U.S. patent application number 11/044693 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for tamper-resistant sealing system between container and lid.
Invention is credited to Padovani, Pietro.
Application Number | 20050189353 11/044693 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34640411 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050189353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Padovani, Pietro |
September 1, 2005 |
Tamper-resistant sealing system between container and lid
Abstract
a tamper-resistant sealing system between a container body and
the lid, both obtained by a thermoforming process, in which said
contained body and said lid have a respective curved or grooved
edge structured to fitted one to another, each curved or grooved
edge including a top portion and an outer wall portion, said outer
wall portion of said lid presenting a pair of weakening lines
defining a breakable and removable strip there between and
constraint means is provided between said outer wall portion of
said container body and said lid.
Inventors: |
Padovani, Pietro; (Verona,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ORUM & ROTH LLC
53 Jackson Blvd.
Chicago
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
34640411 |
Appl. No.: |
11/044693 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/276 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00509
20130101; B65D 43/0247 20130101; B65D 2543/00685 20130101; B65D
2543/0062 20130101; B65D 2543/00555 20130101; B65D 2543/00537
20130101; B65D 2543/00981 20130101; B65D 2543/00842 20130101; B65D
2543/00453 20130101; B65D 43/0237 20130101; B65D 2543/00425
20130101; B65D 43/0241 20130101; B65D 2543/00796 20130101; B65D
43/0252 20130101; B65D 2543/00731 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/276 |
International
Class: |
B65D 017/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 28, 2004 |
IT |
VR2004A000011 |
Claims
1. A tamper-resistant sealing system, between a container body and
he lid both obtained by a thermoforming process, comprising said
container body and said lid each comprising a respective curved or
grooved edge arranged to engage with one another, each curved or
grooved edge comprising a top portion and an outer wall portion,
said outer wall portion of said lid having a pair of weakening
lines delimiting a breakable and removable strip therebetween,
wherein it the strip comprises a constraint means between said
outer wall portions of said contained body and said
lid..paragraph.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said constraint means
comprises a fixing means.
3. A system is claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing means
comprises a bonding agent.
4. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing means
comprises a welding.
5. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said outer wall
portion ends with a respective flanged edge at which said fixing
means is provided.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said constraint means
comprises a curled end rim a portion of said outer wall portion of
said edge, and an end rim portion of said outer wall portion of
said edge, said curled end select per for scratch that rim portion
delimiting at least one peripheral notch arranged to receive and
trap said end rim of portion.
7. A system is claimed in claim 6, wherein said peripheral notch
has inner and outer sides, one of which acts as an invitation for
said end rim portion to enter set notch.
8. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said end rim of portion
is flanged.
9. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said outer wall portion
ends with an enlargement delimiting an upper inclined-plane
invitation surface, and a lower undercut portion for snap-fitting
said end rim portion.
10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said curled end rim
portion delimiting said peripheral notch has a least one peripheral
stiffening rim extending opposite to said enlargement.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said breakable and
removable strip comprises a tearing tag.
12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer wall portion
of said edge of said container body comprises, in sequence, from
said transverse top portion, an upper substantially vertical
length, a short and radiused length extending inwards and
delimiting an outer undercut shoulder, a downwards flared
intermediate length, and a lower length adjacent to said end rim
portion and, correspondingly, said outer wall of said edge of said
lid comprises, in sequence, an upper wall length extending, in use,
substantially vertical, a short inwards radiused wall portion
designed to engage with said outer undercut shoulder delimited in
the wall portion, an intermediate wall length extending flared
outwards, and a lower length designed to abut, in use, against said
lower length.
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said lid has an inner
wall.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said edge of said
container body comprises an inner wall, including, in sequence, a
lower undercut wall length, an intermediate outwardly radiused
length, and an upper undercut wall length, which is connected to
said top portion and, correspondingly, said edge of said lid
comprises a lower undercut length, a projecting intermediate
length, which is radiused upwards with an upper length connected to
said top portion.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said outer wall
portions of said edge of said container body and said lid are
mutually angled through a negative angle.
Description
FILED OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a tamper-resistant sealing
system between a container body and a lid both obtained by a
thermoforming process.
[0002] A number of tamper-resistant sealing systems between a
container body and its lid have already been proposed, which are
obtained by an injection moulding process. Injection systems use
quite different techniques than those involved in a thermoforming
process, in which, as it is known, a continuous sheet or tape of
thermoformable material is employed.
[0003] The need exists nevertheless in the market of having at
disposal tamper-resistant sealing systems for containers obtained
by a thermoforming process and so structured as to contain in a
leakproof way food products or medicaments, both solid and liquid,
in view of guaranteeing the integrity of the product contained
therein and thus preventing tampering, contaminations, or
deteriorations of the content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a
tamper-resistant sealing system between a thermoformed container
body, e.g. a small basin, glass, vase or the like, and a
thermoformed lid, that can be used both to prevent losses or
leakages from the container and to provide a clear and safe
evidence against possible tampering, or even against attempts to
break the sealing.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a very
efficient tamper-resistant sealing system easy to use and of almost
unlimited duration particularly suitable for keeping food products
and/or medicaments.
[0006] These and other object, that will better appear below, are
achieved by a tamper-resistant sealing system between a container
body and a lid, each obtained through a thermoforming process, in
which said container body and said lid have a respective curved or
grooved edge so structured as to engage with one another, each
curved or grooved edge including a top portion and an outer wall
portion, said outer wall portion of said lid comprising a pair of
weakening lines which delimit a breakable and removable strip
therebetween, characterized in that it comprises constraint means
between said portion of outer wall of said container body and said
lid.
[0007] Advantageously, said constraint means is located at the
outer free edges of said portions of outer wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will better appear from the following description of preferred
embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting examples of
carrying out the invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circular, slightly conical
container and of a lid in an open position that can be arranged
onto the container, illustrating the tamper-resistant sealing
system according to the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in FIG. 1 with
the lid snap-engaged thereon in a closed position;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container ellipsoidal or
oval in plant view, closed by a lid provided with a sealing system
according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the countersunk portion of the lid
outer wall on an enlarged scale, where a portion of a strip length
is provided with a grip tab for strip tearing;
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale,
with a length of strip torn away;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a detail of the container body of FIG. 1 and
its lid lifted therefrom after complete tearing of the strip;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a container-lid sealing system according to the
present invention shaped as a parallelepiped basin;
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a
portion of a tamper-resistant sealing system according to a first
embodiment of the invention with free edges of the outer wall
portions welded or glued to one another;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 8, illustrating another embodiment of a tamper-resistant
sealing system according to the present invention, in which the
edge of the outer wall portion of the lid is snap-engaged with a
notch of the respective edge of the outer wall portion of the
container body and inner wall portions of both the container body
and the lid are in abutting engagement one against the other;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a
third embodiment of the tamper-resistant sealing system according
to the present invention, similar to that of FIG. 9, but without
inner wall portion of the lid;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth
embodiment, which is a variation with respect to the embodiment of
FIG. 10;
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a partial cross-sectional view similar to that
of FIG. 9, which illustrates a fifth embodiment of the
tamper-resistant sealing system according to the present invention,
in which an inner wall portion of both the container body and the
lid is provided in mutual snap-engagement;
[0021] FIGS. 13 and 14 each show a partial cross-sectional view
illustrating, respectively, the lid a short time before to be
forced to snap-engage with the container body, and the lid
completely snap-fitted into a closed position on the container
body, wherein the outer wall portion of the container body has a
negative inclination with respect to the vertical according to a
variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12;
[0022] FIGS. 15 to 17 show a number of partial cross-sectional
views of embodiments of the present invention, with container body
and lid both having inner and outer wall portions in mutual snap
engagement and outer edges of the respective outer wall, portions
constrained to one another.
[0023] In the accompanying drawings the same or similar parts or
components have been indicated with the same reference
numerals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] With reference first to FIGS. 1 to 7, it will be noted that
a tamper-resistant sealing system according to the present
invention, between a thermoformed container body 1, either circular
or ellipsoidal (FIGS. 1 to 6) or square or polygonal (FIG. 7) in
cross section, e.g. a small basin, glass, vase and the like, and a
thermoformed lid designed to be tight arranged onto the container
body comprises a number of specific coupling arrangements of the
upper edge of the container 1 and of the peripheral edge of its lid
2, such arrangements being specifically obtained by a thermoforming
process of thermoformable materials.
[0025] Container body 1 and lid 2 have a respective an
uninterrupted curled edge 3 and 4 so shaped as to permit reciprocal
snap engagement with one another. Specific configurations of the
container body edges 3 and the lid edge 4 are better illustrated in
FIGS. 8 to 17 of the drawings.
[0026] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, each edge 3 and 4 is an
extension of a slightly flared wall 1a and 2a of the container 1
and the lid 2, respectively. More particularly, the edge 3 of the
container body (imagined arranged in position of use, i.e. with its
edge 3 facing upwards), from its wall 1a comprises, in sequence, a
flanged portion 5, extending outwards from the top portion of the
side wall 1a, a slightly flared portion 6, which is radiused with
the flanged portion 5 and extends upwards from the flanged portion
5, a top transverse portion 7, which is externally flat and extends
projecting outwards, a downwards projecting portion 8 spaced apart
from the flared portion 6, and an end rim portion 9, which, in this
embodiment, is an outwardly projecting flange.
[0027] Downwards projecting portion 8 of the edge 3 comprises in
sequence from the transverse top portion 7, a substantially
vertical upper length 8a, a short and radiused length 8b extending
inwards and delimiting an inner undercut shoulder 10, an
intermediate length 8c, which is frustoconical in shape as it
extends flared downwards, and a lower length 8d adjacent to the end
rim portion 9.
[0028] Edge 4 of the lid 2 (also imagined in position of use with
its edge 4 facing upwards) respectively comprises, in sequence, a
radiused portion 11, the slightly flared wall portion 2a extending
upwards from the lower undercut radiused portion 11, a top flat
portion 12 transversely extending outwards from side portion 2a, an
outer portion 13 extending downwards from top portion 12, and an
end rim portion 14, which in this embodiment is shaped as an
outwardly projecting flange designed to rest on the rim portion
9.
[0029] Outer portion 13 of edge 4 includes, in sequence, an upper
wall length 13a extending, in use, substantially vertical, a short
inwards radiused wall portion 13b designed to engage with the outer
undercut shoulder 10 delimited in the wall portion 8, an
intermediate wall length 13c, extending slightly flared, and a
lower length 13d designed to abut, in use, against the lower length
8d.
[0030] Length 13c, and possibly lengths 13c and 13b form together
an annular peripheral band or strip S delimited by two spaced apart
weakening lines 15 and 16, preferably extending parallel to one
another. Each weakening line 15 and 16 is defined by a sequence of
little intermittent cuts obtained in the wall 13 of the lid edge,
such cuts being obtained through any suitable method, e.g. by
cutting with a circular crown cutters or by using a suitable
laser-perforation technique, known per se in the art.
[0031] Strip S is designed to be manually torn away by an operator,
preferably by tearing a tab 17 provided for this purpose (FIGS. 1
to 5 and 7).
[0032] With the above described configuration, once the container 1
has been loaded with the product to be packaged, the lid 2 is
preferably automatically applied thereon, first allowing portion
13c to snap-engage with the undercut shoulder 10 and then fixing
them together using any suitable system, e.g. a bonding agent 18 or
through ultrasound welding. In its closed position, lid 2 cannot be
taken off or removed without tearing strip 8 off, which thus
constitutes a clear witness whether the container has been opened,
or without otherwise considerably deforming container 1 or lid 2,
or both.
[0033] Snap-engagement between length 13b and shoulder 10, if the
weakening line 15 is also obtained along length 13c, further
comprises a sealing or tight annular zone against liquid or gas
leakages from inside the container body 1.
[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment, in which outer portions,
respectively 8 and 13, of the edge 3 of the container body 1 and of
the edge 4 of the lid 2 extend, in use, substantially parallel to
one another, whereas rim portion 9 is shaped as an upwards
projecting curl, thereby delimitating a receiving groove G for the
flanged rim 14 of the outer portion 13.
[0035] Preferably, curled rim 9 terminates with an enlargement 19
delimiting, at the rim head, an annular peripheral inclined-plane
surface 20 inclined inwardly the receiving groove G and an undercut
portion 21. Thus, groove G has both an inclined surface 20, which
provides an invitation for flanged rim 14 to snap-fit into the
groove G, and the undercut portion 21, which prevents the flanged
rim 14 from coming out of the groove, once it has entered it.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which edge 3 of the container
body 1 is structured as the that in FIG. 8, but terminates with a
curled portion 9 as in the embodiment of FIG. 9, whereas lid edge 4
is structured as that of FIG. 8, but can be snap-engaged into
groove G of the curled portion 9. Nevertheless, lid 2 is plane at
the top thereof, i.e. provided with an inner wall 2a.
[0037] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 10, but
in which lid 2 has one or more peripheral reinforcement or
stiffening ribs 22 and between the top portion 7 of the container
body 1 and the lid a sheath 23 of any suitable type is provided,
e.g. comprising a plurality of layers, among which one of metal
sheet, e.g., of aluminium or aluminium alloy, and another of paper
or plasticized paperboard material. As it is standard practice in
the art, sheath 23 is welded, or glued, or otherwise tight fixed to
the top portion 7 of the container, after the latter has been
loaded with a liquid or semi-liquid product, such as yogurt, jam
and the like. Lid 2 is fitted onto sheath 23.
[0038] The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is similar to that
illustrated in FIG. 9, except the inner walls 6 and 2a of container
1 and lid 2, respectively, are not rectilinear in a cross-sectional
view. More particularly, inner wall 6 comprises, in sequence, from
flanged portion 5, an inner undercut wall length 6b, an
intermediate outwardly radiused length 6c, and an upper undercut
length 6d which is connected to top portion 7. Inner wall 2a of the
lid comprises a lower undercut length 2b radiused with radiused
portion 11, an intermediate outwardly projecting length 2a which is
radiused at the top thereof with an upper length 2d connected to
top portion 12.
[0039] When lid 2 is fitted onto container body 1, between lengths
6d and 6b of container body edge and lengths 2d and 2b,
respectively, of lid edge two tight or sealing peripheral zones are
provided, thereby forming a so-called two sealing point closing
system.
[0040] The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 is similar to
that of FIG. 12, except, as better seen in FIG. 13 illustrating lid
2 while being fitted onto the container body 1, outer wall portions
8 of the container edge and 13 of the lid edge are mutually
arranged at a negative angle .alpha. designed to provide a higher
nerve or elastic loading to the snap-engagement between rim 14 of
the lid and the groove G of the container. Moreover, a lower
peripheral rib 24 is provided at the end rim portion 9 of the lid
body, which is designed to strengthen the overall rim 9.
[0041] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15 has edges 3 and 4
having walls 6 and 2a shaped as those in the embodiment of FIG. 12
and outer walls 8 and 13, respectively, shaped like those in the
embodiment of FIG. 8.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 16, an embodiment similar to that of
FIG. 15 is illustrated, except rim portion 9 of the container body
is curled and delimits a receiving groove G for flanged rim 14 of
the lid. Inner side 25 of groove G is inclined or flared, whereas
its outer side 26 extends upwards and inwards to delimit, together
with the adjacent outer wall 8 of the container edge, an annular
mouth for free passage of flanged rim 14, which, while the lid is
being closed, while sliding on the countersunk inner side 25 of
groove G, is forced to widen and can no longer come out from the
groove, as it is locked by the outer side 26.
[0043] FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment with edges 3 and 4 having
inner walls 6 and 2a, respectively, and outer walls 8 and 13 as in
the embodiments of FIGS. 12, 15, and 16.
[0044] Any attempt to tamper a sealed container 1 is clearly shown
by the fact that strip S is entirely or partly torn away, as the
only way of removing lid 2 is to tear strip S.
[0045] When strip S has been removed, lid 2 can still be used as a
removable lid for the container, e.g. in case of partial
consumption of food contained in the container 1.
[0046] The above described tamper-resistant sealing system is
susceptible to numerous modifications and variations within the
scope as defined by the claims.
* * * * *