WO2014159075A1

WO2014159075A1 - Use indicator for use with dispensing container and methods for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: WO2014159075A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/021866
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glenn Tom
Original assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2014-03-07
Publication date: 2014-10-02
Also published as: TW201446609A

Abstract

An indicator configured for connection to a container and substantially difficult removal from the container once connected. The indicator may include a material that in a first state, prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container, indicates that the container has not been used previously to dispense its contents. The material, in a second state, after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container, indicates the container has been previously used for dispense. In one embodiment, the material may be or include a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state. The material may be configured to substantially remain in the second state once in the second state.

Description

USE INDICATOR FOR USE WITH DISPENSING CONTAINER AND METHODS FOR

MANUFACTURING SAME

Field of the Invention

[001] The present disclosure relates to storage and dispensing systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an indicator for use with a storage and dispensing system, where the indicator in one state indicates that the container of a storage and dispensing system has been previously used.

Background of the Invention

[002] A wide variety of materials must be stored in and dispensed from containers. For example, materials in the food industry, such as condiments, must be shipped from the manufacturer to the end user, which may be a restaurant, for example, where the material may be dispensed. Similarly, many materials in the medical industry must be stored for dispense at a later time, such as pharmaceuticals, fluids, and biologies, for example. Further, acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, slurries, detergents and cleaning formulations, dopants, inorganic, organic, metalorganics, TEOS, and biological solutions, DNA and RNA solvents and reagents, pharmaceuticals, hazardous waste, radioactive chemicals, and nanomaterials, including for example, fullerenes, inorganic nanoparticles, sol-gels, and other ceramics may also be filled at one location and transported to another location for use.

[003] A typical use-cycle for a container may include several steps, including, but not limited to: 1) shipping empty containers from the container manufacturer to the chemical or other material supplier for filling; 2) after the supplier has filled the containers with the desired contents, shipping the full (or partially full, as desired) containers to an end-user for dispense; and 3) after the end-user dispenses the material in the container, in some cases, shipping the empty container to another facility for disposal, recycling, and/or sterilization and reuse.

[004] Traditional storage/shipping containers may include two general types: 1) flexible liners that may be used with an overpack; and 2) stand-alone containers that may be generally rigid or semi-rigid. Flexible liners may generally be configured for a single use, whereas the overpack that may be used with a liner may be configured to be used, one, two, or more times. Stand-alone containers may be configured for a single use, or for multiple uses. There may be several reasons a container should only be used a single time. For example, one reason may be that the container is only configured, or is only robust enough, to be used a single time, and may not be sturdy enough to withstand a second use without failure. Further reasons may be that some materials stored in containers are meant for animal or human consumption and/or may otherwise need to maintain a certain degree of purity. Thus, the risk of contamination associated with the reuse of the container may be too great.

[005] Notwithstanding the reasons that may exist for using a container only a single time in certain circumstances, it may be difficult or impossible for a consumer to know whether a container is in fact new or "clean," i.e. has not been previously used. As such, there is a need for a container that includes a mechanism that indicates whether or not the container has been previously used.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[006] The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to an indicator configured for connection to a container and substantially difficult removal from the container once connected. The indicator may include a material that in a first state, prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container, indicates that the container has not been used previously to dispense its contents. The material, in a second state, after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container, indicates the container has been previously used for dispense. In one embodiment, the material may be or include a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state. In further embodiments, the material, in the second state, may assume the color, or a shade thereof, of the contents in the container. In additional or alternative embodiments, the material, upon contact with the contents of the container, reacts therewith causing the material to change to the second color. The material may be configured to substantially remain in the second state once in the second state. In some embodiments, the material of the indicator may be or include an open cell foam. In some embodiments, the indicator may include capillary isolators. In additional or alternative embodiments, the material may include a symbol in the first state that fades or disappears in the second state and/or, vice versa, the material may include a symbol in the second state that is at least one of faint or substantially invisible in the first state.

[007] The present disclosure, in another embodiment, relates to a cap configured for connection to a container and substantially difficult removal from the container once connected. The cap may include an indicator having a first state prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container and a second state after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container. The indicator may be or include a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state. The indicator may be further configured to substantially remain in the second state once in the second state. In additional or alternative embodiments, the indicator may include a symbol in the first state that fades or disappears in the second state and/or, vice versa, the indicator may include a symbol in the second state that is at least one of faint or substantially invisible in the first state.

[008] The present disclosure, in yet another embodiment, relates to a container having an indicator, the indicator having a first state prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container and a second state after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container. In some embodiments, the indicator may be provided on a cap operably connected with the container. In further embodiments, the cap may be a locking cap. In some embodiments, the indicator may be substantially permanently and operably affixed to the container. As generally described above, in some cases, the indicator may be or include a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state.

[009] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Brief Description of the Drawings

[010] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

[011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure having an indicator providing an indication as to whether or not the container has been previously used.

Detailed Description

[012] The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous indicators for use with storage and dispense containers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an indicator that in a first state indicates that the container is in a new, unused, or "clean" state (e.g. has not previously been used to dispense a liquid material held therein), and that in a second state indicates that the container has, indeed, been previously used.

[013] Examples of some of the types of materials that may be stored in, shipped in, and/or dispensed from containers that may be used with embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to: ultrapure liquids, such as acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, such as but not limited to i-Line photoresist, slurries, detergents, cleaning formulations, dopants, inorganic, organic, metalorganics, TEOS, and biological solutions, DNA and RNA solvents and reagents, pharmaceuticals, printable electronics inorganic and organic materials, lithium ion or other battery type electrolytes, nanomaterials (including for example, fullerenes, inorganic nanoparticles, sol-gels, and other ceramics), and radioactive chemicals; pesticides/fertilizers; paints/glosses/solvents/coating-materials etc.; adhesives; power washing fluids; lubricants for use in the automobile or aviation industry, for example; food products, such as but not limited to, condiments, cooking oils, and soft drinks, for example; reagents or other materials for use in the biomedical or research industry; hazardous materials used by the military, for example; polyurethanes; agrochemicals; industrial chemicals; cosmetic chemicals; petroleum and lubricants; sealants; health and oral hygiene products and toiletry products; or any other material that may be dispensed by pressure dispense, for example. Materials that may be used with embodiments of the present disclosure may have any viscosity, including high viscosity and low viscosity fluids. Those skilled in the art will recognize the benefits of the disclosed embodiments, and therefore will recognize the suitability of the disclosed embodiments to various industries and for the transportation and dispense of various products. In some embodiments, the storage, shipping, and dispensing systems may be particularly useful in industries relating to the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs, and solar panels; industries involving the application of adhesives and polyamides; industries utilizing photolithography technology; or any other critical material delivery application. However, the various embodiments disclosed herein may be used in any suitable industry or application.

[014] As used herein, the terms "rigid" or "substantially rigid," in addition to any standard dictionary definitions, are meant to also include the characteristic of an object or material to substantially hold its shape and/or volume when in an environment of a first pressure, but wherein the shape and/or volume may be altered in an environment of increased or decreased pressure. The amount of increased or decreased pressure needed to alter the shape and/or volume of the object or material may depend on the application desired for the material or object and may vary from application to application. In addition, the term "substantially rigid" is meant to include the characteristic of an object or material to substantially hold its shape and/or volume, but upon application of such increased or decreased pressure, tend to give, such as by but not limited to, flexing, bending, etc., rather than breaking.

[015] Embodiments including containers (also referred to herein as "overpacks") that are rigid or substantially rigid may be comprised of any suitable material or combination of materials, for example but not limited to, metal materials, or one or more polymers, including plastics, nylons, EVOH, polyolefins, or other natural or synthetic polymers. In further embodiments, container 100 may be manufactured using polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), poly(butylene 2,6- naphthalate) (PBN), polyethylene (PE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low- density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and/or polypropylene (PP), and/or a fluoropolymer, such as but not limited to, polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). In some embodiments, the material or materials selected and the thickness of that material or those materials may determine the rigidity of the container. In still other embodiments, in order to assist in making the containers described herein more sustainable, a container may be manufactured from biodegradable materials or biodegradable polymers, including but not limited to: polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), like poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), and polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH); polylactic acid (PLA); polybutylene succinate (PBS); polycaprolactone (PCL); polyanhydrides; polyvinyl alcohol; starch derivatives; cellulose esters, like cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose and their derivatives (celluloid); etc. Further examples of the types of materials that may comprise a container are disclosed in detail in International PCT Appln. No. PCT/US 1 1/55558, titled "Substantially Rigid Collapsible Liner, Container and/or Liner for Replacing Glass Bottles, and Flexible Gusseted or Non-Gusseted Liners," filed October 10, 201 1, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The overpack may be of any suitable shape or configuration, such as, but not limited to, a bottle, a can, a drum, etc.

[016] In some embodiments, a collapsible liner that is substantially flexible, or in other embodiments that is rigid but still collapsible, e.g., a rigid or substantially rigid collapsible liner, may be used, or may also be used in conjunction with a container or overpack of the present disclosure. The liner may be manufactured using any suitable material or combination of materials, such as but not limited to, any of the non-metal materials or combination of materials listed above with respect to the overpack. However, the overpack and liner need not be manufactured from the same materials. The liner may have one or more layers and may have any desirable thickness. In one embodiment, for example, a liner may have a thickness of from about 0.05 mm to about 3 mm.

[017] The container or overpack and liner may each be manufactured using any suitable manufacturing process, such as but not limited to, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, co-blow molding, extrusion, welding, etc., and may each be manufactured as a single component or may be a combination of multiple components. Example containers in accordance with the present disclosure may be similar to those disclosed in International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US2012/051843, entitled, "Substantially Rigid Collapsible Container with Fold Pattern," filed August 22, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 61/729,766, entitled, "Substantially Rigid Foldable Container," filed November 26, 2012, and related International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US/2013/071583, filed November 25, 2013, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Such containers may include a substantially rigid container wall, having a thickness of from about 0.05 mm to about 3 mm thick, desirably from about 1.2 mm to about 2 mm thick. However, the thickness may be selected so that, when a specified amount of pressure or vacuum is applied to the container, the container wall is collapsible according to one or more fold or collapse patterns to dispense liquid from within the interior cavity. Embodiments of containers of the present disclosure with such one or more fold or collapse patterns may advantageously make more efficient use of shipping space by including the ability to collapse in a predetermined manner when in an empty state and expand to a substantially rigid free-standing state when ready to be filled. Specifically, embodiments of containers of the present disclosure that include fold lines or fold patterns, in contrast to traditional containers/overpacks, may collapse into a generally or relatively flat configuration that aids in dispensability as well as allows for more empty collapsed containers to be shipped than traditional non-collapsible containers in the same amount of space. In order to achieve a generally or relatively flat collapsed state, such containers, as described in detail in International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US2012/051843 and U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 61/729,766, and related International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US/2013/071583, may include one or more defined "pre- folds," "fold lines," or "fold areas." In order to manufacture certain embodiments of containers having fold lines or fold patterns according to the present disclosure by blow molding, one manufacturing method may include blow molding the container in a mold that is modeled at some intermediate state between a fully expanded or fully collapsed state of the resulting container. Blow molding the container in a mold at this intermediate state may assist in the formation of the fold lines or patterns.

[018] While certain example container embodiments have been described above, further examples of liner-based systems and methods that may be used with embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in greater detail in International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US11/55558, titled, "Substantially Rigid Collapsible Liner, Container and/or Liner for Replacing Glass Bottles, and Enhanced Flexible Liners," filed October 10, 201 1 ; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US11/55560, titled, "Nested Blow Molded Liner and Overpack and Methods of Making Same," filed October 10, 2011 ; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US 13/024324, titled "Folded Liner for Use With an Overpack and Methods of Manufacturing the Same," filed February 1, 2013; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US 11/64141, titled "Generally Cylindrically-Shaped Liner for Use in Pressure Dispense Systems and Methods of Manufacturing the Same," filed December 9, 2011; U.S. Prov. Appl. No. 61/703,996, titled "Liner-Based Shipping and Dispensing Systems," filed September 21, 2012, and related International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US2012/070866, filed December 20, 2012; U.S. Prov. Appl. No. 61/468,832, titled "Liner-Based Dispenser," filed March 29, 201 1 and related International PCT Appln. No. PCT/US2011/061764, filed November 22, 2011 ; U.S. Prov. Appl. No. 61/525,540, titled "Liner-Based Dispensing Systems," filed August 19, 2011 and related International PCT Appln. No. PCT/US2011/061771, filed November 22, 2011 ; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 13/149,844, titled "Fluid Storage and Dispensing Systems and Processes," filed May 31 , 2000; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 11/915,996, titled "Fluid Storage and Dispensing Systems and Processes," filed June 5, 2006; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US 10/51786, titled "Material Storage and Dispensing System and Method With Degassing Assembly," filed October 7, 2010; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US 10/41629; U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,721 ; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 1 1/912,629; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 12/302,287; International PCT Appl. No. PCT/US08/85264; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 12/745,605, filed February 15, 201 1 ; U.S. Prov. Appln. No. 61/605,01 1 , titled "Liner-Based Shipping and Dispensing System," filed February 29, 2012, and related International PCT Appln. No. PCT/US2012/070866, filed December 20, 2012; and U.S. Prov. Appln. No. 61/561,493, titled "Closure/Connectors for Liner-Based Shipping and Dispensing Containers," filed November 18, 2011 , and related International PCT Appln. No. PCT/US2012/065515, filed November 16, 2012, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The container and any liner may include any of the embodiments, features, and/or enhancements disclosed in any of the above noted applications, including, but not limited to, flexible, rigid collapsible, 2-dimensional, 3 -dimensional, welded, molded, gusseted, and/or non-gusseted liners, and/or liners that contain folds and/or liners that comprise methods for limiting or eliminating choke-off and liners sold under the brand name NOWpak® by ATMI, Inc. for example. Various features of dispensing systems disclosed in embodiments described herein may be used in combination with one or more other features described with regard to other embodiments.

[019] The various embodiments of containers of the present disclosure can be manufactured by any suitable means for example by molding the container as a unitary component, by for example using extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, rota-molding (or rotational molding), etc.

[020] The contents of the container may be dispensed by any suitable method.

For example, for some applications, the contents may be dispensed by simply pouring the contents out of the container using any traditional manual or automated pour methods. For other applications, the contents of the container may be dispensed by direct or indirect pressure dispense, direct or indirect pressure-assisted pump dispense, or pump dispense, for example, including various embodiments of inverted dispense methods disclosed in Korean patent registration no. 10-0973707, titled "Apparatus for Supplying Fluid," which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[021] Because containers, such as those described above, in some embodiments, may be configured rather robustly, the desire to reuse such containers may increase for purposes of cost savings. However, as described above, there are a variety of reasons that a container should only be used a single time.

[022] Accordingly, Figure 1 illustrates a schematic of a storage and dispense system 100 of the present disclosure including a mechanism or means for detecting when a container has been previously used. As discussed above, the container 102 of the storage and dispense system 100 may be any suitable container, including any of the containers described or incorporated by reference herein. The container 102 may comprise an interior cavity 1 10 for holding a material. The container 102 may also include one or more ports that may be used to attach one or more caps and/or connectors that may be used to: fill and/or dispense material from the container 102; introduce a pressurized gas into the container 102; and/or vent a gas from the container, for example. A single port 1 12 may be used for one or more purposes in some embodiments, while in other embodiments a port may be used for a single purpose. A cap 120 may be affixed to a port 1 12 of the container. In some embodiments, the cap 120 may be affixed to the container 102 after the container 102 has been manufactured and cleaned, but prior to fill and use. In one embodiment, the cap 120 may be a locking cap that once attached to the port 112, may be substantially non-removable therefrom. Any suitable locking mechanism, or combination of mechanisms may be used to fixedly secure the cap 120 to the port 1 12. The cap 120 may be configured to include an indicator 130 at any suitable location within or on the cap. The cap 120 or a portion thereof, may be substantially clear, so as to allow a user to see the indicator 130 through the exterior of the cap 120. The clear portion of the cap may be comprised of plastic, glass, or any other material or combination of materials that may be substantially transparent. The indicator 130 may be configured to have a first state that indicates that the container 102 is new or unused. For example, the indicator 130 could be a particular color, such as a neutral buff or taupe color, that indicates that a material has not come into contact with the indicator 130, and by extension has not been dispensed from the container 102. The indicator 130 may further have a second state that indicates an unclean state. For example, if any material (other than air, in some embodiments), which often tend to be colored, contacts the indicator 130, such as during an initial dispense from the port 112, the indicator may also pick up the color of the material, or some shade thereof, or turn to some other color based on a reaction with the material, thereby indicating that the container has now been used. The indicator 130 may be configured to substantially permanently stay in the second colored state, once the indicator 130 has come into contact with the material. Accordingly, because the cap 120 may be substantially non-removable, at any given time, a user should be able to tell whether the container is previously used or not by simply looking through the cap at the indicator 130. If the indicator is in the second state, the user will know the container has previously used.

[023] The indicator 130 may indicate a first and a second state by any suitable means. For example, the indicator may be comprised of an open cell foam, in some embodiments, which will wick in the material as at least one end thereof comes into contact with the material, such as during an initial dispense of the material through the port 112. In other embodiments, the indicator 130 may, or may also include capillary isolators that may allow for a chemical reaction to occur whereby when the material of the indicator 130 comes into contact with another material, such as the material of the container, the indicator transitions from a first state to the second state. While in some embodiments, the different states of the indicator may be shown by one or more colors, in other embodiments, the indicator may have one or more other means of indicating a change in state. For example, the indicator may display a particular shape, such as a triangle, circle, or any other shape, or may display a logo or similar symbol, or may display a message when the indicator is in the virgin state. The shape may disappear, however, when the indicator has been changed to the second "used" state, for example. Or vice versa; the shape, logo, or message may not be shown in the virgin state, but may appear once the container has been utilized and the indicator has changed to the second "used" state. It will be recognized that any other suitable method of indicating two or more states may also be used. In many embodiments, the indicator may be configured so as to be difficult to remove from the cap and/or difficult to clean or otherwise change from the non-clean, "used" state to the virgin state, such that tampering may be discouraged and/or ineffective.

[024] While some embodiments may position the indicator in the cap 120, other embodiments may include positioning the indicator anywhere on or in the container 102 where the indicator may be seen. In some embodiments, the indicator may be positioned at or relatively near the top of the container or at or relatively near the port 112 of the container so as to substantially only change state, e.g., come into contact with the stored material, during a dispense of the material from the container, such that the indicator remains in the first or virgin state until at least an initial dispense has begun. Some or all of the container 102 or dispense system 100 may be generally transparent to allow a user to see the indicator 130. The indicator may adhere to the container 102 or cap 120 by any suitable means. For example, in some embodiments the indicator may adhere to the container or cap by glue or other fixative, while in other embodiments, the indicator may be positioned in a holder that may be difficult, if not impossible to open, such that the indicator 130 may not be easily removed from the holder. The holder may be grate-like, such that the indicator may be seen through the panels of the grate in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the holder may have any suitable configuration. The holder may be comprised of any suitable material including, any plastic, metal, glass, or combination thereof, for example. Embodiments of the present disclosure as provided above may thus advantageously prohibit the unauthorized and/or undesired reuse of a container.

[025] Additionally, while specific and advantageous embodiments have been described, the invention disclosed is not so limited, and it is recognized that various features of a container have been disclosed in various embodiments described herein and may be used in combination with one or more other features described with regard to any of the embodiments. That is, containers of the present disclosure may include any one or more of the features described herein, whether or not described as the same or another embodiment. While some embodiments are particularly described as having one or more features, it will be understood that embodiments that are not described are also contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure, wherein those embodiments comprise any one or more of the features, aspects, attributes, properties or configurations or any combination thereof of containers described herein.

[026] In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

Claims We claim:

1. An indicator configured for connection to a container and substantially difficult removal from the container once connected, the indicator comprising a material that in a first state, prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container, indicates that the container has not been used previously to dispense its contents, and in a second state, after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container, indicates the container has been previously used for dispense.

2. The indicator of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state.

3. The indicator of claim 2, wherein the material, in the second state, assumes the color, or a shade thereof, of the contents in the container.

4. The indicator of claim 3, wherein the material is configured to substantially remain in the second state once in the second state.

5. The indicator of claim 2, wherein the material, upon contact with the contents of the container, reacts therewith causing the material to change to the second color.

6. The indicator of claim 5, wherein the material is configured to substantially remain in the second state once in the second state.

7. The indicator of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an open cell foam.

8. The indicator of claim 1, further comprising capillary isolators.

9. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a symbol in the first state that at least one of fades or disappears in the second state.

10. The indicator of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a symbol in the second state that is at least one of faint or substantially invisible in the first state.

1 1. A cap configured for connection to a container and substantially difficult removal from the container once connected, the cap comprising an indicator comprising a first state prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container and a second state after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container.

12. The cap of claim 1 1, wherein the indicator comprises a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state.

13. The cap of claim 12, wherein the indicator is configured to substantially remain in the second state once in the second state.

14. The cap of claim 1 1, wherein the indicator comprises a symbol in the first state that at least one of fades or disappears in the second state.

15. The cap of claim 1 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a symbol in the second state that is at least one of faint or substantially invisible in the first state.

16. A container comprising an indicator, the indicator having a first state prior to coming into contact with contents stored within the container and a second state after coming into contact with the contents stored within the container.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the indicator is provided on a cap operably connected with the container.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the cap is a locking cap.

19. The container of claim 16, wherein the indicator is substantially permanently and operably affixed to the container.

20. The container of claim 16, wherein the indicator comprises a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state.