GB2216110A

GB2216110A - Closure device

Info

Publication number: GB2216110A
Application number: GB8904578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antonio Locati; Mario Vocaturo; Pietro Ferrero
Original assignee: Ferrero SpA
Current assignee: Ferrero SpA
Priority date: 1988-03-02
Filing date: 1989-02-28
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-28
Also published as: BE1001730A6; IE61826B1; LU87462A1; GB8904578D0; GB2216110B; AU616482B2; FR2628070A3; PT8040U; CH674971A5; ES2014581A6; CA1323613C; AU3080889A; IE890656L; NL193587B; NL8900516A; AT407146B; FR2628070B3; PT8040Y; NL193587C; ATA47089A

Description

2216110 "Closure device, particularly for packages for food products" The

present invention relates to closure devices (so-called lids or caps) for packages such as, for example, pots, glass jars, etc.

Lids for pots, particularly for food products, are currently on the market and are constituted by a cylindrical body defining in its central portion an annular flange which bears against a closure partition of the pot. This partition defines in the lid a lower region with a screw coupling for application of the lid to the pot and an upper recess which is upwardly open. The recess has a groove in its base zone, in which is snap-engaged the edge of a cover for forming a closed compartment in the recess for receiving a toy, slip of paper or any promotional object.

With this solution, in order to remove the promotional object, the user must push the cover out through a hole which can be opened in the partition, the cover having no function in practice other than that of defining a closed compartment in the recess.

With this type of solution, the cover has no further use in practice.

The invention is set the very task of resolving the problem explained above by providing a lid of the type described above, which affords the possibility of housing an actual container in the recess without the need to modify the typical structure of the lid.

Within the scope of the task expounded above, a 2 particular object of the invention is to provide a lid in which the promotional object inserted in the process may be constituted by the inserted container itself which in its turn may be equipped internally in various ways.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lid with its container, in which the container is inserted such that it cannot be removed from outside the lid; this achieves the advantage of reasonable security against the removal of the inserted container, being moved, for example, when the pot is placed on the sale shelves of a supermarket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lid with an inserted container which is simple to manufacture and also advantageous from an economic point of view.

The task explained above, as well as the objects indicated or other objects which will become more apparent below, are achieved by a closure device having the characteristics claimed in the claims which follow.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description which follows, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a package provided with a closure device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device according to the invention; ct -21 3 Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of one of the elements constituting the device of the invention, seen in cross-section and in the open position; Figure 5 shows the element of Figure 4 in the closed position; Figures 6 and 7 show the element of Figures 4 and 5 in perspective, in the open position and in the closed position respectively; Figure 8 shows a first possible variant of the element of Figures 4 to 7, Figure 9 shows the element of Figure 8 in diametral section and in a closed condition, Figure 10 is a section substantially corresponding to the left-hand part of Figure 3, illustrated on an enlarged scale in order to reveal several characteristics of a further possible variant of the invention, Figure 11 is a section approximately corresponding to the sections of Figures 5 and 9 and relating to the variant of Figure 10, Figure 12 is a view of the element of Figure 11 developed in a plane, and Figures 13 and 14 are two views illustrating several constructional details of the element shown in Figures 4 11 and 12, on an enlarged scale.

With reference to Figures 1 to 9, a closure device (lid or cap), generally indicated 1, is intended for application to packages such as pots, jars, etc., for example, of the type used by the Applicant f or the chocolate cream sold under the trade name "Nutella".

The device or lid 1 comprises essentially a cylindrical body 2 which, in a central portion, has an annular flange 3 acting as an abutment element for a separating partition 4. In practice, the latter defines a lower zone within the body 2 f or coupling to a package such as a pot, indicated 5. Threading 6 is also provided in this lower zone.

The upper portion of the cylindrical body def ines an upwardly-open recess 10 which has an annular groove 11 in its base zone.

A container constituted by a bottom shell and a top shell which are releasably coupled together is removably housed in this recess.

In more detail, with reference to Figures 4 to 7, the container, generally indicated 20, has a bottom shell 21 connected by a weakened edge portion 22 to a top shell 23.

In the zone provided with the weakened portion 22,the bottom shell has a portion, indicated 24, formed along the chord of a circle. The bottom of the bottom shell has a completing flange 25 which effectively restores the circular shape of the bottom itself.

The top shell has a lateral skirt 26 which will fit into the bottom shell 21 and has a projecting flange 27 which constitutes the element for snapcoupling the container within the recess 10 (groove 11). The container 20 is actually inserted upside-down within the recess (see Figure 3) so that the bottom of the bottom shell 21 is in the upper part of the recess. Thus, no purchase is provided which would enable extraction from the lid 1.

The container illustrated in Figure 7 has a simpler shape in that the completing flange 25 (illustrated in Figure 6) is not provided and the container has a circular shape which is cut away along a chord.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a container 30 in which the bottom shell 31 and the top shell 34 are separate from each other and are connected together like a box.

As shown in these drawings, the bottom member, indicated 31, has an annular tooth 32 on its free edge for insertion in the groove 11. To advantage, the bottom shell is provided with cut-outs 35 in diametral positions,in which corresponding appendages 36 defined by the top shell are accessible to facilitate the separation of the bottom shell and the top shell.

Figure 8 illustrates diagrammatically a possible form of internal arrangement for the container, in which small stamps, indicated 50, with a respective pad member 51 or gripper member 53 are provided.

In practice, the separating partition 4 has a tear-off portion 60 so as to allow the user to push the container out by means of a force exerted from the 6 bottom of the recess towards the exterior.

Thus, after he has opened the pot, the user can easily remove the container and use it as an element in its own right, with its contents which can be modified in any way.

From the above, it is seen how the invention achieves the proposed objects; in particular, one may stress the fact that a container is made available which can be equipped in any way and which is removably snaphoused in a lid of known type so that the container can then be used independently and thus constitutes a particularly useful or pleasing element for the purchaser.

Naturally, the closure device according to the invention can be modified in numerous ways all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept.

As already stressed, in realising a device according to the invention, it is necessary to take account of two basic requirements, that is to say:

- the closure device with its associated container for promotional products must, from the point of view of its application to the package, be substantially similar to conventional devices: its arrangement for receipt of promotional products must not actually be prejudicial as regards manufacturing costs and complications; - the container acting as a promotional vehicle must be mounted in the closure device so as not to be readily removable from the exterior: in other words, one does not wish the container for the promotional products to be removed or even just tampered with while 7 the package is displayed f or sale; at the same time, this result must be achieved without making the removal and opening of the container too difficult for whoever buys the package and wishes to get the promotional products out.

Figures 10 to 14 illustrate specific constructional details of a device according to the invention and able to fulfil the requirements set out above in an optimum manner.

As best seen in the sectional view of Figure 10, the main body. 2 is constituted essentially by a peripheral wall or skirt in which there can be seen:

- a lower part (in use) 104 with internal threading 105 which allows it to be screwed onto the neck of the pot or jar 5, - an upper portion 106 which defines the cavity 107 intended to receive the container 120.

The lower portion 104 and the upper portion 106 of the peripheral wall or skirt of the body 2 are separated by an annular flange 108 which projects inwardly of the body 2 perpendicular to the skirt 104, 106 and acts primarily as an abutment surface for a disc 109 (separating partition 4) of card (illustrated by a broken line in Figure 10) the lower face of which has a coating of aluminium intended (according to a well known solution) to act as a sealing layer against the mouth of the pot or jar to which the device 1 is applied.

The upper part 106 of the body 2 has an annular groove 110 (usually defined by a rib 110a projecting from the surface of the part 106) around its inner surface, 8 adjacent the annular flange 1081 and intended to act as a seat for snap- engagement by a rib 111 provided on the exterior of the container 120.

The container 120 has a diameter approximately corresponding (that is, slightly less) than the diameter of the cavity 107 and is constituted essentially by two members 112 and 113 (preferably formed integrally).

The first member 112 is essentially a cup- or dishshaped body with a generally flattened development. The mouth part of the body 112 is shaped so as to have a rib 111 on the outer face of the casing 120 for engaging the groove 110, and at least one similar annular shoulder 114 on its inner face for forming a seat for abutment by the peripheral edge of the other member or top 113.

The position of the shoulder 114 (that is, its distance from the mouth edge 112) is selected so as to be practically identical to the thickness of the member 113.

This means that, when the member 113 is closed with the member 112 (according to criteria which will be described more fully below), the member 113 itself acts as a top and is, so to speak, closed f lush with the mouth edge of the member 112. In other words, the member 113 does not project relative to the overall volumetric shape of the member 112 in these conditions.

Preferably, in order to simplify the closure of the container 120, whilst - if necessary - providing a certain degree of sealing against the atmosphere, the 9 member 113 has an annular projection 115 within it which, when the member 113 is closed with the member 112, extends into the container 120 towards the bottom of the member 112. In general, the projection 115 does not touch the bottom but is held at a small distance therefrom so as to prevent any squashing of the container 120 from leading to bending of the member 113 into the container 120 with the consequent difficulties of opening it.

As stated above, the two members 112 and 113 of the container 120 are preferably formed integrally, usually from moulded plastics material, with an intermediate flexible portion 116 which acts as a hinge member.

The main body 2 of the device I is also usually formed from moulded plastics material whereby the rib 111 snap-engages in the groove 110.

Preferably, for reasons which will be explained below, the height of the peripheral wall of the member 112 (a height corresponding to the overall height of the container 120 when the member 113 is closed flush with the member 112) is selected so as to be slightly less than the height of the upper part 116 of the skirt of the body 2. This latter dimension defines the depth of the cavity 107 in which the container 120 is inserted.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate several constructional details of the two members 112 and 113 which constitute the container 120.

As stated, the member 113 (which acts as a top), when in the closed position, is housed completely within the member 112 (which acts as a bottom).

In order to allow the user to grip the member 113 and open it, the member 113 has an appendage or tongue 117 arranged to extend through a notch 118 cut in the free edge of the member 112 in a position diametrally opposite the hinge 116.

As illustrated in Figure 13, the notch 118 is formed so as to have a depth greater than the thickness of the member 113.

This means that the notch 118 also extends through the shoulder 114 forming the abutment surface for the member 113, whereby a space or slot 119 remains available beneath the tongue 117 to facilitate the gripping of the tongue 117 and, consequently, the opening of the container 120 by the user.

As seen in Figure 14, the hinge 116 also extends into a notch 200 provided in the free edge of the member 112.

The hinge 116 is thus defined by one or more thin portions or tongues of the material constituting the container 120 as a whole, each of which is substantially coplanar and co-extensive with the member 113 itself at its end facing the member 113 and is connected at its opposite end to the member 112 close to the bottom of the notch or groove 200.

More precisely, this latter end of the hinge 116 is connected to a raised portion of the lateral wall of the member 112 which is separated from the two sides of the notch 200, indicated 121, by two cut-outs or grooves 122.

11 This solution has been shown to be particularly advantageous in terms of the construction of the casing as a whole.

The sequence of assembly of the closure device requires essentially, as a starting operation, the insertion of a promotional product within the member 112 of the container 120 and the subsequent closure of the container 120 by the overturning of he member 113 onto the mouth of the member 112.

At this point, the container 120 is inserted in the cavity 107 within the main body 2. During this operation, the container 120 is, so to speak, overturned, the member 113 which acts as a top being turned downwardly (that is, towards the flange 108) and being inserted into the cavity 107 until the rib 111 is snap-engaged with the groove 110 provided in the inner wall of the upper portion 100 of the skirt of the body 2.

Before or after the container 120 has been assembled, the disc 109 of sheet material carrying the aluminium sealing layer also inserted in the device 1.

At this point, the device according to the invention constitutes an element in its own right and can be conveyed to the station for application to a container according to criteria entirely analogous to those used for closure devices or caps of the prior art.

The position of assembly of the container 120 within the cavity 107 and the approximate correspondence between the diameters of the cavity 107 and the container 120 mean that the container 120 itself cannot 12 easily be removed or separated from the main body 2.

The container 120 in fact leaves only a narrow annular space 122 free relative to the top of the skirt of the body 2 and this does not allow gripping from the exterior, particularly after the device 1 as a whole has been applied to a jar or pot forming a package intended to be displayed for sale.

In fact, it is practically impossible to remove the container 120 from the package 5 unless the device 1 is unscrewed beforehand so as to separate it from the package itself, the disc 109 is then removed, and finally the container 120 is pressed in the direction such as to expel it from the body 2 through the central aperture defined by the annular flange 108.

The sequence of operations described may easily be achieved by the consumer who has purchased a package provided with the closure device of the invention and has subsequently opened it, but it is impossible to achieve when the package is displayed for sale on a counter.

Moreover, as is clearly seen in the upper part of Figure 10, the fact that the container 120 has an overall height slightly less than the depth of the cavity 107 means that the upper face of the device 1 according to the invention is not completely flat but is slightly depressed. The upper edge of the skirt 2 actually projects slightly beyond the upper surface of the device 1 (which is none other than the bottom wall of the bottom 112 of the container 120) and may thus contain the bottom of a similar, superposed package.

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Claims

1. A closure device (1) for packages (5), such as pots, jars and the like, characterised in that it comprises:

- a substantially cylindrical body (2) having a separating partition (3, 108) which defines a lower region (6, 104) in the body (2) for coupling with the package (5) and an upwardly-open recess (10, 107), and - a container (20, 30, 120) removably housed in the body (2) and constituted by a bottom shell (21; 31; 112) and a top shell (23; 34; 113) which are coupled together, at least one (23; 31; 112) of the shells having means (27; 32; 111) for coupling the container (20; 30; 120) in the recess (10; 107).

2. A device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the bottom shell (21; 112) and the top shell (23; 113) are connected together by a weakened portion (22; 116) which can act as a connecting hinge.

3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top shell (23) has a lateral skirt (26) which can be inserted within the bottom shell (21), the top shell (23) defining the coupling means which are constituted by a projecting tooth (27) insertible in an annular groove defined in the bottom of the recess (10).

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bottom shell (21) has a completing flange (25) in correspondence with the zone defining the weakened portion (22) which acts as a hinge.

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5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (20, 30, 120) is inserted in the cylindrical body (2) with the bottom shell (21; 31; 112) facing outwardly so as not to provide purchase for the removal of the container (20; 30; 120) from the recess (10; 107).

6. - A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the bottom shell (31) is coupled to the top shell (34) whose free edge defines atooth (32) for coupling with the recess, the top shell (34) defining outwardlyprojecting appendages (36) in correspondence with diametral cutouts (35) in the top shell (31), the bottom shell (31) being inserted in the cylindrical body (2) with its bottom facing outwardly.

7. A closure device, particularly according to Claim 1, characterised in that it includes:

- a main body (2) which can be coupled (105) to a package (5) and is provided with a generally-di shed cavity (107) intended to face outwardly of the package, - a container (120) insertible in the cavity (107) in the main body and including a first dish member (112) and a second generally flat member (113) which can be fitted so as to close the first member (112), and in that:

- the cavity (107) in the main body (2) has a peripheral wall (106) with at least one grip formation (110) facing into the cavity (107), and - the first member (112) of the container (120) has a respective peripheral wall with a mouth edge, an inner face having a shoulder formation (114) which forms an abutment surface for the second member (113), and an outer face having at least one respective grip formation (111) for cooperating with the grip formation (110) on the peripheral wall (106) of the cavity (107) in the main body (2) so as to keep the container (120) within the cavity (107).

8. A device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the at least one grip formation (110) and the at least one respective grip formation (111) are constituted by a groove (110) and a rib (111), respectively.

9. A device according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that the peripheral wall (106) of the cavity (107) of the main body (2) has a given height, and in that the container (120) has a height less than the given height (104).

10. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the peripheral wall (106) of the cavity (107) of the main body and the respective peripheral wall of the first member (112) of the container (120) have approximately corresponding diameters whereby the peripheral walls together define an annular space (122) when the container (120) is inserted in the cavity (107).

11. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the main body (2) and the container (120) are made of def ormable materials whereby the at least one grip formation (110) and the at least one respective grip formation (111) cooperate with each other in a general snap-arrangement.

12. A device according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the main body (2) has an annular skirt with two portions (104, 106), respectively lower 16 and upper in use, the lower portion (104) having internal threading (105) for coupling with the surface (5) and the upper portion (106) defining the cavity (107) for the insertion of the container (120).

13. A device according to Claim 12, characterised in that the lower portion (104) and upper portion (106) of the main body are separated from each other by an annular flange (108) which faces inwardly of the main body (2), and in that the at least one grip formation (110) is provided immediately adjacent the annular flange (108).

14. A device according to Claim 13, characterised in that it includes a disc member (109) for sealing the package, which can be applied so that it bears peripherally against the annular flange (108) and can be removed to allow the container (120) to be expelled from the main body (2).

15. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims 7 to 14, characterised in that the shoulder formation (114) is located at such a distance from the mouth edge of the respective peripheral wall of the first element (112) of the container (120) that the second member (113) can close flush with the mouth edge of the first member (112).

16. A device according to Claim 7 or Claim 15, characterised in that the second member (113) has an annular formation (112) on its face intended to face inwardly of the container (120), the annular formation being able to extend beyond the shoulder formation (114) when the econd member (113) bears against the shoulder formation (114) itself.

17 17. A device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the first member (112) and the second member (113) are moulded integrally with a laminar connecting portion (116) of flexible material which acts as a hinge.

18. A device according to Claim 17, characterised in that the first member (112) has a notch (118) in a position diametrally opposite the. connecting portion (116), and in that the second member (113) has an appendage (117) which is in a position diametrally opposite the connecting portion (116) and can extend through the notch (118) when the second member (113) is closed on 11.he first member (112).

19. A device according to Claim 18, characterised in that the notch (118) has a greater depth than the thickness of the second member (113) whereby, when the second member (113) is closed on the first member (112), a slot (119) is present between the appendage (117) and the bottom of the notch (118) so as to enable the appendage (117) to be grasped from the exterior for the opening of the container (120).

20. A device according to Claim 17, characterised in that the connecting portion (116) has one end facing the second member (113) and substantially coplanar with the second member (113) and an opposite end facing the respective peripheral wall of the first member (112), the respective peripheral wall having a respective notch (200) in correspondence with the connecting portion (116), the notch having a bottom wall from which the opposite ends of the connecting portion extend.

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21. A device according to Claim 20, characterised in that the opposite end of the connecting portion (116) is isolated within the region of the bottom wall of the respective notch (200) by two grooves (122) whereby the said opposite end extends from a projection in the middle of the bottom wall of the respective notch (200).

22. A closure device for packages, such as pots, jars and the like, the device being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1989 at The Patent OMoe. SULte House, 86.71 High HolbornL40ndon WCJR 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Omce. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BRB 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques Itd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Cozi. 1187