GB2387379A

GB2387379A - Resealable containers

Info

Publication number: GB2387379A
Application number: GB0215992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest William Fitton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-08
Filing date: 2002-07-11
Publication date: 2003-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-11
Also published as: GB0208017D0; GB2387379B; GB0215992D0

Abstract

A container (1) comprises a dish (2) and a lid (3). The rim (4) of the dish (2) and the edge (5) of the lid (3) are adapted to provide a resealable closure arrangement (6). In addition, a frangible, substantially air-tight seal (11) is located between the lid (3) and the rim (4) of the dish (2) which is broken by peeling the lid (3) at least partially away from the rim (4) of the dish (2). The container is primarily for the packaging of foodstuffs, primarily pet foods, so that after opening by breaking the frangible seal (11), the dish (2) can be used to serve the food without it being decanted into a serving bowl and thereafter any residue can be resealed within the container (1) by means of the closure arrangement (6) and saved for later use. The lid (3) may be hinged, preferably integrally, to the dish (2) and the dish (2) may be partitioned. Non-slip means such as an O-ring (19) may inhibit sliding of the dish (2).

Description

1- 2387379

IMPROVEMENTS TO PACKAGING

The present invention relates to packaging and in particular, but not exclusively, to packaging for foods such 5 as pet food.

Conventionally, pet foods are packaged either in cans or in metal or plastic trays or dishes. It is expected that the food will be transferred to a feeding bowl and any remaining 10 in the package must then be refrigerated. Similarly, any uneaten food remaining in the feeding bowl must either be thrown away or transferred to another container for refrigeration for re-use. It will be appreciated that there are several disadvantages with these processes. First, the 15 opened but unfinished package should preferably be re-covered to prevent contamination of other with items with the pet food. Also, dealing with uneaten food is unhygienic and also requires covering in separate container.

20The object of the present invention is to overcome or substantially mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a dish and a lid, the rim of the dish 25 and the edge of the lid being adapted to provide a resealable closure arrangement and a frangible substantially air-tight seal located between the lid and the rim of the dish which is broken by peeling the lid at least partially away from the rim of the dish.

It will be appreciated that although the present invention has been primarily designed for the packaging of pet foods, it is suitable for packing many types of food and non-food products where not all of the contents of the 35 container may be consumed or otherwise used immediately after opening and where a residue is saved for later use.

- 2 - It will also be appreciated that the term 'dish', as used herein and in the claims is intended to include any dish, bowl, tray, tub or similar open-topped container or 5 receptacle. It is expected that the contents of the dish will not be decanted therefrom prior to use. For example, if the container is to be used to package pet food, then the dish may be as the pet feed bowl. Likewise, if the container contains food for humans, it can be made in a shape suitable 10 for serving the food directly.

Preferably, the edge of the lid is adapted to be push-

fitted over the rim of the dish to provide the resealable closure arrangement.

Preferably also, the edge of the lid and the rim of the dish are provided with complementarily shaped formations to enable the edge of the lid to clip over the rim of the dish to provide the resealable closure arrangement.

Preferably also, the edge of the lid comprises an annular lip which can be clipped over an annular bead provided around the rim of the dish. Alternatively, the lid comprises an annular lip which can engage into an annular 25 channel provided around the rim of the dish.

In another embodiment, the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid are provided with formations comprising the two halves of a zip fastener.

In a further embodiment, the resealable closure arrangement comprises a layer of peelable adhesive provided in a annular region adjacent to but peripherally outside the frangible seal between the rim of the dish and the edge of 35 the lid.

- 3 Preferably also, the frangible seal comprises a bearable layer which is adhered both to the lid and to the rim of the dish. 5 Advantageously, the Bearable layer comprises a hot-melt film which is interposed between the lid and the rim and heated in order to weld to the lid to the rim. Alternatively, the Bearable layer comprises a layer of adhesive which bonds both to the lid and to the rim of the dish to provide a 10 substantially air-tight barrier In another embodiment, the frangible seal comprises a lamella which is adhered both to the lid and to the rim of the dish by adhesive layers. Preferably, the adhesive layer 15 between the dish and the lamella is adapted to be broken prior to that between the lid and the lamella when the lid is peeled away from the rim of the dish so that the lamella remains attached to the lid.

20 Preferably, the lamella comprises a plastics film or a metal foil.

Preferably also, the lid is secured to the dish by a hinge. Preferably also, the lid and the dish are integrally formed. Preferably also, the lid is provided with a peripherally 30 projecting tab to facilitate the manual peeling away of the lid from the rim of the dish.

Preferably also, the dish is partitioned to provide at least two receptacles.

- 4 Advantageously, the lid is hinged along a line which lies adjacent a partition sub-dividing the dish into two parts and is secured to this partition to enable the lid to be peeled away from the rim defining each receptacle 5 separately.

Preferably also, the lid is provided with two inter-

engaging formations respectively on opposite sides of the hinge to enable that part of the lid peeled away from the rim 10 to open one of the receptacles to be secured to that part of the lid provided for the other receptacle. In this way, the two portions of the lid can be engaged with one another either to hold one portion of the lid open whilst the other is closed or to retain both portions in a substantially 15 upright position when both receptacles are open simultaneously. Preferably also, the inter-engaging formations are formed in peripherally projecting tabs provided on the lid on 20 opposite sides of the hinge.

Preferably also, the base of the dish is provided with a non-slip means inhibiting sliding of the dish over a surface.

25 In one embodiment, the non-slip means comprise non-slip pads secured to the base of the dish. Alternatively, the non slip means comprises an Oring. Advantageously, the O-ring is push-fitted into an annular groove formed in the base of the dish. The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 35 Figs. 1 and 2 are schematic plan and side views of a first embodiment of container according to the invention)

- 5 - Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section along the line III-

I in Fig. 2; 5 Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-section of a second embodiment of container shown with two portions of its lid in open positions) Fig. 5 is a plan view of a further embodiment of 10 container shown with its lid removed; and Fig. 6 is a view of an interior side of a lid of the container shown in Fig. 5.

15 As shown in Figs 1 to 3, a container 1 according to the invention comprises a dish 2 and a lid 3. The dish 2 can be in any shape but as the rim 4 of the dish 3 and the edge 5 of the lid 3 are adapted to provide a resealable closure arrangement 6, these preferably define a curving contour 20 along their resealable peripheries. The closure arrangement 6 may comprise any suitable conventional arrangement given the materials from which the dish 2 and the lid 3 are made. For example, if the container is made from plastics materials or metal foils, or the dish 2 and the lid 3 made respectively 25 from these materials, the edge 5 of the lid 3 can made to push-fit over the rim 4 of the dish 2. In addition, the edge 5 of the lid 3 and the rim 4 of the dish 2 may be provided with complementarily shaped formations to enable the edge 5 of the lid 3 to clip over the rim 4 of the dish 2 to provide 30 the resealable closure arrangement. Such formations may taken the form of roll-over edges or the edge 5 of the lid 3 may comprise an annular lip 7 which can be clipped over an annular bead 8 provided around the rim 4 of the dish 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Alternatively, the lid 3 may comprise an 35 annular lip 9 which can engage into an annular channel provided 10 around the rim 4 of the dish 2, as shown in 4.

In another embodiment (not shown), the rim 4 of the dish 2 and the edge 5 of the lid 3 are provided with formations comprising the two halves of a zip fastener. In a further 5 embodiment as shown in Fig. 6, the resealable closure arrangement comprises a layer of peelable adhesive provided in a annular region 11 adjacent to but peripherally outside the frangible seal between the rim 4 of the dish 2 and the edge 5 of the lid 3. Fig. 6 shows the peelable adhesive 10 applied to the lid 2 but it will be appreciated that it could be provided on the rim 4 of the dish 3 instead.

In all cases, because the container 1 is not intended to have a long life, it is only necessary for the resealable 15 closure arrangement 6 to be effective for two to three closures, after which it is envisaged that the contents of the container would be used up and the container disposed of.

Hence, it is envisaged that the container l will only be made from thin inexpensive plastics materials or metal foils and 20 the means used to effect the arrangement 6 fabricated from the same materials in a relatively inexpensive fashion.

Also, because the closure arrangement 6 is only used to seal the interior of the dish 2 after the container 1 has been opened by breaking a frangible seal, as is described below, 25 it is not necessarily a requirement, dependent on the contents of the container 1, that the closure arrangement 6 provide an effective air-tight seal. This may be the case, for example, if the container 1 is to be used for food-stuffs which in any event have a short shelf-life either as an 30 inherent property or once first exposed to the air.

The main seal which is used to keep the interior of the container 1 uncontaminated and air-tight prior to first opening is a frangible, substantially air-tight seal 11 that 35 is also located between the lid 3 and the rim 4 of the dish 2. This seal 11 is broken when the lid 3 is peeled away, at i

- 7 - least partially, away from the rim 4 of the dish 2 when the container 1 is first opened. To this end, the frangible seal 11 may comprises a bearable layer which is adhered both to the lid 3 and to the rim 4 of the dish 2. For example, the 5 tearable layer may comprises a hot-melt film which is interposed between the lid 2 and the rim 4 and heated in order to weld the lid 3 to the rim 4. Alternatively, the tearable layer may comprise a layer of an adhesive which bonds both to the lid 3 and to the rim 4 of the dish 2 to 10 provide a substantially air-tight barrier.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, the frangible seal 11 comprises a lamella 12 which is adhered both to the lid 3 and to the rim 4 of the dish 2 by frangible 15 adhesive layers at least one of which permits the lid 3 to be peeled from the rim 4 without the lamella 12 itself being torn. Preferably, the adhesive layer between the dish 2 and the lamella 12 is adapted to be broken prior to that between the lid 3 and the lamella 12 so that the lamella 12 remains 20 attached to the lid 3 once the container 1 has been opened.

Such a lamella 12 may comprises a suitable plastics film or a metal foil. In particular, a lamella in the form of an aluminium foil may be heat sealed to both the lid 3 and the dish 2 but with a wider and therefore stronger seal being 25 formed between it and the lid 3 than between it and the dish 2 so that the foil will remain attached to the lid 3 when it is peeled away from the dish.

In order to assist the user in peeling the lid 3 away 30 from the dish 2, the lid 3 may also be provided with a peripherally projecting tab 13.

In a further modification, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the dish 2 may be partitioned to provide at least two 35 receptacles 14 which can be used to contain different types of materials or separate portions. For example, if the

- 8 container is to be used for pet food, then one receptacle 14 of the dish 2 can be used to contain meat or wet food and the other receptacle 14 used to contain dry food such as biscuit.

Alternatively, each receptacle 14 could be used to contain an 5 individual serving portion for consumption by two animals simultaneously. The partitioning can be readily accomplished, in known manner, by providing an upward fold in the dish 2 during its manufacture.

10 Although the lid 3 can be made completely removable from the dish 2 so that the dish 2 can be used directly to serve up its contents, in some cases it is convenient if the lid 3 is secured to the dish 2 by a hinge 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the lid 3 and the dish 2 may be are integrally formed so that 15 hinge 15 simply comprises a fold in the material from which they are made along a flat portion of the rim of the dish 2.

Such a container 1 could be conveniently made from a thin moulded plastics material.

20 Advantageously, the lid 3 is hinged along a line which lies adjacent a partition 16 sub-dividing the dish 2 into the two receptacles 14, as shown in Fig. 4. The lid 3 may then be secured to this partition 16 to enable it to be peeled away from the rim 4 defining each receptacle 14 separately. Hence, 25 each receptacle 14 can be used to contain a serving portion and can be opened at a different time from the others.

In a further refinement of this modification, the lid 3 is provided with two inter-engaging formations 17 30 respectively on opposite sides of the hinge 15 to enable that portion of the lid 3 peeled away from the rim 4 to open one of the receptacles 14 to be secured to that portion of the lid 3 provided for the other receptacle 14. In this way, the two portions of the lid 3 can be engaged with one another 35 either to hold one portion of the lid 3 open whilst the other is closed or to retain both portions in a substantially

- 9 upright position when both receptacles 14 are open simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 4. Such an arrangement would enable, for example, two animals to eat from the dish 2 at the same time, each having their own individual portion of 5 food. Conveniently, the inter-engaging formations 17 are formed in two peripherally projecting tabs 13 provided on the lid 3 on opposite sides of the hinge 15 and may simply comprise a push-fit clipping arrangement.

10 Preferably, the dish 2 is provided with a means to prevent it slipping over a surface. It will be appreciated that if the dish is to be used for pet food, it is useful if the base of the dish 2 is provided with a nonslip means that inhibits the sliding of the dish 2 over a floor surface 15 during use. Such non-slip means may comprise non-slip pads 18 secured by adhesive to the base of the dish 2. Alternatively, the non-slip means may comprises an O-ring 19 of rubber or synthetic material which may be secured to the base of the dish by being push-fitted into an annular groove 20 formed 20 in the base of the dish 2 for this purpose. Such a ring 19 may be made removable so that it can be simply clipped or pushed into position in the groove 20 of the dish 2 when required. This would make the ring 19 re-usable so that only one need be supplied for use with a plurality of containers 25 1. This makes the ring 19 more costeffective to produce and supply from a commercial point of view.

Although the container 1 of the present invention has been described mainly with reference to the packaging of 30 foodstuffs, and in particular pet foods, it will be appreciated that it is suitable for many other forms of product which are not intended to be used immediately after the container is opened and where it is necessary to keep the residue in an uncontaminated state for future use within a 35 short time period thereafter.

Claims

- 10 CLAIMS

1. A container comprising a dish and a lid, the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid being adapted to provide a 5 resealable closure arrangement and a frangible substantially air-tight seal located between the lid and the rim of the dish which is broken by peeling the lid at least partially away from the rim of the dish.

10

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the edge of

the lid is adapted to be push-fitted over the rim of the dish to provide the resealable closure arrangement.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein 15 the edge of the lid and the rim of the dish are provided with complementarily shaped formations to enable the edge of the lid to clip over the rim of the dish to provide the resealable closure arrangement.

20

4. A container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the edge of the lid comprises an annular lip which can be clipped over an annular bead provided around the rim of the dish. 25

5. A container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the lid comprises an annular lip which can engage into an annular channel provided around the rim of the dish.

6. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein 30 the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid are provided with formations comprising the two halves of a zip fastener.

7. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the 35 resealable closure arrangement comprises a layer of peelable adhesive provided in a annular region adjacent

- 11 to but peripherally outside the frangible seal between the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid.

8. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein 5 the frangible seal comprises a tearable layer which is adhered both to the lid and to the rim of the dish.

9. A container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the tearable layer comprises a hot-melt film which is interposed 10 between the lid and the rim and heated in order to weld to the lid to the rim.

10.A container as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the lid is provided with two inter-engaging formations respectively on opposite sides of the hinge to enable that part of the lid peeled away from the rim to open one of the receptacles to be secured to that part of the lid provided for the other receptacle.

11.A container as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the inter-engaging formations are formed in peripherally projecting tabs provided on the lid on opposite sides of the hinge. c <,,

12.A container substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 4 or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. "'; ( < ( <. < ( (

10. A container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the tearable layer comprises a layer of adhesive which bonds both to 15 the lid and to the rim of the dish to provide a substantially air-tight barrier.

11. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the frangible seal comprises a lamella which is adhered 20 both to the lid and to the rim of the dish by adhesive layers. 12. A container as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the adhesive layer between the dish and the lamella is adapted to be 25 broken prior to that between the lid and the lamella when the lid is peeled away from the rim of the dish so that the lamella remains attached to the lid.

13. A container as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein, 30 the lamella comprises a plastics film or a metal foil.

14. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the lid is secured to the dish by a hinge.

35 15. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the lid and the dish are integrally formed.

- 12 16. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the lid is provided with a peripherally projecting tab to facilitate the manual peeling away of the lid from 5 the rim of the dish.

17. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the dish is partitioned to provide at least two receptacles. 18. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 17, wherein the lid is hinged along a line which lies adjacent a partition sub-dividing the dish into two parts and is secured to this partition to enable the lid to be peeled 15 away from the rim defining each receptacle separately.

19. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18, wherein the lid is provided with two inter-engaging formations respectively on opposite sides of the hinge to enable 20 that part of the lid peeled away from the rim to open one of the receptacles to be secured to that part of the lid provided for the other receptacle.

20. A container as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the inter 25 engaging formations are formed in peripherally projecting tabs provided on the lid on opposite sides of the hinge.

21. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20, wherein 30 the base of the dish is provided with a non-slip means inhibiting sliding of the dish over a surface.

22. A container as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the non-slip means comprise non-slip pads secured to the base of the 35 dish.

23. A container as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the non-slip means comprises an O-ring.

24. A container as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the annular 5 ring is push-fitted into an annular groove formed in the base of the dish.

25. A container substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 4 or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 14. Claims 1 A container comprising of a dish and a lid, the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid being adapted to provide a reseal able closure arrangement and a frangible substantially air tight seal located bet seen the lid and the rim of the dish which is broken by peeling the lid at least partially away from the rim of the dish, wherein the frangible seal comprises a lamina which is adhered both to the lid and to the rim of the dish by adhesive layers.

2. A container as claimed irk Claim 1, wherein the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid are provided with formations comprising the two halves of a zip fastener.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the re-sealable closure arrangement comprises a layer of peelable adhesive provided in an annular region adjacent to but peripherally outside the frangible seal between the rim of the dish and the edge of the lid.

4. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the frangible seal ' comprises a lamella which is adhered both to the lid and to the rim of the ' dish by adhesive layers. I 5. A container as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer between the dish and the lamella is adapted to be broken prior to that between the lid and the lamella when the lid is peeled away from the rim of the dish so that the lamella remains attached to the lid.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the lamella comprises a plastics film or a metal foil.

7. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the lid is secured to the dish by a hinge.

8. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the lid and the dish are integrally formed.

O - 9. A container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the lid is hinged along a line which lies adjacent a partition sub-dividing the dish into two parts and is secured to this partition to enable the lid to be peeled away from the rim defining each receptacle separately.