FLIP-TOP CONTAINER WITH TOOTH-SHAPED SIDE PERFORATIONS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) comprising a bottom panel (2), a front panel (3), two side panels (4), a rear panel (5), and a top panel (6). The front panel (3) and the two side panels (4) each comprises a perforation line (7) so that a hingedly connected lid (8) is obtained when the perforation lines (7) are broken. The perforation line (7) in the front panel (3) is a row of perforations (23) arranged along a line or curve which forms an edge (24) of the lid (8) after the perforations (23) have been broken. Each of the perforation lines (7) in the side panels (4) is a row of perforations (23) each comprising two coherent first and second cuts (26,27) with a blunt angle (α) there between. These perforations (23) are arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions (25), where each tooth-shaped region (25) is delimited by a first cut (26) and a second cut (27), respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations (23). The first cuts (26) are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line.

Claims

1. Container comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, two side panels, a rear panel, and a top panel wherein: the front panel and the two side panels each comprises a perforation line; the perforation lines in the side panels extend from the rear panel to the front panel, and the perforation line in the front panel extends between and connects the two perforation lines in the side panels, thereby defining a lid; the lid comprises the top panel and upper sections of the front panel and of the side panels, respectively, above the perforation lines, which lid, after the perforation lines have been broken, is rotationally moveable around a folding line in the rear panel between a closing position where the lid closes the container, and an open position where an open end of the container is not covered by the lid; the perforation line in the front panel is a row of perforations arranged along a line or curve which forms an edge of the lid after the perforations have been broken; each of the perforation lines in the side panels is a row of perforations each comprising two coherent first and second cuts with a blunt angle there between, these perforations being arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions, where each tooth-shaped region is delimited by a first cut and a second cut, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations; and the first cuts are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line.

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein tips of the tooth-shaped regions are directed towards the rear panel.

3. Container according to claim 1, wherein the blunt angle between first and second cuts of the perforations in the side panels is between 145° and 175°.

4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the smallest distance between two perforations on the side panels is between 0.5 and 3 mm.

5. Container according to claim 1, wherein the length of the first cuts of the perforations on the side panels between 8 and 16 mm.

6. Container according to claim 1, wherein the perforation lines in the side panels are downwardly sloping from the rear panel.

7. Container according claim 6, wherein: the front panel further comprises an inner front part extending above the perforation line in the front panel without being attached to the front panel above the perforation line; each side panel further comprises an inner side part extending above the perforation line in the side panel without being attached to the side panel above the perforation line, the upper margin of each of the inner side parts extending downwardly sloping towards the rear panel; and the inner front part comprises a flap extending downwardly from an upper margin of the inner front part and abutting an inner surface of the section of the front panel above the perforation line when the lid is in the position where it closes the container.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the corners of the flap and/or the corners of the inner front part are rounded and/or truncated.

9. A container according to claim 7, wherein a vertical distance is provided between the upper most part of the inner side parts and the upper margin of the inner front part from which the flap extends downwardly, so that the upper margin of the inner front part is provided at a higher position than the upper most part of the inner side parts.

10. Container according to claim 1, wherein at least two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts are provided at or near a central part of the folding line, the transverse cuts perforating the rear panel through the thickness, and the transverse cuts extending substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line.

11. Container according to claim 1, wherein an end cut is provided near but at a distance from each end of the folding line, the end cuts going through the thickness of the rear panel, and the folding line being perforated between the end cuts and the end of the folding line adjacent to the side panels.

12. Container according to claim 11, wherein each of the end cuts is provided in the form of two linear and coherent sub-cuts arranged non-perpendicular to the folding line.

13. Container according to claim 1, wherein the folding line comprises a row of discontinuous perforations extending along the folding line.

14. A method of producing a container comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, two side panels, a rear panel, and a top panel wherein: the front panel and the two side panels each comprises a perforation line; the perforation lines in the side panels extend from the rear panel to the front panel, and the perforation line in the front panel extends between and connects the two perforation lines in the side panels, thereby defining a lid; the lid comprises the top panel and upper sections of the front panel and of the side panels, respectively, above the perforation lines, which lid, after the perforation lines have been broken, is rotationally moveable around a folding line in the rear panel between a closing position where the lid closes the container, and an open position where an open end of the container is not covered by the lid; the perforation line in the front panel is a row of perforations arranged along a line or curve which forms an edge of the lid after the perforations have been broken; each of the perforation lines in the side panels is a row of perforations each comprising two coherent first and second cuts with a blunt angle there between, these perforations being arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions, where each tooth-shaped region is delimited by a first cut and a second cut, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations; and the first cuts are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line, the method comprising: folding the panels from one piece of material or joining separate sheets of material.

15. A method for storing of a food product comprising placing food in a container comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, two side panels, a rear panel, and a top panel wherein: the front panel and the two side panels each comprises a perforation line; the perforation lines in the side panels extend from the rear panel to the front panel, and the perforation line in the front panel extends between and connects the two perforation lines in the side panels, thereby defining a lid; the lid comprises the top panel and upper sections of the front panel and of the side panels, respectively, above the perforation lines, which lid, after the perforation lines have been broken, is rotationally moveable around a folding line in the rear panel between a closing position where the lid closes the container, and an open position where an open end of the container is not covered by the lid; the perforation line in the front panel is a row of perforations arranged along a line or curve which forms an edge of the lid after the perforations have been broken; each of the perforation lines in the side panels is a row of perforations each comprising two coherent first and second cuts with a blunt angle there between, these perforations being arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions, where each tooth-shaped region is delimited by a first cut and a second cut, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations; and the first cuts are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0056] The container according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows schematically a three-dimensional view of a container according to the present invention before opening.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows schematically a three-dimensional view of a container according to the present invention with the hingedly connected lid in an open position.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows an example of a perforation line on the side panels, the perforation line having tooth-shaped regions.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows results of tests made to study the force needed to open containers having different types of perforation lines, and different numbers of tooth-shaped regions.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows schematically an embodiment of the invention comprising means to provide improved resistance against bulging of the rear panel and breakage of the folding line during opening of the lid of the container.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the folding line of a closed container as the one in FIG. 5.

[0063] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention comprising means for improved re-closing properties of the container.

[0064] FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective and schematic illustration of a section of the container of FIG. 7; the section is shown with some material removed to reveal a part of the interior container.

[0065] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a region of the container in FIG. 7, the container is illustrated from the front, and only the inner front part and a part of the front panel is disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0066] FIG. 1 shows schematically a three-dimensional view of a container 1 according to the present invention before opening, and FIG. 2 shows schematically a three-dimensional view of the container 1 according to the present invention with the hingedly connected lid 8 in an open position. The container 1 comprises a bottom panel 2, a front panel 3, two side panels 4, a rear panel 5, and a top panel 6.

[0067] The front panel 3 and the two side panels 4 each comprises a perforation line 7 which is to be broken when opening the container 1 to gain access to the content thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the perforation lines 7 in the side panels 4 extend from the rear panel 5 to the front panel 3, and the perforation line 7 in the front panel 3 extends between and connects the two perforation lines 7 in the side panels 4. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the perforation lines 7 in the side panels 4 are downwardly sloping from the rear panel 5. However, they may in other embodiments be horizontally arranged.

[0068] As seen in FIG. 2 showing the container 1 with the lid 8 being opened, the lid 8 comprises the top panel 6 and upper sections 3′,4′ of the front panel 3 and of the side panels 4 above the perforation lines 7. After the perforation lines 7 have been broken, the lid 8 is rotationally moveable around a folding line 21 in the rear panel 5. The lid 8 is thus moveable between a closing position resembling what is shown in FIG. 1 but with the perforation lines 7 broken, i.e. where the lid 8 closes the container 1, and an open position as shown in FIG. 2, where an open end of the container 1 is not covered by the lid 8.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the container 1 contains a pouch 22 stored inside the container 1, which pouch 22 is accessible after opening the lid 8. In other embodiments, the container 1 may contain a plurality, such as two, of such pouches.

[0070] The perforation line 7 in the front panel 3 is a row of perforations 23 arranged along a line or curve which forms an edge 24 of the lid 8 after the perforations 23 have been broken. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the perforations 23 in the front panel 3 are arranged linearly along parts of the path and curved along a middle part in order to ease the manual breaking of the perforations 23.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows an example of a design of a perforation line 7 on the side panels 4, the perforation line 7 having tooth-shaped regions 25. The perforation line 7 comprises two coherent first and second cuts 26,27 with a blunt angle (a) there between. These perforations 23 are arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions 25, where each tooth-shaped region 25 is delimited by a first cut 26 and a second cut 27, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations 23. The first cuts 26 are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, tips 28 of the tooth-shaped regions 25 are directed towards the rear panel 5.

[0072] Experiments performed in relation to the present invention have shown that the design of the perforation lines 7 as described above and shown in the figures results in a container 1 which meets the objectives of the present invention as described above.

[0073] A container 1 according to the present invention may be made from one or more sheet of material being folded and glued and/or welded to form the container 1. The container 1 can e.g. be made from paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or laminates thereof depending on the use of the container 1 and depending on whether or not the content is stored in a pouch 22 which can provide further protection.

[0074] As a part of the development leading to the present invention, it has been tested how the size of the tooth-shaped regions 25 in the perforation lines 7 in the side panels 4 influence the force needed to tear open these perforations 23 after the perforation line 7 in the front panel 3 has been broken. Containers 1 of the same size but having the following downwardly sloping perforation lines 7 in the side panels 4 were tested: seven teeth, five teeth, and no teeth (i.e. linear perforations). The tests were performed by using a standard tensile testing machine which was opening the container with a defined speed of 100 mm/min. For opening the containers with the tensile testing machine, a hole was cut through each of the lids of the containers, and a wire connected to the load cell was guided through this hole. The test set-up used is shown in FIG. 4.a.

[0075] FIG. 4.b shows representative examples of how containers 1 with the three different types of perforation lines 7 looked after testing, i.e. with seven, five and no teeth, respectively. The results of the tests are shown in FIGS. 4.c and 4.d for the five to six samples tested for each perforation line design. FIG. 4.c shows the test curves with the opening distance measured in mm along the x-axis and the applied load measured in N along the y-axis. FIG. 4.d shows the corresponding loads measured as necessary to fully open the perforation lines. The results show that the average force needed to break the perforations 23 and thereby open the lid 8 is highest for the design with no teeth (i.e. with linear perforations) and lowest for the design with seven teeth. Correspondingly, FIG. 4.b shows a significantly larger damage around the area where the force was applied for the sample with no teeth than for the other samples. For the sample with seven teeth, very limited damage is seen at the area where the force was applied. This indicates that this perforation line is easier opened.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows schematically an embodiment of the invention comprising means to provide improved resistance against bulging of the rear panel 5 and breakage of the folding line 21 during opening of the lid 8 of the container 1. FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the folding line of a closed container as the one in FIG. 5 to more clearly show the various cuts and perforations. The various features are numbered in FIG. 6 only, to provide a clearer view in FIG. 5.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 6, the container 1 comprises two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts 31 which are provided at or near a central part of the folding line 21. These transverse cuts 31 perforate the rear panel 5 through the thickness, and they typically extend substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line 21.

[0078] As further shown in FIG. 6, end cuts 32 are arranged near but at a distance from each end of the folding line 21. These end cuts 32 go through the thickness of the rear panel 5, and the folding line 21 is perforated between the end cuts 32 and the end of the folding line 21 adjacent to the side panels 4. Each of the end cuts 32 preferably extends substantially symmetrically across the folding line 21. Such transverse cuts 31 and end cuts 32 have been found to significantly reduce the bulging of the rear panel 5 when the lid 8 is opened and thus reduce the damage of the container 1 especially during repeated opening.

[0079] In some embodiments of the invention, including the one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the folding line comprises a row of discontinuous perforations 33 extending along the folding line 21. This has been found to reduce the re-closing force when the container 1 has been opened. These perforations 33 may further ease the first opening of the lid 8 along the folding line 21 and thereby reduce the risk of bulging which could otherwise induce damage to the folding line 21 as described above.

[0080] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention comprising means for improved re-closing properties of the container 1. FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective and schematic illustration of a section of the container 1 of FIG. 7; the section is shown with some material removed to reveal a part of the interior container. FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a region of the container in FIG. 7, the container is illustrated from the front, and only the inner front part and a part of the front panel is disclosed.

[0081] In order to provide an easy reclosing of the container 1, the front panel 3 in the embodiment in FIGS. 7-9 comprises an inner front part 10 extending above the division line 7 in the front panel 3 without being attached to the front panel 3 above the division line 7. Further, each side panel 4 comprises an inner side part 9 extending above the division line 7 in the side panel 4 without being attached to the side panel 4 above the division line 7. Advantageously, the upper margin of each of the inner side parts 9 extends downwardly sloping towards the rear panel 5, as shown in FIG. 7. This downward sloping towards the rear panel 5 may be seen as providing a guide which prevents the sections 4′ from engaging un-intentionally with inner side part 9.

[0082] While the inner side parts 9 reduce the risk of un-intentional engagement of the sections 4′, the section 3′ may still be prone to un-intentional engagement with the inner front part 10. In order to further reduce this risk, the inner front part 10 comprises a flap 12 (see FIG. 8) extending downwardly from an upper margin of the inner front part 10. This flap 12 is arranged so that it abuts an inner surface of the section 3′ of the front panel 3 above the division line 7 when the lid 8 is in the position where it closes the container 1. In the situation, where the lid 8 is in the position where the container is open, the flap 12 extends downwardly and outwardly, where the outwardly extending typically is provided by the material being resilient and the flap is provided by folding along a folding line which after folding is the upper margin of the inner front part 10.

[0083] As seen in FIG. 8, there is provided a vertical distance between the upper most part of the inner side part 9 and the upper margin of the inner front part 10 from which the flap 12 extends downwardly. Thus, the upper margin of the inner front part 10 is higher than the upper most part of the inner side parts 9. This assists in an easy reclosing of the container, as the lid when moved towards it closing position will initially be guided by flap 12 to deflect the section 3′ outwardly and/or the inner front part 10 inwardly.

[0084] When the lid 8 is moved from the open position shown in FIG. 7 to the closed position, after section 3′ meets the inner front part 10, thus guiding the section 3′ outwardly and/or the inner front section 10 inwardly, the upper margins of the inner side parts 9 will in turn guide the sections 4′ outwardly and/or the sections 4′ will guide the inner side parts 9 inwardly Thereby an easy reclosing of the container 1 is provided.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the inner front part 10 is provided by a panel provided on the inside of the front panel 3 below the division line 7 in the front panel 3, and the inner side parts 9 are provided by panels provided on the inside of the side panels 4 below the division line 7. Such panels may be separate panels which are attached to the inside of the panels of the container 1, e.g. by gluing and/or welding. However, in some preferred embodiments, the panels used as inner side parts 9 and inner front part 10 is made from a single sheet being folded into an insert so as to fit inside the container. It is further noted that in the latter case, the folded single sheet may not need to be attached to the inside of the container as it may be given a longitudinal extension so that it may rest at the bottom panel 2 of the container. However, also in this case, it may be advantageous to attach the inset to the inside of the container 1.

[0086] It is often preferred that the container is prevented from being opened un-intentionally and a locking mechanism is often preferred, which locking mechanism should preferably provide a tactile and/or a hearable response to inform the user that the container is closed and locked. To this, the the lid 8 may be provided with a ledge 14 provided on the inner surface of the section 3′ of the front panel 3 above the division line 7 in a position where the lower margin of the downwardly extending flap 12 engages with an upper edge of the ledge 14, when the lid 8 is in the position where it closes the container 1.

[0087] Thereby, the flap 12 will, when the lid 8 is to be positioned in the closed position, bend inwardly and/or the section 3′ will bend outwardly until the flap 12 is able to bend outwardly. This may provide a snapping of the flap 12 which, depending on the strength of the material used for the container, provide a hearable and/or a tactile snap. The position at which the container is locked is shown in FIG. 8, which illustrates the interior of the container at an upper corner with a part of the section 4′ cut away for illustration only.

[0088] In order to e.g. provide sufficient space for maneuvering the flap 12 into the position where it engages with the ledge 14, the ledge 14 and the flap 12 are mutually arranged so as to provide a distance between the upper margin of the inner front part 10 and the inner surface of the top 6, when the lid 8 is in the position where it closes the container 1.

[0089] In order to further facilitate easy reclosing of the container, sharp and/or pointing corners could advantageously be removed, and in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9, the corners 13 of the flap 12 and/or corners 15 of the inner front part 10 are preferably rounded and/or truncated as shown in FIG. 9. Typical size for the truncation is 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 9, where the corners 15 of the inner front part 10 and the corners 13 of the flap 12 are truncated. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 the corners are furthermore rounded; such roundings may be omitted.

[0090] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms “comprising” or “comprises” do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as “a” or “an” etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.