RU2762839C1 - Packaging with a detachable closing structural element - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging and wrapping materials.

SUBSTANCE: packaging for the powdered nutritional product contains a container for receiving the product, while the container has a base and a peripheral wall extending to an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, while at least the peripheral wall contains cardboard material. The sealing element for closing the container before use is attached to the peripheral wall next to the peripheral edge and is designed to be at least partially removed to gain access to the product. The package additionally contains a capping agent, which is made of plastic and includes a circumferential peripheral rim attached to the peripheral wall and limiting the access opening, and a lid attached to the rim with the possibility of rotation for selectively closing the access opening. A separation zone is provided designed to facilitate the separation of the container and the capping agent after use, while the separation zone is located above the sealing element and forms a place or a weakening line in which/on which separation can be initiated by the user.

EFFECT: extension of the range of solutions for packaging nutritional products.

20 cl, 9 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of technology

The present invention relates to packages for packaging and dispensing products, in particular powdered products such as infant formula and infant formula. The invention particularly relates to structures and methods for separating the various parts of such packages, especially for recycling.

2. Description of the prior art

Powdered material, such as infant formula, has been sold in various types of packaging for many years. Initially, metal cans were the preferred container because they were relatively simple and cheap to manufacture and could be hermetically sealed for long term storage. The seal comprised an edge-to-edge aluminum foil that was removed on first use. Because one container has been in use for an extended period, the containers were fitted with reclosable plastic lids that wrap around the outer rim of the can. The measuring spoon was often included with the container and was either packed separately or placed inside the jar itself. However, such cans are relatively heavy and expensive to manufacture.

Recently, alternative packaging options have become available that provide enhancements to existing cans, including Å & R Carton Lund AB's Cekacan ™ range of products. They are based on plastic / foil laminate tubular container bodies and often include hinged lid assembly closures capable of receiving and holding a scoop. One such package is described in WO 2010/123361. The component forming the container may be a laminate of cardboard, metal foil and plastic, while the lid assembly may be plastic.

While these materials allow the container to be manufactured at a relatively low cost, the use of these materials may be undesirable from a container recycling point of view. In light of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide improved packaging that at least partially overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a package for a powdered nutritional product is provided, comprising: a container for receiving a product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall extending up to an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, at least the peripheral wall containing a paperboard material; a sealing member for closing the container prior to use, the sealing member being attached to the peripheral wall below the peripheral edge and at a distance from the peripheral edge and is at least partially removable to gain access to the product; a closure that is made of plastic and includes a circumferential peripheral rim attached to the top of the peripheral wall and defining an access opening, and a lid pivotally attached to the rim to selectively cover the access opening, and a separation zone designed to facilitate separating the container and the closure after use, wherein the separation zone is located above the sealing element and contains a point or line of weakening at which / at which separation can be initiated by the user and / or facilitated for the user.

The invention described herein relates to improved separation of various materials and, in particular, to separation of the container and closure after use. Thus, it is provided that the expression "after use" means the state after the last use, when the package is empty and should be discarded. The closure is made of plastic and can be recycled very well to make new products. Therefore, clean separation is preferred, in which virtually no non-plastic components are attached to the closure. For recycling purposes, it would also be preferable to obtain the component forming the container without any closure residue.

Since packages are often used for milk powder for babies and babies, it is very important that the packages are hermetically sealed and remain hermetically sealed before first use. For reasons of durability, safety, insect impermeability and convenient transportation, very tight adhesion of the closure to the container can be achieved, preferably through the use of an adhesive. The existing designs have optimized the adhesive and mechanical bond with these considerations in mind. As a consequence, the recycling of the various components is complicated because, due to the bonding efficiency, they cannot be easily separated by hand. Indeed, the existing packaging is so well designed that it is almost impossible to separate the closure and container without some kind of tool. The present invention provides a solution to this problem in the form of packages that include a separation zone. The separation zone facilitates the separation of the closure from the container, as will be further explained below, and is defined as the zone where the location or line of weakening is located where / where the closure is separated from the container. Depending on the choice of the location of the location or line of weakness, the separation zone may be part of the closure, a peripheral wall adjacent to and below the closure, or it can be part of both the closure and the container. Likewise, a line of weakness may be formed on the circumferential rim of the plastic closure and / or on the peripheral wall of the container in the region above the sealing member. The peripheral edge is defined as the uppermost boundary of the peripheral wall surrounding the open top.

Thus, the separation zone is located and created to initiate and / or facilitate the separation of the plastic closure from the container containing the cardboard. In this regard, references to paperboard is intended to refer to paper materials or materials based on cellulose, sometimes referred to as paperboard (cardboard), cardboard (paperboard) or fibreboard (fibreboard), which, characterized by the recycling process is provided and / or desirable process of recycling for plastic closure.

Since the separation zone contains a point or line of weakening, it is important that this zone is located above the sealing element that closes the container prior to use. This is important because it must be ensured that the contents of the container remain hermetically sealed and undamaged while ensuring gas tightness. This is of particular interest when it comes to infant formula, since infants are vulnerable and, if breastfeeding is not possible, may only depend on the consumption of infant formula. By placing the separation zone above the sealing element, the contents of the hermetically sealed container are not endangered even if the point or line of weakness is unintentionally punctured or ruptured.

In the context of this document, a sealing element is intended to mean a gas-tight sealing element for sealing a container prior to use. The contents of the package, namely the powdered nutritional product, can be packaged / packaged under a modified atmosphere, such as high inert gas / oxygen reduced. In this case, the sealing element is intended to ensure that the contents will be stored under the modified atmosphere until the user ruptures the sealing element, as is the case with any infant formula. The sealing element is attached to the inner side of the peripheral wall and must be at least partially removable in order to gain access to the product. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing element is located below the separation zone and is attached to the inner side of the peripheral wall below and at a distance from the peripheral edge, for example at a distance of 15 to 50 mm or 20 mm to 40 mm or 25 to 35 mm. The sealing element may be located below the peripheral edge and at a distance from it to allow the tray for dispensing the infant formula in the empty space between the closure and the sealing element.

In an embodiment, the sealing member is attached to the inner side of the peripheral wall by heat sealing or induction welding. The sealing element is preferably partially removable in the sense that it comprises a tear strip configured to tear along a rupture path and to leave a portion of the sealing element attached to the inner side of the peripheral wall. With this opening means, a part of the sealing element remains in the container when the tear strip is torn off, and therefore the sealing element will not be removed completely upon opening, but only in the area of its central panel to gain access to the product. In order to avoid ambiguity, it should be pointed out that the opening means and the rupture path of the sealing member are separate from the separation zone and the point / line of weakness by which the closure and the container are separated.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the sealing element is located below and at a distance from the peripheral edge to allow the infant formula dispensing spoon to be positioned in the void or headspace above the product between the closure and the sealing element. Infant formula dispensing spoons are well known in the art and are included in packs containing infant formula as the exact dosage of infant formula depends on the nutritional value of the particular infant formula. It should be understood that this arrangement is intended to mean that, on the one hand, the spoon will not be placed so tightly that it could pierce the sealing element, but, on the other hand, the package contains infant formula placed below the sealing element. , which imposes a limitation on the amount of free space above the product.

In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive is applied between the top of the peripheral wall and the circumferential peripheral rim of the closure. This is intended to ensure that proper sealing of the contact surface of the container and the closure is achieved and / or maintained to provide a barrier for keeping insects out of the container and away from the nutritive content. In an embodiment, substantially the entire contact surface of the peripheral wall and the circumferential peripheral rim of the closure will be sealed using an adhesive. The adhesive is preferably applied as a continuous zone completely surrounding the top of the peripheral wall so that the wall and rim are properly sealed together and insects cannot penetrate through them. As an example, in order to avoid some tiny tropical insects from entering the container, gaps of no more than 70 microns are preferably acceptable.

The location or line of weakness defines an area in which separation of the closure from the container can be initiated by the user and / or facilitated for the user. In an embodiment, the point of weakening is in the peripheral wall of the container and is in the shape of a triangle, square, semicircle, or ellipse. In an embodiment, the line of weakness is located on the peripheral wall of the container or the circumferential peripheral rim of the closure. The line of weakness can extend over a portion of a circumference or over a full circumference. The rupture or rupture of the line of weakness can be initiated by the user by gripping a gripping tab that indicates a location where the line of weakness can be accessed or gripped.

In an embodiment, the container comprises a circumferential line of weakness extending from the point of weakness. The point of weakening may overlap with the peripheral edge, or alternatively may be located directly below the peripheral edge, so that the point of weakening can be pressed into the container without adversely affecting the rim. After the point of weakness has been pressed into the container, rupture may occur along the circumferential line of weakness as the user pulls the closure away from the container to facilitate separation.

The container can have any suitable shape, defined by a peripheral wall that defines a pipe having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. In an embodiment, the cross-section of the peripheral wall parallel to the base is in the form of a rounded rectangle or a rounded square. In other words, the peripheral wall can be in the form of a tube of quasi-rectangular cross-section. In this case, the location of the weakening can be in the corner of the peripheral wall. The corner is the preferred place to initiate the pulling force because it is easier to separate the corner of the rim than the part midway between the corners. Alternatively, the location of the weakening can be on one of the sides, for example in the center on one of the shorter sides of the rectangle. For display purposes, it is preferred that the container is in the shape of a rectangle with rounded corners as this provides a larger display surface for "communication" with the consumer.

In an embodiment, the package further comprises a grip area for enhancing the grip of the closure and / or container by the user. As the grip of the closure and / or container is improved by the user, it will be easier for the user to apply force to the package to separate the closure from the container. The grip zone can also assist the user in placing their hands in the proper place, for example, through visual and / or tactile instructions, and in the proper orientation to ensure proper initiation of separation. The capture zone can be within the separation zone, or overlap with the separation zone, or it can be located elsewhere on the package.

In an embodiment, the grip area is located in the peripheral wall adjacent to the rim and is created after the wearer has pressed the weakened point into the container, thereby allowing the user to grip the area under the rim. Thus, in this case, the location of the weakening corresponds to the gripping zone and / or creates a gripping zone. The user can use their thumb to press the weakened site into the container, thereby allowing the user to grip under the rim and pull the rim away from the container. The site of relaxation can be large enough to accommodate not only the finger (eg, thumb) of one hand of the user, but also the finger of the other hand. Thus, the user will be able to grip the closure well as well as the container. This allows an effective force to be applied to separate the two components. In addition or alternatively, the container can have more loosening points where the user's fingers can be placed to provide a better grip on the container.

In an embodiment, the gripping area or closure may comprise a pull tab coupled to the rim, preferably molded with the rim, whereby a user can pull on the rim to facilitate separation. The pull tab may be in the form of a ring connected to the rim with an open area in the middle of the pull tab large enough to accommodate a finger. The pull tab may initially be positioned flush with the peripheral wall extending downwardly from the rim so that it does not interfere with the storage of the container. After use, the pull tab can be bent or rotated outward and / or upward so that the finger can pass and the user can apply force in the longitudinal direction of the container. By bending or twisting the pull tab, the bezel may locally deform at the location where the pull tab is attached to the bezel. This deformation can initiate breaking or loosening of the rim to facilitate separation from the container. By pulling on the pull tab, the closure and container can be separated from each other. It should be understood that the pull tab must have adequate strength to provide the desired separation force. It should also be understood that in this embodiment, the separation zone may represent the boundary between the container and the closure, which may be separated by breaking the adhesive bond. This can be facilitated, for example, compared to the currently marketed container described in WO 2010/123361, by reducing the strength of the adhesive, or by using less adhesive, or by having less adhesive locally near the pull tab. ... In a preferred embodiment, the force to detach or detach the closure from the container by using the pull tab is in the range of 25 N to 150 N, preferably 35 N to 100 N, more preferably 40 to 75 N, as mentioned below.

In an embodiment, a line of weakness is located in the rim of the closure, for example extending from the outer edge of the rim towards the access opening, and is configured to break the rim to facilitate separation of the rim from the container. The line of weakness is preferably formed by locally thinning the rim, by breakable joints and / or by partial cutting. The line of weakness can be combined with the pull tab described above, with the pull tab attached to the rim adjacent to the line of weakness. Thus, the pull tab provides good grip on the rim at the location of the line of weakness to initiate tearing along the line of weakness. In this case, the line of weakening can be located in the place on the rim that has the minimum size. It should be understood that the rim must remain strong enough so that it does not break during transport.

In an embodiment, the line of weakness is located in the paperboard material that composes the peripheral wall of the container. In this case, a line of weakness can be formed by partially cutting the paperboard material, a line of partial perforations (i.e., a line of recesses in a wall or rim) or a plastic strip enclosed in the paperboard material from which a catch tab protrudes visibly from the paperboard.

In an embodiment, the separation zone comprises a tear strip substantially surrounding the peripheral wall and / or rim. The tear tape can completely or partially surround the peripheral wall and / or the rim. When the tear tape partially surrounds the peripheral wall and / or rim, the remainder of the circumference can be small enough so that the closure and container can be easily separated by hand when the tear tape is removed. The tear tape preferably surrounds the peripheral wall and / or rim for at least 70% of the circumference, more preferably at least 85% of the circumference, or completely surrounds the peripheral wall and / or rim.

In an embodiment, the tear tape is formed in a peripheral wall or rim by at least one circumferential line of weakness. The line of weakness can be formed by a line of partial perforations (i.e., a line of recesses in the wall or rim) or by partially cutting the peripheral wall or rim to a depth of 20 to 80%, preferably 40 to 60% of the local thickness of the peripheral wall or rim. When using only one line of weakness, a tear tape is formed between the line of weakness and the edge of the wall or rim. When using a plurality of lines of weakness, preferably when the paperboard material contains two lines of weakness, a tear tape is formed between the different lines of weakness. As stated above, the fact that the separation zone and the line of weakness are located above the sealing element ensures that the seal of the package cannot be compromised by the line of weakness. However, during use of the package after initial opening, it is important that the line of weakness does not impair the re-sealability of the package.

In an embodiment, the tear tape is provided with a gripping tab to facilitate gripping of the tear tape. The gripping tab can be of any shape as long as it achieves the aforementioned problem of facilitating the gripping and pulling of the tear tape. The grip tab is preferably made of the same material as the tear tape to avoid the formation of fragile spots between the grip tab and the tear tape. The gripping tab can be formed by a flared end portion of the tear tape. Alternatively, the grip tab can be a separate component that is glued, molded, or otherwise attached to the tear strip. The grip tab can preferably be provided on the outside of the package or alternatively on the inside of the package above the sealing element.

In an embodiment, the rim has a U-shaped groove, the surface of which interacts with a given peripheral edge, and the adhesive is provided on only one side of the U-shaped groove, with said one side preferably forming a tear tape. Thus, the adhesive is removed or ruptured when the user pulls on the peel-off tape. Since the tear tape is removed preferably by pulling in the radial direction, the adhesive breaks more easily compared to pulling longitudinally along the height of the package. This one side is preferably the outside of the U-shaped groove, but may alternatively be the inside of the U-shaped groove so that the tear tape can be pulled back internally. As an alternative to breaking the adhesive, the peripheral wall material may delaminate at the location where the adhesive is applied, such that the connection between the rim and the container is destroyed.

The present invention is intended to be used for packages that are assembled or connected by any suitable means. The closure can be attached to the peripheral wall by mechanical connection, by adhesive, by welding, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the rim is adhered to the peripheral wall using an adhesive, in particular a hot melt adhesive. By using an adhesive, the closure and container can be sealed so that they cannot separate during transport and use. In addition, the adhesive is applied to maintain a proper seal, which means that the entire contact area of the container and the closure is sealed by the adhesive.

If an adhesive is used, the adhesive can be adapted to better allow separation of the closure and container. The separation force can be defined as the longitudinal force (applied longitudinally along the wall) required to completely separate the closure from the container (i.e., break the adhesive) when a force is applied across the outer edge of the rim. This can be measured by providing a rigid frame having an opening that matches the size of the peripheral wall so that the closure cannot pass through the opening. When the container is suspended in the frame, a distributed force can be applied over the entire circumference of the rim by applying force to the base of the container through the access opening. The force is increased until separation occurs and the separation force is the maximum force before separation.

With existing adhesives and known packaging in a post-sale condition, in particular as described in WO 2010/123361, the separation force is at least more than 200 N, and this force is considered too high for manual separation by the consumer. On the other hand, the separation force should not be so small as to cause the closure to break off when a fully filled infant formula package is lifted, such as a package weighing approximately 1 kilogram.

Thus, in an embodiment, the force required to detach or detach the closure from the container is in the range of 25 N to 150 N, preferably 35 N to 100 N, more preferably 40 N to 75 N. , which is characterized by the specified separation force, is within the capabilities of the average specialist. In any event, for the convenience of the user, the force that one of ordinary skill in the art may find suitable for hand application will generally be as low as possible and within the specified range. The values at the lower end of the range are considered large enough to withstand the normal handling and handling of inventive packages from the place of manufacture to the dwelling where the package is first used. Said separation force is particularly preferred in combination with embodiments in which the grip zone or closure comprises a pull tab connected to the rim and / or in which the grip zone is in the peripheral wall adjacent to the rim and is created after the wearer has pressed the weakening point into the container. , whereby it is possible for the user to capture the area under the rim.

Removal of the peel strip or tearing along the line of weakness may require a force of 3 N to 10 N, and thereafter, the closure and container can separate without additional separation force.

In an embodiment, the adhesive is water-soluble, or configured to weaken or melt when heated. This has the advantage that separation can be carried out more easily by heating the rim, for example by contacting it with hot water. The adhesive may have a viscosity of 500 to 3000 mPa s at 160 degrees C, preferably 1000 to 2000 mPa s at 160 degrees C. Alternatively, the adhesive may have a viscosity of 500 to 3000 mPa s at 190 degrees C, preferably from 1000 to 2000 mPa · s at 190 degrees C.

In an embodiment, the rim contacts a peripheral wall defining the nip and the adhesive is applied over an area of 1% to 100%, preferably 10% to 60%, or 20% to 40% of the nip area. The nip is a surface area where an adhesive can be applied to adhere the rim to the peripheral wall, with the adhesive sandwiched between the rim and the peripheral wall. In the contact zone, the rim does not necessarily contact the peripheral wall at all locations, however, in the contact zone, the distance between the rim and the peripheral wall is small enough that a conventional adhesive layer will adhere the two surfaces together. The rim can be in contact with the peripheral wall either on the inner side or on the side of the outer surface of the peripheral wall. It should be understood that in the case of a multi-layer cardboard container of cardboard, metal foil and plastic, there is a difference in the case of adhering the rim to the outer surface of the cardboard or to the inner surface of the plastic. In the case of a U-shaped rim discussed above, the rim may contact the peripheral wall on both the inner and outer surfaces, as well as along the peripheral edge.

The contact area can be determined by the contact area of the rim per 1 mm of the circumference of the peripheral edge or, in other words, the length of the contact when considered in any given cross-section. The contact area is preferably 5 to 25 mm ² per mm of circumference, more preferably 10 to 15 mm ² per mm of circumference. The actual surface area of the adhesive is preferably 0.5 to 5 mm ² per mm of circumference, more preferably 1 to 3 mm ² per mm of circumference. By adjusting the area over which the adhesive is applied, it is also possible to adjust the bond strength between the closure and the container. In particular, the smaller the sticking area, the easier the separation of the closure and container will be. An optimum adhesion zone is preferred that provides an optimal combination of good sealing properties and easy separation. The strength of the adhesive bond can be adjusted by adjusting the amount and location of the adhesive.

In an embodiment, the separation zone allows the package to be separated into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part contains the closure and the second part contains at least 80% by weight. or preferably 95% of the mass. or even 100% of the mass. container. This has the advantage that the second part does not contain any parts of the closure, resulting in a waste consisting only of the container material, which may be a laminate of cardboard, metal foil and plastic.

In an embodiment, the separation zone allows the package to be separated into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part contains at least 80% of the mass. or preferably 95% of the mass. or even 100% of the mass. the closure and the second part contains the container. This has the advantage that the first part does not contain any container parts, resulting in a waste consisting only of plastic.

In an embodiment, the separation zone allows the package to be separated into a first part and a second part, the first part containing the closure and the second part containing the container. This ideal separation can be achieved when the entire closure (i.e., consisting entirely of injection molded plastic) is separated as a first part from a second part, which includes the entire container (i.e., consisting entirely of a laminate of cardboard, metal and plastic).

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for disposing of a package, wherein the package comprises a container for receiving a product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall extending to an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, wherein at least the peripheral wall comprises a paperboard material and a closure means that is made of plastic and includes a circumferential peripheral rim attached to the peripheral wall and defining an access opening, and a lid pivotally attached to the rim to selectively close the access opening, the method comprising gripping the package at a gripping area and applying a force of less than 150 N or less than 100 N to separate the container and the closure. The method can be applied to the containers described above and hereinafter. In an embodiment, said force is less than 70 N, or less than 50 N, or less than 30 N, or even less than 10 N. The force may be applied to the peelable tear tape or gripping tab.

The invention further relates to a package for a powdered nutritional product, comprising: a container for receiving a product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall extending up to an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, at least the peripheral wall comprising a paperboard material; a sealing member for closing the container prior to use, the sealing member being attached to the peripheral wall below the peripheral edge and at a distance from the peripheral edge and is at least partially removable to gain access to the product; a closure that is made of plastic and includes a circumferential peripheral rim adhered to the peripheral wall by adhesive and defining an access opening, and a lid pivotally attached to the rim to selectively cover the access opening, and a pull tab for to facilitate separation of the container and the closure after use, wherein the pull tab is attached to the rim above the sealing member, the adhesive and the pull tab being configured to allow the user to separate the closure and the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further understanding of the features and advantages of the invention will be provided by reference to the following drawings of a number of illustrative embodiments, in which:

1 shows a perspective view of a package with a loosening point;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a package with a pull tab;

Fig. 3A shows a rear perspective view of a package with a peel-off tape on a container;

Fig. 3B shows a front perspective view of the package of Fig. 3A during removal of the tear tape;

Fig. 3C shows a section through a fragment of the package of Fig. 3A;

Fig. 4A shows a rear perspective view of a package with a peel-off tape in a rim;

Figure 4B is a front perspective view of the package of Figure 4A during removal of the tear tape;

Fig. 4C shows a section through a fragment of the package of Fig. 4A;

5 shows a perspective view of a package with a line of weakness in the rim and with a pull tab attached to the rim.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a first embodiment of a package 1 for a powdered infant nutritional product according to the present invention, comprising a closure 2 and a container 3. The package 1 substantially corresponds to the commercially available and marketed Easypack in which Nutrilon ™ infant formula is sold by the Danone group of companies. ...

The closure 2 comprises a circumferential peripheral rim 20, a hinge 10 and a lid 21 and is shown with the lid 21 open. The lid 21 is thus pivotally connected to the rim 20. The rim 20 defines the access opening 27. In this embodiment, the first flange 11 defines an access opening 27. The lid 4 is provided with a lid flange 12 that fits over the first flange 11 to close off the access opening 27 and to seal the package 1. In this embodiment, the access opening 27 is nearly elliptical. The access opening 27 can also be circular. Alternatively, it can be rectangular with rounded corners. However, in all embodiments, it is important that the lid flange 12 is fitted around the flange 11 to seal the access opening 27.

To form a closure 2 with a lid 21 that can be easily opened, the hinge 10 has a connecting portion connected to the lower end of the lid flange 12. Thus, the entire lid 21 can remain accessible for gripping to open the lid 21. In addition, the lid 21 is formed with a protrusion 13 for easy opening of the lid 21. In this embodiment, the protrusion 13 is also provided at the lower end of the flange 12 of the lid. In this case, it is opposite the hinge 10. Thus, the user can grasp the protrusion 13 for easy opening of the lid 21. In addition, the protrusion 13 forms an end edge, which can be closed or enclosed by a strip 14, which provides an indication of the first tampering.

The rim 20 further comprises a wall 15 which is provided with said access opening 27. Cam elements 16 are formed on the wall 15. The use of such cams 16 is further explained in document WO2007 / 142522 in the name of the applicant for this application. These cams 16 form part of a storage means for storing the parts forming the lids during manufacture. In addition, these cams 16 form part of a means for stacking finished packages, for example in warehouses.

In this embodiment, the cams 16 are formed on the rim 20. This has the advantage that the cover 21 is not stressed. Thus, the quality of the closure is not compromised. In this case, the height of the lid 21 in the closed position is equal to or substantially equal to the height of the cams 16. Thus, when stacking packages, the load from the containers will ensure that the lids are held pressed in the closed state while preventing the action of loads in other directions. In particular, in the case of the cover 21, which is clamped on the flange 11, the cams 16 additionally ensure that the closed position of the cover 21 is fixed.

It has already been considered that the hinge 10 has a connecting portion connected to the lower end of the lid flange 12. Indeed, in order not to impair the sealing ability of the lid 21, the connecting part of the hinge 10 is attached below the circumferential lower end of the lid flange 12. However, this also requires the presence of a lower portion 17 in the wall 15. Thus, the sealing ability of the cover 21 mounted on the rim 20 is not impaired in any way. This sealing can be further improved by the fact that, when joining, the protrusion 13 for opening is also located below the circumferential lower end of the lid flange 12, so that it also does not interfere with stacking the packages together in a stack. The container 3 comprises a base 38 and a peripheral wall 36 extending to an open top 30 surrounded by a peripheral edge 31. The peripheral wall 36 is in the form of a pipe with a quasi-rectangular cross-section, that is, a pipe with a rectangular cross-section with curved sides and rounded corners. A sealing element 4 is provided inside the container 3, which separates the contents of the container 3, in this case the milk mixture, from the outside.

The rim 20 is generally U-shaped / U-shaped with a groove (see below in FIG. 3C) and tightly encloses the peripheral edge 31, and these two components are glued together using an adhesive provided in the groove. The container 3 further comprises a weakening point 32 in the peripheral wall 36 adjacent to the peripheral edge 31. The weakening point 32 is provided in an area which corresponds to what may be referred to as the free space of the container 3 between the sealing element 4 and the peripheral edge 31.

The point of weakness 32 is formed by a portion of the container, the strength of which is reduced by a line of weakness 37, for example a pre-bend line or a line of partial perforations. The weakening point can be pushed by the user towards the inside of the container, either by folding or tearing.

The weakening point 32 also defines a grip zone whereby the user can grip below the closure 2 to break the seal between the closure 2 and the container 3. The weakening point 32 is provided at the corner of the peripheral wall 36 just below the rim 20 so that it can be conveniently pressed inward to accommodate the thumb. Thereafter, the closure 2 can be torn away from the container 1 to allow for separate recycling after use. It should be understood that such a weakening and gripping area may be provided elsewhere around the rim 20, such as on one side. It will preferably not be in a location where the user would accidentally cause the container to bend or puncture during normal grip during use.

The base 38 and the peripheral wall 36 of the container 3 are made of laminate. The laminate consists - in the order from the outside to the inside - of paint / varnish, a layer of cardboard / paper, a relatively thin aluminum foil and a layer of plastic located inside with respect to it, which can be connected to the sealing element 4 by means of induction welding or heat sealing and may be bonded to base 38. Cardboard is included to provide mechanical strength to the package, aluminum provides the required barrier properties for the container to be suitable for containing infant formula. In the described embodiment, the plastic is polyethylene, although it should be understood that other alternatives may be envisaged. The thickness of the peripheral wall 36 is about 700 microns, and paperboard has a density of 250 g / m ² to 500 g / m ^2.

Cover 21 and rim 20 are made of plastic and are manufactured in one piece by injection molding. In the disclosed embodiment, they are molded from (substantially) phthalate-free polypropylene, but alternative materials can also be used. The lid can be designed to keep insects out, and a first tamper evident strip 14 can be incorporated into the structure. It must be separated from the closure 2 by breaking three breakable webs to allow the lid 21 to be opened for the first time. The closure 2 has a weight of approximately 30 grams.

The illustrated package 1 is intended to contain 800 grams of powdered infant formula. It should be understood that such packages may alternatively contain from 100 to 2000 grams, preferably from 300 to 1200 grams, most preferably either about 450 grams or about 900 grams.

The peripheral wall 36 of the container 3 is provided with information instructing the user to use the weakening point 32 appropriately to separate the closure 2 and the container 3.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a package 201 similar to the first embodiment, but without a weakening location of the type shown in FIG. 1. FIG. Instead, the package 201 includes a pull tab 225 that is connected to and formed integrally with the rim 220. The pull tab 225 can be gripped by a user to apply a gripping force to separate the closure 202 and container 203 by tearing. The pull tab 225 is molded with the rim 220 so that the bond strength between the rim 220 and the pull tab 225 is greater than the bond force between the rim 220 and the container 203. After use, the user can separate the closure 202 and the container 203 to recycle them separately.

In this embodiment, the separation zone between the closure 202 and the container 203 corresponds to the area of the adhesive bond between the rim 220 and the top of the peripheral wall just below the peripheral edge 231. By placing the pull tab 225 at a specific location on the rim 220, the location may be created locally increased force causing separation of the adhesive at a given point. To facilitate separation, the amount and strength of the adhesive can be reduced compared to the first embodiment, in particular in the area adjacent to the pull tab 225, whereby a weakening point is created at this location.

Figs. 3A and 3B show a third embodiment of a package 301 from the rear and front sides, respectively. The package 301 contains a closure 302 and a container 303. The peripheral wall 336 of the container 303 contains a tear tape 333 extending around the entire peripheral wall 336. The tear tape 333 is delimited by two circumferential lines 335, 337 of weakness, which are formed by lines of partial perforations in the peripheral wall 336 of the container 303 After the package 301 has been emptied, when it is desired to remove it, the user 306 can grasp the tear tape 333 with the grip tab 334 and remove the tear tape 333.

The portion of the container 303 below the tear tape 333 is not connected to the closure 302 so that the removal of the tear tape 333 allows the container 303 and the closure 302 to be separated. Thus, the package 301 can be recycled separately. Although not shown It should be noted that the package 301 is hermetically sealed prior to use by a sealing member corresponding to the sealing member 4 of the first embodiment, the sealing member being located below the tear band 333 and below the line of weakness 335. Thus, the tightness of the closed package 301 does not deteriorate prior to first use.

Fig. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of the package 301 of Fig. 3A, when viewed in the direction IIIC-IIIC, which shows a portion of the container 303, a rim 320 and a lid 321. The rim 320 is fitted over the peripheral edge 331 and forms a groove with shaped cross-section and the edge 331 is located between the "legs" of the letter P. ... A tear tape 333 is formed between two circumferential lines 335, 337 of weakness. Lines 335, 337 of weakness are formed in the peripheral wall 336 of the container 303 by means of partial perforations. When the user grasps the tear tape 333 (eg, via a grip tab 334, which is not visible in this figure), the lines of weakness 335, 337 break and the closure 302 and container 303 are separated. A small part of the peripheral wall 336, in particular the part above the uppermost line of weakness 337, has been adhered to the rim 320 and remains in this state. Therefore, the closure 320 can be recycled along with a small portion of the peripheral wall 336. Once separated, the container 303 will not be connected to any part of the closure 302. The sectional view of FIG. 3C also shows a sealing member 304 for isolating the product 307 from the outside. space. The distance r from the sealing member 304 to the peripheral edge 331 of the container 303 is preferably 20 to 50 mm, and more particularly about 40 mm. This distance r allows the spoon to be positioned under the lid 321 and the tear tape 333 to be positioned directly below the peripheral edge 331. Thus, the tear tape 333 will be positioned over the sealing member 304, since the lines of weakness 335, 337 form weak spots in the container 303, which product should not be exposed to 307.

4A and 4B show a fourth embodiment of a package 401 from the rear and front sides, respectively, wherein the package 401 comprises a closure 402 and a container 403. The closure 402 comprises a lid 421 and a rim 420 which is adhered to the top of the peripheral wall 436 of the container 403. ...

The rim 420 includes a tear tape 422 extending around the entire circumferential rim 420. The tear tape 422 is defined by a circumferential line of weakness 423 in the rim 420 formed by a locally thinner circumferential line. A line of weakness 423 allows the tear tape 422 to break away from the rim 420.

Fig. 4C shows a cross-sectional view of the package 401 of Fig. 4A when viewed in the IVC-IVC direction, which shows a portion of the container 403, a rim 420, a lid 421 and a sealing member 404. The rim 420 is fitted over the peripheral edge 431 and forms the groove with a U-shaped cross-section and the peripheral edge 431 is located between the "legs" of the letter P. in the rim 420 will be glued. Tear strip 422 and circumferential line of weakness 423 can also be seen in cross-section.

In use, the user 406 can grasp the tear tape 422 by means of the grip tab 424. Before breaking, the tear tape 422 is the only part of the closure 402 that is adhered to the peripheral wall 436 just below the peripheral edge 431 of the container 403. Thus, it can be seen that in the case of as the user pulls on the tear tape 422, the weakening line 423 causes the rim 420 to break off. Pulling the tear tape 422 creates a radial force that allows the adhesive 405 to peel off. It will be appreciated that the release force required will be significantly less than the shear force required would be pulled longitudinally along the height of the container 403. When the tear tape 422 is removed, the adhesive 405 will no longer bond the rim 422 and the container 403 together so that they can be easily separated and recycled. It should be understood that peeling off the tear tape may not remove all of the adhesive and that some of the adhesive may remain between the rim 422 and the top of the peripheral wall 436. However, the bond will be loosened appropriately to allow easy separation and separate recycling.

5 shows a perspective view of a package 501 including a closure 502 and a container 503 that has been sealed by a sealing member 504. The rim 520 of the closure 502 is attached to a peripheral edge of a (not shown) container 503. The rim 520 comprises a line of weakening 523 extending from the access hole 527 to the lower edge 528 of the rim 520.

A pull tab 525 is attached to a rim 520 adjacent to a line of weakness 523. The pull tab is typically flat and located adjacent to the peripheral wall 536. After use, the pull tab 525 can be folded back or rotated upward 90-180 degrees towards the access opening 527. The user pulls on the pull tab 525 so that the line of weakness 523 breaks and the rim 520 separates from the peripheral edge of the container 503. The pull tab 525 provides a good grip on the weakest portion of the rim 520.

The invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments discussed above. It should be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternatives well known to those skilled in the art. In particular, both the hinges and the container may differ from the design illustrated schematically.

Many modifications other than those described above can be made to the structures and methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, they are only examples and do not limit the scope of the invention.

Claims (30)

1. A packaging for a powdered nutritional product containing: a container for receiving a product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall extending to an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, at least the peripheral wall comprising a paperboard material; a sealing member for closing the container prior to use, the sealing member being attached to the peripheral wall below the peripheral edge and at a distance from the peripheral edge and is at least partially removable to gain access to the product; a closure that is made of plastic and includes a circumferential peripheral rim attached to an upper portion of the peripheral wall and defining an access opening, and a cap pivotally attached to the rim to selectively cover the access opening; and a separation zone intended to facilitate separation of the container and the closure after use, the separation zone being located above the sealing element and containing a location or line of weakening in the peripheral wall where / at which separation can be initiated by the user or facilitated for the user. 2. A package according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive is applied between the top of the peripheral wall and the rim. 3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a gripping zone for enhancing the gripping of the closure and / or container by the user. 4. A package according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a pull tab coupled to the rim, preferably molded with the rim, whereby a user can pull on the rim to facilitate separation. 5. Packing according to PP. 1, 2 or 3, in which the separation zone comprises a weakening point in the peripheral wall adjacent to the rim, and the weakening point is designed to be pressed into the container so that a user can grip in the region below the rim. 6. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-section of the peripheral wall parallel to the base is rectangular with rounded corners and the point of weakening is located at a corner of the peripheral wall. 7. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separation zone comprises a line of weakness substantially surrounding the peripheral wall. 8. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separation zone comprises a tear tape substantially surrounding a peripheral wall. 9. A package according to claim 8, wherein the tear tape is formed in the peripheral wall by one or two circumferential weakening line (s). 10. Packaging according to any one of paragraphs. 8, 9, in which the tear tape is provided with a gripping tab to facilitate gripping of the tear tape. 11. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rim has a U-shaped groove, the surface of which engages a peripheral edge, and an adhesive is provided on only one side of the U-shaped groove. 12. Packaging according to any one of paragraphs. 2-11, in which the adhesive is water-soluble or configured to weaken or melt when heated. 13. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rim contacts the peripheral edge to form a contact zone, and wherein the adhesive is applied over an area of 1% to 100%, preferably 10% to 60%, or 20% to 40 % of the area of the contact zone. 14. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the separation zone allows the package to be separated into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part contains a closure and the second part contains at least 80 wt.% Of the container, preferably at least 95 wt. .% of the container. 15. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separation zone allows the package to be separated into a first part and a second part, the first part containing the closure and the second part containing the container. 16. A package according to any of the preceding claims, in which the distance from the peripheral edge at which the sealing element is located below the peripheral edge is 15 mm to 50 mm, or the distance from the peripheral edge at which the sealing element is located below the peripheral edge is sufficient to ensuring the possibility of placing a spoon for dispensing infant formula in the free space between the lid and the insulating element. 17. Method of disposal of packaging, while the packaging contains: a container for receiving a product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall extending to an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, at least the peripheral wall comprising a paperboard material; and a closure that is made of plastic and includes a circumferential peripheral rim attached to the peripheral edge and defining the access opening, and a cap pivotally attached to the rim to selectively cover the access opening; and a separation zone designed to facilitate separation of the container and the closure after use, the separation zone comprising a location or line of weakening in the peripheral wall where / at which separation can be initiated by the user or can be facilitated for the user, moreover, the method includes the steps: - gripping the package in the gripping zone; and - applying a force of less than 100 N to separate the container and the closure. 18. The method according to claim 17, in which the package is a package according to any one of claims. 1-16. 19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the force is less than 70 N, or less than 50 N, or less than 30 N, or even less than 10 N. 20. The method according to any one of claims. 17-19, in which force is applied to the peelable tear tape or gripping tab.

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