Molded container with opener and method for use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086984-B2
Application number	US-49487309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2009
Priority date	Jun 30, 2009
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A fluid container is provided that comprises a body portion configured to at least partially surround fluid. The container also includes a cap portion connected to and above the body portion at a frangible separation site surrounding an opening between the body portion and the cap portion. The cap portion is configured to separate from the body portion at the separation site to expose the opening when a substantially downwardly directed force is applied to a part of the cap portion at a certain radial distance from a longitudinal axis through the opening. The container can include a collar configured to be disposed at least around a part of the body portion. A portion of the collar can be configured to facilitate separation of the cap portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container for providing access to a raised nipple upon opening, the container having at least one diameter and a longitudinal axis, the container comprising:
a container shell comprising:
a body portion with a body portion wall having a wall shoulder portion having a distal aspect and a proximal aspect; and
an adjoining cap portion having a cap portion wall, wherein the body portion wall meets the cap portion wall at an engineered separation site;

a stopper enclosed within the container shell and configured to prevent the transfer of contents from the body portion to the cap portion, such that a portion of the stopper is enclosed within the body portion and another portion of the stopper is enclosed within the cap portion, wherein the stopper has a stopper wall and a stopper shoulder with a central raised nipple having a nipple top surface with an injection site bounded by a raised injection guide and a nipple sidewall, and wherein the engineered separation site is adjacent to the nipple sidewall such that when the cap portion is removed from the body portion at the engineered separation site a portion of the nipple extends out of the body portion;
an opener having at least one tab that extends a fixed radial distance from the longitudinal axis along a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the opener being attached to the container and configured to separate the cap portion from the body portion at the separation site by rotating about a second axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first axis, such that application of a downwardly directed force to the cap portion parallel to the longitudinal axis, at a certain radial distance from the longitudinal axis and at a radially outer end of the tab, results in a torque being imparted about the second axis and breakage at the separation site wherein the torque is at least a predetermined torque; and
a collar disposed at least around the wall shoulder portion.

2. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the collar extends from a first opening surrounding the separation site to a second opening surrounding a neck formed in the body portion below an annular flange formed in the body portion.

3. The container according to claim 2 , wherein the collar is configured to be removable.

4. The container according to claim 3 , wherein the collar includes at least a pair of semicircular annular channels hingedly connected to each other at respective ends thereof, the channels having free ends configured to be connected together to close the collar around the wall shoulder portion.

5. The container according to claim 4 , wherein the annular channels are configured to secure the collar to the body portion when the collar is closed around the wall shoulder portion.

6. The container according to claim 5 , wherein each of the free ends of the pair of annular channels includes a corresponding mating connector configured to connect the free ends together.

7. The container according to claim 2 , wherein the collar displays indicia related to the contents of the container.

8. The container according to claim 7 , wherein the collar displays a color.

9. The container according to claim 2 , wherein a portion of the collar is configured to act as a fulcrum for the at least one tab.

10. A fluid container including:
a body portion configured to at least partially surround fluid;
a cap portion having at least one tab that extends a fixed radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the fluid container, along a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the opener being connected to and above the body portion at a frangible separation site surrounding an opening between the body portion and the cap portion, wherein the cap portion is configured to separate from the body portion at the separation site to expose the opening by rotating about a second axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first axis, such that application of a downwardly directed force to a part of the cap portion at a certain radial distance from a longitudinal axis through the opening and at a radially outer end of the tab results in a torque being imparted about the second axis and breakage at the separation site; and
a collar configured to be disposed at least around a wall shoulder portion, wherein the collar includes at least a pair of semicircular annular channels hingedly connected to each other at respective ends thereof, the channels having free ends configured to be connected together to close the collar around the wall shoulder portion.

11. The container according to claim 10 , wherein the collar extends from a first opening surrounding the separation site to a second opening surrounding a neck formed in the body portion below an annular flange formed in the body portion.

12. The container according to claim 11 , wherein the collar is configured to be removable.

13. The container according to claim 10 , wherein the annular channels are configured to secure the collar to the body portion when the collar is closed around the wall shoulder portion.

14. The container according to claim 13 , wherein each of the free ends of the pair of annular channels includes a corresponding mating connector configured to connect the free ends together.

15. The container according to claim 10 , wherein the collar displays indicia related to the contents of the container.

16. The container according to claim 15 , wherein the collar displays a color.

17. The container according to claim 10 , wherein a portion of the collar is configured to act as a fulcrum for the at least one tab.

18. A container for providing access to a raised nipple upon opening, the container having at least one diameter and a longitudinal axis, the container comprising:
a container shell comprising:
a body portion with a body portion wall having a wall shoulder portion having a distal aspect and a proximal aspect, wherein the body portion wall includes an ingress preventer; and
an adjoining cap portion having a cap portion wall, wherein the body portion wall meets the cap portion wall at an engineered separation site;

a stopper enclosed within the container shell and configured to prevent the transfer of contents from the body portion to the cap portion, such that a portion of the stopper is enclosed within the body portion and another portion of the stopper is enclosed within the cap portion, wherein the stopper has a stopper wall and a stopper shoulder with a central raised nipple having a nipple top surface with an injection site bounded by a raised injection guide and a nipple sidewall, and wherein the engineered separation site is adjacent to the nipple sidewall such that when the cap portion is removed from the body portion at the engineered separation site a portion of the nipple extends out of the body portion;
an opener having at least one tab that extends a fixed radial distance from the longitudinal axis along a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the opener being attached to the container and configured to separate the cap portion from the body portion at the separation site by rotating about a second axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first axis, such that application of a downwardly directed force to the cap portion parallel to the longitudinal axis, at a certain radial distance from the longitudinal axis and at a radially outer end of the tab, results in a torque being imparted about the second axis and breakage at the separation site; and
a collar disposed at least aroun

Assignees

• Colangelo Kevin Colin
• Scherer Technologies Llc R P

Inventors

• Colangelo Kevin Colin

Classifications

• A61J1/1412

  Containers with closing means, e.g. caps · CPC title

• B65D1/0238

  Integral frangible closures · CPC title

• B65D47/36

  Closures with frangible parts adapted to be pierced, torn or removed, to provide discharge openings (caps with pierceable membranes B65D41/20, B65D41/50; arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/18) · CPC title

• B65D1/0253

  Means facilitating removal of the closure, e.g. cams, levers · CPC title

• B65D39/06

  Balls · CPC title