WO2007004902A1

WO2007004902A1 - Packaging for a grinder with tamper evident means

Info

Publication number: WO2007004902A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2006/000171
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Montgomery Heng; Stefanie Elisabeth Sinn
Original assignee: Click Clack Limited
Priority date: 2005-07-05
Filing date: 2006-07-04
Publication date: 2007-01-11

Abstract

Packaging for a mill or grinder for grindable material ('mill'). The packaging (10) has a base (1 1 ) from which projects a panel (12). A clip (18) is connected to and projects from the panel (12). The base (1 1 ) has a recess (16) to receive the dispensing end of a mill. A dished area (1 7) can receive ground material from the mill. The end of the mill opposite the dispensing end is clipped into the packaging by clip (18) to retain the mill but permit the mill to be operated to grind grindable material in the mill.

Description

Title of the Invention

PACKAGING FOR A GRINDER WITH TAMPER EVIDENT MEANS

Background to the Invention

This invention relates to packaging and more particularly packaging intended for mills for grindable food material (e.g. salt and pepper) whereby the mill can be presented for display at point of sale.

Condiment mills (more commonly referred to as pepper mills or pepper grinders, which for convenience, is the terminology that will be used hereinafter) are commonly presented at the point of sale either in packaging or devoid of packaging. If the pepper mill is presented in packaging then generally the packaging is of a type whereby the pepper mill can be readily viewed through transparent material or panels forming the packaging. However, by their very nature, pepper mills are the type of product that a would-be purchaser likes to be able to physically touch and manipulate when coming to a buying decision.

Pepper mills devoid of packaging, however, present a problem at the point of sale as typically the pepper mill will be filled with peppercorns. This presents a problem to the seller of the pepper mill as would be purchasers, manipulating the pepper mill, create a mess of ground pepper.

There is also a product security issue in that the purchaser of a pepper mill can never be certain that the peppercorns have not been tampered with. Because a pepper mill, by its very nature, is readily openable for the loading of peppercorns, equally someone can open the pepper mill and compromise the integrity of the peppercorns.

Consequently, the seller of pepper mills has the dilemma of wishing to ensure that product in the pepper mill cannot be tampered with, as well as wishing to minimise mess but at the same time needs to have the pepper mill accessible for "trial" usage by the would-be purchaser in order to secure a sale. While the pepper mill could be presented in an empty state this has generally found to be of little use as the would be purchaser has no way of manipulating the pepper mill in order to test the milling/grinding action.

Summary of the Invention

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide packaging for a mill or grinder for grindable food material ("mill") that enables the mill to be used but, at the same time, minimises mess caused by ground condiment and maintains the mill in a tamperproof form.

Broadly according to one aspect of the invention there is provided packaging for a mill or grinder for grindable food material ("mill), the packaging including means for securely receiving the mill whereby the mill can be operated in the packaging and means for receiving and substantially containing material issuing from the mill as a result of operation thereof.

Preferably the packaging includes tamper evident means in the event of the mill being removed wholly or partially from the packaging.

In the preferred form, the packaging includes a base and a clip spaced from the base the mill being insertable between the base and clip to be retained therebetween. Preferably the clip is arranged to prevent the mill from being opened while the mill remains in the packaging.

A panel preferably extends from the base and the clip is coupled to the panel. A handle can be coupled to the panel. The panel can receive means for displaying written/graphical material.

In a preferred form the panel is coupled to the base by snap-lock connecting means. The base preferably includes a recess adapted to receive a dispensing end of the mill. The material receiving means can be a dished area in the base and over which a dispensing outlet of the mill is locatable. In one form the dished area is located within the confines of the recess.

According to one preferred embodiment the clip includes a planar element with a stepped down distal end configured to engage in a recess part of the mill.

In another form of the invention the clip is configured to engage with an operable part of the mill (to facilitate filling of the mill) and prevent opening of the openable part.

Preferably the clip or panel includes means to facilitate irreversible deformation or fracture thereof to permit the mill to be released from the packaging. The deformation means can be a groove extending between opposite delineating portions of the clip or panel. Alternatively the fracture means can be a frangible connection between the base and clip.

According to a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided packaging for a mill or grinder ("mill") for grindable material, the packaging including a base for retaining a dispensing end of the mill, a material receiving means for receiving ground material dispensed from the dispensing end, a connector element extending from the base, a retention means coupled to the connector element, the retention means being configured to engage an end of the mill opposite the dispensing end such engagement being such as to permit the mill to be operable to grind material contained within the mill.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following more detailed description of the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective of packaging incorporating the present invention, Figure 2 is a more detailed perspective view (in a different direction) of the top portion of the packaging,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the packaging incorporating a pepper mill,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but viewed from a reverse direction, and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging together with an optional packaging sleeve.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Referring firstly to Figure 1 , the packaging 10 is seen to include a base 1 1 . Upwardly projecting from the base is a connector element which in the preferred for is a panel 12. At the upper end of the panel 12 there is preferably an annular element 1 3 that can function as a handle for lifting, carrying and otherwise transporting the package and equally as a means of suspending the package on a prong(s) or arm(s) of a point of sale stand such as commonly used to display household goods.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the shape and configuration of the base 1 1 , the panel 1 2 and "handle" 1 3 can vary depending on physical size and shape of the mill to be packaged, as well as for aesthetic reasons. Therefore, the package, as illustrated in the drawings, is by way of example and is intended for packaging of a mill M of the type shown in Figures 3 and 4. This mill is further described in our New Zealand patent specification 5281 82.

The components of the packaging may be formed from any suitable material or combinations of materials. For example, the base can be formed of a plastics material as can the handle, whereas the panel 12 can be formed from a plasties material but able to receive a say cardboard, plastic film or the like panel or sleeve. The panel or sleeve can function as a means of displaying written/graphical material such as trade mark, manufacturers information and other relevant information. The panel 12 could also be provided with means for attachment of user instructions and the like.

As illustrated, the panel 1 2 can be formed with longitudinal ribs 14 and cross ribs 1 5 for strengthening purposes. As shown in Figure 5, the lower end of panel 1 2 has fingers 23 that can snap lock into suitably shaped recesses accessible through slot 24 in the projecting part 25 of base 1 1. The panel 1 2 is thereby captured in the base 1 1 and is irremovable.

In the upper surface of the base 1 1 there is formed a recess 16 in which the dispensing end E of the mill M can engage. Within this recess 16 there is a dished portion 1 7 that aligns with the outlet opening of the mill M. In the preferred form of the invention the recess 1 6 and dished portion 1 7 are configured in such a way as to firmly locate with and retain in position the base B of the mill M.

At the upper end of the packaging is a retaining clip 1 8 which extends transverse to the panel 12. In a preferred form of the invention the clip 1 8 is formed integrally (as a unit) with either the handle 13 or the panel 12 or integrally with both.

Preferably the panel 1 2 includes web part 12a which not only can provide strengthening of the join of panel 1 2 and clip 1 8 but also engage or be engageable by the top of the mill M (see Figure 3) to maintain correct orientation of the mill in the packaging and/or ensure that the mill cannot be removed from the packaging without the tamper-evident means (described below) being activated.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the clip 1 8 is configured to clip onto the top T of the mill M. Therefore, the clip 1 8 will be configured to suit the particular form of mill to be mounted in the packaging 10. Thus in the preferred form of the invention the clip 18 is formed by a planar element 19, which at its distal end is formed with a stepped down portion 20 that engages in a recess portion R of the mill M.

It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that, the positioning of the clip 18 as well as the configuration of the clip will depend on the type of mill to be packaged. The clip not only has to function as a means of firmly fastening the mill into position in the packaging, but also is required to prevent the part of the mill used for filling the mill to be opened. In this way, the clip prevents any non-evident tampering with the contents of the mill.

Thus, with the mill M as illustrated, the mill M is positioned on the base 1 1 and panel 1 2 is clipped (as previously disclosed) onto the base 1 1 . As a result, the clip 18 is positioned such that the stepped portion 20 engages in the recess R, as previously described. In doing so it not only captures the mill M in place in the packaging but it also prevents the lid L of the mill M from being rotated. This prevents access to the filling chute of the mill M.

With other types of mills the clip 1 8 will be configured differently as indicated above. For example, with a mill where a knurl nut needs to be removed to facilitate removal of the twist knob top, it is envisaged that the clip 1 8 will clip over the knurl nut. The arrangement will be such that the twist knob can still be manipulated so that a would-be purchaser can test the grinding action of the mill M.

The clip 18 also has a tamper evident function. Thus, the clip 1 8 is arranged such that the mill M can only be removed from the packaging 10 by destroying or rendering non re- useable the clip. To this end the clip 1 8 includes a transverse groove 21 . As shown, groove 21 extends between the opposite delineating portions or side edges of the clip. Consequently, to remove the mill M from the packaging 10 a force needs to be applied to the projecting lip 22a at the end of the stepped portion 20 to clear the rib 22 from the top of the mill M. This force applied to lip 22a will cause the clip 1 8 to deform upwardly (relative to the top T of the mill M) about the groove 21 . The applied force will thus cause the clip 1 8 to fracture or, at least, deform along the line of the groove 21.

Thus, the clip 1 8 will either fracture or be deformed into a state whereby it cannot be reused. This prevents the mill from being removable from the packaging 10, the contents tampered with and the mill returned to the packaging 10. The fracture/deformation provides visible evidence of tampering.

The packaging according to the present invention thus provides a means of packaging a mill in packaging of high utility. Firstly, the packaging permits the mill to be operated but any ground material e.g. pepper is contained within the dished portion 1 7. With the mill M of the type as illustrated this testing of the operation of the mill can also involve adjustment of the adjuster A. Therefore, a would-be purchaser can conduct testing of the mill M in a manner, which does not create a mess.

In a preferred form, the components (or at least base 1 1) are formed from a transparent material such as clear polystyrene. The transparency allows different grind sizes to be seen in base 1 1 . Also by being largely transparent the packaging does not detract from the appearance of the grinder.

At the same time the packaging maintains the mill in a manner whereby it is not possible to tamper with the contents of the mill without this tampering being evident.

The packaging also can be produced in a manner, which is aesthetically pleasing, as well as have the additional function of being able to be suspended on a point of sale display.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the packaging is open to modification within the scope of the invention. For example, the configuration of the clip can, as previously disclosed, be changed depending on the type of mill to be contained in the packaging. The same applies to the base 1 1 where the configuration of the recess 16 and dish portion 1 7 can be changed to cater for different styles and shapes of mills.

The tamper evident function can also be different to that disclosed herein. For example, a frangible connection between the panel 12 and the base 1 1 could provide the facility for moving the base 1 1 relative to the mill M so as to release the mill from the packaging.

In another modification the panel could be of a different configuration, once again depending on the size and nature of operation of the mill to be packaged. Also, as previously disclosed additional packaging material can be mounted with the packaging of the invention. This could be a sleeve which fits over the panel 1 2 and encompass the mill M, but leaving a space whereby the mill lever can be operated. In Figure 5 there is shown a clip on panel 26 which has wing 27 onto which trade mark, information graphics and the like can be printed. As will be apparent to the skill person, the wing 27 could be a sleeve which extends from one edge to the other of clip on panel 26 so as to extend about the mill M.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . Packaging for a mill or grinder ("mill") for grindable food material, the packaging including means for securely receiving the mill whereby the mill can be operated in the packaging and means for receiving and substantially containing material issuing from the fill as a result of operation thereof.

2. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 further including tamper evident means to provide visual evidence of the mill having been removed wholly or partially from the packaging.

3. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the mill receiving means includes a base and a clip spaced from the base, the mill being insertable between the base and clip to be retained therebetween.

4. Packaging as claimed in claim 3 wherein a panel extends from the base and the clip is coupled to the panel.

5. Packaging as claimed in claim 4 wherein a handle is coupled to the panel.

6. Packaging as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the panel is adapted to receive means for displaying written/graphical material.

7. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the panel is coupled to the base by snap-lock connecting means.

8. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the base includes a recess adapted to receive a dispensing end of the mill.

9. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the material receiving means is a dished area in the base and over which a dispensing outlet of the mill is locatable.

10. Packaging as claimed in claim 8 wherein the material receiving means is a dished area in the base, the dished area being located within the confines of the recess.

1 1 . Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10 wherein the clip is formed integrally (as a unit) with the panel.

12. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 1 1 wherein the clip includes a planar element with a stepped down distal end configured to engage in a recessed part of the mill.

1 3. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 1 1 wherein the clip is configured to engage with an operable part of the mill (to facilitate filling of the mill) and prevent opening of the openable part.

14. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 1 3 wherein the clip or panel includes means to facilitate irreversible deformation or fracture thereof to permit the mill to be released from the packaging.

1 5. Packaging as claimed in claim 14 wherein the deformation means is a groove extending between opposite delineating portions of the clip or panel.

16. Packaging as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fracture means is a frangible connection between the base and clip.

1 7. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 1 6 wherein at least part of the base is formed of a transparent material to permit visual inspection of ground material having issued from the mill and received in the material receiving means.

1 8. Packaging for a mill or grinder ("mill") for grindable material, the packaging including a base for retaining a dispensing end of the mill, a material receiving means for receiving ground material dispensed from the dispensing end, a connector element extending from the base, a retention means coupled to the connector element, the retention means being configured to engage an end of the mill opposite the dispensing end such engagement being such as to permit the mill to be operable to grind material contained within the mill.

19. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 8 wherein the connector element is a panel and the retention element is a clip projecting substantially transverse to the panel the arrangement being such that a mill can be snap-lock fitted into the packaging.

20. A grinder or mill ("mill") for grindable material in combination with packaging as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 9.

21. Packaging for a mill or grinder for grindable material substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.