Container with a lid sealbly engageable on the container particularly for foodstuff products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container having a tub body ( 2; 36 ) with a bottom ( 3 ), a side wall ( 4 ), and a lid ( 5; 37 ) with top wall ( 6 ) and side wall ( 7 ). The side walls of both the container and the lid have complementary flanged rims that can fit together by snap engagement with one another. The rim ( 8 ) of the body of the container has, in sequence, a first flat flange section ( 11 ) extending outwards on the one hand, integral with the side wall ( 4 ) of the body of the container and, on the other hand, an inwardly bent section ( 12 ) at least partly extending over said flat section ( 11 ), an intermediate outwardly convex section ( 13 ), a second flat flanged section ( 14 ) substantially parallel to the first flat section ( 11 ), and a protruding terminal volute-shaped section ( 15 ) delimiting an uninterrupted undercut recess ( 16 ) with the second flat section ( 14 ). The rim ( 9 ) of lid ( 5; 37 ) has, in sequence, a volute-shaped section ( 18 ) being an extension of the side wall ( 7 ), a first protruding section ( 19 ) designed to engage, in use, with the first flat section ( 11 ), an inwardly extending section ( 20 ) designed to engage and overlap the inwardly bent section ( 12 ), a flat protruding flanged section ( 21 ) designed be located at an intermediate area of the outwardly convex section ( 13 ), and a flared section ( 22 ) ending with a flat flanged section ( 23 ) suitable for engaging engage with the undercut recess ( 16 ) to form a snap-engaging coupling with a plurality of peripheral uninterrupted sealing areas.

1 . A container including 
 a tub body ( 2 ;  36 ) having a bottom ( 3 ), side wall ( 4 ), and    a lid having a top wall ( 6 ) and side wall,    said tub body and said lid having complementary flanged rims arranged to snap-engage one onto the other,    wherein said flanged rim of said tub body has, in sequence, a first flat flanged section ( 11 ) integral with said side wall ( 4 ) of said tub body, an inwardly bent section ( 12 ) at least partly extending over said flat section ( 11 ), an intermediate outwardly convex section ( 13 ), a second flat flanged section ( 14 ) substantially parallel to said first flat section ( 11 ), and a protruding terminal volute-shaped section ( 15 ) delimiting an uninterrupted undercut recess ( 16 ) with said second flat section( 14 ), and    wherein said rim ( 9 ) of said lid ( 5 ;  37 ) has, in sequence, a volute-shaped section ( 18 ) being an extension of said side wall ( 7 ), an first protruding section ( 19 ) designed to engage, in use,    said first flat section ( 11 ), an inwardly extending section ( 20 ) designed to engage and overlap said inwardly bent section ( 12 ), a flat protruding flanged section ( 21 ) designed be located at an intermediate area of said outwardly convex section ( 13 ), and a flared section ( 22 ) ending with a flat flanged section ( 23 ) suitable for engaging engage with said undercut recess ( 16 ) to form a snap-engaging coupling with a plurality of peripheral uninterrupted sealing areas.    
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid ( 5 ;  37 ) comprises at least one tab ( 27 ) designed to be positioned at the inner portion of the said volute-shaped section ( 15 ) of said rim ( 8 ) of said tub body ( 2 ;  36 ) to protrude far enough to be grabbed for quick removal of said lid ( 5 ;  37 ) from said tub body.  
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said tab ( 27 ) is an extension of the said flat flanged section ( 23 ) of said lid ( 5 ;  37 ).  
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein two opposite radiused notches ( 28 ) are formed at the base or root of said tab ( 27 ) to make the said tab ( 27 ) more flexible.  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1 , having a round outline.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 5 , having an elliptical outline.  
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the said tub body ( 2 ;  36 ) has at least one pair of diametrically opposite handles ( 29 ,  30 ) for handling said container, whereas said lid ( 2 ;  37 ) has at least one tab for easy removal of the lid from said tub body.  
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7 , wherein each one of the said handles ( 29 ,  30 ) comprises a outward widening projection of said end volute-shaped section ( 15 ) of said rim ( 8 ) of said tub body and a recessed widening ( 31 ) in said flat section ( 14 ).  
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 7 , wherein the said lid ( 5 ;  37 ) has two diametrically opposite tabs or grips ( 32 ,  33 ) shaped in such a way as to be inserted in use into respective recesses ( 31 ) in said handles ( 29 ,  30 ).  
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein said flaps ( 32 ,  33 ) have a recess ( 34 ) on one side thereof for unser's finger insertion between said handle and said grip.