Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/22—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents
  • B65D1/26—Thin-walled containers, e.g. formed by deep-drawing operations
  • B65D1/265—Drinking cups
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0207—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D49/00—Arrangements or devices for preventing refilling of containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
  • B65D2203/12—Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
  • Y10T428/1303—Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
  • Y10T428/1352—Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to a container and a method(s) for making and using a container. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a container that may change appearance in the presence of condensation on an exterior surface of the container.
• thermo-chromic ink on the beverage container that changes colors when the temperature of a beverage container changes between predetermined hot and cold temperatures.
• pouring a cold beverage into a cold beverage container will result in a color change
• pouring a hot beverage into a hot beverage container will result in a color change.
• This solution while fit for its intended purpose of providing some degree of inventory control has drawbacks as the color change is not permanent allowing for customers or others to reset the containers by simply adding a hot beverage to a container intended for a cold beverage or a cold beverage to a container intend for a hot beverage.
• two separate sets of cups need to be held in inventory, one for cold beverages and one for hot beverages.
• a container may include walls to form a receptacle, and a hydrochromic material associated with at least a portion of the peripheral wall.
• the hydrochromic material may be visible from the exterior of the container.
• the hydrochromic material may have a first appearance when in a dry form and a second appearance, different from the first appearance, when the hydrochromic material becomes hydrated.
• a method of making a container includes connecting a bottom wall with a peripheral side wall, providing a dry hydrochromic material having a first appearance that substantially matches an appearance of the peripheral side wall, and applying the dry hydrochromic material to at least a portion of the peripheral wall such that the hydrochromic material is visible from an exterior of the container.
• the hydrochromic material has a second appearance, different from the first appearance, when the hydrochromic material becomes hydrated.
• an inventory control method includes providing a container configured to contain a product, introducing a product into the container, and changing indicia on at least a portion of the container when condensation forms on the container. The indicia is visible from the exterior of the container.
• FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an exemplary container having a first appearance in accordance with some aspects of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the container of FIG. 1 having a second appearance in accordance with some aspects of the invention
• FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an exemplary container in accordance with aspects of the invention
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 taken along line IV-IV
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 2 taken along line V-V.
• FIG. 1 An exemplary embodiment of a container 110 is shown in FIG. 1.
• the container 110 may be described as including a peripheral wall 112 and a bottom wall 114.
• the container is formed from an insulated material such as a light, resilient polystyrene plastic sometimes referred to as StyrofoamTM or may include an insulated holder such as a ring or corrugated cardboard to insulate the holder's hand from the hot liquid; while cold beverages are typically served in a container of non-insulated material.
• the peripheral wall 112 and the bottom wall 114 cooperate to define a receptacle 116.
• the receptacle 116 is configured to contain a beverage, for example, an alcoholic beverage (beer), soft drinks (soda or carbonated beverages), juice, coffee, hot chocolate, tea or water.
• an exposed surface 118 of the peripheral wall 112 includes a layer of hydrochromic material 120 applied thereon to provide an intelligent packaging layer that reacts to the presence condensation on the layer 120.
• the hydrochromic material is produced in a printing ink form suitable for use in conventional printing systems.
• the hydrochromic material is such that it can be readily applied to any type of container material.
• the hydrochromic material to form layer 120 may be applied to the surface 118 by, for example, standard printing or silk screening processes known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
• the hydrochromic layer 120 may be applied to a label (not shown), which in turn is attached to the container.
• the hydrochromic ink is preferably produced from comestible ingredients such as, but not limited to, a soy bean oil derivative.
• the hydrochromic layer 120 has at least two different, visibly discernible appearances.
• the layer 120 has a first appearance before a container is used to hold a liquid.
• the first appearance may be similar to that of the exposed surface 118 such that the layer 120 is minimally visible or opaque. Alternatively, the layer 120 may be clearly visible.
• the hydrochromic layer 120 changes from the first appearance to a second appearance, as shown in FIG. 2.
• the first appearance may comprise, for example, a first color
• the second appearance may comprise, for example, a second color that is different than the first color.
• the condensation may be caused by introducing a beverage 122, for example, a chilled beverage, a heated beverage, or a room-temperature beverage, into the container 110 to a fill line 124. As shown in FIG. 2, the portion of the hydrochromic layer 120 corresponding to the filled region may then change to the second appearance.
• a beverage 122 for example, a chilled beverage, a heated beverage, or a room-temperature beverage
• the second appearance is maintained permanently, even when the receptacle 116 is emptied and the condensation removed from the exposed surface 118 and the layer 120.
• a purveyor of beverages can monitor the container 110 to determine whether the container 110 is being filled for the first time or being refilled by visually observing the appearance of the exposed surface 118 and the hydrochromic layer 120.
• the layer 120 is applied to a large portion of the exposed surface 118, as shown in FIG. 1 , the color of the layer 120 can be viewed from a distance thereby permitting even the use of security camera's to monitor unauthorized refills. Even if the layer 120 covers only a portion of the exposed surface 118 as shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the layer 120 may cover the entire exposed surface 118 or a smaller area as needed for visual recognition of the layer 120.
• the layer 120 may be arranged in any predetermined form such as a message, for example, "NO REFILLS", or a predetermined design.
• the design may simply be an indication to concession workers that the container has been used and is not to be refilled.
• the hydrochromic layer 120 may be arranged in a predetermined form of an advertisement, for example, a logo or design.
• the first appearance and/or the second appearance of the hydrochromic layer 120 may be multi-colored.
• the container 310 (FIG. 3.) includes a layer of hydrochromic material 320 arranged in a machine-readable form or pattern 326, for example, a barcode.
• a machine reader such as barcode scanner (not shown) may be configured to sense the pattern 326 with the layer 320 in first and second appearances.
• the scanner may send a signal to a processor (not shown) such that the processor may determine that an unused container is present and that a beverage may be dispensed.
• the scanner may send a signal to the processor such that the processor may determine that a previously used container is present and that a beverage should not be dispensed.
• a scanner of the type suitable for this purpose is disclosed in US Patent 5,820,951.
• the exposed surface of the container 310 may include a light reflective material or barcode printed using a non- hydrochromic ink.
• the hydrochromic ink may be of a form that varies in opaqueness. That is it transitions from or into an opaque form to or from non-opaque image or pattern thereby blocking the reflective material or barcode image when the hydrochromic ink is in an opaque form.
• a standard electric eye configuration adapted to sense the presence or absence of the reflective material maybe used to sense whether the container may be refilled.
• the hydrochromic layer may be printed with a machine-readable unique identifier for each cup or a series of cups so that a machine reader can track the number of refills used for this cup.
• a machine-readable unique identifier for each cup or a series of cups so that a machine reader can track the number of refills used for this cup.
• Such a configuration is particularly desirable where the uses of novelty cups are used. Often the novelty cups are sold at a much higher price than the cost of a normal beverage; however, consumers are often offered refills in the novelty cups at a discounted price.
• concession stand operators can track or even limit the number of refills available per cup.
• each unique identifier refers to a series of cups, different series can be released on different days, at different events or for different beverages, such as domestic or imported beer.
• a concession operator may be able to limit the refills only to cups in series that is purchased that day, for that event or for that beverage type. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the number of possible uses for a unique identifier on a cup may be used for a number of different configurations. Thus the examples provided above are intended to be exemplary and not limiting to such uses of a unique identifier.
• a layer of hydrochromic material 420 may be applied to a first surface 432 of a substrate 430.
• the substrate 430 may be, for example, a plastic, a paper, or a wax-coated material.
• the substrate 430 may be shapeable into, for example, a container, such as a container configured to contain a beverage.
• the layer of hydrochromic material 420 may include one or more coloring compositions 422, for example, pigments and/or masking agents and a bonding resin, printing ink, and/or fixation agent 424.
• the bonding resin, printing ink, or fixation agent 424 is selected such that the resin, ink, or agent 424 may bond the one or more coloring compositions 422 to the substrate 430 via a standard flexographic or screen printing process known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.
• the bonding resin, printing ink, and fixation agent 424 is also selected such that the resin, ink, or agent 424 can absorb moisture to hydrate the one or more coloring compositions 422, for example, caused by condensation on the substrate 430, but can also retain the hydrated coloring compositions with minimal bleeding.
• the one or more coloring compositions 422 may include two or more coloring compositions such that an initial, non-hydrated appearance of the coloring compositions masks a final, hydrated appearance of the one or more coloring compositions.
• the initial and final appearances may be colors, and the initial and/or final appearance may include one or more colors.
• the one or more coloring compositions 422 may be applied in a dry form, for example, powder or crystal.
• the one or more coloring compositions 422 may change from the initial appearance to a final appearance.
• the initial appearance of the hydrochromic material 420 may be a yellow color.
• a red coloring may mix with the yellow, thus changing the appearance of the hydrochromic layer 420 to an orange color.
• the hydrochromic layer may change from the first appearance, shown in FIG. 4, to the second appearance, shown in FIG. 5, to give a concession worker a visual indication that the container formed of the substrate 430 was previously filled with a beverage, thus helping to prevent unauthorized refills.
• the transition of the hydrochromic ink when it is hydrated is intended to be permanent, thus drying of the container surface will not cause the hydrochromic material to transition back into its dry state.
• the cups utilizing a hydrochromic material are not subject to temperature fluctuations during transport and storage. While exposure to humidity may affect the hydrochromic material, exposure to humidity during transport and storage of the containers may be controlled by simply packaging the container in plastic bags which is generally already done today for sanitary considerations. Furthermore for novelty cups or other odd shaped containers, a removable layer (not shown) may be included to overlie to the hydrochromic material to protect it from humidity during transport and storage. This layer would then be removed at the time of purchase to expose the hydrochromic material to condensation.
• the hydrochromic material is used as a visual indicator to communicate that the sanitary condition of the container has been maintained during transport and storage prior to use by the consumer.
• QSR's Quality Service Restaurants
• convenience stores put containers out or provide self serve dispensers for their customers.
• the container area can get messy and either store employees or customers may unknowingly return containers that have already received a beverage to the stack of clean containers.
• the hydrochromic layer is used to indicate that the container has not been stored or transported under sanitary conditions or has already received a beverage. In this way customers and employees may then dispose of the container without using it.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=35510306

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (13)

Family Cites Families (33)

• 2005
  • 2005-06-14 WO PCT/US2005/021097 patent/WO2005123516A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-06-14 AU AU2005254565A patent/AU2005254565A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-06-14 EP EP05760919A patent/EP1776278A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-06-14 CA CA002570492A patent/CA2570492A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-06-14 CN CN200580019360.5A patent/CN101426686A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-06-14 JP JP2007516673A patent/JP2008502551A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-06-14 US US11/152,481 patent/US20050276937A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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