DE20210266U1 - Swing lid container made of plastic - Google Patents

Description

LEMCKE ■ BROMMER & PARTNER **

PATENT ATTORNEYS

BISMARCKSTR. 16 ■ D-761 33 KARLSRUHE

27 June 2002 19 592 (K/gr)

Rotho Kunststoff AG
Industriestrasse Althau 11
5303 Wurenlingen
SWITZERLAND

Plastic swivel lid container

LEMCKE · BROMMER S. PARTNER * ***'

PATENT ATTORNEYS

BISMARCKSTR. 16 ■ D-761 33 KARLSRUHE

27 June 2002 19 592 (K/gr)

Description

The invention relates to a plastic swivel-lid container, in particular for storing and transporting foodstuffs, with a container base body, a lid pivotably connected to the latter via a hinge, and a closure securing the lid in the closed state, wherein the lid has a circumferential groove receiving the edge of the container base body, with an inner wall, an outer wall, and a grooved base.

This type of hinged lid container is widely used. Their advantage over conventional food storage containers is that the lid is attached to the container body with a hinge, so that you do not have to hold two separate parts in your hands when opening the container. This is particularly advantageous for the user when using it as a breakfast box, as they only need one hand to hold the opened container and can use the other hand to grab the contents of the container. This is naturally not so easy with conventional containers with a separate lid - the lid has to be put down somewhere.

The swivel lid containers mentioned above also offer advantages over conventional food storage containers in terms of production: Such plastic containers are usually manufactured using an injection molding process. Two-part, conventional food storage containers require two different tools and therefore two work steps, while a swivel lid container of the type mentioned above can be manufactured in a single tool, with the hinge connecting the lid and the container body usually being designed as a film hinge.

However, especially when storing and transporting food, it is usually desirable for the container to be liquid- and air-tight. In this respect, the previously known swivel-lid containers of the type mentioned above have a disadvantage compared to conventional plastic containers with a separate lid: Since the swivel-lid containers are made in one piece, both their container body and their lid are made of relatively hard, durable plastic, particularly polypropylene. This means that the lid and the container body do not usually fit together in a liquid-tight manner when the container is closed, as the material is not very flexible.

Conventional refrigerator containers with a separate lid, on the other hand, are usually made of two different materials: While the container body is also made of a hard, durable plastic - usually polypropylene - the lid is made of a soft, elastic plastic - usually low-density polyethylene. Such a lid fits tightly to the edge of the container body, but must be removed when it is subjected to increased stress, especially in the microwave.

The invention is based on the object of providing a swivel lid container made of plastic which combines the advantages of the previously known swivel lid containers and the conventional plastic containers with a separate lid in that it can be closed air-tight and liquid-tight.

This object is achieved by a pivoting lid container having the features of the appended claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the swivel lid container according to the invention are set out in claims 2 to 15.

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According to the invention, a swivel-lid container of the type mentioned at the outset is thus further developed in such a way that the circumferential groove located on the lid and receiving the edge of the container base body is provided with a circumferential insert made of soft elastic plastic, which is firmly connected to the lid material and is dimensioned in such a way that the edge of the container base body presses against the soft elastic insert over its entire circumference when the lid is closed.

This design of a plastic swivel lid container achieves the effect of a sealing ring inserted into the groove: the edge of the container base body, which is made of hard plastic, presses the insert made of soft elastic plastic in the groove together to a greater or lesser extent, so that it seals against the edge of the container base body all the way around and thus ensures that the inventive swivel lid container can be closed airtight and liquid-tight. The closure, which is expediently arranged opposite the hinge, ensures that the contact pressure of the edge of the container base body on the soft elastic insert in the groove of the lid is maintained until the container is opened again.

However, a decisive advantage over a sealing ring that is simply inserted is that the soft, elastic insert according to the invention is firmly connected to the lid material so that it cannot accidentally fall out. In addition, inserted sealing rings are usually made of rubber, but the insert according to the invention is made of soft, elastic, age-resistant plastic. The latter is dishwasher-safe and can be used both in the freezer and in the microwave without any problems.

The swivel lid container according to the invention is expediently manufactured using two-component injection molding technology, which, among other things, ensures a reliable connection between the soft-elastic plastic of the insert and the harder plastic of the lid.

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The insert made of soft elastic plastic can be arranged in the groove in such a way that its inner wall is at least partially lined with the insert. This offers advantages for the special geometric conditions when closing a swivel lid, which naturally does not hit the container base from above like a separate lid, but rather on a circular path. If the inner wall of the groove of the swivel lid, which dips into the container base on the inside of the edge, is given a slight oversize by the lining with the soft elastic insert, the sealing effect occurs automatically when the swivel lid is closed.

This can be supported by providing the soft-elastic lining of the inner wall with at least one circumferential thickening, which only runs against the edge of the container body at the last moment when the lid is closed and creates the sealing effect. Several such thickenings can be arranged in a step-like manner.

In order to keep the resistance that the insert according to the invention offers against closing the hinged lid container as low as possible, it is advantageous if the edge of the container base body is bevelled on its inside. With this geometry, it is particularly easy to arrange the insert or its thickenings in such a way that as little resistance as possible occurs when closing the lid, while the sealing effect of the insert remains unaffected.

Further advantages arise when the inner wall of the groove has at least one circumferential projection in the area of the lining with the soft elastic insert. Such a circumferential projection made of the harder and more stable plastic material of the lid offers the lining insert a positive hold, which significantly improves the durability and sealing effect of the insert.

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Of course, the grooved base can also be lined with the insert made of soft elastic plastic. This can be particularly advantageous if the groove is significantly wider than the thickness of the edge of the container body in order to compensate for any twisting of the container when the lid is closed: If the entire grooved base is then lined with the soft elastic insert, the sealing effect of this insert also has the same tolerance against twisting and crooked placement of the lid.

A preferred development of the invention results when the groove of the lid has a number of perforations distributed around the circumference, which connect the groove to a circumferential recess in the outside of the lid. This means that the soft elastic material, which is preferably introduced into the groove using two-component injection molding technology, is also visible and palpable on the outside. Apart from the very advantageous signaling effect, which shows at first glance that the swivel lid container according to the invention is airtight and liquid-tight, the swivel lid container is enhanced both visually and haptically by the soft elastic plastic running around the outside of the lid. Furthermore, the soft elastic plastic also serves as a slip protection when grasping a lid. The perforations in the groove enable the outside to be connected to the inside of the lid circumference below the floor, which is very simple and advantageous for production. In this respect, it is expedient if the circumferential recess of the lid is filled with the same soft-elastic plastic from which the circumferential insert in the groove is made.

Further significant advantages arise if the container base body is provided on its underside with feet or a foot surface made of soft elastic plastic, whereby this soft elastic plastic is expediently the same plastic as that of the grooved insert and is also manufactured in one and the same operation with the grooved insert, in particular using two-component injection molding technology.

A further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the swivel lid container according to the invention consists in the fact that an externally accessible

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A lockable lid compartment is molded into the container. Small parts or accessories can be stored in this additional lid compartment separately from the rest of the container's contents. When using the container to transport food, the additional lid compartment is particularly suitable for storing brushes, drawing pins, sewing kits, screws and nuts or other accessories that should not be mixed with the actual contents of the container.

Preferably, this lid compartment is closed with a flap which, when closed, is essentially flush with the surface of the lid and is preferably attached to the lid via a hinge. To open such a hinged flap, a locking element can be provided which can be opened easily and closed even more easily.

An embodiment of the invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swivel lid container according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the swivel lid container from Figure 1, cut approximately in the middle;

Figure 3 is a side sectional view like Figure 2, but with the lid closed;

Figure 4 shows detail X from Figure 2;
Figure 5 shows detail Y from Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows detail Z from Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fully opened swing lid container from below, without the soft elastic component;

Figure 8 is a representation like Figure 7, but with a soft elastic component; Figure 9 is a perspective view like Figure 1, but of a swivel lid container with an additional lid compartment;

Figure 10 is a representation like Figure 9, but with the lid compartment open;

Figure 11 is a side sectional view of the swivel lid container with additional lid compartment.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a swivel lid container according to the invention, which consists of a container base body 1 and a lid 2 pivotally attached to it. The lid 2 is provided with a closure flap 3, which together with a latch 4 attached to the container base body 1 forms a snap closure for securing the lid 2 in its closed position. Two projections 5 next to the latch 4 form a gently rounded line with the closure flap 3 when the lid 2 is closed and serve as a counter bearing when the snap closure is opened.

The lid 2 is provided on its circumference with an outer support 6 made of soft elastic plastic, which is connected to the insert according to the invention (not visible here) in the groove (also not visible here). In the base 7 of the container base body 1, an elongated recess 8 can be seen, which can, for example, absorb condensate from cooled food placed in the swivel lid container and forms a support surface on the outside of the container base body 1, as will be explained in more detail later.

The container base body 1 is provided with a rib 9 made of soft, elastic plastic on the outside, which not only creates a visually attractive effect but also prevents slipping when grasping the container base body 1. The rib 9 continues towards the underside of the base 7 of the container base body 1 into a foot 10, which will be explained in more detail later and enables the swivel lid container to be placed non-slip even on smooth surfaces.

Figures 2 and 3 each show a side section through the swivel lid container from Figure 1, in its plane of symmetry. Identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference can be made to the description of Figure 1 in part. The connection between the inner recess 8 in the base 7 of the container body 1 and the foot 10 made of soft elastic plastic is clear here. The contact area of the lid 2 with the edge 11 of the container body 1 is particularly interesting here. These areas are therefore shown as detailed enlargements in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

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In Figures 4 and 5, the rear contact area of the lid 2 with the container body 1 is shown in the open (Figure 4) and closed (Figure 5) position: The container base body 1 and the lid 2 are connected to one another via a film hinge 12. The lid 2 is provided with a circumferential groove 13 which receives the edge 11 of the container base body 1 and is surrounded by an inner wall 14, an outer wall 15 and a groove base 16. The groove base 16 and the inner wall 14 are lined with a continuous insert 17 made of soft elastic plastic, which also merges into the support 6 on the outside of the lid 2 via an opening 18 in the groove base 16. The lining of the inner wall 14 has two circumferential, stepped thickenings 19 which, when the lid 2 is closed, as shown in Figure 5, form a seal against the inside of the edge 11 of the container base body 1. The edge 11 is bevelled on its inside to make it easier to close the lid 2, which enables easy opening and closing despite the special movement geometry of a hinged lid container, as Figures 4 and 5 immediately make clear. Since a high frictional force arises between the thickenings 19 of the insert 17 and the inside of the edge 11 towards the end of the closing movement of the lid 2, the inner wall 14 is equipped with two circumferential projections 20 which also hold the insert 17 in a form-fitting manner.

As Figure 5 shows, when the lid 2 is closed, the edge 11 also presses against the insert 17 lining the groove base 16 at the head end, so that in the present embodiment a three-stage seal is ensured by the soft-elastic insert 17. The beveled inner side of the edge 11 of the container base body 1 and the correspondingly shaped lining of the inner wall 14 with soft-elastic plastic together form a centering of the lid 2 on the container base body 1, so that even if the lid 2 is placed crookedly on the container base body 1, the sealing effect achieved according to the invention is not impaired.

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Figure 6 also shows in detail that the closure flap 3 is designed as an extension of the outer wall 15 of the groove 13 and continues beyond the latch 4, which has a ramp 21, into a projection 22 for better grip. Here too, a support 23 made of soft, elastic plastic is provided as an anti-slip device and as an optical and tactile enhancement.

Figures 7 and 8 each show a perspective view of a swivel lid container according to the invention, which is shown completely open and viewed from below. Figure 7 shows the swivel lid container that is not yet complete and is still missing the second component made of soft, elastic plastic. Figure 8 then shows the complete plastic swivel lid container consisting of two components.

In Figure 7, the circumferential recess 24 which accommodates the support 6 with the openings 18 leading to the groove 13 for the underfloor connection between the insert 17 and the support 6 can be seen particularly well. Accordingly, the two contact surfaces 25 are each provided with two recesses 26, onto which the foot 10 made of soft elastic plastic visible in Figure 8 is injection-molded. As Figure 8 clearly shows, the support 6, the rib 9 and the feet 10 have created a container which is visually and haptically enhanced all around.

The swivel lid container shown in Figures 1 to 8 is manufactured using a two-component injection molding technique, whereby the first component is a hard and resistant plastic, such as polypropylene, and the second component is a soft elastic plastic, namely a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of a particularly preferred further development of the swivel lid container already shown in Figure 1, wherein identical components are provided with identical reference numerals, whereby reference can be made to the above description to a large extent. The difference between the embodiment shown here and the embodiment of the invention described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 is an additional lid compartment 27 which is formed in the lid 2. This lid compartment serves to accommodate parts which are to be kept separate from the container contents, such as cutlery, and is

closed by a flap 28 that closes flush with the surface of the lid 2. A finger recess 29 that is also formed in the lid 2 provides access to a locking element 30 on the flap 28, so that the flap 28 can be easily opened.

Figure 10 shows the embodiment of the swivel lid container according to the invention with additional lid compartment 27 with the flap 28 open. As is clear here, the locking element 30 consists essentially of a locking lug 31 which, in cooperation with two hinges 32, ensures very easy opening and closing of the flap 28, whereby the closed flap 28 is nevertheless held securely in its closed position.

The side sectional view of the swivel lid container with additional lid compartment 27 shown in Figure 11 makes it clear in particular that the lid compartment as well as the finger recess 29 are molded into the lid 2 and thus do not cause any additional inconvenience when manufacturing the swivel lid container.

LEMCKE ■ BROMMER & PARTNER

PATENT ATTORNEYS BISMARCKSTR. 1 6 · D-7B1 33 KARLSRUHE

1 container body

2 lids

3 Closing flap

4 bars

5 Lead

6th edition

7 Floor

8 Deepening

9 Rib 10 Foot

11 Edge

12 Film hinge

13 groove

14 Inner wall 15 Outer wall

16 grooved bottom

17 Insert

18 Breakthrough

19 Thickening 20 Protrusion

21 ramp

22 Overhang

23 Edition

24 Recess

25 Contact area

26 Recess

27 Lid compartment

27 June 2002 19 592(K/gr)

List of reference symbols

28 flap

29 Finger groove

30 locking element

31 Locking lug 32 Hinge

Claims (15)

1. A plastic swivel lid container, in particular for storing and transporting foodstuffs, with a container base body ( 1 ), a lid ( 2 ) pivotably connected to the latter via a hinge ( 12 ) and a closure ( 3 , 4 ) securing the lid ( 2 ) in the closed state, the lid ( 2 ) having a circumferential groove (13) which receives the edge ( 11 ) of the container base body ( 1 ) and has an inner wall ( 14 ), an outer wall ( 15 ) and a groove base (16 ) , characterized in that the groove ( 13 ) is provided with a circumferential insert ( 17 ) made of soft elastic plastic, which is firmly connected to the lid material and is dimensioned such that the edge ( 11 ) of the container base body ( 1 ) presses against the soft elastic insert ( 17 ) over its entire circumference when the lid ( 2 ) is closed. ) button. 2. Swing-lid container according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner wall ( 14 ) of the groove ( 13 ) is at least partially lined with the insert ( 17 ) made of soft elastic plastic. 3. Swing-lid container according to claim 2, characterized in that the lining of the inner wall ( 14 ) is provided with at least one circumferential thickening ( 19 ). 4. Pivoting lid container according to claim 3, characterized in that several circumferential, step-shaped thickenings ( 19 ) are present. 5. Swing-lid container according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the edge ( 11 ) of the container base body ( 1 ) is bevelled on the inside. 6. Swing-lid container according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner wall ( 14 ) of the groove ( 13 ) has at least one circumferential projection ( 20 ) in the region of the lining insert ( 17 ). 7. Swing-lid container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the grooved bottom ( 16 ) is also lined with the insert ( 17 ) made of soft elastic plastic. 8. Pivoting lid container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the groove ( 13 ) has a number of circumferentially distributed openings ( 18 ) which connect the groove ( 13 ) to a circumferential recess ( 24 ) in the outside of the lid ( 2 ). 9. Swing-lid container according to claim 8, characterized in that the circumferential recess ( 24 ) is filled with the same soft-elastic plastic from which the circumferential insert ( 17 ) in the groove ( 13 ) is made. 10. Swing-lid container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container base body ( 1 ) is provided on its underside with feet ( 10 ) or a foot surface made of soft elastic plastic. 11. Swing-lid container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is manufactured using two-component injection molding technology. 12. Swing-lid container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a closable lid compartment ( 27 ) accessible from the outside is formed in the lid ( 2 ). 13. Swing-lid container according to claim 12, characterized in that the lid compartment ( 12 ) has a flap ( 28 ) which closes substantially flush with the surface of the lid ( 2 ). 14. Swing-lid container according to claim 13, characterized in that the flap ( 28 ) is attached to the lid ( 2 ) via a hinge ( 32 ). 15. Swing-lid container according to claim 14, characterized in that the flap ( 28 ) can be fixed in the closed position by means of a latching locking element ( 30 ).