PACKAGE
A package includes a container, a closure, and a peelable film for mating on the brim of the container. The peelable film is hermetically sealed to the container brim at a factory. The seal is broken the first time a consumer removes the peelable film from the container brim.
The present disclosure relates to a package, and particularly to a package including a container and a closure for mounting on a brim of the container. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a package including a reclosable closure.
SUMMARYAccording to the present disclosure, a package includes a container, a peelable film, and a closure. The container includes a bowl formed to include an interior product-storage region and a brim coupled to an upper portion of the bowl and arranged to border a mouth opening into the interior product-storage region. The brim illustratively includes an endless upwardly facing top surface. The peelable film is bonded temporarily to the brim to close the mouth and block access to the interior product-storage region. The closure is configured to mount on the brim in a closed position to block access to the peelable film.
In illustrative embodiments, the closure includes a sheet-support ring and a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is coupled to the sheet-support ring to move therewith relative to the brim of the container when the closure is separated from the brim to gain access to the peelable film.
In illustrative embodiments, the membrane sheet includes a ring-shaped outer portion, a central portion, and a ring-shaped middle portion. The ring-shaped outer portion is bonded permanently to the membrane-support ring to form an endless seal therebetween. The central portion is surrounded by the ring-shaped outer portion and arranged to cover the mouth opening into the interior product-storage region when the closure is mated with the brim. The ring-shaped middle portion is arranged to interconnect the central portion and the ring-shaped outer portion.
In illustrative embodiments, the ring-shaped middle portion includes a downwardly facing surface. The downwardly facing surface is arranged to overlie and face an endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone on an endless inner perimeter region of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim. The downwardly facing surface confronts an upwardly facing surface of the peelable film.
In illustrative embodiments, the package further comprises means for bonding a downwardly facing surface of the peelable film temporarily to the temporary peelable film-bonding zone on the endless inner perimeter region of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim to establish an endless hermetic seal therebetween that remains until the peelable film is removed from the brim by a consumer for a first time to gain access to product stored in the interior product-storage region after removal of the closure from the brim.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A package 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
Closure 14 includes a membrane support ring 30, a membrane sheet 32, and a first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 as shown in
A consumer may pivot first pivotable sheet-separator lever 34 upwardly relative to brim 20 in a first step to remove closure 14 from container 12. Peelable film 16 remains coupled to brim 20 of container 12 after closure 14 is removed from container 12 so that peelable film covers open mouth 11. After removing closure 14, a consumer may separate peelable film 16 from container 12 to access the contents therein through open mouth 11 or, at the consumer's option, reattach closure 14 to container 12 and discard peelable film 16.
Membrane support ring 30 illustratively includes a curved first strip and a curved second strip 402 as shown in
Membrane sheet 32 of closure 14 includes a central portion 32A, and a ring-shaped outer portion 32B surrounding central portion 32A, as shown, for example, in
Container 12 includes bowl 18 and brim 20 as shown in
Brim 20 includes an upwardly facing top surface 36 that faces peelable film 16 as shown in
Outer perimeter region 42 of upwardly facing top surface 36 is arranged to provide a ring-support zone 44 arranged to engage and support an underside of membrane support ring 30 of closure 14 when closure 14 is mated to brim 20. As suggested in
Endless inner perimeter region 40 of endless upwardly facing top surface 36 includes an inner unbonded zone 25. Inner unbounded zone 25 is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to ring-support zone 44 to locate an endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 therebetween as suggested in
Brim 20 cooperates with peelable film 16 to form unbonded regions 24, 25, a first peel-initiation section 26, and endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 as shown in
Peelable film 16 is configured to bond temporarily to endless upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 to form endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 on container 12 as shown in
Peelable film 16 includes a central portion 16A, a ring-shaped middle portion 16B surrounding central portion 16A, and a ring-shaped outer portion 16C surrounding ring-shaped middle portion 16B as shown, for example, in
Central portion 16A of peelable film 16 includes a center segment 16A″ arranged to close the open mouth 11 into interior product-storage region 22 and an outer segment 16A′ arranged to surround the center segment 16A″ as shown in
Second section 40B of endless inner perimeter region 40 of brim 20 provides endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 for peelable film 16 as suggested in
A first peel-initiation section 26 of peelable film 16 is bonded temporarily to endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 provided on inner perimeter region 40 on brim 20 of bowl 18 as shown in
First peel-initiation section 26 is located in spaced-apart relation to an endless outer perimeter region 42 of the upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 between the endless band of uniform thickness 38 and endless outer perimeter region 42. Endless band of uniform thickness 38 is ring shaped and surrounds inner perimeter region 40 to provide an endless seal around open mouth 11 until peelable film 16 is removed from bowl 18.
First peel-initiation section 26 includes an inner edge 261 that overlaps a portion of endless band of uniform thickness 38 and a curved outer edge 260 located between inner edge 261 and a portion of endless outer perimeter region 42 of upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20 as suggested, for example in
Closure 14 is adapted to mate with container 12 to block access to peelable film 16 as suggested in
Membrane support ring 30 of closure 14 includes a central brim-mount platform 54 and a snap-fit connector 30A as shown in
Central brim-mount platform 54 illustratively includes a curved first strip 401 arranged to mate with an underlying portion of outer perimeter region 42 of top surface 36 of brim 20 and a separate curved second strip 402 arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to curved first strip 401 and mate with an underlying portion of outer perimeter region 42 of top surface 36 of brim 20 when closure 14 is mounted on brim 20 as suggested in
Snap-fit connector 30A is coupled to a handgrip 405 included in each of lever arms 34, 35. Snap-fit connector 30A is configured to provide closure retainer means for engaging a perimeter lip 20L included in brim 20 to retain membrane support ring 30 in a mounted container-closing position on brim 20 as suggested, for example, in
Membrane sheet 32 is bonded permanently to an endless outer perimeter 48 of membrane support ring 30 to move therewith during a closure removal step performed by a consumer as shown in
Membrane sheet 32 of closure 14 includes a central portion 32A, and a ring-shaped outer portion 32B surrounding central portion 32A, as shown, for example, in
Membrane sheet 32 is made of a thin film and is adapted to be bonded permanently to a permanent sheet-bonding zone 30Z provided on upwardly facing top surface 30T of the membrane support ring 30 and to be bonded temporarily to endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28 provided on inner portion of an upwardly facing top surface 36 of brim 20. Permanent sheet-bonding zone 30Z on top surface 30T of membrane support ring 30 is shown, for example, in
First pivotable sheet-separator lever arm 34 is coupled to a left end of brim-mount platform 54 as shown in
A closure-opening sequence is also shown, for example, in
Illustratively, container 12 is oval shaped and includes a major axis that is generally perpendicular to a minor axis. The major axis bisects container 12 along a plane. The major axis has a length that is greater than a length of the minor axis. Container 12 includes first handle 50 located on brim 20 along the major axis in spaced-apart relation to temporary peelable film-bonding zone 28. The major axis extends through first peel initiation section 26 and is located in spaced-apart relation to first handle 50.
As shown in
Claims
1. A package comprising
- a container including a bowl formed to include an interior product-storage region and a brim coupled to an upper portion of the bowl and arranged to border a mouth opening into the interior product-storage region, the brim including an endless upwardly facing top surface,
- a peelable film bonded temporarily to the brim to close the mouth and block access to the interior product-storage region, and
- a closure configured to mount on the brim in a closed position to block access to the peelable film, the closure including a sheet-support ring and a membrane sheet coupled to the sheet-support ring to move therewith relative to the brim of the container when the closure is separated from the brim to gain access to the peelable film,
- wherein the membrane sheet includes a ring-shaped outer portion bonded permanently to the membrane-support ring to form an endless seal therebetween, a central portion surrounded by the ring-shaped outer portion and arranged to cover the mouth opening into the interior product-storage region when the closure is mated with the brim, and a ring-shaped middle portion arranged to interconnect the central portion and the ring-shaped outer portion, the ring-shaped middle portion includes a downwardly facing surface arranged to overlie and face an endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone on an endless inner perimeter region of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim and confront an upwardly facing surface of the peelable film, and the package further comprising means for bonding a downwardly facing surface of the peelable film temporarily to the temporary peelable film-bonding zone on the endless inner perimeter region of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim to establish an endless hermetic seal therebetween that remains until the peelable film is removed from the brim by a consumer for a first time to gain access to product stored in the interior product-storage region after removal of the closure from the brim.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone includes a first peel initiation section and an endless band of uniform thickness located on the upwardly facing top surface of the brim.
3. The package of claim 2, wherein the first peel initiation section is located in spaced-apart relation to an endless outer perimeter of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim and located between the endless band of uniform thickness and the endless outer perimeter.
4. The package of claim 3, wherein the first peel initiation section includes an inner edge overlapping a portion of the endless band of uniform thickness and a curved outer edge located between the inner edge of the first peel initiation section and a portion of the endless outer perimeter of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim.
5. The package of claim 4, wherein the curved outer edge of the first peel initiation section is curved.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein the endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone includes a first peel initiation section and an endless band of uniform thickness located on the upwardly facing top surface of the brim, the first peel initiation section is located in spaced-apart relation to an endless outer perimeter of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim and located between the endless band of uniform thickness and the endless outer perimeter, the first peel initiation section includes an inner edge overlapping a portion of the endless band of uniform thickness and a curved outer edge located between the inner edge of the first peel initiation section and a portion of the endless outer perimeter of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim, and the container is oval shaped and includes a major axis that is generally perpendicular to a minor axis, the major axis bisects the container along a plane, and the major axis has a length that is greater than a length of the minor axis.
7. The package of claim 6, wherein the container includes a first handle located on the brim along the major axis in spaced-apart relation to the temporary peelable film-bonding zone.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein the major axis extends through the first peel initiation section and is located in spaced-apart relation to the first handle.
9. The package of claim 1, wherein the brim of the container includes a ring support zone, the temporary peelable film-bonding zone, and an inner unbonded zone, the ring support zone is located on an exterior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim, the inner unbonded zone is located on an interior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim, and the temporary peelable film-bonding zone is located on an interior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim between the inner unbonded zone and the ring support zone.
10. The package of claim 9, wherein the sheet-support ring includes a central brim-mounted platform and a first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to a first end of the central brim-mounted platform to pivot relative to the central brim-mounted platform about a fulcrum provided on a first bend line upwardly in a clockwise direction away from the brim of the container during a closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to a closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container.
11. The package of claim 10, wherein the sheet-support ring further includes a second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to the central brim-mounted platform to locate a top aperture between the first and second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm for pivotable movement relative to the central brim-mounted platform about a second bend line upwardly in a counterclockwise direction away from the brim of the container during the closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container.
12. The package of claim 1, wherein the brim includes a ring support zone, the temporary peelable film-bonding zone, and an inner unbonded zone, the ring support zone is located on an exterior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim, the inner unbonded zone is located on an interior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim, and the temporary peelable film-bonding zone is located on an interior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim between the inner unbonded zone and the ring support zone, the sheet-support ring includes a central brim-mounted platform and a first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to a first end of the central brim-mounted platform to pivot relative to the central brim-mounted platform about a fulcrum provided on a first bend line upwardly in a clockwise direction away from the brim of the container during a closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to a closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container, the sheet-support ring further includes a second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to the central brim-mounted platform to locate a top aperture between the first and second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm for pivotable movement relative to the central brim-mounted platform about a second bend line upwardly in a counterclockwise direction away from the brim of the container during the closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container, and the central brim-mounted platform of the sheet-support ring includes a first strip arranged to mate with an first underlying portion of the outer perimeter region located on one side of the brim in the ring-support zone provided thereon and a second strip arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first strip to locate the top aperture therebetween and to mate with a second underlying portion of the outer perimeter region located on an opposite second side of the brim in the ring-support zone provided thereon, and a first shelf is coupled to first ends of each of the first and second strips.
13. The package of claim 12, wherein the first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm is coupled to one end of each of the first and second strips and the sheet-support ring further includes the second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to an opposite second end of each of the first and second strips of the central brim-mounted platform to locate the top aperture between the first and second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm for pivotable movement relative to the central brim-mounted platform about the second bend line upwardly in a counterclockwise direction away from the brim of the container during the closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to a sheet-lifting position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container.
14. The package of claim 13, wherein the first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm includes the first shelf bonded permanently to the ring-shaped outer portion of the membrane sheet and a handgrip appended to the first shelf.
15. The package of claim 1, wherein the container is oval shaped and includes a major axis that is generally perpendicular to a minor axis, the major axis bisects the container along a plane, the endless temporary peelable film-bonding zone comprises an endless band of uniform thickness located on the upwardly facing top surface of the brim and a first peel initiation section, the first peel initiation section is located in spaced-apart relation to an endless outer perimeter of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim and located between the endless band of uniform thickness and the endless outer perimeter, the first peel initiation section includes an inner edge overlapping a portion of the endless band of uniform thickness and a curved outer edge located between the inner edge of the first peel initiation section and a portion of the endless outer perimeter of the upwardly facing top surface of the brim, and the major axis extends through the first peel initiation section.
16. The package of claim 15, wherein the brim includes a ring support zone, the temporary peelable film-bonding zone, and an inner unbonded zone, the ring support zone is located on an exterior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim, the inner unbonded zone is located on an interior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim, and the temporary peelable film-bonding zone is located on an interior edge of the endless upwardly facing top surface of the brim between the inner unbonded zone and the ring support zone, the sheet-support ring includes a central brim-mounted platform and a first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to a first end of the central brim-mounted platform for pivotable movement relative to the central brim-mounted platform about a fulcrum provided on a first bend line upwardly in a clockwise direction away from the brim of the container during a closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to a closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container, the central brim-mounted platform of the sheet-support ring includes a first strip arranged to mate with a first underlying portion of the outer perimeter region located on one side of the brim in the ring-support zone provided thereon and a second strip arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first strip to locate a top aperture therebetween and to mate with a second underlying portion of the outer perimeter region located on an opposite second side of the brim in the ring-support zone provided thereon, and a first shelf is coupled to first ends of each of the first and second strips, and the first pivotable sheet-separator lever arm is coupled to one end of each of the first and second strips and the sheet-support ring further includes a second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm coupled to an opposite second end of each of the first and second strips of the central brim-mounted platform to locate the top aperture between the first and second pivotable sheet-separator lever arm for pivotable movement relative to the central brim-mounted platform about a second bend line upwardly in a counterclockwise direction away from the brim of the container during the closure-removal activity carried out by a consumer from an initial position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with the closed position of the closure on the brim of the container to the closure-lifting position associated with separating the closure from the peelable film mounted on the brim of the container.
17. The package of claim 1, wherein the peelable film is heatsealed to the temporary peelable film-bonding zone.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2015
Publication Date: Jun 15, 2017
Inventor: Jeffrey C. Minnette (Evansville, IN)
Application Number: 14/966,673