Container

Abstract

A container has an upper edge, a lateral wall extending around the circumference of the container, and an opening closed by a lid. A latching rim proximate the upper edge latches with a corresponding latching rim on the lid. The latching rims of the container and the lid, respectively, extend at least partially around a circumference of the same. The container lateral wall includes a peripheral skirt having a sub-region extending radially outwardly from the lateral wall. The lid includes a lower lid rim on the outside of the container and at least one extension extending outside the lateral wall of the container. The extension extends below the lower rim of the lid and at least partially penetrates the skirt of the container. The extension and the container include corresponding fixing devices releasable independently of the latching devices formed by the latching rims of the container and the lid.

Claims

1. A container with a lid, the container comprising: an upper container edge; a lateral wall extending around a circumference of the upper container edge; an upper container opening closed by the lid; and a latching rim, wherein: the latching rim forms a latching connection with a corresponding latching rim on the lid in a region of the upper container edge; the latching rim of the container and the latching rim of the lid each extend at least partially around a respective circumference thereof; the lateral wall of the container comprises a peripheral skirt having a sub-region extending radially outwardly from the lateral wall, and the lid comprises a lower lid rim outside the container, wherein the lid at least comprises a lid extension extending outside the container which extends below the lower lid rim and at least partially penetrates the container skirt, and the lid extension and the container each comprise corresponding fixing devices detachable independently of the latching connection formed by the latching rims of the container and the lid, respectively, wherein the lid extension is at least partially covered on the outside thereof by a tamper-evident closure arranged on the skirt of the container so that the lid extension is accessible for manipulation by removing or displacing the tamper-evident closure.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein, after removal or displacement of the tamper-evident closure, the skirt at least one of (i) forms a recess open towards the bottom of the container and (ii) overlaps the tamper-evident closure on the upper side thereof.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fixing devices are formed between the lid extension and the container in the form of positive-locking devices or latching devices.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid extension or the container include a recess that is engaged or penetrated by a protrusion of one of the container and the lid extension as a corresponding fixation means.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device of the lid extension engages a projection or collar molded to the container on the outside thereof and overlapped by the lid.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid extension has a radially outwardly bulging part engaging an underside of the skirt when the lid extension is displaced.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the latching rim of the container and the lid is designed at least as a weakened latching connection compared to regions of the latching rim of the lid and the container that are circumferentially spaced from the lid extension.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the latching rim of the container and the lid is interrupted adjacent the lid extension.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fixing devices on the lid extension and the container are spaced from the latching rims of the lid and the container in relation to the container height, for fixing the same together in a latching manner.

10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container are disposed on a side of the latching rims of the lid and the container around an outer circumference of the upper edge of the container.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the latching rims of the lid and the container are arranged between a collar on an exterior of the container and the upper edge of the container, for fixing the lid in a latching manner.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises at least two lid extensions which each extend below a lower rim of the lid and which are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction of the container.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the lid comprises several successively manipulatable lid extensions for detaching the lid from the container.

14. The container according to claim 12, wherein the lid comprises several simultaneously manipulatable lid extensions for detaching the lid from the container.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lateral wall of the container comprises regions having large and small radii of curvature and that at least one of the lid extensions is arranged at regions of the lateral wall having a small radius of curvature.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid includes at least two lid extensions arranged at adjacent regions of the container lateral wall having a small radius of curvature, wherein a lateral wall region having the relatively larger radius of curvature is arranged between the lateral wall regions having the smaller radius of curvature.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is a hinged lid.

18. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid extension is designed as to be deformable in a reversible manner so that the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container can be released under a reversible deformation of the lid extension, wherein the lid extension is permanently attached to the lid, wherein the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container can be again fixed to one another after the initial opening of the container and the container can be opened and closed several times, wherein the latching rim of the container and latching rim of the lid can be unlatched only during an ongoing unlatching operation of the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container, and wherein a lower end portion of the lid extension has a free end portion, and the free end portion of the lid extension is adapted to be manually operated by manual engagement and is adapted to be manually pivoted to release the fixing device between the lid extension and the container.

19. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid extension is designed as to be deformable in a reversible manner so that the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container can be released under a reversible deformation of the lid extension, wherein the lid extension is permanently attached to the lid, and wherein the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container can be again fixed to one another after the initial opening of the container and the container can be opened and closed several times, and wherein the lid comprises two lid extensions, and both lid extensions are designed that they require simultaneous manual engagement to open the lid.

20. A container with a lid, the container comprising: an upper container edge; a lateral wall extending around a circumference of the upper container edge; an upper container opening closed by the lid; and a latching rim, wherein: the latching rim forms a latching connection with a corresponding latching rim on the lid in a region of the upper container edge; the latching rim of the container and the latching rim of the lid each extend at least partially around a respective circumference thereof; the lateral wall of the container comprises a peripheral skirt having a sub-region extending radially outwardly from the lateral wall, and the lid comprises a lower lid rim outside the container, wherein the lid at least comprises a lid extension extending outside the container which extends below the lower lid rim and at least partially penetrates the container skirt, and the lid extension and the container each comprise corresponding fixing devices detachable independently of the latching connection formed by the latching rims of the container and the lid, respectively, wherein the lid extension is designed as to be deformable in a reversible manner so that the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container can be released under a reversible deformation of the lid extension, wherein the lid extension is permanently attached to the lid, and wherein the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container can be again fixed to one another after the initial opening of the container and the container can be opened and closed several times, wherein the latching rim of the container and the latching rim of the lid can be unlatched only during an ongoing unlatching operation of the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container, and wherein the lid extension has a radially outwardly bulging part engaging an underside of the skirt when the lid extension is sufficiently displaced radially outwardly, and wherein the radially outwardly bulging part is arranged at the lid extension at an opposite side of the fixing devices cooperating between the lid extension and the container, and said radially outwardly bulging part is designed to hook with the skirt when displaced radially outwardly beyond an intermediate pivoting position, the intermediate pivoting position being a pivoting position of the lid extension wherein the fixing devices are unlocked and the radially outwardly bulging part is not hooked with the skirt, and wherein the radially outwardly bulging part, when hooked with the skirt, prevents the lid from an upward displacement, so that the lid extension must be arranged in the intermediate pivoting position to enable the lid to be moved upwardly and to be detached from the container.

21. The container according to claim 18, wherein the free end portion of the lid extension is at least partially covered on the outside by a tamper-evident closure arranged on the skirt, and only upon removal or displacement of the tamper-evident closure, the free end portion of the lid extension either extends below the lower skirt edge or extends into a recess of the skirt, so that the free end portion of the lid extension is accessible for manual pivoting only upon removal or displacement of the tamper-evident closure.

22. The container according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the latching rims of the container and of the lid is circumferentially aligned with the lid extension and is designed as a weakened latching connection compared to regions of the latching rims of the lid and of the container that are circumferentially spaced from the lid extension.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first regular container having a tamper-evident closure;

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the tamper-evident closure removed;

(5) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 2 in the region of the lid extension;

(6) FIG. 4 is a view of the second container having a tamper-evident closure in accordance with the invention;

(7) FIG. 5 is a view of the container shown in FIG. 4 with the tamper-evident closure removed and with the lid closed;

(8) FIG. 6 is a view of the container shown in FIG. 5 with the hinged lid opened; and

(9) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternative configuration of the lid extension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a container 1 according to the present invention in the form of an oval-shaped container with a lid 10. However, it should be noted that the embodiment is not limited to this type of container. The container 1 has an upper container edge 1A and a peripheral lateral wall 2 and a container opening 3 closed by said lid. In the region of the upper container edge 1A, a latching rim 4 is provided, for a latching connection to a corresponding latching rim 11 (shown by a dashed line) provided on the inner side of the lid 10. The lid is fixed to the container by the engagement of said two latching rims 4, 11 of the container and the lid. The latching rims 4, 11 of the container and the lid can be continuous around the container or lid, especially the latching rim 4 of the container. If necessary, the latching rims can be configured in a manner comprising a plurality of latching protrusions spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the container, especially that of the lid. The lateral wall 2 of the container 1 has a peripheral skirt 5 that preferably extends around the full circumference of the container and radially outwardly from the container lateral wall 2. In the embodiment, the skirt comprises a substantially horizontal region 5A and a substantially vertical region 5B. The lid 10 has a lower rim 12 that terminates above or at the level of the skirt (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3). The lid rim 12 is placed on the skirt 5 but preferably, it may be slightly vertically spaced from the skirt in the direction of the height along the longitudinal axis L of the container.

(11) According to the invention, the lid 10 at least comprises one extension 13 extending outside the lateral wall 2 of the container 1 and below the lower lid rim 12 and penetrating the peripheral skirt 5. To this end, the skirt includes a passage opening 5C through which the extension 13 extends. The passage opening 5C is arranged in the substantially horizontally extending region 5A of the skirt, which is particularly advantageous for the implementation of the invention, without being limited thereto. The extension 13 and the container 1 comprise corresponding fixing devices 14 (FIG. 3) that can be released independently of the latching devices for fixing the container to the lid, hence independently of the latching rims 4 and 11. The fixing devices can be used several times after the container is opened for the first time, i.e. the fixing devices can be engaged with each other in a reversible manner, said engagement being automatically effected at the time of latching the lid to the container. Generally within the scope of the present invention, “fixing the lid to the container” is understood to mean in particular that the lid is supported on the container as intended and securely seals the container even if a certain external force is applied to the container. This is also given in a case where the fixing devices between the extension and the container are released or are missing in a reference container. The configuration according to the invention provides for an increased child safety of the container, while the container can still be relatively easily opened by a user and can also be easily closed, for instance in an automatic filling station, by simply attaching the lid to the container in a latching manner.

(12) The container 1 further comprises a tamper-evident closure 6, which in the present case is designed as a tamper-evident tab and which is linked to the container or, more specifically, to the skirt 5 by linkages that are destroyed when the tamper-evident closure is opened. Preferably, for opening the container, the tamper-evident closure is completely removed or possibly only displaced, in order to enable the lid extension 13 to be engaged for opening the container, hence for releasing the fixing devices between the extension and the container and, in general in a second step, for unlatching the lid from the container, whereby the latching rims 4 and 11 of the container and the lid are disengaged. The tamper-evident closure 6 preferably completely overlaps the lid extension 13 on the outside thereof. The tamper-evident closure 6 is molded to the container skirt 5, if necessary also at a different sub-region of the container. Especially when the tamper-evident closure is designed as a tab such as in the embodiment, the same is integrated in the skirt 5, and when the tamper-evident closure 6 is removed or displaced, an open recess 5d is formed at the container skirt through which the extension 13 can be grasped and manipulated with the hand from below. The skirt 5 overlaps and protects the tamper-evident closure on the upper side thereof.

(13) Further, for instance as a result of the above-described design, the skirt forms a boundary for limiting the displacement of the lid extension with regard to the disengagement of the fixing devices between the extensions and the container and/or with regard to the movement of the extension 13 required for unlatching the latching rims 4 and 11. In the container according to the exemplary embodiment, the lid extension can be pivoted in a direction radially outwards and upwards (arrow), while this pivoting movement is limited by the skirt, in the exemplary embodiment by the sub-region of the skirt overlapping the tamper-evident closure on the upper side thereof.

(14) According to the sectional view in FIG. 3 at the level of the lid extension, the fixing devices of the lid extension 13 are formed as latching devices on the container 1, namely by corresponding latching protrusions 14A and 14B on the extension and on the container. The latching protrusion 14A of the lid extension 13 protrudes radially inwards from said lid extension and towards the container. A collar 7 that is molded to the outside of the container, more precisely the lower edge 7A thereof which is engaged by the latching protrusion 14A from below, serves as a latching protrusion 14B of the container. The lid can be fixed to the container by simply attaching the lid to the container in a latching manner, which simultaneously causes the corresponding fixing devices to become latched to one another. In this case, the collar 7 is designed as a peripheral collar around the entire circumference of the container and also provides for a stiffening of the lateral wall of the container. If necessary, the collar may also comprise several sub-regions spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the container or may be merely designed as a local protrusion. According to the embodiment, the lid also abuts the collar on the outside thereof in the flange-shaped region 10C, namely preferably around the entire circumference of the container, whereby the lid is stabilized and the fixing devices between the lid extension and the container are relieved of or protected against external forces applied.

(15) The lid extension 13 includes a radially outwardly bulging or protruding region 13C, in this case in the form of a step, which engages under the skirt 5 when the extension is manipulated for releasing the fixing devices 14. In the end region or when the extension is maximally deflected or pivoted towards its open position, the bulging region 13C engages under the skirt 5 at the upper edge 5e of the recess 5d, which causes the extension and the skirt to become interlinked. This prevents a vertical upward movement of the extension and hence also the corresponding lid part required for opening the lid. This considerably increases child safety. Accordingly, the extension must be brought to an intermediate position between the initial position and the abutting position at the skirt, in order to displace the extension upwards and thus mutually disengage the latching devices for fixing the container to the lid, here the latching rims 4 and 11. In the intermediate pivoting position of the extension, the latching devices 4 and 11 between that lid and the container are already initially disengaged, which makes it easier to displace the latching rims 4 and 11 upwards and continue their disengagement, in order to completely disengage the lid from the container.

(16) In order to facilitate opening the container as intended, the latching rim 11 of the lid is weakened at the level of the extension 13 or the fixing devices thereof, more precisely, according to the embodiment (FIG. 3), removed in the region 11A (correspondingly refer to FIG. 6). If necessary, this can be alternatively or additionally given also for the latching rim of the container. The weakened portion or the interruption of the latching rim 11 (slightly) extends beyond the peripheral extent of the lid extension 13, which makes it is easier to open the container by manipulating the extension 13. If necessary, a corresponding transition region is provided at the latching rim.

(17) The fixing devices on the lid extension and on the container are spaced from each other and from the latching rims 4, 11 of the lid and the container in relation to the height of the container. The latching rim of the container is arranged above the collar 7, more precisely at or in the region of the upper edge of the container.

(18) The lid abuts the inner wall of the container with its inner flange 16, which passes into the lid inner surface 17, in a sealing manner. The lid has a peripheral U-shaped channel 18 receiving the upper edge of the container, the extension of the lid being molded to the flange of the channel on the outside thereof. The lid has a step-offset 19 at the outer flange thereof which surrounds the container on the outside thereof, the flange being disposed above the skirt and above the collar when the lid is attached. On the inner surface of the lid sealing the container opening and extending radially to the container edge, the lid comprises several stiffening protrusions 20 distributed over the circumference of the lid.

(19) The FIGS. 4 to 6 show a modification of a container with lid in accordance with the invention as shown in the FIGS. 1 to 3. Reference is made to the description of these Figures, while the following description merely shows the differences between the modification and the previous embodiment. Features corresponding to the above embodiment are provided with an ‘apostrophe’ and vice versa. Features described in the context with the following example may be also implemented in a container corresponding to the first embodiment.

(20) The container 1′ according to the embodiment is configured as a rectangular container, without being limited thereto. The container 1′ comprises two tamper-evident closures 6′, 6″ and extensions 13′, 13″, which are each configured corresponding to the exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGS. 1 to 3, except of the difference described in the following. In this case, too, the latching rim 4′ of the container 1′ (not of the lid) respectively has an interruption 4A′ at the level of the extension 13′, 13″, hence is missing. As an alternative, also a weaker latching connection than in the remaining regions of the peripheral latching rims 4′, 11′ can be provided. This makes it easier to disengage the lid, in particular by displacing the extensions towards the upper container wall. The interrupted latching rim has a transition region 4B′ with an increasing thickness of the latching rim. It will be understood that a corresponding design of the latching rim of the present embodiment can also be implemented in the first embodiment and vice versa.

(21) The arrangement of said two extensions 13′, 13″ considerably increases child safety of the container, while the container can still be relatively easily opened by an authorized person. In a first variant, the two extensions 13′, 13″ can be manipulated one after the other, wherein on releasing the respective fixing devices between the extension and the container which may be designed corresponding to the fixing devices of the first embodiment, the respective extension is preferably subsequently moved upwards and towards the upper edge of the container, in order to decouple the latching rims 4′, 11′ between the container and the lid in the region of the respective extension. After releasing and preferably displacing the first extension, also the second extension can be manipulated, whereby on a vertical upward displacement of the second extension, the lid region between said two extensions and also the lid as a whole disengages from the container. The successive manipulation of said two extensions 13′, 13″ is enabled in particular by a certain flexibility of the lid. According to another variant, both extensions 13′, 13″ must be manipulated one after the other, in order to disengage the lid from the container. To this end, the lid presents a higher stiffness than in the first modification. Requiring a simultaneous manipulation of both extensions 13′, 13″ further increases child safety of the container substantially.

(22) The container 1′ has a lateral wall 2′ comprising various regions having different radii of curvature, the radii of curvature being small in the corner regions 9A′ of the container and comparatively large in the intermediate regions 9B′ of the lateral wall. The extensions 13′, 13″ are arranged in the regions having the smaller radii of curvature and hence an increased stiffness of the lid compared to more flexible regions having larger radii of curvature. This considerably facilitates opening the container by the manipulation as described.

(23) The lid 1′ is configured as a hinged lid so that a first sub-region 1F′ of the lid is flipped open, in order to open the container, while a second sub-region 1G′ of the lid remains fixed in position and latched to the container. Due to this sub-region 1G′ of the lid, the lid 10′ remains fixed to the container 1′ when the container is opened. This makes it much easier to open the container while manipulating the extensions 13′, 13″. It will be understood that such a hinged lid can be implemented also in a case where only one of the extensions 13′ is arranged at the lid.

(24) FIG. 7 shows an alternative design of the lid extension or the fixing devices for detachably fixing the lid extension to the container. It will be understood that this design may be implemented in all the embodiments of the invention, hence also in the embodiments according to the FIGS. 1 to 6. If the respective lid comprises several extensions, this configuration can be implemented for all the lid extensions or only for a part thereof. For further details of the container and/or the lid, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 6. Where the features are different from those of the FIGS. 1 to 6, the corresponding reference numbers are provided with a quotation mark “′”. Moreover, reference is made to the explanatory notes on the reference numbers of the FIGS. 1 to 6.

(25) In the modification according to FIG. 7, the lid extension or the container, here the lid extension 13′, have a recess 13′D which is engaged or penetrated by a protrusion 7′B of one of the container and the lid extension as a corresponding fixing device for detachably fixing the lid extension to the container. Here, the protrusion 7′B is molded to the collar 7 of the container. If necessary, the protrusion can also be directly molded to the container lateral wall or to a different sub-region of the container. The recess is here preferably formed as an aperture. The front region 7′C of the protrusion 7′B is thus more easily visible for the user, and the engagement of the protrusion 7B′ into the aperture 13′D can be checked more easily. If necessary, the front region of the protrusion 7′B or the protrusion as a whole may have a color different from the color of the lid or the lid extension or can be otherwise marked, whereby the visual detectabily is increased. Further, the boundary of the recess or aperture 13′D can be configured with comparatively sharp edges enabling a secure engagement of the protrusion 7′B into the recess or aperture and thus further increasing child safety.

(26) The features that have been described in the context with the exemplary embodiments may also generally apply within the scope of the present invention.

(27) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.