The present invention relates to tamper indication for dispensing tube assemblies. In particular, the present invention relates to a dispensing tube assembly with a label having a tamper indicating portion.
One embodiment relates to a dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication. The dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication includes an extruded plastic tube, a cap attachment head, a cap, an adhesive, and a label. The extruded plastic tube includes a side wall extending between an open tube end and a closed tube end to define an interior. The cap attachment head is sealed to the closed end of the tube and includes a flow channel. The cap has a cap body extending between an attachment end and a cap end. The attachment end is attached to the cap attachment head. The label surrounds at least a portion of the tube and a portion of the cap body. The adhesive attaches the label to at least a portion of the tube. The label has a main body portion and a tamper indicating portion. The boundary between the main body portion and the tamper indicating portion is defined by a score in the label. The label is attached such that the score is positioned to circumferentially surround a boundary defined by the interface between the tube and the cap body. Alternatively, the label is attached such that the score circumferentially surrounds a portion of the tube. The cap end is defined by a top surface. The label covers a portion of the top surface such that the portion of the label covering the cap body top surface conforms to and lies flat along the cap body top surface. Prior to attachment of the label to the tube assembly the adhesive is located on only the main body portion of the label such that the adhesive attaches the label to only those portions of the tube and cap body that are in contact with the label main body. Alternatively, the label has an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface of the label being coated with the adhesive. The tamper indicating portion of the label includes a tear-away portion defined by two scored lines extending perpendicular to the score in the label.
Another embodiment relates to a dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication. The dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication includes an extruded plastic tube, a cap attachment head, a cap, and a label. The extruded plastic tube includes a side wall extending from an open end to a closed end to define an interior. The cap attachment head is sealed to the closed end of the tube. The attachment head includes a first flow channel. The cap has an attachment portion having a second flow channel and a hinged cover having a top surface. The attachment portion is attached to the attachment head such that the first and second flow channels are oriented to permit the flow of material from the interior of the tube to the outside of the tube. The cover is moveable between a flow position and a no-flow position to prevent flow of material from the inside of the tube when the cover is in the no-flow position. The label has a main body portion and a tamper indicating portion. The boundary between the main body portion and the tamper indicating portion is defined by a score in the label. The label is adhesively attached to the tube such that the main body portion surrounds at least a portion of the tube and a portion of the cap attachment portion. The label score is perforated. The label is attached such that when the cover is in the no-flow position the perforated label score concentrically surrounds an interface defined between the cap attachment portion and the cap cover. The tamper indicating portion of the label covers a portion of the cap top surface. The tamper indicating portion of the label has a tear-away portion defined by two scored lines extending perpendicular to the score in the label.
Another embodiment relates to a dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication. The dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication includes an extruded plastic tube, a material, a cap attachment head, a cap, an adhesive; and a label. The extruded plastic tube includes a side wall extending between an open tube end and a closed tube end to define an interior. The material is located in the interior of the tube. The cap attachment head is sealed to the closed end of the tube. The attachment head includes a flow channel. The cap has a cap body extending between an open cap end and a closed cap end. The open cap end is configured for attachment to the cap attachment head. The label surrounds at least a portion of the tube and a portion of the cap body. The adhesive attaches the label to at least a portion of the tube. The label has a main body portion and a tamper indicating portion. The boundary between the main body portion and the tamper indicating portion is defined by a score in the label. The label is attached such that the score is positioned to circumferentially surround a boundary defined by the interface between the tube and the cap body. Alternatively, the label is attached such that the score circumferentially surrounds a portion of the tube. The closed cap end is defined by a top surface, wherein the label covers a portion of the top surface. Prior to attachment of the label to the tube assembly the adhesive is located on only the main body portion of the label such that the adhesive attaches the label to only those portions of the tube and cap that are in contact with the label main body. Alternatively, the label has an inner and an outer surface, the entirety of the inner surface of the label being in contact with the adhesive.
Referring now to the drawings,
The cap 13 has a lower portion 15 and an upper portion 17. The lower portion 15 includes a second securement portion 19, such as threads, ridges, grooves, and the like that correspond to and mate with the first securement portion 11 on the attachment head 5 of the cylinder 1. The upper portion 17 of the cap 13 includes a closed end 14 having a top surface. The lower portion 15 and upper portion 17 of the cap 13 are connected by a flexible hinge 21. The lower portion 15 of the cap 13 has a dispensing orifice 25 which cooperates with flow channel 9 of the cylinder 1, and the upper portion 17 of the cap 13 has a plug or projecting fitment 29 which seals the dispensing orifice 25 when the two portions 15, 17 of the closure cap 13 are in closed position. When the cap is in the closed, no-flow, position the boundary between the lower portion 15 and upper portion 17 of the cap 13 is defined by a cap interface 16.
Preferably, the label 30 also includes a tear-away portion 38 to facilitate separation of the tamper evident portion 36 from the main body portion 35. An exemplary embodiment of a tear-away portion 38 is illustrated in
Label 30 may include writings, drawings, or any other desired indicia 40. Such indicia 40 may be decorative and/or the indicia 40 may be used to indicate information about the tube and cap assembly 100 such as but not limited to tube contents, origin, manufacturer, indications for use, brand names or logos, instructions for use, and the like. The indicia 40 may extend along the entirety of the label 30. Alternatively, the indicia 40 may be limited to only portions of the label 30, such as but not limited to being limited to only the main body portion 35 or only the tamper evident portion 36.
Referring again to
Once the label 30 has been arranged about and adhesively attached to the tube and cap assembly 100, heat is applied to the tube and cap assembly 100 to heat-shrink the label 30 to at least the cap 13 portion of the tube and cap assembly 100. As illustrated in
Following fixation of the label 30 to the tube and cap assembly 100 (as shown in
A user wishing to open the unopened tube and cap assembly 100 of
Referring to
Prior to attachment to the label 30 to the tube and cap assembly 100, the backing layer 30c extends at least along those portions of the label 30 along which the adhesive layer 30b extends. Once the label 30 is ready for attachment to the tube and cap assembly 100, the backing layer 30c is removed so as to expose the adhesive layer 30b.
Prior to application of the label 30 to the tube and cap assembly 100, the label 30 is preferably provided on a roll (not shown) consisting of multiple labels 30. During application, the roll of labels 30 is unwound, and individual labels 30 from the roll are wrapped about tube and cap assemblies 100 as the tube and cap assemblies 100 are spun about a mandrel assembly (not shown). While a label 30 is disposed upon the roll, the backing layer 30c supports the label 30, preventing the adhesive layer 30b of the label 30 from adhering to other labels 30 on the roll. During the application process, as the individual label 30 is being unwound from the roll of labels 30, the backing layer 30c of the individual label 30 is simultaneously removed from the label 30 to expose the adhesive layer 30b of the individual label 30. Once such an individual label 30 has been unrolled from the roll of labels 30 and its backing layer 30c has been removed, the label 30 is then attached to the tube and cap assembly 100.
An alternative embodiment of a tube and cap assembly 200 to which a tamper-indicating label 230 can be applied is shown in
Referring to
With respect to the embodiment of
Preferably, the label 230 also includes a tear-away portion 238 to facilitate separation of the tamper evident portion 236 from the main body portion 235. An exemplary embodiment of a tear-away portion 238 includes a strip defined between two scored lines 239a, 239b in the tamper evident portion 236 that extend perpendicular to the label score 237.
It should be understood that the figures illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
While the current application recites particular combinations of features in the claims appended hereto, various embodiments of the invention relate to any combination of any of the features described herein whether or not such combination is currently claimed, and any such combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of the features, elements, or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be used alone or in combination with any of the features, elements, or components of any of the other embodiments discussed above.
In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions, including lengths, as shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the Figures will disclose relative dimensions, angles and proportions of the various exemplary embodiments. Various exemplary embodiments extend to various ranges around the absolute and relative dimensions, angles and proportions that may be determined from the Figures. Various exemplary embodiments include any combination of one or more relative dimensions or angles that may be determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out in this description can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in combination with the express dimensions set out in this description.