ES2472946T3 - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (1) comprising a series of side walls (2) that meet at the corners (3), a lower part, an upper opening (4) and a removable cover (5) covering the upper opening, in the that the upper opening is provided with an outwardly directed flange (6), which extends peripherally, in which the cover (5) is provided with a coupling part (7) folded downwards, which extends peripherally, 5 which has a flange (8) directed towards the inside adapted to be held under the flange (6) directed towards the outside of the upper opening, in which the cover (5) is also provided with a skirt (9) extending below the coupling part (7) of its flange (8) directed towards the inside, in which the flange (6) directed towards the outside of the upper opening (4) and the flange (8) directed towards the inside Corresponding cover (5) has curved corner sections (10, 11) in the corners (3) and n those that join the side walls (2) of the container, wherein said curved corner sections (10, 11) connect the side sections of the respective flanges (6, 8), where at least one of the sections ( 11) curved corner of the flange (8) directed towards the inside of the cover (5) is provided with a section (12) of folding skirt adapted to be folded to a position (12 ') directed towards the outside so that a central part of the at least one curved corner section (11) of the flange (8) directed towards the inside of the lid is rotated, prying, with respect to the flange (6) directed towards the outside of the opening (4) upper and that the coupling between the corresponding flanges (6, 8) is weakened, in this way, in an area in said central part, characterized in that the foldable skirt section (12) is separated from the remaining part of the skirt (9 ) by means of two cuts (18) or pre-cuts that extend towards below from an area under the flange (8) directed towards the inside of the cover or by means of at least two grooves (22) formed on the outer surface of the skirt (9) and extending downwards from an area on the line (16) folding to the lower edge of the skirt (9), wherein said grooves (22) reduce the wall thickness of the skirt (9) so that the skirt is breakable along the grooves (22) with the purpose of folding the section (12) of folding skirt to its position (12 ') directed towards the outside, in which the folding line (16) extends below the mutual contact faces of the flange (6) directed towards the outside of the upper opening (4) and the flange (8) directed towards the corresponding inside of the lid (5), respectively.

Description

Container

The present invention relates to a container, according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising a series of side walls that meet at the corners, a lower part, an upper opening and a removable lid covering the upper opening, in the that the upper opening is provided with an outwardly directed flange, which extends peripherally, in which the lid is provided with a coupling part folded downwardly, which extends peripherally, which has a flange directed inwardly adapted to be fastened under the flange directed outwardly of the upper opening, in which the lid is provided in addition to a skirt that extends below the coupling part from its flange directed inwards, in which the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening and the corresponding flange directed towards the inside of the lid have curved corner sections in the skis nas in which the side walls of the container meet, wherein said curved corner sections connect the side sections of the respective flanges, where at least one of the curved corner sections of the flange directed towards the inside of the lid is provided with a foldable skirt section that is adapted to be folded to an outwardly directed position such that a central part of the at least one curved corner section of the flange directed towards the inside of the lid makes a lever movement moving away with respect to the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening and that coupling between the corresponding flanges, therefore, it is weakened in an area in said central part.

EP 1 681 242 B1 (Superfos) describes such a container, which has four walls that meet in rounded corners. In order to open the container, a recess is formed in the skirt of the wall of the container near a corner, so that a pair of fingers can be inserted into the gap and, in this way, an upward pressure can be applied on the skirt of the lid. However, due to the relatively small radius of the rounded corner, considerable force may be needed to disengage the flange directed towards the inside of the lid from the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening. The application of pressure on the lower edge of the thin wall of the skirt can be inconvenient for the user.

Documents DE 201 12 433 U1 and EP 0 110 859 A1, each according to the preamble of claim 1, describe a container comprising a series of side walls joining at the corners, a bottom, an upper opening and a removable cover covering the upper opening, in which the upper opening is provided with an outwardly directed flange, which extends peripherally, in which the lid is provided with a coupling part folded down, which it extends peripherally, which has an inwardly directed flange adapted to be fastened under the outwardly directed flange of the upper opening, in which the lid is provided in addition to a skirt that extends below the part coupling from its flange directed inwards, in which the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening and the corresponding flange directed towards the inside of the lid have a section curved corner s in the corners where the side walls of the container meet, in which said curved corner sections connect the side sections of the respective flanges, where at least one of the curved corner sections of the flange directed towards the inside the cover is provided with a foldable skirt section that is adapted to be folded to a position directed towards the outside so that a central part of the at least one curved corner section of the flange directed towards the inside of the cover it makes a lever movement moving away with respect to the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening and, therefore, that coupling between the corresponding flanges is weakened in an area in said central part.

In order to overcome the force necessary to open the container, the formation of the flange directed towards the inside of the lid and / or the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening with a smaller cross-section or a smaller protuberance is known in the radial direction in the corner area to be opened that along the rest of the peripheral extension of the lid and the upper opening. However, because an appropriate sealing effect of the lid must be maintained, the cross-section or protrusion in the radial direction of the flanges cannot be too small and, therefore, the lid may still have some difficulty in being opened. . There are also known containers that have a lid with a relatively thicker skirt in the corner to be opened, in order not to hurt the fingers.

The object of the present invention is to facilitate the opening of the container, without compromising the sealing effect between the lid and the upper opening.

In view of this object, the folding skirt section is separated from the remaining part of the skirt by means of at least two grooves formed on the outer surface of the skirt and extending downwardly from an area in the fold-to-edge line bottom of the skirt, in which said grooves reduce the thickness of the skirt wall so that the skirt can be broken along the grooves for the purpose of folding the folding skirt section to its downward directed position.

In this way, with the purpose of opening the container, a pair of fingers can press on the lower side of the section of the folding skirt, folding it in this way towards the outside and, therefore, weakening the coupling between the corresponding flanges, so that the necessary opening force is reduced and therefore the opening is facilitated. Before opening, the coupling between the corresponding flanges is not weakened and, therefore, the sealing effect is not compromised.

In addition, the cross-section and / or the radial protuberance of the corresponding flanges can be further reduced in the corner to be opened in order to further facilitate the opening of the container. It is also possible to form the corresponding flanges in another material than the rest of the lid or the container; for example, one or both flanges or even a larger part of the corner of the lid and / or the upper opening of the container may be formed in a softer and / or more elastic material incorporated by co-injection.

Alternatively, the flanges may be formed with a non-reduced cross section and / or a radial protuberance along the entire periphery of the container in order to improve the sealing effect before opening the container. Due to the lever effect according to the invention, the opening of the lid can still be possible and / or can be facilitated without changing the shape of the flange in the corner or corners to be opened.

In one embodiment, the folding skirt section is prepared to fold around a fold line along which the lid material is weakened or around which the lid material is pre-folded. In this way, the folding line can be predetermined in the design stage of the container, and it can be ensured that the folding skirt section is folded along a line that provides an optimized lever effect in order to effectively raise the flange directed towards the inside of the lid with respect to the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening. In addition, folding the folding skirt section can be facilitated.

In one embodiment, a folding line is formed in a folding section that connects the folded down coupling part, which extends peripherally, and the skirt, and the folding section has an exterior that extends obliquely downwards. and towards the outside, in which the outside forms, in this way, an angle both with the coupling part folded down, which extends peripherally, and the skirt. In this way, the folding of the folding skirt section can begin along the angled connection between the coupling part and the folding section and can continue further by folding around the entire folding section. In this way, the folding position can be well controlled.

In one embodiment, the folding line extends below the faces in mutual contact of the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening and the corresponding flange directed towards the inside of the lid, respectively. In this way, it can be ensured that the flange directed towards the inside of the lid will not break during folding and, consequently, the sealing effect after the lid re-closure can be good.

In one embodiment, a protuberance is formed next to a folding line and outside the coupling part or outside the folding skirt section, and in which said protuberance is adapted to be pinched between the section folding skirt and the coupling part when the folding skirt section folds to its outwardly directed position. In this way, the protuberance can improve the lever effect in order to rotate, by levering, even more effectively, a central part of at least one curved corner section of the flange directed towards the inside of the lid with respect to to the flange directed outward from the upper opening.

Although not part of the invention, at least a part of the folding skirt section may be separated from the remaining part of the skirt by means of two separate elastic elements, such as the parts of the skirt having a thinner wall thickness than the remaining part of the skirt or the parts of the skirt that have a bellows type configuration. In this way, the sealing effect of the lid after closing the container can be improved in the sense that the folding skirt section can be elastically folded back at least approximately to its initial position, thus guaranteeing a good coupling between the flange directed towards the inside of the lid and the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening after closing.

Although not part of the invention, separate elastic or extensible elements can divide at least part of the flange directed into the lid on each side of the folding skirt section. In this way, the decoupling between the flange directed towards the inside of the lid and the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening can be facilitated during the opening of the container, thus facilitating the opening. This may be possible without compromising the sealing effect of the lid, because the separated elastic or extensible elements can seal the area of division of the flange directed towards the inside of the lid against fluid leakage.

In one embodiment, the folding skirt section is separated from the remaining part of the skirt by means of two cuts or pre-cuts extending downwardly from an area below the flange directed towards the inside of the lid. This can be an easy embodiment to manufacture. In the case of pre-cuts, a tamper-proof container can be provided.

In one embodiment, the folding skirt section is separated from the remaining part of the skirt by means of at least two grooves formed on the outer surface of the skirt and extending downwardly from an area in the folding line to the bottom edge of the skirt, in which said grooves reduce the wall thickness of the skirt so that the skirt can be broken along the grooves for the purpose of folding the folding skirt section to its outwardly directed position. This can be an easy embodiment to manufacture. In the case of precuts, a tamper-proof container can be provided.

In one embodiment, the folding skirt section is reinforced against folding along a line that extends in its longitudinal direction, preferably by means of ribs that extend at right angles to its longitudinal direction. In this way, the lever effect of the folding skirt section can be improved in order to rotate, by levering, even more effectively, the flange directed towards the inside of the lid with respect to the flange directed towards the outside. of the upper opening.

In one embodiment, the folding skirt section is reinforced against folding along a line that extends in its longitudinal direction by means of mutually separated ribs that extend at right angles with respect to its longitudinal direction, in which said ribs have upper ends adapted to abut the outer part of the coupling part when the folding skirt section is folded to its outwardly directed position. In this way, the stop of the protuberances in the form of upper ends of the ribs can improve the leverage effect in order to rotate, levering, even more effectively, a central part of the at least one section of curved corner of the flange directed towards the inside of the lid from the flange directed towards the outside of the upper opening.

Now, the invention will be explained in more detail below by means of examples of embodiments with reference to very schematic drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a cross section through a corner of the container according to the invention along the line indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the container;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the container indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the container according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the outside of the corner of the lid of the container illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 1 of yet another embodiment of the container according to the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are different perspective views of the embodiment of the container shown in Fig. 6, in which a foldable skirt section of the lid is in its original position and in its folded out position, respectively;

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the lid of the embodiment of the container shown in Fig. 6, in which a foldable skirt section of the lid is in its original position and in its folded out position, respectively; Y

Figs. 11 and 12 are different perspective views of a detail showing a foldable skirt section of the lid shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so that the folding skirt section is in its original position and in its folded out position, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of a container 1 according to the invention. The container 1 has four side walls 2 that meet at the corners 3, a lower part not shown, an upper opening 4 and a removable lid 5 covering the upper opening, see also Fig. 1. The container 1 and the lid 5 comprised by the container are preferably produced in plastic material by injection molding. The upper opening 4 is provided with an outwardly directed flange 6, which extends peripherally, and the cover 5 is provided with a coupling part 7 folded down, which extends peripherally, which has a Inwardly directed flange 8 adapted to be held under the outwardly directed flange 6 of the upper opening 4. In the embodiment shown, a membrane 20 of the lid is in a lower position than part 7 of

coupling, folded down, by means of a wall 19. The cover 5 is also provided with a skirt 9 which extends below the coupling part 7 from its flange 8 directed inwards. The flange 6 directed towards the outside of the upper opening 4 and the flange 8 directed towards the corresponding interior of the lid 5 have curved corner sections 10, 11 at the corners 3 where the sides of the container 1 meet at the that said curved corner sections 10, 11 connect the side sections of the respective flanges 6, 8. The curved corner section 10 of the flange 6 directed towards the outside and the curved corner section 11 of the flange directed towards the inside are visible in cross-section in Fig. 1.

In the lower right corner 3 of the container 1 as shown in Fig. 2, the curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5 is provided with a foldable skirt section 12 which is adapted to be folded to an outwardly directed position as seen in the figure and, for example, directed approximately as indicated by line 12 'in Fig. 1. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the container 1 is further provided with a skirt section 24 which extends downwardly outside the upper edge of the side walls 2. A clamping opening not shown in Fig. 1 may be provided in the skirt section 24 below the foldable skirt section 12, so that a finger can be inserted into the clamping opening for the purpose of clamping below the edge of section 12 of folding skirt to fold it to its outward-facing position. Alternatively, a fastening opening may be provided in the foldable skirt section 12 itself or any other suitable fastening means, such as a protuberance, may be provided in the foldable skirt section 12 for the purpose of facilitating fastening.

One or more of the curved corner sections 11 of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover 5 may be provided with a foldable skirt section 12. Especially, two diagonally opposite corner sections 11 may be provided with a foldable skirt section 12, such as in the lower right corner 3 and in the upper left corner 3, of the container 1, as shown in Fig. 2 This may be advantageous, for example, in an embodiment as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the container is substantially rectangular and is provided with diagonally opposite fastening openings 23 in a skirt section 24 extending outside the upper edge of the side walls 2. Due to this configuration, the lid 5 can be mounted in the opening 4 of the container in any of two possible positions, thus facilitating assembly. In any of these positions, a foldable skirt section 12 will be placed on top of a corresponding fastening opening 23 in the skirt section 24.

Although the line 12 'in Fig. 1 is shown as an approximately horizontal line, the foldable skirt section 12 can be adapted, in the same way, to be folded to an outwardly directed position that forms an angle with respect to the horizontal one, for example, so that the outer free end of the foldable skirt section 12 is directed obliquely upwards. Alternatively, the outer free end of the foldable skirt section 12 may, in the folded outward position of the foldable skirt section 12, be obliquely directed downwards. The arrow 13 indicates the direction of folding in which the foldable skirt section 12 is folded so that a central part of the curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover 5 makes a lever movement moving away with with respect to the flange 6 directed towards the outside of the upper opening 4 and that the coupling between the corresponding flanges 6, 8 is thus weakened in an area in said central part. The curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5 is shown in cross section in Fig. 1 and is not visible in Fig. 3; however, it is observed that the curved corner section 11 of the inwardly directed flange 8 extends between the marks 14 and 15 in Fig. 3 and follows the rounded lines that are observed on the upper side of the lid and that extend between these marks 14, 15. The central part indicated above of the curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover 5 may, for example, extend approximately 1/3 or 1/2 of the length of the curved corner section 11.

In the context of the present invention, the expression inwards, when it is related to the flanges 6, 8

or any other element along the periphery of the container 1, means directed against a central vertical axis through the container when the container is placed with its bottom part on a horizontal surface. Outward refers to the opposite direction, which moves away from said vertical axis. In fact, all the directions indicated in the present application refer to the container 1 when it is placed with its lower part on a horizontal surface.

Advantageously, the folding skirt section is prepared to fold around a fold line along which the lid material is weakened or around which the lid material is pre-folded or along which the cover material is prepared or adapted, in any other suitable way, to facilitate folding.

However, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a folding line 16 is formed in a folding section 17 connecting the coupling part 7 folded down, which extends peripherally, and the skirt 9. The folding section 17 has an exterior that extends obliquely downwards and outwards, in which the exterior thus forms an angle with both the coupling part 7, folded downwards, which is

extends peripherally, as with the skirt 9. In Fig. 1, the folding line 16 is indicated in the area of the angle formed between the outside of the folding section 17 and the coupling part 7, folded down; however, depending on the exact shape configuration of the lid 5, the folding line 16 may also be located further down the folding section 17. In fact, in order to optimize the lever effect of the foldable skirt section 12, the folding line 16 can follow a path of different heights along the length of the curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed towards inside. For example, the folding line 16 may be positioned slightly higher in the central part of the curved corner section 11 than in the end portions of the curved corner section 11. For example, in another embodiment, the folding line 16 may be positioned slightly lower in the central part of the curved corner section 11 than in end portions of the curved corner section 11.

It may be preferable that the folding line 16 extends below the faces in mutual contact of the flange 6 directed towards the outside of the upper opening 4 and the flange 8 directed towards the corresponding interior of the lid 5, respectively. In this way, it can be ensured that the inwardly directed flange 8 does not break during the folding operation.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it is observed that the folding line 16 is formed in a folding section 17 located well below the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover 5. In the embodiment shown in Fig 4, it can be seen that the folding line 16 is formed in a folding section 17 located at the top of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, it is noted that the section 12 of folding skirt is separated from the remaining part of the skirt 9 by means of two cuts 18 or pre-cuts extending downward from an area below the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover 5. In additional embodiments, one can be provided

or more additional cuts that separate section 12 of foldable skirt into two or more parts.

Although not part of the present invention, the cuts 18 may further extend upward and divide at least part of the flange 8 directed into the lid 5 on each side of the foldable skirt section 12. However, in that case it may be preferable to cover the cut at least through the flange 8 directed inwards by means of elastic or extensible elements in order to guarantee the sealing effect of the cover before, and preferably also after, of the opening and re-closing. It should be noted that in said example, the folding line 16 may extend, partly or totally, above the angle between the coupling part 7 and the folding section 17; in fact, it can extend, partly or completely, to a level flush with or even above the flange 8 directed inwards.

Although not part of the present invention, at least a part of the foldable skirt section 12 may be separated from the remaining part of the skirt 9 by means of two separate elastic elements, not shown, such as parts of the skirt 9 having a wall thickness thinner than the remaining part of the skirt or parts of the skirt that have a bellows type configuration. In this way, the foldable skirt section 12 can automatically return to its initial position after the lid is opened.

Said separate elastic or extensible elements would separate at least part of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover on each side of the foldable skirt section 12.

In one embodiment, the foldable skirt section 12 is reinforced against folding along a line extending in its longitudinal direction, for example, by means of reinforcing ribs or other suitable or similar protuberances. In this way, the lever effect indicated above in section 12 of folding skirt can be improved. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 to 12, this is done by means of ribs (21) that extend at right angles with respect to the longitudinal direction of the section 12 of foldable skirt. In this way, it can be ensured that the foldable skirt section 12 itself does not fold; on the contrary, it folds in relation to the coupling part 7 around a fold line 16.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the foldable skirt section 12 is separated from the remaining part of the skirt 9 by means of two grooves 22 formed on the outer surface of the skirt 9 and extending downward from an area in the fold line 16 to the lower edge of the skirt 9. The grooves 22 reduce the wall thickness of the skirt 9 from a normal thickness T to a reduced thickness t, so that the skirt can be broken along the grooves 22 for the purpose of folding section 12 folding skirt to its 12 'position directed outwards. In the embodiment shown, it is noted that the grooves 22 have a cross section with a substantially triangular shape. In addition, in the embodiment shown, the foldable skirt section 12 is separated into two foldable skirt sections 12a, 12b separated by means of a groove 22 'similar to the grooves 22 separating the foldable skirt section 12 from the remaining part of the skirt 9. The provision of this additional groove 22 'can further facilitate the folding of the foldable skirt section 12 in the sense that the separation of the foldable skirt section 12 into two separate folding skirt sections 12a, 12b can reduce the tensions in section 12 of folding skirt during folding, especially in the longitudinal direction of, and

near the bottom edge of, section 12 of folding skirt. In other embodiments, the foldable skirt section 12 may also be separated into separate foldable skirt sections by means of more complementary grooves 22 '.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the slots 22, 22 'extend outwardly extending obliquely downward, of the folding section 17 connecting the coupling part 7 folded downwardly, which extends peripherally, and the skirt 9 Because the folding section 17 in this embodiment is located at the top of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5, the grooves 22, 22 'that provide the reduced wall thickness t also extend to the upper part of the flange 8 directed inwards; however, because the thickness of the flange 8 directed inwardly, the flange 8 directed inwardly may not break when the skirt is broken along the grooves 22 for the purpose of folding the foldable skirt section 12 to its position 12 'directed outwards. Therefore, when the section 12 of the folding skirt is folded to its outwardly directed position 12 ', the inwardly directed portion of the flange 8 above the grooves 22 may be twisted along its longitudinal axis in order to allow that a central part of the curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5 is rotated, prying, with respect to the flange 6 directed towards the outside of the upper opening 4, so that the coupling between the corresponding flanges 6, 8 are weakened in an area in said central part. In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, it is observed, as explained above, that the foldable skirt section 12 is reinforced against folding along a line that extends in its longitudinal direction by means of mutually separated ribs 21 that extend at right angles with respect to its longitudinal direction, so that the lever effect can be improved. The ribs 21 have upper ends 25 adapted to abut the outside of the coupling part 7 when the foldable skirt section 12 is folded to its outward position 12 ’. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the upper ends 25 of the ribs 21, in the unfolded position of the foldable skirt section 12, are positioned above the folding section 17 and extend obliquely upward in the radial direction out. During the folding operation, at a point in time, the upper ends 25 of the ribs 21 will abut the outside of the coupling part 7, so that the lever effect can be further improved.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 12, the configuration of the upper opening 4, the flange 6 directed towards the outside, which extends peripherally, the cover 5, the coupling part 7 folded down, which extends peripherally, the flange 8 directed inwards and the skirt 9 corresponds, to a large extent, to that of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. However, the foldable skirt section 12 is reinforced against folding by means of mutually separate ribs 21 which are they extend at right angles with respect to their longitudinal direction in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5. However, as can be seen in Fig. 6, in this embodiment, the upper ends 25 of the ribs 21, in the unfolded position of the foldable skirt section 12, are positioned above the folding section 17 and extend obliquely downward in the radial direction outward. In addition, it should be noted that the folding line 16, due to the ribs 21, is formed somewhat above the folding section 17 which is well below the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the cover 5. However, the folding line 16 is formed below the flange 8 directed inwards. During the folding operation, at a point in time, the upper ends 25 of the ribs 21 will abut the outside of the coupling part 7, so that the lever effect can be further improved. Due to the obliquely downward extension, in the radial direction outward, of the upper ends 25 of the ribs 21, the foldable skirt section 12 can be folded to a position even beyond the 12 'position indicated in Fig. 6, in which position the foldable skirt section 12 may extend obliquely upwardly radially outward, before the upper ends 25 of the ribs 21 abut the outside of the coupling part 7. This may be advantageous in this embodiment, in which the folding section 17, as indicated above, is located well below the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5, and in which the line 16 of folding is located under the flange 8 directed inwards.

It should be noted that in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as well as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 12, the slots 22, 22 'are formed on the outer surface of the skirt 9; however, they can also be formed on the inner surface of the skirt 9. In the latter case, the grooves 22, 22 'can preferably extend no further than the lower area of the flange 8 directed towards the inside of the lid 5 with the purpose of not breaking along the flange.

In Fig. 2 it is observed that, in the embodiment shown, the substantially straight side walls 2 fold slightly in the outward direction. They can be curved, for example, with a radius of 2 meters, but also with a radius of 30 centimeters or even less, while the curved corner section 10 of the flange 6 directed outwards and the curved corner section 11 of the flange 8 directed inwards they can bend with a radius of approximately 3 centimeters. However, the radii of the curved corner sections 10, 11 may be even smaller, such as about 1 to 2 centimeters. However, these radii can also be larger than 3 centimeters. The container can have any suitable number of side walls 2.

Claims (6)

1. A container (1) comprising a series of side walls (2) that meet at the corners (3), a lower part, an upper opening (4) and a removable cover (5) covering the upper opening, wherein the upper opening is provided with an outwardly directed flange (6), which extends peripherally, in which the lid

(5)

 It is provided with a coupling part (7) folded downwards, which extends peripherally, which has an inwardly directed flange (8) adapted to be held under the flange (6) directed towards the outside of the opening upper, in which the cover (5) is also provided with a skirt (9) extending below the part

(7)

for coupling its flange (8) directed inwards, in which the flange (6) directed outwards from the upper opening (4) and the flange (8) directed towards the corresponding interior of the lid (5) has curved corner sections (10, 11) in the corners (3) where the side walls (2) of the container meet, in which said curved corner sections (10, 11) connect the side sections of the flanges ( 6, 8), respectively, where at least one of the curved corner sections (11) of the flange (8) directed towards the inside of the lid

(5)

It is provided with a folding skirt section (12) adapted to be folded to a position (12 ') directed outwardly so that a central part of the at least one curved corner section (11) of the flange

(8)

directed towards the inside of the lid is rotated, prying, with respect to the flange (6) directed towards the outside of the upper opening (4) and that the coupling between the corresponding flanges (6, 8) is weakened, of this way, in an area in said central part, characterized in that the section (12) of folding skirt is separated from the remaining part of the skirt (9) by means of two cuts (18) or pre-cuts extending downwards from an area under the flange (8) directed towards the inside of the cover or by means of at least two grooves (22) formed on the outer surface of the skirt (9) and extending downwards from an area on the line ( 16) folding to the bottom edge of the skirt (9), wherein said grooves (22) reduce the wall thickness of the skirt (9) so that the skirt is breakable along the grooves (22) for the purpose of folding the section (12) of folding skirt to its position (12 ') directed towards the outside ior, in which the folding line (16) extends below the mutual contact faces of the flange (6) directed outwards from the upper opening (4) and the flange (8) directed towards the corresponding interior of the cover (5), respectively.

2.

 Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the foldable skirt section (12) is prepared to fold around a fold line (16) along which the lid material (5) is weakened or around from which the lid material is pre-folded.

3.

 Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a folding line (16) is formed in a folding section (17) connecting the coupling part (7) folded down, which extends peripherally, and the skirt (9), and because the folding section (17) has an exterior that extends obliquely downwards and outwards, in which the exterior thus forms an angle with both the coupling part folded down, which extends peripherally, as with the skirt.

Four.

 Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a protuberance is formed next to the folding line (16) and outside the coupling part (7) or outside the skirt section (12) collapsible, and why said protuberance is adapted to be pinched between the section

(12) folding skirt and coupling part (7) when the section (12) folding skirt folds to its position (12 ') directed outwards.

5.

 Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foldable skirt section (12) is reinforced against folding along a line extending in its longitudinal direction, preferably by ribs (21) extending in right angles with respect to its longitudinal direction.

6.

 Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foldable skirt section (12) is reinforced against folding along a line extending in its longitudinal direction, by means of mutually separate ribs (21) which they extend at right angles with respect to their longitudinal direction, in which said ribs (21) have upper ends (25) adapted to abut the outside of the coupling part (7) when the folding skirt section (12) it folds to its position (12 ') directed outwards.