Package With Two-Part Hinge

Abstract

A package for a powdered nutritional product comprises a container for receiving the nutritional product, having a base and a peripheral wall. A lid assembly comprises a circumferential rim, defining an access opening, for connection to the container and a lid, pivotably attached to the rim by at least one hinge having a hinge axis. The lid has an open position and a closed position in which it closes the access opening. The hinge comprises a rim portion, integral with the rim, and a lid portion, integral with the lid, that can be engaged to each other to join the lid to the rim. The hinge is are arranged such that the lid portion can only be engaged with the rim portion in the open position of the lid. In the closed position of the lid, the lid portion is locked to the rim portion, preventing separation of the lid portion from the rim portion. The hinge is also arranged to prevent opening of the lid beyond a point at which the package is unstable.

Claims

1-28. (canceled)

29. A package for a powdered nutritional product comprising: a container for receiving the nutritional product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall; a circumferential rim for connection to the container and defining an access opening; and a lid, pivotably attached to the rim by at least one hinge having a hinge axis, the lid having an open position and a closed position in which it closes the access opening; wherein the hinge comprises a rim portion, integral with the rim, and a lid portion, integral with the lid, that can be engaged to each other to join the lid to the rim and are arranged such that the lid portion can only be engaged with the rim portion in the open position of the lid and that, in the closed position of the lid, the lid portion is locked to the rim portion, preventing separation of the lid portion from the rim portion, wherein the rim portion and the lid portion of the hinge comprise a pin and a recess, the pin defining the hinge axis and being arranged to rotate within the recess to allow pivoting of the lid and the pin is an elongate solid cylinder provided with a first abutment surface and a detent surface to limit pivotal movement of the lid.

30. The package according to claim 29, wherein the recess has an entrance and the pin has a cross-section allowing its entry to the recess through the entrance to engage the lid portion with the rim portion, the entrance being oriented in a direction parallel to a plane of the access opening.

31. The package according to claim 29, wherein the pin is supported at both of its ends.

32. The package according to claim 29, wherein the first abutment surface and detent surface extend from an outer circumference of the cylinder.

33. The package according to claim 29, wherein the first abutment surface engages with a second abutment surface at a fully open position of the lid to prevent further opening.

34. The package according to claim 33, wherein the fully open position of the lid is between 100 degrees and 150 degrees from the closed position.

35. The package according to claim 29, wherein the detent surface provides resistance to pivoting of the lid past a detent position in the direction of the closed position.

36. The package according to claim 35, wherein the detent position is at an angle of between 70 degrees and 110 degrees from the closed position.

37. The package according to claim 29, wherein the rim comprises an upstanding circumferential flange surrounding the opening and the lid comprises a downward extending groove, the flange being inserted into the groove on closing the lid to form a first seal.

38. The package according to claim 29, wherein the lid has an exterior surface extending to an outer circumference and the hinge axis is co-linear with the outer circumference.

39. The package according to claim 29, wherein the rim has an inner skirt for engagement with the container to form a second seal and an outer skirt forming an exterior surface of the package and the hinge axis is located radially between the inner and outer skirts.

40. The package according to claim 29, wherein the container further comprises an injection moulded under-rim, bonded to the peripheral wall of the container and the rim sealingly engages with the under-rim in a snap-fit connection

41. The package according to claim 29, further comprising a quantity of infant milk formula sealed within the container.

42. A lid assembly for a package for powdered nutritional product comprising a container for receiving the nutritional product, the container having a base and a peripheral wall, the lid assembly comprising: a circumferential rim for connection to the container and defining an access opening; a lid, pivotably attached to the rim by at least one hinge having a hinge axis, the lid having an open position and a closed position in which it closes the access opening; wherein the hinge comprises a rim portion, integral with the rim, and a lid portion, integral with the lid, that can be engaged to each other to join the lid to the rim and are arranged such that the lid portion can only be engaged with the rim portion in the open position of the lid and that, in the closed position of the lid, the lid portion is locked to the rim portion, preventing separation of the lid portion from the rim portion, wherein the rim portion and the lid portion of the hinge comprise a pin and a recess, the pin defining the hinge axis and being arranged to rotate within the recess to allow pivoting of the lid and the pin is an elongate solid cylinder provided with an abutment surface and a detent surface to limit pivotal movement of the lid.

43. A package for a powdered nutritional product comprising: a container portion for receiving the nutritional product, the container portion comprising a thermoformed plastic tub having a base and a peripheral wall defining a product containing space; a closure portion for attachment to the container portion, the closure portion comprising a circumferential rim defining an access opening and a lid, pivotably attached to the rim by at least one hinge having a hinge axis, the lid having an open position and a closed position in which it closes the access opening; and a seal, separating the container portion from the lid portion and sealing the product containing space prior to use; wherein the closure portion has a mass that is equal to or greater than the mass of the container portion and the hinge is provided with abutment surfaces on a rim portion and on a lid portion, arranged to engage one another to prevent opening of the lid beyond a point at which the package, when empty of product, is unstable and a detent mechanism that holds the lid in an open position and provides resistance to pivoting of the lid past a detent position in the direction of the closed position.

44. The package according to claim 43, wherein the base and peripheral wall of the thermoformed tub have a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm and wherein the container portion further comprises a carton sleeve surrounding the tub.

45. The package according to claim 43, wherein the closure portion further comprises an under-rim, permanently connected to the container portion.

46. The package according to claim 43, wherein the hinge is arranged to limit opening of the lid to a maximum angle of around 110 degrees.

47. The package according to claim 43, wherein the hinge axis is located at a hinge offset from a centreline of the package, which is at least 70% or even 80% greater than a base width of the container portion.

48. The package according to claim 43, wherein a height of the tub is greater than a width of the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The features and advantages of the invention will be further appreciated upon reference to the following drawings of a number of exemplary embodiments, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a package according to the present invention in partly exploded perspective view;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1 with closed lid;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1 with opened lid;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section through the package of FIG. 2 along line IV-IV;

[0038] FIGS. 5, 5a and 5b show details of the lid of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIGS. 6, 6a and 6b show details of the circumferential rim of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIGS. 7a to 7d show cross-sections in the direction VII-VII of FIG. 3 with the lid in various positions with respect to the circumferential rim; and

[0041] FIGS. 8a to 8d show cut-away perspective views of one of the hinges of FIG. 2 in various positions of use taken from the rear of the package in the direction VIII.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a partially exploded view of a package 1 according to the present invention comprising a lid assembly 3 and a container 5. The container 5 comprises a tub 2, a sleeve 4, a membrane seal 6 and an under-rim 8. The lid assembly 3 includes a circumferential rim 10 and a lid 12.

[0043] The tub 2 is thermoformed of relatively thin polypropylene material and has a base 14 and a peripheral wall 16 defining a product containing space 20. The peripheral wall 16 extends to an upper edge 18 having an outwardly directed annular flange 19. The sleeve 4 is formed of carton and has wall 22 and a bottom 24. Under-rim 8 is an annular ring having an upstanding second sealing flange 48 surrounding an access opening 26 of a similar dimension to the product containing space 20. Between the first sealing flange 48 and the access opening 26 are located detent openings 46, the function of which will be further explained below. The circumferential rim 10 is also in the form of a ring and is provided with barbs 40 extending downwardly. The under-rim 8 and circumferential rim 10 are also made of polypropylene although it will be understood that other appropriate materials could be employed. The membrane 6 includes a tear line 28 defining an opening region 30 and includes a pull tab 32.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the package 1 of FIG. 1 in the assembled state with the lid 12 closed. A catch 36 on the front edge of the lid 12, engages with a rib 38 on the circumferential rim 10 to maintain the lid 12 closed. The lid 12 is also made of polypropylene.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the package 1 of FIG. 1 in the assembled state with the lid 12 open and the membrane removed to provide access to the product containing space 20. A scoop 42 is held within the lid 12 by clips 44 and can also be positioned in a scoop holder 50 integrally formed with the lower frame 8. Also visible are hinges 11 allowing pivoting connection between the lid 12 and the upper frame 10 and the rib 38.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-section along line IV-IV of FIG. 2. As can be seen, the membrane 6 is attached across the annular flange 19 of the tub 2 and sandwiched by the under-rim 8 which overlies the annular flange 19. The annular flange 19, membrane 6 and under-rim 8 are all welded together to form a single relatively rigid rim structure. Circumferential rim 10 is mechanically engaged with the under-rim 8 by the downwardly extending barbs 40 that engage through the detent openings 46 in the under-rim 8. As can also be seen in this view, sleeve 4 closely engages against the peripheral wall 16 of tub 2, extending up to beneath the annular flange 19 to provide additional support. This allows the circumferential rim 10 to be snapped into the under-rim 8 without causing deformation or collapse of the tub 2.

[0047] According to an important aspect of the invention, the lid assembly 3 is provided with two seals. A circumferential first seal is formed by an upstanding first sealing flange 56 on the upper side of the circumferential rim 10 which engages with a downward extending first groove 58 on the underside of the lid 12. A circumferential second seal is formed by the upstanding second sealing flange 48 which engages with a downward extending second groove 54 on an inner skirt of the circumferential rim 10. Lead-in webs 62, 60 are located on either side of the first groove 58 and second groove 54 respectively and provide assistance during assembly and additional strength. FIG. 4 also shows that the circumferential rim 10 has an outer circumferential skirt 66 and the lid 12 has an exterior surface 64. The exterior surface 64 and the outer skirt 66 are co-planar in the closed position of the lid 12. In other words, both of the lid 12 and circumferential rim 10 have external surfaces that blend smoothly together at this location. Additionally, the under-rim 8 has a peripheral surface 68 and the peripheral surface 68 and outer skirt 66 are also co-planar when the circumferential rim 10 and under-rim 8 are connected together as shown.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the lid 12 of FIG. 1 in isolation. Like the tub 2, the lid 12 is generally rectangular in shape with curved corners. The exterior surface 64 is interrupted at the front edge of the lid 12 by catch 36 and at the rear edge 72 of the lid 12 by lid portions 70 of hinges 11, which are aligned with each other and with the rear edge 72.

[0049] FIG. 5a shows a detail of one of the lid portions 70 of FIG. 5. It comprises a cylindrical pin 74 supported at either end by a mount 76 integrated with the exterior surface 64. Adjacent the mid-point of pin 74, the lid portion 70 is provided with a first abutment surface 78 and to one side of the first abutment surface 78 is located a detent surface 80, the functions of which will be described below.

[0050] FIG. 5b shows a cross-section through the lid portion 70 of FIG. 5a in the direction Vb-Vb. As can be seen, the first abutment surface 78 extends from the cylindrical surface of the pin 74 and is also connected to the exterior surface 64 of the lid 12. The detent surface 80 also extends from the cylindrical surface of the pin 74 in a direction opposite to that of the first abutment surface 78. Also shown is the downward extending first groove 58 on the underside of the lid 12.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the circumferential rim 10 of FIG. 1 taken in the plane of the access opening 26 showing the outer skirt 66, the upstanding first sealing flange 56 and the rim portions 82 of the hinges 11.

[0052] FIG. 6a is a detail of one of the rim portions 82 of FIG. 5. The rim portion 82 comprises a pair of hooks 84 aligned with each other and separated by a second abutment surface 86 formed by ribs 88. By implementing the abutment surface 86 in the form of ribs 88, adequate strength may be achieved while avoiding a massive section that would be subject to different moulding and cooling parameters to the remainder of the circumferential rim 10.

[0053] FIG. 6b shows a cross-section through the rim portion 82 of FIG. 6a in the direction VIb-VIb showing the hooks 84, the second abutment surface 86 and the ribs 88 which merge with the outer skirt 66. Also shown is the upstanding first sealing flange 56 and the downward extending first groove 54 on the inner skirt 55. As can be seen in this view, the hooks 84 form a cylindrical recess 90 having an entrance 92 opening in a direction facing away from the access opening 26.

[0054] FIGS. 7a to 7d show cross-sections in the direction VII-VII of FIG. 3 with the lid 12 in various positions with respect to the circumferential rim 10. In FIG. 7a, the lid 12 is separate from the rim 10, prior to assembly. The lid 12 is in an upright position with the pin 74 located adjacent to the entrance 92 to the recess 90. As can be seen, the pin 74 is marginally larger than the entrance 92 and can enter the recess 90 in the direction of arrow A in a snap fit connection. Removal of the pin 74 from the recess 90 is also possible in this position of the lid 12, without causing damage.

[0055] FIG. 7b shows the lid 12 in the fully opened position, assembled to the rim 10 at the hinge 11. At this position, the first abutment surface 78 engages the second abutment surface 86 to prevent further opening of the lid 12. This position corresponds to an opening angle of around 120 degrees.

[0056] FIG. 7c shows the hinge 11 with the lid 12 in a partially closed position and with the upstanding second rim 56 entering the second groove 58.

[0057] FIG. 7d shows the lid 12 in the closed position, with the upstanding second rim 56 engaged within the second groove 58. In this position (not shown in this view) the catch 36 may be engaged with the rib 38 on the circumferential rim 10 to maintain the lid 12 closed. This position also corresponds to the packaged condition prior to first use. For the sake of clarity, it is noted that although FIGS. 7a to 7d have been described in sequence, assembly of a package will not usually take place in this manner, since the lid 12 and circumferential rim 10 will generally be assembled to form a lid assembly 3 prior to assembly with the container 5.

[0058] According to an important aspect of the invention, in the closed position of the lid 12 according to FIG. 7d, removal of the pin 74 from the recess 90 is not possible without breaking or damaging the hooks 84. This is because the engagement of the upstanding second rim 56 within the second groove 58 precludes any movement of the lid 12 in a lateral direction, parallel to a plane of the access opening 26. The only movement that the pin 74 can make is upwards but this is prevented by the hooks 84.

[0059] Operation of the hinge 11 and the detent surface 80 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 8a to 8d, which show a cut-away perspective view of one of the hinges 11 in various positions of use taken from the rear of the package in the direction VIII according to FIG. 2.

[0060] According to FIG. 8a, the lid 12 is shown in a closed position on the circumferential rim 10 corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. 7d. The pin 74 is engaged within the recess 90 and is retained by the hooks 84 against upwards movement. The first abutment surface 78 is spaced from the second abutment surface 86 and the ribs 88 are clearly visible. Also visible in this view is the detent surface 80, extending from the surface of the pin 74 within the entrance 92 to the recess 90. Adjacent to the detent surface 80, the rim portion 82 of the hinge 11 has an opening 83 extending through the outer skirt 66. Because this opening 83 is radially outwards of the second sealing flange 48, there is no consequence for the sealing of the container 5.

[0061] FIG. 8b shows a similar view to FIG. 8a, with the lid 12 opened to an angle of around 70 degrees with respect to the closed position. At this point, the first abutment surface 78 is still spaced from the second abutment surface 86 but the detent surface 80 has started to engage with an edge 85 of the opening 83. The user will detect this as a slight resistance to pivoting of the lid 12. The detent surface 80 is not radially symmetrical with respect to the pin 74 and during pivoting acts as a cam against the edge 85, whereby the resistance gently increases with rotation.

[0062] FIG. 8c shows a similar view to FIG. 8b, with the lid 12 pivoted to an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the closed position. At this point, the detent surface 80 has cleared the edge 85 of the opening 83 and resistance to further pivoting in the open direction is reduced again. The detent surface 80 is now beneath the pin 74 and located within the opening 83.

[0063] FIG. 8d shows a similar view of the lid 12 in the fully open position, pivoted to an angle of 120 degrees with respect to the closed position of FIG. 8a. At this position, the first abutment surface 78 is engaged with the second abutment surface 86, resisting further rotation of the lid 12. Once the lid 12 has passed the vertical position shown in FIG. 8c and overcome the resistance of the detent surface 80, it is free to fall towards the position of FIG. 8d under gravity or by virtue of its existing inertia. For a package 1 that is almost empty, the lid 12 has a significant mass compared to the remainder of the package 1. This is particularly the case for the exemplary thin-walled tub 2 described which, for a tub of around 2 litres in volume, has a mass of around 25 g, which compares with a mass of the lid 12 of around 24 g. For this reason, limiting the angle through which the lid 12 can rotate to around 120 degrees avoids additional moment being applied to the package 1, which could lead to it toppling backwards with undesirable consequences.

[0064] It will be understood that limiting the angle beyond the vertical by which the lid 12 can pivot can also have the consequence that it easily falls back to the closed position, either by rebound or by being knocked. This can easily occur, especially in the case of infant formula while trying to manipulate items with one hand. As a result of the detent surface 80, this inconvenience is obviated. With reference to FIG. 8c, on closing of the lid 12, it will be noted that at an angle of 90 degrees, the detent surface will again engage with the edge 85 of the opening 83. In this direction of movement, the force required for the detent surface 83 to overcome the edge 85 is greater due to the asymmetric shape of the detent surface 83. The lid 12 cannot fall back to the closed position without an additional force being applied.

[0065] Thus, the invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art. In particular, both the hinges and the container may be distinct from the schematically illustrated design.

[0066] Many modifications in addition to those described above may be made to the structures and techniques described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.