Tamper Evident Packaging

Abstract

Disclosed is a tamper evident packaging that provides a packaging piece with a lid, a base section, and tamper evidencing means. The tamper evidencing means is provided on the base of the packaging piece by way of an internal and external rib structure with a perforated channel formed therebetween. The lid is configured with an engagement portion having a lid flange that is positioned within the perforated channel when the packaging is closed, thereby prohibiting access to the lid flange and preventing the opening of and tampering with the packaging piece. The perforated channel allows for the removal of the external rib structure from the interior rib structure, thereby granting access to the lid flange and allowing for the packaging to be opened, as well as providing the evidence that the packaging may have been tampered with.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/655,829 filed Jun. 5, 2012 and entitled “Tamper Evident Packaging,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to packaging systems, and more particularly to a package design with a tamper-evident securing feature.

Thermoformed plastic packaging is common in the packaging industry. However, there remains a need for plastic packaging which can be securely closed and has a unique means to provide visual evidence of tampering, to thereby ensure the safety and quality of the packaged item. There is also a need for a packaging that is capable of visually evidencing tampering that is sturdy and structurally sound, so as to not become damaged during bulk shipping, which may suggest tampering that did not occur or that defeats the ability of the packaging to show tamper evidence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies this need by providing tamper-evident packaging wherein the tamper evidencing means is provided on the base of the packaging piece, as opposed to the lid, and the tamper evidencing is executed by way of a pair of rib structures and a perforated channel. The packaging may be constructed as either a two-piece, lid and base packaging or a unitary clamshell packaging where the lid is hingedly adjoined to the base. The tamper evidence is provided via a perforated channel located on the base of the packaging piece. The perforated channel is constructed on at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the base. The perforated channel retains an outer flange at the perimeter of the lid. The outer flange can only be accessed, and therefore permit opening of the package, upon tearing along the perforations in the perforated channel and removing the outer ring portion of the base. As such, it is clear to an observer that when a portion of the perforated channel has been torn away, the packaging is not secured and may have been tampered with.

One aspect of the invention provides a tamper-evident packaging including a base section having an interior rib structure, a lid having a raised channel and a lid flange and a tamper evidencing means irreversibly removably attached to the interior rib structure such that the interior rib structure is receivable within the raised channel of the lid, wherein the lid flange is substantially inaccessible by the location of the tamper evidencing means.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include the tamper evidencing means extends substantially along the periphery of the interior rib.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include the raised channel and the interior rib structure are configured to provide a secure, snap-like engagement between the lid and the base.

The lid of the tamper-evident packaging may also include at least one corner pull tab.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include a connecting means joining the base section to the lid.

The tamper evidencing means of the tamper-evident packaging may extend substantially along the periphery of the interior rib.

The raised channel and the interior rib structure of the tamper-evident packaging may also be configured to provide a secure, snap-like engagement between the lid and the base.

The lid of the tamper-evident packaging may also include at least one corner pull tab.

Another aspect of the invention provides a tamper-evident packaging including a lid section having a main cover portion and an engagement portion located substantially near the outer perimeter of the main cover portion, the engagement portion having a lid flange extending therefrom. The tamper-evident packaging also includes a base section having at least one sidewall having a top end and an interior rib structure formed at the top end of the at least one sidewall where the interior rib structure extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the base section. The tamper-evident packaging also includes at least one tamper evidencing means irreplaceably removably coupled to the perimeter of the base section, said at least one tamper evidencing means extending along at least a portion of the perimeter of the base section. The lid flange of the tamper-evident packaging is receivable within the channel such that access to the lid flange is blocked by the tamper evidencing means.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include the at least one tamper evidencing means taking the form of an exterior rib structure disposed generally parallel to the interior rib structure and a channel formed between the interior rib structure and the exterior rib structure.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include the at least one tamper evidencing means including a plurality of perforations extending along at least a portion of the channel, wherein the perforations disposed generally parallel to the interior and exterior rib structures.

The tamper evidencing means of the tamper-evident packaging may also be formed along substantially the entire perimeter of the base portion.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include at least a portion of the lid section coupled to the base section by a connecting means.

The tamper-evident packaging may also include a first tamper evidencing means and a second tamper evidencing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a partial breakaway view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention taken along line 2A-2A of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a close-up, cross-sectional view of a tamper evidencing means of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a human hand acting on the tamper evidencing means of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a human hand acting on a lid portion of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a partial breakaway view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention taken along line 6A-6A of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6B is a close-up, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the tamper evidencing means of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a human hand acting on the tamper evidencing means of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a human hand acting on the lid portion of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 9A is top view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention along line 9B-9B of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C is a side view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention with the tamper evidencing means separated from the base portion.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention with the tamper evidencing means and the lid separated from the base portion.

FIG. 11A is top view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention along line 11B-11B of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is a side view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention with the tamper evidencing means separated from the base portion.

FIG. 12C is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging according to the present invention with the tamper evidencing means and the lid separated from the base portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention.

As shown in the Figures, the present invention is a tamper-evident packaging piece 10 having a lid 20 and a base section 30.

The base section 30 may have a generally bowl-like configuration comprising a main base portion 31, at least one side wall 32, and an interior rib structure 33 formed at the top 34 of the at least one side wall 32, about the perimeter 35 of the base section 30. A tamper evidencing means 40 may be coupled to the perimeter 35 of the base section 30, along at least a portion of the perimeter 35 of the base section 30.

The main base portion 31 may be substantially flat to create a sturdy base for the packaging piece 10 to sit on. Extending from the perimeter of the base portion 31 is the at least one side wall 32. The at least one side wall 32 may extend generally perpendicular from the base portion 31. The side walls 32 may be substantially planar or may have a somewhat curved or rounded transition from the base portion 31 to the top 34 of the side wall 32 that forms the perimeter 35 of the base section 30.

The tamper evidencing means 40 may be made up of an exterior rib structure 36 positioned parallel to the interior rib structure 33 and a channel 37 formed between the interior rib structure 33 and the exterior rib structure 36. The channel 37 of the tamper evidencing means 40 may have perforations 38 formed substantially near the central point in the channel 37, extending parallel with the interior rib structure 33 and the exterior rib structure 36. The perforations 38 allow for the disengagement of the exterior rib structure 36 from the remainder of the base section 30.

The tamper evidencing means 40 may also have one or more tear tabs 39 to provide improved access to the exterior rib structure 36 and the perforations 38, to assist in the removal of the exterior rib structure 36 from the base section 30. In the embodiments shown, the tear tab 39 is located in one corner, but the tear tab 39 may be located in a different position, or in more than location on the base section 30.

The lid 20 may have a main cover portion 21 having a top side 21a and a bottom side 21b and engagement portion 22 located substantially near the outer perimeter 23 of the main cover portion 21. The main cover portion 21 may be substantially flat and configured to enclose the packaging area formed by the main base portion 31 and the at least one side wall 32 of the base section 30. The engagement portion 22 may be constructed with an outer wall 24 extending substantially perpendicular to the main cover portion 21 in the direction of the bottom side 21b. The outer wall 24 may have a lid flange 25 extending therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, the lid flange 25 extends from a distal end 24b of the outer wall 24. The lid flange 25 is configured to provide a manipulation point to assist in the separation of the lid 20 from the base section 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the engagement portion 22 may have a raised channel 26 to provide a secure, snap closure with the base section 30, configured to accommodate interior structure rib 33 of the base section 30. The raised channel 26 has an inner wall 27 and an outer wall 24. The raised channel 26 is sized and configured in a substantially cooperative manner to the counterpart portions of interior rib structure 33 to provide secure, snap-like engagement between the elements and maintain secure closure between the lid 20 and the base section 30.

The lid 20 may further have one or more corner pull tabs 28, generally extending the lid flange 25, to provide improved gripping capabilities to assist in the separation of the lid 20 from the base section 30, thereby opening the packaging piece 10.

When the packaging piece 10 is closed, the outer wall 24 extends adjacent to interior rib structure 33 thereby positioning the lid flange 25 and/or the pull tab 28 within the channel 37. In this position, the lid flange 25 or the pull tab 28 is prohibited from being accessed (to thereby open or tamper with the packaging piece 10) due to the barrier formed by the exterior rib structure 36. When the perforations are torn apart to separate the exterior rib structure 36 from the remainder of the base section 30, the lid flange 25 and/or the pull tab 28 becomes accessible and the lid 20 and the base portion 30 can be at least substantially separated. Such separation of the exterior rib structure 36 along the perforations 38 is clearly visible and indicates that tampering with the packaging may have occurred.

As noted, the tamper evidencing means 40 may be formed along at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the base portion 30. As shown in the figures, the tamper evidencing means 40 may be formed substantially about the full perimeter of the packaging piece 10. In FIGS. 1-4 and 11A-12C, for example, the tamper evidencing means 40 surrounds nearly the entirety of the perimeter 35 of the base 30, but for the perimeter portion having the connecting means 50. In FIGS. 5-10C, for example, the tamper evidencing means 40 surrounds nearly the entirety of the perimeter 35 of the base 30, but for gap 41. Alternatively, the tamper evidencing means 40 may surround the entire perimeter 35 having no gap 41 or connecting means 50. The tamper evidencing means 40 may also be located only at a corner of the packaging piece 10, providing access to the pull tab 28. The tamper evidencing means may also be located on a portion of one side 34 or more than one side 34, or the packaging piece 10 may have more than one tamper evidencing means 40 located on separate parts of the packaging piece 10, such as two corners.

The lid 20 and base section 30 can take on a variety of shapes and sizes, so long as the lid 20 and base section 30 forming a packaging piece 10 have a corresponding shape and size to accommodate the secure closure discussed above. The figures show square and rectangular packaging pieces 10, although a packaging piece can be formed into other shapes such as circles, triangles, other polygons, and other shapes suitable for packaging a desired item.

FIGS. 1-4 and 11A-12C show a first embodiment of the packaging piece 10. In this embodiment, the lid 20 and the base section 30 are partially connected via connecting means 50, such as the hinge-like mechanism shown, thereby making a clam shell-type packaging piece 10. The connecting means 50 may extend along the perimeters 23, 35 of the lid 20 and the base 30, along a substantially entire side of the packaging piece 10, or as shown, may be provided on only a portion thereof.

FIGS. 5-10C show a second embodiment of the lid 20 and the base section 30 as separable elements to form the packaging piece. In this embodiment, there are no connecting means 50 adjoining the two elements together when in the open position.

Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 10A-10C and 12A-12C, a user may open the packaging piece 10 by first removing the tamper evidencing means 40 by gripping the tamper evidencing means 40 and pulling the tamper evidencing means 40 away from the base section 30 along perforations 38. This step may be aided by providing a tab 39 or a gap 41 for a user to grip. Prior tampering with the packaging piece 10 will be evidenced by any separation of the tamper evidencing means 40 from the base section 30 before the user proceeds in removal of the tamper evidencing means 40. After the tamper evidencing means 40 has been removed, the user may lift the lid 20 from the base section 30, effectively separating the raised channel 26 from the interior rib structure 33. This step may be aided by providing a lid flange 25 or a pull tab 28.

Containers according to the present invention may be formed from a variety of materials, such as thermoformable plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PETE/PET or PETG), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and/or polystyrene (PS). Generally, containers according to the present invention may be constructed in a variety of methods, such as a two-step method including a thermoforming step and a cutting step. The thermoforming step may generally form the three-dimensional shape of such container and the cutting step may at least separate the formed container from some waste. The cutting step may include a step of creating the tamper evident means discussed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper evident means may be established prior to (e.g. during the thermoforming step) or after the cutting step.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident packaging comprising

a base section having an interior rib structure;

a lid having a raised channel and a lid flange; and

a tamper evidencing means irreversibly removably attached to the interior rib structure;

the interior rib structure receivable within the raised channel of the lid, wherein the lid flange is substantially inaccessible by the location of the tamper evidencing means.

2. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 1, wherein the tamper evidencing means extends substantially along the periphery of the interior rib.

3. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 1, wherein the raised channel and the interior rib structure are configured to provide a secure, snap-like engagement between the lid and the base.

4. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 1, wherein the lid has at least one corner pull tab.

5. The tamper-evident packaging of claim further comprising a connecting means joining the base section to the lid.

6. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 5, wherein the tamper evidencing means extends substantially along the periphery of the interior rib.

7. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 5, wherein the raised channel and the interior rib structure are configured to provide a secure, snap-like engagement between the lid and the base.

8. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 5, wherein the lid has at least one corner pull tab.

9. A tamper-evident packaging comprising

a lid section having a main cover portion and an engagement portion located substantially near the outer perimeter of the main cover portion, the engagement portion having a lid flange extending therefrom;

a base section having at least one sidewall having a top end;

an interior rib structure formed at the top end of the at least one sidewall, said interior rib structure extending along at least a portion of the perimeter of the base section;

at least one tamper evidencing means irreplaceably removably coupled to the perimeter of the base section, said at least one tamper evidencing means extending along at least a portion of the perimeter of the base section; and

wherein the lid flange is receivable within the channel such that access to the lid flange is blocked by the at least one tamper evidencing means.

10. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 9 wherein the at least one tamper evidencing means further comprises

an exterior rib structure disposed generally parallel to the interior rib structure; and

a channel formed between the interior rib structure and the exterior rib structure.

11. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 10 wherein the at least one tamper evidencing means further comprises a plurality of perforations extending along at least a portion of the channel, said perforations disposed generally parallel to the interior and exterior rib structures.

12. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 11 wherein the at least one tamper evidencing means is formed along substantially the entire perimeter of the base portion.

13. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the lid section is coupled to the base section by a connecting means.

14. The tamper-evident packaging of claim 9 further comprising a first tamper evidencing means and a second tamper evidencing means.