[0001] The present invention relates to packagings of the type comprising a receiver container,
a lid suitable to close its upper opening and a swivelling handle.
[0002] For the conditioning and the transport of some products, such as some foodstuff or
painting, the packaging can be composed of at least a receiver container having an
upper access opening, and a lid suitable to be placed over said upper opening in order
to close said container.
[0003] These packagings are also typically provided with a swivelling handle, to facilitate
their manually transport.
[0004] Due to their assembling and product deposit after use, the lid is usually difficult
to separate from the equipped container.
[0005] The final consumer is as a result typically obliged to use a tool, or any suitable
object, to manage this opening, with the time lost to achieve this opening, and the
risks of injuries.
[0006] In order to resolve these problems, the applicant developed a new structure of packaging
composed of a container, a lid and a swivelling handle, which is particularly simple
to open or to re-open.
[0007] To that end, the packaging according to the invention comprises a handle which can
be used as a lever to exert a pushing or extraction force on the lid which facilitates
the opening thereof.
[0008] Then, the said packaging comprises means to exert a pushing force on the lid which
tends to move it away and to separated it from the container, which pushing means
are arranged for a first part on the handle, and for a second part on the container
or on the lid, in function that said handle is assembled respectively to the lid or
to the container, wherein said pushing means have two configurations function of the
handle position around its rotation axis, between two terminal resting positions :
- a non-pushing configuration, in which the handle is arranged in a first range of free
swivelling which extends from one terminal resting position up to, at least, the position
of the handle suitable for the transport of the conditioning, and
- a pushing configuration, in which the handle is moved in a second range of swivelling
which extends from the end of said first non-pushing range towards the other terminal
resting position, in order to generate the pushing force on the lid and to separate
it from the container.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the packaging comprises also means for locking the lid
on the container which are also arranged for a first part on the handle, and for a
second part on the container or on the lid in function that said handle is swivelly
assembled respectively to the lid or to the container.
[0010] The said locking means have two configurations function of the handle position around
its rotation axis :
- a locking configuration, in which the handle is arranged in the first range of free
swivelling, corresponding to the non-pushing configuration of the pushing means, and
- an unlocking configuration, in which the handle is moved in the second range of swivelling,
corresponding to the pushing configuration of said pushing means.
[0011] According this preferred embodiment, the first part of the pushing means and of the
locking means comprises each a surface shaped to cooperate with at least a protruding
element, forming the second part of the pushing means and of the locking means, i.e.:
- the "pushing" surface of said pushing means forms a cam, suitable to cooperate with
said protruding element when the handle is arranged in the pushing range of swivelling,
so as to exert a push force on said protruding element which tends to move away the
lid from the container and facilitates its separation, and
- the "locking" surface of the locking means forms a hook, suitable to cooperate with
said protruding element when the handle is arranged in the locking range of swivelling,
so as to lock the lid on the container.
[0012] In this last case, the first part of the pushing/locking means, formed by the two
active surfaces, are arranged on the handle, and the second part of the pushing/locking
means, in form of protruding element(s), is arranged on the container, or on the lid,
in function that said handle is assembled respectively to the lid or to the container.
[0013] In a particular embodiment, the handle is swivelly assembled to the container or
to the lid by its two ends. The surfaces of the pushing/locking means of the handle
are then advantageously arranged at, at least, one of said end; said surfaces are
then of curved shapes, are arranged one following the other around the rotation axis
of the handle and are intended to each come on one side of the associated protruding
element : said outer locking surface being of a general arc of circle shape, coaxial
with the rotation axis, and said inner pushing surface being shaped so that its space
from said rotation axis increases from the locking surface towards its free end. According
a characteristic of this last particular embodiment, the end(s) of the handle comprises
a curved groove having an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface, wherein
said outer surface corresponds to the locking surface, and wherein the said inner
surface is prolonged by a curved surface corresponding to the pushing surface.
[0014] In this case, the outer surface of the groove is advantageously prolonged by a surface
whereof the distance to the rotation axis increases up to its free end in order to
allow the swivelling of the handle beyond the transport position while maintaining
the locking means active and to make easier the re-fastening of the lid on the container.
According another characteristic of this last particular embodiment, the handle extends
in a main plan; the locking surface starts on a first side of said main plan, and
eventually ends on the other side of said plan, and the pushing surface starts on
the second side of said main plan, and eventually ends on the other side of said plan.
[0015] According also this last particular embodiment, the protruding element consists in
a cylindrical protrusion, extending towards outside.
[0016] According another characteristic of the invention, the locking means comprise tamper
evidence means, intended to show the passage of the handle from the locking range
to the pushing range of swivelling.
[0017] The said tamper evidence means are advantageously suitable to be broken when the
handle is operated in its pushing range of swivelling, from the locking range of swivelling.
[0018] Preferably, the tamper evidence means are formed by a breakable membrane, extending
between the free end of the inner and outer surfaces of the groove, suitable to be
broken by the protruding element when the handle is swivelled from the locking range
to the pushing range of swivelling.
[0019] This type of conditioning is also generally equipped with means for locking the lid
placed on the container, in particular to secure the closure of the packaging and
to prevent the accidental opening thereof.
[0020] The present invention is illustrated, without being limited, by the following specification
and the annexed drawings in which :
- figure 1 is a schematic view of the packaging according to the invention, showing
the main positions of the handle and their effects on the lid;
- figure 2 is an enlarged and schematic view of a first embodiment of the handle end,
intended to swivel on the container;
- figures 3 to 7 are schematic views of the embodiment in accordance to figure 2, which
show the action of the handle on the associated lid due to its swivelling;
- figure 8 is an enlarged and schematic view of a second embodiment of the handle end,
intended to swivel on the lid; and
- figures 9 to 13 are schematic views of the embodiment in accordance to figure 8, which
show the action of the handle on the associated lid.
[0021] The packaging 1 according to the invention, as shown schematically figure 1, is composed
of a receiving container 2, a closing lid 3 and a swivelling handle 4 usable to facilitate
the manually transport of this packaging.
[0022] This type of packaging 1 is particularly adapted for the conditioning of products
such as foodstuff or painting, but also wood care product, coatings, varnishes or
other suitable products presented from liquid to solid form.
[0023] The receiving container 2 is rigid, and can be, for example, in general conical,
cylindrical or parallelepiped shape.
[0024] It is composed of a side wall 6 whereof the lower border is prolonged by a bottom
wall 7 and whereof the upper border 8 delimits the upper access opening (non visible)
to the conditioned product.
[0025] This container 2 is made in any suitable material and by any suitable process of
fabrication. For example, it is carried out particularly by operations of cutting,
welding and rolling of a metallic sheet (made out of steel for example) of which the
thickness can be in the range of 0,15 to 0,40 mm. It can also be made in plastic material.
[0026] The lid 3 is also made in any suitable material and by any suitable process of fabrication.
For example, it is carried out particularly by operations of cutting/drawing of metallic
sheet or operation of plastic injection.
[0027] This lid 3 is of adapted shape and size, to be placed and fastened, advantageously
hermetically (but alternatively, non-hermetically in function of the conditioned product),
on the upper border 8 of the container 2.
[0028] It comprises in particular a peripheral border 10 suitable to cooperate with said
container upper border 8, by complementary forms fitting together.
[0029] If necessary, the lid 3 is hermetically fastened on the container, for example by
mean of foam, plastic/elastic deformation or any other suitable mean known by one
skill in the art.
[0030] The handle 4 has a form of an arch, comprising a central handle part 11, intended
to be held by a operator, and two end parts 12 swivelly assembled to the packaging
1. The main plan 4' of this handle 4 is defined by said handle part 11 and its rotation
axis.
[0031] In accordance to alternative embodiments, the handle 4 can be swivelly assembled
to the upper part of the container side wall 6 or to the peripheral border 10 of the
lid 3.
[0032] This handle 4 is made of any suitable material, for example - dual material (e.g.,
metallic handle with plastic extremities), - plastic injection and folding, - plastic
thermoforming or - metal drawing.
[0033] It is swivelly assembled to the container or to the lid by means of - welded rivet,
- additional part fixed by welding, seaming or gluing, - protrusion drawn on the metal
of the lid/container or - protrusion made during the injection of the lid.
[0034] The handle 4 is intended to swivel around a rotation axis 13 (extending through and
between the handle end parts 12), between two extreme resting positions termed "A"
and "B" (shown schematically by lines A and B on figure 1, respectively).
[0035] In these resting positions A and B, the handle 4 lies in regard of the container
side wall 6.
[0036] Between these resting positions A and B, the handle 4 comes also typically in a vertical
position, shown by line C on figure 1. This vertical position C is naturally obtained
when the handle 4 is held by the operator during the manually transport of the packaging
1.
[0037] According to the invention, the packaging 1 comprises its own means for making easier
the liberation of the lid 3 from the container 2, and advantageously also means for
locking the lid 3 on the container 2 to prevent its accidentally opening.
[0038] These locking and pushing means (not shown here on figure 1 and detailed on figures
2 to 13) are shaped and arranged in order to be activated in function of the handle
position around its rotation axis 13, between the two extreme positions A and B above-mentioned.
[0039] Indeed, the maximum range of swivelling A-B of the handle 4 (between extreme positions
A and B) can be divided into two sub-ranges of swivelling, separated by an intermediary
position D of the handle 4, shown schematically by line D on figure 1.
[0040] This intermediary position D extends between the vertical position C and the second
extreme position B.
[0041] In a first range of swivelling A-D (between the first extreme position A and the
intermediary position D, and which comprises vertical position C), the locking means
are activated and the pushing means are inactivated.
[0042] The lid 3 is as a result maintained locked on its container 2; the accidental opening
of the lid 4, in particular while transporting the packaging 1, is prevented. The
handle 4 is free of rotation around its rotation axis 13 in this range A-D, which
allows notably the movement of the handle 4 between the resting position A and the
transport position C.
[0043] In the second range of swivelling D-B (between the second extreme position B and
the intermediary position D), the pushing means are activated while the locking means
are inactivated.
[0044] More precisely, the manually movement of the handle 4 by an operator from the intermediary
position D up to the second extreme position B, allows the activation of the pushing
means which exert a pushing force on the lid, making easier the opening of the container
2.
[0045] This handle 4 forms then a lever action, which provokes the separation of the lid
3 from the container 2.
[0046] Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, where the operator wishes to re-close the packaging
1, the movement of the handle 4 towards the first resting position A can exert a force
on the lid 3 which facilitates its re-fitting on the container 2.
[0047] As a result and in general, the present packaging 1 allows the use of the handle
4 as a lever which facilitates the opening of the lid 3, and also advantageously as
locking and/or re-closing means.
[0048] These internal pushing/re-closing means of the packaging 1 prevent to operate tools
and the risks of accident thereof, in particular to easily open or re-open the closed
container 2 and advantageously to re-close it.
[0049] Here, this combination of locking/re-closing/pushing functions, in relation to the
handle position, is really interesting since, with a simple and unique structure,
the packaging becomes particularly easier in use.
[0050] A specific embodiment of the handle, in accordance to the present invention, is shown
figures 2 to 7.
[0051] This handle 4 is particular due to the specific shape of its two ends 12 (only one
is shown figure 2) intended to swivel on the container 2, the said ends 12 comprising
a part of the pushing/locking/re-closing means above-described.
[0052] The other part of said means are arranged on the lid 3, here in the form of a roller
or a cylindrical protrusion 14, extending outwardly (as shown figures 3 to 7). In
general and in a preferred embodiment, at least the part of the protrusions 14, intended
to come in contact with the ends 12 of the handle 4, is in form of a roller or a cylinder.
[0053] More precisely, as shown figure 2, the handle end 12 consists here in a terminal
body 15, of general circular shape. This ending body 15 is assembled to the container
via the rotation axis 13. This rotation axis 13 extends into the main plan 4' of the
handle 4.
[0054] The said ending body 15 comprises a curved shape groove 16, here of arc of circle
shape on its full length (or a part of its length in an alternative embodiment), arranged
around the rotation axis 13 and concentrically thereof. This curved groove 16 extends
here also between the rotation axis 13 and the handle part 11.
[0055] One end 17 of this curved groove 16 is closed in this embodiment, and its other end
18 is opened.
[0056] This curved groove 16 is defined by two facing curved surfaces, here of arc of circle
shape, i.e. an inner surface 19 (at side of the rotation axis 13 and oriented toward
outside) and an outer surface 20 (at distance of the rotation axis 13 and oriented
toward inside).
[0057] These two surfaces 19, 20 extend concentrically to the rotation axis 13.
[0058] As shown here-after, the said outer surface 20 of the curved groove 16 has a hook-shape
and corresponds to the locking means part of the handle.
[0059] In a particular embodiment, one of the surfaces of the curved groove 16, here the
said inner surface 19, may also be equipped with two one-piece small protrusions 19
a, arranged next to the plan 4' of the handle 4 and on each side thereof.
[0060] As shown schematically on this figure 2 and as disclosed here-after, the protrusion
element 14 of the lid 3 intends to come and to be maintained between these two small
protrusions 19a, when the handle 4 is moved in its vertical position C.
[0061] This particularity tends to maintain the handle 4 is this vertical position C, to
make easier its handling by the operator.
[0062] The inner surface 19 of the groove 16 is prolonged by an active surface 21 forming
the pushing means of the handle 4.
[0063] To this end, this pushing surface 21 has a curved shape, whereof the distance to
the rotation axis 13 increase from its end 21
a, at the junction with the curved groove 16, to its free end 21
b.
[0064] This pushing surface 21 extends here nearly at the opposite side of the rotation
axis 13, compare to the handle part 11.
[0065] The outer surface 20 of the curved groove 16 is here also prolonged by the inner
surface 22 of a lateral extension 23, which corresponds advantageously to the re-closing
means as described here-under.
[0066] To that end, the distance of this surface 22, compared to the rotation axis 13, increases
from its junction with the outer surface 20 of the groove 16 toward its free end.
The open end 18 of the curved groove 16 is thus of slightly divergent shape.
[0067] This shape allows in particular, as disclosed here-after, to make easier the re-fastening
of the lid on the container by a simple suitable swivelling of the handle. It cans
thus act as a re-closing lever.
[0068] To be complete, the outer locking surface 20 and the pushing surface 21 extends,
approximately, one after the other around the rotation axis 13.
[0069] The groove outer surface 20 extends mainly at one of the sides of the plan 4' of
the handle 4 and finishes on the other side of this plan 4', to allow a possible movement
of the handle 4 beyond the vertical position C if necessary, while maintaining the
lid 3 closed (as disclosed here-under).
[0070] The handle end 12 is also equipped advantageously with tamper evidence means in the
form of a breakable membrane 24, made here in one-piece with said handle end.
[0071] This membrane 24 extends in particular through the open end 18 of the curved groove
16, between the end of the inner surface 19 of the groove 16 and the facing lateral
extension 23.
[0072] In alternative embodiments, the membrane is suitable - to be broken by the protruding
element 14 when the handle 4 is swivelled for the first time in its pushing range
(D-B), or - to be cut with a tool for security reasons (in particular in case of "Chid
Resistant Closure", termed also "CRC").
[0073] In practice, as shown figure 3, the handle 4 is typically arranged in a first resting
position A (described before in relation with figure 1).
[0074] The packaging 1 can be stacked with others, for its transport in a vehicle or its
storage.
[0075] In this position, the locking surface 20 of the handle end 12 lies above the protruding
element 14 of the lid 3 arranged into the curved groove 16 (the pushing surface 21
is totally free from said protruding element 14).
[0076] The lid 3 is thus locked on the container 2.
[0077] When an operator wishes or needs to manually move the packaging 1, he can hold it
by its handle 4 which then comes in the vertical position C, as shown figure 4.
[0078] The protruding element 14 is here always arranged into the curved groove 16, which
allows maintaining the lid 3 closed and preventing accidental spilling out (the locking
surface 20 is always in contact with, or at least faces, the upper part of the protruding
element 14).
[0079] The two protrusions 19a of the curved groove 16, if present, aim at maintaining this
vertical position C of the handle 4.
[0080] Moreover, the extension 23 allows a possible movement of the handle 4 beyond the
vertical position C if necessary, while maintaining the lid 3 closed (figure 5).
[0081] When the operator wishes to open the packaging 1, he just has here to operate the
handle 4, to use the pushing means as above-described.
[0082] To that end, he just needs to swivel the handle 4 around its rotation axis 13, beyond
the vertical position C and towards the other resting position B.
[0083] More precisely, the handle 4 is operated up to the intermediary position D. The protruding
element 14 moves along the curved groove 16; the said protruding element 14 is then
here transferred from the curved groove 16 to the pushing surface 21 (figure 6).
[0084] Then, the handle 4 is operated beyond this intermediary position D, towards the second
resting position B (figure 7).
[0085] For the first time, this operation provokes the breaking of the tamper evidence membrane
24, by the action of the protruding element 14.
[0086] The protruding element 14 moves along the pushing surface 21, from its first end
21 a to its free end 21 b, while being liberated from the locking surfaces 20 and
22 ; the pushing surface 21 comes in contact with the lower part of the protruding
element 14 and operates as a cam or a lever, which provokes here an upwardly pushing
force (shown by arrow 25 on figure 7), and makes easier the separation of the lid
3 from the container 2.
[0087] It is thus particularly easy to separate the lid from the container, by the simple
operation of the handle and without using any complementary tool.
[0088] If the operator wishes to re-close or re-fasten the lid 3 on the container 2, he
just has to move the handle 4 in an opposite way, from the intermediary position D
(figure 6) toward the first resting position A (figure 3).
[0089] Indeed, the inner surface 22 of the extension 23 comes to interact with the protruding
element 14 of the lid 2, and exerts a pulling force on it (in opposite of pushing
force 25 above-mentioned); this inner surface 22 thus acts as a king of re-closing
lever. The lid 3 is then easily fitted on the container 2, and is maintained closed
by the presence of the protruding element 14 in the curved groove 16.
[0090] The same interactions happen at the other end of the handle (not shown) with the
protruding element 14.
[0091] In another embodiment according to the invention, shown figures 8 to 13, the handle
4 is swivelly fixed to the lid 3, and the protruding element 14 is arranged on the
container 2.
[0092] The corresponding handle 4 is similar as the one disclosed above according to figures
2 to 7. One of the ends 12 of this handle 4 is shown in detail figure 8.
[0093] This end 12 is similar as the one above-disclosed according to figures 2 to 7, i.e.
it comprises terminal body 15, having a curve shape groove 16, of arc of circle shape
on its length (or a part of its length in an alternative embodiment), arranged around
the rotation axis 13 and concentrically thereof.
[0094] This curved groove 16 extends here mainly on the side of the rotation axis 13, which
is opposite to the handle part 11 of the handle 4.
[0095] This curved groove 16 is here also defined by two facing curved surfaces, i.e. the
inner surface 19 (at side of the rotation axis 13) and the outer surface 20 (at distance
of the rotation axis 13). These two surfaces 19, 20 extend concentrically to the rotation
axis 13, and said outer surface 20 corresponds to the locking surface. The inner surface
19 of the groove 16 is prolonged by the active surface 21 forming the handle part
of the pushing means; this pushing surface 21 is here arranged approximately at side
of the handle part 11.
[0096] In a particular embodiment, the said inner surface 19 may also be equipped with two
one-piece small protrusions 19a, arranged next to the plan 4' of the handle 4 and
on each side thereof (as shown schematically on this figure 8). The protrusion element
14 of the lid 3 intends to come and to be maintained between these two small protrusions
19a, when the handle 4 is moved in its vertical position C.
[0097] The outer surface 20 of the groove 16 is here also prolonged by the inner surface
26 of an extension 27 which corresponds advantageously to the re-closing means.
[0098] In practice, in a same way as disclosed above according to figures 3 to 7, the swivelling
of the handle 4 around its axis 13 allows the movement of the lid 3 compared to the
container 2, in particular its unlocking.
[0099] Indeed, when the operator wishes or needs to manually move the packaging 1, he just
has to hold it by its handle 4 which comes in the vertical position C, as shown figure
10. If present, the two protrusions 19a of the curved groove 16 aim at maintaining
this vertical position C of the handle 4.
[0100] The protruding element 14 of the container 2 is here always covered by the locking
surface 20, which allows maintaining the lid 3 closed (the said locking surface 20
extends above the protruding element 14).
[0101] Here also, the lateral projection 27 allows a movement of the handle 4 beyond the
vertical position C, while maintaining the lid 3 locked (figure 11).
[0102] When the operator wishes to open the packaging 1, he just has here to operate the
handle 4, in order to use the pushing means as above-described.
[0103] To that end, he just needs to swivel the handle 4 around its rotation axis 13, beyond
the vertical position C and towards the other resting position B (figures 12 and 13).
Then, this movement of the handle 4, beyond this intermediary position D and towards
the second resting position B (figure 13), provokes the interaction of the pushing
surface 21 with the upper part of the protruding element 14 and forces the assembly
lid 3/handle 4 upwardly (shown by arrow 25 on figure 13).
[0104] If the operator wishes to re-close the lid 3 on the container 2, he just has to move
the handle 4 in an inverse way.
[0105] The packaging according to the invention allows the easy and efficient separation
of the lid from the associated container, that by a simple suitable swivelly operation
of the handle. As above-mentioned, the packaging according to the invention does not
need any more tools or difficult operations, to be opened.
[0106] According a supplementary and advantageous embodiment, the handle permits also the
locking of the lid on the container when it is not necessary to separate them, and
moreover the re-locking of the lid when the operator wishes to re-close the previously
opened container.
1. Packaging in particular for conditioning foodstuff or painting, comprising - a receiver
container (2) having an upper access opening (8),
- a lid (3) suitable to be fastened over said upper opening (8) in order to close
said container (2), and - a swivelling handle (4) to facilitate the transport of said
packaging (1) by a consumer, said handle (4) being able to swivel between two terminal
resting positions (A, B) around a rotation axis (13),
characterized in that said packaging (1) comprises means (14, 21) to exert a pushing force on the lid (3),
which tends to move it away and to separated it from the container (2), which pushing
means (14, 21) are arranged for a first part (21) on the handle, and for a second
part (14) on the container (2) or on the lid (3) in function that said handle (4)
is assembled respectively to the lid (3) or to the container (2), and
wherein said pushing means (14, 21) have two configurations function of the handle
position around its rotation axis (13) :
- a non-pushing configuration, in which the handle (4) is arranged in a first range
(A-D) of free swivelling which extends from one of said terminal positions (A) up
to at least the position (C) of the handle (4) suitable for the transport of the packaging
(1), and
- a pushing configuration, in which the handle (4) is moved in a second range of swivelling
(D-B) which extends from the end of said first non-pushing range (D) towards its other
terminal position (B), in order to generate the pushing force on the lid (3) and to
separate it from the container (2).
2. Packaging according to claim 1,
characterized in that it comprises also means (14, 20) for locking the lid (3) on the container (2) which
are arranged for a first part (20) on the handle (4), and for a second part (14) on
the container (2) or on the lid (3) in function that said handle (4) is swivelly assembled
respectively to the lid (3) or to the container (2),
wherein said locking means (14, 20) have two configurations function of the handle
position around its rotation axis (13) :
- a locking configuration, in which the handle (4) is arranged in the first range
of free swivelling (A-D), corresponding to the non-pushing configuration of the pushing
means (14, 21), and
- an unlocking configuration, in which the handle (4) is moved in the second range
of swivelling (D-B) corresponding to the pushing configuration of said pushing means
(14, 21).
3. Packaging according to claim 2,
characterized in that a part of the pushing means and of the locking means comprises each a surface (21,
20) shaped to cooperate with at least a protruding element (14), forming the second
part of said pushing means and locking means, i.e:
- the pushing surface (21) of the pushing means forms a cam, suitable to cooperate
with said protruding element (14) when the handle (4) is arranged in the pushing range
of swivelling (D-B), so as to exert a push force on said protruding element (14) which
tends to move away the lid (3) from the container (2) and facilitates its separation,
and
- the locking surface (20) of the locking means forms a hook, suitable to cooperate
with said protruding element (14) when the handle (4) is arranged in the locking range
of swivelling (A-D), so as to lock the lid (3) on the container (2).
4. Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that the first part of the pushing/locking means, formed by the two active surfaces (21,
20), are arranged on the handle (4), and in that the second part of the pushing/locking means, in form of protruding element(s) (14),
is arranged on the container (2) or on the lid (3) in function that said handle (4)
is assembled respectively to the lid (3) or to the container (2).
5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the handle (4) is swivelly assembled to the container (2) or to the lid (3) by its
two ends (12), and in that the pushing/locking surfaces (21, 20) of the handle (4) are arranged in at least
one of said end (12), wherein said surfaces (20, 21) are of curved shapes, are arranged
one following the other around the rotation axis (13) of the handle (4) and are intended
to each come on one side of the protruding element (14), said outer locking surface
(20) being of a general arc of circle shape, coaxial with the rotation axis (13),
and said inner pushing surface (21) being shaped so that its space from said rotation
axis (13) increases from the locking surface (20) towards its free end (21 b).
6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the ends (12) of the handle (4) comprise a curved groove (16) having an inner curved
surface (19) and an outer curved surface (20), wherein said outer surface (20) corresponds
to the said locking surface, and wherein the said inner surface (19) is prolonged
by a curved surface (21) which corresponds to the said pushing surface.
7. Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that the outer surface (20) of the groove (16) is prolonged by a curved surface (23, 26)
whereof the distance to the rotation axis (13) increases up to its free end, in order
to allow the swivelling of the handle (4) beyond the transport position (C) while
maintaining the locking means (14, 20) active and to make easier the re-fastening
of the lid (3) on the container (2).
8. Packaging according to any of the claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the handle (4) extends in a main plan (4'), wherein the locking surface (20) starts
on a first side of said main plan (4'), and eventually ends on the other side of said
plan (4'), and wherein the pushing surface (21) starts on the second side of said
main plan (4'), and eventually ends on the other side of said plan (4').
9. Packaging according to any of the claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the protruding element (14) consists in a cylindrical protrusion, extending towards
outside.
10. Packaging according to any of the claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the locking means (14, 20) comprise tamper evidence means (24), intended to show
the first passage of the handle (4) from the locking range (A-D) to the pushing range
(D-B) of swivelling.
11. Packaging according to claim 10, characterized in that the tamper evidence means (24) are suitable to be broken when the handle (4) is operated
for the first time in its pushing range of swivelling (D-B), from the locking range
of swivelling (A-D).
12. Packaging according to claim 11 together with any of the claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the tamper evidence means (24) are formed by a breakable membrane, extending at the
open end (18) of the curved groove (16), suitable to be broken by the protruding element
(14) when the handle (4) is swivelled from the locking range (A-D) to the pushing
range (D-B) of swivelling or to be cut with a tool for security reasons.