Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TAMPER EVIDENT MULTIPLE DOOR CLOSURE
[0001]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to closures, and more particularly to a
tamper evident
feature on a multiple door closure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Tamper evident closures are important in a number of areas,
particularly in the
food industry. While the concept of the tamper evident closure is a good one
in providing
the consumer some assurance that the contents of the container being purchased
have not
been altered after packaging, the tamper evident feature can also introduce
packaging
problems.
[0004] For example, in the field of spice containers, multiple door
closures are
sometimes used. A common type of container for spices is a rectangular can,
historically
metal, but now also sometimes plastic, which has a rigid plastic server lid
affixed to the
open end of the can. The server lid includes dispensing ports covered by flaps
which are
typically hinged to the base of the lid. Typically the lid has multiple flaps
covering the
various dispensing ports. The dispensing ports may be in the form of sift
holes for
sprinkling the spice, a pour hole for pouring spice out of the container or a
spoon hole for
spooning a measured amount out of the container, or any combination thereof.
[0005] When placing multiple flaps on a container having a lid of limited
dimension,
the further inclusion of a tamper evident feature sometimes requires
compromises which are
not acceptable in all cases. For example, Gray, U.S. Patent No. 6, 422,411,
assigned to the
assignee of the present invention, describes a tamper evident overcap for a
multiple flap
spice container. The overcap approach is useful in that it does not require a
reduction in the
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size of the ports or flaps on the cover. However, the complication it
introduces is the need
to mold an additional piece, the overcap, and to assemble the overcap to the
server lid.
[0006] Foster, U.S. Patent No. 4,621,744, also assigned to the assignee of
the present
invention, shows another approach. As with the typical multiple flap spice
closure, the
device described in the Foster patent can be molded as a single unit. However,
in order to
achieve the tamper evident feature, the tear strip in Foster uses valuable
"real estate" on the
closure and requires a reduction in size of the ports and the flaps which
cover them. In
addition, since the tear strip and the flaps with which it is associated are
more or less
coplanar on top of the closure, removing of the tear strip, by tearing it
upwards, has a
tendency to also attempt to open the flaps. This is undesirable to some users.
[0007] An additional significant issue raised by the closure in the Foster
patent, and
others like it, is the requirement on the spice lid manufacturer to prepare a
new set of molds
to include the tamper evident feature. As will be known to those skilled in
this art, the
multiple cavity molds which are used to make closures such as these are
extremely
expensive, highly engineered units. In addition, the lead time for securing
molds is often
significant. If one were to have the basic three-flap design of the Foster
patent in a non-
tamper evident configuration, in order to add tamper evidency as shown in the
Foster patent
would require a redesign of the mold to reconfigure the ports, the flaps and
the basic cover
configuration. The old existing molds would not be usable, and a completely
new set of
molds would be required to add the tamper evidency feature.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, it is a general aim of the present
invention to provide a
tamper evident feature in a multiple door spice container closure which
overcomes one or
more of the foregoing problems.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a tamper evident
feature which
does not require the use of flap or port "real estate" on the container, but
can be used with
an existing port and flap configuration.
[0010] In that regard, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a tamper evident
feature for a multiple door spice container closure which can be achieved by
way of minor
rework of an existing set of molds.
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[0011] Accordingly, the invention provides a closure for a container which
is formed as
a single molded unit. The closure has a base member constructed to overlie and
fit to the
associated container. The base member has at least one, and in a preferred
embodiment a
plurality of dispensing openings formed therein. At least one, and in the
preferred
embodiment a plurality of flaps are joined to the base member at an elongated
hinge line,
and are positioned for closing the dispensing opening or openings. The flap or
flaps have
front edges opposite to and parallel to the hinge line. A tear strip is formed
on an edge of the
base opposite the hinge line and connected to the base by at least one
frangible web. The
tear strip is adapted to hinge about the frangible web to a position overlying
the front edge of
the flap or flaps. Plastic welds connect the overlying edge of the tear strip
to provide a
tamper evident feature.
[0012] In a preferred practice of the invention, three frangible webs
connect the seal
strip to the base, and some of the plastic welds are formed directly to front
edges of the flaps,
whereas others are formed on portions of the base adjacent the front edge of
the flap.
[0012A] Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention resides in a closure
for a
container, the closure being a single molded plastic unit and comprising in
combination a
base member having at least one arcuate shaped side and constructed to close
an open end of
an associated container, the base member having at least one dispensing
opening formed
therein; at least one flap joined to the base member at a hinge line along one
edge of the base,
the flap being positioned to close the dispensing opening, and when closed,
having a front
edge which is opposite to and parallel to the hinge line; a tear strip formed
on an edge of the
base member opposite the hinge line and extending along one said arcuate
shaped side, the
tear strip being connected to the base by at least one frangible web, the tear
strip hinging
about the frangible web to a position overlying the front edge of the flap;
and at least one
plastic weld for connecting the overlying edge of the tear strip to the flap
to provide a tamper
evident feature.
[0013] Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will
become more
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a spice container with a tamper
evident
feature constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1, with the tamper evident tear
strip removed
and all of the flaps open;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the closure in the as molded state
except that the
flaps have been closed;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an end view of the closure of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating the tamper evident
tear strip, after
molding, being moved to its operative position;
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[0019] FIGS. 6 and 7 show two steps by which the consumer removes the
tamper
evident tear strip before using the container contents;
[0020] FIGS. 8 and 8a are sectional views taken along the lines 7-7 and 8-8
respectively
of FIG. 6 and showing the stacking rim feature of the container with tamper
evident closure;
[0021] FIG. 9 somewhat schematically illustrates the rework of a mold
needed to add a
tamper evident feature to an existing closure;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an alternate embodiment of the
closure in the as
molded state except that the flaps have been closed;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 10 along
line 11-11;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 10 along
line 12-12;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a spice container with the
alternate
embodiment of the tamper evident feature constructed in accordance with the
present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 14 shows the container of FIG. 13, with the tamper evident tear
strip
removed and all of the flaps open;
[0027] FIGS. 15a and 15b are sectional views showing the stacking rim
feature of the
container with the tamper evident closure; and
[0028] FIGS. 16a and 16b are sectional views showing the stacking rim
feature of the
container with the tamper evident closure of an alternate embodiment of a
spice container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a tamper resistant
closure 20
fixed to a container 22 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the same container and closure with the tamper
evident tear
strip removed and all flaps open. The spice container 22 is preferably
rectangular, is
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typically metal but can be plastic. The lid 20 is a server type lid adapted to
close the upper
open end of the container 22. The server type lid is sometimes formed with a
single flap,
but preferably has a plurality of flaps (three flaps 23, 24 and 25 are
illustrated in the
drawings) for allowing the user to access the contents of the container via
the respective
types of closure ports. A tamper evident tear strip 30, having a first
elongated edge 31 fixed
to the cover portion of the closure 20 and a second portion 32 folded over and
covering each
of the flaps 23-25, secures all the flaps in the closed position. In order to
access the
contents of the container, it is necessary to remove the tear strip 30, which
allows access to
the edges of the flaps to allow individual ones to be opened. FIG. 2 shows all
of the flaps
23-25 open, although it will be understood that typically the user will open
only one of such
flaps at a time.
[0030] In greater detail, the container 22 is a rectangular cube having
pairs of generally
parallel opposing sides including a wide front 40 and back 41, and somewhat
narrower sides
42, 43. A rectangular bottom 44 closes the bottom of the container. When the
can is of
metal construction, the sides 40-43 will be a single piece of metal having a
single seam, and
the bottom 44 will be seamed to the sides. When the container is plastic, the
sides 40-43
and bottom 44 will be a single molded unit.
[0031] The server lid 20 is made from relatively rigid plastic material and
includes a
base member 50 with one or more downward depending flanges 51. FIG. 4 shows
the base
50 has two downwardly depending flanges 51, 52, namely outer and inner
flanges, with a
raised bead 53 on the flange 52 and leaving a narrow gap 54 for receipt of the
front or side
walls of the associated container. This is the type of flange arrangement
which is used with
a metal container. Typically the top of the metal container is rolled and fits
through the gap
54 to be captured between the flanges 51, 52, with the lip 53 substantially
preventing
removal of the lid from the container. When the closure is to be used with a
plastic
container, a different form of lip, also well known to those skilled in the
art, will be utilized.
[0032] The closure 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2 can be considered
conventional, in that the
tamper evident strip is not shown, and the flaps and doors are such as would
be provided in
a normal container without a tamper evident feature. This is a significant
attribute of the
invention, in that the tamper evident strip is provided without the need to
reduce the size of
or otherwise reconfigure the ports or flaps which cover them.
[0033] Referring in greater detail to the exemplary container, as noted
above it is shown
to include three flaps and three ports. In the illustrated embodiment a first
dispensing port
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>
56 is provided for pouring the spice contents from the container. A second
port 57 is
shaped and sized to allow a spoon to pass through the port into the container,
for spooning
spice from the container. The final port 58 has a plurality of apertures which
allow for the
spice contained within the container to be shaken and sifted from the
container through the
apertures which form the sifting dispensing port.
[0034] As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base member 50 has a narrow
platform 80
which is joined to the flaps 23-25 at an elongated hinge line 81. As is well
known to those
skilled in this art, the closure is molded as a single unit, and the flaps are
molded integrally
with the base member so that they are swingably connected to the top panel
along a hinge
81 which extends parallel to the front edge of the flap. The hinge 81 is
formed by holding
spaced sections of plastic along the junction between the raised portion 80
and the flap.
This type of structure is sometimes referred to as a living hinge. The flaps
are typically
molded while in an inclined position and are closed after the closure has been
ejected from
the molding die.
[0035] The flaps 23-25 have undersides which seal with the associated port.
For
example, the door 23 which covers the pouring port has an oval shaped
depending ring 60
which is sized to engage the periphery 56a of the pouring port 56. Similarly,
the flap 24
which covers the spooning port has a composite ring including an arcuate
section 61 and a
straight section 62 which match the periphery 57a of the spooning port 57.
When the door
is snapped down over the port, the rim 61-62 will fit through the port
aperture 57 and
provide a snap fit with the aperture 57a. The flap 25 which covers the sifting
opening has a
plurality of plugs 63 which are positioned and sized to snap into the
apertures 58a which
make up the sifting port 58. It will be seen that each of the flaps 23-25 has
an undercut
finger grip section 64, 65 or 66 which allows the fingernail of a user to be
slipped into a
crevice formed between the relieved section and the base 50 to allow the user
to pry that
particular flap open.
[0036] Turning again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the flaps 23-25 are
all secured by a
single tear strip 30 which overlies each of the flaps. The tear strip 30 is
heat bonded, such
as by ultrasonic welding, to secure each of the flaps 23-25, such that the
flap is not readily
opened without removing the tear strip. The ultrasonic welding can be
accomplished on the
flap itself, particularly such as for the end flaps 23 and 25, and can also be
accomplished on
a non-movable section of the lid adjacent to flap, as can be accomplished for
the larger
central flap 24. FIG. 3 shows a plurality of buttons or nibs 70 formed on the
tear strip
which define the areas for ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, the buttons can
be located on
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the flaps or container top in corresponding locations. It will be seen that
the outer buttons
will weld directly to the flap, whereas the intermediate buttons will weld to
stationsry
portions 71, 72 of the cover, adjacent the flap door. It is also possible, of
course, to weld
the central portion of the strip directly to the central flap 24, but the
illustrated form of
ultrasonic welding is preferred, because it eases the task of removing the
tear strip, as will
be described below.
[00371 In accordance with the invention, a tear away strip is associated
with the closure
for providing a tamper evident feature for all of the closure flaps. It will
be noted that in
cases where the closure has only a single flap, the invention is still
applicable. It is
particularly advantageous with multiple flaps, as taught in connection with
the preferred
embodiment, but provides many of the advantages of the invention even with
only a single
flap, or with individual tear strips, one for each of multiple doors.
100381 FIGS. 3 and 4 show the tear away strip in the as molded condition.
The closure
itself is not as - molded, since the flaps are all closed, which is a post
molding operation.
However, the tear strip 30 is molded as an extension of and attached to the
base 20 as shown
in these illustrations. It is seen that frangible webs in the illustrated
embodiment shown are
thin living hinges 85 that join an edge 86 of the base 50 to a connecting
member 87 of the
tear strip, the living hinges 85 are formed at the edge of the base 50 and are
parallel to the
hinge line 81 about which the flaps pivot. Since the flaps are based on a
rectangular
geometry, the tear strip, being parallel to the hinge line, will also be
parallel to the front
edges of the flaps. Preferably the frangible webs are of reduced thickness,
most preferably
about 25% or less of the nominal wall thickness, in order to facilitate
removal by the user.
[0039] As shown in plan view in FIG. 3, the living hinges form relatively
short
frangible webs 90 which connect the tear strip body 91 to the base 50.
Preferably the webs
90 are relatively short in length, and occupy substantially less than half of
the length of the
tear strip body 91. This, as will become apparent, allows the tear strip to be
readily
separated from the base after it is partly opened. However, it is also
possible to connect the
tear strip to the base continuously along the length of the tear strip 91 if
desired, although
the short frangible hinges are preferred.
[00401 The shape of the tear strip beyond the connecting portion 87 can
take various
forms. For example, a relatively flat tear strip having score lines about
which it can be
folded to a position overlying the edges of the flaps, is possible and in some
cases
acceptable. However, it is preferred to utilize the tear strip as having a
configuration as
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illustrated generally in FIG. 5, because the use of a tear strip in that form
allows the closure
to provide a stacking lip for the container. Thus, the tear strip of the
preferred embodiment
includes a generally right-angled bend 94 near its base connected to an arm
95. A further
right-angled bend 96 leads to an extended strip portion 97 which overlies the
front edges of
the flaps. A relatively small number of ultrasonic weld nibs 70 (four are
shown in FIG. 3)
are formed on the underside of the overlying strip portion 97. In addition, a
bevel 98 at the
edge 99 thereof arranged in a tab section 100 of the overlying strip provides
convenient
access to the user to pry up the strip portion 91 of the tear strip as a first
step in removing
the tear strip.
[0041] After the closure is ejected from the mold and the doors are closed,
the tear strip
is then rotated approximately 180 to the dashed line position shown in FIG. 5
(or the solid
line position shown in FIG. 6). Ultrasonic welding equipment then causes the
nibs 70 to
melt into the door or door-adjacent portions to ultrasonically seal the strip
portion 91 of the
tear strip over the top edges of the flaps. The bottom of the tear strip
remains connected to
the base 50 by virtue of the frangible webs 90. Thus, if a container is
encountered in which
the upper tear strip 91 remains secured to the flap portions and the frangible
webs 90 are
intact, the user can safely conclude that the closure has not been opened for
tampering.
However, if either the frangible webs 90 are broken or if the strip portion 91
of the tear strip
is lifted, there is the possibility of tampering.
[0042] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the removal of the tear strip after the
user has acquired a
spice container. As a first step, the user inserts a tool or a fingernail
under the tab 100 and
lifts the tab. The ultrasonic welds 70 break and the strip portion 91 of the
tear strip is then
free. It is then simply a matter of breaking the frangible webs 90, which can
readily be done
by tearing the tear strip downwardly (or upwardly for that matter) as
illustrated in FIG. 7.
The tear strip is thus removed and the container is ready for use. It is an
important feature
of the invention that the container, when ready to use, as shown for example
in FIG. 2,
would be identical to a prior art container which had no provision for a tear
strip. There is
no need to reduce the size of the ports or alter the size of the flaps or
create a land area
opposite the hinge line of a closure in order to provide a tamper evident
feature. The feature
is provided as an addendum to the already existing cap.
[0043] It is a further feature of the invention that the tear strip is
provided in such a way
that the stackability feature of the basic closure remains intact. As
illustrated in FIGS. 8 and
8a, the container closure has a rim 110 which, at the periphery of the closure
50, which has
generally vertical walls 111 and a generally horizontal floor 112. The
container is formed
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with a recessed bottom 114 that provides a peripheral ridge 115 serving as a
base for the
container. The rim 110 is dimensioned to be able to fit closely within the
flange 115 up
against an inner wall 116 thereof.
[0044] In practicing this aspect of the invention, the tear strip has the
aforementioned
right angled configuration, primarily the right angle 94, to provide an
upstanding wall 118
which, because of its thinness, generally corresponds to the upstanding wall
of the basic
closure. The tolerances are such that the base rim 115 of the container will
fit over the
upper portion of the closure, including the three frangible webs 90 to allow
interfitting of
one container bottom with the container closure of the next, to allow the
containers to be
stacked on a grocery shelf without substantial danger of slipping or tipping.
It will also be
seen from a concurrent view of FIGS. 3 and 5, and also by comparison of FIGS.
8 and 8a,
that the depending wall portion 118 is present only in the areas of the
frangible web, and
that the overlying tear strip portion 97 terminates before the depending right
angle section
118.
[0045] A significant feature of the invention is the ability to add a tear
strip to an
existing container without altering the basic mold which forms the container.
It will be
appreciated by those skilled in this art that molds are expensive, are highly
engineered and
to introduce mold changes is an expensive proposition which needs to be
economically
justified. However, in practicing the present invention, the basic mold
configuration can be
left in place, and rework done to an area of the mold adjacent to the portion
which forms the
closure. Thus, the closure and its fits and finishes will remain unchanged,
and the only
addition or change to the mold section is in a new area for forming the tear
strip appended
to the base. The manner in which this is accomplished is schematically
illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0046] FIG. 9 shows in very rough schematic fashion a pair of dies capable
of forming a
closure in accordance with the present invention. A lower die 110 and an upper
die 120 (of
two sections so as to form the door portion 122) are provided. The dies split
along a parting
line 124 (and a similar line in connection with the upstanding cover section
122) to allow
the part to be ejected after it is molded.
[0047] In order to incorporate a tear strip into the die set schematically
illustrated in
FIG. 9, it is simply necessary to rework the mold in an adjacent area
indicated at 130. The
section 130 of the mold is reworked to form the tear strip configuration 132
shown in
dashed lines. This is accomplished by adding some material to the mold outside
of the
mold periphery, such as by welding on additional material. And in the case of
both dies in
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the adjacent area 130, material will need to be removed to form the
configuration 132. This
material removal is typically accomplished by EDM machining. In the end, a
cavity which
is indicated by the dashed lines in the area 132 will be formed. The thin
hinge 134 which
joins the newly formed tear strip to the remainder of the mold will allow
material to feed
through to form the tear strip. With that minor alteration, there is no other
change needed to
the basic mold area identified by the reference numeral 135. Thus, that
section of the mold
can remain in place, can remain unchanged and need not be retested or
reengineered. The
tear strip 130, while it is important in providing tamper evidency, is
relatively easily
checked out to see that the frangible webs have sufficient strength, the door
folds to the
proper position over the flaps, and the ultrasonic weld nibs are in the
positions expected.
The change, although costly, is not prohibitively expensive and allows an
existing container,
or a container of an existing shape, to have its closure modified to include a
tear strip, but
without requiring a complete reengineering of the closure.
[0048] Turning now to FIG. 10, an alternate embodiment of the tamper
resistant closure
is shown. The lid 200 is a server type lid adapted to close the upper open end
of the
container 202. FIG. 13 illustrates the tamper resistant closure 200 fixed to a
container 202
in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14
illustrates
the same container and closure with the tamper evident tear strip removed and
all flaps
open. The spice container 202 is generally rectangular and can be metal or
plastic. The
server type lid is sometimes formed with a single flap, but preferably has a
plurality of flaps
(three flaps 204, 206 and 208 are illustrated in the drawings) for allowing
the user to access
the contents of the container via the respective types of closure ports. A
tamper evident tear
strip 210, having a plurality of frangible webs 212 covering portions of the
closure 200 and
a portion 214 folded over and covering each of the flaps 204-208, secures all
the flaps in the
closed position.
[0049] The removal of the tear strip 210 is similar to the removal of the
tear strip 30
after the user has acquired a spice container in that the user inserts a tool
or a fingernail
under the strip portion 214 and lifts the strip portion. The ultrasonic welds
break and the
strip portion 214 of the tear strip is then free. It is then simply a matter
of breaking the
frangible webs 212, which can readily be done by tearing the tear strip
downwardly or
upwardly. Similar to the previous embodiment, if a container is encountered in
which the
upper tear strip portion 214 remains secured to the flap portions and the
frangible webs 212
are intact, the user can safely conclude that the closure has not been opened
for tampering.
However, if either a frangible web 212 is broken or if the strip portion 214
of the tear strip
is lifted, there is the possibility of tampering. FIG. 14 shows all of the
flaps 204-208 open
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after the tamper evident tear strip 210 has been removed, although it will be
understood that
typically the user will open only one of such flaps at a time. The tear strip
210 is in a form
that allows the containers 202 to be stacked.
[0050] The server lid 200 is made from relatively rigid plastic material
and includes a
base member 216 with one or more downward depending flanges 218. FIGS. 11 and
12
show the base 216 has two downwardly depending flanges 218, 220, namely outer
and inner
flanges, with a raised bead 222 on the flange 220 and leaving a narrow gap 224
for receipt
of the front or side walls of the associated container. This is the type of
flange arrangement
which is typically used with a metal container. Typically the top of the metal
container is
rolled and fits through the gap 224 to be captured between the flanges 218,
220, with the lip
222 substantially preventing removal of the lid from the container. Other
forms of lip that
are well known to those skilled in the art can also be utilized.
[0051] The closure 200 can be considered somewhat conventional when the
tamper
evident strip has been removed, in that the flaps and doors are such as would
be provided in
a conventional type of container without a tamper evident feature. In this
embodiment, it is
shown to include three flaps and three ports. In the illustrated embodiment a
first
dispensing port 230 is provided for pouring the spice contents from the
container. A second
port 232 is shaped and sized to allow a spoon to pass through the port into
the container, for
spooning spice from the container. The final port 234 has a plurality of
apertures which
allow for the spice contained within the container to be shaken and sifted
from the container
through the apertures from the sifting dispensing port 234.
[0052] The base member 216 has a narrow sloping platform 240 which is
joined to the
flaps 204-208 at an elongated hinge line 242. As is well known to those
skilled in this art,
the closure is molded as a single unit, and the flaps are molded integrally
with the base
member so that they are swingably connected to the top panel along a hinge 242
which
extends parallel to the front edge of the flap. The hinge 242 is formed by
holding spaced
sections of plastic along the junction between the raised portion 240 and the
flap. This type
of structure is sometimes referred to as a living hinge. The flaps are
typically molded while
in an inclined position and are closed after the closure has been ejected from
the molding
die. The raised portion 240 is strengthened to reduce or prevent deflection of
the raised
portion 240 by a plurality of spaced apart structures 244 attached to a
support beam 246
beneath the hinge 242.
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[0053] The flaps 204-208 have undersides which seal with the associated
port. For
example, the door 204 which covers the pouring port 230 has an oval shaped
depending ring
250 which is sized to engage the periphery 230a of the pouring port 230.
Similarly, the flap
206 which covers the spooning port 232 has a composite ring including an
arcuate section
252 and a straight section 254 which match the periphery 232a of the spooning
port 232.
When the door is snapped down over the port, the rim 252-254 will fit through
the port
aperture 232 and provide a snap fit with the aperture 232a. The flap 208 which
covers the
sifting opening has a plurality of plugs 256 which are positioned and sized to
snap into the
apertures 234a which make up the sifting port 234. It will be seen that each
of the flaps
204-208 has an undercut finger grip section 260, 262 or 264 which allows the
fingernail of a
user to be slipped into a crevice formed between the relieved section and the
base 216 to
allow the user to pry that particular flap open. A front portion 270, 272, 274
of the flaps
204-208 and the front portion 280, 282, 284 of the seat 286, 288, 290 may also
be sloped.
The slope aids in stacking the container as will be described below.
[0054] The tear strip can be formed onto existing lids 200 with techniques
as previously
described above with respect to FIG. 9. The mold is shaped so that the
curvature of the tear
strip is such that the tear strip portion covers the flaps 204-208. The tear
strip 210 is also
heat bonded, such as by ultrasonic welding, to secure each of the flaps 204-
208, such that
the flap is not readily opened without removing the tear strip. The ultrasonic
welding can
be accomplished on the flap itself, particularly such as for the end flaps 204
and 208, and
can also be accomplished on a non-movable section of the lid adjacent to the
flap, as can be
accomplished for the larger central flap 206. Similar to closure 20, a
plurality of buttons or
nibs can be formed on the tear strip that defines the areas for ultrasonic
welding.
Alternatively, the buttons or nibs can be located on the flaps or container
top in
corresponding locations.
[0055] In greater detail, the container 202 is generally rectangular shaped
including a
wide front 300 and back 302, and somewhat narrower sides 304, 306. The front
300 and
back 302 are arcuate shaped. The sides 304, 306 may also have a curvature. A
generally
rectangular arcuate shaped bottom 308 closes the bottom of the container. When
the can is
of metal construction, the sides 300-306 will be a single piece of metal
having a single
seam, and the bottom 308 will be seamed to the sides. When the container is
plastic, the
sides 300-306 and bottom 308 will be a single molded unit.
[0056] The stackability feature of the basic closure remains intact. As
illustrated in
FIGS. 15 and 15a, the container closure has a rim 320 which, at the periphery
of the closure
CA 02601661 2007-09-13
13
base member 216, has generally vertical walls 322 and a generally horizontal
floor 324.
The container is formed with a generally horizontal recessed bottom 326 that
provides a
peripheral ridge 328 serving as a base for the container. The rim 320 is
dimensioned to be
able to fit closely within the flange 328 up against an inner wall 330
thereof. Once the
tamper evident strip 210 is removed, the container sits on floor 324 when
containers are
stacked on top of each other. When the strip 210 is in place, the container
sits upon
horizontal floor 340 of the frangible webs 212. The tolerances are such that
the base rim
328 of the container will fit over the upper portion of the closure, including
the frangible
webs 212 to allow interfitting of one container bottom with the container
closure of the
next, to allow the containers to be stacked on a grocery shelf without
substantial danger of
slipping or tipping. The depending wall portion 342 is present only in the
areas of the
frangible web.
[0057] Some containers are not formed with a generally horizontal recessed
bottom as
illustrated in FIG. 15a and 15b. For example, plastic containers may not have
a recessed
bottom for manufacturing simplicity and/or to hold more items for the same
container
outline. In an alternate embodiment of the invention for such containers, the
stackability
feature of the closure with a tear strip is maintained.
[0058] Turning now to FIGS. 16a and 16b, a container with a generally
arcuate shaped
bottom 360 is shown. The bottom 360 has peripheral ridge 362 serving as a base
for the
container. The tolerances are such that the slope of the arcuate shaped bottom
360 does not
interfere with the slope of the sloping portion 240 and that the base rim 362
of the container
will fit over the upper portion of the closure, including the frangible webs
212 to allow
interfitting of one container bottom with the container closure of the next.
This also allows
the containers to be stacked on a grocery shelf without substantial danger of
slipping or
tipping.
[0059] Further tamper resistance may be provided by securely coupling the
closure to
the container. For example, one or more welds, such as ultrasonic welds, may
be used to
securely attach the closure to the container. In some embodiments, the welds
may be
disposed at positions such as near raised bead 222 and/or near downward
depending flange
218. It will be appreciated, however, that one or more welds may be placed
near any
suitable position to attach the closure to the container. While providing
tamper resistance,
such welds also provide tamper evidence inasmuch as breakage of the welds may
be
recognized and associated with improper attempts to gain access to the
contents of the
container.
CA 02601661 2013-08-27
14
[0060] In some embodiments, the weld(s) may be a continuous line weld(s)
and/or a
spot weld(s). By way of example and not limitation, welds may be placed on one
or more
sides of the closure. For example, one or more welds may be placed near the
front andior
back sides of the closure (e.g., a line weld near the front side and a line
weld near the back
side). As another example, one or more welds may be placed near the left
and/or right sides
of the closure. In some embodiments, two welds may be placed on one or more
sides. In
other embodiments, three welds may be placed on one or more sides. In further
embodiments, four welds may be placed on one or more sides. It will be
appreciated,
however, that any suitable number of welds of any suitable type may be used on
any
suitable number of sides.
[0061]
[0062] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in
the context
of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following
claims) are to be
construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise
indicated herein or
clearly contradicted by context. The teinis "comprising," "having,"
"including," and
"containing" are to be construed as open-ended temis (i.e., meaning
"including, but not
limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein
are merely
intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value
falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate
value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
All methods
described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise
indicated herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or
exemplary
language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better
illuminate the
invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless
otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating
any non-
claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
[0063] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein,
including the best
mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of
those preferred
embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon
reading the
foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such
variations as
CA 02601661 2007-09-13
appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced
otherwise than as
specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as
permitted by
applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in
all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated
herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
