U.S. patent application number 12/304030 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-23 for container assembly having stacking means.
This patent application is currently assigned to N.V. NUTRICIA. Invention is credited to Robert Johan Joseph Hageman, Nicolaas Luttik.
Application Number | 20100236966 12/304030 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38512494 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100236966 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luttik; Nicolaas ; et
al. |
September 23, 2010 |
CONTAINER ASSEMBLY HAVING STACKING MEANS
Abstract
Container assembly includes a container part and a lid part. The
lid part has a connection portion to be connected to the container
part. For automatic assembly of the container assembly from the
container part and the lid part it is advantageous that separate
lid parts can be manipulated easily. To that end it is proposed to
embody the lid parts such a way that they are stackable in a stable
way. More particular it is proposed to provide the top side of the
lid with a circumferential cam which can engage inside a
circumferential rim of the connection portion. To be able to remove
dust and debris from the top side of the lid it is proposed to
provide a circumferential cam with interruptions. When part of the
lid is shaped to correspond with part of the spoon, the
interruption should preferably located at such shape such as a
spoon.
Inventors: |
Luttik; Nicolaas;
(Culemborg, NL) ; Hageman; Robert Johan Joseph;
(Wageningen, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
N.V. NUTRICIA
Zoetermeer
NL
|
Family ID: |
38512494 |
Appl. No.: |
12/304030 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
June 1, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2007/050259 |
371 Date: |
February 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11449649 |
Jun 9, 2006 |
|
|
|
12304030 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/508 ;
220/257.1; 220/259.1; 220/380; 220/694 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00148
20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D 51/246 20130101; B65D
43/267 20130101; B65D 2543/00518 20130101; B65D 51/247 20130101;
B65D 21/022 20130101; B65D 2543/0024 20130101; B65D 2543/00027
20130101; B65D 43/0268 20130101; B65D 2543/00842 20130101; B65D
2543/00555 20130101; B65D 43/0218 20130101; B65D 2543/00296
20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101; B65D 2543/00175 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/508 ;
220/257.1; 220/259.1; 220/380; 220/694 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02; B65D 43/02 20060101 B65D043/02; B65D 51/24 20060101
B65D051/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2006 |
EP |
06115219.5 |
Claims
1. Container assembly comprising a container part and a lid part,
said lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to
said container part and a lid being pivotably connected to said
connection portion, and the side remote from said lid of said
connection portion and the side of the lid remote from the
connection portion are provided with first complementary stacking
means.
2. Container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
complementary stacking means comprise a cam and recess or rim.
3. Container assembly to claim 1, wherein said cam is provided on
the lid on the side remote from said connection portion.
4. Container assembly to claim 1, wherein the bottom of said
container part and the side of said lid being remote from said
connection portion are provided with second complementary stacking
means.
5. Container assembly according to claim 4, wherein said first and
second stacking means on said lid are identical.
6. Container assembly according to claim 1 in combination of claim
3, wherein said cam comprises a circumferential cam extending near
the outer circumference of said lid.
7. Container assembly according to claim 6, wherein said
circumferential cam is provided with interruptions.
8. Container assembly according to claim 7, wherein said lid is
smooth at a location of said interruptions.
9. Container assembly according to claim 8, wherein said lid is
arranged for internally accommodating a spoon, wherein in said lid
the at least partial shape of said spoon is provided.
10. Container assembly according to claim 9, wherein said
interruption is provided at the location of said at least partial
shape.
11. Container assembly according to claim 9, wherein said lid is
rectangular and said at least partial shape extends diagonally.
12. Container assembly according to claim 11, wherein the angles of
said rectangle are curved and one side is convex shaped.
13. Container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lid
comprising a lip for locking said lid to said connection portion,
said locking lip being operably connected to said lid and having a
cam and said connecting portion having a further cam, both cams
positioned for engaging one another to keep said lid locked onto
said connecting portion when said locking lip is not operated and
to disengage one another when said locking lip is operated, said
lid further having a gripping area adjacent said locking lip for
arrangement of a finger or thumb of a user when operating said
lip.
14. Container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lid is
provided with at least one abutment extending in normal direction
with respect to a plane of the lid for providing abutment against
forces with a component parallel to the plane of the lid, as a part
of said first complementary stacking means.
15. Container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the side
remote from said lid of said connection portion is provided with a
circumferential rim as a part of said first complementary stacking
means.
16. Container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lid
comprising a lip for locking said lid to said connection portion,
said locking lip being operably connected to said lid and having a
cam and said connecting portion having a further cam, both cams
positioned for engaging one another to keep said lid onto said
connecting portion when said locking lip is not operated and to
disengage one another when said locking lip is operated, and said
connection portion further comprises a security lip positioned over
said locking lip for preventing operation of said locking lip and
providing temper evidence.
17. Lid part comprising a connection portion for connection with a
container part and a lid being pivotably connected to said
connection portion wherein the side of said lid remote from said
connection portion and the side of said connection portion being
remote from said lid are provided with first complementary stacking
means.
18. Container assembly comprising a container part and a lid part,
said lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to
said container part, a lid being pivotably connected to said
connection portion, and a locking means for locking said lid to
said connection portion, and said locking means comprises a lip on
said lid which has an upper lip part extending above a lid surface
away from said connection portion and a lower lip part extending
adjacent to said connecting portion, said lip being tiltable with
respect to said lid about an axis substantially in a plane of said
lid and near an edge of said lid.
19. Container assembly according to claim 18, wherein said locking
lip is connected to said lid via an at least partly thinned portion
of said lid, in an embodiment a part of the portion of the lid
connecting the locking lip is taken away.
20. Container assembly comprising a container part and a lid part,
said lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to
said container part, a lid being pivotably connected to said
connection portion, and a locking means for locking said lid to
said connection portion, and said lid comprising a lip for locking
said lid to said connection portion, said lip being operably
connected to said lid and having a cam and said connecting portion
having a further cam, both cams positioned for engaging one another
to keep said lid onto said connecting portion when said lip is not
operated and to disengage one another when said lip is operated,
and said connection portion further comprises a security lip
positioned over said lip for preventing operation of said locking
lip and providing temper evidence.
21. Container according to claim 20, wherein said security lip is
connected to said connecting portion adjacent to both sides of said
locking lip, and is connected to said connecting portion adjacent
to an end of said locking lip via connecting bridges.
22. Container assembly comprising a container part and a lid part,
said lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to
said container part and a lid being pivotably connected to said
connection portion, and said lid comprising a lip for locking said
lid to said connection portion, said lip being operably connected
to said lid and having a cam and said connecting portion having a
further cam, both cams positioned for engaging one another to keep
said lid locked onto said connecting portion when said lip is not
operated and to disengage one another when said lip is operated,
said lid further having a gripping area adjacent said lip for
arrangement of a finger or thumb of a user when operating said
lip.
23. Container assembly according to claim 22, wherein said lid
comprises a rim adjacent to said gripping area and having a rim
wall extending to said gripping area.
24. Container assembly according to claim 22, wherein said gripping
area comprises a local depression or recess in said lid.
25. Container assembly according to claim 24, wherein said
depression has a wall running downward from the wall of the
rim.
26. Lid part for a container assembly according to any one of the
preceding claims, wherein said lid part is injection moulded as one
part, in particular injection moulded from PE, PP, or the like.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a container assembly
comprising a container part and a lid part, said lid part
comprising a connection portion for connection to said container
part and a lid being pivotably connected to said connection
portion. The invention further relates to such a lid part.
[0002] Such a container assembly and lid part are known from PCT/NL
2005/000089, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth. A package is disclosed therein for containing both a product
and a spoon. Subject invention can be used in combination with such
a package but it should be noted that it can also be used with
other prior art packages.
[0003] Such a container assembly is produced by combining the
container part with the lid part. More particular the connection
portion of the lid part is adhered to the top side of the
container. It is aimed to optimize the assembly of the lid part and
container part as much as possible. To that end lid parts should be
automatically supplied and manipulated to be brought in position on
the container part. Exact positioning of the lid part is
essential.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention aims to improve handling of the lid parts in
order to more easily assemble lid part and container part.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to improve the handling
of the container with the lid part and container part attached to
it.
[0006] Yet another object of the invention is to provide the
improvements without deteriorating other beneficial properties of
the container assembly.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention this is
realized with a container assembly as described above in that the
side remote from said lid of said connection portion and the side
from the lid remote from the connection portion are provided with
first complementary stacking means. According to the invention a
stable stack of lid parts is obtained by the complementary
cooperating stacking means provided both on the top and lower side
of each lid part.
[0008] This provides the possibility of stacking lid parts during
manufacturing in a stable and well-defined way, allowing improved
automatic handling. Furthermore, as will be explained, it allows
stable stacking of container assemblies on top of one another.
Additionally, it allows at the same time an improved stability and
rigidity of the lid and improved handling during use, in particular
during opening and closing of the lid.
[0009] Such complementary stacking means according to the first
aspect of the invention can comprise any structure of complementary
interengaging means. However, preferably according to a further
aspect of the invention the complementary stacking means comprise a
cam-recess. The cam should be positioned in the recess after which
a stable stack of lid parts is obtained. From such stable stack
with a robot arm lid parts can be taken to be placed on the
container part during manufacturing of the container
assemblies.
[0010] The cam can be provided both on the side of the lid facing
away from the connection portion or in the connection portion.
However, it is preferred that the cam is provided in the top of the
lid. In this way basically the connection portion can be produced
without too many special measures taken for receiving the cam of
the adjacent lid part. In most cases the circumferential rim of the
connection portion will be sufficient to receive the cam of the
next adjacent lid.
[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
complementary stacking means are also provided between the top of
the lid and the bottom of the container part. In this way assembled
(and filled) container assemblies can be stacked on top of each
other during shipping and display for the consumer. Also these
complementary stacking means are preferably provided such that the
lid has a cam whilst the bottom of the container part is provided
with a corresponding accommodation. Preferably such accommodation
is delimited by the circumferential rim of the bottom of the
container which is preferably made from the outer wall of the
container together with part of the bottom thereof.
[0012] More particularly, it is preferred that the cam on top of
the lid both functions as complementary stacking means for further
lid parts during assembly and as complementary stacking means
during stacking of the container assemblies. In this way only a
single cam will suffice.
[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention the cam is a
circumferential cam extending near the outer circumference of the
lid to provide maximum stability during stacking. Preferably such a
circumferential cam has interruptions to be able to clean the top
of the lid by whipping away debris and the like.
[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the complementary
stacking means comprise a rim extending from the upper part of the
lid (in other words, the side of the lid remote from the connection
part), said rim providing a first abutment against sliding in a
direction substantially in the lid's plane. In this embodiment, the
lid furthermore preferably has a second abutment contiguous to rim,
provided by the surface of the lid adjacent to the rim.
[0015] In this embodiment, the container part at its bottom side
has a rim, which has dimensions adapted to the dimensions of the
rim on the lid in such a way so as to work together with the rim on
the lid to provide complementary stacking means which prevent a
first container assembly which is placed on top of a second
container assembly, i.e. with its bottom on the lid of the second
container, from sliding.
[0016] Furthermore, in an embodiment, the connection portion at its
side remote from the lid of the connection portion has a rim fur
providing a first abutment in a direction substantially in the
lid's plan for providing an abutment against the first abutment of
the rim on the lid. Furthermore, this rim on the connection portion
can have a second abutment for providing an abutment against the
second abutment contiguous to rim on the lid, i.e. the second
abutment provided by the surface of the lid adjacent the rim. In an
embodiment, this rim on the connection portion is a circumferential
rim. In an embodiment, it is a U-shaped ring providing additional
strength to the connection portion, said U-shaped ring opening to
the side of the connection portion remote from the lid.
[0017] In an embodiment, the rim on the lid provides several
abutments at several positions of the circumference of the lid.
[0018] In an embodiment, the rim comprises outward extending lid
material. Said rim can be formed by bulging lid-material out from
the main surface of the lid in the direction away from the
connection portion.
[0019] In an embodiment, the lid comprises at least two rim
portions providing an abutment extending over at least part of at
least three sides of the container assembly when having a
rectangular cross-section (or it has at least three abutments
spread around the circumference of the lid).
[0020] In an embodiment in which the container has four sides,
there is providing an abutment for four sides.
[0021] In an embodiment, at least two rim portions circumscribe
more than 50% of the circumference of the lid.
[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention the top of
the lid is at least partially shaped to conform a spoon which could
be accommodated inside the lid. To that end the inside of the lid
is provided with clamping means for clampingly engaging a
(metering) spoon. The top of the lid has a (partially)
corresponding shape. If the container assembly is relatively high a
relatively long spoon is required to remove the contents from the
container. If the container is furthermore a rectangular container
it is preferred to use the full length of the diagonal of the lid
for receiving such a spoon. According to a preferred embodiment of
the invention interruptions of the circumferential cam on top of
the lid are at the position of the shape for the spoon.
[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment the lid is
smooth at the location of the interruption to provide easy removal
of debris.
[0024] The invention relates to any shape of the container. If the
container is a rectangular container preferably the corners thereof
are rounded. Furthermore between the corner the sides are
preferably bulging outwardly giving a more aesthetic shape.
Furthermore, this will increase the internal volume of the
container, or lower its height with the same volume. Thus, the
spoon can be made shorter, or it is easier to empty the container
using the same spoon length.
[0025] The invention also relates to a lid part as described
above.
[0026] The invention further relates to a container assembly
comprising a container part and a lid part, said lid part
comprising a connection portion for connection to said container
part, a lid being pivotably connected to said connection portion,
and a locking means for locking said lid to said connection
portion, wherein said locking means comprises a lip on said lid
which has an upper lip part extending above a lid surface away from
said connection portion and a lower lip part extending adjacent to
said connecting portion, said lip being tiltable with respect to
said lid about an axis substantially in a plane of said lid and
near an edge of said lid.
[0027] The invention further relates to a container assembly
comprising a container part and a lid part, said lid part
comprising a connection portion for connection to said container
part, a lid being pivotably connected to said connection portion,
and a locking means for locking said lid to said connection
portion, wherein said lid comprising a lip for locking said lid to
said connection portion, said lip being operably connected to said
lid and having a cam and said connecting portion having a further
cam, both cams positioned for engaging one another to keep said lid
onto said connecting portion when said lip is not operated and to
disengage one another when said lip is operated, and said
connection portion further comprises a security lip positioned over
said lip for preventing operation of said locking lip and providing
temper evidence.
[0028] The invention further relates to a container assembly
comprising a container part and a lid part, said lid part
comprising a connection portion for connection to said container
part and a lid being pivotably connected to said connection
portion, wherein said lid comprising a lip for locking said lid to
said connection portion, said lip being operably connected to said
lid and having a cam and said connecting portion having a further
cam, both cams positioned for engaging one another to keep said lid
locked onto said connecting portion when said lip is not operated
and to disengage one another when said lip is operated, said lid
further having a gripping area adjacent said lip for arrangement of
a finger or thumb of a user when operating said lip.
[0029] The lid part described above is preferably injection moulded
as one part, in particular injection moulded from PE, PP, or other
synthetic materials suitable for injection moulding.
[0030] The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined
in order to provide additional advantageous advantages.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The invention will be further elucidated referring to an
preferred embodiment shown in the drawing wherein shown in:
[0032] FIG. 1 in exploded view a container assembly according to
the invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 the container assembly according to FIG. 1 after
assembly;
[0034] FIG. 3 a stack of lid parts before assembly with the
container part;
[0035] FIG. 4 a perspective top and side view of a lid part
according to the invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 a perspective bottom and side view of the lid part of
FIG. 4;
[0037] FIG. 6 a cross section of FIG. 4,
[0038] FIG. 7 the lid part of FIG. 4 opened, i.e., with the lid
hinged open with respect to the connection portion,
[0039] FIG. 8 an alternative lid-shape.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0040] In the figures the container assembly is referred to by 1.
It comprises a lid part 2 and a container part 3. Container part 3
is provided with a bottom 4 and the bottom material is connected to
the side walls and defines a circumferential rim 5. The container
part can be made of cardboard, coated with a synthetic coating
layer known in the art for making it suitable for containing food
or liquids. The container part can also be made of plastic or
metal, preferably for holding food or liquids.
[0041] Lid part 2 comprises a connection portion 8, a (living)
hinge 6 and a lid 7. Lid 7 is pivotably connected to connection
portion 8. Connection portion 8 comprises a circumferential
U-shaped rim 13 to receive the upper edge 12 of the side wall of
the container part 3. Fixation of the connection portion 8 to the
container wall can be effected through any means known in the art.
In these drawings, the upper edge 12 of the container part 3 is
folded and thus forms a double material layer. In practise,
however, this needs not be the case and in most case it is a single
layer.
[0042] According to the invention the top of lid 7 is provided with
a circumferential cam. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the
lid has two cam portions 9 having interruptions 10 (FIG. 4) between
them. In the embodiment shown, the cams are parts of the lid 7
bulging out (i.e., away from connection portion 8). It is also
conceivable to provide a rim on top of the lid 7. It may even be
conceivable to make the cam (circumferentially) bulging in, i.e.
towards connection portion 8. It than in fact forms a groove. In
that case rim 5 at the bottom of container part 3 is received
within this groove.
[0043] The top of the lid 7 is shaped to partially correspond with
the shape of a spoon. The shape is indicated by 11 (FIG. 4, 5).
Inside the lid 7 clamping means (FIG. 5, nr 29) are provided to
accommodate and hold a spoon having the shape and size of shape 11
of the spoon (not shown). From FIG. 4 it is clear that the lid is
substantially rectangular and shape 11 is position diagonally.
Interruptions 10 of the cam portions 9 are at the position where it
"crosses" shape 11. Preferably about 20% of the circumference at
the position of cams 9 comprises interruptions 10.
[0044] The lid is further provided with a circumferential rim 14
which in the closed position covers at least the top of the
connection portion 8. Cooperating locking means 31 are provided to
lock the lid relative to the connection portion and tamper evident
means 30 can be provided over the locking means 31 to prevent
abuse. In this embodiment, locking means 31 comprise a lip 31 on
lid 7 with a cam on its side directed toward the lid 7, and a cam
on connecting portion 8. These two cams engage one another the lid
7 is closed and the locking lip 31 is not operated and disengage
when the locking lip 31 is operated, allowing a user to open the
lid 7. In this embodiment, the locking lip 31 is tiltably connected
to lid 7, and is tiltable around an axis in the main plane of the
lid 7 and near the boundary of the lid 7. To that end, the lip 31
is connected to the lid 7 via a thinned part 26 of the lid (see
FIG. 6). In case the locking lip 31 extends above the main surface
22 of the lid 7, as is the case in the embodiment shown here, it
proved (part of) gripping means via which a user can grip the lid 7
for opening it.
[0045] At the position of the locking lip 31 a gripping area 28 is
provided. In this embodiment, it is created by providing a (local)
recess 28 in the lid, and by providing cam 9 in such a way that the
inner wall 33 of this cam 9 runs on into a wall of recess 28. In
this way, a relatively large plane 33 is created onto which a
finger or thumb can rest when operating locking lip 31 with another
finger/thumb.
[0046] In FIG. 6 it is further indicated that cam 9 has a top 24
which, as already mentioned, extends about 5-7 mm above the surface
22 defined by rim 14, which substantially defines the plane of the
lid 7. Wall 25 is the outer wall of cam 9. Locking lip 31 does not
extend above this cam in order not to compromise the stackability
of lid parts and/or container assemblies.
[0047] Tamper evidence means 30 is in this embodiment comprises a
lip 30 which is connected to the connecting portion 8 via thin
connecting bridges. These bridges are provided near both sides of
locking lip 31 of the locking means 31 and near the end of the
locking lip 31 of these locking means. The connecting bridges need
to be broken in order to remove the security lip 30 and to allow a
user to tilt locking lip 31 of the locking means 31, and can be
formed in a (synthetic material, e.g. PE, PP) moulding process of
the lid portion 2. In the embodiment shown for instance in FIG. 4,
it is clear that because a lip is used which is connected using
connecting bridges which can be moulded in one go together with the
lip and the rest of the lid portion, the security means can be
completely integrated in the side wall. In particular, the security
lip has a part 35 which extends above the locking lip (at this
position, the locking lip has a lower part 36), thus allowing easy
removal of the security lip 30. The height of the security lip 30
and of the locking lip 31 should preferably not extend above edge
24 of cam 9.
[0048] According to an aspect of the invention, cams 9 have a
substantial height D, e.g. about 5-7 mm. Furthermore, in this
embodiment, cams 9 are part of the lid 7 bulging outward with
respect to the main plane of the lid (substantially a plane through
surface 22 of rim 14). Because of that the cams 9 function as
reinforcement ribs adding to the strength of the lid and in this
way it is possible to stack a number of container assemblies on top
of each other such as is shown for example in FIG. 2 in a very
stable manner. This effect of providing more rigidity to the lid is
increase as a wall of the cam 9 almost extends or goes over into
rim 34. This rim 34 of the inside of the lid 7 fits in the inside
23 of inner U-shaped rim 20. The inner U-shaped rim 20 has ribs 21
providing rigidity to the rim 20. The height of this inner side 23
of inner rim 20 is preferably at least the height of cam 9, i.e.
about 5-7 mm. Rim 23 of lid 7 extends within the connecting part 8
to such an extend that it leaves enough height of rim 23 free (the
already mentioned 5-7 mm) to be able to stably stack lid parts in
the way shown in FIG. 3.
[0049] The spacing between the outsides or outer walls 25 of the
cam portions 9 is indicated in FIG. 4 by C.
[0050] According to an aspect of the invention the internal width
of the connection portion 8 at least at the lower end thereof is
indicated by B, wherein B is slightly larger than C. This allows
for stacking of a number of lid parts comprising connection portion
8 and lid 7 on top of each other as is shown in FIG. 3 to obtain a
stable stack. Such a stable stack is desirable during automated
provision of the lid parts on the container parts during assembly
thereof.
[0051] In FIG. 1, the spacing between opposite sides of the
circumferential rim 5 at the bottom side of container part 3 is
indicated by A. Preferably A is about the same as B allowing for
stacking of container assemblies using the combination of the
circumferential rim 5 and cam portions 9 of the lid. It will be
understood that the dimensions A-C are all taken in the same
direction. In different directions A-C will have other values but
the same principle applies to provide for stable and robust
stacking of both the lid parts and the container assemblies in a
later stage. The spacing between the cam and the circumferential
rim, the connection portion respectively is preferably about 0.5
mm. Because of the shape of the cam portions there are at least
three and preferable four or more points of contact between the
related circumferential rim and the cam portions providing a stable
stacked assembly. Stacks of ten packages or more can be obtained.
The circumferential shape of the rim 5 of the container part 3 and
of the cam 9 on the lid 7 are mutually adapted in such a way that
the rim 5 closely fits around the cams 9. Furthermore, the diameter
B and circumferential shape of rim 23 of the connecting portion is
designed in such a way that the circumferential rim 23 of the
connecting portion closely fits around cam 9 of lid 7.
[0052] Although in this preferred embodiment the cam portions 9
function both to cooperate with corresponding accommodation in the
connection portion 8 and the rim 5 at bottom 4 of the container
part, it will be obvious that two sets of cam portions can be
provided.
[0053] Lid portion 2 further has a levelling part 27 inside rim 20.
This part 27 is provided at the edge of rim 34 at a distance from
the lower edge of the inner wall of rim 20 to allow stacking of lid
portions 2. This levelling part 27 allows levelling of the
spoon.
[0054] Lid 7 further has a dome-shaped part 32 at its centre part
for providing additional rigidity of lid 7.
[0055] In the embodiment shows in the drawings, the shape 11
indicating and holding a spoon bulges outward with respect to the
plane of lid 7. This may provide additional rigidity to lid 7. It
is, however, also conceivable to let for instance the top 24 of
cams 9 define the main plane and outside surface of lid 7. In that
case, wall 25 still defines stacking means providing an abutment
for the rim 5 of the bottom of container portion 3, together with
surface 22 of rim 14. In this case, the shape of a spoon may be
indicated in another way, and clamping means 29 for a spoon may
still be present.
[0056] In another shape of lid 7, shown in FIG. 8, connecting part
8 still has a rim 20 with inner side 23 for providing a first
element of the first complementary stacking means. In this
embodiment of the lid, however, the lid has depressions, in this
embodiment a circumferential groove which is dimensioned to retain
both rim 20 of the lid part 2 when stacking lid parts, and rim 5
when stacking container assemblies 1. In fact, the groove provides
at a groove wall a vertically extending abutment. This vertically
extending (with respect to the plane of the lid 7) abutment can
also be formed by, when radially following the surface of the lid 7
from the outside 22 to the centre, lowering the surface of the lid
with respect to surface 22 of rim 14, thus providing an abutment
against forces radially outward. The vertically extending abutment
can also be formed by making the surface of the lid higher after
surface 22 of rim 14, thus providing an abutment against forces
radially inward. In the first embodiment, the outside of rim 5
abuts the abutment of the lid 7, in the second embodiment, the
inside of rim 5 abuts the abutment of the lid 7. In both
embodiments, the abutment of the lid prevents shifting. It is clear
that these abutments do not need to be completely circumferential,
but in many designs and practical embodiments, they will be.
[0057] It will also be obvious after the above that further
embodiments are within the scope of protection of the appended
claims being obvious combinations with prior art techniques and the
disclosure of this patent.
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