Container Sealing Member Including Aligned Narrow Anti-Counterfeiting Strips

Abstract

A sealing member or closure for a container is provided having an aligned narrow anti-counterfeiting strip, such as a hologram or the like. The sealing member is provided in the form of a one-piece or a two-piece sealing member, has an optional tab for ease in removal from a container, and includes a narrow and aligned anti-counterfeiting strip to aid in signaling authenticity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/989,604, filed May 7, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to container sealing members, and more particularly to container sealing members having narrow anti-counterfeiting strip components with, in some approaches, improved alignment within the laminate structure forming the sealing member.

BACKGROUND

It is common to seal a bottle, jar, or other container with a screw cap and a secondary sealing member across the mouth of the container. Typically, this secondary sealing member can provide evidence of tampering, a vapor barrier or, in some cases, a hermetic seal. In some cases, these secondary sealing members can be provided as a two-piece sealing member with a lower sealing portion and an upper liner portion.

The sealing member often includes a heat sensitive sealing layer or bonding layer covered by a metal foil layer. The heat sensitive bonding layer adheres the sealing member to the rim or mouth of a container. In a two-piece configuration, the sealing member is temporarily bonded to the upper liner. In this configuration, the upper liner portion of the sealing member includes a compressing agent (e.g., pulp board, synthetic foam, or the like) that is adjacent the interior of the screw cap and at the opposite end of the sealing member from the heat sensitive sealing layer. There is usually a release layer, such as a wax layer, in the two-piece configurations between the upper liner portion and the lower sealing portion. The release layer is effective to initially hold the upper liner portion to the lower sealing portion to form a unitary or one-piece structure to aid in assembling the cap and container, but then the release layer permits the sealing member to separate between these two portions upon cap removal.

In use, the sealing member is inserted into a container or bottle cap at a closure manufacturer. The cap and sealing member combination may then be provided to an end user that places the cap onto a container mouth where the sealing member is induction or otherwise heat sealed to the upper rim of a bottle or container. During induction sealing, an electromagnetic field generated by induction heating equipment generates heat in the metal foil layer in the lower sealing portion to activate the heat sensitive sealing layer for bonding to the rim or mouth of a container. At the same time, if the sealing member is a two-piece configuration, the heating may also cause the release layer to separate the upper liner portion from the lower sealing portion. In the case of a two-piece assembly using a wax layer, the induction heating causes the wax to melt and be absorbed by the compressing agent in the upper liner portion. This converts the one-piece sealing member into two pieces, with the lower sealing member and its heat sensitive sealing layer bonding the lower sealing portion to the container rim, and with the melted wax being absorbed by the compressing agent in the upper liner portion, the liner separates and stays in the cap. The compressing agent generally remains lodged in the inner portion of the cap as a cap liner, and the lower sealing member remains adhered to the container when the cap is removed from the bottle by the consumer.

When the cap is removed, the consumer then tears, penetrates, breaks, or otherwise removes the sealing member from the container rim before the contents of the container may be accessed. The cap may then be screwed back into place on the container neck if desired. Upon initial removal of the cap, a missing or damaged sealing member can alert the consumer that the contents of the container may have been tampered with prior to purchase.

It is increasingly common to also include an anti-counterfeiting measure along with such sealing members. For instance, sealing members can be provided with optical security features, such as a hologram or other light reflective materials, that are visible to the purchaser after the cap is removed. The pattern of the hologram or other optical security feature may be a unique identifier of a particular manufacturer and may signal that the product is authentic and not counterfeit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary sealing member including a narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material;

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary sealing member including a narrow anti-counterfeit strip with exemplary alignment features;

FIG. 2 is a sheet of material configured to form sealing members with aligned narrow strips of anti-counterfeit material;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views of exemplary tabbed sealing members including aligned narrow strips of anti-counterfeit materials;

FIGS. 4A and 5A are exploded cross-sectional views of the tabbed sealing members generally shown in FIGS. 4 and 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side, cross-sectional views of a layer configured for a sealing member having another example of aligned narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are exploded views of exemplary tabbed sealing members showing exemplary laminate layers with an aligned narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of another exemplary sealing member having aligned anti-counterfeit material;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of an exemplary sealing member including a narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material associated with a lower heat sealing layer;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary screw cap for a container showing the exemplary sealing member of FIG. 11 inserted into the cap; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the exemplary sealing member of FIG. 11 showing the sealing member partially peeled from a container rim and the residual imprints left from the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Anti-counterfeiting materials and films tend to be expensive and, thus, it is often desired to minimize use in products and packaging to aid in cost control. One way to help minimize costs when using anti-counterfeiting materials and films in the context of a laminate sealing member is to use narrow strips of the anti-counterfeiting material that are much smaller than the width of the overall sealing member. However, when attempting to include narrow strips of such anti-counterfeiting films into or on the laminate structure forming the sealing member, there can, in some cases, be problems with proper alignment of the narrow strips within the laminate structure or with other features of the sealing member, such as printing, logos, and the like. In other cases, the narrow strips pose challenges in handling and manufacturing. Narrow strips of thin material can flip over, fold, or bend during laminate assembly in view of their relatively thin and/or narrow width. Misalignment, flipping over, folding, creases, or other deformities of the narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material can be problematic and may result in consumers calling into question the integrity of the sealing member or the authenticity of the product in view of unintended defects in the anti-counterfeiting portion of the seal.

In one aspect of this disclosure, a sealing member for a container including a tab defined wholly within a perimeter of the sealing member is provided. The sealing member includes in a portion of the seal spaced from the tab a narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material visible on the top surface of the seal. In some approaches, the narrow strip of materials is in between a top transparent layer and a foil layer in the lower laminate.

To address some of the shortcomings with narrow strip of materials, in some cases, the sealing members or closures herein include alignment features for providing easy alignment of one or more narrow anti-counterfeiting strips within the laminate structure of the sealing member. In general, the sealing members include a tabbed or non-tabbed seal laminate having at least a top layer and a lower heat sealable layer. The heat sealable layer bonds or secures the sealing member to a container rim during an induction sealing or other heat sealing operation. The sealing members may include an orientation axis as a general reference line, which is an axis that any graphics, pull tabs, or other sealing member features, such as the narrow anti-counterfeiting strips, are aligned with.

To provide easy authentication, the sealing members include the one or more narrow strips of an anti-counterfeiting material within or on the seal laminate. As described more below, the anti-counterfeiting materials may include holograms, optically variable inks and films, color shifting inks and films, interference films, and various light reflective materials. In some approaches, the narrow strips are aligned with the orientation axis and aligned relative to other features on the sealing member, such as a pull tab or a hinge line of the pull tab. To aid in the alignment, the sealing members or laminate sheets herein may include one or more alignment features that enable easy alignment of the narrow strips relative to the above noted desired seal features.

In one aspect, the sealing member or laminate sheet thereof includes a top layer that is a polymer film with one or more opaque portions and at least one window or transparent/translucent portion that is visible therethrough. The window is aligned relative to the orientation axis and other features of the sealing member. In this approach, the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material is positioned within the laminate forming the sealing member and under the window so that it is visible through the window. In other approaches of this aspect, the one or more alignment features includes oversized narrow strips of the anti-counterfeit materials relative to the window so that the narrow strips are wider or larger than the window. In this manner, the window has a fixed dimension smaller than the narrower strips of anti-counterfeit material. Thus, the oversized narrow strips relative to the window compensates for movement or misalignment of the strips during seal assembly, set-up errors, or tracking issues where the strip can wander in the manufacturing process. This helps ensure that the visible portion of the narrow anti-counterfeiting material in the window is always properly aligned in the sealing member and to the orientation axis. In one approach, the window is non-printed areas in a full width polymer film that includes various printed/opaque regions and areas. It is much easier to handle and process a full width of material and maintain alignment of the window or non-printed regions in the full width of material.

In another aspect, the one or more alignment features in the sealing members herein include an elongate cavity or recess formed within a full width layer included within the laminate of the sealing member. The cavity, because it is formed on full width material, can easily be aligned with the orientation axis and other sealing member features in the full web. In some approaches, the cavity may be formed by embossing, indentations, or other pressed recesses in the selected layer. This cavity-containing layer may be paper, polymer films, foils, and other deformable, sheetable materials. The elongate cavity is sized and shaped to receive one of the narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting materials therein. By feeding the strips into the cavity, the strips maintain desired alignment in view of the sides and walls of the cavity holding the strip in place during assembly. The narrow strip can be recessed within the cavity or flush with its upper surface.

In yet another aspect, the one or more alignment features may include segmentation of one or more laminate layers within a single plane of the sealing member. In this approach, two or more wide layers are spaced apart within the same plane to form a narrow gap or a narrow slot for receipt of the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material therein. The narrow strip of material is received in the slot forming a segmented layer of at least three separate films or portions thereof: the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material with two separate layers on opposite sides of the narrow strip.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure herein describes a sealing member or laminate sheet thereof including a narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material included with, on, or in the lower heat seal layer of the seal laminate forming the sealing member. In this manner, the strip can be designed to separate or rupture at portions associated with the container rim to leave a small strip imprint or small strip of reside on the container rim after the sealing member is removed from the container. By this approach, it is possible to maintain the desirable heat seal characteristic of the majority of the lower heat seal layer and isolate the residue or imprint from the anti-counterfeit material to a small strip located on the land area of the container rim. In some cases, the strip imprints are located on opposing sides of the container rim. This feature could also be included with any of the above described sealing members so as to provide dual authentication features in a single sealing member.

In yet another aspect, the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material is applied to on a non-tabbed or the non-tabbed portion of a tabbed seal. To aid in handling such narrow strips of material, the anti-counterfeiting material is laminated to one or more support layers to add structural support thereto. Such layers added to the anti-counterfeiting material also helps provide insulation to protect the anti-counterfeit portion from heat damage that may occur during an induction or conduction heat sealing process. Such added layers to the narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting materials are particularly advantageous if the narrow strips are applied directly to or adjacent to, for instance, a foil layer or in-between a top clear layer and a foil layer in an induction or conduction-type sealing member. Added layers underneath the anti-counterfeiting material protect it from heat damage during the heat sealing process.

The general descriptions of sealing members noted above may be tabbed or non-tabbed versions of sealing members or laminate sheets configured to form such sealing members. If tabbed, the sealing members may include side extending tabs or may include tabs that are defined by the top layer of the seal laminate (or other layer) and extend wholly within a perimeter of the sealing member. The various alignment features and narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material may be associated with the tab portion or may be positioned in the sealing member in non-tabbed regions or even positioned underneath the tab or even within the tab (with tabs, for instance, defined wholly within the seal perimeter).

The narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material may be narrow, elongate films of the previously noted anti-counterfeiting material(s). In other approaches, the strips may be narrow laminates of the anti-counterfeiting portion bonded to or laminated to various narrow base support or structural layers and/or narrow insulation layers either above or below the anti-counterfeit material. The anti-counterfeiting strip may also be coated with protectants or release layers as needed for a particular purpose. In some approaches, the narrow strips of material may be about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch wide, and in other approaches about ⅝ to about ¼ inches wide; however, the strip may be other sizes as needed for a particular application. The strips may be about 0.5 to about 4 mils thick. In contrast, the total sealing member may have a diameter of about 14 to about 110 mm, in other approaches about 25 to about 50 mm and may be suited for seals 28 to 48 mm wide. In other cases, a full sheet including one or more narrow strips may be about 10 inches to about 50 inches wide. These sizes and dimensions are exemplary and other sizes and thicknesses may be appropriate depending on the application.

In some approaches, the sealing members provided herein are configured to protect the anti-counterfeiting strip material from the induction heating process so that the narrow strips of material can maintain a desired optical clarity, an optical density, and/or a degree of light reflectance after induction heating similar to that before the induction heating process. In some approaches, the sealing member constructions described herein are effective to protect the optical clarity of the anti-counterfeiting material from residual wax or other residual components used to releasably bond a liner portion to a seal in a two-piece construction but still permit the anti-counterfeiting material to be visible to a consumer. In other approaches, the sealing member constructions and positions of the narrow strips within the sealing members herein may also protect the anti-counterfeiting material from degradation due to the heat generated during the induction heating process. To this end, the narrow strips may include one or more narrow layers laminated thereto to aid in heat protection of the anti-counterfeiting materials in order to protect the integrity and clarity thereof during a heat sealing process. As used herein, optical clarity, optical density, and/or light reflectance are generally used interchangeably and when one is referred to, another can be substituted therefor.

Conventionally, a prior optical security component would normally be placed as a top layer of a seal in a two-piece construction so that it is visible upon a consumer removing the cap from a container. Prior security components also tended to cover the entire seal. In this placement, however, the optical security component would be adjacent to and/or contacting an adhesive, release layer, or wax layer of a two-piece construction that initially holds an upper liner portion to the seal portion as noted above. It was found that a difficulty of constructing a two-piece sealing member in this manner is that a residual quantity of the components from the adhesive or release layer (such as wax) is often left on the surface of the optical security component after the induction heating process because not all of the adhesive cleanly peels off or not all of the release layer components or wax is absorbed by the upper liner portion. Alternatively, in a prior one-piece construction, the optical security component would normally be positioned on the top layer of the seal and adjacent any cap or closure, which could expose the security component to potential scratching, damage, or other degradation.

Because an optical security component, such as a hologram or the other optically sensitive components, relies on its visual appearance as an identifier (such as optical clarity, optical density, and/or light reflectance) and/or to achieve its optical characteristics, the presence of residual wax or other residual components and/or thermal or physical damage to the optical security component can alter its appearance or cause the security component to lose a great degree of clarity after induction heating. The presence of wax, other residual components, scratching, and/or other damage can also reduce the effectiveness of the security component in indicating the existence of tampering or counterfeiting. An optical security component that is damaged, has lost optical clarity, or lost a degree of reflectance may suggest to a consumer that the security component is not authentic or has been tampered with.

With the above background and summary in mind, different approaches to the sealing members herein will first be described, and then more specifics of the various constructions and materials will be explained thereafter. In this disclosure, use of the terms “upper” and “lower” with respect to surfaces of the sealing member components is in reference to an orientation of the components as generally depicted in FIGS. 1-13 and when the sealing member is in use with a container in an upright position and having an opening at the top of the container.

The sealing members herein may include a one-piece or two-piece sealing member provided as a laminate formed from flexible sheet materials that include a seal laminate with one or more aligned narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material associated with one or more alignment features in the seal to help ensure proper alignment of the narrow strips. The sealing members may include various types of gripping tabs or may be free of any tabs.

At least in certain approaches, the sealing members herein or the laminate sheets therein include a heat sealable layer for bonding to the rim of a container. Above or on top of the heat sealable layer may be a membrane or metal layer. The membrane or metal layer may be foil, aluminum, tin, metalized polymers, the like, as well as combinations thereof. The heat sealable layer may include a hot melt adhesive for bonding or securing the seal to the container rim by a heat seal or induction sealing apparatus, which heats the membrane layer and melts the heat sealable layer to bond the seal to the rim of the container. As discussed herein, the discussion of an exemplary sealing member also refers to a sheet or laminate sheet of materials configured to form the sealing member, which are typically die cut or otherwise punched from the laminate sheet.

In general and referring to FIG. 1A, sealing members 2 include one or more narrow strip(s) (one exemplary strip is shown in the figure) of anti-counterfeiting materials 4, such as a hologram, as generally shown in the exemplary tabbed seal adhered or sealed to a container 1. The narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material 4 may also be included in similar non-tabbed seals. In some approaches, the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material 4 is provided in a non-tabbed region 5 of a tabbed seal, where a tab 6 is defined wholly within a perimeter of the sealing member. Here, the narrow strip 4 is visible through the top of the sealing member 2 and, in some cases, in between a top clear polymer layer and a lower metal foil layer. The narrow strip may be adjacent to or directly applied to a foil or other layer above a foil layer. In other approaches, the narrow strip 4 may be in the tab 6 or even under the tab 6 in a portion of the lower laminate 7.

In one approach and as generally shown in FIGS. 1-5, a one-piece sealing member or seal 10 with aligned narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material or film 20 is provided in both tabbed and non-tabbed versions of the seal. Seal 10 may include a seal laminate 12 that can be bonded to a rim of a container. The seal laminate 12 may be a laminate or multi-layer sheet including, by one approach, at least a top layer 14 and a lower heat sealable layer 16 effective to secure the seal member 10 to a container rim during an induction sealing or other heat sealing process. The sealing member 10 includes at least one narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material or film 20 on, within, or associated with the laminate 12 forming the sealing member 10. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1, the strip 20 may be included within the laminate structure between the top layer 14 and the lower heat sealable layer 16, but the laminate 12 could also include other layers and the strip 20 could be located anywhere in the laminate 12. In some approaches, the narrow strip 20 may be applied directly to a foil layer (described more below) within the seal laminate. The sealing member 10, in these approaches, also includes an alignment axis X in which various seal features, including the narrow strip 20, are aligned relative to. While not shown in the general view of FIG. 1, the seal laminate may also include a membrane or metal layer or any of the other layers as discussed further below.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a moment, the sealing member 10 may also include a pull tab, such as a gripping tab 22. By one approach, the tab 22 is formed wholly within a circumference or perimeter of the sealing member 10 as generally shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the tab 22 pivoted or hinged upwardly about a hinge joint 23. (The hinge joint 23 may be or may be aligned with the alignment axis X.) In one approach, the tab 22 also may be formed by the top layer 14 positioned over and at least partially bonded to the lower layer 16 or other layers in the laminate 12 via a partial bond of adhesive or partial bonding layer, an example of which will be described in more detail below.

Turning back to FIG. 1, the seal laminate 12 includes the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material or film 20 that is elongate in configuration and sized to be narrower than the diameter or width of the seal 10 and also including, in this approach, a central, visible portion thereof that is aligned with the orientation axis X by the one or more alignment features in the seal. In the approach of FIG. 1, the alignment features include a coupling or the pair of a narrow window 30 in at least the top layer 14 and an oversized narrow anti-counterfeit strip 20 relative to the window 30. In this manner, the narrow strip 20 includes an even narrower, central visible portion 32 that is visible through the window 30 and overage portions 34 on either side of the visible portion 32. In this manner, the narrow strip does not need to be perfectly aligned with the origination axis X as it can be inserted at a slight angle or can even be shifted left or right slightly and still appear through the window 30 with its visible portion to be aligned with the axis X. This helps overcome the challenges with handling and processing such a narrow strip of material in a typical web handling process.

In some cases, the narrow strip of material is about ⅛ to about ½ inches wide, in other approaches, about ⅝ to about ¼ inches wide. The window is smaller than the strip. This oversizing of the strip 20 results in overage portions 34 of the strip on the left and right sides of the window 30 of about 3/32 to about ⅝ inches, and in other approaches, about 3/32to about 1/16 inches.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the window 30 and strip 20 can be placed in various locations in both tabbed and non-tabbed sealing members. For example, FIGS. 1 and 5 show non-tabbed sealing members with the window 30 and strip 20 generally centrally located in the seal 10 or slightly off-set from the center as depicted in FIG. 5. Having the anti-counterfeit material 22 in a central location helps minimize heat damage to the strip in view of the center portions of the seal generally receiving lower amounts of induction heat in view of the center being spaced farther from the induction coils. FIG. 3 shows the strip 20 off set and located underneath the tab 22. In this approach, the tab 22 includes the window 30. Here the strip 20 is located in the laminate below the tab; however, the strip 20 and window could also be located in the tab 22 at the same time. FIG. 4 shows the strip 20 also off-set from the seal's center, but located in the non-tabbed region of a tabbed seal with the window in the top layer 14.

The window 30 may be formed or defined in the top layer 14 (and any other optional layers above the strip 20), which may be a polymer film, such a polyester, polyolefin, nylon, and the like. The film may be clear or transparent and the window 30 may be formed as transparent, translucent, or clear area(s) of the film in between printing or other opaque markings 40 applied to the major surfaces of the film. In this manner, the window 30 and printing 40 are easily formed via printing or coating to the film, which allows easy alignment of the printing and window relative to the orientation axis as generally shown in FIGS. 2

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary sheet 40′ of laminate prior to sealing members 10 being punched or die cut from the sheet (two are shown in hashed lines, but the sheet may include more or less). This example shows the window 30 in the top layer 14 between opaque portions 40, the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material 20 on top of the lower sheet or other heat seal layer 16 and the relative alignment to each other and the orientation axes X in view of the fixed smaller elongate window and oversized elongate narrow strips. Again, the oversized narrow strip 20 relative to the smaller window 30 helps with the perceived or visible alignment of the anti-counterfeit material relative to the orientation axis X.

FIG. 4A and 5A illustrate cross-sectional views of exemplary tabbed sealing members of FIGS. 4 and 3, respectively. For instance, FIG. 4A shows the window 30 and narrow anti-counterfeit strip 20 offset from the tab 22 (as in FIG. 4), and FIG. 5A shows the window 30 in the tab and strip 20 underneath the tab 22 (as in FIG. 3). Also shown in these exploded cross-sectional views are optional layers that can be further included in the laminate 12 (or any other laminate herein), such as polymer film support layers 42 and 46, a membrane or induction heatable layer 44, and a bonding layer 48 (such as EVA) that forms a partial bond 50 between the top layer 14 and the other layers in the laminate. In some approaches, layer 42 may be a polymer foam layer or a heat-redistribution layer as needed for a particular application. Layer 48 may be a heat bondable layer that is partially bonded to a tab stock 52, discussed below, and partially bonded 50 to the lower layers in the laminate. As shown in these cross-sectional views, the window 30 may extend through multiple layers as needed for the particular laminate structure and location of the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material. Alternatively, the window may be defined in the top layer 14 and the other layers between it and the narrow strip may be transparent or otherwise of a construction to permit the anti-counterfeit material to be visible therethrough. While the narrow strip 20 is shown adjacent to or on the layer 42, the narrow strip 20 may also be placed under this layer and on top of the foil layer 44. In such alternative approach, it will be appreciated that layer 42 will either be of material permitting the anti-counterfeiting material to be visible therethrough or layer 42 will also include the window defined therein as needed.

The tabbed laminate structures herein may also include a partial layer or the tab stock 52 to aid in forming the partial bond. If included, the tab stock 52 is bonded to the top layer 12 (or other layers) and is adjacent to, but not bonded to, the layers below it. In this approach, tab stock 52 forms the tab 22 because it prevents the top layer 14 from adhering to the layers below it across at least a portion of the seal as generally shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A. The tab 22 may also include other polymer layers, such as one or more layers as needed for particular applications. By some approaches, the tab stock 52 is a partial layer that extends part-way across the length of the seal laminate 12. While the relative dimensions of the tab stock 52 are not particularly limited, in some cases the tab stock 52 lies wholly within the circumference of the seal laminate 12 and, typically, the tab stock 52 occupies about 25 to about 50 percent of surface area of the sealing member 10. In one aspect, the tab stock 52 is formed of polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or paper. By one optional approach, a lower surface of the tab stock 52 may be coated with a release material, for example silicone. The optional release coating minimizes the possibility that the tab stock 52 will become adhered to layers below it during the induction heat sealing process. However, such release coatings are not typically necessary. In some approaches, the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material 20 may be in the tab and adhered on top of the tab stock, such as a paper layer used as the tab stock. This may be combined with a window defined in the top layer associated with the narrow strip as described previously.

Turning now to FIGS. 6-9, another example of an alignment feature for properly aligning the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material 20 to the seal's orientation axis is provided. In this approach, a small elongate cavity, notch, groove or depression 100 is formed in one of the seal's layers, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as exemplary layer 102 to receive the strip 20 (it will be appreciated that layer 102 in this view may represent a single layer within any of the previous described approaches or may be a laminate of more than one layer). The cavity 100 may be formed via embossing, an indentation, cutting, or other suitable method. The cavity 100 may be defined by one or more side and/or bottom walls or edges 104. The cavity 100 is sized to receive the strip 20 therein and the walls 104 thereof allow for alignment and to hinder movement of the strip within the seal and sheet during seal laminate assembly. The strip 20 may be flush with an upper surface 106 of the layer 102 as generally shown in FIG. 7 or the strip 20 may be recessed into the cavity and below the upper surface 106 (not shown). Layer 102 may be paper, polyolefin, foil, foam, and other compressible films and laminates. By one approach, the cavity may have a depth of about 0.5 to about 4.5 mils and the strip may be about 0.5 to about 4 mils thick.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show exemplary structures including layer 102 either as the tab stock as in FIG. 8 or as the layer below the tab as in FIG. 9. In these approaches, the layers above the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material 20 may be clear or transparent so that the anti-counterfeiting material can be viewed through these layers, or the layers above strip 20 may also include the window 30 and printed or opaque regions 40 as described previously to include additional alignment features at the same time. The other layers shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are exemplary and similar to those previously described.

FIG. 10 illustrates another exemplary alignment feature suitable for the sealing members herein. In this approach, a segmentation 200 of a plurality of layers in a single laminate plane P1 within the laminate 12 forms a void or gap 202 for receipt of the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material 20 to form segmentation alignment of the narrow strip 20 to the orientation axis X. To achieve this segmentation alignment, a top layer 214 is split into two major portions 214A and 214B that are spaced apart in the same plane P1. The spacing and sides 216A and 216B of the split top layer 214 form the gap 202. The side walls 216A and 216B permit alignment of the strip within the gap 202. As shown, the split layer 214 may also be associated with a split adhesive layer 218 that adheres each of the split top layers 214 to the layers below it.

In this approach, the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material 20 may be recessed within the gap 202. This recess can be an advantage when on the top of the seal 10 and with a two-piece seal and liner configuration. In such construction, the upper liner (not shown) could be wax laminated to the top surfaces of the sealing member 10. With the strip 20 recessed in the gap 202, it would not be in contact with a wax coating applicator applying the wax release layer discussed previously and thus, the upper surface of the strip 20 would be substantially free of any applied wax, thus minimizing or avoiding the undesired clouding or distortion of the clarity of the anti-counterfeit material with wax. This is especially advantageous when the anti-counterfeit material is a hologram or other optical identifying feature.

While the segmented layer is shown in FIG. 10 as the upper layer of the sealing member 10, the segmented layer 200 could also be any layer within the laminate so long as the layers above being clear, transparent, or translucent, or combined with the previously described window. Furthermore, the gap 202 need not be centrally located in the seal, but could be offset from the center with one segment 214A being wider than the other segment 214B. FIG. 10 also shows exemplary layers within the laminate 12, which are consistent with the previous discussed layers. Other constructions may also be possible.

Turning now to FIGS. 11-13, another approach of including a narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material 20 into a sealing member 200 is illustrated. In this approach, the strip 20 is included with, on, or under the lower heat sealable layer 16. In this approach, the strip 20 applied to the lower sealant layer can be configured to leave an imprint or residual small stripe 210 on the land area of the container rim corresponding to the strip 20 as best shown in FIG. 13. As the narrow strip 20 extends across the entire seal, as generally shown in FIG. 12 prior to being sealed to a container rim, the imprints or stripes 210 may also be formed on opposite sides of the container rim as also generally shown in FIG. 13. So constructed, the sealing member 200 can maintain the desired attributes of the sealing layer 16 in the majority of the sealing member, such as about 80 to about 95 percent of the container rim land area, but isolating the residual imprint or stripe 210 to only the remaining small stripe regions of the container rim. This construction permits blending a small strip of anti-counterfeit material but retaining the majority of a conventional heat sealing film on the lower surface of the seal.

In this approach, there may be a differential heat seal bond between the sealing member 200 and the container rim. For example, the heat seal bond of the strip 20 or portions of the strip 20 (i.e., portions 210) may be greater than the heat seal bond of the sealing layer 16 or portions of the sealing layer 16 (that is, the remaining heat seal portions corresponding to the container rim that are not associated with the strip 210). Such differential may aid in forming the residual strips after sealing member removal. By one approach, the strip 20 may be a film configured to split or separate upon seal removal. For example, the narrow strip may be the holographic layer or separation film as generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,522,990, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Now that the basic structures of various one-piece and two-piece sealing members with the narrow strips of anti-counterfeit material are set forth above, further details about the various layers and components of the sealing members are described in more detail.

The anti-counterfeit material or film 4 or 20 can include a variety of optical layers, materials, films, or components that are useful as anti-counterfeiting security devices. The type of optical security component is not particularly limited, but generally includes security components that rely on optical or light reflecting effects to signify authenticity. In one aspect, the security materials used are generally of the type that may be susceptible to degradation or reduction in optical clarity by the presence of residual wax or other residual substances on the surface thereof or which may be degraded as a result of the induction or heat sealing process. Suitable security components can include a variety of optical security features including, for example, holographic layers, optically variable inks, color-shifting inks, interference films, visible microprinting, and combinations thereof. The security component can be provided by one layer or two more layers adhered together. By one approach, the optical security component may include a holographic component comprising an embossed image layer having an upper plastic film layer or PET bonded to a first or upper surface of the image layer and a metal layer on a second or lower surface of the embossed image layer. The component may split or separate between its upper plastic film and the layers below it. The lower layer of the holographic component may be a polyester heat seal layer. The narrow strip may also include a release coating or release strip on an upper surface thereof that would repel wax and provide a clear vision of the image or other optical feature thereby maintaining both clarity of the image and the integrity of the remaining liner, for example, as a wax laminated substrate through the die cutting and storage of a lined closure.

With the structures and configurations described herein, the narrow strip of the anti-counterfeit material retains a degree of optical clarity and/or light reflectance after induction sealing that it had before induction sealing. In one aspect, the reflective optical density of the anti-counterfeit material changes less than about 10 percent after heat sealing. In another aspect, the reflective optical density of the anti-counterfeit material changes less than about 5 percent after heat sealing. Reflective optical density can be measured by a spectrophotometer.

To aid in providing structural support to the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material and/or thermal stability, the narrow strip may be re-enforced through lamination to one or more additional narrow strips of added material to increase the thickness (for making the narrow strip more robust for handling) and/or to promote thermal stability by providing an insulation or thermal barrier on the understand of the narrow strip (for protecting the anti-counterfeiting portions of the strip from heat in the heat seal process). Increasing the thickness of the strip aids in material handing to minimize flipping and wandering when assembling the laminate. In one approach, for example, the narrow strip is laminated to a base, which in some cases, is a thermally activated seal component. This aids in adhering the narrow strip to other seal layers, such as a foam layer or metal foil layer. In other approaches, the narrow strip is laminated to a polymer layer, such as higher density polymer layer, such as polyesters or polyolefins, with densities greater than 0.9 g/ml or between about 0.9 g/ml to about 1.2 g/ml, which tends to provide thermal stability to the anti-counterfeiting components during a heat sealing process.

When used in a two-piece configuration, the upper liner or compressing agent that stays within the cap after induction sealing can be formed of one or more layers of cardboard, pulp board, or a synthetic compressing agent (such as a synthetic foam or synthetic fibers) that is effective for absorbing the release layer upon induction heating. In one approach, the compressing agent may include a layer of foamed plastic material to which a paper layer (not shown) has been adhered to a bottom surface thereof. In this approach, the paper layer is the layer in contact with the release layer for absorbing the molten wax or other components thereof. By another approach, the liner or compressing agent has a thickness in the range from about 400 to about 1800 μm. Synthetic foam or fibers useful herein include materials with a suitable compression factor comparable to pulp board of the type traditionally used in induction seals. For example, low density polyethylene (LDPE), coextruded LDPE, polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) foam or fibers may also be used as the compression agent. The synthetic material selected should have a sufficient absorbency, suitable pore volume, and structure to absorb substantially all of the wax used in the seal. The dimensions of the compressing agent absorbing material will vary according to the application and the size of the opening of the container and size and construction of the closure being used.

By one approach, the release layer used in any two-piece configurations may be a wax layer. The wax may include any suitable wax material which will melt within the temperature range to which the sealing member is to be subjected by an energy source during the induction sealing process. For example, the wax layer may include a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes. By one approach, the wax layer may comprise a blend of paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax wherein the proportion of microcrystalline wax used in the wax layer is adjusted to provide a wax layer formulated to improve absorption of the wax by the compressing agent. Alternatively, the wax layer may include microcrystalline wax modified with other polymeric additives to enhance its initial bonding properties. For instance, the wax layer may comprise microcrystalline wax and at least one of ethylene vinyl acetate and polyisobutylene.

Suitable hot melt adhesives or sealants for the heat sealable layer, such as layer 16, include, but are not limited to, polyesters, polyolefins, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, surlyn, and other suitable materials. By one approach, the heat sealable layer 16 may be a single layer or a multi-layer structure about 0.2 to about 3 mils thick. In one approach, the heat seal layer 16 may be the same composition as or be a different composition as the lower layer of the anti-counterfeit material.

Optional membrane layer 44 in the various constructions may be a metal layer, such as, for example, aluminum foil. In one aspect, the metal layer may be about 0.3 to about 2 mils thick. The membrane layer may also be foil, tin, metalized polymers, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. The membrane layer may be any layer configured to generate induction heat.

The layers in the various constructions may be adhered to each other directly or by an intervening adhesive that is generally not shown in any of the figures. The adhesives useful for any of the optional adhesive layers described herein include, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyolefins, and 2-component polyurethane. If the tab stock includes any printing, the adhesive should be transparent so that the printing is visible through the adhesive. These intervening adhesive layers, if used, may be 0.5 mils or less.

The top layer 14, polymer support layers 42 and 46, and the tab stock 52 can be selected from a variety of suitable plastic materials. The tab stock 52 can also be a paper material, such as paper, cellulose, wax paper, and the like. For example, the plastic materials or film for these layers can be selected from the group consisting of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyethylene or a combination thereof. In some approaches, the thickness of the various polymer layers is in the range from about 0.5 to about 3 microns. For instance, the top layer 14 may have a thickness of about 0.5 to about 3 microns.

In use, the sealing member can be cut into appropriately sized disks to form a vessel closing assembly such as generally shown by the hashed lines in FIG. 2. The cut sealing member is then inserted into a screw cap or other closure which, in turn, is applied to the neck of a container to be sealed. The screw cap can be screwed on to the open neck of the container, thus sandwiching the sealing member between the open neck of the container and the top of the cap. Heat is then applied to seal the bottom subassembly of layers forming the seal portion to the neck of the container. The applied heat causes any wax layer (if a two-piece construction) to melt and the molten wax is absorbed by the compressing agent of the liner layer. As such, at this stage of processing the wax is no longer present as a separate adhesive layer and the seal portion and liner portion are no longer adhered to one another. Therefore, the sealing member can be adhered to the screw cap without concern for ripping the seal upon opening because the temporary bond between the seal and liner is no longer present. Upon twisting the screw cap, two piece sealing members will separate between the top plastic film layer 14 and the compressing agent or liner without requiring significant force. The compressing agent, which absorbs the wax layer, will remain in the cap and the seal will remain adhered to the neck of the container. With narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material or film 20 protected from fouling or contact by any residual wax, the optical clarity, optical density, and/or reflectance of the security component is maintained after the induction heating process as described above.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the seal laminate, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the seals described herein, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the embodied description.

Claims

1. A sealing member for a container having an opening surrounded by a rim, the sealing member comprising:

a seal laminate having a top layer and a heat sealable layer on a lower surface thereof, the heat sealable layer effective to secure the seal laminate to a container rim during heat sealing,

an orientation axis of the seal laminate;

one or more narrow strips of an anti-counterfeit material included with the seal laminate and aligned with the orientation axis thereof; and

one or more alignment features configured to provide alignment between the one or more narrow strips of anti-counterfeit materials and the orientation axis of the seal laminate.

2. The sealing member of claim 1, wherein the top layer includes a polymer film with opaque portions and at least one window therein, the window being aligned with the orientation axis, and one of the narrow strips of anti-counterfeit material positioned within with seal laminate to be visible through the window.

3. The sealing member of claim 2, wherein the one or more alignment features include oversized narrow strips of the anti-counterfeit materials relative to the window so that a width of the one or more narrow strips of anti-counterfeit materials is wider than a width of the window in the top layer.

4. The sealing member of claim 2, wherein the polymer film includes printing.

5. The sealing member of claim 1, wherein the top layer is partially bonded to the layers in the seal laminate below it forming a gripping tab for removal of the sealing member from a container.

6. The sealing member of claim 2, wherein the polymer film of the top layer is partially bonded to the layers in the seal laminate below it forming a gripping tab for removal of the sealing member from a container.

7. The sealing member of claim 1, wherein the one or more alignment features include a cavity formed in a layer of the seal laminate, the cavity aligned with the orientation axis and includes one of the narrow strips of the anti-counterfeit material therein.

8. The sealing member of claim 7, wherein an upper surface of the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material in the cavity is substantially flush with an upper surface of the layer including the cavity.

9. The sealing member of claim 7, wherein an upper surface of the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material in the cavity is recessed from an upper surface of the layer including the cavity.

10. The sealing member of claim 7, wherein the top layer is partially bonded to the layers in the seal laminate below it forming a gripping tab for removal of the sealing member from a container.

11. The seal member of claim 10, wherein the layer including the cavity is associated with the gripping tab.

12. The seal member of claim 7, wherein the cavity is an embossed indentation within the layer.

13. The seal member of claim 1, wherein the one or more alignment features include a segmentation of two spaced layers within a single laminate plane of the sealing member where both of the two layers are aligned with the orientation axis and one of the narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material is within the space formed between the two layers and within the laminate plane thereof.

14. The seal member of claim 13, wherein the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material is recessed from an upper surface of the two spaced layers.

15. The seal member of claim 1, wherein the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material is a laminate of at least two layers, one layer being the anti-counterfeiting material and a second support layer or release layer bonded thereto.

16. A sealing member for a container having an opening surrounded by a rim, the sealing member comprising:

a seal laminate having a top layer and a heat sealable layer on a lower surface thereof, the heat sealable layer effective to secure the seal laminate to a container rim during heat sealing,

one or more narrow strips of an anti-counterfeit materials bonded to the heat sealable layer and including a separation point so that upon sealing member removal from a container, the one or more narrow strips of anti-counterfeiting material leaves one or more narrow imprint strips on the container rim.

17. The sealing member of claim 16, wherein the imprint strips are located on opposite sides of the container rim.

18. The sealing member of claim 1, further comprising a liner portion releasably bonded to an upper surface of the seal laminate, the liner portion effective to be separable from the seal laminate after induction heating so that the liner portion remains in a cap of a container.

19. The sealing member of claim 1, further comprising a tab stock bonded to and extending part way across the top layer of the seal laminate and not bonded to layers below it forming the gripping tab.

20. The sealing member of claim 19, wherein the narrow strip of anti-counterfeit material is bonded to the tab stock but not bonded to the layers below the gripping tab.

21. The sealing member of claim 1, wherein the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material includes a security feature selected from the group consisting of a holographic component, optically variable ink, color shifting ink, interference patterns, and combinations thereof.

22. The sealing member of claim 1, wherein the narrow strip of anti-counterfeiting material includes a holographic portion with an embossed image layer having a plastic film layer bonded to a first surface of the image layer and a metal layer on a second surface of the embossed image layer.

23. The sealing member of claim 1, wherein the anti-counterfeiting material has an optical density after induction sealing within about 10 percent of an optical density of the optical security component prior to induction sealing.