DE29601108U1 - Pot-shaped, lockable container-lid arrangement - Google Patents

Description

Schmalbach-Lubeca AG * ···· J * ·· ·"*··**

22.01.1996 Description ···· ·· *,,* .J, ·· ·

Pot-shaped, lockable container-lid arrangement

.5 The invention relates to a pot-shaped container-lid arrangement that can be closed by a lid, with an upper edge part of the container that surrounds the container opening and that can be grasped on its outside by the inside of a closure part of the lid that is bent towards the container and forms a closure with it. It also relates to a container and a lid for such an arrangement.

Such containers are used in a variety of ways to offer food to the customer in a packaged state and to enable the buyer to consume it immediately and also to store it after resealing.

In many cases, a buyer requires a clear indication that such a resealable container has not been opened before purchase. It is known to connect the lid and container with label-like paper strips. However, such paper strips can easily be destroyed during transport. It is also known to obstruct access to the edge of the lid that overlaps the upper edge of the container on the one hand by means of a protective strip around the container and to enable easy access to the overlapping edge on the other hand by means of a tear-off tab on the protective strip. The absence of the tear-off tab indicates that the container has already been opened for the first time.

A plastic container is known from DK-PS 135 276 in which a cover! covers the edge of the container and fits tightly there. A protective element covers the lower part of the side wall of the lid. To open the lid, the protective element must be partially removed. Even then, lifting the lid is difficult and awkward. The consumer can only reach the exposed lower end of the side wall with his fingernail. On the other hand, it is possible to lift the lid improperly by manipulating the space between the side wall of the lid and the protective element.

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US-PS 4,296,871 describes a container with a plastic lid and an L-shaped protective element attached to the outer wall of the container and extending over the edge of the lid, in which the protective element has reinforcements pointing downwards.
5

DE-44 18 935 A1 describes a security device for containers with a closure element, in which a tear-off tab is provided, which is connected via predetermined breaking parts to a flat protective edge that covers the lower edge of the lid. Part of the protective edge is missing; this is partially taken up by a projection of the tear-off tab. After tearing off the tear-off tab, the finger can be reached under the closure element from below in order to pull it upwards from the container. The problem is that if an improper attempt is made to open the container on the side opposite the tear-off tab, it is possible under certain circumstances to get a fingernail flat between the protective edge and the closure element and thus force an opening.

The invention is based on the object of creating a container which cannot be opened accidentally and whose forced opening leaves a visible residual mark, but which can be easily opened and closed again when opened by an authorized person.

This object is achieved by a pot-shaped container-lid arrangement that can be closed by a lid, with an upper edge part of the container that encloses the container opening and that can be grasped on its outside by the inside of a closure part of the lid that is bent in the direction of the container and forms a closure with it, and with a protective edge provided on the outside of the container that covers the lower edge of the closure part of the lid when closed and is bent on the outer wall of the closure part in the direction of the lid and is arranged essentially parallel to the outer wall of the closure part of the lid, and with one or more predetermined breaking points in the protective edge that prevent part of the protective edge from being removed and thus the lid from being opened.

Schmalbach-Lubeca AQ # 3663 - Es/tz
22.01.1996 Description

·

Further training is indicated in the subclaims.

The invention ensures that the container cannot be opened without using force without destroying the predetermined breaking points. Nevertheless, the container can otherwise be opened without any problems, so that the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

In principle, an approximately L-shaped protective edge is provided on the outside of the container, which covers the lower edge of the closure part of the lid when the container is closed and is also bent on the outer wall of the closure part in the direction of the lid and is arranged essentially parallel to the outer wall of the closure part of the lid. A predetermined part of the peripheral protective edge is connected to the protective edge and preferably also to the container wall with one or more predetermined breaking points. By destroying the predetermined breaking points, the connections between the predetermined part and the peripheral protective edge and the container wall can be separated and the predetermined part removed. This makes the edge of the lid accessible and the lid can be easily removed with finger pressure.

This applies in particular if the closure part of the lid has, below the part of the container wall forming the closure with the edge part, an outwardly bent cantilever part, the outside of which forms the outer wall of the closure part surrounded by the protective edge of the container.

Then, when the part of the protective edge is removed after an authorized opening, a wide area of the lower edge of the lid is created that can be reached with the whole fingertip, which can be easily loosened, lifted and the lid can be opened.

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If only the lateral soil break points are destroyed, the predetermined part can be bent like a hinge around the other soil break points. The lid is also accessible here, only the number of waste parts is reduced and recycling is made easier in an environmentally friendly way.

The sides of the container edge part and the lid closure part facing each other can be designed in an offset bead shape to form a snap connection. Preferably, the outer bead is arranged offset in the direction of the protective edge.

To explain the invention in more detail, several embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. These show:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a container-lid arrangement according to the invention

Fig. 2 is a top view of the container shown in Fig. 1. For reasons of simplification, no lid is shown in Fig. 2

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of a section of the arrangement according to Fig.1-

Fig. 4 the sectional side view of a container with the protective edges of the edge part visible from the side and the predetermined, removable part of the protective edge visible by partially omitting the container wall

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of a design of the container edge part from Fig. 1 with the molded, breakable, predetermined part of the protective edge

Fig. 6 a top view of the protective edge with the removable, predetermined part of the protective edge with recognizable fracture points between the protective edge and the container wall

Fig. 7 a side view of the protective edge from Fig. 6 with visible break points between the protective edge and the removable, predetermined part of the protective edge

Fig. 8 a perspective sectional view of the connection point between lid and container

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23.01.1996 Description ·»·» ·· *..* .!* ..''..'

Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of a container-lid arrangement and Fig. 2 shows a top view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. A pot-shaped container 1 has an edge part 2 in its upper area, which is offset to the outside relative to the container 1 and has a substantially vertical surface. The indicated transition increases the stability of the edge area of the container and serves as a stacking surface. A lid 3 can be put over the outside 4 of the edge part 2 with its outer edge and presses against the outside 4 of the edge part 2 with the inside 5 of its closure part 6 bent towards the container 1. The closure part 6 bent downwards is inserted into a U-shaped recess which is formed by the outer wall 4 and an L-shaped protective edge 7 open at the top. The upwardly projecting part of the L-shaped protective edge is long enough to be positioned essentially right next to the bent lid part 6. The lid 3 is provided with a circumferential recess 31 in the area of the container interior next to the edge part 2. This recess 31 is designed in such a way that the lid wall facing the edge part 2 clings to the inside of the edge part 2. The edge part 2 is thereby clamped between the parts 6 and 31 of the lid 3. This helps the lid to stay in place on the container 1. The recess 31 also acts as an expansion joint and, thanks to the circumferential edges, stabilizes the lid 3 itself. It is also an element for stacking the lids.

The design of the edge part, which is offset outwards, enables the containers to be stacked without lids. Machines can stack the lids at the L-shaped protective edges and pass them on to the closing station. The stable design of the edge part 2 and the vertically stable and horizontally flexible design of the lid 3 allow the containers to be closed using machines.
30

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the connection area of container 1 and lid 3. The edge part 2 is bead-shaped on its outer side 4

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22.01.1996 Description ·..··. ., _# j _t

det. The inner side 5 of the lid 3 facing the edge part 2 encompasses the bead-shaped design of the outer side 4 of the edge part 2 and/or is itself bead-shaped. This creates a snap connection between the container 1 and the lid 3. The closure part 6 of the lid 3 is connected to the over 5

the part protruding from the connection area with the edge part 2 is bent outwards. The outside 9 of this bent area is still within the protective edge arrangement 2,7 which is open at the top. The approximately parallel and overlapping arrangement of the parts 9 and 7 initially prevents the sealed container 1 from being opened for the first time. The container cannot be opened without causing damage either by hand or with a tool.

Fig. 4 shows a design of the container 1 with which the first opening of the closed container 1 can be effected. In Fig. 4, the lid 3 is omitted for reasons of simplifying the drawing. The container 1 is shown in section in order to make the edge parts and the protective edges more visible. In the middle of the edge part 2, the container wall is cut away in order to reveal the protective edge 7. The vertical dividing lines along the protective edge 7 indicate that here the predetermined, removable part 11 is connected to the otherwise interrupted protective edge 7 only via predetermined breaking points 10. The upper double edge of the part 11 indicates that this predetermined part 11 protrudes upwards beyond the upper edge of the remaining uninterrupted protective edge.

in Fig. 5, a section through the area of the predetermined removable part 11 is shown on an enlarged scale. The edge area 2 is visible with the outside 4 and bead. The protective edge 7 is connected to the container via a predetermined breaking point 10. The upwardly directed part 71 of the L-shaped protective edge is designed to be inclined towards the inner area. This enables easier handling when breaking off this part, because the finger can more easily penetrate into the upwardly open opening of the protective edge. The arrow-shaped design 72 of the outside of the protective edge 7 first enables the edge 71 to be grasped between the thumb and forefinger and the predetermined part 11 of the protective edge 7 to be broken off. The projection 73 allows

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22.01.1996 Description ···· <· .. ,J. _#>

but also for people with reduced mobility or who are visually impaired, to feel the critical area for breaking off.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show the predetermined part 11 in top view and side view. The predetermined part 11 is wave-shaped on its outside. This makes this part 11 clearly different from the other area of the protective edge 7 and can be found or felt immediately. In Fig. 7, the wave shape is only provided at the height that corresponds to the height of the protective edge. This is essentially for optical reasons. The vertical lines of the wave-shaped area end at the beginning of the arrow-shaped area, as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows the predetermined breaking points 10 between the container wall 1 and the protective edge 7 or the part 11. Fig. 7 shows the predetermined breaking points between the part 11 and the adjacent parts of the protective edge 7.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective sectional view of the connection point between lid 3 and container 1.

Container 1 and protective edge 7 as well as the predetermined breaking points 10 and part 11 are made from one piece, preferably as an injection-molded plastic part.

The closure part 6 of the lid 3 below the part of the container wall forming the closure with the edge part 2 has an outwardly bent cantilever part 12, the outside of which forms the outer wall 9 of the closure part 6 surrounded by the protective edge of the container 1.

The transition from the cantilevered part 12 to the closure part 6 is designed in such a way that an outwardly directed bending force on the end 8 of the cantilevered part 12 opens the closure between the lid 3 and the edge part 2 of the container 1 like a lever.

The lid part 14 facing the inner wall 13 of the container 1 is bent around the edge part 2 of the container 1 in such a way that it rests against the inner wall 13 of the container for a substantial part of the edge part.

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23.01.1996 Description **** "' ·· ·&diams;· ·· ..'

Container and lid 3 are preferably made of a taste-neutral

Plastic. This material enables both the snap connection

the bulges of the lid and container rim as well as the flexibility of the

Protective edge 7 when the lid 3 snaps into place and when opening after breaking off the element 11.

In a tested design example of an oval container-lid arrangement, the dimensions were as follows: 10

Circumference of the container in the edge area: 45 cm

Thickness of the wall in the edge area: 0.7 mm

Thickness of container bead over edge: 1.0 mm

Height of the bead: 1.6 mm

Distance of the container bead from the inside

of the L-shaped protective element: 3.0 mm

Height of the L-shaped protective element 7: 4.0 mm

Height of the break-off protective element 11: 5.3 mm

Distance of the L-shaped protective element 7

from the container wall: 4.0 mm

Distance of the break-off protective element 11 4.2 mm from the container wall at the upper end:

Distance of the cover wall at the lower end

from the container wall: 2.8 mm

Thickness of the cover wall: 0.5 mm

Thickness of the lid bead: 0.9 mm

Claims (1)

22.01.1996 Claims · f*n sayings ,5 1. Pot-shaped container (1)-lid (3) arrangement that can be closed by a lid (3) with an upper edge part enclosing the container opening (2) of the container (1), which is secured on its outside (4) by the inside (5) of a closure part (6) of the lid bent towards the container (3) and extends to the bend (61) of the outer wall (9) of the closure part and forms a closure with it, and with a protective edge (7) provided on the outside of the container (4), which in the closed state covers the lower edge (8) of the closure part (6) of the lid and is bent on the outer wall (9) of the closure part (6) in the direction of the lid and is arranged essentially parallel to the outer wall (9) of the closure part (6) of the lid (3), and with one or more predetermined breaking points (10) in the protective edge, which allow a part (11) of the protective edge (7) to be removed and thus the lid (3) to be opened. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the mutually facing sides of the edge part (2,4) and closure part (6,5) are designed in an offset bead-like manner to form a snap connection. 3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the bead of the respective outer part, in particular of the cover (3), is arranged offset in the direction of the protective edge (7). 4. Arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the predetermined breaking points (10) are inserted both in the peripheral part of the protective edge (7, Fig. 7) and between the removable part (11) of the protective edge (7) and the container wall (2, 4, Fig. 6). Schmalbach-LubecaAG H,. * J 22.01.1996 Claims ···· ·· .. ... ..'·.,* 5. Arrangement according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the container (1) and protective edge (7) as well as predetermined breaking points (10) are made from one piece. 6. Arrangement according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the closure part (6) of the lid (3) has, below the part of the container wall forming the closure with the edge part (2), an outwardly bent cantilever part (12), the outside of which forms the outer wall (9) of the closure part (6) surrounded by the protective edge of the container (1). 7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the transition from the cantilevered part (12) to the closure part (6) is designed such that an outwardly directed bending force on the end (8) of the cantilevered part (12) opens the closure between the lid (3) and the edge part (2) of the container (1) in a lever-like manner. 8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cover part (14) facing the inner wall (13) of the container (1) is bent around the edge part (3) of the container (1) in such a way that it rests against the inner wall (13) of the edge part (2, Fig. 3) for a substantial part of the latter. 9. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the protective edge (7) is L-shaped and is bevelled in an arrow shape on the inside in the region of the predetermined part (11) at the free end. 10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the free end is bevelled on the outside in an arrow shape with a clearly noticeable step. Schmalbach-Lubeca AG * Ji., J J #3663-Es/lz .· j j · · I 22.01.1996Claims ···· ·.* ".." «;, ,,· · .Arrangement according to claim 9 or 1 0, characterized in that the outer side is wave-shaped. 12. Arrangement according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the outer side of the upwardly directed leg of the protective edge (7) of the predetermined part (11) projects beyond the height of the uninterrupted protective edge (7) firmly connected to the container.
10 13. Arrangement according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the cover (3) and/or container (1) consist of a flexible material, in particular a plastic. 14.Container for an arrangement according to one of the preceding claims. 15.Lid for an arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13.