Molded pulp cover
A modular paper pulp lid with a split line and secure fastening mechanism addresses the recycling and demolding challenges of traditional lids, providing secure closure and recyclability for food containers.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380087129.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-12-22
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing food product containers with plastic or metal lids face environmental challenges in recycling and manufacturing, while paper pulp lids with traditional designs are difficult to produce due to geometric constraints that hinder demolding.
A modular paper pulp lid design comprising multiple interconnected components with complementary structures, featuring a split line to facilitate demolding and a secure fastening mechanism, allowing for easy assembly and recycling.
The design enables secure closure and easy demolding of food containers while being environmentally friendly, ensuring product integrity and recyclability without the drawbacks of traditional materials.
Smart Images
Figure CN120322385A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a lid for releasably closing an opening of a container for receiving a food product, the lid having an internal fastening structure for providing a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection between the container and the lid. The present invention also relates to a system for storing a food product, the system comprising said lid and a container for receiving the food product. Background Art
[0002] Any reference in this specification to prior art documents should not be construed as an admission that such prior art is well-known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.
[0003] In the art, it is known to store food products such as instant coffee, chocolate powder or baby formula in cans or food containers of a similar type. Generally, a lid is used to close an originally open can or food container. Usually, such lids can be fixedly attached to the can or food container by a screw connection or a snap connection to ensure the freshness and integrity of the food product contained inside the can or food container.
[0004] These types of lids are usually made of plastic (such as polypropylene) and are generally designed to be discarded after the can or food container has been emptied. Unfortunately, the recycling or even composting of plastic materials generally seems to be challenging, even in the case where so-called "bioplastics" are used instead of conventional petrochemical plastic materials for the lid. Therefore, plastic waste is often incinerated or ultimately landfilled, thereby having a negative impact on the environment.
[0005] Known recyclable alternatives to plastic are metal lids such as steel or aluminum. Although metal lids may be more easily recyclable, they have a significant impact on CO2 emissions during their manufacturing process and are therefore not a viable alternative for food items for daily and frequent consumption.
[0006] Other known alternatives to plastic (which are recyclable and have fewer environmental problems) are materials such as wood or paper or molded pulp fibers. The advantage of molded pulp fibers is that they are an environmentally friendly and sustainable material that is suitable for close contact with food products and can be recycled in a paper-making system.
[0007] However, using molded cellulose pulp as a material for screw-on or snap-on type lids is technically challenging because the design and structure of such lids do not seem to be compatible with molded pulp.
[0008] For example, a lid to be snapped or screwed onto a jar typically includes threads or snap ribs that are present on the inner surface of the lid and extend towards the center of the lid. This creates a so-called "undercut" or "negative draft angle" in the geometry of the lid. For example, an undercut can be a notch or protrusion on the inner side of a part that prevents the part from being ejected directly from the mold. Similarly, a draft angle can be understood, for example, as an angle relative to the demolding direction. A positive draft angle can be beneficial for the demolding process, while a negative draft angle prevents direct release from the mold.
[0009] For a specific type of plastic lid, the geometry of the lid is not a problem because injection molding is typically used, which uses a so-called "collapsible core" whose dimensions can be reduced after forming a lid with threads or snap ribs and before opening the mold. Thereby, the plastic lid can be provided as a single-piece article in a convenient and cost-effective manner.
[0010] In contrast, cellulose pulp cannot be injected into a mold like a plastic polymer. The molding of cellulose pulp is accomplished by first placing the wet pulp into a cavity (e.g., a female mold) and then compressing the wet pulp material in the cavity using a core piston (e.g., a male mold). Thereby, the pulp takes the form of the mold that is defined by the cavity and the core piston. When the mold is opened to remove the molded pulp article, it is not possible to remove the core piston from the cavity without damaging the article if an undercut exists in the geometry. Due to the complexity of the process and cost limitations, using a mold with a collapsible core is not feasible for cellulose pulp molding. This highlights the importance of the design and structure of the article for the success of the pulp molding process. Thus, the current design for a lid to be snapped or screwed onto a jar is not compatible with the pulp molding process.
[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lid for a jar or other food container that is made of molded pulp and includes a structure that allows the lid to be attached to the jar using a form-fitting closure and / or a force-fitting connection. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recyclable lid and a system for storing food products.
[0012] These and other objects that become apparent after reading the description are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Summary of the Invention
[0013] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a removable lid for closing an opening of a container for receiving a food product. The lid is adapted to (and / or configured to) close the opening in an attachment direction. The container to be closed by the lid has a circumferential edge portion around the opening. The lid consists of two or more separate and connected lid parts. Each of these lid parts is integrally formed by molded pulp. The lid parts are complementary to each other to form the lid. The lid includes a capping portion having an upper surface for covering the opening of the container. The lid further includes a skirt portion extending from the capping portion to circumferentially define, together with the capping portion, a receiving space for receiving the edge portion inside the lid when the opening is closed by the lid. The lid further includes a fastening structure for providing a form-fit and / or force-fit connection. The fastening structure projects laterally from a lateral inner side of the skirt portion in a direction transverse to the attachment direction towards and into the receiving space. At least two of the lid parts each include at least one section of the fastening structure.
[0014] Using the configuration of the present invention, a lid (e.g., a cap, covering, or top) for closing (e.g., covering, shutting, locking, or sealing) a food container (e.g., a utensil, (glass) jar, or box) from one side (e.g., in the attachment direction) can be provided. The lid is made of molded pulp and includes fastening means on at least the inner side of the lid. The fastening means is adapted to form a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection on the inner side of the lid. Herein, the expression "form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection" can be understood as any connection (e.g., a non-rigid connection / joint) that can be established, for example, by applying a force (such as friction or elastic force) between the connection mating parts and / or any connection (e.g., a rigid connection / joint) that can be established by preventing the path of one connection mating part by another connection mating part. In the present invention, the problem surrounding the step of demolding the pulp article with such fastening means can be solved by constructing (e.g., designing, combining, and / or forming) the lid from a plurality of individual (e.g., identifiable, different, and / or preferably separate) lid parts (e.g., sections and / or segments). Each of these lid parts includes at least a part of the structure of the fastening means, and all the lid parts together add up to the final shape and structure of the lid (e.g., complementary parts). This allows each of these lid parts to be designed such that the individual lid parts lack any structure that would impede the demolding of the corresponding lid part in the pulp molding process. Thus, each of these lid parts can be formed separately from the other lid parts in the pulp molding process. Thereby, the problems existing in demolding the lid due to the limitations of the geometric structure on the inner side can be completely avoided. Thus, the lid can be provided by molded pulp, which solves the problem surrounding discarding the lid after use. Additionally, the lid can be provided with a fastening structure that allows the container opening to be tightly closed, thereby ensuring product integrity and freshness.
[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the lid may include at least one parting line and / or parting surface that may extend at least partially between adjacent lid parts. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one parting line and / or parting surface may pass through the physical boundary between individual lid parts. Preferably, the parting line and / or parting surface may intersect the (geometric) center of the upper surface of the capping portion. Alternatively or additionally, the parting line and / or parting surface may intersect at least one section of the capping portion and the skirt portion. Preferably, the parting surface may define each of the lid parts such that any cross-section of the corresponding lid part in a direction perpendicular to the parting surface includes a geometric structure on the inner side defining the receiving space without undercuts or negative draft angles.
[0016] Thus, the cover can be designed more freely, since the shape and design of the individual cover parts can be adjusted according to the (internal) structure of the cover. In particular, by joining two cover parts along a plane, the structural integrity between the respective cover parts can be improved. By parting the cover along a line or plane passing through the center of the upper surface, demoulding of the corresponding cover parts can be simplified, because the cover parts can be separated at the maximum diameter. In addition, the cover parts can be demoulded laterally from the cover part and thus demoulding is easier.
[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the fastening structure may include one or more fastening elements. For example, these fastening elements may be internal threads and / or snap-fit connectors. Preferably, each of the cover parts may include at least one fastening element or a section in the fastening element. These fastening elements may extend partially or intermittently along the circumference of the skirt part. Alternatively or additionally, these fastening elements may be (preferably evenly) distributed around the circumference of the skirt part. Alternatively or additionally, these fastening elements may be arranged as one or more relative pairs on the lateral inner side. For example, these fastening elements may be arranged on the opposite side relative to the receiving space as relative pairs and / or on the opposite side relative to the parting line and / or parting surface.
[0018] Thus, the lid may be provided with a fastening device which may exert a closing force in the attachment direction, which closing force may be evenly distributed along the circumference of the lid. In particular, the fastening element may facilitate that the connection between the lid and the container may be reversed at any time, so that the lid may be moved to open or close the container according to the user's wishes.
[0019] According to another preferred embodiment, each of the cover parts may include a lateral end section in which the corresponding cover part may be open on a side opposite to the lateral inner side. Preferably, in the cover, at least two of the cover parts may abut against each other at their respective lateral end sections. Alternatively or additionally, in the cover, at least two of the cover parts may sandwich one of the parting lines and / or parting surfaces, respectively.
[0020] Thereby, demoulding of these cover parts on the lateral side (for example, the side in a direction perpendicular to the attachment direction or the side opposite to the section of the fastening structure relative to the receiving space) can be facilitated and simplified, so that the inner side of the cover part can be formed with a section of the fastening structure.
[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, each of these lid components may include one or more connecting sections for forming a connection between at least two of these lid components. Preferably, the connecting section of each of these lid components may be provided on the lateral end section.
[0022] Thereby, these corresponding lid components can be connected to the defined portions of these lid components, such that the integrity and functionality of the lid can be ensured.
[0023] For example, the connecting section may be formed as a surface section which preferably may face a direction transverse to the attachment direction. Alternatively or additionally, the connecting section may be formed as a flange portion which may extend laterally from the skirt portion and preferably extends transversely to the capping portion along the outer contour of the corresponding lid component. For example, the flange portion may preferably extend along the outer contour of the lateral end section. For example, in the lid, these lid components may be glued to each other through at least one of their corresponding connecting sections.
[0024] Thereby, these corresponding lid components can be aligned and connected on the outer surface of the lid. Thus, the structure for joining these lid components does not interfere with other structures of these lid components. Additionally, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the separate wall portions of the lid component to provide sufficient surface for applying glue (e.g., in the form of glue dots). Instead, these two lid components can be connected across the upper surface and along the skirt portion.
[0025] Alternatively or additionally, the connecting section may be formed as a hinge section. At least two of these lid components may be integrally molded with the hinge section to bring these at least two lid components into at least partial abutment by folding two corresponding lid components towards each other.
[0026] Thereby, the assembly and production of the lid can be simplified and an overall connection between such lid components can be ensured. It should be noted that, despite this overall configuration of the connecting section, these corresponding lid components can still be considered "separate" lid components because each of the lid components connected in this way can be molded independently of the other lid component.
[0027] According to another preferred embodiment, the lid may further comprise a member for providing barrier properties and / or for applying a lifting force to the capping portion by unfolding between the capping portion and the edge portion of the container when the lid closes the opening. For example, the member may provide a barrier against oxygen and / or moisture. The member may be disc-shaped. In the lid, the member may be disposed in the receiving space between the capping portion and the fastening structure. Preferably, the member may abut against and / or completely cover the upper surface (on the opposite side of the upper surface) of the capping portion. For example, the member may be glued to the capping portion on the inner side of the lid. Preferably, the member may comprise plastic, foam, paper, metal, or any combination thereof. Alternatively or additionally, the member may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The member may comprise or be made of an elastic and / or heat-sealable material.
[0028] Thereby, an oxygen or moisture barrier can be provided for the lid, which can ensure the shelf life and integrity of the food contained in the container. Depending on the material configuration of the member, the member can also be heat-sealed to the edge portion, for example, by applying induction sealing. Additionally, since the compression of the member may result in additional frictional forces between structures that engage with each other, the strength or tightness of the screwing or snap connection between the lid and the container can be increased.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the lid, the capping portion, the skirt portion, and / or the fastening structure may comprise a coating or laminate for providing barrier properties and / or increasing surface friction. Preferably, the coating or laminate may be a biodegradable substance or material. Preferably, the coating or laminate may provide a barrier against oxygen and / or moisture.
[0030] According to the above configuration, since the entry of moisture and / or oxygen can be prevented, the shelf life of the product closed by the lid can be increased. In addition, the strength or tightness of the screwing connection or snap connection between the lid and the container can be increased.
[0031] According to another preferred embodiment, the lid may further comprise a lid manipulation member for manually manipulating the lid. The lid manipulation member may preferably comprise a top portion including an outer surface extending along the outer periphery. In addition, the lid manipulation member may comprise a second skirt portion that may extend from the outer periphery of the top portion and may define a second receiving space together with a second inner side for at least partially or completely receiving two or more lid components on a side opposite to the outer surface.
[0032] Thus, these lid components can be provided on the inner side of the covering or top lid, which can be freely designed without any fastening means being provided on the inner side. Therefore, the lid actuating component can be made of molded pulp without technical difficulties. In addition, the lid actuating component can be provided with a desired shape, texture or thickness (such as a relatively thin material thickness) since the lid actuating component is not exposed to the mechanical forces generated by the attachment of the lid to the edge portion. Thus, the molded pulp lid of the present invention can replicate various shapes and designs of existing plastic lids, such that ergonomic and haptic design considerations can also be taken into account in lid design.
[0033] Preferably, these lid components can be received in and / or connected to the lid actuating component inside the second receiving space. The connection can preferably be established respectively by adhesive bonding, press-fit connection and / or snap-fit connection between the upper surface and the second inner side of the second skirt portion. Alternatively or additionally, the above-mentioned connection can be established respectively between the skirt portion of these lid components and the second inner side of the second skirt portion.
[0034] Thus, these lid components including the fastening means can be firmly placed in the lid actuating component and connected to the lid actuating component. Thus, not only can the function of the fastening means be provided for the lid, but also the design freedom to design the shape and texture of the lid actuating component, which will be manipulated (and mainly visible) by the user, can be maintained.
[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the individual (separate) components of the lid (i.e., at least the lid component and the lid actuating component) can be connected to each other by adhesive closure (e.g., material bonding), form closure and / or force closure. Preferably, the lid actuating component can include second surface features for clamping these lid components on the inner side of the second skirt portion to transmit torque and / or force to these lid components. Preferably, these second surface features can correspond to surface features provided on the outer side of the skirt portion and / or the outer side of the capping portion and / or surface features provided on one or more of these connecting sections (if provided).
[0036] Thus, torque and / or force can be transmitted from the lid actuating component to these lid components via the second surface features. For example, the screwing movement of the lid by the user can be transmitted from the lid actuating component to these lid components and then to the fastening structure.
[0037] According to another preferred embodiment, the lid and / or the lid actuating member may have a non-circular, square or rectangular cross-section. Alternatively or additionally, when viewed in the attachment direction, the lid and / or preferably the second receiving space may be non-circular, square, rectangular or circular. Preferably, the lid members may have complementary shapes to bring and / or transmit torque to the lid actuating member and / or transmit the torque from the lid actuating member when the lid is turned about the attachment direction.
[0038] Thereby, the design and shape of the lid can be adjusted according to the lid application.
[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the lid or the lid actuating member may comprise a material thickness between 100 μm and 6 mm, between 100 μm and 3 mm, or between 150 μm and 2 mm, or between 200 μm and 1 mm.
[0040] Thereby, the lid can be provided with a thickness that promotes induction sealing, which makes the lid particularly suitable for food applications that require an initial seal of the food container using a heat-sealable film (such as a member).
[0041] According to another preferred embodiment, the lid, each of the lid members and / or the lid actuating member may (preferably completely) be made of pulp. Wherein, the pulp may preferably comprise at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% of cellulose fiber material. The cellulose fiber material or the pulp may preferably be selected from the group consisting of bamboo, sugar cane, beetroot, wood, fiber crops, waste paper, rags or combinations thereof. Preferably, the lid can (be configured to) be recyclable in a paper recycling system and / or be compostable.
[0042] Wherein, the expression "recyclable" may be understood as, for example, a material that can be completely reused to produce new products or for new purposes after being mechanically processed or chemically processed using industrial processes or natural processes. For example, the pulp material used in the present invention can be collected after use and mixed with water and chemicals to decompose it, for example, for repulping. In order to successfully recycle the material, the amount of the plastic coating on the recycled material or the amount of the polymer content in the recyclable material may be at most about 50% of its total weight, preferably at most about 5% of its total weight. In addition, the term "compostable" may be understood as meaning, for example, that the material can be substantially decomposed into organic matter within a few weeks or months when composted. This can be done in industrial composting sites and / or home composters. International standards (such as EU 13432 or US ASTM D6400) provide a legal framework for specifying the technical requirements and procedures for determining the compostability of materials.
[0043] Thereby, the recyclability and / or compostability of the lid can be ensured.
[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the lid may comprise two lid parts which may be formed as two complementary halves of the lid. Preferably, the lid may comprise a parting plane which may extend along the attachment direction and through the center of the capping portion.
[0045] Thereby, a particularly advantageous design can be provided for the lid to reliably produce the lid by molding pulp.
[0046] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system for storing food products. The system comprises a container for receiving food products. The container comprises an opening which is surrounded by a circumferential edge portion. The system further comprises the above-mentioned removable lid for removably closing the opening. According to another preferred embodiment, the system may be recyclable. According to a preferred embodiment, the container may be filled with food products such as coffee (e.g., roasted and ground coffee or soluble coffee powder); coffee powder mixtures such as a combination of soluble coffee, whitening agent and optional sweetener; malt beverages; milkshake powder; chocolate beverage powder; milk powder; infant formula; flavor powder; sauce; spice or confectionery, and is preferably hermetically sealed by the member sealable to the edge portion. According to a preferred embodiment, the container may comprise a second fastening structure which may be configured to correspond to the fastening structure of the lid. According to another preferred embodiment, the lid may be removably connected to the container. For example, the lid may be removably connected to the container by reversible engagement of the fastening structure and the second fastening structure.
[0047] In addition to the above advantages of the lid, the system of the present invention also facilitates providing a fully recyclable system for storing food products without compromising the product integrity and shelf life of the product to be stored. Description of the Drawings
[0048] Additional features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when reading the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In cases where numbers are omitted from the figures for clarity, corresponding features may still be present in the figures.
[0049] Figure 1 A perspective view of a lid part according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0050] Figure 2 A perspective view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, the lid being formed by Figure 1 the two lid parts shown.
[0051] Figure 3 A perspective view of a lid with a lid manipulation part according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0052] Figure 4 Shows a perspective view of two lid parts according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] Figure 5 Shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description
[0054] Figures 1 to 5 Shows different views and aspects of different embodiments of the removable lid 100 and the system 200 for storing food products according to the present invention. Among them, Figures 1 to 5 Shows different views, aspects and components of the removable lid 100 in different embodiments of the present invention. Figure 5 Shows an embodiment of the system 200 according to the present invention.
[0055] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a removable lid 100 that is adapted to (and / or configured to) close an opening 211 in an attachment direction 190. Figures 1 to 3 And Figure 5 Shows different exemplary embodiments of the lid 100. The lid 100 is configured to engage with a container 210 (such as a jar) that is adapted to (and / or configured to) contain a food product 220 and includes a circumferential edge portion 212 around the opening 211. Figure 5 Exemplarily shows the lid 100 attached to the container 210. As can be seen from this figure, the lid 100 can preferably completely cover the opening 211. Among them, the lid 100 can close the opening 211 towards the side opposite to the attachment direction 190. Preferably, when attached to the container 210, the lid 100 can form a side surface and / or a physical barrier of the container 210. Preferably, the attachment direction 190 can be orthogonal to the surface defined by the edge portion 212. The lid 100 can be placed above the opening 211 by moving relative to the container 210 along the attachment direction.
[0056] The lid 100 can have any shape. The lid 100 can be a solid of revolution. For example, when viewed in the attachment direction 190 (e.g., top view), the lid 100 can be symmetric, asymmetric, non-circular, square, rectangular, or circular. The lid 100 can preferably have a non-circular, square, or rectangular cross-section. Figure 2 And Figure 3 Shows the lid 100 that is exemplarily rectangular in shape when viewed in the attachment direction 190. Figure 5 Shows the lid 100 having a rectangular cross-section.
[0057] The lid 100 includes a capping portion 110. Figures 1 to 5The cover part 110 is shown by way of example. The cover part 110 includes an upper surface 111 for covering the opening 211 of the container 210. The upper surface 111 may be continuous to cover the opening 211. Preferably, the upper surface 111 may be defined by an outer peripheral edge or rim 112 ( Figure 1 ). Preferably, the cover part 110 may form the top of the cap 100 in the normal operating position.
[0058] In addition, the cap 100 includes a skirt part 120. Figures 1 to 5 The skirt part 120 is shown by way of example. The skirt part 120 extends from the cover part 110. Preferably, the skirt part 120 may extend from the upper surface 111. For example, the skirt part 120 may extend continuously or intermittently circumferentially from the cover part 110. Thus, it is conceivable that the skirt part 120 may be formed by a plurality of sections arranged circumferentially discontinuously around the cover part 110 (preferably, the upper surface 111 or the outer rim 112). The skirt part 120 circumferentially defines, together with the cover part 110, a receiving space 105 (e.g., defining the (physical) boundaries of the receiving space 105) for receiving the edge part 212 inside the cap 100 when closing the opening 211 using the cap 100. Figure 5 It is shown by way of example how the edge part 212 can be received inside the receiving space 105 when the container 210 and the cap 100 are placed together to close the opening 211.
[0059] The cap 100 includes a fastening structure 140 for providing a form-fit and / or force-fit connection. For example, the fastening structure 140 may be an internally screw-on connector and / or an internally snap-in connector. The fastening structure 140 projects laterally into the receiving space 105 from the lateral inner side 121 of the skirt part 120 in a direction transverse to the attachment direction 190. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is shown by way of example. Herein, "lateral" may generally be understood as being lateral, for example, with respect to the direction in which the skirt part 120 extends from the cover part 110 and / or with respect to the attachment direction 190. For example, the lateral inner side 121 may be the inner surface of the skirt part 120. Preferably, the lateral inner side 121 may preferably extend continuously circumferentially along (or together with) the outer rim 112 of the cover part 110.
[0060] Preferably, the fastening structure 140 may include one or more fastening elements 141. For example, the fastening element 141 may include an internal thread and / or a snap-fit connector. For example, these fastening elements may be considered typical examples of elements for establishing a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection. However, other configurations of the fastening element 141 can be envisioned. The fastening element 141 may extend partially or intermittently along the circumferential portion of the skirt portion 120. Alternatively or additionally, the fastening element 141 may be circumferentially distributed around the skirt portion 120. For example, the fastening element 141 may be circumferentially uniformly distributed around the skirt portion 120. The fastening element 141 may be provided as one or more opposing pairs on the lateral inner side 121, and the one or more opposing pairs may be disposed on opposite sides relative to the receiving space 105. Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 Exemplarily, it is shown that the inner side 121 of the skirt portion may be provided with an internal thread as the fastening structure 140, which is formed by its discontinuous thread sections 142 as the fastening element 141.
[0061] The cover 100 is composed of two or more separate and connected cover parts 101, 102, and the two or more separate and connected cover parts are complementary to each other to form the cover 100. The cover parts 101, 102 may have the same or different configurations from each other. In Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the cover 100 is exemplarily shown as being composed of two cover parts 101, 102 that are formed as complementary halves of the cover 100. Preferably, when viewed in a top view, the cover parts 101, 102 may have a triangular or semi-elliptical shape.
[0062] Preferably, each of the cover parts 101, 102 may include a lateral end section 150, in which the corresponding cover parts 101, 102 are open on a side opposite to the lateral inner side 121. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is exemplarily shown. Preferably, the cover 100 may be configured such that at least two of the cover parts 101, 102 may abut against each other at their respective lateral end sections 150. In the cover 100, the cover parts 101, 102 may be aligned along the lateral end sections 150 of the cover parts 101, 102. For example, the lateral end section 150 may be the front side or the outer peripheral edge (section) that extends transversely to the circumferential direction of the cover parts 101, 102.
[0063] Each of the lid members 101, 102 may preferably include one or more connecting sections 160 for forming a connection between at least two of the lid members 101, 102. For example, the connecting section 160 of each of the lid members 101, 102 may be provided on the lateral end section 150. This is exemplified in Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 . Various configurations of the connecting section 160 can be contemplated:
[0064] For example, at least one of the connecting sections 160 may be formed as a flange portion 161. Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate such a configuration. The flange portion 161 may extend laterally from the skirt portion 120. Alternatively or additionally, the flange portion 161 may extend transversely to the lid portion 110. Preferably, the flange portion 161 may extend along the outer contour of the respective lid members 101, 102 and / or along the outer contour of the lateral end section 150.
[0065] Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the connecting sections 160 may be formed as a surface section 162. The surface section 162 may preferably be configured such that the surface section faces a direction transverse to the attachment direction 190. This is exemplified in Figure 4 .
[0066] Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the connecting sections 160 may be formed as a hinge section. For example, at least two of the lid members 101, 102 may be integrally molded with the hinge section. Thus, by folding two corresponding lid members 101, 102 onto each other, at least two of the lid members 101, 102 may be at least partially in contact.
[0067] Generally speaking, it can be contemplated that in the lid 100, the lid members 101, 102 may be glued to each other on at least one of their respective connecting sections 160. For example, Figure 2 shows two lid members 101, 102 glued to each other along their respective flange portions 161 to form the lid 100.
[0068] Each of the lid members 101, 102 is integrally formed by molded pulp. For example, each of the lid members 101, 102 may form a single piece or article.
[0069] At least two of the lid components 101, 102 each include at least one section of the fastening structure 140. The section of the fastening structure 140 may include at least one fastening element among the fastening elements 141. Thus, preferably, each of the lid components 101, 102 may include at least one fastening element or a section among the fastening elements 141. For example, Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 exemplarily shows that each of the lid components 101, 102 may include at least one section 142 which is an internal thread of the fastening structure 140.
[0070] The lid 100 may preferably include at least one parting line and / or parting surface 180. The lid 100 may be configured such that two of the lid components 101, 102 sandwich the parting line and / or parting surface 180 therebetween. By appropriately defining the parting line and / or parting surface 180, demolding can be facilitated and / or simplified. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 exemplarily shows the lid 100 including at least one parting surface 180 which may extend along the attachment direction 190 and pass through the center point of the upper surface 111 of the capping portion 110.
[0071] The parting line and / or parting surface 180 may extend at least partially between the adjacent lid components 101, 102. Thus, the parting line and / or parting surface 180 may pass through the physical boundary between the individual lid components 101, 102. Figure 2 and Figure 5 show this. The parting line and / or parting surface 180 may intersect the center of the capping portion 110. Alternatively or additionally, the parting line and / or parting surface 180 may intersect at least one section of the capping portion 110 and the skirt portion 120. Preferably, the parting surface 180 may define each of the lid components 101, 102 such that any cross-section of the corresponding lid component 101, 102 in a direction perpendicular to the parting surface 180 includes a geometric structure on the inner side defining the receiving space 105 without undercuts or negative draft angles. The fastening element 141 may be arranged on the opposite side with respect to the parting line and / or parting surface 180.
[0072] Preferably, the lid 100 may further include a member 170 for providing barrier properties, such as an oxygen or moisture barrier. Alternatively or additionally, the member 170 may be configured to apply a lifting force to the capping portion 110 by unfolding between the capping portion 110 and the edge portion 212 of the container 210 when the lid 100 closes the opening 211. This is in Figure 5Exemplarily illustrated in the figure. The member 170 may have any shape, such as a disk. In the lid 100, the member 170 may preferably be disposed in the receiving space 105 between the capping portion 110 and the fastening structure 140. Among them, the member 170 may abut against and / or completely cover the upper surface 111 of the capping portion 110. For example, the member 170 may be glued to the capping portion 110 on the inner side of the lid 100. The member 170 may include plastic, foam, paper, metal, or any combination thereof. In addition, the member 170 may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. Alternatively or additionally, the member 170 may include elastic and / or heat-sealable materials.
[0073] The lid 100 may further include a lid manipulation member 103 for manually manipulating the lid 100. Figure 3 An example of the configuration of the lid manipulation member 103 is shown. The lid manipulation member 103 may have any shape. For example, the lid manipulation member 103 may have a non-circular, square, or rectangular cross-section. Alternatively or additionally, when viewed in the attachment direction 190, the lid manipulation member 103 may be non-circular, square, rectangular, or circular. The lid manipulation member 103 may be cup-shaped and / or may form a top cover. Alternatively or additionally, the lid manipulation member 103 may include a top portion 131 that includes an outer surface 132 extending between outer peripheral edges 133. In addition, the lid manipulation member 103 may include a second skirt portion 134 that may extend from the outer peripheral edge 133 of the top portion 131 and thereby define, together with the second inner side, a second receiving space for at least partially or completely receiving two or more lid members 101, 102 on a side opposite to the outer surface 132.
[0074] The lid components 101, 102 can be received in the lid actuating component 103. Alternatively or additionally, the lid components 101, 102 can be connected to the lid actuating component 103. The lid components 101, 102 can be fixed to the inside of the second receiving space, for example, by an adhesive bond between the outer surface sections of the lid components 101, 102 (such as the upper surface 111 and / or the skirt portion 120) and the second inner side of the second skirt portion 134. Alternatively or additionally, the lid components 101, 102 can be fixed to the inside of the second receiving space by means of a press fit or snap fit connection between the lid components 101, 102 or more specifically a press fit or snap fit connection between at least one of the upper surface 111 and the skirt portion 120 and the second inner side of the second skirt portion 134. For this purpose, the lid actuating component 103 can include second surface features for clamping the lid components 101, 102 on the inner side of the second skirt portion 134 to transmit torque and / or force to the lid components 101, 102. The second surface features can preferably correspond to the surface features provided on the outer side of the skirt portion 120 and / or the capping portion 110. It is also conceivable that surface features can be provided on one or more of the connecting sections 160, which preferably can correspond to the second surface features.
[0075] When viewed in the attachment direction 190, the second receiving space can be non-circular, square, rectangular or circular. The lid components 101, 102 can be configured to have a shape that facilitates bringing and / or transmitting torque to and / or from the lid actuating component 103 when the lid 100 is turned about the attachment direction 190 (such as when the lid 100 is actuated).
[0076] For example, Figure 2 and Figure 4Exemplarily, it is illustrated that the lid 100 may have a non-circular, approximately rectangular shape in a top view, and the parting surface 180 may extend diagonally between two larger lateral sides of the lid 100. Preferably, the lid parts 101, 102 may form complementary (triangular) halves of the lid 100. The lid 100 may further include a lid actuating part 103, wherein the second receiving space also has a non-circular, approximately rectangular shape in a top view. Thus, the shape of the second receiving space may correspond to the (triangular) shape of the lid parts 101, 102 such that the lid parts 101, 102 cannot move inside the second receiving space. Therefore, such a configuration of the lid 100 may be particularly advantageous when torque or force is to be transmitted from the lid actuating part 103 to the fastening structure 140, such as when the internal thread of the lid 100 engages with the external thread of the edge part 211, there may be torque or force. In addition, the lid parts 101, 102 may only have to be fixed to the lid actuating part 103 by glue points on their upper surfaces 111 to provide mechanical stability, while the lateral provision of glue may be omitted (but of course the glue may also be applied).
[0077] The lid 100, the lid parts 101, 102 and the lid actuating part 103 may each be made entirely of pulp. Among them, the pulp may contain at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% of cellulose fiber material. The cellulose fiber material may optionally be selected from the group consisting of bamboo, sugarcane, beetroot, wood, fiber crops, waste paper, rags or combinations thereof. Preferably, the lid 100 and / or its components may be configured to be recyclable in a paper recycling system and / or may be configured to be compostable. The lid 100, the lid parts 101, 102 and / or the lid actuating part 103 may have a material thickness between 100 μm and 6 mm, 100 μm and 3 mm, or 150 μm and 2 mm, or 200 μm and 1 mm.
[0078] It is also conceivable that the lid 100 or any one of its structures or components may include a coating or a surface laminate for providing barrier properties. The coating or laminate may be a biodegradable substance or material. For example, the lid actuating part 103 or the capping part 110, the skirt part 120 and / or the fastening structure 140 may include a coating or a laminate for providing barrier properties and / or for increasing surface friction. For example, a barrier against oxygen and moisture may be provided by thermally laminating a biodegradable lining (such as BVOH) or a lining (such as PP / EVOH). In addition, by providing such a laminate, an increased friction and tightness with the glass line of the container 210 may be provided.
[0079] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system 200 for storing food products 220. Figure 5 The configuration of the system 200 is exemplarily shown. Preferably, all components of the system 200 may be recyclable individually and / or jointly.
[0080] System 200 includes a container 210 for receiving a food product 220. For example, the container 210 can be a can, a box, or a vessel. The container 210 includes a circumferential edge portion 212 around an opening 211, and preferably, the food product 220 can be removed from or added to the container 210 through the opening before the container 220 is removably closed using a lid. To this end, the system 200 includes the removable lid 100 described above, which can preferably be removably connected to the container 210.
[0081] The container 210 can be filled with a food product 220, such as coffee (e.g., roasted and ground coffee or soluble coffee powder); a coffee powder mixture, such as a combination of soluble coffee, whitening agent, and optional sweetener; a malt beverage; a milkshake powder; a chocolate beverage powder; milk powder; infant formula; a flavor powder; a sauce; a spice; or a confectionery. Preferably, the container 210 can include a second fastening structure 214, which can be configured to correspond to the fastening structure 140 of the lid 100 to form a reversible form-fit and / or force-fit connection. Thus, the fastening structure 140 and the second fastening structure 214 can be reversibly engaged to removably connect the lid 100 to the container 210. Preferably, the member 170 of the lid 100 can be heat-sealed to the edge portion 212 to provide a preliminary seal for the enclosed food product 220.
[0082] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above herein, as long as it is covered by the appended claims. All features of the embodiments described above can be combined in any possible way and provided interchangeably.
Claims
1. A removable lid (100) for closing an opening (211) of a container (210) for receiving a food product (220) in an attachment direction (190), the container (210) having a circumferential edge portion (212) around the opening (211). Wherein the lid (100) consists of two or more separate and connected lid parts (101, 102), the two or more separate and connected lid parts being integrally formed by molded pulp respectively and being complementary to each other to form the lid (100). Wherein the lid (100) comprises: - A capping portion (110) having an upper surface (111) for covering the opening (211) of the container (210). - A skirt portion (120) extending from the capping portion (110) to circumferentially define an accommodation space (105) together with the capping portion (110), the accommodation space for receiving the edge portion (212) inside the lid (100) when closing the opening (211) with the lid (100), and - A fastening structure (140) for providing a form-fit and / or force-fit connection, wherein the fastening structure (140) projects laterally from the lateral inner side (121) of the skirt portion (120) into the accommodation space in a direction transverse to the attachment direction (190). Wherein at least two of the lid parts (101, 102) each comprise at least one section of the fastening structure (140).
2. The lid (100) according to claim 1, wherein the lid (100) comprises at least one parting line and / or parting surface (180), the at least one parting line and / or parting surface extending at least partially between adjacent lid parts (101, 102) and / or through the physical boundary between separate lid parts (101, 102), and Wherein preferably, the parting line and / or parting surface (180) intersects the center of the upper surface (111), or intersects at least one section of the capping portion (110) and the skirt portion (120), and / or Wherein preferably, the parting surface (180) defines each of the lid parts (101, 102) such that any cross-section of the corresponding lid part (101, 102) in a direction perpendicular to the parting surface (180) includes a geometric structure on the inner side defining the accommodation space (105) without undercuts or negative draft angles.
3. The lid (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fastening structure (140) comprises one or more fastening elements (141), such as internal threads and / or snap-fit connectors, wherein preferably, each of the lid parts (101, 102) comprises at least one fastening element or a section of the fastening elements (141). wherein the fastening element (141) extends partially or intermittently along the circumferential direction of the skirt portion (120), and / or wherein the fastening element (141) is preferably evenly distributed around the circumferential direction of the skirt portion (120), and / or wherein the fastening element (141) is arranged as one or more opposing pairs on the lateral inner side (121), the one or more opposing pairs being arranged on opposite sides with respect to the receiving space (105) and / or preferably on opposite sides with respect to the parting line and / or parting surface (180).
4. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the lid parts (101, 102) of the lid comprises a lateral end section (150), in which the respective lid part (101, 102) is open on a side opposite to the lateral inner side (121), wherein preferably, in the lid (100), at least two of the lid parts (101, 102) abut against each other at their respective lateral end sections (150), and / or at least two of the lid parts (101, 102) sandwich the parting line and / or parting surface (180).
5. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the lid parts (101, 102) comprises one or more connecting sections (160) for forming a connection between at least two of the lid parts (101, 102), wherein preferably, the connecting sections (160) of each of the lid parts (101, 102) are provided on the lateral end section (150), and wherein preferably, the connecting section (160) is formed as - a flange portion (161) that extends laterally from the skirt portion (120) and preferably extends transversely to the capping portion (110) along the outer contour of the respective lid part (101, 102), preferably along the outer contour of the lateral end section (150), - a surface section (162) that preferably faces a direction transverse to the attachment direction (190), and / or - a hinge section, wherein at least two of the lid parts (101, 102) are integrally molded with the hinge section to bring the at least two lid parts (101, 102) into at least partial abutment by folding two respective lid parts (101, 102) towards each other, and / or wherein preferably, in the lid (100), the lid parts (101, 102) are glued to each other through at least one of their respective connecting sections (160).
6. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (100) further preferably comprises a disc-shaped member (170) for providing barrier properties and / or for applying a lifting force to the capping portion (110) by unfolding between the capping portion (110) and the edge portion (212) of the container (210) when the lid (100) closes the opening (211). Preferably, the member (170) comprises plastic, foam, paper, metal, or any combination thereof, and / or Preferably, the member (170) has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and / or Preferably, the member (170) comprises an elastic and / or heat-sealable material, and / or Preferably, in the lid (100), the member (170) is disposed in the receiving space (105) between the capping portion (110) and the fastening structure (140). More preferably, the member (170) abuts against and / or completely covers the upper surface (111) of the capping portion (110). Even more preferably, the member (170) is glued to the capping portion (110) on the inner side of the lid (100).
7. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (100), the capping portion (110), the skirt portion (120), and / or the fastening structure (140) comprise a coating or laminate for providing barrier properties and / or increasing surface friction. Preferably, the coating or laminate is a biodegradable substance or material.
8. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the lid further comprising a lid manipulation member (103) for manually manipulating the lid (100), wherein the lid manipulation member (103) comprises: - a top portion (131) comprising an outer surface (132) extending between outer peripheries (133), and - a second skirt portion (134) extending from the outer periphery (133) of the top portion (131) and defining a second receiving space together with a second inner side for at least partially or completely receiving the two or more lid components (101, 102) on a side opposite to the outer surface (132). Wherein the lid components (101, 102) are received in the lid manipulation member (103) inside the second receiving space and / or connected to the lid manipulation member, preferably by an adhesive bond, a press fit, or a snap fit connection between the upper surface (111) of the lid components (101, 102) or the skirt portion (120) and the second inner side of the second skirt portion (134).
9. The lid (100) according to claim 8 above, wherein the lid actuating member (103) includes a second surface feature for clamping the lid members (101, 102) on the inner side of the second skirt portion (134) to transmit torque and / or force to the lid members (101, 102), wherein the second surface feature preferably corresponds to a surface feature provided on the outer side of the skirt portion (120) and / or the capping portion (110) and / or preferably provided on one or more connecting sections in the connecting section (160).
10. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (100), preferably the lid actuating member (103), has a non-circular, square or rectangular cross-section, and / or wherein when viewed in the attachment direction (190), the lid (100), preferably the second receiving space, is non-circular, square, rectangular or circular. wherein preferably, the lid members (101, 102) have complementary shapes to bring and / or transmit torque to the lid actuating member (103) and / or transmit the torque from the lid actuating member when the lid (100) is turned about the attachment direction (190).
11. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (100), preferably the lid actuating member (103), includes a material thickness between 100 μm and 6 mm, 100 μm and 3 mm, or 150 μm and 2 mm, or 200 μm and 1 mm.
12. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each lid member in the lid (100) and / or the lid members (101, 102) and / or preferably the lid actuating member (103) is preferably made entirely of pulp, wherein the pulp preferably contains at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% of cellulose fiber material, the cellulose fiber material preferably being selected from the group consisting of bamboo, sugar cane, beetroot, wood, fiber crops, waste paper, rags or combinations thereof, and / or wherein the lid (100) can be recycled in a paper recycling system and / or is compostable.
13. The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (100) includes two lid members (101, 102) formed as two complementary halves of the lid (100), wherein preferably, the lid (100) includes a parting surface (180) extending along the attachment direction (190) through the center of the capping portion (110).
14. A system (200) for storing food products (220), the system comprising: - A container (210) for receiving a food product (220), the container having an opening (211), the container having a circumferential edge portion (212) surrounding the opening (211), and - A removable lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, the removable lid being for removably closing the opening (211).
15. The system (200) according to the preceding claim 14, wherein the container (210) comprises a second fastening structure (214) configured to correspond to the fastening structure (140) of the lid (100), and / or wherein the lid (100) is removably connectable to the container (210), preferably by reversible engagement of the fastening structure (140) and the second fastening structure (214), and / or wherein the container (210) is filled with a food product (220), such as coffee, and is preferably hermetically sealed by sealing the member (170) to the edge portion (212), and / or wherein the system (200) is recyclable.