Container with easily removable membrane lid

a container and lid technology, applied in the field of containers, can solve the problems of inaccurate control, consumer difficulty in peeling off the lid, etc., and achieve the effect of relatively easy peeling of the lid from the container and low bond strength

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-04-14
SONOCO DEV INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention addresses the above needs and achieves other advantages, by providing a container wherein the seal between the lid and the container does not have a uniform bond strength all along its length. In particular, the seal has at least one portion having a lower bond strength than other portions of the seal. Consequently, initiation of peeling of the lid from the container can begin relatively easily at the lower-strength portion of the seal. Overall, however, the seal can be relatively strong to resist inadvertent detachment of the lid. Once the peeling of the lid is initiated, it becomes relatively easy to completely detach the lid.

Problems solved by technology

However, with currently available sealants and sealing technology, such accurate control is not possible.
This is due in part to the many factors that can affect the bond strength, many of which are not amenable to being accurately taken into account and controlled.
The drawback to this solution is that the stronger of the seals are often so strong that the consumer has difficulty peeling off the lid.

Method used

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  • Container with easily removable membrane lid
  • Container with easily removable membrane lid
  • Container with easily removable membrane lid

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0025] A container 10 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 2A, and 3. The container 10 includes a container body 12 and a flexible membrane lid 14. The container body 12 can be formed of various materials and in various configurations, and by various processes. Generally, the container body includes a bottom wall 16, a tubular sidewall 18 having a lower end joined to the outer periphery of the bottom wall, and a flange 20 joined to an upper end of the sidewall. The flange encircles a top opening of the container body. In the instant embodiment, the flange 20 extends radially outwardly from the sidewall. The flange defines a substantially planar upper surface to which the lid 14 is attached to seal closed the top opening of the container body.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 2A in particular, the lid 14 is attached to the flange 20 by a sealant 22 disposed on the upper surface of the flange 20 and a compatible sealant 24 disposed on the lower surface of the lid 14. I...

second embodiment

[0033]FIG. 4 illustrates the invention. The container 10′ in accordance with this embodiment is generally similar to the previously described container, except the flange 20′ projects radially inwardly from the container sidewall 18 instead of radially outwardly.

third embodiment

[0034] The objective of providing a seal that has at least one relatively narrow portion can be accomplished in ways other than providing a variable-width flange. For instance, FIG. 5 shows the invention having a container body 112 that includes a flange 120 of uniform width, but wherein the sealant 122 is applied to the flange in a variable-width pattern. In particular, the sealant covers substantially the full width of the flange over most of the flange's circumference, but over a minor circumferential portion of the flange the sealant covers only part of the width of the flange. The sealant can be applied to the flange in any suitable fashion, such as by printing with a rotogravure cylinder or the like. When a lid (not shown) having a compatible sealant is sealed to the flange 120, the resulting seal has a narrow portion at which peeling of the lid can be initiated.

[0035]FIG. 6 illustrates that the variable-width sealant pattern can be applied to the lid instead of, or in additio...

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PUM

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Abstract

A container such as a blow-molded plastic can has a flange encircling the top opening, and a flexible membrane lid sealed to the flange. The seal between the lid and the container does not have uniform bond strength all along its length. In particular, the seal has at least one portion having reduced width and hence lower bond strength than other portions of the seal. Consequently, initiation of peeling of the lid from the container can begin relatively easily at the lower-strength portion of the seal. Overall, however, the seal can be relatively strong to resist inadvertent detachment of the lid. Once the peeling of the lid is initiated, it becomes relatively easy to completely detach the lid.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Field [0002] This invention relates to a container having a container opening initially closed by a membrane lid sealed to a flange that encircles the opening. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Various food and non-food products are packaged in plastic containers or cans formed by blow molding or thermoforming processes. In one such type of container, a flange formed integrally with the container sidewall surrounds the opening of the container. The flange, which can be either a radially inwardly projecting or a radially outwardly projecting flange, provides a surface onto which a flexible membrane closure or lid is attached for initially sealing the container after it is filled with the contents. The consumer peels off the membrane lid to gain access to the contents. If desired, the container can be equipped with an additional overcap for reclosing the container after its initial opening. [0005] The membrane lid is sealed to ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B65D53/00B65D77/20
CPCB65D77/2032
Inventor MARSHBURN, FAYECASE, MANSON DREW
Owner SONOCO DEV INC
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