U.S. patent application number 11/655002 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-02 for package closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Marc Christopher Hatcher, William Kater Lasala, Stephen Paul MacKowiak, Robert Vincent Sheehy, Rachel Wiley.
Application Number | 20070175899 11/655002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38016700 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070175899 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hatcher; Marc Christopher ;
et al. |
August 2, 2007 |
Package closure
Abstract
The present invention is a product package having a first
package within a second package wherein the product is accessible
with removing the second package.
Inventors: |
Hatcher; Marc Christopher;
(Miami Twp, OH) ; Lasala; William Kater; (Mason,
OH) ; Wiley; Rachel; (Cincinnati, OH) ;
MacKowiak; Stephen Paul; (Gardner, MA) ; Sheehy;
Robert Vincent; (North Attleborough, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION - WEST BLDG.
WINTON HILL BUSINESS CENTER - BOX 412, 6250 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company
|
Family ID: |
38016700 |
Appl. No.: |
11/655002 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60759661 |
Jan 18, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/326 ;
220/787; 220/788 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/0038 20180801;
B65D 83/384 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/326 ;
220/787; 220/788 |
International
Class: |
B65D 45/16 20060101
B65D045/16; B65D 39/00 20060101 B65D039/00; B65D 41/16 20060101
B65D041/16 |
Claims
1. A closure for securing an object within a package comprising: a.
a plurality of positioning ribs extending from said closure; b. a
plurality of vertically raised separate segments about the
peripheral edge of said closure; c. a plurality of horizontal
protrusions extending outward from said separate segments wherein
said protrusions are capable of engaging a complementary indent of
a package.
2. The closure of claim 1 wherein said raised separate segments
form an annular lip about the entire peripheral edge of said
closure.
3. The closure of claim 1 comprising a flange extending
horizontally and outward from the base of the external wall forming
said annular lip wherein said flange is capable of abutting the
cross section a package wall.
4. The closure of claim 2 wherein said closure shape is relatively
identical as that of the package.
5. A package having an interior package located within an exterior
package comprising: a) an interior package capable of dispensing a
product; b) an exterior package comprising 1) an opening for
accepting said first package; 2) a collar opposite of said opening,
said collar having an orifice of sufficient dimensions to provide
access to said internal package; c) a closure for securing said
internal package within said external package said closure
comprising a plurality of vertical protrusions extending from said
closure, said protrusions having sufficient length to engage the
base surface of said internal package when affixed by an attachment
means to said external package; and d) an actuator located within
said collar for dispensing product from the internal package.
6. The package of claim 5 comprising a plurality of vertically
raised portions about the periphery of said closure.
7. The package of claim 6 comprising an attachment means comprising
a plurality of protrusions extending from the outside vertical
surface of said vertically raised portions and complementary
recesses in the inside wall of said external container wherein said
protrusions reside in said recesses to secure said closure to said
external package.
8. The package of claim 7 wherein the internal package has a
dispensing valve stem residing within the orifice of said collar
and providing access to the valve stem from outside the exterior
package.
9. The package of claim 8 wherein an actuator resides within the
collar orifice and the dispensing channel of said actuator is in
communication with said valve stem where upon depressing said
actuator, the contents of said first package is dispensed through
said actuator.
10. The package of claim 9 wherein the actuator is aligned within
the collar orifice by means of a series of slots formed in the
vertical wall of the actuator and a plurality of complimentary
vanes extending within the collar's orifice from the internal
surface of the collar.
11. The package of claim 10 having an actuator comprising a
plurality of tabs arranged about the periphery of the actuator
wherein said tabs have outwardly directed projections that are
received by a raised surface formed upon the internal surface of
the collar.
12. The package of claim 5 wherein the collar of said second
package is affixed directly to said second package.
13. A product package assembly having an interior package located
within an exterior package comprising: a) an interior package
capable of dispensing a product; b) an exterior package comprising
1) an opening for accepting said first package; 2) a collar
opposite of said opening, said collar having an orifice of
sufficient dimensions to accept the shoulder of said first package
and allowing for dispensing of the product from the internal
package without removing it from the external package; c) a closure
for securing said internal package within said external package
said closure comprising: 1) a plurality of positioning ribs
radiating horizontally and outward from the closure's central
portion, said ribs terminating about at the outer edge of said
closure; 2) a plurality of vertical protrusions extending from said
closure, said protrusions having sufficient length to engage the
base surface of said internal package within said external package
3) an attachment means for securing said closure to said external
package; and d) an actuator for dispensing product from the
internal package.
14. The package of claim 13 comprising a plurality of vertically
raised portions about the periphery of said closure wherein said
ribs terminate at the inside vertical surface of said portions.
15. The package of claim 14 wherein the means of attachment
comprising a plurality of protrusions extending horizontally from
the outside vertical surface of said raised portions and a
plurality of complementary recesses in the inside wall of said
external container wherein said protrusions reside in said recesses
to secure said closure to said external package.
16. The package of claim 15 wherein the protrusions extend from the
outside vertical surface of said portions at the point of the
attachment of said positioning rib to said inside vertical surface
of said portions.
17. The package of claim 13 wherein the internal package has a
dispensing valve stem residing within the orifice of said collar
and providing access to the valve stem from outside the exterior
package.
18. The package of claim 17 wherein an actuator resides within the
collar orifice and the dispensing channel of said actuator is in
communication with said valve stem where upon depressing said
actuator, the contents of said first package is dispensed through
said actuator.
19. The package of claim 18 wherein the actuator is aligned within
the collar orifice by means of a series of slots formed in the
vertical wall of the actuator and a plurality of complimentary
vanes extending within the collar's orifice from the internal
surface of the collar.
20. The package of claim 19 wherein the actuator comprises a
plurality of tabs arranged about the periphery of the actuator
wherein said tabs have outwardly directed projections that are
received by a raised surface formed upon the internal surface of
the collar.
21. The package of claim 20 wherein the collar of said external
package is integral with said second package.
22. The package of claim 13 wherein the closure comprising a
plurality of raised portions about the periphery of said closure
wherein said ribs terminate at the internal side of said raised
portion wherein protrusions radiate from the external side of said
raised portions at the juncture where the positioning ribs meet the
inside wall of the portions.
23. The package of claim 22 wherein the portions form a continuous
annular vertical lip about the edge of the closure.
24. The package of claim 23 wherein said ribs comprise three
equidistant ribs originating from one central point of said closure
wherein said vertical protrusion are molded into the each rib at
about its central radius.
25. The package of claim 23 wherein said annular vertical lip and
said ribs of said closure are molded as one structural element of
said closure.
26. The package of claim 24 wherein said vertical protrusion are
made of a deformable, resilient material that creates upward force
upon the base of said internal package.
27. The package of claim 26 wherein the base of said internal
package is concave.
28. The package of claim 23 comprising a flange extending outwardly
from the external wall of said annular vertical lip wherein said
flange contacts the cross section of the walls of said second
package therein.
29. A package assembly having an interior package located within an
exterior package comprising: a) an interior package capable of
dispensing a product; b) an exterior package comprising 1) an
opening for accepting said first package; 2) a collar opposite of
said opening, said collar having an orifice of sufficient
dimensions to provide access to the shoulder of said internal
package; c) a means for attaching said internal package to said
external package comprising a bead on the shoulder of said internal
package and a complementary horizontal lip on the internal surface
of said collar wherein upon applying force directing the internal
package into said external package, the bead snap engages the ridge
on the collar.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application Ser. No. 60/759,661 filed Jan. 18, 2006.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention pertains to package and closure for
containment of an internal package containing a product. The
product is dispensed without removal of the internal package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Product containment packaging is well known in the art. When
an internal package is to be orientated within an external package
or shell, it becomes important that the alignment of the internal
package is exact so to avoid producing defective product either by
damage of the internal package during assembly and, or misalignment
of the internal package and disabling the internal package's
discharge valve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,408 issued to Speitel, Jun.
30, 1987 discloses a refillable sprayer comprising an internal
spray bottle having a valve and actuator secured within an external
package or shell by means of a locking collar. The internal package
is aligned within the shell on the basis of the snug fit of the
internal package's walls with those of the external package wherein
the vertical walls of the internal package and the shell are
essentially contacting each other. Such an arrangement requires
that the insertion of the internal package be done by hand or by
employing sophisticated assembly equipment.
[0004] In order to simplify assembly and eliminate inefficient hand
assembly or purchase and maintenance of costly assembly equipment,
the internal package ought to have sufficient space between it and
the external package or shell. The horizontal and vertical
dimensions of the internal package ought to be significantly less
than the external package. This solution, however raises other
issues. For example, with greater space between the internal and
external packages, the internal package may shift or move upon
transport of the product or at the point of use by the consumer.
This can lead to mechanical damage of the internal package and, or
its discharge valve. Even if no damage were to occur, a product
requiring shaking before use might rattle around in the extra space
or play between internal and external packages. This could be a
consumer negative, partly giving a false impression the product is
defective and result in customer returns.
[0005] It is therefore, a need that such a package assembly avoids
the aforementioned problems or issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a closure for assembly of a product
package. The package assembly comprises an object such as an
internal package and a second or external package wherein product
within the internal package is dispensed without removing the
internal package from the external package. This package assembly
is efficiently and simply assembled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIGS. 1A through 1I Perspective views of various embodiments
of the closure
[0008] FIG. 2 Planar view of the closure
[0009] FIG. 3 Underside view of the closure
[0010] FIG. 4 Cross-sectional view of the closure along axis IV-IV
of FIG. 2
[0011] FIG. 5 Front view of the package assembly
[0012] FIG. 6 Exploded view of the package assembly
[0013] FIG.7 Front view of the package assembly
[0014] FIG. 8 Cross-sectional view of along axis VIII-VIII of FIG.
7
[0015] FIG. 9 Top view of external package
[0016] FIG. 10 Perspective view of the actuator
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring now to the illustrations, FIG. 1A illustrates the
perspective view of the closure (100) with a plurality of
positioning ribs (101) extending from the closure's central portion
(102). The positioning ribs (101) terminate at the outer edge of
said closure. The ribs, however, may alternatively terminate at
points wherein the ribs do not extend completely from the central
portion to the outer edge of said closure. Examples are illustrated
FIGS. 1 B and 1 C. Not withstanding what is shown there in FIG. 1A,
the positioning ribs (101) may be alternatively formed as a
plurality of ribs, parallel with the outer edge of said closure,
radiating circumferentially about the central portion. For example,
FIG. 1H illustrates a single rib that has a circular shape.
Alternatively there may be a plurality of geometric shapes such as
concentric circles in a bulls eye pattern such as FIG. 1I.
Additionally the ribs may be in an array that utilizes a
combination of the alternatives illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1H; see
FIGS. 1E, 1F and 1G.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a closure having a triangular shape, the
closure is not limited to such a shape and can be a shape nearly
identical as the package it serves as the closure or any other
shape that compliments the package. FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality
of protrusions (105) that provides a means for attachment of the
closure to a package. Alternative means of attachment include
adhesives/glues, tape, sonic welding, heat welding or any other
feature generally known to one skilled in the art and combinations
thereof. The closure may additionally employ or alternatively
utilize a flange as other means of attachment. The closure may
employ a flange that extends from the edge of the closure. This
flange engages the cross section of the vertical wall of the second
package and may terminate exactly at the exterior vertical wall of
the second package providing a smooth contour of the external
surfaces of the second package. The flange may also extend beyond
the vertical wall of the second package forming a base under the
second package and may curl around the vertical wall of the second
package.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a annular lip at the peripheral edge of
the closure (103). Said annular lip's height may extend as much as
desired. When positioning ribs are utilized in forming the closure,
the said annular lip may not only serve as the terminus of said
positioning ribs, but also a guide for insertion of the closure
into its complementary package. An alternative to this annular lip
includes a plurality of separate segments located about the
peripheral edge of the closure.
[0020] FIG. 1 also illustrates a plurality of protrusions (106)
extending from the closure. Said protrusions (106) are generally
made of the same material that the closure. The protrusions (106)
are of such dimensions to be deformable and act to upwardly push or
support an object vertically when such protrusions are loaded or
compressed. These protrusions (106) can originate from any point on
the planar surface of the closure (100) so that they contact a
surface of the underside of an object they work against. The
dimensions of the protrusions (106) are determined by a number of
considerations having to do with the assembly of the package. For
example, the length of these protrusions depends on the
relationship or variance of the object height relative to the
closure's complementary package. For example the protrusions are
longer when the difference between the object and the complementary
package is great or shorter when the opposite is the case.
Furthermore, the other dimensions of the protrusions including
their width and thickness depend on the function they serve. For
example, if intended to vertically hold an object within a
complementary package, the protrusions would be heavier or thicker.
The protrusions may also be tapered to provide a desired
deformation of the protrusion when abutting the underside of the
object. This may be for vertical positioning, horizontal
positioning or a combination thereof. This taper can be from top to
bottom or as shown in FIG. 4 wherein the cross section of
protrusion shown therein as (406) illustrates a tapering of the
protrusion being thicker at the bottom than the top. The protrusion
may also employ the taper to one side of the protrusion in order to
bias it wherein the protrusion is directed to deform in a
particular direction. For example, where the taper is only on the
outside of the protrusion, the protrusion deforms inwards, as shown
by illustrated as protrusion (801) in FIG. 8.
[0021] The positioning ribs (101) do not necessarily have to
completely extend from the central portion (102) to the peripheral
edge of the closure (103). For instance, the rib (101') of FIG. 1B
extends from the peripheral edge to second projection (106).
Another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1C is where said rib (101'')
extends from said central portion to the second protrusion. Yet
another embodiment can include a combination of these two
embodiments. In a separate embodiment there need not be ribs,
instead having just the protrusions located on the planar surface
of the closure (100). These second projections may be patterned as
found in FIG. 1 or randomly located over the planar surface of the
closure. FIG. 2, however, not only are ribs employed, but the
positioning ribs (201) are three equidistant ribs that extend from
the central portion (202) to the peripheral edge (203). In FIG. 2,
the second protrusions (206) are molded into the each rib at about
the ribs central radius. Illustrated in FIG. 2 first protrusions
(205) are located at the terminus of the rib at outer edge of said
closure, also illustrated in FIG. 3 as protrusion (305) and in FIG.
4 as protrusion (405).
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates the package assembly of the present
invention. The package assembly (500) comprises an object that's an
internal package (511) as well as a complementary external package
(510). The shape of the external package (510) may be the same as
the closure (100). The external package further comprises a tapered
collar (512). Said collar comprises a single part or multiple
parts. The shoulder of internal package, not shown in this
illustration, limits the depth of entry of internal package (511)
within external package (510). The depth of entry is sufficient to
allow the valve stem of the internal package (511) to be accessible
via the orifice at the top of the collar. Furthermore, the
protrusions contact a concave base of the internal package wherein
the deflection of the protrusions are retained within the surface
area of the concave base, obscuring the view of the
protrusions.
[0023] FIG. 6 is an exploded illustration of the package assembly
and illustrates the individual parts of the assembly including
actuator (613), external package (611) having a collar (612),
internal package (610) and closure (100) of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a
front view of the package assembly of FIG. 5 having a cross-section
along axis VIII-VIII that's illustrated by FIG. 8. The package
assembly (800) demonstrates internal package (811) having a collar
(812) wherein the depth of entry of the internal package into the
external package (810) is limited by the contact between shoulder
(816) of the internal package and the inner surface of the external
package collar (812). The valve stem (817) is accessible within the
orifice formed in the collar. Upon insertion of an actuator within
said collar, the dispensing channel (818) of the actuator is in
communication with the stem valve to allow flow of the contents
from the internal package for delivery to the consumer through the
nozzle (814) upon actuation.
[0024] The vertical positioning of the internal package (811)
within the external package (810) may be achieved by a variety of
means. For example, protrusions (806) may vertically support the
internal package (811). Alternatively illustrated in FIG. 8 is a
snap lock feature that comprises a lip (820) on the shoulder of the
internal package (811) and a complementary bead (819) located on
the interior surface of the shoulder (816) of external package
(810). Upon applying force directing the internal package (811)
within external package (810), the lip (820) slips over the bead
(819), locking the internal package within said external package.
With the engagement of the bead (819) and lip (820), protrusions
(806) may provide additional vertical stability and retard movement
of the internal package from side to side in the second package. As
previously discussed, this is important to eliminate defective
packaging after transport and also to hold the internal package in
place while the external package is handled by the consumer.
[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates the top view of the external container
(910). FIG. 9 further illustrates the location of the complementary
bead (919). The bead may be a continuous bead or interrupted or
segmented about the entire circumference of the collar as shown in
FIG. 9. Orifice (921) is the location wherein the valve stem of the
internal package can be accessed. A valve actuator is inserted into
this orifice wherein the actuator is in liquid communication with
the stem valve, allowing for flow of the contents of the internal
package upon depressing the actuator. It ought to be noted that the
actuator illustrated in FIG. 10 is intended to fit in a specified
direction when inserted into the orifice (921). To make this
happen, vanes (922) are molded into the internal surface of the
collar and extend into said orifice. As illustrated in FIG. 10,
complementary slots (1010) are located in the surface of actuator
(1000). Said slots engage said vanes (922). This allows the
actuator (1000) to be inserted in a specified direction. This
arrangement of slots and vanes also prohibits rotation of the
actuator when placed on the package.
[0026] FIG. 10 illustrates the actuator (1000). The actuator
resides within the collar (812) illustrated in FIG. 8 and is in
communication with the product within internal package (811)
through its engagement with the internal package's stem valve at
point (817) of FIG. 8. Upon depressing the actuator, product moves
from the internal package (811) into the vertical channel of said
actuator (817) and is directed through nozzle orifice (814). Upon
release of the downward pressure, the actuator moves to its initial
rest position wherein no product moves from the internal package.
Normally the actuator does not dislodge from the collar due to
travel of the actuator during dispensing or transport of the
product. To insure the actuator does not dislodge from said collar,
however, actuator tabs (1013a) are formed such that the tabs engage
the internal edge (815) of the collar, also illustrated in FIG. 9
as (915). An alternative embodiment of this invention is where the
internal package is a pump sprayer. In such a case, the dip tube
rather than valve stem would be in communication with the actuator
residing within the collar.
[0027] Fabrication Materials and Methods for Making Closure and
Second Package
[0028] The material used for the manufacture of the present
invention includes non-deformable and deformable materials.
Non-deformable material choices for said invention include, but are
not limited to, thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene (PP),
polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), styrene-acrylonitrile
copolymer (SAN), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS),
polycarbonate (PC) polyethylene-terepthalate (PET), and blends
thereof. Whether making deformable or non-deformable parts, the
parts of the package assembly may be manufactured by any number of
plastic manufacturing methods known in the art including but not
limited to injection molding.
[0029] 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".
[0030] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission
that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written
document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a
document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
[0031] 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.
* * * * *