ACCESS RESISTANT CONTAINERS AND PLATFORM FOR HANDLING PLANT
The methods and systems generally include a packaging system for perishable consumables including a container having an inner member configured to slide in and out of an outer member. A button that extends from a surface of the inner member through an aperture defined in a surface of the outer member. The button is configured to hold the inner member from sliding relative to the outer member. The button is configured to be deflected and removed from the aperture to permit the inner member to slide relative to the outer member.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/715,955, filed Aug. 8, 2018, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products in Child Resistant Container; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/711,172, filed Jul. 27, 2018, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products in Child Resistant Container; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/586,773, filed Nov. 15, 2017, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products in Child Resistant Container.
This application is a bypass continuation-in-part of International Application Serial No. PCT/US17/55458, filed Oct. 6, 2017, and published as WO/2018/067894 on Apr. 12, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/405,436, filed on Oct. 7, 2016, entitled Jar with Cap; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/419,209, filed on Nov. 8, 2016, entitled Squeeze to Open Container; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/422,256, filed on Nov. 15, 2016, entitled Lockable Bag and Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/439,357, filed on Nov. 15, 2016, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products in Child Resistant Containers; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/490,345, filed on Apr. 26, 2017, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products in Child Resistant Containers. Each of the above-identified applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates to child-resistant containers including a platform for handling of plant-based products.
BACKGROUNDPlant-based products, such as produce, herbs, nutritional supplements, and the like have historically been produced at farms in other production environments, such as using hydroponics and shipped in crates, barrels, or similar containers by trucks, trains, boats, ships, and other shipping facilities. Mechanisms, such as inventory tracking systems using readers that interrogate chips that are placed on containers, have been used for tracking such products from production environments through transportation and warehousing to points of sale. A number of recent changes in the business ecosystem for certain products, including regulatory changes, have led to increased demand for such products, but have also created complications for owners and operators, including farmers and other producers, shippers, warehousing companies, and vendors, as well as for regulators and end consumers. For example, some products, such as cannabis, are legal only in certain jurisdictions and for certain purposes, such as medical uses, that may vary jurisdiction-to-jurisdiction. As a result, owners and operators are challenged to ensure that the facilities they control are secure and are in compliance with applicable regulations. Similarly, vendors need to be sure that they are supplying such goods in a way that is consistent with regulations. Consumers may also wish to ensure that products are safe and secure, in part because some of these products have historically been the subject of a black market (possibly making them targets for theft), and even the legal use of the products may need to be controlled, such as to avoid allowing access by children. Consumers also want to make sure products are of high quality, as most of such products are perishable and are quite vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions, such as high or low temperatures. Meanwhile, regulators and enforcement agencies need to ensure compliance with regulations and law, which may not be possible given traditional supply chain infrastructure and tracking systems. Accordingly, Applicant has identified a need for improved methods, systems, products, and components, including improved packages and containers, for enabling packaging, security, safety, tracking, compliance, and high quality in the ecosystem for plant-based products.
SUMMARYProvided herein are improved methods, systems, products, and components (all of these collectively referred to in the alternative as a “platform” or a “solution,” except where context indicates otherwise), including improved packages and containers and a host system for various information technology capabilities, for enabling packaging, security, safety, tracking, compliance, and high quality in the ecosystem for plant-based products. Plant-based products, such as herbal supplements, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, cannabis, and the like, may be placed in a range of secure, airtight, tamper-proof, childproof packages or containers having various improved shapes, materials, form factors and the like as described and depicted throughout this disclosure.
In embodiments, the packages or containers may include one or more processors, chips, sensors, or the like, including the capability to store information (such as identifying information and information about time and place of origin, exposure to environmental conditions, permitted uses, and many other types), the ability to report information (such as by pushing information over a communications interface, such as Bluetooth™ or Wi-Fi, or to have information pulled, such as upon interrogation by a reader or similar device), and the ability to perform processing functions, such as parsing data and applying one or more rules to one or more inputs in order to provide an output or determine an action.
In embodiments, the platform may include a host system, such as enabling or containing a set of services, programs, applications, processes, or the like, which may be deployed on premises of a host or an owner or operator or on cloud infrastructure, such as web services infrastructure, or a combination thereof. The host system may include one or more servers, data storage facilities, processing facilities, and the like. In embodiments, the infrastructure may be multi-tenant infrastructure, such as for handling processing of information relating to the supply chain of multiple owners and operators, regulators, and/or consumers.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
In embodiments, the methods and systems include a packaging system for perishable consumables including a container having an inner member configured to slide in and out of an outer member. A button that extends from a surface of the inner member through an aperture defined in a surface of the outer member. The button is configured to hold the inner member from sliding relative to the outer member. The button is configured to be deflected and removed from the aperture to permit the inner member to slide relative to the outer member.
In embodiments, the outer member is configured to permit the inner member to slide into and out from only one side of the outer member.
In embodiments, the outer member and the inner member are made of paper.
In embodiments, the container is access-resistant when the button on the inner member protrudes through the aperture on the outer member.
In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are oval shaped. In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are a rectangular shape with broken corners. In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are an arrow shape having a square portion and a triangular portion. In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are a diamond shape. In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are a shape having a concave portion and a convex portion. In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are a circular shape. In embodiments, the button on the inner member and the aperture on the outer member are a shape with a finger depression and an arrow shape located on the button.
In embodiments, the button on the inner member has a surface that is accessible through the aperture on the outer member. In embodiments, the surface is configured with symmetric ridges to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with sawtooth shapes to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with raised lines to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with raised triangle shapes to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with raised rectangular shapes to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with raised and separated star shapes to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with a running bond texture to improve grip. In embodiments, the surface is configured with a raised dot texture to improve grip.
In embodiments, the methods and systems include a packaging system for perishable consumables including a container having a body and a top configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed in the body that is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the body. The container is configured to be stackable with another container when the top is sealed to the body of the container. The top is configured to be rotated relative to the body to secure the top to the body and to be rotated in an opposite direction to remove the top from the body. The top is configured to only unseal from the body when the top is rotated relative to the body in the opposite direction in combination with the top also being urged toward a bottom of the body of the container. Exterior walls of the top are flush with exterior walls of the bottom when the top is sealed to the body of the container.
In embodiments, the container includes a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from the cavity of the container. The electronic device is configured to store, report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity. The electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of the container by removing the top from the body. The electronic device is configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the presence or the absence of the access parameter.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity that is configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from a cavity. The electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to indicate compliance with at least a portion of regulations governing what is contained in the cavity of the container.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from a cavity. The electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to provide details of at least a portion of a chain of custody of the container.
In embodiments, the container is made of glass. In embodiments, the top of the container is opaque. In embodiments, at least a portion of the top of the container is made from a material selected from a group consisting of glass, plastic, wood, and metal. In embodiments, the body and the top of the container are made of the same material. In embodiments, at least a portion of the body of the container is made of one of plastic, recyclable plastic, and plastic containing recycled material.
In embodiments, the methods and systems include a packaging system for perishable consumables including a container having a cavity formed between two members configured to cooperate to provide a re-sealable closure to the cavity that is odor-resistant and child resistant when sealed and that is configured to unseal when a portion of the container is squeezed.
In embodiments, the two members are an inner member that slides into and out from an outer member.
In embodiments, the two members are hingedly connected to one another.
In embodiments, the container is configured to permit at least one of other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the container.
In embodiments, the container is configured to permit at least one of other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the container.
In embodiments, the container is configured to permit the at least one of the other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the container whether in an open or a closed condition.
In embodiments, the container is configured to permit the at least one of the other containers to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the container when in an open condition.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity that is configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
In embodiments, the two members are the same color. In embodiments, the two members are made from a material selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic, wood, and metal. In embodiments, the two members are made of the same material. In embodiments, the container is made of one of plastic, recyclable plastic, and plastic containing recycled material.
In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a packaging system for perishable consumables including a container having a body and a top. The top is configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed in the body. The container is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the body. The container is configured to be stackable with another container when the top is sealed to the body of the container.
In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
In embodiments, the top is hingedly connected to the body of the container.
In embodiments, the top is configured to be rotated relative to the body to secure the top to the body.
In embodiments, the container is configured to be squeezed to remove the top from the body of the container.
In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container.
In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with the container whether the top is sealed to or released from the body of the container.
In embodiments, the body of the container is configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body of the container when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
In embodiments, the top is configured to be rotated relative to the body to secure the top to the body and to be rotated in an opposite direction to remove the top from the body. The top is configured to only unseal from the body when the top is rotated relative to the body in the opposite direction in combination with the top also being urged toward a bottom of the body of the container.
In embodiments, the container includes a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from the cavity of the container. The electronic device is configured to store, report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity. The electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of the container by removing the top from the body. The electronic device is configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the presence or the absence of the access parameter.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity that is configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from a cavity. The electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to indicate compliance with at least a portion of regulations governing what is contained in the cavity of the container.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from a cavity. The electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to provide details of at least a portion of a chain of custody of the container.
In embodiments, the body of the container is made of glass. In embodiments, the top of the container is opaque. In embodiments, at least a portion of the top of the container is made from a material selected from a group consisting of glass, plastic, wood, and metal.
In embodiments, the body and the top of the container are made of the same material. In embodiments, the body of the container is made of plastic. In embodiments, the body of the container is made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the body of the container is made of plastic containing recycled material.
In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a packaging system for perishable consumables including a container having a body and a top. The top is configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed in the body. The container is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the body. A portion of the container is configured to be squeezed to unseal the top from the body of the container.
In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
In embodiments, the top is hingedly connected to the body of the container.
In embodiments, the container is configured to permit at least one of other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the container.
In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit at least one of other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container.
In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit the at least one of the other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container whether the top is sealed to or released from the body of the container.
In embodiments, the body of the container is configured to permit the at least one of the other containers to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body of the container when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device that is sealed from the cavity of the container. The electronic device is configured to store, report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity. The electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of the container by removing the top from the body. The electronic device is configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the presence or the absence of the access parameter.
In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity that is configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
In embodiments, the portion of the container that is configured to be squeezed includes a first tab and a second tab that extend from the top and through a portion of the body and are configured to be squeezed together to unseal the top from the body of the container.
In embodiments, the portion of the container that is configured to be squeezed to unseal the top from the body of the container is also configured to slidingly couple the body to the top.
In embodiments, the top and the body of the container are the same color.
In embodiments, at least a portion of the body of the container is made from a material selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic, wood, and metal. In embodiments, the body and the top of the container are made of the same material.
In embodiments, the container is made of plastic. In embodiments, the container is made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the container is made of plastic containing recycled material.
In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include packaging system for perishable consumables including a flexible container having a front face defining an opening in the container and a sliding sealing mechanism on the front face configured to provide an odor-resistant and a child-resistant seal for the flexible container when the sliding sealing mechanism is in a locked condition and a portion of the sliding sealing mechanism is positioned to extend beyond a rear face of the flexible container opposite the front face of the container.
In embodiments, the sliding sealing mechanism includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a locked condition. The lockable slider is configured to connect to a sealing mechanism body in the locked condition. The sealing mechanism body is coupled to the front face and the rear face and includes at least one aperture through which the portion of the lockable slider extends beyond the rear face.
In embodiments, a portion of the lockable slider is configured to be squeezed and includes a first tab and a second tab that extend through a pair of apertures in the sealing mechanism body and couple thereto. The first tab and the second tab are configured to uncouple from the sealing mechanism body when squeezed together.
In embodiments, the flexible container is made of plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container is made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container is made of plastic containing recycled material.
The accompanying drawings include:
In embodiments, Packages 102 may include packages for small batches of material, packages for larger amounts of material, which may be stored in containers 122, such as secure containers 122 that may hold multiple packages 102. In embodiments, the containers 122 may be configured to provide an airtight seal, including the ability to evacuate enough air to provide improved freshness during transportation and storage. The packages 102 and the containers 122 may be childproof, tamperproof, or the like, such as to allow access by adults while preventing (or resisting) access by children. In embodiments, the containers 122 may be secure, such as being locked, including electronic locking, such as to require a password, PIN, fingerprint or other biometric information, or the like, including remote-controlled locking.
In embodiments, the packages 102 may be filled at a farm 108 or other production facility, loaded onto and transported by one or more transport facilities 110, optionally stored in one or more warehouses 152 or storage facilities, sold in a container 122 at one or more points of sale, such as a dispensary 114, and consumed at a point of consumption, such as a home 120. Throughout this process, packages 102 may be tracked by the host system 100. In embodiments, the packages 102 and the containers 122 may include one or more electronic devices, processors, chips (e.g., RFID), sensors, or the like, that may include the capability to store information such as identifying information and information about time and place of origin, the producer, owner or operator, exposure to environmental conditions, information about permitted uses, and many other types of data that may be used as inputs to the methods and systems disclosed herein. In embodiments, the packages 102 and the containers 122 may include one or more electronic devices that may have the ability to report information such as by pushing information over a communications interface, such as cellular, Bluetooth™ or Wi-Fi, or to have information pulled, such as upon interrogation by a reader or similar device. In embodiments, the packages 102 and the containers 122 may include one or more electronic devices that have the ability to perform processing functions, such as parsing data and applying one or more rules or processing steps to one or more inputs in order to provide an output or determine an action. By way of these examples, these capabilities may enable communications and interactions, such as by data networks, communications networks, cellular networks, Wi-Fi, or the like, through various interfaces, such as gateways, application programming interfaces, readers, access points, beacons, and the like, with the host system 100.
As noted above, one or more packages 102 and/or containers 122 containing produce 104 may be filled at a farm 108 or other production facility, which may include production infrastructure 148, including various machinery for production, as well as information technology, such as data storage, processing, and communications, such as for tracking what was produced, at what time, and what was placed into packages 102. In embodiments, produce 104 may be packaged into packages 102 and then into the containers 122 and/or into the containers 122 directly at a separate packaging facility. Packaging events may be reported to the host system 100, such as by pushing information to the host system 100, or by having the host system 100 pull the information, such as by one or more application programming interfaces (APIs), or a combination thereof. Storage of information may be at the farm 108 or packaging facility, at the host system 100, or in an external data storage facility, such as cloud-based storage.
In embodiments, the package 102 and/or the container 122 may subsequently be loaded, such as by a conveyor or the like, onto a transport facility 110, such as a truck, train, boat, ship, or other vehicles. In various embodiments, including on the transport facility 110, at the warehouse 152, at the point of sale, such as a dispensary 114, and at the point of consumption, such as the home 120. The package 102 may be stored in a container 122, which may be a portable container 122, such as filled at the farm 108 and placed on the transport facility 110, or it may be part of the transport facility 110, such as a secure box that may be configured to hold, and secure, the packages 102 (or even smaller containers 122) in a favorable environment, which may include an airtight environment, a cooled environment, a humidity-controlled environment, or the like. In embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the secure container 122 may include a lock, which may include an electronic interface, such as one that may be controlled based on the identity of a user and other factors, which may be managed remotely, such as by centrally managing what users are allowed to access the container 122, which in turn may be configured to allow the container to be opened based on what packages 102 (or products 104) are contained in it, such as ones controlled by a particular owner or operator, ones owned by a particular consumer, or ones approved by a regulator. These may be managed by a security facility 142 of the host system 100, which may interact with identity information 144, such as managed based on a secure identity platform, such as the Okta™ platform, to track identity information, passwords, credentials, and other information necessary to authenticate users.
In embodiments, the host system 100 may include a policy engine 134, such as to allow an owner, operator, host, or regulator to set policies relating to access to one or more of the containers 122 or to one or more packages 102, such as ones contained in a container 122. In embodiments, the host system 100 may maintain a directory 154, database or catalog of secure containers 122, optionally mapped to one or more owners or operators, one or more users, one or more facilities (such as at the farm, in transport, in warehouse, in a point of sale, such as a dispensary, or at a point of consumption), and/or one or more geographic locations. By way of these examples, this directory 154 may include geographic locations of containers 122, including current locations of containers, such as indicated by entry of containers into one or more geo-fenced areas, such as indicated by proximity to one or more access points, beacons, or the like that are located at farms 108, warehouses 152, dispensaries 114, or points of consumption 120.
In embodiments, the directory 154 may allow management of containers 122 at a group level, such as by having groups of containers 122 be managed by the same policies (such as ones owned by a particular owner or operator and/or used for a particular purpose, such as for holding particular goods). This management of containers 122 may include setting policies, such as using the policy engine 134, that apply to the containers, as well as various rules, such as specified and managed by a rules engine 158, which may allow setting various rules that may be deployed through and managed in the host system 100, such as rules that indicate what may be done, by whom, at what locations, to one or more given packages 102, products 104, or containers 122. Rules may be triggered by inputs, such as data that is managed by the host system 100 or detected by, at, or about a package 102 or container 122; for example, a rule may indicate that a container 122 that contains a package 102 containing produce 104 that is illegal in some jurisdictions and may only be opened if geo-fencing data indicates that the container 122 is currently located in a jurisdiction in which the product 104 is in fact legal. In embodiments, the rule may be created in the host system 100, such as in a rules interface, a policy interface, a dashboard, or the like, then managed by the host system 100, including by operating on data that is detected at a container 122 and/or at a package 102. Thus, secure containers 122 and packages 102 may include necessary processing components to allow interaction with the host system 100 to help enforce policies, rules, and regulations.
In embodiments, a local tracking system 112 may be deployed on the transportation facility 110, at the warehouse 152, or at other locations, including the production facility, such as the farm 108, the point of sale, such as a dispensary 114, or at a point of consumption, such as a home 120. The tracking system 112 may report information about the location of a container 122, information about the location of a package 102, and other information, such as obtained from electronic devices, IT elements, IoT elements, sensors (including environmental sensors, such as for temperature, humidity, air pressure, and the like) and from other systems (such as inputs from local IT infrastructure of the various environments in which the containers 122 and packages 102 move or are located), at various points in time, so that information may be obtained in real time about any package 102 or container 122, including current conditions and a complete record of historical conditions. The tracking system 112 may determine location by various location facilities, including GPS, triangulation (such as with cellular infrastructure locations, known access point locations, and others), map-based location (such as entering a known geo-fence or entering proximity of a reader, a beacon, an access point that is deployed at a known location, or the like), by direct reporting (e.g., having an operator enter a location in a user interface), and others. The local tracking system 112 may feed a tracking facility 130 of the host system 100, which may provide data for various purposes, including reporting, routing, regulatory compliance, optimization of the supply chain, security, and many others, regarding a collection of packages 102, containers 122, or the like.
In embodiments, the secure container 122 may be part of, or interface with, a security system 150, which may be deployed at the production facility, such as the farm 108, in or on the transport facility 110, at the warehouse 152, at the point of sale, such as a dispensary 114, or at a point of consumption, such as a home 120. The security system 150 may connect to the host system 100, such as through IT infrastructure of the applicable local environment, or through cellular or other channels. The security system 150 may include one or more cameras, motion sensors (such IR or laser-based sensors), sound sensors, monitored locks (including ones that use electronic codes, ones that are under remote control, and ones that use biometric identification, among other capabilities), and the like. In embodiments, the security system 150 may report to the host system 100, such as to provide one or more reports, alerts, or the like.
In embodiments, produce 104 in packages 102 and/or containers 122 may be transported to the warehouse 152 by the transport facility 110 for storage, then subsequently transported to a point of sale, such as a dispensary 114. The warehouse 152 may have a security system 150, a tracking system, and one or more secure containers 122 for storing packages 102. Storage of the packages 102 and the containers 122 may include storage in areas of controlled air pressure, controlled levels of vacuum, controlled temperature, controlled humidity, and the like, and conditions may be recorded and stored, either locally on an electronic device or other data storage associated with the package 102 and/or the container 122, remotely in the host system 100, or both, so that proof of origin, freshness, freedom from tampering, and the like may be obtained from the host system 100 or directly from the package 102. In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a chain of custody and freshness indication (such as a manual bonding strip or an electronic indication) on an exterior of the container 122 that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
In embodiments, containers 122 and packages 102 of product 104 may be sold at one or more points of sale, such as, in the case of legally restricted products, a pharmacy or dedicated dispensary 114, which may have a vending infrastructure 118, which may include one or more automated elements, such as a vending machine that requires some form of authentication, such as presentation of a prescription or similar authorization to obtain the product 104. Containers 122 and packages 102 of various types, as described throughout this disclosure, may be presented at the dispensary 114, such as through shelves, coolers, vending machines, kiosks, and other automated or machine-aided presentation facilities.
Once purchased, packages 102 of product 104 may be taken to a point of consumption, such as a home 120, which may also include a secure container 122, such as one requiring authentication, such as a code or biometric authentication, optionally managed through the host system 100. In embodiments, the secure container 122 may provide temperature control, vacuum control, pressure control, humidity control, and the like, in order to preserve freshness. The secure container 122 may include element (manual or electronic) to interface with data on the packages 102, such as to read and present dates of origin, place of origin, expiration dates, type of product 104, characteristics of the product 104, indications or warnings related to the product 104, side effect information about the product 104, and any other information that may be relevant regarding the product 104.
In embodiments, the secure container 122 may allow for control via the host system 100, such as to allow enforcement of rules or policies created and managed by the policy engine 134 and/or the rules engine 158, such as policies indicating what users within the home 120 are allowed to access what packages 102 or products 104 that are disposed in the secure container 122. By way of these examples, similar capabilities may be provided at the level of the individual package 102, such as allowing the package to be opened only by permitted users. In embodiments, the secure container 122 may enforce policy, such as requiring a user to present authentication and to present authorization to access and open a package 102, such as by presenting a prescription that allows medical use or presenting permission from an owner of the package 102 to open the container 122 and/or consume the product 104. This may include parsing of data to allow the specification and enforcement of rules that are based on parsing information at the point of consumption. For example, a rule might allow opening a container 122 or a package 102 only a certain number of times per week, opening the container 122 only on weekends, opening only a certain number of individual packages (or small containers) per time period, opening packages or containers based on validation that the user has not already consumed too much (such as based on an electronic device that could measure proximity, weight, etc.), and the like.
In embodiments, the platform may include the host system 100, such as enabling or containing a set of services, programs, applications, processes, or the like, which may be deployed on premises of a host or an owner or operator or on cloud infrastructure, such as web services infrastructure, or a combination thereof. The host system 100 may include one or more servers, data storage facilities, processing facilities, and the like. In embodiments, the infrastructure may be multi-tenant infrastructure, such as for handling processing of information relating to the supply chains of multiple owners and operators, regulators, and/or consumers. The host system 100 may include, as noted above, services, modules, and/or facilities for tracking 130, such as tracking elements or other electronic devices that may be reported by the local tracking systems 112, including storing all kinds of information that is tracked about products 104, packages 102, containers 122, locations, environmental conditions, and the like that are relevant to the history of a given package 102 or a container 122. In embodiments, the tracking system 130 may include storage of such data, such as in a data store or database. In embodiments, the host system 100 may also include the policy engine 134 and the rules engine 158, providing the capabilities noted above, such as the creation, deployment and enforcement of policies and rules (including laws and regulations), such as applicable to the placement of products 104 in packages 102, the transportation of packages 102, the storage of packages 102, the vending of packages 102, and the consumption of packages 102, as well as rules and policies related to security, authentication, and the like. In embodiments, the host system 100 may include interfaces for regulators 124, such as a compliance module 140, such as providing data to a compliance tracking facility 128 or providing APIs by which a compliance tracking facility 128 may extract data and create a record log from the host system 100, such as evidence of compliance with applicable law in a given situation.
In embodiments, the host system 100 may also include the container directory 154 for indicating locations and other information about secure containers 122 and what packages 102 may be in the containers 122, as well as facilities for managing security 142 and facilities for handling identity 144 (such as for authentication and access to containers 122 or packages 102). In embodiments, a reporting facility 138 may provide reporting, such as of various information indicated throughout, such as relating to production, packaging, transportation, environment conditions, access events, sales, and consumption events, including to owners and operators of production facilities, packaging facilities, transportation facilities, warehouses, and points of sale, as well as to consumers and regulators. In the many examples, one or more reports may indicate patterns of usage, such as to enable analytics, such as to help with optimizing packaging, to help with routing of packages 102, placement of containers 122, and managing other parameters of the ecosystem. In embodiments, a routing facility 132 may include machine-based or machine-aided routing of packages 102, containers 122, transport facilities 110, and the like, such as to optimize operations while remaining in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Taken together, the packages 102, secure containers 122 and the elements of the host system 100 allow for the precise tracking of products through a supply chain, the maintenance of freshness and quality, and the management of complexity introduced by locally varying laws and regulations, including policy-based and rule-based controls that may be triggered by local data collection. In the many examples, the platform provides chain of custody routing through various trusted hands in a supply chain, from production to end user.
In embodiments, sealed packages 102 and containers 122 may maintain a seal from the farm to the customer, including providing tamper-proof seals as described below. In embodiments, packages 102 or containers 122 may include one or more coatings, shrink-wrap elements, or odor-control features (as an integral or additional element), such as to reduce odor during transport, storage, and vending. This may include additional sealing elements that are not contained on conventional tamperproof packages.
Various embodiments of packages 102 and containers 122 are provided herein that may be squeezed to open, that may nest within one another when the cap is removed, and that may be stacked when the cap is in place. In embodiments, the container may include a body and a top. The top may be configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed in the body. The container may be odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the body. The container may be configured to be stackable with another container when the top is sealed to the body of the container. In embodiments, the top may be hingedly connected to the body of the container. In embodiments, the container may be configured to be squeezed to remove the top from the body of the container. In embodiments, the top of the container may be configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container. In embodiments, the top of the container may be configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with the container whether the top is sealed to or released from the body of the container. In embodiments, the body of the container may be configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body of the container when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
In embodiments, the packages 102 and/or the containers 122 may include the capability to house one or more electronic devices including IT elements or IoT device elements. These electronic devices may be included by securing them to glass, plastic, or other material used in the packages 102. In embodiments, one or more of the electronic devices may be molded in the material that forms the container 122 and may seal the electronic device in the material of the container 122. In embodiments, configurations to hold such electronic devices may be placed in the bottom of a package 102 or container 122, such as to provide additional stability or strength to the package 102 and the container 122. In embodiments, onboard electronic devices on the package 102 and the container 122 may account for the movement of a package 102 outside a perimeter and monitor access to packages 102 and containers 122. In embodiments, physical locks, one-time sealing mechanisms, bonded closures, and the like may connect to the electronic devices to require authentication in order to access a package 102 or container 122. In embodiments, onboard electronic devices may monitor and alert a user to temperature and humidity conditions, such as ones that are out of a preferred or other predetermined range. Onboard electronics may provide RFID functionality, such as to provide inventory and sales data at retail locations, during transport, and the like.
In many embodiments,
In embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may be mechanical and thus may require the user to push or urge the top 202 toward the bottom 204 while rotating the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 to remove the top 202. In embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may be mechanical and thus may require the user to squeeze the top 202 into the body 208 while rotating the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 to remove the top. In embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may be mechanical and thus may require the user to overcome a one-time seal, adhesive, or the like while rotating the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 to remove the top. In embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may require the user to unlock the top 202 so that onboard electronic devices unlock the top 202 permitting removal of the top 202. In embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may be mechanical and thus may require the user to overcome a one-time seal, adhesive, or the like while rotating the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 to remove the top. In further embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may also be configured to delay entry into the package 102 for a sufficient amount of time.
The bottom 204 of the body 208 may include a recessed area 210. In embodiments, the recessed area 210 may be semi-spherical in shape. In the many examples, the recessed area 210 may be configured to provide a stable base to enable the jar 200 to stand vertically on a surface and avoid being knocked over. In embodiments, the recessed area 210 may contain an electronic device 212 that may either be fixed to or formed in the material of body 208. In embodiments, the recessed area 210 may be configured to provide a stable base to enable the jar 200 to stand vertically on a surface and avoid being knocked over. In embodiments, the recessed area 210 may be configured to provide stackability so that another container can be situated below the jar 200 and its top may partially sit in the recessed area 210 and may be shown to improve stability when packaging multiple containers together. In embodiments, the top 202 may define a flat or a recessed portion 214 that may accept the recessed area 210 on another container to improve stability when packaging multiple containers together.
In embodiments, the top 202 and the bottom 204 may connect at a gap 220 that is cooperatively defined by the top 202 and the bottom 204. The gap 220 may permit the top 202 to secure to the body 208 using threads and a twisting motion to open or close the jar 200. In the embodiments, gap 220 may permit the jar 200 to be opened using a pushing and twisting motion. The restricted access top mechanism 202 may permit a user to open the jar 200 by first pushing the top 202 and bottom 204 together, closing gap 220, then using a twisting motion to open or close the jar. The gap 220 may provide sufficient space to allow the top 202 and bottom 204 to be pushed together allowing a user to twist the jar 200 open or closed. The restricted access top mechanism 202 may prevent a user from twisting the jar 200 open or closed without first pushing together the top 202 and bottom 204.
As depicted in
In the embodiments, a clockwise twisting motion of the top 202 may cause the top 202 and the bottom 204 to connect using threads 230, 232 and a counterclockwise twisting motion of the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 may cause their disconnection. The threads 230, 232 may be relatively oversized and may be shown to ease the connection between the top 202 and the bottom 204 by making alignment and engagement of the threads 230, 232 easier and allowing a user to more easily twist the jar 200 open or closed.
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In embodiments and as depicted in
In embodiments and as depicted in
In embodiments and as depicted in
In embodiments,
In embodiments, the top 302 of the container 300 may be connected by a tab connector 310. In embodiments, the container 300 may require a user to apply pressure to the body 308 of the container 300 to release top 302. In embodiments, the container 300 may require a user to apply pressure at two opposite points 312, 314 and squeeze the body 308 of the container 300 to release the top 302. By way of these examples, the pressure applied to the body 308 of the container 300 to release the top 302 may be required to exceed a certain threshold. This threshold may be set at a level easy for an adult to meet or exceed yet may be shown to be difficult for a child to meet or exceed, or sufficiently delaying the child from meeting or exceeding such thresholds. This threshold may be set at such a level so as to provide the child-resistant functionality to the container 300. Prior to opening, the top 302 may establish an odor resistant seal between the top 302 and an adjacent portion of the body 308 where the top 302 seals to the body 308 of the bottom 304 of the container 300.
As depicted in
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The bottom 308 may include a recessed area 320. In embodiments, the recessed area 320 may be configured to provide a stable base to enable the container 300 to stand vertically on a surface and avoid being knocked over. In embodiments, the recessed area 320 may contain an electronic device 322 that may either be fixed to or formed in the material of the bottom 304, as depicted in
In embodiments, the top 302 may be configured to cooperate with the body 308 to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity 330 formed in the body 308. The container 300 may be odor-resistant and may be child resistant when the top 302 is sealed to the body 308. The container 300 may be configured to be stackable with another container 340 when the top 302 is sealed to the body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments, the top 302 can define a circumferential seal 318 that is configured to seal against the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304 to provide an odor resistant and child resistant container 300.
In embodiments, the top 302 may be hingedly connected to the body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured to be squeezed to remove the top 302 from the body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments, the top 302 of the container 300 is configured to permit another container 340 to releasably connect to and stack with the top 302 of the container 300. In embodiments, the top 302 of the container 300 may be configured to permit another container 340 to releasably connect to and stack with the container whether the top 302 is sealed to or released from the body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments, the body 308 of the container 300 may be configured to permit another container 340 to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body 308 of the container 300 when the top 302 of the container 300 is not sealed to the body 308.
In embodiments, the container may include the raised bottom portion 320 containing an electronic device 322 that may be sealed from the cavity 330 of the container 300. The electronic device 322 may be configured to store, report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity. In embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic device 322 sealed from the cavity. The electronic device 322 may be configured to detect a presence or an absence of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container 300 and an attempt to access the cavity 330 of the container by removing the top 302 from the body 308. The electronic device 322 may be configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity 330 based on the presence or the absence of the access parameter.
In embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic device 322 sealed from the cavity 330 that may be configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges. In embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic device 322 that may be sealed from the cavity 330. The electronic device 322 may be configured to communicate with a platform to indicate compliance with at least a portion of regulations governing what is contained in the cavity 330 of the container 300. In embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic device 322 sealed from the cavity 330 and the electronic device may be configured to communicate with a platform to provide details of at least a portion of a chain of custody of the container 300.
In embodiments, the body 308 and the top 302 of the container 300 may be made of the same material. In embodiments, the body 308 of the container 300 may be made of plastic. In embodiments, the body 308 and/or the top 302 of the container 300 may be made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the body 308 and/or the top 302 of the container 300 may be made of plastic containing recycled material. In embodiments, at least a portion of the body includes one of a tapered rectangular shape (
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with various capacities and shapes. In many examples, the container 300 may have about a 6 dram capacity. The 6 dram volume is equivalent to a capacity of about 0.3 ounces (oz.) or about 22 ml. The 6 dram container 300 may have an outside dimension depth of about 33 millimeters (mm) or about 1.3 inches, an outside dimension width of about 33 mm or about 1.33 inches and an outside dimension height of about 45 mm or about 1.75 inches. The 6 dram container 300 may weigh about 7 grams or about 0.25 oz.
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 350 that may have about a 13 dram capacity, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 352 that may have about a 20 dram capacity, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 354 that may have about a 30 dram capacity. The 30 dram volume is equivalent to a capacity of about 1.8 ounces (oz.) or about 110 ml. The 30 dram container 354 may have an outside dimension depth of about 45 millimeters (mm) or about 1.75 inches, an outside dimension width of about 45 mm or about 1.75 inches and an outside dimension height of about 94 mm or about 3.75 inches. The 30 dram container 354 may weigh about 17.5 grams or about 0.6 oz.
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 358 that may have about a 60 dram capacity. The 60 dram volume is equivalent to a capacity of about 3.75 ounces (oz.) or about 220 ml. The 60 dram container 358 may have an outside dimension depth of about 53 millimeters (mm) or about 2 inches, an outside dimension width of about 53 mm or about 2 inches and an outside dimension height of about 132 mm or about 5.5 inches. The 60 dram container 300 may weigh about 27 grams or about 0.95 oz.
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as containers 360 and 368. In the many examples, the containers 360 and 368 may have at least a portion of a tapered rectangular shape. In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as containers 362, 364 and 370 that may have at least a portion of a tapered oval shape, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 372 whose top 302 may be configured to slide into out from the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 384 whose top 302 may be configured to hingedly open from and close into the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 390 whose top 302 may be configured to similarly hingedly open from and close into the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 400 whose top 302 may be configured to slide open and closed relative to the body 308, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 420 whose top 302 may be configured to similarly hingedly open from and close into the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 430 whose top 302 may be configured to similarly open and close by sliding along the body 308, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 440, as depicted in
In embodiments, the sliding sealing mechanism 520 includes a lockable slider 530 movable between an open condition 532 (
In embodiments, a portion of the lockable slider 530 is configured to be squeezed and includes a first tab 550 and a second tab 552 that may extend through the pair of apertures 544 that may be formed in the sealing mechanism body 540. The first tab 550 and the second tab 552 may be configured to uncouple from the sealing mechanism body 540 and move to the unlocked condition when squeezed together. When inserted into the sealing mechanism body 540, the first tab 550 and the second tab 552 may be configured to couple to the sealing mechanism body 540 and move to the locked condition.
In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be made of plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container is made of plastic containing recycled material.
In embodiments, the lockable flexible container 500 may include the sliding sealing mechanism 520 that may include a securing mechanism 560, seal pull 562, and a seal 564 associated with the lockable slider 530, as depicted in
In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be made of plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be made of various polymers, relatively thin metal, or a consumer recycled material. In many aspects, flexible container 500 may be made of varying colors of plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be provided in varying sizes and shapes and is not limited to the illustrated shape. In embodiments, the container 500 may be configured with a specific shape and size such as container 580, as depicted in
In embodiments, the container 122, 200, 300, 500 may be configured to hold many contents. The contents may include one of acetaminophen, aspirin, controlled drugs, dibucaine, diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, iron-containing drugs, dietary supplements, ketoprofen, lidocaine, loperamide, methyl salicylate, minoxidil, marijuana, marijuana products, marijuana consumables, naproxen. oral prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications.
In embodiments, the cap member 610 can include a flat top 630 with a rounded edge 632 that leads into cylindrical exterior walls 634 that line up with the exterior walls 636, 638 of the top and bottom members 612, 614. An interior 640 of the cap member 610 can accept a portion of the applicator mechanism 620. The interior 640 can include four lugs 642. The interior 640 also can include four projections 644 each having a groove 648. The projections 644 and lugs 642 can be dispersed radially in the cap member 610 and can be equidistant from one another.
The top member 612 can have a top surface 660 from which an inner wall 662 can extend and can house a portion of the applicator mechanism 620. The top member 612 can also have an outer wall 664 that also extends from the top surface 660 and can include four lug accepting grooves 670 formed on the outer wall 664. Each of the lug accepting grooves can have a catch 672 that can facilitate access-resistant features that can require the cap member 610 to be pushed toward the top member 612 and also rotated to remove the lugs 642 from the lug accepting grooves 670. In embodiments, a bottom surface 680 of the top member 612 can accept a threaded connection 682 with the bottom member 614 and can rotatably couple and un-couple one from the other. The top member 612 can have an orifice 690 through which fluid in the cavity 618 can be directed to the applicator mechanism 620.
When the cap member 610 and the top member 612 are sealed together they can cooperate to form a groove 700 between them that interrupts the flush and uniform exterior cylindrical wall defined by the top member 612 and the bottom member 614. The groove 700 can be sized to accommodate the travel of the cap member 610 when pressed against the top member 612 to unlock the cap member 610 from the top member 612. The groove 700 can have many ornamental aspects separate and apart from its functional aspects.
In embodiments, the bottom member 614 can include a bottom surface 702 that can define a concave bottom 704 and an annular rim 708. In embodiments, the applicator mechanism 620 can include a sprayer mechanism 720, as depicted in
In embodiments, the bottom member 804 can vary in size while each size can attach to the same top member 802. In embodiments, the top member 802 can be configured with a squared-off flat top 820 with a beveled edge 822 that leads into exterior walls 824 of the top member 802 that can be flush with and form a straight line with exterior walls 828 of the bottom member 804. In embodiments, the top member 802 can be configured with a flat portion 840 with a surrounding rounded portion 842 that leads into the exterior walls 824 of the top member 802 that can be flush with and form a straight line with exterior walls 828 of bottom member 804. The exterior walls 824 of the top member 802 and the exterior walls 828 of the bottom member 804 can cooperate to form a groove 850. In embodiments, the groove 850 can interrupt the flush exterior walls 824, 828. In embodiments, the groove 850 can interrupt exterior walls 824 having a different shape then exterior walls 828.
In embodiments, the cavity 808 of the container 800 can be configured with various volumes. In embodiments, the volumes of the cavity 808 of the container 800 can include 5 milliliters, 30 milliliters, 50 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 200 milliliters, and the like. In embodiments, the volumes of the cavity 808 of the container 800 can include 13 dram, 20 dram, 60 dram, and the like. In embodiments, the various volumes are provided by increasing a height of the container 800 without changing other dimensions.
In embodiments, the top member 802 can be further configured with a groove 852 (
It will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that the container 1000 can be constructed in various sizes and configurations while retaining its sliding access-resistant functionalities that allow the container 1000 to be locked and unlocked with the button 1010, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 and the aperture 1022 can be constructed with a rounded arrow shape 1080 having a rounded portion 1082 and a triangular portion 1084, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 and the aperture 1022 can be constructed with an elongated octagon shape 1130, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 and the aperture 1022 can be constructed with an elongated oval shape 1180, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 can be constructed with a symmetric ridge shape 1250 and can extend from the bottom surface 1012 of the inner member 1002, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 can be constructed with a line texture 1290 and can extend from the bottom surface 1012 of the inner member 1002, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 can be constructed with a raised and separated star texture 1340 and can extend from the bottom surface 1012 of the inner member 1002, as depicted in
In embodiments, the button 1010 can be constructed with a single depression line texture 1390 and can extend from the bottom surface 1012 of the inner member 1002, as depicted in
In embodiments, the bottom member 1504 can vary in size while each size can attach to the same top member 1502. In embodiments, the top member 1502 can be configured with a squared-off flat top 1520 with a large rounded edge 1522 that leads into exterior walls 1524 of the top member 1502 that can be flush with and form a straight line with exterior walls 1528 of the bottom member 1504. By way of this example, the top member 1502 has an overall rounded shape. The exterior walls 1524 of the top member 1502 and the exterior walls 1528 of the bottom member 1504 can cooperate to form a groove 1550. In embodiments, the groove 1550 can interrupt the flush exterior walls 1524, 1528. In embodiments, the groove 1550 can interrupt exterior walls 1524 having a different shape then exterior walls 1528.
In embodiments, the cavity 1508 of the container 1500 can be configured with various volumes. In embodiments, the volumes of the cavity 1508 of the container 1500 can include 5 milliliters, 30 milliliters, 50 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 200 milliliters, and the like. In embodiments, the volumes of the cavity 1508 of the container 1500 can include 13 dram, 20 dram, 60 dram, and the like. In embodiments, the various volumes are provided by increasing a height of the container 1500 without changing other dimensions.
In embodiments, any of the top members 1502 can interchangeably fit onto any of the bottom members 1504 depicted in
In the Figures and throughout the application, many features of the containers set forth herein contain many ornamental features alone and in combination with the many other features, which stand independent and distinct from the many functional features disclosed herein.
In embodiments, a packaging system for perishable consumables includes a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and a packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the container. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
While only many aspects of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as described in the following claims. All patent applications and patents, both foreign and domestic, and all other publications referenced herein are incorporated herein in their entireties to the full extent permitted by law.
The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in whole through a machine that executes computer software, program codes, and/or instructions on a processor. The present disclosure may be implemented as a method on the machine, as a system or apparatus as part of or in relation to the machine, or as a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium executing on one or more of the machines. In many aspects of the present disclosure, the processor may be part of a server, cloud server, client, network infrastructure, mobile computing platform, stationary computing platform, or other computing platforms. A processor may be any kind of computational or processing device capable of executing program instructions, codes, binary instructions, and the like. The processor may be or may include a signal processor, digital processor, embedded processor, microprocessor, or any variant such as a co-processor (math co-processor, graphic co-processor, communication co-processor and the like) and the like that may directly or indirectly facilitate execution of program code or program instructions stored thereon. In addition, the processor may enable execution of multiple programs, threads, and codes. The threads may be executed simultaneously to enhance the performance of the processor and to facilitate simultaneous operations of the application. By way of implementation, methods, program codes, program instructions and the like described herein may be implemented in one or more thread. The thread may spawn other threads that may have assigned priorities associated with them; the processor may execute these threads based on priority or any other order based on instructions provided in the program code. The processor, or any machine utilizing one, may include non-transitory memory that stores methods, codes, instructions, and programs as described herein and elsewhere. The processor may access a non-transitory storage medium through an interface that may store methods, codes, and instructions as described herein and elsewhere. The storage medium associated with the processor for storing methods, programs, codes, program instructions or other type of instructions capable of being executed by the computing or processing device may include but may not be limited to one or more of a CD-ROM, DVD, memory, hard disk, flash drive, RAM, ROM, cache, and the like.
A processor may include one or more cores that may enhance speed and performance of a multiprocessor. In many aspects of the present disclosure, the process may be a dual core processor, quad core processors, other chip-level multiprocessor and the like that combine two or more independent cores (called a die).
The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in whole through a machine that executes computer software on a server, client, firewall, gateway, hub, router, or other such computer and/or networking hardware. The software program may be associated with a server that may include a file server, print server, domain server, internet server, intranet server, cloud server, and other variants such as secondary server, host server, distributed server, and the like. The server may include one or more of memories, processors, computer readable media, storage media, ports (physical and virtual), communication devices, and interfaces capable of accessing other servers, clients, machines, and devices through a wired or a wireless medium, and the like. The methods, programs, or codes as described herein and elsewhere may be executed by the server. In addition, other devices required for execution of methods as described in this application may be considered as a part of the infrastructure associated with the server.
The server may provide an interface to other devices including, without limitation, clients, other servers, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers, communication servers, distributed servers, social networks, and the like. Additionally, this coupling and/or connection may facilitate remote execution of program across the network. The networking of some or all of these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a program or method at one or more location without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, any of the devices attached to the server through an interface may include at least one storage medium capable of storing methods, programs, code and/or instructions. A central repository may provide program instructions to be executed on different devices. In this implementation, the remote repository may act as a storage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.
The software program may be associated with a client that may include a file client, print client, domain client, internet client, intranet client and other variants such as secondary client, host client, distributed client, and the like. The client may include one or more of memories, processors, computer readable media, storage media, ports (physical and virtual), communication devices, and interfaces capable of accessing other clients, servers, machines, and devices through a wired or a wireless medium, and the like. The methods, programs, or codes as described herein and elsewhere may be executed by the client. In addition, other devices required for execution of methods as described in this application may be considered as a part of the infrastructure associated with the client.
The client may provide an interface to other devices including, without limitation, servers, other clients, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers, communication servers, distributed servers, and the like. Additionally, this coupling and/or connection may facilitate remote execution of program across the network. The networking of some or all of these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a program or method at one or more location without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, any of the devices attached to the client through an interface may include at least one storage medium capable of storing methods, programs, applications, code and/or instructions. A central repository may provide program instructions to be executed on different devices. In this implementation, the remote repository may act as a storage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.
The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in whole through network infrastructures. The network infrastructure may include elements such as computing devices, servers, routers, hubs, firewalls, clients, personal computers, communication devices, routing devices and other active and passive devices, modules and/or components as known in the art. The computing and/or non-computing device(s) associated with the network infrastructure may include, apart from other components, a storage medium such as flash memory, buffer, stack, RAM, ROM, and the like. The processes, methods, program codes, instructions described herein and elsewhere may be executed by one or more of the network infrastructural elements. The methods and systems described herein may be adapted for use with any kind of private, community, or hybrid cloud computing network or cloud computing environment, including those which involve features of software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and/or infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere may be implemented on a cellular network having multiple cells. The cellular network may either be frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network or code division multiple access (CDMA) network. The cellular network may include mobile devices, cell sites, base stations, repeaters, antennas, towers, and the like. The cell network may be a GSM, GPRS, 3G, EVDO, mesh, or other networks types.
The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere may be implemented on or through mobile devices. The mobile devices may include navigation devices, cell phones, mobile phones, mobile personal digital assistants, laptops, palmtops, netbooks, pagers, electronic books readers, music players and the like. These devices may include, apart from other components, a storage medium such as a flash memory, buffer, RAM, ROM and one or more computing devices. The computing devices associated with mobile devices may be enabled to execute program codes, methods, and instructions stored thereon. Alternatively, the mobile devices may be configured to execute instructions in collaboration with other devices. The mobile devices may communicate with base stations interfaced with servers and configured to execute program codes. The mobile devices may communicate on a peer-to-peer network, mesh network, or other communications network. The program code may be stored on the storage medium associated with the server and executed by a computing device embedded within the server. The base station may include a computing device and a storage medium. The storage device may store program codes and instructions executed by the computing devices associated with the base station.
The computer software, program codes, and/or instructions may be stored and/or accessed on machine readable media that may include: computer components, devices, and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time; semiconductor storage known as random access memory (RAM); mass storage typically for more permanent storage, such as optical discs, forms of magnetic storage like hard disks, tapes, drums, cards and other types; processor registers, cache memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory; optical storage such as CD, DVD; removable media such as flash memory (e.g., USB sticks or keys), floppy disks, magnetic tape, paper tape, punch cards, standalone RAM disks, Zip drives, removable mass storage, off-line, and the like; other computer memory such as dynamic memory, static memory, read/write storage, mutable storage, read only, random access, sequential access, location addressable, file addressable, content addressable, network attached storage, storage area network, bar codes, magnetic ink, and the like.
The methods and systems described herein may transform physical and/or intangible items from one state to another. The methods and systems described herein may also transform data representing physical and/or intangible items from one state to another.
The elements described and depicted herein, including in flow charts and block diagrams throughout the figures, imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented on machines through computer executable media having a processor capable of executing program instructions stored thereon as a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these, and all such implementations may be within the scope of the present disclosure. Examples of such machines may include, but may not be limited to, personal digital assistants, laptops, personal computers, mobile phones, other handheld computing devices, medical equipment, wired or wireless communication devices, transducers, chips, calculators, satellites, tablet PCs, electronic books, gadgets, electronic devices, devices having artificial intelligence, computing devices, networking equipment, servers, routers, and the like.
Furthermore, the elements depicted in the flow chart and block diagrams or any other logical component may be implemented on a machine capable of executing program instructions. Thus, while the foregoing drawings and descriptions set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems, no particular arrangement of software for implementing these functional aspects should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the various steps identified and described above may be varied, and that the order of steps may be adapted to particular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an order for various steps should not be understood to require a particular order of execution for those steps, unless required by a particular application, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.
The methods and/or processes described above, and steps associated therewith, may be realized in hardware, software or any combination of hardware and software suitable for a particular application. The hardware may include a general-purpose computer and/or dedicated computing device or specific computing device or particular aspect or component of a specific computing device. The processes may be realized in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or other programmable devices, along with internal and/or external memory. The processes may also, or instead, be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, programmable array logic, or any other device or combination of devices that may be configured to process electronic signals. It will further be appreciated that one or more of the processes may be realized as a computer executable code capable of being executed on a machine-readable medium.
The computer executable code may be created using a structured programming language such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++, or any other high-level or low-level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description languages, and database programming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of processors, processor architectures, or combinations of different hardware and software, or any other machine capable of executing program instructions.
Thus, in one aspect, methods described above and combinations thereof may be embodied in computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps thereof. In another aspect, the methods may be embodied in systems that perform the steps thereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, or all of the functionality may be integrated into a dedicated, standalone device or other hardware. In another aspect, the means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above may include any of the hardware and/or software described above. All such permutations and combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
While the disclosure has been disclosed in connection with many examples shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing examples but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
While the foregoing written description enables one skilled in the art to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate in light of the disclosure that the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific aspects, embodiments, structures, modules, methods, and examples herein. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above-described examples, but by all aspects of the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
Detailed aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be constructed in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open transition). The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitations of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
While the foregoing written description enables one skilled in the art to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific aspects, method, and examples herein.
Claims
1. A packaging system for perishable consumables comprising:
- a container having a body; and
- a top configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed in the body that is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the body, wherein the container is configured to be stackable with another container when the top is sealed to the body of the container.
2. The packaging system of claim 1 further comprising a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
3. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the top is hingedly connected to the body of the container.
4. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the top is configured to be rotated relative to the body to secure the top to the body.
5. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the container is configured to be squeezed to remove the top from the body of the container.
6. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the top of the container is configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container.
7. The packaging system of claim 6 wherein the top of the container is configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with the container whether the top is sealed to or released from the body of the container.
8. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the body of the container is configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body of the container when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
9. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the top is configured to be rotated relative to the body to secure the top to the body and to be rotated in an opposite direction to remove the top from the body, and wherein the top is configured to only unseal from the body when the top is rotated relative to the body in the opposite direction in combination with the top also being urged toward a bottom of the body of the container.
10. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the container includes a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from the cavity of the container, and wherein the electronic device is configured to store, report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity.
11. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity, wherein the electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of the container by removing the top from the body, and wherein the electronic device is configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the presence or the absence of the access parameter.
12. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity that is configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
13. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the container includes an electronic device sealed from a cavity, and wherein the electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to indicate compliance with at least a portion of regulations governing what is contained in the cavity of the container.
14. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the container includes an electronic device sealed from a cavity, and wherein the electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to provide details of at least a portion of a chain of custody of the container.
15. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the body of the container is made of glass.
16. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the top of the container is opaque.
17. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the top of the container is made from a material selected from a group consisting of glass, plastic, wood, and metal.
18. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the body and the top of the container are made of the same material.
19. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body of the container is made of one of plastic, recyclable plastic, and plastic containing recycled material.
20. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body includes a tapered rectangular shape.
21. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body includes a tapered oval shape.
22. A packaging system for perishable consumables comprising:
- a container having a body; and
- a top configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed in the body that is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the body, wherein a portion of the container is configured to be squeezed to unseal the top from the body of the container.
23. The packaging system of claim 22 further comprising a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
24. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the top is hingedly connected to the body of the container.
25. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the container is configured to permit at least one of other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the container.
26. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the top of the container is configured to permit at least one of other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container.
27. The packaging system of claim 26 wherein the top of the container is configured to permit the at least one of the other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container whether the top is sealed to or released from the body of the container.
28. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the body of the container is configured to permit the at least one of the other containers to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body of the container when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
29. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the container includes an electronic device that is sealed from the cavity of the container, and wherein the electronic device is configured to store, report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity.
30. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity, wherein the electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of the container by removing the top from the body, and wherein the electronic device is configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the presence or the absence of the access parameter.
31. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the container includes an electronic device sealed from the cavity that is configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
32. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the portion of the container that is configured to be squeezed includes a first tab and a second tab that extend from the top and through a portion of the body and are configured to be squeezed together to unseal the top from the body of the container.
33. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the portion of the container that is configured to be squeezed to unseal the top from the body of the container is also configured to slidingly couple the body to the top.
34. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the portion of the container that is configured to be squeezed to unseal the top from the body of the container is also configured to hingedly couple the body to the top.
35. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the top and the body of the container are the same color.
36. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the body of the container is made from a material selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic, wood, and metal.
37. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the body and the top of the container are made of the same material.
38. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein the container is made of one of plastic, recyclable plastic, and plastic containing recycled material.
39. The packaging system of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the body includes one of a tapered rectangular shape and a tapered oval shape.
40. A packaging system for perishable consumables comprising:
- a flexible container having a front face defining an opening in the container; and
- a sliding sealing mechanism on the front face configured to provide an odor-resistant and a child-resistant seal for the flexible container when the sliding sealing mechanism is in a locked condition and a portion of the sliding sealing mechanism is positioned to extend beyond a rear face of the flexible container opposite the front face of the flexible container.
41. The packaging system of claim 40 wherein the sliding sealing mechanism includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the lockable slider is configured to connect to a sealing mechanism body in the locked condition, wherein the sealing mechanism body is coupled to the front face and the rear face and includes at least one aperture through which the portion of the lockable slider extends beyond the rear face.
42. The packaging system of claim 41 wherein a portion of the lockable slider is configured to be squeezed and includes a first tab and a second tab that extend through a pair of apertures in the sealing mechanism body and couple thereto, and wherein the first tab and the second tab are configured to uncouple from the sealing mechanism body when squeezed together.
43. The packaging system of claim 40 wherein the flexible container is made of plastic.
44. The packaging system of claim 40 wherein the flexible container is made of recyclable plastic.
45. The packaging system of claim 40 wherein the flexible container is made of plastic containing recycled material.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 4, 2019
Publication Date: Aug 8, 2019
Applicant: POLLEN GEAR LLC (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Inventors: Shane Grant Blomberg (Hermosa Beach, CA), Edward Kilduff (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Application Number: 16/375,381
