DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further elucidated referring to an preferred embodiment shown in the drawing wherein shown in:
FIG. 1 in exploded view a container assembly according to the invention;
FIG. 2 the container assembly according to FIG. 1 after assembly;
FIG. 3 a stack of lid parts before assembly with the container part;
FIG. 4 a perspective top and side view of a lid part according to the invention;
FIG. 5 a perspective bottom and side view of the lid part of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 a cross section of FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 the lid part of FIG. 4 opened, i.e., with the lid hinged open with respect to the connection portion,
FIG. 8 an alternative lid-shape.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In the figures the container assembly is referred to by 1. It comprises a lid part 2 and a container part 3. Container part 3 is provided with a bottom 4 and the bottom material is connected to the side walls and defines a circumferential rim 5. The container part can be made of cardboard, coated with a synthetic coating layer known in the art for making it suitable for containing food or liquids. The container part can also be made of plastic or metal, preferably for holding food or liquids.
Lid part 2 comprises a connection portion 8, a (living) hinge 6 and a lid 7. Lid 7 is pivotably connected to connection portion 8. Connection portion 8 comprises a circumferential U-shaped rim 13 to receive the upper edge 12 of the side wall of the container part 3. Fixation of the connection portion 8 to the container wall can be effected through any means known in the art. In these drawings, the upper edge 12 of the container part 3 is folded and thus forms a double material layer. In practise, however, this needs not be the case and in most case it is a single layer.
According to the invention the top of lid 7 is provided with a circumferential cam. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the lid has two cam portions 9 having interruptions 10 (FIG. 4) between them. In the embodiment shown, the cams are parts of the lid 7 bulging out (i.e., away from connection portion 8). It is also conceivable to provide a rim on top of the lid 7. It may even be conceivable to make the cam (circumferentially) bulging in, i.e. towards connection portion 8. It than in fact forms a groove. In that case rim 5 at the bottom of container part 3 is received within this groove.
The top of the lid 7 is shaped to partially correspond with the shape of a spoon. The shape is indicated by 11 (FIGS. 4, 5). Inside the lid 7 clamping means (FIG. 5, nr 29) are provided to accommodate and hold a spoon having the shape and size of shape 11 of the spoon (not shown). From FIG. 4 it is clear that the lid is substantially rectangular and shape 11 is position diagonally. Interruptions 10 of the cam portions 9 are at the position where it “crosses” shape 11. Preferably about 20% of the circumference at the position of cams 9 comprises interruptions 10.
The lid is further provided with a circumferential rim 14 which in the closed position covers at least the top of the connection portion 8. Cooperating locking means 31 are provided to lock the lid relative to the connection portion and tamper evident means 30 can be provided over the locking means 31 to prevent abuse. In this embodiment, locking means 31 comprise a lip 31 on lid 7 with a cam on its side directed toward the lid 7, and a cam on connecting portion 8. These two cams engage one another the lid 7 is closed and the locking lip 31 is not operated and disengage when the locking lip 31 is operated, allowing a user to open the lid 7. In this embodiment, the locking lip 31 is tiltably connected to lid 7, and is tiltable around an axis in the main plane of the lid 7 and near the boundary of the lid 7. To that end, the lip 31 is connected to the lid 7 via a thinned part 26 of the lid (see FIG. 6). In case the locking lip 31 extends above the main surface 22 of the lid 7, as is the case in the embodiment shown here, it proved (part of) gripping means via which a user can grip the lid 7 for opening it.
At the position of the locking lip 31 a gripping area 28 is provided. In this embodiment, it is created by providing a (local) recess 28 in the lid, and by providing cam 9 in such a way that the inner wall 33 of this cam 9 runs on into a wall of recess 28. In this way, a relatively large plane 33 is created onto which a finger or thumb can rest when operating locking lip 31 with another finger/thumb.
In FIG. 6 it is further indicated that cam 9 has a top 24 which, as already mentioned, extends about 5-7 mm above the surface 22 defined by rim 14, which substantially defines the plane of the lid 7. Wall 25 is the outer wall of cam 9. Locking lip 31 does not extend above this cam in order not to compromise the stackability of lid parts and/or container assemblies.
Tamper evidence means 30 is in this embodiment comprises a lip 30 which is connected to the connecting portion 8 via thin connecting bridges. These bridges are provided near both sides of locking lip 31 of the locking means 31 and near the end of the locking lip 31 of these locking means. The connecting bridges need to be broken in order to remove the security lip 30 and to allow a user to tilt locking lip 31 of the locking means 31, and can be formed in a (synthetic material, e.g. PE, PP) moulding process of the lid portion 2. In the embodiment shown for instance in FIG. 4, it is clear that because a lip is used which is connected using connecting bridges which can be moulded in one go together with the lip and the rest of the lid portion, the security means can be completely integrated in the side wall. In particular, the security lip has a part 35 which extends above the locking lip (at this position, the locking lip has a lower part 36), thus allowing easy removal of the security lip 30. The height of the security lip 30 and of the locking lip 31 should preferably not extend above edge 24 of cam 9.
According to an aspect of the invention, cams 9 have a substantial height D, e.g. about 5-7 mm. Furthermore, in this embodiment, cams 9 are part of the lid 7 bulging outward with respect to the main plane of the lid (substantially a plane through surface 22 of rim 14). Because of that the cams 9 function as reinforcement ribs adding to the strength of the lid and in this way it is possible to stack a number of container assemblies on top of each other such as is shown for example in FIG. 2 in a very stable manner. This effect of providing more rigidity to the lid is increase as a wall of the cam 9 almost extends or goes over into rim 34. This rim 34 of the inside of the lid 7 fits in the inside 23 of inner U-shaped rim 20. The inner U-shaped rim 20 has ribs 21 providing rigidity to the rim 20. The height of this inner side 23 of inner rim 20 is preferably at least the height of cam 9, i.e. about 5-7 mm. Rim 23 of lid 7 extends within the connecting part 8 to such an extend that it leaves enough height of rim 23 free (the already mentioned 5-7 mm) to be able to stably stack lid parts in the way shown in FIG. 3.
The spacing between the outsides or outer walls 25 of the cam portions 9 is indicated in FIG. 4 by C.
According to an aspect of the invention the internal width of the connection portion 8 at least at the lower end thereof is indicated by B, wherein B is slightly larger than C. This allows for stacking of a number of lid parts comprising connection portion 8 and lid 7 on top of each other as is shown in FIG. 3 to obtain a stable stack. Such a stable stack is desirable during automated provision of the lid parts on the container parts during assembly thereof.
In FIG. 1, the spacing between opposite sides of the circumferential rim 5 at the bottom side of container part 3 is indicated by A. Preferably A is about the same as B allowing for stacking of container assemblies using the combination of the circumferential rim 5 and cam portions 9 of the lid. It will be understood that the dimensions A-C are all taken in the same direction. In different directions A-C will have other values but the same principle applies to provide for stable and robust stacking of both the lid parts and the container assemblies in a later stage. The spacing between the cam and the circumferential rim, the connection portion respectively is preferably about 0,5 mm. Because of the shape of the cam portions there are at least three and preferable four or more points of contact between the related circumferential rim and the cam portions providing a stable stacked assembly. Stacks often packages or more can be obtained. The circumferential shape of the rim 5 of the container part 3 and of the cam 9 on the lid 7 are mutually adapted in such a way that the rim 5 closely fits around the cams 9. Furthermore, the diameter B and circumferential shape of rim 23 of the connecting portion is designed in such a way that the circumferential rim 23 of the connecting portion closely fits around cam 9 of lid 7.
Although in this preferred embodiment the cam portions 9 function both to cooperate with corresponding accommodation in the connection portion 8 and the rim 5 at bottom 4 of the container part, it will be obvious that two sets of cam portions can be provided.
Lid portion 2 further has a levelling part 27 inside rim 20. This part 27 is provided at the edge of rim 34 at a distance from the lower edge of the inner wall of rim 20 to allow stacking of lid portions 2. This levelling part 27 allows levelling of the spoon.
Lid 7 further has a dome-shaped part 32 at its centre part for providing additional rigidity of lid 7.
In the embodiment shows in the drawings, the shape 11 indicating and holding a spoon bulges outward with respect to the plane of lid 7. This may provide additional rigidity to lid 7. It is, however, also conceivable to let for instance the top 24 of cams 9 define the main plane and outside surface of lid 7. In that case, wall 25 still defines stacking means providing an abutment for the rim 5 of the bottom of container portion 3, together with surface 22 of rim 14. In this case, the shape of a spoon may be indicated in another way, and clamping means 29 for a spoon may still be present.
In another shape of lid 7, shown in FIG. 8, connecting part 8 still has a rim 20 with inner side 23 for providing a first element of the first complementary stacking means. In this embodiment of the lid, however, the lid has depressions, in this embodiment a circumferential groove which is dimensioned to retain both rim 20 of the lid part 2 when stacking lid parts, and rim 5 when stacking container assemblies 1. In fact, the groove provides at a groove wall a vertically extending abutment. This vertically extending (with respect to the plane of the lid 7) abutment can also be formed by, when radially following the surface of the lid 7 from the outside 22 to the centre, lowering the surface of the lid with respect to surface 22 of rim 14, thus providing an abutment against forces radially outward. The vertically extending abutment can also be formed by making the surface of the lid higher after surface 22 of rim 14, thus providing an abutment against forces radially inward. In the first embodiment, the outside of rim 5 abuts the abutment of the lid 7, in the second embodiment, the inside of rim 5 abuts the abutment of the lid 7. In both embodiments, the abutment of the lid prevents shifting. It is clear that these abutments do not need to be completely circumferential, but in many designs and practical embodiments, they will be.
It will also be obvious after the above that further embodiments are within the scope of protection of the appended claims being obvious combinations with prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.
Patent Application
20070284276
