The present invention relates generally to an easy-to-operate tamper-proof container for storing contents and to a novel cap coupled with the container with an efficient tamper evidence mechanism.
Maintaining the safety and efficacy of products is a major concern for both companies and consumers, especially in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and wellness industries. Consumers’ heath may be at risk if defective or contaminated products are used. Also, companies suffer huge losses of revenue and lose the trust of their consumers if inferior or harmful products are sold to consumers. Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are actively working on their packaging to prevent tampering of the contents in order to protect the integrity of their products.
One common solution to these problems to is utilize tamper-proof packaging to ensure product safety. Thus, tamper-proof packaging has been an area of significant research over the past several decades. Several types of tamper-proof packaging solutions are available on the market; however, these solutions have often been deficient in enabling the consumer to differentiate between tampered and non-tampered products. Additionally, some tamper-proof packaging is not completely effective at preventing tampering from all sides of the container. Furthermore, in some tamper-proof containers, the inclusion of a tamper-proof mechanism interferes with the proper closure of the product dispensing orifice, thereby leading to leaking or contamination of the contents from the orifice during storage or transport.
Due to the aforementioned issues, it is desirable to have an effective tamper evidence mechanism that also provides a visual confirmation to consumers that a tamper evidence mechanism was present even after it has been broken. It is also preferable that the tamper-proof container be easy to open and close and that the tamper evidence mechanism does not interfere with the operation of the cap.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a tamper-proof container comprising a container having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side wall, the top portion defining a cavity wherein contents can be held; a cap provided on the container comprising: an inner surface provided over the cavity and containing an orifice; a neck extending around the inner surface and having at least one tamper evidence mechanism; and a lid connected to the cap pivotally via a hinge and moveable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the tamper evidence mechanism includes a male component, a female component and a locking member. The present invention further includes a plug projecting from the inner surface of the lid, wherein the plug fits into the orifice to seal the orifice so as to provide moisture tight and resealable seal. Additionally, in the present invention, the plug enters the orifice prior to the male component of the tamper evidence mechanism completing its engagement with the corresponding female component of the tamper evidence mechanism.
Aspects of the present invention are further directed to the neck of the cap including a sloped portion located at a front side of the cap and the lid including an extended part extending over the sloped portion, wherein the lid of the cap may be opened by pushing up from under the extended part. The sloped portion is made of a soft material and has an angel between about 35 degrees and about 90 degrees relative to a horizontal axis. According to the present invention, the soft material of the sloped portion can be selected from a group comprising, silicon, LDPE, TPE, PE, rubber, or PET.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to two tamper evidence mechanism provided on opposite sides on the neck of the cap. Aspects of the present invention are further directed to the male component of the tamper evidence mechanism which is provided on the rim of the lid and the female component of the tamper evidence mechanism which is provided on the neck of the cap. Aspects of the present invention are further directed to the locking member which is provided on the female component and extends in a horizontal direction from one end of the female component to the other end of the female component. Further, in the present invention, the locking member is connected with one point of connection at one end of the female component and two points of connection at the other end of the female component.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a cap comprising an inner surface containing an orifice, a neck extending around the inner surface and having at least one tamper evidence mechanism, and a lid connected to the cap pivotally via a hinge and moveable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the tamper evidence mechanism includes a male component, a female component and a locking member.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a tamper-proof container comprising: a container having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side wall, the top portion defining a cavity wherein contents can be held; a cap provided on the container comprising: an inner surface provided over the cavity and containing an orifice; a neck extending around the inner surface and having at least one tamper evidence mechanism; and a lid connected to the cap pivotally via a hinge and moveable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the tamper evidence mechanism includes a male component, a female component and a locking member, wherein the neck of the cap includes a sloped portion located at a front side of the cap and the lid includes an extended part extending over the sloped portion, wherein the lid of the cap may be opened by pushing up from under the extended part, and wherein the sloped portion is made of a soft material and has an angel between about 35 degrees and about 90 degrees relative to a horizontal axis.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a tamper-proof container comprising: a container having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side wall, the top portion defining a cavity wherein contents can be held; a cap provided on the container comprising: an inner surface provided over the cavity and containing an orifice; a neck extending around the inner surface and having at least one tamper evidence mechanism; and a lid connected to the cap pivotally via a hinge and moveable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the tamper evidence mechanism includes a male component, a female component and a locking member, wherein the neck of the cap includes a sloped portion located at a front side of the cap and the lid includes an extended part extending over the sloped portion, wherein the lid of the cap may be opened by pushing up from under the extended part, wherein the sloped portion is made of a soft material and has an angel between about 35 degrees and about 90 degrees relative to a horizontal axis, and wherein the soft material of the sloped portion can be selected from a group comprising, silicon, LDPE, TPE, PE, rubber, or PET.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a tamper-proof container comprising: a container having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side wall, the top portion defining a cavity wherein contents can be held; a cap provided on the container comprising: an inner surface provided over the cavity and containing an orifice; a neck extending around the inner surface and having at least one tamper evidence mechanism; and a lid connected to the cap pivotally via a hinge and moveable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the tamper evidence mechanism includes a male component, a female component and a locking member, wherein the locking member is provided on the female component and extends in a horizontal direction from one end of the female component to the other end of the female component, and wherein the locking member is connected with one point of connection at one end of the female component and two points of connection at the other end of the female component.
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a novel tamper-proof container 100 including a container 200 to told contents, a cap 300, and a tamper evidence mechanism 304.
The present invention may be formed through the combination of the container 200 and cap 300 formed either integrally or non-integrally. If the cap 300 is integrally connected to the container 200, the cap 300 and the container 200 may be formed of a blow-molded material or injection molded using methods known to one skilled in the art. If the cap 300 and container 200 are non-integrally connected, they may be connected, for example, by being screwed on to external or internal threads, friction fitted, snap fitted, or secured onto the container 200 in any other suitable manner known to one skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the container 200 and cap 300 are connected by being snap fitted. In a preferred embodiment, the cap 300 is permanently fixed to the container 200 after or before the container is filled with contents, thereby rendering the container 200 and cap 300 into a connected system.
The neck 301 includes a sloped portion 303 at a front end of the cap 300. The sloped portion 303 slopes in an inward direction from the front of the cap 300 towards a back end of the cap 300. The extended part 307 extends over the top of the sloped portion 303 to allow for a convenient and smooth single-handed opening and closing of the lid 305. In an embodiment, the sloped portion 303 has an angle of between about 35 degrees and about 90 degrees relative to a horizontal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the sloped portion 303 has an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the horizontal axis. A user may place their thumb or other finger on the sloped portion 303 to push the extended part 307 in an upward direction from an underside of the extended part 307. If a user is not able to use their hands or fingers to open the container, another object or an edge of a surface may be placed under the extended part 307 and used to push up on the extended part 307 to open the tamper-proof container 100. In a preferred embodiment, the extended part 307 has a curved shape; however, the shape of the extended part 307 is not limited and can be any suitable shape. In an embodiment, the material of the sloped portion may be silicon, LDPE, TPE, PE, rubber, PET, or any other suitable soft or rubberized material. In another embodiment, the material of the sloped portion may be polypropylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, or polystyrene. In a preferred embodiment, the material of the sloped portion is polypropylene.
The cap 300 further includes an orifice 313 provided on the inner surface 318 of the cap 300 by which contents can be dispensed from the tamper-proof container 100 when the tamper-proof container 100 is in the opened position. In a preferred embodiment, the orifice 313 is a circular shape, but it may be any suitable shape to dispense the contents held in the tamper-proof container 100. The diameter of the orifice 313 may be between about 2 mm and about 6 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the orifice 313 is about 4.2 mm. A user may squeeze the side wall 202 of the container to push the containers out of the orifice 313. When contents is dispensed from the orifice 313, a user can flip the tamper-proof container 100 upside down and apply the contents directly to the desired area without having to take the contents on their finger first. There is a smooth transition from the sloped portion 313 to the inner surface 318 of the cap 300 to facilitate the application of the contents directly to the desired area. Thus, the sloped portion 303 can serve as an applicator and provides a smooth surface for direct application of the contents to an area. Further, the slope of the sloped portion 303 allows for easy direct application of the contents to difficult to reach areas with minimal manipulation of the tamper-proof container 100 by the user. This direct application of the contents to the desired area prevents contamination of the contents by avoiding contact with a user’s fingers prior to application and prevents waste of the contents.
In a closed position, the plug 312 extends in a downwards direction from the bottom surface 310 of the lid 305 towards the container 200 and fits into the orifice 313 to create a secure air tight seal to prevent contamination and leaking of the contents. In an embodiment, the tamper-proof container 100 is moisture-tight and is resealable to maintain the moisture tight properties. As used herein, the term “resealable” means that the tamper-proof container 100 can be opened or reopened and closed or reclosed a numerous amount of times (e.g. more than 5 times) and still retain its moisture-tight properties. As used herein, the term “moisture-tight” means the moisture ingress of the container is less than about 1500 micrograms of water/day, determined by the following test method: (a) place approximately one gram of molecular sieve in the container and record the weight; (b) close the resealable mechanism; (c) place the sealed container in an environment chamber at conditions of 80% relative humidity and 72° F.; (d) after one day, weigh the container containing the molecular sieve; (e) after approximately two weeks, weigh the container; and (f) subtract the first day sample from the value obtained and divide by the number of days to calculate the moisture ingress of the container in units of micrograms of water/day.
The cap 300 further comprises at least one tamper evidence mechanism 304 provided on the cap 300 to prevent tampering with the contents prior to a user opening the tamper-proof container 100 for the first time. There can be any suitable number of tamper evidence mechanisms 304 provided on the cap 300. In an embodiment, there is one tamper evidence mechanism 304. In a preferred embodiment, there are two tamper evidence mechanisms 304 located on either side of the hinge 302 so as to be on opposite sides around the cap 300. Two tamper evidence mechanisms 304 provide the benefit of additional protection by preventing the lid 305 from being lifted or opened from either side of the hinge 302 or the extended part 307 without breaking at least one of the two tamper evidence mechanisms 304 to indicate signs of tampering. In a preferred embodiment, each of the tamper evidence mechanisms 304 have the same structure and function.
Each tamper evidence mechanism 304 includes a male component 304A, a corresponding female component 304B, and a locking member 304C. The male component 304A is provided on a rim 311 of the side surface 308 of the lid 305. The male component 24A protrudes from the rim 311 of the side surface 308 of the lid 305 in an upwards direction when the tamper-proof container 100 is in the opened position. The shape of the male component 304A can be any suitable shape. In a preferred embodiment, the male component 304A has a substantially rectangular shape. The male component 304A further includes a lip 314 at a top portion of the male component 204A that extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from the remainder of the male component 304A.
The female component 204B includes a recess provided on a rim 309 of the neck 301 of the cap 300 and extends down onto the neck 301 of the cap 300. In a preferred embodiment, the female component 304B is a substantially rectangular shape, but the present invention is not limited to this shape and the female component can be any suitable shape. The tamper evidence mechanism 304 further includes a locking member 304C. The locking member 304C can be any suitable shape and size. In a preferred embodiment, the locking member 304C is in the form of a band and extends from one end of the female component 304B to the other end in a horizontal direction, thereby connecting the two ends of the female component of the tamper mechanism 304. In an embodiment, the length of the locking member may be between about 3 mm and about 8 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the locking member is about 6 mm. A gap exists between the locking member 304C and the neck 301 of the cap 300.
In an embodiment, the material of the tamper evidence mechanism 304, the container 200, the lid 305 and the neck 301 of the cap 300 may be polypropylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, or polystyrene. In a preferred embodiment, the material of the tamper evidence mechanism 304, the container 200, the lid 305, and the neck 301 of the cap 300 is polypropylene.
The contents held in the container tube may be any compound or composition that can be used to cleanse the skin, provide pain relief, or provide overall health and wellness benefits to the user. Non-limiting examples of the contents may include pharmaceutical active ingredients including over the counter actives, behind the counter actives, prescription actives, or any combination thereof.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the contents may be available in various forms and selected from group comprising gel, lotion, cream, oil, emulsion, ointment and powder. In an embodiment, the contents held in the container is a cream or gel containing diclofenac sodium. In a preferred embodiment, the contents held in the container is a combination of diclofenac sodium, ammonia, carbomer homopolymer type c, coco-caprylate/caprate, isopropyl alcohol, mineral oil, polyoxyl 20 cetostearyl ether, propylene glycol, and water.
The tamper-proof container 100 of the present invention may be compatible with any pump or spray device, including, but not limited to airless pumps.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2020/061456 | 12/3/2020 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62943433 | Dec 2019 | US |