GB2516014A

GB2516014A - Container

Info

Publication number: GB2516014A
Application number: GB201311911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samantha Moore
Original assignee: Colpac Ltd
Current assignee: Colpac Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-02
Filing date: 2013-07-02
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Also published as: GB201311911D0; WO2015001343A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container and a blank for making a container. The invention provides a container comprising a base (3) having an opening, a closure (5) for closing said opening, and a hinge for allowing relative rotational movement between the base (3) and the closure (5). The hinge comprises a first part (65), a second part (63), and rotation means (61) wherein said rotation means adjoins the first and second parts (63,65) to one another and allows relative rotational movement between said parts. The first part (65) has an element (71) extending therefrom and the second part (63) has a first aperture (67, fig 1) for receiving said element (71), wherein the hinge further comprises means (89, fig 3a) for resisting movement of said element relative to said aperture. The closure (5) may include the element (71) and the base may include a second aperture (69, fig 1).

Description

CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a container and a blank for making a container.

It is known for containers to be provided with a closure (lid) connected to a base in such a way as to allow the closure to be rotated between a closed position and an open position. This arrangement allows for ready abcess through an opening in the base into the interior of the base. The closure is typically connected to the base by means of a hinge and is retained in a closed position by suitable means such as a clip or latch located on an opposite side of the container to the hinge.

A problem with such an arrangement however is that if the clip or latch fails, then the closure is free to open which can lead to an undesirable loss of product held within the container.

Prior art containers of the above type are. disclosed in US20060289551 Al, US 3985289, US 6359272, SE 433339 B, GB 2291404 A, US 5398868, US 7963421 and US 7080754.

Prior art containers of this type are available for holding food items such as sandwiches, salads and/or bakery/pastry products. These containers are typically made from a.cardboard blank which is fo!ded and retained in an assembled state with adhesive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container which will more reliably remain in a closed configuration.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a container comprising a base having an opening a closure for closing said opening, and a hinge for allowing relative rotational movement between the base and the closure, wherein the hinge comprises a first part, a second part, and rOtation means wherein said rotation means adjoins the * first and second parts to one another and allows relative rotational movement between Sid parts, the first part having an element extending therefrom and the second part having a first aperture for receiving said element, wherein the hinge further comprises means for resisting movement of said element relative to said aperture.

Preferably, said element comprises said resisting means. Said resisting meané may resist removal of said element from the aperture. Also, said resisting means may resist movement of said element into reception by the aperture. It is also preferable for said resisting means to comprise one or more camming surfaces for: engaging with said aperture and thereby resisting movement of said element relative to said aperture.

Ideally, element is bifurcated so as to comprise two legs. Also, said element may be resiliently and elastically deformable. Furthermore, it is preferable for said element and said aperture to be arranged so that said element removably clips into said aperture when pressed into said aperture. In addition, said element and said aperture may be arranged so that, when the container is in a closed configuration wherein the clOsure closes said opening of the base, said element is received in said aperture and said resisting means reiists removal of said element from the aperture.

Said element and said aperture may be arranged so that, once the container is moved from a closed configuration by rotating the closure relative to the base during use, said resisting means no longer resists movement of said element relative to said aperture.

It is also desirably for said closure to comprise said element and said base to comprise a second aperture, wherein said closure is connected to said base by location of the element in said second aperture. Ideally, said second aperture is substantially identical in size and shape to said first aperture. Preferably, said second aperture is provided in said first part of the hinge. It is also preferable that the first and second parts of the hinge are rotatable about said rotation means in to a closed configuration whereby said first and second apertures are aligned with one another. Also, in said closed configuration, said element may be received in said apertures and said resisting means may resist removal of said element from said apertures.

Said apertures may be located on either side of said rotation means and may be equi-distant from said rotation means. Also, said element is ideally removable from said second aperture so as to separate the closure from the base. In addition, said rotation means may comprise a fold line. Said fold line is preferably provided in a flange adjoined to the base by means of a second fold line. Furthermore, said rotation means ideally presents less resistance to relative rotation of the first part and second part than the second fold line presents to rotation of the flange about said second fold line. Said rotation means ideally comprises a fold line in material of the hinge wherein the fold line comprises a cut part-way or entirely through the thickness of the folded material. Also, said second fold line preferably comprises a fold line formed by compressing material without cutting material.

It is also preferable for said element to be located between said opening of the base and said rotation means when, in use, said container is in a closed configuration with said closureclosing said opening. Also, said means for retaining the container in the closed configuration is ideally located on an opposite side of said opening to said hinge.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a food container as claimed in any of the preceding claims. -A third aspect of the present invention provides a sandwich, salad or pastry container in accordance with the container recited above.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a blank from which any one of the above recited containers is made.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a blank from which the base of any one of the above recited containers is made.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which.the base of a first container according to the present invention is assembled; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the base assembled from the blank of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the underside of a closure for connection with the base of Figure 2; Figure 3a is a schematic partial side view of the closure of Figure 2, wherein an enlarged side view of a blip member of said closure is provided; / Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the base of Figure 2 and the closure of Figure 3, wher&n the closure is shown being moved towards the base prior to connection therewith; Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the base of Figure 2 and the closure of Figure 3, 15] wherein the base and closure are connected to one another and positioned in an open configuration; -Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the base of Figure 2 and the closure of Figure 3 connected to one another and positioned in a closed configuration; Figure 7 is a schematic side view of the base and the closure of a second container according to the present invention, wherein the base and closure are position in a closed configuration.

The accompanying drawings show two containers 1,100 according to the present invention. The accompanying Figures 1 to 6 refer to the first container 1, whilst the accompanying Figure 7 refers to the second container 100.

With reference to the first container 1, this is shown in an assembled form in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, whereas Figures 1 to 4 refer to a base 3 and closure 5 of the container 1 as separate components and to their assembly and connection to one another to thereby form the first container 1.

The closure 5 is of a unitary construction comprising a plastics material. In the present embodiment, the closure 5 is of a transparent plastics material and is formed from a sheet of plastics material by means of conentional vacuum forming techniques. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternative materials and manufacturing techniques may be used for forming a closure 5.

The base 3 of the first container 1 is of a cardboard material and is assembled from a planar blank 7 as shown in Figure 1.. The base 3 is assembled from the blank 7 in a conventional manner by appropriate folding of the blank 7 and adhering of four tabs 9 -of the blank 7 to one of two sidewalls 11,12 of the blank 7 with a suitable adhesive The blank 7 is itself manufactured from a planar sheet or roll of cardboard material by appropriately cutting the outline of the blank 7 from the sheet of cardboard and cutting apertures (as described in more detail below) therethrough and providing fold lines (again as described in more detail below) therein. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the blank 7 may be of a different shape to that shown in Figure 1 and be of a different material (such as a plastics material) so as to provide a suitable base for assembly into a container according to the present invention.

Detailed reference will now be made to the blank 7 shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

With reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the blank 7 is provided with a central area 13 having a rectangular shape and being delimited by fold lines 15,17,19,21. In the assembled base 3, the central area 13 forms the bottom of the base 3 and, therefore, the surface on which items placed in the fully assembled container 1 are located and supported.

As shown in Figure 1, sidewalls 11,12 of the base 3 extend from oppositeside edges of the central area 13. More specifically, the sidewalls 11,12 extend from the minor (i.e. shorter) edges of the rectangularly shaped central area 13. The aforementioned minor edges are coincident with the fold lines denoted by reference numerals 15 and 19 and1 in the blank 7 these fold lines 15,19 demarcate the central area 13 from the sidewalls 11,12 and may also be considered to adjointhe sidewalls 11,12 to the central area 13.

The sidewalls 11112 are symmetrical about a central axis 23 of the blank 7, in that the half of a sidewall 11,12 on one side of the central axis 23 is a mirror image of the other half of the sidewall 11,12. Each sidewall 11,12 has a straight edge 25 extending from a point of intersection of adjacent minor and major edges of the rectangularly shaped central area 1* As mentioned above, the minor edges of the rectangular area 13 are coincident with the fold lines denoted by reference numerals 15 and 19. The major edges of the central area 13 are similarly coincident with the fold lines denoted by reference numerals 17 and 21..

Each edge 25 is provided t an angle to (i.e. not parallel with) the two adjacent intersecting edges or fold lines from which it extends. In this way, each edge 25 leans away from the central area 13 or bottom of the base 3 when the base 3 is assembled, as shown in any one of Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6. In this way, when the base 3 is placed on a horizontal surface, each edge 25 locates at an angle 27 to the vertical 29 (see Figure 2).

The two opposing edges 25 of each sidewall 11,12 adjoin a further straight edge 31 which is ar.ranged so that, in the assembled base 3, said edge 31 is located at an angle 33 tä the vertical 29 (see Figure 2). A single straight edge 35 of each sidewall 11,12 is located parallel with the minor edges of the central area 13 andconnect together the.

two angled edges 31 of each sidewall 11,12.

The profile of the sidewalls 11,12 produced by the two angled edges 31 and parallel edge 35 compliments an identical profile of the sidewalls in the closure 5, as will be evident from Figure 6 in particular of the accompanying drawings. However, alternative profiles for both the base and the closure may be provided as will be evident to a reader skilled in the art. For exaniple, the edges 31,35 can be replaced with a single curved edge in an alternative embodiment. The sidewall profile of the closure in such an alternative embodiment may also be likewise modified.

As will be seen from Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the blank 7 further comprises end walls 37,39. A first end wall 37 extends from a first of the aforementioned major edges (coincident with the fold line denoted by reference numeral 17) and a second end waIl 39 extends from a second of the aforementioned major edges (coincident with the fold line denoted by reference numeral 21).

Each of the end walls 37,39 is of a rectangular shape with major edges 41,43,45,47 having the same length as the major edges of the central area 13 and with minor edges 49 having the same length as the edges of the sidewalls 11,12 denoted by reference numeral 25.

The major edge 41 of the first end Wall 37 is coincident with the fold line denpted by reference numeral 17. Similarly, major edge 45 of the second end wall 39 is coincident with the fold line denoted by reference numeral 21. A tab 9 extends from each minor edge 49 of each end wall 37,39. Each tab 9 extends from its respective end wall 37,39 so as to be spaced (from root to tip) from the adjacent sidewall 11,12 when the blank 7 is unfolded in a single plane as shown in Figure 1. Each tab 9 adjoins its respective end wall 37,39 at a fold line coincident with its aforementioned associated minor edge 49.

The blank 7 further comprises a closure flange 51, which extends from a central portion of the free major edge 47 pf the second end wall 39. The aforementioned central portion of the major edge 47 is coincident with a fold line 53 which allows the closure flange 51 to be rotated relative to the second end wall 39 and thereby be located in a plane parallel to the plane of the central area 13 in the assembled base 3 (see Figure * 2). The flange 51. is thereby able to. abut with a mating flange on the closure 5 when * the assembled container I is arranged in a closed configuration (see Figure 6).

An aperture 55, having a rectangular shape, extends through the closure flange 51 and is centrally located on said flange 51. In use of the container 1, the aperture 55 receives a portion of the closure 5 so as to assist in retaining the closure 5 in a closed position (see Figure 6).

The blank 7 further comprises a hinge flange 57 which extends from the first end wall 37. More specifically, the hinge flange 57 extends from the major edge 43 of the first end wall 37 opposite the major edge 41 (of said first end wall 37), the major edge 41 being coincident with the fold line denoted by reference numeral 17 and being the.

means by which the first end wall 37 adjoins the central area 13. The hinge flange 57 is adjoined to the first end wall 37 by means of a fold line coincident with, and extending along the full length of, the major edge denoted by reference numeral 43.

This edge orfold line 43 allows the hinge flange 57 to be located in a plane parallel to the plane. of the centra! portion 13 when the blank 7 is assembled into the base 3 (see Figure 2).

The hinge flange 57 is of a symmetrical trapezoidal shape with a free edge 59 being parallel with, but shorter than, the major edge 43. The hinge flange 57 is provided with a fold line 61 which extends along the length of the hinge flange 57 and which is parallel with the free edge 59. The fold line 61 is located equi-distant between the free edge 59 and the major edge 43. The hinge flange 57 is thereby divided into two flange portions -a first flange portion 63 which adjoins the first end wall.37, and a second flange portion 65 adjoining only the first flange portion 63 by way of the fold line 61.

The hinge flange 57 further comprises two pairs of apertures. Each pair of apertures includes a first hinge aperture 67 located equi-distant between the major edge 41 and the hinge fold line 61. Each pair of apertures also includes a second hinge aperture 69 located equi-distant between the hinge fold line 61 and the free edge 59. Furthermore, the distance of the first hinge aperture 67 from the hinge fold line 61 is the same as the distance of the second hinge aperture 69 from the hinge fold line 61. In addition, the first and second hinge apertures 67,69 in each. pair are positioned opposite one another either side of the hinge fold line 61. As a consequence, when the second flange portion 65 is rotated through 1800 so as to overlie the first flange portion 63 (as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 6), the first and second hinge apertures 67,69 in each aperture pair align with one another. The apertures 67,69 in each pair are identical in size and shape. The first and second hinge apertures 67,69 have a rectangular shape.

Indeed, the first and second hinge apertures 67,69 in each pair are of the same size and shape as the aperture 55 in the closure flange 51, although in an alternative embodiment the hinge apertures 67,69 may have a different size and shape to the aperture 55 in the closure flange 51.

In the assembled container 1, the hinge flange 57 may be considered to form a first hinge portion of the container hinge, whilst resiliently and elastically deformable clip members 71 provided on the closure 5 for engagement with the aforementioned aperture pairs may be considered a second hinge portion. The first and second hinge portions together form a complete hinge arrangement for the container 11 In use, when the closure 5 is moved relative to the base 3 between open and closed positions, the container hinge arrangement operates with a relative rotation of the first and second flange portions 63,65 about the hinge fold line 61. This operation can be seen from Figures Sand 6 of the aôcompanying drawings.

The hinge fold line 61 is made in such a way that relative movement of the base material located either side of the hinge fold line 61 may occur more readily than for the other aforementioned fold lines of the blank 7. This is achieved in the present embodiment by providing the hinge fold line 61 with a partial cut in the material of the blank 7. The other fold lines are provided by scoring (i.e. compressing) the base material along the fold line: In respect of the hinge fold line 61, the partial cut may be along the full length of the fold line 61 or at selected positions along the fold line 61.

Where the partial cut is at selected positions, the cut may extend part way through the full thickness of the material or entirely through the full thickness of the material.

Where the partial cut is along the full length of the hinge fold line 61, the cut extends through only part way through the full thickness of the material for at least selected pbsitions along the fold line 61 if not at all positions along the fold line 61.

It is particularly desirable for the hinge fold line 61 to.be formed so as to present less resistance to bending (folding) of the base material than the fold line coincident With the major edge denoted by reference numeral 43. n the assembled base 3,. the major edge 43 becomes an upper edge of the first end wall 37 from which the entire. container hinge is effectively suspended in a cantilever fashion. It is a desired objective therefore for the fold line at this edge 43 to present resistance to bending (i.e. resistance to relative rotational movement of the first end wall 37 and the first hinge flange portion 63) so that the container hinge arrangement and closure 5 are sufficiently supported by the base 3 and so as to promote bending at the hinge fold line 61 when opening and closing the container, rather than at said edge 43. It will, be appreciated by those skilled in the art that providing said edge 43 with a scored fold line and the hinge flange with a partially cut fold line 61 achieves the aforementioned desired objective.

With reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the closure 5 of the container 1 has a generally dish-shaped form with sloping end walls 75,76 extending from a top wall 77.

The end walls 75,76 and top wall 77 terminate at either end in a sidewall 78,79 and are arranged so as to provide,the closure 5 with a side-profile which is identical to the profile provided by edges 31,35 of the base sidewàlls 11,12 (see Figure 6).

A first mating flange 80 of the closure 5 extends from a central portion of a lower free edge 81 of the first end wall 75. The first mating flange 80 lies in a plane parallel with the top wall 77 and is located so as to abut with the closure flange 51 of the base 3 when the container 1 i's arranged in the closed confióuration (see Figure 6). Extending downwardly from the underside of the mating flange 80, and from a central location thereof, is a clip member 83. The clip member 83 is identical to the clip members 71 and will be described in greater detail below.

A second mating flange 84 extends from a free lower edge of the second end wall 76' and lies in the same plane as the first mating flange' 80.

The clip members 71 previously mentioned as comprising a second hinge pOrtion extend downwardly from an underside of the second mating flange 84. The clips 71 are positioned on the second mating flange 84 so that, when said second mating flange 84 is brought into abutment with the hinge flange 57 of the base 3 and the closure 5 also locates on the base 3 soas to provide the container 1 in a closed configuration, each of the two clip members 71 pass through both aligned apertures 67,69 of different aperture pairs (see Figure 6 in particular).

An enlarged side view of a clip member 71 is shown in Figure 3a of the accompahying drawings. It is to be noted that a side view of the clip member 83 of the first mating flange 80 is identical to that shown in Figure 3a.

With reference to Figure 3a, it will be seen that the clip member 71 bifurcates from its root (where it is attached to the second mating flange 84) towards its tip. As a result, two legs 86,87 are provided. Also, the width 88 of the clip member 71 increases in the region of the bifurcation and then decreases again when moving from root to tip of the clip member 71. This increase and decrease in width 88 is provided by diverging first camming surfaces 89 on either side of the clip member 71 in the region of bifurcation and converging second camming surfaces 90 at the clip of the clip member 71. The widest part of the clip member 71 is found at the point of intersection 92 of the first and second camming surfaces 89,90.

The width 88 of the clip member 71 at the aforementioned point of intersection 92 (i.e: the widest part of the clip member 71) is greater than the width 94 of the apertures 67,69 of the hinge flange 57 (and indeed of the aperture 55 of the closure flange 51).

Accordingly, there is a resistance provided to the clip member 71 being inserted through the apertures 67,69 of the hinge flange 57 and also to the clip member 71 being removed from said apertures 67,69. When a clip member 711s pressedthroUgh the apertures 67,69, the second camming surfaces 90 press against the sides of the apertures 67,69 and tend to resist the clipping member 71 from being moved into the apertures 67,69. Howevth, the resilient and elastically deformable nature of the clip member 71 allows the legs 86,87 of the clip members 71 to move inwardly towards one another and allows the widest part of the clip member 71 to pass through the apertures 67,69. The cardboard material from which the base 3 is made also has a resilient and elastically deformable nature and this also contributes in allowing the widest part of the clip member 71 to pass through an aperture 67,69. It will be understood that, if the closure 5 is manufactured from a material which provides the clip members 71 (and 83) with little or no ability to resiliently and elastically deform, then movement of the clip members through the apertures will be solely permitted by deformation of the apertures themselves.

Once the widest part of a clip member 71 has passed through an aperture 67,69, resistance to the clip member 71 from being removed from the aperture is provided by the first camming surfaces 89. It will be appreciated that, when a clip member 7lis located in both first and second hinge apertures 67, 69 (as shown in Figure 6 of the S accompanying drawings), the clip member 71 tends to prevent the first and second flange portions 63,65 from rotating relative to one another about the hinge fold line 61.

In this way, the clip members 71 tend to assist in retaining the container 1 in a closed configuration. However, by increasing the opening force applied to the base 3 and closure 5, a camming action between the first camming surfaces 89 and the sides of the first hinge aperture 67 of an. aperture pair allows the legs 86,87 andlor the sides of the first hinge aperture 67 to resiliently and elastically, deform and, accordingly, for the widest part of the clip member 71 to pass thrOugh the first hinge aperture 67. As a result, a clip member 71 becomes detached from the first flange portion 63 (so as to allow the container I to be opened) whilst nevertheless remaining attached to the' second flange portion 65. In this way, the container 1 may be moved from a closed configuration as show in Figure 6 to an open configuration as shown in Figure 5.

If desired,. each clip member 71 (and,. consequently, the closure 5 itself) may be removed from the second flange portion 65 in the same way as for the first flange portion 63. As a result, the closure 5 may be entirely removed from the base 3 of the container 1.

The clip member, 83 projecting from the first mating flange 80 of the closure 5 operates in relation to the aperture 55 of the closure flange 51 in the same way as the clip members 87 àperate in respect of the first and'second hinge apertures 67,69. the clip member 83 may therefore engage with the aperture 55 in the closure flange 51 and' assist in retaining the container I in the closed configuration.

When attaching' the closure 5 to the base 3, the clip member 71 may be clipped in to attachment with firstly a respective second hinge aperture 69 and then a respective first hinge aperture 71 in turn. This process is sh'own in Figure 4 wherein a clip member 71 is shown being moved first into clipping engagement with a second hinge aperture 69 in the second flange portion 65. However, in an alternative method of connection, the * 13 * flange portions 63,65 may be rotated about the hinge fold line 61 so as to align the first and second hinge apertures 67,69. A clip member 71 may then be clipped through the two aligned hinge apertures 67,69 simultaneously.

In an alternative embodiment, *a second container 100 is provided as shown in Figure 7. The second container 100 is identical to the first container 1 other than in that the base and closure are permanently joined to one another. As a result, the clip members 71 only ever selectively engage with first hinge apertures 67. The closure* is permanently attached to the base by means of adhesive applied between the second mating flange 84 of the closure 5 and the second flange portion 65 of the bath.

Nevertheless, alternative arrangements are available for providing a container wherein the closure is not removable from the base. Forexamplé, the base and closure may be manufactured from a unitary sheet or roll of plastics material which is vacuum formed to the desired shape with apertures appropriately stamped therein.

In use of the containers.1,100, food items such as sandwiches, salads and/or bakery/pastry products may be held in the base 3 and covered by the closure 5, and sold via retail outlets. If primary means 55,83 for retaining the closure 5 in a closed position fails, then secondary means 67,71 for retaining the closure 5 in a closed position will be effective at preventing or at least resisting any tendency for the closure to move towards the open position. Undesirable spillages or other loss of products held within the container 1,100 may be thereby avoided. The secondary means 67,71 for retaining the closure 5 in a closed position will not however prevent the closure 5 from being intentional moved to the open position.

The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above.

Alternative arrangement and suitable materials will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art. 30. .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A container (1) comprising a base (3) having an opening, a closure (5) for closing said, opening, and a hinge for allowing relative rotational movement between the' base (3) and the closure (5), wherein the hinge comprises a first part (65), a second part (63), and rotation means (61) wherein said rotation means adjoins the first and second parts (63,65) to one another and allows relative rotational movement between said parts, the first part (65) having an element (71) extending therefrom and the second part (63) having a first aperture (67) for receiving said element (71), wherein the hinge further comprises means (89) for resisting movement of said element relative to said aperture.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said element (71) comprises said resisting means (89).
3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resisting means (89) resists removal of said element (71) from the aperture (67).
4. A container as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein said resisting means (89) resists movement of said element (71) into reception by the aperture (67).
5. A cbntainer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said resisting means (89) comprises one or more camming surfaces (89,90) for engaging with said aperture and thereby resisting movement of said element relative to said aperture.
6. A container as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said element (71) is bifurcated so as to comprise two legs (86,87).
7. A container as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said element (71) is resiliently and elastically defärmable.
8. A container as claimed in any.of the preceding claims, wherein said element (71) and said aperture (67) are arranged so that said element (71) removably clips into said aperture (67) when pressed into said aperture (67).
9. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said element (71) and said aperture (67) are arranged so that, when the container is in a closed configuration wherein the closure (5) closes said opening of the base (3), said element (71) is received in said aperture (67) and said resisting means (89) resists removal of said element (71) from the aperture (67).
10. A container as claimed in claim 9, wherein said element (71) and said aperture (67) are arranged so that, once the container is moved from a closed configuration by rotating the closure (5) relative to the base (3) during use, said resisting means (89) no longer resists movement of said element (71) relative to said aperture (67).
11. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said closure (5) comprises said element (71) and said base (3) comprises a second aperture (69), and wherein said closure (5) is connected to said base (3) by location of the element (71) in said second aperture (69).
12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second aperture (69) is substantially identical in size and shape to said first aperture (67).
13. *A container as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein said second aperture (69) is provided insaid first part (65) of the hinge.
14. A container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second parts (63,65) of the hinge are rotatable about said rotation means (61) in to a closed configuration whereby said first and second apertures (67,69) are aligned with one another.
15. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein, in said closed configuration, said element (71) is received in said apertures (67,69) and said resisting means (89) resists removal of said element (71) from said apertUres (67,69).
16. A container as claimed in claim 11 or 15, wherein said apertures (67,69) are located on either side pf said rotation means (61) and are equi-distant from said rotation means (61).
17. A container as claimed in any of claims 11 to 16, wherein said element (71) is removable from said second aperture (69) so as to separate the closure (5) from the base (3):
18. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said rotation means (61) comprises a fold line.
19. A container as claimed in claim 18, wherein said fold line is provided in a flange (57) adjoined to the base (3) by means of a second fold line (43).
20. A container as claimed in claim 19, wherein rotation means (61) presents less resistance to relative rotation of the first part (65) and second part (63) than the second fold line (43) presents to rotation of the flange (57) about said second fold line (43).21: A container as claimed in claim 20, wherein said rotation means (61) comprises a fold line in material of the hinge wherein the fold line comprises a cut part-way or entirely through the thickness of the folded material.22. A container as claimed in claim 21, wherein said second fold line (43) comprises a fold line formed by compressing material without cutting material.23. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said element (71) is located between said opening of the base (3) and said rotation means (61) when, in use, said container is in a closed configuration with said closure (5) closing said opening.24. A container as claimed in claim 23, wherein means (55,83) for retaining *the container in the cidsed configuration are located on an opposite side of said opening to said hinge.25. A food container as claimed in any of the preceding claims.26. A sandwich, salad or pastry container as claimed in any of the preceding claims.27. A blank from which the container (1) of any of the preceding claims is made.28. A blank from which the base (3) of any of claims Ito 24 is made.