Flip-top container with improved resistance against breakage at the hinge connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017355484-A1
Application number	US-201515524179-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 3, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Dec 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a container ( 1 ) comprising a main part and a lid ( 8 )which is rotationally moveable around a folding line ( 21 ) in a rear panel ( 5 ) of the container ( 1 ). Parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts ( 31 ) are provided at or near a central part of the folding line ( 21 ), the transverse cuts ( 31 ) extending substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line. An end cut ( 32 ) may be arranged near but at a distance from each end of the folding line ( 21 ), the end cuts ( 32 ) going through the thickness of the rear panel ( 5 ), and the folding line ( 21 ) being perforated between the end cuts ( 32 ) and the end of the folding line ( 21 ) adjacent to the side panels ( 4 ). The end cuts ( 32 ) may be in the form of two linear and coherent sub-cuts arranged non-perpendicular to the folding line ( 21 ).

First claim

1 . Container comprising:
a main part comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, two side panels and a rear panel; a lid which is rotationally moveable around a folding line in the rear panel between a closing position where the lid closes the container, and an open position where an open end of the main part of the container is not covered by the lid; and at least two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts are provided at or near a central part of the folding line, the transverse cuts perforating the rear panel through the thickness, and the transverse cuts extending substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line.

2 . Container according to claim 1 , wherein embossing lines connect the ends of the transverse cuts.

3 . Container according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the transverse cuts is two.

4 . Container according to claim 1 , wherein an end cut is provided near but at a distance from each end of the folding line, the end cuts going through the thickness of the rear panel, and the folding line being perforated between the end cuts and the end of the folding line adjacent to the side panels.

5 . Container according to claim 4 , wherein each of the end cuts extends substantially symmetrically across the folding line.

6 . Container according to claim 4 , wherein each of the end cuts is provided in the form of two linear and coherent sub-cuts arranged non-perpendicular to the folding line.

7 . Container according to claim 6 , wherein the angle between the coherent sub-cuts is between 90° and 175°.

8 . Container according to claim 1 , wherein the folding line comprises a row of discontinuous perforations extending along the folding line.

9 . Container according to claim 1 , comprising a top panel, in which container the front panel and the two side panels each comprises a division line, the division lines in the side panels extend from the rear panel to the front panel, and the division line in the front panel extends between and connects the two division lines in the side panels, thereby defining the lid, the lid comprising the top panel and upper sections of the front panel and of the side panels, respectively, above the division lines.

10 . Container according to claim 9 , wherein the division lines are perforation lines each comprising a row of perforations which are to be broken to enable opening of the lid.

11 . Container according to claim 10 , wherein:
the perforation line in the front panel is a row of perforations arranged along a line or curve which forms an edge of the lid after the perforations have been broken; each of the perforation lines in the side panels is a row of perforations each comprising two coherent first and second cuts with a blunt angle there between, these perforations being arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions, where each tooth-shaped region is delimited by a first cut and a second cut, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations; and the first cuts are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line.

12 . Container according to claim 9 , wherein:
the division line extends downwardly sloping from the rear panel in the side panels and horizontally in at least a part of the front panel; the front panel further comprises an inner front part extending above the division line in the front panel without being attached to the front panel above the division line; each side panel further comprises an inner side part extending above the division line in the side panel without being attached to the side panel above the division line, the upper margin of each of the inner side parts extending downwardly sloping towards the rear panel; the inner front part comprises a flap extending downwardly from an upper margin of the inner front part and abuting an inner surface of the section of the front panel above the division line when the lid is in the position where it closes the container.

13 . Container according to claim 1 , wherein the container contains at least one pouch stored inside the container, which pouch is accessible after opening the lid.

14 . A method of producing a container according to comprising a main part comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, two side panels and a rear panel, a lid which is rotationally moveable around a folding line in the rear panel between a closing position where the lid closes the container, and an open position where an open end of the main part of the container is not covered by the lid, and at least two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts are provided at or near a central part of the folding line, the transverse cuts perforating the rear panel through the thickness, and the transverse cuts extending substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line, the method comprising: folding the panels from one piece of material or joining separate sheets of material.

15 . A method for storing of a food product comprising placing food in a container comprising a main part comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, two side panels and a rear panel, a lid which is rotationally moveable around a folding line in the rear panel between a closing position where the lid closes the container, and an open position where an open end of the main part of the container is not covered by the lid, and at least two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts are provided at or near a central part of the folding line, the transverse cuts perforating the rear panel through the thickness, and the transverse cuts extending substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Eckert Sebastian
• Schraml Rafael
• Vierling Marco
• Zelosko Martin

Classifications

• B65D77/02 Primary

  Wrapped articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers · CPC title

• B65D5/5425

  and defining after rupture a lid hinged to the upper edge of the container body · CPC title

• B65D5/4266 Primary

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title

• B65D5/543 Primary

  the container being provided with an internal frame or the like for maintaining the lid in the closed position by friction · CPC title

• B65B43/10

  by folding the material · CPC title