Sealing device for catering trays

Abstract

A locking device (1) which is reversibly connectable to a gastronorm tray (30) covered by a lid (31), comprising a first locking element (2) and a second locking element (3), each of which extends along a longitudinal axis (52) from a first end (4) to an opposite second end (5) and has a hook (10) at its respective first end (4) which is configured to engage an edge of the lid (31) and the gastronorm tray (30), wherein the locking elements (2, 3) have locking devices (50, 51) at their second ends (5) by which they can be reversibly locked to one another when their longitudinal axes (52) are aligned along a common longitudinal axis (52), comprising a seal (63) which, in the locked state, can be connected to the second ends (5) of both locking elements (2, 3) and is configured to facilitate the subsequent release of the locked state to display.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device with a sealing function, which is adapted for closing catering trays whose opening is covered by a lid. The closure device has the advantage that it can be easily attached to catering trays with lids, has a seal that indicates when the lid has been lifted from the tray, and is reusable with a new seal.

[0002] Due to its shape, the closure device cannot be removed once attached to a food tray covered by a lid without breaking the seal. A further advantage is that with a closure device whose seal features a passive RFID transponder, the RFID transponder can be addressed and read when several such food trays are stacked tightly on top of one another, e.g., held on rails in a rack. The food trays are made of stainless steel, and the lids covering their openings are made of stainless steel, optionally with a circumferential plastic seal, e.g., silicone.

[0003] Accordingly, the invention also relates to the use of the closure on at least two, at least three, preferably at least four stainless steel trays covered with lids, which are arranged one above the other in a stack, e.g. with a vertical distance of 5 to 30 mm, preferably a vertical distance of up to 20 mm or up to 10 mm, as well as for reading the seals which have a passive RFID transponder.

[0004] In general, passive RFID transponders are preferred as seals.

[0005] Optionally, each lidded tray is placed separately in a plastic box, optionally sealed with a plastic lid, forming a stack that, for example, is placed on a Euro pallet. The plastic boxes in a stack, each containing a lidded tray, are preferably Euro boxes according to VDA, e.g., size E1, E2, or E3.

[0006] WO 2017 / 004084 A1 describes an opening indicator for a carton with at least two oppositely hinged flaps, the two halves of which are fixed to the flaps and are connected to each other by closing the flaps.

[0007] US 2008 / 0149584 A1 describes a cap for a transparent bottle made of polymer and having an RFID chip that is separated from its antenna when opened.

[0008] FR 3 105 193 A1 describes a seal for bottles which has two arms which are hinged together and whose free ends lock together when applied around a bottle opening.

[0009] The invention aims to provide a closure device for lidded catering trays that can be provided with a seal and cannot be removed non-destructively without breaking the seal. The closure device should be reusable with a new seal and easy to attach to a catering tray. Preferably, the closure device should be capable of reading a passive transponder used as a seal even when it is attached to a stainless steel catering tray with a stainless steel lid that is concealed in a tight stack of catering trays.

[0010] The invention solves the problem with the features of the claims and provides a closure device that can be reversibly connected to a tray covered by a lid and can be secured with a seal.

[0011] The closure device comprises a first closure element and a second closure element, each of which extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to an opposite second end and has a hook at the respective first end which is designed to engage over an edge of the lid and the tray, wherein the closure elements have locking devices at their second ends at which they can be reversibly locked to one another when their longitudinal axes are aligned along a common longitudinal axis, and have a seal which, in the locked state of the closure elements, is connectable to the second ends of both closure elements and is designed to indicate the subsequent release of the locked state, or the closure device consists thereof.Each closure element has at its first end a handle section with a contact side which, in the locked state, extends into a common plane, wherein the contact sides of the handle sections preferably rest on the lid of a gastro tray after attachment to the latter, and an upper side opposite the contact side to which the seal can be attached or on which the seal is attached in the locked state after attachment to a gastro tray.

[0012] The seal extends over two interlocked handle sections, so that releasing the lock when removing the closure device from a gastro tray with a lid will break the seal.

[0013] The seal can be applied directly to the adjacent upper surfaces of the handle sections of two interlocked closure elements, e.g. by gluing or by arranging a section of the seal through holes in the closure elements, similar to a wired lead seal. Optionally, the area in which the closure elements are interlocked and a part of the seal lying in this area is covered by a clamp element. The clamp element, which covers the interlocked ends of two closure elements, secures the interlocked ends against accidental release. Optionally, the seal can be applied to one or both of the interlocked handle sections and a clamp element that covers the interlocked ends of the handle sections. Optionally, the handle sections have recesses adjacent to the second ends that can be interlocked, into which recesses a clamp element engages.Preferably, the recesses have dimensions that accommodate a clamp element until its free surfaces are flush with the top of the handle sections.

[0014] In one embodiment, e.g. in the case of handle sections made of metal, the seal is preferably only optically readable and has, e.g. only a printed code.

[0015] Optionally, the seal comprises an RFID transponder connected to a first conductor track, the severing of which triggers a signal in the transponder that can be read when the transponder is interrogated. The seal is applied, e.g., glued, to the adjacent upper surfaces of the handle sections of two interlocked closure elements and covered by a clamp element that has an attachment piece on the surface facing the handle sections and the seal applied thereto. This attachment piece acts as a severing means by severing the first conductor track when the clamp element is arranged on the handles. The signal triggered in the transponder by the severing of the first conductor track can be read as information that the transponder has been attached to the handles as part of the seal and covered by the clamp element.

[0016] Preferably, the transponder is connected to a second conductor track that runs across both handle sections and / or along one of the handle sections and the clamp element. The transponder is configured such that severing the second conductor track triggers a second signal that can be read when the transponder is interrogated. The second signal can be read as information that the seal has been broken and indicates the opening of the locking mechanism of the handle sections. The second conductor track can, for example, run at a distance from the first conductor track and at a distance from the area toward which the attachment piece of the clamp element is directed in order to act on the first conductor track of the seal.

[0017] The seal preferably comprises a transponder connected to a first conductor track and a second conductor track. The transponder is configured to emit a first readable signal upon interrogation when the first conductor track is severed, and to emit a second readable signal upon interrogation when the second conductor track is severed. The second conductor track can be a portion of a receiving antenna connected to the transponder or a conductor track connecting a receiving antenna to the transponder, so that the second signal represents a reduced range or reduced signal strength, or the absence of a response signal when the transponder is interrogated.

[0018] Attaching the seal to the top of the handle sections has the advantage that a visual marking of the seal is easily recognizable. The seal preferably has a visual marking, in particular in combination with a passive RFID transponder, which preferably has a readable marking. The marking can contain information about the contents of the catering tray, details about the origin of the contents and / or the catering tray. The marking can contain the information directly or be linked to information stored, for example, in a database and assigned to the marking when the seal, in particular a transponder contained in the seal, is read.

[0019] The seal can be connected to at least one or both of the second ends of the closure elements and a clamp element, or to the second ends of both closure elements, by being adhesively bonded to the second ends, and optionally additionally adhesively bonded to a clamp element that covers the second ends. Alternatively, the clamp element can be irreversibly connected to the locked ends of the closure elements, and the seal can be connected only to the clamp element.

[0020] The locking devices are preferably configured such that they can be reversibly locked only by moving the first ends perpendicular to their longitudinal axis or only along their longitudinal axis. The closure elements are thus configured such that their locking cannot be released by moving the closure elements along their longitudinal axis without breaking the seal.

[0021] The closure elements have, at the first end of the handle section opposite their second end, the hook which is designed to engage around the edge of a gastro tray and the edge of a lid resting on the gastro tray.

[0022] Optionally, one or both of the closure elements can have a hook and a handle section, which are composed of metal or consist of one piece or one part of metal, in particular steel, preferably spring steel. In a seal that has a transponder, a handle section made of plastic is preferred. Optionally, at least one or both of the closure elements, which each have a hook and a handle section or consist of them, are composed of plastic, or are composed of one piece or one part, preferably one part. A closure element whose hook is made of plastic or metal can, for example,by hooking the end curve of the hook under the edge of a gastro tray and then pivoting around the end curve until the handle section is arranged in a common plane with the handle section of another closure element for locking, optionally until the handle section rests on the lid that covers the gastro tray, on the gastro tray.

[0023] Each closure element preferably consists of a handle section, e.g. made of metal, preferably of plastic, and a hook formed integrally therewith or connected thereto, which hooks extend along a common longitudinal axis. In the case of a closure element whose handle section is made of plastic, one end of a pull section of the hook is further preferably fixed in the handle section in a form-fitting manner, e.g. by enclosing, in particular by overmolding, one end of the pull section of the hook with plastic, which forms a one-piece handle section. Each closure element preferably consists of a handle section made of plastic at its second end, in which the locking device is arranged, and a hook attached to the opposite first end of the handle section, which hook forms the first end of the closure element, wherein the handle section is preferably irreversibly connected to the hook.the handle section cannot be separated from the hook without causing damage.

[0024] Catering trays that are closed by a closure device when the lid is in place preferably have a rim that lies in one plane and forms a support surface for a lid, with grip recesses formed along the rim, at least on two opposite edge sections, opposite the support surface. Such grip recesses are open at the bottom when the catering tray is aligned with its base horizontally and below the rim, and serve as a grip for, for example, the fingertips of a hand.

[0025] Generally preferred gastro trays and / or their lids are those according to EN 631, in particular according to DIN 66075. Therefore, for the purposes of the invention, a gastro tray can also be referred to as a Gastronorm tray.

[0026] The hook of each closure element is adapted to engage with a gripping recess of the tray which is open relative to the plane of the lid, so that each hook is adapted to engage over an edge of the lid and the tray and to engage in the gripping recess.

[0027] The hooks of the closure elements have, on a pulling section which is connected to the handle section along a common longitudinal axis, a spacer section adjacent to the handle section with a first bend, a support section adjacent to this with a second bend which runs parallel to the plane of the pulling section and is offset by the spacer section, an outer section adjacent to the support section with a third bend, a counter section covered by the support section adjacent to this with a fourth bend, and an engagement section adjacent to this with a fifth bend which is directed towards the support section and ends in a final curve.

[0028] The pull section extends with the handle section along a common longitudinal axis. The spacer section places the support section at a distance from the plane of the pull section, wherein the support section preferably runs parallel to the plane of the spacer section. Due to the first and second bends, by which it is connected to the pull section at one end and to the support section at the other end, the spacer section forms a resilient section which, when the engagement section engages in the handle recess and / or when the outer section rests against a peripheral edge of the gastro tray and its lid, permits a brief resilient movement of the handle sections when they are locked together.

[0029] The first bend preferably has an angle of, for example, 85° to 95°, in particular 90°, and the second bend an angle of, for example, 85° to 95°, in particular 90°. Generally speaking, the third bend preferably has an angle of, for example, 75° to 85°, in particular 90° or less than 90°, and the fourth bend an angle of, for example, 75° to 85°, in particular 90° or less than 90°. The fifth bend preferably has an angle of, for example, 75° to 85°, in particular 90° or less than 90°. In general, the support section, the third bend, the outer section, the fourth bend, the counter section, the fifth bend and the engagement section form a hook with the end bend that is circumferentially closed except for the distance of the end bend from the support section and that extends opposite the spacer section from the support section.The distance of the end arch from the support section forms an opening in the hook opposite the distance section to the support section, which is open to the handle section.

[0030] Furthermore, each closure element is designed with the spacer section to be suitable for use on catering trays with stainless steel lids, as well as for use on catering trays with stainless steel lids featuring a circumferential plastic seal, e.g., made of silicone. The plastic seal surrounding the lid can extend beyond the plane of the lid in which the central part of the lid extends.

[0031] Preferably, each hook consists of a one-piece sheet metal, in particular of spring steel, which is bent only in the bends and the final bend and runs straight in the sections adjacent to and between the bends.

[0032] In one embodiment, each of the closure elements is made in one piece, preferably in one part, from metal, in particular from spring steel, wherein a first and a second closure element have or consist of a hook at their first end and a locking device at their second end, which can be locked together. The locking device of a first closure element can be an elongated hole and the locking device of a second closure element can be a wider end section formed on an undercut region, which can be pushed into the elongated hole and engage displaceably therein. A seal can be glued over the second ends which are locked together and determines the locking position of the locking devices which are locked together. In this case, the handle section including the locking device can lie in the same plane as the pull section in each of the closure elements.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the counter section lies in the plane in which the contact side of the handle section extends, wherein more preferably the upper side of the handle section opposite the contact side extends at a smaller distance from the pull section than from the counter section. Because the counter section lies in a common plane with the contact side of the handle section, the closure element is suitable for resting on the lid with its contact surface when closing a gastro tray covered with a lid, so that when the closure elements are locked together, at least one of the closure elements rests on the lid and is supported by it, and the contact sides of two locked-together closure elements also rest on the lid, while the hook of each closure element engages with a handle recess in the gastro tray.The contact sides of the handle sections resting on the surface facilitates the attachment of the closure device to a lidded catering tray. Generally, the counter section preferably lies within a maximum deviation of ± 3 mm, more preferably a maximum of ± 2 mm or a maximum of ± 1 mm, of the plane in which the contact side of the handle section extends.

[0034] Due to the arrangement of the counter-section of the hook, which lies with a deviation of a maximum of ± 3 mm, more preferably a maximum of ± 2 mm or a maximum of ± 1 mm in the plane in which the contact side of the handle section extends, the closure device comprising two closure elements has a shape which prevents the closure device from being displaced along the lid over its edge or over an edge of the gastro tray bent away from the lid without visibly changing or damaging a closure element.

[0035] The grip section, which has a contact side extending in a common plane with the mating section of the hook, has the advantage that the closure device cannot be separated from the lid by sliding along it without deforming the closure device. This is because the edge of the lid prevents the closure device from sliding over this edge.

[0036] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures shown in - Fig. 1 a side view of a locking device, - Fig. 2 a view of the locking device rotated by 90° from Fig. 1, - Fig. 3 a closure device in section engaging with a gastro tray with lid and circumferential plastic seal, - Fig. 4 a closure device in section in engagement with a gastro tray with a lid made of stainless steel without a plastic seal, - Fig. 5 the hook in detail, - Fig. 6 a clamp element in detail, - Fig. 7 locking elements, - Fig. 8 an exploded view of locked closure elements with seal with transponder, - Fig. 9 a plan view of two one-piece closure elements and - Fig. 10 the closure elements of Fig. 9 in plan view on a gastro tray of preferred designs.

[0037] In the figures, identical reference numerals designate functionally identical elements. Generally, the closure elements are constructed identically and preferably differ only in the length of the grip section and / or the length of the pull section.

[0038] The Fig. 1 shows a closure device 1 comprising a first closure element 2 and a second closure element 3, each of which has a terminal hook 10 at its first end 4 and is locked together at its second end 5 opposite the first end. The locked second ends 5 of the closure elements 2, 3 are covered by an optional clamp element 40. The second ends 5 of the closure elements 2, 3 have recesses 6 into which, for example, side walls 41 of the clamp element 40 engage.

[0039] Each of the closure elements 2, 3 consists of a handle portion 7, which has the second end of each closure element 2, 3, and a hook 10 fixed therein. Each handle portion 7 has an upper side 7o and an opposite contact side 7u, wherein the contact side 7u and a counter portion 14 of the hook 10 lie in a common plane.

[0040] The Fig. 2 shows that side walls 41 of the clamp element 40 engage in recesses 6 at the second ends 5 of the closure elements 2, 3, so that, for example, the side walls 41 of the clamp element 40 can lie flush in a plane with the side surfaces 7s of the handle sections.

[0041] The Fig. 3 shows a vertical section through a gastro tray 30 and a lid 31 resting thereon with a circumferential silicone seal 32 resting on the edge of the gastro tray 30.

[0042] A closure element 2, 3 shown in sections rests with the contact side 7u on the cover 31, while the hook 10 runs along the seal 32 of the cover 31.

[0043] The Fig. 4 shows a vertical section through a catering tray 30 and a lid 31 resting thereon, which consists of a stainless steel sheet and rests with its edge on the edge of the catering tray 30. Here, the hook 10 rests with its support section 13 on the edge of the lid 31, and the handle section 7 rests with its contact side 7u on the lid 31.

[0044] The Fig. 5 shows in detail the hook 10, which is also shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The tension section 11 spans the distance between the handle section 7 and the spacer section 12, which extends after the first bend 17 in the direction of the plane in which the contact side 7u of the handle section 7 lies. In the second bend 18, the spacer section 12 is connected to the support section 13, which extends away from the tension section 11 in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the tension section 11. The support section 13 can rest on the edge of a cover 31. The outer section 14 is arranged by the third bend 19 from the support section 13 in a direction opposite the spacer section 12 and encompasses the outer edges of the lid 31 and the gastro tray 30. The fourth bend 20, which is adjacent to the outer section 14, arranges the counter section 15 attached thereto opposite the support section 13, so that they encompass the superimposed edges of the lid 31 and the gastro tray 30 with the outer section 14.The engagement section 16, which is arranged through the fifth bend 21 in the direction of the support section 13, preferably parallel to the outer section 14, can engage in a handle recess 33 formed on the gastro tray 30. The third bend 19, the fourth bend 20, and the fifth bend 21 are, as generally preferred, designed such that the opening, which is formed by the distance of the end bend 22, which forms the end of the engagement section 16, from the support section 13, forms a spring that can be pushed against the spring tension over the superimposed edges of the lid 31 and the gastro tray 30.

[0045] The Fig. Figure 6 shows a clamp element 40 with side walls 41 that form a U-shape with a common wall 42. On the inner sides of the side walls 41, locking lugs 43 are provided, which can engage in matching recesses 7b of the handle sections 7. According to the preferred embodiment, the clamp element 40 has an extension piece 44 on the surface of the wall 42 facing the locking devices.

[0046] The Fig. Figure 7 shows locking devices 50, 51 arranged at second ends 5 of handle sections 7, which can engage with each other by moving perpendicular to their longitudinal axis 52 and are arranged along the common longitudinal axis 52, forming a tensile connection. A counter-recess 7a is formed in one, optionally in both, of the handle sections 7, into which an extension piece 44 of a clamp element 40 can be arranged as a means for severing when severing a second conductor track 62 connected to a transponder.

[0047] The Fig. Figure 8 shows a preferred embodiment of two handle sections 7 locked at their locking devices 50, 51, which are covered by a seal 63 having an RFID transponder 60 connected to a first conductor track 61 and a second conductor track 62. In the embodiment shown here, the first conductor track 61 is connected to the transponder 60 at both ends and runs in sections along the outer edges of the seal 63, crossing an area between the outer edges of the seal, and, as shown, can cross a central area of ​​the seal. Two areas of a planar dipole antenna 64 are connected to the transponder 60, opposite one another.

[0048] The second conductor track 62, which is connected to the transponder at both ends, runs back and forth in a U-shape along the outer edges of the seal 63. The seal 63 is covered by a clamp element 40 in the area where it covers the locking devices 50, 51 and is preferably glued to them. The clamp element 40 has an extension piece 44 that severs the first conductor track 61. When the clamp element 40, which encompasses the locking devices 50, 51 with its wall 42 and its side walls 41, is arranged, the severing of the first conductor track 61 triggers a first signal in the transponder, which can be read when the transponder is interrogated.Since the severing of the first conductor track 61 is irreversible, the generation of the first signal is also irreversible, so that after the locking devices 50, 51 are locked to a gastro tray with a lid, the transponder 60 is irreversibly modified by the clamp element 40 to generate a readable first signal.

[0049] Preferably, each handle has a counter-recess 7a for receiving the attachment piece 44 in the area in which the attachment piece 44 of a clamp element can be arranged.

[0050] The second conductor track 62 runs at a distance from the area in which the first conductor track 61 can be severed by the extension piece 44, so that the second conductor track 62 is intact when the seal 63 with the transponder 60 thereon covers the locking devices 50, 51 of the locked closure elements 2, 3 and the clamp element 40 at least partially covers the seal 63, wherein the extension piece 44 has severed the first conductor track 61.

[0051] Since the second conductor track 62 of the seal 63 is attached, in particular glued, to both closure elements 2, 3, the second conductor track 62 is interrupted when the locking of the closure elements 2, 3 is opened and triggers a second readable signal in the transponder 60.

[0052] The Fig. 9 shows a closure device 1 with a first and a second closure element 2, 3, each of which is made of one piece, preferably each made of a single piece of spring steel. The first ends 4 each have a hook 10, and the second ends 5 each have a locking device 50, 51 that can be locked together, here in the form of an elongated hole in the second closure element 3 and in the form of an engagement section of the first closure element 2. After the locking devices 50, 51 have been locked and the closure elements 2, 3 have been aligned along a common longitudinal axis 52, a seal 63 is glued over the locked locking devices 50, 51.

[0053] The Fig. 10 shows the closure device 1 of Fig.9 in the locked state of the closure elements 2, 3, whose hooks 10 each engage around opposite edges of the catering tray 30 and the lid 31. A seal 63, e.g. made of paper and / or plastic film, is glued over the interlocked second ends 5 of the closure elements 2, 3, as indicated by the hollow arrow. The embodiment in which both closure elements 2, 3 are made in one piece from metal, in particular in one piece from spring steel, is suitable for use as a closure device on catering trays 30 covered by a lid 31 with a protruding circumferential seal 32, as well as on lids 31 without a protruding seal 32. List of reference symbols: 1 locking device 2 first closure element 3 second closure element 4 first end 5 second end 6 Recess 7 Handle section 7a Counter recess 7b Recess 7o top 7s side surface 7u investment page 10 hooks 11 train section 12 distance section 13 support section 14 Outer section 15 Countersection 16 intervention section 17 first bend 18 second bend 19 third bend 20 fourth bend 21 fifth bend 22 final sheets 30 gastro bowls 31 lids 32 Seal 33 Handle recess 40 clamp element 41 Side wall 42 Wall 43 locking lug 44 attachment piece 50 locking device 51 locking device 52 Longitudinal axis 60 transponders 61 first conductor track 62 second conductor track 63 seals 64 Dipole antenna

Claims

[1] Closure device (1) which can be reversibly connected to a gastro tray (30) covered by a lid (31), comprising a first closure element (2) and a second closure element (3), each of which extends along a longitudinal axis (52) from a first end (4) to an opposite second end (5) and has at the respective first end (4) a hook (10) which is designed to engage over an edge of the lid (31) and of the gastro tray (30), wherein the closure elements (2, 3) have at their second ends (5) locking devices (50, 51) at which they can be reversibly locked to one another when their longitudinal axes (52) are aligned along a common longitudinal axis (52), comprising a seal (63) which, in the locked state, can be connected to the second ends (5) of both closure elements (2, 3) and is designed to facilitate the subsequent release of the locked status. [2] Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the second ends (5) of the closure elements (2, 3) are covered by a clamp element (40) in the locked state. [3] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the locking devices (50, 51) can be reversibly locked by moving the first ends (4) only perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (52). [4] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that, for engagement with a handle recess (33) of the gastro tray (30) which is open relative to the plane of the lid (31), each hook (10) is arranged to overlap an edge of the lid (31) and the gastro tray (30) and to engage in the handle recess (33). [5] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each hook (10) is made of bent spring steel. [6] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat each closure element (2, 3) is made of metal in one piece. [7] Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that each closure element (2, 3) has at its second end (5) a grip section (7) made of plastic, in which the locking device (50, 51) is arranged, and with which the hook (10), which forms the first end (4), is irreversibly connected opposite the locking device (50, 51). [8] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the seal (63) contains an RFID transponder (60). [9] Closure device (1) according to claim 8, characterized byin that the RFID transponder (60) is connected to a first conductor track (61) which runs in a region in which it can be severed by a cutting means connected to the closure device (1), wherein the RFID transponder (60) is designed to generate a readable first signal when the first conductor track (61) is severed, and in that the RFID transponder (60) is connected to a second conductor track (61) which runs at a distance from the region in which the first conductor track (61) can be severed by the cutting means, and the RFID transponder (60) is designed to generate a readable second signal when the second conductor track (62) is interrupted. [10] Closure device (1) according to claim 9, characterized by that the means for severing is an extension piece (44) of a clamp element (40) and one or both of the handle pieces (7) has a counter-recess (7a) for receiving the extension piece (44). [11] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the seal (63) can be connected to the second ends (5) of both closure elements (2, 3) by being glued to the second ends (5) and optionally additionally glued to a clamp element (40) which covers the second ends (5). [12] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the hooks (10) of the closure elements (2, 3) have, on a pulling section (11), a spacer section (12) adjoining it with a first bend (17), a support section (13) adjoining it with a second bend (18), which runs parallel to the plane of the pulling section (11) and is offset by the spacer section (12), an outer section (14) adjoining the support section (13) with a third bend (19), a counter section (15) covered by the support section (13) adjoining it with a fourth bend (20), and an engagement section (16) directed towards the support section (13) and ending in a final bend (22) adjoining it with a fifth bend (21). [13] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the counter-section (15) is offset by a maximum of ± 3 mm in the plane in which a contact side (7u) of the handle section (7) extends, wherein the upper side (7o) of the handle section (7) opposite the contact side (7u) extends at a smaller distance from the pulling section (11) than from the counter-section (15). [14] Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is attached to a gastro tray (30) covered by a lid (31), wherein the hooks (10) comprise opposite handle recesses 33 of the gastro tray (30), the locking devices (1) of the closure elements (2, 3) are locked together, the handle sections (7) rest with their contact side (7u) on the lid (31) and the seal (63) is connected to the locking devices (1) of both closure elements (2, 3). [15] Use of a closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13 for closing a gastro tray (30) covered by a lid (31). [16] Use according to claim 15, characterized by that at least one gastro tray (30) closed with a closure device (1) and covered by a lid (31) is arranged below a gastro tray (30) in a stack of gastro trays (30).

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