EP3261945B1

EP3261945B1 - Container for loosely stored products and method for opening such container

Info

Publication number: EP3261945B1
Application number: EP16706594.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel MORICHON; Delphine HALIE; Valère Logel
Original assignee: Airnov Inc
Current assignee: Airnov Inc
Priority date: 2015-02-25
Filing date: 2016-02-25
Publication date: 2021-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-25
Also published as: WO2016135226A1; KR20170118862A; CN107406171B; CN107406171A; KR102023262B1; HUE056725T2; EP3261945A1; US20180244438A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container for receiving loosely stored products and a method for opening such a container.
Loosely stored products such as drugs, pills, tablets, test strips, granulate and even powder can be stored in a container body which is provided with a cover for closing an opening end of the container body. The cover is movable between a closed position closing the opening end of the container body and an open position and is provided with an opening means to be operated by a user.

Prior Art

Containers of the above-mentioned type are known and common to the skilled person. They usually comprise a cover attached to the container, wherein the cover has a circular base with an outer periphery and a cylindrical tubular skirt extending perpendicularly and upwardly around the outer periphery of the base. A cylindrical upstanding rim at the upper portion of the container contacts an inner wall of a skirt of the cover, when the cover is closed. Further, such covers like that known from WO 2009/063089 A1 comprise a thumb tab for facilitating the opening and closing of the container and at least one hinge element between the container body and the cover.
Known containers are generally opened using a single hand by lifting up with a thumb the tab formed on the cover of the container.
Such a container is depicted in Fig. 1 and the arrow F indicates the direction in which the user places his thumb beneath the tab and pushes the tab in a generally upwards direction in order to open the cover.
For specific products, there is a need for containers with a lower height. On such containers, for example having a height of 40mm or less, the opening of the container using a common thumb tab pushed upwardly can be difficult. A user has to take the container in the palm of the hand and there is little space for the thumb to be placed beneath the tab to lift up the cover. Especially when a certain force is required to lift up the cover which is firmly held in its closed position, a conventional opening tab can be difficult to operate.
US 4,809,868 describes a plastic food storage and cooking container with a release tab for lifting the lid away from the bowl with a prying action.
GB 392 481 A discloses an opening device for a container with a press-on lid with a pushing element and a lifting element beneath an abutment of the lid.
US 2007/272689 A1 discloses a container with a cover which represents the closest prior art.

Summary of the Invention

It is the object of the invention to provide a container of the above-mentioned type which facilitates the opening of the cover especially for containers with a smaller height or containers with strong holding forces in the closed position. It is further an object of the invention to provide a method for opening such a container.
It is another object of the invention to use a container of the above-mentioned type for storing or packaging pharmaceutical or diagnostic products, and in particular drugs, pills, tablets and test strips.
This object is solved by a container with the features of claim 1 as well as a method for opening such a container with the features of claim 15. Preferred embodiments follow from the other claims.
According to the invention, a container for loosely stored products comprises a container body and a cover for closing an opening end of the container body. The cover is movable between a closed position closing the opening end of the container and an open position. Optionally, the cover is connected to the container body by means of a hinge element. An opening means is provided on the container body, wherein the opening means comprises a pushing means, preferably a push tab, and a lifting means positioned, in the closed position of the cover, beneath an abutment of the cover. The pushing means includes a contact portion which is arranged to be pushed away from the opening end of the container body such that the lifting means displaces the abutment of the cover.
The opening means provided on the container body can either be an integral part of the container body or it is attached to the container body. In the latter case, the opening means could be provided on an attachment ring which is attached to the container body (for example a retaining ring connected to a cover by a hinge element for its attachment on the access opening of the container body).
The contact portion is the part of the pushing means which, in the normal operation, is operated by finger pressure of the user. When the container according to the invention is standing upright on a horizontal surface such that the opening end of the container body is at the upper end of the container body, the contact portion of the pushing means is pushed away from the opening end of the container body which means it is pushed essentially downwards so as to perform a rotational movement in a downwards direction around an axis of rotation virtually separating the contact portion and the lifting means. This movement of the contact portion of the pushing means in a downwards direction has the effect that the lifting means also being part of the opening means will be displaced in the opposite direction, i.e. in an essentially upwards direction. Since the lifting means is positioned, in the closed position of the cover, beneath an abutment of the cover, its movement in an upwards direction will lift up the cover.
The container of the present invention provides an alternative to the common systems of opening and has the advantage to facilitate the opening of containers, including containers that have a small height and are therefore difficult to open, but also containers with strong holding forces in the closed position and containers to be used by elderly people or other patients who are too weak to operate a conventional lifting tab.
By providing some kind of lever mechanism with a pushing means to be depressed in a downwards direction and a lifting means to be displaced in the opposite direction, a suitable force distribution by an appropriate selection of the lever arms can be achieved. In such a way it is possible to reduce the force needed to open the cover also enabling weak persons to gain access to the product stored within the container.
Another reason why the inventive container facilitates the opening lies in the fact that, although the force applied is identical, a user has more strength when pressing with the thumb in a downwards direction as compared to applying an upwards directed force which requires the user to turn around his/her hand. Thus, under normal circumstances and with a container whose upper end is closed by the cover, the opening means is more convenient to use.
Further, the provision of the opening means with a pushing means and a lifting means makes it possible to select a suitable lever arm depending on the distance b from the axis of rotation to the part of the lifting contacting the abutment of the cover as compared to the distance a from the axis of rotation to the extremity of the pushing means. Preferably, 0.5 x b <a. If e.g. the distance a is selected to be larger than the length of distance b, less effort is required to open the cover of the container because of the lever effect. Preferably, the distances are selected such that $1.0 \times b < a < 2.5 \times b$
is fulfilled. If a becomes too large as compared to b, the opening force might be small, the opening angle of the cover is reduced or the downward travel of the pushing means is increased. Therefore, a good compromise between the reduction of the force required and the opening of the cover can be achieved when following the above equation.
The method for opening an inventive container comprises the steps of bringing the closed container in a position such that the opening faces in an essentially upwards direction and pressing onto the contact portion of the pushing means in a downwards direction to pivot the opening means such that the lifting means engages the abutment of the cover and pushes it upwards in an open position.
The abutment of the cover can be any part of the cover having downwards facing surface that can be contacted by the lifting means when it moves upwardly. It can be for example the lower surface of a protrusion that extends horizontally from the top of the cover. Alternatively, if the cover is provided with an outer skirt or outer wall, it can be the bottom surface of the outer skirt or a protrusion that extends from the outer skirt in a horizontal direction.
Advantageously, the abutment is in vicinity or even contact to the lifting means when the cover is in the closed position, such that, once the cover is closed, the abutment repositions the lifting means into its initial position.
Further advantageously, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment is dimensioned such that, throughout the opening process of the cover by means of the opening means, the lifting means is in contact with the downwardly facing surface of the abutment.
Preferably, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment is dimensioned such that throughout or at least through more than 75% of the angle of the maximum possible rotational movement of the opening means, the lifting means will contact the downwardly facing surface of the abutment. A certain initial clearance between the lifting means and the abutment might have to be provided to account for manufacturing tolerances. However, once the lifting means has contacted the downwardly facing surface of the abutment, such contact is preferably kept up to the maximum possible rotational movement of the pushing means out of its starting position with the cover of the container in its closed position. Due to the rotational movement, the point of contact between the lifting means and the downwardly directed surface of the abutment changes with the angle of rotation.
During the closing of the cover, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment pushes back the lifting means and returns the opening means into its initial, starting position.
Preferably, a hinge connects the pushing means and the lifting means to a fixed part, so that the pushing means and the lifting means are pivotable around the pivot axis of the hinge.
According to the invention, the opening means further comprises at least one fixed part attached to the container body, the pushing means and lifting means being pivotably connected to the fixed part by means of the hinge. The provision of at least one fixed part increases the overall stability of the opening means and provides a fixed part relative to which the movable parts of the opening means, namely the pushing means and the lifting means are pivotably attached.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the opening means can be either directly attached to the container body or provided on a retaining ring that is intended to be attached to the container body. In case of a direct attachment of the opening means to the container body, the opening means is preferably integrally formed with the container body.
In case of a retaining ring, the fixed part can be integrally formed with the retaining ring.
The fixed part is attached to the container body and preferably extends in a direction parallel to the opening end of the container body. More preferably, the fixed part extends horizontally and outwardly from the container. The position of the fixed part relative to the container body is fixed, whereas the pushing means and lifting means are movable relative to the container body. Furthermore, the pushing means extends beyond the lifting means in a horizontal direction.
The hinge can be any means allowing the rotational movement of the pushing means and lifting means around the pivot axis, i.e. the axis of rotation. The hinge can be provided by a predetermined reduction of the material strength or a discontinuity in the material or the use of a flexible material in the region of the pivot axis to generate a defined weakness. Preferably, the hinge is a film hinge. In other words, the rotational movement of the pushing means and the lifting means around a pivot axis is provided by a film hinge.
According to the invention, the pivot axis of the hinge of the opening means is perpendicular to a vertical plane of the container passing through its center and the opening means. Preferably, the pivot axis of the hinge of the opening means is perpendicular to a vertical plane of symmetry of the container passing through the opening means.
Preferably, the pivot axis of the hinge of the opening means is parallel to the plane of the open end of the container body and in a direction of the tangent of the sidewall of the container body.
Preferably, the pivot axis of the hinge is arranged such that a lever arm of the lifting means is shorter than a lever arm of the contact portion.
Preferably, the opening means comprises a central fixed part and central pushing means, and two laterally arranged lifting means (or rising part) on each side of the fixed part, respectively. In case of a container body with a cylindrical shape and especially a cylindrical shape with a rounded base, like oval or circular, the two laterally arranged lifting means allow a higher lifting up or angle of opening of the cap when the contact portion of the pushing means is pressed, because the lifting means extend around the peripheral body wall of the container. Further, it might be advantageous to lift up the cover at two distinct positions at a distance from each other so that, in case of a cover with a certain flexibility of the material, the cover cannot easily absorb part of the movement of the lifting means by its inherent flexibility.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the opening means comprises two laterally arranged fixed parts to which the pushing means is pivotably attached, the lifting means being arranged between the fixed parts. Such embodiment is preferable if a high lever effect is contemplated. A relatively long distance between the pivoting axis and the most remote part of the contact portion can be combined with a considerably shorter extension of the lifting means from the pivoting axis. In this way, a relatively long pushing movement with lower force required generates a shorter upwards movement of the lifting means in contact to the abutment of the cover.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container further comprises at least one clearance (or cut out) between the at least one lifting means and the at least one fixed part, the clearance extending towards a pivot axis of the hinge of the opening means. Such at least one clearance is easy to manufacture and allows a relative movement between the at least one fixed part and the at least one lifting means.
It is further preferred that the container comprises a gap between the container body and the lifting means. Such gap allows a smooth and unobstructed movement of the lifting means relative to the container body so that the force required when pressing the contact portion of the pushing means can be kept low.
The container further comprises a locking means for holding the cover in the closed position onto the container body. The locking means can be any means creating a form fit or friction fit between the cover and the container body. It can be for example a protrusion or a groove on the external side of the peripheral body wall that interacts with the protrusion or groove on the inner side of the outer wall of the cap. It can also be peripheral groove on the internal side of the peripheral body wall that cooperates with the corresponding protrusion on the sealing skirt of the cover. Such interaction provides a resistance to opening and allows to avoid the undesired opening of the cover. Further, such interaction establishes a controlled, predetermined opening force. In an preferred embodiment, the at least one lifting means is made such that, when the contact portion of the pushing means is downwardly pressed, the lifting means rises sufficiently to enable the disengagement of the locking means between the container body and the cover.
Preferably, the opening means and the locking means are on the same side of the container. When the opening means is actioned on one side of the container, the lifting means applies a force on the cover which tends to perform a separation of the coupling formed by the locking means on the cover and the container body. The contact point of the force applied is aligned with the locking means. The cover is only sufficiently lifted to allow the disengagement of the locking means.
Preferably, the container further comprises a hinge element attaching the cover to the container body. Such a container is easy to manufacture and it is less likely that the user forgets to close the cover permanently attached to the container body. Finally, the user cannot lose the cover. For this purpose, the hinge element can be a band of material connecting the cover and the container that not necessarily require a well-defined trajectory of the cover during opening and closing of the container. In another embodiment, the hinge element allows the cover to be pivotably movable between the closed position closing the opening end of the container body and the open position. More preferably, the hinge element provides the pivot axis for rotational movement of the cover. This kind of hinge element with a well-defined pivot axis that defines a well-defined trajectory of the cover during its opening and closing is particularly preferred when the cover comprises a sealing skirt with an outwardly facing sealing member that comes into contact with the internal side of the container body for a precise and efficient sealing.
According to a preferred embodiment, the container body and the cover are made of different materials. In this embodiment, the cover is detachably connected to the container body. The provision of the cover of a material different to that of the container body may further increase airtightness to the container due to a special material selection of both parts.
The hinge element can be any means connecting the container body and the cover directly or indirectly as long as it allows a rotation or pivotal movement of the cover with respect to the container body.
Preferably, the hinge element is integral with the cover and the container body. In this manner, the container body and cover are made in one piece using a hinge element attaching the cover to the container body. Such integral hinge element can for example be of the type of a snap hinge or a simple film hinge.
As an alternative embodiment of the container, the cover is detachably connected to the container body by means of a first connecting means integral with the container body and a second connecting means integral with the cover. The second connecting means can comprise snapping hooks on opposite sides or one snapping hook on the total length of the hinge element or a combination of both which engage corresponding recesses at the first connecting means. To establish the connection it is required to insert the second connecting means into the first connecting means. The first and second connecting means can provide a removable mechanical hinge.
Advantageously, a film hinge is provided on the first or second connecting means, preferably on the second connecting means of the cover which engages with the first connecting means of the container body from below. An example of such a hinge is described in WO 2008/116888 .
Preferably, the hinge element tends to open and retain the cover in a predetermined opened position, preferably as soon as the locking means has been released. For example, the hinge element can be provided with a self-opening cap mechanism such that, when the locking means is released, the cover automatically opens. For example, the hinge element can be provided with an elastic element, as described in US 4,711,360 or be provided with an elastic band made of an elastic material.
As another example, the hinge element can be a hinge having a spring effect (snap hinge).
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover comprises a top wall and a sealing skirt which in the closed position of the cover is in contact to an inner wall surface of the container body near its opening end, the sealing skirt being preferably elastically deformable and having an outwardly facing sealing portion. Such structure provides a good sealing between the cover and the container body.
Preferably, the cover of the container further comprises an outer rim (or outer wall) which extends from the top wall of the cover in a downward direction and, in the closed position of the cover, is positioned at least partially around an outer wall surface of the container body near the opening end. The outer rim of the cover provides a protection of the sealing skirt and its outwardly facing sealing portion against any contact or damage when the cover is in an opened position, in particular when the outer wall extends beyond the axial position of the sealing portion. According to an alternative embodiment a sealing contact can be realized between the outer circumference of the container body and the outer rim of the cover.
As an alternative embodiment, the cover can be provided with a sealing skirt and an outer rim having a sealing function. In this case, the sealing skirt and the outer rim provide two individual sealing contacts to the container body.
When providing an outer rim to the cover, the abutment is preferably attached to such outer rim of the cover. It can be for example a downwardly facing surface of the outer wall or the downwardly facing surface of a protrusion that extends from the outer rim in a horizontal direction in order to increase the surface that can be contacted by the lifting means.
According to a preferred embodiment the container further comprises at least one rib integrally formed with the pushing means and/or lifting means. A first function of the rib can be to limit the movement of the pushing means. It can avoid the situation that the pushing means can be rotated into a position in which the lifting means could impede the closing of the cover because the opening means no longer returns into its starting position when closing the cover. A second function in addition or as an alternative to the first function is reinforcement of the opening means. Although the inventive container serves to be operated using a small amount of force, the possibility cannot be excluded that a user might apply an unduly high amount of force on the contact portion of the pushing means. In such a case the provision of at least one suitably arranged rib for reinforcement prevents damage to the pushing means and/or lifting means.
Preferably, the pushing means is a push tab which is provided with a grip portion. Such a grip portion can comprise one or more elevated ribs on the upper surface of the contact portion of the pushing means. Such ribs improve the grip and are especially helpful in case that a user with wet fingers wants to open the container. However, the grip portion can also be any irregular surface, a depression or a relief e.g. letters, figures or symbols in the material.
It is advantageous to provide an insert in the inventive container. Such insert can essentially cover the inner surface of the container body. The insert may be made of a different material than the container body. By providing an insert within the container body, the inner surface which contacts the stored goods can be made of an appropriate material. For example, it can be favorable for medical applications to produce the insert of an inert material. It can also be favorable to produce the insert in a desiccant material and an especially advantageous material for an insert is the use of a desiccant-entrained polymer material. Likewise, any other active material that is able to trap and/or release a substance (such as oxygen, moisture or odor) can be used.
Preferably, the pivot axis (axis of rotation) between the container body and the cover, and the pivot axis (axis of rotation) between the pushing means and the lifting means are parallel to each other.
Preferably, the pivot axis between the pushing means and the lifting means extends in the direction of a tangent relative to the container body, in particular without intersecting the container, at least partially in front of the container, and/or horizontally and/or laterally outside the container.
In particular, the container is configured such that downwardly pushing the pushing means involves a movement of the pushing means away from the user, wherein, at the same time, the lifting means is moved towards the user, along a direction of a virtual line which extends from the side of the container on which side the opening means is disposed to the user.
Preferably, the container is configured such that, when the pushing means is pushed (i.e. the contact portion is pushed away from the opening end of the container body) and thereby rotated, the lifting means displaces the abutment of the cover, wherein the cover is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction in which the pushing means is rotated.
In particular, the pushing means and the lifting means are pivotably connected to a fixed part by means of the hinge so as to be rotatable around the pivot axis of the hinge. The cover and the container body are connected by means of a hinge element so as to be rotatable around the pivot axis of the hinge element. The direction of rotation around the pivot axis (between the pushing means and the lifting means) is opposite to the direction of rotation around the pivot axis of the hinge element (connecting the cover and the container body) .

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following, some embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1: shows a container according to the prior art;
Fig. 2: shows the basic elements of an inventive container;
Figs. 3a, 3b: show the container according to Fig. 2 when opened and the opening means being respectively in its initial position and in its operated position;
Figs. 4a, 4b: are three-dimensional bottom views of the containers as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b;
Figs. 5a, 5b: are a top view of the inventive container according to the preceding figures in which, according to Fig. 5a, the opening means is not operated and, in Fig. 5b the pushing means of the opening means is pressed down;
Fig. 6a: is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 5a;
Fig. 7a: is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 5a;
Fig. 6b: is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 5b;
Fig. 7b: is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 5b;
Fig. 8: is a further view of the container as shown in Figs. 5a to 7b;
Fig. 9: is a cross-sectional view taken along line L-L in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10: shows details of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11: shows a cross-sectional view of an inventive container according to a further embodiment;
Fig. 12a: shows a further embodiment of the inventive container is the opened state;
Fig. 12b: shows the container of Fig. 12a when the opening means is operated; and
Fig. 13: is a three dimensional bottom view of a container not forming part of the invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are shown with respect to the figures. When, in the following, reference will be made to geometrical positions and especially directions like upwards or downwards, it is assumed that the inventive container takes the position as shown in Fig. 2 standing on a horizontal surface and being provided with a cover which closes the upper end of the container body.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 the inventive container 100 is shown. The container essentially consists of a container body 1 and a cover 3. In general, the cover may be attached to the container by means of a hinge element. In the specific embodiment according to Fig. 2, a hinge element 2 is provided which connects the container body and the cover. Further, an opening means 4 is provided on the container body 1. Furthermore, the opening means 4 is integrally formed with the container body 1.
The hinge element 2 allows a rotation of the cover 3 relative to the container body 1 about a rotation axis. The hinge element can be any means connecting the container body and the cover directly or indirectly and allowing a rotational pivotal movement of the cover with respect to the container body. Examples of suitable hinge elements are a simple film hinge or a snap hinge. When using a film hinge, the container body and cover are integrally formed and the film hinge is a bridge of material connecting the container body and the cover and having a geometry which generates a sufficient flexibility to allow the relative movement between the container body and cover. The hinge element can also be provided on a connecting means 39, as shown e.g. Fig. 3b, integral with the cover. The connecting means 39 engages with a connecting element 19 integral with the container body. An example of such a hinge is described in WO 2008/116888 . In that manner, the container body and cover may be made of different materials and connected with each other by connecting the connecting element 19 and the connecting means 39.
Referring again to Fig. 2, the container body is provided with an opening means 4. When opening the cover 3, it is lifted up from the container body 1. To this end, the user will operate the opening means 4 by pressing onto a contact portion 403. By applying a downward pressure on the contact portion, a part of the opening means will move in a downwards direction (arrow F). The specific details of how the opening means 4 is designed and operated, will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments as shown in Figs. 3a to 9.
The containers according to the specific embodiments as shown have a circular cross section. However, it is also possible to provide a container body which does not have a cylindrical shape or another type of cylindrical shape, like a cylinder with a non-circular base. Nevertheless, it is preferred to provide a container body with a rounded base, for example oval or circular.
The container 100 as shown in Figs. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b is provided with a circular bottom 12 and a cylindrical peripheral wall 11 extending upwards from the bottom 12 and defining an opening 10 at the upper most end of the peripheral wall 11. Close to the opening 10 and extending around the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 11 is a bead or flange 14.
The cover 3 is provided with a top wall 31 and an outer wall 32 which depends from the top wall 31. Further, the cover 3 is provided with a sealing skirt 33. The sealing skirt as shown in Figs. 3a, 3b seals against the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 11 near the opening 10. The elastically deformable sealing skirt 33 has an outwardly facing sealing portion 34 that seals against the internal side of the peripheral wall 11 when the cover 3 is in a closed condition. The peripheral wall 11 can additionally have a groove on the internal side which, in the closed condition of the cover receives the outwardly facing sealing portion 34 of the sealing skirt 33, allowing to combine two functions: sealing and locking.
Further, the outer wall 32 situated radially outside of the sealing skirt 33 is positioned radially outside of the peripheral wall 11. The outer wall 32 may protect the sealing skirt 33 and its outwardly facing sealing portion 34 against any contact when the cover is in an opened position. In this case, the outer wall 32 of the cover, in the closed position, could extend further downwards than the sealing skirt 33 or the sealing portion 34.
Further, the outer wall 32 is provided at its lower part with a projecting element 30 which, in the closed position of the container, has a lower side which extends essentially in a horizontal direction. As will be explained in more detail below, the projecting element 30 serves as an abutment of the cover 3. However, the cover 3 may not be provided with an outer wall 32. In this case, the abutment 30 could be for example a protruding part in the continuity of the top wall 31 of the cover 3.
Next, the structure and operation of the opening means 4 will be described. The opening means, in the specific examples as shown, is integrally formed with the bead 14. In the specific example of Figs. 3a to 7b, the opening means 4 comprises a tab 40 with a contact portion 403 which is touched by the thumb of the user and pushed downwardly in the direction of arrow F (see Fig. 2). Further, the opening means 4 is provided with a grip 401 in the contact portion 403, which facilitates to exert pressure on the tab 40 without the thumb slipping away. The opening means 4 of the present embodiment is formed with two fixed parts 43a, 43b which are integral extensions of the bead 14. The pivot line 46 is formed by a predetermined weakness in the strength of the material, like a film hinge. The tab 40 is integrally connected to the fixed parts 43a, 43b but relatively movable to the fixed part around a pivot line 46. The tab 40 is provided with a rising part 402 which serves as a lifting means which, when operating the tab 40, contacts and displaces a downwardly facing surface of the abutment 30 of the cover 3.
In order to enable the relative movement between the fixed parts 43a, 43b and the rising part 402, there are clearances 45a, 45b which can be straight cuts through the material. Further, there is a peripheral clearance 44 between the tab 40 and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 11. The peripheral clearance 44 is sized such that, depending on the material thickness of the rising part 402, it can unobstuctedly move in an upwards direction once the contact portion 403 of the tab 40 is depressed in a downwards directions as shown in Fig. 3b.
Figs. 4a and 4b show the same states of the container as shown in Fig. 3a and 3b but in a three dimensional view from a downwards direction of the container. It can be seen that the bottom side of the tab 40 is provided with a rib 47 in order to reinforce the tab and to protect it also against an unduly high operating force. The rib 47 is shaped in such a way as to serve as an abutting means which limits the pivotal movement of the tab 40 by abutting against the peripheral wall 11 of the container body and, in this way, provides the opening means with a limited maximum rotation angle. In this manner, the tab cannot be moved into a position that obstructs the closing of the cover and it can be automatically returned to its initial position once the cover is closed. This function can be best seen from the cross-sectional view in Fig. 6b which is a cross-section along lines A-A in Fig. 5b and shows the tab in the fully depressed state in which the rib 47 abuts the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the container body. The corresponding geometry of the rib 47 can be best seen from a comparison of Figs. a and 6b, wherein Fig. 6a is a cross-sectional view along lines A-A in Fig. 5a which shows the container in the closed condition.
The corresponding cross-sectional views of Figs. 7a and 7b, both of which are taken along the lines B-B additionally show the provision of the pivot lines 46 being formed by a predetermined weakening of the material strength to allow the bending of the tab relative to the fixed parts.
The cross-sectional view of Figs. 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b also shows the provision of a sleeve or insert 5 within the container which, depending of the desired protection of the contents stored within the container, could be provided as an inert material or with specific adsorption capabilities.
A further detail that can be taken both from the cross-sectional view of Fig. 6a and Fig. 3a is the provision of a locking means 13 which can be provided as a rib-like extension at the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 11 close to the opening 10. The locking means 13 serves to hold the cover in the closed position onto the container body and can be provided in any way which achieves the function to create an interlocking between the cover 3 and the container body 1. It can for example be a protrusion or a groove on the external side of the peripheral wall 11 that interacts with the protrusion or groove on the inner side of the outer wall 32 of the cap 3. This situation is shown in the example in Fig. 3a and 6a. However, it can also be a peripheral groove on the internal side of the peripheral wall 11 that cooperates with a corresponding protrusion on the sealing skirt 33 of the cover. The interaction of the locking means with a suitable counter structure provides a resistance to opening and allows to avoid an inadvertent opening of the cover. Further, it establishes a controlled, predetermined opening force.
Preferably, the rising part 402 and its movement are designed such that, when the tab 40 is downwardly pressed, the rising part 402 rises sufficiently to enable the disengagement of the locking means between the container body and the cover.
Fig. 8 is a further view of the container as shown in Figs. 5a to 7b and explained in detail above. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line L-L in Fig. 8. The difference between Fig. 9 and Fig. 7b is the viewing direction of the cross-sectional view. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 9, the lifting element 402 not forming part of the cut cross-section of the container can be seen.
In Fig. 9 and the enlarged view of Fig. 10, the contact portion 403 and the lifting means 402 is shown. Further, in the enlarged view of Fig. 10, the hinge 46 is shown. Comparing the dimensions of the lifting means 402 and the contact portion 403, it can be seen that the maximum extension of the contact portion 403, referenced by "a", is larger than the maximum extension of the lifting means 402, which is denoted by reference "b". In the specific example as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the lever arm a corresponds roughly to two times the lever arm b. In fact, it is somewhat smaller because a user's thumb will not apply pressure to the distal end of lever arm a but to a position somewhere close to the gripping ribs. However, the lever effect is achieved in that the downward travel distance of the distal end of the contact portion 403 exceeds the upward travel of the distal end of the lifting means 402, wherein the term "distal end" describes the end of the contact portion or lifting means respectively, which are remote from the hinge 46.
Because of the rotational movement of the pushing means around the hinge 46, the contact line between the distal end of the lifting means and a downwardly directed surface of the abutment 30 depends on the rotation angle of the pushing means. Accordingly, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment 30 should be dimensioned to have an extension c which is sized such that over the whole possible rotational movement of the pushing means, the distal end of the lifting means will always stay in contact with the downwardly directed surface. When closing again the cover, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment 30 pushes back the lifting means 402 and returns the pushing means 40 of the opening means 4 into its initial, starting position as shown e.g. in Fig. 6a.
Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of an inventive container according to a further embodiment of the invention. The embodiment according to Fig. 11 distinguishes from that as described in Fig. 6b in that the cover 3 is not provided with an outer wall as denoted by reference numeral 32 in Fig. 6b. Instead, the cover 3 is provided with a sealing skirt 33 only. Also in such a case, the same function can be achieved by providing a projecting element 30 serving as an abutment of the cover 3 and being directed with a downwardly facing surface with the extension c, which comes in contact with the distal end of the lifting means 402.
In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 11, there is a peripheral groove close to the opening of the container and along the inner circumference of the container. This peripheral groove cooperates with the sealing portion 34 of the sealing skirt 33 and also provides the locking function of the cover 3 in the closed state of the container.
The embodiment as shown in Figs. 12a and 12b is largely identical to that as previously described in detail. Therefore, a detailed description can be omitted and, in the following only reference will be made to the differences to the embodiment as described with reference to Figs. 3a to 7b.
The container according to Figs. 12a, 12b and 13 has a different structure of the opening means 4 which is provided with a single fixed part 43 and a tab 40 which has two lateral portions 402a and 402b which are two separate rising parts with the function to contact and move upwards the abutment, which in this embodiment is the rim 30. Between the fixed part 43 of the opening means 4 and the tab 40, the pivot axis 46 is arranged which is again of the type of a film hinge with an adequately reduced material thickness to provide defined bending characteristics. In order to allow the relative movement, the opening means according to the embodiment of Figs. 12a, 12b and 13 is also provided with two essentially parallel clearances 45a, 45b between the centrally arranged fixed part 43 and the lateral portions 402a, 402b which are the two portions of the rising part. Further, the peripheral clearance is provided in two sections 44a, 44b between the lateral portions 402a, 402b and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 11.
As can be seen in the view as shown in Fig. 13, both lateral portions 402a, 402b are provided with reinforcement ribs 47a, 47b. In addition to these ribs 47a, 47b, a further rib or "stop" is provided below the tab 40 in order to limit the pivotal movement of the tab 40 by abutting the rib against the peripheral wall 11 (not shown in the drawings).
The embodiment as shown in Figs. 12a, 12b and 13 has the advantage that, due to the extension of the lateral portions 402a, 402b partly around the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 11, the specific portions of the lateral portions which abut against the rim 30 of the cover 3 are at a greater distance to the pivot axis 46 so that a relatively small downward movement of the tab 40 leads to a relatively high upwards movement of the lateral portions in contact to the rim 30.
Although in the above described embodiments, the pivot line has been described to be at least one film hinge, it should be noted that any kind of hinge along rotation or pivoting of the tab can be used. However, when providing the film hinges at the opening means 4 as well as a film hinge between the container body and the cover, the overall container 100 can be manufactured as an integral piece. Even the clearances 45a, 45b; 44, 44a, 44b can be provided during the manufacture of the container when it is produced by means of an injection process. The clearances can be provided during the manufacture of the container by thin pins in the mold.
Preferably, the pivot axis between the container body 1 and the cover 3, and the pivot axis between the pushing means 40 and the lifting means 402 are parallel to each other.
Preferably, the pushing means 40 and the lifting means 402, 402a, 402b are pivotably connected to a fixed part by means of the hinge, wherein the pivot axis 46 of the hinge extends in the direction of a tangent relative to the container body 1, in particular without intersecting the container 1, at least partially in front of the container 1, and/or horizontally and/or laterally outside the container 1.
In particular, the container 1 is configured such that downwardly pushing the pushing means 40 involves a movement of the pushing means 40 away from the user, wherein, at the same time, the lifting means 402 is moved towards the user, along a direction of a virtual line which extends from the side of the container on which the opening means 4 is disposed to the user.
When looking at the container from the direction defined by the rotation axis of the opening means 4 (looking along the pivot axis of the hinge 46), the cover 3 has a direction of rotation which is opposed to the direction of rotation of the opening means 4. For example, in Fig. 6a, the opening means 4 is turning clockwise around hinge axis 46, while the cover 3 is turning counter-clockwise around the pivot axis of the hinge element 2. Hence, the opening means 4 and the cover 3 are rotated in opposite directions of rotation.
In other words, in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the opening means, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to hinge 46, the direction of rotation of the cover 3 (when moving from the closed to the opened position) is opposed to the direction of rotation of the opening means 4 actuated by the user.

Claims

Container for loosely stored products, comprising:
- a container body (1) with a peripheral wall (11);

- a cover (3) for closing an opening end of the container body (1),

- the cover (3) being movable between a closed position closing the opening end of the container body and an open position; and

- optionally, a hinge element (2) attaching the cover (3) to the container body (1),

- an opening means (4) provided on or attached to the container body (1), wherein

- the opening means (4) comprises a pushing means (40) with a contact portion (403), preferably a push tab, and a lifting means (402; 402a, 402b) positioned, in the closed position of the cover (3), beneath an abutment (30) of the cover (3);

- the contact portion (403) of the pushing means (40) being arranged to be pushed away from the opening end of the container body (1) such that the lifting means (402; 402a, 402b) displaces the abutment (30) of the cover (3); wherein

- the opening means (4) further comprises at least one fixed part attached to the container body (1), the pushing means (40) and lifting means (402; 402a, 402b) being pivotably connected to the fixed part by a hinge (46), preferably a film hinge;

- the container further comprising locking means (13) for holding the cover (3) in the closed position;
characterized in that
- the bottom side of the opening means (4) further comprises a rib (47) shaped as to serve as an abutting means which limits the pivotal movement of the pushing means (40) by abutting against the peripheral wall (11) of the container body (1); and

- the lifting means (402; 402a, 402b) is configured to rise sufficiently to generate the disengagement of the locking means (13) between the container body and the cover when the contact portion (403) of the pushing means (40) is pushed away from the opening end of the container body (1).
Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening means (4) comprises a central fixed part (43) and central pushing means (40) and two laterally arranged lifting means (402a, 402b) on each side of the fixed part (43), respectively.
Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening means (4) comprises two laterally arranged fixed parts (43a, 43b) to which the pushing means (4) is pivotably attached, the lifting means (402) being arranged between the fixed parts (43a, 43b).
Container according to any of the claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one clearance (45) between the at least one lifting means (402) and the at least one fixed part (43), the clearance (45) extending towards a pivot axis of the hinge (46).
Container according to any of the claims 1 to 4, further comprising a gap (44) between the container body and the lifting means (402).
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container body (1), the cover (3), the hinge element (2) and the opening means (4) are made in one piece.
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is configured such that the hinge element (2) is provided with a self-opening cap mechanism such that, when the locking means (13) is released, the cover (3) automatically opens.
Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (3) comprises a top wall (31) and a sealing skirt (33) which in the closed position of the cover is in contact to an inner wall surface of the container body (1) near its opening end, the sealing skirt (33) being elastically deformable and having an outwardly facing sealing portion (34).
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover further comprises an outer rim (32) which, in the closed position of the cover (3), is positioned at least partially around an outer wall surface of the container body (1) near the opening end, the abutment (30) being preferably attached to the outer rim (32) of the cover (3).
Container according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one reinforcement rib (47a,47b) integrally formed with the pushing means (40) and/or lifting means (402; 402a, 402b).
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is configured such that, when the contact portion (403) is pushed away from the opening end of the container body and thereby rotated, the lifting means (402) displaces the abutment (30) of the cover (3), wherein the cover (3) is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction in which the contact portion (403) is rotated.
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pushing means (40) and the lifting means (402) are rotatable around an axis of rotation between the pushing means and the lifting means, and the cover (3) and the container body (1) are pivotably connected so as to be rotatable around a pivot axis of the hinge element (2), wherein the direction of rotation around the axis of rotation between the pushing means and the lifting means is opposite to the direction of rotation around the pivot axis of the hinge element (2).
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an axis of rotation between the container body (1) and the cover (3), and an axis of rotation between the pushing means (40) and the lifting means (402) are parallel to each other.
Container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an insert is provided in the container body (1), the insert comprising an active material that is able to trap and/or release a substance, such as a desiccant material.
Method for opening a container according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps:
- bringing the closed container according to any of the preceding claims in a position such that the opening faces in an essentially upwards direction, and

- pressing onto the contact portion of the pushing means in a downwards direction to pivot the opening means such that the lifting means engages the abutment of the cover and pushes it upwards into an open position.