Wick to indicate package opening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9409686-B2
Application number	US-201313832628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A product includes a container having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a lip between the interior and exterior surfaces, and a wick having a first end disposed inside the container, a second end disposed outside of the container, and an intermediate portion extending across the lip of the container. A package may include the product, a liquid product carried within the container, and a closure coupled to the container to squeeze the wick to interrupt flow of the liquid product therethrough.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A package comprising:
a product that includes:
a container having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a lip between the interior and exterior surfaces; and
a wick having a first end disposed inside the container, a second end disposed outside of the container, and an intermediate portion extending across the lip of the container; and

a liquid product carried in the container, and a closure coupled to the container to close the container and pinch the wick between the closure and the container to interrupt flow of the liquid product wicking therethrough.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the container includes at least one closure engagement feature over or through which the wick extends.

3. The package of claim 1 wherein the container is composed of glass or ceramic and the wick is composed of an inorganic material.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the wick is composed of a silica gel.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the wick is composed of an organic material.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein the wick is composed of a fibrous cellulose material.

7. The package of claim 1 wherein the wick includes a liquid activated colorant.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein the closure includes a base wall, wherein the wick is pinched between the base wall and the container lip.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein the container includes at least one closure engagement feature and the closure includes an outer annular skirt extending axially from the base wall and including at least one container engagement feature for cooperation with the at least one closure engagement feature of the container.

10. A package that includes:
a container having a finish;
a closure removably secured to the finish; and
a wick extending from within the container over the finish and between the closure and the finish to indicate when the closure has been removed from the finish, the wick being squeezed by the closure against the finish to prevent transfer of liquid along the wick, such that removal of the closure allows liquid to travel along the wick to an observable portion of the wick outside of the container.

11. The package set forth in claim 10 wherein the wick is disposed in a channel that extends along at least one of an inside surface or an outside surface of the finish.

12. The package set forth in claim 10 that includes a liquid product carried in the container, wherein the wick includes a first end extending below a level of the liquid product, a second end extending outside of the container, and an intermediate portion squeezed between the closure and the container.

13. The package of claim 10 wherein the container includes at least one closure engagement feature and the closure includes an outer annular skirt extending axially from the base wall and including at least one container engagement feature for cooperation with the at least one closure engagement feature of the container.

14. The package of claim 10 wherein the container is composed of glass or ceramic and the wick is composed of a silica gel or a cellulose material and includes a liquid activated colorant.

15. A method of producing a package that includes:
coupling a wick to a container so that a first end of the wick extends into the container, a second end extends out of the container, and an intermediate portion extends over a lip of the container;
filling the container with a liquid product; and
applying a closure to the container to pinch the wick between the closure and the container lip.

16. A package produced by the method of claim 15 .

17. A method of using the package of claim 16 , including removing the closure from the container to unpinch the wick so that the liquid product flows though the wick toward the second end to indicate opening of the package.

Assignees

• Owens Brockway Glass Container
• Owens—Brockway Glass Container Inc

Inventors

• Cooper Scott P

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

• B65D2203/12

  Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means (B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2401/55

  based on a change or a contrast in colour · CPC title

• B65D25/00

  Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers · CPC title

• B65D51/248

  the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles (B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02) · CPC title