FR2818248A1 - Cover for plastic food container includes security fastening, cover having peripheral folds which connect to housing in container rim - Google Patents

Abstract

The plastic container (1) includes a cover (2) and a security fastening which once broken cannot be resealed. The cover rim has U-shaped peripheral folds which connect to the container rim in a peripheral housing (7).

Description

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IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSING CONTAINERS
FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a closure for plastic containers, of the type of those preferably used to contain food products and which incorporate a plastic cover coupling onto the opening of a container in order to obtain the security closure thereof and further presenting, as a novelty an easy opening means for the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Plastic containers are known very well, preferably intended to contain food products, provided with a cover with peripheral folds which define a housing in which the rim of the opening of the container is introduced, the periphery of the cover externally exerting pressure on said opening edge in order to immobilize it on it.

However, these elementary types of lid have safety closings which, although they are safe, have difficult, delicate and imperfect opening systems which impair the practical function of the lid, which results in damaging the container and the system causing discomfort to the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the problems that a difficult opening causes, a closure system for plastic containers has been designed, object of the present invention, which has constructive features

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 allowing not only a safety closure, but also to observe, depending on the position of the closure, whether the container has been opened or handled for such purpose.

The invention also preferably provides a quick and simple opening system in its closing capacity, which has an important advantage over existing closings on the market.

This property of easy opening and perfect closure is obtained by coupling the lid to the container, which lid has special pleats in its periphery, which define a lower open cavity in which the opening of the container is housed. Thus, the improvements made in the closure of plastic containers, of the type preferably used for containing food products, are remarkable in that they include a lid and a receptacle which can be coupled and a safety closure so that once broken and open it cannot be re-sealed, which makes it obvious that the container has been opened and handled and, at the same time, the closure or seal has the novelty of being able to be opened with ease thanks to the pressure of 'one finger.

For its part, the container has externally and near its opening, a foldable rim defining in its periphery a housing of inverted "U" section in which the end of the outer wing of the cover is housed in turn; the peripheral housing of the container defines a small part delimited by notches defined in the outer wing and in its core, said zone having a projecting or sealed fin.

Therefore, when the cover is positioned on the

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 container, the outer wing thereof is completely inserted inside the peripheral housing of the container, which prevents its access to extract the cover. And it has been provided that the outer wing of the container, which delimits the peripheral housing of the cover, has internally a longitudinal projection or rib which acts on another projection defined in the outer wing of the cover.

Due to the configuration of the lid and the container, to achieve the initial opening of the latter and, since the outer wing of the lid is hidden in the peripheral housing of the container, it is necessary to remove the part of material of the container included between each groove or rupture line, which extends vertically downwards, forming by pulling it a tab or fin, which will make it possible to discover a part or portion of the outer rim of the cover situated between said rupture lines, which is found toothed or forming small partitions which, by increasing the area of contact of the finger facilitates the effect of the pressure of the finger upwards, until opening the container.

This toothed part or these successive partitions situated between the two rupture grooves also have the utility of preventing the opening of the cover with the nail.

Arrived at this stage of the opening of the container, it must be highlighted that the essence of the invention consists in the fact that the internal wing of the peripheral housing of the container, in the section situated between the two rupture lines, is narrower than the rest for having reduced on its lower rim its height compared to the rest of the periphery of the container, so that once the container is closed, this rim

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 device of the toothed section of the cover, is wider than the part of the inner wing of the peripheral housing of the container, this is why one can push the cover upwards, easily opening the container, encountering no obstacle from the inner wing of the peripheral housing of the container.

This ease of opening plastic containers is not known on the market and is combined with closing security.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to complete this description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, drawings are attached to this specification, forming an integral part thereof, and showing with an illustrative and non-illustrative character. limitative, the following figures: Figure 1 shows an elevation view of the plastic container (1) closed with its cover (2) and having on one side the seal in the form of a fin or tongue (3) located on the outer rim of the container with its extension and fixing from behind (4).

2 shows a plan view of the cover (2) with its peripheral folds (5), placed on the container.

In this figure appear each notch or groove (6) on the edge of the outer wing of the peripheral housing of the container (7) which contains the cover (2) when the container (1) is closed. These notches constitute the breaking points of the outer wing of the container so that the fin (3) becomes detached when it is desired to remove the cover and open the container.

Behind the outer wing part of the container

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 located between the two grooves or break points, is the outer wing of the cover with its toothed edge (8). Thus, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the rim of the cover (2) has peripheral folds in the shape of an inverted "U" (5) which mate with the rim of the container (1) thanks to its introduction into the peripheral housing. (7) with the opposition of their longitudinal ribs (11).

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the improvements made to the closing of the plastic containers are remarkable in that a part of the container (1) in its rim, defined in its periphery, forms a housing of "U" section ( 7) in which is housed, in turn, the end of the outer wing of the cover (2); this edge and peripheral housing (7) of the container (1) each has notches or grooves (6) which constitute the breaking points of the outer wing of the container so that the fin (3) or the seal comes off, which is a downward extension of the cited peripheral rim (7) of the container when it is desired to uncover or leave uncovered the toothed section (8) of the cover (2). Thus, at the end of the outer wing of the peripheral rim of the cover of the teeth (8) are engraved, thanks to a succession of partitions (12) (see FIG. 5), which once the container (1) closed with the cover (2), the cited toothed part (8) covers and exceeds by its lower edge, the internal wing of the peripheral housing (7) of the container; the fact that the outer wing of the peripheral housing is narrower increases the contact area of the finger to open the container (1) and pull up the cover (2).

Figure 3 shows a section of the portion of the container lid with the seal or fin intact.

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On it appear: With the number 1 the container showing the outer wing of the peripheral housing (7) and inside the toothed rim (8) of the cover (2). Similarly, we observe the lateral section of the seal or fin (3) which is pulled by the lower end (9) so that it opens outwards and breaks by the notches or breaking point and of critical thickness (4 and 6), detaching from the outer wing of the container. Similarly, we observe the ribs (11) which run through the peripheral rim of the cover and the inner rim of the peripheral housing of the container (1), which cause the cover to be fixed in such a way that it cannot be removed and s '' open once positioned.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the container (1) closed with its lid (2) with the seal, fin or tab (3) detached, showing the peripheral rim of the lid with its toothed part (8) and in which the continuity solution of the outer wing of the peripheral housing of the container torn off by the points of critical thickness of the outer wing of the container (7).

FIG. 5 represents a portion of the external part of the peripheral rim (8) of the cover (2) in which its toothed portion is observed, forming small partitions (12) aligned one next to the other whose function is to increase the finger contact surface when you want to open the container and pull the lid up and at the same time prevent the lid from being opened with your fingernail. In fact, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the improvements made for closing the plastic containers are remarkable in that

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 when the seal or the fin (3) has been torn off from the rim (7) of the container (1), the toothed section (8) of the cover (2) remains visible, and by pressing upwards on said section (8), the cover (2) detaches from the container (1) and opens easily due to the narrowing of the section of the inner wing of the peripheral housing (7) between the grooves and break points (6 ) which makes it possible to put pressure on the toothed section (8) of the cover without any difficulty.

FIG. 6 represents a section of the portion of the container and cover in which it is observed that the seal (3) or fin has been broken thanks to the traction exerted with the finger on its lower part. This break was made on the points of critical thickness (6).

It will be observed in this figure that the toothed portion (8) of the outer wing of the container exceeds by its lower part the inner wing of the peripheral housing of the container (7), which allows that with little pressure of the finger with the high on the toothed part, the container (1) can be opened. The fact that the outer wing of the peripheral housing of the container for receiving the lid (2) is shorter than the rest of the periphery of the container is due to the fact that it has been reduced precisely so that this does not prevent that pressure can be exerted upwards on the toothed part of the cover.

This is the essential basis of the invention, since in spite of such an easy (but if studied) solution for opening and separating the lid from its container, a perfect security closure is obtained.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the container (1) in which the seal has been removed and the

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 part that said seal or fin occupied in the peripheral housing of the rim of the container. Similarly, by lifting the cover, we observe the portion of the inner wing of said peripheral housing (7), as it is narrower than the rest of the wing to allow the toothed section (8) of the cover to protrude from below. the edge of the inner wing of the peripheral housing, with which an easy opening of the cover (2) is obtained by exerting an upward pressure in a convenient manner of the toothed line (8) of the cover (2).

It is not considered necessary to make a more detailed description, for a skilled person to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages arising therefrom.

The terms in which the thesis was written are always considered in a broad and non-limiting sense.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements are subject to variation, without this supposing an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention claimed below.

Claims (4)

 1. System for closing plastic containers (1), of the type used preferably for containing food products, characterized in that it comprises a lid (2) and a receptacle (1) which can be coupled and a closure for safety so that once broken and open it cannot be re-sealed, which makes it obvious that the container has been opened and handled and, at the same time, the closure or seal has the novelty of being able to be opened with very easy thanks to the pressure of a single finger.  2. Plastic container closure system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rim of the lid (2) has inverted folds in the shape of an "U" (5) which mate with the rim of the container ( 1) thanks to its introduction into the peripheral housing (7) with the opposition of their longitudinal ribs (11); therefore, at the end of the outer wing of the peripheral rim of the cover of the teeth (8) are etched, thanks to a succession of partitions (12), which once the container (1) closed with the cover (2), the cited toothed part (8) covers and exceeds by its lower edge, the inner wing of the peripheral housing (7) of the container; the fact that the outer wing of the peripheral housing is narrower increases the contact area of the finger to open the container (1) and pull up the cover (2).  3. Closing system for plastic containers, according to claims 1 and / or 2, characterized in that a part of the container (1) in its rim, defined in its periphery, forms a housing of "U" section (7) in which is housed, in turn, the end of the outer wing of the cover (2); this edge and peripheral housing (7) of the container (1) each has notches or grooves (6) which constitute the breaking points of the outer wing of the container so that <Desc / Clms Page number 10>  the fin (3) or the seal comes off, which is a downward extension of the cited peripheral rim (7) of the container when it is desired to uncover or leave uncovered the toothed section (8) of the cover (2).  4. closure system for plastic containers according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, when the seal or the fin (3) has been torn off from the rim (7) of the container (1), the toothed section (8) of the cover (2) remains visible, and that by pressing upwards on said section (8), the cover (2) detaches from the container (1) and opens easily by because of the narrowing of the section of the inner wing of the peripheral housing (7) between the grooves and breaking points (6) which means that one can put pressure on the toothed section (8) of the cover without any difficulty.