TITLE

A LID FOR A SOFT PACKAGE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a storing and dispensing container for a product. The container comprises a flexible pouch comprising a first dispensing opening and a lid arrangement being rigid with reference to the flexible pouch. The lid arrangement comprises a lid connected to a base member via a hinge. The base member comprises a second dispensing opening and the base member is attached to the pouch for dispensing the product via the first dispensing opening and the second dispensing opening.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known in prior art a storing device and dispensing container for storing moist products, for example wet wipes and wet tissues, comprising a rigid flip top lid arrangement. The lid arrangement is arranged to allow for the tissues to be removed from the container when the lid arrangement is open and when the lid is closed the moist products are protected from drying.

WO 2005/016768 teaches a flexible storing device and dispensing container with a rigid flip top arrangement for a stack of tissues. The container comprises a removable portion that shall be removed before use in order to create an opening from which the tissues are to be dispensed. When the removable portion has been removed the rigid flip top arrangement is inserted into the opening and fixed in position. The tissues are then dispensed by opening the lid and the tissues are protected when the lid is closed.

It is known to use the removable portion as a tamper evidence and also as a label for directing a message to the user. For the latter purpose, the removable portion is suitable since a user have to look at the removable portion in order to make the dispenser ready for use.

One problem with the arrangement according to prior art is that the lid arrangement cannot be part of the dispenser before the removable part has been removed. The user then has to perform a number of steps in order to assemble the dispenser for use.

Hence, there exists a need for a simpler dispenser with a rigid lid arrangement that is both a tamperproof device and has a label.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention intends to remedy the above problems with a storing and dispensing container for a product. The container comprises a flexible pouch comprising a first dispensing opening and a lid arrangement. The lid arrangement is rigid with reference to the flexible pouch in such a way that removal of the products is facilitated.

The lid arrangement comprises a lid connected to a base member via a hinge that allows for the lid to be moved between an open and closed position. When the lid is closed, i.e. brought into contact with the base member, the fit between the lid and the base member shall be such that a moist product does not dry out due to contact with ambient air.

Here "rigid" refers to at least the base member being self supporting and essentially shape permanent when subject to external forces from a user's hand upon removal of the product from the dispensing container. Here "external forces" refers to the necessary forces applied on the lid arrangement when the user grips the lid in order to open the lid and remove the cover member and ultimately the product from the dispensing container. The gripping force depends on a number of factors, for example, friction between the user's hands/fingers/gloves and the lid; the flexibility of the pouch; what kind of product; and who the intended user is; therefore the rigidness is decided by the manufacturer dependent on the relevant parameters. However, in relation to the pouch, which is flexible, the lid arrangement is always more rigid in order to allow for a user to grip the lid

arrangement, open the lid, remove the cover member and remove a product from the dispenser without the lid arrangement collapsing.

The base member comprises a second dispensing opening that is intended to be positioned with relation the first dispensing opening so that the products can be collected by a user by the user manipulating the product via the second and the first dispensing opening. The base member is thus attached to the pouch for dispensing the product via the first dispensing opening and the second dispensing opening.

Furthermore, the lid arrangement must be rigid to ensure form stability when the lid is closed against the base member. The form stability is important when a wet or moist product is positioned in the first opening and/or the second opening.

The invention is characterized in that the container comprises a removable cover member directly attached to the base member and covering the second dispensing opening.

One advantage of the invention is that the cover member can be designed with respect to the design of the lid arrangement and is independent on how the pouch is formed and thus how the first dispensing opening is arranged.

Another advantage is that the lid arrangement can be made small without compromising an easy removal of the cover member. The reason for this is that the cover member is positioned to cover the second dispensing opening which allows for the user to remove the cover member without having to stick fingers into the second dispensing opening in order to remove the cover member.

The cover member is advantageously a thin film or a film laminate that can be removed from the base member by a user. One advantage of the invention is that the cover member can be designed as a label comprising

text and/or drawings intended to be displayed to the user before the user removes the cover member.

Another advantage is that the cover member can be used as a tamper evidence, i.e. proof for a user that the product has not been contaminated or used by any other else. The tamper evidence can be achieved, for example, by the cover member being ruptured when the user removes the cover member from the base member. Here, the cover member is attached to the base member by fastening means that will not rupture or come off when the cover member is removed from the base member.

However, in another embodiment the fastening means are arranged to rupture when the cover member is removed or arranged to come off either from the cover member or the base member. The tamper evidence is here achieved by the fact that the cover member cannot be re-attached to the base member after the user has removed the cover member from the base member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will below be described in connection to a number of drawings, in which;

Figure 1 schematically shows a top view of a storing and dispensing container according to the present invention;

Figure 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view along line N-Il in figure 1 , with a lid arrangement according to a first embodiment;

Figure 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view along line N-Il in figure 1 , with a lid arrangement according to a second embodiment;

Figure 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view along line N-Il in figure 1 , with a lid arrangement according to a third embodiment;

Figure 5 schematically shows a side view of a lid arrangement in an open position with a tamperproof device according to a first embodiment of the invention for a storing and dispensing container according to the present invention;

Figure 6 schematically shows a side view of a lid arrangement in an open position with a tamperproof device according to a first embodiment of the invention for a storing and dispensing container according to the present invention;

Figure 7 schematically shows a side view of a lid arrangement in an open position with a removed tamperproof device according figure 5 or 6, with a lid according to a first embodiment, and in which;

Figure 8 schematically shows a side view of a lid arrangement in an open position with a removed tamperproof device according figure 5 or 6, with a lid according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 schematically shows a top view of a storing and dispensing container 1 for a product 2. The container 1 comprises a flexible pouch 3 comprising a first dispensing opening 4 and a lid arrangement 5.

In figure 1 the pouch 3 is essentially oval, but the pouch 3 may be arranged in any form, for example round, square, rectangular and polygonal.

The lid arrangement 5 comprises a lid 6 connected to a base member 7 via a hinge 8, a second dispensing opening 9 comprised in the base member 7 and a cover member 10 arranged to cover and seal the second dispensing opening 9. The lid 6 comprises an inner surface 11 , an outer surface 12 and a circumferential edge portion 13 between the outer surface 12 and the inner surface 11. The base member 7 comprises a bottom portion 14, a top portion 15, an inner portion 16, an outer portion 17, a first flange 18 extending from the inner portion and the second dispensing opening 9. The base member 7

is constituted by a body having a thru hole, i.e. the second dispensing opening 9, being delimited by a casing 19 comprised in the first flange 18. The second dispensing opening 9 can be in any suitable shape, for example round, oval, square, rectangular and polygonal.

The hinge 8 allows for the lid 6 to be moved between a closed position, as shown in figures 1-4, and an open position, as shown in figures 5-8, by a rotational movement about an imaginary or physical axis in the hinge 8. Here, "closed position" refers to the inner surface 11 of the lid 6 being in contact with the base member 7. The lid 6 can be arranged in such a way that the inner surface 11 is in contact with a part of the top portion 15 and/or at least a part of the inner portion 16 of the base member 7. The hinge may comprise a number of parts or may be constituted by only one flexible part that allows for the opening and closing of the lid.

Here, "in contact" means that the inner surface 11 of the lid 6 seals against the base member 7 in such a way that the product 2 is protected. The wording "protected" shall be seen as a parameter dependent on what type of product is to be protected. The invention mainly focuses on storing and dispensing a moist product 2 in the form of a tissues or wipes or the like. In this preferred embodiment "protecting" means that the lid 6 shall seal against the base member 7 in such a way that water vapour is hindered within a set diffusion rate limit to escape from the container 1 in order to keep the product moist.

Furthermore, open position" refers to the lid 6 being in a position allowing a user access to the second dispensing opening 9 and the first dispensing opening 4. The lid 6 arrangement may comprise a stop member (not shown) for hindering the lid 6 from being opened more than a selected distance. The stop member may be comprised in the hinge 8 or may be comprised in the lid 6 or in the base member. When the lid is in the open position, the user is guided by the lid to remove the product in a direction away from the lid.

Hence, the stop member guides the lid into a selected open position so that the products are removed in a selected direction or in a selected manner.

The lid 6 arrangement is rigid with reference to the flexible pouch 3 in such a way that the first and second dispensing openings 4, 9 are maintained in their opened position so that a user easily can grasp a product 2.

Figure 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view along line N-Il in figure 1. Figure 2 shows that the bottom portion 14 of the base member 7 is attached to an outside surface 20 of the pouch 3. The attachment can be made by use of a fastening means such as adhesive and/or by welding and/or by any other suitable means for fastening. The welding can, for example, be in the form of laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or any other method fusing together two surfaces or bodies. The fastening means may form part of the seal being created by the welding and/or mechanical force. In figure 2 the base member 7 is positioned only on the outside surface of the pouch 3. The base member 7 may be attached on the pouch 3 when the pouch 3 is filled with products 2 or before the pouch 3 is filled with products 2. In the latter case, the base member 7 may be attached to an already existing pouch 3 or to a blank intended to be formed into the pouch 3. The blank may form the pouch 3 by the blank being formed and closed or sealed. The blank may also be one of two or more blanks that are attached to each other forming the pouch 3. Figures 1 and 2 show that the pouch 3 is formed from an upper blank 21 , onto which the base member 7 is attached, and a lower blank 22 that have been attached to each other forming a circumferential seam 23. The attachment can be made by use of an adhesive and/or by welding and/or by any other suitable means for fastening. The welding can, for example, be in the form of laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or any other method fusing together two surfaces or bodies.

In figure 2 the base member 7 is positioned on the pouch 3 such that the product 2 can be removed from the pouch 3 via the first dispensing opening 4 and the second dispensing opening 9. In figure 2, however, the second

dispensing opening 9 is positioned above and completely within the area of the first dispensing opening 4. The invention is not limited to such an arrangement, but the second dispensing opening 9 may be positioned to cover at least a part of the first dispensing opening 4 and/or may be positioned to cover the first dispensing opening 4 and a part of the pouch 3.

The lid arrangement 5 according to figure 2 allows for the container 1 to comprise a tear tab (not shown) covering the first dispensing opening 4. The tear tab is arranged to be removed after the user has removed the cover member 10. The tear tab may also be a part of the pouch 3 such that the first dispensing opening 4 is created upon removal of the tear tab.

Figure 3 shows the same arrangement as in figure 2, but with the exception that the base member 7 is positioned not only on the outside of the pouch 3, but also in such a way that at least a part of the base member 7 extends at least partly into the first dispensing opening 4. In figure 3, the casing 19 of the base member 7 is the part of the base member 7 that extends through the first dispensing opening 4. The second dispensing opening 9 is then positioned within the first dispensing opening 4. The second dispensing opening 9 is thus a thru hole that may extend from a position above the first dispensing opening 4, through the first dispensing opening 4 and to a position below the first dispensing opening 4.

Figure 4 shows the same arrangement as in figure 3, but with the exception that the base member 7 comprises a second flange 24 arranged to be positioned against an inside surface 25 of the pouch 3. In figure 4, the second flange 24 is arranged in the base member 7 at that end of the casing 19 that is positioned inside the pouch 3. In figure 4, a circumferential portion 26 of the pouch 3 comprising the first dispensing opening 4 is positioned between the bottom portion 14 of the base member 7 and the second flange 24. The second flange 24 may be attached to the inside surface 25 of the pouch 3 by any previously described method for attachment. Hence, the bottom portion 14 of the base member 7 is positioned not only on the outside

surface 20 of the pouch 3, but also in such a way that at least a part of the base member 7 extends at least partly into the first dispensing opening 4. The second dispensing opening 9 is then positioned within the first dispensing opening 4. The second dispensing opening 9 is a thru hole that may extend from a position above the first dispensing opening 4, through the first dispensing opening 4 and to a position below the first dispensing opening 4.

Figures 1-4 show that the container 1 comprises the removable cover member 10 directly attached to the base member 7 covering the second dispensing opening 9. In figure 2 the cover member 10 is positioned between the lid and the second dispensing opening 9. The lid arrangement 5 and the cover member 10 will be described in detail with relation to figures 5-8.

Figure 5 schematically shows a side view of the lid arrangement 5 in an open position with a tamperproof device according to a first embodiment of the invention for a storing and dispensing container 1 according to the present invention.

Figure 5 shows that the tamperproof device is in the form of the cover member 10 attached to the first flange 18 extending from the surface 27 of the inner portion 16 of the base member 7. The first flange 18 comprises the casing 19 and thus the second dispensing opening 9 and may be arranged according to any one of the embodiments described in connection to figures 1-4.

The cover member 10 is advantageously thin in order to avoid that it sticks to the lid 6 or the products 2 when positioned in the base member 7.

The cover member 10 is advantageously a flexible film in order for the user to be able to easily remove the cover member 10. Furthermore, the user can easily realise that the cover member 10 is a tamper seal when the cover member 10 is a flexible film.

The cover member 10 may be made from plastic, water proof paper or other water proof material, a thin metal or metal alloy film (aluminium paper) or any other material as long as the cover member 10 is can be attached to the base member 7 and removed from the same.

The cover member 10 is attached to the base member 7 by use of a fastening means in the form of, for example, an adhesive such as glue or any other suitable fastening means. The cover member 10 may also be welded to the base member 7 by, for example, use of an ultrasonic device, heating device, laser device, mechanical pressure device or any other suitable welding device. The cover member 10 may also be attached to the base member 7 by mechanical bonding. The fastening means and/or the welding and/or the bonding shall ensure that the seam between the cover member 10 and the base member 7 is air tight or at least essentially moist impermeable and that the cover member 10 is easily removed from the base member 7.

The cover member 10 comprises a label on that side of the cover member that faces a user. The label can then be read by the user upon removal of the cover member 10.

The cover member 10 is advantageously made tamperproof by the cover member 10 rupturing upon removal or by the cover member coming off the base member 7 without the possibility to re-attach to the same. If the cover member 10 is ruptured or partly removed, it is obvious for a user that somebody else has tampered with the container 1.

In figure 5 the cover member 10 comprises a tab 28 for aid in removing the cover member 10. The tab 28 extends over the top portion 15 of the base member 7 in order to facilitate for the user to grab the tab 28 upon removal of the cover member 10. The base member 7 may be arranged with a notch or indentation in the top portion for receiving the tab 28. By using a notch or indentation the lid 6 becomes easy to close since the tab 28 is hidden in the base member 7. The notch or indentation may be arranged so that the upper

surface 29 of the tab 28 lies essentially flush with the surface 30 of the top portion 15.

Figure 6 schematically shows a side view of a lid 6 arrangement in an open position with a tamperproof device according to a second embodiment of the invention for a storing and dispensing container 1 according to the present invention. The difference from figure 5 is that the tab 28 is positioned within the volume described by the inner portion 16, i.e. within the lid 6 arrangement. In this embodiment, the base member 7 does not have to be arranged with a notch or indentation as described in connection to figure 5.

Figure 7 schematically shows a side view of a lid arrangement in an open position with a tamperproof device according to figure 5 or 6 being removed, with a lid 6 according to a first embodiment. In figure 7 the lid 6 comprises a gripping means 31 arranged at the outer surface and/or at the circumferential edge portion. The gripping means 31 can be positioned at an alternative position as long as the user can use the gripping means for opening the lid. Figure 7 also shows that the inner surface 32 of the casing 19 in the first flange 18 describes the second dispensing opening 9 and that the first flange 18 comprises an upper surface 33 against which the cover member 10 can be attached. .

Figure 8 schematically shows a side view of a lid arrangement 5 in an open position with a tamperproof device according figure 5 or 6 being removed, with a lid 6 according to a second embodiment. In figure 8 the lid 6 comprises a notch 34 in the circumferential edge portion 13. The notch allows for a user to simultaneously grip the outer surface 12 and the inner surface 11 of the lid 6 and use this part of the lid 6 as a gripping means 31 when opening the lid 6.

With reference to figures 5-8, the outer portion 17, the inner portion 16 and the top portion 15 of the base member 7 constitute a first elevated rim 35. The lid 6 comprises the circumferential edge portion 13 in the form of a

second elevated rim 36 extending from the inner surface 11 of the lid 6, the inner surface 11 and a third elevated rim 37 extending from the inner surface 11 of the lid 6 at a selected distance from the second elevated rim 36. The second elevated rim 36, the inner surface 11 and the third elevated rim 37 constitute a recess 38 between the second elevated rim 36 and the third elevated rim 37. The recess 38 is intended to fit over the first elevated rim 35 when the lid 6 is in a closed position. Thus, the second elevated rim 36 follows the contour of the third elevated rim 37 at a distance defined by the width of the first elevated rim 35. The second elevated rim 36 and the third elevated rim 37 follows the contour of the first elevated rim 35 when the lid is closed in order to achieve a snug fit. One benefit of having a recess 38 fitted over the first elevated rim 35 is that the fit becomes tight which hinders moist air in the container 1 to escape to the ambient air.

It should be noted that in figures 1-4, the lid 6 and the base member 7 is differently designed than in figures 5-8. In figures 1-4, the circumferential edge portion 13 is somewhat rounded and the top portion 15 and/or the inner portion 16 and/or the first flange 18 of the base member 7 is rounded in a corresponding manner. There exist no elevated rims as in figures 5-8, but the tolerances between the circumferential edge portion 13 and the top portion 15 and/or the inner portion 16 and/or the first flange 18 gives a snug fit between the lid 6 and the base member 7 which hinders moist in the container 1 to escape to the ambient air.

Hence, there exist a number of design possibilities for the lid 6 arrangement to hinder a moist product from drying out.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the claims. For example, the lid arrangement may comprise several assembled parts or may be made in one piece. Furthermore, the cover member may be moulded together with the base member.