EP0466390A1

EP0466390A1 - Tamper evident package

Info

Publication number: EP0466390A1
Application number: EP91306035A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Richard John Thomas
Original assignee: VERNON PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: VERNON PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 1990-07-03
Filing date: 1991-07-03
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Also published as: GB2246113A; GB2246113B; GB9014764D0

Abstract

A tamper evident package comprises a dish-like or cup-like container (12) having a body (13) defining a mouth (14), and an outwardly extending peripheral flange (15) surrounding the mouth. A frame (2) underlies the flange and extends laterally beyond the flange, the frame having an aperture (3) through which the body projects. A cover (4) overlies the mouth, the flange and the portions of the frame which extend laterally beyond the flange, the cover being secured to at least some of the portions of the frame which extend laterally beyond the flange, such that access to the mouth of the container can only be gained by damaging the frame or the cover, or at least partially breaking the connection between the frame and the cover.

Description

This invention relates to a tamper evident package, and in the preferred embodiment provides a tamper evident package which can be manufactured economically and which provides tamper evidence for a container of the dish-like or cup-like type commonly used for the retail sale of pre-prepared foodstuffs.
Many pre-prepared foodstuffs sold through retail outlets are packed in a dish-like or cup-like container having a mouth which is closed, after filling, by a paperboard or foil/paperboard laminate cover. The cover is retained in position by suitable means - e.g. a bent-over peripheral flange if the container is made of aluminium. With such packages, unauthorized access may be gained to the product by lifting the corner of the cover, and such access cannot be detected once the cover has been replaced. Heretofore, if products packed in this way were to be made tamper evident the entire container and cover were positioned within a box which was then sealed in a tamper evident manner. This added to the packaging cost.
The preferred embodiment of the invention enables a container of the type having a dish-like or cup-like body and a peripheral flange to be closed in a tamper evident manner without the need for positioning the container within a complete box or sleeve.
In the prior art there has been no effective way of closing the mouth of a thermoformed plastics dish-like or cup-like container other than by sealing a plastics, foil, or laminate cover to the container itself. This has rendered such containers unsuitable for use on their own where sealing machinery capable of effecting such sealing is not available. Further, such containers have not been suitable for packaging products requiring a non-airtight closure unless the container itself is, after filling, placed within a box which is closed in a non-airtight manner. In practice, therefore, if a product requires a non-airtight closure it has been the practice to pack the product in an aluminium foil container, and close the mouth of the container with a paperboard or foil/paperboard cover as described above.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention enables a metal foil or thermoformed plastics container to be closed in a tamper evident and non-air tight manner, thereby rendering tamper evident containers suitable for the packaging of materials requiring a non-airtight seal.
In the case of products requiring an airtight seal the present invention may be embodied as a package in which the container mouth is sealed by means of a suitable film, foil, or laminate closure prior to positioning of the tamper evident arrangements of the present invention. Under these circumstances the present invention provides additional tamper evidence, protects the primary seal, and provides convenient surface portions for the printing of product information and graphic designs.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tamper evident package comprising: a dish-like or cup-like container having a body defining a mouth, and an outwardly extending peripheral flange surrounding the mouth; a frame underlying the flange and extending laterally beyond the flange, the frame having an aperture through which the body projects; and a cover overlying the mouth, the flange, and the portions of the frame which extend laterally beyond the flange, the cover being secured to at least some of the portions of the frame which extend laterally beyond the flange whereby access to the mouth of the container can only be gained by damaging the frame, damaging the cover, or at least partially breaking the connection between the frame and the cover.
Preferably, the frame is integral with the cover and is joined to the cover by a hinge connection which in use is located adjacent one lateral edge of the flange. In this case, a flap is preferably provided at the edge of the frame opposite the hinge connection with the cover, the flap being connected to the frame by a hinge connection so that the flap may be bent to overlie the flange. In this case the cover may be secured to the surface of the flap and the overall width of the package is not significantly greater than the overall width (measured in the same direction) of the container.
Preferably the frame includes wings which are hingedly connected to the remainder of the frame around the edge of the aperture and are displaced as the container body is pushed through the aperture to lie against the body of the container. Such wings provide convenient surfaces for display of product information, freeing the entire exposed surface of the cover for graphic design.
Preferably, the frame and the cover are formed from paperboard.
The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a frame and cover for use in a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a blank 1 for use in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The blank 1 comprises a rectangular frame 2 having a central aperture 3 adapted to receive the body of a container as described in more detail hereinafter. A cover 4 is hingedly connected to one lateral edge of the frame by way of a hinge connection 5 and a flap 6 is connected to the opposite lateral edge of the frame via a hinge 7. A pair of wings 8,9 are connected to the frame at the edge of the aperture 3 via hinge connections 10,11 respectively.
The blank 1 may be cut from a suitable paperboard or foil/board laminate and may be printed using conventional printing techniques on the exposed surface of the cover 4 and on the wings 8,9 as described in more detail hereinafter.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 an embodiment of tamper evident package is illustrated. The package comprises a dish-like container 12 which, in the preferred embodiment, is a clear plastics thermoforming. The container 12 includes a body 13 which defines a mouth 14, and an outwardly extending peripheral flange 15 integral with the body 13 and surrounding the mouth 14.
In the illustrated embodiment the body 13 is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section, the cross-section of the body immediately below the flange being complementary to that of the aperture 3.
The container 12 either before or after charging with product is pushed into the aperture 3 of the blank 1 of Figure 1 to displace the wings 8,9 downwardly. The inherent resilience of the wings causes them to lie against the side walls of the body 13. The exposed surfaces 16 and 17 of the wings 8,9 may be used for graphic material or product information.
After the container has been pushed fully into the aperture 3 so that the flange 15 immediately overlies the frame 2 the flap 6 is bent through approximately 180° about the hinge 7 to overlie the flange 15. The cover 4 is then bent through 180° about the hinge 5 to overlie and cover the mouth 14. The overlapping zone 18 of the cover 4 and the flap 6 are secured together by suitable means, for example adhesive bonding. It will be noted that in the transverse cross-section illustrated in Figure 2 the overall width of the package is not substantially greater than the overall width of the container 12. However, referring to Figure 3 it will be noted that the frame 2 and cover 4 both extend longitudinally beyond the flange 15 to overlap in zones 19 and 20. The frame is preferably secured to the cover in these overlapping zones 19,20 by any suitable means, for example adhesive bonding.
It will be appreciated from the above description that when the package is closed as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 access may only be gained to the mouth 14 of the container by breaking the frame, by breaking the cover, or by breaking the connection between the frame and the cover. Any of these forms of breakage will be readily apparent and will indicate that unauthorized access has been had to the contents of the container.
Although the cover and frame together close the mouth 14 in a manner which prevents unauthorized access, the mouth 14 is not actually sealed, and accordingly the illustrated package may be used for goods requiring a non-airtight closure. If an airtight closure of the container is required this may be achieved by sealing a suitable film, foil or laminate to the flange 15 prior to assembly of the container 12 with the flange and cover. Under these circumstances the frame and cover provide a secondary tamper evident seal and offer a number of other advantages,
in particular providing suitable surfaces for carrying product information or graphic designs, and adding to the rigidity of the package.

Claims

A tamper evident package comprising: a dish-like or cup-like container having a body defining a mouth, and an outwardly extending peripheral flange surrounding the mouth; a frame underlying the flange and extending laterally beyond the flange, the frame having an aperture through which the body projects; and a cover overlying the mouth, the flange, and the portions of the frame which extend laterally beyond the flange, the cover being secured to at least some of the portions of the frame which extend laterally beyond the flange whereby access to the mouth of the container can only be gained by damaging the frame, damaging the cover, or at least partially breaking the connection between the frame and the cover.
A package according to claim 1, wherein the frame is integral with the cover and is joined to the cover by a hinge connection which in use is located adjacent one lateral edge of the flange.
A package according to claim 2, wherein the flap is provided at the edge of the frame opposite the hinge connection with the cover, the flap being connected to the frame by a hinge connection so that in use the flap is bent to overlie the flange.
A package according to claim 3, wherein the cover is secured to the surface of the flap.
A package according to claim 4, wherein the overall width of the package is not significantly greater than the overall width, measured in the same direction, of the container.
A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame includes wings which are hingedly connected to the remainder of the frame around the edge of the aperture and are displaced as the container body is pushed through the aperture to lie against the body of the container.
A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame and the cover are formed from paperboard.
A tamper evident package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.