Recyclable container closure having informational and/or anti-counterfeiting capabilities

Abstract

A “smart” closure system, apparatus, and method are contemplated. The closure includes mechanical capture and release mechanisms, electromechanical and/or optical indicators, wireless technologies, and/or web-based or remote authentication, verification, and serialization via remotely located data servers. A mobile computing device may further augment certain functions. The resulting system allows for anti-counterfeiting, authentication, serialization, and other capabilities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump dispenser having iterative informational capabilities, the dispenser comprising:
 a container carrying a fluid for dispensing;   a pump mechanism connected to the container, the pump mechanism having an actuation component operable in conjunction with a wireless tag and pump chamber including an inlet connected to the container and an outlet leading to a discharge channel; and   wherein the wireless tag is activated by proximity to a reader device so that a valve within the outlet is opened or closed and wherein the valve move in response to electromagnetic, inductive, or piezoelectric energy provided by the wireless tag.   
     
     
         2 . The pump dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the wireless tag is associated with a microelectromechanical component. 
     
     
         3 . The pump dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a power source. 
     
     
         4 . The pump dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the wireless tag is an active tag that tracks or adjusts dispensing by the pump mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The pump dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a transducer to convert mechanical energy from the pump mechanism into electrical energy provided to the wireless tag and wherein the wireless tag is an active tag that tracks or adjusts dispensing by the pump mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The pump dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         7 . The pump dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the wireless tag is selected from a near field communication tag and a radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         8 . The pump dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the wireless tag is a passive tag that generates an electromagnetic signal based upon the proximity of the reader device and wherein the electromagnetic signal communicates information concerning the dispenser and/or the fluid for dispensing to the reader device. 
     
     
         9 . The pump dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the information relates to at least one selected from: a product identifier, a website regarding the dispenser or the product, an expiration date, a location of origin, and quantity of fluid dispensed. 
     
     
         10 . A method of authenticating a product dispensed by a pump, the method comprising:
 providing a container of fluid attached to a pump having a wireless tag;   positioning a reader device proximate to the wireless tag so that the wireless tag generates an electromagnetic signal received by the reader device; and   communicating the electromagnetic signal from the reader device to a remote data network to display information about the fluid and/or the dispenser on the reader device.   
     
     
         11 . A dosing mechanism attached to a reservoir carrying a fluid for dispensing, the mechanism comprising:
 a closure cap having a wireless tag and an outlet;   an outlet tube;   a timing chamber positioned beneath the outlet and having a timing aperture formed in a facing positioned opposite from the outlet when the closure cap is attached to the reservior;   an occluder positioned within the timing chamber, the occlude movable within the timing chamber toward or away from the timing aperture in response to gravitational force created when the container is inverted; and   wherein the wireless tag produces a control signal provided to an actuator component to changes a diameter of the timing aperture so as to selectively control an amount of fluid dispensed and wherein the wireless tag generates the control signal when a reader device is positioned proximate to the wireless tag.   
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 11  wherein the wireless tag is a passive tag and wherein the control signal also provides information concerning the dispenser and/or the fluid for dispensing to the reader device. 
     
     
         13 . The mechanism of  claim 12  wherein the information relates to at least one selected from: a product identifier, a website regarding the dispenser or the product, an expiration date, a location of origin, and quantity of fluid dispensed. 
     
     
         14 . The mechanism of  claim 11  wherein the wireless tag is an active tag.