Patent Description:
A further field of application is in the beauty sector and the cosmetic sector where the typical situation in stores is as follows liquid soaps, such as shampoo, body wash and the like, as well as cosmetic items, such as mascara, lip-gloss, lip-stick, make-up, etc., are typically stored in shop shelfs for selling. In order to prevent the unused cosmetic items of being opened the stores offer test items which the consumers are supposed to use for test purposes in order to evaluate in the store whether the product of interest is to the customers satisfaction or not. Such an item is for instance a cosmetic unit (e.g. Mascara) which can be opened and tested by the consumer right at the point of sale. The aim is to convince the user to buy the tested product. Tester units are standard on the market and in the stores. Unfortunately, many consumers do not follow the rules of using only the tester units. They simply open unopened packages as new tester units as they are "fresh" and use these. What makes matters worse is that in some instances the same consumers who already opened a fresh package then proceed to buy a further fresh - unopened - package.

The contamination after the first opening cannot always be recognized, as a lot of the packages do not have any protection, such as a tamper-proof evidence.

Even if the units are marked with labels (applied along the cap and the bottle) the indication of already opened units is not clear. If such labels break, the customer can directly see the damage and pick another product. However, from time to time it happens that the label can simply peel-off (e.g. in the area of the bottle) without being broken. This leads some consumers to remove the label, to then test the product and then after use the consumer can easily press-on the label back at the initial position. The product seems to be visually unopened, but in fact the contamination process has already started.

A prior art container is known from <CIT>. This container shows a visual first opening indicator for visually indicating whether a container has been opened, the container having a bottle and a closure attached thereto for repeated closing and opening of the container, the visual first opening indicator comprising an inner ring and an outer closure, wherein the inner ring is received within the outer closure, the inner ring being rotatable relative to the outer closure, wherein the outer closure comprises a hole which, in an activated state, shows a projection of the inner ring after a first opening of the container and which in a storage state shows one of a different part of the inner ring and no part of the inner ring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container having a visual first-opening-indication function and a corresponding visual first opening indicator that are able to be manufactured in an as simple as possible manner and that reliably ensure a visual first indication of whether the container has been previously opened or not, so that respective customers do not use and/or purchase containers in which a contamination process has already started.

This object is satisfied by a visual first opening indicator, by a container and by a method of first-time activation of a container in accordance with the respective independent claim.

A visual first opening indicator for visually indicating whether a container has been opened, the container having a bottle and a lid attached thereto for repeated closing and opening of the container, the visual first opening indicator comprising an inner ring and an outer ring, wherein the inner ring is received within the outer ring, the inner ring being rotatable relative to the outer ring, wherein the outer ring comprises an indication window which, in an activated state, shows a part of the inner ring after a first opening of the container and which in a storage state does not show a part of the inner ring.

In this way a visual aid can be provided in which a state of the container can be indicated visually, with the states comprising a storage state indicated by a first state visible via the indication window prior to opening of the container and an open or activated state which is also indicated via the indication window in which a second state of the container is visible via the indication window. In this connection it may be such that a part of the inner ring is visible via the indication window after opening that was previously not visible.

By providing the first opening indicator with an indication window via which different parts can be seen, different states of use can be reliably indicated, such that respective customers do not use and/or purchase containers, such as mascara pens, in which a contamination process has already started.

The labels previously applied to the containers as tamper proof evidence are applied in a subsequent step after filling of the respective containers. The parts of the visual first opening indicator are present in the container prior to filling of the container. The visual first opening indicator is assembled automatically from these parts once the container is filled and the lid is attached to the bottle. The fillers of the containers hence do not need to adapt their manufacturing processes and no longer need to include the subsequent step. Moreover, the containers can be filled in the same way as they were previously filled meaning that the manufacturing process does not need to be adapted in any way, if at all, it is simplified.

The visual first opening indicator can be attached in a simple manner at a container such that a container equipped with such a first opening indicator can be provided having a first-opening-indication function.

Such a visual first opening indicator can be formed reliably and efficiently either by injection molding or through additive manufacturing in an as simple as possible manner.

The inner ring may be configured to be secured into position after the first opening in the activated state. By using such a securing member one can avoid the first opening indicator indicating an unopened state albeit the container already having been opened.

The inner ring may be configured to be secured into position at the outer ring after the first opening in the activated state. By securing the inner ring into position at the outer ring an as compact as possible container can be made available.

The inner ring may comprise one or more projections projecting therefrom. Such projections can be used as a part moveable into the indication window to provide an indication function. It is possible in this connection to provide not only one indication window but two or more such indication windows in order to reliably and redundantly show whether a container has been opened or not.

One of the one or more projections may be visible through the indication window after the first opening of the container in the activated state of the container. This reliably ensures an indication of whether the container has been opened or not.

The visual first opening indicator may further comprise a tongue projecting from the inner ring, wherein the tongue projects from the inner ring at a top side of the inner ring. Such an element can be reliably used to move parts of the first opening indicator to indicate the different states of use reliably.

The tongue may project through an aperture of the outer ring. In this way an as compact as possible visual first opening indicator can be formed.

The tongue may secure the inner ring into position after the first opening in the activated state. Thereby a part having different functions can be provided, an entraining function and a securing function. The use of parts with more than one function also ensures an as compact as possible container.

The tongue may secure the inner ring into position, in particular at the outer ring, after the first opening in the activated state by means of at least one of a snap fit connection, a snap lock connection, a biased connection, a friction fit connection, a slide and lock connection, and a press fit connection. Such connections are well known and comparatively simple to implement leading to an as compact as possible container.

The tongue may be configured to interact with the lid on moving the inner ring from the storage position into the activated position of the visual first opening indicator. In this way a part of the visual first opening indicator can be contacted while opening the container in a reliable manner.

The outer ring may comprise a securing element configured to interact with the inner ring to secure the inner ring into position after a first activation of the visual first opening indicator, in particular wherein the securing element is one of a pin, a recess, a projection, a wall and a ledge. Such a securing element is simple to produce and ensures an as reliable and an as compact as possible container.

The tongue may engage the securing element to secure the inner ring at the outer ring after first activation of the visual first opening indicator.

The object is further satisfied by a container comprising a visual first opening indicator, a bottle and a lid attached thereto for repeated closing and opening of the container, the visual first opening indicator being arranged at the interface between the bottle and the lid, with the visual first opening indicator extending around a part of the bottle at said interface and being activated on a first opening of said container.

The lid may comprise one or more ledges configured to interact with the inner ring on moving the lid. In this way a reliable visual first indication function can be provided on opening of the container for the first time by way of at least one ledge.

The lid may comprise one or more ledges and at least one of the one or more ledges are configured to interact with the tongue of the inner ring on moving the lid. Such projections or the like can be reliably used to interact with the visual first opening indicator in a reliable manner using an as compact as possible container.

The visual first opening indicator may be arranged at a bottle neck of said bottle. In this way an as compact as possible container is realised.

The visual first opening indicator may extend completely around said part of the bottle. In this way a visual first opening indicator can be provided that can be integrated into the design of the container in order to create a container with an appealing look and/or design.

The container may be filled with a material M, with the material for example comprising a member selected from the group of members consisting of a beauty product, a cosmetic product, a cleaning product, a skin care product, a medical product, a dental product, a pharmaceutical product, such as those comprising monoclonal antibodies, insulin, hormones (fertility, as well as growth), peptides, vaccines, and a medical adhesive, an adhesive, a lubricant, a paint, and a building material.

The container may be a part, e.g. a housing, of a dose delivery mechanism such as a pen injector. Accordingly, the lid, e.g. a cap, can be configured to be used for a dose delivery mechanism, such as a pen injector. The dose delivery mechanism may be a disposable dose delivery mechanism, in particular a single use or multi-use disposable dose delivery mechanism. The dose delivery mechanism may include a dose setting member and/or a dose activation member. The dose delivery mechanism can be used to inject a dose of monoclonal antibodies, insulin, hormones such as fertility or growth hormones, peptides, or vaccines.

The above object is also satisfied by a method of first time activating a container, the method may comprise the steps of moving the lid of the container relative to the bottle, thereby contacting the visual first opening indicator and moving this from a storage state into an activated state indicating that a first opening of the container has taken place.

Further embodiments of the invention are described in the following description of the figures and/or the dependent claims attached to this specification. The invention will be explained in the following in detail by means of embodiments and with reference to the drawing in which is shown:.

In the following the same reference numerals will be used for parts having the same or equivalent function. Any statements made having regard to the direction of a component are made relative to the position shown in the drawing and can naturally vary in the actual position of application.

<FIG> show schematic views of a container <NUM>. The container <NUM> comprises a visual first opening indicator <NUM> for visually indicating whether the container <NUM> has been opened or not. The container <NUM> has a bottle <NUM> and a lid <NUM> attached thereto for repeated closing and opening of the container <NUM>. The visual first opening indicator <NUM> is arranged at an interface <NUM> between the bottle <NUM> and the lid <NUM>, with the visual first opening indicator <NUM> extending around a part of the bottle <NUM> at said interface <NUM> and being activated on a first opening of said container <NUM>.

The visual first opening indicator <NUM> comprises an inner ring <NUM> that is indicated with a hatched portion in <FIG> and is shown in detail in <FIG>. The visual first opening indicator <NUM> further comprises an outer ring <NUM>, with the inner ring <NUM> being received within the outer ring <NUM>. The inner ring <NUM> is rotatable relative to the outer ring <NUM> as indicated by the arrow denoted R. In the present case the inner ring <NUM> is configured to be moved in one direction R of rotation only.

The outer ring <NUM> comprises an indication window <NUM> which, in an activated state, shows a part of the inner ring <NUM> after a first opening of the container <NUM> and which in a storage state shows a different part of the inner ring <NUM>. For reasons of improved visibility the inner ring <NUM> may have a colour that differs from the colour of the outer ring <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, only the part of the inner ring <NUM> visible via the indication window <NUM> after the first opening of the container <NUM>, i.e. always thereafter, could be of a different colour. This part then only being visible once the container <NUM> has been opened.

As indicated e.g. in <FIG>, the inner ring <NUM> has a projection <NUM> projecting radially outwardly therefrom. This projection <NUM> is visible through the indication window <NUM> after the first opening of the container <NUM> in the activated state of the container <NUM>, i.e. this projection <NUM> is previously not visible via the indication window <NUM>. It is also possible that an outer surface of the projection <NUM> is provided in a colour different to the outer ring <NUM> and/or of the remainder of the inner ring <NUM> respectively, or is provided with some form of coating or marking, with this different colour, coating or marking then being visible via the indication window only after the first opening of the container <NUM>, to indicate that the container <NUM> has previously been opened.

In this connection it should be noted that the inner ring <NUM> can also be provided with a cut-out <NUM> (see e.g. <FIG>) or recess that is then seen via the indication window <NUM> prior to the first opening of the container <NUM>, such that it appears that no part of the inner ring <NUM> is visible via the indication window <NUM> in the storage state of the container <NUM>.

The inner ring <NUM> is configured to be secured into position after the first opening in the activated state, i.e. after the lid <NUM> is rotated relative to the bottle <NUM> for the first time. Specifically, the inner ring <NUM> is configured to be secured into position at the outer ring <NUM> after the first opening in the activated state.

The visual first opening indicator <NUM> further comprises a tongue <NUM> projecting from the inner ring <NUM>, wherein the tongue <NUM> projects from the inner ring <NUM> at a top side <NUM> of the inner ring <NUM>. In this connection a top side <NUM> of the inner ring <NUM> is that side of the inner ring <NUM> arranged closest to the lid <NUM>.

The tongue <NUM> projects through an aperture <NUM> of the outer ring <NUM> in the storage state of the container <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> is configured to interact with the lid <NUM> on moving the inner ring <NUM> from the storage position into the activated position of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> also secures the inner ring <NUM> into position after the first opening in the activated state.

The lid <NUM> comprises one or more ledges <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" of which one is configured to interact with the inner ring <NUM> on moving the lid <NUM>. Specifically, the lid <NUM> comprises a first ledge <NUM>' that engages the tongue <NUM> on a first opening by entraining the tongue <NUM> in the direction R of rotation and on attaching the lid <NUM> again at the bottle, i.e. by rotating the lid against the direction of rotation R, the second ledge <NUM>" can urge the tongue <NUM> into a secured position if the tongue <NUM> was not previously secured after the first opening and thereby hinders the tongue <NUM> from projecting from the top side <NUM> after the closing of the container <NUM> and also aids in locking the inner ring <NUM> to the outer ring <NUM>.

The visual first opening indicator <NUM> is arranged at a bottle neck <NUM> of said bottle <NUM>. As indicated e.g. in <FIG> the visual first opening indicator <NUM> is a complete ring and hence extends completely around said neck <NUM> once installed at the bottle <NUM>. This is achieved by installing the visual first opening indicator <NUM> at the container <NUM> by means of a snap-fit connection and/or bonding, e.g. using an adhesive, and/or ultrasonic welding.

The visual first opening indicator <NUM> could additionally alternatively be attached to the bottle by at least one of a snap-fit connection, a snap-lock connection a press-fit connection, a biased connection, a friction-fit connection, and combinations thereof.

The lid <NUM> is screwed into place at the bottle <NUM> via threaded parts (not shown) u a manner known per se. Other types of closures, such as a bayonet closure are also possible, provided the closure has a rotational component in order to entrain the tongue <NUM> on a first opening of the container <NUM>.

<FIG> show schematic part sectional views of the container <NUM> in the storage state. A part of the outer ring <NUM> is cut away in order to see the tongue <NUM> in more detail. The tongue <NUM> extends upwardly from the top side <NUM> of the inner ring <NUM>. At the point of attachment of the tongue <NUM> to the inner ring <NUM>, the inner ring comprises a recess <NUM>. This recess <NUM> may be of circular shape. On entraining the tongue <NUM> in the direction R of rotation the tongue <NUM> contacts a top surface <NUM> of the outer ring <NUM>, i.e. a wall, in order to deflect the tongue <NUM> from the position it has in the storage state where it projects from the top side <NUM> of the inner ring <NUM> into a held or locked position, where it can no longer project through the aperture <NUM> and be entrained by the lid <NUM>.

The tongue <NUM> secures the inner ring <NUM> into position, in particular at the outer ring <NUM>, after the first opening in the activated state by means of at least one of a snap fit connection, a snap lock connection, a biased connection, a friction fit connection, a slide and lock connection and a press fit connection.

For this purpose, the outer ring <NUM> comprises a securing element <NUM> configured to interact with the inner ring <NUM> to secure the inner ring <NUM> into position after a first activation of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>. In the present example the securing element <NUM> is the top surface <NUM>, as once the tongue <NUM> is held down by the top surface <NUM>, the ledges <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" of the lid <NUM> can no longer engage the tongue <NUM>, thus a slide and lock connection is made available in which the tongue <NUM> is slid under the top surface <NUM> where it is then held, i.e. locked, into position.

Additionally, the securing element could comprise one of a pin, a recess, a projection, and a ledge. For example, the outer ring <NUM> could comprise a pin that is engaged by the circular recess <NUM> in order to also hold the tongue <NUM> into position at the outer ring <NUM>.

The container <NUM> in use is filled with a material M, with the material M for example comprising a member selected from the group of members consisting of a beauty product, a cosmetic product, a cleaning product, a skin care product, a medical product, a dental product, a pharmaceutical product, an adhesive, a paint, and a building material.

<FIG> show schematic part sectional views of the container of <FIG> in an activated state. Having been entrained by the first ledge <NUM>', the tongue <NUM> is in engagement with the securing element <NUM> in order to secure the inner ring <NUM> at the outer ring <NUM> by having been moved beneath the top surface <NUM>. As the tongue <NUM> is so to say tucked away beneath the top surface <NUM> that acts like a shield, so that the tongue <NUM> is shielded from the second ledge <NUM>" of the lid <NUM>. Thus, the second ledge <NUM>" cannot come into contact with the tongue <NUM> on closing the container <NUM> by screwing the lid <NUM> back on and this is hence secured into position at the outer ring <NUM>.

The projection <NUM> is also visible in the cut-away portion and via the indication window. For this purpose, the projection <NUM> is indicated with a hatched surface in <FIG>. In the storage state this part of the inner ring <NUM> is not visible via the indication window, but in the activated state, i.e. after a first opening of the container <NUM>, the projection <NUM> is visible.

On a first time activation of the container <NUM>, the lid <NUM> of the container <NUM> is moved relative to the bottle <NUM>. Thereby the first ledge <NUM>' contacts the tongue <NUM>, which moves the inner ring <NUM> relative to the outer ring <NUM>. On moving the tongue <NUM> this contacts the top surface <NUM> and is urged downwardly away from the lid <NUM> and is moved beneath the top surface <NUM>. Hence a first time opening of the container <NUM> leads to a contacting of the visual first opening indicator <NUM> and moves this from the storage state into the activated state indicating that a first opening of the container <NUM> has taken place.

<FIG> show various views of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>. <FIG> shows a side view on to the indication window <NUM>. The outer ring <NUM>, like the tongue <NUM> projecting from the inner ring <NUM> are visible.

<FIG> shows a further side view of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>, with this having been rotated by <NUM>°. The indication window is not visible in this view.

<FIG> shows a perspective top view of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>. A nose <NUM> is present at an inner surface of the <NUM> of the outer ring <NUM>. By means of this nose <NUM> the visual first opening indicator <NUM> can be attached at the bottle <NUM>. The nose <NUM> can snap fit into a complementary shaped groove (not shown) at the bottle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective bottom view of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>. A further nose <NUM> is visible as are a first and second recess <NUM>, <NUM>'. By using a second nose <NUM> the attachment to the bottle <NUM> can be improved.

The first and second recesses <NUM>, <NUM>' differ in size in order to bring about a coded alignment of the visual first opening indicator <NUM> at the bottle <NUM> in order to ensure a correct attachment of the visual first opening indicator <NUM> at the bottle <NUM> by placing the first and second recesses <NUM>, <NUM>' at correspondingly shaped (i.e. height and/or width) formations (not shown) present at the bottle <NUM>.

This could be achieved in a similar manner using only a single recess that cooperates with a nose, projection or the like (not shown) at the bottle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a top view of the visual first opening indicator <NUM>. The two noses <NUM> are visible as projecting from the inner surface of the outer ring <NUM>.

The two noses <NUM>, like the first and second recesses <NUM>, <NUM>' are used to install the visual first opening indicator <NUM> at the bottle <NUM>. For this purpose, the bottle <NUM> comprises grooves and projections (not shown) that are complementary in shape to the noses <NUM> and the first and second recesses <NUM>, <NUM>'.

Thus, to attach the visual first opening indicator <NUM> at the bottle <NUM>, the visual first opening indicator <NUM> can comprise one or more noses <NUM> and/or one or more recesses <NUM>, <NUM>', with the bottle <NUM> then having parts cooperating therewith that are of complementary size and shape.

<FIG> shows various views of the inner ring <NUM> of the visual first opening indicator <NUM> in similar positions to the visual first opening indicator <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The inner ring <NUM> has an inner part <NUM> and an outer part <NUM>, with the inner part <NUM> extending completely around the inner circumference of the inner ring <NUM>, i.e. the inner ring <NUM> is a continuous ring. The outer part <NUM> of the inner ring <NUM> has the cut out <NUM>, the projection <NUM> and the tongue <NUM>. The inner ring <NUM> is integrally formed from one piece.

Claim 1:
A visual first opening indicator (<NUM>) for visually indicating whether a container (<NUM>) has been opened, the container (<NUM>) having a bottle (<NUM>) and a lid (<NUM>) attached thereto for repeated closing and opening of the container (<NUM>), the visual first opening indicator (<NUM>) comprising an inner ring (<NUM>) and an outer ring (<NUM>), wherein the inner ring (<NUM>) is received within the outer ring (<NUM>), the inner ring (<NUM>) being rotatable relative to the outer ring (<NUM>), wherein the outer ring (<NUM>) comprises an indication window (<NUM>) which, in an activated state, shows a part of the inner ring (<NUM>) after a first opening of the container (<NUM>) and which in a storage state shows one of a different part of the inner ring (<NUM>), and no part of the inner ring (<NUM>).