U.S. patent application number 10/474247 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-08 for closure for closing containers.
Invention is credited to Rossi, Roberto Amarante.
Application Number | 20040129666 10/474247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3947108 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040129666 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rossi, Roberto Amarante |
July 8, 2004 |
Closure for closing containers
Abstract
The present invention relates to a closure for closing
containers, comprising a main plane (4) from the perimeter of which
a side wall (5) projects, the main plane (4) defining a first inner
surface (6) of the closure (1), the closure (1) comprising an
interactive decorative element (3) associated with the first inner
surface (6) of the closure (1).
Inventors: |
Rossi, Roberto Amarante;
(Santana do Parnaiba, BR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Family ID: |
3947108 |
Appl. No.: |
10/474247 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 16, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/BR02/00053 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/230 ;
40/311 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 19/14 20130101;
B65D 51/245 20130101; B65D 53/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/230 ;
040/311 |
International
Class: |
B65D 051/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2001 |
BR |
PI0101511-7 |
Claims
1. A closure for closing containers, having a main plane (4) from
the perimeter of which a side wall projects, the main plate (4)
defining a first inner surface (6) and an interactive decorative
element (3), the closure (1) being characterized in that it
comprises a removable sealing element (2) on the first inner
surface (6) of the closure (1), the interactive decorative element
(3) being positioned between the first surface (8) and the sealing
element (2).
2. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sealing element (2) is a flexible material removable film.
3. A closure according to claim 2, characterized in that the
sealing element (2) is substantially transparent.
4. A closure according to claim 2, characterized in that the
sealing element (2) is substantially opaque.
5. A closure according to claim 2, characterized in that the
sealing element (2) is substantially translucent.
6. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the
interactive decorative element (3) is a reticular lens.
7. A closure according to claim 6, characterized in that the
reticular lens (3) contains images or motifs that vary depending
upon the angle of view of the consumer.
8. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that it
comprises at least one protuberant element (8) for fixation of the
sealing element (2), located on the first inner surface (6) of the
closure (1).
9. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the first
inner surface (6) of the closure (1) comprises a recess (9) for
association of the reticular lens (3).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates of a closure provided with an
internal reticular lens, especially for use on containers for
holding liquid food products for human consumption. This
application is equivalent of Brazilian patent case No. PI0101511-7
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Conventionally, closures for use on liquid-product holding
containers, preferably such as beverages for human consumption,
comprise a closure and a pellicle or flexible plastic film, which
conforms to the container neck, sealing it and preventing the
product from leaking, as well as maintaining the gas inside the
container, in the case of gasified beverages such as soft drinks,
for example.
[0003] However, with a view to leverage sales of their products,
manufactures have developed various gift-giving systems, based on
the surprise effect, by providing the closure of a determined
product with internal sayings such as "You found it, you won
it".
[0004] However, in spite of containing gift-giving provisions
inside them, such closures continued with a conventional external
appearance.
[0005] Considering that the external appearance of a closure for
liquid-product packing containers would be the best lure for
selling a product, one proposed the closure described in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,065,623 of May 23, 2000, which is a conventional closure, the
only difference of which is the insertion of a reticular lens into
its main end, this lens presenting an image that changes shape or
gains movement as the angle of incidence of light onto ft surface
varies. The lenses have various configurations, each of them with
an different image or visual motif. However, although this
configuration really makes the appearance of the closure more
attractive, this reticular lens has not achieved the objectives of
leveraging the sales of the product, since the consumer could buy
the container provided with the closure which he liked or desired
most. In this way, it became very easy to complete a collection of
different closures by just looking for the product that would
present the desired closure at the places of sale, since there was
not surprise effect provided with by the reticular lens.
[0006] Another relevant prior art is the U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,686,
which discloses a closure or cap of a holding container comprising
a multi-image prize-award member. However, the closure does not
have any kind of sealing element protecting the member, thus having
some drawbacks.
[0007] A first drawback is that the multi-image prize-award member
keeps in contact with be liquid product, which may damage it. This
is particularly undesired in case the beverage is acid, as a soda
or soft drink, which also liberate gases. The absence of the
sealing element also increases be possibility of damage of the
prize award member if the container is exposed to temperature
variations or incorrect manipulations (i.e. falls, violent
shakings, etc.), which are, unfortunately, usual occurrences.
[0008] A second drawback is that the absence of a sealing element
reduces the efficiency of the closure to seal the holding container
in order to prevent liquid and/or gas escape, particularly after a
partial consumption of the liquid, which are also usual.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The objective of the present is to provide a closure for use
on liquid-product holding containers, preferably beverages for
human consumption, provided with elements that can provide a
surprise effect that stimulates the consumer to buy the product
without knowing what is inside it and that has a calling
appearance. This stimulates the purchase of new products, enabling
one to collect various closures, for instance. Another objective is
that the lens may be inserted into the closure without the need to
modify the production tools, which would entail an increase in
production costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The objectives of the present invention are achieved by
means of a closure for containers, comprising a main plane from the
perimeter of which a side wall projects, a main plane defining a
first inner surface, the closure comprising a interactive
decorative element associated with the first inner surface of the
closure.
[0011] The present invention has the advantage the surprise effect
provided by locating the reticular lens inside the closure, unlike
the prior art. This causes an increase in the sale of consumption
products that contain said closure. By virtue of the "You found it,
you won it" type visual attraction and others, the consumer is
tempted to buy another product in order to see which lens is
located at this new closure. In addition, in the case of using
lenses that can have various decorative motifs, one may arouse the
in the consumer the desire to collect closures, which also increase
the advantage of the thus-configured products.
[0012] Moreover, the present invention presents the fact that, from
the technical point of view, the reticular lens between the bottom
of the closure and the sealing film is easily feasible, without the
need to change the tools for producing the closure, unlike what
happens with the closure of the prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will now be described in greater
detail with reference to an embodiment represented in the drawings.
The figures show:
[0014] FIG. 1: a cross-section view of a first variation of the
closure of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2: a cross-section view of a second variation of the
closure of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3: a cross-section view of a third embodiment of the
closure of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4: a cross-section view of a fourth embodiment of the
closure of the present application;
[0018] FIG. 5: is a cross-section view of a fourth variation of the
closure of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6: is a cross-section view of a sixth variation of the
closure of the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 7: is a lower view of the closure illustrated in FIG.
2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] According to a preferred embodiment and as can be seen in
FIG. 1, the container closure 1 of the present invention, provided
with an internal reticular lens 3, presents a substantially
circular main plain 4, provided with a first inner surface 6 and a
second outer surface and a substantially cylindrical side wall 5
projecting from the perimeter of the plane 4. In this way, the
closure 1 has an internal cavity delimited by the side wall 5 and
by the inner surface 6. Evidently, the plane 4 may assume other
shapes than circular, and the side wall 5 may assume other shape
than cylindrical.
[0022] The closure 1 is screwed onto the neck provided with a
thread (not shown) of a container (also not shown) for holding
liquid products, preferably food beverages for human consumption.
In order to provide this fixation, the closure 1 has at least one
inner thread 7, located on the inner surface of the side wall 5,
cooperating with the thread existing on the neck, to enable one to
open and close the container. The closure 1 further has a sealing
element (not shown) in the form of a weakening region, preferably
arranged at the side wall 5, to prevent one from opening the
container without leaving traces.
[0023] Evidently, the closure may be conceived in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention, but not provided with a
thread, sealing, or even the side wall 5, without it failing to be
within the protection scope of the present invention. So, any
variation in this respect should be viewed as a mere alternative
configuration.
[0024] With a view to prevent liquids and/or gas from leaking out
of the container, for instance when packing gaseous beverages such
as soft drinks, one provides a sealing element 2 in the form of a
film made of a flexible material, preferably plastics. This film 2
is fixed to the inner surface 6 substantially adjacent the region
of the plane 4 from which the side wall 5 projects. The film 2 may
be substantially transparent, translucent or opaque.
[0025] Optionally, but not compulsorily, there is a plurality of
protruding elements 8 for fixing the film 2 located on the first
inner surface 6 of the closure 1, also arranged substantially
adjacent the region of the plane 4 from which the side 5 projects.
The protuberant elements 8 are arranged in such a way, that they
configure a cylindrical fixation wall, substantially parallel to
the side wall 5 and having the same longitudinal axis. As a
variation, there may be a single cylindrical fixation wall, which,
in this case, is composed of a single cylindrical protuberant
element 8. The function of the protuberant element(s) 8 is to
enlarge the area of fixation of the film 2.
[0026] The reticular lens 3 is substantially disc-shaped and is
located between the first inner surface 6 of the closure 1 and the
sealing film 2. Optionally, but not compulsorily, the first surface
6 has a recess or cavity 9 with a diameter that is substantially
equivalent to that of the lens 3, in order to allow It to be
associated with the closure 1. The depth of this cavity 9 may be
lesser, equal or greater than the thickness of the lens 3. If one
wishes to view the reticular lens 3 fully, one has to remove the
sealing film 2, and then the lens 3 may be removed, as the case may
be. Preferably, the lens 3 is fixed by means of an adhesive or
glue, but it may be fixed by any physical or mechanical adhesion
means. The lens 3 may also have any shape, diameter or thickness,
provided that the objectives of the invention are achieved.
[0027] Since the sealing film 2 should be removed if one is to view
the lens 3 totally, the film may be conceived totally opaque, in
order to maximize the surprise effect for the consumer, who needs
to remove the film for having an idea of the decorative motifs
illustrated by the lens 3.
[0028] In the case of closures 1 that are already under production,
one may insert the reticular lens 3 without having to adapt the
tools used to produce them, and the production process will undergo
only one alteration which is the step of placing the lens 3 inside
the closure 1.
[0029] However, one may develop specific closures 1 for placing the
reticular lens 3, which may have said recesses 9 for a better
finish and integration of the lens 3.
[0030] In FIG. 1, the reticular lens 3 is fixed to the closure 1 by
means of an adhesive or glue. In this configuration, no alteration
is made in the tool used to produce the closure 1.
[0031] In FIG. 2, one can see a closure analogous to that of FIG.
1, but provided with at least one, preferably a plurality of
protuberant elements 8 for fixation of the film 2, as described
before.
[0032] In FIG. 3, the reticular lens 3 is placed in a recess 9 in
the first surface 6; but the depth of the recess 9 is lesser than
the thickness of the lens 3. In this case, two alterations are
necessary in making the closure 1, namely:
[0033] to make the recess 9 in the closure 1;
[0034] to compensate for the loss of thickness of the plane 4 due
to the recess 9 with an increase in the thickness of this plane 4,
at the same value as the depth of the recess 9.
[0035] In FIG. 4, the closure is analogous to that of FIG. 3, with
the only difference of the existence of protuberant elements 8 for
fixing the film 2, as described before.
[0036] In FIG. 5, the reticular lens 3 is placed in a recess 9, the
depth of which is exactly the value of the thickness of the lens
3.
[0037] In FIG. 6, the closure is analogous to that of FIG. 5, with
the only difference of the existence of protuberant elements 8 for
fixing the film 2, as described before.
[0038] The reticular lens 3 is an interactive decorative element,
since the decorative images or motifs which it contains vary
depending upon the angle of view of the consumer; it may also
include movement of the images as the consumer moves the closure 1,
changing the angle of view. This characteristic, beside being
extremely amusing, is one more surprise element that contributes to
arouse the curiosity of the consumer, since it may be used, for
instance, in promotions when the change in angle of view causes the
consumer to see a gift inscribed in the lens 3, is that lens 3
awarded a gift. This will tempt the consumer to buy other products
to try and view a gift. It should be noted that this interactivity
causes the reticular lens 3 to be somewhat different and much more
elaborate than a mere painting or written words indicating
gift-winning. When one uses lenses 3 that provide tridimensional
effects, one may control the image which the consumer will see when
the lens 3 is behind the film 2. And once this film is removed, the
consumer, after changing the angle of view, can see another image
or something that provides the feeling of movement; that is to say,
the consumer will only have access to an image at the beginning,
and it is necessary to remove the film 2 in order to see the other
images. In a preferred embodiment, the lens 3 has a diameter of
twenty millimeters.
[0039] The lens 3 may be optionally removable, a situation in which
it may be removed from the closure 1, for instance to be collected,
which increases the desire to buy the containers closed by the
closure 1 of the present invention.
[0040] Alternatively, one may place the lens 3 within the film 2, a
task that may be performed with multi-layer films 2, between which
the reticulate lens 3 is inserted.
[0041] A preferred embodiment having been described, it should be
understood that the scope of the present invention embraces other
possible variations, being limited only by the contents of the
accompanying claims, which include the possible equivalents.
* * * * *