U.S. patent application number 12/518702 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for packaging comprising a container associated with a lid equipped with reversible and reusable locking means.
This patent application is currently assigned to IMPRESS GROUP B.V.. Invention is credited to Franck Dathy.
Application Number | 20100012655 12/518702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37745210 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100012655 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dathy; Franck |
January 21, 2010 |
PACKAGING COMPRISING A CONTAINER ASSOCIATED WITH A LID EQUIPPED
WITH REVERSIBLE AND REUSABLE LOCKING MEANS
Abstract
A packaging includes a container associated with a lid equipped
with reversible and reusable locking element. The container
includes a metallic body having a side wall whose upper border,
which delimits the upper opening of the container, is finished by
an upper edge; and the lid, made out of plastic material, includes
a central closing panel prolonged by a peripheral border having a U
reversed section, whose the bottom is equipped with a seal, the
peripheral border being suitable to cap the upper edge of the
container body, during the closing of the container by the lid. The
lid includes, on its periphery, at least two locking legs each
connected to its peripheral border via a one piece hinge whose
articulation axis extends parallel or substantially parallel to the
peripheral border; each locking leg includes at least a locking
part suitable to cooperate with an outer circular structure.
Inventors: |
Dathy; Franck; (Le Mans,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
IMPRESS GROUP B.V.
Deventer
NL
|
Family ID: |
37745210 |
Appl. No.: |
12/518702 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/063894 |
371 Date: |
June 11, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/262 ;
220/318; 220/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/0212 20130101;
B65D 2543/00546 20130101; B65D 2543/00805 20130101; B65D 2543/00296
20130101; Y02W 30/80 20150501; B65D 45/22 20130101; B65D 2543/00759
20130101; B65D 2401/15 20200501; B65D 2543/00527 20130101; B65D
2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00842 20130101; Y02W 30/807
20150501; B65D 2543/00888 20130101; B44D 3/127 20130101; B65D
2543/00685 20130101; B65D 2543/00638 20130101; B65D 2543/00972
20130101; B65D 2543/00574 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/262 ;
220/318; 220/378 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/26 20060101
B65D043/26; B65D 45/34 20060101 B65D045/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2006 |
EP |
06301254.6 |
Claims
1. Packaging comprising a container (2) associated with a lid (4)
equipped with reversible and reusable locking means, characterised
in that said container (2) comprises a metallic body (3), obtained
particularly either by stamping or by cutting, welding and rolling
operations of a metallic sheet, provided with a side wall (6) whose
lower border is associated with a bottom and whose upper border
(7), which delimits the upper opening (9) of said container (2), is
finished by an upper edge (10), and in that said lid (4), made out
of plastic material, comprises a central closing panel (14)
prolonged by a peripheral border (15) having a U reversed section,
whose the bottom is equipped with a seal (16), said peripheral
border (15) being suitable to cap said upper edge (10) of body
container (3) during the closing of said container (2) by the lid
(4), said lid (4) comprising also, on its periphery, at least two
locking legs (5) each connected to said peripheral border (15) via
a one piece hinge (18) whose the articulation axis extends parallel
or substantially parallel to said peripheral border (15), said
locking legs (5) each comprising at least a locking part (19)
suitable to cooperate in a removable way with an outer structure
(13, 36), called "complementary locking structure", arranged at the
side of the upper border (7) of said body container (3), during a
swivelling operation of said locking leg (5) in a "locked"
position, the corresponding cooperation involving, simultaneously,
a bringing nearer between said peripheral border (15) of lid (4)
and said upper edge (10) of container (2), to obtain the crushing
of said seal (16).
2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the upper face of the
locking part (19) of locking leg (5) and the lower face of the
complementary locking structure (13) of container (2) have
complementary or substantially complementary surfaces in curved
general shape, suitable to cooperate one with the other during the
swivelling operation of the locking legs (5) in locked
position.
3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge (10) of
the container (2) consists in a roll, projecting towards outside,
the complementary locking structure of container (2) being formed
by the lower part (13) of said rolled edge (10).
4. Packaging according to claim 3, wherein the rolled edge (10)
comprises, successively, from the upper border (7) of the
associated side wall (6), at least the following parts: an upper
part (11) in shape of a roll having a general U section, open
towards the lower border of the associated side wall (6), suitable
to be capped by the peripheral border (15) of the lid (4), and a
lower part (13) in shape of a roll whose lower surface presents a
section arranged in the general shape of half-circle or half-oval,
forming the complementary locking structure and suitable to
cooperate with the upper face of the locking part (19) of the lid
(4).
5. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the side wall (6) of the
body of container (3) comprises, at the side of its upper border
(7), a moulding (35) projecting towards the outside and whose the
lower part (13) is shaped to constitute the complementary locking
structure of the container (2), suitable to cooperate with the
locking part (19) of the lid (4).
6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein some at least of the
locking legs (5) comprise a one piece lengthening (20) forming a
kind of handle facilitating, for an user, the swivelling operation
of said locking legs (5).
7. Packaging according to claim 6, wherein the one piece
lengthening (20) of the locking legs (5) comprises a principal part
(20a), located at the side of the locking part (19), continued by
an end part (20b), by the intermediary of a one piece folding line
(22), said end part (20b) comprising, on the one hand, an opening
(28) shaped to allow the passage of the fingers of an user and its
gripping, in particular to allow its swivelling compared to said
principal part (20a), and on the other hand, a one piece extension
(24) extending in direction of the peripheral border (15) of the
lid (4), suitable to come resting on the outside face in opposite
of the side wall (6) of the container (2) during the swivelling
operation of said end part (20b), this particularly to form a kind
of lever and so as to facilitate the swivelling of the locking leg
(5) from its locked position up to its unlocked position.
8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein, before its first
opening, the principal part (20a) and the extension (24) forming
lever of the end part (20b) of the locking legs lengthening (20)
are also bound together via connections means (26) which are
degradable in an irreversible way, for example of the pre-cut
line(s) type or of the junction point(s) type, suitable to be
broken during the swivelling operation of said end part (20b)
compared to said principal part (20a), this to constitute witness
of opening or tamper evident closure.
9. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the one piece extension
(24) comprises, at the side of its lower face, a projecting
structure (25) suitable to reinforce this extension and to
constitute the leaning part for the unlocking operation.
10. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the folding line (22)
extends transversely over the width of the one piece lengthening
(20) of the locking legs (5), and wherein the end part (20b) of
said lengthening (20) comprises: the opening (28) for the passage
of the fingers, arranged at the side of the free external edge (27)
of said one piece lengthening (20), opposed to the articulation
hinge (18) of said locking leg (5), a transversal wall (33),
arranged to form a stop aiming at limiting the possibility of
introduction of the fingers into said opening (28), and the
extension (24) forming lever, extending in the space of the
principal part (20a), on a portion of its length and in direction
of said articulation hinge (18) of the corresponding locking leg
(5).
11. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein the upper edge (10) of
the container (2) consists in a roll, projecting towards outside,
the complementary locking structure of container (2) being formed
by the lower part (13) of said rolled edge (10).
12. Packaging according to claim 11, wherein the rolled edge (10)
comprises, successively, from the upper border (7) of the
associated side wall (6), at least the following parts: an upper
part (11) in shape of a roll having a general U section, open
towards the lower border of the associated side wall (6), suitable
to be capped by the peripheral border (15) of the lid (4), and a
lower part (13) in shape of a roll whose lower surface presents a
section arranged in the general shape of half-circle or half-oval,
forming the complementary locking structure and suitable to
cooperate with the upper face of the locking part (19) of the lid
(4).
13. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein the side wall (6) of
the body of container (3) comprises, at the side of its upper
border (7), a moulding (35) projecting towards the outside and
whose the lower part (13) is shaped to constitute the complementary
locking structure of the container (2), suitable to cooperate with
the locking part (19) of the lid (4).
14. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein some at least of the
locking legs (5) comprise a one piece lengthening (20) forming a
kind of handle facilitating, for an user, the swivelling operation
of said locking legs (5).
15. Packaging according to claim 8, wherein the one piece extension
(24) comprises, at the side of its lower face, a projecting
structure (25) suitable to reinforce this extension and to
constitute the leaning part for the unlocking operation.
16. Packaging according to claim 8, wherein the folding line (22)
extends transversely over the width of the one piece lengthening
(20) of the locking legs (5), and wherein the end part (20b) of
said lengthening (20) comprises: the opening (28) for the passage
of the fingers, arranged at the side of the free external edge (27)
of said one piece lengthening (20), opposed to the articulation
hinge (18) of said locking leg (5), a transversal wall (33),
arranged to form a stop aiming at limiting the possibility of
introduction of the fingers into said opening (28), and the
extension (24) forming lever, extending in the space of the
principal part (20a), on a portion of its length and in direction
of said articulation hinge (18) of the corresponding locking leg
(5).
17. Packaging according to claim 9, wherein the folding line (22)
extends transversely over the width of the one piece lengthening
(20) of the locking legs (5), and wherein the end part (20b) of
said lengthening (20) comprises: the opening (28) for the passage
of the fingers, arranged at the side of the free external edge (27)
of said one piece lengthening (20), opposed to the articulation
hinge (18) of said locking leg (5), a transversal wall (33),
arranged to form a stop aiming at limiting the possibility of
introduction of the fingers into said opening (28), and the
extension (24) forming lever, extending in the space of the
principal part (20a), on a portion of its length and in direction
of said articulation hinge (18) of the corresponding locking leg
(5).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging comprising a
container associated with a lid equipped with locking means of
reversible and reusable type; this packaging could receive all type
of products, but is specifically adapted to liquid, semi-fluid or
semi-pasty consistency substances, like varnishes, lacquers or
paintings.
[0002] These type of products require specific packaging, specially
to take their particular consistency and toxicity into account.
[0003] Packagings in question are generally constituted of a
container sealed by means of a lid equipped with locking means.
[0004] In practice, this type of packaging should not be open in an
impromptu or inopportune way, but it must nevertheless be able to
be easily open by the final user; this packaging must also as the
tight as possible to avoid the flow of its contents when it is
sealed.
[0005] The applicant developed a new structure of packaging
answering perfectly to these various criteria.
[0006] In accordance with the invention, the container of packaging
comprises a metallic body, obtained particularly either by stamping
or by cutting, welding and rolling operations of a metallic sheet,
provided with a side wall whose lower border is associated with a
bottom and whose upper border, which delimits the upper opening of
said container, is finished by an upper edge. In addition, the lid
of the packaging, made out of plastic, comprises a central closing
panel prolonged by a peripheral border having a U reversed section,
whose the bottom is equipped with a seal, said peripheral border
being suitable to cap the upper edge of the container body during
the closing of said container by the lid; moreover, this lid
comprises, on its periphery, at least two locking legs (also named
flap or tab) each connected to said peripheral border via a one
piece hinge whose the articulation axis extends parallel or
substantially parallel to said peripheral border, said locking legs
each comprising at least a locking part suitable to cooperate in a
removable way with an outer structure, called "complementary
locking structure", arranged at the side of the upper border of
said container body, during and in particular thanks to a
swivelling operation of said locking leg in a position named as
"locked", the corresponding cooperation involving, simultaneously,
a bringing nearer between the peripheral border of the lid and the
upper edge of the container, to obtain the crushing of the
seal.
[0007] Such a packaging proves to be very easy to open and to close
thanks to the use of its locking legs. These legs take part
effectively in the opening and the closing operations of the
packaging by the final user; in locked position, they also optimize
the sealing characteristics of the packaging.
[0008] Preferably, the upper face of the locking part and the lower
face of the complementary locking structure have complementary or
substantially complementary surfaces in curved general shape,
suitable to cooperate one with the other during the swivelling
operation of the locking legs in locked position.
[0009] According to a characteristic of realization, the upper edge
of the container consists in a roll, projecting towards outside,
and the complementary locking structure of the container is formed
by the lower part of said rolled edge.
In this case, the rolled edge comprises advantageously,
successively, from the upper border of the associated side wall, at
least the following parts:
[0010] an upper part in shape of a roll, having a U section, open
towards the lower border of the associated side wall, suitable to
be capped by the peripheral border of the lid, and
[0011] a lower part in shape of a roll whose lower surface presents
a section arranged in the general shape of half-circle or
half-oval, forming the complementary locking structure and suitable
to cooperate with the upper face of the locking part of the lid
legs.
[0012] In an alternative way, the side wall of the body of
container can comprise, at side of its upper border, a moulding
projecting towards the outside and whose the lower part is shaped
to constitute the complementary locking structure of the container,
suitable to cooperate with the locking part of the lid legs.
[0013] According to another particularly interesting structural
characteristic, some at least of the locking legs comprise a one
piece lengthening forming a kind of handle facilitating, for a
final user, the swivelling operation of said locking legs.
[0014] In this case, the one piece lengthening of the locking legs
advantageously comprises a principal part, located at side of the
locking part, continued by an end part, by the intermediary of a
one piece folding line. This end part comprises, on the one hand,
an opening shaped to allow the passage of the fingers of a person
and its gripping, in particular to allow its swivelling compared to
said principal part, and on the other hand, an extension extending
in direction of the peripheral border of the lid, suitable to come
resting on the outside face in opposite of the side wall of the
container during the swivelling operation of said end part, this
particularly to form a kind of lever and so as to facilitate the
swivelling of the locking leg from the locked position up to the
unlocked position.
[0015] In this case, before the first opening of the packaging, the
principal part and the extension forming lever of the end part of
the lengthening of the locking legs are advantageously bound via
connection means which are degradable in an irreversible way, for
example of the pre-cut line(s) type or of the junction point(s)
type, suitable to be broken during the swivelling operation of said
end part compared to said principal part, this to constitute a
witness of opening or tamper evident closure.
[0016] Still in this case, the one piece extension comprises, at
side of its lower face, a projecting structure suitable to
reinforce this extension and to constitute the leaning part for the
unlocking operation.
Moreover, always in an interesting way, the folding line extends
transversely over the width of the one piece lengthening of the
locking legs; and the end part of said lengthening comprises:
[0017] the opening for the passage of the fingers, arranged at the
side of the free external edge of said one piece lengthening,
opposed to the articulation hinge of said locking leg;
[0018] a transversal wall, arranged to form a stop limiting the
possibility of introduction of the fingers into said opening;
and
[0019] an extension forming lever, extending in the space of the
principal part, on a part of its length and in direction of the
hinge of the corresponding locking leg.
[0020] The invention will be also illustrated, without being
limited, by the following description of several possible
embodiments, given only as examples and showed on the following
figures in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic manner and in section, the
upper part of a packaging according to the invention, composed of a
body container and of a complementary closing lid whose one of the
locking legs is represented here in an "unlocked" position;
[0022] FIG. 2 corresponds to the packaging of FIG. 1, now in closed
configuration, with the locking leg of the lid represented in a
"locked" position;
[0023] FIG. 3 still corresponds to the packaging of FIGS. 1 and 2,
in which the locking leg is suitably moved by the final user to
cause his unlocking compared to the associated container;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a partial top view and in perspective, of a
possible embodiment of the closing lid according to the invention,
with one of its locking legs showed in unlocked position, before
the installation on the container;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a lower view, in perspective, of the closing lid
according to FIG. 4;
[0026] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show, each one, a possible alternative
embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, constituted
of a particular container associated with a lid whose the structure
is similar to the one showed FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0027] Packaging 1, partially illustrated in a schematic way on
FIGS. 1 to 3, is composed, on the one hand, of a container 2
comprising a metallic body 3 open at its upper part, and on the
other hand, of a closing lid 4 made out of plastic which is
equipped on its circumference with reusable and reversible locking
means, in the shape of plurality of articulated legs 5 (only one of
these locking legs 5 is represented on these FIGS. 1 to 3).
[0028] The container body 3, whose only the left upper part is
illustrated on the FIGS. 1 to 3 (in an enlarged view), is carried
out particularly by operations of cutting, welding, and rolling of
a metallic sheet (made out of steel for example) whose the
thickness can be in the range of 0.15 to 0.40 mm.
[0029] This container body 3 is in general cylindrical or
parallelepiped shape. It is composed of a side wall 6 whose the
lower border is associated with a bottom element (not represented),
for example assembled and fixed by double seaming, and whose the
upper border 7, which delimits the upper opening 9, ends by a
rolled edge 10 projecting towards outside and directed towards the
lower edge (not represented) of the side wall 6.
[0030] The rolled edge 10 is shaped to be suitable to cooperate
with the locking legs 5 of the closing lid 4, that during an
operation of said locking legs 5 in locked position (as it can be
seen FIG. 2).
[0031] In this circumstance, this rolled edge 10 comprises
successively, from the upper border 7 of the side wall 6
associated, the following parts:
[0032] an upper rolled part 11 having a U reversed section, opened
downwardly and in direction of the lower border (not represented)
of the associated side wall 6,
[0033] a connection part 12, moving away gradually from the side
wall 6 in opposite, and
[0034] a lower rolled part 13 having a section in general shape of
half-circle or half-oval (opened upwardly), extending towards the
side wall 6 in opposite and forming a complementary locking
structure, in shape of a seat, suitable to cooperate with the
locking legs 5 of the closing lid 4 when said locking legs 5 are
operated in locked position (FIG. 2).
[0035] The closing lid 4, of which only the left part is
represented in a schematic view and in section, is made out by
traditional operations of moulding-injection of a thermoplastic
matter usually employed.
[0036] This lid 4 comprises a central closing panel 14 (cylindrical
or polygonal) delimited by a peripheral border 15 whose lower
surface has a reversed U section suitable to come to cap the upper
rolled part 11 of the rolled edge 10.
The bottom of this peripheral border 15 is equipped with a seal 16,
suitable to be crushed between the upper part 11 of the rolled edge
10 and the peripheral border 15 of lid 4 to ensure the sealing of
packaging 1 (FIG. 2). This seal 16 can be assembled, made out of
PVC foam, or it can be a solid added compound or seal which is
sticked or forced into the border 15. It can also be made out in a
one piece with the peripheral border 15, for example of the moulded
fringes type.
[0037] This lid 4 comprises also, on its circumference, the locking
legs 5 above-mentioned. The number and the localisation of these
locking legs 5 are function of the container shape to close and of
the size of the container; in a general way, this number is
comprised between two and ten.
[0038] As illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 3, each locking leg 5 comprises
a body 17 connected to the peripheral border 15 via a one piece
hinge 18. This hinge 18 can consist of a simple thinning of matter,
or can consist of a plurality of flexible tab; its axis of
articulation extends in parallel or substantially in parallel to
the peripheral border 15 (in function of the circular or polygonal
shape of the lid).
[0039] These locking legs 5 comprise mainly:
[0040] a locking or gripping part 19, extending from the
articulated body 17, whose curved upper face is suitable to come to
cooperate in a removable and reversible way with the locking
complementary structure 13 of the rolled edge 10 (FIG. 2), and
[0041] a one piece lengthening 20 of said articulated body 17,
forming a kind of handle facilitating, for an user, the swivelling
operation of the locking leg 5 equipped, between its locked and
unlocked positions.
[0042] The corresponding locking leg 5 is particularly interesting
by the fact that the structure of its one piece lengthening 20 is
shaped--to simplify its manual unlocking compared to the
complementary locking structure 13 of container 2, and also--to
form a witness of opening or tamper evident closure.
[0043] For this purpose, the lengthening 20 comprises two parts
associated by a one piece hinge 22: a principal part 20a, at the
side of the locking part 19, and an end part 20b.
This hinge 22 extends transversely compared to the longitudinal
axis of the locking leg 5, and it extends also in parallel or
substantially in parallel compared to the upper hinge 18.
[0044] More precisely, the end part 20b comprises
[0045] an interior edge 23, at the side of the hinge 22, from which
a one piece extension 24 extends, that in the space of the
principal part 20a and on a portion its length; this extension 24
is provided on its lower face with a projecting structure 25, and
it is joined with the principal part 20a by a one piece joining
point 26, and
[0046] a free external edge 27, formed to come in opposite and at
distance to the side wall 6 of the container 2 when the locking leg
5 is operated in locked position (as described in relation to FIG.
2), to form and define an opening 28 adapted for the passage or the
entrance of the fingers of an user and the gripping of said end
part 20b.
[0047] In practice, as it can be seen FIG. 1, first of all, the
closing of container 2 consists in bringing the closing lid 4 on
its upper opening 9, in order that the upper part 11 of its upper
edge 7 is capped by the peripheral complementary edge 15. For this
purpose, the locking legs 5 are advantageously in an "unlocked"
position, i.e. out of the space of the rolled edge 10; preferably,
these legs 5 extend in the plan or substantially in the plan of the
central panel 14 of the lid 4.
[0048] Then, the locking legs 5 are operated in rotation around
their one piece hinge 18, that in a direction causing their
bringing closer to the side wall 6 of the associated container 2
(this movement corresponds to the direction of arrow 30 of FIG.
1).
This rotational movement of the locking legs 5, in view of locking,
can be implemented manually; but in an alternative way, this
operation can easily be mechanized.
[0049] During this locking operation, the locking body 19 of the
leg 5 comes automatically in position by clipsage under the
complementary locking structure 13 of the rolled edge 10 of
container 2 (FIG. 2).
It is thus obtained, simultaneously, the locking of lid 4 on
container 2, and the sealing of this container 2 by the crushing of
the seal 16 between the upper edge 11 of the container body 3 and
the peripheral border 15 of lid 4.
[0050] In this locked position, the leg 5 comes to locate
substantially parallel to the lateral wall 6 of the container body
3; the edge of the projecting structure 25 comes next to this side
wall 6 and the exterior border 27 of the end part 20b is at
distance of said wall 6 to delimit the gripping opening 28.
[0051] Then, when a final user needs to reach the content of the
sealed packaging 1, he just needs to operate the locking legs 5 in
unlocked position, i.e. in the direction of arrow 31 of FIG. 3 (in
opposite direction compared to the locking operation, corresponding
to arrow 30 of FIG. 1).
[0052] For this purpose, the final user introduces one or some
fingers through lower opening 28 of the locking leg 5, so as to
arrange them under the end part 20b. Then, the final user pushes or
pulls on this end part 20b (eventually simultaneously pushing the
one piece lengthening 24 towards the container side wall 6), that
in a suitable manner to cause its swivelling around the hinge 22
and compared to the principal part 20a, in direction symbolized by
arrow 32 of FIG. 3.
During this operation, the end part 20b forms a kind of lever
facilitating the rotation of the locking leg 5 around its one piece
hinge 18, that by the resting of its projecting structure 25 on the
external face on the side wall 6 of container 2 in opposite. During
this operation, the final user breaks, in an irreversible way, the
one piece joining point 26 (because of the spacing between the
principal part 20a and the extension 24 of the leg, and because of
the weakness of said joining point 26), thus constituting the
witness of opening or tamper evidence closure of the locking leg
5.
[0053] Of course, the final user can then lock and unlock as many
time as he wishes the lid 4 compared to container 2, by a manual
and adapted operation of the locking legs 5.
[0054] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a particularly interesting embodiment of
the lid as described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0055] On these figures, it can be seen a lid 4 comprising a
central panel 14 delimited by a peripheral border 15 equipped with
the locking legs 5 (one of these legs is visible on these figures)
by the intermediary each one of a one piece hinge 18.
In the same way, the represented locking leg 5 comprises a body 17
provided with a gripping part 19, extending at the side of its
lower face; this body 17 is still provided with the one piece
lengthening 20 forming operation handle.
[0056] It is also here found the two parts of the lengthening 20,
namely a principal part 20a, on the side of the gripping part 19,
associated with an end part 20b via a thinned matter line 22
suitable to form a hinge; this folding line 22 extends
transversely, and also in parallel or substantially in parallel to
the hinge 18 of the locking leg 5.
[0057] The end part 20b comprises an interior edge 23, at the side
of the hinge 22, from which the one piece extension 24 extends,
that in the space of the principal part 20a and on a portion of its
length; this extension 24 is provided on its lower face with the
projecting structure 25, and it is joined with the principal part
20a by a one piece joining point 26.
The free external edge 27 of lengthening 20 is shaped to define a
lower opening 28 adapted for the passage of the fingers of the
final user, and the gripping of said end part 20b.
[0058] On FIG. 5, it is still noticed that the end part 20b
comprises a transversal wall 33, extending on the side of its rear
face, next to the interior edge 23. This transversal wall 33
constitutes a stop panel suitable to allow adapted positioning of
the user fingers only under the end part 20b associated. It avoids
particularly the positioning of the fingers under the extension 24
or under the principal part 20a, which would limit the efficiency
of the unlocking operation. Moreover, it prevents to use a tool to
unlock the leg.
[0059] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 each show a possible alternative embodiment
of packaging according to the invention.
[0060] On FIG. 6, container 2 differs from the one described above
in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3, only because of the interior shift or
unwedging of the upper border 7 compared to the general width of
the side wall 6.
Such a structure of container 2 is obtained by swaging of its upper
border 7, before rolling of the upper edge 10, or in an alternative
way, by expansion of its side wall 6. Moreover, such a shape of the
container body can be used particularly with all the embodiments
here described.
[0061] On FIG. 7, container 2 distinguishes from the one described
here-above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3, in that it comprises an
upper rolled edge 10 comprising successively, from the upper border
7 of the side wall 6 associated, the following parts:
[0062] an upper rolled part 11 shaped in general U reversed
section, opened in direction of the lower edge of the associated
side wall 6,
[0063] a connection part 12, extending here in parallel and at
distance from the side wall 6 in opposite, and
[0064] a lower rolled part 13 in general shape of half-circle or
half-oval (in form of a buckle), extending away from the side wall
6.
[0065] As described above, the lower rolled part 13 of the rolled
edge 10 constitutes the complementary locking structure suitable to
cooperate with the locking legs 5 of the closing lid 4.
[0066] On FIG. 8, the side wall 6 of container 2 comprises an upper
rolled edge 10 in general buckle shape, whose the upper part
receives directly the peripheral border 15 of lid 4.
This side wall 6 is also provided with an external moulding 35,
continuous or discontinuous, for example obtained by a drawing
operation, of which the lower curved part is formed to constitute
the complementary locking structure 13 cooperating by clipsage with
the legs 5 of lid 4 operated in locked position.
[0067] Of course, in the case of packagings corresponding to FIGS.
6 to 8 described above, the locking part 19 of legs 5 is shaped to
suitably come by clipsage under the locking structure complementary
13 associated.
[0068] In all cases, locking legs 5 are shaped to make relatively
difficult their unlocking without breaking the tamper evidence
closing 26.
For this purpose, the length of lengthenings 20 will be reduced to
the maximum in order to limit the possibilities to use the
corresponding lever. Moreover, as showed on the embodiment of the
FIGS. 4 and 5, the lateral borders of the locking legs 5 can be
equipped with returns 36 whose free longitudinal edge, intended to
come next to the outside face of the side wall 6, fits said side
wall 6 in opposite, in order to limit the possibility of inserting
a swinging tool.
[0069] In the same spirit, even if the FIGS. 1 to 8 show some
technical solutions in which locking seats 13 are made out in a
continuous manner on the whole periphery of container 2, some
alternative embodiments can have seat 13 of discontinuous sections,
provided and arranged only on the zones of location of the legs
5.
[0070] The packaging in conformity with the invention can be
provided with one or several locking legs, associated with one or
several structure playing a role of a simple hinge.
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