EP3502007B1 - Container with lid - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container with a lid according to the preamble of claim 1.

Generic containers are provided with a tamper-evident tab to indicate that the container is being opened for the first time. After removing or changing the position of the tamper-evident flap, the lid can then be released manually from the container by gripping under the lower edge of the lid by finger engagement in the engagement area then released by the tamper-evident flap and lifting it manually and / or pulling it outward in order to close the lid from the container unlatch and thereby release the container opening.

After the container opening has been opened and closed again for the first time, the container is often exposed to considerable deformation forces, during which a reliable tightness of the container must be ensured. This is the case, for example, when a first component such as a color composition is stored in the originally closed container and, after adding a second component such as a tinting paint, a hardener or the like, the container is closed again and the container contents are then mixed. The mixing or homogenization often takes place on a vibrating table. For this purpose, the cover is usually acted upon with a pressure plate and the container with the lid clamped axially between the pressure plate and a mounting surface of the vibrating table. During the shaking process, the container is then jolted or vibrated at high speeds, so that the contents of the container press against the side wall from the inside with considerable dynamic force and deform it. In particular in the case of medium-sized or larger containers, in which the container contents are therefore heavier, very high dynamic forces are exerted on the container side wall in accordance with the shaking movement, the container contents pressing locally on the side wall. The bulge of the container side wall in one area is then connected to an indentation of another side wall area, as a result of which the latching connection of container and lid is also subjected to high dynamic forces. This can result in the contents of the container emerging from the container in the area of the tamper-evident flap and the outside of the container then being laborious to clean. Although this could be counteracted by a container side wall with a significantly greater wall thickness and thus rigidity, this would, however, significantly increase the use of material and the production costs of the container. Furthermore, this would make it more difficult to manually unlatch the lid from the container, since this requires a certain deformation of the lid and container edge.

Furthermore, it is known to encircle the container on its outer circumference, such as the flange running around the outside, with a type of crockery and thereby additionally stabilize it when the container is vibrated on the vibrating machine, or to use a vibrating plate adapted to the lid to encompass this. However, these measures make handling considerably more difficult and must also be adapted to the respective container shape and size.

The DE 20006093 U1 describes a container with a lid, according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the container at its upper region on the outside one has downwardly drawn edge area with a tamper-evident flap. The container has a circumferential locking edge for locking the lid in place.
The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a generic container with a lid, which can be manufactured inexpensively, is easy to handle, with easier detachment of the lid from the container, and after initial opening has a high level of tightness even with higher forces.

The stated object is achieved according to the invention by a generic container with a lid, in which the at least one non-positive and / or positive locking means of the finger engagement area formed on the container extends only over part of the circumferential extent of the tamper-evident flap and / or the engagement area of the container. This enables finger engagement in the engagement opening for releasing the lid laterally to the force-locking and / or form-locking means, whereby the lower edge of the lid can be manually reached from below without being hindered by the additionally arranged force-locking and / or form-locking means. The release of the lid is particularly simplified as a result, the lid being additionally secured to the container by the additional force and / or positive locking means. Furthermore, in the area of the engagement opening, the lid ridge has circumferential areas which do not interact with force and / or form-fitting means or latching means of the container, whereby the lid can be released comparatively easily by hand, since this facilitates a corresponding deformation of the lid when it is released and the corresponding force-fit and / or form-fit means can initially be decoupled from one another in some areas and then completely more easily.

In the case of the container according to the invention, there is finger engagement area of the flange in the radial direction between the tamper-evident tab in its position in the original state of the container and the container side wall on the container at least one force and / or form-locking means is provided which, when the originality tab is changed or removed, with a corresponding force and / or form-locking means of the lid Cooperates forming a force fit and / or form fit and secures the cover against loosening from the container at the finger engagement area. Such a container is already in the DE 20006093 U1 described. The finger engagement area is thus provided with the additional force-locking and / or form-locking means according to the invention in the arrangement mentioned. Due to the additional force and / or positive locking means on the container and lid on the finger engagement area or in the area of the tamper-evident tab, the lid is additionally secured in its snap-in connection with the container by means of the first locking means and the tightness of the container is significantly increased even after it is opened for the first time . The additional force and / or form-locking means according to the invention can additionally secure the lid against spacing, preferably vertical and / or radial spacing in the area or at the engagement opening on the container, whereby the tightness of the container consisting of the container and the lid, in particular at the finger engagement area, is essential is improved. This design has proven to be particularly effective in a vibrating process in which the container contents dynamically act on the container from the inside, whereby during the vibrating process the container contents force the container side in the form of a shaft rolling on the container side wall and revolving around the container circumference and can deform them in a special way. The container according to the invention can thus in particular be designed as a round container with a circular cross-section or as an oval container, or the container wall can be a continuously curved free-form surface be trained. The design of the container according to the invention has proven particularly useful when the tamper-evident tab is to be removed from the container or to be spaced from the circumferential lower edge of the lid, for example in the direction of the container base or around the main axis of the container, to enable finger engagement in the area of engagement.

The additional force and / or form-locking means according to the invention can in particular secure the cover in the area of the finger-engagement opening against changes in position relative to the container in the vertical direction, namely in the direction of the container opening. In general, the additional force and / or form-locking means on the cover can be designed, for example, in such a way that, for decoupling from the corresponding force and / or form-locking means on the container, they have a directional component in a radially outward direction and - preferably subsequently or simultaneously - in a vertical direction The position of the container opening must be changed in order to be able to detach the lid from the container at least in the area of the finger-engagement opening. This change in position can take place with elastic deformation of the lid on the finger engagement area, as is otherwise done, for example, by the operator in order to detach or unlatch the lid from the container. The additional force and / or form-locking means according to the invention fix the lid and container to one another in the radial direction at the finger engagement area so that deformations of the lid and container, which could otherwise lead to leaks, are avoided or made significantly more difficult. In general, the additional force-locking and / or form-locking means on the lid are preferably arranged radially outward of the corresponding force-locking and / or form-locking means on the container and the mentioned corresponding force-locking and / or form-locking means preferably abut one another laterally and / or in the vertical direction. The invention Non-positive and / or positive locking means on the cover are preferably formed on an area of the cover that cannot be changed in position relative to the outer edge of the cover, with "unchangeable" allowing or enabling the elastic deformability of the cover, which it has due to its inherent rigidity.

The force and / or form-locking means according to the invention on the container are preferably formed on an area of the container that cannot be changed in position relative to the container side wall, with "unchangeable" allowing or enabling the elastic deformability of the container, which it has due to its inherent rigidity.

Due to the inventive design of the container and lid, this design is also independent of the specific design of the tamper-evident tab. Since the container wall thickness does not have to be increased in the embodiment according to the invention, the container can also be made particularly simple and inexpensive.

The engagement area of the flange is designed in such a way that at least one or more fingers can be inserted into it for releasing the cover, so that the fingers are preferably arranged directly below the radially outer lower edge of the cover and can preferably engage behind them. The cover can then be released by direct finger engagement with the lower edge of the cover, preferably reaching behind it, in that the lower edge of the cover is then manually pulled upwards and / or outwards.

It goes without saying that the feature according to which the force and / or form-locking means according to the invention of the container and lid are arranged in the radial direction of the container behind the tamper-evident flap, each to the same vertical position of the flap and force and / or Positive locking means on the container and refer to the same radial direction of the container. The force and / or form-locking means are thus preferably arranged between the inside of the tamper-evident flap facing the container side wall or, if applicable, its extension in the circumferential direction and / or vertical direction of the container and the container side wall. This does not rule out that a partial area of the tamper-evident tab can, if necessary, reach under or over an area of the force-locking and / or form-locking means arranged in a different vertical position and / or in a different radial direction, even if this is not preferred. The "vertical position" is understood here to be a specific vertical distance from the container bottom. Preferably, the mentioned non-positive and / or positive locking means of the cover are not changed in position in the event of a change in position or removal of the tamper-evident flap. The force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container are preferably molded onto the container flange or optionally also the side wall.

In the context of the invention, the term “side wall” is always to be understood as “container side wall” and the term “engagement area” is always understood as “finger engagement area”. The “vertical direction” is understood as a direction parallel to the main axis of the container, with “vertical up” referring to the direction of the container opening and “vertical down” referring to the direction of the container bottom and “vertical distance” referring to the distance in the vertical direction. The term "flange" always refers to the flange of the container side wall, unless the context indicates otherwise.

In the context of the invention, the "force and / or form-locking means" always relate to the force and / or form-locking means additionally provided according to the invention on or in the finger engagement area, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Preferably, at least one form-locking means is provided on the container in the radial direction between the tamper-evident tab in its position in the original state of the container and the container side wall at the finger engagement area, which interacts with a corresponding form-locking means of the lid when the tamper-evident tab is changed or removed, and the lid prevents loosening on the Finger engagement area secures. In this way, the object on which the invention is based is achieved in a particularly effective manner. Under certain circumstances, however, it has also proven to be sufficient, instead of the form-locking means on the finger engagement area in the radial direction between the tamper-evident tab in its position in the original state of the container and the container side wall on the container, to provide at least one force-locking means that interacts with a corresponding force-locking means of the lid and secures the cover against loosening at the finger engagement area through the frictional connection. By means of the cooperating frictional connection means, the lid can be held on the container in the area of the finger engagement opening, for example in a press fit. The frictional connection means of the lid are preferably arranged radially outward of the corresponding clamping means of the container.

The finger engagement area can, for example, be formed by an engagement recess of the container flange, the originality tab in its position on the original container at least partially or practically completely covering the recess, up to, if necessary, a gap-shaped free space around the tab. The gap width can have the length of detachable or severable tamper-evident connections of the flap on the container. Said tab can be arranged in front of the trough on the outside.

Preferably, individual, several or all of the non-positive and / or positive locking means according to the invention of the container and / or lid are covered on the outside by the tamper-evident tab, particularly preferably each completely covered, which results in a visually advantageous appearance, since the external view of the container (s) is / are not visible. This can relate, independently of one another, to the force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container or the lid, particularly preferably to the force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container and the lid in combination. The direction of view is preferably perpendicular to the side wall or to the main axis of the container, the direction of view intersecting the main axis of the container. The force and / or form-locking means of the engagement area are thus preferably arranged in the radial direction behind the tamper-evident tab. Furthermore, a particularly advantageous additional fixation of the cover is given, since the force and / or form-fit means can be spaced from the lateral edges of the engagement area, for example, can be arranged in the central area of the engagement area.

Particularly preferably, the at least one force and / or form-locking means of the container according to the invention arranged on the engagement area of the flange and the corresponding force and / or form-locking means of the lid are designed as interacting locking means, ie second locking means. In this way, on the one hand, the lid can be easily attached to the container, namely by the usual snapping on along the main axis of the container; on the other hand, these form-fitting means counteract undesired loosening of the lid at the finger engagement area and are comparatively easy at the same time by manually levering the cover open by fingering the lower edge of the container to solve.

If the first latching means of the lid are designed as male latching means with latching projection and the first latching means of the container as female latching means with corresponding latching recess or with undercut, in which the latching projection engages or engages behind, this preferably also applies to the second latching means according to the invention from Lid and container. The same applies in reverse if the locking means of the cover are designed as female locking means. The said first and second latching means of the container or those of the lid have the same type of male or female latching means on the same component. It has been found that this makes it much easier to fix the lid on the container, in particular during a shaking process and to detach it from the container, as well as to manufacture the components, for example by injection molding. The first and the second latching means on the container or on the lid can each have the same cross-section, the main axis of the container being encompassed by said cross-section. The first and the second latching means on the container or on the lid can each be constructed identically to one another.

Preferably, the first latching means of the container and the lid for fixing the same to one another are arranged at least partially or completely on the circumferential flange of the container outside the finger engagement area. As a result, the lid can easily be manually unlatched from the container and released. The inventive design of the container with a lid has proven to be particularly advantageous for this embodiment, since the first latching connection between the container and the lid is then mostly interrupted by the finger engagement areas arranged on the flange. The lower edge of the lid can in this case or generally within the scope of the invention sit on an at least substantially horizontally extending section of the flange, if the lid is properly attached to the container or at a slight distance from it.

Preferably, the at least one non-positive and / or positive locking means according to the invention on the container and the first latching means of the container for fixing the lid in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the main axis of the container (ie in the vertical direction) are arranged at the same height, the said first latching means of the container preferably on the Container flange are arranged. It has been found that this makes it easier to detach the cover, since the introduction of force in the case of manual attack on the cover can be more easily transferred to the laterally adjoining cover area. Furthermore, the additional non-positive and / or positive locking means on the engagement area of the container as well as the first latching means of the lid can engage on a latching edge of the lid which extends all the way around the lid at the same height. As a result, the lid is easy to manufacture and conventional lids with a circumferential locking edge can optionally be used to close the container according to the invention. In particular, the locking edge of the cover can be arranged in the area of the radially outer lower edge of the cover, which results in more favorable leverage for manual release of the cover. If necessary, however, the additional force-locking and / or form-locking means on the engagement area of the container can also be arranged at a different height on the container than the first latching means of the same.

If necessary, non-positive and / or positive locking means can also be provided on the container, which are arranged at different heights in relation to the longitudinal extent of the main axis of the container, whereby the force required when manually loosening the lid and / or the holding force of the lid on the container, in particular with a Vibrating process is adaptable to different requirements.

If necessary, several force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container can also be arranged one above the other on the finger-engagement area, which interact with corresponding force-locking and / or form-locking means of the lid and thereby counteract unintentional loosening of the lid in the area of the engagement opening. These multiple force and / or form-locking means can be arranged on the same circumferential area of the container or together on a longitudinal section of the container parallel to the main axis of the container, or optionally also on different circumferential areas.

The at least one force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container at the engagement area is preferably spaced apart from the container side wall in the radial direction. The container side wall and / or the sealing area of the same with the lid can hereby be formed true to shape, for example while avoiding sink marks on the container side wall by molding the form-fitting means onto it. The additional force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container can, for example, be molded onto a rear wall of the engagement area, which is spaced apart from the container side wall in the radial direction. As a result, the additional force and / or form-locking means are decoupled from the container side wall at the same time, which has proven to be advantageous when the cover is manually loosened and the cover and container are deformed.

The at least one force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container at the engagement area preferably has the same radial distance from the container side wall as the first latching means of the container for fixing the lid. The force-fit and / or form-fit means on the engagement area of the container can thus extend or continue the first latching means in the circumferential extent of the container be arranged. In extension of the circumferential extent means that the same radial distance from the lid center is given as in the case of the first locking means, which are arranged in mirror image or inversely symmetrical to the locking means on the opposite side of the lid, with the axis of play including the main axis of the container and an axis along the largest or smallest radial extent of the lid the center of inversion lies on the longitudinal axis of the lid which, when the lid is locked onto the container, is congruent to the main axis of the container. The lid can thus also be locked onto the container rotated by 180 ° about the main axis of the lid, with the same engagement of the locking means of the container and lid with one another. This allows the force and / or form-locking means and the first locking means of the container to lock onto the same locking means of the lid for fixing the lid, so that the lid does not require any special adaptation, whether a conventional container without additional force and / or form-locking means in the area of the Engagement opening or container designed according to the invention can be used.

Particularly preferably, a plurality of force and / or form-locking means spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the container are arranged on the container, each of which interacts with force and / or form-locking means of the lid, whereby the fixing of the lid is improved, in particular during a shaking process and by the At the same time, the spacing of the force and / or form-locking means makes the lid relatively easy to detach. The statements within the scope of the invention with regard to the "at least one force and / or form-locking means" can here generally refer within the scope of the invention to several or all of the force and / or form-locking means arranged on the engagement area of the container.

Said multiple force-locking and / or form-locking means are preferably at a distance from one another in the direction of the container circumference, which enables finger engagement between the force-locking and / or form-locking means or a form-locking means and a side delimitation of the engagement opening. This is a particularly favorable combination in terms of fixing the cover to the Containers given at the same time relatively easy releasability of the lid from the container. The distance between the adjacent non-positive and / or positive-locking means and / or the distance between a non-positive and / or positive-locking means in the engagement opening from the adjacent delimitation of the container flange is preferably dimensioned such that a finger or preferably exactly one finger of the user can intervene and reach behind the lower edge of the cover in the area of the engagement opening. As a result, in particular when precisely one finger engages the said space, the lid can be secured particularly well to the container and at the same time a comparatively simple manual release of the lid is made possible. These statements can in each case relate in particular to the force-locking and / or form-locking means provided, in particular molded on, the container.

Particularly preferably, the at least one force and / or form-locking means is arranged in the engagement opening on a segment of the flange or the container side wall, which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container below the lid edge of the lid fixed to the container over at least part of the extent of the engagement opening along the Container main axis extends. If several force and / or form-locking means according to the invention are provided on the container, these are preferably each arranged on the named segments, preferably one force and / or form-locking means each on a segment. The above statements can apply to all force-locking and / or form-locking means of the container according to the invention. The arrangement of the segment "below" the lid edge means that the segment extends at least partially from the lower lid edge in the direction of the container bottom. This makes it easier for the fingers to be threaded into the finger engagement area in order to reach under the lower edge of the cover and the manual handling when loosening the lid is significantly improved. This prevents the fingers from bumping into the form-fitting means of the container, which are covered by a lower cover apron, which is delimited downward by the radially outer lower edge of the cover, and which cover the force-fit and / or form-fit means of the container on the outside. Furthermore, after removing or changing the position of the tamper-evident flap, the segment (s) are visible at the engagement area when looking at the outside of the container, so that the threading area of the fingers can be visually and / or haptically recognized by the user.

The respective segment of the container side wall or the flange provided with the force-locking and / or form-locking means extends from the base of the engagement opening facing the container bottom at least to the lower lid edge or preferably beyond in the direction of the upper container edge. As a result, the respective segment provides a guide for the fingers, which reach under the lower edge of the cover to loosen the cover, and the manual handling when loosening the cover is made much easier.

The at least one or more segments preferably have a width, i.e. extension in the circumferential direction of the container, which is equal to or greater than the width of the interlocking means on the container, so that fingers are prevented from hitting the interlocking means of the container.

Preferably, one or more or all of the mentioned segments extend to the bottom of the finger engagement opening, whereby a finger guide is provided at the beginning of the threading of the fingers into the engagement opening and the user is also optically indicated in which lid circumferential areas the finger engagement has to be done. This optical display also makes handling considerably easier when the cover is manually loosened.

The segments are preferably free of laterally projecting areas which would make finger engagement more difficult. The segments are preferably drawn up to the upper end of the container flange, whereby the flange is additionally stabilized.

At least one, preferably exactly one, force-locking and / or form-locking means, or precisely one force-locking means or precisely one form-locking means, is preferably arranged on each of the named segments of the container side wall or the flange. If necessary, however, corresponding guide segments for finger engagement can also be provided in the container engagement opening, which are not equipped with force and / or form locking means for additionally securing the lid. This makes it easier to loosen the cover, but at the expense of the additional fixing of the cover.

The areas of the engagement opening between the force-locking and / or form-locking means and / or the segments having them are preferably designed without protrusions, for example as smooth wall areas. This avoids finger engagement without the fingers hitting projections, webs or the like, in particular those which are covered on the outside by the lid attached to the container and are therefore not visible when looking at the side wall.

The at least one force-locking and / or form-locking means of the cover according to the invention, in particular in the form of a latching means, can be arranged on the cover adjacent to the lower edge of the cover, whereby the latter can be acted upon by fingers is easily solvable. The same can apply to the first locking means of the cover.

The tamper-evident flap can extend over part or at least substantially the entire surface extension of the engagement area, which is directed towards the outside of the container.

The first latching means of the container can extend fully around the container, possibly up to the circumferential extent of the finger engagement area, whereby apart from a shaking process or other similar stress on the container there is a sufficiently firm latching connection between them. If necessary, a plurality of first latching means distributed over the circumference of the container can also be arranged on the container. Generally within the scope of the invention, however, the first latching means of the container and lid for fixing the same to one another can also be arranged on the container side wall, for example above the flange and / or in the area of the upper container edge, as an alternative or in addition. The design of the container and lid according to the invention has also proven itself in this embodiment - it has been shown that the flange is designed differently in the area of the engagement opening than in other areas of the container circumference, whereby the advantages according to the invention come into play.

In general, the flange can be formed on the container side wall with a vertical spacing from the upper container edge, but optionally also directly on or in the area of the upper container edge.

The flange preferably has an essentially horizontally extending section which engages under the lower edge of the cover, the lower edge of the cover being able to sit on or off the horizontal flange section Can be spaced, for example. Only slightly spaced. The flange preferably has a section drawn downwards (i.e. towards the container bottom), which is arranged below the aforementioned horizontal section, and the flange section drawn downwards can adjoin the horizontal section directly or via intermediate areas. The downwardly drawn flange section can extend at least substantially in the vertical direction. Said horizontal flange section can extend over the entire circumferential extent of the container at a preferably constant height, that is to say at a constant distance from the upper container edge. In the area of the finger-engagement opening, the horizontal flange section can be interrupted or lowered down towards the container bottom. In the area of the finger engagement opening, the at least substantially vertical flange section arranged below the horizontal flange section can have a lower height than in the areas adjacent to the finger engagement opening.

In general, the finger engagement area can be delimited laterally, preferably on both sides, in the circumferential direction of the container and / or in the direction of the container bottom by a wall area, this wall area being formed on the downwardly drawn flange section and, for example, designed as an extension of the horizontal flange section. The engagement area can be designed as a trough of the flange with a rear wall, wherein the rear wall can be radially spaced from the container side wall, and the wall area delimiting the engagement area can delimit the trough. This configuration stabilizes the flange at the engagement area, and thus also the area of the container on which the form-locking means are formed on the container, thereby improving its securing function for the lid.

The container flange preferably extends continuously below the finger-engagement opening, as a result of which this region of the flange is also stabilized.

The finger engagement opening can optionally be delimited in the radial direction of the container by the container side wall. The finger-engagement opening preferably has a rear wall which is protruded in the radial direction from the container side wall and wherein the rear wall is set back in the radial direction from a radially outer and downwardly drawn flange section, wherein at least the rear wall can extend essentially in the vertical direction. This rear limitation of the finger engagement opening allows it to be designed independently of the shape of the container side wall and to be adapted to manual handling during finger engagement so that, for example, edges or shoulders provided on the outside of the container side wall do not interfere with finger engagement. Furthermore, the rear wall of the finger-engagement opening can be stabilized by webs or ribs which, if necessary, can additionally be formed on a horizontal distance between the flange and / or the outside of the container side wall. In addition, the container area on which the force-locking and / or form-locking means according to the invention are molded can be stabilized, which also improves the additional securing of the lid by the force-locking and / or form-locking means.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters mit Originalitätslasche und Fingereingriffsbereich,

Figur 2:

eine perspektivische Detailansicht eines Eingriffsbereichs eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters,

Figur 3:

eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters am Fingereingriffsbereich mit Deckel,

Figur 4:

eine Aufrissdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters am Fingereingriffsbereich,

Figur 5:

eine Unteransicht eines Deckels für den erfindungsgemäßen Behälter.

The invention is described below by way of example and explained with reference to the figures. Show it:

Figure 1:

a perspective view of a container according to the invention with a tamper-evident tab and finger engagement area,

Figure 2:

a perspective detailed view of an engagement area of a container according to the invention,

Figure 3:

a cross-sectional view of a container according to the invention at the finger engagement area with a lid,

Figure 4:

an elevation view of a container according to the invention at the finger engagement area,

Figure 5:

a bottom view of a lid for the container according to the invention.

The Figures 1 to 5 show a container according to the invention or the container with a lid according to an embodiment.

The container 1 has a circumferential side wall 2, which forms an upper container edge 3 and a container opening, and has a container bottom 4. The container 1 and the lid 5 have corresponding first locking means 14, 15 for locking fastening to one another, the side wall 2 having an at least partially or completely circumferential flange 6 protruding outward from the side wall 2. The flange 6 comprises a downwardly drawn down in the direction of the floor flange area 7, which is provided with a changeable or removable tamper-evident flap 9, wherein the flap 9 in the original state of the container covers a finger engagement area 10 of the flange 6 at least partially or completely on the outside and wherein the Tab 9 at least partially releases the finger engagement area 10 by changing its position or removing it, so that a lower lid edge 11 can be grasped from underneath by finger engagement in the engagement area 10 for releasing the lid from the container 1. Furthermore, the flange 6 comprises an at least substantially horizontal flange area 8, which is the lower edge of the cover 11 is directly opposite and on which the lower edge of the lid can sit or be slightly spaced when the lid is fixed. The horizontal flange area can merge directly or via intermediate areas into the vertical (drawn down) flange area.

According to the invention, on the container 1 on the finger engagement area 10 in the radial direction between the tamper-evident tab 9 in its position in the original state of the container (see FIG Figures 1 , 3rd ) and the container side wall 2 at least one form-locking means 12 is provided, which interacts with a corresponding form-locking means 13 of the lid 5 when the tamper-evident tab 9 is changed or removed and secures the lid 5 against loosening at the finger engagement area 10. The at least one form-fit means 12, 13 on the container 1 or cover 5, which is arranged in the engagement region 10 of the flange 6, is preferably designed as a second latching means 12 ', 13'. For this purpose, a latching projection 13 ″ can be provided on the cover 5, which can be part of a circumferential latching edge. The first latching means 14, 15 of the container 1 and cover 5 for fixing the same to one another are arranged at least partially or completely on the circumferential flange 6 outside the circumferential extent of the finger engagement area.

The exemplary embodiment describes the particularly advantageous arrangement of additional form-locking means 12, 13 on or in the area of the finger engagement area; instead of these, corresponding force-locking means can optionally also be provided on the container and cover.

The at least one form-fit means 12 of the container on the finger engagement area 10 is arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the container main axis H at the level of the first latching means 14 of the container 1 for fixing the lid 5. The at least one form-fit means 12 on the engagement area of the container is in the radial direction from the container side wall 2 spaced. The at least one form-locking means of the container 14 on the engagement area 10 is at least approximately the same distance in the radial direction from the container side wall 2 as the first latching means 14 of the container 1 for fixing the lid 5. The at least one form-locking means 12 of the engagement area 10 molded onto the container 1 extends each only over part of the circumferential extent of the tamper-evident flap 9 and / or the finger engagement area 10. The at least one form-locking means 13 of the lid 5 is arranged in the circumferential direction of the lid as an extension of the latching means of the lid 5 for fastening the same to the container 1. The interlocking means 13 and first locking means 15 of the cover form a continuous locking edge extending in one plane.

A plurality of interlocking means 12 spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the container, which interact with at least one or more interlocking means 13 of the lid 5, are arranged at the engagement opening 10 of the container. The individual form-fit means 12 on the container 1 are preferably each designed identically.

The lateral spacing (i.e. spacing in the circumferential direction of the container) between adjacent positive locking means 12 in the engagement opening 10 of the container 1 and / or the spacing of a positive locking means 12 of the container in the engagement opening from the adjacent container flange 6, i.e. from its lateral boundary 6a to the engagement area, is dimensioned in such a way that finger engagement in the engagement area laterally to at least one or more of the form-fitting means 12 of the container is made possible.

The at least one form-fit means 12 of the engagement opening, which is arranged on the container 1, is on a segment 16 of the flange 6 or the container side wall 2 arranged, wherein the segment 16 extends in the direction of the container longitudinal axis below the lid edge of the lid 5 fixed to the container 1 over at least part of the extent of the engagement opening along the container 1 main axis. The at least one segment 16 of the container side wall 2 or of the flange 6 which has a form-fitting means extends from the base 10a of the engagement area facing the container bottom 4 at least to the lower lid edge 11 or beyond. The segment 16 forms a lateral guide for a finger engaging in the engagement opening in the direction of the grip below the lower edge 11 of the cover.

The interlocking means 13 of the lid 5 are formed continuously over the circumferential extent of the engagement area of the container 1 and, according to the example, are formed as an extension of the first latching means 15 of the lid 5. For this purpose, the cover 5 has a locking edge extending over its entire circumference, the locking edge being arranged in one plane. The first latching means 14 of the container and its form-locking means 12 according to the invention are also arranged in one plane.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the finger engagement area 10 of the container 1 thus has two additional form-locking means 12 which are laterally spaced from one another and are spaced from the lateral boundaries 6a of the engagement opening towards the flange 6, so that a total of three interspaces 17 are provided for finger engagement, so that After removing the tamper-evident tab 9, the fingers can be inserted into the spaces 17 in order to loosen the cover 5. The individual interspaces 17 for finger engagement extend in the vertical direction, ie in the direction of the main container axis H, so that the fingers reach under the radially outer lower lid edge 11 and thereby unlock the lid 5 from the container 1. The single ones Interstices 17 each have a width that they are designed for the engagement of a single finger, which has proven to be particularly advantageous on the one hand for loosening the cover 5 and on the other hand for particularly stable fixing of the cover 5 on the container 1 at the finger engagement area. If necessary, the mentioned interspaces can also have a greater width, for example for the engagement of two or possibly even more fingers, in relation to the respective interspace. The individual spaces 17 in the finger engagement area, which are adjacent to the form-fitting means or the segments 16 supporting them, extend in the vertical direction in such a way that they are arranged on the one hand below the radially outer lower edge 11 of the cover and extend over the said lower edge 11 of the cover in the direction the upper edge of the container 3 extend. As a result, the fingers can engage in the finger engagement area 10 below the mentioned lower edge 11 of the cover and reach under the lower edge 11 of the cover and also reach from behind to loosen the cover 5 in order to pull the cover section radially outward.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the flange 6 formed on the container 1 is attached to the container side wall 2 below the upper edge of the container 3 (i.e. the edge of the container), but if necessary it can also be formed directly on the upper edge of the container, which delimits the container opening.

The individual interspaces 17 for finger engagement extend in the vertical direction continuously from the base 10a of the finger engagement region 10, which delimits the finger engagement region downwards towards the flange 6, up to essentially the entire height of the flange 6, for example up to at least essentially the upper edge of the container 3 out. The individual spaces 17 for finger engagement can extend, for example, as far as an upper horizontal flange section which is integrally formed on the container side wall 2. If necessary, the flange 6 can also be designed in such a way that it is interrupted at the finger engagement region and only adjoins the finger engagement region 10 on both sides. In general, however, the illustrated embodiment is preferred in which a flange section 6b is arranged below the finger engagement area, whereby on the one hand this area is additionally stabilized and on the other hand the tamper-evident tab 9 is molded onto a flange area below the finger engagement area. According to the exemplary embodiment, all connections 9a of the tamper-evident flap 9 on the flange 6 are detachable, for example with manual destruction when the tamper-evident flap is torn off; however, individual of these connections can optionally also be arranged permanently on the flange 6, for example in the form of a film hinge, whereby the tamper-evident flap, for example 9 can be pivoted outwards and in the direction of the container bottom 4 in order to release the finger-engagement area.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the tamper-evident tab 9 protrudes radially outward from the container flange 6. This results in the advantage that the upper edge of the tamper-evident flap 9 can be gripped manually to change its position or to remove it and, on the other hand, the form-fit means 13 of the lid 5, which interact with the form-fit means 12 of the container 1 at the engagement area, in the circumferential extension of the first latching means 15 of the Lid 5 for fixing the same on the container 1 can be arranged. The interlocking means 13 of the cover 5 can thus be designed as part of a fully circumferential locking edge of the cover 5. The tamper-evident flap 9 projects beyond the lower edge of the cover 11.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the finger engagement area 10 is delimited from the container side wall 2 by a rear wall 10b, the rear wall 10b and the container side wall 2 being spaced apart from one another in the radial direction. The engagement area rear wall 10b is in this case formed at least in the area of the spaces 17 between the form-fitting means of the container without local or preferably without any projections, so that finger engagement is not hindered by them. Due to the design of the rear wall 10b of the finger engagement area 10, it is not impaired by any contours such as shoulders or other projections of the container side wall 2. The spaces 17 for finger engagement are designed in the form of grooves which laterally guide the finger threading into the finger engagement area or at least limit its lateral movement until the finger reaches under or engages behind at least the radially outer lower edge 11 of the cover. The segments 16 carrying the interlocking means of the finger engagement area can form part of the rear wall 10b of the finger engagement area, so that said rear wall 10b is essentially undulating, with depressions or depressions oriented radially towards the container side wall 2, which are used for finger engagement, and radially outward directed elevations, which are designed as form-fit means or which carry the form-fit means, such as the segments mentioned. Due to the given wave shape, the finger engagement area is substantially stabilized and thus an unintentional decoupling of the form-fitting means from the container 1 and cover 5 at the finger engagement area is made more difficult. At the top, the segments 16 have an outwardly sloping sliding slope 16a in order to facilitate the exposure of the cover.

The rear wall 10b of the finger engagement region, in particular in the region of the depressions or depressions used for finger engagement, can be designed with webs or stiffening ribs 18 be, which are formed on one side of the rear wall 10b of the finger engagement area and can optionally connect the rear wall 10b to the container side wall 2, whereby a special stabilization is achieved. These webs or stiffening ribs 18 can alternatively or additionally, however, optionally also be molded onto the elevations or segments, wherein these can also be molded onto the container side wall 2.

Figure 5 shows a bottom view of a lid 5 for a container of FIG Figures 1 to 4 with first latching means 15 and form-locking means 13, which here extend over the entire circumferential extent of the engagement area or the tamper-evident pool. The first latching means 15 and the form-fitting means 13 lie in one plane and form a continuous latching edge.

Claims (13)

1. Container (1) with lid, wherein the container (1) has a circumferential side wall (2), which forms an upper container edge (3) and a container opening, and a container base (4), wherein the container (1) and the lid (5) have mutually corresponding first latching means (14, 15) for snapfastening to one another, the side wall (2) having an at least partially or completely circumferential flange (6) projecting outwardly from the side wall (2), and the flange (6) comprising a flange portion which is pulled down in the direction of the base and is provided with a positionchangeable or removable tamper-evident tab (9) which, in the original state of the container, covers a finger-engagement region (10) of the flange (6) at least partially or completely on the outside and which, when the position is changed or the tab is removed, at least partially exposes the finger-engagement region (10) so that, by finger engagement in the finger engagement region (10), a lower lid edge (11) can be manually engaged underneath for detaching the lid (5) from the container (1), at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means being provided on the container (1) at the finger engagement region (10) in the radial direction between the tamper-evident tab (9) in its position in the original state of the container and the container side wall (2), which, when the tamper-evident tab (9) is changed in position or removed, interacts with a corresponding force-locking and/or form-locking means of the lid (5) and secures the lid (5) against detachment from the container (1) at the finger engagement region (10), characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means of the finger engagement region respectively extends only over part of the circumferential extent of the tamper-evident tab (9) and/or of the finger engagement region.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means arranged in the finger engagement region (10) of the flange (6) is designed as a second latching means on the container (1) and lid (5).
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the latching means of container (1) and lid (5) for fixing the same to one another are arranged at least partially or completely on the circumferential flange (6) outside the circumferential extent of the finger engagement region (10).
4. Container according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means of the container is arranged on the finger engagement region (10) in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the main axis of the container at the level of the first latching means of the container for fixing the lid (5).
5. Container according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means of the container is spaced from the container side wall (2) in the radial direction at the finger engagement region.
6. Container according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means of the container has the same distance from the container side wall (2) at the finger engagement region in the radial direction as the first latching means of the container for fixing the lid (5).
7. Container according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means of the lid (5) is arranged as an extension of the latching means of the lid (5) in the lid circumferential direction for fixing the same to the container (1).
8. Container according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that several force-locking and/or form-locking means, which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the container, are arranged on the container (1) at the finger engagement region (10) of the container and interact with at least one or more force-locking and/or form-locking means of the lid (5).
9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the distance of adjacent force-locking and/or form-locking means of the container at the finger engagement region (10) from each other and/or the distance of a force-locking and/or form-locking means of the container at the finger engagement region (10) from the adjacent container flange (6) is dimensioned in such a way that a finger engagement in the finger engagement region (10) laterally to at least one or more of the form-locking means is enabled.
10. Container according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one force-locking and/or form-locking means at the finger engagement region (10) is arranged at a segment (16) of the flange (6) or container side wall (2) which extends in the direction of the container longitudinal axis below the lid edge of the lid (5) fixed to the container (1) over at least a part of the extension of the finger engagement region (10) along the container (1) main axis.
11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one segment (16) of the container side wall (2) or of the flange (6) having a force-locking and/or form-locking means extends at least up to the lower lid edge (11) or beyond, starting from the bottom of the finger engagement region facing the container base (4).
12. Container according to any of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the segment (16) forms a lateral guide for a finger engaging in the finger engagement region (10) in the direction towards the grip under the lower edge of the lid.
13. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the force-locking and/or form-locking means of the lid (5) are formed continuously over the circumferential extent of the finger engagement region of the container.

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