Abstract:
Package including a receptacle ( 2 ) extending along a central axis (Z) up to a top face ( 23 ) having an opening ( 24 ), a closure system ( 3 ) including a cover ( 31 ) mounted so as to be articulated thereat between an open position and a closed position, and a locking device ( 4 ) including a locking lug ( 41 ) that is elastically deformable towards the central axis (Z) fastened to the cover ( 31 ) and furnished with a snout ( 43 ), and a gripping edge ( 42 ) secured to the receptacle ( 2 ) with which the snout ( 43 ) engages in the closed position. The cover ( 31 ) has a recess ( 47 ) in which the locking lug ( 41 ) is arranged. The locking lug has an actuation zone ( 41   c ) that can be accessed via the mouth ( 47   a ) of the recess, and a tamper-proof cap ( 51 ) is immobilized relative to the cover ( 31 ) by at least one breakable connection ( 52 ) and is arranged facing the actuation zone ( 41   c ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/FR2008/050813, filed on May 7, 2008, which claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 07 03395 filed on May 11, 2007, the entire contents of both applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a reclosable package, designed in particular for a food product, which has a device for locking the closure system. More particularly, the invention relates to a package comprising:
       a container extending along a central axis from a base as far as an upper face having an opening surrounded by a perimeter extending basically in a horizontal plane;   a closure system comprising a lid mounted on the container in hinged fashion between an open position and a closed position, in which latter it covers the opening; and   a device for locking the lid in the closed position and comprising firstly a locking lug which is elastically deformable toward the central axis and extends from a base integral with the lid as far as a free end provided with a nose, and secondly a gripping rim integral with the container and protruding toward the central axis and with which the nose engages in the closed position.       
 
         [0006]    Such locking produced by the nose of the elastic lug positively engaging with the gripping rim is generally sufficiently firm to hold the lid in the closed position even if the package is dropped, which is not always the case with a lid the inner periphery of which is simply frictionally engaged on the neck of the container. Moreover, handling of the locking tongue remains sufficiently simple and intuitive to obtain satisfactory ease of use. Such a locking device is known, for example, from the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,779. 
         [0007]    Nevertheless, there exists a need to integrate such locking devices as much as possible into the overall volume of the container, both for esthetic reasons and for technical reasons. This is because a locking device as described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,779 protrudes from the box and this, in the case of packages, requires a greater volume and risks damage occurring during transportation. 
         [0008]    In addition, in the case of packages for food products which are displayed in self-service shops, it is important to provide a tamperproof device which indicates whether the package has been opened. Numerous solutions for tamperproof devices exist, such as, for example, tear-off strips connecting the lid to the container. However, in the case of a large lid, this type of tear-off tamperproof strip may use up a relatively large amount of plastic and lead to the appearance of a relatively unesthetic hole in which dirt can accumulate in the course of use of the package. On the other hand, in the case of an elastically deformable locking member, it is prior art to provide tamperproofing by immobilizing said locking member by means of breakable bridging pieces before it is used for the first time, said bridging pieces connecting it directly to the lid. However, once these bridging pieces have been broken, rough plastic protrusions remain. These can interfere with each other during the actuation of this locking element or even come into contact with the user, causing a disagreeable sensation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved locking device, in particular by integrating it into the volume of the package, and to which a satisfactory tamperproof device may be joined. 
         [0010]    To this end, the subject of the present invention is a package of the abovementioned type, characterized in that the lid has a depression that opens radially outward and adjacent to the container in the closed position, in which depression the locking lug is arranged, said locking lug having an actuating region between its base and its nose, said actuating region being accessible through the open side of the depression in order to move the nose toward the central axis, and in that a tamperproof cover is immobilized relative to the lid by at least one breakable connection and is arranged in front of the actuating region of the locking lug. 
         [0011]    The integration of the locking lug into a depression in the lid implies that said locking lug and the gripping rim are arranged inside the overall external volume of the container, thereby avoiding protruding parts. Moreover, the tamperproof device consisting of the cover has dimensions corresponding at most to the open side of this depression and it is not necessary to provide breakable elements on the locking lug itself. There is thus no risk of the broken tamperproof device damaging the locking device or subsequently hampering its operation. 
         [0012]    In preferred embodiments of the invention, use is furthermore made of one or other of the following arrangements:
       the gripping rim is formed in the upper face of the container by an elongate opening oriented perpendicularly to the central axis;   the closure system further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of the container and located close to the perimeter of the opening, and the gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of the frame;   the perimeter of the opening of the container is located at least at the upper face of the frame, and there is a free space between the portion of the frame forming the gripping rim and the portion of the perimeter of the opening located radially opposite this portion;   the locking lug delimits the bottom of the depression in the lid;   the locking lug extends parallel to the central axis and has a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to the central axis;   the tamperproof tab is arranged at the open side of the depression in the lid and is shaped such that it extends flush with the outer profile of the lid;   the tamperproof tab has a gripping member preferably consisting of an indentation in the periphery of this tab;   said at least one breakable connection comprises a bridging piece extending between the periphery of the tamperproof tab and the open side of the depression in the lid, and preferably at least three bridging pieces arranged so as to prevent any pivoting of said tab without breaking at least one of the bridging pieces; and   the closure system comprising the frame and the lid and also the locking tongue and the tamperproof member are produced from one piece of injection-molded plastic.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the figures, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a package comprising a locking device according to the invention with a lid having a tamperproof cover in the open position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged front view of the package from  FIG. 1  with the lid in the closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  in which the tamperproof cover has been removed; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a view in partial section on a plane IV-IV which can be seen in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    In the various figures, identical reference numerals designate identical or similar elements. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a package  1  comprising a container  2 , a closure system  3 , a locking device  4  and a tamperproof device  5 . 
         [0029]    The container  2  has a bottom  21 , or base, from which an annular side wall  22  extends along a vertical central axis Z as far as an upper face  23 . The upper face has a wide opening  24  surrounded by a perimeter  25 . The perimeter  25  extends essentially in a horizontal plane coincident with the plane of the opening  24  and is formed by a collar extending radially toward the central axis Z. However, it is perfectly conceivable for this perimeter to be produced simply by the thickness of the material forming the side wall  22 . 
         [0030]    The container  2  has a basically rectangular cross section perpendicular to the central axis Z, with rounded corners. This cross section varies somewhat along the central axis Z in order to form a waist for gripping, but these variations remain limited in order to maintain the vertical strength of the packages when they are stacked. Also for gripping purposes, the cross section preferably is inscribed within a rectangle measuring 150 to 130 mm by 105 to 125 mm. The height from the base  21  to the upper face  23  is preferably between 130 and 170 mm in order to provide the customary volume for boxes intended to contain powdered baby milk. It is thus a relatively deep container, the opening  24  of which needs to be made as wide as possible in order to make it easier to extract powder from close to the bottom  21  of the container  2 . 
         [0031]    Due to this basically rectangular cross section, the perimeter  25  of the opening of the container  2  may be considered to have a first long side  25   a,  a second opposing long side  25   b  and first and second short sides  25   c,    25   d  connecting the long sides. 
         [0032]    The container  2  is produced in one piece from blow-molded plastic. This plastic is preferably a multilayer compound forming a very effective oxygen barrier when the product is milk powder, for example. However, it may, of course, be a container produced from another material, in particular metal or multilayer board. 
         [0033]    In the case of milk powder, the opening  24  of the container  2  is closed by a membrane seal, not shown, which is sealed onto the perimeter  25 . Thus, the milk powder is perfectly preserved in the container  2  until used for the first time when the membrane seal  26  is peeled off. 
         [0034]    As can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 4 , the container  2  has a neck  28  between the top of its annular wall  22  and its upper face  23 , which neck is stepped in places. As will be explained below, the presence of this neck enables the mounting of a frame for the closure system  3 . 
         [0035]    The closure system  3  first of all comprises a lid  31  having a relatively domed shape such that it may be considered to have a substantially flat upper portion  31   a  and an annular peripheral portion  31   b  substantially coaxial with the central axis Z. 
         [0036]    The lid  31  also has an inner face  31   c  oriented toward the opening  24  in the closed position, this inner face being basically dish-shaped due to the domed shape of the lid  31 . 
         [0037]    The closure system  3  further comprises a frame  32  mounted with a tight fit on the neck  28  of the container  2 . The frame  32  is fastened nondetachably to this part of the container, in particular by snap fastening, but could also be fastened by adhesive bonding or welding. 
         [0038]    The frame  32  has an external periphery  32   a  continuing the side wall  22  of the container  2 , followed by an inner horizontal wing  32   b  which forms the upper face of this frame. The upper face  32   b  of the frame extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the opening  24  comprising the perimeter  25 , and slightly below this plane. The radially inner end of the wing  32   b  constitutes the inner periphery of the frame  32  adjacent to the neck  28  of the container. 
         [0039]    The upper face  32   b  of the frame forms with the perimeter  25  of the opening  24  the upper face  23  of the container part. 
         [0040]    The lid  31  and the frame  32  are hinged together by a connection  34  enabling the lid  31  to move with respect to the frame  32  and to the container  2  between an open position, shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the opening  24  is easily accessible, and a closed position, shown in  FIG. 4 , in which the lid  31  covers this opening. It is thus a reclosable package of which the lid is handled each time it is used, for example for preparing babies&#39; bottles. 
         [0041]    In this case the connection  34  is a hinge connection, the pivot axis P of which is perpendicular to the central axis Z. More precisely, the pivot axis P is parallel and located close to the first long side  25   a  of the perimeter  25 . 
         [0042]    In the embodiment shown, it is a plastic hinge formed by a fold line enabling the lid  31  and the frame  32  to be produced as a single part. Said part is obtained by injection-molding a plastic, for example polypropylene. However, the hinge connection  34  could of course also be created as two separate parts joined together and it is likewise possible to provide some other type of connection between the frame and the lid, or even to do without a frame by employing a lid mounted removably on the neck  28  of the container  2 . 
         [0043]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the inner face  31   c  of the lid has an annular belt  37  extending downward in the direction of the axis Z as far as a free edge  37   a  arranged so as to be close to the perimeter  25  of the opening of the container  2  such that it increases the degree of closure of the container without, however, producing an airtight closure. 
         [0044]    The locking device  4  comprises a lug  41  integral with the lid  31  and engaging with a rim  42  integral with the container  2 . The locking device  4  is intended to prevent any accidental escape of product once the package has been opened for the first time when the membrane seal  26  has been peeled off, but is not intended to provide a sealed closure such as was obtained previously with the membrane seal. 
         [0045]    More particularly, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the locking lug  41  extends vertically downward from a base  41   a  as far as a free end  41   b  located beneath the upper face  23  defined by the perimeter  25  of the container  2  and the upper face  32   b  of the frame in the corresponding region. The locking lug  41  has a cross section in the form of a long rectangle the short side of which can be seen in  FIG. 4  and the long side of which extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis Z. Owing to this form and its plastic nature, the locking lug is elastically deformable toward the central axis Z. Specifically, by exerting pressure with the finger or thumb on an actuating region  41   c  located on the radially outer face of the tongue  41  between its base  41   a  and the end part located beneath the upper face  23  of the container part, the user easily obtains a deformation along the line indicated by the dotted line in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0046]    It should be noted that the actuating region  41   c  could have ergonomic reliefs. Moreover, the cross section of the lug  41  is not necessarily a perfect rectangle. The radially inner face of the lug  41  could have ribs for altering its rigidity and thus the force required to move the free end  41   b  away from the gripping rim  42 . 
         [0047]    The free end  41   b  of the tongue  41  has a nose  43  oriented radially outward with respect to the central axis Z. The nose  43  has basically the form of a protruding rib extending horizontally across the outer face of the locking lug  41  with a substantially triangular profile. The nose  43  thus has an upper face perpendicular to the lug  41  which is arranged so as to be immediately under the gripping rim  42  when not subjected to deformation and thus prevents the lid  31  from being opened. In addition, the nose  43  has an inner face inclined with respect to the vertical and enabling the lug  41  to be deformed when the lid is reclosed and enabling the nose  43  to move around the gripping rim  42  in order to attain the closed position shown in  FIG. 4 . However, in order to obtain such snap fastening, it is not absolutely necessary for the nose to have such a profile. Specifically, the nose  43  could have a different profile, for example be bead-shaped, in particular with a profile of the gripping rim  42  substantially different from a rectangle. 
         [0048]    The gripping rim  42  protrudes toward the central axis Z so as to have a free end located close to the front face of the locking lug  41  and a lower face engaging with the upper face of the nose  43  to prevent the lid from being opened when the locking lug  41  is not deformed. In the embodiment shown, the gripping rim  42  consists of a portion of the frame  32  located opposite the locking lug  41  and more precisely of the inner periphery of the upper face  32   b  of the frame. In order to enable the end  41   b  of the locking lug to move, there is a free space  44  between the gripping rim  42  and a recessed portion  28   b  of the neck  28  of the container  2 . The upper face  23  of the container part thus has an opening consisting of the free space  44  within which the locking lug  41  may move. This opening  44  has no effect on the sealing of the container  2  sealed by a membrane seal. Nevertheless, it is perfectly conceivable for the gripping rim to be produced by means of a member protruding from the frame  32  or from the perimeter  25  of the container, or even by means of a hole through the perimeter  25  of the container  2 , depending on the nature of the food product to be preserved or if there is an inner sealing device present. 
         [0049]    It should be noted that the locking device  4  is arranged in a depression  47  formed in the side wall  31   b  of the lid  31  and extending as far as the lower end of the lid. It is in this case a recessed portion of the outer wall of the lid  31  protruding basically toward the central axis Z and having an open side  47   a  radially on the outside and delimited by the break in the geometry with the outer profile of the lid assembly. The depression  47  has substantially the form of a portion of sphere such that its open side  47   a  seen from the front has a substantially semicircular form. However, the depression  47  could have a substantially different form, for example one which is deeper with a basically “U” shaped open side. The form of the depression  47  is, however, chosen such that its open side  47   b  is wide enough for the user to be able to act with a finger on the actuating region  41   c  of the locking lug  41 . 
         [0050]    The locking lug  41  is arranged in the depression  47  such that no part of it protrudes from the outer profile of the lid assembly. More precisely, in the embodiment shown, the locking lug  41  constitutes a part of the bottom of the depression  47  which is separated from the rest of the wall delimiting this depression by two vertical slots. This limits the depth of the depression  47  necessary for housing the locking lug  41  given that the annular belt  37  of the lid  31  forms a barrier limiting the possibility of product escaping. 
         [0051]    As will be understood, the gripping rim  42  is also arranged in this depression when the lid  31  is in the closed position, due to the necessity of engaging with the nose  43  of the locking lug  41 . Consequently, all of the locking device  4  is integrated in the outer profile of the lid assembly and even of the package assembly  1  because of the correspondence between the profile of the lid and of the container part when the lower end of the lid  31  is resting on the upper face  32   b  of the frame  32 . 
         [0052]    The tamperproof device  5  comprises, for its part, a cover  51  arranged in the depression  47  in the lid, or slightly outside the latter, so as to prevent access, at least by hand, to the actuating region  41   c  of the locking lug. The tamperproof cover  51  is held in place in front of the actuating region  41   c  by breakable connections  52 . 
         [0053]    More particularly, in the embodiment shown the tamperproof cover  51  is in the form of a small plastic tab formed in one piece with the lid  31  by virtue of the breakable connections  52  which are in the form of bridging pieces. 
         [0054]    The tamperproof cover  51  is arranged at the open side  47   a  of the depression  47  and the small tab of which it consists is shaped such that it extends flush with the outer profile of the lid assembly  31 . This gives the package a particularly attractive appearance and limits the possibility of its catching on any object during the course of its working life. Moreover, this embodiment of the tamperproof cover  51  requires a relatively small amount of plastic since the dimensions thereof do not exceed the surface area of the open side of the depression  47 . Finally, the volume of the depression  47  may be reduced to a minimum in order for it to house only the locking device since the tamperproof device  5  does not extend into this depression. 
         [0055]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the bridging pieces  52  which form the breakable connections extend between the outer periphery of the tamperproof cover  51  and the perimeter  47   a  of the depression. Considering  FIG. 3 , it will be understood that even if the bridging pieces leave behind plastic barbs after breaking, these barbs are relatively far away from actuating region  41   c  of the locking lug  41  and in any case do not interfere with the operation of this locking lug. There are four bridging pieces in this case, located on either side of the cover region  51  in front of the locking lug  41 . However, the number of bridging pieces and their arrangement could, of course, be quite different, it being understood that three such bridging pieces are sufficient to effectively immobilize the tamperproof cover  51 . 
         [0056]    The tamperproof cover  51  could cover the entire surface area of the open side  47   a  of the depression, it then being possible for the bridging pieces  52  to be broken when the cover is pushed into the depression  47 . However, as can be gathered from  FIG. 2 , an indentation  53  is formed in the periphery of the tamperproof cover  51 , in this case in the lower part of this cover close to the frame  32 , with the aim of making it easier to remove this tamperproof device. By way of example, the indentation  53  may be designed to allow a fingertip to be partially inserted to tear off the cover  51  by an outward and upward movement. Of course, the indentation  53  could be located at another location. For example, in a variant which is not shown, it may be preferable to arrange the indentation  53  in a region of the cover  51  somewhat to the side of the actuating region  41   c  of the locking lug, for example in the top part of the cover which is basically located in front of the base  41   a,  in order to further reduce the possibility of actuating the locking tab  41  in particular by means of a sharp object. It could also be a slightly protruding relief enabling the tamperproof cover  51  to be grasped. 
         [0057]    The working life of the package  1  may proceed in the following manner. Following injection molding of the closure device assembly  3  including the locking device  4  and tamperproof device  5 , a single piece is obtained which may be configured in the closure position by closing the lid  31  on the frame  32 . This configuration is preserved by virtue of the locking device and the tamperproof device. 
         [0058]    The assembly thus constituted may then be easily mounted, for example by snap fastening, on the container  2  which has already been filled and membrane sealed. The package  1  is then ready to be sold. Any attempt to open it by hand will cause at least one of the breakable connections  52  to break, which will generally be easily detected by the consumer. 
         [0059]    On first using the package, the user will break the breakable connections  52  of the tamperproof device  5  and will thus gain access to the locking device  4 . By exerting pressure on the actuating region  41   c  of the locking lug  41  and pulling gently upward, the user then brings the lid  31  into the open position. 
         [0060]    Subsequently, by closing the package  1 , that is by folding down the lid  31 , locking is automatically brought about by the nose  43  snap fastening with the gripping rim  42 . For a subsequent use, all that is required is to exert pressure again on the actuating region  41   c  in order to release the locking device  4 . 
         [0061]    Of course, the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and numerous variants of the geometry of the components of the locking device and the tamperproof device can be produced without departing from the scope of the present invention.