Packaging system

Abstract

A packaging system includes a container body having an upper lip defining an opening into an interior compartment thereof, and a unitary, snap-on closure attached to the container body. The closure has a top wall overlying the opening into the interior compartment, a downwardly extending peripheral skirt overlying the outer walls of the container body exteriorly of the internal compartment, and an integral flexible transverse hinge intermediate front and rear ends thereof to divide the closure into a rear stationary cover portion and a forward movable door portion. The integral hinge includes grooves or thinned regions in the closure peripheral skirt. The cover portion has inwardly directed projections and rearwardly facing shoulders integrally formed with the skirt for cooperating with downwardly facing projections and forwardly facing shoulders, respectively, of the container body to retain the cover portion on the container body when the door portion of the closure is in either an open position permitting access to the interior compartment, or a closed position sealing the opening into the interior compartment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a substantially flat, moisture impervious sheet overlies the opening into the interior compartment of the container body and is secured to the upper lip thereof.

Parent Case Text

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 401,235, filed Sept. 27, 1973, and entitled, PACKAGING SYSTEM.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a packaging system of the type having a container body and a separate snap-on closure, and more specifically, to a packaging system in which the closure is of a unitary construction having a thinned region intermediate front and rear ends thereof to provide a flexible integral hinge dividing the closure into a stationary cover portion adapted to be secured to the container body and a movable door portion adapted to permit access to an interior compartment of the container body.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Packaging systems including a container body, and a unitary snap-on closure having an integrally formed flexible hinge line intermediate front and rear ends thereof are known in the prior art. Such packaging systems are shown in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,890, issued to Rich; U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,897, issued to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,654, issued to Hexel and French Patent No. 1,319,370, issued to Livarek.

In all of the above patents the flexible hinge line of the closure separates the closure into a stationary cover portion and a movable door portion. The stationary cover portion includes inner and outer peripheral skirts for receiving the upper edge of the container body therebetween to thereby interlock the cover portion and the container body to prevent relative movement therebetween.

For some applications, it is highly desirable to secure a moisture impervious film, or sheet over the open end of the container body between the closure and container body. For example, in a packaging system including premoistened wet wipers it is extremely important that the packaging system be moisture impervious to prevent the escape of moisture from the wet wipers during the relatively long shelf life (i.e., six months to two years) required for such products. For this, and other similar applications, the use of a moisture impervious film or sheet, as described above, is highly desirable. However, when the closure includes a peripheral skirt which projects into the opening of the container body such a moisture impervious sheet normally cannot be used since the inner skirt would perforate or otherwise tear the sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a packaging system employing a unique structural relationship of elements between a container body and a unitary, snap-on closure which eliminates the need for an internal peripheral skirt on the closure extending into an interior compartment of the container body. The container body in applicant's invention includes a bottom wall and peripheral walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall and termintaing in an upper lip which defines an opening into the interior compartment of the body. A peripheral, downwardly facing shoulder is integrally formed on the container body closely adjacent the lip and exteriorly of the inner compartment. The container further includes forwardly facing shoulders on opposite sides thereof and intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, and these forwardly facing shoulders are also disposed exteriorly of the interior compartment of the container body.

The unitary, snap-on closure of this invention can be of either a one-piece, or two-piece construction including a top wall overlying the opening into the interior compartment of the container body, a downwardly extending peripheral skirt overlying the outer surfaces of the peripheral walls of said container body, and an integral flexible transverse hinge intermediate front and rear ends of said closure to divide the closure into a rear stationary cover portion and a forward movable door portion. The unitary closure of this invention does not include internal skirts which project into the interior compartment of the container body.

In one embodiment of this invention, the unitary closure is of a one-piece construction with the top wall integrally formed with the peripheral skirt. In an alternative embodiment, the unitary closure is of a two-piece construction including a closure frame, and a flexible, substantially flat moisture-impermeable sheet. The closure frame is of a one-piece construction including a downwardly extending peripheral skirt and an inwardly facing peripheral lip defining a top wall portion of the unitary closure. The flexible, moisture-impermeable sheet is adhered to the top wall portion of the closure frame, whereby the top wall portion of said closure frame and the flexible sheet constitute the entire top wall of the unitary closure.

The stationary cover portion of the unitary closures of this invention include inwardly directed projections in closely positioned underlying relationship with the downwardly facing shoulder of the container body; and transversely spaced, rearwardly facing shoulders in closely positioned overlying relationship with the transversely spaced, forwardly facing shoulders of the container body, whereby the cover portion of the closures will be retained on the container body when the door portion of the closures is in either an open position permitting access to the interior compartment of the container body or a closed position sealing the open end of the container body.

In the most preferred embodiment of applicant's invention, a substantially flat, moisture impervious sheet is secured to the container body in overlying relationship with the opening thereof, and is disposed between the closure and the container body. Since the closure does not include any internal peripheral skirts projecting into the interior compartment of the container body, the substantially flat, moisture impervious sheet can be utilized in the packaging system of this invention. The moisture impervious sheet is removed from the container body prior to use.

In the most preferred embodiment of this invention the movable door portion and container body have easily releasable cooperable latch means for aiding in maintaining the door portion in its closed position, and for permitting easy release for opening the door portion to establish access to the interior compartment of the container body.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the packaging system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with the components of the packaging system assembled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the blocked portion of FIG. 3 indicated at 5;

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a unitary closure of the packaging system of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 with the components of the unitary closure assembled and attached to the container body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention relates to a packaging system 10 which is substantially moisture impervious. This packaging system 10 finds its most significant applications for retaining articles therein which would be damaged by either the entrance of moisture into the packaging system or the escape of moisture from the packaging system. One specific application of the present invention is in the packaging of premoistened fibrous webs which can be employed as wipers for many applications. For example, such premoistened wipers are popular for cleaning many parts of the human body, such as the perineal region, arms, hands, etc.

Referring to FIG. 1, a packaging system 10 of this invention includes a container body 12, and a unitary, snap-on closure 14 of a one-piece construction. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a substantially flat, moisture-impervious sheet 16 is positioned in overlying relationship with the open end of the container body 12 and is secured to an upper lip 18 thereof between the closure 14 and the container body 12. This moisture-impervious sheet 16 is secured to the container body 12 after articles, such as pre-moistened wipers 19, are placed therein. The sheet 16 maintains a moisture-impervious condition within the container body 12 to thereby establish a long shelf life.

Both the container body 12 and unitary, snap-on closure 14 can be made from well-known plastic materials, such as polyurethane, polystyrene and polypropylene. The moisture-impervious sheet 16 can be aluminum foil, plastic materials, laminates of paper, aluminum foil and plastic materials or any other suitable material.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container body 12 includes a bottom wall 20, and peripheral end walls 22 and peripheral side walls 24 upstanding from said bottom wall and terminating in the upper lip 18 which defines an opening into an interior compartment 26. The container body 12 includes a peripheral skirt 28 integrally formed with the upper lip 18 for defining a downwardly facing peripheral shoulder 30 disposed exteriorly of the interior compartment 26 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). The peripheral skirt 28 has a stepped configuration overlying each side wall 24 to form forwardly facing shoulders 32 on opposite sides of the container body 12 intermediate the end walls 22 thereof (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5).

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the closure 14 includes a top wall 34, a downwardly extending peripheral skirt 36 extending around the outer periphery of said top wall, and an integral flexible transverse hinge 38 intermediate front and rear ends 33 and 35, respectively, of the closure 14. The flexible transverse hinge 38 extends for the full transverse extent of the closure 14 and includes a thinned transverse zone 39 in the top wall 34 and grooves 40 interrupting the continuity of the skirt 36 in alignment with said transverse zone. Alternatively the skirt 36 can be provided with thinned sections, in place of grooves 40, in transverse alignment with the thinned transverse zone 39. The closure 14 can be pivoted along the hinge 38. When thinned sections are provided in the skirt 36 they will separate at such sections to permit the pivotal action to take place. The integral hinge 38 divides the closure 14 into a cover portion 42 which is adapted to remain stationary with respect to the container body 12 when the closure is snapped onto the container body, and a movable door portion 44 which is movable about the hinge 38 to permit access to articles retained within the interior compartment 26, and to permit subsequent reclosure of the packaging system 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the cover portion 42 includes unique structure for cooperating with the container body 12 to retain said cover portion in an immobile condition when the closure 14 is attached to said container body. Specifically, the cover portion 42 includes an inwardly directed end projection 46 and inwardly directed side projections 48 in closely positioned, underlying relationship with the downwardly facing shoulder 30 of the container body 12. Preferably, the inwardly directed projections 46 and 48 are formed integrally with the lower margin of the outer peripheral skirt 36 of the closure. The cover portion 42 further includes inturned tabs 50 providing transversely spaced, rearwardly facing shoulders 52 in closely positioned overlying relationship with the transversely spaced forwardly facing shoulders 32 of the container body 12. Preferably, these inturned tabs 50 are integrally formed with the peripheral skirt 36 of the closure 14 closely adjacent the integral hinge 38. The side projections 48 are closely adjacent the rearwardly facing shoulders 52 to provide excellent captive engagement of the container body 12 closely adjacent the integral hinge 38 to facilitate the opening of the closure 14 along said hinge without separating the closure from the container body. The cooperative relationship of the inwardly directed projections 46 and 48 of the closure 14 with the downwardly facing peripheral shoulder 30 of the container body 12 prevents the closure 14 from being inadvertently lifted off of the container body 12 in a direction normal to the opening into the interior compartment 26 thereof. The cooperative relationship between the forwardly facing shoulders 32 of the container body 12 and the rearwardly facing shoulders 52 of the closure 14 prevents the closure from sliding off the rear of the container body when the door portion 44 is in an open position.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the door portion 44 includes an inwardly directed projection 54 which is integrally formed with the peripheral skirt 36 for cooperating with the downwardly facing peripheral shoulder 30 of the container body 12 to provide cooperable latch means which maintain said door portion 44 in a closed position. The inwardly directed projection 54 of the door portion 44 extends transversely for only a short distance to permit release of the latch means in an easy fashion without separation of the cover portion 42 from the container body 12.

The packaging system 10 is made ready for use by a user by physically removing the closure 14, tearing off the moisture-impervious sheet 16 to expose the contents within the container body 12 and then replacing the closure 14 in a sealed condition over the open end of said container body. After these preparatory steps the closure 14 need not be physically removed from the container body 12 when a product is to be removed therefrom since the closure is provided with an integral hinge 38 about which the door portion 44 can be pivoted to expose the contents disposed within the interior compartment 26.

An alternative embodiment of the unitary, snap-on closure of this invention is illustrated at 60 in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodiment, a reduction in the plastic material required to form the unitary closure 14 of the initially described embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 is achieved by forming a portion, and preferably, a substantial portion, of a top wall 62 of the closure with less expensive flexible sheeting made from paper, foil or other suitable materials.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the unitary closure 60 includes a top wall 62, a downwardly extending peripheral skirt 64 extending around the periphery of said top wall, and an integral flexible transverse hinge 66 intermediate front and rear ends 68 and 70, respectively, of the closure. The unitary closure 60 is of a two-piece construction in which the top wall 62 is defined by an inwardly facing peripheral lip 72 of a unitary closure frame 74, and a separate, flexible, substantially flat, moisture-impermeable sheet 76 permanently affixed to the peripheral lip 72 of said closure frame.

The integral flexible transverse hinge 66 is provided by a thinned transverse zone 78 in opposing sides 80 and 82 of the inwardly facing peripheral lip 72 intermediate the front and rear ends 68 and 70 of the unitary closure 60, and grooves 84 interrupting the continuity of the peripheral skirt 64 of the closure frame 74 in alignment with said thinned transverse zones 78. The flexible transverse hinge 66 divides the closure into a rear stationary cover portion 86 and a forward movable door portion 88.

The inwardly facing peripheral lip 72 of the closure frame 74 may be of various different widths and configurations. If the peripheral lip 72 is formed with minimal width and thickness, there may be no need to include a thinned transverse zone in opposing sides 80 and 82 thereof to aid in forming the flexible transverse hinge 66. To further explain, the minimal width and thickness of the lip would permit pivotal motion of the forward movable door portion 88 of the closure 60 to thereby form an inherent hinge. The flexible moisture-impermeable sheet 76 does not have to be grooved, or thinned since it will inherently pivot (i.e., bend) when the closure frame 74 is pivoted at the integral flexible transverse hinge 66.

With respect to all other elements, the packaging system of the alternative embodiment (FIGS. 6 and 7) is identical to the packaging system of the initially described embodiment (FIGS. 1-5); the unitary, snap-on closure 60 of the alternative embodiment being attached to the container body 12, in identically the same manner as the unitary, snap-on closure 14 of the initially described embodiment.

The term "unitary", as used in the claims which follow, refers to both the closure 14 of the initially described embodiment which is of a one-piece construction; and the closure 60 of the alternative embodiment, which is of a two-piece construction, but which functions as a unit in substantially the same manner as the closure 14 of the initially described embodiment.

Claims

Having described our invention we claim:

1. A packaging system comprising:

A. a container body including a bottom wall, peripheral walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall and terminating in an upper lip which defines an opening into an interior compartment of said body, peripheral downwardly facing shoulder means adjacent said lip and disposed exteriorly of said interior compartment, and transversely spaced, forwardly facing shoulders adjacent said lip and disposed exteriorly of said inner compartment intermediate opposed ends of the said body;

B. a unitary, snap-on closure including a top wall overlying the opening into the interior compartment of the container body, a peripheral skirt overlying outer surfaces of the peripheral walls, and an integral flexible transverse hinge intermediate front and rear ends of said closure to divide said closure into a stationary cover portion and a movable door portion;

C. said stationary cover portion including inwardly directed projection means in closely positioned underlying relationship with the downwardly facing shoulder means of said container body, and transversely spaced, rearwardly facing shoulders in closely positioned overlying relationship with the transversely spaced, forwardly facing shoulders of said container body, whereby said closure will be retained on the container body when the door portion of the closure is in either an open position permitting access to the interior compartment of the container body, or a closed position sealing the open end of said container body.

2. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the inwardly directed projection means of the cover portion is positioned closely adjacent each rearwardly facing shoulder of said cover portion, said rearwardly facing shoulders being disposed closely adjacent to the transverse hinge.

3. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein said closure is of a one-piece construction.

4. The packaging system according to claim 1, including a moisture-impervious sheet overlying the opening of the container body and disposed between the container body and the closure.

5. The packaging system according to claim 4, including cooperable latch means on said container body and door portion of said closure for aiding in maintaining the door portion in its closed position.