WO1995013219A2

WO1995013219A2 - Container comprising a double score line

Info

Publication number: WO1995013219A2
Application number: PCT/NL1994/000256
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernardus Johannes Van Suntenmaartensdijk
Original assignee: Suntenmaartensdijk Bernardus J
Priority date: 1993-11-10
Filing date: 1994-10-19
Publication date: 1995-05-18
Also published as: AU1122395A; WO1995013219A3; NL9301950A; BR9404399A

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (18) manufactured from tearable material comprising at least one weakening line (26, 27) which, when torn, is deformed to an opening in the container, which weakening line (26, 27) comprises a first score line (32) arranged from a first side of the material, wherein the weakening line (26, 27) comprises a second score line (33) arranged from a second side of the material and extending substantially at a distance from and parallel to the first score line (32). As a result of the above steps is first prevented that a tear line will form outside the said score line (26, 27) during depressing of the opening, and it further becomes possible that en opening, once thus opened, is reclosable by re-placing the surfaces (22, 23) adjoining the tear line into their original form. Through the use of the two score lines (32, 33) a certain degree of overlap is in any case obtained between the boundary surfaces arranged on either side of the tear line.

Description

CONTAINER COMPRISING A DOUBLE SCORE LINE

The invention relates to a container manufactured from tearable material comprising at least one weakening line which, when torn, is deformed to an opening in the container, which weakening line comprises a first score line arranged from a first side of the material.

Such containers are generally known, for instance as boundary line of an opening to be arranged in a contain¬ er. When such a container is opened pressure is applied, for instance with the fingers, to a pressing surface adjoining such a weakening line, whereafter the weakening line tears and an opening is obtained with which access is created to the interior of the container.

Experience has shown that the tearing process does not always extend along the said score line but usually deviates therefrom. Another problem with these weakening lines of the prior art is that, when it comes to reclosing the opening, closing of the container is no longer possible. The object of the present invention is to provide such a container wherein the above stated problems are obviated.

This object is achieved in that the weakening line comprises a second score line arranged from a second side of the material and extending substantially at a distance from and parallel to the first score line. As a result of the above steps is first prevented that a tear line will form outside the said score line during depressing of the opening, and it further becomes possible that an opening, once thus opened, is reclosable by re-placing the surfaces adjoining the tear line into their original form. Through the use of the two score lines a certain degree of overlap is any case obtained between the boundary surfaces arranged on. either side of the tear line.

The invention will subsequently be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a container according to the invention; figure 2 shows a partly broken away perspective detail view of the container depicted in figure 1; figure 3 shows a detail view of a second embodiment of a container according to the invention in the closed situation; figure 4 is a perspective detail view of the con¬ tainer depicted in figure 3 in the opened situation; figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a container according to the invention; figure 6 shows a sectional view according to the line VI-VI in figure 5; and figure 7 shows a partly broken away perspective detail view of a fourth embodiment of a container according to the invention. Shown in figure 1 is a rectangular container 1 which is provided on two sides 2 respectively 3 with a closure 4. A closure of similar type is described in the Netherlands patent application 9230075. Closure 4 is formed by two spout surfaces 5,6 which are connected by means of the respective fold lines 7,8 to the surfaces 3,2 respec¬ tively. Both spout surfaces 5,6 are separated by the ribs 9. Arranged under both spout surfaces 5,6 are pressing surfaces 10,11 respectively which are separated by the fold lines 12 respectively 13 from the surfaces 3, 2. The construction of the closure 4 corresponds thus far with the construction of the closure as described in the above stated Netherlands patent application 9230075.

In this closure of the prior art the spout surfaces 5,6 are separated from the pressing surfaces 10,11 by a cutting line. In the present invention there is, con¬ versely, a weakening line 14 which is formed by a first score line 15 arranged on the outer side of the container and a second scor line 1& arranged on thfr inner side- of the- container. Various aspects are shown in more detail in figure 2. The score lines, which are formed by a normal scoring procedure, take the form of notches in the foldable material, for instance cardboard. The fold lines 7,8,12 and 13 are otherwise also formed by score lines, but these are score lines with a smaller score depth. It will be apparent that in the closed situation of the container a complete, dust-tight closure is obtained. If a suitable quality of cardboard or other material is employed, the container can likewise be used for liquids.

When the closure is opened, the pressing surfaces 5,6 are pressed in using the fingers, wherein a tear will occur between the first score line 15 and the second score line 16. The spout surfaces 5,6 thus form a pouring spout, so that contents of the container can be poured out. When the closure 4 must be closed, pressure is applied with the fingers to the pressing surfaces 10,11 whereby the spout surfaces 5,6 will again return to their original closed position. The lips resulting at the position of score lines 15 and 16 during tearing will herein rest against each other so that a reasonable, perhaps dust-tight closure is obtained.

It is of course possible to place the first score line 15, which lies in the present case on the side of the spout surface, on the side of the pressing surface and to place the second score line 16, placed on the inside, on the side of the spout surface. It is suspected that such a closure operates less well than the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 3. Shown in figure 3 is a container 18 which is provided with two side surfaces 19,20 in which a closure 21 is arranged. The closure is formed once again by two spout surfaces 22,23 and two pressing surfaces 24 respectively 25. The spout surfaces 22,23 are separated by means of weakening lines 26 respectively 27 from the side surfaces 20 respectively 19, while spout surfaces 22,23 are separated from the respective pressing surfaces 24,25 by fold lines 28 respectively 29. The pressing- surfaces^* 24,25 are thereafter separated from the side surfaces 20,19 by means of the respective fold lines 30,31. The weakening lines 26, 27 respectively are formed by a first score line 32 on the outer side of the container and a second score line 33 on the inner side of the container. Since in this case the spout surfaces 22,23 tilt outward during opening, the outer score lines 32 are arranged on the side remote from the spout surfaces, while the inner score lines 33 are arranged on the side facing the spout surfaces. Outward tilting of the spout surfaces 22,23 is shown in figure 4.

In figure 5 is shown a container 33, in the top surface 35 of which is arranged a closure 36 which is shown in detail and in section in figure 6. The closure 36 is essentially formed by two concentric circular score lines 37,38 which together extend around a round removable surface 39. By pressing in the first score line 37 by means of a pointed object, for instance a straw 40, the middle score line can be pierced, whereafter the straw can be moved into the container. The liquid present in the container 34 hereby becomes accessible. The lips between the score lines 37 and 38 caused by the piercing herein provide a good sealing of the straw so that spillage is prevented.

A similar consideration applies for the embodiment shown in figure 7. Arranged herein in the upper surface 41 of a container 42 is a pair of weakening lines 43,44 which are arranged mutually crosswise. Each of the weakening lines is formed by a first score line 45, a second score line 46, respectively a first score line 47 and a second score line 48. In this situation also an opening can be made in the upper surface, for instance by means of a straw, so that the liquid present in container 42 is accessible.

The foregoing refers invariably to continuous crease lines. It is of course possible not to embody these score lines in continuous form but for instance in the manner of a perforation. It will be apparent that this perforation dos not of course extend wholly through the wall of the container.

Claims

1. Container manufactured from tearable material comprising at least one weakening line which, when torn, is deformed to an opening in the container, which weakening line comprises a first score line arranged from a first side of the material, characterized in that the weakening line comprises a second score line arranged from a second side of the material and extending substantially at a distance from and parallel to the first score line.

2. Container as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sum of the depths of both score lines is greater than the thickness of the material.

3. Container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance between both score lines is smaller than the thickness of the material.

4. Container as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the distance between the first and the second score lines is smaller than the smallest difference between the scoring depth and the thickness of the material.

5. Container as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, which is provided with at least one spout surface, characterized in that the weakening line forms a boundary line of the spout surface.

6. Container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the container comprises at least one pressing surface adjoining a spout surface, characterized in that the weakening line forms a boundary line between the spout surface and the pressing surface.

7. Container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container comprises at least one pressing surface adjoining a spout surface, characterized in that the weakening line forms^* a boundary line between the spout surfct e and the walls of the container.

8. Container as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the score line arranged on the outer side is located closest to the spout surface.

9. Container as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the weakening line extends substan¬ tially as a circle.

10. Container as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that scoring located on the outer side of the foldable material extends within the scoring located on the inner side of the foldable material.

11. Container as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that both weakening lines extend sub- stantially as a cross.