Container and opening means

Abstract

Disclosed is a container and opening means for use with, and/or incorporating the same. The opening means may be advantageously used for cutting open the plastic surface of a container such as a clam-shell sealed container containing one or more articles.

1 . A container including at least one plastic surface and at least one opening means located adjacent to a respective at least one face of said at least one plastic surface whereby said opening means is arranged such that movement of at least a portion of the opening means cuts through said at least one plastic surface of the container. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 2  wherein one or more of the at least one plastic surfaces comprises moulded plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein said container is of a moulded blister pack type of container, or a moulded clam shell type. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the opening means is wire. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 4  wherein the wire means comprises a blade. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1  where the opening means is a widget comprising one of more cutting edges provided by one or more incisions in said widget. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 4  wherein the opening means has portions located on respective first and second sides of at least one plastic surface such that in use, the wire is drawn through the surface thereby cutting and creating an opening into the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 4  wherein the wire includes a free end and a substantially fixed end. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the opening means external to the container is at least partially located under a tamper evident seal. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the opening means external to the container includes a tab portion. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 10  wherein the tab portion is detachably attached to a portion of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the opening means is located on a first side of a container surface and at least a further portion of the opening means is located on a second side of the surface. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the surface contains one or more grooves to form a channel by which to substantially guide the opening means. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 13  wherein the channel by which to guide the opening means is formed by two or more raised areas forming a channel therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the opening means includes at least first and second portions that are located adjacent opposite faces of the container surface. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the opening means is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 16  wherein the material is plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 15  wherein the first and second portions form studs which are capable of being pressed together. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the opening means is arranged relative to the at least one surface such that moving the opening means in at least one direction causes the same to cut the respective at least one surface wherein the resulting edges of the cut are substantially smooth. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 19  wherein the substantially smooth edges of the openings are formed by the frictional forces between the opening means and the container surface, through which the opening means moves. 
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 1  further comprising a substantially small preformed slit or opening. 
     
     
         22 . A method of opening a container with an opening means, said opening means located adjacent to a first surface of the container in a first position comprising the step of moving at least part of said opening means between the first position and a second position whereby at least a portion of the opening means moves through the surface of the container substantially creating an opening wherein the resulting edges of the opening are substantially smooth. 
     
     
         23 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein said container is a moulded clam shell type container. 
     
     
         24 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the opening means external to the container is at least partially located under a security tag.