Abstract:
In a container for solid, paste-like and flowable products, particularly for containing food products, comprising a container bottom part for containing the products, a container lid provided at its top with a foil which is removable to facilitate removal of the container lid, is supported on a flange of the container bottom part, which flange has an upwardly projecting portion extending around the container opening to which the container lid is removably connected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a container for solid, paste-like, particulate and flowable products, particularly for food products, comprising a container bottom part for containing the products and a top part in the form of a container lid which includes a removable foil for opening the container closed by the container lid. 
   Such containers, which consist generally of plastic material and which are generally manufactured by injection molding, are commercially available for various applications and in various sizes. They are used in many shapes for all kinds of products, which are to be packaged hygienically, that is, in a sterilized fashion. Products, which are offered packaged in such containers in food stores are, for example, all types of milk products, meat and sausage products, but also vegetable and fruit products and prepared meals in refrigerated and non-refrigerated form. 
   Since such containers are mass-produced and are to contain the products referred to above in a hygienically, sterilized and air-tight fashion, their manufacture must be inexpensive to be acceptable in the marketplace, that is, to be used by the producers of the products and acceptable to the consumers. Furthermore, such containers have to satisfy various legal regulations concerning information as to the content, the composition of the product, the energy content of the product as well as information regarding manufacturing and expiration data. In certain countries, also information concerning compatibility of the product in the container etc. must be provided. 
   For this reason, such containers are usually provided with separate labels, which exhibit such information and other parameters which concern the product and are of interest to the consumer. Often, the name of the manufacturer and special trademarks are shown on the labels and the product contained within is depicted on the label, for example, the sausage product, the cheese product, a liver pate´ or similar products. 
   The separate labels have the disadvantage that the production costs are increased since, after the product has been filled into the container and the container has been closed, the label has to be applied to the container, the container lid, or to the container as well as to the container lid. 
   Another serious problem with such containers is the fact that upon opening of the container by removing of the lid, which is formed in the well-known yogurt and cottage cheese containers for example by an aluminum foil, the lid is not released at its edge areas but it is ripped so that the container can no longer be closed, not even provisionally, for storing any product remaining in the container. In another closure of such containers wherein an imprinted foil has been applied to the lid thereof, the foil may separate from the container lid when it is tried to open the lid while the connection between the container lid and the container remains intact that is the container cannot be opened in the way it is intended to be opened. 
   A third type of a container is known wherein, during the manufacture of the container lid in accordance with the method of the so-called “immobilized label” (IML), the foil, which forms the outer surface of the container lid is joined to the lid already in the injection molding tool and an outer edge area of the foil, which radially projects over the container lid, is connected to the container. But also, this type of container has the disadvantage that the foil area which is not reinforced at its outer circumference is ripped off during opening of the container in an uncontrolled manner so that, in the end, the container can finally be opened only by using some tool such as scissors or a knife. Of course, such a container lid cannot again be properly mounted so as to seal the container, not even provisionally, to protect any food still left in the container. Another disadvantage resides in the fact that, upon opening such a container, often spillage occurs whereby the consumers or users themselves are soiled. 
   It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a container of the type described above, which however does not have the disadvantages mentioned, that is, which is easy to open and, during opening of the container, the foil is not ripped off and is not damaged by the removal of the container lid, or, respectively, the top part of the container from the bottom part of the container, so that the lid can still be used for closing the container when, upon first opening the container, the product is not completely removed. The container should also be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and be usable for various packaging purposes. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a container for solid, paste-like and flowable products, particularly for containing food products, comprising a container bottom part for containing the products, a container lid provided at its top with a foil which is removable to facilitate removal of the container lid is supported on a flange of the container bottom part, which flange has an upwardly projecting portion extending around the opening of the container bottom part to which the container lid is removably connected. 
   The container according to the invention has the advantage that the top part of the container, which forms the container lid and which is provided with a foil that can be cleanly removed from the projecting rim of the bottom part of the container and only the projecting rim form the mounting area between the top part of the container and the bottom part of the container. The foil may be so dimensioned that, depending on the type of material of which the container bottom and top parts and the foil mounted on the container top part consist, the ripping or rolling off of the foil during opening of the container is avoided and also rupture of the container lid during opening of the container, which would render the container lid useless, is avoided by a loosening of the jointure between container bottom and top parts. The area of jointure between the bottom and top parts of the container does not require any particular tools because of the effective design of the connection structure, so that the container can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. 
   In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rim is tongue-shaped in cross-section for providing a groove-and-tongue-like joint. The rim, which is used for establishing the connection with the container top part, is formed by the upper surface of the tongue, which extends to a plane coinciding with the container lid top surface. In this way, the surface area of the tongue provides the joint area with the container lid. 
   In another advantageous embodiment, the container bottom part is provided in the area of its opening with a flange-like circumferential first collar on which the rim, or respectively, the tongue mentioned above are formed. With this embodiment, the container lid may be supported on the flange-like first collar, which provides for the connection with the bottom part by way of the rim or, respectively, the tongue. 
   Depending on the form of the container which can be as desired, it may be advantageous if the first collar is so formed that it projects outwardly from the container bottom part at a right angle. In this way, support of the container lid on the lower container part is provided in simple manner. 
   In order to increase the form stability of the container, which generally consists of a thin plastic wall, the lower container part includes a second collar which is disposed at the outer end of the first collar and which extends essentially at a right angle therefrom. With this arrangement, containers filled with products can easily be stacked on top of one another, for example, on display shelves in food stores, etc . . . without the containers sliding off one another. Furthermore, the second collar provides for an additional guide structure for the container lid when it is inserted into the opening formed by the first and second collars for the connection of the container lid with the lower container part. As a result, for the connection between the upper container part and the lower container part, no particular fixing measures are needed. 
   In still another embodiment of the invention the second collar includes a cut-out extending down to the first collar through which access is provided for a user to permit grasping, with the fingers, the container lid for removing it from the lower container part. 
   Generally, the container lid is a flat element, but depending on the product to be contained in the container, the container lid may have a different shape. 
   In order to provide on the container lid a jointure surface corresponding to that of the lower container part the container lid is provided near its outer edge area with a circumferential recess for receiving a fitting circumferential projection of the flange of the lower container part so that the recess forms a guide means receiving the projection on the collar of the lower container part. The projection on the collar of the lower container part is in the form of a tongue and the recess in the container lid is in the form of a groove for forming a groove and tongue joint wherein the groove of the container lid receives the tongue of the lower container part for guided joining of the lower container part and the container lid. Such guidance also facilitates re-closing the container after it has been opened and the product contained in the container has not been fully removed. 
   In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the container, the bottom, that is the inner end wall of the recess in the container lid is formed only by a foil disposed on top of the container lid so that the connection between the container lid and the lower container part is formed between the foil of the container lid and the material of the rim of the lower container part which is usually the same as the material of which the lower container part consists. With the foil which at the container lid forms the connecting element or connecting area, upon opening of the container, that is, upon removal of the container lid, the foil is removed, in a well-defined manner, from the connecting area with the lower container part without any damage to the upper or, relatively lower container parts. 
   The provision of a circumferential web directed facing the lower container part which forms actually an extension of the container lid adjacent the lower container part improves the jointure of the container lid with the lower container part. 
   In order to provide for a adaptation of the foil on the container lid toward the rim when the foil is connected to the lower container part, it is advantageous if the upper container part extends beyond the recess toward the rim, and the recess is only interrupted by the circumferential depression in the container lid which is in the form of a groove. 
   Such an extension that is the extension of the circumferential rim beyond the recess, may further be provided with notches in the outer area of the container top, which form a weakened structure permitting bending. In this way, the strip can be easily bend when grasped by the user between finger and thumb for opening, that is removing the upper container part. Bending occurs along the notches so that the likelihood of the foil being ripped off the upper container part, that is, the container lid is reduced. 
   Finally, the foil is so arranged that, in the area of the cut-outs, it projects beyond the edge of the container lid so as to form a gripping edge which can be easily grasped by the user and pulled upwardly and by bending the container lid along the grooves, can be pulled in the opening direction of the container lid whereby the container lid is disconnected from the lower container part. 
   The connection between the upper container part and the container lid may be provided for in any suitable manner taking into consideration however, the necessary hygiene, sterility, sealing, moisture and air admission. It is particularly advantageous to join the container lid to the lower container part by melt-welding since a hygienic air-and-moisture-tight and sterile connection can be established in this way in a simple manner. 
   The invention will be described below in greater detail on the basis of the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a lower container part, 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the container lid, 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the lower container part showing a cutout for accommodating a grasping flap, which is not shown, 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the container lid, 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the lower container part, 
       FIG. 6  shows a detail of the closing area of the container lid and the lower container part in an enlarged representation, 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the lower container part, similar to that of  FIG. 6 , but without the container lid, 
       FIG. 8   a  is a detail view of an edge area of the container lid showing a recesses area, and 
       FIG. 8   b  shows the area of  FIG. 8   a  in a cross-sectional view. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   First, reference is made to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , which show the lower part  11  of the container  10 . The container  10  is intended to receive solid, paste-like as well as flowable and particulate products, particularly food products, which are contained in the lower container part  11 . These containers are generally known as yogurt containers of plastic material or as containers for other milk products such has butter and cheese and for meat products such as lever pate´ etc. Since the basic design of such containers  10  is well known only specific details need to be clearly described for an understanding of the invention. 
   The lower container part  11  has a container opening  14 , which is surrounded by a flange-like circumferential first collar  17 , which projects essentially rectangularly from the lower container part  11 . The lower container part as shown herein has slightly conical side-walls so that the angle between the collar  17  and the side-walls of the container is slightly different from 90°. The lower container part  11  includes furthermore a second collar  18 , which is disposed at the free outer end  19  of the first collar  17 . The second collar  18  ( FIG. 3 ) includes a cut-out  20 , which extends downwardly to the first collar  17 . The cutout  20  is adapted to accommodate a grasping flap  28 , see  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as will be described below in greater detail. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  show the upper container part or lid  12  which forms, together with the lower container part  11  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the container  10  according to the invention. The container lid  12  is provided with a foil  13 , which is connected to the container lid during injection molding by the known principle of “immolded label” (IML) procedure. The upper container part or lid  11  is essentially a planar element as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The container lid  12  includes a circumferential rim area  21 , which is provided with a circumferentially extending recess  22  in the form of a groove  23 . The bottom of the recess  22 , see  FIG. 6 , is formed by the foil  13  disposed on the container lid  12 . At its bottom side, the container lid  12  is provided with a web  25 , see  FIGS. 4 and 6 , which projects downwardly toward the bottom part of the container. The web  25  extends completely around the container lid  12  at the bottom side thereof as it is shown schematically in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
   The foil  13  is provided with a grasping flap  28 , which consists of the same material as the foil  13  that is, it is practically an extension of the foil  13  projecting beyond the edge area  21  of the lid  12 . The grasping flap  28  extends through the cutout  20 , shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The outer edge area of the container lid  12 , see  FIG. 6 , includes at least two opposite recesses  26 ,  27 ; see  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , which show the recesses  26 ,  27  in detail. 
   The container bottom part  11 , see  FIGS. 1-3  and  6  and  7 , includes a flange-like first collar  17  with an upward projection  15 . The upward projection  15  is in the form of a tongue  16 , whereas the recess  22  is in the form of a groove  23 , as noted above. The inner bottom wall  24  of the groove  22  is formed by the foil  13  as already pointed out in the description of the container  10 . The actual connection between the container lid  12  and the lower container part  11  is established between the top surface of the projection  15  that is the tongue  16 , and the container lid top, which is formed in this area by the foil  13 . The connection may be established in various ways for example by a melt-weld connection, by ultrasound welding or by the use of special connecting means. 
   For opening the container  10 , the container lid  12  is grasped at the grasping flap  28  between the finger and the thumb, see  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and moved toward the right with respect to the representation of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As a result, in the container embodiment shown and described herein, the container lid  12  is first disconnected from the narrow side of the lower container part  11 , see  FIG. 3 , and, with further pulling of the grasping flap  28  to the right, the foil is lifted over the total area of the container opening whereby the container  10  is then opened. 
   The recesses  26 ,  27  facilitate a non-destructive lifting of the container lid  12  since the container lid is weakened in these areas which is desirable to permit bending and to facilitate the lifting of the container lid  12 . The rupture of the foil  13  is on one hand avoided in this manner that is the foil remains joined to the container lid  12  during the process and the projection  15  and the groove  22  are not damaged so that, afterward, the container lid  12  can be used again for a provisional closing of the container opening  14  if part of the product remains in the container.