Patent Application
20130313218
Not Applicable
Generally, this application relates to closures and containment systems. Existing closures and containment systems may be used to contain products for end users. Often, users prefer to have evidence of whether or not a product has been tampered with. Tamper resistant-films may provide such evidence. Often, these films are applied over a closure and/or bottle by a heat shrinking process.
It has been observed that some users prefer to first remove the film and then open the closure. Other users prefer to grab the closure and remove it while the tamper-resistant film is still intact. Among the latter group of users, some may prefer to “palm” the top of the closure to open it by placing the palm substantially on top or on part of the top of the closure (as opposed to substantially around the side of the closure).
There is a need for closures and containment systems that accommodate these and other varying user behaviors and preferences.
Closures and containment systems are provided for accommodating various user behaviors and preferences for opening a product, substantially as illustrated and described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain techniques of the present application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, certain techniques are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed for the closures and containment systems discussed herein.
On its inside, the closure 100 may have female threads 160 and a gasket 170. The female threads may be configured to accept corresponding male threads from, for example, a neck of a bottle. The inside of the closure 100 may also include a gasket 170. The gasket 170 may be applied after the rest of the closure 100 is formed (for example, formed through injection molding). The gasket 170 may be helpful in providing a seal, for example, if the closure 100 and a corresponding mating portion include materials such as high-density polyethylene or polypropylene. The gasket 170 may also be used in conjunction with other types of resins, such as PET.
The first curvature 151 may be convex and have a first curvature radius R1. The first curvature 151 may extend from the top edge 154 of the rim 150 towards the outer surface of the sidewall 130. The radius R1 may be relatively large. This may provide a more comfortable surface on the rim. For example, some users are known to open or close a closure by “palming” the closure. By making R1 relatively large, a more comfortable and efficient rim 150 may be formed, for example, for users who palm the closure 100.
The second curvature 152 may be convex and have a second curvature radius R2. The second curvature 151 may extend from the top edge 154 of the rim 150 towards the inner surface 155 of the rim 150. The radius R2 may be relatively small as compared to radius R1. For example, the ratio of R1 to R2 may be between 3:1 and 4:1 (for example, 3.5:1). As another example, R1 may be approximately 0.075 inches and R2 may be approximately 0.02 inches.
As will be further discussed below in conjunction with
The third curvature 153 may be concave and have a third curvature radius R3. The third curvature 153 may extend from the inner surface 155 of the rim 150 towards the top surface 140. The radius R3 may be relatively small as compared to radius R1. For example, the ratio of R1 to R3 may be between 3:1 and 4:1 (for example, 3.5:1). As another example, R1 may be approximately 0.075 inches and R3 may be approximately 0.02 inches. The ratio of R2 to R3 may be approximately 1:1. The end portions of the third curvature 153 may align with the inner surface 155 of the rim 150 and the top surface 140. The angle formed between the end portions of the third curvature 153 may be an obtuse angle. This may promote effective removal of the closure 100 from a mold after being formed.
The closure 200 may also include a top surface 240 bounded by the sidewall 230. The closure may also include a rim 250. The rim 250 may include a portion of the sidewall 230 that extends above the top surface 240. The rim 250 may include similar curvatures, dimensions, and proportions as those disclosed above in conjunction with closure 100.
The closure may include a first type of knurls 220 and a second type of knurls 222 distributed on the outer surface of the sidewall 230. The knurls 220 or 222 may be rounded. Rounded knurls (for example knurls 220) may provide comfort and efficiency for a user when opening or closing the closure 200. The second type of knurls 222 may be distributed in groups (for example, five knurls 222 per group).
The shrink film 330 may encompass at least a portion of the base of the bottle 320. The shrink film 330 may encompass portions of the bottle and the outer surface of the sidewall of the closure 310. A perforation 334 may separate an upper portion of the shrink film 330 from a lower portion of the shrink film.
The shrink film 330 may include a flap 332 that extends horizontally over the top edge of the rim and towards a center axis of the closure 310 (which is perpendicular to the top surface of the closure 310). The flap 332, the inner surface of the rim of the closure 310, and the top surface of the closure 310 may form a cavity 336. The cavity 336 may be sized to accommodate a user's fingertip or fingernail. This may facilitate the user's attempt to remove the portion of the shrink film 330 that encompasses the closure 310 (for example, the portion of the shrink film 330 that is above the perforation 334). Additional perforations (not shown) may further facilitate the user's effort to remove the upper portion of the shrink film 330. For example, vertical or diagonal perforations may extend from the flap 332 down to the perforation 334. The shrink film may also include a pull tab on or around the flap 332 to facilitate removal of the shrink film 330.
Different users may attempt to open the containment system 300 in different ways. For example, some users may first peel away the upper region of the perforation and then unscrew the closure. Other users may grab the shrink film 330 around the closure 310 and twist so that the closure 310 opens and the shrink film 330 is removed during one process. Some users may palm the top of the closure 300, either before or after the shrink film 330 has been removed.
The shrink film 330 may relatively snugly fit to the contours formed by the knurls (for example, knurls shown in closure 100 or closure 200) on the outer surface of the closure 300. The shrink film 330 may also relatively snugly fit over the first curvature of the rim of the closure 300. The combination of knurl shape, rim curvatures, and the flap 332 of the shrink film 330 may provide a user with numerous options for opening and closing the containment system 300, either before or after the shrink film 330 has been removed from the closure.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the novel techniques disclosed in this application. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the novel techniques without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the novel techniques not be limited to the particular techniques disclosed, but that they will include all techniques falling within the scope of the appended claims.
