Claims
- 1. A method for sealing an open top of a container having a closed bottom and containing goods to be sealed against the ambient atmosphere, said method comprising
- attaching a first lid to the open top of the container by a peelable connection so that the lid seals the contents in the container,
- attaching a second lid to the container by a permanent sealed connection in a region outside the first lid to form a closed, sealed space between the lids, and
- forming the second lid with a weakened portion surrounding said peelable connection between said first lid and the open top of the container to enable separation of said second lid at said weakened portion and provide access to said first lid to enable its removal to gain access to the contents in the container.
- 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second lid is attached to the container above the first lid.
- 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising sever; the weakened portion of the second lid by lifting a member secured to the second lid.
- 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the weakened portion of the second lid is severed in a local region upon lifting said member, the remainder of said weakened portion being separated by applying a pulling force to said second lid through said member.
- 5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein after the weakened portion is severed by lifting said member, the second lid is separated at said weakened portion by pulling on said member.
- 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising sealingly inserting the separated part of said second lid into the open top of the container to reseal said container.
- 7. A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising amplifying by lever action , the force applied to said member to sever said weakened portion of the second lid.
- 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lever action is developed by pivotably supporting said member on the open top of the container as a fulcrum and said amplification of the force applied to the member is obtained by making the distance between the fulcrum and an engaging point on said member greater than the distance between the fulcrum and a point on said membeer which is to sever said weakened portion when said member is lifted.
- 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 comprising forming said container with a recess into which said engaging point on said member and a ruptured portion of said second lid are received when said weakened portion is severed.
- 10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second lid is attached to the container above the first lid, and said member is formed with an engaging portion which is located at a level between said first lid and the connection of the second lid to the container.
Priority Claims (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| 8503830 |
Aug 1986 |
SEX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 046,048 filed 4/16/87, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,055, issued 1-3-89.
The present invention relates to an easily-opened container application Ser. No. 046,048 filed 4/16/87, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,055, issued 1-3-89. comprising a container body with an opening portion and a sealed bottom portion, a lid with a central lid portion and a peripheral portion disposed outside this lid portion, and one or more connecting devices which sealingly fix the lid to the container body for sealing of the container and opening means. The opening means include a weakened portion located in the lid and formed by a material region of reduced strength, the weakened portion being located inside the connecting devices and extending in the circumferential direction of the opening portion and, in such instance, at least partially around this opening portion. In the weakened portion, the central section is separable from adjacent regions of the peripheral portion. The opening means further include means for facilitating the above-mentioned separation.
In many contexts, there is a need for easily-opened containers. In many physical applications, there are also requirements that the opened container may be readily resealable. As a rule, the requirement of ready reclosure obtains in situations where the container is gradually emptied of its contents in individual stages. Such batchwise emptying of a container is often employed when the container is used for the storage of foods.
A further requirement placed on a container for the above-outlined purposes is that it must, as far as is possible, be of a construction which safeguards against unintentional opening. In particular in physical applications in which the lid of the container is provided with a weakened portion, for example, a circumferential weakened zone, there may be a risk of such unintentional opening when the lid portion inside the weakened zone is exposed to compressive forces.
Hence, the present invention relates to a container in which the above-outlined requirements have been satisfied. According to the invention, the opening portion of the container body is, in a defined region, provided with a depression or recess located beneath the weakened portion. The opening means include a fulcrum-action unit journaled in a support point (support region), this fulcrum-action unit including a pull member and a pressure member, these members being located on either side of the support point (the support region). The pressure member abuts against the outer surface of the lid in the region of, or adjacent to, the weakened portion where this is located above the depression or recess. On raising of the pull member, a fulcrum-effect is created about the support point (the support region), the pressure member being urged towards the region of, or adjacent to, the weakened portion, and realizing material rupture therein. When the weakened portion has been pierced or penetrated, relatively slight forces are necessary to continue opening of the container by stripping at the weakened portion.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fulcrum-effect unit is fixed to the central lid portion. As a rule, the fulcrum-effect is fixed to the central lid portion by means of a rivet-like arrangement, preferably of a plastic material. In fields of application in which the lid consists of plastic material, the rivet-like arrangement also consists, as a rule, of plastic material. When the rivet-like arrangement consists of plastic material, it generally constitutes an integral part of the lid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member terminates in the region most distal from the support point by an edge which is located substantially above the weakened portion. The pull member is often designed with a pull-ring.
In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening portion is provided with a flared flange to which the peripheral portion of the lid is sealingly fixed. In certain applications, the peripheral portion of the lid consists of a flared flange.
Generally, the central peripheral portion of the lid is, here located on a lower level than the flared flange of the lid, while in other applications, the central portion of the lid is located flush with or higher than its flared flange.
In still a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, each connecting member consists of a weld which, in containers of plastic material, is preferably formed by ultrasonic welding.
In certain applications, the weakened portion consists of a material region whose strength has been reduced by crystallization.
The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the figures of the accompanying drawings, and discussion relating thereto.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 1761411 |
Jan 1970 |
DEX |
| 1123250 |
Sep 1956 |
FRX |
| 1545647 |
Jul 1967 |
FRX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
46048 |
Apr 1987 |
|
Patent Grant
5007231
