CN101128366B

CN101128366B - Container,lid for the container and container lid system

Info

Publication number: CN101128366B
Application number: CN2006800058167A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·B·塔克; A·拉马努詹; L·J·拉卡纳; A·马拉斯里奇勒; J·菲利普斯; Y·杜鲁; G·D·托马斯; S·齐克
Original assignee: Glad Products Co
Current assignee: Glad Products Co
Priority date: 2005-02-23
Filing date: 2006-02-22
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-22
Also published as: CA2597665A1; JP2008531414A; EP1855954A4; KR20070107713A; AU2006216702A1; HK1114592A1; ZA200706559B; EP1855954A2; NZ560383A; MX2007010251A; WO2006091663A3; CN101128366A; WO2006091663A2

Abstract

A container covers stack together in two different ways. First, the covers can be stacked into an "aligned" stack. The aligned stack provides structural rigidity for bulk handling during manufacturing. Second, the covers can be stacked into a "locked" stack. The locked stack provides even more structural rigidity than does the aligned stack and is useful when storing unused covers. The container cover includes a first closure portion, an engagement portion, and an alignment portion. The base includes a second closure portion. The first closure portion of the cover is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion of the base to define a sealed storage area. The alignment portion of the cover is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack; The engagement portion of the cover is engageable with the engagement portion of a second cover to form a locked cover stack.

Description

Container, the lid that is used for container and container cover system

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to container, and, more specifically, relating to a kind of container, the lid of this container is aligned in when being stacked in primary importance together and can be locked in the second place together.

Background technology

Rigidity, thermoplastic food containers are normally known.The user has usually accumulated a large amount of this different size and shapes of containers.When not in use, container optionally is stored in the drawer usually.At this moment, untapped container has occupied very big space, and the our department and the lid of searching coupling is very difficult in the drawer of confusion.For fear of this situation, some users container stack in cabinet.Though our department of container is usually nested against one another and therefore than occupied less space in the drawer of confusion, still be difficult to our department is mated with covering.In addition, lid may not pile up and cover put upside down often downward.When container is used to store food, container usually in cabinet or refrigerator one be stacked in another the top on.These pile up may be unsettled, and dropping of they can make food be scattered in container.Many users can find if container (no matter be empty or using) can with save the space, still less unstable and more the mode of structural rigidity store and will be sought after.

In Quantity production, before being split up into individual packaging, can carry lid in batch.In carrying in batch, the builder can find that can form vertical side travel that reaches that enough firm stacking causes with the power that prevents from typically to be subjected to as operculum in production operation will be sought after.

General objective of the present invention provides the container that satisfies user and builder's demand.

Summary of the invention

Consider foregoing, the invention provides a kind of container, its lid can be stacked with two kinds of different modes.The first, lid can be stacked into " aligning " and pile up pile.Aligned stack is piled up the structural rigidity that provides enough and is used for transporting in batch at manufacturing process.The second, lid can be stacked as " locking " and pile up pile.The piling up of locking pile provides even piles up pile higher structural rigidity and more useful when the untapped lid of storage than aiming at.

In certain embodiments, container cover comprises first enclosure portion, bonding part, and alignment portion.Our department comprises second enclosure portion.First enclosure portion of lid engages with second sealing of our department hermetically, thus define basic leak free, leakproof and can repeat leak free and be used for for example memory space of the object of food.Thereby the alignment portion of lid can engage the lid of form aiming at the alignment portion of second lid and pile up and pile up.Thereby the bonding part of lid can engage the lid that forms locking with the bonding part of second lid and pile up and pile up.

More specifically, according to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of container is provided, comprise: first lid, it comprises first enclosure portion, bonding part and alignment portion, described first enclosure portion can engage when being engaged with each other with described first and second enclosure portion of box lunch hermetically with second enclosure portion an of our department, described first lid and described our department qualification one be the sealed storage area territory roughly, wherein, the lid that forms vertical aligning piles up the lid of piling up a plurality of adjacent and that pile up and can be configured to first locked configuration and the second non-locking structure, wherein: the described bonding part of described first lid comprises projection, and can engage with the bonding part of one second lid, wherein said second lid comprises lower convexity; And in described first locked configuration, described lower convexity assembling also receives the described projection that goes up, so that these two cover locks are fixed on together; And in the second non-locking structure, the described alignment portion of described first lid can engage with the alignment portion of described second lid, pile up pile with the nested lid of form aiming at, it is enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, allow having applied given power after, can to cancel lid simultaneously and pile up the nested of one or more lids in piling up; The described alignment portion of described first lid is positioned on described first enclosure portion and is positioned on the described bonding part; And described our department comprises a bottom, a peripheral sidewall that extends from described bottom, a top and described second enclosure portion of opening wide.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of first lid that is used for container, described first lid comprises: one first enclosure portion; One bonding part; One aims at part, and wherein said first enclosure portion can engage when being engaged with each other with described first and second enclosure portion of box lunch hermetically with one second enclosure portion an of our department, and described first lid and described our department qualification one be the sealed storage area territory roughly; Wherein, the lid that forms vertical aligning piles up the lid of piling up a plurality of adjacent and that pile up and can be configured to first locked configuration and the second non-locking structure, wherein: the described bonding part of described first lid comprises projection, and can engage with the bonding part of one second lid; Wherein said second lid comprises lower convexity; And in described first locked configuration, described lower convexity assembling also receives the described projection that goes up, so that these two cover locks are fixed on together; In the second non-locking structure, described alignment portion can engage with the described alignment portion of described second lid, pile up pile with the nested lid of form aiming at, it is enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, allow having applied given power after, can to cancel lid simultaneously and pile up the nested of one or more lids in piling up; The described alignment portion of described first lid is positioned on described first enclosure portion and is positioned on the described bonding part.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a kind of container cover system is provided, described system comprises: one first lid, it comprises one first enclosure portion, a bonding part and an aligning part, wherein said first enclosure portion can engage when being engaged with each other with described first and second enclosure portion of box lunch hermetically with one second enclosure portion an of our department, and described first lid and described our department qualification one be the sealed storage area territory roughly; With one second lid, it comprises one first enclosure portion, a bonding part and an aligning part, wherein, the lid that forms vertical aligning piles up the lid of piling up a plurality of adjacent and that pile up and can be configured to first locked configuration and the second non-locking structure, wherein: the described bonding part of described first lid comprises projection, and can engage with the bonding part of described second lid; Wherein said second lid comprises lower convexity; And in described first locked configuration, described lower convexity assembling also receives the described projection that goes up, so that these two cover locks are fixed on together; In the second non-locking structure, the described alignment portion of described first lid can engage with the described alignment portion of described second lid, pile up pile with the nested lid of form aiming at, it is enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, allow having applied given power after, can to cancel lid simultaneously and pile up the nested of one or more lids in piling up; The described alignment portion of described first lid is positioned on described first enclosure portion and is positioned on the described bonding part.

Can construct lid and our department economically so that the user can clean them or because but their purchase price allows them as consumer lines and abandon them with the back with the plastics of relative thin specification.Of course, for example, utilize traditional heat forming equipment easily to make this container.Lid can be made to guarantee the enough visualitys to object in the container by trnaslucent materials.Container can be suitable for refrigerator, fridge equipment, microwave, and machine dishwasher use.

Read detailed description based on this accompanying drawing that provides is provided, characteristics of the present invention are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the isometric view according to the container with lid and our department of the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the isometric plan of container cover shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is the top plan view of container cover shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is the isometric plan of container cover shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is the top plan view of container base shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 6 is the side sectional view of container shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 7 is the detailed view that amplify the part of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is the side sectional view of another embodiment of container shown in Figure 7;

Fig. 9 is the side sectional view of another embodiment of container shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is that two airtight containers pile up the side sectional view of piling up;

Figure 11 is that two container base nested against one another that have the container cover of two lockings are piled up the side sectional view of piling up;

Figure 12 is the side sectional view that piles up another embodiment that piles up shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is two mutually nested container base side sectional views that have the container cover and a cover alignment of a locking;

Figure 14 is the side sectional view that piles up another embodiment that piles up shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is the side sectional view that the aligned stack of container cover and our department is piled up;

Figure 16 is that two mutually nested container base that have the container cover of two alignings are piled up the side sectional view of piling up;

Figure 17 has an aligning container cover to pile up the side sectional view of piling up with two mutually nested container base of a locking container cover;

Figure 18 is two side sectional views that the container cover locked stacker stacks;

Figure 19 is the detailed view that amplify part shown in Figure 180;

Figure 20 is that two container cover of aiming at are piled up the side sectional view of piling up;

Figure 21 is the detailed view that amplify part shown in Figure 20;

Figure 22 is the flow chart of steps according to the typical manufacturing process of manufacturing container of the present invention; With

Figure 23 is the flow chart of steps according to another typical manufacturing process of manufacturing container of the present invention.

The specific embodiment

Forward accompanying drawing to, wherein identical Reference numeral is represented identical parts, and Fig. 1 to 5 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.Container 100 comprises the flexible cover 102 that joins our department 104 hermetically to.In the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 5, container 100 is illustrated as the roughly square that has fillet.In another embodiment of the present invention, container 100 has other shapes, for example rectangle, circle or oval.

Container cover 102 can comprise that at least one grasps tab 106 so that remove from container base 104 and to cover 102.In certain embodiments, grasp tab 106 and comprise that one or more cross ribs or grain surface are to improve user's grasping on tab 106.

Container cover 102 shown in Fig. 2 and 3 comprises bonding part 200, thereby it allows cover 102 and engages lid 102 that formation locks with the bonding part 200 of second lid 102 and pile up and pile up.The lid that this interlock feature make to produce piles up pile more firm in structure and therefore piles up the fugitiveness that pile has still less than traditional, non-interlocking lid.

Bonding part 200 among Fig. 2 and 3 is illustrated as circular, and still the same with the shape of container 100 self, other shapes also are possible.In certain embodiments, the standard shape of bonding part 200 and structure are used to the lid 102 of different shape and size.This forms pile alerting ability that has strengthened storage that piles up that locks by allowing dissimilar lid 102 to be stored together.Bonding part 200 also may be selected to be have such shape or otherwise comprise such parts, described parts provide the lid 102 of aiming at or locking to pile up by the rotation arrangement and pile up, wherein rotation is restricted to around the axis perpendicular to orientation 302,

center line

304 and 306 at this 302 places, orientation lid 102 intersects, as shown in Figure 3.For example, before engaging, need the shape of aiming at inherently or in the step of connection joining part part, can self aligned shape be shape, such as the shape of leg-of-mutton, foursquare, rectangle or multi-petal shape with linearity or curvilinear, summit or leaf.In addition, lid can be on the bonding part or be had one or more parts around this part, and these parts need aimed at before the connection of bonding part or these parts can autoregistration in the step that connection joining part is divided.

Container cover 102 has center 300, is positioned at the top of bonding part 200 as shown in Figure 3.Center 300 comprises raised symbol, for example builder's sign or permission user's adhered labels or written information, for example date or address name.When center 300 comprises that can write the zone time, this zone can be opaque color, it can accept the contrast color from writing implement.Can write the zone can combine with the material of container cover 102 and maybe can be applied on this material by printing.

Container cover 102 among Fig. 1 to 3 can be constructed has a wall, and its thickness is thinner than the wall of container base 104.Lid 102 can be by plastics that are fit to arbitrarily and the technology manufacturing that is fit to arbitrarily, for example thermoforming.In one embodiment, lid 102 can be made with polypropylene.Because heat forming technology, the wall thickness of lid 102 can change.Thinner container cover 102 reduces material cost and the increase flexibility removes and engages with container base 104 from container base 104 to be easier to adapting to it.Even lid 102 can keep proper flexibility so that also can suitably seal in the representative type freezer temperature.

Container base 104 in the Figure 4 and 5 comprises

bottom

400 and 400 the peripheral extended sidewall 402 from the bottom.Bottom 400 comprises the bonding part 200 that adapts to container cover 102 when the bottom 404 of projection is stacked with convenient container 100.These characteristics will further be set forth and signal hereinafter.Can comprise center 300 as the bonding part among Fig. 3 200, the identical zone that is used for builder's mark or user profile can be included in the bossing 404 of our department 104.

Container base 104 among Fig. 1,4 and 5 can have adequate thickness so that tolerate microwave cooking and the plastics of the heat of dish-washing machine upper frame are made indeformablely by what be fit to arbitrarily.It also can keep firm in the lifting process when hot food is housed.Our department 104 can be made by plastics that are fit to arbitrarily and the technology that is fit to arbitrarily, for example coetrusion, lamination, injection molding, thermoforming or cross mould.In one embodiment, container base 104 is made by polypropylene.The wall thickness of container base 104 can be according to manufacturing process and difference.

Fig. 6 to 9 presents the embodiment of container 100 of the present invention, and its lid 102 engages with its our department 104 hermetically.Thereby Fig. 6 show cover 102 with the collaborative leak free locker rooms 600 that define of our department 104.Lid 102 has enough flexibilities so that allow the user producing vacuum under the leak free situation in container 100.In order to produce vacuum, the user can, for example, in the process of closed container 100, depress and cover 102.The restoring force that transmits on lid 102 by the elasticity of lid 102 material will impel and cover 102 its normal positions of recovery, produce vacuum thus.For the ease of will cover easily 102 with its our department's 104 sealed engagement, the user can, by its random decision, only apply power to the bonding part 200 of container cover 102 downwards.Bonding part 200 is positioned to receive this power and in the process that is sealed to our department 104 this power is passed to cover 102 first enclosure portion 700.Bonding part 200 also can be used as and makes things convenient for handle to be used to grasp to cover 102.

Among the embodiment in Fig. 6 to 9, container 100 utilizes the design of locking edge, and it comprises inside and outside sealing, as will be described.The present invention can implement with various closure designs (comprising outside sealing and/or enclose inside).

Fig. 7 shows the embodiment that is used for lid 102 enclosure portion that engage with our department 104 of container 100.Lid 102 comprises first enclosure portion 700 of protruding locking ring form.Thereby first enclosure portion 700 of lid 102 can engage and provide leakage-preventing, can repeat the leak free sealing with second enclosure portion 702 of our department 104.

First enclosure portion 700 comprises inwall 704, keeps edge 706 and outer wall 708.Inwall 704, maintenance edge 706 and outer wall 708 define first sealing surfaces, and it is for covering 102 part lower surface.First enclosure portion 700 can comprise one or more locking ridges 710.Outer wall 708 is keeping extension between edge 706 and the flange 712.Thereby the grip surface that flange 712 can be provided convenience is convenient to lid 102 is removed from our department 104.

As shown in Figure 7, second enclosure portion 702 of our department 104 is the locking ring of projection, and its sidewall upper limb from our department 104 extends.Second enclosure portion 702 comprises inwall 714, keeps edge 716 and outer wall 718.Inwall 714, maintenance edge 716 and outer wall 718 define second sealing surfaces, and it is the part upper surface of our department 104.Second enclosure portion 702 can comprise one or more locking ridges 720.Outer wall 718 is keeping extension between edge 716 and the flange 722.Thereby the grip surface that flange 722 can be provided convenience is convenient to lid 102 is removed from our department 104.

Thereby first and

second enclosure portion

700 and 702 can be configured to the different slightly dimensionally interference fit that form betwixt.Interference fit between first and

second enclosure portion

700 and 702 can provide sealed engagement between above-mentioned enclosure portion.As a result, when two part bonding, can between first and second sealing surfaces around our department 104 and lid 102, form positive confinement.

First and

second enclosure portion

700 and 702 joint are accompanied by the indication container that can hear by osed top " sputter " safely.

Embodiment in Fig. 7, the inwall 704 of first enclosure portion 700 of lid 102 extends to bonding part 200.This bonding part 200 comprises projection 724 and lower convexity 726.

Embodiment in Fig. 7, lid 102 ridges 728 that comprise on the outer wall 708 that is positioned at first enclosure portion 700.Fig. 8 shows another embodiment that does not have this ridge.Usually, among Fig. 6 to 9 first and second enclosure portion 700 of signal and 702 and bonding part 200 only be example, and the sealing and the bonding part of a lot of other types can be used for the present invention.For example, bonding part 200 comprises complementary locking ring.Because the sealing and the bonding part of these and a lot of other types are known in the art, needn't at length set forth at this.

Fig. 9 has illustrated another embodiment of lid.Lid 102 among Fig. 9 comprises the alignment ridge 900 on the outer wall 708 that is positioned at first enclosure portion 700.This alignment ridge 900 will elaborate hereinafter.

In Figure 10, leak free container 100 is placed on the top of second leak free container 1000.The bottom 404 of the projection of our department 104 of last surface vessel 100 adapts to the bonding part 200 of the lid 1002 of surface vessel 1000 down.

Figure 11 and 12 shows the application of embodiments of the invention when container is in store status.In the drawings, two mutually

nested container base

104 and 1100 pile up piling up pile of the lid 102 that connects into locking and 1102.Thereby lower cover 102 engages with top our department 104 hermetically and forms piling up pile of structural rigidity.

In the embodiment of Figure 11 and 12, two

lids

102 and 1102 lock together by its bonding part 200.As the related description to Fig. 7, each bonding part 200 comprises projection 724 and lower convexity 726.Each projection 724,726 is protruded and recessed at opposite side in a side.Therefore lower convexity 726 assemblings of upper cover 1102 and the upward projection 724 of reception lower cover 102 will cover 102 and 1102 lockings together.By this way,

lid

102 and 1102 keeps together and the lid that forms structural rigidity piles up pile.Thereby other embodiment of bonding part comprise one or more following parts and can engage: bossing or rib, recess or rib, linearity or curve undercutting, discontinuous parts pipa or button, interference fit, grain surface, at joint or change the parts of surface friction or viscosity around joint.The engaging zones that produces lock-out state is serially around the bonding part or around bonding part segmentation discretely.In certain embodiments, need the strength of connection cover roughly different with the strength that needs separate cover.For example, useful in manufacturing process is that the strength that needs connection cover is less than the strength that needs separate cover.Therefore, relatively easily connect, but they will lock safely and can not occur undesirably separating in manufacturing process at the manufacturing process middle cover.In order to achieve this end, can on the bonding part, design projection, wherein for the projection of appointment, upper protrusion edge comprises tapered taper, on the contrary lower protrusion edge comprises more precipitous shape.For example, in one embodiment, the shape of projection can be identical with barb, and this barb on top has tapered taper on the edge, can transmit resistance seldom in joint, and abrupt shape is arranged on lower edge, can transmit high relatively resistance in separation.On the contrary, useful is, the design bonding part in case need apply be used for connection cover strength greater than the strength that needs separate cover, reason is that the user can feel that the high strength that connects just equals enough lock integrity, otherwise weak connection strength makes the user feel that lid piles up pile to lack to guarantee the required integraty of structure advantage expected.Therefore high connection strength provides appreciable benefit, and lower separation strength does not need the user to make great efforts troublesomely in the process of separate cover.In order to achieve this end, can on the bonding part, design projection, wherein for the projection of appointment, upper protrusion edge comprises abrupt shape and lower protrusion edge comprises more tapered taper.For example, in one embodiment, the shape of the projection barb that overturns, this barb on top has abrupt shape on the edge, can in engaging process, transmit high relatively resistance, and on lower edge, have tapered taper, can in separation process, transmit resistance seldom.And, thereby applying strength in general layout direction cover alignment cover lock is fixed in the process together the user perpendicular to lid, the bonding part can provide sense of touch or audio feedback according to locking.The user can feel that lid has been connected and need not have applied strength in this way.

The container base 104 of signal and 1100 is for mutually nested rather than lock together among Figure 11 and 12.In a lot of the application, to pile up the structure that provides enough firm for stack of bases for the mutually nested and container base that do not lock together.But possible is that our department self is adopted technology of the present invention and therefore the locking mechanism together our department is provided.The sealing and the bonding part that can be used for cover lock being fixed on together or lid is locked onto the same-type of our department can be used for our department is locked together.

Container cover

102 and 1102 among Figure 11 comprises the ridge 728 to Fig. 7 explanation, and the lid among Figure 12 does not comprise these parts.Ridge 728 provides firm function to keep overlap joint to help cancelling the mutually nested of lid in manufacturing process with also providing to outer wall 708.

The lid that Figure 13 and 14 shows in Figure 11 and 12 piles up another state of piling up.Container base 104 is mutually nested with 1100 together and in lower cover 102 locked superincumbent our department 104.But upper cover 1102 is not locked to lower cover 102.What replace is that upper cover 1102 is positioned on the lower cover 102 and aims at it.In this structure, two

lids

102 and 1102 promptly are called formations " aligning " and pile up to pile up so that the locked stacker in itself and Figure 11 and 12 is stacked and distinguish.The ability of piling up pile of that form to aim at rather than locking is important in the mill, carries in batch because it allows to cover before being separated into individual packaging.Piling up of aiming at be pile enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, but lid is not to connect so securely so that their obstruction are cancelled mutually nested where necessary.

Tab 106 (see figure 1)s can be designed to can make tab mutually nested so that make lid remain alignment feature in cross one another mode when lid piles up situation when being in.In one embodiment, the design of tab 106 allows to have firm lid-lid to pile up near tab 106 places in lock-out state, thereby the part of tab 106 rests to pile up on the part that is in the lid below it in piling up and prevents from further to pile up extruding to provide.

Embodiment in Figure 13 is by two regional alignment lids 102 and 1102 of flicking.At first, each bonding part 200 in the lid 102 and 1102 comprises shoulder 1300 and last shoulder 1302 down.The following shoulder 1300 of upper cover 1102 rests going up on the shoulder 1302 of lower cover 102.Secondly, the flange 712 of upper cover 1102 rests on the outer wall 708 of lower cover 102.These two contact areas are used for cover alignment 102 and 1102 to be piled up for stacking than locked stacker to have than piling up of low structural rigidity, but has been enough rigidity for a lot of purposes.How by exerting pressure on stacked objects aligned stack being piled up of contrast Figure 11 and 13 signals is converted to locking and rotatable aligned stack is piled up.Figure 11 has illustrated to pile up and produce locked stacker and stack when strength is applied to aligned stack among Figure 13, and the flange 712 that further promotes upper cover 1102 is lower than the outer wall 708 of lower cover 102.By further strengthening cover alignment at the inwall place of enclosure portion flicking lid 102 and 1102.In the embodiment of Figure 11, lid inwall 704 comprises and just in time is positioned at going up shoulder 1104 and just in time being positioned at the following following shoulder 1106 of minimum locking ridges 710 above the uppermost locking ridges 710.Like this, in this lid to locking, lid 1102 following shoulder 1106 rests and cover 102 go up and take on 1104.According to Figure 11 and 13, the flange 712 that produces alignment can be along the peripheral paths of first enclosure portion 700 continuously or along the peripheral paths segmentation discontinuously of first enclosure portion 700.According to Figure 12, the contact shoulder 1104 and 1106 that between locking cover, produces the inwall 704 of alignment can be along the peripheral paths of first enclosure portion 700 continuous or along the peripheral paths segmentation discontinuously of first enclosure portion 700.In certain embodiments, need this aligning parts to guarantee the bonded assembly lid, especially when lid comprises the bonding part that is rotated between permission is being covered around aiming at rotatably perpendicular to the axle at lid center.In certain embodiments, if lack aligning parts, lid will rotate freely so.Rotate freely and have unwanted results, this is pile may organize inadequately so that make or may not suitably provide the structure advantage to the user because lid piles up.

The embodiment of Figure 14 and Figure 13 different are that the flange 712 of upper cover 1102 when lid 102 and 1102 is in aligned stack and piles up is not downwards enough far to contact lower cover 102.Can select for example variation between those embodiment of Figure 13 and 14 to change aligned stack and pile up the rigidity amount that presents.Even the flange 712 of upper cover 1102 lid below contacting enough far away downwards in this low rigid aligned stack is piled up, the following shoulder 1300 of the bonding part 200 of upper cover 1102 can provide concentric with upward the contacting between the shoulder 1302 of lower cover 102 or rotary alignment is aimed at bonding part 200 to help the user in the process of connection cover.Relatively Figure 12 and 14 has illustrated to aim at piles up and pile how can be converted to locking or rotary alignment by exerting pressure pile up pile on stacked objects.Figure 12 has illustrated to pile up and produce locked stacker and stack when strength is applied to aligned stack among Figure 14, by further strengthening cover alignment at two regional flickings lids 102 and 1102.At first, the flange 712 of upper cover 1102 rests on the outer wall 708 of lower cover 102.Secondly, the following shoulder 1106 of upper cover 1102 rests going up on the shoulder 1104 of lower cover 102.In certain embodiments, need this alignment characteristics to guarantee that the axle rotary alignment bonded assembly that winds perpendicular to the lid center covers, especially when lid comprises the bonding part of permission rotation between lid.

Figure 15 has illustrated container cover 102 can be aligned in the top of container base 104 under situation about not locking.Figure 16 has illustrated two

lids

102 and 1102 aiming to be stacked on the top that mutually nested our

department

104 and 1100 piles up pile.Figure 17 is different with Figure 16, and the upper cover 1102 that is is locked on the lower cover 102.Contrast Figure 16 and 17 has illustrated to aim at piles up and pile how to be converted to locked stacker by exerting pressure on the object that piles up and to stack.

Figure 16 has also illustrated another embodiment of alignment portion of container cover 102 and 1102.Alignment ridge 900 is positioned to be covered on 102 and 1102 the outer wall 708.When being in aligned stack and piling up, the flange 712 of upper cover 1102 rests increases the rigidity of piling up pile on the alignment ridge 900 of lower cover 102.Figure 17 has illustrated that the flange 712 of upper cover 1102 is pushed the alignment ridge 900 through lower cover 102 when pile exerting pressure to piling up of aiming at when producing locked stacker and stack.

Figure 18 and 19 has emphasized the compactness that the locked stacker of

container cover

102 and 1102 stacks, and Figure 20 and 21 has emphasized the compactness that the aligned stack of container cover is piled up.Though piling up of aiming at is pile tight unlike locked stacker stacks, the sort of when the storage lid is used for using in the future to pile up the compactness of piling up all be remarkable benefit of the present invention.

Figure 22 shows the high level overview of manufacturing according to the typical manufacturing process of container of the present invention.Extrude plastic sheet (step 2200) and be thermoformed into blank our department (step 2202).Trim unnecessary plastics (step 2204) from blank our department, be used for further processing for piling up pile (step 2206) with the our department that finishes is mutually nested then.

With the parallel step of above-mentioned steps in, lid is made by identical process (step 2212 is to 2218).In

step

2216 and 2218, the Gai Buxu that finishes locks together, and this is because the lid of aiming at piles up and pile has enough rigidity and be used for batch processing.

In order to pack our department and the lid of finishing, our department of right quantity (step 2208 and 2210) and lid (step 2220 and 2222) are removed from their piling up separately.Pile up and make up our department and lid (step 2224 is to 2228) with packing to produce independent retail unit 2230 (it can comprise a plurality of our department and lid).Be used to be transported to retail channel with independent retail unit is packaging together in batch then.

Figure 23 shows the variation based on the manufacturing process of Figure 22.In the embodiment of Figure 23, handle our department to 2210 by same step 2200.But, the step 2316 in Figure 23, lid is locked together in the mode of piling up rather than the step 2216 of Figure 22 forms piling up pile of aligning like that.In some manufacturing environments, the structural rigidity of increase makes the lid of locking pile up pile to pile up than a lid of aiming at and pile is more suitable for.Pile up by

step

2318,2220 and 2322 lids of handling locking.In the step 2224 of Figure 23, the locking cover of right quantity and our department and packing combination are to form independent retail unit 2330.

Container can be reusable, but its also can enough be constructed at an easy rate so that the user regards it as disposable, have interchangeable lid and our department and be respectively applied for retail.Our department and Gai Ke are by the pure polypropylene homopolymer material manufacture of thermoforming.In another embodiment, container can be by the pure any co-polymer polypropylene material manufacture of thermoforming.Other the plastic material that is suitable for making container by thermoforming comprises PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (non-crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene (HDPE)), PVC (polyvinylchloride), PC (polycarbonate) and foam polypropylene.The material that uses can be roughly transparent in to allow the user to watch thing in the container.

Container can comprise the visual indication of osed top between container cover and the container base.Visual indication can be the change color in the zone that lid engages with our department.In one embodiment, the enclosure portion that covers can be first color and enclosure portion in our department can be second color.When enclosure portion engaged, it is sealed with the indication container that first and second colors produce user's appreciiable the 3rd color.

Container can comprise that coarse outside face grasps to reduce to slide and improve the user, if especially user's hand is a situation that wet or greasy dirt.

Container can comprise from exhaust component.Pressure when the leak free container is heated by micro-wave oven with the thing that holds in airtight container may increase.Therefore, container cover can comprise from exhaust gear, can open when its pressure in container surpasses predetermined value.

Container can be cut apart with the food in the partitioned bottle.Make spacer and container one or independent parts.Perhaps our department only comprises spacer or our department and lid each all comprises spacer.The spacer that is positioned at lid can only partly engage the spacer of our department so that the protection of splashing is provided, and perhaps can fully engage the spacer in our department so that anti-leak between the compartment of multiple degree is provided.

Container can comprise the bar of indication vessel temp and content thereof.

Grasp tab and can comprise outshot, in the process that removes or engage lid, this outshot provides littler and contacts with interference our department, still can provide enough enclosure portion to seal to keep proper container simultaneously.The outshot that grasps tab allows the part exhaust with our department's blowing-by by making lid, still can keep centering on all the other peripheral seal of container simultaneously.This specific character is useful in microwave cooking, and its middle cover prevents that food from splashing on the inside face of micro-wave oven and still allow the container exhaust.Grasp tab by use, need strength still less to remove lid from our department.This lower strength of opening has also reduced container by the possibility of pressure and endurance failure.The lower strength of opening can improve when the ability that removes user's retentive control container parts when covering from our department, has therefore reduced being stored in the possibility that the thing in the container spills.

In term " ", " one ", " being somebody's turn to do " and the specification sheets of the present invention in the context similar the referring to of (in the context of claim especially below) be used to be interpreted as covering odd number and plural number, unless other explanation is arranged or contradiction significantly in context at this.Only be intended that as respectively at the method for simplifying that falls into each the independent numerical value in this scope in the narration of this logarithm value scope, unless at this other explanation is arranged, and each independent numerical value just is incorporated into all in the specification sheets as narrating respectively at this.Unless all methods described here can be implemented other explanation to be arranged or pass through context contradiction significantly at this with the order that is fit to arbitrarily.This provide arbitrarily with the application of whole embodiment, or representative type language (for example, " for example ") is unless only intention is illustrated the present invention better and do not constituted limitation of the scope of the invention other explanation is arranged.

Though the present invention described here combines specific preferred embodiment, do not mean that to limit the invention to those embodiment.On the contrary, should know, they based on reading, be conspicuous to various variations and the modification of the embodiment that describes to the one skilled in the art, and these change and modification can be made under the situation that does not break away from the spirit and scope of the present invention to above-mentioned explanation.Those skilled in the art can suitably implement this variation, and the present invention can implement with being different from this specifically described mode.Therefore, the invention is intended to cover all variations that comprise within the spirit and scope of the present invention, modification, and equivalent.And whole combination in any that may change of the parts of foregoing description are included by the present invention, unless other explanation is arranged or contradiction significantly in context at this.

Claims

1. container comprises:

First lid, it comprises first enclosure portion, bonding part and alignment portion, described first enclosure portion can engage when being engaged with each other with described first and second enclosure portion of box lunch hermetically with second enclosure portion an of our department, described first lid and described our department qualification one be the sealed storage area territory roughly

Wherein, the lid that forms vertical aligning piles up the lid of piling up a plurality of adjacent and that pile up and can be configured to first locked configuration and the second non-locking structure, wherein:

The described bonding part of described first lid comprises projection, and can engage with the bonding part of one second lid, and wherein said second lid comprises lower convexity; And, in described first locked configuration, described lower convexity assembling also receives the described projection that goes up, so that these two cover locks are fixed on together, wherein, second lid rests on the outer wall (708) of first lid, and second lid comprises shoulder (1300) down, first lid comprises shoulder (1302), the second following shoulder that covers rest first cover on take on; And

In the second non-locking structure, the described alignment portion of described first lid can engage with the alignment portion of described second lid, pile up pile with the nested lid of form aiming at, it is enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, allow having applied given power after, can to cancel lid simultaneously and pile up the nested of one or more lids in piling up; And

Described our department comprises a bottom, a peripheral sidewall that extends from described bottom, a top and described second enclosure portion of opening wide.

2. container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first lid and described our department comprise thermoformable plastic.

3. container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second enclosure portion comprise locking ring, the described locking ring of described first and second enclosure portion comprises that separately an inwall, keeps an edge and an outer wall.

4. container as claimed in claim 1, described first enclosure portion of wherein said first lid engages with first enclosure portion of described second lid.

5. container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bonding part comprise a rib and a positioning groove, the described rib of the described bonding part of wherein said first lid can with the described detent engagement of described bonding part of described second lid.

6. container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first lid comprises that one grasps tab.

7. container as claimed in claim 1, the described bottom of wherein said our department, described peripheral sidewall and described open-top limit a chamber, and described our department can partly insert in the chamber of one second our department.

8. container as claimed in claim 1, the described alignment portion of wherein said first lid comprises the parts that are selected from the group that is made of flange, projection and locking ring.

One kind be used for container first the lid, described first the lid comprise:

One first enclosure portion;

One bonding part;

One aims at part,

Wherein said first enclosure portion can engage when being engaged with each other with described first and second enclosure portion of box lunch hermetically with one second enclosure portion an of our department, and described first lid and described our department qualification one be the sealed storage area territory roughly;

The described bonding part of described first lid comprises projection, and can engage with the bonding part of one second lid; Wherein said second lid comprises lower convexity; And in described first locked configuration, described lower convexity assembling also receives the described projection that goes up, so that these two cover locks are fixed on together;

In the second non-locking structure, described alignment portion can engage with the alignment portion of described second lid, pile up pile with the nested lid of form aiming at, it is enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, allow having applied given power after, can to cancel lid simultaneously and pile up the nested of one or more lids in piling up.

10. first lid as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first lid comprises thermoformable plastic.

11. first lid as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first enclosure portion comprises a locking ring, and the described locking ring of described first enclosure portion comprises that an inwall, keeps an edge and an outer wall.

12. first lid as claimed in claim 9, described first enclosure portion of wherein said first lid can engage with first enclosure portion of described second lid.

13. first lid as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bonding part comprises a rib and a positioning groove, the described rib of the described bonding part of wherein said first lid can with the described detent engagement of described bonding part of described second lid.

14. first lid as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first lid comprises that one grasps tab.

15. first lid as claimed in claim 9, the described alignment portion of wherein said first lid comprises the parts that are selected from the group that is made of flange, projection and locking ring.

16. a container cover system, described system comprises:

One first lid, it comprises one first enclosure portion, a bonding part and an aligning part, wherein said first enclosure portion can engage when being engaged with each other with described first and second enclosure portion of box lunch hermetically with one second enclosure portion an of our department, and described first lid and described our department qualification one be the sealed storage area territory roughly; With

One second lid, it comprises one first enclosure portion, a bonding part and an aligning part,

The described bonding part of described first lid comprises projection, and can engage with the bonding part of described second lid; Wherein said second lid comprises lower convexity; And in described first locked configuration, described lower convexity assembling also receives the described projection that goes up, so that these two cover locks are fixed on together;

In the second non-locking structure, the described alignment portion of described first lid can engage with the described alignment portion of described second lid, pile up pile with the nested lid of form aiming at, it is enough firmly caused vertically by the strength that typically produces in manufacturing operation to prevent, laterally or rotatablely move, allow having applied given power after, can to cancel lid simultaneously and pile up the nested of one or more lids in piling up.

17. system as claimed in claim 16, each in wherein said first lid and described second lid comprises thermoformable plastic.

18. system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first enclosure portion comprises a locking ring, and the described locking ring of described first enclosure portion comprises that an inwall, keeps an edge and an outer wall.

19. system as claimed in claim 16, described first enclosure portion of wherein said first lid can engage with described first enclosure portion of described second lid.

20. system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said bonding part comprises a rib and a positioning groove, and the described rib of the described bonding part of described first lid can with the described detent engagement of described bonding part of described second lid.

21. system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first and second lids comprise that one grasps tab.

22. system as claimed in claim 16, the described alignment portion of wherein said first lid comprises the parts that are selected from the group that is made of flange, projection and locking ring.

23. system as claimed in claim 16 further comprises:

One the 3rd lid, it comprises one first enclosure portion, a bonding part and an aligning part,

The described alignment portion of wherein said the 3rd lid can engage with the described alignment portion of described second lid.