Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-05-29
Tong, Nina (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S568700, C340S573100, C340S571000, C340S692000, C206S459100, C206S807000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239712
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a removable closure for a glass or plastic bottle or other container and to a package comprising such a container with such a closure removably affixed thereto. More particularly, this invention relates to a closure of the foregoing type with an electrical element that emits an audible sound when the closure is distorted under load, for example, during an opening attempt, and to a package incorporating a container with such a closure removably affixed thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the packaging of various products, such as pharmaceuticals and over the counter medicines and various household products, it is important that the consumer be given proper instructions for use of the product upon the opening of the package. Heretofore, this has been done by printing suitable instructions for use or other messages on an element of the package, either on the closure or on the container to which the closure is removably affixed, or on a package insert that is included in a carton in which the package is shipped. From time to time, however, it is desirable to reinforce such instructions or messages in an audible manner. Unfortunately, heretofore no closure or container has satisfactorily incorporated a device for emitting an audible signal upon the opening of the package incorporating such elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,564 (Cooper et al.) discloses a package that is made up of a container with a closure removably affixed to the container. An electrical element that is separate from the closure is applied to the rim at the neck of the container before the closure is applied to the neck. The electrical element continuously emits a signal as long as the package remains closed, and the presence or absence of the signal is monitored by a receiving instrument. Interruption of the signal from the package is a sign that the package has been opened, and when this opening occurs at a time other than the desired time, interruption of the signal is an indication of tampering with the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a closure to be removably affixed to a neck of a bottle or other container, and to a package incorporating such a closure and container, in which the closure incorporates a normally silent electrical element that is capable of emitting an audible signal or message upon the distortion under load of the electrical element, for example, during the gripping of the closure to remove it from the container. The invention is especially applicable to closures of the child resistant type (“CRCs”), which are often used, mandatorily or voluntarily, in the packaging of pharmaceutical and over the counter medicinal products and in the packaging of various household products such as cleaning products, because of the two-piece construction that is typical of such CRCs. In such a CRC, there is provided an inner closure element that is directly secured to a finish on the neck of the associated container and an outer closure member that surrounds the inner closure member. Unscrewing of the outer closure member is effective only when teeth on the outer closure member engage teeth on the inner closure member, and this only occurs when the outer closure member is depressed or otherwise specially manipulated with respect to the inner closure member. In this arrangement, a suitable sound emitting electrical element can be positioned between a top panel of the outer closure member and a top panel of the inner closure member in the closure manufacturing plant, thus avoiding the need for an added assembly step in the packaging plant. Further, the load required to depress or otherwise manipulate the outer closure member with respect to the inner closure member to remove the closure from the associated container is more than adequate to distort the electrical element sufficiently to emit a message or other sound and exactly upon the opening of the package when such a message will be most beneficial to the consumer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a closure for a container, and a package incorporating the container with the closure removably affixed thereto, in which the closure has an electrical element of a type that emits a signal or other message upon the distortion that the electrical element experiences upon the application of a removal load to the closure. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a closure, and package, of the foregoing type in which the closure is of the two-piece child resistant type.
For a further understanding of the present invention and the objects thereof, to attention is directed to the drawing and the following brief description thereof, to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4813564 (1989-03-01), Cooper et al.
patent: 4845470 (1989-07-01), Boldt, Jr.
patent: 4847597 (1989-07-01), Dobosi et al.
patent: 4960206 (1990-10-01), Johannes
patent: 5099232 (1992-03-01), Howes
patent: 5439103 (1995-08-01), Howes
patent: 5575383 (1996-11-01), Seeley
patent: 5625347 (1997-04-01), MacLean et al.
Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
Tong Nina
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