Opening mechanism

Abstract

A single-handed opening mechanism for a container ( 1 ) holding a pourable substance comprising an elongate sealing element ( 2 ) which is moveable from a first closed position to a second open position. The elongate sealing element ( 2 ) is deformable and moves from the first closed position to the second deformed open position by the application of a squeezing force applied by the user's hand substantially along the length of the elongate sealing element ( 2 ).

1 . A single-handed opening mechanism for a container holding a pourable substance comprising an elongate sealing element which is moveable from a first closed position to a second open position wherein the elongate sealing element is deformable and moves from the first closed position to the second deformed open position by the application of a squeezing force applied by the user's hand substantially along the length of the elongate sealing element.  
     
     
         2 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elongate sealing element is resealable.  
     
     
         3 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said elongate sealing element comprises an openable/closable portion, said openable/closable portion being closed in the first position and said openable/closable portion defining an aperture in the second position.  
     
     
         4 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said openable/closable portion comprises a substantially cross shaped slit in the closed position.  
     
     
         5 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in  claim 3  or  claim 4 , wherein said openable/closable portion comprises a plurality of hinge points.  
     
     
         6 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any of  claims 3  to  5 , wherein said aperture is substantially diamond shaped.  
     
     
         7 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any of  claims 3  to  6 , wherein said elongate sealing element consists of first and second substantially rigid portions and wherein the openable/closable portion is located between said first and second substantially rigid portions.  
     
     
         8 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said elongate sealing element further comprises a locking element for locking the mechanism in the first closed position.  
     
     
         9 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said locking element is constrained to slide on the elongate sealing element.  
     
     
         10 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the elongate sealing element further comprises a breakable diaphragm, said breakable diaphragm being broken on moving from the first closed position to the second open position.  
     
     
         11 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the elongate sealing element is fabricated from a plastic material.  
     
     
         12 . A single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein the elongate sealing element is fabricated from a cardboard material.  
     
     
         13 . A container comprising a single-handed opening mechanism as claimed in any previous claim.  
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a single-handed opening mechanism for a container holding a pourable substance as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  10 , the method comprising moulding the elongate sealing element and the container body as a single unit, filling the container body with a pourable substance and sealing the container.  
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a single-handed opening mechanism for a container holding a pourable substance as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  10 , the method comprising moulding the elongate sealing element, sealing the elongate sealing element to a pre-formed container body, said pre-formed container body having two open ends and said elongate sealing element being sealed to the first of said ends, filling the container body with a pourable substance through the second of said ends and sealing the second end.  
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a single-handed opening mechanism for a container holding a pourable substance as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  10 , the method comprising forming the elongate sealing element and the container body as a single unit from a sheet of material, said sheet of material being scored, folded and sealed to form an open-ended container, filling the container body with a pourable substance and finally sealing the open end to form the elongate sealing element.  
     
     
         17 . A single-handed opening mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a single-handed opening mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.