Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SQUEEZABLE CLOSURES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to squeezable closures. The present disclosure
further
relates to container systems, closure systems, and methods that include such
closures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Squeezable closures, such a squeeze-and-turn closures, are generally known as
a method
of increasing the security of container systems. These closures often have an
inner skirt used to
connect the closure to a container and an outer skirt that can be squeezed to
enable the closure to
be removable from the container. As seen in FIG. 1, which shows a closure 800
of the prior art,
the inner skirt 810 and outer skirt 820 are typically concentric circles.
However, due to the
double skirt configuration, they tend to have a relatively large footprint.
This may be particularly
undesirable for use with certain containers that have one horizontal dimension
that is greater than
another; for example, a container may be wider (side-to-side) than it is deep
(front-to-back).
While such containers can allow for a greater shelf impression in a retail
environment, the
closures may be larger than necessary and may detrimentally impact how tightly
the containers
may be packed together and/or detract from the aesthetics of the container
system.
To reduce the footprint of such squeezable closures in at least one dimension
(such as in
the front-to-back dimension), some manufacturers have replaced the continuous
inner skirt with
separate hanging walls 830, 831 that are radially interior to the outer wall
820, as shown in FIG.
2, which shows another closure 801 of the prior art. The hanging walls 830,
831 can provide a
connection to the container, for example by screwing onto a neck of the
container, but challenges
remain due to the lack of a continuous inner skirt. Because the closure is
connected to the
container only at several smaller discrete points rather than a larger
continuous connection, the
closure may not stay tight to the bottle; for instance, the closure may be
relatively susceptible to
being pried off, resulting in accidental or unintentional opening.
Additionally, robust and/or
repeated squeezing of the closure may deform the closure so that the hanging
walls do not
connect as tightly to the container over time.
There is a need for improved squeezable closures that are secure while
providing a
reduced footprint.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to squeezable closures 400.
The present disclosure also relates to closures 400 that include: a top wall
410; an inner
skirt 470 depending from said top wall 410, said inner skirt 470 comprising
connecting features
.. configured to allow for selective connectable engagement with a container
200; an outer skirt 420
depending from said top wall 410 and located radially outward from said inner
skirt 470, said
outer skirt 420 comprising at least a first push pad 430 and at least a first
locking tab 480,
wherein pressing said first push pad 430 radially inward causes said first
locking tab 480 to move
from a first position to a second position; wherein said inner skirt 470 and
said outer skirt 420 are
connected at at least a first intersection point 472 that is circumferentially
spaced from said first
push pad 430.
The present disclosure also relates to container systems 100, closure systems
150, and
methods that include such closures 400.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The figures herein are illustrative in nature and are not intended to be
limiting.
FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of a closure of the prior art.
FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of a closure of the prior art.
FIG. 3 shows a closure according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 shows a side view of a closure according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 shows a front view of a closure according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 shows a top view of a closure according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 shows a bottom perspective view of a closure according to the present
disclosure.
FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of a closure according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 9 shows a cross-section view of the closure of FIG. 8 viewed at line A-A.
FIG. 10 shows a detail of FIG. 9.
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FIG. 11 shows a two-piece container system according to the present
disclosure.
FIG. 12 shows a top view of a container according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 13 shows a three-piece container system according to the present
disclosure.
FIG. 14 shows a unitized dose article according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 15 shows a two-piece closure system according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to a squeezable closure 400 that provides
desirable relative
dimensions while remaining robust and secure. In short, the closures 400 of
the present
disclosure include a continuous inner skirt 470 for connection to a container
200 and an outer
skirt 420 that includes at least one push pad that must be engaged to remove
the closure 400 from
a container 200. The inner skirt 470 and the outer skirt 420 intersect at at
least one intersection
point, preferably two intersection points 472, 473, this is circumferentially
spaced from the push
pad. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the continuous
inner skirt 470
provides a secure closure mechanism, while the intersection point provides
increased structural
support to the closure 400 and allows for a lesser dimension than fully
concentric (and non-
intersecting) skirts would provide.
The closures 400 and related container systems 100, closure systems 150, and
methods
are discussed in more detail below.
As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" when used in a claim, are understood
to mean
one or more of what is claimed or described. As used herein, the terms
"include," "includes,"
and "including" are meant to be non-limiting. The compositions of the present
disclosure can
comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of, the components of the present
disclosure.
The terms "substantially free of' or "substantially free from" may be used
herein. This
means that the indicated material is at the very minimum not deliberately
added to the
composition to form part of it, or, preferably, is not present at analytically
detectable levels. It is
meant to include compositions whereby the indicated material is present only
as an impurity in
one of the other materials deliberately included. The indicated material may
be present, if at all,
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at a level of less than 1%, or less than 0.1%, or less than 0.01%, or even 0%,
by weight of the
composition.
As used herein the phrase "fabric care composition" includes compositions and
formulations designed for treating fabric. Such compositions include but are
not limited to,
laundry cleaning compositions and detergents, fabric softening compositions,
fabric enhancing
compositions, fabric freshening compositions, laundry prewash, laundry
pretreat, laundry
additives, spray products, dry cleaning agent or composition, laundry rinse
additive, wash
additive, post-rinse fabric treatment, ironing aid, unit dose formulation,
delayed delivery
formulation, detergent contained on or in a porous substrate or nonwoven
sheet, and other
suitable forms that may be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the
teachings herein. Such
compositions may be used as a pre-laundering treatment, a post-laundering
treatment, or may be
added during the rinse or wash cycle of the laundering operation.
As used herein, "connectably engageable" means one component can be connected
or
attached to another. As used herein, it may also mean that the components may
be capable of
being selectively disconnected, unattached, or removed from each other. For
example, the
closures 400 described herein may be attachable to and detachable from the
container 200.
Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition levels are in reference
to the active
portion of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for
example, residual
solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available
sources of such
components or compositions.
All temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius ( C) unless otherwise
indicated. Unless
otherwise specified, all measurements herein are conducted at 20 C and under
the atmospheric
pressure.
In all embodiments of the present disclosure, all percentages are by weight of
the total
composition, unless specifically stated otherwise. All ratios are weight
ratios, unless specifically
stated otherwise.
It should be understood that every maximum numerical limitation given
throughout this
specification includes every lower numerical limitation, as if such lower
numerical limitations
were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given
throughout this
specification will include every higher numerical limitation, as if such
higher numerical
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limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given
throughout this
specification will include every narrower numerical range that falls within
such broader
numerical range, as if such narrower numerical ranges were all expressly
written herein.
Closure
5 The present disclosure relates to closures 400, particularly squeezable
closures. The
closures 400 of the present disclosure may include: a top wall 410; an inner
skirt 470 depending
from said top wall 410, said inner skirt 470 comprising connecting features
460 configured to
allow for selective connectable engagement with a container 200; an outer
skirt 420 depending
from said top wall 410 and located radially outward from said inner skirt 470,
said outer skirt 420
comprising at least a first push pad 430 and at least a first locking tab 480,
wherein pressing said
first push pad 430 radially inward causes said first locking tab 480 to move
from a first position
to a second position; wherein said inner skirt 470 and said outer skirt 420
are connected at at least
a first intersection point 472 that is circumferentially spaced from said
first push pad 430. These
elements are discussed in more detail below.
The squeezable closure 400 may be a squeeze-and-turn closure. As shown in FIG.
3, the
closure 400 may be configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis RA. The
closure 400 can be
rotated in a closing direction to a closed position. The closure 400 can be
rotated in an opening
direction that is counter to the closing direction to an open position. The
closure 400 may be
configured to be rotatably connectably engageable with a shroud 300 according
to the present
disclosure, where the closure 400 closes or seals the shroud opening 340 when
the closure 400 is
engaged with the shroud 300 in a closed position. The closure 400 may be
configured to be
rotatably connectably engageable with a container 200 according to the present
disclosure, where
the closure 400 closes or seals the container opening 222 when the closure 400
is engaged with
the container 200 in a closed position.
As shown, for example, in FIGS. 3-7, the closure 400 includes a top wall 410.
The top
wall 410 may have an outer surface 411 and an inner surface 412. The outer
surface 411 faces
away from the shroud 300 and/or the container body 250 when the closure 400 is
in a closed
position. The inner surface 412 faces the shroud 300 and/or container body 250
when the closure
400 is in a closed position.
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The closure 400 includes an outer skirt 420 depending downwardly from the top
wall 410
in a direction that is toward the shroud 300 and/or container body 200 when
the closure 400 is in
a closed position. The outer skirt 420 may depend downwardly from the top wall
410 at an outer
edge 413 of the top wall 410. The closure 400 may transition from the top wall
410 to the outer
.. skirt 420 at a shoulder 419.
The outer skirt 420 may terminate at a lower edge 422 that is distal from the
top wall 410.
At least a portion of the outer skirt 420 is flexible to allow for the push
pad(s) 430, 440 and
locking tab(s) 480, 490 to be flexed as described herein.
The outer skirt 420 includes at least a first push pad 430. The push pad 430
is capable of
being pressed radially inward, towards the rotation axis RA. The container
system 100 is
configured so that when the closure 400 is in a closed position, the closure
400 is prevented from
being rotated in an opening direction until at least the first push pad 430 is
pressed radially
inward.
As can be seen in FIGS. 3-5, the push pad 430, 440 may comprise a panel 432,
442. The
panel 432, 442 may be formed by at least one slot 434, 444 in the outer skirt
420, preferably two
slots 434, 435, 444, 445. The slots 434, 435, 444, 445 may be longitudinal
slots extending from
a lower edge of the outer skirt 420 toward the top wall 410. The slots 434,
435, 444, 445 may
extend a fraction of the outer skirt 420, or they may extend to or near to the
outer edge 413 of the
top wall 410. Slots 434, 435, 444, 445 may make the push pad 430, 440 easier
to depress, as
only a portion of the outer skirt 420 needs to be deformed in order to open
the closure 400. Such
a configuration may be particularly suitable for those with weak grip
strength, such as the
elderly.
The force required to flex the push pad 430, 440 may be adjusted by selecting
panel
and/or slot length, hinge placement, stiffening ribs, materials used,
intentional areas of weakness
(e.g., due to thinned areas, scoring, apertures, etc.), or other variables
evident to one of ordinary
skill. The pressing force required to disengage the locking tabs 480, 490 from
the locking lugs
350, 360 is typically from about 1 pound to about 5 pounds, or from about 1.5
pounds to about 3
pounds.
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The push pad 430, 440 may include irregularities 436, such as ribs, bumps,
and/or
dimples. Such irregularities 436 may provide friction and make the pad 430,
440 easier to grip
when pressing the push pads 430, 440 and/or turning the closure 400.
As shown in FIG. 5, the closure 400 may include a first push pad 430 and a
second push
pad 440. Each push pad 430, 440 may comprise a panel 432, 442 formed from
slots 434, 435,
444, 445. The container system 100 may be configured so that the closure 400
is prevented from
being rotated in an opening direction until the second push pad 440 is pressed
radially inward,
preferably at the same time as when the first push pad 430 is pressed radially
inward. Two or
more push pads 430, 440 may be preferred to increase the security of the
container system 100,
as a more complex action is required to open the closure 400.
The first and second push pads 430, 440 may be circumferentially spaced apart
by from
about 45 to about 180 , preferably from about 90 to about 180 , more
preferably about 180 .
The first and second push pads 430, 440 may be diametrically opposed.
When viewed from the top and/or bottom, the closure 400 may be asymmetrical.
Having
an asymmetrical lid (i.e., where one axis is greater than another) may be
useful for a number of
reasons. For example, when the closure 400 is not in a properly closed
position, the
misalignment of an asymmetric closure with the shroud 300 and/or container
body 250 can
provide a visual signal to alert the user or manufacturer. Additionally, an
asymmetric closure
may conform better to an asymmetric container body 250, for example one that
is wider than it is
deep, which may provide maximum shelf impression.
As shown in FIG. 5, when viewed from the top, the top wall 410 of the closure
400 may
include a major axis 415, measured from one side of the outer edge 413 of the
top wall 410 to the
opposite side along a major dimension. See also line X-Y of FIG. 3. The top
wall 410 of the
closure 400 may include a minor axis 416, measured from one side of the outer
edge 413 to an
opposite side. At least one or both of the axes 415, 416 may be selected and
configured to be
smaller than the span of the average adult human hand, so that the closure 400
can be operated
with one hand. The length of the major axis 415 may be greater than the length
of the minor axis
416. The major axis 415 may have a length of from about 70mm to 130mm, or from
about
80mm to about 120mm, or from about 90mm to about 110mm, or from about 95mm to
about
105mm, or about 100mm. The minor axis 416 may have a length of from about 50mm
to about
120mm, or from about 70mm to about 110mm, or from about 80mm to about 100mm,
or about
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90mm. The ratio of the major axis 415 to the minor axis 416 may be from about
2:1, or from
about 1.5:1, or from about 1.3:1, or from about 1.2:1, or from about 1.15:1,
to about 1:1.
The closure 400 may have an upper periphery 414 about the outer edge 413 of
the top
wall 410. The closure 400 may have a lower periphery 423 about the lower edge
422 of the outer
skirt 420, ignoring any gaps in the lower edge. The lower periphery 423 may
have a major axis
424 and a minor axis 425. The lower periphery 423 may be larger than the upper
periphery 414,
such as when the outer skirt 420 extends downwardly from the top wall 410 and
radially
outward. This configuration may be preferred to provide a more unitary look to
the container
system 100; for example, the slope of the outer skirt 420 could substantially
match the slope on a
part of the shroud 300 and/or container body 250. The outer skirt 420 may
extend axially
downwardly and not radially outward (i.e., substantially straight downwardly),
so that the lower
periphery 423 may be approximately the same size as the upper periphery 414.
The outer skirt
420 may even extend downwardly and radially inward, so that the lower
periphery 423 may be
smaller than the upper periphery 414. This configuration may be preferred to
increase the
security of the closure 400, as the pressing pads 430, 440 may be more
challenging to depress, or
to increase the grippability of the closure 400, as the top wall 410 may fit
more securely in the
palm of the user's hand as the user's fingers curl down the side.
The closure 400 may include indicia 450. The indicia 450 may be located on the
top wall
410, including the outer surface 411 of the top wall 410. The indicia 450 may
be molded
integrally with, printed on, and/or affixed (such as by label or sticker) to
the closure 400. The
indicia 450 may comprise text, a graphic, or a combination thereof. The
indicia 450 may
indicate: the origin of the container system 100 or closure system 150; the
manufacturer of the
container system 100 or closure system 150; an advertising, sponsorship, or
affiliation image; a
trademark or brand name; a safety indication; an instructional indication; a
product use or
function indication; a sporting image; a geographical indication; an industry
standard; preferred
orientation indication; an image linked to a perfume or fragrance; a charity
or charitable
indication; an indication of seasonal, national, regional or religious
celebration, in particular
spring, summer, autumn, winter, Christmas, New Years; or any combination
thereof. Further
examples include random patterns of any type including lines, circles,
squares, stars, moons, yin
yang symbols, flowers, animals, snowflakes, leaves, feathers, sea shells, and
Easter eggs, among
other possible designs. The indicia 450 may indicate a safety indication, an
instructional
indication, a trademark or brand name, or combinations thereof. The
instructional indication may
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indicate how to open the container system 100, for example with arrows
indicating the direction
to depress the moveable panels 432, 442 and/or arrows showing the direction of
rotation required
to open the container system 100. The shroud 300 and/or container body 250 may
comprise, for
example on the shoulder, any of the indicia 450 described above.
Because the closures 400 of the present disclosure may be used for container
systems 100
that require openings large enough to fit a human hand, the closures 400 may
be wider than they
are tall. This configuration can allow a user's fingers to span across the
relatively wide opening
while still being able to reach and operate the push pads 430, 440 of the
outer skirt 420.
As shown in FIG. 6, the closure 400 may have a height 452, measured from a
horizontal
plane extending from the lower edge 422 of the outer skirt 420 to a parallel
horizontal plane
extending from the top wall's outer surface 411. The closure height 452 may be
from about 5mm
to about 50mm, or from 7mm to about 30 mm, or from about 8mm to about 25mm, or
from about
lOmm to about 20mm. The ratio of closure height 452 to the major axis 415 of
the closure's top
wall 410 may be from about 10:1 to about 1:15, or from about 5:1 to about
1:12, or from about
1:1 to about 1:10, or from about 1:5 to about 1:10, or from about 1:8 to about
1:10. The height
452 of the closure 400 may be at least 50% less, preferably at least 75% less,
than the length of
the major axis of the closure's top wall 410. The ratio of closure height 452
to the major axis
415 of the closure's top wall 410 may be selected to fit the maximum
functional hand span of an
adult hand while still allowing fingers to depress the panels 432, 442.
As shown in FIG. 6, the outer skirt 420 may have an outer skirt length 426,
measured as
the distance from the lower edge of the skirt 422 to the outer edge 413 of the
top wall 410. The
skirt length 426 may be at least 50% less, preferably at least 75% less, than
the length of the
major axis 415 of the closure's top wall 410. If the outer skirt 420 is not
substantially orthogonal
to the top wall 410, the skirt length may be greater than the height of the
closure 400.
The closure 400 may have a span length 427. As used herein, "span length" 427
of the
closure 400 is measured from the middle of one push pad (W), to the outer edge
of the top wall
(X), across the top wall to the opposite outer edge (Y), to the middle of the
opposite push pad
(Z). In FIG. 6, the span length 427 is equivalent to total length of the line
that is drawn from
point W to point X to point Y to point Z (or "line W-X-Y-Z"). The span length
427 may be
selected to fit the maximum functional hand span (or pinch grip) of an average
adult human
hand. The span length 427 may be adjusted depending on the target population
of container
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system users; for example, females tend to have shorter hand spans than males.
The span length
427 may be from about 50mm, or from about 70mm, or from about 90mm, or from
about
105mm, to about 150mm, or to about 130mm, or to about 120mm, or to about 115mm
or to about
110mm.
5 As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the closure 400 includes an inner skirt 470
that depends
downwardly from the inner surface 412 of the top wall 410. The inner skirt 470
is positioned
radially inward to the outer skirt 420. The inner skirt 470 comprises an inner
surface 474 facing
radially inward and an outer surface 478 facing radially outward. The inner
surface 474 is
typically continuous circumferentially, for at least the part of the inner
skirt 470 that that
10 connects to the container 200. The inner skirt 470 may terminate in a
lower edge that is distal
from the top wall 410.
The inner skirt 470 intersects with the outer skirt 420 at one or more
intersection points
472, 473. The lower edge of the inner skirt 470 may intersect with the lower
edge of the outer
skirt 420 at the one or more intersection points 472, 473.
The outer skirt 420 and inner skirt 470 may intersect at a first intersection
point 472. The
first intersection point 472 may be circumferentially spaced from the first
push pad 430. The
first intersection point 472 may be circumferentially spaced by from about 45
to about 135 , or
from about 60 to about 120 , or about 90 , from the first push pad 430 and/or
the second push
pad 440.
The inner skirt 470 and the outer skirt 420 may be additionally connected at
at least a
second intersection point 473. The second intersection point 473 may be
circumferentially
spaced from the first push pad 430. The second intersection point 473 may be
circumferentially
spaced by from about 45 to about 135 , or from about 60 to about 120 , or
about 90 , from the
first push pad 430 and/or the second push pad 440.
The second intersection point 473 may be circumferentially spaced from the
first
intersection point 472. The first intersection point 472 may be diametrically
opposed to the
second intersection point 473.
The first intersection point 472 may be circumferentially spaced between first
and second
push pads 430, 440. The second intersection point 473 may be circumferentially
spaced between
first and second push pads 430, 440.
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The first intersection point 472 may be located along the minor axis 416 of
the top wall
410 of the closure 400. The first and second intersection points 472, 473 may
be located along
the minor axis 416 of the top wall 410 of the closure 400. This may be
particularly preferred
when the first push pad 430 is, or the first and second push pads 430, 440
are, located along the
major axis 415 of the top wall 410 of the closure 400.
At the intersection point(s), the inner skirt 470 and the outer skirt 420 may
merge and
appear as a single wall. The intersection points 472, 473 may be symmetrical.
The intersection points 472, 473 may be located adjacent an inner periphery
475 of the
inner skirt 470, wherein the inner surface 474 of the inner skirt 470 meets
the inner surface 412
of the top wall. The inner periphery 475 may be a circle. The intersection
point may not be a
single Euclidean point, but may instead trace a portion of the periphery 475
of the inner skirt 470.
One or more of the intersection points 472, 473, or each intersection point,
may independently
trace a portion of the inner periphery 475 of the inner skirt 470 that is at
least about 1%, or at
least about 3%, or at least about 5%, or at least about 10%, of the periphery
475 of the inner skirt
.. 470. One or more of the intersection points 472, 473, preferably each
intersection point, may be
an arc of the periphery 475. The arc may subtend an angle (0) of at least
about 1 , or at least
about 30, or at least about 50, or at least about 10 , or at least about 15 ,
or at least about 20 , or
at least about 30 , or at least about 40 , as measured from a center point of
the inner skirt 470,
typically on a rotational axis RA. It is believed that the larger the
intersection point, the more
.. stability will be provided.
One or more of the intersection points 472, 473, or each intersection point,
may trace a
portion of the periphery 475 of the inner skirt 470 that is no greater than
about 40%, or not great
than about 35%, or no greater than about 30%, or no greater than about 25%, or
no greater than
about 20%, or no greater than about 15% of the periphery of the inner skirt
470. One or more of
the intersection points 472, 473, preferably each intersection point, may be
an arc of the
periphery 475 of the inner skirt 470. The arc may subtend an angle (0) of no
more than about
90 , or no more than about 75 , or no more than about 60 , or no more than
about 50 , as
measured from a center point of the inner skirt 470, typically on a rotational
axis RA. It is
believed that if the intersection point is too large, then the push pads 430,
440 will be relatively
challenging to press. The angle may be from about 40 to about 45 , or about
42 .
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The closure 400 includes a connecting feature 460 capable of engaging with a
complimentary connecting feature 330 on the shroud 300 and/or container body
250. The
connecting feature 460 may include at least one thread 462, or at least two
threads. The
connecting feature 460 may include lugs that are received by receiving notches
when the closure
400 is rotated in a closing direction.
The inner skirt 470 may comprise the connecting feature 460, such as one or
more threads
462, typically on the inner surface 474 of the inner skirt 470. The connecting
feature 460 of the
closure 400 (e.g., threads) and the complimentary connecting feature 330 on
the shroud 300
and/or container body 250 may be configured to allow the closure 400 to be
removable from the
shroud 300 and/or container body 250 upon relatively rotating the closure 400
from the closed
position in an opening direction by not more than about 180 , preferably by
not more than about
135 , more preferably by not more than about 90 . This provides the effect of
the closure 400
being removeable after a half-turn, or even a quarter-turn, in the opening
direction. Such a
configuration can allow a user to open the container system 100 with one hand
without having to
release the closure 400 and reset the hand position for a second turn,
allowing for quick and
convenient access.
The connecting feature 460 on the closure 400 and the complimentary connecting
feature
330 on the shroud 300 and/or container body 250 may be configured so that when
the closure
400 is in the closed position, a radius 454 drawn through one or more
intersection points 472,
.. 473 of the closure 400 is substantially parallel to a minor dimension 206
of the container 200.
The connecting feature 460 and the complimentary connecting feature 330 on the
shroud 300
and/or container body 250 may be configured so that when the closure 400 is in
the closed
position, the intersection point is oriented towards the front or rear of the
container 200. When
there are at least two intersection points 472, 473, the first intersection
point 472 may be oriented
towards the front of the container 200 and the second intersection point 473
may be oriented
towards the rear of the container 200.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the closure 400 comprises at least a first locking
tab 480.
The outer skirt 420 may comprise the first locking tab 480. The first locking
tab 480 is
configured to engage a first locking lug 350 located on the shroud 300 or
container body 200
when the closure 400 is in the closed position to prevent rotation of the
closure 400 in the
opening direction. Pushing the first push pad 430 radially inward causes the
first locking tab 480
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to disengage with the first locking lug 350, and the closure 400 may then be
able to be rotated in
an opening direction while the first push pad 430 is being pressed.
The closure 400 may comprise more than one locking tab 480, 490. The number of
locking tabs 480, 490 may be equal to the number of push pads 430, 440.
The closure 400 may comprise a second locking tab 490. The outer skirt 420 may
comprise the second locking tab 490. The second locking tab 490 may be
configured to engage a
second locking lug 360 on the shroud 300 or container body 200 when the
closure is in the closed
position to prevent rotation of the closure 400 in the opening direction.
Pushing the second push
pad 440 radially inward may cause the second locking tab 490 to disengage with
the second
locking lug 360, and the closure 400 may then be able to be rotated in an
opening direction while
the second push pad 440 is being pressed, typically simultaneously as when the
first push pad
430 is being pressed.
As shown in the closures 400 of FIGS. 7 and 8, the locking tabs 480, 490 may
be in
substantially radial alignment with the push pads 430, 440. The locking tabs
480, 490 may be
located radially inward from the push pads 430, 440. When the push pad 430,
440 is pressed
radially inward, the locking tabs 480, 490 may flex radially inward. The
locking tabs 480, 490
may extend axially downwardly, away from the top wall 410. The locking tabs
480, 490 may be
molded integrally with the push pads 430, 440 and/or panels 432, 442, and/or
may be joined to
the pad or panel by a web of material 481. The locking tab 480, 490 may be
substantially
.. parallel to the push pad 430, 440 or panel 432, 442. The locking tab 480,
490 may be
approximately equal in width to the entire width of the panel 432, 442, for
example as measured
between the slots 434, 435, 444, 445. The width of the locking tab 480, 490
may be less than the
width of the panel 432, 442, for example approximately three-quarters or less,
or approximately
half or less, or approximately half.
The locking tab 432, 442 may have a tab leading face 482, 492 that leads when
the
closure 400 is rotated in a closing direction. The tab leading face 482, 492
may be rounded or
angled, which can help to facilitate the deflection of the locking tab 480,
490 upon rotation in a
closing direction as it encounters the locking lug 350, 360. The tab leading
face 482, 492 may be
the narrowest part of the locking tab 480, 490, which can also help to
facilitate the deflection of
the locking tab 480, 490 upon rotation in a closing direction as it encounters
the locking lug 350,
360. The tab leading face 482, 492 may be configured to deflect the locking
tab 480, 490
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radially outward or radially inward when the locking tab 480, 490 encounters
the locking lug
350, 360, which is typically stationary, upon closing.
The locking tab 480, 490 may have an inner surface 484, 494 that faces
radially inward.
The locking tab 480, 490 may have an outer surface 485, 495 that faces
radially outward. The
inner and/or outer surfaces 484, 494, 485, 495 may be flat, or one or both
surfaces may have a
slight curve, for example, to match the arc of a circumference of a circle at
the particular radius at
which the surface can be found.
The locking tab 480, 490 may have a tab locking face 486, 496 opposite the tab
leading
face 482, 492. The tab locking face 486, 496 may engage the locking lug 350,
360 when the
closure 400 is in a closed position to prevent rotation in the opening
direction. The tab locking
face 486, 496 may be relatively flat to maximize contact with the locking lug
350, 360. In the
radial direction, the tab locking face 486, 496 may be the widest part of the
locking tab 480, 490.
As shown in FIGS. 8, the closure 400 may have an outer gap 464, 465 between
the outer
surface 485, 495 of the locking tab 480, 490 and the outer skirt 420. The
closure 400 may have
an inner gap 466, 467 between the inner surface 484, 494 of the locking tab
480, 490 and the
inner skirt 470. One or more gaps 464, 465, 466, 467 may be sized to allow
passage of the
locking lugs 350, 360 when the closure 400 is rotated in an opening and/or
closing direction.
The closure 400 may be configured so that the locking lugs 350, 360 pass
through one of the
gaps (e.g., the inner gap 466, 467) when the closure 400 is rotated in the
closing direction, and
through the other gap (e.g., the outer gap 464, 465) when the closure 400 is
rotated in the opening
direction. This configuration can provide the advantage of balancing outward
deflection of the
panels 432, 442 upon closing with inward deflection of the panels 432, 442
upon opening,
thereby reducing deformation or loss of plasticity of the pressing pads 430,
440 that may result
from a single direction of flexion.
While it may be desirable for at least the push pads 430, 440 to be
depressible, such
flexibility may not be desired at other points of the closure 400, or even at
other points of the
outer skirt 420. Thus, the closure 400 may include support walls 428, which
may help to
increase rigidity at least at certain points of the closure 400. For example,
the support walls 428
may extend between the outer skirt 420 and the inner skirt. The support walls
428 may extend in
a substantially radial direction. The support walls 428 may be spaced apart
from the pressing
pads 430, 440.
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As seen in FIG. 8, the top wall 410 may have areas of differing thicknesses,
including an
area of increased thickness 417 and an area of decreased thickness 418.
Relatively thicker
portions 417 may provide increased structural support for the closure 400,
particularly in areas of
stress, such as along an axis between the push pads. Relatively thinner
portions 418 may provide
5 greater flexibility where flexing is desirable or even cost savings, as
less material is required.
The thicker portions 417 may be located along the major axis 415 of the top
wall 410,
substantially parallel to an axis connecting the press pads 430, 440, adjacent
a perimeter 475 of
the inner skirt 470, or a combination thereof.
FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of the closure 400 of FIG. 8, as viewed along
line A-A. The
10 closure 400 includes thick portions 417 and thin portions 418. FIG. 10
shows a detail of FIG. 9.
The thickness of the thick portion 417 is represented by M. M may be from
about 0.5mm, or
from about 0.75mm, or from about 1.0mm, or from about 1.25mm, or from about
1.45mm, and to
about 5mm, or to about 4mm, or to about 3mm, or to about 2mm, or to about
1.75mm, or to
about 1.55mm; M may be about 1.5mm. The thickness of the thin portion 418 is
represented by
15 N. N may be from about 0.5mm, or from about 0.75mm, or from about 1.0mm,
or from about
1.1mm, or from about 1.2mm, and to about 4mm, or to about 3mm, or to about
2mm, or to about
1.75mm, or to about 1.5mm, or to about 1.3mm. N may be about 1.25mm. M is
typically greater
than N. The thickness of the thick portion 417 of the top wall (M) may be at
least about 105%,
or at least about 110%, or at least about 120%, or at least about 125% greater
than the thickness
of the thin portion 418 of the top wall (N). The thickness of the top wall 410
at various points
can be determined with calipers of suitable precision.
The closure 400 may comprise a water-sealing structure. This is particularly
preferred
when it is anticipated that the contents of the container system 100 are water-
sensitive, e.g.,
articles that degrade or dissolve in the presence of water in liquid and/or
vapor form. The water-
sealing structure may be a plug seal, a gasket seal, or a combination thereof.
The container
system 100 may comprise a hygroscopic material, e.g., a dessicant.
When the closure 400 is in the closed position, the container system 100 may
have a
MVTR (moisture vapor transmission rate) measurement of less than about 2.0
grams per day per
square meter of package surface (g/day/m^2), or less than about 1.0 g/day/m^2,
or less than about
0.75g/day/m^2, or less than about 0.50g/day/m^2, or less than about
0.25g/day/m^2, at 35 C and
65% relative humidity. MVTR is determined according to ASTM D7709.
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The closure 400 may comprise one or more stacking features to facilitate the
stacking of
closure systems 150, or container systems 100 on top of one another. The
stacking feature may
be configured to be received by the closure 400, the closure systems 150, or
the container
systems 100 that are stacked on top of it. For example, the stacking feature
may be configured to
extend into the opening 340 of the shroud 300, to nest inside the inner skirt
470 of the closure
400, and/or to engage with the bottom wall 210 of the container body 200,
e.g., by encircling or
nesting within the bottom wall 210 when container body 200 is stacked on top
of the closure 400.
The one or more stacking features may be one or more ridges that project
axially away from the
outer surface of the top wall 410. The stacking features may be continuous or
intermittent. The
stacking features may be located at or near the outer edge of the top wall
410. The stacking
features may have a shape that is complimentary to the shape defined by the
top wall outer edge
413, or the stacking structures may have a different shape.
Even when the closure 400 is disengaged or detached from opening of the shroud
300 or
container body 200 so that the container system 100 is in an open position,
the closure 400 may
still be attached to the shroud 300 or container body 200. For example, the
closure 400 may be
attached to the shroud 300 or container body 200 by a hinge, or by a hinged
piece that allows
rotation of the closure 400. The closure 400 may be attached to the shroud 300
or container body
200 by a retaining structure, such as a strap, having a first end attached to
the shroud 300 or
container and a second end attached to the closure 400. Such features may be
useful to prevent
closure 400 becoming separated or lost from the rest of the container system
100.
Container Systems
The present disclosure relates to container systems 100. As shown in FIG. 11,
the
container systems 100 may be a two-piece container system 100 that comprises a
closure 400, as
described above, and a container 200. The container system 100 may be adapted
for containing
any suitable contents, described in more detail below. As used herein, the
terms "container" and
"container body" are substantially interchangeable when the container system
100 does not
include a shroud 300.
The container system 100 or any part thereof, may be formed utilizing any
suitable
materials. The container 200 may be molded from a suitable plastic material
such as
polyethylene terephthalate. Any suitable polyolefins and/or polyesters may be
used. The
closure 400 and/or the shroud 300 or portions thereof may be formed partially
or wholly of a
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moldable thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene,
polystyrene, acrylonitryl
butadiene styrene (ABS), polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or
elastomer, or a blend of
these materials. The closure 400 and shroud 300 may comprise polypropylene.
The container 200 may be formed of a clear, transparent, or semi-transparent
material,
while the closure 400 is formed of a substantially opaque material. The
closure 400 may be
translucent. The entire container system 100 (i.e, closure 400, shroud 300 if
present, and
container body 250) may be formed of substantially opaque materials. The
closure 400 and/or
shroud 300, when formed of a substantially opaque material, can mask some of
the empty
volume at the top of the container body 250 when the container body 250 is
formed of a clear
material.
The materials used to form the container system 100 may have one or more
colors. The
container body 250, the closure 400, and the shroud 300 (if present) may all
of the same color
(e.g., all orange or all green). The container body 250 may be a different
color than the closure
400 and/or the shroud 300 (if present) (e.g., white container body and blue
closure/shroud; or
orange tub and silver closure/shroud). The colors may be selected to
communicate the origin of
the product (e.g., colors associated with the brand or manufacturer), the
variant of the product
(e.g., floral colors signaling particular perfume scents, or colors associated
with a particular
benefit or aspect of the contents, such as being free of dyes), or other
signals as desired (e.g.,
seasonal or holiday colors).
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the container 200 may comprise walls that define
an
interior volume 202. The container 200 may include a bottom wall 210, a front
wall 211, a rear
wall 212, and two side walls 213, 214. The front wall 211 and rear wall 212
may be relative flat,
and the two side walls 213, 214 may be relatively curved, providing a
relatively rounded
appearance when viewed from the front. The curved side walls 213, 214 may
include a flat
portion 215, which can be useful to minimize wear-and-tear when two container
bodies are
touching during transport, storage, and/or display. The container 200 may also
include an upper
wall 216.
As shown in FIG. 12, the container 200 may have a major horizontal dimension
204,
extending from one wall to an opposite wall in the horizontal plane when
standing upright. The
container 200 may have a minor horizontal dimension 206, extending from one
wall to an
opposite wall in the horizontal plane when standing upright. The major
dimension 204 is
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typically greater than the minor dimension 206. In the container 200 shown in
FIG. 12, the major
horizontal dimension 204 is from one side wall 213 to the other side wall 214,
specifically as
measured at the flat portions 215. In the same container 200, the minor
horizontal dimension 206
is from the front wall 211 to the rear wall 212. Typically, when a container
200 is displayed in a
.. retail environment, it is desirable to present the container 200 in such a
way so that the consumer
is most likely to view a wall that is parallel with the major dimension (here,
the front wall 211, or
less preferably the rear wall 212), as it tends to provide the most space for
communication and/or
artwork.
The internal volume 202 may have a volume of at least about 0.5L, or at least
about 1L,
or at least about 2L, or at least about 3L, or at least about 4L, or at least
about 5L, or at least
about 6L. The internal volume may have a volume no more than about 100L, or no
more than
about 50L, or no more than about 10L, or no more than about 8L, or no more
than about 6L, or
no more than about 5L, or no more than about 4 L, or no more than about 2L, or
no more than
about 1L.
The interior volume 202 may comprise a composition 500. The composition 500
may be
in the form of articles 510. The articles 510 may be sized to fit in an adult
human hand. The
articles 510 may comprise a water-soluble film 520 that encapsulates the
composition in at least
one compartment 530, preferably wherein said composition is a household care
composition.
Compositions 500 are described in more detail below.
The container 200 may include a rim 220 at an upper portion of the container
200. The
rim 220 may define a container opening 222. The container opening 222 allows
access the
interior volume 202.
The container 200 may include a container neck 230 that projects axially
upwardly and
away from the interior volume 202. The container neck 230 may project upwardly
from an upper
wall 216 of the container 200. The container neck 230 may terminate with the
rim 220.
The container neck 230 may include a complimentary connecting feature 330,
such as
threads 332 or thread grooves, that can mate with a connecting feature of the
closure 400. The
inner skirt 470 of the closure 400 may comprise at least one thread 462 that
connectably engages
with a neck 230 of the container 200.
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The container 200 may include handle portions 217, 218. The handle portions
217, 218
may be molded as part of the walls. Such handle portions 217, 218 are useful
for picking up the
container 200 or holding it with one hand while the other hand is used to
rotate the closure 400.
The container 200 may include two handle portions 217, 218.
The container 200 may comprise at least a first locking lug 350 configured to
engage the
first locking tab 480 of the closure 400 when the closure 400 is engaged with
the container 200 in
a closed position. Typically, the engagement of the first locking lug 350 and
the first locking tab
480 prevents the closure 400 from being rotated in an opening direction until
the first push pad
430 is pressed radially inward.
The container 200 may comprise a second locking lug 360 configured to engage a
second
locking tab 490 of the closure 400 when the closure 400 is in the closed
position. Typically, the
engagement of the second locking lug 360 and the second locking tab 490
prevents the closure
400 from being rotated in an opening direction until the second push pad 440
is pressed radially
inward, preferably at the same time as when the first push pad 430 is pressed.
The locking lugs 350, 360 may be located on or adjacent a radius that is
substantially
parallel to the major dimension of the container 200.
As shown in FIG. 13, the container system 100 may be a three-piece container
system
100 that comprises a closure 400 and a container 200, where the container 200
comprises a
shroud 300 and a container body 250. The shroud 300 may be connectably
engageable with the
container body 250. The closure 400 may be connectably engageable with the
shroud 300.
The shroud 300 may have a neck 310 extending axially from a shoulder 320 of
the shroud
300. The neck 310 may terminate in a rim 314. The rim may define a shroud
opening 340. The
shroud opening 340 may be larger than an opening 256 on the container body
250.
The shroud 300 may comprise at least the first locking lug 350 configured to
engage the
first locking tab 480 of the closure 400 when said closure 400 is engaged with
the shroud 300 in
a closed position, where the engagement of said first locking lug and said
first locking tab 480
prevents said closure 400 from being rotated in an opening direction until
said first push pad 430
is pressed radially inward. The shroud 300 may comprise the second locking lug
360. The
locking lugs 350, 360 may be on a shoulder 320 of the shroud 300, which may be
adjacent the
opening 340.
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The container body 250 may have a rim 254 that defines an opening 256 that
provides
access to the interior volume 202. The container body 250 may include a neck
252. The neck
252 may include a shroud-connecting feature 232, such as threads, thread
grooves, or a rib 233,
that can mate with the shroud 300 to attach the shroud 300 to the container
body 250.
5 Compositions
The container systems 100 of the present disclosure may contain any suitable
material or
composition 500. Typical materials and compositions include, but are not
limited to, fabric care
treatments, hard surface cleaners, soaps, shampoos, conditioning agents,
pesticides, paint,
solvents, industrial chemicals, industrial hardware (e.g., nails, screws,
etc.), medicines, pills,
10 food, and the like. The material may be water-sensitive material,
meaning that the material has a
tendency to dissolve or degrade when exposed to liquid water or water vapor.
Non-limiting examples of useful compositions include light duty and heavy duty
liquid
detergent compositions, hard surface cleaning compositions, detergent gels
commonly used for
laundry, bleach and laundry additives, shampoos, body washes, and other
personal care
15 compositions. Compositions may take the form of a liquid, gel, solid, or
mixtures thereof. Liquid
compositions may comprise a solid. Solids may include powder or agglomerates,
such as micro-
capsules, beads, noodles or one or more pearlized balls or mixtures thereof.
Such a solid element
may provide a technical benefit, through the wash or as a pre-treat, delayed
or sequential release
component; additionally or alternatively, it may provide an aesthetic effect.
20 In some aspects, the compositions may comprise one or more of the
following non-
limiting list of ingredients: opacifier; antioxidant; fabric care benefit
agent; detersive enzyme;
deposition aid; rheology modifier; builder; bleaching agent; bleach precursor;
bleach catalyst;
chelant; perfume; whitening agent; pearlescent agent; enzyme stabilizing
systems; scavenging
agents including fixing agents for anionic dyes, complexing agents for anionic
surfactants, and
mixtures thereof; optical brighteners or fluorescers; soil release polymers;
dispersants; suds
suppressors; dyes; colorants; hydrotropes such as toluenesulfonates,
cumenesulfonates and
naphthalenesulfonates; color speckles; colored beads, spheres or extrudates;
clay softening
agents. Additionally or alternatively, the compositions may comprise
surfactants and/or solvent
systems.
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The composition may be a flowable composition, such as a free-flowing granular
or
powder composition. In such cases, the container system 100 may further
comprise a scoop
adapted to fit into the container system 100 and to scoop the flowable
composition.
The container systems 100 described herein are particularly useful for
containing
compositions in the form of an article 510. The article 510 may be suitable to
be grasped by an
adult human hand. Such articles 510 may have an article width 512 of from
about lOmm to
about 100mm, or from about 20mm to about 70mm, or from about 35mm to about
55mm, or
from about 40mm to about 50mm. If the article 510 is rectangular in shape, the
article width 512
is measured as the greatest distance between two parallel sides. When an
article has a variable
width, the article width is the average of such widths. The article width 512
may be from about
5% to about 90% of the length of the major axis of the container opening 222.
Such articles may
have a height, of from about lOmm to about 100mm, or from about 15mm to about
70mm, or
from about 20mm to about 50mm, or from about 25mm to about 35mm. When an
article 510 has
a variable height, the article height is measured at the maximum height of the
article.
Typically, the container systems 100 described herein are useful for
containing articles
510 of unitized doses of a composition (e.g., in counts of 50, 66, 77, etc.),
typically of a cleaning
composition, more typically of a laundry detergent or hard surface treatment
composition. FIG.
14 shows an example of a unitized dose article 510. The unitized dose article
may be a pouch.
The pouch may be formed from a water-soluble film 520, such as a polyvinyl
alcohol film,
including those available from MonoSol, LLC. The film 520 may encapsulate the
composition
500 in a compartment 530. The pouch may comprise a single compartment, or it
or may
comprise multiple compartments 530, 532, 534. The pouch may contain various
compositions,
which may be of varying colors that may be seen from outside of the pouch. A
multi-
compartment pouch may contain the same or different compositions in each
separate
compartment. The compartments may be side-by-side or superposed, for example
one or two
smaller compartments 532, 534 superposed on one larger compartment 530. This
multi-
compartment feature may be utilized to keep compositions containing
incompatible ingredients
(e.g., bleach and enzymes) physically separated or partitioned from each
other. It is believed that
such partitioning may expand the useful life and/or decrease physical
instability of such
ingredients.
The compositions 500 of the unitized dose articles 510 typically have low
levels of water.
In some aspects, the compositions comprise less than about 50%, or less than
about 30%, or less
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than abou 20%, or less than about 15%, or less than about 12%, or less than
about 10%, or less
than about 8%, or less than 5%, or less than 2% water by weight of the
composition. In some
aspects, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 20%, or from about
1% to about
12%, or from about 5% to about 10% water by weight of the composition.
Closure Systems
The present disclosure relates to closure systems 150. The closure systems 150
may
include a shroud 300 and a squeezable closure 400 as described herein. The
closure systems 150
are configured to be connectably engageable with a container body 250, or even
a variety of
container bodies. FIG. 15 shows a closure system 150 according to the present
disclosure.
The closure system 150 may include a shroud 300 as described herein. The
shroud 300
may be configured to be connectably engageable with a container body 250. The
shroud 300
may be configured to be connectably engageable with at least two different
container bodies,
each container body 250 having a different interior volume 202. The shroud 300
may comprise a
shroud opening 340. The shroud opening 340 may be sized to be capable of
receiving an adult
human hand. The shroud 300 may include at least a first locking lug 350. The
shroud 300 may
include a second locking lug 360. The locking lugs 350, 360 may be on opposite
sides of the
shroud opening 340. The locking lugs 350, 360 may be located on a shoulder 320
of the shroud
300, which may be adjacent a neck of the shroud 300. Further details on
suitable shrouds 300 are
provided above.
The closure system 150 may also include a closure 400. Closures 400 suitable
for use in
the present closure systems 150 are shown in FIGS. 3-10 and described in
detail above. What
follows is a brief summary, but is not intended to be limiting.
The closure 400 may be configured to be rotatably connectably engageable with
the
shroud 300 to close the shroud opening 340 when the closure 400 is engaged
with the shroud 300
in a closed position. The closure 400 may include a top wall 410 and an outer
skirt 420
depending downwardly from the top wall 410 toward the shroud 300 when the
closure 400 is in
the closed position.
The outer skirt 420 may include a first push pad 430. When the closure 400 is
in the
closed position, the closure 400 is prevented from being rotated in an opening
direction until the
first push pad 430 is pressed radially inward. The outer skirt 420 may further
comprise a second
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push pad 440 (not shown in FIG. 15), which may be circumferentially spaced
from the first push
pad 430.
The closure 400 may further include an inner skirt 470 (not shown in FIG. 15)
depending
from the top wall 410. The inner skirt 470 may comprise connecting features
configured to allow
for selective connectable engagement with a container. Suitable connecting
features include
threads.
As described above, the inner skirt 470 and the outer skirt 420 may be
connected at at
least a first intersection point 472. The first intersection point 472 may be
circumferentially
spaced from the first push pad 430. The inner and outer skirts 470, 420 may
further intersect at a
.. second intersection point 473. The second intersection point 473 may be
circumferentially
spaced from said first push pad 430, and even from a second push pad 440. The
first and second
intersection points 472, 473 may be diametrically opposed.
The closure 400 may comprise a first locking tab 480 that engages the first
locking lug
350 when the closure 400 is in the closed position to prevent rotation of the
closure 400 in the
opening direction, and where pressing the first push pad 430 radially inward
causes the first
locking tab 480 to disengage with the first locking lug 350.
Methods Relating to Closures
The present disclosure relates to methods of closing a container with a
closure 400. The
method may comprise the step of providing a container 200, which may
optionally include a
contents such as a composition 500 in an interior volume 202, and providing a
closure 400 as
described herein to the container 200 in a closed position. The closure 400
may be rotated in a
closing direction in order to be positioned in the closed position. The closed
position may be
configured so that at least one of the intersection points 472, 473 is
oriented with a minor
dimension 206 of the container (e.g., from front to back). The method may
further include filling
.. the interior volume 202 of the container 200 with contents such as a
composition 500.
The present disclosure also relates to opening a container system 100. The
method may
include the steps of providing a closed container system 100, where the
container system 100
comprises a container 200, optionally with contents in an interior volume 202,
and a closure 400,
as described herein, in a closed position on the container 200. The method
further comprises
pressing on one push pad 430, or even two push pads 430, 440, located on an
outer skirt 420 of
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the closure 400 to depress them radially inward, thereby disengaging locking
tabs 480, 490 on
the closure 400 from locking lugs 350, 360 located on the container. While the
locking tabs 480,
490 are disengaged from the locking lugs 350, 360, the closure 400 may be
removed from the
container, for example by rotating the closure 400 in an opening direction.
More details on container systems 100, containers 200, container bodies 250,
shrouds
300, closures 400, and compositions 500, such as unit dose articles 510,
suitable for the methods
described herein are provided above.
COMBINATIONS
Specifically contemplated combinations of the disclosure are herein described
in the
following lettered paragraphs. These combinations are intended to be
illustrative in nature and
are not intended to be limiting.
A. A closure 400 comprising: a top wall 410, an inner skirt 470 depending from
said top
wall 410, said inner skirt 470 comprising connecting features configured to
allow for selective
connectable engagement with a container; an outer skirt 420 depending from
said top wall 410
and located radially outward from said inner skirt 470, said outer skirt 420
comprising at least a
first push pad 430 and at least a first locking tab 480, wherein pressing said
first push pad 430
radially inward causes said first locking tab 480 to move from a first
position to a second
position; wherein said inner skirt 470 and said outer skirt 420 are connected
at at least a first
intersection point that is circumferentially spaced from said first push pad
430.
B. A closure 400 according to paragraph A, wherein said outer skirt 420
further
comprises a second push pad 440.
C. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-B, wherein said first push
pad 430 is
circumferentially spaced about 45 to about 180 , preferably from about 90 to
about 180 , more
preferably about 180 apart from said second push pad 440.
D. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-C, wherein said outer skirt
420 further
comprises a second locking tab 490.
E. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-D, wherein said first locking
tab 480 is
substantially in radial alignment with said first push pad 430, and wherein
said second locking
tab 490 is substantially in radial alignment with said second push pad 440.
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F. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-E, wherein said outer skirt
420 further
comprises a second locking tab 490.
G. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-F, wherein said inner skirt
470 and
said outer skirt 420 are additionally connected at at least a second
intersection point 473 that is
5 .. circumferentially spaced from said first push pad 430 and said first
intersection point 472.
H. A closure 400 according to paragraph G, wherein said first intersection
point 472 is
diametrically opposed to said second intersection point 473.
I. A closure 400 according to any of paragraphs G-H, wherein said outer skirt
420
comprises a second push pad 440, wherein said first intersection point 472 is
circumferentially
10 spaced between said first and second push pads 430, 440, and wherein
said second intersection
point 473 is circumferentially spaced between said first and second push pads
430, 440.
J. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-I, wherein said first locking
tab 480 is
substantially in radial alignment with said first push pad 430.
K. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-J, wherein said first
intersection point
15 .. 472 is circumferentially spaced from about 45 to about 135 , preferably
about 90 , from said
first push pad 430.
L. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-K, wherein said first push
pad 430
comprises a panel formed by at least one slot 434 in said skirt, preferably
two slots 434, 435.
M. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph L, wherein said slot 434, 435
is a
20 .. longitudinal slot extending from a lower edge 422 of said skirt 420
toward said top wall 410.
N. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-M, wherein said top wall 410
has a
major axis 415 of a first length and a minor axis 416 of a second length,
therein said first length
is greater than said second length.
0. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-N, wherein said first push
pad 430 is,
25 .. preferably said first and second push pads are, located along the major
axis 415.
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P. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-0, wherein said first
intersection point
472 is, preferably said first and second intersection points 472, 473 are,
located along the minor
axis 416.
Q. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-P, wherein the major axis 415
of the
top wall 410 has a length of from about 70mm to 130mm, or from about 80mm to
about 120mm,
or from about 90mm to about 110mm, or from about 95mm to about 105mm, or about
100mm.
R. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-Q, wherein the top wall 410
has an
area of increased thickness 417 compared to a region 418 of the top wall 410
away from the area
417.
S. A closure 400 according to any of paragraph A-R, wherein the area of
increased
thickness 417 is located along a major dimension 415 of said top wall 410,
along an axis
connecting the press pads, adjacent a perimeter of said inner skirt 470, or
combinations thereof.
T. A container system 100 comprising: a container 200, and a closure 400
according to
any of paragraphs A-S that is connectably engageable with said container 200.
U. A container system 100 according to paragraph T, wherein said container 200
comprises at least a first locking lug 350 configured to engage said first
locking tab 480 of said
closure 400 when said closure 400 is engaged with said container 200 in a
closed position,
wherein said engagement of said first locking lug 350and said first locking
tab 480 prevents said
closure 400 from being rotated in an opening direction until said first push
pad 430 is pressed
radially inward.
V. A container system 100 according to any of paragraphs T-U, wherein said
container
200 comprises a second locking lug 360 configured to engage a second locking
tab 490 of said
closure 400 when said closure 400 is in said closed position, wherein said
engagement of said
second locking lug 360 and said second locking tab 490 prevents said closure
400 from being
rotated in an opening direction until said second push pad 440 is pressed
radially inward,
preferably at the same time as when the first push pad 430 is pressed.
W. A container system 100 according to any of paragraphs T-V, wherein said
container
200 comprises a container body 250 and a shroud 300 connectably engageable
with said
container body 250, and said closure 400 is connectably engageable with said
shroud 300.
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X. A container system 100 according to paragraph W, wherein said shroud 300
comprises at least a first locking lug 350 configured to engage said first
locking tab 480 of said
closure 400 when said closure 400 is engaged with said shroud 300 in a closed
position, wherein
said engagement of said first locking lug 350 and said first locking tab 480
prevents said closure
400 from being rotated in an opening direction until said first push pad 430
is pressed radially
inward.
Y. A container system 100 according to any of paragraphs T-X, wherein said
inner skirt
470 of said closure 400 comprises at least one thread 462 that connectably
engages with a
threaded neck 230 of the container 200.
Z. A container system 100 according to any of paragraphs T-Y, wherein said
container
200 comprises an interior volume 202 that comprises a composition 500,
preferably a
composition in the form of articles 510, more preferably articles sized to fit
in an adult human
hand.
AA. A container system 100 according to paragraph Z, wherein said composition
500 is
in the form of articles 510, wherein said articles comprise a water-soluble
film 520 that
encapsulates said composition 500 in at least one compartment 530, preferably
wherein said
composition is a household care composition.
BB. A closure according to any of paragraphs A-AA, wherein the closure is
characterized by at least one of the following:
a) the major axis 415 of the top wall 410 has a length of from about 70mm to
130mm, or from about 80mm to about 120mm, or from about 90mm to about 110mm,
or
from about 95mm to about 105mm, or about 100mm;
b) the minor axis 416 of the top wall 410 has a length of from about 50mm to
about 120mm, or from about 70mm to about 110mm, or from about 80mm to about
100mm, or about 90mm.
c) the ratio of the major axis 415 to the minor axis 416 of the top wall 410
is from
about 2:1, or from about 1.5:1, or from about 1.3:1, or from about 1.2:1, or
from about
1.15:1, to about 1:1;
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d) the height 452 of the closure is from about 5mm to about 50mm, or from 7mm
to about 30 mm, or from about 8mm to about 25mm, or from about lOmm to about
20mm;
e) the ratio of closure height 452 to the major axis 415 of the closure's top
wall
410 is from about 10:1 to about 1:15, or from about 5:1 to about 1:12, or from
about 1:1
to about 1:10, or from about 1:5 to about 1:10, or from about 1:8 to about
1:10;
f) the span length 427 is from about 50mm, or from about 70mm, or from about
90mm, or from about 105mm, to about 150mm, or to about 130mm, or to about
120mm,
or to about 115mm or to about 110mm; or
g) any combination of a) - f).
EXAMPLES
Example 1. A three-piece container system is provided with a closure with two
push pads, a
shroud, and a container body with molded handles. The top wall of the closure
has a major axis
of length of about 10cm and a minor axis of a length of about 9cm. The height
of the closure is
about lcm. The span length of the closure is from about 11cm. The shroud has a
circular shroud
opening having a diameter / major axis length of about 9cm. The opening of the
container body
has a major axis of length about 12cm and a minor axis of length of about 9cm.
The container
body has a major dimension of about 21cm and a minor dimension of about 11cm.
The
container system includes unitized dose articles containing laundry detergent,
such as those sold
under the trade name of TIDE PODS (available from The Procter & Gamble
Company).
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being
strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such
dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range
surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is
intended to mean "about
40 mm."
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent
or application
and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority
or benefit thereof, is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly
excluded or otherwise
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limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art
with respect to any
invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination
with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention.
Further, to the extent
that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any
meaning or definition
of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or
definition assigned to
that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and described,
it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and
modifications can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is
therefore intended to cover
in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the
scope of this
invention.
