US 5,542,234 AGranted

Improved method of providing resealable containers and matching lockable lids

AssigneeSara Lee Corporation

InventorsIhor Wyslotsky, Frank C. Mello

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved combination comprising a resealable container with a matching lockable lid and methods of formation "in-line" and use thereof. The container includes a rounded container lip near the top extremity of the container. The matching lid includes a substantially rounded lid lip which is slightly larger than and of substantially the same shape as the lip for the container. The transverse cross-sectional shape of the lid lip is that of a substantially smooth curve, and the transverse cross-sectional shape of the container lip for receiving, engaging and compressing the smooth curve of the lid lip is substantially V-shaped in order to exert force upon the smooth curve of the lid lip after mating engagement for effectuating a seal therebetween. The novel features of the container and lid hereof are such that they may be formed separately on separate machines or may in other embodiments be formed and used "in-line".

Claims18

Dependent claims

The improved method of packaging a non-fluid food product comprising the steps of:

forming a container having a recloseable lockable container lip portion extending substantially circumferentially around the entirety of the circumference of said recloseable lockable container lip portion, and a sealing flange exterior thereto from a first continuous web of polymeric material;
placing the non-fluid food product within the container only;
separately forming a lid from a second continuous web of polymeric material, said lid having a corresponding recloseably lockable lid lip portion extending substantially circumferentially around the entirety of the circumference of said recloseably lockable lid lip portion, said lid lip portion recloseably lockable with the corresponding recloseably lockable container lip portion and having a sealing flange disposed exterior to said recloseably lockable lid lip portion;
placing said second continuous web carrying said lid in registry with said first continuous web carrying said container containing the non-fluid food product;
locking the respective corresponding recloseable lockable container lip portion of the container with the recloseably lockable lid lip portion of the lid said lockable portions extending and recloseably locking substantially continuously around the circumference of the lid of the package;
and
sealing together said respective sealing flanges of said container and lid.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/232,428Filed 21 Apr 1994 · continuation
Priority: 1 Sep 1988
Granted: 6 Aug 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

B65B 31/021
Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing…
B65B
Machines, apparatus or devices for, or methods of, packaging articles or materials

Family

Serial239,517Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Sep 1988
Serial443,606Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Nov 1989
Serial526,453Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Jul 1990
Serial711,162Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Jun 1991
Serial859,678Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Mar 1992
Serial73,279Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jun 1993
US 5,542,234 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.