Patent Publication Number: US-7213720-B2

Title: Resealable moisture tight containers for strips and the like

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/417,533, filed Oct. 10, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a resealable container and cap assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items, including but not limited to edible breath-freshening strips, drug-delivery strips, diagnostic test strips, and effervescent tablets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a resealable container and cap assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items, including but not limited to edible breath-freshening strips, drug delivery strips, diagnostic test strips, and effervescent tablets. 
     The container substantially prohibits the ingress of moisture into the container through the lid when the container is sealed. In other words, it is substantially moisture-proof. In another aspect of the invention, the container assembly is provided with a desiccant or similar material, which reduces the moisture present within the container when it is sealed. That is, after the container has been sealed, the desiccant absorbs moisture present therein. Likewise, after the container has been opened and then resealed, the desiccant absorbs moisture that entered the cavity when the container was opened. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the assembly comprises a cap and container that may be attached by a hinge. The hinge has a recess. The recess forms two elements, the first element being attached to the cap portion and the second element being attached to the container portion. In still a further embodiment, the recess functions as a bending point during the opening and closing of the container assembly. 
     The container has a sidewall depending downwardly from a top container surface. A bottom container surface is joined to the sidewall. The top container surface is provided with an opening, permitting access to the interior of the container. The opening is bounded by a lip that depends upward from the top container surface. A rim is positioned on the outside of the upper end of the lip. 
     The cap portion of the assembly is attached to the container portion by a hinge. The cap portion has a base portion with an outer periphery that extends over the container portion. In one embodiment, a portion of the base portion serves as a tab for facilitating the opening and closing of the container assembly. In yet another embodiment, the base portion is provided with a skirt that depends downwardly from a central portion of the base portion. The skirt is positioned at a location on the base portion that allows the skirt to enter into a closing relationship with lip of the container portion, in which the skirt of the base portion fits over the periphery of the lip provided on the top container surface (or, as the case may be, the skirt fits within the periphery of the lip). The skirt of the base portion has an end distal to where the skirt joins the cap portion. At the distal end of the skirt, the skirt is provided with an inward extension, which extends around the interior periphery of the skirt. Similarly, the lip of the container portion is provided with an end distal to where the lip joins the container portion, and the distal end of the lip is provided with an outward facing extension, which extends around the periphery of the lip. In effect, the extension on the skirt and the extension on the lip face each other. In constructing this arrangement on the skirt and lip, the extensions will abut and interlock with each other when the cap is closed on the container portion. In this arrangement, the interlocking, abutting extensions will form at least a substantially moisture-tight sealing arrangement with each other. 
     In yet another embodiment, a lip seal member depends downwardly and extends around the cap portion. The lip seal member is positioned interior to the skirt, which also depends downwardly from the base portion. Further, the lip seal member is positioned to lie interior of the lip extending upward from the container portion. When the cap is in the closed position, the lip seal member abuts the interior side of the distal end of the lip. In this arrangement, the lip seal (1) provides a sealing position, in addition to the one between the skirt and the lip; and (2) applies pressure on the lip from the inside out, which in turn applies pressure on the skirt, thereby applying tightening the seal between the skirt and the lip. 
     In yet another embodiment, the cap and/or container contain a desiccant, in the shape of a disc (e.g. puck), sleeve, or other desired shapes. 
     In yet another embodiment, the assembly includes an elastomeric liner applied to selected regions of the assembly. For example, elastomeric liner may be positioned on the interior surface of the cap, between the skirt and where the lip seals are provided, it may line the lip seals as well. 
     In yet another embodiment, the skirt depending downward from the base portion has a distal end that is provided with an inward extension. The lip has an end distal to the location where the lip joins the container top surface, where the recess is positioned. The recess is adapted to receive the extension when the cap portion is closed upon the container portion. 
     In one embodiment, the containers of the present invention have a relatively small height dimension, making them well adapted to fit in a handbag, purse, or pocket. Despite this small height dimension, the container is well suited to storing items such as candies, edible breath-freshening strips, and diagnostic test strips, such as those employed in testing blood glucose levels. 
     In yet another embodiment, the opening of the container is irregular in its shape, not having a uniform radius. In other words, it is not circular. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a lip seal for a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of another lip seal for a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a feature shown in the  FIG. 7  embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a container of the present invention, as an item is removed from the container; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a container of the present invention in the closed position; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing features of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIGS. 12A to 12N  show views of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 13A to 13E  show views of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The container and cap assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items, including but not limited to edible breath-freshening strips, drug-delivery strips, diagnostic test strips, and effervescent tablets, substantially prohibits the ingress of moisture into the container through the lid when the container and cap are sealed. 
     The assembly  10  is generally provided with a cap portion  12  and container portion  14  that are attached by a hinge  16 . The hinge  16  has a recess  16 ′. The recess  16 ′ forms two elements, the first element being attached to the cap portion and the second element being attached to the container portion In still a further embodiment, the recess functions as a bending point during the opening and closing of the container assembly. 
     The container portion has a container base  8  and a sidewall  11  depending upwardly from the base  8 . A top container surface  17  extends inward from the sidewalls. The top container surface  17  is provided with an opening  20 , permitting access to the interior of the container. The opening  20  is bounded by a lip  22  that extends upward from the top container surface  17 . Lip  22  extends around the periphery of the opening  20 . The lip  22  has an end  21  distal to the location where the lip joins the container top surface, where an extension  23  is positioned and faces outward, relative to the opening  20 . The extension  23  extends around the periphery of the lip distal end  21 . 
     The cap portion  12  has a base portion  24  with an outer periphery  25  that extends over at least a portion of the container portion. In one embodiment, a portion of the base portion  24  serves as a tab  13  for facilitating the opening and closing of the container assembly. The base portion  24  is provided with a skirt  26  that depends downwardly from the base portion. The skirt  26  is positioned at a location on the base portion  24  that allows the skirt  26  to enter into a closing relationship with lip  22  of the container portion  14 , in which the skirt  26  of the base portion  24  fits over the periphery of the lip  22  provided on the top container surface (or, as the case may be, the skirt fits within the periphery of the lip). The skirt  26  of the base portion  24  has an end  27  distal to the end at which the skirt joins the cap portion. At the distal end  27  of the skirt, the skirt is provided with an inward extension  28 , which extends around the interior periphery of the skirt. When the cap portion is closed on the container portion, the extension  28  on the skirt  26  and the extension  23  on the lip  22  face each other. Further, when the cap portion is closed on the container portion, the extensions will abut and interlock with each other. In this arrangement, the interlocking, abutting extensions will form a moisture-tight seal with each other. 
     In yet another embodiment, a lip seal member  30  depends downwardly and extends around the inside of the cap portion  12 . The lip seal member  30  is positioned interior to the skirt  26  which also depends downwardly from the base portion  24 . Further, the lip seal member  30  is positioned to lie interior of the lip  22  that extends upward from the container portion  14 , and abut the interior side of the distal end of the lip  22 , when the cap is in the closed position. In this arrangement, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the lip seal (1) provides a sealing position, in addition to the one between the skirt and the lip; and (2) applies pressure on the lip from the inside out, which in turn applies pressure on the skirt, thereby tightening the seal between the skirt and the lip.  FIG. 4  shows a component  30 ′ present as a hollowed out member. 
     In yet another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the structure of the lip  22 ′ has a distal end  27 ′ provided with an extension  28 ′. The skirt  26 ′ has a recess  23 ′ positioned near where the skirt depends from the base portion  24 ′. The recess  23 ′ is adapted to receive the extension  28 ′ when the cap portion is closed upon the container portion. When the cap portion is closed on the container portion, the abutting arrangement between the lip and the skirt, and presence of the extension within the recess, forms a substantially moisture tight seal.  FIG. 11  shows the configuration for such an arrangement. 
     In yet another embodiment, the cap and/or container contain a desiccant, in the shape of a disc (e.g. puck), sleeve, or other shapes. In one embodiment, a desiccant entrained plastic is located in a desiccant liner that covers at least a portion of the cap and/or container, such as the desiccant-entrained plastic sleeve  34  positioned at the bottom of the container. See  FIG. 2 , where the sleeve  34  is shown surrounding the item stored within the container on three of the item&#39;s sides. In one embodiment, such a sleeve or liner can surround the stored item(s) on more or less than three sides. See, e.g.,  FIG. 7 , where the desiccant insert is positioned on the container base. When the container assembly is repeatedly opened and closed, the desiccant-entrained plastic sleeve re-establishes the low relative humidity environment inside the container assembly in a short period of time (e.g. in as low as less than about one minute), when a desiccant, such as the sleeve of  FIG. 2 , is included in the assembly. 
     The desiccant-entrained plastic contains a desiccant such as silica gel or molecular sieve as the desiccant. Depending on the application, such as the application intended by the end user, molecular sieve or silica gel desiccant can be provided in the sleeve. For example, molecular sieve can be used for applications that require a low RH (e.g. less than &lt;10% RH) maintained over the shelf life. In another example, silica gel can maintain a RH of 10–30% over a two-year shelf life. 
     Suitable desiccant entrained plastic include, but are not limited to, these desiccant plastics disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,937, 6,214,255, 6,130,263, 6,080,350 and 6,174,952, 6,124,006, and 6,221,446. These references are incorporated herein by reference. By varying the desiccant loading and channeling agent in the plastic formulation, the overall moisture capacity and uptake rate of the desiccant entrained plastic can be controlled. In embodiments where containers include desiccant material, they may be formed by two shot molding techniques. 
     In yet another embodiment, the assembly includes an elastomeric liner  36  applied to selected regions of the assembly. For example, elastomeric liner may be positioned on the interior surface of the cap portion, lying inside the skirt. Where the lip seals are provided, it may line them as well. In one example, a suitable elastomer is EPDM, commercially available under the trade name Santoprene. 
     The containers of the present invention are formed of plastic materials, by injection molding or other suitable molding techniques. For example, the containers may be molded of polypropylene. In one embodiment, the containers can be formed as a single closed unit, with the hinge joining the cap portion to the container portion. Alternatively, the pieces can be molded separately, the container portion can be loaded with the item to be retained in the container, and then the container and cap portion can be snap-fit together and/or welded, in order to provide moisture-tightness. In yet another embodiment, the cap and container portions can be formed as separate parts, loaded with the desired item, the container and cap can be fit together, and the parts joined, e.g., by welding (such as by sonic welding or by thermal welding). In yet another embodiment, the cap and container can be formed in a single piece (for example, joined at the hinge), yet open, as in a clamshell arrangement. The assembly can be filled with contents, closed shut, and then joined, e.g., welded to form a seal, as described above. 
     An embodiment depicting a two-part assembly is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 9  and  12 . In this embodiment, assembly  100  is provided with cover component  102  and tray component  120 . The cover component  102  has a cap portion  104  that is joined to upper component  108  by hinge  106 . As shown, cap portion  104  has sidewalls  90  located at the periphery of the cap base  92 . The hinge  106  is joined to one of the sidewalls  90 . Within the space of the sidewalls, the underside of the cap base  92  has a recess  93  in which the lip  22 ″, depending from the cap base  92 , is located. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the lip  22 ″, which extends in a loop around a portion of the cap base  92 , is positioned to be received in the opening  112  of upper component  108 , when the cap portion is closed on the opening  112 . The lip  22 ″ is provided with an end  23 ″ distal to where the lip  22 ″ is joined to the cap base  92 . As best seen in  FIG. 7A , the distal end  23 ″ of lip  22 ″ has a tapered edge  25 ″, which is adapted to lie substantially flush against the surface  132  of the edge  130 , when the lip  22 ″ of the cap portion  104  is closed on the opening  112  of the upper component  108 . Thus, when the cap portion  104  is closed on the opening  112  of the upper component  108 , the tapered edge  25 ″ of the lip  22 ″ lies substantially flush against the flexible edge  130  surrounding the opening  112  in the top surface  109  of the cover component  102 . 
     At the end of the cap portion  104  that is opposite the hinge, cap latch component  105 , depending from the cap base  92 , is located. In one embodiment, hooks  107  are provided on the cap latch.  105 . In another embodiment, a tab  116 , to facilitate opening of the cap portion, when it is closed on the opening  112 , is provided on the cap portion. 
     Upper component  108  has top wall  109  from which sidewalls  110  and sloped wall  115  depend downward. Opening  112  is provided in the top wall  109 . In the embodiment relating to hooks, hooks configured to mate with and compliment the hooks  107  on the cap portion  104  are positioned at one end of the upper component  108 . At the end opposite where the hooks are positioned, hinge  106  is joined to the upper component  108 . The upper component may have a recess  111  for the hinge  106 , positioned between elevated portions  109 ′ of top wall  109 . 
     The tray component  120  is provided with sidewalls  124  and sloped wall  126  depending upward from the base of the tray  122 . Sloped wall  126  is complimentary in its shape to the sloped wall  115  of the upper component  108 . The side walls define a cavity  128  where items can be stored. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the edges  130  of the opening  112  provided in the top wall  109  are formed of a flexible plastic material that slopes downward, into the opening  112 . The edges extend around the periphery of the opening  112 . 
     Again, seen in  FIG. 7A , the distal end  23 ″ of lip  22 ″ has a tapered edge  25 ″, which is adapted to lie flush against the surface  132  of the edge  130 , when the lip  22 ″ of the cap portion  104  is closed on the opening  112  of the upper component  108 . Thus, when the cap portion  104  is closed on the opening  112  of the upper component  108 , the tapered edge  25 ″ of the lip  22 ″ lies flush against the flexible edge  130  surrounding the opening  112  in the top surface  109  of the upper component  108 , thereby sealing the opening from substantial moisture ingress. 
     In the closed position ( FIG. 7 ), hooks  107 ,  114 , provided on the cap portion  104  and the upper component  108 , respectively, are engaged with each other, to maintain the cap portion  104  closed on the upper component  108 . 
     The cover component  102  is adapted to fit over the tray component  120 , in order to form a container assembly. The cover component and the tray component can be loaded with items to be dispensed through the opening and then joined together, in the ways previously described herein. 
     As seen in  FIG. 7 , a stack of items is positioned in the container. Opening  112  is sized to permit a person to insert at least a portion of his or her finger therein. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a person can slide a portion of the index finger inside the hole, sliding an item up the sloped wall of the cavity  128  ( FIG. 7 ), and through the opening. 
     A desiccant material, such as a desiccant sleeve, can be positioned in the container. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sleeve  34 ′ may be positioned along the base  122  of the tray component, or anywhere else along the interior of the assembly, where the item(s) is stored. 
       FIG. 9  shows the assembly in the closed position. It will be readily appreciated that the assembly is relatively compact, and will fit within a purse, handbag, or pocket, without taking up an undesired amount of space. 
       FIGS. 12A–12N  show various views of another embodiment of a container assembly. Features of this embodiment are similar to the features of the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 6–9 , with some differences as described here. The shape of the opening is asymmetrical. Also, the cover component  102  has a two hinge arrangement. Hinge  106  is as described above. Hinge  206  joins the first and second cap portions  104 A and  104 B. The lip of the cap portion is located on component  104 B. Cap portion  104 B is provided with tabs  208  that depend downward therefrom. Tabs  208  are sized and positioned to be received in recess  210  located on the top wall  109 , and are received therein when the cap portion  104 B is closed upon the top wall  109 . In one embodiment, cap portion  104 B may never be opened again, once it has been closed as described herein. The cap portion  104 A is opened and shut at hinge  206 . 
       FIGS. 13A–12E  show various views of yet another embodiment of a container assembly. Features of this embodiment are similar to the features of the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1–5  and  6 – 9 . As shown, the shape of the opening is asymmetrical. Also, the cap component has a one hinge arrangement. The hinge joins the lid to a portion of the cap. In use, the cap portion is opened and shut at the hinge with the lid. In one example of constructing the assembly, the container base is made of two materials—at least a portion of the interior of the base is composed of a desiccant entrained plastic and the remaining portion of the base is composed of a substantially water impermeable plastic (e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene). The lid is welded (e.g. ultrasonic welding) to the cap portion. After the container is filled with the desired material, the cap is joined to container (e.g. ultrasonic welding). The result is a moisture tight container. 
     At least some or all of the embodiments of the present invention can be molded according to techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re 37,676 (a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,085), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,812,116, and 4,783,056, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     As used herein, the terms “moisture-tight” and “moisture-sensitive” mean the moisture ingress of the container (after three days) was less than about 750 micrograms of water, preferably, about 250 micrograms of water, more preferably, about 150 micrograms of water determined by the following test method: (a) place one gram plus or minus 0.25 grams of molecular sieve in the container and record the weight; (b) fully close the container; (c) place the closed container in an environmental chamber at conditions of 80% relative humidity and 72 EF; (c) after one day, weigh the container containing the molecular sieve; (d) after four days, weigh the container containing the molecular sieve; and (e) subtract the first day sample from the fourth day sample to calculate the moisture ingress of the container in units of micrograms of water.