CONTAINER FOR USE WITH OPENING MEANS

Abstract

The invention resides in a container (10) having at least one plastic surface, having a formation or step having a peripheral edge arranged around an area (18) to be opened; and at least one second surface located in a region adjacent the first surface, and having a recess adjacent the formation on the plastic surface. The first and second surfaces are sealed at an edge of the container for securing an object located therebetween. The plastic surface mid the second surface are configured such that in cross-section a channel (26) is formed between the formation and the recess, and said formation and/or recess is configured to receive and/or guide a cutting edge for opening the container.

Claims

1.-15 (canceled)

16. A container including: at least one plastic surface, having a formation or step having a peripheral edge arranged around an area to be opened; and at least one second surface located in a region adjacent the first surface, and having a recess adjacent the formation on the plastic surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are sealed at an edge of the container for securing an object located therebetween, and wherein the plastic surface and the second surface are configured such that in cross section a channel is formed between the formation and the recess, and said formation, or formation and recess, is configured to receive and/or guide a cutting edge for opening the container.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein one wall of the formation or step is thinner than the plastic surface such that it is easier to cut or tear.

18. The container according to claim 16, wherein, in cross-section, the channel is quadrilateral.

19. The container according to claim 16, wherein, in cross section, the channel has a minimum dimension of 3 mm.

20. The container according to claim 16, wherein, the second interior surface has a recess for locating an object therein, and the channel is formed on three sides of the recess.

21. The container according to claim 16, wherein the formation has a raised portion configured to provide a void or air-gap above the second surface, and wherein the formation, in cross-section, has a groove.

22. The container according to claim 16, wherein the formation has a cross sectional profile having a channel arranged between two raised sections.

23. The container according to claim 16, wherein the formation has a cross sectional profile in the form of the letter M from the Latin alphabet.

24. The container according to claim 16, wherein the channel between the formation and the recess defines a void, or air-gap, which is configured to receive the tip of a cutting implement such that said tip is guide or retained therein.

25. The container according to claim 21, wherein the groove or channel of the formation has tear-line and/or perforations.

26. The container according to claim 16, wherein one or more of the plastic surfaces comprises molded plastic.

27. The container according to claim 16, wherein said container is of a molded blister pack type, or a molded clam shell type.

28. The container according to claim 16, wherein the container is adapted to guide a cutting edge protruding through said plastic surface of the container in the region of the step and passing through the plastic surface.

29. The container according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the formation wall is weaker and/or thinner to enable the container to be opened more easily.

30. A method of manufacturing a container including: providing at least one plastic surface, having a formation or step having a peripheral edge arranged around an area to be opened; and providing at least one second interior surface located in a region beneath the at least one plastic surface, and forming a corresponding recess adjacent the formation or step of the plastic surface; sealing the first and second surfaces at an edge of the container for securing an object located therebetween, wherein the plastic surface and the second surface are configured such that in cross-section a channel is formed between the formation or step and the recess, and said channel is configured to receive a cutting edge for opening the container.

Description

[0030] In order that the invention can be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the drawings in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is cross-sectional view of a container in accordance with the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container in accordance with the invention;

[0033] FIGS. 3a and 3b are plan views of a container having formation patterns, while FIG. 3b is a close-up of an overhang at a corner of a formation; and

[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a formation on plastic surface.

[0035] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the improved container formations are applicable to wide number of difficult to open configurations which are not intended to be opened easily and/or by hand.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a container 10 has a plastic surface 12 having a step or formation 14, in the form of a recess or protrusion, or having a recess. The formation has a peripheral edge 16 arranged around an area to he opened 18. A second surface 20 is located in a region adjacent, or beneath the first surface, as viewed, and having a corresponding recess 22 adjacent the formation 14 of the plastic surface. The recess 22 is optional, and the second surface 20 can be flat beneath the formation 14. The first and second surfaces are sealed at an edge 24 of the container for securing an object located therebetween. The plastic surface and the second surface are configured such that in cross-section a channel or void 26 is formed between the step 14 and the second surface or formation 22, and said channel 26 is configured to receive a cutting edge (not shown) for opening the container.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a container wherein the step 14 and peripheral edge 16 are located proximal the edge 24 of the container 10.

[0038] The features of FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown, by way of example, on a molded clam shell blister pack container 10, comprising upper 12 and lower 20 surfaces which are preformed and heat sealed together. The container includes the shell or blister portion 18 where the upper and lower surfaces are spaced apart, and thus not sealed together. It is in the shell or blister portion 18 in which the contents of the container are located.

[0039] When the user wants to open the container, a cutting means pierces the surface; of the first surface 12, or second surface 20, in the region of the channel 26 and is drawn through the channel, by way of example, in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During this movement the cutting means is drawn through the surface 12, 20 in a guided manner along the path formed by the channel 26. In FIG. 1, this path follows the edge of recess 16 in which an object is stored, while in FIG. 2 the path follows the periphery of the container 10.

[0040] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the path formed by channel can be of any shape and does not need to follow the outer edge of the blister portion. Indeed it is possible that only a section of the blister and/or the upper surface needs to be removed to open the container. Often this type of opening is used if the container is intended for re-use. Furthermore is will be appreciated that the container can include means, such as clips, studs and/or the like to re-seal the container.

[0041] The cutting implement could be a small kitchen knife, scissors or specifically designed widget that pierces channel 26 and is guided along the channel to cut open the container 10. Either the first surface 12 or the second surface 20 can be pierced and/or cut. Either surface can have a weakened portion in the region of the channel to aid piercing and/or cutting along the channel. By way of example, the edge 14 can run closer to the edge of the packaging, whilst a wall of the channel 26 can be formed of thinner plastic making the container easier to cut. Cutting action would be straight cuts along the channel 26 and around the packaging.

[0042] Although FIG. 2 shows a channel 26 around the entire periphery of the container, said channel may only be configured along three (3) edges in order to retain the material of the perforated surface. In this way, the packaging is still in one piece making disposal and re-recycling easier. Sharp edges, perforation burs or shards of plastic are inhibited.

[0043] The channel 26 can be configured abutted close, at a distance of approximately 3 mm, from a welded edge of the container. This facilitates extracting the contacts.

[0044] Multiple steps 14 and channels 26 can be configured upon a container such that multi-content packaging can be provided e.g. light bulbs. To be clear, in any event both the abutted and the 3-sided guide groove can be used in combination to optimise the opening solution for any particular packaging topology.

[0045] FIGS. 3a and 3b show examples of channels 26 that can be formed on a container 10. In FIG. 3a the channel 26 has rounded corners to enable a cutting implement to pass through the channel and open the blister portion 18 in fewer movements or operations.

[0046] In FIG. 3b, the formation has three straight portions with two 90-degree bends along its length. At the corners, overhangs can be provided to make the cutting of the formation easier.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows in cross-section one example of a formation 14 formed in an upper plastic surface 12 that can be positioned above a surface 20. The formation is substantially M-shaped having two peaks 28 with a trough or groove 16 therebetween. The surface 20 can optionally have a recess 22 (not shown) located underneath the groove 16. The groove can optionally have a thin-walled portion and/or perforations.

[0048] In use, the container can be opened by pushing an implement into the groove to penetrate the material at the base of the grove 16. The implement is then partially constrained by the adjacent walls of material 12 forming the peaks 28. If a recess 22 were located beneath the groove the tip of the implement would rest therein.

[0049] Once inserted, the implement can be drawn along the groove 16 (in to or out of the page as viewed) and be guided by the peaks 28. To be clear, the tip of the implement is guided within the void or channel 26, formed by an air gap, as it moves along the groove 16 such that it is inhibited from moving out of the groove.

[0050] The present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, which extends to equivalents of the features described and combinations of one or more features described herein. The invention also consists in any individual features described or implicit herein.