Packaging with improved closure

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a packaging comprising a bottom part and a top part which is hingedly connected thereto, in which at least one part is provided with at least one projection which, when the packaging is closed, is accommodated in a corresponding opening provided in the other part and in which the projection comprises at least one receiving space.

DE7104283 shows an egg box in which a hollow projection engages into an opening, formed in the lid, when the egg box is closed.

NL6409451 shows a similar egg box in which an opening in the lid engages around a projection and in which an edge of the lid rests on a surface beyond the projection. A drawback of both these closures formed by a projection and an opening is that the projection can easily come out of the opening as a result of, for example, the packaging being treated in a rough manner.

US4715529 shows an egg packaging having a projection which hooks behind an edge with one side when the packaging is closed and in this case rests against an edge which keeps the projection in the hooked position with an upper side. A drawback of the closure on this packaging is the relatively complicated construction.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved closure, as a result of which the lid is kept in the closed position and in which the box and closure can be produced in a simple manner.

To this end, the invention provides a packaging comprising a bottom part and a top part which is hingedly connected thereto, in which at least one part is provided with at least one projection which, when the packaging is closed, is accommodated in a

corresponding opening provided in the other part and in which the projection comprises at least one receiving space, characterized in that the opening is provided with at least one lip which hooks into the receiving space to keep the projection in the opening when the packaging is closed.

By means of the lip which hooks into the receiving space when the Hd is closed, the projection remains in the opening and thus the lid remains closed. It is also possible to form several lips at the opening and, if desired, these lips can be accommodated in several receiving spaces or in a common receiving space when the packaging is closed. Use may be made of resilient properties of, for example, the Hp itself during opening and closing. The advantageous closing properties are retained during repeated opening and closing. The tendency of the Hd to spring open is used to hook the Hp still further into the receiving space and retain it there. In addition, the Hp is hooked still further into the receiving space when the packaging is held only by the lid during use. This may occur during processing in a highly automated process in which the packaging is lifted by the Hd using, for example, vacuum cups.

In an embodiment of said packaging according to the invention, the packaging comprises a base and a Hd which is hingedly connected thereto, in which the base, on that edge which is turned away from the hinge, has a flap which is hingedly connected thereto which, in the folded back position, when the Hd is closed, is situated therein and engages into a corresponding opening in the lid wall by means of a projection.

In an embodiment of the packaging according to the invention the receiving space is turned toward the bottom.

In an embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, the shape of the opening is adapted to the contour of the projection. Preferably, the opening has a triangular shape with one side of the triangle parallel to the base being provided with the Hp which hooks into the receiving space. The lip is preferably a triangle, an obtuse angle of which hooks into the receiving space of the projection. The lip may also have a more round or square shape. The triangular Hp has the advantage that it can be formed in a simple manner and has advantageous properties with regard to hooking into the

receiving space. The receiving space may be designed as an opening or hole in the projection. The shape of the lip is preferably adapted to the contour of the receiving space. The lip may be provided with a reinforcing rib, for example having a U shape, as a result of which the lip is more dimensionally stable and hooks into the receiving space more readily.

The packagings according to the invention may be molded-fiber packagings or may, for example, be made of plastic.

It will be clear that the various aspects mentioned in this patent application can be combined and that each aspect separately may be considered for a divisional patent application.

Short description of the figures

The attached diagrammatic figures illustrate an embodiment of a prior-art packaging and an embodiment according to the invention, in which: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a known egg box in the closed position; fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the known egg box from fig. 1 with the lid open; fig. 3 shows a side view of a detail of the closure of the egg box from fig. 1 in cross section along line III-III from fig. 1; fig. 4 shows a front view of a detail of a closure of an egg box according to the invention in the open position; and fig. 5 shows a side view of a detail of the closure of an egg box according to the invention in cross section along line III-III from fig. 1.

Description of embodiments

Figs. 1-3 show a known egg box 1 with a lid 2 in the closed position. Fig. 2 shows the closure mechanism of the known egg box from fig. 1 in the open position. The compartments for receiving and retaining eggs can clearly be seen in the base of the packaging. When the egg box is closed, the projection 4 engages into the opening 3 of the lid 2. Stop 9 of opening 3 then rests on stop 8 of projection 4, as is illustrated in fig.

3. In this case, it is important that, when the packaging is closed, the flap 6 is under some prestress, directed outside the packaging. The projection 4 is thereby forced into the opening 3. The lid 2 tends to spring open. Due to this tendency of the Hd 2 to spring open and the prestressed flap, stops 8 and 9 are pushed against one another with a certain force. In practice, this is found not be sufficient to keep the packaging in the closed position under circumstances.

Figs 4 and 5 show an improved closure of an egg box according to the invention in the closed and open position, respectively. Fig. 4 shows a detail of an egg packaging with a closure according to the invention and in which the lid is in the open position. Lid 2 is in this case provided with an opening 3'. The opening may be formed, for example, during production of the packaging or may be produced subsequently. The triangular opening 3' may also have another shape, but the triangular shape has the advantageous characteristic that it contributes to the alignment of the lid with respect to the base so that these fit well onto one another. A lip 5 is provided on the underside of the opening 3'. This Hp has a triangular shape with an obtuse angle but may, of course also have a more round or square shape. The triangular Hp has the advantage that it can be formed easily and has advantageous properties regarding hooking into the receiving space. The figure furthermore shows a flap 6 which is hingedly connected to a base. A projection 4' is formed in the flap which extends outside the packaging. The projection 4' is nose- shaped, but may also have another shape. Preferably, the contour of the projection 4' is adapted to the opening 3' in the lid. If desired, the packaging may be designed to have more projections 4'. The projection 4' comprises an aperture 7 which receives lip 5 when the packaging is closed. If desired, the aperture 7 may be formed as a single part with the flap, but may also be added subsequently. The lip 5 can also be received by a cavity formed in the projection 4', in which case the projection 4 ¹ remains closed. If desired, the packaging can be designed to have several lips 5 and apertures 7.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a detail of the packaging in cross section with the packaging in the closed position. The figure shows a flap 6 which has a projection 4 ^* accommodated therein. The projection 4' has an aperture 7 in which a Hp 5 hooks when the egg box is closed. Lip 5 forms an integral part of opening 3'. As Hp 5 hooks into the aperture, the projection 4' is held in the opening 3' and the Hd remains closed. When the

Hp 5 hooks into the aperture 7, the top side of lip 5 lies in a plane 10 and the top edge of the aperture 7 lies in plane 11. As a result, there is an overlap between the lip 5 and the projection 4', in which case the Hp 5 is situated on that side of the projection 4' which is directed toward the packaging. As with the prior-art packaging, it is important that, when the packaging is closed, the flap 6 is under some prestress which is directed away from the packaging. This results in the projection 4' being driven into the opening 3' with the lip 5 hooking into the aperture 7. The lid 2 has a tendency to spring open. As a result of the lid 2 springing open, the lip 5 further hooks into the aperture 7 and stops 12 and 13 are pressed together. As the stop 13 of Hd 2 exerts a force on stop 12 of the projection 4', the flap 6 is as it were carried along, as a result of which the projection 4' is pushed further and more securely into the opening 3' and held there. The prestress of the flap 6, which prestress is directed outwardly, and the movement of the projection 4' being carried along by the lip S cooperate and reinforce one another in such a manner that the packaging is held in the closed position.

It will be clear that the above description is given to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not in order to limit the scope of the invention. Based on the above explanation, a person skilled in the art will immediately be able to think of many variations which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.