Packaging container comprising a locking arrangement

Abstract

A packaging container for bulk solids includes a container body, a container lid and a locking arrangement. The container body comprises a container wall that defines a container opening and an inner compartment. The container lid comprises a peripheral portion at a peripheral edge of the container lid. The container lid is joined by a hinged connection to the container body at a rear edge portion of the container opening. The locking arrangement comprises at least one locking tab permanently joined to the container body at a front edge portion of the container opening and/or at an opposing side edge portion of the container opening. The locking tab comprises a free end portion extending in the height direction. The free end portion of the locking tab comprises a first locking element arranged to mate with a second locking element arranged on the peripheral portion of the container lid.

1 . A paperboard packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) for bulk solids, said container comprising a container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) comprising a container wall ( 3 ,  103 ,  203 ) extending from a container bottom ( 4 ,  104 ,  204 ) to a container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ) in a height direction of said container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ), said container wall ( 3 ,  103 ,  203 ) and said container bottom ( 4 ,  104 ,  204 ) delimiting an inner compartment ( 6 ,  106 ,  206 ), said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ) having a front edge portion ( 5 ′,  105 ′,  205 ′), a rear edge portion ( 5 ″,  105 ″,  205 ″) and two opposing side edge portions ( 5 *,  105 *,  205 *), a container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) being arranged to close said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ), said container lid comprising a peripheral portion ( 15 ,  115 ,  215 ) at a peripheral edge of said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ), said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) being joined by a hinged connection ( 14 ,  114 ,  214 ) to said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) at said rear edge portion ( 5 ″,  105 ″,  205 ″) of said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ), and a locking arrangement ( 8 ,  108 ,  208 ) for locking said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) in a closed position at said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ), characterized in that said locking arrangement ( 8 ,  108 ,  208 ) comprises a locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ), said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) being permanently joined to said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) at said front edge portion ( 5 ′,  105 ′,  205 ′) of said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ) and/or at said side edge portion ( 5 *,  105 *,  205 *) of said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ) and having a free end portion ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ) extending upward in said height direction, said free end portion ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ) of said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) comprising a first locking element ( 11 ,  111 ,  211 ), said first locking element ( 11 ,  111 ,  211 ) being arranged to mate with a second locking element ( 12 ,  112 ,  212 ) on said peripheral portion ( 15 ,  115 ,  215 ) of said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) in a locked position of said locking tab, said locking tab extending parallel with said container wall in said locked position of said locking tab. 
     
     
         2 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral portion ( 15 ,  115 ,  215 ) of said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) is a peripheral flange ( 15 ,  115 ,  215 ) extending at a peripheral edge of said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) downward towards said container bottom ( 4 ,  104 ,  204 ) in said height direction. 
     
     
         3 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said locking arrangement ( 1 ,  108 ,  208 ) comprises at least two locking tabs ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) being permanently joined to said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ). 
     
     
         4 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said locking arrangement ( 1 ,  108 ,  208 ) comprises two locking tabs ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) being permanently joined to said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) at said front edge portion ( 5 ′,  105 ′,  205 ′) of said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ) and/or at said opposing side edge portions ( 5 *,  105 *,  205 *) of said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ). 
     
     
         5 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking arrangement ( 8 ,  108 ,  208 ) is a snap-fit locking arrangement such as a snap-in locking arrangement or a snap-on locking arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) comprises a hinge portion. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) comprises an inner peelable or tearable sealing gastight membrane forming a cross-sectional seal between an inner compartment ( 6 ,  106 ,  206 ) in said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) and said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ). 
     
     
         8 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an edge rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ), such as a plastic rim, is applied to an end edge of said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) being located at said container opening ( 5 ,  105 ,  205 ). 
     
     
         9 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) is arranged to engage with said rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ) to form a closure on said container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ). 
     
     
         10 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 8  or  9 , wherein said container lid ( 7 ,  107 ,  207 ) is attached by a hinged connection ( 14 ,  114 ,  214 ) to said edge rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ). 
     
     
         11 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of  claims 8  to  10 , wherein said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) is arranged on said rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ) and is permanently attached to said rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ) or is integrally formed with said rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ). 
     
     
         12 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) is provided with a tamper evidence arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein said tamper evidence arrangement comprises a breakable connection between said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) and said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ). 
     
     
         14 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein said breakable connection between said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) and said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ) is a connection between said locking tab ( 9 ,  109 ,  209 ) and a plastic edge rim ( 13 ,  113 ,  213 ), which is permanently attached to an end edge of said container body ( 2 ,  102 ,  202 ). 
     
     
         15 . A packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said packaging container ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ) is a cuboid or near-cuboid container, said container wall ( 3 ,  103 ,  203 ) comprising a front wall portion, a rear wall portion and two side wall portions, said wall portions being connected at container body edge portions.