US3397774A - Container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1968 TJADEN 3,397,774

I CONTAINER Filed Aug. 12, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 20, 1968 J. TJADEN 3,397,774

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 12, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 20, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 12, 1966 United States Patent 3,397,774 CONTAINER Jan Tjaden, Emden, Germany, assignor to Hoeiiiger & Karg, Waiblingen, Germany Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,658

Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 14, 1965,

9 Claims. (Cl. 206-4534) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container having a first body portion which constitutes the shell and which is adapted to receive an object to be packaged. This shell has an open side and comprises a peripheral portion bounding the open side. A second body portion constitutes a lid and comprises a first section which is connected to the peripheral portion and a second section which is integral with the first section, the second section having a permanent tendency to assume one position in which it overlies the open side and being movable with reference to the first section and to the shell to another position in which it is spaced from the peripheral portion so as to permit insertion of an object into, and removal of such object from the container. Finally, there are provided cooperating retaining elements on the shell and on the second section of the lid for releasably holding the latter in one position.

The present invention relates to a container. More specifically, the invention relates to a container of the type consisting of a shell and a lid therefor. Still more specifically, the invention relates to a container of the blisterpack type.

It is becoming more and more common to merchandise various products in the so-called blister-packs, that is encased in transparent semi-rigid or rigid plastic foils. This type of packaging permits ready viewing of the product by the consumer but protects the product itself against direct handling, damage or contamination. However, known packages of this type suffer from various disadvantages, among them the fact that the packages are not resistant enough to damaging deformation, that they cannot be properly stacked for storage, and that once opened they cannot be reclosed to continue protecting the product, that is to in effect serve as a storage container for the product until the same is used up.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a container of the type set forth above which is simple and economical to construct.

A further important object of the invention is to provide such a container which is resistant to damaging deformation and can be readily stacked for storage purposes.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such a container which is dust-tight and will protect the contents of the package for instance keep them sterile until such time as the container has been opened for the first time.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a container which, after it has been initially opened, can be re-closed any desired number of times so that the product originally contained in it can be stored therein while it is being used up.

In accordance with one feature of my invention I provide a container which comprises a first body portion constituting a shell. This shell is adapted to receive an object to be vpackaged and has an open side. A peripheral portion of the shell bounds the open side. Additionally, the container also comprises a second body portion which constitutes a lid. In accordance with the invention the lid 3,397,774 Patented Aug. 20, 1968 comprises a first section which is connected to the shell and a second section which is integral with the first section and is movable with reference both to the first section and to the shell between two positions. In one of these positions the second section of the lid overlies the open side of the shell and abuts the peripheral portion of the latter, and in the other position the second section is spaced from the peripheral portion of the shell. Finally, the container also comprises cooperating retaining elements which are provided both on the shell and the second section of the lid for releasably holding the latter in the one position, that is in the position in which it overlies the open side of the shell and abuts the peripheral portion thereof.

One feature of my invention resides in providing the lid from an elastic material and securing the first section thereof to the peripheral portion of the shell with a bond which is substantially stronger than the bond between the second section of the lid and the peripheral portion of the shell. Thus, the consumer will realize, perhaps aided by suitable imprinting on the package, that only the bond between the second section of the lid and the shell is to be broken so that the second section can then be moved in the manner of a flap or door, permitting the contents of the container to be extracted and replaced, and permitting the container to be opened and closed at will. The elasticity of the material of the lid may be so selected, if desired and in accordance with one feature of my invention, that the second section will have a permanent tendency to return to its first position, that is that it will tend to snap back into the position in which it abouts the peripheral portion of the shell and closes the container.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the lid can be provided with reinforcing ribs which may simply be suitable deformations of the lid. These reinforcing ribs can also serve as retaining elements which can mate with corresponding retaining elements provided in the shell so that they can engage the same with a snap action and thus maintain the second section of the lid in the first position thereof. The cooperating retaining elements can be so arranged and constructed as to establish a more or less perfect seal against the intrusion of dust into the interior of the shell.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom-plan view of a container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the lid opened;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but with the contents of the container shown to be partially removed;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing a different product received in the container;

FIG. 5 is a top-plan view of the container shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the container shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a lateral view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top-plan view of the container shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an end view of the container shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

It will be noted that in all figures the container is assumed to be constructed from transparent material although this is, of course, not necessarily the case, and that in all containers the contents are shown in phantom lines to facilitate understanding of the invention.

Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIGS. l-3 thereof, it will be seen that the container shown in these figures comprises a shell designated with reference numeral 1, and a lid which closes the open side of the shell 1 and is designated with reference numeral 2. Both the lid and the shell are advantageously constituted from transparent plastic material, such as a suitable rigid or semi-rigid foil, and the lid is provided with inward constrictions or corrugations indicated with reference numeral 3 which serve to position and maintain the contents, here shown as a tube 4, and which on the other hand make it possible to provide at predetermined positions of the shell a relatively broad surface portion at which to seal the lid 2 to theshell 1. The peripheral portion bounding the open side of the shell 1 is constituted in form of a flat surface and it will be seen that it is simple to secure the lid 2 to the shell 1 by sealing the same to the shell 1 along the surface 5. To assure that at least a section of the lid 2 will be movable in form of a fiap, whereas the other section will remain connected to the shell 1, the movable section is connected to the surface 5 in such a manner that the package is originally dustand air-tight, but that the movable section can be readily loosened from the surface 5, that is that the seal can be readily broken. This is accomplished by glueing, otherwise adhesively bonding, heatwelding or affixing the movable section of lid 2 to the surface 5 in a similar manner but with a relatively light bond, whereas the non-movable section of the lid 2 is secured with a much stronger bond, for instance by a different process, or simply as a result of the fact that the constrictions 3 of container 1 provide over portions of the peripheral portion 5 larger surface areas by means'of which the first or non-movable section of lid 2 can be secured to the container or shell 1, more firmly than the second section.

Once the seal between the shell 1 and the movable section of lid 2 has been broken, the movable section of lid 2 can be moved away from the shell 1 into the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and it will be seen that in this position the contents, that is here the tube 4,.are readily removable from the shell 1. To permit storing of the tube 4 in the shell 1, that is to permit re-closing of the container, the shell 1 is provided in its wall 6 with a female coupling portion in form of a recess 7, whereas the movable section of lid 2 is provided with a complementary male coupling portion in form of a nose or projection 8 which, when the container is to be re-closed, is snapped into the recess 7. This, of course, requires that at least one of the members, namely either the shell 1 or the lid 2, be elastically deformable. To facilitate opening of the container, that is to make the movable portion of lid 2 more readily accessible for movement into its open position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shell is provided with a corrugation or blister 9 which is open at one side so that a person wishing to open the container can introduce the tip of a finger into this corrugation 9, or else use a suitable tool for this purpose, and can press down on the end portion of the movable portion of lid 2. The lid can be made, as has been pointed out earlier, of elastic material which has a permanent tendency to return to the closed position, or else it can be so constructed that a slight pressure on section 2 is necessary to reclose the container and cause the cooperating coupling portions 7 and 8 to mate with one another.

Coming now to a discussion of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, it will be seen that this is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1-3. The shell here is indicated with reference numeral 12 and the object to be contained is a small bottle having a cap 13. The shell 12 is provided with a corrugation 14 which coincides with the cap 13 such that the inwardly projecting portion of the corrugation will serve to locate and maintain the bottle 4 in its proper position within the shell 12. The lid 16 is provided with a similar corrugation 15 which in FIG. 6 will be seen to be of substantially U-shaped configuration and on which the bottle 17 rests when the lid is in closed position. The lid is again provided with a male coupling portion and the. shell with a female coupling portion with which the male coupling portion can mate. Furthermore, the shell is provided with a corrugation 18 through which the lid 16 becomes accessible for movement to its open position.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 that it is possible to provide adequate space within the shell to insert a prospectus with directions for use of the product, advertising material, or a similar message. This prospectus is indicated in FIG. 2 with reference numeral 23 and it will be understood that it is possible to provide the spaceforinsertion of the prospectus at another portion of the shell, if this is desired.

Corning, finally, to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 it will be seen that this embodiment constitutes a modification over the ones shown in FIGS. 1-6 in that here the lid is movable in such a manner that it will make the entire opening of the shell accessible when it is placed into its open position. Like reference numerals again indicate like elements. It should be noted, however, that the end wall in which the female coupling portion 7 is provided, that is the recess which is created by an external inwardly extending corrugation 19, is here designated with reference numeral 20. The lid 15 is shown to have a projecting portion 21 which extends beyond the end wall 20 when the lid is in closed position, as is indicated in dotted lines, and this replaces the corrugation or recess 9 and18 in FIGS. l-3 and 4-6, respectively, and facilitates moving of the lid 15.

Unlike the previous embodiments the first section of the lid 15 here is shown to constitute a hinge 22, it being understood that shell and lid are integral and that the section 22 in efiect serves as the connection between the shell 12 and the lid 15. In other respectsthe embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 is the same as that of FIGS. 4-6. The brochure or other printed matter which can be inserted into the package is here shown with reference numeral 23 and it will be understood that it is advantageously provided in the position shown in FIG. 9, but need not be disposed in exactly that location.

Containers of the type set forth above can be made from various dilferent plastics, many such materials being suitable for this purpose. For instance, a container of this type can be made by deep-drawing plastic foils under application of heat and vacuum in a well-known manner, or the foil can be heated and be deformed into a mold through the use of a compressed fluid medium. From what has been said before it will be obvious that the shell and the lid can be manufactured separately or can be produced in unitary construction. Relative to the embodiments of FIGS. l-6 it will be understood that the first section of the lid, that is the section which is to remain permanently secured to the shell at all times and to form therewith a compartment, can be adhesively bonded, heat-welded, clamped or be secured to the shell in any desired manner. Initially, both the first and the second sections of the lid will be so secured to the shell in order to seal the package and its contents. However, since in the embodiments of FIGS. l-6 the second section of the lid is to be movable between the aforementioned two positions it will be obvious that the bond between it and the shell must be relatively easily releasable, whereas the bond between the first section and the shell must be much harder to release or must be non-releasable. This can be accomplished by utilizing two diiferent methods of joining the respective sections to the shell, or, for instance in case of welding, the first section can be welded to the shell over larger surface areas than the second section, thus making it relatively easier to break the weld holding the second section to the shell.

it will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of containers differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a container, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container, comprising a first body portion of relatively rigid shape-retaining material contstituting a shell adapted to receive an object to be packaged and having an open side, said shell comprising a peripheral portion bounding said open side; a second body portion of relatively rigid shape-retaining material constituting a lid comprising a first section connected to said peripheral portion and a second section integral with said first section, said second section having a permanent tendency to assume one position in which it overlies said open side and being movable with reference to said first section and said shell to another position in which it is spaced from said peripheral portion so as to permit insertion of an object into, and removal of such object from the container; and cooperating retaining elements provided on said shell and said second section of said lid for releasably holding the latter in said one position, said cooperating retaining elements including a first engaging indentation on said shell in the region of said peripheral portion bounding said open side thereof and a second engaging projection on the surface of said lid facing said open side of said shell and adapted to engage with a snap action said first engaging indentation so as to retain said shell closed by said lid whenever required.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said first section overlies an adjacent portion of said shell and defines therewith a compartment.

3. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the entire open side of said shell is exposed in response to movement of said second section from said one to said other position.

4. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said shell is provided with at least one exterior corrugation and a corresponding inward projection adapted to locate the object to be packaged in a predetermined position.

5. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said shell and said first section of said lid are integral with one another.

'6. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said shell consists of a synthetic plastic material.

7. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of at least one of said body portions is an elastically deformable material and wherein said second section a-buts said peripheral portion in said one position, said cooperating retaining elements being elastically deformed during movement of said second section to said one position and into a b-utment with said peripheral portion.

8. A container as defined in claim 7, wherein said one body portion consisting of elastically deformable material is said second body portion.

9. A container as defined in claim 7, wherein said peripheral portion of said shell extends outwardly beyond the latter, said peripheral portion being provided with a recess through which said second section is accessible for movement from said one to said other position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,018,921 1/ 1962 Hermanson.

2,874,836 2/ 1959 Wertepuy 20678 2,739,699 3/1956 Blum 20617 3,111,220 11/ 1963 Bostrom.

2,931,493 4/1960 Pfohl 206-78 2,817,434 12/1957 Schmetz et a1. 220 X 3,148,103 9/1964 Gallagher 22060 X 3,139,208 6/1964 Irwin et a1. 22060 X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

I. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.

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