Container intended for packaging a product and method of locking a cover lid and a base member of such a container to one another

Abstract

A container including a cover lid and a base member, a cover lid border region by which it can abut on a base member border region so to form in an abutting status an enclosure, a tubular element by which the container can be brought into a completely assembled status, having dimensions suitable for surrounding the cover lid The base member when brought in the abutting status and provided with locking means for keeping the cover lid and the base member together in the completely assembled status.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container intended for packaging a product, such as a food product, comprising a cover lid and a base member, the cover lid provided with a cover lid border region by which it can abut on a base member border region provided at the base member, so to form in an abutting status an enclosure for enclosing the product, characterized in that the container comprises additionally a tubular element by which the container can be brought into a completely assembled status, the tubular element having dimensions suitable for surrounding, in the completely assembled status, the cover lid and the base member when brought in the abutting status, and provided with locking means for keeping the cover lid and the base member together in said completely assembled status. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element has dimensions suitable for surrounding, in the completely assembled status, the cover lid and the base member when brought in the abutting status, at a radially outward side enclosing at least partly radially most outward edges of the cover lid border region and the base member border region. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, in the completely assembled status, the tubular element surrounds the cover lid and the base member over essentially an entire radially outward side of the cover lid border region and the base member border region, except at some places used for locking the cover lid and base member to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cover lid border region and the base member border region are formed by radially outwardly extending flanges of complementary shape abutting on one another in the abutting status and leaving no gaps for penetration of dust. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, in the completely assembled status of the container, the locking means are providing in a mechanical locking of the cover lid and the base member. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking means are formed by at least one slit or opening in the tubular element in which a cover lid border region part and a base member border region part can be introduced simultaneously. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element is provided with multiple slits or openings and in that the container is provided with multiple pairs of border region parts, each comprising a cover lid border region part and a base member border region part, which can be introduced simultaneously in a corresponding slit or opening of the ring like element. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the pairs of border region parts are formed by corners of the cover lid and corners of the base member and in that the tubular element has corners in which a slit is provided. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the corners of the tubular element are chamfered by being formed by corner parts which make a symmetrical sloping edge with remaining adjacent parts of the tubular element. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element has a conical tubular shape, with a broad base and a narrower top, which top is directed towards the cover lid in the completely assembled status of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element has a straight tubular shape extending in an axial direction (EE′) and having a cross section with constant dimensions in said axial direction (EE′). 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element is made of cardboard and in that the cover lid and base member are made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element is forming an endless strip. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular element is made by a strip of varying width (W). 
     
     
         15 . A Method of locking a cover lid and a base member of a container intended for packaging a product, such as a food product, comprising the steps of:
 bringing the cover lid and the base member into an abutting status by placing face to face a cover lid border region with a base member border region so to form an enclosure for enclosing the product;   surrounding the cover lid and the base member by means of a tubular element having dimensions suitable for that purpose; and,   introducing a cover lid border region part and a base member border region part into a slit or opening in the tubular element for locking the cover lid and the base member to one another so to bring the container into a completely assembled status.