U.S. patent application number 11/341572 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-03 for product container with fold-down lid.
Invention is credited to Liming Cai, George E. Sarson.
Application Number | 20060169759 11/341572 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36740010 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060169759 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sarson; George E. ; et
al. |
August 3, 2006 |
Product container with fold-down lid
Abstract
The container has a body with an integral lid extending upwardly
from an upper edge portion thereof. A score line is provided
between the container body and the lid, permitting the lid to be
folded over to a closed position against the opposite side of the
container, the lid being shaped so that it conforms to the shape of
the container body. The lid has an edge portion which is foldable
upwardly along the container body and can be sealed against the
container body to produce a secure seal. Preferably, the score line
is a straight line parallel to the bottom of the container,
resulting in a flat lid, and preferably the lid is sealed to the
container body in a horizontal position, thereby providing a flat
horizontal surface to facilitate stacking and shipping.
Inventors: |
Sarson; George E.;
(Waterloo, CA) ; Cai; Liming; (West Chester,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP
1100-100 QUEEN ST
OTTAWA
ON
K1P 1J9
CA
|
Family ID: |
36740010 |
Appl. No.: |
11/341572 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60647779 |
Jan 31, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/400 ;
206/508; 229/126; 229/915 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2231/022 20130101;
B65D 3/268 20130101; B65D 3/08 20130101; B65D 3/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/400 ;
206/508; 229/126; 229/915 |
International
Class: |
B65D 3/00 20060101
B65D003/00; B65D 21/00 20060101 B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A disposable container, comprising a container body having an
integral lid extending upwardly from an upper edge portion thereof,
provided with a score line between the container body and the lid,
permitting the lid to be folded over to a closed position against
an opposite side of the container, the lid being shaped so that it
conforms generally to the shape of the container body when in said
closed position, the lid being sealable against the container
body.
2. A disposable container as in claim 1, said lid having an edge
portion foldable from a main portion of said lid, said edge portion
being sealable against the container body to seal said lid.
3. A disposable container as in claim 1, wherein said score line is
a straight line, thereby resulting in a planar lid.
4. A disposable container as in claim 3, wherein said straight line
is substantially parallel to the bottom of the container.
5. A disposable container as in claim 4, wherein said lid is
sealable to the container body in a substantially horizontal
position, thereby providing a generally planar substantially
horizontal lid surface to facilitate stacking and shipping.
6. A disposable container as in claim 1, further comprising means
for accessing the interior of said container once sealed, said
access means being selected from the group consisting of: at least
one puncture point in said lid for puncture by puncture means; a
removable cover over an opening in said lid; a pull tab extending
upwardly from the lid, which would permit the seal between the lid
and the body to be broken; a pull tab arranged to separate at least
part of a seam running across said lid.
7. A disposable container as in claim 2, further comprising means
for accessing the interior of said container once sealed, said
access means being selected from the group consisting of: at least
one puncture point in said lid for puncture by puncture means; a
removable cover over an opening in said lid; a pull tab extending
upwardly from the lid, which would permit the seal between the lid
and the body to be broken; a pull tab arranged to separate at least
part of a seam running across said lid.
8. A disposable container as in claim 3, further comprising means
for accessing the interior of said container once sealed, said
access means being selected from the group consisting of: at least
one puncture point in said lid for puncture by puncture means; a
removable cover over an opening in said lid; a pull tab extending
upwardly from the lid, which would permit the seal between the lid
and the body to be broken; a pull tab arranged to separate at least
part of a seam running across said lid.
9. A disposable container as in claim 4, further comprising means
for accessing the interior of said container once sealed, said
access means being selected from the group consisting of: at least
one puncture point in said lid for puncture by puncture means; a
removable cover over an opening in said lid; a pull tab extending
upwardly from the lid, which would permit the seal between the lid
and the body to be broken; a pull tab arranged to separate at least
part of a seam running across said lid.
10. A disposable container as in claim 5, further comprising means
for accessing the interior of said container once sealed, said
access means being selected from the group consisting of: at least
one puncture point in said lid for puncture by puncture means; a
removable cover over an opening in said lid; a pull tab extending
upwardly from the lid, which would permit the seal between the lid
and the body to be broken; a pull tab arranged to separate at least
part of a seam running across said lid.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a formal application based on and claiming the
benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/647,779,
filed Jan. 31, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to disposable containers,
particularly for liquids, powders or other flowable materials, but
not limited to same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] In the invention, there is some similarity to cups described
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,420, granted on Jan. 23, 2001, in that there
is a container body having a lid portion extending upwardly from an
upper edge of a portion of the body, with the lid being foldable
downwardly towards the opposite side of the body. However, in the
prior patent (where one of the present inventors was a
co-inventor), the lid flipped from convex to concave, into its
closed position within the body of the cup, and tended to remain in
that position once there, due to its particular shape and
configuration. The seal, though suitable for many purposes such as
cold beverages or the like intended for prompt consumption, was not
complete, secure or permanent. The cups were not intended for
filling with product for shipping filled.
[0006] However, the inventors have recognized a need for a simple
container which could be sold empty or which could be filled with
product for shipping or delivery to a point of sale, for
example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a simple,
effective and yet inexpensive container.
[0008] In the invention, a container body is provided, with an
integral lid extending upwardly from an upper edge portion of the
container body, as in the prior art. A score line is provided
between the container body and the lid, permitting the lid to be
folded over to a closed position against the opposite side of the
container. The lid is shaped so that it conforms to the shape of
the container body and can be sealed against the container body to
produce a secure seal.
[0009] In the preferred embodiment, the score line is a straight
line, which results in a lid which is planar when closed rather
than convex nor concave. Preferably, the score line is parallel to
the bottom of the container, and preferably when the lid is sealed
to the container body, it is horizontal, thereby providing a flat
horizontal lid surface to facilitate stacking and shipping.
[0010] The lid can be sealed to the container body by any suitable
means, such as by being crimped, glued, melted or otherwise
secured.
[0011] Other aspects of the invention will be described or will
become apparent in the course of the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood,
exemplary embodiments thereof will now be described in detail, as
examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the closed container;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a corresponding front view;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a corresponding side view, also illustrating
stacking;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the container, before the lid is
closed and sealed;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a corresponding front view;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for the container; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternative blank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] FIGS. 1-6 show an example of the container. The blank for
this container (shown in FIG. 6) has a body portion 1, and a lid
portion 2 extending upwardly from the body portion. Opposite edges
3 and 4 of the body are secured to each other in conventional
fashion, to form the body of the container. A container bottom (not
shown) is crimped or otherwise secured in place to form the bottom
of the container, as is conventional and well known in the
manufacture of paper cups or similar containers.
[0021] Once the container body is formed and the bottom is secured,
the container is ready for filling with the desired product (or it
can be bottom-filled as explained later herein). After filling, the
lid is folded down for closure, along a provided score line 5. The
shape of the lid corresponds to the shape of the container at the
point where the lid is in its intended sealed position, but
preferably includes a sealing area 6 which is slightly larger. This
sealing area can thus be folded upwardly (or downwardly), and then
crimped, adhered, melted or otherwise sealed against the body in
order to seal the container. Suitable score lines 7 preferably are
provided to facilitate this upward fold.
[0022] Any suitable means may be used to open the container to gain
access to its contents. For example, the lid could be provided with
one or more puncture points 10 for puncturing by a straw or by
other like puncture means, for example a spout. The puncture points
could be weakened spots in the lid, or simply spots indicated by
printed matter as being preferred locations, the whole lid being
puncturable by suitable means. Alternatively, a tear-back tab or
metal foil cover or the like (not shown) could be provided, which
when removed, would expose an opening 11 in the lid. Alternatively,
a pull tab 12 could be provided, extending upwardly from the lid,
which would permit the seal between the lid and the body to be
broken, for example by peeling the lid back from the body, either
partially or fully. In some cases, for example where the seal is
truly permanent (melted plastic, for example), this may not be
possible.
[0023] Another alternative constructions is that a blank such as
the one in FIG. 7 could be used. This configuration results in a
seam (where edges 3 and 4 overlap) running across the center of the
lid. A pull tab (not shown) where one edge overlaps the other could
be used to pull the seam apart to gain access to the contents. In
some embodiments, this may not be possible, for example when the
container is made of plastic and the seam is permanently fused.
[0024] In some embodiments, the lid may be closed prior to filling,
except for an opening being left uncovered. After filling, a cover
such as a pull tab or foil overlay could be positioned over the
opening, and glued, heat-sealed or otherwise secured in place.
[0025] As mentioned briefly above, bottom-filling is an alternative
in some embodiments. In such embodiments, the container may be
inverted for filling, with the top sealed and the bottom open.
After filling, the bottom of the container could then be
secured.
[0026] A configuration for the container which has been found to be
particularly advantageous is as illustrated, with the score line 5
being a straight line parallel to the bottom of the container,
resulting in a planar lid. If the lid is dimensioned suitably, it
can thus be folded over to a position where the entire lid is
horizontal. This is significantly different from the lid in the
prior patent, where a curved score line produces an arcuate lid
which "snaps" from concave to convex when being closed, and where
the lid is not permanently sealed against the body. A curved score
line could be used in the invention as well, if desired, but has no
particular advantage and indeed a straight line is both preferable
and more advantageous. The score line, straight or curved, does not
necessarily need to be parallel to the bottom of the container, if
for some aesthetic or marketing reason an angled lid is desired.
However, this horizontal lid configuration is particularly
advantageous, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in that it permits
containers to be readily stacked on top of each other, for more
efficient packaging and shipping of filled containers.
[0027] Additional score lines 13 have been found to be further
advantageous, in that they facilitate folding along the score line
5, and furthermore tend to assist in flattening the side of the
container where the lid is folded. When the container is viewed
from above, the score line 5 of course is straight, whereas if the
bottom of the container is round, there has to be a transition from
the straight line to the curvature of the bottom of the container.
The additional score lines slightly delay that transition from
straight to round and in effect reduce the diameter of the upper
portion of the container. When the container is viewed from the
side, as in FIG. 3, the side with the lid thus is close to vertical
instead of tapering outwardly as it otherwise would. Thus for
shipping purposes, it is an advantage that two adjacent containers
can be butted against each other with very little loss of space
between them. Because of the preferably horizontal lid, vertical
stacking of the containers is also possible.
[0028] The materials used for the container may vary according to
preference and according to the requirements of the product being
packaged (for example, liquid vs. granules vs. powder; food or
beverage grade vs. other). The specific materials selected are not
part of the invention as broadly defined. In some cases, the
container may be of paper. In other cases, the container could be
of coated paper, for example paper coated with polyethylene,
polystyrene, polypropylene or other plastic. Or the containers
could be made entirely from polyethylene, polystyrene,
polypropylene or other plastic. Many other materials may be
available or chosen by those knowledgeable in the field of the
invention.
[0029] The above embodiments and variations are examples only.
Additional embodiments and variations will be apparent or become
apparent immediately or in the future to those knowledgeable in the
field of the invention. The invention is not limited to the
specific embodiments and variations described herein, but rather is
defined by the claims which follow.
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