WO2011023920A1

WO2011023920A1 - Sealed container

Info

Publication number: WO2011023920A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/051803
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolas Anthony Chaume; Cédric ARNAUD
Original assignee: Laboratoires Urgo
Priority date: 2009-08-31
Filing date: 2010-08-31
Publication date: 2011-03-03
Also published as: FR2949445B1; FR2949445A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container consisting of a receptacle (12) and a cover (14) which is moveable between an open position and a closed position, the receptacle and the cover each having an outer wall (120, 140), a first component from among the receptacle and the cover having an edge that forms a seal (16) having an outer surface (160) arranged on the same side as the outer wall of said first component, an inner surface (162) and an end surface (164), the edge forming the seal resiliently bearing against a contact portion (122) of the second component from among the receptacle and the cover when the cover is in the closed position. The end surface forms at least one bevel between the inner surface and the outer surface such that, in the closed position, the resilient deformation of the edge that forms the seal is such that the outer surface does not project beyond the projection of the outer wall of the first component.

Description

Hermetic container

The invention relates to the field of sealed containers and more particularly to the field of plastic boxes airtight and airtight, preferably intended to contain products intended for human or animal consumption such as foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, parapharmaceutical, veterinary, or other.

Among the known containers, the type of container generally used for these applications is composed of a receptacle and a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, the receptacle and the cover each having an outer wall, a first component among the receptacle and the lid having a seal-forming edge having an outer face disposed on the same side as the outer wall of said first component, an inner face and an end face, the seal-forming edge being intended to bear elastically against a portion; contacting the second component among the receptacle and the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

Conventionally, the seal-forming edge is a softer component than the rest of the container. In particular, the seal-forming edge is a component arranged peripherally all along the edge of the lid or receptacle, in particular by incorporating an elastomeric material.

When the lid is in the closed position, the seal-forming edge is generally sandwiched (or pinched) between the first and second components and, to ensure its seal function via an elastic contact, the seal-forming edge is generally elastically deformed. that is, crushed between the first and second components. This elastic deformation is such that the seal-forming edge generally has, in this closed position, a protrusion extending towards the outside of the container, that is to say that the joint-forming edge has an elastic deformation which extends , in projection, beyond the outer wall of the first component.

A first disadvantage lies in the fact that this projection extending towards the outside of the container is visible and generally harms the aesthetics of the container.

A second disadvantage appears when the lid and the receptacle are held in the closed position by means of holding, articulation, locking or other disposed adjacent the joint edge. Indeed, the projection extending outwardly of the container may interfere with the proper functioning of these means. For example, when the container is initially sealed by an adhesive tape covering the edge seal, to allow to report at the time of sale that the container has not already been opened, the deformation projecting from the joint edge interferes with the correct adhesion of the ribbon on the lid and on the receptacle being straddling a bead formed by the projecting deformation of the joint edge. According to another example, if the cover is hingedly mounted on the receptacle, for example by means of a hinge, to avoid excessive efforts in the hinge, in particular by lever arm, the hinge of such so that the articulation of the hinge is as close as possible to the container. Thus, when the articulation of the hinge is close to the container, the projecting deformation can interfere with the hinge and make it difficult or impossible to close the lid on the receptacle.

An object of the present invention is to remedy at least substantially the disadvantages mentioned above.

This object is achieved by the fact that in the aforementioned type of container, the end face of the joint edge forms at least one bevel between the inner face and the outer face so that in the closed position the elastic deformation of the seal forming edge is such that the outer face of the seal edge does not protrude beyond the projection of the outer wall of the first component.

It is therefore understood that the seal forming edge according to the invention has, in the open position, that is to say when the latter is not elastically deformed (in other words when it is not supported) and seen in a cross-section, bevel or beveled portion. By "cross section" is meant a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction along which extends the joint edge.

Thus, it is understood that the seal-forming edge has a three-sided structure, these three faces being the outer face, the end face and the inner face. This three-sided structure forms, seen in cross section, substantially a U. The outer face and the face are opposite, and in a variant are substantially parallel, while the end face extends between these outer and inner faces that it connects them. The end face has at least one portion forming a free face of the bevel. It is understood that in this three-sided structure, according to a variant, the outer face of the seal forming edge is open outside the container. Thus, the outer face is directly exposed to the outside of the container.

It is also understood that the contact portion has, seen in cross section, a substantially flat surface on which bears, in the closed position, the end face of the joint edge. Thus, by "bevel" is meant a portion of the end face considered in its cross section which, facing the contact portion, extends inclined, that is to say with a non-zero angle (ie which is not parallel), with respect to the contact portion. In other words, the bevel is a portion inclined relative to the substantially flat surface of the contact portion.

Thus, when the seal forming edge is in the closed position, the bevel allows an elastic deformation such that the edge forming seal remains set back, or at most in alignment, the projection of the outer wall of the first component. Compared to the prior art, there is no longer a protrusion and / or bead extending outwardly. Of course, it is easily understood that to achieve this result, initially, in the open position of the container, the outer face is recessed, or at most in alignment, the projection of the outer wall of the first component.

During the crushing resulting in the elastic deformation of the joint portion, the tip of the bevel ensures contact with the contact portion to achieve the sealing and thus ensure the joint function of the joint edge while the base of the bevel (part of the bevel complementary to the tip of the bevel) makes it possible to compensate the elastic deformation due to the crushing of the tip of the bevel leaving a free space in which the tip of the bevel can deform without generating a bead protruding towards the 'outside. This avoids the formation of projections when the lid and the receptacle are in the closed position. In other words, in the closed position, the end face of the seal edge is in contact with the contact portion. In addition, in the closed position, this contact is a bearing contact which allows the end face, and in particular the bevel, to deform elastically so as not to protrude beyond the outer wall while ensuring the tightness of the container.

Therefore, unlike the containers of the prior art, when the lid of the container according to the invention is closed on the receptacle, the seal forming edge does not protrude from the outer wall of the first component. The disadvantages encountered in the containers of the prior art are thus avoided.

Advantageously, the angle formed between the inner face and the beveled portion of the end face is acute.

It is therefore understood that, if we consider the bevel as a whole, the tip of the bevel is the part of the bevel that is closest to the inner face. This ensures that the space left free by the base of the bevel in the closed position is disposed on the side closest to the outer face. This improves the effect of the invention so that the deformation of the joint edge is very little or not noticeable at the outer face. This ensures that in the closed position the latter remains well below the projection of the outer wall of the first component. Advantageously, the angle formed between the inner face and the beveled portion of the end face is between 75 ° and 89 ° (seventy-five degrees of angle and ninety-nine degrees of angle).

Preferably, the contact portion is formed by a first wall and a second wall adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the first wall. Advantageously, when the lid is in the closed position, the second wall extends substantially parallel to the inner face of the gasket edge.

It is therefore understood that the substantially flat surface mentioned above, on which bears, in the closed position, the end face of the seal forming edge constitutes the first wall. The second wall, therefore, is disposed relative to the seal rim on the inside of the container and forms a right angle with the first wall. This second wall improves the hermetic appearance of the container when the lid is in the closed position. Preferentially, when the lid is in the closed position, the seal-forming edge is in contact with the first and second walls.

Thus, when the container is closed, the end face of the seal forming edge bears on the first wall while the inner face of the seal forming edge contacts the second wall. Thus, in the closed position, the seal-forming edge has two faces in contact with the contact portion. Indeed, the end face is in contact with the first wall while the inner face is in contact with the second wall. Therefore, the joint is formed on the one hand by the end face, and on the other by the inner face. The tightness of the container is thus improved.

Furthermore, it is understood that during the closure phase of the container, the second wall guides the elastic deformation of the joint edge, so that it is easier to control the deformation (or final shape) of the latter.

For example when the tip of the bevel is disposed on the side of the inner face, the seal forming edge is disposed, in the closed position, in the hollow of the right angle formed by the first wall and the second wall. This double contact with the two walls makes it possible to force the deformation of the edge forming the seal to form at the base of the bevel, so that no protruding portion is generated by the deformation. It is therefore understood that the tip of the bevel is elastically deformed by crushing, tending to be housed strictly in the right angle formed between the first and the second wall, so that the deformation of the joint edge extends at the level of the free space disposed between the base of the bevel and the first wall. Thus, this initial free space makes it possible to absorb a controlled elastic deformation of the tip of the bevel and avoids any protrusion of the seal-forming edge towards the outside of the container, beyond the projection of the wall of the first component.

According to a first variant, the container consists of a single plastic material with the exception of the joint edge which is made of an elastomeric material, the assembly forming a single piece.

According to this first variant, the entire container is made of a plastic material, for example polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene or equivalent, while the gasket edge is made of an elastomeric material, for example styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene (SEBS), polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) or equivalent . This first variant is preferably manufactured by bi-injection and in one piece. It is therefore understood that at the outlet of the mold, after the two stages of bi-injection, a container according to the invention is obtained in which the lid and the receptacle are connected to each other, for example by a hinge, and where the border forms seal is elastomeric material, all forming a single unit inseparable. This first variant has an elastomeric seal forming edge which is particularly hermetic and which is firmly fixed to the first component through the manufacturing process. Indeed, the bi-injection makes it possible to assemble two parts made up of two different (but weldable) materials by intimate chemical bonds.

In a second variant, the container is entirely made of a single plastic material and in one piece.

In this second variant, the entire container, including the seal forming edge is made of the same material. This material may be, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene or the like. Thus, this second variant of the container according to the invention is advantageously manufactured by mono-injection and in one piece. This second variant being manufactured using a single material is simpler than the first to manufacture, and therefore has the advantage of being more economical to implement.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the following description of the embodiments given by way of non-restrictive examples, made from the attached drawing plates in which:

FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of the container according to the invention, seen in perspective in the open position,

FIG. 2 represents the first embodiment of the container viewed from the side according to arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents the joint edge of the first embodiment of the container in the open position, viewed along its cross section of the detail III of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 represents the joint edge of the first embodiment of the container in the closed position, seen according to its cross section;

FIG. 5 represents the first embodiment of the container, viewed in perspective in the closed position,

FIG. 6 represents the joint edge of a second embodiment of the container according to the invention, in the open position, seen according to its cross section, and

- Figure 7 shows the seal forming edge of the second embodiment of the container in the closed position, seen in its cross section.

Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention corresponding to the first variant described above while Figures 6 and 7 show a second embodiment corresponding to the second variant described above. Thus, in the first embodiment the gasket edge is elastomeric material while the rest of the container is plastic material. In the second embodiment, the assembly is made of plastic material. In these two embodiments, the seal border is disposed on the lid, i.e. the first component is the lid and the second component is the receptacle. Although this is not described, the invention of course covers the variants where the seal-forming edge is disposed on the receptacle, that is to say the variants where the first component is the receptacle and the second component is the lid .

We now describe the first embodiment with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The container 10 is composed of a receptacle 12 and a lid 14. The receptacle 12 has an outer wall 120 and the lid 14 has an outer wall 140 The seal-forming edge 16 extends over the entire periphery of the cover 14 and has an outer face 160, an inner face 162 and an end face 164. In the closed position (position shown in FIG. 160 of the joint edge 16 is disposed on the same side as and in the extension of the outer wall 140 of the cover 14.

In this example, the end face 164 forms a single bevel extending from the inner face 162 to the outer face 160. Bevel extends over the entire end face 164. In other words, the bevel extends in a single, uniform slope from the rim formed between the inner face 162 and the end face 164 to the formed rim. between the outer face 160 and the end face 164.

In addition, with reference to FIG. 3, seen in its cross-section, the seal-forming edge 16 of this example has, in the open position, a rectangle-shaped trapezoid shape, that is to say a rectangle with one of its sides n is not parallel to the opposite side. This non-parallel side corresponds to the end face 164 which forms the bevel. Thus, the outer face 160, the inner face 162 and the end face 164 form a joint forming structure with three free faces, the cross section of this three-sided structure forming substantially a U, the U being reversed on the FIG. 3, the transverse bar of the U being inclined and formed by the end face 164 while the vertical bars of the U are formed by the outer face 160 and by the inner face 162.

In this example, in the open position of the cover, the bevel has a maximum thickness E 1 equal to 0.1 mm (or a tenth of a millimeter) while the seal forming edge 16 (bevel not included) has a thickness E 2 equal to 0.8 mm ( or eight tenths of a millimeter). More generally, the maximum thickness E 1 of the bevel represents from 5% to 30% of the thickness E 2 of the joint edge, not including the bevel. It is understood that the tip 164a of the bevel is thicker than the base 164b of the bevel. Thus, in this example, at the tip 164a of the bevel disposed on the side of the inner face 162, the thickness of the joint edge 16 has a thickness equal to E1 + E2 which is thicker than at the base 164b. the bevel disposed on the side of the outer face 160 where the seal forming edge 16 has a thickness equal to E2.

The contact portion 122 of the receptacle 12 has a first wall 124 and a second wall 126 adjacent and perpendicular to the first wall 124. The end face 164 of the seal edge 16 is intended to cooperate with the first wall 124. The inner face 162 of the seal-forming edge 16 is intended to cooperate with the second wall 126. The lid 14 and the receptacle 12 are connected and articulated to one another by at least one hinge 18. In order to facilitate the closing / opening of the lid 14 on the receptacle 12, the lid 14 comprises at least one projection 20, 22 guiding the closure and or the opening between the cover 14 and the receptacle 12. In this example, a first series of projections 20 is disposed on the hinge side 18 while a second series of projections 22 is disposed on the opposite side to the hinge 18 In this example, each series includes two projections. The projections 20 are longer than the projections 22 (see Fig. 2). Thus, the projections 20 initially guide the closure at the hinges 18 while the projections 22 guide in a second step the final phase of the closure, when the lid enters fully closed position. The cover 14 has a projection 24 facilitating the gripping / manipulation of the latter, in particular for the opening and closing of the container 10.

In addition, the cover 14 comprises at least a first closure means 26 intended to cooperate, in the closed position, by complementary form with a second closure means 28 disposed on the receptacle 12 to lock the lid 14 in the closed position. In this example, the first closure means 26 consists of grooves while the second closure means is constituted by ribs, the grooves and the ribs being intended to engage.

Figures 4 and 5 show the first embodiment in the closed position. When the cover 14 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the cover 14 is rotated around the hinge 18. During this movement, the tip 164a of the bevel of the end face 164 begins to co-operate. with the second wall 126 of the contact portion 122 of the receptacle 12. Thus, this first contact serves to guide the deformation of the joint portion 16. When the cover 12 is in the closed position, the end face 164 cooperates in contact and in abutment with the first wall 124 of the contact portion 122 while the inner face 162 cooperates in contact with the second wall 126 of the contact portion 122. In the closed position, the seal-forming edge 16 cooperates with two perpendicular walls 124 and 126 of the contact portion 122 to achieve a hermetic closure. In FIG. 4, the dashed lines represent the shape of the seal-forming edge 16 at rest, corresponding to the open position of the container, that is to say when it is not in contact with the contact portion. 122. It can be seen that in the closed position the tip 164a of the bevel is crushed while the free residual space between the base 164b of the bevel and the first wall 124 is filled by the elastic deformation of the tip 164a of the bevel so that the cross section of the joint edge 16 has a substantially rectangular shape.

In addition, it appears that in the closed position of the container, the outer wall 140 of the cover 14, the outer face 160 of the seal edge 16 and the outer wall 120 of the container 12 are substantially aligned. Contrary to the prior art, the elastic deformation of the seal-forming edge 16 does not generate any projection that would be likely to interfere with the hinge 18, and thus hinder the closure of the lid 14 on the receptacle 12.

Figures 6 and 7 show the second embodiment where the seal rim 16 'is made of the same material as the rest of the container 10'. The seal-forming edge 16 'is constituted by the rim of the cover 14. In particular, it can be considered that the seal-forming edge 16' extends over a thickness E3 of about 1 mm from the end face 164.

Apart from the material difference of the seal edge 16 ', this second embodiment 10' is strictly similar to the first embodiment 10, so that it is not necessary to describe it in detail, the reference signs common areas remaining unchanged.

Claims

Container (10, 10 ') composed of a receptacle (12) and a lid (14) movable between an open position and a closed position, the lid (14) and the receptacle (12) being connected and articulated between them by at least one hinge (18), the receptacle (12) and the cover (14) each having an outer wall (120, 140), a first one of the receptacle (12) and the cover (14) having a seal border (16, 16 ') having an outer face (160) disposed on the same side as the outer wall (120, 140) of said first component, an inner face (162) and an end face (164), said end face (164) of the seal edge (16, 16 ') being intended to bear elastically against a contact portion (122) of the second component of the receptacle (12) and the cover (14) when the lid (14) is in the closed position, said container (10, 10 ') being characterized in that the end face (164) the seal-forming edge (16, 16 ') forms at least one bevel between the inner face (160) and the outer face (162) so that in the closed position the elastic deformation of the joint edge (16, 16' ) is such that the outer face (162) of the joint edge (16, 16 ') does not protrude beyond the projection of the outer wall (120, 140) of the first component.

2. Container (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle formed between the inner face (162) and the beveled portion of the end face (164) is acute.

3. Container (10, 10 ') according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end face (164) forms a single bevel extending from the inner face (162) to the outer face (160). ).

4. Container (10, 10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in closed position the outer wall (140) of the cover (14), the outer face (160) of the joint edge ( 16, 16 ') and the outer wall (120) of the container (12) are substantially aligned.

5. Container (10, 10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the contact portion (122) is formed by a first wall (124) and a second wall (126) adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the first wall (124).

6. Container (10, 10 ') according to claim 5, characterized in that when the cover (14) is in the closed position the second wall (126) extends substantially parallel to the inner face (162) of the edge forming seal (16, 16 ').

7. Container (10, 10 ') according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that when the lid (14) is in the closed position, the seal-forming edge (16, 16') is in contact with the first and second walls (124, 126).

8. Container (10, 10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cover (14) comprises at least one projection (20, 22) guiding the closure and / or opening between the lid (14) and the receptacle (12).

9. Container (10, 10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cover (14) comprises at least a first closure means (26) for cooperating, in the closed position, by complementarity of form with a second closure means (28) disposed on the receptacle (12) for locking the lid (14) in the closed position.

10. Container (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it consists of a single plastic material with the exception of the joint edge (16) which consists of a material elastomer, the whole forming a single piece.

11. Container (10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it consists entirely of a single plastic material and in one piece.

12. Container (10, 10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first component is the cover (14) and in that the second component is the receptacle (12).