Container assembly having stacking provisions

Abstract

The invention relates to a container assembly comprising a container part with a circumferential wall and a bottom wall, and a lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to a rim of said circumferential wall and a lid which is pivotably connected to said connection portion, said connection portion comprising an upper wall provided with an access opening which can be sealed with said lid, and said connection portion is provided with stacking provisions which enclose said access opening and which are complementary with stacking provisions at the bottom of said container part.

Claims

1. A container assembly for a powdered nutritional product, the container assembly comprising: a container part with a circumferential wall and a bottom wall; and a lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to a rim of said circumferential wall and a lid which is pivotably connected to said connection portion, said connection portion comprising an upper wall provided with an access opening which can be sealed with said lid, and said connection portion is provided with stacking provisions which are provided around said access opening and which are complementary with stacking provisions at the bottom of said container part, wherein said lid part has a weight of between 5 g and 500 g, an area of said access opening is at least 50% of the area of the connection portion, said access opening is surrounded by a circumferential first flange and said lid comprises a central portion having an underside including a clamp for holding a metering scoop for the powdered nutritional product and a circumferential lid flange surrounding the central portion and extending towards said connection portion, a radially innermost perimeter of said lid flange and a radially outermost perimeter of said first flange being mutually adapted to directly engage each other to allow said lid to close in a sealing manner around said first flange of said connection portion, said lid being connected to said connection portion via an integrated hinge which has a connection part connecting to a lower end of said lid flange, the lower end being directly adjacent to said upper wall when said lid is closed, and said lid is provided with a lip for opening the lid, which lip is provided at said lower end of said lid flange, and wherein the circumferential lid flange defines a cylindrical space, the circumferential lid flange defines an outermost portion of the lid, and the central portion comprises a recessed dome, located in an interior of the circumferential lid flange, defined by said cylindrical space and having a highest point at a centre of the lid.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said access opening has an area of at least about 50 cm.sup.2 to about 200 cm.sup.2.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said stacking provisions on said connection portion comprise cams, and the circumferential wall of the container part extends downwards beyond the bottom wall and is sized to locate around an outside of the cams of a similar container assembly.

4. The container assembly according to claim 3, wherein said cams are positioned at corners of a rectangle which are provided around said lid when sealing said access opening.

5. The container assembly according to claim 3, wherein the height of said cams is at least the height of said lid when sealing said access opening.

6. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said connection portion comprises a circumferential rim for receiving an upper edge of a side wall of said container part in a groove, the inner perimeter of said rim being complementary to the perimeter enclosing said stacking provisions of said lid part for providing complementary stacking means for stacking a series of lid parts.

7. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lid part is substantially made from a thermoplastic material and comprising a connection portion for connection to a rim of a container part and a lid which is pivotably connected to said connection portion, said connection portion comprising an access opening and a circumferential first flange surrounding said access opening, said lid comprising a circumferential lid flange extending towards said connection portion, perimeters of said lid flange and of first flange mutually adapted to allow said lid to close in a sealing manner on said first flange of said connection portion, and an area of said access opening is at least about 50 cm.sup.2.

8. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lip is provided with an end rim which extends to a periphery of the connection portion.

9. The container assembly according to claim 8, wherein said connection portion is provided with a tamper evident strip which blocks the lip.

10. The container assembly according to claim 9, wherein said tamper evident strip has holes and blocking ends of said lip extend radially through said holes to provide a visible indication.

11. A lid part for a container assembly, said lid part comprising: a connection portion for connection to a rim of a circumferential wall; and a lid which is pivotably connected to said connection portion, said connection portion comprising an upper wall provided with an access opening which can be sealed with said lid, and said connection portion is provided with stacking provisions which are provided around said access opening, wherein said lid part has a weight of about 5-500 gr, an area of said access opening is at least 50% of the area of the connection portion, said access opening is surrounded by a circumferential first flange and said lid comprises a central portion having an underside including a clamp for holding a metering scoop for a powdered product and a circumferential lid flange surrounding the central portion and extending towards said connection portion, a radially innermost perimeter of said lid flange and a radially outermost perimeter of said first flange being mutually adapted to directly engage each other to allow said lid to close in a sealing manner around said first flange of said connection portion, said lid being connected to said connection portion via an integrated hinge which has a connection part connecting to a lower end of said lid flange, the lower end being directly adjacent to said upper wall when said lid is closed, and said lid is provided with a lip for opening the lid, which lip is provided at said lower end of said lid flange, and wherein the circumferential lid flange defines a cylindrical space, the circumferential lid flange defines an outermost portion of the lid, and the central portion comprises a recessed dome, located in an interior of the circumferential lid flange, defined by said cylindrical space and having a highest point at a centre of the lid.

12. The lid part of claim 11, wherein said lid part is substantially made from a thermoplastic material.

13. The lid part of claim 11, wherein an area of said access opening is at least about 50 cm.sup.2.

14. A package comprising the container assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a quantity of the powdered nutritional product within the container part.

15. The container assembly of claim 2, wherein said stacking provisions on said connection portion comprise cams.

16. The container assembly according to claim 4, wherein the height of said cams is at least the height of said lid when sealing said access opening.

17. The lid part of claim 12, wherein an area of said access opening is at least about 50 cm.sup.2.

18. The container assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a metering scoop, the metering scoop being engaged by the clamp at the underside of the lid.

19. The lid part according to claim 11, further comprising a metering scoop, the metering scoop being engaged by the clamp at the underside of the lid.

20. The package according to claim 14, further comprising a sealing foil attached to the inner surface of the circumferential wall of the container part below the rim.

21. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said lid part has a weight of between 5 g and 100 g.

22. A lid part for a container assembly, said lid part comprising: a connection portion for connection to a circumferential wall of a container and a lid, being pivotably connected to said connection portion, said connection portion comprising an upper wall provided with an access opening which can be sealed by said lid, said access opening being surrounded by an upstanding circumferential first flange and said lid comprises a central portion and a circumferential lid flange surrounding the central portion and extending towards said connection portion, wherein a radially innermost perimeter of said lid flange and a radially outermost perimeter of said first flange are sized to engage each other to allow said lid flange to close in a sealing manner around an outside of said first flange, and wherein the circumferential lid flange defines a cylindrical space, the circumferential lid flange defines an outermost portion of the lid, and the central portion comprises a recessed dome, located in an interior of the circumferential lid flange, defined by said cylindrical space and having a highest point at a centre of the lid.

23. The lid part of claim 22, wherein the highest point of the recessed dome extends to a position that is level with an uppermost point of the lid flange.

24. The lid part of claim 23, wherein the lid flange extends downwards to a rim and the recessed dome extends downwards to a lowest position that is level with the rim of the lid flange.

25. The lid part of claim 22, wherein the cylindrical space is an oval cylindrical space.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further elucidated referring to an embodiment of a lid part and a container assembly using this lid part shown in the attached drawings, showing in:

(2) FIG. 1 use of the lid part on a container assembly;

(3) FIG. 2 a perspective top view on a lid part with open lid;

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective view of FIG. 2 from below;

(5) FIG. 4 a bottom view of a lid part with closed lid;

(6) FIG. 5 a cross section as indicated in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 a detail of a cross section of the lid flange;

(8) FIG. 7 stacked lid parts;

(9) FIG. 8 a detail of an opening lip, and

(10) FIG. 9 a detail of a tamper evidence strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(11) In FIG. 1, a container assembly 1 with a lid part 2 of the invention is presented. The container has a container part 3. The container part 3 can be made of cardboard, coated with a synthetic coating layer known in the art for making it suitable for containing food or liquids. The container part can also be made of plastic or metal. Preferably, it is used for holding food or liquids. The container part can also be made of plastic or metal. Preferably, it is used for holding food or liquids. In an embodiment, the container part 3 can have a synthetic coating layer on its inner surface, and a sealing foil of sealing membrane is attached below the rim or edge of the container part 3, in an embodiment about 1-3 cm below the edge. The sealing foil can be attached to the inner surface of the container part 3, for instance through heat sealing. Thus, some space can be provided between the lid and the seal for storing for instance a measuring scoop or spoon.

(12) Lid part 2 is further elaborated in FIGS. 2 and 3, showing a 3D view of the lid part 2 with opened lid 4 from above (FIG. 2) and from below (FIG. 3). Lid part 2 comprises a connection portion 5, a (living) hinge 9 and a lid 4. Lid 4 is thus pivotably connected to connection portion 5. Connection portion 5 defines an access opening 6. In this embodiment, a first flange 7 bounds the access opening 6. Lid 4 is provided with a lid flange 8 which fits on the first flange 7 to close off access opening 6 and to hermetically seal a container assembly 1. In this embodiment, the access opening is almost elliptic. The access opening 6 can also be round. Alternatively, it can be rectangular with rounded corners. Important in all there embodiments, however, is that the lid flange 8 fits around the flange 7 to hermetically seal the access opening 6.

(13) In order to provide a lid part 2 with a lid 4 which can be opened easily, the hinge 9 has a connection part connecting to the lower end of lid flange 8. Thus, the entire lid 4 can remain accessible for engaging it for opening lid 4. Furthermore lid 4 is provided with a lip 10 for opening the lid 4 easily. In this embodiment, the lip 10 is also provided at the lower end of lid flange 8. Here, it is provided opposite the hinge 9. Thus, a uses can engage the lip 10 to open lid 4 easily. The lip 10 further provides an end rim which can be covered or shielded with a tamper evidence lip 10a.

(14) Connection portion 5 further comprises a wall 11 which is provided with said access opening 6. On the wall 11, cam elements 14 are provided. The use of such cams 14 are further explained in WO2007142522 of the current applicant. These cams 14 provide part of stacking means for stacking lid parts in production. Furthermore, these cams 14 provide part of stacking means for stacking complete container assemblies for instance in stores. In this embodiment, the cams 14 are provided on the connection portion 5. An advantage of this is that the lid 4 is not loaded. Thus, the quality of closure is can not be compromised. Yet, the height of the lid 4 in closed position is equal or substantially equal to the height of the cams 14. Thus, when container assemblies are stacked, the load of the containers will keep the lids pressed close, while preventing loads from other directions. Especially with a lid 4 which fits clampingly on the flange 7 according to an aspect of the invention, the stacking means 14 further secure the closing of the lid 4.

(15) It was already discussed that hinge 9 has a connection part connecting to the lower end of lid flange 8. In fact, in order not to compromise the sealing property of the lid 4, the connection part of hinge 9 connects below the circumferential lower end of lid flange 8. Thus, the sealing properties of the lid 4 on flange 7 is not compromised at all. This, however, also required a lowered part 10b in wall 11. Thus, the sealing properties of lid 4 on connection portion 5 are not compromised at all. This sealing can be improved even further by connecting opening lip 10 also below the circumferential lower end of lid flange 8. Again, to provide an even improved sealing, the wall 11 should also have a corresponding lowered part 10c in wall 11. In FIG. 2 this is clearly indicated. As the wall 11 is relatively thin in the embodiment shown, this means that wall 11 will be offset towards the inside of the container. This can be seem in FIG. 3.

(16) Connection portion 5 is further provided with a circumferential rim 12, which may be called a U-shaped rim. It has a groove 13 to receive an upper edge of the side wall of the container part 3. Fixation of the connection portion 5 to the container wall can be effected through any means known in the art. In an embodiment, a hot melt adhesive is provided in the groove 13.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a view bottom up, of a lid part 2 with closed lid. In this drawing, a cross section is indicated. This cross section is further shown in FIG. 5. This cross section shows more clearly how lid flange 8 of lid 4 closes on flange 7 of the connection portion 5. In FIG. 7, this is shown in more detail.

(18) FIG. 5 also shows the connection portion rim 12 more clearly. In the view of FIG. 5, reinforcement ribs 20 indicated which provide additional rigidity to rim 12.

(19) FIG. 6 shows a detail of the lid flange 8 closing on the flange 7 of the container part 5. Lid flange 8 fits clampingly around flange 7 of connection portion 5. In the situation of FIG. 7, where the lid is closed on the connection part 5, the perimeter 23 at the edge 15 of flange 7 is identical to the (internal) perimeter of lid flange 8 at position 22. At position 16, the lid flange 8 is thickened. Flange 7 flares out. It is shaped in such a way that its outer circumferential surface fits against the inner circumferential surface of the lid flange 8. The lid flange 8 is made from a thermoplastic material. This allows some degree of elasticity. Especially, here the lid flange has a thickness in view of the elasticity of the used thermoplastic material. The lid flange 8 fits somewhat elastically around the relatively stiff flange 7. In order to close the lid and to make it easy to do this frequently, the lower end of lid flange 8 has a beveled off edge. This makes it easy to flip the edge of lid flange 8 over the edge of flange 7. When not fitted on flange 7, the lid and in particular the lid flange 8 is dimensioned such that the smallest internal perimeter of lid flange is smaller than the smallest (circumscribing or outer) perimeter of the flange 7. Preferably, the outer perimeter of flange 7 at the edge 15 is larger than the inner perimeter of lid flange 8 at position 22. In this way, the lid 4 cannot flip off spontaneously. In an embodiment, the flange 7 flares out. The shape of the lid flange follows this shape or follows it when stretched a little. The lid flange 8 is stretched a little to elastically fit around flange 7. This makes a hermetic sealing possible. In practice, for instance in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the smallest diameter of the flange 7 is 101.89 mm, the largest diameter is 112.65 mm. In an embodiment, the thermoplastic material is polypropylene (PP). In this case, the inner diameters of the lid are for instance 101.36 mm and 112.12 mm. The outer diameters are for instance 104.0 mm and 114.8 mm. For this material, the thinnest part of lid flange 8, D1, can be about 0.7-0.8 mm and the thickest part D2 is about 1.1-1.2 mm. The height of the lid flange is about 3.9-4.5 mm, and the height of a corresponding flange 7 is about 2.9-3.1 mm. In practice, the diameter of the lid flange will be about 3-7% smaller than the corresponding diameter of the flange 7. In practice, the lid flange 8 will taper inwardly a little, with an angle of about 2-5 degrees. Due to its elasticity, the lid flange 8 when closed around the first flange 7, will stretch a little and the lid flange 8 will taper no longer, and fits closely around the first flange 7. In the drawing, the cooperating tapered shapes of the lid flange 8 and the flange 7 pull the lid onto the outer surface of wall 11 of the connection portion in order to provide an additional seal of the edge of the lid flange 8 and the wall surface 11. Furthermore, to improve the sealing even further, the lower end of lid flange 8 can be a little tapered to the outside of lid 4. In this way, due to the elasticity which pulls on the lid, in combination with the selected dimensions, this pulls the lowest circumferential end 16 of lid flange 8 against surface 11a of wall 11, thus providing a second sealing. In particular in combination with the hinge 9 connection part and opening lip 10 provided as described above, below the circumferential end 16 of lid flange 16, this improves the sealing.

(20) In order to provide the lid flange 8 with a certain amount of elasticity while on the same time provide a connection portion and in particular its flange 7 with sufficient rigidity, and to allow the lid part to be made cheap and in large quantities, in an embodiment the lid part is made from thermoplastic material. In particular, it is made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). The material in an embodiment is supple and elastic enough to allow the lid flange 8 to be stretched around the flange 7. Thus, an hermetic seal is possible.

(21) In an embodiment, the volume of a container having the lid part is about 0.5-2 liter. This volume is determined by depth, width and height of the container. In order to be able to provide a metering scoop having a length long enough to reach the bottom of the container inside the container, one of dimensions of the diagonal cross section or the width or depth is preferably in the same order of magnitude as the height of the container. Furthermore, it is preferred if the scoop can be clamped to the inside of the lid. In practice, the container may have a depth of about 9-13 cm, a width of about 11-16 cm, and a height of about 10-18 cm. The scoop or spoon will have a total length of about 9-11 cm. The access opening will thus need to have a largest diameter of at least about 9-11 cm, depending on the total length of the spoon or scoop used. The area of the access opening 6 will be at least about 50% of the cross section area of the container fitted with the lid part. An upper limit which can be attained will be about 85%. In the example presented, this number will be about 60-70%. This will allow the lid to be large enough, both in area as well as in maximum diameter. At the same time, it will leave enough room for allowing the stacking cams 14 on the connection portion 5.

(22) A big access opening is preferred for easy entrance with a scope. Furthermore, for hygiene reasons when offering a filled container to the public in a store, the scope can be provided clamped in clamps provided in the inside of the lid or between the lid and the product seal which is additionally provided in the container below the lid (i.e., in the space provided between lid and product seal). In an embodiment, the lid has at least minimal dimensions so as to fit the scope.

(23) As mentioned before in the discussion of FIGS. 2 and 3, for easy opening the lid 4 comprises an opening lip 10. FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment with further improved tamper evidence functionality. Here opening lip 10 is attached to the rim of lid flange 8. The opening lip 10 is at its edge blocked by tamper evident strip 10a. This strip 10a has cams gripping the edge of opening lip 10. These cams can be seem in FIG. 2. The strip 10a is attached to the connection portion 5 via thin bridges of material. This aspect can for instance be seem in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 9. These bridges should be thin enough to break if strip 10a is twisted a little to allow the opening lip 10 pass the cams of strip 10a. In another embodiment, to further improve the tamper evidence provision, the opening lip 10 can be provided with at least one blocking end 22 extending in the direction of strip 10a. Furthermore, strip 10a can be provided with corresponding recesses 21 for receiving at least part of the at least one blocking end. This is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in a specific embodiment. In that embodiment, opening lip 10 has two blocking ends which extend radially or substantially radially with respect to the lid 4. Furthermore, in this embodiment the recesses 21 are through holes in strip 10a. Thus, when on first time opening of the lid 4, the tamper evidence strip 10a will break. Furthermore, the blocking end 22 extending through the holes 21 are a very visible indication for customers. In sensitive products like baby food, thus is an important feature.

(24) FIG. 7 shows two stacked lid parts 2, 2′. The cams 14 on the connections portion 5 provide a secure stacking for defining the position of the lid parts in producing container assemblies, while preventing loading the lid 4. Here, the stacking cams are provided on wall 11. In fact, as is already indicated in FIG. 1, a first use of cams 14 is to provided one part of stacking means which work together with complementary stacking provisions at the lower part of the container part, in particular in the bottom. This allows secure stacking of several containers in top of one another. Furthermore, as the stacking provisions on the lid part are provided on the connection portion around the lid (in closed position), when stacking container assemblies provided with the lid parts, the closure of the lid is not compromised. In fact, in the embodiment shown, the stacking provisions on the lid part extend a little above the lid in order to further secure closure or in order to not compromise closure.

(25) A second use of the stacking provisions on the lid part is possible if the positioning of these stacking provisions is adapted to the dimension of the connection portion. Thus, the effect and use of stacking lid parts described above is realized.

(26) The positioning of the stacking provisions 14 on the connection portion is such that a container assembly stacked on to of the lid part cannot rotate. I.e., it cannot rotate about an axis normal to the access opening. To that end, the cams 14 are in this embodiment provided at corners of a (virtual) rectangle. The complementary stacking provisions at the bottom of the container part provide abutment at sides of the rectangle against the stacking provisions 14 on the lid part 2.

(27) In this embodiment, the stacking provisions on the container part are provided by a circumferential rim at the bottom of the container part as indicated in FIG. 1. The inner diameter of the (dotted) stacking provisions at the bottom match the outer diameter of the stacking means 14. In fact, the shape of the stacking provisions at the bottom will in this embodiment match the (virtual) shape of the stacking means 14 of the lid part 2. In particular, bottom view FIG. 4 of a lid part 2 shows the stacking cams 14 positioned at corners of a rectangle with unequal sides. In an embodiment, the stacking provisions at the bottom of the container will match this shape of the rectangle with unequal sides. In fact, when fitting closely, the stacking cams 14 and stacking provisions at the bottom in their cooperation can stabilise a stack of containers.

(28) It will also be clear that the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.