TAMPER INDICATING PACKAGE

Abstract

A package including a base, a lid attached to said base for rotation about a hinge axis to open the package, the lid having a body and a main tab separated from body by a fold-line, and a tamper evidence tab attached to the base, wherein, prior to first opening of the package, the main tab and the tamper evidence tab are connected to each other via a first line of weakening, the arrangement being such that said main tab and the tamper evidence tab separate along the first line of weakening when the main tab is folded about the fold-line prior to rotation of the lid about the hinge axis to open the package.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a package.

BACKGROUND

Certain packages are sealed prior to opening in order to maintain the freshness of the product within. Some of these packages comprise a form of tamper evidence to indicate to a user whether the package has been previously opened.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising: a base; a lid attached to said base for rotation about a hinge axis to open the package, the lid comprising a body and a main tab separated from body by a fold-line, and a tamper evidence tab attached to the base, wherein, prior to first opening of the package, the main tab and the tamper evidence tab are connected to each other via a first line of weakening, the arrangement being such that said main tab and the tamper evidence tab separate along the first line of weakening when the main tab is folded about the fold-line prior to rotation of the lid about the hinge axis to open the package.

The base may comprise a lower face and a front wall upstanding from said lower face at an angle thereto, the body of the lid may extend parallel to the lower face with the main tab optionally being folded relative to the body to overlie the front wall prior to first opening, the tamper evidence tab may be attached to said front wall.

The front wall may be perpendicular to said lower face, the lower face and said front wall may meet along a line of juncture, the front wall may comprise a top edge parallel to said line of juncture.

The first line of weakness may extend at an angle to the top edge of the front wall of less than 90 degrees.

Prior to first opening, the body of the lid may be connected to the tamper evidence tab along a second line of weakening, the body and the tamper evidence tab may separate along said second line of weakening when the lid is rotated about the hinge axis and after the main tab and tamper evidence tab have separated along the first line of weakening.

The second line of weakening between the tamper evidence tab and the body of the lid may extend along said top edge of the front wall.

The main tab may extend beyond the tamper evidence tab towards the line of juncture.

The main tab may comprise a leading edge that contacts the line of juncture prior to first opening.

The package may comprise a pair of tamper evidence tabs, each tamper evidence tab may be separated from the main tab by a first line of weakening.

Prior to first opening, the body of the lid may be connected to each tamper evidence tab along a second line of weakening, the body and the tamper evidence tab may separate along each of said second lines of weakening when the lid is rotated about the hinge axis and after the main tab and tamper evidence tab have separated along the first lines of weakening.

The pair of tamper evidence tabs may be attached to the front wall on either side of the main tab.

The first lines of weakening between the main tab and each tamper evidence tab may each extend at an angle so that the main tab tapers in a direction away from the body of the lid.

The main tab may extend beyond the pair of tamper evidence tabs towards the line of juncture.

The or each tamper evidence tab may be attached to the base via a permanent adhesive.

The base may comprise a slot extending along the top edge of the front wall of the base configured to receive the main tab to facilitate closure of the package after first opening.

The base may comprise an upper face extending from the top edge of the front wall and parallel to the lower face.

The upper face may comprise an aperture configured to provide access to the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, in relation to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a package according to an embodiment of the invention prior to opening; and

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a package according to an embodiment of the invention after opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a package 1 according to an embodiment of the invention prior to opening of the package 1. The package 1 comprises a base 2 and a lid 3 attached to the base 2 for rotation about a hinge axis 4 to open the package 1. The lid 3 comprises a body 5 and a main tab 6 separated from the body 5 of the lid 3 by a fold-line 7.

Additionally, the package 1 comprises a tamper evidence tab 8 attached to the base 2. As seen in FIG. 1, prior to first opening of the package 1, the main tab 6 and tamper evidence tab 8 are connected to each other via a first line of weakening 9. The arrangement is such that the main tab 6 and tamper evidence tab 8 separate along the first line of weakening 9 when the main tab 6 is folded about the fold-line 7 prior to rotation of the lid 3 about the hinge axis 4 to open the package 1.

The base 2 comprises a lower face 10 and a front wall 11 upstanding from the lower face 10 at an angle thereto. As seen in FIG. 1, the front wall 11 extends perpendicular to the lower face 10. The lower face 10 and front side wall 11 meet along a line of juncture 12. The front wall 11 comprises a top edge 13 parallel to the line of juncture 12. Initially, prior to opening the package 1, the body 5 of the lid 3 extends parallel to the lower face 10 with the main tab 6 folded relative to the body 5 about the fold-line 7 to overlie the front wall 11. The tamper evidence tab 8 is attached to the front wall 11. Additionally, the main tab 6 may be attached to the front wall 11. Alternatively, the main tab 6 may not be attached the to the front wall 11 and may be held in place via the first line of weakening 9 connecting the main tab 6 to the tamper evidence tab 8.

The first line of weakening 9, between the main tab 6 and the tamper evidence tab 8, extends at an angle to the top edge 13 of the front wall 11 of less than 90 degrees and is configured to break when the main tab 6 is rotated about the fold-line 7 to open the package 1. Additionally, prior to first opening, the body 5 of the lid 3 is connected to the tamper evidence tab 8 along a second line of weakening 14. The second line of weakening 14 extends along the top edge 13 of the front wall 11. The body 5 of the lid 3 and the tamper evidence tab 8 separate along the second line of weakening 14 when the lid 3 is rotated about the hinge axis 4 and after the main tab 6 and tamper evidence tab 8 have separated along the first line of weakening 9. Alternatively, the package 1 comprises the first line of weakening 9, between the main tab 6 and the tamper evidence tab 8, only and not the second line of weakening 14, between the tamper evidence tab 8 and the body 5 lid 3. In this arrangement, the tamper evidence tab 8 is not connected to the body 5 of the lid 3. Therefore, in order to open the package 1, a consumer would only need to break the first line of weakening 9 between the main tab 6 and tamper evidence tab 8.

The main tab 6 extends beyond the tamper evidence tab 8 toward the line of juncture 12 and comprises a leading edge 15 that contacts the line of juncture 12 prior to first opening of the package 1. Since the leading edge 15 of the main tab 6 extends beyond the tamper evidence tab 8, a consumer is able to lift the main tab 6 without interfering with the tamper evidence tab 8. Alternatively, the leading edge 15 of the main tab 6 may be spaced from the line of juncture 12 prior to first opening of the package 1. In embodiments where the main tab 6 is attached to the front wall 11, the portion of the main tab 6 that extends beyond the tamper evidence tab 8 may not be attached to the front wall 11 so as to define a finger lift for a consumer to lift the main tab 6.

As seen in FIG. 1, the package 1 comprises a pair of tamper evidence tabs 8 each separated from the main tab 6 by a first line of weakening 9. Additionally, the body 5 of the lid 3 is connected to each tamper evidence tab 8 along a second line of weakening 14. The body 5 of the lid 3 and the tamper evidence tabs 8 separate along each second line of weakening 14 when the lid 3 is rotated about the hinge axis 4, after the main tab 6 and tamper evidence tabs 8 have separated along the first lines of weakening 9. The pair of tamper evidence tabs 8 are attached to the front wall 11 on either side of the main tab 6. The first lines of weakening 9 between the main tab 6 and the pair of tamper evidence tabs 8 each extend at an angle so that the main tab 6 tapers in a direction away from the body 5 of the lid 3. In other words, the first lines of weakening 9 extend inwardly towards each other. This arrangement allows the first lines of weakening 9 to be broken more easily and therefore reduces the force required to lift the main tab 6 and open the package 1. Additionally, the main tab 6 extends beyond the pair of tamper evidence tabs 8 towards the line of juncture 12. This arrangement highlights the main tab 6 in relation to the tamper evidence tabs 8 and indicates to a consumer that the main tab 6 must be lifted in order to open the package 1 rather than the tamper evidence tabs 8. In embodiments where the main tab 6 is attached to the front wall 11, the portion of the main tab 6 that extends beyond the tamper evidence tabs 8 may not be attached to the front wall 11 so as to define a finger lift for a consumer to lift the main tab 6.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the same package 1 as FIG. 1 after opening of the package 1. To open the package 1, the main tab 6 is lifted and rotated about the fold-line 7. This action breaks the first lines of weakening 9 between the main tab 6 and the pair of tamper evidence tabs 8. Next, the lid 3 is lifted and rotated about the hinge-line 4 breaking the second lines of weakening 14 between the pair of tamper evidence tabs 8 and the base 5 of the lid 3 that extend across the top edge 13 of the front wall 11 of the base 2. The base 2 further comprises a slot 16 extending along the top edge 13 of the front wall 11 of the base 2 configured to receive the main tab 9 to facilitate closure of the package 1 after first opening. In order to close the package 1, the main tab 6 is inserted into the slot 16 and therefore seals the package 1.

The or each tamper evidence tab 8 is/are attached to the front wall 11 of the base 2 via a permanent adhesive. As seen in FIG. 2, when the lid 3 is rotated about the hinge-line 4 to open the package 1, the tamper evidence tabs 8 remain attached to the front wall 11 of the base 2. Therefore, the tamper evidence tabs 8 indicate to a consumer whether the package 1 has been previously opened. Furthermore, since the tamper evidence tabs 8 are attached to the front wall 11 of the base 2, there are no lines of weakening or breaks in the body 5 of the lid 3. The body 5 of the lid remains intact when the package 1 is opened and can be provided with information for the consumer. Therefore, any information located on the body 5 of the lid 3 is not damaged when the package 1 is opened and will always be visible to a consumer.

Furthermore, the base 2 comprises an upper face 17 extending from the tope edge 13 of the front wall 11 and parallel to the lower face 10. The upper face 17 comprises an aperture 18 configured to provide access to the contents of the package 1.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A package comprising: a base;a lid attached to said base for rotation about a hinge axis to open the package, the lid comprising a body and a main tab separated from body by a fold-line, anda tamper evidence tab attached to the base,wherein, prior to first opening of the package, the main tab and the tamper evidence tab are connected to each other via a first line of weakening, the arrangement being such that said main tab and the tamper evidence tab separate along the first line of weakening when the main tab is folded about the fold-line prior to rotation of the lid about the hinge axis to open the package.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a lower face and a front wall upstanding from said lower face at an angle thereto, wherein the body of the lid extends parallel to the lower face with the main tab being folded relative to the body to overlie the front wall prior to first opening, the tamper evidence tab being attached to said front wall.

3. A package according to claim 2, wherein the front wall is perpendicular to said lower face, the lower face and said front wall meeting along a line of juncture, wherein the front wall comprises a top edge parallel to said line of juncture.

4. A package according to claim 3, wherein the first line of weakness extends at an angle to the top edge of the front wall of less than 90 degrees.

5. A package according to claim 3, wherein prior to first opening, the body of the lid is connected to the tamper evidence tab along a second line of weakening, wherein the body and the tamper evidence tab separate along said second line of weakening when the lid is rotated about the hinge axis and after the main tab and tamper evidence tab have separated along the first line of weakening.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein the second line of weakening between the tamper evidence tab and the body of the lid extends along said top edge of the front wall.

7. A package according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the main tab extends beyond the tamper evidence tab towards the line of juncture.

8. A package according to claim 7, wherein the main tab comprises a leading edge that contacts the line of juncture prior to first opening.

9. A package according to claim 1, wherein the package comprises a pair of tamper evidence tabs, each tamper evidence tab being separated from the main tab by a first line of weakening.

10. A package according to claim 9, wherein prior to first opening, the body of the lid is connected to each tamper evidence tab along a second line of weakening, the body and the tamper evidence tab separating along each of said second lines of weakening when the lid is rotated about the hinge axis and after the main tab and tamper evidence tab have separated along the first lines of weakening.

11. A package according to claim 9, wherein the pair of tamper evidence tabs are attached to the front wall on either side of the main tab.

12. A package according to claim 9, wherein the first lines of weakening between the main tab and each tamper evidence tab each extend at an angle so that the main tab tapers in a direction away from the body of the lid.

13. A package according to claim 9, wherein the main tab extends beyond the pair of tamper evidence tabs towards the line of juncture.

14. A package according to claim 1, wherein the or each tamper evidence tab is attached to the base via a permanent adhesive.

15. A package according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a slot extending along the top edge of the front wall of the base configured to receive the main tab to facilitate closure of the package after first opening.

16. A package according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises an upper face extending from the top edge of the front wall and parallel to the lower face.

17. A package according to claim 16, wherein the upper face comprises an aperture configured to provide access to the package.