AU753242B2 - Lidded containers - Google Patents

Description

I j, NCL Phc-k& L*CL RUSKIN INDUIST I RIES LIMITEDF= COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE-AFTER-PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED "LIDDED CONTAINERS" This invention is described in the following statement:

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1 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,1 I 1 11 1 The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements in containers. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an improved form of container with lid or closure, being a container of what is termed the tamper-evident type.

Throughout the ensuing description reference will be made to an improved form of container in accordance with the present invention, as specifically illustrated in the drawings, including as principal components a container base and a top or closure therefor. It should be realised, however, that the container as illustrated, and described in detail, represents merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In actual fact a container in accordance with the present invention can be of any physical shape, be it parallelepipedal, elliptical, round, oblong, square, or any combination thereof.

Containers of this general type, traditionally constructed of any suitable plastics material, have enjoyed usage in a variety of different contexts, and in particular for the packaging of foodstuffs, as for example frozen or dairy-case type foodstuffs, for a significant period of time. The prior art containers, whilst having enjoyed significant market acceptance, in more recent times have encountered increasingly more and more criticism by virtue of the fact that, in accordance with the known constructions and techniques, it is possible for the lid 20 or closure to be partially, if not totally, removed from the container base, thereby destroying the integrity of the overall container and permitting unauthorised access to the contents thereof. With such known arrangements it is in fact possible for the person effecting unauthorised, premature removal of the lid or closure to replace the lid in such a manner that it was not readily evident to the 25 shopkeeper, customer etc that the overall container itself had been tampered with, and the contents thereof (wholly or in part) tainted, tasted or sampled, removed and/or contaminated, in other words that the overall container had been compromised. The consequences of such a result could be catastrophic, as has been apparent from recent experiences of many manufacturers. In recent times, 2 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,2 therefore, there has been an ever-increasing demand for a lidded container of the type wherein, once the lid has been removed from the base either deliberately or inadvertently it would be readily evident to the viewer, be it either the shopkeeper or a potential customer or user, that such an undesirable step had taken place and the contents in some way possibly compromised. In the industry, what is termed a tamper-evident lidded container has been called for, to satisfy customer requirements, health regulations etc.

Prior art attempts at achieving such a tamper-evident container have not been particularly successful, or alternatively have involved a rather complicated arrangement which has given rise to inordinate expense in the overall manufacture thereof. In that regard it should be realised that industry and commercial requirements are not only that a tamper-evident type of container be provided, but that such a result be achieved at minimum additional cost (when compared with the existing, prior art containers).

By way of example only, one form of prior art container used for the packaging of foodstuffs, in particular foodstuffs of the perishable type, achieves a sealing effect through the use of a hermetic seal. In the main, such containers involve or include heat-sealed membranes of any suitable material, as for example a foil material, with a cap, whereby to provide the required shelf-life and tamper "'2O protection. Such an arrangement has been found to be not conducive (to not lend itself) to current practices where large containers are often employed and the proposed contents of such containers do not call for, or in fact need, any form of hermetic seal.

It is known that a degree of tamper-evidence can be achieved, even with traditionally employed prior art containers, by the provision of a heat-shrunk protective band or sleeve surrounding the lidded container. However, such an arrangement has been found to add significantly to the overall packaging cost, and also has been found to be unsatisfactory by reason of the heating procedure associated therewith, a process which could adversely affect the contents of the 3 29/6/980C9266.SPE,3 container, this more especially if such contents are in the form of frozen and/or dairy products, or for that matter products of a perishable nature.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a tamper-evident container of the aforementioned general type which, apart from affording protection against deliberate or inadvertent removal of the lid from the base, achieves that result with a configuration which lends itself to ready high-speed manufacture, from a suitable plastics material, at comparable cost to that incurred with currently known and in use packaging procedures of this general type.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a container including a base and a co-operating lid or closure therefor, said base including, at or in the vicinity of the upper edge thereof and extending substantially around the entire periphery thereof, a downwardly dependent, substantially U-shaped rim assembly or protecting means including an upwardly directed annular gap or recess, said lid or closure having a skirt dependent downwardly therefrom and around the entire periphery thereof, said skirt being adapted, in use, to be releasably and yet sealably disposed within said rim assembly of said base.

accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a container including a base member and a co-operating lid or closure therefor, said base member having a substantially vertically extending container wall having, at or in the vicinity of the upper portion thereof, an assembly adapted, in use, to cooperate with a substantially complementary-shaped assembly of said lid, thereby to provide a tamper-evident closure means for said container, wherein said lid 5 includes a skirt assembly which is adapted, in use, to co-operate with and surround a rim of said base member, said rim being of substantially inverted Ushape which viewed in cross-section, said base member including a substantially T-shaped formation or assembly associated therewith and adapted to extend substantially normally therefrom, and located whereby to provide a gap between *e -4- 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,4 said formation and said rim, said skirt of said lid having an inwardly directed cooperating segmented bead or the like adapted, in use, to extend into said gap, said T-shaped formation of said base member preferably including, at or in the vicinity of the free end of an upwardly extending member thereof, a bead or the like adapted to co-operate with the free end of the skirt of said lid, and wherein said T-shaped formation, at at least one location around the periphery of said container, is separable from said container, thereby to provide access for lid removal and a tamper-evident means therefor.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container including a base member and a co-operating lid or closure therefor, said base member including a substantially vertically extending container wall having, at or in the vicinity of the upper edge thereof, an exterior member/assembly having a flange extending substantially parallel to said container wall over substantially the entire periphery thereof, and forming therebetween an upwardly facing annular recess, said flange being connected to the exterior side of said container wall, said lid or closure having a skirt depending downwardly from the outer periphery thereof and adapted, in use, to be located within said annular recess of said base member, and wherein said flange of said base member includes, at or in the vicinity of the upper free end portion thereof and extending 0.-O around at least part of the periphery thereof, an inwardly extending bead, and wherein said skirt includes, at or in the vicinity of its lower or free end, an outwardly extending bead which, in the closed position of said lid or closure on said base member, is located below said inner bead of said flange of said base member and is locking contact with said flange.

25 In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in more detail preferred embodiments of a tamper-evident container in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 5 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,5 FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container (base member and cooperating lid or closure) in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2 is a top perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the lid in position above the base member, but removed therefrom, thereby illustrating certain of the internal features of the base member; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one corner of the base member of a container in accordance with the present invention, having a tamper-evident tab or removal flap associated therewith; FIG. 4 is a top view of a container base member in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side view of the container base member of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a lid or closure means for a container in accordance with the invention; FIG. 7 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 6, of the uppermost portion of a container base member in accordance with the invention, at a location around the periphery thereof removed from that portion of said overall container which houses a tamper-evident means in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a container (base member and lid) in accordance with the present invention, with the base member and lid of FIG's. 6 and 7 mechanically interconnected, being a view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 4; 9 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 8, of that portion of a container 5 in accordance with the present invention which houses or includes a tamper-evident means, being a view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 4; As illustrated, a substantially parallelepipedal lidded container, generally Sdesignated 1, is provided, such including a base member 2 and a lid or closure 3.

29/6/98GC9266.SPE,6 Preferably the base member 2 and lid 3 are constructed from a suitable plastics material, in a high-speed moulding operation. The actual material and method of construction, however, are not of the essence of the invention, and could be varied dependent upon the nature of the contents for the container. In an especially preferred embodiment a high density polyethylene or polypropylene material could be employed for both the base member and the lid or closure.

Alternatively, a high-density polyethylene or polypropylene material could be used for construction of the base member, whilst a low density polyethylene or polypropylene material could be used for the construction of the lid or closure.

Food quality materials may be employed when the containers in accordance with the invention are intended for the storage of foodstuffs and the like.

The base member 2, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, includes a substantially upwardly extending peripheral side wall 20 having, at or in the vicinity of the uppermost end thereof, an assembly generally designated 21 which, in manner to be explained hereinafter, co-operates with a substantially complementary-shaped assembly 31 provided at or in the vicinity of the outermost edge of the lid or closure 3, thereby to give rise to a tamper-evident closure/container in accordance with the present invention.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, the assembly 21 includes a shoulder portion or flange 22, a further wall portion 23 extending substantially normally and upwardly away from said shoulder portion or flange 22, a crest portion 24 and a depending portion or member 25. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the crest portion 24 takes the form of a member which is continuous with the further wall portion 23, but extends substantially normally 25 thereto and relatively outwardly therefrom. The depending portion or member then extends downwardly, and at an angle, away from that end of the crest portion 24 which is removed spatially from the further wall portion 23. The end result is that, in the especially preferred embodiment illustrated, the free end 26 of the depending member 25 is continuous and spaced circumferentially from the 7 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,7 further wall portion 23.

The assembly 21 in accordance with the present invention also includes, on the base member 2 and preferably formed integrally therewith, a formation, generally designated 50, extending in a direction substantially normally to the further wall portion 23 so as to provide a circumferential gap 27 (see FIGS 7, 8 and 9) between the free end 26 of the depending member 25 and such formation 50. As best illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, at angularlyspaced-apart locations around the circumference/periphery of the base member 2 there are provided reinforcing webs 23a, such webs 23a generally extending between, and being integral with, the downwardly extending further wall portion 23 of the base member 2. The formation 50 includes a substantially horizontallydisposed leg member 51, extending substantially normally to the further wall portion 23 via the web 23a, as well as respective upwardly and downwardly extending members 52 and 53. At or in the vicinity of the free end of the upwardly extending member 52 there is provided an inwardly projecting and sloping engagement bead 54. Preferably the upwardly extending member 52 of the formation 50 is provided, at its uppermost edge or end, with an inwardly directed bevelled surface, which extends to form the protruding secondary S engagement bead 54. The formation 50, with its respective upstanding and downstanding members 52 and 53, constitutes a protective band which extends around the entire periphery/circumference of the base member 2, intended to S. o mechanically co-operate with the lid or closure 3.

The lid or closure 3, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9, is intended to mechanically co-operate with the base member 2 and has, at or in the vicinity of the outermost free edge thereof and extending around the entire periphery or circumference thereof, an assembly or configuration 31 of a substantially complementary shape to that of assembly 21 of the base member 2.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, the lid or closure 3 includes a S substantially horizontally disposed inner section 32, terminating in a wall section 29/6/98GC9266.SPE 8- 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,8 33 extending downwardly therefrom and substantially normally thereto. At the lowermost end of the inner section 33 there is provided a further substantially horizontal section 34, depending substantially normally therefrom, extending in a continuous manner into respective inclined section 35, upwardly extending wall section 36, substantially horizontal section 37, downwardly inclined section 38, substantially vertical section 39, inclined section 40 and foot member 41 extending substantially normally to said inclined portion 40. The inclined portion 40 has, extending inwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a segmented primary engagement bead 42.

Turning now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated therein a preferred arrangement for a tamper-evident means to be provided at one, or more, locations around the circumference or periphery of the container. In an especially preferred embodiment, when the container is of a parallelepipedal shape, such a tamperevident means may be produced at at least one corner portion of the container.

Alternatively, one such tamper-evident means may be located at or in the vicinity of each corner. With the preferred arrangement illustrated, the formation 50' is provided with an upwardly extending member 52' of an elongated length when compared with the similar member 52 as employed elsewhere around the base member 2. In addition, at the same location the reinforcing web 23a' has a portion thereof blanked out, thereby to provide a gap between it and the downwardly extending member 53' of the T-shaped formation 50'. The end

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f result is that, in such locale(s) on the base member 2, the formation 50' has a %00 different appearance to elsewhere on the base member 2, by virtue of its height extension 52', the formation 50' being attached to the base member 2, via the web 23a', in a frangible manner and is thus identified as a frangible piece. That section, or sections, around the periphery of the base member 2 having this configuration thereby constitute tamper-evident means for the assembled container. Any attempt, either deliberately or by accident, to access the container will result in breaking of the frangible formation 50', a result which would be S29/6/98GC9266.SPE 9- 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,9 readily apparent to the observer.

When assembled, as perhaps best seen in FIG. 8, the segmented engagement bead 42 of the lid 3 is located within the gap 27 existing between the free end 26 of the depending member 25 and the formation 50. At the same time the foot member 41 is in engagement with the bead 54 of the upwardly extending portion 52 of the formation 50. The result thereof is a double engagement of lid or closure 3 to base member 2, providing additional and improved security and integrity for the container and its contents.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the downwardly extending member 53 of the formation or protective band 50 remains in firm attachment to the web 23a apart, that is, from that region (or those regions) where the tamperevident means is provided. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the downwardly extending member 53 will have a length of the order of 3 times that of the upwardly extending member 52. It should be realised, however, that the relative lengths of such members are not of the essence of the invention.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention is responsible for a number of practical advantages when compared with the prior art. Firstly, it provides a tamper-evident means for the overall container. Secondly, it provides such a means in an efficient and cost-effective manner, adding negligible ko additional cost of manufacture when compared with the known art procedures.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the arrangement in accordance with the present invention lends itself readily to use with high-speed, thin-wall construction techniques.

Finally it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims: 29/6/98GC9266.SPE,10 1 29/980C9266SPE,

Claims (11)

1. A container including a base and co-operating lid or closure therefor, said base including, at or in the vicinity of the upper edge thereof and extending substantially around the entire periphery thereof, a downwardly dependent, substantially U- shaped rim assembly or protecting means including an upwardly directed annular gap or recess, said rim assembly of said base including a crest portion, extending substantially normally to said container wall; a depending member extending downwardly from said crest portion and at an angle thereto; and a further portion extending downwardly from said depending member and preferably parallel to said container wall; said rim assembly further including a substantially T-shaped assembly, disposed outwardly of said container wall, the arrangement being such that said annular recess is provided between the uppermost end of said T-shaped assembly and said depending member; said T-shaped assembly including, at or in the vicinity of the upper free end portion thereof and extending around at least part of the periphery of said base, an inwardly extending bead, said lid or closure having a skirt dependent downwardly therefrom and around the entire periphery thereof, said skirt including at or in the vicinity of its lower free end, an outwardly extending bead which, in the closed position of said lid or closure on said base, is located below said inner bead of said T-shaped assembly of said base and is in locking contact therewith.

2. The container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said T-shaped assembly extends around the entire periphery of said base and is connected to said container wall, at a plurality of locations around the periphery of said base, by re-enforcing webs or rib means, said locations preferably being spaced equidistantly or equi-angularly around said periphery.

3. The container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said T-shaped assembly includes a substantially horizontal member having respective upper and lower members extending from the outer free end thereof, and wherein said re-enforcing web members extend from the outer container wall of said base to said substantially horizontal member and said downwardly extending lower member of said T-shaped assembly, and wherein said annualar gap or recess is formed above said horizontal member and said upwardly extending upper member of said T-shaped assembly.

4. The container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said upwardly extending upper member extends around the entire periphery of said base. 1127111v3 The container as claimed in Claim 4 wherein, in at least one location around the periphery of said base, said upwardly extending member is of elongated length, the arrangement being such that, when said container is assembled, said at least one peripheral portion having said elongated length constitutes a tab means for ready opening of said container, or a tamper-evident tab for said container.

6. The container as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said T-shaped assembly is frangibly or resealably connected to said re-enforcing webs.

7. The container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said lid includes, at or in the vicinity of the outermost edge thereof and extending around the entire periphery thereof, a downwardly depending assembly of a substantially complementary shape to said U-shaped rim assembly, said assembly including: a substantially vertical member extending substantially normally to said lid, a horizontal 9* member extending from the free end of said vertical member, a further member depending from said horizontal member upwardly therefrom and at an angle thereto, a further portion extending upwardly and parallel to said vertical member, and a Smember extending downwardly from said further member at an angle thereto, said downwardly extending member terminating in an outwardly extending foot or flange and having, at or in the vicinity of the end thereof, an inwardly extending bead or the like means. *20 8. The container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said foot or flange, in use, is adapted to co-operate with or be in engagement with said inwardly projecting bead of said T- shaped assembly of said base.

9. The container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the outer side of said container wall ••go includes a projecting portion having a surface substantially parallel to said container, and being so arranged that said surface is in contact with a corresponding surface on the inner side of said skirt of said lid. The container claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which supporting ribs are provided which connect the outer side of the container wall with the inner side of the inclined wall.

11. The container as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the upper edge of said skirt of said lid is connected with the portion of the lid located above the upper edge of said container wall by means of a flexible, upwardly and outwardly inclined wall. 1127111v3 13

12. The container as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which an annular flange is provided on the underside of said lid in the area between the outer side of said container wall and said skirt of said lid.

13. The container as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the rim assembly or protecting means is omitted over a sufficient length of the periphery of the container mouth to permit gripping of the lower edge of said skirt of said lid to initiate disengagement of said lid from said container.

14. The container as claimed in Claim 13, in which a length of said protecting means is constructed as a tear-off portion to permit gripping of the lower edge of said skirt of said lid to initiate disengagement of said lid from said container. The container as claimed in Claim 14, in which the inner side of said skirt is in contact with the inclined wall in the closed position of said lid. ii* 1 *16. A container, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying .0*0 drawings. Ruskin Industries Limnited 2 August 2002 o. S*a ll v3