PACKAGING FOR POWDERED FOODS

Description

Technical field

[0001] This invention relates to a container for powdered food and, more preferably, for powdered baby food.State of the prior art

[0002] For the commercialisation of powdered foods, particularly when they are intended for babies, very rigorous requirements are imposed. Generally, these containers consist of cylindrical metal or plastic cans, sealed at the top with a lid having a perimeter ring, which have to be opened for use and which can be closed easily and simply.

[0003] In addition, dosing spoons are usually incorporated in these lids, placed under the lid in various ways, for example, as defined in ES2426188. In this invention, powdered material is understood to be any granular material, in particular, spray-dried food products, as well as agglomerates of powdered particles.

[0004] The document US10513377 discloses how to provide (1) an improved utensil for stirring a product in, or removing a product from, a container, and (2) an improved closure that would be especially suitable for a metal container in addition to non-metal containers, wherein the utensil and closure include novel, advantageous features not heretofore taught or contemplated by the prior art. One aspect of this document includes an improved closure for a container wherein the closure is especially suitable for metal containers but may be used with non-metallic containers. One form of such an improved closure of the present invention can better accommodate some manufacturing tolerances and / or other irregularities in the top end portion of a container around the mouth of the container.

[0005] The document US2015 / 210444 relates to a container for holding a granular product or powdered material, such as infant formula. More specifically the disclosure is directed to a container including a closure having a collar and lid for resealably securing the open end of the container. The container may include a tub having a continuous groove located in the upper portion of the tub and a collar having a continuous tub mating surface extending about the entire perimeter of the collar for engaging the continuous groove of the tub, thereby securing the collar to the tub. The collar may also include a lid.

[0006] The document US2006 / 096984 discloses a container with a lid including a container main body, an upper lid attached to the container main body so as to open and close a take-out port of the container main body, a plate spring for urging the upper lid in an opening direction, and a push button that can be operated between a close position, at which it is meshed with the upper lid and keeps the upper lid in a closed state against the plate spring, and an open position, at which the push button is released from the upper lid meshed therewith, a locking member is attached to the push button, the locking member being movable between a locking position, at which the locking member is meshed with the lid that is in the closed state as well as is abutted against the locking surface of the container main body as to the operating direction of the push button to thereby make it impossible for the push button to be operated to the open position, and a release position, at which the locking member is separated from the upper lid and from the locking surface of the container main body and permits the push button to be operated from the close position to the open position.

[0007] The document US2018 / 334297 discloses container systems suitable for containing contents such as consumer products, closure systems, and methods related thereto, where the container systems and / or closure systems include hinged lids that are openable when first and second buttons located on a securing member are moved from respective first positions to respective second positions.

[0008] The document US7243816 discloses a container including a container body with a pivotally mounted top lid utilizing a single generally planar elastomeric member forming a seal section releasably mounted to the undersurface of the lid and engageable with the rim of the container body peripherally thereabout, and a spring section integral with the seal section and extending from the lid into a receiving chamber on the container body adjacent the pivotal mounting of the lid, the spring section being resiliently compressed during the positioning thereof to provide a constant opening biasing force on the lid relative to the container body. An alternately positionable handle is removably mounted, at the option of the user, to either the front wall or the rear wall of the container body.

[0009] The document WO2013 / 163583 discloses a container for holding granular or powdered material. The container includes walls, a collar, a lid and a latch. The walls define an interior space and an upper portion, the upper portion defining a sealing flange and an opening to the interior space. The collar is attached to the upper portion. The lid is attached to the collar for positioning between an open position and a closed position and adapted to cover the opening while in the closed position. The latch is attached to an outer surface of the lid. The latch may have an actuator rotatable in two directions relative to the lid and detachably engaged to a catch which protrudes from an outside surface of the collar.

[0010] Document TW201441108 relates to a food jar having an insulated body with a wide mouth opening for receiving food. A collar is affixed to the opening of the food jar by affixing a throat member to the collar and threading the throat into the wide-mouth body. The throat member includes a gasket at the lower end to seal the throat to the body. A lid is affixed to the collar by a hinge. The lid includes a central projection that extends into sealing contact with the gasket on the throat member to seal the lid to the throat member. A button is mounted in a channel in the lid and biased by a spring to move into an engaging position to engage the collar at an opening in the collar to secure the lid to the collar. A wire loop is provided to engage the button in an embodiment.

[0011] Finally, document WO2020245062 relates to a closure for a container, wherein said container has an open top side defined by an upper rim surrounding said open top side, the closure comprising an annular base to be fixed to the upper rim of the container and defining an access opening to the container, and the closure further comprising a lid adapted to cover the access opening in a closed position, the lid adapted to be moved to an open position, in which the access opening is unblocked by the lid, wherein a locking member is attached to the base and to the lid so as to lock the lid relative to the base such that movement of the lid relative to the annular base is prevented, wherein the locking member comprises at least one tamper-evident lug welded to an attachment surface of the lid or the annular base, and a frangible connection integrally adjoining the tamper-evident lug.Explanation of the invention

[0012] This invention purports to provide a receptacle, lid and spoon assembly, in such a way as to facilitate the opening and closing of the lid, avoiding any type of contamination. This object is achieved with the characteristics of claim 1 and claim 5.

[0013] More specifically, the container for powdered food comprises a receptacle, a lid and a perimeter ring attached on the upper edge of the receptacle provided with a closure hinged between two positions (a) of closure on the lid, and (b) of opening; said lid being hinged with respect to the perimeter ring through a rotating axis and characterised in that it comprises means for opening the lid provided with a tamper-proof system.

[0014] Throughout the description and claims, the word «comprises», and variants thereof are not intended to exclude other technical characteristics, additives, components or steps. To those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent in part from the invention and in part from putting the invention into practice. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to restrict this invention. Furthermore, the invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The following is a very brief description of a series of drawings that help to understand the invention better and which relate expressly to one embodiment of said invention, which is illustrated as a non-limiting example thereof. FIG.1A shows a sectional view of a container for powdered foods according to this invention in the closed position. FIG.1 B shows the container of FIG.1A with the means configured to prevent tampering with the container in the open position, while FIG.1C shows the container of FIG.1 B with the lid open. FIG.2 is a detailed view of the joint between the perimeter ring of the lid and the receptacle that forms part of the container for powdered foods according to this invention. FIG.3 consists of three views of the lid-ring assembly of a container for powdered foods according to a second practical embodiment of the means for preventing tampering with the container, wherein FIG.3A represents the lid closed, FIG.3B represents the lid opening process and FIG.3C represents the lid fully open. Explanation of a detailed embodiment of the invention

[0016] As can be seen in the attached figures, the container 1 for powdered foods, preferably powdered baby food, which comprises a receptacle 2, typically cylindrical, made of plastic or metallic material, and intended to hold the powdered food inside it.

[0017] A perimeter ring 3, preferably of plastic material, is attached immovably to the mouth of the receptacle 2, which is connected to the lid 4 by means of a hinge, not shown in the appended figures, and located in a position diametrically opposed to that of the anti-tampering means 6 to 9. Thanks to the hinge, the lid 4 is hinged with respect to the perimeter ring 3 between a closed position (FIG.1A and FIG.1B) and an open position (FIG.1C). Typically, a dosing spoon 5 can be attached to the inner side of the lid 4.

[0018] In this first practical embodiment, the opening of the lid 4 is manual. However, it is possible that the hinge comprises a coil spring, or other elastic spring, so that when the anti-tampering means 6 to 9 are released, the lid 4 is opened by the effect of the coil spring or elastic spring.

[0019] As indicated, this invention has the particularity that the mechanism for opening and closing the lid 4 with respect to the perimeter ring 3 comprises anti-tampering means 6 to 9.

[0020] These anti-tampering means comprise a button 6 which, in this particular first embodiment, is "U"-shaped. This button 6 is located in correspondence with an inverted "U"-shaped area 7 of the lid 4, such that, when a user presses the button 6, it moves vertically downwards and releases a flange 8 which enables the movement of the closure or latch 9 of the lid 4, between a closed position (as shown in FIG.1A) and an open position (as shown in FIG.1B ), such that the lid 4 is released and can be opened, as previously indicated.

[0021] When the closure or latch 9 is closed again, the flange 8 is anchored in the lid 4 and re-arms it for the next use, thereby significantly increasing the security of the contents of the container 1.

[0022] To increase the security of the contents of the container 1, the connection between the perimeter ring 3 and the receptacle 2 comprises an elastic flange 31 so that when the perimeter ring 3 is fitted over the upper edge of the receptacle 2, the ring 3 is perfectly attached with respect to the container 2, preventing it from being opened.

[0023] Finally, FIG.3 shows a second practical embodiment of the anti-tampering means, comprising a dual part (6a,7a) which in its version prior to use are connected by partitions, blocking the opening of the lid and ensuring that it has not been tampered with. With an initial pressure on the first part of the button 6a, the connection of first and second parts 6a and 7a is released, lowering first part of the button 6a and anchoring it in the recess over which it is located, thus releasing the second part of the button 7a to be operated. By pressing the second part of the button 7a, a tilting movement on the pivots 8a that connect the second part of the button 7a to the lid 4 is produced. The tilting movement of the second part of the button 7a has the function of positioning a flange 10 located on the underside of the second part of the button 7a on another harpoon-shaped anchoring flange 9a, located on the ring 3, which holds the lid 4 closed on the ring 3. With the pressure on the second part of the button 7a, the flange 10 will push on the upper part of the anchoring flange 9a, thus releasing the anchoring and opening the lid 4. After use, the lid 4 closes and the mechanism for fastening the anchoring flange 9a to the lid 4 is re-armed.

Claims

1. A container (1) for powdered foods comprising: a receptacle (2), a perimeter ring (3) attached to the upper edge of the receptacle (2) and a lid (4), wherein the lid (4) is hinged with respect to the perimeter ring (3) between a closed position and an open position by means of a hinge; wherein the hinge is located in a position diametrically opposed to that of an antitampering means (6 to 9), characterised in that the opening and closing mechanism of the lid (4) comprises antitampering means (6 to 9) further comprising: a button (6) which is located in correspondence with an inverted U-shaped area (7) of the lid, such that, when a user presses the button (6), said button (6) moves vertically downwards and releases a flange (8) which enables the movement of a closure or latch (9) between the closed position and an open position throughout the release of the lid (4); and wherein when the closure or latch (9) is closed, the flange (8) is anchored in the lid (4).

2. The container (1) according to one of claims 1 wherein the opening of the lid is manual.

3. The container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a coil spring or an elastic spring, such that, when the closure is released, the lid (4) opens by the effect of said coil spring or elastic spring.

4. The container (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection between the perimeter ring (3) and the receptacle (2) comprises an elastic flange (31) such that when the perimeter ring (3) is fitted over the upper edge of the receptacle (2), the ring (3) is perfectly attached with respect to the receptacle (2), preventing it from opening.

5. A container (1) for powdered foods comprising: a receptacle (2), a perimeter ring (3) attached to the upper edge of the receptacle (2) and a lid (4), wherein the lid (4) is hinged with respect to the perimeter ring (3) between a closed position and an open position by means of a hinge; wherein the hinge is located in a position diametrically opposed to that of an antitampering means (6a to 9a), characterised in that the opening and closing mechanism of the lid (4) comprises antitampering means (6a to 9a) further comprising: a dual part button, comprising a first button part (6a) and a second button part (7a) connected by partitions prior to use and arranged to block the opening of the lid (4); and wherein when a first part of the button (6a) is initially pressed, the connection of the first button part (6a) and the second button part (7a) is released, lowering the first button part (6a) and anchoring it in a recess over which it is located thus releasing second button part (7a) to be operated; wherein by pressing the second button part (7a) a tilting movement on pivots (8a) that connect the second button part (7a) to the lid (4) is produced, wherein the titling movement of the second button part (7a) is arranged for positioning a flange (10) located on the underside of the second button part (7a) on another harpoon-shaped anchoring flange (9a), located on the ring (3), which holds the lid (4) closed on the ring (3); and wherein with the pressure on second button part (7a), the flange (10) will push on the upper part of the anchoring flange (9a), thus releasing the anchoring and opening the lid (4).