SUPPLYING FOOD

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to containers. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention addresses improvements relating to lidded tubs of the type commonly used for food products, such as butter and other food spreads.

Examples of the present invention provide a tub lid for cooperation, in use, with an open-mouthed tub to close the tub,

wherein the lid has catch formations to engage a complementary tub for fitting the lid to close the tub; and wherein the lid comprises a block arrangement;

and wherein the block arrangement is releasable after the lid is fitted to a tub;

and wherein the lid, in use is in sliding engagement with the tub after the block arrangement is released, and the block arrangement blocks the said sliding engagement, prior to being released.

The sliding engagement may be provided by engagement of the catch formations with the tub. The lid may include at least one pair of parallel sides, each side of the pair having catch formations associated with it. The catch formations may provide for snap-fitting the lid to the tub.

The block arrangement may comprise one or more block formations to bear against the tub, prior to release, to block the sliding engagement. The block arrangement may be released by withdrawing the or each block formation from its blocking position. The block arrangement may be released by removal of the or each block formation. The or each block formation may be connected to the lid by a tearable connection which allows the block formation to be torn off the lid. The tearable connection may comprise a plurality of necks of material which define a line of weakness between the block formation and the rest of the lid. Alternatively or in addition, the block formation may be withdrawn by a hinging or flexing movement. The block formation may extend along a side of the lid which is not parallel with the said parallel sides. The block formation side may be generally perpendicular to the said parallel sides. The block formation may provide a catch formation along the block formation side. The lid may have four sides and including two parallel and straight sides and two generally transverse sides, the block formation being provided at or along one of the transverse sides.

The block arrangement may comprise stop formations engageable to limit the sliding range of the lid on the tub. The stop formations may be projections or recesses engageable by abutment . The projections or recesses may include a first projection or set of projections or a first recess or set of recesses which abut to retain the lid in the fully closed position. The first projection or projections or recess or recesses may be releasable to free the lid to open. The projections or recesses may include a second projection or set of projections or a second recess or set of recesses which come into abutment when the lid is fully open. The first and second projections or recesses may abut the transverse sides of the tub. The projections or recesses may be on the lid and may be engageable by abutment with the tub.

The block arrangement may comprise stop formations associated with the parallel sides and engageable and disengageable with complementary formations, to limit the sliding range of the lid on the tub. The stop formations and the complementary formations may be provided respectively on the lid and the container or respectively on the container and the lid. The stop formations or the complementary formations may be resiliently mounted on the lid. The stop formations may comprise lugs which, in use, sit in complementary recesses to limit sliding, and are retractable from the recesses to allow sliding. At least one stop formation or complementary formation may be provided on the lid at a position corresponding with the fully closed position of the lid.

The catch formations may each comprise a catch feature which, in use, reaches around a flange formed on a tub, to retain the lid on the tub, the catch feature being resiliently mounted on the lid to deflect past the flange as the lid is fitted to the tub. The catch feature may be provided at the edge of a flexible flange of the lid. The catch feature may have at least one region of increased reach, to provide more secure retention of the lid. The region of increased reach may be positioned to resist the lid rocking on the tub as the lid reaches the open position. Aspects of the invention also provide a container comprising a tub and a lid, wherein the lid is as defined above, and the tub has a mouth bounded by mouth formations which receive the catch formations of the lid, to fit the lid to the tub to close the container. The mouth formations may comprise mouth flanges formed around the mouth and turned back to provide edges over which the catch formations can engage, in use. The mouth flanges and the lid may comprise cooperating recesses and stop lugs to limit the sliding range of the lid. The cooperating recesses and lugs may comprise at least one recess or lug corresponding with the fully closed position of the lid. The fully closed recess or lug may have an entry and exit face which allows the stop lug to leave the recess by sliding the lid away from the fully closed position. The cooperating recesses and lugs may comprise at least one recess or lug corresponding with a maximum opened position. One or more of the recesses or lugs may be step sided to prevent the stop lug leaving the recess except by flexing the lid to remove the stop lug from the recess. In another aspect, examples of the invention provide a method of supplying a food product, in which the tub of a container as defined above is charged with product, a lid as defined above is fitted to close the tub, and the closed tub is supplied to a consumer for use as a sliding lidded container after releasing the block formation.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lid according to an example of the present invention, shown with an associated container tub;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections through the lid and tub of Fig. 1 , at the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 , respectively before and after fitting the lid to the tub;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lid fitted to a container and Fig. 4a is an enlarged view at one corner of the arrangement; Figs. 5 and 6 correspond with Fig. 4, respectively showing the block formation raised and removed;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a container in the open condition; Fig. 8 is an underneath view of the lid;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic horizontal section through stop formations which limit the sliding range of the lid; and Figs. 10a to f are diagrams illustrating the use of the container.

Overview Fig. 1 illustrates a tub lid 10 which is for fitting to a tub 12. The tub is generally of the form and size used for supplying food products to consumers, particularly butter or other food spreads. The tub may have capacity for 500g of food spread, for example. The lid and tub arrangement of Fig. 1 incorporate features in accordance with the invention being described, as set out below.

The tub 12 has a base 14 and four walls 16 which define a mouth 18. The lid 10 is used to close the open mouth 18.

The lid 10 has sides 20, 22, 24 which provide catch formations to be described. The catch formations engage around the mouth 18 of the tub 12 for snap fitting the lid 10 to the tub 12.

In this example, the mouth 18 and the lid 10 are both generally rectangular in shape, so that the lid 10 has two long sides 20 joined by a first short side 22 and a second short side 24. The long sides 20 are parallel. The short sides 22, 24 may also be straight and parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the long sides 20. Other forms could be envisaged, such as curved short sides 22, 24, or short sides 22, 24 which consist of more than one straight leg.

At least the parallel long sides 20 provide catch formations to engage around the mouth 18. In this example, the second short side 24 also provides catch formations.

Other features, which are features of the first short side 22 in this example, provide a block arrangement indicated generally at 26. The block arrangement 26 will be described in more detail below. Briefly, the block arrangement 26 is releasable after the lid 10 is fitted to a tub 12. The catch formations of the parallel sides 20 provide sliding engagement with the tub 12, after the block arrangement 26 is released, and the block arrangement blocks this sliding engagement, prior to being released.

Catch Formations

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections across the lid 10 and tub 12, looking along the sides 20 toward the second short side 24. Fig. 2 shows that the mouth 18 is bounded by mouth formations 28. The mouth formations 28 are in the form of mouth flanges formed around the mouth 18 to provide edges 30. The catch formations of the long sides 20 comprise catch features in the form of flanges 2 having a bead 34. The beads 34 may be continuous or intermittent. When the lid 10 is fitted to the tub 20, the flanges 32 reach around the flanges 28 to position the beads 34 past the edges 30. The material of the lid and/or tub is resilient and flexible so that as the bead 34 passes the edge 30, the flange 32 can relax back to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, with the bead 34 hooked under the edge 30. This provides a snap-fit action for fitting the lid 10 to the tub 12. Similar formations of flanges 28, edges 30, flanges 32 and beads 34 may optionally be provided along the short sides 22, 24. The catch features described allow the lid 10 to be fitted sufficiently securely for the tub 12 to be used for food products.

Block Arrangement

Once the lid 10 has been fitted to the tub 12, as described above in relation to Figs. 2 and 3, it is apparent from Fig. 3 that the lid 10 is retained against removal from the tub 12, but the engagement of the beads 34 around the edges 30 does not, in itself, prevent the lid 10 sliding across the mouth 18, in a direction parallel with the sides 20. Other features restrict the freedom to slide the lid 10 in this manner, as follows. In the example being described, the flange and bead of the second short side 24 serve as catch formations to engage the corresponding short side of the mouth 18. This limits the lid 10 from sliding on the tub 12, in one direction. The first short side 22 has a flange 36 which corresponds with the flange 32 of the sides 20, but is attached to the main part 38 of the lid only by a plurality of necks 40 of material, intermittently spaced along the side 22. The necks 40 define a line of weakness 42 between the flange 36 and the main part 38. Both ends of the flange 36 extend around the corner 44 of the lid 10 to provide a short tab 46 running parallel with the sides 20 and having a free end 48 which is secured to the main part 38 by a further neck 50.

When the lid 1 0 is in the condition illustrated in Fig. 4, all of the necks 40, 50 are intact and the flange 36 extends down past the corresponding mouth formation of the tub 12. This allows an optional continuous or intermittent bead 34 at the lowermost edge of the flange 36 to engage under the mouth formation 28, to contribute to the snap-fit of the lid 10 to the tub 12. The flange 36 also provides a block function. That is, the flange 36 acts as a block formation forming part of a block arrangement. This arises because the flange 36 will engage by abutment against the tub 12, to prevent the lid 10 sliding away from the first short side 22, in a direction parallel with the sides 20. This is similar to the effect provided by the second short side 24, noted above. Accordingly, the lid 10 is prevented from sliding in either direction, relative to the tub 12, so that the lid 10 is retained in register with the rectangular mouth 18, after snap-fitting to the tub 12.

However, the tabs 46 allow a user to pull on the tab 46 in order to break the neck 50. When both tabs 46 are freed in this way, the flange 36 is attached to the main part 38 only by the line of necks 40. This allows the flange 36 to be hinged up relative to the main part 38, around a hinge axis defined by the line of weakness 42. The result is to place the lid 10 and tub 12 in the condition illustrated in Fig. 5. The necks 50 have been broken and the flange 36 has been raised to expose the tub 12 beneath the flange 36. In this condition, the block flange 36 has withdrawn from its blocking position (Fig. 4) and is no longer in abutment with the tub 12. This change is sufficient to remove the blocking action provided by the flange 36. However, it is preferred also to remove the flange 36 completely from the lid 10 by tearing the flange 36 away from the main part 38 along the line of weakness 42, breaking the necks 40.

Once the flange 36 has been torn off, the lid 10 and tub 12 will be in the condition illustrated in Fig. 6. The mouth formation 28 of the tub 12 is exposed along the length of the first short side 22 and is no longer abutted by any feature of the lid 10.

In an alternative, the necks 50 may be broken by lifting the flange 36, rather than by pulling the tabs 46. In a further alternative, the tabs 46 and/or the necks 50 may be omitted. An alternative arrangement may be provided for holding the flange 36 until it is to be released.

Sliding Lid Accordingly, the lid 10 is free to slide along the sides 20. This causes the second short side 24 to slide away from the corresponding mouth formation 28, and for the first short side 22 to retract across the mouth 18 to expose the contents of the tub 12. However, the lid 10 remains secured to the tub 12 by means of the sliding connection between the long sides 20 and the corresponding mouth formations 28.

Consequently, the lid 10 can be slid back to an open condition illustrated in Fig. 7. The contents 52 of the tub 12 are exposed for use. The lid 10 remains connected with the tub 12, which provides enhanced convenience and hygiene. The lid 10 cannot be mislaid or dropped by the user. When the user no longer requires access to the contents of the tub 12, the lid 10 can slide back to the closed position (Fig. 6). This closes the tub 12, to protect its contents.

It is envisaged that the flange 36 may be left connected to the lid 10 by the necks 40, so that it can be used as a convenient handle for sliding the lid open or closed.

Limitation of Sliding In a first example, sliding of the lid 10, just described, is further limited by additional features which are shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.

Fig. 8 illustrates a pair of projections 53 and a pair of projections 54 which project from the inner face of the lid 10, toward the mouth 18. A first pair of projections 53 are located relatively close to the second short side 24. When the lid 18 is fully closed, the projections 53 will engage by abutment against the inside of the mouth 18. This retains the lid 1 0 in the fully closed position. However, the projections 53 are releasable to free the lid 10 to open. This is provided by a combination of flexibility within the material of the lid 10 and tub 20, and providing the projections 53 with lead-in surfaces so that they can forced past the mouth 18, to allow the lid 10 to slide away from the fully closed position. Eventually, as the lid 10 slides toward its fully open position, a second pair of projections 54 will approach the inside of the mouth 18, eventually engaging the mouth 18 by abutment to stop the lid 10 sliding past its fully opened position. In particular, the projections 54 stop the lid 10 from sliding sufficiently to fully disengage the tub 12. The projections 54 have a profile which includes a steeper flank to resist more strongly against being forced past the edge of the mouth, as compared with the relative ease with which the projections 53 can be forced past in order to slide the lid open.

Fig. 9a illustrates an alternative for the stop formations, including a recess 55 in which a stop lug 56 is received. The stop lug 56 is also visible in Fig. 1 . In this example, the stop lug 56 is formed on the flange 28 of each side 20, with the recess 55 formed in the flanges 32. This arrangement could be reversed.

The positions of the recess 55 and the stop lug 56 are chosen so that the stop lug 56 is received in the recess 55 when the lid 10 has slid to its fully closed position (Fig. 6).

Consequently, the lid 10 cannot slide away from the fully closed position unless the engagement is overcome between the stop lug 56 and the recess 55. The can be achieved by flexing the flanges 30. The stop lug 56 and the recess 55 therefore contribute to the blocking function provided by the flange 36, prior to its partial or complete removal.

Another stop lug 58 (Fig. 9b and Fig. 1 ) is provided in another position along the flange 28. When the stop lug 58 is in the recess 55, the lid 10 has slid to its fully open position (Fig. 7).

The recess 55, in conjunction with the stop lugs 56, 58 therefore serves to limit the sliding range of the lid 10. This function arises from the shapes of the features, as follows.

The recess 55 has a step shape at both faces. The stop lugs 56, 58 have a step 64 at one side, and a smoother profile 66 at the other. The steps 64 and smoother profiles 66 face in opposite directions.

During use, the recess 55 will hit the steps 64 to prevent the recess 55 moving past the stop lugs 56, 58, which would otherwise move the lid 10 beyond the fully open or fully closed position of Fig. 6. This stop arrangement will be in addition to engagement along the short side 24, if provided. However, the smoother profiles 66 allow the lid 10 to slide in the opposition direction, which will cause the recess 55 to leave the lugs 56, 58 as the flanges 32 flex outwardly. The flexing of the flanges 32 provides light resistance to the lid moving away from its open or closed position. Flexing allows the recess 55 to ride along the flange 28, as the lid 10 slides to between the open and closed positions, until encountering the stop lug 56, 58. The resilience of the lid material will cause the recess 55 to move over the lug 56, 58. Thereafter, the resilience of the lid material, together with the step shapes 64, will tend to hold the lug 56, 58 in the recess 55. The fully open and closed positions of the lid 10 become defined by the interaction of the stop lugs 56, 58 and the recess 55. The lid can be closed by manually flexing the flanges 32 to release the lugs 58 from the recess 55.

In another example, two recesses are formed on the flanges 28, and a lug is formed on the flange 32, allowing the lug to be pulled clear of one recess by flexing the flange 32, and then to drop into the other recess, at the other end of the range of motion of the lid.

Fig. 8 indicates a location at which the bead 34 is locally enlarged to project further past the edges 30. The position of the enlarged bead portion 34A is chosen to be toward the first short edge 32 (when the lid is fully closed). As the lid 10 slides toward its open position, that part of the lid 10 which is projecting beyond the tub 12 is unsupported, which may cause the lid 10 to rock on the tub 12 but this is resisted by the enhanced coupling between the enlarged bead portion 34A and the edges 30. The length of the enlarged portion 34A is chosen to be sufficiently large to provide the support against rocking, but also to be sufficiently short to ensure that the lid 10 can readily be snap-fitted to the tub 12.

Materials

The lid 10 and the tub 12 can be manufactured from materials which are conventionally used for food containers, and by conventional manufacturing techniques. Examples include thin walled injection moulding techniques using a suitable food-grade plastics material. This provides a light lid and tub and a material which is gently resilient, allowing the lid 10 to be snap-fitted to the tub 12 with adequate security, allowing the flange 36 to be torn off by a user without undue difficulty, and allowing the sliding and stop actions to take place as described above.

Supplying a Food Product

Fig. 10 illustrates how a food product can be supplied by means of a lid 10 and tub 12 of the type described above.

In a first step (Fig. 10a), a tub 12 of the type described above is charged with contents 52. The contents 52 may be butter or another food spread, for example. A lid 10 is then fitted to the tub 12 (Fig. 10b). The lid 10 will snap-fit to the tub 12 in the manner described above. This results in a closed tub 70 (Fig. 10c). The closed tub 70 is supplied to a consumer.

When the contents of the container 70 are to be accessed, the consumer will raise the flange 36, as described above (Fig. 10d). This will require the necks 50 to be broken, if present. The flange 36 can then be torn off (Fig. 10e). The consumer is able to slide the lid 10 open, as described (Fig. 10f). Thereafter, the consumer can use the product as a sliding lidded container, sliding the lid between its open and closed positions, as required.

Concluding Comments

In the examples described above, the blocking function which blocks the sliding motion of the lid has been described as being provided in part by the flange 36, and in part by providing interlocking lugs and recesses or other features. It is not necessary to provide both. The blocking function could be provided only by the flange 36, with the lugs and recesses being omitted or used only to limit the range of sliding movement. Alternatively, the flange 36 could be omitted, the blocking function being provided by the lugs.. However, it is envisaged that in some circumstances, the use of lugs and/or recesses may make it difficult to meet hygiene or other standards which apply, if the container contains a food product. Many variations and modifications can be made to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a variety of shapes, sizes, relative shapes and relative sizes can be chosen for the various features. A wide range of material choices can be made for the lid and tub.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.