ES2361947T3 - CONTAINER ASSEMBLY. - Google Patents

Abstract

Container assembly (1) comprising a container part (3) and a lid part (2), said lid part comprising a connection part (8) for connection to said part of the container, a lid (7) which is pivotally connected to said connection part, and blocking means for blocking said cover to said connection part, said blocking means comprising a lip (31) in said cover to block said cover to said connection part, characterized in that said lip is operatively connected to said cover and has a cam at a lower end of said lip and said connecting part has another cam, both cams positioned to engage each other to keep said cover on said connecting part when said lip is not actuated and to disengage from each other when said lip is actuated, said lower end being inclined with respect to said cover on an axis substantially in a plane of d icha cover and near an edge of said cover, and said locking means having gripping means for tilting said lip and said connecting part further comprising a safety lip, positioning said lower end of the lip to avoid tilting said lower end of said blocking lip and provide evidence of manipulation.

Description

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Background

[0001] The present invention relates to a container assembly according to the preamble of claim 1, which comprises a container part and a lid part, said lid part comprising a connection part for connection to said container part and a cover that is pivotally connected to said connection part. The invention further relates to such a cover part.

[0002] Such container assembly and lid part are known from PCT / NL 2005/000089. This document discloses a container to contain both a product and a spoon. The invention in question can be used in combination with such a package, but it should be noted that it can also be used with other prior art packages.

[0003] Such a container assembly is manufactured by joining the container part with the lid part. More particularly, the connection part of the lid part adheres to the upper side of the container. Its objective is to optimize the assembly of the lid part and the container part as much as possible. To that end, the lid parts should be automatically supplied and handled to be held in position on the container part. The exact positioning of the lid part is essential.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The aim of the invention is to improve the handling of the cover parts to more easily assemble the

lid part and container part. [0005] Another object of the invention is to improve the handling of the container with the lid part and the container part fixed to him.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide the improvements without deteriorating other beneficial properties of the container assembly. [0007] This is done with a container assembly as described in claim 1.

[0008] The invention relates to a container assembly according to claim 1. [0009] The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined to provide additional advantages. convenient.

Description of the drawings

[0010] The invention will be illustrated in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings where it is shown:

Fig. 1, in exploded view, a container assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2 the container assembly according to Fig. 1 after it has been assembled;

Fig. 3 a stack of lid parts before assembly with the container part;

Fig. 4 a perspective from above and side view of a cover part according to the invention;

Fig. 5 a perspective of the bottom and side view of the lid part of Figure 4;

Fig. 6 a cross section of Figure 4, Fig. 7 the lid part of Figure 4 open, that is, with the articulated lid open with respect to the part of Connection,

Fig. 8 an alternative cover form.

Detailed description of the embodiments

[0011] In the figures, 1 refers to the vessel assembly. This comprises a lid part 2 and a container part 3. The container part 3 is provided with a bottom 4 and the bottom material is connected to the flanks and defines a circumferential flange 5. The container part can be made of cardboard, coated with a synthetic coating layer known in the art to make it suitable for containing food or liquids. The container part can also be made of plastic or metal, preferably to contain food or liquids.

[0012] The cover part 2 comprises a connection part 8, a hinge (live) 6 and a cover 7. The cover 7 is pivotally connected to the connection part 8. The connection part 8 comprises a circumferential flange U-shaped 13 to receive the upper edge 12 of the flank of the container part 3. The fixing of the connection part 8 to the wall of the container can be carried out by any means known in the art. In these drawings, the upper edge 12 of the container part 3 is folded and thus forms a double layer of material. In the

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In practice, however, it is not necessary to perform as in this case and in most cases it is a simple stratum.

[0013] The upper part of the cover 7 has a circumferential cam. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the cover has two cam parts 9 that have interruptions 10 (Fig. 4) between them. In the embodiment shown, the cams are protruding parts of the cover 7 outwards (that is, outside the connecting part 8). It is also conceivable to provide an edge at the top of the cover 7. It may even be conceivable to make the cam protruding (circumferentially) inward, that is, towards the connecting part 8. Then, in fact, it forms a groove. In this case, the flange 5 at the bottom of the container part 3 is received within this slot.

[0014] The upper part of the lid 7 has a shape that partially corresponds to the shape of a spoon. The shape is indicated by the number 11 (fig. 4, 5). Fixing means (fig. 5, no. 29) are provided inside the lid 7 to accommodate and hold a spoon having the shape and size of the spoon shape 11 (not shown). In Fig. 4 it is evident that the lid is substantially rectangular and the shape 11 is positioned diagonally. The interruptions 10 of the cam parts 9 are placed where the shape 11 is "crossed". Preferably, approximately 20% of the circumference in the position of the cams 9 comprises the interruptions 10.

[0015] The cover is further provided with a circumferential flange 14 which in the closed position covers at least the upper part of the connection part 8. Cooperating locking means 31 are provided to lock the cover in relation to the connection part and tamper evidence means 30 can be provided on the locking means 31 to prevent misuse. In this embodiment, the locking means 31 comprise a lip 31 in the lid 7 with a side cam directed towards the lid 7 and a cam in the connecting part

8. These two cams engage each other when the cover 7 is closed and the closing lip 31 is not actuated and is disengaged when the closing lip 31 is actuated, allowing a user to open the cover 7. In this way In this embodiment, the closing lip 31 is inclined to connect to the cover 7, and is tiltable around an axis in the main plane of the cover 7 and close to the stop of the cover 7. For that purpose, the lip 31 is connect to cover 7 by a depleted part 26 of the cover (see Fig. 6). In the event that the closing lip 31 extends above the main surface 22 of the cover 7, as is the case in the embodiment shown here, (part of) gripping means are provided by means of which A user can grab the lid 7 for opening.

[0016] In the position of the closure lip 31 a grip area 28 is provided. In this embodiment, it is created by providing a (local) recess 28 in the lid, and providing the cam 9 in such a way that the inner wall 33 of this cam 9 is extended to a wall of the recess 28. In this way, a relatively large plane 33 is created on which a finger or thumb can rest when the closing lip 31 is operated with another finger / thumb.

[0017] In Fig. 6 it is further indicated that the cam 9 has an upper part 24 which, as already mentioned, extends approximately 5-7 mm above the surface 22 defined by the flange 14, which defines substantially the plane of the lid 7. The wall 25 is the outer wall of the cam 9. The closing lip 31 does not extend above this cam so as not to compromise the stacking ability of the parts of the lid and / or container assemblies.

[0018] The tamper evidence means 30 in this embodiment comprise a lip 30 that is connected to the connection part 8 by fine connection bridges. These bridges are provided near both sides of the closing lip 31 of the locking means 31 and near the end of the closing lip 31 of these locking means. The connecting bridges have to be broken in order to remove the safety lip 30 and to allow a user to tilt the closing lip 31 of the locking means 31, and can be formed in a molding process (synthetic material, p eg PE, PP) of the cover part 2. In the embodiment shown for example in Fig. 4, it is clear that because a lip is used which is connected using connecting bridges that are can be molded at once together with the lip and the rest of the part of the lid, the safety means can be fully integrated into the flank. In particular, the safety lip has a part 35 that extends above the closing lip (in this position the closing lip has a lower part 36), thus allowing easy removal of the safety lip 30. The height of the lip of safety 30 and of the closing lip 31 should preferably not extend above the edge 24 of the cam 9.

[0019] The cams 9 have a substantial height D, p. ex. about 5-7 mm. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cams 9 are part of the protruding cover 7 outwardly with respect to the main plane of the lid (substantially a plane through the surface 22 of the flange 14). For this reason the cams 9 function as reinforcement ribs by adding to the force of the lid and in this way it is possible to stack a number of assemblies of the container on top of each other, as shown for example in Fig. 2, so very stable. This effect of providing more rigidity to the lid is increased when a cam wall 9 practically extends or exceeds the flange 34. This flange 34 of the inside of the lid 7 fits inside the 23 of the internal U-shaped flange 20. The U-shaped inner flange 20 has ribs 21 that provide rigidity to the flange 20. The height of this inner side 23 of inner edge 20 is preferably at least the height of the cam 9, that is, approximately 5-7 mm . The flange 23 of the cover 7 extends within the connecting part 8 to such an extent that it leaves sufficient height of the flange 23 free (those already mentioned 5-7 mm) to be able to stably stack the parts of the lid in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

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[0020] The spacing between the outer or outer walls 25 of the cam parts 9 is indicated in Fig. 4 by C.

[0021] The internal width of the connection part 8, at least at the lower end thereof, is indicated by B, where B is slightly larger than C. This allows the stacking of a number of cover parts comprising the connection part 8 and the cover 7 one on top of the other as shown in Fig. 3 to obtain a stable battery. Such a stable stack is desirable during the automated provision of the parts of the lid on the parts of the container during assembly thereof.

[0022] In Fig. 1, the spacing between opposite sides of the circumferential edge 5 next to the bottom of the container part 3 is indicated by A. Preferably A is approximately the same as B, allowing the stacking of the container assemblies using the combination of the circumferential flange 5 and the cam parts 9 of the lid. It will be understood that dimensions A-C are all taken in the same direction. In different directions A-C they will have other values, but the same principle is applied to provide stable and robust stacking of both the parts of the lid and the assemblies of the container at a later stage. The spacing between the cam and the circumferential flange, the connecting part respectively, is preferably about 0.5 mm. Due to the shape of the cam parts there are at least three and preferably four or more points of contact between the related circumferential flange and the cam parts that provide a stable stacked assembly. Stacks of ten or more packages can be obtained. The circumferential shape of the flange 5 of the portion of the container 3 and of the cam 9 in the lid 7 are mutually adapted so that the flange 5 fits closely around the cams 9. In addition, the diameter B and the circumferential shape of the flange 23 of the connection part are designed so that the circumferential flange 23 of the connection part fits tightly around the cam 9 of the cover 7.

[0023] Although in this preferred embodiment the cam parts 9 both work to cooperate with the corresponding housing in the connecting part 8 and the flange 5 at the bottom 4 of the container part, it will be obvious that they can be provided two sets of cam parts.

[0024] The cover part 2 further has a leveling part 27 inside the flange 20. This part 27 is provided at the edge of the flange 34 at a distance from the bottom edge of the inner wall of the flange 20 to allow stacking of parts of cover 2. This leveling part 27 allows the leveling of the bucket.

[0025] The cover 7 also has a dome-shaped part 32 in its central part to provide the additional stiffness of the cover 7.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, form 11 indicates and holds a protruding bucket outward with respect to the plane of the lid 7. This may provide additional rigidity to the lid.

7. However, it is also conceivable to allow, for example, the upper part 24 of the cams 9 to define the main plane and the outer surface of the cover 7. In this case, the wall 25 still defines stacking means that provide a stop for the flange 5 of the bottom of the part of the container 3, together with the surface 22 of the flange

14. In this case, the shape of a spoon may be indicated differently, and the fastening means 29 for a spoon may still be present.

[0027] In another form of cover 7, shown in Fig. 8, the connecting part 8 still has a flange 20 with internal side 23 to provide a first element of the first complementary stacking means. However, in this embodiment of the lid, the lid has depressions, in this embodiment a circumferential groove that is sized to retain both the flange 20 of the lid portion 2 when stacking the lid portions, such as the flange 5 when stacking container assemblies 1. In fact, the groove provides a vertically extending stop on a groove wall. This vertically extending stop (with respect to the plane of the cover 7) can also be formed, when the surface of the cover 7 is followed radially from the outside 22 to the center, lowering the surface of the cover with respect to the surface 22 of the flange 14, thus providing a stop against radially external forces. The vertically extending stop can also be formed by making the surface of the lid higher after the surface 22 of the flange 14, thus providing a stop against radially internal forces. In the first embodiment, the outside of the flange 5 borders the top of the lid 7, in the second embodiment, the inside of the flange 5 borders the top of the lid 7. In both embodiments, the stop of the lid prevents displacement. It is clear that these stops do not have to be completely circumferential, but in many practical designs and embodiments, they will be.

[0028] It will also be apparent after the foregoing, that other embodiments are within the scope of protection of the appended claims, being obvious combinations with prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.

Claims (8)

1. Container assembly (1) comprising a container part (3) and a lid part (2), said lid part comprising a connection part (8) for connection to said part of the container, 5 a lid (7) which is pivotally connected to said connection part, and blocking means for blocking said cover to said connection part, said blocking means comprising a lip (31) in said cover to block said cover to said part of connection, characterized in that said lip is operatively connected to said cover and has a cam at a lower end of said lip and said connection part has another cam, both cams positioned to engage each other to keep said cover on said connecting part when said lip is not actuated and to disengage from each other when said lip is actuated, said lower end being inclined with respect to said cover on an axis substantially in a pl anus of said lid and near an edge of said lid, and said locking means having gripping means for tilting said lip and said connecting part further comprising a safety lip, positioning said lower end of the lip to prevent tilt 15 of said lower end of said locking lip and providing evidence of tampering.

2.

Container according to claim 1, wherein said safety lip is connected to said connecting part adjacent to both sides of said blocking lip, and is connected to said connecting part adjacent to the lower end of said blocking lip by connecting bridges.

3.

Container assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lip (31)

20 has a cam and said connecting part has another cam, both cams placed in order to engage each other to keep said lid locked on said connecting part when said lip is not actuated and to release one from the other when said lip is actuated, said lid also having a grip area (28) adjacent to said lip for the placement of a user's finger or thumb when said lip is operated. A container assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lid comprises a flange adjacent said grip area and has a flange wall extending to said grip area. 5. Container assembly according to claim 3, wherein said grip area comprises a local depression or a recess in said lid. 6. Container assembly according to claim 5, wherein said depression has a wall that goes downward from the flange wall.

7.

Cover part for a container assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cover part is injection molded into a part, in particular molded by injection of PE, PP, or the like.

8.

Container assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lip (31) in

Said lid has an upper lip portion that extends over a lid surface outside said connecting portion and a lower portion of the lip adjacent to said connecting portion, said lip being inclined relative to said lid on an axis substantially in a plane of said lid and near an edge of said lid. 9. Container assembly according to claim 8, wherein said locking lip (31) is connected to said 40 lid by means of at least a partially thinned part of said lid; In one embodiment, a part of the part of the lid that connects the closure lip is separated.