Patent Application
20070286535
Further objects and advantages of the shaped breaching bubble the operation of the breaching focus will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings (not drawn to scale) in which:
The first digit of each reference numeral in the above figures indicates the figure in which an element or feature is most prominently shown. The second digit indicates related elements or features, and a final letter (when used) indicates a sub-portion of an element or feature.
The table below lists the reference numerals employed in the figures, and identifies the element designated by each numeral.
Merchandise container 10 has location specific breaching at breaching focus 12F when shaped breaching bubble 12S is in a state of compression. The container is formed by base lamina 10B and opposed cover lamina 10C selectively pressed together into a double convex receptacle (see
Breaching focus 12F forms part of the perimeter seal at the inward most point or location of the incursion zone. Breaching flanks 14K form part of the perimeter seal adjacent to the breaching focus. A breaching flank extends from each side of the breaching focus. The incursion zone may be any suitable shape such as a V-shaped notch (as shown in
The breaching bubble is compressed under external pressure applied by the end user (indicated by arrows 12C and 12B in
The opposed laminae may have multiple layers to provide properties such as waterproofing, UV protection, increased bulk, and strength. The opposed laminae may be any suitable enclosing material such as plastic, paper fabric, cellophane, or bio-degradable matter. Thin mylar plastic is a flexible film with hermetic properties, and may be employed as a container material. The perimeter of the container has a breaching seal along the breaching flanks for product access, and a non-breaching seal along the remaining perimeter. The breaching seal may be a frangible laminae union and the non-breaching seal may be a destructive laminae union. The frangible breaching seal may be formed at a lower lamina-to-lamina pressure and a lower temperature for a shorter time than the destructive non-breaching seal. The frangible seal is weaker than the destructive seal, and breaches at a lower separation force and requires less compressive pressure applied by the end user.
Additional details of a suitable merchandise container are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,364 issued on 27 Apr. 2004 to Perell et al, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this disclosure.
Laminae separation occurs along the inner edge of the breaching flank seals because tension in the laminae pulls the laminae apart. The tension is due to internal compression within the breaching bubble caused by the loss of volume resulting from the external pressure. The compression forces the lamina material into a “plump” or maximum volume configuration. The opposed laminae move apart wherever the pressure is not applied, expanding the volume between them. In the double convex embodiment of
Angle F is the focus separation angle (see
Angle P is the perimeter separation angle (see
Angle F is greater than Angle P, because of the inward incursion zone allows the laminae proximate breaching focus 12F to assume a steeper configuration. The steeper focus separation Angle F promotes greater separation of the opposed laminae at the breaching focus, then separation of the opposed laminae along the perimeter seal. The pulling apart effect of the laminae tension is more effective at the steeper angle. The greater angle and easier separation causes location specific breaching of the breaching bubble at the breaching focus. That is, the edge breaching occurs along the breaching flanks before breaching can occur anyplace along the remainder of the perimeter seal.
Base lamina 20B may be level and rigid, defining flat laminae plane 20F for container 20. Flat containers are convenient for many products such as medication 20M. The flat base may be manufactured from suitable easy-to-work, inexpensive material such as cardboard.
Angle F′ is the focus separation angle between the tangent to cover lamina 20C and laminae plane 20F at breaching focus 22F when shaped breaching bubble 22S is in compression.
Angle P′ is the perimeter separation angle between the tangent to cover lamina 20C and laminae plane 20F along the perimeter seal 24P when breaching bubble 22S is in compression.
In the coplanar embodiment, the angle between the flat base lamina and the laminae plane is zero. The angles of the coplanar embodiment of
The applied external pressure (indicated by arrow 22C) establishes compression within breaching bubble 22S, generating a separation force Jf at separation focus 22F and a lessor separation force Jp along perimeter seal 24P.
Force Jf′, the force of separation at the separation focus, is:
Force Jf′=T(Sine Angle F′)
Force Jp′, the force of separation along the perimeter, is:
Force Jp′=T(Sine Angle P′)
As Angle F′ and Angle P′ are increased (or decreased) the separation forces increase (or decrease) according to the Sine function. The separation forces are maximum at the theoretical maximum separation angle of 90 degrees. The perimeter seal (or a portion thereof) may be coplanar, defining the laminae plane.
The general embodiment of
Angle F, the focus separation angle, is the sum of cover separation Angle Cf and base separation Angle Bf.
Angle Cf is the angle between cover lamina 10C at breaching focus 12F and adjacent leg L of the right triangle which includes cover separation Angle Cf.
Angle Bf is the angle between base lamina 10B at breaching focus 12F and adjacent leg L of the right triangle which includes base separation Angle Bf.
Angle P, the perimeter separation angle, is the sum of cover separation Angle Cp and base separation Angle Bp;
Angle Cp is the angle between cover lamina 10C along perimeter seal 14P and adjacent leg L of the right triangle which includes cover separation Angle Cp.
Angle Bp is the angle between base lamina 10B along perimeter seal 14P and adjacent leg L of the right triangle which includes base separation Angle Bp.
The force of separation, Force Sf, at the breaching focus is:
Force Sf=T(Sine Angle Cf+Sine Angle Bf)
The force of separation, Force Sp, along the perimeter seal is:
Force Sp=T(Sine Angle Cp+Sine Angle Bp)
Force Sf is greater than Force Sp.
The breaching focus has a threshold separation Force Tsf. As the applied pressure increases, the internal compression and lamina tension increase. Also the focus separation angle increases as the bubble “plumps”, yielding an increased Sine function. Eventually the separation Force Sf at breaching focus 12F exceeds the threshold separation Force Tsf, and the pressed laminae union fails. The perimeter seal has a similar threshold separation Force Tsp. The threshold separation Force Tsf of the breaching focus is lower than the threshold separation Force Tsp of the perimeter seal. The breaching focus separates and the perimeter seal does not separate under a range of breaching bubble compressions which create a range of threshold separation forces which are:
Within this critical range of thresholds, the separation at the flanking seals advances, while the perimeter seal remains intact.
Container 30 has product loading port 34L where perimeter seal 34P has not yet been pressed. The port receives product 30P as product chamber 32P is loaded. During the initial pressing in which perimeter seal 34P and inner seal 34I are formed, the loading port is left unsealed. The loading port is sealed closed during a final pressing, after the product has been loaded. Incursion zone 32Z may be inwardly concave at the breaching focus with curved breaching flanks extending from the breaching focus. The incursion zone and the container may be symmetrical about the breaching focus with symmetrical breaching flanks extending from the breaching focus. The general embodiment of
In the general embodiment, the product was in a product chamber (see
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved as described hereinbefore by providing a merchandise container with a shaped breaching bubble which may be easily opened without the use of a tool. Further, the site where the edge breach is location specific, and occurs at a breaching focus, and not randomly along the perimeter seal. The breached bubble has opposed peel tabs which assist the end user in opening the shaped bubble. The container formed by a single pressing step, in which opposed laminae are selectively pressed together. All of the pressed laminae unions are formed at the same temperature, pressure and duration. The bubble device produces a rush of escaping air upon edge breaching which emits an audible sound.
Various changes may be made in the structure and embodiments shown herein without departing from the concept of the invention. Further, features of embodiments shown in various figures may be employed in combination with embodiments shown in other figures. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/790,481, filed Apr. 10, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60790481 | Apr 2006 | US |
