CLOSURE INTERLOCKING MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS ACCIDENTAL INITIAL OPENING OF A CONTAINER
First Claim
1. ) A closure for a liquid container comprising at least one temporary interlocking mechanism not visible during the closed state of the container:
- a) wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism, has a two part fastener that engages a moveable part of the closure with a fixed part of the closure, and(b) wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism includes at least one element that breaks or irreversibly deforms during the initial opening of the container wherein the breaking or the deformation requiring a force with a magnitude higher than a threshold force, and(c) further wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism is positioned in a location different from the location of an orifice of the closure or from a path that a liquid content of the container follows during dispensing,(d) and further wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism, after breaking or irreversibly deforming during the initial opening of the container, does not interfere with the opening and closing of the container during its subsequent use, and(e) wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 1.25.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a container closure that prevents accidental initial opening of a container. The closure mechanism includes at least one temporary interlocking mechanism having a two part fastener that engages the moveable part of the closure with the fixed part of the closure. The temporary interlocking mechanism is invisible when the container is closed. It is positioned in a location different from the location of the orifice of the closure or from the path that the liquid follows during dispensing. This temporary interlocking mechanism includes at least one element that breaks or irreversibly deforms during the initial opening of the container. The additional force required to break or to irreversibly deform the breakable or irreversibly deformable element of the temporary interlocking mechanism during the first opening mitigates the risk of accidental opening during manufacturing, shipment or storage of the goods. Once broken or irreversibly deformed during the first opening, the interlocking mechanism does not interfere with the subsequent opening and closing cycles of the container by the consumer.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. ) A closure for a liquid container comprising at least one temporary interlocking mechanism not visible during the closed state of the container:
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a) wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism, has a two part fastener that engages a moveable part of the closure with a fixed part of the closure, and (b) wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism includes at least one element that breaks or irreversibly deforms during the initial opening of the container wherein the breaking or the deformation requiring a force with a magnitude higher than a threshold force, and (c) further wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism is positioned in a location different from the location of an orifice of the closure or from a path that a liquid content of the container follows during dispensing, (d) and further wherein the temporary interlocking mechanism, after breaking or irreversibly deforming during the initial opening of the container, does not interfere with the opening and closing of the container during its subsequent use, and (e) wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 1.25. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification