Patent Application
20090057326
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to containers and to methods for sealing the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a seal for a container for particulate material. Specifically, the invention relates to a pressure sensitive pull tab seal for containing a particulate material within a container until such containment is no longer required.
2. Background Information
Transportation of fine particulate materials or powders creates challenges in containing the substance in such a way that, when the material is to be accessed, it is in a usable and undisturbed condition. Disturbing a particulate material that is not contained properly can result an irreversible airborne dispersion of the particulate material. The fine particles will fill any void or free space if not contained properly.
The simplest form of containing a fine particulate material is through the use of a lid or stopper to close the container. Depending on the desired use of the particulate material, the stopper can be solid and removable by the user to expose the entire supply of material. Alternatively, the stopper may be fixed and non-removable with holes therein through which the particulate material can be dispensed at a controlled rate. The stopper with holes is a type of insert so the material can be dispersed as desired by the user.
When using an insert-type of stopper the holes therein have to be sealed in some manner in order to keep the material within the container until the particulate material is to be dispensed. The simplest form of sealing an insert-type stopper is to place a cap over the stopper to seal the container. However, the fine particulate material will travel through the insert holes and accumulate in the space between the stopper and the cap and will not be completely contained in the chamber. Alternatively, a removable seal may be placed over the mouth of the container and between the chamber and the insert-type stopper. The user then has to remove the stopper in order to access the seal, remove the seal and replace the insert on the container prior to dispensing the particulate material.
Seals typically aren't placed directly onto the top surface of an insert-type of stopper to seal the holes therein. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, hot-melt structural adhesives are typically used on seal backings because they form strong bonds with the adherent. These bonds are difficult to break evenly and consistently around the seal. Consequently, when the seal is removed a quantity of residual adhesive and seal debris remain on the insert stopper. When particulate materials are dispensed from the container, a quantity of the particulate material will accumulate on the adhesive residue and potentially block the holes in the insert. Furthermore, this adhesive residue contaminates the particulate material and reduces the benefit of using an insert style container. Secondly, in addition to the adhesive residue left on the insert-style stoppers, another problem occurs when trying to remove a container seal from directly over the insert holes. Removal of the seal must begin at the side of the seal to start breaking the bond of the adhesive. Oftentimes the cavity walls in the container mouth leave little room for a user to gain a secure hold on the seal. Some previously known seals have incorporated a small detent that extends outwardly from the seal's peripheral edge for the user to grasp. Typically, these detents are so small and the space limitations are problematic enough that the user cannot adequate grasp the detent to begin removing the seal. Users are consequently forced to use fingernails, scissors, knives, and other scraping devices to start peeling the seal back from the stopper. Some users have even resorted to poking holes with sharp instruments through the seal and into the insert holes. The scraping and poking of holes through the seal and insert holes tends to cause mixing of the particulate material with residue from the adhesive and seal, thus the fine particulate material.
Thus, the need exists in the art for an easily removable seal for an insert-style container that leaves little to no residue on the container's insert stopper after removal therefrom.
A seal for a container of fine particulate materials that includes a sifter insert. The seal comprises a base that is secured over a plurality of holes in the insert by a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive. A pull tab extends outwardly from an upper surface of said base. The pull tab is fixedly adhered to the upper surface of the base and extends outwardly away from a mid-section thereof. The pull tab is pivotable through 180 degrees about its connection point with the base and remains fixedly secured thereto when a pulling force is applied to the pull tab. The adhesive bond between the base and the insert is weaker than the adhesive bond between the pull tab and the base. Consequently, a pulling force applied to the pull tab removes the base from the insert and permits particulate material to be dispensed through the holes in the insert.
The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which Applicant has contemplated applying the principals of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings.
Referring to
Container system 1 comprises a container 6, a lid 2, an insert 14, and a cosmetic applicator 4. Container 6 is generally cylindrical in cross-section and includes a bottom wall 6a, a peripheral side wall 6b extending upwardly away from bottom wall 6a, and an upper wall 6c that terminates in a downwardly extending flange 6d and lip 7. Bottom, side and upper walls 6a, 6b, 6c surround and define an interior chamber 21 that receives and retains a quantity of particulate material 22 therein. Lip 7 defines an annular opening 9 through which the chamber 21 is accessible.
An insert 14 is provided to block opening 9 and limit access to chamber 21. Insert 14 comprises a bottom wall 14a and a peripheral side wall 12 extending upwardly away therefrom. Peripheral side wall 12 terminates in an annular flange 11 which is complementary in shape and size to flange 6d and lip 7 on container 6. Flange 11 interlocking engages flange 6d and lip 7 on container 6 when insert 14 is press fitted into opening 9. The bottom and side walls 14a, 12 of insert 14 surround and define an interior cavity 10. Bottom wall 14a of insert 14 further defines a plurality of insert holes 16 therethrough. Holes 16 provide a plurality of small passageways through which particulate material 22 may be dispensed from interior cavity 21 of container 6.
In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, a seal 8 is provided to close off holes 16 in bottom wall 14a of insert 14 subsequent to manufacture and prior to use. Seal 8 comprises a base 18, an undertab layer 26 and a laminate layer 28. Base 18 preferably is a pressure sensitive paper manufactured from 60# semi-gloss paper coated with TR-1 ultra-removable pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto. The paper is made by Technicote, Inc. of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Undertab 26 comprises a smaller strip of the Technicote 60# semi-gloss paper, without adhesive, sandwiched between a portion of base 18 and a portion of laminate 28. Undertab 26 is consequently a non-pressure sensitive material. Laminate 28 is a standard 1 mil selfwound laminate made by Achem Industry America, Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif.
Referring to
Undertab 26 is smaller in size than both laminate 28 and base 18 in that undertab 26 is generally around half of the size of either of laminate 28 and base 18. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, both laminate 28 and base 18 are circular in shape and undertab 26 comprises a semicircular member that is adhered to a semicircular second region 28b of laminate 28. Undertab 26 and second region 28b of laminate 28 form the pull tab 20 of seal 8. Pull tab 20 extends outwardly from upper surface 18a of base 18 and pivots about a diagonal of the circular base 18. Because laminate 28 is flexible in nature, pull tab 20 can be pivoted through 180 degrees relative to upper surface 18a of base 18. Pull tab 20 is utilized to remove base 18 from insert 14 as will be hereinafter described.
In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, a layer of ultra-removable pressure sensitive adhesive 24 secures lower surface 18b of base 18 to the upper surface of insert 14.
Seal 8 is applied to insert 14 to cover insert holes 16 during transit from the manufacturer to the reseller and ultimately to the user. An unknown time may transpire from the manufacture of the particulate material 22 to its use. Seal 8 keeps particulate material 22 uncontaminated and undisturbed during this time. When the user wishes to dispense particulate material 22 from container system 1, it is necessary to remove seal 8 so that holes 16 will be opened to allow particulate material 22 to flow therethrough.
In
It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that a stronger adhesive is applied between the components that make up the seal 8 than is applied between the seal 8 and the insert 14. Thus, when force is applied to seal 8, that force will be transmitted to the weakest link in the system, i.e., to the bond between the seal and the insert. Consequently, any adhesives which permit the seal 8 to break cleanly away from the insert 14 without leaving adhesive residue or seal material adhered onto the upper surface of insert 14, may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Pull tab 20 is readily and easily grasped by the user because undertab 26 is not adhered to base 18. Additionally, because the tab 20 extends outwardly from an upper surface of seal 8 as opposed to a peripheral edge thereof, it is easily accessed by the user for grasping and its relatively large size makes it easy for the user to hold onto tab 20 during removal of seal 8. Furthermore, pull tab 20 extends outwardly from the upper surface of seal 8 and along a diagonal thereof and consequently, tab 20 is in the most easily accessed location within the recessed insert 14.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied there from beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
