plastics container according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the access corner (9) forms a partially planar transition between the side walls (3).
9. Plastics container according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one side wall (3) abutting the access corner (9) has an offset gripping region.
10. Plastics container according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least four corners, characterised in that the plastics container has at least two tamper-evident closures (12) arranged at two opposite access corners (9).

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