The present invention relates to a package, for example a child-resistant, elder friendly package to contain articles such as pharmaceutical dosage forms or tobacco products.
Containers provided with child safety features are well known in the art, particularly in North America, for packaging pharmaceutical products. The child safety feature is also referred to as a Child-Resistant Closure (CRC). In general, a child-resistant closure must be difficult for children under 5 years old to open, yet be generally user friendly for users over 50 years old, particularly for users over 60 years old. The US government has established a CR protocol to evaluate effectiveness of closures. Child-Resistant Protocol testing is defined under CFR Title 16, Part 1700 by the Food and Drug Administration. Ideally these are provided in a way that is easy and convenient for the intended consumer to use the product.
Product packaging enhances a product with many additional features such as environmental protection and protection from being damaged. Many products are packaged in multiple unit packages or bulk for consumer convenience and packaging efficiency. Typically the entire product is exposed when the package is opened. If the product needs to be protected from the environment, for example humidity, then a seal is required.
One way to ensure the product is protected is to provide a seal for the entire contents of the package. This type of approach may impose certain dimensional, shape or other design constraints on the package design. In this approach, all of the product may be exposed to the consumer or child who opens the package. Some means would be needed to restrain the product so that it is held in place so that it is easy to access but does not fall out of the package.
Another way is to protect the product in a protective envelope or wrapper. When this wrapper is opened, the entire product is exposed. Again, the entire product is exposed to the environment and it is no longer protected. In addition, the entire remaining product is exposed to children.
Depending on the requirements of the package, the design may become complicated with several contradictory constraints that would need to be managed in order to meet the requirements. This could lead to added expense and an undesirable package for the consumer.
An aspect of the invention is a package including a first shell portion having an inner region, a second shell portion, and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion and the second shell portion. An insert is secured in the inner region, the insert including a product containing space and a dispenser receptacle. The product containing space has a mouth through which product may be removed from the product containing space. The dispenser receptacle has an opening through which product may enter the dispenser receptacle. The position of the mouth is at least partially offset from the position of the opening.
A slide assembly is operably attached to the insert, the slide assembly including a lever adapted to be displaced by a user to move the slide assembly from a closed position to an open position. The slide assembly also includes a slide opening, the slide opening being in communication with the mouth of the product containing space when the slide assembly is in a closed position so the slide opening receives product from product containing space. The slide opening is in communication with the opening of the dispenser receptacle when the slide assembly is displaced to an open position to deliver product from the product containing space that is in the slide opening to the dispenser receptacle. Additionally, a spring is configured to bias the positioning of the slide assembly.
Additionally, according to another aspect of the invention, a package includes a first shell portion having an inner region, a second shell portion, and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion and the second shell portion. The package also includes an insert secured in the inner region. The insert includes a product containing space and a dispenser receptacle. The product containing space has a mouth through which product may be removed from the product containing space. The dispenser receptacle has an opening through which product may enter the dispenser receptacle. The mouth and the opening are at least partially offset.
The insert also includes a push button assembly that is attached to the insert. The push button assembly includes a button having an aperture and at least one spring. The aperture is positioned within at least a portion of the body of the button. The aperture is in communication with the mouth when the push button assembly is in a closed position so that the aperture may receive product from the product containing space. The aperture is in communication with the opening of the dispenser when the push button assembly is displaced to an open position so that product in the aperture is delivered through the opening to the dispenser receptacle. The at least one spring is configured to bias the position of the slide assembly.
Another aspect of the invention is a package that includes a first shell portion having an inner region, a second shell portion, and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion and the second shell portion. The package also includes an insert secured in the inner region. The insert includes a product containing space and a dispenser receptacle. The product containing space has a mouth through which product may be removed from the product containing space. The dispenser receptacle has an opening through which product may enter the dispenser receptacle. The position of the mouth is at least partially offset from the position of the opening.
The insert also includes a push button assembly that is attached to the insert. The push button assembly includes a button, at least one spring, a tab, and a ramp. The bottom of the button is separated from the ramp by a distance that permits the placement of product from the mouth of the product containing space to between the bottom of the button and the ramp when the push button assembly is in a closed position. The tab extending from the button is configured to displace the ramp as the button assembly is moved from a closed position to an open position. The displaced ramp is moved into communication with the opening of the dispenser receptacle to allow the product beneath the button to be transported to the dispenser receptacle. The at least one spring is configured to bias the positioning of the slide assembly.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first a second shell portions of the package are joined together by a double hinge, among other hinges.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the package may also include a seal, such as a seal formed by the engagement between a first closed lip of the first shell portion and the second closed lip of the second shell portion, among others. According to an embodiment, the first closed lip may have an angled outer wall that engages with, and distorts, deforms, or bends a generally straight and thin wall of the second closed lip to form the seal. Additionally, the packages may include ancillary elastomeric face and side seals.
Further, the package may include an insert that is covered by a cover. The insert may include a product containing space. The cover may cover at least a portion of the product containing space while also providing a dispenser opening that is configured for the removal of product from the insert. The configuration of the dispenser opening may at least partially depend on the shape of the product that is being dispensed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the insert may also include downwardly extending tabs that, when the insert is being inserted into the first base portion, may engage springs in the first shell portion or latch springs that assist in guiding the insert into proper position in the first shell portion.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least the second shell portion and insert may be integrally molded to form a first member. The first member may be attached to a second member, such as a first shell portion or the base of the first shell by a snap fit.
The following reference characters are used in the specification and figures:
The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth here. Rather, these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the full scope indicated by the language of the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiments, the first shell portion 42 has a first peripheral portion 46 and a second peripheral portion 48, and the second shell portion 44 has a first peripheral portion 50 and a second peripheral portion 52. The second peripheral portions 48 and 52 are the entire perimeters of the shell portions 42 and 44, except for the first peripheral portions 46 and 50.
In the illustrated embodiments, the second peripheral portion 52 of the shell portion 44 includes a first latching abutment 54 that is engaged or disengaged by the latch 58 as described below. In the illustrated embodiments, a hinge 56 joins the first shell portion 42 and second shell portion 44 at their first portions 46 and 50, defining a clamshell package. Hinges and hinged portions, however, are not essential and not necessary to carry out any embodiment of any invention disclosed in this specification. For example, in place of the hinge 56, the first and second shell portions 42 and 44 may have two or more hooks or another latch between their respective first peripheral portions 46 or 50 to releasably engage the first and second shell portions 42 and 44.
In the illustrated embodiments, a latch 58 can be provided for latching the second portions 48 and 52 of the first shell portion 42 and second shell portion 44 together. The illustrated latch 58 includes a first leg 60 and a second leg 62, an actuator portion 64, and a second latching abutment 66. The first and second legs 60 and 62 are joined at an angle (which is for example 90 degrees and/or corresponds to the respective angle between a side edge of the second shell portion 44 and the front edge of the second shell portion), and the first leg 60 is secured to the first shell portion 42.
In the illustrated embodiments, an actuator portion 64 of the first leg 60 is positioned to be displaced generally laterally (in the direction indicated as “L” in
In the illustrated embodiments, a second latching abutment 66 is secured to the second leg 62. The second latching abutment 66 in the illustrated embodiments is configured to engage the first latching abutment 54 when the second leg 62 is in its latched position, illustrated in
In addition to the common and optional features in the illustrated embodiments, the package 40 illustrated in the Figures can have any one or more of numerous additional optional features. Zero, one, or more than one of these optional features can be employed, whether individually or in any combination.
A first optional feature of the embodiments of
A second optional feature of the embodiments of
A third optional feature of the embodiments of
A fourth optional feature of the embodiments of
A fifth optional feature of the embodiments of
A sixth optional feature of the embodiments of
An seventh optional feature of the embodiments of
An eighth optional feature of the embodiments of
The fourth latching abutment 88 can be secured to the fourth leg 92. The fourth latching abutment 88 can be configured, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, to engage the third latching abutment 86 when the fourth leg 92 is in its latched position. The fourth latching abutment 88 can be configured, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, to release the third latching abutment 86 when the fourth leg 92 is in its released position.
A ninth optional feature of the embodiments of
A tenth optional feature of the embodiments of
The ninth and tenth optional features, or either one of them, can be employed to provide a child resistant but elder friendly package 40. Desirably for this purpose, the actuator portions 64 and 94 are far enough apart that a small child who should not have access to the contents of the package 40 will find it difficult or impossible to operate both simultaneously with one hand. Desirably, the actuator portions 64 and 94 are close enough together that an adult who should have access to the contents of the package 40, including an elderly person, will find it possible, preferably easy to operate both actuator portions 64 and 94 simultaneously with one hand to open the package.
As an eleventh optional child-resistant feature, the embodiments of
The user can lift the section of the second peripheral portion 52 bridging the indentation of the closed package 40, when the latches 58 and 88 are released, to open the package 40 and have access to its contents. This is a child-resistant feature because, in normal operation, both actuator portions 64 and 94 are engaged with one hand and the second shell portion 44 is lifted with the other. The user's hand must be large enough to engage the two actuator portions 64 and 94 at the same time to open the package. Yet, opening the package 40 does not require complex movement, such as grasping and twisting one part relative to another, and can easily be designed by controlling the necessary biasing force so it does not require great strength to open.
A twelfth optional feature of the embodiments of
A thirteenth optional feature of the embodiments of
A fourteenth optional feature of the embodiments of
In the illustrated embodiments, both of the second and fourth legs 62 and 92 engage a bending ramp, respectively the bending ramp 80 defined by the fourth leg 92 and the bending ramp 96 defined by an indentation of the wall defining the second portion 48 of the first shell portion 42. This juxtaposition of two bending ramps increases the lateral displacement of the second leg 62 when the package 40 is unlatched, which can be explained as follows. Engaging the bending ramp 96 with the fourth leg 92 displaces the fourth leg 92, and thus the bending ramp 80, laterally inward with respect to the package, also displacing the second leg 62 laterally inward. Engaging the bending ramp 80 with the second leg 62 further displaces the second leg 62 further laterally inward. This provides a movement comparable to a compound lever. Optionally, just the second leg 62 will bear against the sidewall 112, or optionally or additionally against the wall of the aperture 116, to produce a biasing force tending to resist unlatching.
A fifteenth optional feature of the embodiments of
In a sixteenth, optional elaboration of this mechanism, a second bending ramp 96 can be provided and positioned to be engaged by the fourth leg 92 for bending the fourth leg 92 into contact with a second biasing abutment 100 when the fourth leg 92 is displaced generally longitudinally from its latched position toward its released position.
A seventeenth optional feature of the embodiments of
Referring to
The inner region 434 of the first shell portion 422 may be configured to provide at least a portion of one or more product containing spaces for the placement of product, as discussed above. As discussed, the first shell portion 422 may include an insert, having a similar configuration to insert 78 discussed above with respect to
The base sidewall 432 may upwardly extend from, or alternatively, be offset from, the base peripheral edge 430. For example, as illustrated in
According to an embodiment, the base and lid sidewalls 432, 438 may be comprised of wall segments having similar or different configurations or contours. For example, the base sidewall 432 may include a contoured or recessed wall segment 458 that, when the package 420 is in a closed position, provides a space that may allow a user to generally upwardly press on a portion of a bottom surface of the second shell portion 424 so as to move the package 420 from a closed position to an open position when the latch 428 is in an unlocked position.
The wall segments of the base sidewall 432, lid sidewall 438, and/or the peripheral edges 430, 436 may be contoured to provide a space for the placement of at least a portion of the hinge 426 within, or generally aligned with, the peripheral edges 430, 436 of the first and second shell portions 422, 424 when the package 420 is in a closed position, as further shown for example in
Additionally, although the actuator portion 444 and the first and second openings 462, 466 are illustrated in
According to an embodiment, the catch 442 may be part of, extend from, or be adjacent to the lid sidewall 440. Additionally, the catch 442 includes a catch aperture 468 that is configured to engage with a portion of the latch engagement portion 448 when the package 420 is closed and the latch 428 is in a locked or rest position.
When the package 420 is closed and the latch 428 is in a locked or rest position, the latch engagement portion 448 may protrude through the first aperture 460 in a wall segment 447 of the base sidewall 432 and into a catch aperture 468, thereby locking the package 420 in the closed position. The latch 428 may be moved from a rest or locked position (as shown in
As shown in
While
As the actuator portion 444 is inwardly laterally displaced, the second lever leg 452 rotates about the first pivot point 454. As the second lever leg 452 rotates about the first pivot point 454, the latch engagement portion 448 is rotated away from, and out of, the catch aperture 468, thereby unlocking the package 420. According to an embodiment, the latch engagement portion 448 may also include a latch protrusion 472 that fits inside a groove 474 in the first shell portion 422 or base plate 456. The engagement of the latch protrusion 472 and groove 477 may assist in maintaining the lever 446 in a proper position and/or limit the distance that the latch engagement portion 448 and second lever leg 452 may be rotated.
The first lever leg 450 may be configured and/or oriented to act as a spring that biases the latch 428 in a rest or locked position. Accordingly, the first lever leg 450 may at least assist in returning the latch 428 to a rest position after the inwardly directed lateral force has been removed from the actuator portion 444. For example, as shown in
When the inwardly lateral force is removed from the actuator portion 444, the first lever leg 450 may begin to generally return to its original, at rest or locked shape and/or position. As the first lever leg 450 begins to return to shape, the latch 428 may be biased back to its rest or locked position, during which time the engagement of the slot 472 of the lever 428 with the actuator guide 470 may assist in guiding the outwardly lateral movement of the actuator portion 444 back to the general position the actuator portion 444 held before the assertion of the inwardly lateral force. As the first lever leg 450 returns to its rest shape or position, the second lever leg 452 may also pivot the latch engagement portion 448 back into the first aperture 460.
As the latch 428 may be in a rest or locked position in the absence of lateral force inwardly displacing the actuator portion 444, in some circumstances a user may attempt to close the package with the latch engagement portion 448 extending through the first aperture 460. Therefore, so that the latch engagement portion 448 does not create an interference that prevents the closing of the package 420, the catch 442 may have a wall thickness that allows the catch 442 to deform or be deflected around the latch engagement portion 448 until the catch aperture 468 and latch engagement portion 448 are generally aligned, whereupon the latch engagement portion 448 may lockingly engage the catch aperture 468. The catch 442 and/or latch engagement portion 448 may also include chamfers or other geometrical surface characteristics that assist with the catch 442 sliding over the latch engagement portion 448 until the latch engagement portion 448 is able to enter the catch aperture 468 and lock the package 420 in a closed position. Additionally, the latch 428 and/or catch 442 may be configured so that the closing of the second shell portion 424 relative to the first shell portion 422 forces the latch engagement portion 448 to be displaced until the catch aperture 468 is in position to engage the latch engagement portion 448 so as to the lock the package 420 in a closed position.
The hinge 426 may assist in controlling the movement of the unlocked second shell portion 424 relative to the first shell portion 422. For example, referencing
Referring again to
As shown in
For example, according to an embodiment, the second closed lip 512 may have a thickness of approximately 0.4-0.8 cm, preferably approximately 0.4 to 0.6 cm, and more preferably approximately 0.6 cm. Additionally, the angled outer wall 510 of the first closed lip 508 may be angled at a variety of different angles suitable for distorting the second closed lip 512 so as to create the seal between the first and second closed lips 508, 512. However, if the angle of the angled outer wall 510 is too low, too much of the second closed lip 512 may be in contact with the first closed lip 508, which may increase the friction between the first and second closed lips 508, 512, and thereby result in difficulty in opening and/or closing the package 498. Yet, if the angle of the angled outer wall 510 is too steep, then too little of the second closed lip 512 may be in contact with the first closed lip 508, which may cause the seal to be more sensitive to improper alignment. According to certain embodiments, the angle of the angled outer wall 510 of the first closed lip 508 may be between approximately 3 to 10 degrees, and preferably between approximately 5 to 8 degrees. For example, according to one embodiment, the angled outer wall 510 may have an angle of approximately 6.5 degrees.
Referencing
Although referred to as a “second” seal 522, according to certain embodiments, the ancillary seal 522 may be used to create the primary, and possibly the only, seal within the closed package 514, or in combination with other seals, including the lip seal discussed with respect to
According to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in
According to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in
According to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in
However, according to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in
Examples of non-elastomeric materials that may be used for the ancillary seal 522 include, but are not limited to, Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE) (high or low density), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Cyclic Olefin Co-polymer (CoC), Polyethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyester terephthalate (PET), Polyamide (nylon), Acetal Copolymer or Homopolymer Resin, and Liquid Crystal Polymer, among others. Examples of elastomeric materials that may be used for the ancillary seal 522 include, but are not limited to, Santoprene® Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV), Polyoxymethylene Copolymer (POM), Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), Silicones (CG, PG, TR, FDA), Styrenet Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Polychloroprene (CR), Nitrile Rubber (NBR), and Neoprene®, among others.
Referring to
According to an embodiment, the base sidewall 552 and the lid sidewall 556 may be configured to abut each other along at least one surface when the package 540 is in a closed position. Additionally, the package 540 illustrated in
Further, as previously discussed, a variety of hinges 548 may be used with the package 540, including integral and non-integral hinges, such as, for example, the double hinge 476 discussed above with respect to
The catch 562a, 562b may be part of, extend from, or be adjacent to the lid sidewall 556. For example, as shown on
The insert 546 is configured to be placed and/or secured in the inner region 554 of the first shell portion 542, as previously discussed with respect to at least the package shown in
The insert 546 includes at least one latch 566. For example, according to an embodiment, the package 540 has a first latch 566a and a second latch 566b that are integrally molded with the insert 546. Each latch 566a, 566b includes a latch leg 576, an actuator portion 578, a latch opening 580, and a latch engagement portion 582. According to an embodiment, the latch leg 576 may extend along the side of the insert 546 and be separated from the body 478 of the insert 546 by a space 480. The space 480 may be configured to provide a space for the displacement of the actuator portion 578 and/or the bending, deformation, distortion, or pivotable movement of the latch leg 576. Additionally, the latch leg 576 may have a first end 486 and a second end 488, the first end 486 including or being attached to the actuator portion 578, and the second end 488 being attached to the body 478 of the insert 546.
The latch opening 580 is configured to receive at least a portion of the corresponding catch 562 when the package 540 is in a closed position. Additionally, the latch engagement portion 582 is configured so that at least a portion of the latch engagement portion 582 extends into the catch aperture 564 when the package 540 is in a closed position so as to lock the package 540 closed. Although
As shown, the actuator portions 578a, 578b extend through first and second openings 584, 586, respectively, in the base sidewall 552 so that the actuator portions 578a, 578b are accessible to the user. Additionally, the base sidewall 552 includes a first and second aperture 588, 590 so as to provide the first and second catch 562a, 562b, respectively, access to the latch openings 580 and latch engagement portions 582.
To open a package 540 that is closed and locked, the user presses on the actuator portions 578a, 578b of the latch 56 so that the actuator portions 578a, 579b are generally inwardly displaced in a lateral direction (as indicated by “L” in
As with the catch 442 discussed above with respect to the package 420 shown in
Referencing
The insert 712 includes an upper surface 724 and least one latch 726. The upper surface 724 includes at least one aperture 728. Additionally, the upper surface 724 may be configured to provide a product containing space 730 that may be covered by a cover 570, as previously discussed. As shown in
The first and second latches 726a, 726b each include an actuator portion 732, a first leg 734, a second leg 736, and a base latching abutment 738. The base latching abutment 738 may be positioned on the first leg 734, while the second leg 736 may be connected to the body 740 of the insert 712. At least a portion of the first leg 734 may be positioned beneath the upper surface 724 of the insert 712. When assembled with the first shell portion 708, at least a portion of the actuator portion 732 protrudes into the opening 714 in the first shell portion 708 so that a user may inwardly depress and displace the latch 726 when unlocking the package 706. The first and second base latching abutments 738a, 738b are configured to be positioned in, or protrude out of, a first and second aperture 728a, 728b, respectively, in the insert 712. Additionally, the first and second base latching abutments 738a, 738b are configured to engage with the first and second lid latching abutments 718a, 718b, respectively, so as to lock the package 706 in the closed position.
According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the first leg 734 of the second latch 726b may be positioned over at least a portion of the first leg 734 of the first latch 726a, or vice versa. According to such an embodiment, the first leg 734b or base latching abutment 738b of the second latch 726b is configured or positioned so that the second latch 726b does not interfere with the ability of the base latching abutment 738a of the first latch 726a to slidingly engage and disengage with/from the first lid latching abutment 718a. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the first legs 734a, 734b of the first and second latches 726a, 726b may be positioned next to each other, as shown in
In use, the lid latching abutments 718a, 718b may engage the base latching abutments 738a, 738b in a manner similar to that described above with respect to
According to an embodiment, at least a portion of each of the second legs 736a, 736b of the latches 726a, 726b are separated from the adjacent body 740 of the insert 712 by a space 742, with an end portion of the second leg 736 being connected to the body 740. When the first and second actuator portions 732a, 732b are inwardly displaced from their rest or locked position, the thickness and material selection for the second legs 736a, 736b and/or the configuration of the attachment of the second legs 736a, 736b to the body 740 of the insert 712 allows the second leg 736 to be bent, deformed, distorted, and/or pivoted. When the force that inwardly displaced the actuator portions 732a, 732b is removed, the second leg 736a, 736b may act as a spring that returns the latch 736a, 736b to its rest or locked position, as shown in
The second leg 736 of the latches 726a, 726b may also be deformed, bent, or displaced while the package 706 is being moved for an open to a closed position. More specifically, when the package 706 is being closed, and the user is not inwardly displacing the actuator portions 732a, 732b, a lower area of the first and second base latching abutments 738a, 738b may be generally aligned, and come into contact, with an upper area of the corresponding first and second lid latching abutments 718a, 718b. The force exerted by the first and second lid latching abutments 718a, 718b on the base latching abutment 738a, 738b may cause the second leg 736a, 736b of the latches 726a, 726b to be deformed, bent, distorted, and/or pivoted so that the first and second base latching abutments 738a, 738b are displaced in a generally outwardly direction until the base and lid latching abutments 718a, 718b, 738a, 738b are properly aligned for locking the package 706. Once the base and lid latching abutments 718a, 718b, 738a, 738b are properly aligned, the second leg 736a, 736b may return to its rest or locked position or orientation, which moves the first and second base latching abutments 738a, 738b in a generally inwardly direction until the latches 726a, 726b are at their rest or locked position. According to an embodiment, the outer surfaces of the base and/or lid latching abutments 718a, 718b, 738a, 738b may have surface characteristics, such as chamfers or contours, that may assist in the outwardly moving the base latching abutments 738a, 738b when the package 706 is being closed.
Referring to
As shown in
As previously mentioned, the package 744 includes at least one latch 754. According to the embodiment illustrated in
When assembled, at least a portion of the leg 772a of the upper latch 754a overlaps at least a portion of the leg 772b of the lower latch 754b, as shown in
A latch 754 may move from a rest or locked position to an unlocked position when an actuator portion 768 is inwardly depressed with sufficient force to at least partially deform, deflect, or bend the spring 770a, 770b. As an actuator portion 768a, 764b is inwardly displaced, the associated spring 770a, 770b, which, according to an embodiment may be a leaf spring that is located on the backside of the actuator portion 768a, 768b, is pressed against a wall or surface of the first shell portion 746 or insert 750, such as a first closed lip. The displacement of the actuator portion 768a, 768b causes the associated leg 772a, 772b and base latching abutment 776a, 776b to move in the same general direction as the actuator portion 768a, 768b. When both the upper and lower actuator portions 768a, 768b are being inwardly displaced, the legs 772a, 772b of the upper and lower latches 754a, 754b may generally slide opposite directions, thereby increasing the distance between the first and second base latching abutments 776a, 776b. Moreover, the sliding displacement of a base latching abutment(s) 776a, 776b may disengage the base latching abutment(s) 754a, 754b from a locking, engagement with the corresponding lid latching abutment 760a, 760b.
When the user releases an actuator portion 768a, 768b, the associated spring 770a, 770b forces the actuator portion 768a, 768b to generally return to its locked or rest position, bringing the base latching abutments 776a, 776b back into closer proximity with each other. Additionally, when an opened package 744 is being closed, the lid latching abutment 760a, 760b may exert a force on the corresponding base latching abutment 776a, 776b that is sufficient to at least partially deflect, deform, or bend the spring 770a, 770b so that the base latching abutments 776a, 776b may be outwardly displaced until the base and lid latching abutments 776a, 776b, 760a, 760b are aligned, after which the springs 770a, 770b return the base latching abutments 776a, 776b to a locked or rest position, thereby locking the package 744 dosed.
Additionally, the leg 772a of the upper latch 754a may include a protrusion that mates with an aperture in the leg 772b of the lower latch 754b, and/or vice versa, that may assist in guiding the sliding movement of the legs 772a, 772b as the latches 754a, 754b are moved between open and locked or rest positions. Additionally, according to an embodiment, the insert 750 or first shell portion 746 may include at least one protrusion 778 that may assist in guiding the displacement of the actuator portion 768a, 768b or sliding movement of the upper and/or lower legs 772a, 772b.
According to an embodiment, the insert 780 includes an opening 788, a tab 790, and a guide 792 for each latch 782a, 782b. The latches 782a, 782b may include an actuator portion 796a, 796b, a spring 798a, 798b, a leg opening 800a, 800b, a slot 802a, 802b, and latching abutments 794a, 794b. The latch 782a, 782b may have a first leg 808a, 808b and a second leg 810a, 810b that generally form an “L” shaped configuration. The first leg 808a, 808b may include, or be attached to, the actuator portion 796a, 796b and the spring 798a, 798b. The spring 798a, 798b may be integrally molded to the latch 782a, 782b or non-integral. Additionally, a variety of springs may be incorporated, either separately or in combination, including leaf and helical compression springs. According to the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
The second leg 810a, 810b may include a leg opening 800a, 800b, a slot 802a, 802b and a latching abutment 794a, 794b. The leg opening 800a, 800b is configured to receive the insertion of the guide 792, which may at least assist in guiding the generally inwardly lateral movement (as in indicated by “L” in
The latching abutments 794a, 794b are configured to engage with the latching abutments that extend from the second shell portion or lid, as previously discussed. As shown in
The latching abutments 794a, 794b shown in
When the actuator portion 796 is displaced in a generally inwardly lateral direction (as indicated by “L” in
As also shown in
Referring to
According to certain embodiments, the insert 820 may include an inner wall 842 that at least partially defines a portion of at least one product containing space 844. Additionally, the insert 820 may include a cover 848 over at least a portion of the product containing space 844, the cover 848 providing a dispenser opening 864 for the dispensing of product from the product containing space 844 and a product access opening 846. The cover 848 may be integrally molded to, or separate from, the insert 820 or first shell portion 816.
According to an embodiment, the gasket 822 may include an upper portion 852 that is joined to a lower portion 854. According to certain embodiments, the gasket 822 may include a space 856 between at least a portion of the upper portion 852 and the lower portion 854 that may include an inner area that is configured to receive at least a portion of the insert 820 and/or first shell portion 816 so as to secure the gasket 822 to the insert 820 and/or the first shell portion 816. The upper portion 852 may include a groove 858. A groove 858 is defined between the upper portion 852 of gasket 822 and a raised portion of insert 20 (
According to an embodiment, one or more guide posts 832 extending from the second shell package 814 at least assist in properly aligning the second shell portion 818 with the insert 820 and/or the first shell portion 816 when the package 814 is being closed. According to such an embodiment, each guide post 832 may be received in a corresponding aperture 862 in the insert 820 or in the first shell portion 816. According to certain embodiments, at least a portion of the guide post 832 may be received by the aperture 862 before the lid closed lip 834 begins to engage the groove 858 so that the second shell portion 818 and insert 820 and/or the first shell portion 816 are properly aligned before any portion of the seal begins to be formed.
When a closed package 814 is to be opened, a user may inwardly press on the actuator portion(s) 836 so as to push the spring(s) 860 against the gasket 822 to cause the gasket 822 to at least partially deform from its locked configuration or orientation. This at least partial deformation of the gasket 822 permits the unseating of the lid closed lip 834 in the groove 858, and thereby allows the package 814 to be opened. In one embodiment, the package 814 is configured such that all of actuator portions 836 provided must be depressed in order to cause sufficient deformation of the gasket 822 so as to permit unseating of the lip 834. In other embodiments, the lip 834 can be removed from the groove when only some of the actuator portions 836 are pushed.
Referring to
The gasket 878 has a gasket base 902 and a gasket wall 904, and may be constructed from an elastomeric or non-elastomeric material, including the elastomeric and non-elastomeric materials discussed above. At least a portion of the gasket base 902 extends beneath the insert base 904. The gasket wall 904 generally extends upward from the gasket base 902, as shown by at least
The gasket wall 904 has an inner surface 906, an outer surface 908, and a gasket lip 910. According to an embodiment, the inner surface 906 of the gasket 878 may be adjacent to, and abut, at least a portion of the insert wall 896. The gasket 878 may be at least partially stretched or deformed about the insert wall 896 to securely engage the gasket 878 with the insert 874. Alternatively, the insert base 894 may be adhered to the gasket base 902. Additionally, as shown in
The gasket lip 910 is configured to mate with a recess 916 in the second closed lip 888 when the package 866 is in a closed position so as to form a seal inside the package 866. Moreover, when the package 866 is in a closed position, at least a portion of the gasket 878 may be deformed so that the gasket lip 910 is pressed into the recess 916 of the second closed lip 888 to form a seal. Additionally, at least a portion of the gasket 878 may be pressed, and at least partially deformed, between at least a portion of the second closed lip 888 and the insert 874, thereby forming a seal.
As shown by at least
According to the embodiment illustrated in
The latching abutment 930a, 930b may upwardly extend from the leg 932a, 932b or the actuator portion 928a, 928b and through an aperture 940a, 940b in the insert 874 or first shell portion 868. The latching abutment 930a, 930b is configured to lockingly engage the catch aperture 892a, 892b when the package 866 is closed. Moreover, the latching abutment 930a, 930b may have a protrusion 942a, 942b that protrudes into the catch aperture 892a, 892b to lock the package 866 in a closed position. Additionally, an upper surface 944 of the protrusion 942 may be chamfered so as to facilitate the ability of the latching abutment 930a, 930b to be deflected, bent, or distorted when the bottom of the catch 890a, 890b comes into contact with the latching abutment 930a, 938b as the package 866 is being moved from an open position to a closed position and until the catch aperture 892a, 892b is moved into position for locking engagement with the latching abutment 930a, 930b.
When a locked package 866 is to be opened, the actuator portions 928a, 928b are inwardly displaced in direction L of
As previously discussed, the inserts for the packages described herein may be operably secured to the first shell portion, such as through the use of adhesives, mechanical fasteners, welding, or snap or friction fits between at least a portion of the insert and at least a portion of the first shell portion, among others. Such inserts may include downwardly extending tabs that fit or mate into slots, openings, or protrusions, such as ribs, that are formed in the first shell portion. For example, according to an embodiment, a first shell portion may include one or more protrusions or ribs, such as a rib along both sides of the interior region of the first shell portion and two parallel ribs along a front central portion of the interior region of the first shell portion. According to such an embodiment, when the insert is properly positioned within the first shell portion, the downwardly extending tabs from the insert may engage, such as abut and/or press upon, the ribs in the first shell portion.
As shown in
The springs 958a, 958b may be loaded in the lateral or vertical directions (as indicated by “L” or “V” in
Referencing
The first member 964 may include openings 978 configured to receive the placement of the actuator portion of one or more latches, such as the latches previously discussed above. Additionally, the first member 964 or second member 966 may be configured to receive the placement of the latches during assembly. The second member 966 may be configured to be operably secured to the first member 964, such as by a friction fit, a snap fit, mechanical fasteners, welding, or adhesives, among others.
According to an embodiment, the slide assembly 1058 includes a lever 1070, a slide opening 1072, and a spring 1074. The slide assembly 1058 has an integral or non-integral construction. The spring 1074 biases the slide assembly 1058 in a closed position so that, when the slide assembly 1058 is in an open position and a user releases the lever 1070, the slide assembly 1058 returns to a closed position. According to an embodiment, product in the product containing space 1056 is not dispensed to the dispenser receptacle 1060 when the slide assembly 1058 is in a closed position.
The slide opening 1072 may be sized to transport a certain amount of product, namely the amount of product that fits in the slide opening 1072, to the inner opening 1066 for dispensing into the dispenser receptacle 1060. For example, the slide opening 1072 may be sized to hold one or more pieces of product.
According to an embodiment, the insert 1054 or secondary insert. 1094 includes a track 1076, groove, and/or protrusion that guides the displacement of the slide assembly 1058 in a horizontal direction (as indicated by “H”
According to an embodiment, the mouth 1068 of the product containing space 1056 and the inner opening 1066 are offset. According to such an embodiment, when the slide assembly 1058 is in a closed position, the slide opening 1072 generally aligns with the mouth 1068 of the product containing space 1056 so that product may be dispensed from the product containing space 1056 to the slide opening 1072. When the slide assembly 1058 is moved to an open position, at least a portion of the slide opening 1072 is generally aligned with the inner opening 1066. The product contained in the slide opening 1072 may then pass through the inner opening 1066 and into the dispenser receptacle 1060. Additionally, as the slide opening 1072 is moved into general alignment with the inner opening 1066, an outer slide wall 1078 of the slide assembly 1058 may at least partially move in front of the mouth 1068 of the product containing space 1056, thereby preventing the dispensing of additional product from the product containing space 1056. When the user releases the lever 1070 of the opened slide assembly 1058, the spring 1074 biases the slide assembly 1058 back into a closed position.
According to other embodiments, the inner opening 1066 and mouth 1068 of the product containing space 1056 may be generally aligned. According to such embodiments, the slide may include a slide wall that blocks the passage of product from the mouth 1068 of the product containing space 1056 and the inner opening 1066 when the slide assembly 1058 is in a closed position. When the user moves the slide assembly 1058 to an open position, the slide wall also moves and the slide opening 1072 becomes generally aligned with the mouth 1068 and inner opening 1066 so that product may move from the product containing space 1056 and into the dispenser receptacle 1060.
The insert 1054 may also include, or be attached to, a cover 1080, as previously discussed. According to an embodiment, the cover 1080 may cover the product containing space 1056 and at least a portion of the dispenser receptacle 1060. According to an embodiment, the cover 1080 includes a slot 1082, at least a portion of the lever 1070 protruding through the slot 1082 so that a user may engage at least a portion of the lever 1070. The slot 1082 may also be configured to allow the displacement of the latch 1070 in the lever 1070 in the generally “H” direction (as indicated, by “H” in
According to an embodiment, the opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092 is offset from the mouth 1096 of the product containing space 1090 in a vertical direction (as indicated by “V” in
The push button assembly 1086 includes a button 1100, at least one spring 1102, and an orifice 1104, the orifice 1104 being operably connected to the button 1100. According to the embodiment illustrated in
According to an embodiment, the springs 1102 bias the button 1100 so that the orifice 1104 is generally aligned with either the mouth 1096 of the product containing space 1090 or the opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092, and so that the button 1100 protrudes through an aperture 1087 in the cover 1086. For example, according to certain embodiments, the springs 1102 bias the button 1100 so that the orifice 1104 is generally aligned with the opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092. According to such an embodiment, a user may depress the button 1100 in the “V” direction, thereby bringing the orifice 1104 of the button 1100 into general alignment with the mouth 1096 of the product containing space 1090. The user may then tilt the package so that at least one piece of product contained in the product containing space 1090 enters the orifice 1104. The user may then release the button 1100, thereby allowing the springs 1102 to force the button 1100 upward in the “V” direction so that the orifice 1104 is generally aligned with the opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092. The user may then tilt, or the product may then move, out of the orifice 1104 and into the dispenser receptacle 1092. The product may then be removed through a dispenser opening 1106 in the cover 1088.
According to another embodiment, rather than being a push button, the button 1100 may rotate in a generally circular direction. According to such an embodiment, the mouth 1096 and opening 1098 may or may not be offset in the vertical direction. The orifice 1104 in the button 1100 may be biased by, among others, a spring or coil, so as to be biased in communication with the mouth 1096 or the opening 1098. According to an embodiment in which the orifice 1104 is biased in communication with the opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092, the button 1100 is rotated until the orifice 1104 is in communication with the mouth 1096 so that product contained in the product containing space 1090 may be moved into the orifice 1104. Once product has been placed in the orifice 1104, the button 1100 may be released, after which the button 1100 rotates so that the orifice 1104 returns to being into communication with the dispenser receptacle 1092, and the product contained in the orifice 1104 may be moved into the dispenser receptacle 1092.
The dispenser receptacle 1118 includes an opening 1130 and a receptacle sidewall 1132. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the perimeter of the dispenser receptacle 1118 may be defined by an inner wall 1134 of the insert 1110 or secondary insert 1120. The inner wall 1134 may also include the opening 1130 of the dispenser receptacle 1118. The opening 1130 of the dispenser receptacle 1118 is offset from the mouth 1124 of the product containing space 1116 in a vertical direction so that at least a portion of the opening 1130 is at a lower or higher vertical height than the mouth 1124. The opening 1130 and the mouth 1124 may be offset at a height sufficient to prevent product from passing from the product containing space 1116 to the dispenser receptacle 1118 without the displacement of the push button assembly 1112. Additionally, the push button assembly 1112 may be configured to interfere with the ability of product to pass from the mouth 1124 and into opening 1130 without manipulation of the push button assembly 1112. According to certain embodiments, at least a portion of the bottom of the dispenser receptacle 1118 is at a different vertical position than the base 1126 of the product containing space 1116. For example, at least a portion of the bottom of the dispenser receptacle 1118 in proximity to the opening 1130 of the dispenser receptacle 1118 may be at a higher or lower vertical position than the base 1126 of the product containing space 1116 at the mouth 1124 of the product containing space 1116.
The push button assembly 1112 includes a button 1148, at least one spring 1136, and at least one tab 1138, the tab 1138 extending from the bottom 1150 or the side of the button 1148. In the embodiment illustrated in
The spring 1136 may also generally bias the button 1148 in an upward vertical direction so that the button 1148 protrudes through an aperture 1144 in a cover 1140. The cover 1140 covers at least a portion of the product containing space 1116, and includes a dispenser opening 1152 for the removal of product from the dispenser receptacle 1118.
Additionally, according to an embodiment, the insert 1110 or secondary insert 1120 includes at least one recess that mates with a protrusion 1144 that extends from the side of the button 1148 and assists in guiding the vertical movement of the button 1148 when the button 1148 is downwardly displaced and as the displaced button 1148 returns to a rest position.
According to an embodiment, product from the product containing space 1116 may be positioned beneath the button 1148 when the button 1148 is at a rest position by titling the package, which may cause the movement of product from the product containing space to the ramp 1114. Before the displacement of the button 1148, the inner wall 1134 and ramp 1114 may prevent the product that is beneath the button 1148 from being dispensed into the dispenser receptacle 1118. When product is to be dispensed into the dispenser receptacle 1118, the button 1148 is displaced in a generally downwardly vertical direction. According to an embodiment, as the button 1148 is downwardly displaced, the tab 1138 from the button 1148 pushes downwardly on the ramp 1114 or on an extension member 1146 that extends from the ramp 1114. The downward force of the tab 1138 on the extension member 1146 and the spaces on the side of the ramp 1114 allow the ramp 1114 to be bent, deflected, deformed or pivoted so that the ramp 1114 downwardly extends from the base 1126 of the product containing space 1116 to a position about the opening 1130 of the inner wall 1134 that allows the product that is beneath the button 1148 to pass into the dispenser receptacle 1118. According to an embodiment, as the product that was beneath the button 1148 is delivered to the dispenser receptacle 1118, the body of the button 1148 provides a barrier that prevents additional product from passing out of the product containing space 1116 and into the dispenser receptacle 1118, thereby controlling the amount of dispensed product. After the product from beneath the button 1148 has been dispensed into the dispenser receptacle 1118, the downward force on the button 1148 is released. The spring 1136 then biases the button 1148 back to a rest position, where the alignment of the ramp 1114 and the inner wall 1134 again prevent the dispensing of product from the product containing space 1116 into the dispenser receptacle 1118.
It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and that “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality.
This application is a 371 National Phase filing of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2012/025813 filed Feb. 20, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/445,869, filed Feb. 23, 2011, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2012/025813 | 2/20/2012 | WO | 00 | 2/27/2014 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2012/115905 | 8/30/2012 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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PCT, Notification Concerning Transmittal of International Preliminary Report on Patentability, in application No. PCT/US2012/025813, dated Sep. 6, 2013. |
Chinese Patent Office, Office action in application No. 201080037601.X, dated Sep. 22, 2013. (partial translation). |
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/025813 mailed Feb. 20, 2012. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150021326 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61445869 | Feb 2011 | US |