# US 8,770,427 B2 · Reclosable rigid container assembly

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- Number: US 8,770,427 B2
- Document ID: US8770427B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/576,923
- Filed: 2004-09-23
- Published: 2007-11-29
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2003-10-22
- Assignees: Cryovac, Inc.
- Applicants: Eugenio Longo; Andrea Fanfani
- Inventors: Eugenio Longo; Andrea Fanfani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770427B2

## CPC

- B65D 81/2015: {in an at least partially rigid container (B65D81/2038 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C 65/10: using hot gases {(e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 66/112: {Single lapped joints}
- B29C 66/131: {Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area}
- B29C 66/24244: {forming a rectangle}
- B29C 66/53461: {joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies}
- B29C 66/542: {joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies}
- B29C 66/549: {said hollow-preforms being interconnected during their moulding process, e.g. by a hinge}
- B29C 66/72341: {for gases}
- B29C 66/73711: {oriented}
- B29C 66/73715: {heat-shrinkable}
- B29C 66/7392: {characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic}
- B65D 43/162: {the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece (B65D43/161 takes precedence)}
- B65D 77/2032: {by peeling or tearing the cover from the container}
- B65D 77/2088: {attached to the cover}
- B29C 65/04: Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding {, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 65/38: Impulse heating
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/712: {the composition of one of the parts to be joined being different from the composition of the other part}
- B29C 66/72321: {consisting of metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/72328: {Paper}
- B29C 66/73161: {Roughness or rugosity}
- B29C 66/81463: {comprising a plurality of single pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of sonotrodes, or comprising a plurality of single counter-pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of anvils, said plurality of said single elements being suitable for making a single joint}
- B29L 2031/22: Hinges {, pivots}
- B65D 2577/2025: Multi-layered container, e.g. laminated, coated
- B65D 2577/205: integral with the closure
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

There is described a rigid or semi-rigid container assembly 10 (110) for the packaging of food products. The container assembly 10 (110) comprises a support 20 (120) and a frame 30 (130). Support 20 (120) comprises an outwardly extending peripheral flange 21 (121) which is shaped to cooperate with frame 30 (130) so that the frame can be snap-fit closed onto support 20 (120). The rim 32 (132) of frame 30 (130) extends only over a fraction of flange 21 (121) leaving part 22 (122) of the flange and the central part (5, 105) of support 20 (120) uncovered.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rigid or semi-rigid container assembly (10, 110) comprising a support (20, 120) and a frame (30, 130), wherein the support (20, 120) comprises a peripheral flange (21, 121) outwardly extending from the support (20, 120) and an open mouth (5, 105), and the frame (30, 130) comprises a rim (32, 132), which is shaped to cooperate with the flange (21, 121) to be releasably secured onto the support (20, 120) when the container assembly (10, 110) is in a closed state, characterized in that the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130) extends only over a fraction of the flange (21, 121), thus leaving at least an inner edge part (22, 122) of the flange (21, 121) not covered by the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130), wherein the frame defines a central opening (35) which leaves the open mouth of the support uncovered by the frame when the container assembly is in the closed state, and the open mouth of the support remains uncovered in the closed state so that products can be loaded onto the support through the central opening of the frame, and wherein both the rim of the frame and the part of the flange not covered by the rim have a flat shape and are thus adapted to form a seal with a thermoplastic film.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container assembly (10, 110) according to claim 1 wherein the support (20, 120) comprises a flat bottom wall (24, 124), upwardly extending side-walls (23, 123), and the flange (21, 121) extending outwardly from the side-walls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The container assembly (10) according to claim 1 wherein the frame (30) extends around the whole perimeter of the support (20).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The container assembly (110) according to claim 1 wherein the frame (130) is incomplete and extends around a major portion of the perimeter of the support (120).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The container assembly (10) according to claim 1 wherein the frame (30) further comprises a skirt (31, 131).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A package (90) comprising a rigid or semi-rigid container assembly (10, 110) according to claim 1, a product (80) placed therein and a thermoplastic film (60) placed over the container assembly (10, 110) and the product (80) and sealed on the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130) and on the part (22, 122) of the flange of the support (20, 120) not covered by the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130), characterized in that the thermoplastic film (60) contacts the product (80) in at least one point.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The package according to claim 6 wherein the thermoplastic film (60) forms a permanent seal (61) with the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130) and a peelable seal (62) with the part (22, 122) of the flange of the support (20, 120) not covered by the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130).

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The package according to claim 6 wherein the thermoplastic film (60) forms a tight skin around the product (80) and is additionally sealed onto the whole area of the support (20, 120) not covered by the product (80).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The package according to claim 8 wherein the thermoplastic film (60) forms a permanent seal (61) with the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130) and a peelable seal (62) with the part of the support (20, 120) not covered by the rim (32, 132) of the frame (30, 130) or the product (80).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein
the rim of the frame is further adapted to form a permanent seal with the thermoplastic film; and
the part of the flange not coved by the rim is further adapted to form a peelable seal with the thermoplastic film.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The container assembly according to claim 10, wherein the part of the flange not coved by the rim is further adapted to form a hermetic seal with the thermoplastic film.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rim is reclosably secured on the flange.