US3073477A - Plastic container with tear-off film cover - Google Patents

Plastic container with tear-off film cover Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3073477A
US3073477A US858965A US85896559A US3073477A US 3073477 A US3073477 A US 3073477A US 858965 A US858965 A US 858965A US 85896559 A US85896559 A US 85896559A US 3073477 A US3073477 A US 3073477A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
bead
hole
container
tear
tab
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US858965A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas E Betner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PLASTOMATIC CORP
Original Assignee
PLASTOMATIC CORP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PLASTOMATIC CORP filed Critical PLASTOMATIC CORP
Priority to US858965A priority Critical patent/US3073477A/en
Priority to GB37389/60A priority patent/GB907276A/en
Priority to DEP26146A priority patent/DE1183430B/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3073477A publication Critical patent/US3073477A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
    • B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
    • B65D77/2024—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers the cover being welded or adhered to the container
    • B65D77/2028—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab
    • B65D77/2032—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab by peeling or tearing the cover from the container
    • B65D77/2044—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab by peeling or tearing the cover from the container whereby a layer of the container or cover fails, e.g. cohesive failure
    • B65D77/2048—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab by peeling or tearing the cover from the container whereby a layer of the container or cover fails, e.g. cohesive failure whereby part of the container or cover has been weakened, e.g. perforated or precut
    • B65D77/2052—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab by peeling or tearing the cover from the container whereby a layer of the container or cover fails, e.g. cohesive failure whereby part of the container or cover has been weakened, e.g. perforated or precut the container being weakened
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2577/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks, bags
    • B65D2577/10—Container closures formed after filling
    • B65D2577/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers
    • B65D2577/2041—Pull tabs
    • B65D2577/205—Pull tabs integral with the closure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2577/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks, bags
    • B65D2577/10—Container closures formed after filling
    • B65D2577/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers
    • B65D2577/2075—Lines of weakness or apertures
    • B65D2577/2083—Lines of weakness or apertures in container flange

Definitions

  • the tearoff bead extending around the open end of the container body has a hole, recess or gap which is bridged by a tab extending outwardly from the head.
  • the cover of the container consists of a plastic film element peripherally sealed to the tear-off bead.
  • the invention further resides in containers having features of construction, combination and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container body
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the container body of FIG. 1 with the cover film sealed thereto;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper right-hand portion of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3 except taken at section line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a fractional view, which on enlarged scale and in perspective, shows the tab and tear-off bead of the preceding figures;
  • FIG. 6 is an explanatory figure referred to in discussion of opening of the sealed container
  • FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modification of the container body of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view on enlarged scale and in section taken on line 88 of FIG. 7;
  • FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 with the cover film applied.
  • the container body 10 is a self-supporting receptacle formed, as by molding, of plastic material such as polypropylene, one of the various types of polyethylene, or the like.
  • the open end of the body 10 is formed with an intergal outwardly extending tear-off head or rim 11 which is peripherally continuous and of substantially uniform thickness except for the hole or recess 12.
  • the hole 12 extends through the bead between its upper and lower faces and is preferably formed during the body-molding operation rather than subsequently by a drilling or punching step.
  • the body 10 is also provided with an integral tab 13 extending outwardly from the tear-off head 11.
  • the tab 13 is joined along one edge to the outer periphery of the head 11 on opposite sides of the hole 12. So bridging the gap or weaker portion of the head, the tab 13 effectively serves to maintain the peripheral continuity and strength of the bead.
  • the tapering rear portion 14 of the tab is joined to the periphery of the bead for a substantial distance from the hole 12.
  • the forward portion of the tab is joined to the outer periphery of the bead on the opposite side of hole 12 for a substantially shorter distance and then extends freely away from the head to form a finger grip 15.
  • the grip portion of the tab preferably has a serrated or similarly rough surface.
  • a plastic film element 16 is applied over the open end of the container body and is peripherally sealed to the upper face of the tear-off bead 11.
  • the applied film (FIGS. 2 and 3) overlies the upper end of the hole 12 and serves two purposes: (1) to provide a continuous peripheral seal for the upper end of the container; and (2) to cooperate with the tab 13 in locally reinforcing the tear-off rim in the vicinity of the gap or hole 12.
  • the cover film 16 does not extend across the outwardly widening gap between the outer periphery of the bead and the grip portion of the tab and so does not impede the bending and tearing operations later described.
  • the peripheral seal between the tearoff bead 11 and the film cover 16 may be formed by application of heat and pressure by a heat-sealing die.
  • Suitable heat-sealing methods and arrangements are disclosed in copending applications Serial Nos. 852,- 040, 859,865, 852,026.
  • Suitable film materials for the cover element include polyethylene, polyethylene-coated cellophane, and propylene.
  • the film cover may be a single film of one of such materials or it may be a combination of films laminated togetherfor example, a laminate of two films respectively of polyethylene and Mylar (a polyester film produced from a polymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid).
  • the contents of the container are thus confined and protected during shipm'ent, storage and display by an inexpensive cover arrangement consisting solely of a piece of plastic film.
  • a laminated film taking advantage of complementary characteristics of different selected film materials provides better protection than the single-ply film which is adequate for many packaging applications.
  • the sealed container When initial access to the container contents is desired, the sealed container is opened without recourse to any tool.
  • a tear starts at point 17 (FiGS. 1, 5 and 6) of the joint between the tab and the outer periphery of the tear-off rim and continues to the hole 12. This separates the forward or grip portion of the tab from the tear-otf bead or rim.
  • the tear resumes at the point 18 of the joint between the inner periphery of the tear-off rim and the upper edge 19 of the container body.
  • the tab By continued lifting of the tab whose rear portion 14 remains attached to the bead, the tear progresses around the upper edge of the container body until all of the head is removed, as a split ring, together with the cover film which remains sealed to it.
  • the tapering of the rear portion 14 of the tab is for 3 economy of material and to prevent it from being used as a grip with probability that if it could be torn at all, the tab would be wholly torn off leaving the rim and cover still attached to the container body.
  • the container body 10A is similar to that of the preceding figures except that the hole 12A does not extend all the way through the tear-off bead 11 so to leave a thin top section 11A (FIGS. 8, 9) comparable in thickness to the cover film 16.
  • the top surface of the tear-off bead to which the cover film is sealed is thus unbroken throughout the peripheral length of the bead.
  • the hole 12A is preferably formed during the body-molding operation: like hole 12 of FIGS. 1 to 6, it may be of any convenient shape but should extend nearly the full width of the bead.
  • This thin top wall 11A of the blind hole 12A precludes possibility of leakage of the sealed container contents and yet does not appreciably diminish the ease of tearing off the bead and cover by lifting the integral tab 13 as previously described in connection with F165. 1 to 6.
  • the forward end or grip portion 15 of the tab 13 joins the tear-off bead 11 at point 17 closely in front of the thin top wall 11A of hole 12A whereas on the other side of hole 12A, the joinder to the bead extends rearwardly for a substantial distance.
  • a tear starts at point 17 and continues to and across the thin section 11A of the bead to the joinder of the inner periphery of the bead with the upper edge 19 of the container body.
  • the tearing of the film cover continues transversely of the container and the tearing off of the bead progresses along the upper edge of the container body until all of the bead is cleanly removed, together with the torn film cover.
  • the body of the opened container, minus the bead and cover film remains intact with a smooth upper edge and is suited for dispensing or serving of the container contents and also for other subsequent uses.
  • Containers embodying the invention need not be of circular shape as shown, but may be oval, rectangular or any other desired shape with retention of the advantages of the novel tear-off rim and tab construction above described. Since the container consists only of a plastic body and a plastic film cover, it is very inexpensive and so is economically suited for a wide variety of inexpensive products including individual servings of jelly, fruit juices, cottage cheese, dessert and the like. Since the plastic body and film cover are chemically inert, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and the like can be inexpensively packaged without danger of contamination. Also since the plastic body and cover film may be heat-sealed to each other, the use of adhesives with consequent possibility of contamination is avoided.
  • the cover film may be transparent for inspection and display of the contents of the sealed container and it may have printing thereon to identify the product and/ or its source at cost substantially lower than for printed molded covers.
  • the container is hermetically sealed during shipment and display.
  • cover film which has been irradiated or otherwise treated to obtain microporosity permitting passage of gas but precluding passage of moisture.
  • a sealed container comprising a plastic body having an integral tear-off bead extending outwardly about the periphery of said body at its open end, said bead having a hole which extends substantially from the outer edge of the bead to its junction with said body locally to weaken the head, a plastic film cover peripherally heatsealed to the upper face of said bead hermetically to seal the container and to reinforce the weakened bead in the vicinity of said hole, and an outwardly extending tab having its inner edge integrally joined to the outer edge of said bead on opposite sides of said hole and on one side of said hole extending beyond the joinder with said bead to provide a grip end having an outwardly widening gap to the bead and which is free of said film cover, said tab when bent at the grip end tearing away from the bead to said hole and when then lifted tearing said head and the film cover together from the container body.
  • a sealed container comprising a semi-rigid plastic body having an integral tear-off rim extending outwardly from the open end of said body, said rim being of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length ex cept where substantially reduced by a blind hole extending substantially from the outer edge of the rim to its joinder with the container body and from the lower face of the rim nearly to the upper face thereof, a tab integrally joined along its inner edge to the outer edge of said rim on opposite sides of said hole and extending freely outwardly beyond its joinder with the rim on one side of the hole to provide a finger-grip, and a plastic film cover peripherally heat-sealed to the continuous upper face of said tear-off rim and free of attachment to said fingergrip, said grip when bent and lifted tearing the tab from the rim on said one side of said hole and then tearing the rim and tab from the container body progressively from said other side of said hole with concurrent tearing of the film toward the opposite side of the container body to remove the rim and the cover film sealed thereto
  • a sealed container comprising a plastic container body having an integral tear-off bead extending outwardly about the periphery of said body at one end thereof, said head of the body having an integral tab extending outwardly from the outer edge thereof, said bead of the container having a hole which extends substantially from the junction of the bead with said body to the outer edge of the bead in a region intermediate the ends of the junction between the tab and the bead, and a plastic film cover peripherally sealed to the tear-off bead hermetically to seal the container and locally to reinforce the head in the vicinity of said hole, said tab when bent at one end tearing along the outer edge of said body head to said hole and when then lifted tearing said bead along the inner edge thereof from the container body and transversely tearing said film cover which remains heat-sealed to the torn-off bead so to expose said end of the container for rernoval of its contents.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
US858965A 1959-12-11 1959-12-11 Plastic container with tear-off film cover Expired - Lifetime US3073477A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US858965A US3073477A (en) 1959-12-11 1959-12-11 Plastic container with tear-off film cover
GB37389/60A GB907276A (en) 1959-12-11 1960-10-31 Plastic container with tear-off film cover
DEP26146A DE1183430B (de) 1959-12-11 1960-11-30 Kunststoffbehaelter mit abreissbarem Deckfilm

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US858965A US3073477A (en) 1959-12-11 1959-12-11 Plastic container with tear-off film cover

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3073477A true US3073477A (en) 1963-01-15

Family

ID=25329624

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US858965A Expired - Lifetime US3073477A (en) 1959-12-11 1959-12-11 Plastic container with tear-off film cover

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3073477A (de)
DE (1) DE1183430B (de)
GB (1) GB907276A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3243070A (en) * 1964-12-02 1966-03-29 Dow Chemical Co Cap for polystyrene container
DE1244645B (de) * 1964-11-23 1967-07-13 Continental Can Co Biegesteife Grifflasche aus Blech fuer leicht aufreissbare Behaelterdeckel und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung
DE1536358B1 (de) * 1965-11-16 1970-12-17 Wagner Fa Wilhelm Behaelter aus Aluminiumfolie od.dgl.
US4747510A (en) * 1987-07-06 1988-05-31 Fort Howard Cup Corporation Tear open lid
USD637489S1 (en) 2010-12-10 2011-05-10 Pactiv Corporation Pull grip feature of a container lid
USD638704S1 (en) 2010-12-10 2011-05-31 Pactiv Corporation Container lid

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1167345B (it) * 1983-10-18 1987-05-13 Unilever Nv Contenitore con coperchio ad apertura facilitata
US5704468A (en) * 1995-09-29 1998-01-06 Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc. Packaging arrangement for contact lenses
PL1802536T3 (pl) * 2004-09-20 2010-06-30 Corsa Beheer Bv Zespół i sposób sporządzania napoju

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2630238A (en) * 1949-05-09 1953-03-03 Pm Ind Inc Tear out closure
FR1136987A (fr) * 1955-11-17 1957-05-22 Moutarde Paul Jacquemin Perfectionnements aux dispositifs obturateurs pour récipients et analogues
US2887244A (en) * 1958-02-26 1959-05-19 Plastomatic Corp Re-usable plastic containers
US2941660A (en) * 1953-11-27 1960-06-21 Tupper Corp Process of packaging and packaging structure

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR376923A (fr) * 1907-04-19 1907-08-24 Fredrik Wattne Dispositif d'ouverture pour boites à conserves
CH164704A (de) * 1932-08-09 1933-10-15 Kindschi Martin Als Verpackung von würfelförmigen Produkten, wie Zucker usw. dienende Hülle.
DE1721663U (de) * 1956-02-14 1956-05-03 Kunst Im Druck Obpacher A G Kleinbecher mit verschluss.
DE1735998U (de) * 1956-09-22 1956-12-13 Unilever Nv Flaschenverschluss.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2630238A (en) * 1949-05-09 1953-03-03 Pm Ind Inc Tear out closure
US2941660A (en) * 1953-11-27 1960-06-21 Tupper Corp Process of packaging and packaging structure
FR1136987A (fr) * 1955-11-17 1957-05-22 Moutarde Paul Jacquemin Perfectionnements aux dispositifs obturateurs pour récipients et analogues
US2887244A (en) * 1958-02-26 1959-05-19 Plastomatic Corp Re-usable plastic containers

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1244645B (de) * 1964-11-23 1967-07-13 Continental Can Co Biegesteife Grifflasche aus Blech fuer leicht aufreissbare Behaelterdeckel und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung
US3243070A (en) * 1964-12-02 1966-03-29 Dow Chemical Co Cap for polystyrene container
DE1536358B1 (de) * 1965-11-16 1970-12-17 Wagner Fa Wilhelm Behaelter aus Aluminiumfolie od.dgl.
US4747510A (en) * 1987-07-06 1988-05-31 Fort Howard Cup Corporation Tear open lid
USD637489S1 (en) 2010-12-10 2011-05-10 Pactiv Corporation Pull grip feature of a container lid
USD638704S1 (en) 2010-12-10 2011-05-31 Pactiv Corporation Container lid

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB907276A (en) 1962-10-03
DE1183430B (de) 1964-12-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11027892B2 (en) Package integrity indicating closure
US3660960A (en) Method of making a package
US5077064A (en) Easy-open recloseable peggable package
US3101870A (en) Film sealed container with pouring spout
US3619395A (en) Method of making a pilfer proof package
US4782951A (en) Reclosable package and method of making reclosable package
US3483964A (en) Easy-open blister container
US3454210A (en) Easy opening and reclosable package,film therefor and process
US5005707A (en) Reclosable package
US8951591B2 (en) Package integrity indicator for container closure
US2949370A (en) Package
US4850504A (en) Spring ring easy-open positive-reclose hermetic food package
US3096904A (en) Sealed plastic containers
JPH02296658A (ja) いたずらが明白なバンドを設けた再封鎖可能パッケージ
IE904595A1 (en) Package having an improved opening feature
US3202271A (en) Easy opening container
US3073477A (en) Plastic container with tear-off film cover
US3182852A (en) Container with pull tab
WO1995007847A1 (en) Lids, and containers with lids
JPS61217350A (ja) 容器蓋体
JPH066064Y2 (ja) 成形容器の集合包装体
JPH0248377Y2 (de)
JP3071510B2 (ja) 易開封性密封容器及びその製造方法
JP4882169B2 (ja) 易開封性密封紙容器
JPH0245179Y2 (de)