Product and package with a photosensitive use-evident feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11279532-B2
Application number	US-201815909124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2018
Priority date	Nov 16, 2012
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A product includes a container, a photosensitive material carried by the container and responsive to ultraviolet light, and a UV protector carried by the container to protect the photosensitive material from exposure to UV light. A method of producing a food or beverage container includes applying a photochromic material to a food or beverage container that is responsive to ultraviolet (UV) light so as to darken upon exposure thereto, and protecting at least a portion of the photochromic material from exposure to UV light.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of producing a food or beverage container that includes:
applying a photochromic material to a food or beverage container that is responsive to ultraviolet (UV) light so as to darken upon exposure thereto; and
protecting at least a portion of the photochromic material from exposure to UV light,
wherein the protecting step includes at least one of: coating one or more interior surfaces of the container with a UV protectant material, composing at least a portion of the container of the UV protectant material, or wherein the method further comprises a filling step that includes filling the container with an original flowable product which includes a UV absorbing product.

2. A method of producing a food or beverage container that includes:
applying a photochromic material to a food or beverage container that is responsive to ultraviolet (UV) light so as to darken upon exposure thereto; and
protecting at least a portion of the photochromic material from exposure to UV light,
wherein the protecting step includes at least one of: coating one or more interior surfaces of the container with a UV protectant material, composing at least a portion of the container of the UV protectant material, or wherein the method further comprises a filling step that includes filling the container with an original flowable product which includes a UV absorbing product, filling the container with the original flowable product; and
applying a closure to the container.

3. A method of producing a food or beverage container that includes:
applying a photochromic material to a drop indicator of the food or beverage container that is responsive to ultraviolet (UV) light so as to darken upon exposure thereto; and
protecting at least a portion of the photochromic material from exposure to UV light,
coupling said drop indicator to a closure of the container for separation from said closure when said closure is removed from said container such that said drop indicator drops into said container and said photochromic material changes appearance upon exposure to UV light; and
activating an ultraviolet light source for exposing said drop indicator, wherein said ultraviolet light source is carried by said drop indicator.

4. A method of producing a food or beverage container that includes:
applying a photochromic material to a drop indicator of the food or beverage container that is responsive to ultraviolet (UV) light so as to darken upon exposure thereto;
protecting at least a portion of the photochromic material from exposure to UV light, wherein the protecting step includes at least one of: coating one or more interior surfaces of the container with a UV protectant material, composing at least a portion of the container of the UV protectant material, or wherein the method further comprises a filling step that includes filling the container with an original flowable product which includes a UV absorbing product; and
coupling said drop indicator to a closure of the container for separation from said closure when said closure is removed from said container such that said drop indicator drops into said container and said photochromic material changes appearance upon exposure to UV light.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein the drop indicator carries a UV protector.

6. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein the applying step comprises integrating the photochromic material into the composition of the drop indicator itself.

7. The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising activating an ultraviolet light source for exposing said drop indicator.

Assignees

• Owens Brockway Glass Container

Inventors

• Smith Roger P
• Bryant Jessica R
• Anderson Chris D
• Cooper Scott
• Clark Terence J
• Feygenson Oleg
• Solunin Anatoly

Classifications

• B65D55/026 Primary

  initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity (B65D55/066 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B43/00

  Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging (forming pockets in sheets, blanks or webs, by pressing the material into forming dies or moving it through folding dies B65B47/00) · CPC title

• B65D2401/00

  Tamper-indicating means · CPC title

• B65D2203/02

  Labels · CPC title

• B65D49/00

  Arrangements or devices for preventing refilling of containers (for initial filling and for preventing subsequent refilling B65D47/02) · CPC title