Patent Application
20060090671
The field of the invention relates to containers used for human ingestible products and more particularly to tamper-evident lids for containers holding human ingestible products.
Product tampering is a well-known problem. A well-known example of product tampering has included the substitution of poison for aspirin in aspirin capsules.
While the most well-know examples of product tampering has involved drug containers, the potential for product tampering exists for virtually any human ingestible product. Further, the tendency of most stores to allow self-service of product provides a ready opportunity for criminals to alter a product and then return the altered product to a store's shelves.
While product tampering cannot be absolutely prevented, most efforts in the past have been directed towards providing product seals that readily show evidence of tampering. For example, many bottled products are now sold with heat-shrinkable tubing disposed around a neck and cap of the bottle. Any attempt to open the bottle usually results in damage to the tubing thereby providing visual warning to a potential buyer that the bottle may have been tampered with.
In the case of products sold in boxes, the process becomes more difficult. In the case of boxes, adhesive tape may be used to seal a reclosable lid. However, many boxes of this type are plastic and it is often possible to remove the adhesive tape without damage, thereby again providing the opportunity for tampering. Accordingly, a need exists for a method of sealing boxes that is reliable, yet easy for a consumer to overcome during the normal course of use of the product within the box.
A container is provided with an openable lid. The container includes a post disposed on the container, a loop section adapted to fixedly engage the post and a breakable link adapted to secure the loop to the openable lid.
Each tamper evident lid 12, 14, 16 may be provided with a hinge 18, 20, 22 on a first end of the lid 12, 14, 16 and a tamper evident locking mechanism (system) 24, 26, 28 on a second, opposing end. The tamper evident locking mechanism 24, 26, 28 may be provided on a tab 30, 32, 34 that extends from a distal end of each lid 12, 14, 16 opposite the hinge 18, 20, 22.
The tamper evident locking mechanism 24, 26, 28 may be provided as a two part assembly that includes a deformable tip and breakable links.
To open the lids 12, 14, 16, a consumer or tampering party (not shown) may use a tool (e.g., a knife) to pry open the container or closure. To open the container 10, the consumer may insert the knife under the lid 12, 14, 16 and pry up the tab 30, 32, 34. Prying on the tab 30, 32, 34 causes the tab 30, 32, 33 to fracture along the score lines 58, 60 allowing the tip 50, 52 to deflect upwards as a first sign of an initial opening of the container 10 (e.g., product tampering). A second sign of tampering results from the fracturing of a set of breakable links.
The term “initial opening” of the lid refers to the step of forcing the lid open resulting in visible damage to the container. The visible damage may result from a transverse fracturing of the tab on the lid along the scoring and in fracturing of the breakable links that connect the annular loop to the post. The initial opening of the lid provides tamper evidence in the form of the visually apparent fractured tab and/or broken links.
As shown in
A center band or annular loop (section) 72 may be disposed within the aperture 82 of each tab 30, 32, 34. The annular loop 72 may be secured to the tab 30, 32, 34 through the use of a set of breakable links 74, 76, 78, 80. The breakable links 74, 76, 78, 80 extend outwards in a radial direction from the annular loop 72 and function to connect the annular loop 72 to a periphery of an aperture 36, 38, 40.
Before the container 10 is opened, the lids 12, 14, 16 may be held in a closed position by a post 70. After filling the container 10 with a product, the manufacturer may close the lid 12, 14, 16 over the post 70, resulting in the loop 72 becoming permanently engaged to the post 70. Under one illustrated embodiment, the manufacturer may apply heat to a tip of the post 70 causing the tip of the post 70 to flatten as shown in
Under another illustrated embodiment, the post 70 may have a barbed point that allows the loop 72 to be forced over. Once the loop 72 passes over the barb, the loop 72 and post 70 cannot be disengaged without damage to the loop 72 or post 70.
As the consumer or tampering party pries on the tab 30, 32, 34, the deformable tip 50, 52 first bends upwards as shown in
As the breakable links 74, 76, 78, 80 break, the annular loop 72 remains attached to the post 70. The broken links 74, 76, 78, 80 provide additional evidence of tampering that is easily noticed by a consumer considering purchase of the product contained within the container 10.
The locking mechanism 24, 26, 28 may be easily formed into the lids 12, 14, 16 by plastic injection molding. The notches 58, 60 may be formed on opposing sides of the aperture 82 during the same molding process.
A container 10 provided with one or more tamper evident locking systems 24, 26, 28 provides a reliable container for human ingestible product that is easily opened by the consumer. The tamper evident features of the locking systems 24, 26, 28 function to alert the consumer to even the slightest possibility of tampering.
Under another illustrated embodiment, the tamper evident locking system 24, 26, 28 is extended to screw-on caps, as shown in
On a second level, a post 408 secures an openable lid 404 in a closed position by engaging an annular loop 412 that is connected to the cap 414 through a set of breakable links 410. When the cap 404 is forced open, the links 410 break providing indication of tampering as shown in
In another illustrated embodiment, the lids 12, 14, 16 may be given a raised profile to allow the hinge 18, 20, 22 to be recessed into an upper surface 42 of the container 10, as shown in
The complementary recess 804 allows containers 10 to be easily stacked on a grocer's shelves. The positive nature of the engagement of the lids 12, 14, 16 into the recess 804 allows stock personnel in grocery stores and otherwise to more easily create a visually pleasing, vertical display with fear of collapse. The engagement of the lids 12, 14, 16 also functions to reduce space in shipping containers used to ship the containers 10 to grocery stores.
Specific embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein.
