MXPA96006142A - Closure with escondo gift compartment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package for a food product that includes in combination a container or package for the food product having an access opening therein and a rib defined by surrounding side walls at one end of the package, and a lid or removable closure for the access opening of the container engageable with the side walls, comprising: a compartment within the container for accommodating a prize, said compartment having a first predetermined shape when the closure is in the container in engagement with the side walls of said container; end, closing the access opening, and being deformable to a second shape by understanding it when the closure is removed from the container, a panel arranged in an opening in the compartment secured in a closed position when the compartment has said first shape and is movable to an open position in response to forces that compress the nto the second form, and a skirt that surrounds the compartment, and which defines an annular cavity to receive said rib, the skirt being engageable with external surfaces of the surrounding side walls of the container when the closure is in the container to thereby avoid that the compartment is compressed to the second

Description

"CLOSURE WITH HIDDEN GIFT COMPARTMENT" The present invention relates to a closure for a container having a compartment thereon for accommodating a prize, gift or the like, which is not accessible until the closure is removed from the associated container, but which is mounted on the exterior of the closure , therefore not having connection with the content of the container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a screw or torsion closure for a beverage bottle having therein an integral prize or gift compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Up to now, numerous food and beverage packages have been designed including compartments in them, to accommodate prizes, gifts or the like for promotional purposes. Packages of this type have been of different forms. A common type of this package is one in which the prize compartment is placed inside the container and the compartment is made accessible by removing a separate container closure to provide access to the prize compartment.

Other types of these packages include reward compartments that are accessible without removing the closure through separate access means in the package. There is a need in the art for a package for food or beverages wherein the prize compartment can be formed as an integral part of a closure for the associated package that houses the food product or beverage, which is guaranteed against counterfeiting when the closure is in the container. container, which has no possible contact or connection with the contents of the container and which can be easily opened to expose the prize or gift when the closure is removed from the container.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Correspondingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a package for food or beverages that can be used for promotional purposes by providing a prize or gift compartment within a package closure, which is not accessible until the closure is removed from the package. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a prize or gift compartment within a closure for a container, which is insulated from the contents of the container so that there is no possible contact with the product therein. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a closure for a package that includes a prize or gift compartment, which is manufactured in one piece or two pieces, at minimum cost. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a closure for a package that includes a prize or gift compartment that is easily handled by a consumer to reach the product in a conventional manner, and that can be opened easily and separately to exhibit the prize. or gift after the closure of the container is removed, without preventing access to the product, by the consumer. These and other objects of the present invention are satisfied by providing a closure for use with a container, the container having an access opening at one end thereof defined by surrounding side walls engageable with the closure comprising: a compartment within the closure to accommodate a prize or the like, the compartment has a first predetermined configuration when the closure is in the container, and in engagement with the side walls of one end, closing the access opening, and being deformable to a second configuration by compression thereof when the closure is removed from the container; and a door means in the compartment secured in a closed position of the compartment has the first configuration, and movable to an open position in response to the forces compressing the compartment toward the second configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the door means includes a force-adjusting disk (press fit) within an opening in the prize compartment when the prize compartment has the first configuration, skipping the opening disk when the compartment is compressed to achieve the second configuration. The disk can be detached from the closure or connected to the closure along a bank such as by a hinge or can be connected to the closure by an extensible link. The additional scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to be provided below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and the specific examples, even when indicating the preferred embodiments of the invention, are provided by way of illustration only, since the various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be made more obvious to those skilled in the art, of this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description to be provided below and the accompanying drawings which are provided by way of illustration only, and therefore, are not limiting of the present invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of a closure in accordance with the present invention; Figure 1A is a top plan view of the closure of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a closure in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2A is a top plan view of the closure of Figure 2; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a closure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3A is a top plan view of the closure of Figure 3; Figure 4A is a fourth embodiment of a closure of the present invention shown in cross section; Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a closure of the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5A is a top plan view of the closure of Figure 5; Figure 5B is an enlarged view of the details within the circle 5B of Figure 5; and Figure 6 is an elevation view partly in cross section, showing the closure in the embodiment of Figure 1 of the present invention secured to the top of a conventional beverage bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. A closure 10 is shown having cylindrical side walls 12 with screw threads 12A for cooperative coupling with like threads in the top of a conventional beverage bottle. The closure 10 has an upper annular surface 14 defining a central access opening towards a prize or gift compartment 18, positioned concentrically with respect to the side walls 12. The prize or gift compartment 18 includes cylindrical side walls 18A and a domed bottom wall 18B which is concave as viewed from the open end of the closure 10. A door 16 is provided in the access opening defined by the surface 14 cancel. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 the door 16 is secured by an active hinge 16A formed by a recess 16C in the lower part of the door 16. The door 16 snaps into a closed position when the closure 10 has the configuration illustrated in Figure 1 by an arcuate cooperation rib 17 and an associated arcuate slot 16B. The configuration of the closure 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is the configuration that the closure will maintain while being secured in a beverage bottle such as that illustrated in Figure 5. In that position, the door or disc 16 will be closed securely to prevent access to compartment 18 of prize or gift. However, when the closure 10 is removed in a bottle, it can be compressed laterally in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1A to deform its normal configuration and cause the door 16 to open and pivot about the hinge. 16A, in order to provide access to the gift compartment 18. However, when in the closed position, the closure remains in engagement with the top of a beverage bottle as illustrated in Figure 5; and the closure 10 may not deform to open the door 16 and provide access to the gift compartment. Of course the entrance to the gift compartment through the door 16 could be obtained by forced entry with a sharp or blunt implement, but this undue manipulation would be evident in this situation. Referring to Figure 2, a second embodiment of the closure of the present invention is illustrated, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts. In this embodiment, the door 16 simply snaps into the access opening of the closure and no hinge is provided. The disk or gate 16 is secured therein by a rib 12B at an acute angle of cooperation, and the slot 16D extending approximately 180 ° around the periphery of the disk. The opposite or remaining 180 ° side of the disk is provided with a right angle groove 16E and a right angle rib 12C, which jumps out of the access opening when the compressive forces are applied in the direction as illustrated in FIG. Figure 2A, more easily than the opposite side of the disc which is secured by the ribs or grooves at an acute angle of cooperation. Correspondingly, when a lateral compression is applied to the compartment 18 the disc 16 will jump out of the opening and oscillate around the rib or slot configuration at an acute angle as a fulcrum. The length of the arched acute angle groove or rib configuration can of course vary as desired, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Referring to Figures 3 and 3A, there is still another embodiment of the present invention wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts. The disc 16 is provided with a peripheral groove 16E around its entire periphery cooperating with a peripheral rib 12D that extends around the access opening of the closure. An extensible link 20 is also provided having a first end 20A secured on the underside of the disc 16, and a second end 20B secured within the compartment 18 on one of its side walls 18A. The extensible link 20 keeps the disc 16 from completely separating from the remaining closure structure to avoid potential fouling of the environment. Figure 4A discloses a fourth embodiment of the closure of the present invention. The disc 16 is provided with a peripheral groove 16F cooperating with the peripheral rib 12E to provide the necessary press fit towards the access opening. . In this embodiment, the lower wall of the compartment 18 comprises a deformable diaphragm 20 which includes an annular peripheral continuous band 20B and a central dome-shaped section 20A. As illustrated by the dotted line position when the closure of Figure 4A is squeezed laterally, the dome-shaped central section 20A will be pushed by rotating the fingers 22 so that it will jump over so that it will jump over the center towards the dotted line position and help release the disk 16 from the access opening. Figure 4B illustrates a fifth embodiment of the closure of the present invention, wherein the prize or gift compartment has a flat or less curved lower portion 30 which is forced by a plurality of intersecting rings 26 having triangular recesses 28 therein. . These ribs 26 provide rigidity to the lower structure so that the closure 10 can be subjected to a pressure below the bottom 30 by the contents of the container 34, and also allow the disc 16 to jump more easily from the opening of the container. access in order to expose the prize or gift in the compartment 18. Figures 5, 5A and 5B illustrate a sixth embodiment of the closure of the present invention, wherein the door 16 has a spring recess 16H engaged and engages a rib 12G of cooperation, such as to put the door 16 under tension when the closure 10 is subjected to high pressure by the contents of the container 34. This allows the door 16 to provide the necessary rigidity to the closure 10 when it has to withstand internal pressures elevated inside the container 34 and also makes tampering more difficult. A beveled or molded 12H flange 12H on the side wall 12 maintains a constant upward pressure on the door 16, which is resisted in the normal use situation when the closure 10 is under pressure and the door 16 under tension, but which aids opening when the closure 10 is removed from the container 34 and the door 16 is no longer under tension. In this embodiment, it is possible to construct the door 16 so as to jump open spontaneously under the action of the beveled flange 12H when the closure 10 is removed from the container 34. Referring to Figure 6, the operation of the closure of the present invention can be understand more easily. As illustrated in that figure, when the closure such as that of the embodiment of Figure 1 is secured at the top of a beverage container 34, the closure can not be deformed laterally as illustrated in the direction of the arrows of the Figure 1A. In Figure 6, the normal characteristics of the closure system of a beverage container 34 (which are those of the state of the art and not to those referred to so far, for reasons of clarity) have been shown, know, the sealing compound 30 of the closure 10 and the band 32 for theft proof. Therefore, the disc or door 16 can not jump open unless a sharp or blunt implement is used and destroys the top part of the closure. However, when the closure is removed from the bottle it can be laterally compressed as described above to open the door or disc 16 and open the contents such as prize 30 within the prize or gift compartment. A robber proof ring 32 can be provided around the periphery of the closure 10 to provide additional tamper security. The closure of the present invention is preferably molded by injection of a plastic material to form a one or two piece assembly whereby the door 16 can either be separated and thus comprise the second piece of the assembly or be fixed to the Main body of closure 10. Having described the invention in this manner, it will be apparent that it can be varied in many ways. These variations should not be considered as a deviation from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all those modifications that are obvious to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (24)

CLAIMS:

1. A package for a food product that includes in combination a package for the food product having an access opening therein that is defined by surrounding side walls at one end of the package, and a removable closure for the access opening of the attachable package with the side walls, comprising: a compartment within the closure for accommodating a prize or a similar article, the compartment has a first predetermined configuration when the closure is in the container in engagement with the side walls of one end, closing the opening of the container. access, and being deformable towards a second configuration by compression thereof when the closure is removed from the container; and a door means in the secured compartment in a closed position when the compartment has the first configuration and that is movable toward an open position in response to the forces compressing the compartment toward the second configuration.

The package according to claim 1, wherein the door means includes a disk that fits snugly within an opening in the compartment when the compartment has the first configuration, the disk jumps out of the opening when the compartment is compressed to achieve the second configuration.

3. The package according to claim 2, wherein the disk is connected to the compartment along a bank by means of a hinge.

The package according to claim 2, wherein the disk is connected to the compartment by an extensible link.

The package according to claim 1, wherein the compartment when it has the first configuration, forms a plug for the closure that fills the access opening of the container.

The package according to claim 1, wherein the door means is formed on an outer end surface of the closure.

The package according to claim 1, wherein the closure is formed of an integral piece of resilient material.

8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the closure is molded of plastic.

The package according to claim 2, wherein the package, the closure and the compartment are cylindrical and an internal compartment wall opposite the disc is domed, the internal wall providing a partition to isolate the interior of the container. compartment inside the container.

10. The package according to claim 9, wherein the domed internal wall is convex as seen from inside the package.

11. A closure for use with a container, the container having an access opening at one end thereof defined by the surrounding side walls engageable with the closure comprising: a compartment within the closure for accommodating a prize or a similar item, the compartment has a first predetermined configuration when the closure is in the container in engagement with the side walls of one end, closing the access opening and being deformable towards a second configuration by compressing it when the closure is removed from the container; and a door means in the secured compartment in a closed position when the compartment has the first configuration and is movable to an open position in response to the forces compressing the compartment toward the second configuration.

12. The closure according to claim 11, wherein the door means includes a disk that is forcedly fitted into a compartment opening when the compartment has the first configuration, the disk jumps out of the opening when the compartment is compressed to achieve the second configuration.

The closure according to claim 12, wherein the disk is connected to the compartment along a bank by a hinge.

14. The closure according to claim 12, where the disk is connected to the compartment through an extensible link.

The closure according to claim 11, wherein the compartment when it has the first configuration, forms a plug for the closure that fills the access opening of the container.

The closure according to claim 11, wherein the door means is formed on an outer end surface of the closure.

The closure according to claim 11, wherein the closure is formed of an integral piece of resilient material. - lí

18. The closure according to claim 11, wherein the closure is molded of plastic.

The closure according to claim 12, wherein the container, closure and compartment are cylindrical and an inner wall of the compartment opposite the disc is domed, the interior wall provides a partition to isolate the interior of the container. compartment inside the container.

20. The closure according to claim 19, wherein the domed internal wall is convex as seen from inside the container.

21. A closure for a beverage bottle comprising: a cylindrical housing having a partially closed end defining an access opening and an open end, the open end being capable of detachably coupling an end cap surrounding the opening in the bottle. drink; a compartment mounted within the cylindrical housing and extending towards the opening of the beverage bottle, the cylindrical housing having a closed end wall and side walls extending from it to the partially closed end of the cylindrical housing, the closure having a first predetermined configuration when the closure is in engagement with the cap, and is deformable to a second configuration by compression thereof when the closure is out of engagement with the cap; and a door means covering the access opening in the cylindrical housing secured in a closed position when the closure has the first configuration and which is movable to an open position in response to the forces compressing the closure toward the second configuration.

The closure according to claim 21, wherein the door means includes a disk that is forcedly fitted into the access opening when the closure has the first configuration, the disc jumps from the access opening when the closure is closed. compress to achieve the second configuration.

The closure according to claim 22 wherein the disc is connected to the closed end of the closure by a hinge.

24. The closure according to claim 22 wherein the disk is connected to the closure by an extendable link.