Container

Abstract

A container for loosely stored products including a) a container body containing a peripheral body wall having an inner peripheral body groove; b) a cover containing a cover skirt having an outwardly facing sealing portion with an apex that seals against the inner peripheral body groove when the cover is in a closed condition thereby forming a seal of a sealing line type; and c) a hinge connecting the container body and the cover. The apex of the cover skirt and the inner peripheral body groove provide the only seal between the cover and the container body and preferably the only locking element that holds the cover in the closed condition on the container body.

Claims

1. A container for loosely stored products comprising a) a container body comprising a peripheral body wall having an inner peripheral body groove in an inner surface of the inner peripheral body wall; and b) a cover comprising a cover skirt having an outwardly facing sealing portion with an apex that seals into the inner peripheral body groove when the cover is in a closed condition thereby forming a seal which is a sealing line; wherein the apex of the cover skirt and the inner peripheral body groove provide the only seal between the cover and the container body when the container is in the closed condition; wherein the peripheral body groove defines a groove radius in a cross section of the peripheral body wall and the apex of the sealing portion defines an apex radius in a cross section of the cover skirt; wherein the groove radius is greater than the apex radius, and wherein the apex of the cover skirt and the inner peripheral body groove additionally provide a locking element that holds the cover in the closed condition on the container body, wherein the locking element is the only locking element that holds the cover in a closed condition on the container body.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises an outer peripheral cover wall situated radially outside of the cover skirt and radially outside of the peripheral body wall.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises a top wall from which the cover skirt and the outer peripheral cover wall extend, wherein a vertical distance of the apex of the sealing portion of the cover wall from the top wall is smaller than a vertical extension of the outer peripheral cover wall.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the peripheral body wall has, when viewed from a top side, rounded surfaces.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the container body has a cylindrical shape.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral body groove has a depth of between 0.05 mm and 0.7 mm.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein a skirt outer diameter (da) of the cover skirt at a position of the apex is greater than a peripheral body wall inner diameter (dg) of the container body at a position of the peripheral body groove.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the skirt outer diameter (da) and the peripheral body wall inner diameter (dg) satisfy the equation da=dg+x, where x is from 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm.

9. The container of claim 1, further comprising a hinge connecting the container body and the cover, wherein the hinge allows a rotation of the cover relative to the container body about a rotation axis, and wherein a vertical position of the rotation axis is, in an upright position of the container, between the apex of the sealing portion and an upper end of the peripheral body wall.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the rotation axis of the hinge is situated radially outside of the container body.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover is detachably connected to the container body.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover skirt is a separate piece of the cover.

13. The container of claim 4, wherein a shape of the rounded surface of the peripheral body wall is selected from the group consisting of oval and circular.

14. The container of claim 1, wherein the container, when closed, holds a depression of more than 600 mbar without opening.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Therein shows:

(2) FIG. 1 a three dimensional drawing of a container of container body and mounted cover in open condition;

(3) FIG. 2 a lateral sectional view of the container according FIG. 1 in closed condition;

(4) FIG. 3 a partial lateral sectional view of a part of the container, in particular a part of the cover cooperating with a part of the container body of the container according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 an enlarged detail of a partial lateral sectional view of a cover according to one of FIGS. 1 to 3;

(6) FIG. 5 a partial lateral sectional view of a part of the cover of the container according to one of FIGS. 1 to 4; and

(7) FIG. 6 a partial lateral sectional view of a part of the container body of the container according to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are shown with respect to the figures.

(9) FIG. 1 shows an air tight container 100 according to the invention. The container 100 consists of a container body 10 and a hinged cover 20 and can be used for example to store medical goods such as test strips for blood glucose measurement. The container body 10 has an opening 12 which is surrounded by a peripheral body wall 16. The cover 20 can rotate around a foil hinge 22 for closing and opening of the container 100. A foil hinge is a flexible foil that is used as a hinge. The foil is capable of being rotated or pivoted about an axis, i. e. a rotation axis, which axis extends parallel to a plane of extension of the foil.

(10) A bead 14 which surrounds the container body 10 extends outwards from the peripheral body wall 16 and acts as a stop for the cover 20 in closed condition.

(11) The cover 20 is detachably connected to the container body 10 by means of a first connecting means 18 integral with the container body 10 and a second connecting means 24 integral with the hinge 22. The second connecting means 24 comprises two snapping hooks on opposite sides or one snapping hook on the total length of the hinge 22 or a combination of both which engage corresponding recesses at the first connecting means 18. To establish the connection it is just required to insert the second connecting means 24 into the first connecting means 18.

(12) FIG. 2 shows in a partial sectional view the container in closed condition. Particularly, it shows how the air tight sealing between container body 10 and cover 20 may be established. To this end the cover 20 comprises a cylindrical cover skirt 30 which provides the only seal and, at the same time, provides the only locking element for mechanically holding the cover 20 in place and a cylindrical outer peripheral cover wall 32 which is optionally provided and may protect the seal.

(13) The cover skirt 30 is provided with a sealing portion 34 at an outer surface of the cover skirt 30. This sealing portion 34 cooperates with an inner peripheral body groove on an inner surface of the peripheral body wall 16 of the container body 10 to both air tight seal the container and lock the cover 20 on the container body 10. In other words, the sealing portion provides for the only seal and for the only locking element acting between the cover and the container body.

(14) For facilitating the closing of the cover 20 and to prevent any damages of the sealing portion 34 the peripheral body wall 16 is provided with a chamfer 15 at its upper inner edge. Further, the inner surface of the peripheral body wall 16 is provided very evenly and smoothly. For holding the cover 20 in place in closed condition there is no need to provide an additional projection or similar means which would engage with a corresponding protrusion on the outer surface of the peripheral body wall 16. In contrast, as an alternative to such mechanism, the present embodiment uses the sealing portion 34, which will be further specified below as comprising an apex 36, and a peripheral body groove 13, to provide both the seal and the locking element without the need of any additional protrusion or other locking mechanism. In order to open the container the cover 20 comprises a thumb tab 26 which is arranged at the outer peripheral cover wall 32. By pressing the thumb tab 26 from below, the cover 20 is opened.

(15) The clipping of the cover 20 at the container body 10 is combined with the sealing. The seal (apex 36 of sealing portion 34) engages the inner surface of the peripheral body wall 16, more specifically an inner peripheral groove 13 provided on the inner surface of the peripheral body wall 16. This configuration provides improved holding capabilities during depression tests without substantially impacting the opening forces which means that the improved design allows for a more reliable sealing without requiring the user to apply more force to open and/or close the container.

(16) FIG. 2 further shows an insert 11 which can be made of a special material within the container body 10. Preferably the insert 11 is made of a desiccant entrained polymer whereas the cover 20 and the container body 10 are made of PP.

(17) FIGS. 3 to 5 show details of the cover 20, particularly the elements of the sealing portion 34 at the cover skirt 30. The sealing portion 34 comprises an apex 36 which comprises a first radius R1 and which forms the actual contact line with the inner peripheral body groove 13. The first radius R1 can be 0.5-3.0 mm, preferably 0.7-0.9 mm and more preferably it is 0.8 mm.

(18) The apex 36 is arranged at the outer edge of the cover skirt 30 and faces the outer peripheral cover wall 32. Between the outer peripheral cover wall 32 and the cover skirt 30 a clearance 28 is provided, which accommodates the peripheral body wall 16 in closed condition of the container.

(19) As it can be seen in FIG. 4, the vertical distance A of the apex 36 from a top wall of the cover 20 is smaller than the vertical extension B of the outer peripheral cover wall. Therefore, the outer peripheral cover wall 32 protects the apex 36 from undesired contact with other elements, what may lead to damages of the apex 36 that forms the actual sealing line. This leads to an increased reliability of the container in view of air tightness.

(20) The vertical distance A of the apex 36 of the sealing portion 34 from the top wall of the cover 20 can be 2.0-15.0 mm, preferably 3.9 mm and the vertical extension B of the outer peripheral cover wall 32 from the top wall of the cover can be 2.1-15.1 mm, preferably 4.2 mm. Therefore, the apex 36 of the sealing portion 34 is protected by a preferably 0.3 mm higher outer peripheral cover wall 32.

(21) The sealing portion 34 further comprises a second radius R2 between the first radius R1 and an end surface 35 of the cover skirt 30. The second radius R2 is smaller than the first radius R1. In an embodiment the second radius R2 can be 0.05-2.0 mm, preferably 0.10-0.50 mm and more preferably 0.15 mm. This second radius R2 eliminates the risk of damaging (for example scratching) the inner wall surface of the peripheral body wall of the container body 10 and, thereby, improves again airtightness of the container. Further, the small radius R2 ensures that the distance between the apex 36 and the end surface 35 is small such that the sealing line is close to the lower end of the cover skirt 30 which has manufacturing advantages. Particularly, this avoids material accumulation at the sealing portion 34 which eliminates defects like sink marks.

(22) Further, the cover skirt 30 comprises a third radius R3 between a wall surface 38 and the sealing portion 34. This third radius R3 can be 1.0-3.0 mm more preferably 1.5 mm. It facilitates the production of the cover 20 since it avoids any risk of scratching the sealing portion surface when the cover 20 is ejected from its mould.

(23) The thickness T of the inner wall 30 is chosen to optimize on the one hand the compression force the apex 36 exerts to the inner peripheral body groove 13. On the other hand, as mentioned above, it has been found out that it is favourable to avoid material accumulations at the sealing portion 34 since the sealing portion 34 istime wisethe last portion of the injection mould that is filled. By reducing the wall thickness T, material accumulations are avoided and subsequently material defects like sink marks are avoided which improves the geometry of the sealing portion 34, in particular the apex 36 and the air tightness of the container. The thickness T of the cover skirt 30 can be 0.4-1.2 mm, preferably about 1.2 mm.

(24) For this reason the cover skirt 30 further comprises a chamfer 40 opposite to the sealing portion 34, hence, on the inner side of the lower end 35 of the cover skirt 30.

(25) Measurements within a climate chamber of moisture uptake showed a significant improvement in view of moisture ingress compared to a different container with a closure that shows a cover skirt of the shape indicated by outline 50.

(26) FIG. 5 illustrates a partial lateral sectional view of a part of the cover 20 of the container. In the partial sectional view, the foil hinge 22 connecting the second connecting means and the outer peripheral cover wall 32 is illustrated. The axis of rotation or the axis of pivoting extends substantially perpendicularly to the paper plane and the foil hinge 22 allows a pivoting movement of the cover 20 with respect to the second connecting means 24 about that axis.

(27) FIG. 5 illustrates the apex 36 of the sealing portion 34 to define an outer diameter da measured across the cover 20, more particularly between parts of the circumferential apex 36 which oppose across a center of the cover 20.

(28) FIG. 6 illustrates a partial lateral sectional view of a part of the container body 10 of the container according to FIG. 5. In addition to the first connecting means 18, the outer peripheral body wall 16 and the inset 11 as well as the chamfer 15, FIG. 6 illustrates the inner peripheral body groove 13. This peripheral body groove 13 defines an outer diameter dg in generally the same way as the outer diameter da of the apex 36 of the cover 20. The outer diameter dg of the peripheral body groove 13 is defined between two parts of the circumferentially extending peripheral body groove 13 which are opposed to each other across a center of the body 10.

(29) Preferably the outer diameters da and dg satisfy the equation da=dg+x, where x is 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm, more preferably 0.1 mm to 1 mm. This may allow for particularly well sealing characteristics while maintaining advantageous opening forces.

(30) In order to evaluate the opening forces of vials according to the invention, a comparative test was carried out on two families of vials with identical geometry as regards the outside dimensions and the exchange surfaces, but with a different design of the seal and the locking element. Both families of vials have a cover made of polypropylene and a container body made of polyethylene. The first vial family had a seal design with a locking element comprising a protrusion behind the container, according to US 2011/0000930.

(31) The second vial family had a seal and locking element design according to the invention.

(32) 1st Test:

(33) Closed vials were fixed on an automated force tester (Chatillon TCD200). The thumb tab 26 was submitted to a vertical force exerted by a disc that displaces upwardly (i.e. in the opening direction of the vial). The vertical force was applied to the thumb tab at a point located at 4 mm from the end of the disc under a traction speed of 150 mm/min. The vertical force was recorded until the opening has been achieved. This test aimed at measuring the opening forces required by a user to open the cover on purpose. The aim is providing vials that are not too difficult to be opened or closed by a user, for example an elderly person.

(34) The corresponding opening forces (N) were recorded in the table below:

(35) TABLE-US-00001 Vials according to Vials according to US 2011/0000930 the invention Measured 18 19 opening force 21 19 (N) 20 19 20 21 20 18 20 19 18 17 21 21 minimum 18 17 maximum 21 21 average 19.5 19
2nd Test:

(36) Closed vials half filled with a colored water were placed upside down in a vacuum bell. The pressure inside the bell was progressively decreased from 600 mbar and this depression was maintained during 5 minutes. During this test, it was observed whether the vials were opened or not or whether they leaked colored water. This test aimed at measuring the reliability of the apex and inner peripheral body groove forming, at the same time, both the seal and the locking element. It demonstrates the reliability with respect to accidental, i. e. non-purpose openings. The aim is providing a high resistance versus the urge of the depression to open the cover, i. e. the aim is withstanding a high depression for a long period of time.

(37) The the vials according to US 2011/0000930 submitted to this test were opened after a decrease of about 450 mbar. In other words, the vials according to US 2011/0000930 did not hold a depression of more than 450 mbar for any time period.

(38) Of the 10 vials according to the present invention submitted to this test, none have leaked before reaching a depression of 600 mbar. After having reached the depression of 600 mbar, only two vials opened after 4 minutes at the depression of 600 mbar. The others did not open at all during the 5 minutes test.

(39) Accordingly, the present invention allows an improved holding of the cap during depression tests without substantially impacting the opening forces to be applied by a user in order to open the vial on purpose.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(40) 10 container body 11 insert 12 opening 13 peripheral body groove 14 bead 15 chamfer 16 peripheral body wall 18 first connecting means 20 cover 22 hinge 24 second connecting means 26 thumb tab 28 clearance 30 cover skirt 32 outer peripheral cover wall 34 sealing portion 35 end surface 38 wall surface 40 chamfer 50 alternative design 100 Container R1 first radius R2 second radius R3 third radius A vertical distance of apex B vertical extension of outer peripheral cover wall T thickness of cover skirt