US20130068654A1 - Container with tamper-evident locking means - Google Patents
Container with tamper-evident locking means Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130068654A1 US20130068654A1 US13/273,480 US201113273480A US2013068654A1 US 20130068654 A1 US20130068654 A1 US 20130068654A1 US 201113273480 A US201113273480 A US 201113273480A US 2013068654 A1 US2013068654 A1 US 2013068654A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- post
- region
- opening
- cooperating
- lip
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D49/00—Arrangements or devices for preventing refilling of containers
- B65D49/02—One-way valves
- B65D49/04—Weighted valves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/043—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring baffles, e.g. for controlling the flow
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
- B65D47/10—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having frangible closures
- B65D47/103—Membranes with a tearing element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
- B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0037—Intermediate closure(s)
- B65D2251/0062—Membrane
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- 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
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
- B65D2251/0087—Lower closure of the 47-type
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
A container for foodstuffs or other products has a tamper-evident locking means which comprises a post and a cooperating opening or recess. A fault zone is formed by a weakened area provided by, for example, a plurality of perforations formed in the post, or around the post, or around the opening or recess, and fault zone is thus which is weaker than the material of the container, and weaker than the locking means mechanism. As a result, the fault zone will fail upon exertion of a force which is less than the disengagement force otherwise required to unlock the locking means, thus providing physical evidence of tampering.
Description
- This application claims priority to Canadian Patent App'n Ser. No. “Unknown”, filed 16 Sep. 2011, with the same title and inventors as the present application. The complete contents of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
- This invention relates to containers which are primarily used for foodstuffs, but which may also be used for other products such as medications and the like. The containers of the present invention, especially when used with foodstuffs, are primarily of the sort in which various foodstuffs will be placed into the containers at the place of distribution, so that the containers are packed when they are shipped to the retailer, and remain packed or filled when they are purchased by the consumer. The primary purpose of the present invention, however, is to assure the distributor, the shipper, the receiver, the retailer, and/or the purchaser or any other party, that at no time after the container was packed has it been tampered with. This also can include containers which are packaged by the retailer shortly before being purchased by the consumer.
- Thus, the present invention provides containers which have special locking means to lock the containers in their closed condition, and which are such that if there has been any tampering with the container in any manner so as to try to disengage the locking means, damage will occur to the locking means, and that damage will be evidence of tampering. As a result, the present invention provides containers with an integral tamper-evident locking means.
- It is found most often in retail stores, particularly those selling foodstuffs, that many products being sold have been pre-packaged at the source from which they have been distributed, or even packaged by the retailer shortly before placing the goods for sale. This is particularly true when the foodstuffs are materials such as salads, baked goods, fruits and berries, vegetables, cookies or cakes, pre-packaged fast food meals, and any other foodstuffs which lend themselves to being pre-packaged. Typically, such products will be pre-packaged at the farm site where they have been grown, or at a farmers' cooperative, or in the case of baked goods from the factory where they have been made. However, other packaging points are not excluded from the present invention.
- Other pre-packaged materials can include materials other than foodstuffs, such as, for example, nuts or bolts provided in containers, or the like, and as such, the present invention is preferably not limited to foodstuffs only.
- In any event, one purpose for pre-packaging the goods is to protect them from damage while in transit. Consumers are much more likely to buy items when they are evidently in pristine quality. Even more so, baked items such as cookies or cakes, must be seen to be unbroken or otherwise undamaged in any way. As a result, these types of products are typically pre-packaged prior to being shipped to the retailer.
- In general, typically, the materials and foodstuffs of the sort contemplated herein are generally displayed for retail sale in containers which are transparent and/or clear, or at least translucent, so that the purchaser may inspect the product without the necessity for opening the same. Indeed, the purpose of the present invention is to allow the consumer to view the product, while being assured that the package has not been opened, because to do so requires that the package be tampered with. It will be understood, of course, the packages of the sort described herein are otherwise reclosable using conventional bead and recess means, or the like, as are well known in the art. This, of course, means that once the consumer has purchased the product, he or she will purposely damage the locking means so as to gain access to the product in the container; but in this case, such actions are not tampering because they are purposeful on the part of the consumer. Once the package has been opened though, the consumer can preferably re-close it using the conventional bead and recess closure means, or other closure means, without any adverse interference or obstruction of the closure means. As such, the tamper-evident feature of the present invention preferably does not interfere with the normal container closure mechanism.
- It will be understood, of course, that containers in keeping with the present invention may vary considerably in size. For example, a container into which a single portion of salad greens has been placed is typically much smaller than one into which an entire head of lettuce has been placed.
- Still further, the present invention may lend itself to the care giving industry, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Here, individual medications intended for specific patients may be dispensed into specific containers either by the pharmaceutical company, or by such person as a pharmacist. Very clearly, it is important that there shall be no tampering with specific medications that are intended for specific patients, thereby so as to assure that the intended patient receives the intended medication.
- The inventors herein have unexpectedly discovered that typical containers for foodstuffs and the like, with which this invention is particularly concerned, may be configured in such a manner that the material from which the container is manufactured can have a specific fault zone formed therein so as to assure that forces which are less than the disengagement forces which would otherwise be required to unlock a locking means in keeping with the present invention will instead cause a failure of that material in the fault zone. Thus, the locking means per se will remain in its locked condition, but because of the damage which is done in the fault zone in the immediate region of the locking means, evidence of tampering with the container at any time prior to its opening by the ultimate consumer, is observable by the user.
- Moreover, a specific fault zone can be formed by the mere act of creating perforations—which may take the form of small holes, slits, or slots—through the thickness of the material in the region where the specific fault zone is to be created. Other mechanism for providing a fault zone can also be including, such as providing a thinner material construction, which provides a weakened area in the fault zone.
- As will be seen hereafter, the locking means which are at the heart of this present invention may generally comprise two differing configurations. The usual configuration is for there to be a post which has an outwardly extending bead portion near the convex end thereof, where the material of the post, at least at the bead portion, may be temporarily deformed so as to pass through a cooperating opening. Due to the undercut which is formed beneath the bead portion on the post, a locking engagement zone is formed whereby the bead is precluded from passing back through the opening without the exertion of a sufficient disengagement force by momentarily deforming the bead portion and/or the region immediately surrounding the cooperating opening. An alternative configuration for a locking means is for a post and a cooperating recess into which the post will be engaged and will remain therein due to a friction fit. In that configuration, the post can only be disengaged from the cooperating recess by the exertion of sufficient disengagement force to overcome the friction fit.
- However, in all cases, as noted hereafter, the material of the container in the region of the post and/or its cooperating opening or recess, has had perforations created therein, or is otherwise weakened, so as to form a fault zone which will fail upon the exertion of a force which is less than the disengagement force.
- United States Patent Application Publication 2009/0134180 A1, describes a container which has a plurality of locking mechanisms, where each locking mechanism includes an extending latching portion and a corresponding circular opening for engagement thereof. The locking mechanism is configured so as to securely lock the lid to the base of the container, and an appropriate amount of pulling force must be applied in order to disengage the lid from the base. However, the container as it is described in the publication requires that once the locking mechanism has been disengaged, it must be reclosable. In other words, there is no provision whatsoever to indicate whether or not the container has been tampered with by having been opened prior to purchase and consumption of the product contained therein.
- While this described container has been shown to be of utility, it would be desirable to modify this type of container to provide tamper evidence. As such, the present invention is described with particular focus on the container described in US 2009/0134180, but it will be clear to the skilled artisan that any other suitable container might also be used in the practise of the present invention.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided in an exemplary implementation, a packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another with an optional closure means, and also include a locking device which can lock the container in a closed condition, by the use of at least one cooperating locking means.
- Moreover, each cooperating locking means preferably comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and a corresponding mated opening which is formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of the top and bottom members.
- The post is preferably configured so as to have a lower stem portion, and an upper engagement portion having an outwardly extending bead portion and a convex end, whereby an engagement zone of the post is formed around the periphery of the stem portion at least in the region immediately below the bead portion.
- The shape and size of each the opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when fitted therein. The outwardly extending bead portion is preferably larger than the opening, and as such, at least the bead portion of the post is preferably temporarily deformable so as to pass through the opening. As a result, the engagement zone and the opening are in cooperating relationship to each other, so as to lock the container in a closed condition.
- Normally, the engagement of a post together with its cooperating opening may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to deform the bead portion to permit it to pass back through the cooperating opening.
- However, in the practise of the present invention, a weakened area, preferably provided by a plurality of perforations, is formed in a location chosen from the group consisting of around the periphery of the stem portion of each post, in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the opening is formed and circumscribing the opening. By forming the plurality of perforations, the region where the plurality of perforations is formed, is thereby weakened. As a result, any attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening by exerting the disengagement force thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the package in the region of weakened area, and more specifically, the area of the plurality of perforations.
- Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening will result in a breakage of the locking tab, and this can be seen and construed by the consumer as evidence of tampering.
- In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; but in this case, each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in and outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of the top and bottom members.
- Here, the engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by friction fit so as to lock the container in a closed condition, and may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit.
- As before, a weakened area, such as an area with a plurality of perforations, is formed in a location chosen from the group consisting of around the periphery of each post, in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the cooperating recess is formed and circumscribing the cooperating recess; so that the region where the plurality of perforations is formed is weakened thereby, and so that any attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating recess by exerting the disengagement force thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the package in the region of the plurality of perforations.
- Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating recess may be construed as tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in the region of the weakened area, is evidence of tampering.
- Typically, top and bottom portions may be connected to each other by a flexible hinge means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
- The openings may be formed in the bottom portion thereof, and the upstanding posts may be formed in the top portion thereof; or alternatively, the openings may be formed in the top portion thereof, and the upstanding posts may be formed in the bottom portion thereof.
- In a preferred embodiment, at east two perforations are formed so as to provide the a weakened area, and generally, there are a plurality of perforations that are formed in the perforation location.
- In the usual embodiments of the present invention, the perforation location is in the stem portion of each post, whereby failure of the material of the post upon tampering will result in the post being broken near its end, and thereby create a visible lack of integrity of the post.
- However, where the perforation location is located in the region of the opening, failure of the material in the region of the opening upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the opening from the rest of the lip, and thereby create a visible lack of integrity of the lip.
- Moreover, the perforation location may be in the region of the post, whereby failure of the material in the region of the post upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the post from the rest of the lip, and thereby create a visible lack of integrity of the lip.
- In order to improve visibility of the tamper-evident feature of the present invention, the material of each outwardly extending lip may be hatched in the region surrounding the respective post or opening.
- Typically, the material of any packaging container in keeping with the present invention chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl. Preferably, the containers are made by typical plastic packaging techniques including injection moulding, blow moulding, vacuum moulding, or the like, as will be known to those skilled in the art.
- Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only in association with the accompanying drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical container of the sort used for produce, in keeping with the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a plan view from the top of the container ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a side view of the container ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of the post of a locking means in keeping with the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a view similar toFIG. 4 , showing another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of a opening adapted to receive a post of a locking means of the type described in the present invention, withFIG. 6A showing an enlarged view of the opening ofFIG. 6 ; and -
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-section of the locking means according to another aspect of the present invention. - The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example only. In the drawings, like reference numerals depict like elements.
- It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Also, unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.
- In each of
FIGS. 1 , 2, and 3, a typical packaging container in keeping with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The container has an upper ortop member 12 and a lower orbottom member 14. As will be discussed hereafter, the top andbottom members flexible hinge 56, and are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means shown generally at 16 and 18. - In the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , and in greater detail inFIGS. 4 to 6 , the cooperating locking means generally comprises anupstanding post 16 and a cooperatingopening 18. Eachupstanding post 16 is formed in an outwardly extendinglip 20, and eachopening 18 is formed an outwardly extendinglip 22. As shown, theposts 16 are formed in outwardly extendinglips 20 which are formed on thetop member 12, and theopenings 18 are formed in the outwardly extendinglips 22 which are on thebottom member 14. It will become very evident hereafter that the posts could be formed on outwardly extendinglips 22 in thebottom member 14, and the openings could be formed in outwardly extendinglips 20 in thetop member 12. However, the configuration shown is more general, because it assures that theposts 16 when they are locked in place as described hereafter extend downwardly and are therefore less likely to be damaged in transit. - In any event, as can be determined from each of
FIGS. 1 and 3 , and as is shown in more detail in each ofFIGS. 4 and 5 , each post 16 is configured so as to have alower stem portion 26 and anupper engagement portion 28. However, theupper engagement portion 28 is preferably configured so as to have an outwardly extendingbead portion 30 and a convex orconical end 32. By such configuration, it is easily seen that there is anengagement zone 34 formed on eachpost 16 around the periphery of thestem portion 26 at least in the region immediately below thebead portion 30. - The shape and size of each
opening 18 is such as to accommodate thestem portion 26 of each cooperatingpost 16 when it is fitted therein. However, it will be noted that the outwardly extendingbead portion 30 is larger than theopening 18. In order for the cooperating post to be fitted into the respective cooperatingopening 18, at least the material of the bead portion 30 (or an angled sidewall of the receiving hole) is temporarily deformable so as to pass through theopening 18. Once thebead portion 30 has passed through the cooperatingopening 18, then it will be evident that theengagement zone 34 and theopening 18 are in cooperating relationship to each other. The engagement of eachbead portion 30 with the underside of the outwardly extendinglip 22 in the region immediately surrounding the respective cooperating opening 18 thereby assures that thecontainer 10 is locked in its closed position. - However, it must be noted that the engagement of a
post 16 with its cooperatingopening 18 may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to once again deform thebead portion 30 and so as to permit it to pass back through the cooperatingopening 18. Of course, there may also be some temporary deformation of the region of thelip 22 immediately surrounding theopening 18. - Since the purpose of the present invention is to assure that a tamper-evident locking means is provided for any
container 10, it follows that there must be other means whereby any attempt to disengage apost 16 from its cooperatingopening 18 will result in a physical evidence of such attempt. This is achieved by providing a fault zone in which the material from which the container has been manufactured is weakened in such a manner that the material will fail in the fault zone. By failure of the fault zone it is meant that the material of the container will tear or break. - The weakened area can be provided using any suitable method including providing thinner areas of construction. Preferably, failure in the weakened area is provided by a plurality of perforations, and as such, a plurality of perforations is formed in a chosen fault zone, which may be any one of (A) the periphery of the
stem portion 26 of apost 16, in a location below thebead portion 30; (B) in the immediate region of the outwardly extendinglip 20 in which apost 16 is formed, and in such a manner so as to circumscribe the post; and (C) in the immediate region of the outwardly extendinglip 22 in which anopening 18 is formed, and in such a manner so as to circumscribe the opening. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , a plurality ofperforations 40 is shown surrounding the periphery of thestem portion 26 of thepost 16. Here, the perforations are shown to take the form ofsmall holes 42, thereby leavingunperforated regions 44 between theperforations 42. As is well known to any person skilled in the art, the region of thepost 16 where theperforations 42 are formed will become a weakened region in the material of thecontainer 10, which may thereby be considered to be a fault zone. Accordingly, any attempt to disengage thepost 16 from its cooperatingopening 18 will result in failure of the material of the post in the region where theperforations 42 have been formed, if such attempt is less than the disengagement force required, but is sufficient to cause failure of the material of thecontainer 10 in the fault zone. That being the case, thepost 16 is broken, and in the embodiment shown where the post is formed in thetop member 12, the end of the post will fall away. This, therefore, provides physical evidence of the fact that thecontainer 10 has been subject to an attempt to open the same; and in the circumstances considered by the present invention, thebroken post 16 is evidence of tampering. - In other words, the exertion required to cause failure of the
post 16 in the region where theperforations 42 are formed is less than the disengagement force that would be required to disengage thepost 16 from its cooperatingopening 18. - Also, since the
post 16 will fall away, this embodiment is not as preferred as the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 to 3 , wherein the post is retained. However, the embodiment ofFIG. 4 provide clear evidence of tampering ifpost 16 is already removed. - It will be understood, of course, that the purchaser of the product contained within
container 10 will be required to overcome the locking means by which the container has been locked in its closed condition, but in that case the broken locking means is deliberate, and any consideration of tampering will thereby be disregarded. It will also be understood that once thecontainer 10 has been opened, it preferably can still be opened and reclosed multiple times, and will remain in a closed position by the cooperation of an optionalupstanding bead 50 and a cooperatingrecess 52. Such closure means for container of the sort contemplated herein, and variations thereof, are well known to those skilled in the art and form no part of the present invention. - It will also be understood that the configuration of the
container 10 as shown in each ofFIGS. 1 , 2, and 3, is typical of such a container but is not important to the present invention. Thecontainer 10, as illustrated, is of the sort generally defined as a clamshell container, having aflexible hinge 56 in theregion 58 between thetop member 12 and the bottom and 14. However, depending on the size and configuration of thecontainer 10, there may be as few as one tamper-evident locking means 16, 18 (for example, if the container is very small and/or is round), or there may be three or more tamper-evident locking means 16, 18 if thecontainer 10 is exceptionally long as compared to its width. Still further, if the top andbottom members container 10 is generally rectangular as shown in the drawings, then there will preferably be at least four tamper-evident locking means 16, 18. - Referring now to
FIG. 5 , a plurality ofperforations 60 is shown having been formed in the outwardly extendinglip 20 and through the thickness of the same. Between each of theperforations 60 there is therefore anunperforated region 62. In this case, theperforations 60 are shown as slits, and it will be seen that theperforations 60 circumscribe thepost 16 around its intersection with the respective outwardly extendinglip 20. Nonetheless, the purpose of theperforations 60 and theunperforated region 62 therebetween is the same as described above; that is, upon application of an exertion which is less than the disengagement force to disengage thepost 16 from its cooperatingopening 18, the fault zone formed by theperforations 60 andregions 62 will fail. - The ring formed by
perforations 60 will preferably have a diameter larger than the diameter of opening 18 so thatpost 16 will be retained in opening 18 afterperforations 60 have been broken. - Likewise, as seen in
FIG. 6 , a plurality ofperforations 70 surrounds and circumscribes anopening 18 in its respective outwardly extendinglip 22. Here, the perforations are shown as slots, andregions 72 are formed between theslots 70. Once again, it will be clearly understood that a weakened area fault zone has been created by the presence of theperforations 70 and theunperforated regions 72; so that upon application of an exertion which is less than the disengagement force to disengage apost 16 from the cooperatingopening 18, the fault zone formed by theperforations 70 and theunperforated region 72 will fail. - The perforations described herein have been defined as being
small holes 42, slits 60, andslots 70. In each case, the presence and formation of those perforations results in unperforated areas being between the perforations; and in each case the material of thecontainer 10 in the region of the stem of the post, the post, or the opening, is weakened and will thereby fail. Put in other words, upon failure of the fault zone, there will result a concomitant lack of integrity of the post or the outwardly extending lip in which either the post or the opening has been formed. - It should also be evident that the number of perforations that is formed is immaterial, so long as the region of the respective fault zones is weaker than the disengagement force required to unlock the tamper-evident locking means. Thus, it is possible that as few as a single or two perforations will meet the requirements of the present invention. Otherwise, the number and nature of the perforations may be an artifact of the size of the post, the size of the hole, and the manufacturing equipment on which containers in keeping with the present invention are made.
- It will be understood, of course, that the
posts 16 and their cooperatingopenings 18 need not be round, but that is the usual configuration. They may be square or rectangular, or otherwise, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. - Also, the area around
hole 18 can be recessed in recessedarea 71, as shown inFIG. 6A , which is a cross-sectional view of an alternative arrangement for opening 18. This arrangement permits the hole to deform slightly when the post is inserted without breaking the area around theperforations 70, and aids in forming a lock onto an insertedpost 16. - Turning now to
FIG. 7 , another form of tamper-evident locking means for containers which are otherwise similar to or identical to those described above, is shown at 80. Here, the locking means comprises anupstanding post 82 formed in an outwardly extendinglip 84, and a cooperatingrecess 86 formed in an outwardly extendinglip 88. As will be evident from the above discussion, the post andlip lip - Here, the engagement of the
post 82 is generally by friction fit, whereby the container may be locked in its closed condition. The friction fit may only be overcome, and the post disengage from its cooperating recess, by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit. Of course, in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention, it will be understood that the configuration of thepost 82 andrecess 86 may be round, square or rectangular, or otherwise. Moreover, the friction fit may be an enhanced by the provision of such as a laterally extending bead on one of the post or recess, and a cooperating groove on the other of the post or recess. - Once again, there are typically three options for the formation of a fault zone in the locking means 80. They include (A) forming a plurality of perforations in the region of the post generally indicated at 90, which may be located anywhere along the length of the post; (B) in the region generally indicated at 92, and circumscribing the
post 82; and (C) in the region generally indicated at 94, and circumscribing therecess 86. - It will be very clear that failure in the
fault zones post 82 from its friction fit with the cooperatingrecess 86. Therefore, the nature of the tamper-evident locking means 80 remains the same as has been described above with reference to any ofFIGS. 1 to 6 . - Moreover, it follows that the materials and manufacturing techniques required for production of a container having a locking means 80 remain otherwise the same as described above, and are well-known to those skilled in the art.
- For purposes of easy and deliberate unlocking of the locking means 16, 18, or 80, the material of the container in the region of the outwardly extending
lips FIGS. 1 and 2 . - There has been described containers having tamper-evident locking means whereby the containers will remain locked in their closed position until such time as they are purchased or otherwise placed into the hands of the ultimate consumer. However, each container in keeping with the present invention is such that if the container has in any way been tampered with by an attempt to unlock the tamper-evident locking means, physical evidence of that attempt will be easily visible. Accordingly, the ultimate consumer may be assured that the contents of the container have not been tampered with or changed in any way since they were placed in the container and the container was closed and locked using the locking means in keeping with the present invention.
- Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a packaging container which fully satisfies the goals, objects, and advantages set forth hereinbefore. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications and variations thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and that it is intended that the present specification embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
- Additionally, for clarity and unless otherwise stated, the word “comprise” and variations of the word such as “comprising” and “comprises”, when used in the description and claims of the present specification, is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
- Moreover, the words “substantially” or “essentially”, when used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic; e.g., substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristics associated with a planar element.
- Further, use of the terms “he”, “him”, or “his”, is not intended to be specifically directed to persons of the masculine gender, and could easily be read as “she”, “her”, or “hers”, respectively.
- Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to the inventor, it is not an admission that all art discussed is citable against the present application.
Claims (20)
1. A vacuum formed packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means;
wherein each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and an opening formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members;
wherein the post is configured so as to have a lower stem portion, and an upper engagement portion having an outwardly extending bead portion and a convex end, whereby an engagement zone of said post is formed around the periphery of said stem portion at least in the region immediately below said bead portion;
wherein the shape and size of each said opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when fitted therein; and wherein the outwardly extending bead portion is larger than said opening, and at least said bead portion of the post is temporarily deformable so as to pass through said opening so that the engagement zone and said opening are in cooperating relationship to each other, so as to lock the container in a closed condition;
wherein the engagement of a post together with its cooperating opening may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to deform the bead portion to permit it to pass back through said cooperating opening;
wherein a weakened area, and preferably one or a plurality of perforations, are formed in a location which is chosen from the group consisting of the region around the periphery of the stem portion of each post, in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the opening is formed and circumscribing the opening; so that the region where the plurality of perforations is formed is weakened thereby, and so that any attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening by exerting said disengagement force thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the package in the region of the weakened area;
whereby such attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening may be construed as tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in the region of the plurality of perforations is evidence of tampering.
2. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein said top and bottom portions are connected to each other by a flexible hinge means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
3. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the openings are formed in the bottom portion thereof, and the upstanding posts are formed in the top portion thereof.
4. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the openings are formed in the top portion thereof, and the upstanding posts are formed in the bottom portion thereof.
5. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein there are at least two perforations formed in the perforation location.
6. The packaging container of claim 5 , wherein the perforation location is in the stem portion of each post, whereby failure of the material of the post upon tampering will result in the post being broken near its end, and thereby a lack of integrity of the post.
7. The packaging container of claim 5 , wherein the perforation location is in the region of the opening, whereby failure of the material in the region of the opening upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the opening from the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
8. The packaging container of claim 5 , wherein the perforation location is in the region of the post, whereby failure of the material in the region of the post upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the post from the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
9. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the material thereof is clear or transparent.
10. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the material thereof is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.
11. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the material of each outwardly extending lip is hatched in the region surrounding the respective post or opening.
12. A vacuum formed packaging container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means;
wherein each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed in and outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of said top and bottom members;
wherein the engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by friction fit so as to lock the container in a closed condition, and may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit;
wherein a weakened area, and preferably one or a plurality of perforations, are formed in a location which is chosen from the group consisting of the region around the periphery of the stem portion of each post, in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the opening is formed and circumscribing the opening; so that the region where the plurality of perforations is formed is weakened thereby, and so that any attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening by exerting said disengagement force thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the package in the region of the weakened area;
whereby such attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating recess may be construed as tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in the region of the plurality of perforations is evidence of tampering.
13. The packaging container of claim 12 , wherein said top and bottom portions are connected to each other by a flexible hinge means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
14. The packaging container of claim 12 , wherein there are at least two perforations formed in the perforation location.
15. The packaging container of claim 14 , wherein the perforation location is in the stem portion of each post, whereby failure of the material of the post upon tampering will result in the post being broken near its end, and thereby a lack of integrity of the post.
16. The packaging container of claim 14 , wherein the perforation location is in the region of the cooperating recess, whereby failure of the material in the region of the cooperating recess upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the cooperating recess from the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
17. The packaging container of claim 14 , wherein the perforation location is in the region of the post, whereby failure of the material in the region of the post upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the post from the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
18. The packaging container of claim 12 , wherein the material thereof is clear or transparent.
19. The packaging container of claim 12 , wherein the material thereof is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.
20. The packaging container of claim 12 , wherein the material of each outwardly extending lip is hatched in the region surrounding the respective post or opening.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA2752612 | 2011-09-16 | ||
CA2752612A CA2752612A1 (en) | 2011-09-16 | 2011-09-16 | Container with tamper-evident locking means |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130068654A1 true US20130068654A1 (en) | 2013-03-21 |
Family
ID=47879614
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/273,480 Abandoned US20130068654A1 (en) | 2011-09-16 | 2011-10-14 | Container with tamper-evident locking means |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130068654A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2752612A1 (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD246101S (en) * | 1976-04-02 | 1977-10-18 | American Motors Corporation | Vehicle body door |
US20150291308A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2015-10-15 | Land O'frost, Inc. | Food package |
USD786666S1 (en) | 2013-09-13 | 2017-05-16 | State Garden, Inc. | Container with butterfly lid closure |
US20170156313A1 (en) * | 2014-07-18 | 2017-06-08 | Laboratoire Francais Du Fractionnement Et Des Biotechnologies | Packaging for a medicament used for innovative therapy |
WO2017172843A1 (en) * | 2016-03-28 | 2017-10-05 | Lacerta Group, Inc. | Novel tamper prominent containers |
EP3231726A1 (en) * | 2016-04-11 | 2017-10-18 | Vigourplastic Co., Ltd. | Hinged lid container with frangible tamper-evidence means |
CN110127197A (en) * | 2019-05-06 | 2019-08-16 | 江苏华兰药用新材料股份有限公司 | A kind of locking structure and bottle cap and bottle composite structure with it |
US10723523B2 (en) | 2017-01-10 | 2020-07-28 | Fabri-Kal Corporation | Tamper evident container having bonded tab |
USD892611S1 (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2020-08-11 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Reclosable packaging |
US20220250808A1 (en) * | 2021-02-05 | 2022-08-11 | Vigourplastic Co., Ltd. | Container that prevents from an illegal operation and can be easily identified after being illegally operated |
USD974168S1 (en) * | 2020-07-31 | 2023-01-03 | Mariani Packing Co., Inc. | Standing clamshell packaging |
US20230017604A1 (en) * | 2021-07-16 | 2023-01-19 | Waddington North America, Inc. | Reclosable plastic container with readily apparent tamper evident feature |
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US4431110A (en) * | 1982-11-09 | 1984-02-14 | Continental Can Company, Inc. | Child resistant tamper indicating closure |
US4711372A (en) * | 1987-02-02 | 1987-12-08 | Sunbeam Plastics Corporation | Tamper indicating closure |
US5133470A (en) * | 1990-01-12 | 1992-07-28 | Capitol Vial, Inc. | Tamper-proof container and cap assembly |
US5238134A (en) * | 1992-08-20 | 1993-08-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Director Of The National Security Agency | Limited-reuse tamper-evident container |
US5411140A (en) * | 1994-02-08 | 1995-05-02 | Wells Manufacturing Company | Product package with matching indicia and recess |
US6609623B2 (en) * | 2001-10-05 | 2003-08-26 | Hsin-Hung Chou | Storage box |
US20070045317A1 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2007-03-01 | Rosender Adam K | Tamper evident thermoformed containers |
US20090134180A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2009-05-28 | Peninsula Packaging, Llc | Container |
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2011
- 2011-09-16 CA CA2752612A patent/CA2752612A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-10-14 US US13/273,480 patent/US20130068654A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US4431110A (en) * | 1982-11-09 | 1984-02-14 | Continental Can Company, Inc. | Child resistant tamper indicating closure |
US4711372A (en) * | 1987-02-02 | 1987-12-08 | Sunbeam Plastics Corporation | Tamper indicating closure |
US5133470A (en) * | 1990-01-12 | 1992-07-28 | Capitol Vial, Inc. | Tamper-proof container and cap assembly |
US5238134A (en) * | 1992-08-20 | 1993-08-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Director Of The National Security Agency | Limited-reuse tamper-evident container |
US5411140A (en) * | 1994-02-08 | 1995-05-02 | Wells Manufacturing Company | Product package with matching indicia and recess |
US6609623B2 (en) * | 2001-10-05 | 2003-08-26 | Hsin-Hung Chou | Storage box |
US20070045317A1 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2007-03-01 | Rosender Adam K | Tamper evident thermoformed containers |
US20090134180A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2009-05-28 | Peninsula Packaging, Llc | Container |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD246101S (en) * | 1976-04-02 | 1977-10-18 | American Motors Corporation | Vehicle body door |
US20150291308A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2015-10-15 | Land O'frost, Inc. | Food package |
US9505523B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2016-11-29 | Land O'frost, Inc. | Food package |
USD786666S1 (en) | 2013-09-13 | 2017-05-16 | State Garden, Inc. | Container with butterfly lid closure |
US20170156313A1 (en) * | 2014-07-18 | 2017-06-08 | Laboratoire Francais Du Fractionnement Et Des Biotechnologies | Packaging for a medicament used for innovative therapy |
WO2017172843A1 (en) * | 2016-03-28 | 2017-10-05 | Lacerta Group, Inc. | Novel tamper prominent containers |
US10301080B2 (en) | 2016-03-28 | 2019-05-28 | Ali Lotfi | Tamper prominent containers |
EP3231726A1 (en) * | 2016-04-11 | 2017-10-18 | Vigourplastic Co., Ltd. | Hinged lid container with frangible tamper-evidence means |
US10723523B2 (en) | 2017-01-10 | 2020-07-28 | Fabri-Kal Corporation | Tamper evident container having bonded tab |
USD928606S1 (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2021-08-24 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Reclosable packaging |
USD892611S1 (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2020-08-11 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Reclosable packaging |
USD926029S1 (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2021-07-27 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Reclosable packaging |
CN110127197A (en) * | 2019-05-06 | 2019-08-16 | 江苏华兰药用新材料股份有限公司 | A kind of locking structure and bottle cap and bottle composite structure with it |
USD974168S1 (en) * | 2020-07-31 | 2023-01-03 | Mariani Packing Co., Inc. | Standing clamshell packaging |
US20220250808A1 (en) * | 2021-02-05 | 2022-08-11 | Vigourplastic Co., Ltd. | Container that prevents from an illegal operation and can be easily identified after being illegally operated |
US20230017604A1 (en) * | 2021-07-16 | 2023-01-19 | Waddington North America, Inc. | Reclosable plastic container with readily apparent tamper evident feature |
Also Published As
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CA2752612A1 (en) | 2013-03-16 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ONTARIO DIE COMPANY LTD., CANADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MACDONALD, MICHAEL;REEL/FRAME:027063/0976 Effective date: 20110914 Owner name: AMHIL ENTERPRISES, CANADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ONTARIO DIE COMPANY LTD.;REEL/FRAME:027064/0075 Effective date: 20110914 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |