Patent Application
20090071960
The invention relates to a package to be opened by peeling off, from a flange portion provided on the top of a container, a lid member closely bonded to the flange portion.
Heretofore, a package is known in which a laterally outward projecting flange portion is provided on the top of a container and in which the open portion of the container is closed by closely bonding the peripheral portion of the lid member to the flange portion In this package, the flange portion and the peripheral portion of the lid member are given easy-peeling. Thereby, the package is configured to allow the lid member to be easily peeled off from the container, and allows the opening of the package in this manner. In this case, as represented by a package disclosed in Patent Document 1, the peripheral portion of the lid member has been provided with a tab.
Patent Document 1: JP-A 2005-263277
However, the lid member is configured of a film member, in general, and thus the tab has a characteristic of being slippery when taken with fingers. This makes it difficult for the conventional package to sufficiently meet the demand to easily peel off the lid member from the container.
In addition, a package with a form in which the open portion of a container is closed with a lid member might be filled with food, and the food is cooked by a method such as directly putting the package into a microwave oven to heat the food. In this case, it is also demanded that the package is prevented from bursting while flavor of the food be reduced as little as possible.
In view of such circumstances, the invention provides a package having a structure employed in which a tab is less slippery when taken with fingers, allowing the easy opening of the package, and preventing flavor of food therein from being deteriorated.
To solve the above problems, the invention has employed a package including a container having a peripheral wall portion, a bottom portion provided at the lower portion of the peripheral wall portion for closing a bottom, a flange portion projecting laterally outward from the top of the peripheral wall portion, and an open upper portion; and a lid member covering the open upper portion of the container, having a periphery closely bonded to the flange portion for closing the upper portion of the container, the flange portion of the container and the periphery of the lid member being given easy-peeling therebetween for the lid member to be peeled off from the container for opening the container, the lid member being formed with a tab projecting laterally outward of the periphery closely bonded to the flange portion, the tab having a back surface provided with a protruding finger-hold portion.
In the package of the invention, the flange portion is formed with, at a position corresponding to the tab of the lid member, a receiver portion projecting laterally outward. The receiver portion has a surface facing the tab, the surface being provided with a lock portion engageable with or disengageable from the finger-hold portion provided on the back surface of the tab.
In this case, the finger-hold portion is configured as a protruding portion. The lock portion is configured as a concave portion having the protruding portion inserted therein.
Alternatively, the finger-hold portion and the lock portion are configured as fasteners engagable with and disengageable from each other. One of the finger-hold portion and the lock portion is a male fastener having an engaging protrusion. The other one of the finger-hold portion and the lock portion is a female fastener having a groove portion having the engaging protrusion fitted therein.
In addition, in the package of the invention, the finger-hold portion is formed in a line, having an axial direction extending across the tab, and having both axial ends provided to coincide with the side edges of the tab, respectively. The lock portion is formed in a line corresponding to the finger-hold portion, the lock portion having an axial direction extending across the receiver portion, and the lock portion having both axial ends provided to coincide with the side edges of the receiver portion, respectively. Meanwhile, the finger-hold portion is formed in a line, having an axial direction extending across the tab, having both axial ends spaced apart from the side edges of the tab and located inside of the side edges of the tab, respectively. The lock portion is formed in a line corresponding to the finger-hold portion, the lock portion having an axial direction extending across the receiver portion, and the lock portion having both axial ends spaced apart from the side edges of the receiver portion and located inside of the side edges of the receiver portion, respectively.
Note that, in the above package, the finger-hold portion may include another member different from the lid member, said another member being fixedly bonded to the back surface of the tab.
According to the invention, when the tab of the lid member is taken with fingers, the finger-hold portion protruding from the back surface of the tab holds any of the fingers, and thereby prevents the fingers from slipping off the tab. Accordingly, the package allows the lid member to be peeled off from the container with the tab securely taken between fingers. In addition, the package allows the lid member to be peeled off from the container with the tab securely held between fingers, the lid member is closely bonded to the container more firmly than before. This improves the sealing properties therebetween.
In addition, the flange portion of the container is provided with the receiver portion, and the receiver portion is provided with the lock portion with which the finger-hold portion is to engage. This allows the receiver portion to protect the tab and, moreover, allows the tab to cover the receiver portion with no space interposed therebetween. Particularly when the finger-hold portion and the lock portion are configured as fasteners, the tab is securely locked to the receiver portion. This effectively prevents an external force and the like from causing the lid member to be undesirably peeled off from the flange portion at a position corresponding to the tab and the receiver portion.
Note that, when the both ends of the finger-hold portion are caused to coincide with the side edges of the tab while the both ends of the lock portion are caused to coincide with the side edges of the receiver portion, the engaging and connecting length of the finger-hold portion and the lock portion in the axial direction is made longer, and thus the finger-hold portion is more firmly engaged with the lock portion. On the other hand, when the finger-hold portion is provided in a manner that the both ends of the finger-hold portion are spaced apart from the side edges of the tab while the lock portion is provided in a manner that the both ends of the lock portion are spaced apart from the side edges of the receiver portion, the lid member can be peeled off with the side edges of the tab held with a hand.
Moreover, when the finger-hold portion and the lock portion are configured to be engageable with and disengageable from each other, the lid member can be simply and temporarily closed again to the container.
Hereinafter, description will be given of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings.
This package 1 includes a container 2 and a lid member 10 for closing the container 2. The container 2 is formed of a resin to have an approximately cylindrical shape. The container 2 includes a peripheral wall portion 3 and a bottom portion 4, and the top of the container 2 is open. The bottom portion 4 is provided under the peripheral wall portion 3 to close the bottom of the container 2. On the top of the peripheral wall portion 3, a flange portion 5 is formed laterally projecting therefrom. Meanwhile, the lid member 10 is configured of a circular film member, and a tab 11 is formed projecting radially outward in mountain-like form from part of the peripheral portion of the lid member 10.
The container 2 is formed of a plastic sheet with a single layer structure or a multilayer structure. The resin constituting the plastic sheet may be: any unmixed one of various resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride and a polyamide; or a mixture of some of these resins. If the container 2 is formed of a multilayer plastic sheet, the plastic sheet may include layers respectively formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and vinylidene chloride as the outermost layers or the innermost layers. In this structure, these layers function as barrier layers.
Meanwhile, the lid member 10 employs a laminate film formed of layers of multiple materials. For example, the laminate film employed herein has a layer structure in which a PET layer, an Al layer and a PET layer are sequentially laminated.
In the container 2 and the lid member 10 described above, the upper surface of the flange portion 5 and the peripheral portion of the lid member 10 are given easy-peeling therebetween. Thereby, the package 1 is configured to allow the lid member 10 closely bonded to the container 2 to be easily peeled off from the container 2. Specifically, an unstretched polypropylene film to serve as an easy-peel layer 20 is firstly stacked in a ring shape on the back surface of the peripheral portion of the lid member 10. Then, the peripheral portion of the lid member 10 and the flange portion 5 of the container 2 are pressed together while being heated by using a sealing bar or the like, and thereby these portions are closely bonded to each other.
However, the easy-peeling used here is not particularly limited to the aforementioned one, but any method may be employed as long as the method secures good sealing properties between the flange portion 5 of the container 2 and the peripheral portion of the lid member 10 while these portions are closely bonded together, and allows the lid member 10 to be easily peeled off from the container 2. Any method of a cohesive peeling type, an interlayer peeling type or an interfacial peeling type may be employed.
In addition, on the back surface of the tab 11 provided to the lid member 10, a protruding portion 12 illustrated in
Note that the shape of the protruding portion is not limited to one illustrated in
In addition,
Firstly, the lid member 10 is partially separated from the container 2 as illustrated in
If the lid member 10 is continuously pulled upward to be separated from the container 2 while a force is applied to the lid member 10 toward the opposite position to the position provided with the tab 11, the lid member 10 is completely separated off from the container 2, as illustrated in
Note that description has been given of the package 1 in which only the tab 11 protrudes laterally outward from the flange portion 5 of the container 2, but the package of the invention is not limited to this.
For example, in a package 1A illustrated in
In the package 1A illustrated in
Hereinabove, the description has been given of the packages in each of which the container is cylindrically formed, as an example. However, the invention may also be applied to a tray type container with a shallow depth or a container with an outer shape formed in a rectangular solid or a cube.
Hereinafter, description will be given of applications of the container in which the support portion is provided to the flange portion.
A package 30 as described above includes a container 32 and a lid member 40. The container 32 is an open-topped container with an outer shape formed in an approximately rectangular solid while the lid member 40 is used for opening and closing the open top of the container 32. The container 32 includes a peripheral wall portion 33 consisting of four side walls and a bottom portion 34 closing the bottom of the container 32. On the top of the peripheral wall portion 33, a flange portion 35 is formed laterally projecting therefrom so as to cover the complete periphery of the top of the container 32. One of the sides constituting the flange portion 35 projects laterally further than the other three sides. This further projecting portion of the side serves as a support portion 36.
Meanwhile, the lid member 40 is configured of a rectangular film member formed in approximately the same shape as the outer edge of the flange portion 35. This lid member 40 has an outer shape formed to also cover the support portion 36 provided to the one side of the flange portion 35 of the container 32 when the open top of the container 32 is closed with the lid member 40. In the lid member 40, a portion corresponding to the support portion 36 of the container 32 serves as a tab 41.
In the lid member 40 and the container 32 described above, the peripheral portion of the lid member 40 and the upper surface of the flange portion 35 are given easy-peeling. Thereby, the package 30 is configured to allow the lid member 40 closely bonded to the container 32 to be easily peeled off from the container 32. However, the support portion 36 and the tab 41 are provided outside the regions given the easy-peeling so that the support portion 36 and the tab 41 are not given the easy-peeling. Accordingly, the tab 41 is separated from the support portion 36.
In addition, a male fastener 45 is provided on the back surface of the tab 41 of the lid member 40 while a groove 37 is formed in the support portion 36 provided to the one side of the flange portion 35. The male fastener 45 is provided to the tab 41 by attaching, to the tab 41, a fastener tape typically used as a male fastener of a package bag, and is configured of a base 46 and a protruding portion 42. The base 46 has a band-like shape while the protruding portion 42 protrudes from the middle of the base 46 in the width direction thereof and serves as an engaging protrusion. The base 46 has certain width and thickness, and the back surface thereof is attached to a portion, slightly closer to the center of the tab 41 than the edge thereof, of the back surface of the tab 41. The protruding portion 42 has a root portion formed to have a smaller width and a top portion formed to have an approximately circular cross section.
Meanwhile, the groove 37 formed in the support portion 36 functions as a female fastener in which the protruding portion 42 of the male fastener is engageable with and disengageable from the inner portion of the female fastener. The groove 37 is formed to have a width relatively reduced near the opening thereof but increased as being closer to the bottom thereof. The bottom of the groove 37 is formed to have an arc cross section. The groove 37 may be cast simultaneously with the container 32. This is achieved by providing a portion for casting the groove 37 to a mold for casting the container 32. However, the groove 37 may be alternatively formed in another process after the container 32 is cast.
Note that, in this embodiment, the male fastener 45 is attached to the tab 41 in a manner that both ends 44a of the male fastener 45 in an axial direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the male fastener 45, respectively coincide with both side edges 41a of the tab 41. Similarly, both ends 37a of the groove 37 in an axial direction to which the groove 37 extends respectively coincide with both side edges 36a of the support portion 36.
In the package 30 as configured above, the protruding portion 42 of the male fastener 45 provided on the back surface of the tab 41 functions as a finger-hold portion. This structure allows the package 30 to be opened by peeling off the lid member 40 from the container 32 while taking the tab 41 with fingers and putting any of the fingers on the protruding portion 42.
Though not particularly illustrated, while the open top of the container 32 is closed with the lid member 40, the peripheral portion of the lid member 40 is closely bonded to the flange portion 35, and the protruding portion 42 of the tab 41 is locked with the groove 37. The tab 41 is closely bonded to the support portion 36 in this condition, and the package 30 is effectively prevented from being undesirably opened. Meanwhile, the lid member 40 may be partially peeled off from the container 32 instead of being completely peeled off so that the portion of the lid member 40 remains unpeeled even after the package 30 is opened. Then, the peeled-off portion of the lid member 40 may be put on the open top of the container 32, and the protruding portion 42 of the male fastener 45 provided on the back surface of the tab 41 may be caused to engage with the groove 37 formed in the support portion 36 again. By taking the above steps in the package 30, the open top of the container 32 can be simply and temporarily closed again.
Hereinbelow, description will be given of specific examples of usages of closing the package 30 again. For example, when the package 30 filled with food is heated in a microwave oven, the lid member 40 is partially peeled off from the container 32 to open a pressure relief path such that the package 30 might not burst as a result of the increase in inner pressure. However, when the package 30 is heated while being opened in the microwave oven, steam arising from the food is also discharged from the opened pressure relief path. To prevent this, the lid member 40 may be put on the container, and the protruding portion 42 of the male fastener 45 provided on the tab 41 may be caused to engage with the groove 37 formed in the support portion 36. This allows the package 30 to be simply and temporarily closed again, and thus allows the pressure a relief path to be secured while suppressing steam discharge as much as possible.
In addition, when a content in the package 30 is consumed little by little instead of being consumed at a time, the package 30 is closed again after being opened by causing the protruding portion 42 of the male fastener 45 to engage with the groove 37 formed in the support portion 36.
Note that, in the case where a package is configured such that the both ends of the male fastener 45 and the groove 37 respectively meet the side edges of the tab 41 and the support portion 36, as in the embodiment illustrated in
In the package 30 illustrated in
In a package illustrated in
The female fastener 50 is attached to the back surface of the tab 41. The female fastener 50 is a fastener tape typically used as a female fastener of a fastener of a package bag. The female fastener 50 is configured of a base 51 and a pair of groove walls 52. The base 51 has a band-like shape while the groove walls 52 protrude from the middle of the base 51 in the width direction thereof. The groove walls 52 extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the base 51, and the sides, facing to each other, of the respective groove walls 52 are formed in arc shapes. Meanwhile, the second protruding portion 38 is provided on the upper surface of the support portion 36 at a position corresponding to the female fastener 50 on the tab 41. The second protruding portion 38 is formed to have an approximately circular cross section and extends to longitudinally cross the support portion 36. The second protruding portion 38 may either be cast simultaneously with the container 32 or be formed in another process after the container 32 is cast. The former method is achieved by providing a portion for casting the second protruding portion 38 to the mold for casting the container 32.
The second protruding portion 38 is caused to engage with or disengage from a portion between the pair of the groove walls 52 constituting the female fastener 50. Thereby, the female fastener 50 provided to the tab 41 and the second protruding portion 38 provided to the support portion 36 function as fasteners. Accordingly, while the open top of the container 32 is closed with the lid member 40, the female fastener 50 is caused to engage with the second protruding portion 38 so that the tab 41 can be locked with the support portion 36. In addition, even after the package 30A is opened, the container 32 can be simply and temporarily closed again with the lid member 40 by engaging the two portions 41 and 36 with each other. Meanwhile, when the package 30A is opened, the groove walls 52 of the female fastener 50 function as a finger-hold portion and thus a finger is allowed to put on the groove walls 52 in taking the tab 41 with fingers.
Hereinbelow, description will be given of a package 1B according to still another embodiment with reference to
The basic structure of the package 1B according to this embodiment is similar to those of the packages illustrated in
In the package 1B, the tab 11 is formed projecting laterally outward from part, in the circumferential direction, of a peripheral portion of the lid member 10. Meanwhile, the support portion 6 is formed protruding laterally outward further than the flange portion 5 from the part, in the circumferential direction, of the flange portion 5 of the container 2. The tab 11 is superposed on the support portion 6 in a manner that the positions thereof in the circumferential direction coincide with each other when the top of the container 2 is closed with the lid member 10.
In addition, the protruding portion 12 serving as a finger-hold portion is provided on the back surface of the tab 11. Both ends 12a of the protruding portion 12 in the axial direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the protruding portion 12, are located closer to the center of the tab 11 than both side edges 11a of the tab 11. Meanwhile, a groove 7 is formed recessed downward in the support portion 6 at a position corresponding to the protruding portion of the tab 11 so as to cross the support portion 6. Moreover, the groove 7 extends lineally so that both ends 7a of the groove 7 in the direction to which the groove 7 extends are located at positions slightly closer to the center of the support portion 6 than side edges 6a thereof.
The groove 7 may either be cast simultaneously with the container 2 or be formed in another process after the container 2 is cast. The former method is achieved by providing a portion for casting the groove 7 to a mold for casting the container 2.
When the protruding portion 12 is provided to the tab 11 and the groove 7 is formed in the support portion 6 as described above, the protruding portion 12 is inserted into the groove 7 and thus the tab 11 can be locked to the support portion 6 while the container 2 is closed with the lid member 10. Meanwhile, when the lid member 10 is peeled off from the container 2, the tab can be taken with fingers easily as the protruding portion 12 is only inserted into the groove 7. In addition, when the tab 11 is taken with the fingers, any of the fingers can be put on the protruding portion 12. On the other hand, when the container 2 is closed again with the lid member 10, the tab 11 may be put on the support portion 6 again and the protruding portion 12 may be inserted into the groove 7. This allows the package 1B to be simply and temporarily closed again.
Note that, also in the package with a structure in which a protruding portion serving as a finger-hold portion provided to a tab is inserted into a groove serving as a lock portion provided to a support portion as described above, the both ends 7a of the groove 7 in the direction to which the groove 7 extends may be caused to coincide with the both side edges 6a of the support portion 6 while the protruding portion 12 may be provided in a manner that the both ends 12a thereof coincide with the both side edges 12a of the tab 11 as illustrated in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-117989 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2007/051179 | 1/25/2007 | WO | 00 | 10/21/2008 |
