This invention relates to apparatus and methods regarding tamper evidencing and removal of a tearstrip from a container lid assembly, container lids having tearstrips, and more particularly to providing an improved pull tab and a connection member on such a tear strip.
Tearstrips are commonly provided to enable relatively easy removal of lids from their associated containers. They can also provide some indication of tamper evidence with respect to the sealed container (e.g., has the sealed container been opened previously). Such tearstrips have been provided within injection molded lids, among others.
Within injection molded lids, however, it can remain relatively difficult for a user to grasp the end of the tearstrip to initiate removal of the tearstrip. Simple tabs formed at the end of the tearstrip remain relatively unsatisfactory in that regard, at least in comparison to the present invention. Other approaches do not provide a reusable lid to cover the container opening once the tearstrip is removed, require more complicated molding, may be less susceptible to ready stacking and nesting (especially with other existing containers and lids), and have other shortcomings.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved lid and tearstrip combination.
It is another object of this invention to provide a tearstrip assembly in combination with a lid, including a pull ring molded at one end of the tearstrip. The lid is characterized by a downwardly-depending skirt integrally molded at its periphery, with the pull ring initially positioned within the skirt.
A further object of this invention is the provision of a container lid having a tamper-indicating tearstrip, the tearstrip being injection molded as an integral part of the lid prior to removal of the tearstrip from the remainder of the lid. The tearstrip includes at least one pull structure affixed to at least one end and positioned in an outer flange of the lid, and has a portion shaped to assist the user to initiate tearing of the tearstrip from the lid. Depending on the application and the size of the lid, that shaped portion can be configured to receive at least one finger of a user's hand or receive some other manipulator or otherwise be manipulated. Removal of the tearstrip permits opening of the lid from its associated container, and the shaped portion on the tearstrip is configured to eliminate the need to grip the tearstrip between opposing digits on the user's hand in order to initiate the tearing.
An additional object of this invention is the provision of a tearstrip having a portion shaped to at least partially wrap around a manipulator and provide selective engagement with the manipulator to assist in tearing of the tearstrip from a lid.
Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a tearstrip positioned within a lid such that removing the entire tearstrip permits the container to be opened but also leaves a remaining portion of the lid that is capable of covering the corresponding opening in the associated container.
An additional object of this invention is the provision of a method of closing and opening a container, using a lid having the aforementioned characteristics.
Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and methods of use of a tear-strip and lid combination of the aforementioned character, that better facilitate necessary or desirable “flex” during the molding and/or assembly process, while still maintaining sufficient/desired alignment of the pull ring within the associated lid flange. Such apparatus preferably includes a connection structure between the pull ring and one or more adjacent portions of the flange that permits some degree of “expansion” of the diameter of the lid at that location (such as may be necessary during assembly of the lid onto an associated container) while providing sufficient material memory or stiffness to urge the pull ring back into a desired generally coplanar relationship with that flange following such assembly.
A further object of this invention is to provide a container lid assembly of the aforementioned character that includes a peripherally extending structure such as a satellite ring and/or a bumper that protects against inadvertent dislodgment of the lid such as during shipment, handling, etc. of the container lid assembly, and protects against and/or helps provide evidence of tampering to the lid assembly.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only.
The pull ring structure of the invention facilitates easier use for any given tearstrip structure, as compared to conventional tearstrips. Among other things, the improved grippability of the invention permits lids to have thicker (and therefore more rugged and sturdy) tearlines as may be desirable for certain applications, while still permitting a user to remove the tearstrip without undue effort.
Certain basic concepts regarding tearstrips and related matters are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,968, and the teachings of that patent are expressly incorporated by reference herein. For example,
Although
In the preferred embodiment of
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the preferred tearstrip 30 can function to provide tamper-indicating evidence, including, for example, tearing or other damage to the aforementioned tearline or other parts of the tearstrip. The tearstrip 30 is preferably injection molded as an integral part of the lid 30. Moreover, the preferred lid 10 and tearstrip 30 are fabricated by injection molding or similar process, to provide a suitably strong closure (lightweight or otherwise) for a corresponding container. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the invention may be effectively practiced with a wide variety of materials and fabrication methods.
In the embodiments of
The tearstrip 30 is preferably removed from the lid 36 by inserting a finger or other digit in the opening 37, and pulling in the direction indicated by arrow A in
The opening 37 can be provided in any suitable shape. Among the many alternative embodiments are those shown in
By positioning the pull ring or structure 32 generally within the plane of a downwardly depending skirt/flange 34, the lid 36 can be readily stacked and nested, before or after assembly on a container 12, and before or after removal of the tearstrip 30 from the lid 36. For embodiments in which it is desirable to reuse the lid 36 to cover the container opening after the tearstrip 30 has been removed, the entire tearstrip 30 can be located within the skirt 34 about the periphery of the lid 36.
A related preferred method of using the tearstrip 30 of the invention involves providing a lid 36 having the aforementioned characteristics described herein, assembling the lid 36 on a corresponding container 12, engaging at least one finger with the shaped portion of the pull structure 32, pulling with the at least one finger to tear the tearstrip 30 from the lid 36, and removing the lid 36 from the container 12. Prior to the engaging step, the sealed container can be transported, stored, or otherwise handled and processed.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the tearstrip 30 can be torn from the lid 36 or otherwise manipulated by things other than human fingers. Although much of the description herein focuses on a user's fingers and other digits on the user's hands, the relevant tearstrip 30 portion can also be considered to be shaped to at least partially wrap around a manipulator (such as a finger, pencil, hook, etc.) to provide selective engagement with the manipulator to assist in tearing of the tearstrip 30 from a lid 36. In other words, instead of engaging the shaped portion with your finger or fingers, you can hook it with a tool or other device. Similarly, for applications in which size or other factors require or make desirable a shape that may not readily engage a user's finger or fingers (see
Preferably, the manipulator-engaging portion (such as illustrated in
In some instances, assembling the lid 36 onto a container such as container 12 may cause undesirable damage to the lid, and/or can compromise the tamper-evidencing function of the lid. For example, placing the lid on a container may cause frangible connector portions or webbing (even those similar to connector portions 38 of
Certain aspects of the invention have utility for applications with lids 36 incorporating living hinges 80, such as shown in
Conventional connection structures or webbing such as elements 38 typically limit the ability to “flex” the living hinge 80 immediately or soon after removal of the lid from its mold. Among other things, flexing the hinge to too great a degree may cause the breakage mentioned above, leading to a false impression that the subsequently assembled lid/container has been tampered with. In theory at least, some people may even get that false impression from inelastic stretching or some damage short of actual breakage.
To best facilitate this tamper-evidencing (at least for potential applications in which a consumer is the ultimate user of the lid/container assembly), the connections must be sufficiently strong to not break when as the lids are being removed from tooling (for injection molded versions) and to not break during automatic or other “lidding” of the lid onto an associated container, but must also be sufficiently “breakable” to permit a user to break open the lid/container assembly. Prior art technology does not balance these goals (strong, yet breakable) very well.
As described herein, however, alternative connection members such as structure 55 (see
In certain applications (not shown), a plurality of such elements 55 may even be provided on a single lid, spaced from each other. The particular number, relative size, length, and other aspects of any such structure 55 can be selected/designed to address the particular application for which the lid and/or container is intended. Among other things, one or more structures such as element 55 can provide expandability (especially in the hoop direction) in the downward skirt/flange 34 during various processes, such as the molding and/or assembly or handling of the lids/containers.
As mentioned above, and as shown in
As noted above, the precise shape of the connection member 55 can vary widely. Preferably, the connection member shape 55 is shaped (such as with a sufficient curve, bend, twist, or other configuration) to provide the desired blend of stiffness and flexibility as described herein. As illustrated herein, the connection members 55 may include shapes that are substantially half U-shaped (
The precise materials, shapes, and dimensions of the components of the invention can be selected based on the application for which the lid 36 and/or container 12 will be used. For the preferred injection molding process of practicing the invention, the connection member 55 is integrally molded from the same plastic or similar material, and during the same “shot”, as the remainder of the lid. Molding or other manufacturing and handling considerations may impact the precise size, shape, and configuration of the connection member 55.
As described above, the pull ring or pull structure 32 preferably is provided in general alignment with the skirt 34, prior to removing the tearstrip 30. Preferably, this is accomplished by one or more frangible connector portions or web/webbing 38 (which also can be provided in a wide variety of shapes, thicknesses, and locations), by connection member 55, and/or by some combination of the two. Where one or more of the connection member 55 is used, it can be located as the “outermost” or “lowermost” of the connection structures (to take advantage of its “flexing” ability, as discussed above, useful for hinged lids and other applications). The connector portion or portions 55 can even maintain the desired alignment of the pull ring or pull structure 32 in situations where “less-flexible” webbing portions 38 might become broken or otherwise disengaged prior to actual removal of the tearstrip from the lid.
Preferably, the frangible connector portion or portions 38 and/or the more flexible connector portion or portions 55 are located generally adjacent and/or between opposite ends of the tearstrip 30, or between one end of the tearstrip and an adjacent portion of the remainder of the lid. In the embodiment of
Preferably, the frangible connector portion or portions 38 occupy a space or area 70 around or between the first end 60 and the second end 65 of the tearstrip 30. Likewise, the connection member or members 55 are typically located within or around the space or area 70 between opposite ends of the tearstrip 30. As shown in
As described herein, the connection member 55 typically will have at least a somewhat curved shape (more curve will typically provide more degree of flex), and may have a substantially curved shape. Among other things, some amount of curvature or radius along the length of the connection member 55 will improve the desired performance of that connection member 55 (to allow the desired flexing, etc.). However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, among the many alternative embodiments of the invention, some connection members (not shown) may have straight sections along their length (although these may not perform as well as curved embodiments mentioned above). For example, a “V” or other shape (including two or more straight portions in a single element 55) can be used (alone or in combination with the one or more somewhat curved portions) within or comprising the connection member 55. Among the many alternative embodiments of the invention are shapes 55 such as S, W, N, squared-off U, non-letter (abstract curves and other shapes), and various combinations thereof. For any particular application, the length and complexity of the shape of connection member 55 has to be balanced against the desired or necessary “stiffness” or alignment of the gripping portion within the downward lid flange). Longer and more complicated shapes may provide greater flex, but may reduce the alignment function of the member 55.
Another way to describe this aspect of the invention is that connection member 55 is not a single straight section, but preferably is “longer” (by virtue of its bent or winding path or shape) than the “straight line” distance it spans across the space or well in which the member 55 is positioned.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, in many embodiments (such as those shown in the drawings) in which the space or area 70 extends generally around the pull ring 32 and continues at least somewhat in the direction of the elongated body portion of tearstrip 30, the position of the connection member 55 is not limited to that shown in
The preferred connection member 55 is a relatively less “taut” connection between the tearstrip gripping portion and the opposite end of the tearstrip, as compared to prior art of which the inventor is aware. Whether this lessened “tautness” is provided by the preferred curved shape shown in the drawings or otherwise, it preferably allows connection member 55 to remain intact (and functioning, among other things, to urge the pull ring or other tearstrip gripping structure back into desired planar alignment within the lid's flange) through a greater degree of flexion or deformation than do prior art devices.
Among other things, such greater “flexibility” is useful for embodiments in which the lid incorporates a “living hinge.” As indicated above, it is known that such flexing while the hinge material is still warm can “align” and “set” the molecules within and/or adjacent the plastic living hinge 80 (see, for example,
In all such embodiments utilizing the connection member 55, the tearline aspect of the tearstrip 30 and its removal from the lid 36 preferably can be provided in any suitable manner, such as by a straight or generally horizontal tearline, a sinuous tearline (shown in
Among other things, the preferred extendible connection member 55 can provide additional flex to a hinge portion of the lid, without destroying the subsequent tamper-evidencing value of the lid. In other words, the hinged portion of a lid may be flexed prior to assembly of the lid onto a container without breaking the extendible connection member 55. Instead, connector 55 simply extends during the flex and returns to its original shape when the lid/hinge is again flat. Preferably, the connection member 55 then helps hold the tearstrip end or ends within the desired generally planar alignment of the outermost downward flange on the lid (to permit stacking, prevent breaking, etc.). Eventually, the lid can be assembled onto a container and the tamper-evidencing features of the lid (including the unbroken connection member 55) will remain effective for the desired tamper-evidencing function.
Other examples of the many alternative embodiments of the invention include multiple pull rings (not shown) and/or multiple connection structures (also not shown) between a given pull ring and the associated lid flange, provided on a single or multiple tearstrips 30. Similar to the use of a single or first pull ring 32, any such second or additional pull ring will typically be integrally molded substantially along the periphery of the lid 36, and will also be disposed in a generally coplanar relationship with a downwardly-depending skirt 34. Positioning of the pull rings may be such that a selected segment/portion of the tearstrip 30 or the entire tearstrip 30 may be removed. Preferably, at least one of the plurality of pull rings will have a connection member 55, as described herein. In addition, the size, shape, and material construction of each of the multiple pull rings and/or connection members 55 may differ from the other pull rings and/or connection members on the same tearstrip 30.
In any case, the connection member preferably is fabricated with sufficient material memory to permit member to expand (or extend) to allow hinging or assembly of the lid onto a container and to thereafter urge the lid sections to which the connection member is attached (such as the first and second ends of the tearstrip) back toward each other.
Typically, the satellite ring 85 will extend outward from the container 12 or lid 36 and peripherally about the entire container 12 or lid 36, or some portion thereof. As best shown in
The inadvertent dislodgment and/or protection against and/or providing evidence of tampering to the lid assembly is at least partially due to the close proximity or substantially flush positioning of the satellite ring 85 relative to the flange 34 and/or tearstrip 30. Positioning of the satellite ring 85 in such a manner will typically preclude finger(s) or other objects access under the flange 34 and/or tearstrip 30 where they may lift, pry, or dislodge the lid 36 from the container 12.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, lids 36 stacked upon each other are not spaced from each other by any extension of the pull ring 32 outside of the general plane and dimensions of the lid's downward flange 34. The pull ring 32 and related structures are thus further protected from damage during shipment, handling, etc. of the container lid assembly, and the space efficiency of stacked lids is increased.
In addition to the satellite ring 85, a bumper 95 may be provided either alone or in combination with the satellite ring 85, the improved engagement structure 32, and/or the connection member 55. These various elements and/or combinations thereof can protect against inadvertent dislodgment of the lid such as during shipment, handling, etc. of the container lid assembly, and protect against and/or provide evidence of tampering to the lid assembly. Similar to the satellite ring 85, the bumper 95 may be attached to (and is preferably integrally formed on) the container 12 and will typically extend outward from the container 12 and peripherally about all or some portion of the container 12. Depending on its positioning, the bumper 9 may provide various benefits. For example, when positioned near the flange 34 or tearstrip 30 the bumper 95 may reinforce the satellite ring 85 from below (as shown in
In contrast to the present invention, certain prior art pull rings on tearstrips (including, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,571, issued 12 Jan. 1988 to Bordner and Switzerland Patent No. 672,473, issued November 1989) extend outwardly and downwardly in a way that precludes tamper-evidencing such as can be provided by the present invention. Among other things, such prior art technology does not permit close abutment of an underlying satellite ring or bumper, and therefore has an increased susceptibility to someone defeating the tamper-evidencing by prying off the lid (such as by inserting a screwdriver under the tearstrip and prying without breaking any portion of the lid), tampering with the contents, and replacing the lid.
Among the many embodiments of the invention, those having bumpers or satellite rings such as described herein may include bumpers or satellite rings having staggered heights and/or vertical locations (see
Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with some specificity, the description and drawings set forth herein are not intended to be delimiting, and persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various modifications may be made to the embodiments discussed herein without departing from the scope of the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/404,899, filed on Mar. 31, 2003 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/834,527, filed on Apr. 12, 2001, now abandoned. Priority to the aforementioned applications is hereby expressly claimed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 120 and any other applicable statutes. The contents of the aforementioned applications, and of each U.S. patent and other references, if any, cited in those and/or in this application, are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10404899 | Mar 2003 | US |
Child | 11593928 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09834527 | Apr 2001 | US |
Child | 10404899 | US |