CONTAINER WITH LID

Abstract

A container has an upper container edge and a fully circumferential lateral wall and an upper container opening closed by a lid. A latching rim is provided near the upper container edge for connection with a corresponding latching rim provided on the lid. The lid has a lid rim portion arranged above the upper container edge. The lid has at least one extension extending outside the lateral container wall and below the lid lower edge. The extension and container have mutually corresponding fasteners independently releasable of the latching rims. The lid and/or the container has an actuator area different from the fasteners on the lid extension and the container and/or from the lid extension itself. When the actuator area has been actuated, the fasteners between the lid extension and the container are more easily releasable and, where applicable, easier to close.

Claims

1. A container with a lid, the container having an upper container edge and a fully circumferential lateral wall and an upper container opening closed by said lid, wherein a latching rim is provided in the region of the upper container edge for a latching connection with a corresponding latching rim provided on the lid, wherein each of said latching rims of the container and the lid extends around at least part of the circumference thereof, wherein the lid has a lid rim portion arranged above the upper container edge, wherein the lid has at least one extension extending outside the lateral wall of the container and extending below the lower edge of the lid, and wherein the extension and the container have mutually corresponding fastening means which are releasable independently of the latching means defined by the latching rims of the container and the lid; wherein in the vicinity of the fastening means between the lid extension and the container, the lid and/or the container has an actuator area to be actuated by application of a force, which actuator area is different from the fastening means on the lid extension and the container and/or from the lid extension itself; and wherein, when the actuator area of the lid and/or container has been actuated by application of a force, the fastening means between the lid extension and the container are more easily releasable and, where applicable, easier to close than without actuation of the actuator area by application of a force.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the actuator area to be actuated by application of a force is designed as an elastically deformable and/or reversibly displaceable area of the lid and/or the container, which is elastically deformed and/or reversibly displaced under application of a force.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the actuation of the actuator area by application of a force causes a displacement of the fastening means of the container and the lid relative to each other in a direction which is different from the movement of the lid extension during the opening movement thereof.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein (i) the lid extension is integrally molded with an elastically deformable and/or reversibly displaceable area of the lid; and/or wherein (ii) the fastening means of the container are integrally molded with an elastically deformable and/or displaceable area of the container.

5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means of the lid extension and the container are not disengageable from each other in a non-destructive way without previous elastic deformation and/or reversible displacement of said area of the lid or container, and are disengageable from each other in a non-destructive way once said elastic deformation and/or reversible displacement of said area of the lid or container has occurred.

6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid extension and/or the fastening area of the container are integrally molded with a portion of one of the lid and container, and wherein, when pressure is applied to the lid and/or to the container thereby pressing the connection portion against the other one of the lid and the container, said connection portion is displaceable thereby causing displacement of the lid extension relative to the fastening area of the container.

7. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the vicinity of the fastening means of the lid extension and the container, the lid and the container are spaced apart by a spacing, which spacing can be reduced by a force-exerting actuation of the actuator area, in particular by exerting a pressure on the lid and/or the container, in particular on the lid, thereby causing displacement of the fastening means of the lid extension and the container relative to each other.

8. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein within the circumferential range of the latching means of the lid and the container, the upper container edge engages on the underside of a section of the lid rim, and wherein in the vicinity of said fastening means, the lid is spaced apart vertically from the upper container edge.

9. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least substantially circumferential container latching rim is arranged below the upper container edge, and wherein the range of the spacing between the lid portion and the upper container edge in the vicinity of the fastening means of the lid extension and the container is arranged between the container latching rim and the upper container edge with regard to the height of the container.

10. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the vicinity of the lid extension, an upper rim or the uppermost rim of the lid is raised compared to the upper rim of the lid within the range of the at least substantially circumferential latching connection between the lid and the container latching rim or compared to a lid rim region without lid extension.

11. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means of the container are integrally molded with a circumferential skirt of the container and/or to a container portion radially protruding outwards from the container lateral wall.

12. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means between the lid extension and the container are formed as a second latching means.

13. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means of the lid extension or the corresponding fastening means of the container are hook-shaped, wherein the hook extends in the direction of the pressure direction for the elastic deformation and/or reversible displacement of the lid area or container area for releasing the fastening means from one another.

14. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means of the lid extension or the corresponding fastening means of the container are hook-shaped, with a chamfer in a region of an undercut of the hook for enabling said fastening means to be easier locked to one another.

15. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid extension is integrally molded with the lid so as to be pivotable radially inward or radially outward with respect to the container.

16. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid extension is covered by a tamper-evident closure which is integrally molded with the container or with the container skirt so as to be detachable or displaceable.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the lid extension projects downwards beyond the tamper-evident closure, towards the container bottom.

18. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid has a circumferential flange which engages on the inner surface of the container lateral wall when the lid is attached.

19. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tamper-evident closure is arranged on the container with a radial spacing from the outer surface of the lid extension, and wherein, with the tamper-evident closure integrally molded on the container, the extension can engage behind the tamper-evident closure when the lid is being attached to the container.

20. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid extension and the corresponding fastening area of the container comprise a plurality of fastening means spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] 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.

[0061] In the drawings:

[0062] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container according to the invention;

[0063] FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 in the region of the lid extension;

[0064] FIG. 3 is a view of the container of FIG. 1 with the tamper-evident closure removed;

[0065] FIG. 4 is a view of the container of FIG. 3 with the lid open;

[0066] FIG. 5a is a schematic view of a portion of the container of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5b is a modification thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0067] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a container 1 with a lid 2, the container 1 having an upper container edge 3 and a fully circumferential lateral wall 4 extending around the full circumference and an upper container opening 5 closed by said lid. In the region of the upper container edge 3, a container latching rim 6 is provided for a latching connection to a corresponding latching rim 7 provided on the lid 2, wherein the latching rims 6, 7 of the container and the lid each extend at least around part of the circumference thereof. In the present case, the container latching rim 6 is formed so as to extend around the entire circumference, the lid latching rim 7 is formed to extend around part of the circumference and has a circumferential interruption in the region of a lid extension 10. The latching rim 7 is therefore shown by a dashed line in FIG. 2.

[0068] The lid 2 has a lid rim portion 9 arranged above the upper container edge 3 and covering it. The lid rim portion 9 comprises a circumferential portion 9b that engages on the container edge 3 and bears thereon in the vertical direction (direction of the main axis H of the container). The lid 2 has at least one extension 10 extending outside of the lateral wall 4 of the container 1, and extending below the lower lid edge 2c, and the extension 10 and the container 1 have mutually corresponding fastening means 11, 12 which can be released independently from the latching means defined by the latching rims 6, 7 of the container and the lid. Here, the fastening means 11 of the lid extension are in the form of through-openings, the fastening means 12 of the container in the form of hooks, which optionally could be implemented vice versa as well. The fastening means 11, 12 are each provided in the form of a pair here, spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the container.

[0069] In the region of the fastening means 11, 12 between the lid extension 10 and the container, the lid and/or the container has an actuator area 15 to be actuated by application of a force, which is provided on the lid in the present case, and which is different from the fastening means 11, 12 on the lid extension 10 and the container 1 and/or from the lid extension itself. After the actuator area 15 of the lid and/or the container have been actuated by application of a force, the fastening means 11, 12 between lid extension 10 and container 1 are more easily releasable and also easier to close than without actuation of the actuator area 15 by application of a force. Here, the actuator area 15 is provided by a section 16a of the uppermost lid rim 16 which therefore includes the lid area with the greatest distance from the container bottom 1a. The lid rim 16 extends horizontally, at least substantially. Lid rims 9 and 16 are formed so as to extend fully circumferentially of the lid and container. Section 16a of lid rim 16 defining the actuator area 15 is raised here as compared to the section 16b of lid rim 16, which is not raised and extends in a plane. Sections 16a and 16b continuously merge into one another in their height. The actuator area 15 is arranged above the lid extension 10 and the fastening means 11, 12. Lid rim 16 is offset from lid rim 9 radially inwards. Lid rim 9 also has a raised section 9a and a non-raised section 9b. In the region of raised rim section 9a, the lid rim which otherwise bears on the container edge within the range of section 9b, is spaced apart vertically from the container edge 3 thereby defining the free space or spacing A. Lid rim 9 may as well be considered as an actuator area. The raised rim section 9a is spaced apart from the level of the upper container edge 3. By actuating an actuator area, in particular the actuator area 15, in particular by pressing or pressing it down towards the container bottom, the lid is deformed in the region of sections 9a, 16a and the spacing A is reduced, and thereby the lid extension 10 is displaced towards the container bottom. As a result, the fastening means 11, 12 are displaced relative to one another, and the locking between them is at least partially, largely or at least substantially completely released or disengaged from one another. The complete disengagement of the fastening means 11, 12, in particular by grasping the lid extension, is thereby made substantially easier, for which purpose the lid extension has to be transferred from its closed position with the originally sealed container into its open position. Here, the transferring is achieved by pivoting the lid extension. Thus, the movement of the fastening means 11, 12 by actuating the actuator area 15, namely a translational movement, is different from the movement of the extension 10 for transferring it into its open position, namely in a pivotal movement. In order to be able to disengage the fastening means 11, 12 from one another more easily or at all, or to be able to transfer the extension 10 into its open position, the actuator area has to be actuated under permanent application of a force, i.e. it has to be pressed down here.

[0070] The actuator area to be actuated by application of a force is designed as an elastically deformable and/or reversibly displaceable area of the lid, here, namely in the form of lid rim sections 16a and 9a, respectively, which are elastically deformed and/or reversibly displaced under application of a force. Optionally, an actuator area for displacing the lid extension may as well be provided on the container lateral wall, for example, such as e.g. on the container skirt 20. However, the arrangement in an upper or the uppermost region of the lid is particularly preferred because it is easily accessible with high force and can be actuated without displacement of the container.

[0071] The lid extension 10 is integrally molded with an elastically deformable and/or reversibly displaceable area of the lid in this case, namely to the lower lid edge portion 17 which is likewise deformed when section 16a or 9a is deformed. Optionally, an actuator element 25 could likewise be integrally molded with the supporting web 21 of the container 1, which carries the fastening means 12, which actuator element, when actuated, could cause the supporting web 21 to be elastically deformed and/or displaced in order to change the position of the fastening means 11, 12 relative to one another so that they can be disengaged more easily by continuous application of a force on the actuator area 25.

[0072] The container 1 with lid 2 is designed such that the fastening means 11, 12 of the lid extension 10 and of the container 1 are not disengageable from each other in a non-destructive manner without previous actuation of the actuator area 15 by application of a force and elastic deformation and/or reversible displacement of sections 9a and 16a, respectively, of the lid or of the portion 25 of the container, since the hook-shaped fastening means 12 of the container engage behind the lid extension 10 with an excessively large overlap. Once a force is applied on the actuator area 15 and this force is maintained or the elastic deformation of the regions 9a, 16a or 25 is maintained so that the fastening means 11, 12 are displaced relative to one another, the fastening means 11, 12 can be reversibly disengaged from each other non-destructively. By actuation of the actuator area it is possible to completely or largely eliminate the engagement of the fastening means 12 behind the lid extension, so that a slight engagement of the hook-shaped fastening means therebehind can be overcome by changing the position of the extension 10, such as by pivoting, towards the open position thereof.

[0073] The package must be manipulated with both hands to open it, namely by actuating the actuator area 15 and simultaneously displacing the lid extension 10, but can be closed with one hand, namely by pressing the lid onto the container.

[0074] The lid extension 10 or alternatively the fastening area of the container around the fastening means 12 is integrally molded with one of a portion of the lid, here the lid edge 17, or of the container, here the supporting web 21, and when pressure is applied to the lid and/or to the container thereby pressing said connection portion 17, 21 against the other one of the lid or the container, said connection portion 17, 21 is displaceable while causing a displacement of the lid extension 10 relative to the fixing area of the container.

[0075] In the vicinity of the fastening means 11, 12 of the lid extension and of the container, the lid and the container are spaced apart by a spacing A from one another, which spacing can be reduced by a force-exerting actuation of the actuator area 15 thereby causing a displacement of the fastening means of the lid extension and of the container relative to one another.

[0076] Within the circumferential range of the latching means 6, 7 of the lid 2 and of the container 1, the upper container edge 3 engages on the underside of a section 9b of the lid rim 9, and in the vicinity of said fastening means 11, 12, namely within the range of section 9a, the lid rim 9 is spaced apart vertically from the upper container edge 3. As a result, the spacing A is defined.

[0077] FIG. 5a schematically shows the fastening area of the lid extension 10 and the spacing A due to the raised lid rim section 9a. FIG. 5b shows a modification. The at least substantially circumferential container latching edge 6 is arranged below the upper container edge 3, here. The region of the spacing A between the lid portion and the upper container edge within the vicinity of the fastening means 11, 12 of the lid extension 10 and of the container 1 is defined here by the fact that the container latching edge 6 has a different spacing to the upper container edge 3, that is the upper container edge is lowered within the vicinity of the lid extension.

[0078] The fastening means 12 of the container are integrally molded with a container portion radially projecting outwards from the container lateral wall 4, here the supporting web 21. Alternatively, the circumferential container skirt 20 may have a small radial extent in the vicinity of the lid extension, and the fastening means 12 may be integrally molded with this skirt section (not shown) which is recessed towards the lateral wall 4.

[0079] The fastening means 11, 12 between lid extension and container are designed as positively locking means here, more precisely as (second) latching means.

[0080] The fastening means 12 of the container are hook-shaped, wherein towards its free end the hook extends in the direction of the pressure direction upon actuation of the actuator area or the elastic deformation and/or reversible displacement of the lid section for disengaging the fastening means from each other. The corresponding fastening means of the lid extension 10 are in the form of an aperture or through-opening into which the hook can engage and the extension can engage behind. Vice versa, it is also possible that hook-shaped fastening means are provided on the lid extension, while the corresponding fastening means of the container may be formed as a recess, for example as a through-opening in the skirt. However, more generally within the scope of the invention, the fastening means of the extension and the container may also be designed as hooks engaging behind one another or in another appropriate manner.

[0081] The hook-shaped fastening means, here those of the container (reference numeral 12) have a chamfer 12a in the region of the undercut of the hook, here on the outer side of the hook. As a result, the fastening means 11, 12 are easier to return into engagement when closing the fastening means, especially when the extension is transferred into its closed position and the hook end comes into contact with the extension and is not completely disposed at the level of the through-opening 11 of the extension. In this way, a particularly high opening resistance is produced in the closed position of the extension when the actuator area 15 is not actuated.

[0082] For closing the container, the lid can be applied thereon and the at least substantially completely circumferential first latching means on the container and on the lid rim can be brought into engagement with one another. Then, pressure can be exerted on the actuator area, for example manually or by a machine. In this way, the fastening means of the lid extension and the container are positioned relative to each other such as to allow to effect the fastening engagement. In this case, the supporting portions and/or the fastening means themselves are biased, for example by being urged onto one another, and at least one or both fastening means and/or one or both of the supporting portions thereof are elastically deflected. According to the exemplary embodiment, the lid extension 10, optionally alternatively or additionally also the supporting portion 21 of the container fastening means, can be elastically deformed and biased in this case. Upon sufficient further movement of the actuator area, here depression thereof, the fastening means of the lid extension and of the container will preferably interengage automatically, whereby the bias is reduced or eliminated, and the container will be properly closed again. In this way, the container can be repeatedly opened and closed, preferably any number of times.

[0083] The lid extension 10 is covered by a tamper-evident closure 28, which is integrally molded with the container in a detachable or displaceable manner, in the present case to the skirt of the container, through linkages 28a. The lid extension 10 projects downwards towards the container bottom, beyond the tamper-evident closure 28a, by a portion 10a of the extension.

[0084] The lid 2 has a circumferential flange 29, which preferably sealingly engages on the inner surface 4a of the container lateral wall 4 when the lid is attached. The sealing flange 29 is stabilized by radial webs 29a. As a result thereof, high tightness of the package is provided upon actuation of the actuator area 15, even when a region of the lid is deformed.

[0085] The tamper-evident closure 28 is provided at the container with a radial spacing to the outer surface of the lid extension 10, such that with the tamper-evident closure 28 integrally molded with the container, the extension 10 can engage behind the tamper-evident closure 28 when the lid is being placed on the container for the first time, for example after the container has been filled. In this case, the front side of the extension will directly face the rear side of the tamper-evident closure 28.

[0086] To increase the safety of the container, the lid extension 10 and the corresponding fastening area of the container may have a plurality of fastening means 12, 12, preferably spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the container.

[0087] Each of the container and the lid may in particular be provided as one-piece plastic parts, in particular injection molded plastic parts.

[0088] 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.