WO2002010031A2

WO2002010031A2 - Device for maintaining a utensil on the rim of a container

Info

Publication number: WO2002010031A2
Application number: PCT/FR2001/002514
Authority: WO
Inventors: André Thomas; Gilles Wagner; Johan Guibert
Original assignee: Thomas Andre; Gilles Wagner; Johan Guibert
Priority date: 2000-08-02
Filing date: 2001-08-01
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Also published as: AU2001284094A1; FR2812619B1; WO2002010031A3; EP1307388A2; FR2812619A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for jointed, air draught, non-opening signal and utensil stand. The device is a flange (2) made of flexible material inserted between the container (1) body and its lid (10) comprising a thin shoulder (3) supported on the container (1) rim with a ring (4) inside. The upper part of the flange (2) shaped like the container neck but slightly larger in size exerts pressure on the entire wall (14). The level of the ring (4) slightly lower than that of the shoulder (3), depending on the balance point of the utensil is placed either above or underneath said ring (4). A wire (13) embedded in the shoulder (3) of the flange (2) facilitates opening of the lid by pulling and stuck by the product label constitutes a tamperproof strip. The invention is designed for all types of containers whatever their contents.

Description

Device to make existing containers airtight, easy to open, guarantee inviolability and hold an utensil without dirtying anything. The present invention relates to a device for making an airtight container, easy to open, guaranteeing its inviolability and holding a utensil in balance above the orifice.

Let us consider a container where the use of a manual utensil is useful for taking the food content (jams, sauces, etc.) or non-food content (paints, solvents, etc.) and, where appropriate, between two close uses. , store this utensil so that the user's hands are not soiled by the contents and that the utensil does not fall or pose in the container or on its support and all without losing product. "jQ In the case where the two ends of the utensil are placed on the edges of the container, these protrude on either side of the orifice. This situation results, when this balance is achieved, which is not always the case, to make the contents drip along the container and on its support by the end of the utensil having been in contact with the contents, 'j 5 In the absence of balance, cause of incompatibility between the diameter of the container and the physical and geometrical characteristics of the utensil used, two scenarios are to be taken into consideration:

1. the handle is heavier than the active part which takes the content, the utensil falls on the support and stains it ... and the content is lost. 0 2. the active part which takes the content is heavier than the handle, the utensil falls into the container and when the utensil is taken up the hand is soiled. By the content remaining on the handle.

To remedy this, an existing solution consists in using a spoon whose handle provided with a hook hangs on the upper rim of the container, outside or inside of it, thus ensuring the spoon vertical stability from top to bottom, along the container. This solution, given the range of container heights available on the market, requires the user to have a set of models of different sizes. And:

• if the spoon is suspended inside the container it will immerse in the contents

3 0 ^e * _> depending on the filling height, soil the handle and the user's hands when it is picked up.

• if the spoon is suspended outside the container, the content remaining on the active part will flow along the container, soiling it and its bran. support or if the height of the container is less than that of the spoon, it will be placed on the support and

J 5 also defile. Another existing solution consists in using a spoon whose handle is bent in the middle. The elbow then rests on the edge of the container and thus the spoon remains in balance above the orifice of the container and does not fall into the pot or onto its support. However, given the variations in opening diameters and thicknesses of the materials of the different models of containers, a full range of spoons or other utensils of this type is necessary.

A solution proposed by the document DE 35 04 478 A (KRAEMER) describes a new glass (honey or jam) with inside, below the screw pitch, i (an additional thickness of glass which will receive the spoon Honey. Completely different solution of the present invention which consists of a device inserted and inserted between the body of the existing containers and their lid. This document also mentions, as a last possibility: that the traditional honey glasses already existing on the market can receive in the upper part IO a rim for spoon.

But, given its positioning (visible in the drawing) in the lower part of the neck, under the thread, this rim physically prohibits any balance of the spoon from below (no opposing force) with the inevitable consequence of the fall of spoon in the container. The positions described and represented by the spoon hollow part upwards or downwards are always, obviously, a pose on the rim and not under the rim. This position below is also not described, nor shown, as is the case for our invention.

In addition, this rim does not allow the closure of the pot or its tightness with its lid, does not allow to adapt a lid or easy opening system acting as a guarantee of inviolability of the container.

The device according to the invention overcomes the drawbacks associated with existing solutions which are not unanimous on the part of their users. These drawbacks are even more significant when several users work on the same container. 3 U In addition, the device according to the invention does not only concern a spoon but all kinds of utensils and does not relate only to honey or jam glasses but to all containers whatever their shapes, the materials used, their content, and moreover it does not only have the functionality of holding the utensil, but in combination, it offers many other functionalities impossible to implement with existing solutions. The device according to the invention makes it possible in all cases to hold a utensil such as: spoon, fork, knife, brush ... above the orifice of round, square, oval, hexagonal, octagonal or fancy shape. a container. The device is a collar (2) made of a flexible material and inserted between the

5 container body (1) and its cover (10) which has a thin shoulder (3) coming to bear on the upper rim of the container neck (1) with a crown (4) inside. The upper part of the collar (2) with a diameter or perimeter, depending on the shape of the collar adapted to the shape of the neck of the container, slightly greater than the diameter or perimeter of the neck of the container exerting pressure on

'l Q all around its wall (14). The level of the crown (4) is slightly lower than that of the shoulder (3), so that depending on the point of equilibrium the utensil is placed either above or below this crown (4) .

The maintenance of the utensil is obtained when the result of the following three forces is equal to zero: \ 5 • its weight

• the reaction of the shoulder on the handle

• the reaction of the crown on the part that takes the product

Depending on the dimensions of the utensils, their design, the materials they are made of, the weight of the content in the part that takes up, the reaction of the crown (4) U on the active part of the utensil can change sign.

Thus, in the equilibrium position, the active part of the utensil can be supported either above or below this crown (4).

The circular crown (4) comprising recesses (5) allows the projecting parts (8) of a cover (6) with a circular crown (7) to pass. A button D control (9) then allowing by rotation a relative tightening of the two crowns.

A variant of the cover (6) consists in pre-cutting it in the mass of the crown (4) and detaching it by simple pressure.

A cover simply placed or glued to the crown (4) is not to be dismissed either. The flange (2) according to its description above also ensures, simultaneously and in fact, the function of double sealing of the container (1): from above with its thin shoulder (3) and the cover (10) closed container (1) and laterally between its upper part and the periphery of the inner wall of the container neck (1).

The collar (2), when it is hooked or fixed to the cover (10) by studs (11), can be placed simultaneously with the cover (10) when the

"7 ^r ^> container (1). The pins (11) are then broken or bent by pressure, during installation slightly in force of the collar (2) on the upper rim of the container (1). This operation thus separating the cover (10) from the collar (2) which will therefore remain locked in place in the neck of the container when the cover is opened.

A rope (13), embedded perpendicularly over the entire width of the shoulder 5 (3) of the flange (2) leaving the container (1) between the threads (17 and 18) of the thread, so as not to hinder the closing the cover (10), and running outside along the wall (14) over a distance sufficient to be wrapped around a finger, allows by simple pull to open a micro crack (15) in the shoulder (3). This micro crack (15) thus creating a call for outside air which facilitates the handling of the cover (10) \ (J of the container (1) which then opens easily during its commissioning.

The label (16) of the product and / or a strip of paper, possibly glued both on the lid (10) and on the wall (14) of the container (1), covering the rope

(13) and being necessarily damaged during the drawing operation or when handling the cover (10) guarantee the user the state of inviolability of the

I) container (1).

The conical flange (12) allows it to be stacked and thus to obtain a gain in storage and transport volume and to facilitate its handling.

In its simplest and most common version the collar (2) is round and its crown (A) circular, but the collar can take the square, oval shape,

Z 0 hexagonal, octagonal or fancy the neck of the container and the crown (4) largely hollowed out (5) can represent different shapes and a design responding to a particular need: flowers, fruit, heart and others.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

• FIG.l shows, in section, the device of the invention positioned on a

2 5 container, FIG.2 shows the view, from below, of the device. FIG.3 shows, in section, the device of the invention provided, before use, with a movable cover, FIG.4 illustrates the two variants of the equilibrium position of a utensil. 0 * FIG.5 represents, from below, the collar included in the cover, FIG.6 represents, in exploded view, the collar before its inclusion in the cover, FIG. 7 shows the easy opening system before use, FIG. 8 shows the easy opening system after use. FIG. 9 represents the guarantee system of non-opening of the container. 5 The device according to the invention is particularly intended: î. to food or non-food content that requires the use of a utensil and must, while avoiding losing content, preserve the perfect state of cleanliness:

• utensil.

• from the outside of the container.

5 "of the support on which the container rests.

• from the user's hands.

2. to containers which must guarantee a perfect state of conservation and hygiene: by the double sealing of the collar and its shoulder. This tightness is even tripled when the lid, as is the case for certain jam jars 0 or other products, is fitted with a seal which remains in place.

Storage and hygiene can be further reinforced by the installed, precut or mobile cover. The movable cover can even replace the original cover when it is not reusable after opening.

Not to mention that the rise in the cover flange can also replace the I 5 ^are traditional joints. This solution allows a loss of value, by removing the existing joint, and the economy of a workstation, specific to the installation of the flange, in the industrial process.

The flange, designed to preserve and reinforce the traditional means of screw closure, also adapts to other types of closures (with lever ...) 0 3. to containers that are difficult to open and for which a draft of air facilitates opening.

4. manufacturers who wish to use a marketing tool in their packaging and use the space available between the lid and the lid to deposit a small advertising gift (voucher, object) or for any other communication action. The device can be used _ • in original equipment by:

1. manufacturers of lids and containers,

2. manufacturers of food or non-food products,

3. individuals by way of household washers, like those of our grandmothers, for all types of containers and for all kinds of content.

3 0 • retrofitting during private re-use, for one or more identical or diverted uses.

The materials used for the manufacture of the collar such as: plastics, rubber, wood, metals ... which must meet the rule? and regulations in force and in relation to the nature of the food content or not.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) Device for holding a utensil above the opening of existing containers characterized by a flange (2) inserted between the body of the container (1) and its cover (10) which has a thin shoulder (3) coming to bear on the upper rim of the neck of the container (1) with a crown (4) inside situated so that, depending on the point of equilibrium, the utensil is placed above or below it; the flange (2) also simultaneously and effectively ensuring the function of a double seal for the container (1): from above with its thin shoulder (3) and the closed lid (10) of the container (1) and laterally between its upper part and the periphery of the inner wall of the container neck (1). 1 0 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the crown (4) comprises a cover (6) placed or integral and precut

3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the circular crown (4) has recesses (5) allowing the projecting parts (8) to pass through a cover (6) which comprises a circular crown (7) and a button control (9) \ 5 allowing, by simple rotation, relative tightening of the two crowns (4 and 7).

4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the collar (4) equipped with pins (11) is hung or fixed in the cover (10) and placed simultaneously with the closure of the container (1).

5) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that a rope (13),

_ 0 drowned perpendicularly on fout the width of the shoulder (3) of the flange (2) leaving the container (1) between the threads (17) and (18) of the thread so as not to hinder the closing of the cover ( 10) and running outside along the wall (14) over a distance sufficient to be wound around a finger, allows by simple draw to open a micro crack (15) in the shoulder (3). This micro crack (15) creating

L O thus an outside air intake which facilitates the handling of the lid (10) of the container (1) which then opens easily during its commissioning.

6) Device according to claims 1 and 5 characterized in that the label (16) of the product and / or a strip of paper, optionally glued both on the cover (10) and on the wall (14) of the container ( 1), covering the rope (13) and being

3 0 necessarily damaged during the drawing operation or when handling the cover (10) guarantee the user the state of inviolability of the container (1).