A RECLOSABLE CONTAINER

A reclosable container includes a container body made of a cellulosic material and at least one closing formation including a first closure element and a second closure element engageable with each other to keep the container in a closed configuration and disengageable from each other to open the container, wherein at least one of the first closure element and second closure element is made of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, in particular to containers for household products.

The invention was developed in particular in view of its application to containers for laundry and dishwasher detergents, in particular detergent pods.

PRIOR ART

Nowadays, reclosable containers for household products are almost entirely made of plastics (mono- or poly-coupled, flexible or rigid), which are produced from fossil resources and therefore have a significant energy and environmental impact both for their production and their recycling. The energy and environmental impact is not reduced even when recyclable plastics are used.

Therefore, there is a strong need of containers for household products that are recyclable in the paper chain.

However, containers made from paper materials have limitations regarding re-closable closures. In fact, paper materials, whether cellulose pulp, paper, or cardboard, do not have the same elasticity as plastics, and re-closable closures made from these materials cannot achieve the same functions as those achieved using plastic material. In particular, opening and closing operations tend to bend and wear out the closure elements, which after a short time are no longer capable to ensure an effective closure.

Additionally, if the containers are entirely made from paper materials it is difficult to ensure compliance with child-proof standards, such as UNI EN ISO 8317: 2005 standard “Child-resistant packaging—Requirements and test procedures for reclosable packaging”.

Eco-compatible plastic solutions are known. For instance, WO2016/207849 discloses a thermoplastic composition made of cellulose and a hydrolysable or hydrosoluble polyhydroxylated polymer which is water-soluble.

A container made of this material would be recyclable in the paper chain as it would dissolve in water and the residue after dissolution consists of cellulose.

However, water-soluble plastic materials are not suitable for producing containers for household products such as detergent pods, detergent powders, and the like. In fact, containers of household products are often stored in kitchen and bathroom compartments and are often exposed to moisture and water, which would rapidly deteriorate the containers. Also, the user may grasp such containers with wet hands, which would leave sticky residues on the hands of the user and would deteriorate the parts of the containers which have been in contact with water.

Additionally, water-soluble plastic materials have a plastic-like appearance, which may confuse the user about the correct way of conferring to the recycling waste collection. In fact, containers made of water-soluble plastic materials must not be disposed of in the plastic chain as they would pollute the plastic recycling chain, contrary to a first and immediate evaluation that could lead the user to a disposal as plastic.

Furthermore, water-soluble plastic materials are expensive and would substantially increase the packaging costs as compared to the costs of paper packaging.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an eco-sustainable container for household products which overcomes the problems of the prior art.

More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a container that is entirely recyclable in the paper chain and has an appearance and a tactility that spontaneously induces the consumer to the correct option of conferring.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a container which is totally recyclable in the paper chain and which complies with the child-proof standards for reclosable containers.

In accordance with the present invention, these objects are achieved by a container according to claim1.

Preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The claims form an integral part of the technical disclosure provided here in relation to the invention.

It should be appreciated that the attached drawings are schematic and various figures may not be represented in the same scale. Also, in various figures some elements may not be shown to better show other elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1-16show seven different embodiments of a reclosable container10.

The reclosable container10comprises a container body12and at least one closing formation including a first closure element and a second closure element, engageable with each other to keep the container in a closed configuration and disengageable from each other to open the container.

In the seven different embodiments of the reclosable containers10shown in the figures the container bodies12and the closing formations have different shapes and structure. In all the embodiments that will be described below, the container body12is made of a cellulosic material and the least one of said first closure element and second closure element is made of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material.

The term “cellulosic material” indicates a material primarily or completely made of cellulose, such as, paper, cardboard, cellulose pulp, and the like.

The container body12is entirely recyclable in the paper chain.

The definition “hydrosoluble thermoplastic material” indicates a material suitable to be submitted to common methods of heat forming, or thermoforming, of thermoplastic materials, and which dissolves in the presence of water. An example of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material is disclosed in WO2016207849A1 which relates to a material formed by a combination of cellulose with a thermoplastic material comprising a hydrolysable or hydrosoluble polyhydroxylated polymer. The hydrosoluble thermoplastic material disclosed in WO2016207849A1 is marketed under the trade name “PolyPaper” by NextMaterials Srl, Milano, Italy. A remarkable feature of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material according to WO2016207849A1 is that it is entirely recyclable in the paper chain. Therefore, a container including a container body12of cellulose material and one or more closure elements made of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material is recyclable in the paper chain without the need of separating the closure elements of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material from the container body of cellulose material.

In various possible embodiments, the container body12has an aperture14and a movable cover16of cellulosic material removably applied to the aperture14and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. As it will be described more in detail in the following, said first closure element and second closure element are provided, respectively, on said container body12and movable cover16.

In possible embodiments, at least one of said closure elements of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material may be provided as a separate element fixed by water-sealing or by glue either said container body12or movable cover16. Water-sealing is a property of “Polypaper” which, having a PVOH matrix, partially melts in contact with water and can be bonded to cellulose-based materials.

With reference toFIGS.1and2, the container body12comprises a body bottom wall18, a pair of body front walls20and a pair of body side walls22.

The movable cover16comprises a cover top wall24hinged to the container body12along a hinge line26extending along a side of the cover top wall24and along a top side of one of said body front walls20of the container body12. The movable cover16may comprise a pair of cover sides28and a cover front wall30which, in the closed configuration of the reclosable container10, are in contact with respective portions of the body side walls22and to the body front wall20opposite to the hinge line26.

The reclosable container10comprises a pair of closing formations32. Each closing formation32includes a first closure element34made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and a second closure element consisting of a through hole36formed on a respective body side wall22.

The first closure element34comprises an engagement button38set at a distal end of an arm40fixed to an inner surface of a respective cover side28.

In the closed configuration of the reclosable container10, each of said engagement buttons38snap engages into a respective through hole36and retains the cover16to the container body12. A user may release the cover16from the container body12by pressing inwardly on said engagement buttons38.

With reference toFIGS.3and4, the container body12comprises a body bottom wall18, a pair of body front walls20and a pair of body side walls22. The top edges of the front walls20and side walls22define an aperture14. In this embodiment the movable cover16is detachable from the container body12and comprises a cover top wall24, at least one pair of cover sides28, and a pair of cover front walls30.

The reclosable container10ofFIGS.3and4comprises a pair of closing formations32each including a first closure element formed by an engagement tooth44made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and a second closure element consisting of a through slot42formed on a respective body side wall22. The engagement teeth44are fixed to respective cover sides28, e.g. by water sealing or by glue. In the closed configuration of the reclosable container10each of the engagement teeth44snap engages into a respective through slot42and retains the cover16to the container body12. A user may release the movable cover16from the container body12by pressing inwardly on said engagement teeth44.

With reference toFIGS.5and6, the container body12comprises a body bottom wall18, a pair of body front walls20and a pair of body side walls22, defining an aperture14. In this embodiment, the movable cover16has a tubular shape elongated along a longitudinal axis A and is detachable from the container body12. The movable cover16comprises a cover top wall24, a cover bottom wall46and a pair of cover sides28. The movable cover16is slidable on the container body12along the longitudinal direction A.

The reclosable container10ofFIGS.5and6comprises a pair of closing formations32, each including a first closure element formed by an engagement button34made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and a second closure element consisting of a through hole36formed on a respective cover side wall28. The engagement buttons34are fixed, e.g. by water sealing or by glue, to outer surfaces of respective body side walls20.

In the closed configuration of the reclosable container10ofFIGS.5and6each of the engagement buttons34snap engages into a respective through hole36and retains the movable cover16to the container body12. A user may release the movable cover16from the container body12by pressing inwardly on the engagement buttons34and by sliding the movable cover16with respect to the container body12in the longitudinal direction A.

With reference toFIGS.7-9, the container body12has a bucket-like shape and comprises a body lateral wall48and a body top wall50in which an aperture14is formed. A movable cover16is detachable from the container body12and comprises a cover top wall24which closes the aperture14when the movable cover16is applied to the body top wall50.

The reclosable container10comprises a pair of closing formations32, each including a first closure element formed by a flexible engagement tab52made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and a second closure element consisting of a through slot54formed in said cover top wall24.

Each flexible engagement tab52is fixed to an outer surface of the body top wall50and projects upwardly from said outer surface.

In the closed configuration of the reclosable container10each of the flexible engagement tabs52extends through the respective through slot54. As shown inFIG.8, in the closed configuration a lateral portion of each flexible engagement tab52is askew with respect to the respective through slot54and retains the movable cover16to the container body12. A user may release the movable cover16from the container body12by deforming the lateral portions of the flexible engagement tabs52so as to align the flexible engagement tabs to the respective through slots54, and by moving the movable cover16upwardly.

In the embodiment ofFIGS.7-9, the body lateral wall48has an open top edge and the body top wall50has an annular flat surface56in which the aperture14is formed. The flexible engagement tabs52are fixed to the annular flat surface56. The body top wall50has a flank portion extending upwardly from the annular flat surface56and fixed to an upper portion of the body lateral wall48and has a cover side wall which in the closed configuration is in contact with an inner surface of the flank portion of the body top wall50. The cover top wall24of the movable cover16is recessed with respect to an outer edge of the movable cover16, and in the closed configuration abuts on the annular flat surface56of the body top wall50.

With reference toFIGS.10and11, the container body12comprises a body bottom wall18, a pair of body front walls20and a pair of body side walls22defining an aperture14. The movable cover16is hinged to the container body12along a hinge line26extending along a top side of one of said front walls20of the container body12. The movable cover16comprises a cover top wall24, a pair of cover sides28and a cover front wall30opposite to the hinge line26. The reclosable container10comprises a pair of closing formations32, each including a first closure element formed by an engagement tooth44and a second closure element formed by a U-shaped bridge60, both made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material,

The engagement teeth44are fixed to the cover front side30and the U-shaped bridges60are fixed to the body front wall20. In the closed configuration of the reclosable container10each the engagement teeth44snap engages into respective U-shaped bridges60and retains the cover16to the container body12. A user may release the movable cover16from the container body12by pressing inwardly on the engagement teeth44and by simultaneously lifting the movable cover16.

With reference toFIGS.12-14, the container body12comprises a body top wall50in which an aperture14is formed. The reclosable container10comprises a movable cover16including a flat panel64of cellulosic material slidable on the body top wall50along a longitudinal direction A.

The reclosable container10comprises a first closure element formed by a plate70of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material fixed at an end of the flat panel64and having a pair of flexible teeth72.

The reclosable container10comprises a second closure element including a pair of straight guide sections66made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and fixed to an outer surface of the body top wall50. The straight guide sections66are parallel to said longitudinal direction A and extend outside of the aperture14. The straight guide sections66may be joined at respective ends by a transverse element68. The flat panel64is slidably movable between the straight guide sections66along the longitudinal direction A between an open position and a closed position, and vice versa.

The flexible teeth72of the plate70engage respective holes74formed in end portions of the straight guide sections66in the closed position of the flat panel64. A user may release the movable cover16from the container body12by pressing inwardly on the flexible teeth72and simultaneously sliding the movable cover16towards the open position.

With reference toFIGS.15and16, the container body12may be formed by a flexible bag76of cellulosic material. In this embodiment the closing formation32comprises a first elongated closure element78and a second elongated closure element80made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material fixed to opposite walls of the flexible bag76and having respectively a slot and a ridge mutually engageable so as to form a zip device.

In all the previously disclosed embodiments, the closing formations32of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material are only a small fraction of the total surface of the container and are therefore less prone to degradation when the container is exposed to water or moisture as compared to a container entirely made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material. The closing formations necessitate small quantities of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and therefore do not increase in a substantial way the cost of the container. Also, the closing formations may ensure compliance with child-proof closure standards without compromising the recyclability of the containers in the paper chain. Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments can be widely varied with respect to those described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.