# US 10,766,676 B2 · Package or product having a use indicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,676 B2 - Document ID: US10766676B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/372,628 - Filed: 2019-04-02 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. - Applicants: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. - Inventors: Chris D. Anderson; Megan Herman; Brad Malcolm; Paola A. Rubiano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766676B2 ## CPC - B65D 55/026: {initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity (B65D55/066 takes precedence)} - B05D 7/227: {of containers, cans or the like} - B65B 3/02: Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles - B65B 3/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 7/00: Closing containers or receptacles after filling - B65B 7/28: by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers - B65B 31/00: Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers - B65B 55/08: by irradiation - B65B 69/00: Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for - B65D 1/02: Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents (thermally-insulated containers B65D81/38, A47J41/00; {feeding-bottles A61J9/00}) - B65D 50/00: Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures - B65D 85/00: Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials (bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport B65D71/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A product includes a use indicator carried by a container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, a coloration of the product changes irreversibly to indicate to a user that the package has been used, wherein the container includes a wall recess and the use indicator is carried in the wall recess. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A product that includes: a container; and a use indicator comprising a capsule and a capsule activator corresponding to a cavity and depressible therein, the use indicator carried by the container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, a coloration of the product changes irreversibly to indicate to a user that the package has been used, wherein the container includes a wall recess and the use indicator is carried in the wall recess, wherein the capsule includes at least one of an etchant or a colorant and is carried in the wall recess of the container, and the use indicator includes a cover over the capsule activator and the capsule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The product set forth in claim 1 wherein the wall recess is a grip recess for the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The product set forth in claim 1, wherein the cover includes an elastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The product set forth in claim 1, wherein the capsule activator is composed of the same material as the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The product set forth in claim 1, wherein the capsule activator is configured to rupture the capsule. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The product set forth in claim 1, wherein the etchant is configured to etch the container. ### Claim 7 A method of discouraging reuse of a package including a container after opening of the container, which includes the step of: applying a permanent discoloration to the container, which is observable by a potential user to indicate that the container has already been used, wherein said step of applying a permanent discoloration to the container is carried out by carrying a capsule of at least one of etchant material or colorant material in a wall recess in an external surface of the container in such a way that the etchant and/or colorant material is released to change the appearance of the container upon rupture of the capsule caused by a user, wherein the capsule and a capsule activator are part of a user indicator corresponding to the wall recess of the container and depressible therein, the use indicator carried by the container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, the permanent discoloration indicated to a user that the package has been used. ### Claim 8 A product that includes: a container; and a use indicator comprising a capsule and a capsule activator corresponding to a cavity and depressible therein, the use indicator carried by the container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, a coloration of the product changes irreversibly to indicate to a user that the package has been used, wherein the container includes a wall recess and the use indicator is carried in the wall recess, wherein the cavity is in an external surface of the container. ### Claim 9 A product that includes: a container; and a use indicator comprising a capsule and a capsule activator corresponding to a cavity and depressible therein, the use indicator carried by the container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, a coloration of the product changes irreversibly to indicate to a user that the package has been used, wherein the container includes a wall recess and the use indicator is carried in the wall recess, wherein the capsule activator is a rigid member that corresponds in shape and size to the cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The product set forth in claim 9, wherein the capsule activator includes at least one of glass or plastic.