초록 ▼

A latching system including both apparatus and methods addresses the need for a reusable latch that is identical on either side of a container opening, thereby facilitating container manufacture. Also disclosed are apparatus and methods for assuring the quality of latch able container enclosed conte

A latching system including both apparatus and methods addresses the need for a reusable latch that is identical on either side of a container opening, thereby facilitating container manufacture. Also disclosed are apparatus and methods for assuring the quality of latch able container enclosed contents and enhancing the safety of container users by providing an unopened condition assurance element such as a tab that is removable from a reusable container latch. A novel latching system with a split insertion clement on a first latch side and unitary receptor element on a second latch side is also disclosed. A preferred embodiment involves an elastically obstructed latch as used on a squeeze-openable container.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A tamper-resistant latch apparatus comprising: two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements configured to oppositely face each other in an assembled configuration, each comprising a tension yieldable, positive engagement element; and

The invention claimed is: 1. A tamper-resistant latch apparatus comprising: two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements configured to oppositely face each other in an assembled configuration, each comprising a tension yieldable, positive engagement element; and a partly sealed container element having at least one opening to which said two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements are responsive to form a squeeze- openable latch able container, wherein said partly sealed container element comprises a non-film container element, wherein said tension yieldable positive engagement element of each of said two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements comprises one elastically obstructed insertion element established on a first half of each said two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements and one elastically obstructed receptor element established on a second half of each said two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements, wherein said one elastically obstructive receptor element comprises two inwardly divergent, engagement extension elements established along at least a portion of a latch element longitudinal axis and parallel to one another and adapted for reception of one elastically obstructed insertion element of an assembled-configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical latch element, wherein said one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements established along at least a portion of said latch element longitudinal axis and parallel to one another and adapted for insertion within the inward confines of one elastically obstructive receptor element of an assembled-configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical latch element, wherein said one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises a valley-type evacuation substantially between said two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements, wherein each of said two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements comprises rounded outer edges, and a linear unopened assurance element to which said latch apparatus is responsive, wherein said linear unopened assurance element comprises an unopened condition indicator element, wherein said linear unopened assurance element comprises a separation facilitation element to which said unopened condition indicator element is responsive, wherein said separation facilitation element comprises a strength compromised element, wherein said unopened condition indicator element comprises a visual indicator element, wherein said visual indicator element comprises a tab, and wherein said unopened condition indicator element comprises a graspable, manual force transfer element. 2. The tamper-resistant latch apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a continuous fluid blocking seal that surrounds an enclosure formed by said squeeze-openable latch able container, wherein a portion of said continuous fluid blocking seal is established as part of said linear unopened assurance element, wherein at least some of said portion of said continuous fluid blocking seal extends distally of said strength compromised element, and wherein said at least a portion of said continuous fluid blocking seal is a substantially straight portion. 3. A tamper-resistant latch apparatus comprising: a squeeze-openable latch element that comprises a tension yieldable, positive engagement element, wherein a first portion of said tension yieldable positive engagement element that is located on a first side of a latch bisect axis is shaped to be rotationally engageable with a second portion of said tension yieldable positive engagement element that is located on a second side of said latch bisect axis, wherein said squeeze-openable latch element is configured to engage an assembled- configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical, squeeze-openable latch element, and wherein said tension yieldable positive engagement element comprises one elastically obstructed insertion element established on a first half of said, squeeze-openable latch element and one elastically obstructive receptor element established on a second half of said, squeeze-openable latch element; and a non-film squeeze-openable container half to which said latch element is responsive to form a non-film squeeze-openable latch able container half, wherein said one elastically obstructive receptor element comprises two inwardly divergent, engagement extension elements established along at least a portion of a latch element longitudinal axis and parallel to one another and adapted for reception of said one elastically obstructed insertion element of an assembled-configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical latch element, and wherein said one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements established along at least a portion of a latch element longitudinal axis and parallel to one another and adapted for insertion within the inward confines of said one elastically obstructive receptor element of an assembled-configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical latch element, wherein said one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises a valley-type evacuation substantially between said two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements, and wherein each of said two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements comprises rounded edges, and a linear unopened assurance element to which said latch apparatus is responsive, wherein said linear unopened assurance element comprises an unopened condition indicator element, wherein said linear unopened assurance element comprises a separation facilitation element to which said unopened condition indicator element is responsive, wherein said separation facilitation element comprises a strength compromised element, wherein said unopened condition indicator element comprises a visual indicator element, wherein said visual indicator element comprises a tab, and wherein said unopened condition indicator element comprises a graspable, manual force transfer element. 4. The tamper-resistant latch apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a continuous fluid blocking seal that surrounds an enclosure formed by two of said non-film squeeze-openable latch able container halves, wherein a portion of said continuous fluid blocking seal is established as part of said linear unopened assurance element, wherein at least some of said portion of said continuous fluid blocking seal extends distally of said strength compromised element, and wherein said at least a portion of said continuous fluid blocking seal is a substantially straight portion. 5. A latch apparatus comprising two substantially identical, mutually engageable, squeeze-openable latch elements configured to oppositely face each other in an assembled configuration, each latch element comprising a tension yieldable, positive engagement element; wherein said tension yieldable, positive engagement element comprises at least one insertion element and at least one receptor element; wherein said at least one insertion element comprises at least one elastically obstructive insertion element and said at least one receptor element comprises at least one elastically obstructive receptor element; wherein at least one of said at least one elastically obstructive receptor element comprises two inwardly divergent, engagement extension elements established along at least a portion of a latch element longitudinal axis and parallel to one another and adapted for reception of one of said at least one elastically obstructed insertion element of an assembled-configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical latch element, and wherein at least one of said at least one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements established along at least a portion of said latch element longitudinal axis and parallel to one another and adapted for insertion within the inward confines of said at least one elastically obstructive receptor element of an assembled- configuration-oppositely-facing, substantially identical latch element, and a linear unopened assurance element to which said latch apparatus is responsive, wherein said linear unopened assurance element comprises an unopened condition indicator element, wherein said linear unopened assurance element comprises a separation facilitation element to which said unopened condition indicator element is responsive, wherein said separation facilitation element comprises a strength compromised element, wherein said unopened condition indicator element comprises a visual indicator element, wherein said visual indicator element comprises a tab, and wherein said unopened condition indicator element comprises a graspable, manual force transfer element. 6. The latch apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one of said at least one elastically obstructive receptor element comprises one elastically obstructive receptor element and said at least one of said at least one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises one elastically obstructed insertion element. 7. The latch apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one of said at least one elastically obstructed insertion element comprises a valley-type evacuation substantially between said two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements. 8. The latch apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said two outwardly divergent, engagement extension elements comprises rounded outer edges. 9. The latch apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one of said at least one elastically obstructive receptor element further comprises a flat base surface. 10. The latch apparatus of claim 5, wherein said tension yieldable positive engagement element comprises a frictional engagement element.