Resealable plastic sealing container

Abstract

A resealable plastic sealing container is constructed to include a container body, the container body having a coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around a top opening thereof, and a cover adapted to seal the top opening of the container body, the cover having a peripheral coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section for press-mounting onto the coupling flange of the container body, and a layer of non-toxic glue covered on the inner surface of the coupling flange and adapted to seal the coupling flange of the cover to the coupling flange of the container body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a plastic sealing container and, more particularly, to a resealable plastic sealing container.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Vacuum-molded plastic containers are commonly made in the form of a box, cup, or bowl for use to keep food. When carrying fluid, jelly-like, or liquid food in a plastic container, the container must be sealed, preventing a leak of the contained food. FIG. 1 shows a cup-like plastic food container 1 according to the prior art. The cup-like plastic food container 1 comprises a cup body 11 holding a fluid food 12, and a film covering 13 of aluminum foil or plastic film sealed to the top open side of the cup body 11. When opened the film covering 13, the film covering 13 cannot be sealed to the cup body 11 again. FIG. 2 illustrates another structure of plastic food container 2 according to the prior art. According to this design, the plastic food container 2 comprises a cup body 21, and a cover 22 sealed to the top open side of the cup body 21. The cup body 21 has a coupling flange 211 extended around the top opening. The cover 22 has a peripheral coupling flange 221 coupled to the coupling flange 211 of the cup body 21. If the plastic food container 2 is used to hold a fluid or liquid food, the coupling flanges 211;221 must be sealed by a heat press or the like. When sealed, the user must use a scissors or cutter means to open the cover 22. When the cover 22 opened, it cannot be sealed to the cup body 21 again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a resealable plastic sealing container that can be sealed again to keep preserved food fresh when opened. It is another object of the present invention to provide a resealable plastic sealing container, which can be made in any of a variety of shapes or sizes to keep any of a variety of foods in fresh. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the resealable plastic sealing container comprises a container body, and a cover adapted to seal the top opening of the container body. The container body has a coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around the top opening thereof. The cover has a peripheral coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section for press-mounting onto the coupling flange of the container body, and a layer of non-toxic glue covered on the inner surface of the coupling flange and adapted to seal the coupling flange of the cover to the coupling flange of the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a food container constructed according to the prior art.

[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates another structure of food container according to the prior art.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a resealable plastic sealing container according to the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part (4) of FIG. 3.

[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded view, partially cutaway, of an alternate form of the resealable plastic sealing container according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plastic sealing container 3 is shown comprised of a container body 31 molded from plastics, and a cover 32 molded from plastics and adapted for sealing the top open side of the container body 31.

[0012] The main features of the resealable plastic sealing container 3 is outlined hereinafter. The container body 31 has a coupling flange 311 of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around the top opening thereof. The cover 32 has a peripheral coupling flange 321 of substantially Π-shaped cross-section for press-mounting onto the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31, and a layer of non-toxic glue 33 covered on the inner surface of the coupling flange 331. When the cover 32 covered on the container body 31, a downward pressure is employed to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 against the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31, thereby causing the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31 to be bonded to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 by the glue 33, and therefore the food stuffed in the container body 31 is sealed and kept in fresh against external contaminations.

[0013] The employed glue 33 is not a high power adhesive. When inserting the finger into the gap 34 between the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 and the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31, the cover 32 can easily be separated from the container body 31 with the hand without the use of any tools. Further, after opening of the cover 32 at the first time, the cover 32 can be sealed to the container body 31 again by employing a downward pressure to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 against the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31 by hand, i.e., the glue 33 is effective for enabling the cover 32 to be opened and closed for several times.

[0014] Normally, applying the glue 33 to the horizontal middle part of the inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 is sufficient for enabling the cover 32 to be sealed to the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31. For a strict sealing requirement, it is necessary to apply the glue 33 to the horizontal middle part as well as the two opposite vertical side parts of the inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 (see FIG. 4). Further, when employing a downward pressure to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 against the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31 by, for example, a press, the press may be heated to about 150° for several seconds to enhance the sealing effect.

[0015] The layer of non-toxic glue 33 preferably has the thickness of about 0.02 mm˜0.07 mm. This thickness meets the food grade sealing requirement.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, the releasable plastic sealing container 3′ is a rectangular box comprised of a container (box) body 31 and the cover 32 for sealing the top opening of the container body 31. The arrangement of the coupling flanges 311;321 and the non-toxic glue 32 is same as the aforesaid first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] A vacuum-molding machine can make the container body 31 and the cover 32 of the plastic sealing container 3 or 3′.

[0018] A prototype of resealable plastic sealing container has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of FIGS. 3˜5. The plastic sealing container functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0019] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A resealable plastic sealing container comprising a container body having a top opening, and a cover adapted to seal the top opening of said container body, wherein said container body has a coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around said top opening thereof; said cover has a peripheral coupling flange for press-mounting onto the coupling flange of said container body, the coupling flange of said cover has a substantially Π-shaped cross-section, the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange of said cover having an inner surface, and a layer of non-toxic glue covered on the inner surface of said coupling flange and adapted to seal the coupling flange of said cover to the coupling flange of said container body.

2. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-toxic glue is applied to a horizontal middle part of the inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange of said cover.

3. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-toxic glue is applied to a horizontal middle part and two opposite vertical side parts of the inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange of said cover.

4. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover and said container are vacuum-molded from plastics.

5. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cover and said container are vacuum-molded from plastics.

6. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the thickness of said layer of non-toxic glue is about 0.02 mm˜0.07 mm.

7. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the thickness of said layer of non-toxic glue is about 0.02 mm˜0.07 mm.