RU2373124C1 - Tank for "surprise" - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: tank for products, such as "surprises" and similar accessories contain two semi-shells with holding wall and uncovered opening, which can be connected to opening, forming closed tank. Two semi-shells of tank are connected by means of articulated facility to such axis (a-a) of rotation, that to provide movement of one of semi-shells relative to the other between closed position and opened position. In closed position tank allows minimal outline dimension from 20 up to 55 mm, and at that keeping wall at least of one of semi-shells contains close by articulated facility at least one weakened line with reduced wall's thickness, continuing by section of wall and capable to be broken owing to efforts, applied to casing of semi-shell of tank and/or to articulated facility, connecting two semi-shells, which are possible to activate breakage of articulated facility. It is provided wrapping for foodstuffs.

EFFECT: creation of new tank in which it is eliminated or reduced risk of breakage of articulated facility, in consequence of tensions, appearing at application by user of efforts, at movement of one of semi-shells relative to the other between closed and opened position of tank.

21 cl, 12 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to a plastic container intended, in particular, for use as a container for gifts or "surprises", such as toys or candies, which are placed inside a hollow food product, such as a chocolate egg, or in a package containing a food product.

In particular, the invention relates to a container containing two half-shells, each of which has a retaining wall and an opening, and these half-shells can be frontally connected to the opening of the hole, forming a closed container, while two half-shells are connected by means of connecting means containing a hinge system, giving the possibility of tilting one half-shell relative to another, moving it from a closed position to an open position and vice versa.

The main objective of the invention is to create a container in which two half-shells, respectively forming the bottom and the lid of the container, are connected so as to eliminate or, in any case, reduce the risk of breakage of the connection means, in particular the articulated means, due to stresses arising from the application by the user forces that can lead to breakage and subsequent separation of the two half-shells of the tank.

Another objective of the invention is the creation of a container that allows you to solve the above problem, even if it is made of relatively inexpensive plastic.

Another objective of the invention is the creation of containers, the design of which facilitates opening and closing of the container by the user.

The tasks are solved by the invention by means of a container of the type described in the restrictive part of paragraph 1 of the claims, in the closed position of which the minimum overall dimension is from 20 to 55 mm, and the retaining wall of at least one of the half-shells of the container near the hinge means is provided with at least one line with reduced wall thickness, which extends over a portion of the specified wall and can break under the action of stresses applied to the housing of the half-shell of the tank and / or to the hinge means connecting the two half-shells of the container, which under normal conditions can cause damage to the articulated means.

Other features of capacity are presented in the dependent claims.

The concept of the invention is to provide the wall of one or preferably both half-shells of the container with one or more pre-cut lines that break before the breakage of the hinge means connecting the two half-shells of the mold, one or more preferred lines of pre-cut are located on the wall of one or both half-shells of the container in such a way that any of their relative shear caused by the stress leads to the appearance of one or more notches on the wall of the half the cells of the container without causing separation of the half-shells of the form, which remain pivotally connected by means of the hinge means, which remains unharmed.

According to the invention, preferred pre-cut lines are preferably solid lines with reduced wall thickness, i.e. those where the wall thickness is less than the wall thickness in areas adjacent to these lines; thus, for example, the wall thickness in the region of said lines can be film, i.e. be from 10 to 100 microns, while the wall thickness of the half-shells of the tank is about 200-1000 microns. These lines with reduced wall thickness are carried out directly in the process of forming plastic half-shells of the container.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the half-shells of the tank (or, even more preferably, both half-shells) is provided with two solid lines with a reduced wall thickness located on both sides of the means of articulating the two half-shells of the tank so that breaking these lines leads to the formation of a flexible tongue, providing further possibility of articulation of two half-shells of the tank.

Preferably, the container according to the invention was made in one piece, while the half-shells of the tank are interconnected by means of a hinged connecting means, made in one piece with two half-shells of the tank. Said hinge means may, for example, consist of a film hinge or snap-on film hinge elements; the latter may, for example, belong to the type described in US patent 4403712.

However, the scope of the invention also encompasses a container made of two separate half-shells interconnected by connecting means such as a bayonet or buckle, parts of which can mesh with each other, for example, of the type described in EP-A-1 529731.

Usually a closed container has, in the General case, an elongated cylindrical shape, with curved upper walls and with a round or rounded profile of the hole. In this case, the term "minimum overall dimension" means the diameter of the hole or, in the case of a non-circular but rounded hole, to the minimum diameter of the hole. Preferably, the aforementioned minimum overall dimension is 30 to 45 mm.

Additional features and advantages of the container according to the invention, in particular, its structural and functional advantages in connection with its use as a container for "surprises" intended for children, will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided as not restrictive examples in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1, in a fully open position in which two half-shells of the container are folded at an angle of 180 °;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the container shown in FIG. one;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the container shown in FIG. 1, in an open position in which one of the half-shells is tilted at an angle of 90 °;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 1, in the open position, in which one of the half-shells is tilted at an angle of 90 °, and lines with a reduced wall thickness in the upper half-shell are broken;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the container corresponding to FIG. 6, in which lines with a reduced wall thickness were broken in both half-shells;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention in which one of the half-shells is tilted at an angle of 180 °;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container according to the invention in an open position;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the container shown in FIG. 9, in the closed position;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the container shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container in a partially open position.

The container according to the invention, generally indicated by 1 in the drawings, comprises first and second half-shells 2, 4, which are usually made of plastic by injection molding.

Preferred materials are flexible plastics, preferably polyethylene, polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and other injection molded thermoplastic polymers.

In the examples of examples presented, each half-shell 2, 4 has a generally cup-shaped configuration with a wall containing a dome-shaped final section 2a and 4a, possibly with a flat top, and a sleeve section 2b and 4b.

The boundaries between the domed and sleeve portions are shown in section in FIG. 5 lines 6 and 8; however, this is a purely imaginary border indicating the possible, but not obligatory, presence of a point or region of transition between the inner and outer sections of the surface of the enclosing wall having different curvatures, for example, between a section with a profile curved in a vertical longitudinal section and a section with a straight line along a profile, or with a profile of slight curvature.

Given the optionalness of the above division, the term “sleeve” or “sleeve part” will also be used to designate an annular portion of the wall adjacent to the opening of the corresponding half-shell of the container.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the two half-shells has an opening, 10 and 12, respectively, of a round or, as described in more detail below, a substantially round edge.

However, it is understood that the constructive principles of the invention are also applicable to the half-shells of a container with a different hole shape, for example, elliptical, oval, polygonal or combined.

Two half-shells can be frontally coupled together and facing with holes to each other. In particular, one of the half-shells 4 contains a girdle 14, which can be inserted into the side wall of the other half-shell 2 (sleeve section 2b) by interference fit, which prevents the easy separation of the two half-shells of the tank.

To improve the reliability of the connection of the two half-shells, it is possible to provide means of engagement with a snug fit or snap-fit, containing, for example, an annular protrusion 16 on the girdle 14, the angular extension of which is preferably less than 360 ° (Fig. 6), which can be continuous or intermittent (consisting from segments) and engages with a mating annular groove 18 made in the inner surface of the wall of another half-shell 2 of the tank in the area where the two half-shells overlap.

It is understood that other means of coupling can be used, provided that they provide a reliable connection, which, however, the user can easily open.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-8, two half-shells 2 and 4 are interconnected by means of hinge means, made as a single unit with two half-shells of the tank and indicated, in general, by position 20.

The present invention should not be construed as being limited by the choice of a particular type of articulation means, and therefore the following description relates to preferred embodiments, which, in particular, facilitate the articulation of two half shells of the container and their adhesion under the conditions of the frontal clutch configuration described above.

The built-in hinge means 20 (Fig. 2-8) contains a film hinge element 22 attached to the upper half-shell 2, which acts as a cover, along the edge of its opening 10, over the curved section 24, and to the lower half-shell 4 directly under the girdle 14, on the length of the curved section 26; at the longitudinal (i.e., in the circumferential direction) ends of the film hinge element 22 there may be elastic elements in the form of ribs 28, 30 protruding outward, the thickness of which is greater than the thickness of the film element 22.

When the container is closed, the film hinge element 22 and optional protrusions in the form of ribs 28, 30 undergo elastic deformation, or rather, bending in the form of the letter C.

Opening the container from the closed position can be accomplished by applying an upward pulling force to the upper half-shell 2 of the container or by pressing radially on the side wall of the container to cause, due to the flexibility of the container walls, elastic deformation corresponding to the shape of the container of the coupling means 16, 18 located on the 14 of the girdle and in the sleeve portion 2b (FIG. 6).

Following the above uncoupling, the elastic return force arising during the stretching of the film hinge element 22 and the optional protrusions in the form of ribs 28, 30 leads to the opening of the half-shell 2, in which it deviates 90 ° around the axis aa of the hinge parallel to the plane of the hole.

In the closed position, the container contains a substantially cylindrical side wall formed by sleeve sections 2b and 4b connected to each other; to facilitate opening and closing of the container, it is preferable, however, that a portion of the side wall (on the girdle 14) extending circumferentially at an angle α, which is preferably less than or equal to 180 °, in the area facing the hinge means is rounded or curved, or curved (i.e., concave inward), and the portion of the side wall extending through an angle of 360 ° -α in the area of the joint and above was cylindrical.

The inner surface of the sleeve portion 2b of the half-shell 2 of the container thus has - preferably in a vertical axial section - a curved profile 34 (Fig. 5), and, accordingly, the outer surface 36 of the girdle 14 has a mating curved profile.

In particular, the container in the closed position has, in a vertical plane section perpendicular to the axis aa of the hinge and passing through the middle of the hinge 22, on the opposite side with respect to the hinge means 20, a curved or rounded profile of the meridian section, and in the area of the hinge means a straight profile Meridian section. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, both the inner surface 34 and the outer surface 38 of the sleeve portion 2b have a bend in at least a region with an angular amplitude α located on the opposite side of the hinge means 20.

Accordingly, the outer surface 36 of the girdle 14 and the outer surface 40 of the sleeve portion 4b of the half-shell 4 of the container have, in the above region, on the opposite side with respect to the hinge means, a radius of curvature. The inner surfaces 42 of the girdle 14 and the sleeve portion 4b may, however, be substantially cylindrical surfaces.

Preferably, the outer surface 43 of the girdle 14 above the hinge means 20 is a cylindrical wall that extends circumferentially at an amplitude angle of 360-α, where α is generally less than 360 °.

Preferably, the sleeve portion 2b of the half-shell 2 — or at least its peripheral region adjacent to or located above the hinge means — is flexible or resilient.

Preferably, the annular wall of the sleeve 14 is flexible or resilient; even more preferably, however, that the annular wall of the girdle 14 has variable stiffness along the periphery, namely, that the peripheral region of the annular wall in the region of the girdle 14, located on the opposite side relative to the hinge means 20, is more rigid and resistant to bending and elastic deformation than the peripheral region of the girdle adjacent to or adjacent to the hinge means, and preferably even stiffer than the sleeve portion 2b of the half-shell 2.

These distinguishing features can be obtained by ensuring that at least one region extending through an angle α ′ (where α ′ may coincide with an angle α), of the annular wall in the region of the girdle 14, and possibly the adjacent sleeve section 4b, has a thickness walls greater than the wall thickness of the portion of the girdle located above the hinge means, and preferably also greater than the wall thickness of the sleeve portion 2b of the half-shell 2.

As mentioned above, the wall thickness is preferably limited to a region with a protrusion α ', which extends through an angle of less than 360 °, for example, equal to or less than 180 °, from the opposite side with respect to the hinge means 20.

The side wall of at least one of the two half-shells contains at least one line forming a weak spot, or a line 44a, 46a, 44b and / or 46b with a reduced wall thickness, or, preferably, a pair of such lines adjacent to the ends of the hinge means 20 Both half shells are preferably provided with a pair of the above lines of reduced thickness. Two lines forming a pair continue along the wall section of the corresponding half-shell; the two lines may be parallel to each other or may diverge towards the end of the half-shell. In the above illustration, two lines — for example, 44a, 46a — are parallel to each other in the first section adjacent to the hinge and diverge in the end sections leading to the dome-shaped final section 2a, 4a of the corresponding half-shell of the container.

In a half-shell not containing a girdle (half-shell 2 in FIG. 1), two lines 44a, 46a extend from the edge of the hole to the domed portion.

Similarly, in a half-shell provided with a band (in the drawings, this is a half-shell 4), two lines of reduced thickness 44b, 46b may extend from the opening of the band to the dome-shaped portion; alternatively (Fig. 3), these lines extend along the wall of the half-shell of the container from the region located above the hinge means 20, and are interconnected by an additional line 48 with a reduced wall thickness, continuing around the circumference.

The aforementioned lines of reduced thickness essentially eliminate or reduce the risk that stresses - possibly repetitive - applied when opening and closing the container can break the hinge means and, as a result, undesirable separation of the two half-shells of the container.

The mechanical strength characteristics of the lines of reduced thickness and, in particular, the wall thickness in the region of these lines are controlled depending on the mechanical strength characteristics of the articulated connecting means between the two half-shells of the container so that mechanical stresses (tensile, compressive or torsional stresses) applied to one a half-shell or both half-shells, first cause breaking of one or both lines with a reduced wall thickness. When breaking both lines forming a pair (for example, 44a, 46a), the two half-shells remain connected by means of a swivel joint 20 and by means of a portion 50 of the side wall located between the two disconnected lines in the form of a tongue.

The reed region 50, which, due to the flexibility of the side wall of the container half-shell, also has optimal flexibility, serves as a continuation of the articulated lever between the two half-shells of the container.

When, according to a preferred embodiment, a second pair of lines with a reduced wall thickness (for example, 44b, 46b) is present on the wall of the other half-shell of the container, the application of additional loads, which per se can cause damage to the hinge means, primarily results in breaking of these lines, leading to the formation of the reed region 52 located between the broken lines 44b and 46b. It is understood that the breaking of these lines forming the first and second pair can be simultaneous or sequential, and that it does not necessarily occur in the sequence described in this example.

In FIG. 6 and 7 show a container according to the invention in which the breaking of the first pair of lines (Fig. 6) or both pairs of lines (Fig. 7), forming weak points, respectively, occurred. It should be noted that the tongues 50 and / or 52 after breaking the corresponding lines, in turn, are pivotally connected to the housing of the corresponding half-shell of the tank with the help of hinged elements, indicated by positions 54 and 56, respectively, so that breaking the lines forming a weak spot , leads to the formation of additional areas of articulation of two half-shells.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9-11, the container is formed by two half-shells 2 and 4, interconnected by means of articulated connecting means 20, made in one piece with two half-shells. The hinge connecting means comprises a reed element 58 connected to the half-shell 2 by means of a film hinge 60 and to the other half-shell 4 by means of a film hinge 62; therefore, the connecting means has two articulated pivot axes. The film hinge 62 is located below the opening of the half-shell 4 and under the girdle 14; the film hinge 60 is located along the edge of the opening of the half-shell 2. The side wall of the half-shell 4 comprises a flat wall portion 64 opposite to the tongue 58, to which the hinged tongue 58 is adjacent when the container is closed.

The container is equipped with an opening and closing means of a bayonet or buckle type comprising a male member belonging to one half-shell of the vessel and a female member belonging to another half-shell of the vessel, these elements being able to engage together. The male element comprises a protrusion 66 extending from the edge of the opening of one of the half-shells of the mold and has a radial protrusion or retaining tooth 68. The other half-shell of the container has a recess 70 in the side wall having a substantially flat surface and a jumper 72 forming between its radially inner surface and the outer surface of the recess hole, into which you can insert the end of the protrusion 66, while the tooth 68 performs the function of a retaining element for fixing the half-shell 2 in the closed position.

Opening the container can be accomplished by applying a force in the radial direction to the holding element 68.

Also in this case, the wall of one of the half-shells, preferably the wall of the half-shell 2, attached to the other half-shell at the edge of the hole, preferably contains two lines 44a and 46a with a reduced wall thickness, belonging to the type described above and located near the film hinge 60, outside of the latter. However, it is possible to provide a second pair of lines 44b, 46b with a reduced wall thickness (optional, they can be interconnected by a transverse line 48 with a reduced wall thickness) on another half-shell 4 located on the sides of the film hinge 62.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the container is formed by two separate half-shells containing the first hinged connecting means, such as a bayonet or buckle, belonging to the previously described in connection with FIG. 9 type, which provides a permanent connection between two half-shells of the container, and the second connecting means such as bayonet or buckle, which can be easily disconnected to be able to open / close the container.

The first hinge connecting means comprises a flexible protrusion 74 with a radially protruding retaining element 76, which can be inserted into the recesses in the side wall of another half-shell of the container equipped with a jumper 80, while the holding element 76 is engaged with the jumper 80.

In this case, due to the flexibility of the protrusion 74, two half-shells of the container are pivotally connected by means of the hinge portion, while the d-d axis of the pivot connection is perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the protrusion 74.

The second connecting means used to open / close the container is structurally similar to the first hinged connecting means described above and is provided with a holding member 82, the dimensions of which allow for a detachable connection and facilitate opening of the container by the user.

Also in this case, preferably, lines 44a, 46a with reduced wall thickness adjacent to the ends of the protrusion 74 of the permanent connection means are preferably present on the wall of the half-shell 2 of the container.

Typically, a gift box is provided inside the container for the user to remove it from the container. Due to the design features of the container, the two half-shells of the container remain connected even after the user has applied forces that could per se cause damage to the articulated connecting means.

It is understood that, subject to the principles of the invention, the options for its implementation and structural details may differ quite significantly from those described and illustrated, which is not a departure from the scope of the claims that are given below.

Thus, it should be understood that you can easily use other hinge means that differ from those described above, but perform the same functions.

Similarly, although the container has been described taking into account a generally cylindrical configuration with a substantially circular cross-section, it is understood that the shape of the container can be varied by changing the profile of the hole and the wall of the two half-shells of the mold, for example, so that the shape of the reservoir includes into an oval configuration formed by two half-shells of the tank with holes of the oval profile or two half-shells with holes of the round profile, which, when interlocked, form a tank of oval shape.

Claims (21)

1. A container for products, such as "surprises" and similar related items, containing two half-shells (2, 4) with a retaining wall (2a, 2b; 4a, 4b) and an open hole (10, 12) that can be connected to the hole to the hole, forming a closed container (1), while two half-shells (2, 4) of the container are connected by means of hinge means (20) with such an axis (aa) of rotation to allow the movement of one of the half-shells (2, 4) relative to the other between the closed the position of the container (1) and the open position, characterized in that in the closed position the span (1) has a minimum overall dimension of 20 to 55 mm and the retaining wall (2a, 2b; 4a, 4b) of at least one of the half-shells (2, 4) contains at least one weakened line near the hinge means (44a , 46a; 44b, 46b) with a reduced wall thickness, extending over a portion of the wall (2a, 2b; 4a, 4b) and capable of breaking due to the forces applied to the body of the half-shell (2, 4) of the container and / or to the hinge means (20) connecting two half-shells (2, 4), which could cause damage to the hinge means (20). 2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one weakened line (44a, 46a; 44b, 46b) has such a thickness that it breaks before breaking the hinge means (20) connecting the two half-shells (2, 4) . 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the half shells, or preferably both half shells (2, 4), is provided with a pair of weakened lines (44a, 46a; 44b, 46b) with a reduced wall thickness, continuing along the wall section of the corresponding half-shell (2, 4), each near the lateral ends of the hinge means (20). 4. A container according to claim 3, characterized in that said two weakened lines (44a, 46a; 44b, 46b) forming each pair are parallel to each other or diverge from each other to the top (2a, 4a) of the corresponding half-shell (2, 4) capacity. 5. The container according to claim 3, characterized in that the weakened lines (44a, 46a; 44b, 46b) forming the indicated pair form a wall element between them of the corresponding half-shell (2, 4) in the form of a tongue (50, 52), which after breaking the lines (44a, 46a; 44b, 46b) connects the retaining wall of the corresponding half-shell (2, 4) with the hinge means (20). 6. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that the hinge means (20) connecting the two half-shells of the tank to one another are made integrally with the half-shells (2, 4). 7. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that the hinge means (20) contains at least one film hinge (22, 60, 64). 8. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that the hinge means (20) comprises a flexible film hinge element (22) connected to the wall of both half-shells (2, 4) of the container along curved sections (24) , 26) and possibly equipped, at each of its longitudinal ends, with an elastic flexible element in the form of a rib (28, 30). 9. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5, characterized in that one of the half-shells (4) contains a wall portion forming a girdle (14) that can engage inside the wall portion of the other half-shell (2), and two half-shells (2, 4) of the container are connected by means of a flexible film hinge element (22) connected to one of the half-shells (2) along the edge or flush with the edge of the hole (10) and to the retaining wall (4b) of the other half-shell (4) under the specified belt ( fourteen). 10. Capacity according to claim 9, characterized in that the half-shell (4) provided with a girdle (14) contains a pair of weakened lines (44a, 46a) with a reduced wall thickness, continuing along the retaining wall of the specified half-shell from the edge of its opening (12) or from a level a few millimeters below the edge of the hole (12), while the other half-shell (2) also contains a pair of weakened lines (44a, 46a) with a reduced wall thickness, extending from the edge of its hole (10). 11. Capacity according to claim 9, characterized in that the half-shell (4) provided with a girdle (14) contains a pair of weakened lines (44b, 46b) with reduced wall thickness, continuing along the retaining wall of the specified half-shell (4) from the girdle (14) ), moreover, the lines (44b, 46b) of this pair are interconnected by a weakened section (48) with a reduced wall thickness, which extends around the circumference in the region of the girdle (14). 12. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that the hinge means (20) comprises a flexible reed element (58) connected to the edge of the opening (10) of the half-shell (2) by means of a film hinge element (60 ) and with the wall of another half-shell (4) of the container by means of a second film hinge element (62). 13. A container according to claim 12, characterized in that said half-shells of a container are provided with means (66, 68, 72) for closing a bayonet or buckle type comprising a male member (66, 68) belonging to one half-shell (2, 4) of a container, and a female member (72) belonging to another half-shell (2, 4), these elements being able to engage together, and the closing means (66, 68, 72) can be disconnected by the user. 14. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that it contains two separate half-shells (2, 4) containing a hinged connecting means (66, 68, 72) of the type of bayonet or buckle containing a male element provided on one of the half-shells (2, 4), in the form of a flexible protrusion (74) provided with a retaining element (76), and covering the element (80), provided on the other half-shell (2, 4), inside of which it can fit and engage with a snug fit, the male element (76), wherein said articulated connecting means (66, 68, 72) cn especially ensure a permanent connection between two half-shells (2, 4). 15. A container according to claim 14, characterized in that said half-shells (2, 4) comprise second connecting means such as a bayonet or buckle, parts of which can be engaged with each other and disconnected by the user to open the container. 16. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13 and 15, characterized in that one of the half-shells (4) contains a girdle (14) that is capable of being inserted with engagement into another half-shell (2 ), and the girdle (14) has a wall thickness different along its circumferential length, with the wall thickness in the region (α ') facing the hinge means (20), greater than the wall thickness in the region adjacent to the hinge means (20) or located above him. 17. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13 and 15, characterized in that in the closed position it contains a curved section (2b, 4b) of the retaining wall, extending at an angle (α) to the area facing the hinge means (20), and the holding wall portion (2a, 4a) extending at an angle (360-α) in the area surrounding the hinge means (20). 18. A container according to claim 17, characterized in that in the closed position it has a curved meridian profile in the region of the protrusion, extending through an angle α, and a meridian profile with a straight central section in the region surrounding the hinge means (20). 19. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 18, characterized in that the half-shells (2, 4) of the vessel have flexible holding walls capable of elastic deformation, so that the radial the compression force applied to the side wall of at least one of the two half-shells (2, 4), capable of causing their elastic collapse when closing the container, can cause a sharp opening of the container. 20. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 18, characterized in that it is made of plastic selected from polyethylene, polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate. 21. Packaging for a food product containing a container (1) according to any preceding paragraph, which contains a toy or food product.

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