EP0017276B1

EP0017276B1 - Package

Info

Publication number: EP0017276B1
Application number: EP80200237A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mr. Thomas Jean Haasbroek
Original assignee: Wavin BV
Current assignee: Wavin BV
Priority date: 1979-03-14
Filing date: 1980-03-13
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: ATE8764T1; EP0017276A1; DE3068765D1; DK111380A; NL7902037A

Abstract

Package comprising a first (1) and a second (2) container which snappingly engage each other. The first container (1) is provided with a circumferential ledge (8) and the second container (2) with a part 16 having an inwardly directed lip 17 snappingly engaging the lower edge (19) of ledge 8.

Description

The invention relates to a package, comprising a first container and a second container, and provided with first means such that an edge part of the second container interacts with an edge part of the first container when the first and the second container are positioned onto each other with the free openings directed to each other, while, if the first and the second containers are nested into each other the first and the second containers interact by means of second means, both of said containers being provided with a flat peripheral support edge, extending outside the upper side of the wall of said containers, the outer circumference of the flat support edge of the second container comprising an outwardly upstanding circumferential wall part and the outer circumferences of the flat peripheral support edge being provided with first snap-fit means.
A package of this type is known from US-A-3 326 408.
This package presents the disadvantage that the first snap-fit means do not always provide a required snap-fit-connection when the two containers are superposed onto each other with the free openings of the two containers towards each other, and on the other hand the two containers nested in each other can be easily separated from each other. This easy separation of the nested containers is particularly disadvantageous as the two containers cannot be reliably used for packing one compound in the first container and a second compound in the second container being closed by a foil.
The invention now provides a package comprising a first and a second container which can be reliably connected with each other by snap-fit means both in case of using the two containers in a nested condition and in the superposed condition.
This aim is attained in that the first snap-fit means comprise a downwardly curved lip which snappingly engages a projection ledge provided at the circumference of the support edge of the first container and for the second snap-fit means for a snap-fit-connection when nesting the first and the second container into each other whilst the free upper edges of said containers rest against each other, the inner diameter of the uppermost side of the first container is smaller than the outer diameter of the second container at the location of a transition edge joining the wall and the uppermost portion of the second container.
This package is particularly advantageous as soon as a part of the contents of a package comprising two superposed containers with the openings to each other, for example biscuits, has been removed after having opened the respective package, the upper container may be sealingly re-united with the lower container, by a snapping interaction of the respective edge parts of the two containers, so that the remaining contents of the said package is protected against any outside hampering influence.
An important advance of a nested first and other container is that the lower container may be filled up to a certain level with one component, preferably a dry product, whereafter the upper container is nested into the lower container, said upper container then being filled with another additional product. The assembly so obtained may then be closed off by means of a covering foil, such as e.g. an aluminium foil.
Such a package is very appropriate when for instance soup products have to be delivered with matching meat substances. The meat substances may then for instance be packaged in the lower container, and the soup in the upper container, thus causing a final product to be delivered to the consumer, offering an optimum flavour.
Another use of this package is for packing dyes in the first container and blending or diluting agents in the other container nested in the first container. Other possibilities are adhesive products, the resin being in the first container and the catalyst in the other container nested into the first container.
The invention will be illustrated with respect to an embodiment in the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a package in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a partial cross-section of a package according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows a package wherein the containers have been nested into one another and
Figure 4 shows a lateral view of a package as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows a package, comprising a lower or first container 1 and an upper or second container 2. A first portion 4 of the lower container 1 widens from the bottom 3 upwards in a tapering manner and merges into a flat circumferential edge 5, provided inside the lower or first container 1. Subsequently a second portion 6 of the first container 1 continues its upwards tapering. Said second portion 6 is bent outwardly while forming a flat peripheral edge 7, which in turn supports a ledge 8 being curved towards the bottom.
The flat peripheral edge 7 may be provided with a foil 10 consisting for example of plastics or of aluminium in order to seal off the materials or foodstuffs within the lower container.
The upper container 2 comprises a wall part 12, which extends upwardly from the bottom 11 of the upper container 2, in a tapering widening manner, while forming a flat transition edge 13 of said second container, a wall part 14 following said flat transition edge 13, and extending inwardly in a tapering manner towards the free end of the upper or second container 2. Said wall part 14 comprises an outwardly directed flat peripheral edge 15, which merges into a cylindrical wall part 16 being provided with an inwardly curved part or lip 17 being able to snappingly interact with the lowermost edge 19 of the ledge 8.
The inwardly curved portion or lip 17 is preferably provided with an outwardly directed peripheral edge 20, so as to protect the relatively thin-walled package against damages. Said peripheral edge 20 simultaneously offers the additional possibility to easily remove the inwardly directed lip 17 of the ledge 8, so as to open the package.
Although the drawing shows that the wall portion 16 is cylindrical, said wall portion need not necessarily have said shape, as, instead of the latter, ledge 8 may also be cylindrical, whilst in that case wall portion 16 tapers inwardly.
The flat edge 15 may be provided with a covering foil, which for example consists of aluminium or plastics and which serves for sealing off the materials or foodstuffs in the second container 2.
When transporting the lower and upper containers to the factory which used the respective packages for filling them, space between the second or upper containers 2 and lower or first containers 1 can be saved, by mutually nesting them into one another.
It is observed that the wall portion 4 of the lower or first container 1 e.g. encloses an angle of 3° with the perpendicular which explains the tapering extension of said portion 4.
The wall portion 12 of the upper or second container encloses an angle of, for example, 8° with the perpendicular.
Obviously the abovedescribed values only represent an example of many possibilities, so that the scope of the present invention is not limited to them.
It should be noted that a good snapping interaction between the first and the second container is improved in consequence of the manner in which the edge 7 with the ledge 8 and the lowermost edge 19 have been thickened with. respect to other parts of the respective containers.
The outer diameter of the upper or second container 2 is at the location of the transition edge 13, greater than the inner diameter of the lower or first container, at the location of the edge 9, thus causing a snapping connection between the two containers, when nesting the second container 2 into the first container 1.
The containers 1 and 2 consist of a thermosetting material, such as polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyester or polyolefin, and in particular of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Claims

1. A package, comprising a first container (1) and a second container (2) and provided with first means (8, 16, 17) such that an edge part of the second container (2) interacts with an edge part of the first container (1) when the first (1) and the second (2) container are positioned onto each other with the free openings directed to each other, while, if the first (1) and the second (2) containers are nested into each other the first (1) and the second (2) containers interact by means of second means, both of said containers (1, 2) being provided with a flat peripheral support edge (7, 15) extending outside the upper side (9, 22) of the wall (6, 14) of said containers, the outer circumference of the flat support edge (15) of the second container (2) comprising an outwardly upstanding circumferential wall part and the outer circumferences of the flat peripheral support edge (7, 15) being provided with first snap-fit-means (8, 16), characterized in that the first snap-fit means comprise a downwardly curved lip (17) which snappingly engages a projecting ledge (8) provided at the circumference of the support edge (7) of the first container and for second snap-fit means for a snap-fit-connection when nesting the first (1) and the second (2) container into each other whilst the free upper edges of said containers rest against each other, the inner diameter of the uppermost side (9) of the first container (1) is smaller than the outer diameter of the second container (2) at the location of a transition edge (13) between a lower wall portion (12) and an upper wall portion (14) of the second container, which upper wall portion (14) tapers inwardly towards the free upper side.

2. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that an inner circumferential edge (5) is provided at the location of the transition between a lower wall portion (4) and an upper wall portion (6) of the first container (1).

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall of the first container (1) comprises an upper inwardly tapering portion (6).

4. A package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two containers (1, 2) have been nested into each other, the upper open side of the package being sealed off by a covering layer (10) supported by said flat peripheral support edge (15).