CONTAINER FOR LOOSELY STORED PRODUCTS AND METHOD FOR OPENING SUCH CONTAINER

Abstract

A container for loosely stored products including a container body, a cover for closing an opening end of the container body, the cover being movable between a closed position closing the opening end of the container body and an open position, and an opening part provided on the container body wherein the opening part includes a pushing element with a contact portion, and a lifting portion positioned, in the closed position of a cover, beneath an abutment of the cover, the contact portion of the pushing element being arranged to be pushed away from the opening end of the container body such that the lifting portion displaces the abutment of the cover.

Claims

1. A container for loosely stored products, comprising: a container body; a cover for closing an opening end of the container body, the cover being movable between a closed position closing the opening end of the container body and an open position; and a hinge element attaching the cover to the container body, an opening part provided on or attached to the container body, wherein the opening part comprises a pushing element with a contact portion, and a lifting portion positioned, in the closed position of a cover, beneath an abutment of the cover; and wherein the contact portion of the pushing element being arranged to be pushed away from the opening end of the container body such that the lifting portion displaces the abutment of the cover.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the opening part further comprises at least one fixed part attached to the container body, wherein the pushing element and lifting portion are pivotably connected to the fixed part by a hinge.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the hinge is a film hinge.

4. The container according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening part comprises a central fixed part and central pushing element and two laterally arranged lifting portions on each side of the fixed part, respectively.

5. The container according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening part comprises two laterally arranged fixed parts to which the pushing element is pivotably attached, the lifting portion being arranged between the fixed parts.

6. The container according to claim 2, further comprising at least one clearance between the at least one lifting portion and the at least one fixed part, the clearance extending towards a pivot axis of the hinge.

7. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a gap between the container body and the lifting portion.

8. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container body and the cover are made of different materials.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container body, the cover, the hinge element and the opening part are made in one piece.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cover is detachably connected to the container body by a first connecting element integral with the container body and a second connecting element integral with the hinge element.

11. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a locking element for holding the cover in the closed position.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein container is configured such that the hinge element is provided with a self-opening cap mechanism such that, when the locking element is released, the cover automatically opens.

13. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover comprises a top wall and a sealing skirt which in the closed position of the cover is in contact to an inner wall surface of the container body near its opening end, wherein the sealing skirt is elastically deformable and having has an outwardly facing sealing portion.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises an outer rim which, in the closed position of the cover, is positioned at least partially around an outer wall surface of the container body near the opening end.

15. The container according to claim 14, characterized in that the abutment is attached to the outer rim of the cover.

16. The container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one reinforcement rib integrally formed with the pushing element and/or lifting portion.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured such that, when the contact portion is pushed away from the opening end of the container body and thereby rotated, the lifting portion displaces the abutment of the cover, wherein the cover is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction in which the contact portion is rotated.

18. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pushing element and the lifting portion are rotatable around an axis of rotation between the pushing element and the lifting portion, and the cover and the container body are pivotably connected so as to be rotatable around a pivot axis of the hinge element, wherein a direction of rotation around the axis of rotation between the pushing element and the lifting portion is opposite to a direction of rotation around the pivot axis of the hinge element.

19. The container according to claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation between the container body and the cover, and an axis of rotation between the pushing element and the lifting portion are parallel to each other.

20. A method for opening a container according to claim 1, comprising the steps: bringing the closed container into a position such that the opening faces are in an upwards direction, and pressing onto the contact portion of the pushing element in a downwards direction to pivot the opening part such that the lifting portion engages the abutment of the cover and pushes it upwards into an open position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] In the following, some embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a container according to the prior art;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows the basic elements of an inventive container;

[0062] FIGS. 3a, 3b show the container according to FIG. 2 when opened and the opening means being respectively in its initial position and in its operated position;

[0063] FIGS. 4a, 4b are three-dimensional bottom views of the containers as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b;

[0064] FIGS. 5a, 5b are a top view of the inventive container according to the preceding figures in which, according to FIG. 5a, the opening means is not operated and, in FIG. 5b the pushing means of the opening means is pressed down;

[0065] FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 5a;

[0066] FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5a;

[0067] FIG. 6b is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 5b;

[0068] FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5b;

[0069] FIG. 8 is a further view of the container as shown in FIGS. 5a to 7b;

[0070] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line L-L in FIG. 8;

[0071] FIG. 10 shows details of FIG. 9;

[0072] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of an inventive container according to a further embodiment;

[0073] FIG. 12a shows a further embodiment of the inventive container is the opened state;

[0074] FIG. 12b shows the container of FIG. 8a when the opening means is operated; and

[0075] FIG. 13 is a three dimensional bottom view of the container according to FIG. 8a.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0076] In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are shown with respect to the figures. When, in the following, reference will be made to geometrical positions and especially directions like upwards or downwards, it is assumed that the inventive container takes the position as shown in FIG. 2 standing on a horizontal surface and being provided with a cover which closes the upper end of the container body.

[0077] In the embodiment according to FIG. 2 the inventive container 100 is shown. The container essentially consists of a container body 1 and a cover 3. In general, the cover may be attached to the container by means of a hinge element. In the specific embodiment according to FIG. 2, a hinge element 2 is provided which connects the container body and the cover. Further, an opening means 4 is provided on the container body 1. Furthermore, the opening means 4 is integrally formed with the container body 1.

[0078] The hinge element 2 allows a rotation of the cover 3 relative to the container body 1 about a rotation axis. The hinge element can be any means connecting the container body and the cover directly or indirectly and allowing a rotational pivotal movement of the cover with respect to the container body. Examples of suitable hinge elements are a simple film hinge or a snap hinge. When using a film hinge, the container body and cover are integrally formed and the film hinge is a bridge of material connecting the container body and the cover and having a geometry which generates a sufficient flexibility to allow the relative movement between the container body and cover. The hinge element can also be provided on a connecting means 39, as shown e.g. FIG. 3b, integral with the cover. The connecting means 39 engages with a connecting element 19 integral with the container body. An example of such a hinge is described in WO 2008/116888. In that manner, the container body and cover may be made of different materials and connected with each other by connecting the connecting element 19 and the connecting means 39.

[0079] Referring again to FIG. 2, the container body is provided with an opening means 4. When opening the cover 3, it is lifted up from the container body 1. To this end, the user will operate the opening means 4 by pressing onto a contact portion 403. By applying a downward pressure on the contact portion, a part of the opening means will move in a downwards direction (arrow F). The specific details of how the opening means 4 is designed and operated, will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3a to 9.

[0080] The containers according to the specific embodiments as shown have a circular cross section. However, it is also possible to provide a container body which does not have a cylindrical shape or another type of cylindrical shape, like a cylinder with a non-circular base. Nevertheless, it is preferred to provide a container body with a rounded base, for example oval or circular.

[0081] The container 100 as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b is provided with a circular bottom 12 and a cylindrical peripheral wall 11 extending upwards from the bottom 12 and defining an opening 10 at the upper most end of the peripheral wall 11. Close to the opening 10 and extending around the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 11 is a bead or flange 14.

[0082] The cover 3 is provided with a top wall 31 and an outer wall 32 which depends from the top wall 31. Further, the cover 3 is provided with a sealing skirt 33. The sealing skirt as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b seals against the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 11 near the opening 10. The elastically deformable sealing skirt 33 has an outwardly facing sealing portion 34 that seals against the internal side of the peripheral wall 11 when the cover 3 is in a closed condition. The peripheral wall 11 can additionally have a groove on the internal side which, in the closed condition of the cover receives the outwardly facing sealing portion 34 of the sealing skirt 33, allowing to combine two functions: sealing and locking.

[0083] Further, the outer wall 32 situated radially outside of the sealing skirt 33 is positioned radially outside of the peripheral wall 11. The outer wall 32 may protect the sealing skirt 33 and its outwardly facing sealing portion 34 against any contact when the cover is in an opened position. In this case, the outer wall 32 of the cover, in the closed position, could extend further downwards than the sealing skirt 33 or the sealing portion 34.

[0084] Further, the outer wall 32 is provided at its lower part with a projecting element 30 which, in the closed position of the container, has a lower side which extends essentially in a horizontal direction. As will be explained in more detail below, the projecting element 30 serves as an abutment of the cover 3. However, the cover 3 may not be provided with an outer wall 32. In this case, the abutment 30 could be for example a protruding part in the continuity of the top wall 31 of the cover 3.

[0085] Next, the structure and operation of the opening means 4 will be described. The opening means, in the specific examples as shown, is integrally formed with the bead 14. In the specific example of FIGS. 3a to 7b, the opening means 4 comprises a tab 40 with a contact portion 403 which is touched by the thumb of the user and pushed downwardly in the direction of arrow F (see FIG. 2). Further, the opening means 4 is provided with a grip 401 in the contact portion 403, which facilitates to exert pressure on the tab 40 without the thumb slipping away. The opening means 4 of the present embodiment is formed with two fixed parts 43a, 43b which are integral extensions of the bead 14. The pivot line 46 is formed by a predetermined weakness in the strength of the material, like a film hinge. The tab 40 is integrally connected to the fixed parts 43a, 43b but relatively movable to the fixed part around a pivot line 46. The tab 40 is provided with a rising part 402 which serves as a lifting means which, when operating the tab 40, contacts and displaces a downwardly facing surface of the abutment 30 of the cover 3.

[0086] In order to enable the relative movement between the fixed parts 43a, 43b and the rising part 402, there are clearances 45a, 45b which can be straight cuts through the material. Further, there is a peripheral clearance 44 between the tab 40 and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 11. The peripheral clearance 44 is sized such that, depending on the material thickness of the rising part 402, it can unobstuctedly move in an upwards direction once the contact portion 403 of the tab 40 is depressed in a downwards directions as shown FIG. 3b.

[0087] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the same states of the container as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b but in a three dimensional view from a downwards direction of the container. It can be seen that the bottom side of the tab 40 is provided with a rib 47 in order to reinforce the tab and to protect it also against an unduly high operating force. The rib 47 is shaped in such a way as to serve as an abutting means which limits the pivotal movement of the tab 40 by abutting against the peripheral wall 11 of the container body and, in this way, provides the opening means with a limited maximum rotation angle. In this manner, the tab cannot be moved into a position that obstructs the closing of the cover and it can be automatically returned to its initial position once the cover is closed. This function can be best seen from the cross-sectional view in FIG. 6b which is a cross-section along lines A-A in FIG. 5b and shows the tab in the fully depressed state in which the rib 47 abuts the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the container body. The corresponding geometry of the rib 47 can be best seen from a comparison of Figs. a and 6b, wherein FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view along lines A-A in FIG. 5a which shows the container in the closed condition.

[0088] The corresponding cross-sectional views of FIGS. 7a and 7b, both of which are taken along the lines B-B additionally show the provision of the pivot lines 46 being formed by a predetermined weakening of the material strength to allow the bending of the tab relative to the fixed parts.

[0089] The cross-sectional view of FIGS. 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b also shows the provision of a sleeve or insert 5 within the container which, depending of the desired protection of the contents stored within the container, could be provided as an inert material or with specific adsorption capabilities.

[0090] A further detail that can be taken both from the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6a and FIG. 3a is the provision of a locking means 13 which can be provided as a rib-like extension at the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 11 close to the opening 10. The locking means 13 serves to hold the cover in the closed position onto the container body and can be provided in any way which achieves the function to create an interlocking between the cover 3 and the container body 1. It can for example be a protrusion or a groove on the external side of the peripheral wall 11 that interacts with the protrusion or groove on the inner side of the outer wall 32 of the cap 3. This situation is shown in the example in FIGS. 3a and 6a. However, it can also be a peripheral groove on the internal side of the peripheral wall 11 that cooperates with a corresponding protrusion on the sealing skirt 33 of the cover. The interaction of the locking means with a suitable counter structure provides a resistance to opening and allows to avoid an inadvertent opening of the cover. Further, it establishes a controlled, predetermined opening force.

[0091] Preferably, the rising part 402 and its movement are designed such that, when the tab 40 is downwardly pressed, the rising part 402 rises sufficiently to enable the disengagement of the locking means between the container body and the cover.

[0092] FIG. 8 is a further view of the container as shown in FIGS. 5a to 7b and explained in detail above. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line L-L in FIG. 8. The difference between FIG. 9 and FIG. 7b is the viewing direction of the cross-sectional view. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, the lifting element 402 not forming part of the cut cross-section of the container can be seen.

[0093] In FIG. 9 and the enlarged view of FIG. 10, the contact portion 403 and the lifting means 402 is shown. Further, in the enlarged view of FIG. 10, the hinge 46 is shown. Comparing the dimensions of the lifting means 402 and the contact portion 403, it can be seen that the maximum extension of the contact portion 403, referenced by a, is larger than the maximum extension of the lifting means 402, which is denoted by reference b. In the specific example as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lever arm a corresponds roughly to two times the lever arm b. In fact, it is somewhat smaller because a user's thumb will not apply pressure to the distal end of lever arm a but to a position somewhere close to the gripping ribs. However, the lever effect is achieved in that the downward travel distance of the distal end of the contact portion 403 exceeds the upward travel of the distal end of the lifting means 402, wherein the term distal end describes the end of the contact portion or lifting means respectively, which are remote from the hinge 46.

[0094] Because of the rotational movement of the pushing means around the hinge 46, the contact line between the distal end of the lifting means and a downwardly directed surface of the abutment 30 depends on the rotation angle of the pushing means. Accordingly, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment 30 should be dimensioned to have an extension c which is sized such that over the whole possible rotational movement of the pushing means, the distal end of the lifting means will always stay in contact with the downwardly directed surface. When closing again the cover, the downwardly facing surface of the abutment 30 pushes back the lifting means 402 and returns the pushing means 40 of the opening means 4 into its initial, starting position as shown e.g. in FIG. 6a.

[0095] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of an inventive container according to a further embodiment of the invention. The embodiment according to FIG. 11 distinguishes from that as described in FIG. 6b in that the cover 3 is not provided with an outer wall as denoted by reference numeral 32 in FIG. 6b. Instead, the cover 3 is provided with a sealing skirt 33 only. Also in such a case, the same function can be achieved by providing a projecting element 30 serving as an abutment of the cover 3 and being directed with a downwardly facing surface with the extension c, which comes in contact with the distal end of the lifting means 402.

[0096] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 11, there is a peripheral groove close to the opening of the container and along the inner circumference of the container. This peripheral groove cooperates with the sealing portion 34 of the sealing skirt 33 and also provides the locking function of the cover 3 in the closed state of the container.

[0097] The embodiment as shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b is largely identical to that as previously described in detail. Therefore, a detailed description can be omitted and, in the following only reference will be made to the differences to the embodiment as described with reference to FIGS. 3a to 7b.

[0098] The container according to FIGS. 12a, 12b and 13 has a different structure of the opening means 4 which is provided with a single fixed part 43 and a tab 40 which has two lateral portions 402a and 402b which are two separate rising parts with the function to contact and move upwards the abutment, which in this embodiment is the rim 30. Between the fixed part 43 of the opening means 4 and the tab 40, the pivot axis 46 is arranged which is again of the type of a film hinge with an adequately reduced material thickness to provide defined bending characteristics. In order to allow the relative movement, the opening means according to the embodiment of FIGS. 12a, 12b and 13 is also provided with two essentially parallel clearances 45a, 45b between the centrally arranged fixed part 43 and the lateral portions 402a, 402b which are the two portions of the rising part. Further, the peripheral clearance is provided in two sections 44a, 44b between the lateral portions 402a, 402b and the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 11.

[0099] As can be seen in the view as shown in FIG. 13, both lateral portions 402a, 402b are provided with reinforcement ribs 47a, 47b. In addition to these ribs 47a, 47b, a further rib or stop can be provided below the tab 40 in order to limit the pivotal movement of the tab 40 by abutting the rib against the peripheral wall 11 (not shown in the drawings).

[0100] The embodiment as shown in FIGS. 12a, 12b and 13 has the advantage that, due to the extension of the lateral portions 402a, 402b partly around the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 11, the specific portions of the lateral portions which abut against the rim 30 of the cover 3 are at a greater distance to the pivot axis 46 so that a relatively small downward movement of the tab 40 leads to a relatively high upwards movement of the lateral portions in contact to the rim 30.

[0101] Although in the above described embodiments, the pivot line has been described to be at least one film hinge, it should be noted that any kind of hinge along rotation or pivoting of the tab can be used. However, when providing the film hinges at the opening means 4 as well as a film hinge between the container body and the cover, the overall container 100 can be manufactured as an integral piece. Even the clearances 45a, 45b; 44, 44a, 44b can be provided during the manufacture of the container when it is produced by means of an injection process. The clearances can be provided during the manufacture of the container by thin pins in the mold.

[0102] Preferably, the pivot axis between the container body 1 and the cover 3, and the pivot axis between the pushing means 40 and the lifting means 402 are parallel to each other.

[0103] Preferably, the pushing means 40 and the lifting means 402, 402a, 402b are pivotably connected to a fixed part by means of the hinge, wherein the pivot axis 46 of the hinge extends in the direction of a tangent relative to the container body 1, in particular without intersecting the container 1, at least partially in front of the container 1, and/or horizontally and/or laterally outside the container 1.

[0104] In particular, the container 1 is configured such that downwardly pushing the pushing means 40 involves a movement of the pushing means 40 away from the user, wherein, at the same time, the lifting means 402 is moved towards the user, along a direction of a virtual line which extends from the side of the container on which the opening means 4 is disposed to the user.

[0105] When looking at the container from the direction defined by the rotation axis of the opening means 4 (looking along the pivot axis of the hinge 46), the cover 3 has a direction of rotation which is opposed to the direction of rotation of the opening means 4. For example, in FIG. 6a, the opening means 4 is turning clockwise around hinge axis 46, while the cover 3 is turning counter-clockwise around the pivot axis of the hinge element 2. Hence, the opening means 4 and the cover 3 are rotated in opposite directions of rotation.

[0106] In other words, in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the opening means, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to hinge 46, the direction of rotation of the cover 3 (when moving from the closed to the opened position) is opposed to the direction of rotation of the opening means 4 actuated by the user.