U.S. patent application number 14/761678 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-24 for packaging sealing system and a packaging assembly including such a sealing system.
The applicant listed for this patent is CSP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael Bucholtz, Jonathan Freedman, Donald Lee Huber, Randall Christopher LeCroy.
Application Number | 20150368003 14/761678 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50033846 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150368003 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Freedman; Jonathan ; et
al. |
December 24, 2015 |
PACKAGING SEALING SYSTEM AND A PACKAGING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SUCH A
SEALING SYSTEM
Abstract
A packaging assembly includes a container body defining an
interior for housing a product and an opening leading to the
interior. The assembly further includes a cap that moves with
respect to the container body to move the assembly between a closed
position in which the cap covers the opening, and an opened
position in which the opening is exposed. A first seal (40) is
defined between the container body and the cap. The first seal
includes a protrusion (42) formed on one of the container body
about the opening or the cap, and a groove (44) formed on the other
of the container body about the opening or the cap. The protrusion
is received by the groove when the assembly is in the closed
position, such that contact is maintained in a sealing relationship
around the opening between the groove and the protrusion.
Inventors: |
Freedman; Jonathan; (Auburn,
AL) ; Huber; Donald Lee; (Auburn, AL) ;
Bucholtz; Michael; (Balston Spa, NY) ; LeCroy;
Randall Christopher; (Opelika, AL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CSP TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
Auburn |
AL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50033846 |
Appl. No.: |
14/761678 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
January 22, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2014/012425 |
371 Date: |
July 17, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61755555 |
Jan 23, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/315 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/0216 20130101;
B65D 43/22 20130101; B65D 43/16 20130101; B65D 43/162 20130101;
B65D 41/0428 20130101; B65D 41/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/22 20060101
B65D043/22; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16 |
Claims
1. A packaging assembly, comprising: a container body defining an
interior for housing a product and an opening leading to the
interior; a cap that moves with respect to the container body to
move the assembly between a closed position in which the cap covers
the opening, and an opened position in which the opening is
exposed; and a first seal defined between the container body and
the cap, the first seal comprising a protrusion formed on one of
the container body about the opening or the cap, and a groove
formed on the other of the container body about the opening or the
cap, wherein the protrusion is received by the groove when the
assembly is in the closed position, such that contact is maintained
in a sealing relationship around the opening between the groove and
the protrusion.
2. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the first seal is
substantially moisture or air tight.
3. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a
top wall and a skirt extending downwardly therefrom, and the
protrusion extends from a bottom edge of the skirt.
4. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the container body
comprises a base, a side wall extending upwardly from the base and
together with the base defining the interior, and a rim extending
radially outwardly from the sidewall.
5. The packaging assembly of claim 4, further comprising a lip
extending upwardly from the rim, the lip defining the opening.
6. The packaging assembly of claim 4, wherein the groove is defined
in the rim.
7. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the groove has a
greater radial thickness than the protrusion.
8. The packaging assembly of claim 7, wherein groove has an inner
radial side and an outer radial side, and the protrusion has an
inner radial side and an outer radial side, and the inner radial
side of the groove contacts the inner radial side of the
protrusion, but the outer radial side of the groove does not
contact the outer radial side of the protrusion.
9. The packaging assembly of claim 7, wherein groove has an inner
radial side and an outer radial side, and the protrusion has an
inner radial side and an outer radial side, and the outer radial
side of the groove contacts the outer radial side of the
protrusion, but the inner radial side of the groove does not
contact the inner radial side of the protrusion.
10. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is
formed on the cap and the groove is formed on the container body
about the opening.
11. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is
formed on the container body about the opening, and the groove is
formed on the cap.
12. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion
comprises at least one prong.
13. The packaging assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one
prong extends radially inward and contacts an radially inner
surface of the groove when the assembly is in the closed
position.
14. The packaging assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one
prong comprises first and second prongs extending in opposite first
and second directions.
15. The packaging assembly of claim 14, wherein the protrusion has
a substantially inverted "T" shape, and the first direction is a
radially inward direction and the second direction is a radially
outward direction.
16. The packaging assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and
second prongs each maintain contact with the groove when the
assembly is in the closed position.
17. The packaging assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one
prong is flexible and conforms to the shape of the groove.
18. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is axially
aligned with the container body when in the closed position.
19. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is
formed of a rigid polymeric material.
20. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is
formed of a flexible material.
21. The packaging assembly of claim 20, wherein the flexible
material is an elastomeric material.
22. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the container body
and cap are formed of rigid polymeric material.
23. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the container body,
cap, and protrusion are formed of the same material.
24. The packaging assembly of claim 23, wherein the container body,
cap, and protrusion are molded together as a single, integral
unit.
25. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is
formed of a different material from the cap.
26. The packaging assembly of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is
affixed to the cap by an adhesive.
27. The packaging assembly of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is
affixed to the cap by a mechanical fastener.
28. The packaging assembly of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is
formed integrally with the cap by a two-shot molding process.
30. (canceled)
31. A packaging assembly, comprising: a container body comprising a
base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the base, an interior
defined by the base and the side wall, and a rim at a top portion
of the sidewall, the rim defining an opening leading to the
interior; a cap that moves with respect to the container body to
move the assembly between a closed position in which the cap covers
the opening, and an opened position in which the opening is
exposed, the cap comprising a top wall and a skirt extending
downwardly therefrom; and a second seal defined between the skirt
and the rim, the second seal comprising a channel formed on an
inner radial side of the skirt, and an annular bead formed at a top
portion of the rim, the bead having first and second radially
spaced bumps that each contact an upper surface of the channel to
form a sealing relationship therebetween.
32. The packaging assembly of claim 31, wherein the upper surface
of the channel is substantially horizontal.
33. The packaging assembly of claim 31, wherein the upper surface
of the channel is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of
the assembly.
34. The packaging assembly of claim 31, wherein a divot is formed
between the first and second bumps.
35. The packaging assembly of claim 31, wherein the first and
second bumps are substantially equal in axial height.
36. (canceled)
37. A packaging assembly comprising a first seal and a second seal,
wherein the first seal is a first seal in accordance with claim 1,
and the second seal is a second seal in accordance with claim
31.
38. (canceled)
39. The packaging assembly of claim 37, wherein the first seal is
substantially moisture or air tight.
40. The packaging assembly of claim 39, wherein the groove has a
greater radial thickness than the protrusion, the groove having an
inner radial side and an outer radial side, the protrusion having
an inner radial side and an outer radial side, wherein either: (a)
the inner radial side of the groove contacts the inner radial side
of the protrusion, but the outer radial side of the groove does not
contact the outer radial side of the protrusion; or (b) the outer
radial side of the groove contacts the outer radial side of the
protrusion, but the inner radial side of the groove does not
contact the inner radial side of the protrusion.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The invention is directed to a sealing system for packaging,
and in particular to sealing system capable of independently
creating a seal or acting in conjunction with another seal to
enhance the sealing property of both seals, in such packaging.
SUMMARY
[0002] The present invention relates to a packaging assembly
including a container body defining an interior for housing a
product and an opening leading to the interior. The assembly
further includes a cap that moves with respect to the container
body to move the assembly between a closed position in which the
cap covers the opening, and an opened position in which the opening
is exposed. A first seal is defined between the container body and
the cap. The first seal includes a protrusion formed on one of the
container body about the opening or the cap, and a groove formed on
the other of the container body about the opening or the cap. The
protrusion is received by the groove when the assembly is in the
closed position, such that contact is maintained in a sealing
relationship around the opening between the groove and the
protrusion.
[0003] The present invention further relates to a first seal having
the properties described above.
[0004] The present invention further relates to a packaging
assembly. The packaging assembly includes a container body having a
base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the base, an interior
defined by the base and the side wall, and a rim at a top portion
of the sidewall. The rim defines an opening leading to the
interior. The assembly further includes a cap that moves with
respect to the container body to move the assembly between a closed
position in which the cap covers the opening, and an opened
position in which the opening is exposed. The cap includes a top
wall and a skirt extending downwardly therefrom. A second seal is
defined between the skirt and the rim. The second seal includes a
channel formed on an inner radial side of the skirt, and an annular
bead formed at a top portion of the rim. The bead has first and
second radially spaced bumps that each contact an upper surface of
the channel to form a sealing relationship therebetween.
[0005] The present invention further relates to a second seal
having the properties described above.
[0006] The present invention further relates to a packaging
assembly having a first seal and as second seal.
[0007] The present invention further relates to a packaging
assembly having a first seal having the properties described above,
and a second seal having the properties described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
packaging assembly including a sealing system in accordance with
the present invention, in an opened position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of
FIG. 1, in a closed position;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
packaging assembly including a sealing system in accordance with
the present invention, in an opened position;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of
FIG. 3, in a closed position;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
packaging assembly including a sealing system in accordance with
the present invention, in an opened position;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of
FIG. 5, in a closed position;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a
packaging assembly including a sealing system in accordance with
the present invention, in an opened position; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of
FIG. 7, in a closed position;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a packaging assembly
including an embodiment of a sealing system in accordance with the
present invention, in an opened position;
[0017] FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 9;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the packaging assembly
of FIG. 9, in a closed position;
[0019] FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 11;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross section of a portion of a packaging
assembly showing a another embodiment of a sealing system in
accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 13A is an enlarged detail of FIG. 13;
[0022] FIG. 14 is a cross section of a portion of a packaging
assembly showing another embodiment of a sealing system in
accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a cross section of a portion of a packaging
assembly showing another embodiment of a sealing system in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 16 is a cross section of a portion of a packaging
assembly showing another embodiment of a sealing system in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Certain terminology is used in the foregoing description for
convenience and is not intended to be limiting. Words such as
"front," "back," "top," and "bottom" designate directions in the
drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the
words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of
similar import. Additionally, the words "a" and "one" are defined
as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically
noted. The phrase "at least one of" followed by a list of two or
more items, such as "A, B or C," means any individual one of A, B
or C, as well as any combination thereof.
[0026] FIGS. 1-8 show examples of packaging assemblies 10A-D that
could include the sealing system(s) of the present invention. The
packaging assemblies 10A-D shown are rigid packaging assemblies,
and in particular, vials that can house, for example,
pharmaceutical products, confections, other food items, or any
other type of products in which a substantially moisture-tight
packaging environment is desirable. Each of the assemblies shown
includes a container body 12A-12D formed of a base 14A-14D and a
sidewall 16A-16D extending upwardly therefrom. The base 14A-D and
sidewall 16A-D together define a container interior 18A-D for
housing products therein. An opening 20A-D leading to the interior
18A-D is defined about a top edge of the sidewall 16A-D. A cap
22A-D is removably affixed over the opening 20A-D, to move the
assembly 10A-D between an opened position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3,
5 and 7, and a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 8.
The caps 22A-D each include a top wall 30A-D and downwardly
extending skirt 32A-D. In the illustrated embodiments, the caps 22
are pivotably affixed to the container bodies 12A-D by hinges
24A-D, such that the caps 22A-D pivot between the opened and closed
positions. In each of the illustrated embodiments, the hinges 24A-D
extend between bottom edges of the caps 22A-D, and rims 26A-D that
extend outwardly from container bodies 12A-D at upper regions
thereof. In both of the assemblies show in FIGS. 1-4, a lip 28A,
20B extends upwardly from the rim 26A, 26B. It should be understood
that the sealing system(s) of the present invention could be
applied to various packaging assemblies, including those shown and
described above, as well as those disclosed in US 2011/0127269,
D631,168, US D599,032, US D644,336, US D644,739, US D644,740, US
D644,337 and D649,659 as well as other types of packaging
assemblies, and suitable assemblies would be recognizable to a
person of ordinary skill in the art.
[0027] A first embodiment of a sealing system 40 for use with any
of the packaging assemblies described above is shown in FIGS. 9-12.
As shown, this embodiment of the sealing system 40 includes an
annular protrusion 42 that extends downward from a bottom edge of
the skirt 32, and an annular groove 44 defined in an upper surface
of the rim 26. In another embodiment, a protrusion such as that
shown in FIGS. 9-12 could be formed in the upper surface of the rim
26, and an annular groove 44, such as that shown in FIGS. 9-12,
could be formed in the bottom edge of the skirt 32. When the
container is in the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,
the protrusion 42 is housed within the groove 44 to form a seal
between the cap 22 and the container body 12. The protrusion 42 may
be formed of a rigid material, for example, the same material as
that of the remainder of the assembly 10, which could be, for
example, a rigid plastic material such as polypropylene. In such an
embodiment, the entire assembly 10 could optionally be molded as a
single, integral unit.
[0028] The protrusion 42 has an inner radial side 46 and an outer
radial side 48. Similarly, the groove 44 has an inner radial side
50 and an outer radial side 52. As can be best seen in FIG. 12, the
protrusion 42 has a smaller radial thickness than that of the
groove 44. As a result, the protrusion 42 and groove 44 make
contact and form a seal, only at the inner radial sides 46, 50 or
outer radial sides 48, 52 thereof. This helps to compensate for any
minor dimensional differences between the cap 22 and the rim 26 of
the vial. This also facilitates alignment of the cap 22 and the
container body 12 when in the closed position, such that their
respective axes X1, X2, align to form a single assembly axis X3,
when in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the
protrusion 42 and groove 44 contact each other along their outer
radial sides 48, 52, though it should be understood that in some
embodiments they will contact each other along their inner radial
sides 46, 50.
[0029] In addition to creating a seal at the area of contact, the
configuration shown, in which the protrusion 42 and groove 44
contact along their outer radial sides 48, 52, results in the skirt
32 of the cap 22 being urged radially inward, by way of the
radially inward force applied to the protrusion 42 by the radially
outer side 42 of groove 44. This helps maintain contact between the
inner surface 54 of the skirt 32 and the outer surface 56 of groove
44. This can be helpful in embodiments in which an additional seal
60 is created between the lip 28 and the skirt 32. In the
embodiment shown, the assembly includes a first seal 40 or sealing
system 40, formed between the protrusion 42 and the groove 44, and
a second seal 60 formed between the lip 28 and the skirt 32, with
it being understood that the terms "first" and "second" are
assigned for distinction and are not necessarily indicative of the
order of formation, strength, importance, or significance of the
seals. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 9-12, the inner
surface of the skirt 54 defines an annular channel 62, and the
outer surface 56 of the lip 28 defines an annular bead 64 that
engages the annular channel 62, forming the second seal 60
therebetween. Other secondary seal configurations could be used in
conjunction with the first seal 40 described above. For example,
any of the sealing configurations described in U.S. Pat. No.
7,213,720 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,137, such as a lip seal
configuration, or a sealing configuration such as that described
below with reference to FIG. 14 could be employed.
[0030] A second embodiment of a first seal 140 according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the protrusion
142 takes on a substantially inverted "T" shape, though the bottom
surface may be rounded to match the inner surface of the groove
144. The "T" shape of the protrusion 142 is formed by a single
vertical member 170, and inner and outer radial prongs 172, 174. In
this embodiment, the protrusion 142 may be formed of a flexible
material, such as an elastomeric material, to permit flexing and
bending of the prongs 172, 174 during engagement with the groove
144. The flexible material could be different from the material
forming the remainder of the assembly, in which case the protrusion
142 could be joined with the skirt 32 by way of adhesive,
mechanical fasteners, or formed integrally with the skirt 132 by a
two-shot molding process. This embodiment of the first seal 140
functions similarly to that of FIGS. 9-12, with one exception being
the fact that, in the embodiment shown, the protrusion 142 and
groove 144 engage on both their inner 146, 150 and outer radial
sides 148, 152, i.e., both prongs 172, 174 contact the surface of
the groove 144, and in particular, may be sufficiently flexible so
as to conform to the shape of the groove 144. In another embodiment
the protrusion 142 and groove 144 could engage only on their
respective inner radial sides 146, 150 or outer radial sides 148,
152, resulting in either the inner radial prong 172 or outer radial
prong 174 engaging the groove 144. This embodiment of the first
seal can also be employed with any of the second seals mentioned
above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12.
[0031] A third embodiment of a first seal 240 according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 14. In this embodiment, the protrusion
242 is similar to that of FIG. 13, but includes only a single,
radially inwardly extending prong 272. In this embodiment, the
protrusion could be formed of a flexible material, such as an
elastomeric material, in a similar manner to those described with
respect to FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the single prong 272 can
engage the radially inner side 250 of groove 244 on the radially
inner 246 side of the prong 272, as shown, resulting in the more
flexible end portion 276 of the prong 272 contacting the groove
244. Alternatively, the single prong 272 could engage the radially
outer side 252 of groove 244 on the radially outer side 248 of the
prong 272, resulting in the somewhat less flexible portion thereof
contacting the groove 244. This embodiment of the first seal can
also be employed with any of the second seals mentioned above with
respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 9-13.
[0032] A fourth embodiment of a first seal 340 according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 15. This embodiment of the first seal
340 is similar to that of FIGS. 9-12, with the exception of the
fact that the protrusion 342 extends from an upper surface of the
rim 326, and the groove 344 is defined in a bottom edge of the
skirt 332. In this embodiment, the protrusion 342 and groove 344
contact on inner 346, 350 or outer radial sides 348, 352, as
described above. Alternatively, the protrusion 342 and the groove
344 could contact on both the inner 346, 350 and outer radial sides
348, 352 thereof. The protrusion 342 and groove 344 in the
embodiment shown each have a slightly greater axial length than
those of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12, but it should be understood
that the dimensions could be increased or decreased as necessary
for these parts to properly engage. The protrusion 342 could be
formed of a flexible material, such as an elastomeric material, in
a similar manner to those described above with respect to FIGS. 13
and 14 Likewise, the protrusion 342 could be formed of a rigid
material, such as the same material of the remainder of the
assembly, as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS.
9-12. This embodiment of the first seal can also be employed with
any of the second seals mentioned above with respect to the
embodiments of FIGS. 9-14.
[0033] An embodiment of a second seal 460 according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 16. In this embodiment, the second seal
460 is formed by engagement of the inner surface 454 of the skirt
432 and the outer surface 456 of the lip 428. The inner surface 454
defines a channel 462, and the outer surface defines a bead 464
that is received by the channel 462, similarly to the second seal
60 described above with respect to FIGS. 9-12. In this embodiment,
the channel 462 includes an uppermost, substantially horizontal
surface 480 that contacts an upper edge 482 of the bead 464. The
bead upper edge 482 includes two radially spaced bumps, including
an inner radial bump 484, and an outer radial bump 486. A divot 488
is formed between the two bumps 484, 486. The bumps 484, 486 are
equal in axial height. This is preferable in the embodiment shown
in which the channel surface 480 is horizontal or perpendicular to
the axis X3 of the packaging assembly 410, but in other embodiments
the channel surface could be angled or curved and the axial heights
of the bumps altered accordingly. As shown, each bump 484, 486
contacts the horizontal surface 480 of the channel 462. This
results in two radial sealing regions being defined between the
channel 462 and the bead 464. Additionally, the inclusion of two
bumps helps to axially orient the cap 422 on the container body 12.
This embodiment of the second seal 460 could be employed with any
of the first seals described above, as well as with other seals
suitable for use as a first seal and known in the art.
[0034] Any of the first seals described herein can be combined with
any on the second seals described herein, or any other seal
suitable for use as a second seal and know in the art. Likewise,
any of the second seals described herein can be combined with any
of the first seals described herein, or any other seal suitable for
use as a first seal and known in the art.
[0035] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail above, the invention is not limited to the
specific embodiments described, which should be considered as
merely exemplary.
* * * * *