GB2315263A

GB2315263A - Sealing closure mountable on packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2315263A
Application number: GB9614892A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josephine Richards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-16
Filing date: 1996-07-16
Publication date: 1998-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-16
Also published as: GB9614892D0; GB2315263B

Abstract

A packaging closure comprises a closable lid or seal which is adapted to be applied to a package. Preferably the closure comprises a base 2 with at least one aperture 4, a cover 6 for opening/closing the aperture and means for fastening the closure to a package. The fastening means may comprise a double-sided adhesive tape, one side the tape being fixed to the underside of the base and the other side covered by a peelable protective layer which is removable using pull tab 8. The cover may be integral with the base, snap-engageable, using corresponding indentations on the base 16a and cover 16b or slide-engageable (Fig's 10 and 11). Preferably, once the closure is fixed to the packaging , the packaging can be opened by cutting or tearing along perforations 10. Various shapes of closure are embraced (eg Fig's 1, 5 and 7). The cover may be cup-shaped (Fig 6) and provided with volumetric gradations (30, Fig 6).

Description

DESCRIPTION PACKAGING CLOSURE/SEAL The present invention relates to a closure/sealing device for assisting the pouring and resealing between use of loose-packed, free-flowing products which are contained in packages not fitted by the manufacturer/ supplier with any suitable such device.

The majority of conventional packaging for a whole variety of products ranging from loose foodstuffs (eg.

Cereals, Pasta shapes, Rice, Sugar, etc.), domestic washing/cleaning products through to garden additives/chemicals, is of a type where resealing in an airtight condition by the user is difficult, if not impossible. This leads to the product becoming dry, stale or losing its effectiveness, once it has been opened initially by the user.

There are many types of flip-top lids currently available, but these are virtually never fitted by the manufacturer/packer on the loose-packed, free-flowing products of the type as described above. This might be because the manufacturer/packer does not want the expense of redesigning his packaging, or does not want the cost of the packaging to be disproportional to the product it is containing, or even because there is a vested interest in not prolonging the useful life of the product.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for application by the end user/consumer to facilitate pouring from and resealing of the packaging of products of the type described.

In accordance with the present invention, this objective is met by the provision of a low-cost, standalone, closable lid/seal device which is adapted to be applied to the product packaging by the consumer.

Preferably, the device is adapted to be fitted self-adhesively to the product packaging and would normally be provided with each new product purchase, either with the product itself or at the point of sale.

For example, the device could be placed between outer and inner packaging on such products as cereals or sugar, or could be attached in a small cellophane bag to products such as pasta shapes, which are normally sold in bags. Alternatively, the closable lid/seal device could be purchased independently of the product.

This has the advantage that it is not necessary for the manufacturer to redesign the packaging for the product, since the closable lid/seal device is attached to the product packaging by the end user/consumer of the product.

Preferably, the device comprises a base having at least one aperture, and a cover for selectively closing/opening the at least one aperture. This has the advantage that, once the device is applied to the product packaging, the packaging can be opened by either cutting a hole, or pushing out a pre-perforated section in the packaging through the aperture, and the hole thus formed can be resealed/closed by the cover.

In one embodiment the aperture forms a spout for pouring the product. The aperture optionally can be shaped to provide a pouring edge for the product and hence facilitate an even flow of the product from the package. Preferably the spout is formed integrally with the base and is raised from the surface of the base.

Preferably, the cover and the base are provided with means to form a snap-fit connection of the cover to the base. This has the advantage of improving the seal.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 of the drawings, each of which illustrates a respective packaging closure/seal constructed in accordance with different embodiments of the present invention.

Each of the illustrated embodiments of the closure/seal device comprises a base 2, at least one aperture 4 in the base 2, and a lid 6 which is provided for closing the aperture 4. Each closure/seal device is made of a semi-rigid plastics and is also provided with a fastening means (not illustrated) which comprises a piece or layer of double-sided adhesive tape. One surface of the adhesive tape is adhered to the reverse side, that is the opposite side to that illustrated in the drawings of the base 2. The other surface of the adhesive tape is covered by a protective backing tape (also not illustrated) having at least one tab 8 which projects from one edge of the base 2.

In order to adhere the closure/seal device to a surface of a package, the backing tape is peeled by the user from the adhesive tape by pulling on the tab 8, and the thus uncovered sticky side of the adhesive tape is pressed to the surface, hence fastening the closure/seal device to the surface. Once stuck to the packaging, the package is opened, to allow access to the product therein, by either cutting a hole 10, or pushing out a pre-perforated section 10 in the packaging.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, and 8 to 9, the lid 6 is integrally hinged to the base 2 and is thereby pivotally connected to the base 2.

The lid 6 is provided with a lip 12 which forms a part of the closure/sealing means of the device, and provides a push-fit connection with the inner bore 14 of the base 2. The lid 6 is releasably retained in the aperture 4 by a fastening means 16 between the lip 12 of the lid 6 and the inner bore 14 of the base 2. The fastening means 16 comprises a projection 16a on the surface of the bore 14 and a complementary indentation 16b in one edge of the lid 6. Items 16a and 16b thereby provide a snap-fit connection.

The fastening means 16 is provided with a raised or stepped portion (not illustrated) in the area of the indentation 16b to provide access for a user's finger to contact an undersurface of the lid 6 and thereby flip open the lid 6. Alternatively, the bore 14 is provided with a recess (not illustrated) in the area of the projection 16a, which provides access for a user's finger to the undersurface of the lid 6 to flip open the lid 6.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the closure/seal device is substantially rectangular and the aperture 4 is likewise substantially rectangular. The lid 6 is hinged to one side 20 of the bore 14. The embodiment of Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. 1 in that the design of the closure/seal is substantially circular with a substantially circular aperture 4. The lid 6 is hinged to an edge 22 of the bore 14. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the device is substantially square with a substantially square aperture 4, the lid 6 being hinged to one side 24 of the bore 14. The embodiment of Fig.

4 only differs from that illustrated in Fig. 1 in that the lid 6 is hinged to a different side 26 on the edge of the bore 14.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the device is substantially oval in shape. The lid 6 is hinged as illustrated in the Figure, the aperture 4 thus formed having a tapered edge 28 which provides a pouring lip which helps funnel the contents of the package when poured through the aperture.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 differs from that of Fig.

2 in that the lid 6 is not hinged to the base, but is a detachable lid 6' which can be used as a measuring device. The lid 6' is substantially cup-shaped and is marked at various points 30 to assist measurement.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the lid 6 is hinged to a raised spout 32.

In the embodiments of Figs. 8 and 9, the adhesive on the reverse side of the base 2 is extended, as a plurality of strips 36, beyond the outer perimeter of the base 2. In this instance, the now exposed surface 34 of the strips 36, of the double sided tape facing the base is also covered by a protecting backing tape which remains in position when the backing tape is removed from the opposite side of the adhesive tape.

The embodiment of Fig. 8 is particularly useful as a closure/sealing device for a rectangular package, wherein the base 2 can be adhered to one end of the package and the strips 36 folded around and adhered to the adjacent edges of the package.

The embodiment of Fig. 9 is particularly useful as a closure/seal for a tubular package, wherein the base can be adhered to one end surface of the package and the extensions 36 of the adhesive strip folded over and adhered to the adjacent periphery of the tubular packaging.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the lid 6 is not hinged to the base 2, but is slidably mounted in the base 2 in order to open and close the aperture 4. The edges 42, 44 of the lid 6 are slidably mounted in a groove 38 provided in the surface of the bore 14. The end 46 of the base is stepped to provide access for the lid 6 in its mounting. The lid 6 has an indentation 40 for a user's finger to facilitate the opening of the closure/seal device by pushing the lid 6 along its mounting. The lid 6 is retained on the base by the under surface of the lid 6 beneath the indentation 40 which projects below the level of the stepped region 46.

The present invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, the adhesion of the base to a package has been described as being provided by double-sided adhesive tape, but the adhesion could be provided by other fastening means such as glue. The aperture has been described as having the same shape as the base, but the aperture could, for example, be substantially oval, whilst the external periphery of the base could be substantially rectangular.

The closure/seal device has been described as being formed from semi-rigid plastics, but could be made from any suitable material, for example, flexible plastics.

Claims

1. A packaging closure/seal comprising a lowcost, stand-alone, closable lid/seal device which is adapted to be applied to the product packaging by a user/consumer.

2. A packaging closure/seal according to claim 1, wherein the closable lid/seal device is adapted to be fitted self-adhesively to the product packaging.

3. A packaging closure/seal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the closable lid/seal device comprises a base having at least one aperture, and a cover for selectively closing/opening the aperture.

4. A packaging closure/seal according to claim 3, wherein a spout is integrally formed on the base.

5. A packaging closure/seal according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cover is detachable from the base, is substantially cup-shaped, and is provided with markings for indicating the volume/weight of a product placed in the cover.

6. A packaging closure/seal according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the cover and the base are provided with means to form a snap-fit connection of the cover to the base.

7. A packaging closure/seal according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the cover is slidably mounted on the base.

8. A packaging closure/seal according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the base is adapted to be fitted self-adhesively to a package by fastening means provided on one surface of the base.

9. A packaging closure/seal according to claim 8, wherein the fastening means is a double-sided adhesive tape, one surface of the adhesive tape being adhered to said surface of the base, and the other surface of the adhesive tape being covered by a peelable protective backing tape.

10. A packaging closure/seal according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the fastening means is flexible and protrudes from the base.

11.. A packaging closure/seal constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.