BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to a package, and particularly to a package including a container and a closure for mounting on a brim of the container. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a package including a reclosable closure.
SUMMARY
According to the present disclosure, a package includes a container, a peelable film, and a closure. The container includes a bowl formed to include an interior product-storage region and a brim coupled to an upper portion of the bowl and arranged to border a mouth opening into the interior product-storage region. The brim illustratively includes an endless upwardly facing top surface. The peelable film is bonded temporarily to the brim to close the mouth and block access to the interior product-storage region. The closure is configured to mount on the brim in a closed position to block access to the peelable film.
In illustrative embodiments, the closure includes a sheet-support ring and a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is coupled to the sheet-support ring to move therewith relative to the brim of the container when the closure is separated from the brim to gain access to the peelable film.
In illustrative embodiments, the membrane sheet includes a ring-shaped outer portion, a central portion, and a ring-shaped middle portion. The ring-shaped outer portion is bonded permanently to the membrane-support ring to form an endless seal therebetween. The central portion is surrounded by the ring-shaped outer portion and arranged to cover the mouth opening into the interior product-storage region when the closure is mated with the brim. The ring-shaped middle portion is arranged to interconnect the central portion and the ring-shaped outer portion.
In illustrative embodiments, the ring-shaped middle portion includes a downwardly facing surface. The downwardly facing surface is arranged to overlie and face an endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone on an endless inner perimeter region of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim. The downwardly facing surface confronts an upwardly facing surface of the peelable film.
In illustrative embodiments, the package further comprises means for bonding a downwardly facing surface of the peelable film temporarily to the temporary peelable film-bonding zone on the endless inner perimeter region of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim to establish an endless hermetic seal therebetween that remains until the peelable film is removed from the brim by a consumer for a first time to gain access to product stored in the interior product-storage region after removal of the closure from the brim.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the package includes a container having a bowl and a brim coupled to a top edge of the bowl, a peelable film bonded temporarily to an inner perimeter region of the container brim, and a closure mounted on the brim of the container and configured to include a membrane-support ring and a substantially flat membrane sheet bonded permanently to an upwardly facing top surface of the membrane-support ring, and further showing portions of the membrane sheet broken away to reveal the peelable film and a portion of the membrane-support ring setting on an outer portion of the container brim, and suggesting that the membrane-support ring includes a pivotable sheet-separator lever arm at each end and a central brim-mounted platform arranged to interconnect the two pivotable sheet-separator lever arms;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the package of FIG. 1 showing (from bottom to top) the container including the bowl and the container brim coupled to the bowl, the peelable film adapted to be bonded temporarily to a temporary sheet-bonding zone provided on the inner perimeter region of the container brim, the membrane-support ring including a central brim-mounted platform comprising two spaced-apart curved strips, the first pivotable sheet-separator lever coupled pivotably to a left end of each of the curved strips, and the second pivotable sheet-separator lever coupled pivotably to a right end of each of the curved strips, and the membrane sheet comprising a thin film and adapted to be bonded permanently to a permanent sheet-bonding zone provided on the upwardly facing top surface of the membrane-support ring;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the package of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the location of a first sheet-lift point (P1) of the peelable film on the left end of the package and a second sheet-lift point (P2) of the peelable film on the right end of the package and further showing that the peelable film includes peel-initiation sections in communication with each sheet-lift point and portions of the closure are broken away to reveal the upwardly facing top surface of the container brim and the peelable film positioned between the membrane sheet and the top surface;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the container of FIGS. 1-3 showing that the inner perimeter region of the container brim includes an unbonded zone and a temporary sheet-bonding zone enclosed by the unbonded zone and showing that the outer perimeter region of the container brim includes a ring-support zone configured to support the peelable film and the sheet-support ring on the top surface of the container brim;
FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective assembly view of the package of FIG. 1 showing (from bottom to top) the container including the bowl and the container brim coupled to the bowl, the peelable film bonded to the temporary sheet-bonding zone provided on the inner perimeter region of the top surface of the container brim, and the closure including the sheet-support ring and the membrane sheet;
FIGS. 6-8 are a series of views showing the removal of the closure from the container for the first time while the peelable film remains coupled to the upwardly facing top surface of the container brim;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing the closure in a closed position on the container brim and suggesting that the peelable film is coupled to the container brim along the temporary sheet-bonding zone which is shown in phantom;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the closure after the first pivotable sheet-separator lever included in the sheet-support ring of the closure has been pivoted by a consumer about a first bend line through an angle of about 15 degrees to cause initial separation of a middle portion of the membrane sheet from the container brim while the peelable film remains coupled to the container brim along the temporary sheet-bonding zone; and
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the closure and the container after the first pivotable sheet-separator lever has been pivoted by a consumer through an angle of about 45 degrees to cause further separation of the middle portion of the membrane sheet from the container brim while the peelable film remains coupled to the container brim along the temporary sheet-bonding zone.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A package 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. Package 10 includes a container 12, a closure 14, and a peelable film 16 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Container 12 includes a bowl 18 formed to define a product-storage region 22 configured to receive and store products such as food and a brim 20 that defines a mouth 11 that opens into product-storage region 22. Peelable film 16 is configured to bond temporarily to an endless upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 to form an endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 on container 12 as shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the contents of container 12 are sealed hermetically to block access to interior product-storage region 22 by a consumer as suggested in FIG. 5. Closure 14 is adapted to mate with container 12 to block access to peelable film 16 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3.
Closure 14 includes a membrane support ring 30, a membrane sheet 32, and a first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 as shown in FIG. 2. Membrane support ring 30 is arranged to engage brim 20 when closure 14 is mated with container 12. Membrane sheet 32 is coupled to membrane support ring 30 to move therewith when closure 14 is separated from brim 20. First pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 is coupled to an end of membrane support ring 30 to assist a consumer in seperating closure 14 from container 12.
A consumer may pivot first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 upwardly relative to brim 20 in a first step to remove closure 14 from container 12. Peelable film 16 remains coupled to brim 20 of container 12 after closure 14 is removed from container 12 so that peelable film covers open mouth 11. After removing closure 14, a consumer may separate peelable film 16 from container 12 to access the contents therein through open mouth 11 or, at the consumer's option, reattach closure 14 to container 12 and discard peelable film 16.
Membrane support ring 30 illustratively includes a curved first strip and a curved second strip 402 as shown in FIG. 2. Curved first strip 401 is arranged to mate with an underlying portion of an outer perimeter region 42 of brim 20. Curved second strip 402 is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to curved first strip 401 and mate with an underlying portion of outer perimeter region 42 when closure 14 is mounted on brim 20 as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 7. A first end of each strip 401, 402 is coupled to first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34. An opposite second end of each strip 401, 402 is coupled to a second pivotable sheet separator lever arm 35 as shown in FIG. 2.
Membrane sheet 32 of closure 14 includes a central portion 32A, and a ring-shaped outer portion 32B surrounding central portion 32A, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 5. Central portion 32A is arranged to cover peelable film 16 when closure 14 is mounted on peelable film 16 and container 12. After a consumer has removed peelable film 16 and reattached closure 14, central portion 32A is arranged to cover open mouth 11 that opens into interior product-storage region 22. Ring-shaped outer portion 32B is bonded permanently to a permanent sheet-bonding zone 30Z provided on an endless upwardly facing top surface 30T of membrane support ring 30.
Container 12 includes bowl 18 and brim 20 as shown in FIG. 2. Bowl 18 is formed to define interior product-storage region 22. Illustratively, bowl 18 includes a floor 18F and a side wall 18W as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Brim 20 is coupled to a top portion of bowl 18 and arranged to extend radially outward away from bowl 18 to form open mouth 11 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2.
Brim 20 includes an upwardly facing top surface 36 that faces peelable film 16 as shown in FIG. 2. Upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 is formed to include an endless inner perimeter region 40 and an outer perimeter region 42 that surrounds endless inner perimeter region 40 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Outer perimeter region 42 of upwardly facing top surface 36 is arranged to provide a ring-support zone 44 arranged to engage and support an underside of membrane support ring 30 of closure 14 when closure 14 is mated to brim 20. As suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2, membrane support ring 30 of closure 14 overlies directly outer perimeter region 42 of brim 20 in ring-support zone 44 when closure 14 is mounted on brim 20.
Endless inner perimeter region 40 of endless upwardly facing top surface 36 includes an inner unbonded zone 25. Inner unbounded zone 25 is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to ring-support zone 44 to locate an endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 therebetween as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5.
Brim 20 cooperates with peelable film 16 to form unbonded regions 24, 25, a first peel-initiation section 26, and endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 as shown in FIG. 4. Endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 includes an endless band 38 having a uniform thickness as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 is located along inner perimeter region 40 of brim 20. first peel-initiation section 26 is arranged to overlap a portion of endless band 38. First peel-initiation section 26 is located between endless band 38 and outer perimeter region 42 of brim 20 as suggested in FIGS. 2-4. Illustratively, first peel-initiation section 26 is curved and the curved shape is configured to concentrate force applied by the consumer to peelable film 16 during removal of peelable film 16 from container 12.
Peelable film 16 is configured to bond temporarily to endless upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 to form endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 on container 12 as shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the contents of package 10 are sealed hermetically to block access to interior product-storage region 22 by a consumer. In the illustrative embodiment, peelable film 16 is substantially flat.
Peelable film 16 includes a central portion 16A, a ring-shaped middle portion 16B surrounding central portion 16A, and a ring-shaped outer portion 16C surrounding ring-shaped middle portion 16B as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5. Central portion 16A is arranged to cover open mouth 11 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 5. Ring-shaped outer portion 16C is arranged to overlie outer unbonded region 24 of brim 20. Ring-shaped middle portion 16B is bonded temporarily (using an adhesive, weld, or other suitable coupling means) to endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 provided on inner perimeter region 40 to create a hermetic seal therebetween until peelable film 16 is removed from brim 20 by a consumer for a first time to access the contents of interior product-storage region 22 formed in container 12.
Central portion 16A of peelable film 16 includes a center segment 16A″ arranged to close the open mouth 11 into interior product-storage region 22 and an outer segment 16A′ arranged to surround the center segment 16A″ as shown in FIG. 5. Outer segment 16A′ is arranged to interconnect center segment 16A″ and ring-shaped middle portion 16B of peelable film 16. Outer segment 16A′ is positioned to overlie inner unbonded zone 25 established on endless inner perimeter region 40 of endless upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20. Radially outer portion 16A′ of central portion 16A of peelable film 16 is not bonded to brim 20 in illustrative embodiments. Outer portion 16A′ lies on an inner unbonded region 25 provided on first inner section 40A of inner perimeter region 40 of brim 20 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5.
Second section 40B of endless inner perimeter region 40 of brim 20 provides endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 for peelable film 16 as suggested in FIGS. 3-5. Second section 40B of inner perimeter region 40 of top surface 36 of brim 20 is arranged to mate with and to be sealed hermetically to endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 provided on middle portion 16B of peelable film 16 to mate with and seal to brim 20 at a package-closing factory. It is the temporary hermetic seal established at the package-closing factory between the middle portion 16B of peelable film 16 and second section 40B of endless inner perimeter region 40 of brim 20 that is broken by a consumer to access the interior product-storage region 22 of the package 10.
A first peel-initiation section 26 of peelable film 16 is bonded temporarily to endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 provided on inner perimeter region 40 on brim 20 of bowl 18 as shown in FIG. 3. Such temporary bonding of first peel-initiation section 26 of peelable film 16 to inner perimeter region 40 on brim 20 of bowl 18 establishes a sheet-lift point P1 at a tip provided on an outer edge 260 of first peel-initiation section 26 of peelable film 16.
First peel-initiation section 26 is located in spaced-apart relation to an endless outer perimeter region 42 of the upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 between the endless band of uniform thickness 38 and endless outer perimeter region 42. Endless band of uniform thickness 38 is ring shaped and surrounds inner perimeter region 40 to provide an endless seal around open mouth 11 until peelable film 16 is removed from bowl 18.
First peel-initiation section 26 includes an inner edge 261 that overlaps a portion of endless band of uniform thickness 38 and a curved outer edge 260 located between inner edge 261 and a portion of endless outer perimeter region 42 of upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 as suggested, for example in FIGS. 1 and 3-5. To remove peelable film 16, a consumer can apply a lifting force at a first sheet-lift point P1 to start to break the temporary hermetic-sealing bond established between a first peel-initiation section 26 of peelable film 16 and endless inner perimeter region 40 of brim 20. first peel-initiation section 26 may concentrate the lifting force applied by the consumer to minimize the amount of required force to remove peelable film 16 from brim 20 to access interior product-storage region 22 formed in container 12.
Closure 14 is adapted to mate with container 12 to block access to peelable film 16 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3. Closure 14 mounts selectively to brim 20 and includes a membrane support ring 30, a membrane sheet 32, and a first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 as shown in FIG. 2. Membrane support ring 30 is arranged to engage ring-support zone 44 on outer perimeter region 42 of endless upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 when closure 14 is mated with brim 20. Membrane sheet 32 is coupled to membrane support ring 30 to move therewith when closure 14 is separated from brim 20. First pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 is coupled to an end of membrane support ring 30 to assist a consumer in seperating closure 14 from container 12.
Membrane support ring 30 of closure 14 includes a central brim-mount platform 54 and a snap-fit connector 30A as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Brim-mount platform 54 is mated to perimeter side portions of an outer portion 32A′ of membrane sheet 32. Brim-mount platform 54 is adapted to overlie and set on a ring-support zone 44 provided on outer perimeter region 42 of brim 20 when closure 14 is coupled to brim 20, as shown in FIG. 5.
Central brim-mount platform 54 illustratively includes a curved first strip 401 arranged to mate with an underlying portion of outer perimeter region 42 of top surface 36 of brim 20 and a separate curved second strip 402 arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to curved first strip 401 and mate with an underlying portion of outer perimeter region 42 of top surface 36 of brim 20 when closure 14 is mounted on brim 20 as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 7. A first end of each strip 401, 402 is coupled to first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 as suggested in FIG. 2. An opposite second end of each strip 401, 402 is coupled to second pivotable sheet separator lever arm 35 as also suggested in FIG. 2.
Snap-fit connector 30A is coupled to a handgrip 405 included in each of lever arms 34, 35. Snap-fit connector 30A is configured to provide closure retainer means for engaging a perimeter lip 20L included in brim 20 to retain membrane support ring 30 in a mounted container-closing position on brim 20 as suggested, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 6-8.
Membrane sheet 32 is bonded permanently to an endless outer perimeter 48 of membrane support ring 30 to move therewith during a closure removal step performed by a consumer as shown in FIG. 5. A downward facing surface 46 of membrane sheet 32 faces peelable film 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Illustratively, membrane sheet 32 is substantially flat.
Membrane sheet 32 of closure 14 includes a central portion 32A, and a ring-shaped outer portion 32B surrounding central portion 32A, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 5. Central portion 32A is arranged to cover peelable film 16 when closure 14 is mounted on peelable film 16 and container 12. After a consumer has removed peelable film 16 and reattached closure 14, central portion 32A is arranged to cover open mouth 11 that opens into interior product-storage region 22 formed in bowl 18 of container 12. Ring-shaped outer portion 32B is bonded permanently to a permanent sheet-bonding zone 30Z provided on an endless upwardly facing top surface 30T of membrane support ring 30.
Membrane sheet 32 is made of a thin film and is adapted to be bonded permanently to a permanent sheet-bonding zone 30Z provided on upwardly facing top surface 30T of the membrane support ring 30 and to be bonded temporarily to endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 provided on inner portion of an upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20. Permanent sheet-bonding zone 30Z on top surface 30T of membrane support ring 30 is shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 on inner perimeter region 40 of the brim 20 is shown, for example, in FIG. 2.
First pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 is coupled to a left end of brim-mount platform 54 as shown in FIG. 2. First pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 is configured to pivot relative to brim-mount platform 54 about a fulcrum provided on first bend line 52 in a clockwise direction. First pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 is configured to snap onto a handle 50 located on brim 20 until a consumer pivots first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 relative to brim 20 and along first bend line 52 to initiate the closure removal step as shown in FIGS. 6-8.
A closure-opening sequence is also shown, for example, in FIGS. 6-8. First pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 is configured to be pivoted by a consumer about first bend line 52 relative to a stationary central brim-mount platform 54 of membrane support ring 30 during a first-time opening of package 10 from an initial position shown, for example, in FIG. 6 to a pivoted removal-initiation position shown, for example, in FIG. 7. By pivoting first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 upwardly about the fulcrum on a first bend line 52 as suggested in FIG. 8, a consumer can apply a lifting force to remove closure 14 and access peelable film 16. The consumer can then re-mount closure 14 on container 12 by, for example, engaging snap-fit connector 30A included in membrane support ring 30 with a perimeter lip 20L of brim 20 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 6 to reclose package 10. While first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 is provided at one end of closure 14, a similar second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 35 (carrying another snap-fit connector) is provided at an opposite end of closure 14 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 4. This makes it easy for a consumer to open package 10 from either end 34 or 42.
Illustratively, container 12 is oval shaped and includes a major axis that is generally perpendicular to a minor axis. The major axis bisects container 12 along a plane. The major axis has a length that is greater than a length of the minor axis. Container 12 includes first handle 50 located on brim 20 along the major axis in spaced-apart relation to temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28. The major axis extends through first peel initiation section 26 and is located in spaced-apart relation to first handle 50.
FIGS. 6-8 show a series of views of the removal of the closure from the container for the first time while the peelable film remains coupled to the upwardly facing top surface of the container brim. As shown in FIG. 6, closure 14 is in a closed position on container brim 20. Peelable film 16 is coupled to container brim 20 along temporary sheet-bonding zone 28 which is shown in phantom.
As shown in FIG. 7, first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 included in sheet-support ring of closure 14 has been pivoted by a consumer about first bend line 52 through an angle of about 15 degrees to cause initial separation of a middle portion of membrane sheet 32 from container brim 20 while peelable film 16 remains coupled to container brim 20 along temporary sheet-bonding zone 28. As shown in FIG. 8, first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 has been pivoted by a consumer through an angle of about 45 degrees to cause further separation of the middle portion of membrane sheet 32 from container brim 20 while peelable film 16 remains coupled to container brim 20 along temporary sheet-bonding zone 28.
Patent Application
20170166367
