CLOSURE INTERLOCKING MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS ACCIDENTAL INITIAL OPENING OF A CONTAINER

• US 20180127179A1
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Port, Markus, Ulas, Ibrahim, Dubreuil, Marion Michele Marie-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 10,759,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1025 Integral locking elements penetrating in an opening, e.g. a flap through a slit, a hook in an opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/08 having articulated or hinged closures B65D55/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0885 one part of the hinge being integral with the hinged closure and the other part with the base element, without any other additional hinge element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/024 Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents B65D41/32, B65D43/0235, B65D55/022, B65D55/06 take precedence

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.

Claims

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.

2. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 1.5.

3. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 2.

4. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 3.

5. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 4.

6. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the threshold force value to the required force to open the closure after the initial opening is larger than 5.

7. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the threshold force required to open the closure for the first time is from about 12 N to about 50 N.

8. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the threshold force required to open the closure for the first time is from about 18 N to about 40 N.

9. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the threshold force required to open the closure for the first time is from about 20 N to about 35 N.

10. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure is a disk top closure.

11. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure is a flip top closure.

12. ) A closure according to claim 11, wherein the flip top closure is of the pin and hole type.

13. ) A closure according to claim 12, wherein the two part fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

14. ) A closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure comprises two temporary interlocking mechanisms both of which contain a hook and loop fastener.