U.S. patent application number 12/599567 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-13 for locking device for reclosable package.
This patent application is currently assigned to COMPAGNIE GERVAIS DANONE. Invention is credited to Frederic Bourdin, Francis Lovell, Patrick Vandamme.
Application Number | 20110006066 12/599567 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38728949 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110006066 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vandamme; Patrick ; et
al. |
January 13, 2011 |
LOCKING DEVICE FOR RECLOSABLE PACKAGE
Abstract
Package including a receptacle (2) extending along a central
axis (Z) up to a top face (23) having an opening (24), a closure
system (3) including a cover (31) mounted so as to be articulated
thereat between an open position and a closed position, and a
locking device (4) including a locking lug (41) that is elastically
deformable towards the central axis (Z) fastened to the cover (31)
and furnished with a snout (43), and a gripping edge (42) secured
to the receptacle (2) with which the snout (43) engages in the
closed position. The cover (31) has a recess (47) in which the
locking lug (41) is arranged. The locking lug has an actuation zone
(41c) that can be accessed via the mouth (47a) of the recess, and a
tamper-proof cap (51) is immobilized relative to the cover (31) by
at least one breakable connection (52) and is arranged facing the
actuation zone (41c).
Inventors: |
Vandamme; Patrick; (Lomme,
FR) ; Bourdin; Frederic; (Meyzieu, FR) ;
Lovell; Francis; (Montreuil, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
COMPAGNIE GERVAIS DANONE
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
38728949 |
Appl. No.: |
12/599567 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
May 7, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2008/050813 |
371 Date: |
September 16, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/315 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/22 20130101;
B65D 2251/1058 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/315 |
International
Class: |
B65D 45/00 20060101
B65D045/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2007 |
FR |
07 03395 |
Claims
1.-10. (canceled)
11. A package for a food product, comprising: a container extending
along a central axis from a base as far as an upper face having an
opening surrounded by a perimeter extending basically in a
horizontal plane; a closure system comprising a lid mounted on the
container in hinged fashion between an open position and a closed
position, in which latter it covers said opening (24); and a device
for locking said lid in the closed position and comprising firstly
a locking lug which is elastically deformable toward said central
axis and extends from a base (41a) integral with said lid as far as
a free end (41b) provided with a nose (43), and secondly a gripping
rim integral with said container and protruding toward said central
axis and with which said nose engages in the closed position,
wherein said lid has a depression that opens radially outward at an
open side, and adjacent to said container in the closed position,
in which depression said locking lug is arranged, said locking lug
having an actuating region (41c) between its base and its nose,
said actuating region being accessible through said open side (47a)
of the depression in order to move said nose toward said central
axis, and wherein a tamperproof cover is immobilized relative to
said lid by at least one breakable connection and is arranged in
front of said actuating region (41c) of said locking lug.
12. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gripping rim
is formed in said upper face of the container by an elongate
opening oriented perpendicularly to said central axis.
13. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said closure system
further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of said container and
located close to said perimeter of the opening, and wherein said
gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of said
frame (32).
14. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said closure system
further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of said container and
located close to said perimeter of the opening, and wherein said
gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of said
frame (32), and wherein said perimeter of the opening of said
container is located at least at said upper face (32b) of the frame
(32), and wherein there is a free space between the portion of said
frame forming said gripping rim and the portion of said perimeter
of the opening located radially opposite said portion.
15. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said locking lug
delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
16. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said locking lug
extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically
rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central
axis.
17. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tamperproof
cover is arranged at said open side (47a) of the depression in said
lid and is shaped such that it extends flush with the outer profile
of said lid.
18. The package as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lid and said
tamperproof tab also extend flush with the upper part of said
container (2).
19. The package as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tamperproof
cover has a gripping member preferably consisting of an indentation
in the periphery of said cover.
20. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one
breakable connection comprises a bridging piece extending between
the periphery of said tamperproof cover and said open side (47a) of
the depression in said lid arranged so as to prevent any pivoting
of said cover without breaking at least one of said bridging
pieces.
21. The package as claimed in 20, wherein at least three bridging
pieces are provided.
22. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said closure system
comprising said frame and said lid and also said locking lug and
said tamperproof cover are produced from one piece of
injection-molded plastic.
23. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said closure system
further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of said container and
located close to said perimeter of the opening, and wherein said
gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of said
frame (32).
24. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said locking lug
delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
25. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein said locking lug
delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
26. The package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said locking lug
delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
27. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said locking lug
extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically
rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central
axis.
28. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein said locking lug
extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically
rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central
axis.
29. The package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said locking lug
extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically
rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central
axis.
30. The package as claimed in claim 15, wherein said locking lug
extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically
rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central
axis.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a national stage application of
International Application No. PCT/FR2008/050813, filed on May 7,
2008, which claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 07
03395 filed on May 11, 2007, the entire contents of both
applications being incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a reclosable package,
designed in particular for a food product, which has a device for
locking the closure system. More particularly, the invention
relates to a package comprising: [0003] a container extending along
a central axis from a base as far as an upper face having an
opening surrounded by a perimeter extending basically in a
horizontal plane; [0004] a closure system comprising a lid mounted
on the container in hinged fashion between an open position and a
closed position, in which latter it covers the opening; and [0005]
a device for locking the lid in the closed position and comprising
firstly a locking lug which is elastically deformable toward the
central axis and extends from a base integral with the lid as far
as a free end provided with a nose, and secondly a gripping rim
integral with the container and protruding toward the central axis
and with which the nose engages in the closed position.
[0006] Such locking produced by the nose of the elastic lug
positively engaging with the gripping rim is generally sufficiently
firm to hold the lid in the closed position even if the package is
dropped, which is not always the case with a lid the inner
periphery of which is simply frictionally engaged on the neck of
the container. Moreover, handling of the locking tongue remains
sufficiently simple and intuitive to obtain satisfactory ease of
use. Such a locking device is known, for example, from the document
U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,779.
[0007] Nevertheless, there exists a need to integrate such locking
devices as much as possible into the overall volume of the
container, both for esthetic reasons and for technical reasons.
This is because a locking device as described in the document U.S.
Pat. No. 5,770,779 protrudes from the box and this, in the case of
packages, requires a greater volume and risks damage occurring
during transportation.
[0008] In addition, in the case of packages for food products which
are displayed in self-service shops, it is important to provide a
tamperproof device which indicates whether the package has been
opened. Numerous solutions for tamperproof devices exist, such as,
for example, tear-off strips connecting the lid to the container.
However, in the case of a large lid, this type of tear-off
tamperproof strip may use up a relatively large amount of plastic
and lead to the appearance of a relatively unesthetic hole in which
dirt can accumulate in the course of use of the package. On the
other hand, in the case of an elastically deformable locking
member, it is prior art to provide tamperproofing by immobilizing
said locking member by means of breakable bridging pieces before it
is used for the first time, said bridging pieces connecting it
directly to the lid. However, once these bridging pieces have been
broken, rough plastic protrusions remain. These can interfere with
each other during the actuation of this locking element or even
come into contact with the user, causing a disagreeable
sensation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved locking device, in particular by integrating it into the
volume of the package, and to which a satisfactory tamperproof
device may be joined.
[0010] To this end, the subject of the present invention is a
package of the abovementioned type, characterized in that the lid
has a depression that opens radially outward and adjacent to the
container in the closed position, in which depression the locking
lug is arranged, said locking lug having an actuating region
between its base and its nose, said actuating region being
accessible through the open side of the depression in order to move
the nose toward the central axis, and in that a tamperproof cover
is immobilized relative to the lid by at least one breakable
connection and is arranged in front of the actuating region of the
locking lug.
[0011] The integration of the locking lug into a depression in the
lid implies that said locking lug and the gripping rim are arranged
inside the overall external volume of the container, thereby
avoiding protruding parts. Moreover, the tamperproof device
consisting of the cover has dimensions corresponding at most to the
open side of this depression and it is not necessary to provide
breakable elements on the locking lug itself. There is thus no risk
of the broken tamperproof device damaging the locking device or
subsequently hampering its operation.
[0012] In preferred embodiments of the invention, use is
furthermore made of one or other of the following arrangements:
[0013] the gripping rim is formed in the upper face of the
container by an elongate opening oriented perpendicularly to the
central axis; [0014] the closure system further comprises a frame
mounted on a neck of the container and located close to the
perimeter of the opening, and the gripping rim is formed by a
portion of the inner perimeter of the frame; [0015] the perimeter
of the opening of the container is located at least at the upper
face of the frame, and there is a free space between the portion of
the frame forming the gripping rim and the portion of the perimeter
of the opening located radially opposite this portion; [0016] the
locking lug delimits the bottom of the depression in the lid;
[0017] the locking lug extends parallel to the central axis and has
a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to
the central axis; [0018] the tamperproof tab is arranged at the
open side of the depression in the lid and is shaped such that it
extends flush with the outer profile of the lid; [0019] the
tamperproof tab has a gripping member preferably consisting of an
indentation in the periphery of this tab; [0020] said at least one
breakable connection comprises a bridging piece extending between
the periphery of the tamperproof tab and the open side of the
depression in the lid, and preferably at least three bridging
pieces arranged so as to prevent any pivoting of said tab without
breaking at least one of the bridging pieces; and [0021] the
closure system comprising the frame and the lid and also the
locking tongue and the tamperproof member are produced from one
piece of injection-molded plastic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Further features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description given by way of nonlimiting
example with reference to the figures, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package comprising a
locking device according to the invention with a lid having a
tamperproof cover in the open position;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the package from FIG. 1
with the lid in the closed position;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in which the tamperproof
cover has been removed; and
[0026] FIG. 4 is a view in partial section on a plane IV-IV which
can be seen in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] In the various figures, identical reference numerals
designate identical or similar elements.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a package 1 comprising a container 2, a closure
system 3, a locking device 4 and a tamperproof device 5.
[0029] The container 2 has a bottom 21, or base, from which an
annular side wall 22 extends along a vertical central axis Z as far
as an upper face 23. The upper face has a wide opening 24
surrounded by a perimeter 25. The perimeter 25 extends essentially
in a horizontal plane coincident with the plane of the opening 24
and is formed by a collar extending radially toward the central
axis Z. However, it is perfectly conceivable for this perimeter to
be produced simply by the thickness of the material forming the
side wall 22.
[0030] The container 2 has a basically rectangular cross section
perpendicular to the central axis Z, with rounded corners. This
cross section varies somewhat along the central axis Z in order to
form a waist for gripping, but these variations remain limited in
order to maintain the vertical strength of the packages when they
are stacked. Also for gripping purposes, the cross section
preferably is inscribed within a rectangle measuring 150 to 130 mm
by 105 to 125 mm. The height from the base 21 to the upper face 23
is preferably between 130 and 170 mm in order to provide the
customary volume for boxes intended to contain powdered baby milk.
It is thus a relatively deep container, the opening 24 of which
needs to be made as wide as possible in order to make it easier to
extract powder from close to the bottom 21 of the container 2.
[0031] Due to this basically rectangular cross section, the
perimeter 25 of the opening of the container 2 may be considered to
have a first long side 25a, a second opposing long side 25b and
first and second short sides 25c, 25d connecting the long
sides.
[0032] The container 2 is produced in one piece from blow-molded
plastic. This plastic is preferably a multilayer compound forming a
very effective oxygen barrier when the product is milk powder, for
example. However, it may, of course, be a container produced from
another material, in particular metal or multilayer board.
[0033] In the case of milk powder, the opening 24 of the container
2 is closed by a membrane seal, not shown, which is sealed onto the
perimeter 25. Thus, the milk powder is perfectly preserved in the
container 2 until used for the first time when the membrane seal 26
is peeled off.
[0034] As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4, the container 2 has a
neck 28 between the top of its annular wall 22 and its upper face
23, which neck is stepped in places. As will be explained below,
the presence of this neck enables the mounting of a frame for the
closure system 3.
[0035] The closure system 3 first of all comprises a lid 31 having
a relatively domed shape such that it may be considered to have a
substantially flat upper portion 31a and an annular peripheral
portion 31b substantially coaxial with the central axis Z.
[0036] The lid 31 also has an inner face 31c oriented toward the
opening 24 in the closed position, this inner face being basically
dish-shaped due to the domed shape of the lid 31.
[0037] The closure system 3 further comprises a frame 32 mounted
with a tight fit on the neck 28 of the container 2. The frame 32 is
fastened nondetachably to this part of the container, in particular
by snap fastening, but could also be fastened by adhesive bonding
or welding.
[0038] The frame 32 has an external periphery 32a continuing the
side wall 22 of the container 2, followed by an inner horizontal
wing 32b which forms the upper face of this frame. The upper face
32b of the frame extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the
opening 24 comprising the perimeter 25, and slightly below this
plane. The radially inner end of the wing 32b constitutes the inner
periphery of the frame 32 adjacent to the neck 28 of the
container.
[0039] The upper face 32b of the frame forms with the perimeter 25
of the opening 24 the upper face 23 of the container part.
[0040] The lid 31 and the frame 32 are hinged together by a
connection 34 enabling the lid 31 to move with respect to the frame
32 and to the container 2 between an open position, shown in FIG.
1, in which the opening 24 is easily accessible, and a closed
position, shown in FIG. 4, in which the lid 31 covers this opening.
It is thus a reclosable package of which the lid is handled each
time it is used, for example for preparing babies' bottles.
[0041] In this case the connection 34 is a hinge connection, the
pivot axis P of which is perpendicular to the central axis Z. More
precisely, the pivot axis P is parallel and located close to the
first long side 25a of the perimeter 25.
[0042] In the embodiment shown, it is a plastic hinge formed by a
fold line enabling the lid 31 and the frame 32 to be produced as a
single part. Said part is obtained by injection-molding a plastic,
for example polypropylene. However, the hinge connection 34 could
of course also be created as two separate parts joined together and
it is likewise possible to provide some other type of connection
between the frame and the lid, or even to do without a frame by
employing a lid mounted removably on the neck 28 of the container
2.
[0043] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inner face 31c of the
lid has an annular belt 37 extending downward in the direction of
the axis Z as far as a free edge 37a arranged so as to be close to
the perimeter 25 of the opening of the container 2 such that it
increases the degree of closure of the container without, however,
producing an airtight closure.
[0044] The locking device 4 comprises a lug 41 integral with the
lid 31 and engaging with a rim 42 integral with the container 2.
The locking device 4 is intended to prevent any accidental escape
of product once the package has been opened for the first time when
the membrane seal 26 has been peeled off, but is not intended to
provide a sealed closure such as was obtained previously with the
membrane seal.
[0045] More particularly, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the locking lug
41 extends vertically downward from a base 41a as far as a free end
41b located beneath the upper face 23 defined by the perimeter 25
of the container 2 and the upper face 32b of the frame in the
corresponding region. The locking lug 41 has a cross section in the
form of a long rectangle the short side of which can be seen in
FIG. 4 and the long side of which extends in a direction
perpendicular to the central axis Z. Owing to this form and its
plastic nature, the locking lug is elastically deformable toward
the central axis Z. Specifically, by exerting pressure with the
finger or thumb on an actuating region 41c located on the radially
outer face of the tongue 41 between its base 41a and the end part
located beneath the upper face 23 of the container part, the user
easily obtains a deformation along the line indicated by the dotted
line in FIG. 4.
[0046] It should be noted that the actuating region 41c could have
ergonomic reliefs. Moreover, the cross section of the lug 41 is not
necessarily a perfect rectangle. The radially inner face of the lug
41 could have ribs for altering its rigidity and thus the force
required to move the free end 41b away from the gripping rim
42.
[0047] The free end 41b of the tongue 41 has a nose 43 oriented
radially outward with respect to the central axis Z. The nose 43
has basically the form of a protruding rib extending horizontally
across the outer face of the locking lug 41 with a substantially
triangular profile. The nose 43 thus has an upper face
perpendicular to the lug 41 which is arranged so as to be
immediately under the gripping rim 42 when not subjected to
deformation and thus prevents the lid 31 from being opened. In
addition, the nose 43 has an inner face inclined with respect to
the vertical and enabling the lug 41 to be deformed when the lid is
reclosed and enabling the nose 43 to move around the gripping rim
42 in order to attain the closed position shown in FIG. 4. However,
in order to obtain such snap fastening, it is not absolutely
necessary for the nose to have such a profile. Specifically, the
nose 43 could have a different profile, for example be bead-shaped,
in particular with a profile of the gripping rim 42 substantially
different from a rectangle.
[0048] The gripping rim 42 protrudes toward the central axis Z so
as to have a free end located close to the front face of the
locking lug 41 and a lower face engaging with the upper face of the
nose 43 to prevent the lid from being opened when the locking lug
41 is not deformed. In the embodiment shown, the gripping rim 42
consists of a portion of the frame 32 located opposite the locking
lug 41 and more precisely of the inner periphery of the upper face
32b of the frame. In order to enable the end 41b of the locking lug
to move, there is a free space 44 between the gripping rim 42 and a
recessed portion 28b of the neck 28 of the container 2. The upper
face 23 of the container part thus has an opening consisting of the
free space 44 within which the locking lug 41 may move. This
opening 44 has no effect on the sealing of the container 2 sealed
by a membrane seal. Nevertheless, it is perfectly conceivable for
the gripping rim to be produced by means of a member protruding
from the frame 32 or from the perimeter 25 of the container, or
even by means of a hole through the perimeter 25 of the container
2, depending on the nature of the food product to be preserved or
if there is an inner sealing device present.
[0049] It should be noted that the locking device 4 is arranged in
a depression 47 formed in the side wall 31b of the lid 31 and
extending as far as the lower end of the lid. It is in this case a
recessed portion of the outer wall of the lid 31 protruding
basically toward the central axis Z and having an open side 47a
radially on the outside and delimited by the break in the geometry
with the outer profile of the lid assembly. The depression 47 has
substantially the form of a portion of sphere such that its open
side 47a seen from the front has a substantially semicircular form.
However, the depression 47 could have a substantially different
form, for example one which is deeper with a basically "U" shaped
open side. The form of the depression 47 is, however, chosen such
that its open side 47b is wide enough for the user to be able to
act with a finger on the actuating region 41c of the locking lug
41.
[0050] The locking lug 41 is arranged in the depression 47 such
that no part of it protrudes from the outer profile of the lid
assembly. More precisely, in the embodiment shown, the locking lug
41 constitutes a part of the bottom of the depression 47 which is
separated from the rest of the wall delimiting this depression by
two vertical slots. This limits the depth of the depression 47
necessary for housing the locking lug 41 given that the annular
belt 37 of the lid 31 forms a barrier limiting the possibility of
product escaping.
[0051] As will be understood, the gripping rim 42 is also arranged
in this depression when the lid 31 is in the closed position, due
to the necessity of engaging with the nose 43 of the locking lug
41. Consequently, all of the locking device 4 is integrated in the
outer profile of the lid assembly and even of the package assembly
1 because of the correspondence between the profile of the lid and
of the container part when the lower end of the lid 31 is resting
on the upper face 32b of the frame 32.
[0052] The tamperproof device 5 comprises, for its part, a cover 51
arranged in the depression 47 in the lid, or slightly outside the
latter, so as to prevent access, at least by hand, to the actuating
region 41c of the locking lug. The tamperproof cover 51 is held in
place in front of the actuating region 41c by breakable connections
52.
[0053] More particularly, in the embodiment shown the tamperproof
cover 51 is in the form of a small plastic tab formed in one piece
with the lid 31 by virtue of the breakable connections 52 which are
in the form of bridging pieces.
[0054] The tamperproof cover 51 is arranged at the open side 47a of
the depression 47 and the small tab of which it consists is shaped
such that it extends flush with the outer profile of the lid
assembly 31. This gives the package a particularly attractive
appearance and limits the possibility of its catching on any object
during the course of its working life. Moreover, this embodiment of
the tamperproof cover 51 requires a relatively small amount of
plastic since the dimensions thereof do not exceed the surface area
of the open side of the depression 47. Finally, the volume of the
depression 47 may be reduced to a minimum in order for it to house
only the locking device since the tamperproof device 5 does not
extend into this depression.
[0055] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bridging pieces 52 which form
the breakable connections extend between the outer periphery of the
tamperproof cover 51 and the perimeter 47a of the depression.
Considering FIG. 3, it will be understood that even if the bridging
pieces leave behind plastic barbs after breaking, these barbs are
relatively far away from actuating region 41c of the locking lug 41
and in any case do not interfere with the operation of this locking
lug. There are four bridging pieces in this case, located on either
side of the cover region 51 in front of the locking lug 41.
However, the number of bridging pieces and their arrangement could,
of course, be quite different, it being understood that three such
bridging pieces are sufficient to effectively immobilize the
tamperproof cover 51.
[0056] The tamperproof cover 51 could cover the entire surface area
of the open side 47a of the depression, it then being possible for
the bridging pieces 52 to be broken when the cover is pushed into
the depression 47. However, as can be gathered from FIG. 2, an
indentation 53 is formed in the periphery of the tamperproof cover
51, in this case in the lower part of this cover close to the frame
32, with the aim of making it easier to remove this tamperproof
device. By way of example, the indentation 53 may be designed to
allow a fingertip to be partially inserted to tear off the cover 51
by an outward and upward movement. Of course, the indentation 53
could be located at another location. For example, in a variant
which is not shown, it may be preferable to arrange the indentation
53 in a region of the cover 51 somewhat to the side of the
actuating region 41c of the locking lug, for example in the top
part of the cover which is basically located in front of the base
41a, in order to further reduce the possibility of actuating the
locking tab 41 in particular by means of a sharp object. It could
also be a slightly protruding relief enabling the tamperproof cover
51 to be grasped.
[0057] The working life of the package 1 may proceed in the
following manner. Following injection molding of the closure device
assembly 3 including the locking device 4 and tamperproof device 5,
a single piece is obtained which may be configured in the closure
position by closing the lid 31 on the frame 32. This configuration
is preserved by virtue of the locking device and the tamperproof
device.
[0058] The assembly thus constituted may then be easily mounted,
for example by snap fastening, on the container 2 which has already
been filled and membrane sealed. The package 1 is then ready to be
sold. Any attempt to open it by hand will cause at least one of the
breakable connections 52 to break, which will generally be easily
detected by the consumer.
[0059] On first using the package, the user will break the
breakable connections 52 of the tamperproof device 5 and will thus
gain access to the locking device 4. By exerting pressure on the
actuating region 41c of the locking lug 41 and pulling gently
upward, the user then brings the lid 31 into the open position.
[0060] Subsequently, by closing the package 1, that is by folding
down the lid 31, locking is automatically brought about by the nose
43 snap fastening with the gripping rim 42. For a subsequent use,
all that is required is to exert pressure again on the actuating
region 41c in order to release the locking device 4.
[0061] Of course, the embodiment described above is in no way
limiting and numerous variants of the geometry of the components of
the locking device and the tamperproof device can be produced
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *