EP1693309A1 - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a lower portion (11) for storing food products and an upper portion (12) designed as a container lid. The lower portion has a closed edge, which runs around an opening of the container. The upper portion includes a flange unit (16), which runs around the opening, and a laminar covering part, which is fastened to the flange unit. The covering part is fixed at the closed edge in a detachable manner.

Description

The invention relates to a container for solid, pasty and flowable and creatively products, especially for food products, comprising a container base for receiving the product and a container lid designed as a container top, wherein the container base has a substantially closed, running around its container opening edge.

Such containers, which are usually made of a plastic material and are usually produced by means of known injection molding techniques, for a variety of uses and in various sizes in the trade and are in the most diverse shapes for all sorts of products that are hygienic or germ-free are used. Products that are presented, for example, in such containers as packaging units in food stores are, for example, dairy products of all kinds, meat and meat Sausage products, but also vegetables and fruit products as well as ready meals in chilled and uncooled form.

Since the generic containers are mass products which are intended to absorb the products of the type described above by way of example in a hygienic, germ-free and airtight manner, they must be able to be produced very inexpensively in order to be sold on the market, i. on the one hand by the producers of the products and on the other hand by the consumers to be accepted. Furthermore, such containers must contain as complete as possible, often also separate legal provisions sufficient information about content, composition of the product, energy content of the product and information about the date of manufacture and use and certain other, in certain countries beyond legally required information on health in the container received product and the like.

For this reason, such containers are usually provided with separate labels that declare such information and the corresponding parameters about the product to the consumer. In many cases, manufacturers' names, special proprietary trademarks and the like are also affixed to the labels and, as a rule, for many products accommodated in such containers, the product itself is depicted, for example the sausage product, the cheese product or a product in the form of liver pate or the like.

The separate labels have the disadvantage that they significantly increase the cost of manufacturing the container, since then the label on the container after filling the product and closing the container must be applied either on the container itself, the container lid or possibly on the container lid and the actual container ,

Another serious problem with such containers is that, for example, when opening the container by lifting the lid, formed in the well-known yogurt and Quarkbehältern only by an aluminum foil, the lid not at the actually designated locations in the edge region of the container but ruptures the actual lid, so that the opened container then not even makeshift when the product received in the container has not been completely removed or consumed, can be closed. Another type of closure of such containers, in which a printed in the manner described above film has been adhered to the actual container lid, shows in a trial of opening the very serious disadvantage that the film separates in the opening attempt from the actual container lid, i. breaks off from this, without the connection of the container lid is solved with the actual container, that is, that the container can not be opened, but this is the real goal.

A third variant of containers is known in which a in the course of the manufacture of the container lid by the method of the so-called. "Immolded Label (IML)" produced lid in the injection mold already with the film, which forms the outer end of the container lid, is connected and a projecting beyond the container lid edge region of the film is connected to the container. Such containers also have the serious disadvantage that the label or foil reinforced in the edge region of the container lid breaks or tears uncontrollably when the container is opened and moreover also due to the notch effect during tearing between film and container lid, despite the use of the technique according to the method the "Immolded Label", the film from the container lid uncontrollably tears off and the container only with foreign tools such as a pair of scissors or a knife can be opened. It goes without saying that such an opened lid is no longer able to close the container opening even in a makeshift manner when the product received in the container has not been completely removed. Another significant disadvantage is that many times a pollution of the environment or the consumer or user himself is the result of wanting to open a container designed in this way.

From EP-A-1 475 314, which is based on the same Applicant, a container of the generic design is known, in which the disadvantages described above in connection with the previous containers and container lids have been eliminated in a very elegant and efficient manner.

The use of the generic container for a variety of container contents for mass use and thus mass production requires very inexpensive solutions for the preparation of such containers, whereby it is desirable, the costs compared to the generic containers having a container top, from an upper, to outwardly facing film and an underlying lid member on which the film is applied, there is to further reduce.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container of the type mentioned, which is even faster and easier to produce than the generic container, compared to the generic container for its production requires even less material whose closing behavior after first opening for proper use the contents of the container during the subsequent closing of the container even better Having sealing properties and in principle can be closed as often as desired after the first opening and reopened without the sealing properties between the container top or lid of the container, and the container lower part subside.

Solved the task gem. the invention in that the container top consists of a running around the container opening, this collar-like comprehensive collar element and consists of a substantially planar lid member, wherein the lid member is fixed to the collar member and is releasably secured to the edge of the container base.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention consists essentially, as desired, in that the actual sheet-like lid member is in one piece and, together with the circumferential collar member, which forms a mechanical support to ensure the dimensional stability of the lid member, the container bottom, i. can safely close the contents of the container again.

In addition, in the solution according to the invention, the principle is exploited that the surface-shaped cover element required for receiving visually recognizable information in the case according to the invention can perform both the function of the actual cover element and the function of the information carrier carrying the visual information.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the collar member has a formed in the manner of a clip connection web-like region which engages latching behind a running around the container opening web of the container base. At this detachable connection of the container upper part from or with the container bottom takes only the mechanically stable trained, substantially dimensionally stable collar element part, ie the material requirement for the production of the container top can be specifically limited to the formation of the collar element, whereas the actual cover element according to the task so thin, ie film-like, may be formed that it is sufficient to fulfill its hermetic closure function of the container base or of the product received in the container bottom part 1.

Gem. A further advantageous embodiment of the container, the web of the collar member and a formed in the adjacent region of the collar member web of the container base are formed in mutually locked state substantially parallel to each other. This ensures in an advantageous and simple manner that the web of the container part, so to speak, forms a guide for the web of the collar element of the container upper part, so that the container lower part easily guided by the webs, can be performed on the container bottom in the course of the closing process, namely to the point where then the collar member can latch with the container bottom via said clip connection.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the collar member formed on the part of the clip connection is formed by a projection formed on the web of the clip connection, which engages in the locked state behind the free end of the web of the container base. By such a configured clip connection between the container top and container base a connection-proof and a hermetically sealed closure is formed, which is also after multiple opening and closing of the container for a continuously ensured mechanical closure security and tightness to prevent the ingress of germs from the outside into the container interior.

Preferably, the peripheral edge of the container base is formed wegstehend substantially at right angles from the container base, which can be ensured in a simple manner that the collar element can be at least partially securely supported on the container bottom in a locked or latched together form. The circumferential, substantially rectangularly projecting from the container base edge also has the advantage that the mechanical stability of the container base can be increased at least in the region of aufzusetzenden or the container bottom 1 closing container shell in a simple manner by this configuration of the container base, and this embodiment of the Container lower part then allows that the remaining areas of the container base can be formed as thin as any possible, which materials, weight and cost can be saved.

According to yet another further advantageous embodiment of the container on the peripheral edge of the container base a raised projecting from this projection, on which the lid member is releasably secured. In this context, detachably fastened is to be understood as meaning that after the product has been introduced into the container, the upper lid part is placed on the lower lid part, and in order to hermetically seal the container contents germ-free, this area can be closed by a suitable connection, eg or adhesive bond is hermetically sealed, wherein for opening the container by lifting the container top and disengaging from the clip connection between the container top and container bottom part of the adhesive or welded connection is solved or 1 ösbar is. without the container top 1 and the container bottom are destroyed.

The lid member itself is formed, according to a very advantageous embodiment of the container, from a foil-like body integrally connected to the circumferential collar member, e.g. technically feasible in that the entire container top can be made in a single injection molding process in a single suitably shaped injection mold, at the same time by the method of the already mentioned "Inmolded Label (IML)" the application of the externally visible to the viewer visual information about the contents of the container and other information in the injection mold in the course of production of the container shell can be done.

According to another advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the cover element consists of a foil-like body, which is connected by means of a suitable connection, for example. By welding and / or gluing with the circumferential collar element. Although in this embodiment of the container top, i. with each first separately produced cover element and separately produced collar element, more expensive, but this configuration also makes it possible to provide different materials for the formation of the collar element on the one hand and the formation of the cover element on the other hand due to external requirements.

The thickness of the sheet-like cover element can be selected differently depending on the container size, the container contents, the product to be contained in the container and depending on the material used for the formation of the container, ie directly adapted to the respective packaging problem to be accomplished with the container. To be sure To keep the use of the necessary material to form the cover element as small as possible, it is advantageous to form the thickness of the cover element in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

For the production of the sheet-like cover element and / or for the production of the collar element and / or for the production of the container base, a plastic material which can be sprayed, for example polypropylene, is preferably used, although other suitable injection-moldable plastics materials can also be used. insofar as they are neutral with respect to the product received in the container, i. this does not affect its consistency, taste and the like.

The material of the cover element can advantageously be selected such that it is at least light transparent, which has the very great advantage that then the product received in the container in the closed state of the container can be seen from the outside.

The releasable attachment of the lid member to the collar member after the product has been filled into the container, ie subsequently to hermetically seal the container with the container top, can, as already mentioned above, take place by means of a welded connection between the lid member and collar member, preferably the welded joint a fusion welded joint. In principle, however, this connection can also be a suitably designed adhesive connection, whereby, irrespective of whether this connection is a welded connection or an adhesive connection, it is designed in such a way that when the container is opened as intended, ie when the container upper part is lifted from the container lower part 1, only and / or adhesive bond can be solved without while the lid member of the container top and the container base are damaged.

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch den Behälter entlang der Linie A-B von Fig. 2, wobei auf das Behälterunterteil das Behälteroberteil aufgebracht ist,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf den in Fig. 1 dargestellten Behälter,

Fig. 3

ein Detail des umlaufenden Randes des Behälterunterteils gemäß Fig. 1 mit mit dem Behälterunterteil verrasteten Behälteroberteil und

Fig. 4

in perspektivischer Darstellung einen Behälter in geöffnetem Zustand und entferntem Behälteroberteil.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following schematic drawings with reference to an embodiment. Show:

Fig. 1

3 shows a section through the container along the line AB of FIG. 2, with the container upper part being applied to the container lower part,

Fig. 2

a top view of the container shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

a detail of the peripheral edge of the container base of FIG. 1 with latched to the container base container upper part and

Fig. 4

in perspective view of a container in the open state and the container upper part removed.

The container 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in complete form, serves to receive solid, pasty and flowable and schöpfffähiger products, especially of food products. The container 10 can also be used for germ-free uptake of medical devices or in the field of medical means such as bandages or other small parts. In the closed state after filling the container 10 with the desired products and the subsequent hermetic sealing a germ-free storage of the products received in the container 10 is guaranteed.

The container 10 comprises a container base 11 for receiving the actual product. The container base 11 has a container opening 14, the container upper part 12, see. Figs. 1 and 2, is closed.

The container lower part has a substantially closed edge 15 which runs around the container opening 14 and projects away substantially at right angles to the side walls of the container lower part 11. It should be noted that the container base 11 by no means only the shown in the figures, may have substantially rectangular shape, but also any other shape, for example. With a round or oval cross-section. The pre-listed edge 15 projecting substantially at right angles from the side walls of the container base 11 is to be understood as meaning that the container 10, when placed on a substantially flat base, is oriented substantially parallel to the ground.

Since otherwise container 10 of this type are known, will be discussed below on the structural design of the container base 11 only in connection with the constructive requirements of the invention.

The container also includes the already mentioned container upper part 1 12, ie the actual Behälterdekkel. The container upper part or the container lid consists of a collar element 16, cf. Also, Fig. 3, which shows a detail of Fig. 1, and of a substantially flat lid member 17, which is clearly seen in FIG. 3. This flat lid member 17 is formed much thinner compared to the other walls of the container base 11 and the collar member 16, which will be described in detail below.

The collar member 16 is formed to pass around the container opening as a one-piece molding, i. enclosing them like a collar. see. again, in particular Fig. 3. The collar member 16 forms a sort of frame, which includes the flat lid member 17.

The collar member 16 has substantially two areas, namely the web-like region 19, which protrudes substantially at right angles from the container top 12 and the container lid, and an edge 23 which is formed substantially parallel to the lid member 17.

The edge 15 running around the container opening 14 of the container lower part 11 also has at its free end a web 20 running around the container opening 14.

The web 13 of the container upper part and the web 20 of the container base are formed as respective parts of a common clip connection, in such a way that the web 13 of the collar member 16 and the web 20 of the container base latching engage. The web 13 and the web 20 are formed substantially parallel to each other, wherein the two webs 13 and 20 in the embodiment of the container 10 shown in the figures by a few degrees greater than 90 ° from the plane of the lid member 17 and from the plane of Stand out edge 15 of the container base.

The clip connection 18 is formed in detail by a projection 13 formed on the web 13, which engages in the latched state under the free end 22 of the web 20 of the container base 11. The cover element 17 consists, as already indicated, of a foil-like body which, for example, may have a thickness 24 in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 mm. The lid member 17, ie the foil-like body, in a preferred embodiment of the container 10 in one piece, ie integrally formed with the collar member 16 may be. Such a configuration of the container 10 or the container upper part 12 can be produced in a single injection molding process.

But it is also possible to separately produce the cover member 17 in the form of the sheet-like body and to connect with the circumferential collar member 16, for example. By welding and / or gluing. In this case, the edge 23 of the collar element 16 may have a circumferential recess corresponding to the thickness 24 of the cover element 17, as can be seen by way of example from FIG. 3. In this recessed area of the edge 23, the cover element 17, guided by the edge thus formed in the edge 23, be connected to each other by means of said welding and / or adhesive connection.

On the peripheral edge 15 of the container base 11, a projection 21 is formed, which projects from the edge 15 raised. On this projection 21, the lid member rests on and the collar member 16 rests on the adjacent to the projection 21 formed part of the rim 15, see. Fig. 3, namely, when the container 10 is closed, i. the container top 12 is applied to the container base 11.

After the container base 11 and the container top 12 has been prepared in the manner described above, the container base is 11. See. Fig. 4, at the manufacturer of the product, with which the container 10 is to be filled, filled with the product. Subsequently, the container upper part 12 is placed on the container base 11 and moved toward each other so that said clip connection between the web 20 of the container base 1 and the web 13 of the container top 12th latched together. Then the lid member 17 rests on the projection 21 and the collar member 16 rests on the free end of the edge 15 of the container base. Subsequently, in the region of the projection 21, the cover element 17 is welded to the projection 21 and / or adhesively bonded.

The filling of the container base 11 and the subsequent welding of the lid member 17 with the edge 15 can be done in a vacuum.

To remove the container top 12 from the container base can be gripped by the user with his fingers under the free end of the web 13 of the container top 12, in the direction of arrow 26. Since the material used for the formation of the container base 11 and the container top, the For example, a suitable injection-moldable material may be, for example. Propylene, is elastic, in the direction of arrow 26, an elastic deformation of the web 13 can be effected so that it comes out of engagement with the free end 22 of the web 20 of the container base 11, wherein Subsequently, the container upper part 12 can be raised in total, which subsequently dissolves the welding and / or adhesive connection between the projection 21 and the lid member 17. The welding and / or adhesive connection is set such that no damage to the projection 21 and the cover element 17 occurs when opening. If the container upper part 12 is raised even further by corresponding tilting, the connection between the projection 21 and the cover element 17 is released around the entire container opening 14. After removal of the container upper part 12 in its entirety, the product can then be removed from the container bottom part 11.

If the container base 11 is then closed again, the container top is placed back on the container base 11 and so far toward each other in the direction of arrow 27 until the clip connection of the web 13 of the container top 12 with the clip connection of the web 20 of the container base 11 engage each other. The residual product located in the container bottom part 11 can then be stored again substantially tightly sealed in the container 11.

If the film-shaped cover element 17 is formed of light-transparent material, the user of the container can recognize the container contents even in the closed state of the container 10, which is of great advantage 1 for presentation purposes of the container contents, for example in shelves or freezers and the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

container

11

Container bottom

12

Container top (container lid)

13

Bar (container top)

14

container opening

15

edge

16

collar element

17

cover element

18

clip connection

19

Area (clip connection)

20

Bridge (container bottom)

21

head Start

22

free end (footbridge bottom)

23

Edge (collar element)

24

thickness

25

welded joint

26

arrow

27

Arrow 1

Claims (14)

Container (10) for solid, pasty and flowable and creatifiable products, in particular for food products, comprising a container base (11) for receiving the product and a container lid designed as a container top (12), wherein the container bottom part (11) has a closed to his The container upper part (12) has an edge (15) running around the container opening (12), characterized in that the container upper part (12) consists of a collar element (16) extending around the container opening (14) and comprising a collared collar element (17) ), wherein the lid member (17) is fixed to the collar member (16) and releasably secured to the rim (15) of the container bottom member (11). Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the collar element (16) has a web-like region (19) which is designed in the manner of a clip connection (18), latching behind a around the container opening (14) running around web (13) of the container base (11) engages. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the web (13) of the collar element (16) and in the region (19) formed web (20) of the container base (11) are formed in mutually latched state substantially parallel to each other. Container according to one or both of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the part of the clip connection (18) formed on the collar element (16) is formed by a projection (21) formed on the web (20) of the clip connection (18) latched state under the free end (22) of the web (20) of the container base (11) engages. Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the peripheral edge (15) of the container bottom part (11) is designed to project away substantially at right angles from the container bottom part 1 (11). Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that on the peripheral edge (15) of the container bottom part (11) is formed a raised projecting projection (21) on which the lid member (17) is releasably secured. Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cover element (17) consists of a film-like body, which is formed integrally with the circumferential collar element (16). Container according to claim 7, characterized in that; in that the cover element (17) and the circumferential collar element (16) are produced together in an injection molding process. Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cover element (17) consists of a foil-like body, which is connected by means of a welded connection with the circumferential collar element (16). Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the thickness of the sheet-like cover element is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 mm. Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least the sheet-like cover element (17) consists of polypropylene. Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cover element (12) consists of at least light-transparent material. Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the fastening of the cover element (17) on the collar element (16) by means of a welded connection (25). Container according to claim 13, characterized. that the weld (25) is a fusion welded joint.

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