Closure having an odorous substance

Abstract

The invention relates to a traditional closure means that can be actuated to open a container ( 10, 40, 70 ), which closure means comprises at least one actuation section ( 21, 50, 81 ) at which a user engages the closure means to perform an opening process and one closure section ( 22, 51, 83 ) operatively connected to the actuation section ( 21, 50, 81 ), which closure section closes the container and in which closure section the container is opened during the opening process, and with which closure section a fragrance is associated, wherein in order to avoid scent being released into the environment in an uncontrolled manner, it is proposed that a means for releasing the scent in a time-controlled manner be provided, which means is associated with the closure means, with which the activation of the release of the scent is performed in response to the performance of the opening process to open the container and which comprises a fragrance reservoir ( 30, 60, 90 ), which accommodates the fragrance, wherein the reservoir comprises a reservoir wall that can be broken open during the performance of the opening process. According to the invention, fragrance is applied to the actuation section ( 21, 50, 81 ). The invention further relates to a container ( 10, 40, 70 ) having such a closure means and to a method for opening such a container.

1 . A closure means that can be actuated to open a food container, which closure means comprises at least one actuation section at which the user engages the closure means to perform an opening process and one closure section operatively connected to the actuation section, which closure section closes the container and in which closure section the container is opened during the opening process, and with which closure section a fragrance for producing a predetermined scent is associated, the closure means having associated with it a means for releasing the scent in a time-controlled manner, with which the activation of the release of the scent is performed in response to the performance of the opening process to open the container and which comprises a fragrance reservoir, which accommodates the fragrance, wherein the reservoir comprises a reservoir wall that can be broken open during the performance of the opening process, wherein the fragrance is applied to the actuation section. 
     
     
         2 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means for releasing the scent can be activated by applying activation energy. 
     
     
         3 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 2 , wherein at least one section of the outer wall of the reservoir is formed by a scent-tight coating of the fragrance. 
     
     
         4 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the closure means includes a screw closure ( 50 ) comprising a closure body with an internal thread as well as a strip-like warranty seal, wherein the actuation section comprises an outer shell of the closure body. 
     
     
         5 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the strip-like warranty seal forms the reservoir wall that can be broken open at least in sections. 
     
     
         6 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the closure section comprises a part of the container wall and includes at least in sections thereof a weakening line at which the container wall breaks open during the opening process. 
     
     
         7 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the actuation section is designed as an actuation tab transmitting an actuation force to the closure section. 
     
     
         8 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the actuation section comprises a section of the reservoir wall, which section breaks open under an actuation force that is exerted by the user grabbing the actuation section. 
     
     
         9 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the actuation section comprises a section of the reservoir wall, which section breaks open by grabbing the actuation section and/or by the actuation of the closure means to open the container while applying activation energy. 
     
     
         10 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein closure means at least in sections thereof, particularly in the actuation section, comprises a plurality of encapsulated micro fragrance reservoirs. 
     
     
         11 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an actuation force for opening the container can be transmitted to the closure section via a section of the reservoir wall and that the reservoir wall is designed in such a manner that the same breaks open on the occurrence of an actuation force. 
     
     
         12 . The closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the actuation tab is formed as a lever which presses with one lever arm thereof onto a section of the reservoir wall during the opening process to break open the reservoir wall. 
     
     
         13 . A food container comprising a closure means that can be actuated, as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for opening a food container with a closure means that can be actuated, which closure means comprises at least one actuation section at which a user engages the closure means to perform an opening process and one closure section operatively connected to the actuation section, which closure section closes the container, wherein an opening is exposed or formed in the closure section by an actuation of the closure means and wherein a scent is released from the container, particularly from the closure means, the point of time of the release of the scent being selectively controlled so that the release of the scent is activated during the performance of the opening process, wherein the fragrance is applied to the actuation section. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a fragrance that can be photo-chemically activated is applied to the closure means in a light-tight fashion, wherein light exposure of the fragrance is enabled upon the actuation of the closure means for performing the opening process. 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a wet chemical reaction of the fragrance is activated upon the actuation of the closure means. 
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein several fragrance components chemically reacting with each other for producing the predetermined scent are applied to the closure means separated from each other, wherein a contact of the fragrance components among each other is enabled upon the actuation of the closure means for the performance of the opening process. 
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a force is exerted on the fragrance upon the actuation of the closure means. 
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein surface-area-to-volume-ratio of the fragrance is considerably increased upon the actuation of the closure means. 
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a reservoir containing the fragrance is applied to the closure means, which reservoir is broken open upon the actuation of the closure means. 
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fragrance is applied to the actuation section and the scent is released by the actuation section being grabbed by the user. 
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the release of the scent is activated by the adjustment of environment conditions for the container, such as temperature, air humidity and/or power flux density of electromagnetic radiation in the visible, UV or IR range. 
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a fragrance is released prior to the performance of the opening process.