EP1557368B1 - Verschliessbarer Behälter - Google Patents

Verschliessbarer Behälter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1557368B1
EP1557368B1 EP04257826A EP04257826A EP1557368B1 EP 1557368 B1 EP1557368 B1 EP 1557368B1 EP 04257826 A EP04257826 A EP 04257826A EP 04257826 A EP04257826 A EP 04257826A EP 1557368 B1 EP1557368 B1 EP 1557368B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lock unit
flap
seal
envelope
plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP04257826A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1557368A1 (de
Inventor
James Collingham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ITW Ltd
Original Assignee
ITW Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ITW Ltd filed Critical ITW Ltd
Publication of EP1557368A1 publication Critical patent/EP1557368A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1557368B1 publication Critical patent/EP1557368B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65D27/00—Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D27/12—Closures
    • B65D27/20—Closures using self-locking integral or attached elements
    • B65D27/22—Tongue-and-slot or like closures; Tuck-in flaps
    • 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
    • B65D27/00—Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D27/12—Closures
    • B65D27/28—Applications of separate closing elements
    • 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
    • B65D27/00—Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D27/12—Closures
    • B65D27/30—Closures with special means for indicating unauthorised opening

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a closable container, for example a box with a lid with a flap, or an envelope or pouch with a flap.
  • the container has a lock unit with which the flap registers, the flap being temporarily locked in its closed position by means of a disposable locking member.
  • the disposable locking member (generally referred to as a "seal") has a head part, a stem part and a plug part.
  • the plug part goes through an aperture in the pull tab of the zipper and engages in an aperture in the lock unit.
  • the envelope is opened by removal of the head part of the locking member, which causes rupture of the stem part with the plug part being left behind in the lock unit or envelope. Because the envelope can only be opened by breaking the locking member, a tamper evident seal to the envelope is provided.
  • This same reference also discloses an envelope with a lock unit over which the puller tab of the zipper fits, a seal being fitted into the lock unit from the side, on top of the puller tab.
  • the seal is a substantially flat element, having a body part and a head part substantially in the shape of an arrow-head with resilient barbs.
  • a locking device which is in the form of a keyless padlock.
  • a locking bar is inserted into the locking device and is locked in place by means of a disposable locking element.
  • the locking element has a locking post and a plug part and incorporates a tear line by means of which the locking element can be split into two parts for removal and thus unlocking of the padlock.
  • WO-A-01/53163 a similar disposable locking element is described for use in closing the opening of a bag or pouch.
  • a location plate on one side of the bag registers over a lock unit on the other side and a disposable locking element is pressed through the location plate and into the lock unit to temporarily lock the two sides of the opening of the bag together.
  • GB-A-2364688 there is described a reusable envelope with a tamper evident closure.
  • the top of the envelope has two apertures which register with each other when the top is folded over, and which register with a seal receiving assembly on the front of the envelope when the envelope is closed. A breakable seal is then plugged into the front of the envelope, to lock the envelope.
  • WO-A-02/04306 describes another reusable and lockable envelope, with a complex fold-over top. After the top is folded closed, apertures in the top register with a lock unit on the envelope and a seal is plugged into the front.
  • a similar plug-in seal to that shown in GB-A-2364688 is disclosed in US-A-5651652 , for use in closing a reusable box-like container with overlapping flaps.
  • the present applicant in the 1990s made and sold a reusable envelope with a two part lock unit, one part being on the flap of the envelope and one part being on the front of the envelope.
  • the two parts formed a lock unit into which a breakable seal was inserted at the side, along the surface of the flap.
  • the lock unit part on the flap formed the outer surface or roof of the lock unit, i.e. the flap did not have an aperture through which the lock unit part on the envelope passed.
  • the invention aims to provide an anew and improved closable container with a tamper-evident locking mechanism.
  • a closable container having an opening which is closed by a flap of the container, the flap having an aperture therethrough which in use registers with a lock unit formed on a wall or side of the container with the lock unit extending through the aperture, the lock unit having an opening for receiving the head of a breakable seal which locks into the opening in such a manner that it cannot be removed without breaking, the seal in its inserted position locking the flap over the lock unit in a tamper evident fashion, wherein the opening of the lock unit is arranged on one side of the lock unit, whereby in use the seal is inserted substantially parallel to the plane of the flap.
  • the lock unit has a closed roof and preferably on the inside of the roof there is fonned a rib or groove for registration with a corresponding groove or rib on the head part of the seal.
  • the aperture is preferably formed in a first plate fitted to the flap and which locates over the lock unit, and the lock unit can be formed on a second plate.
  • the container may be in the form of an envelope, bag or pouch with a folding flap, or a box with a lid with a flap
  • Fig. 1a shows a container which in this embodiment is in the form of an envelope.
  • the envelope 1 is closed by means of a flap 2.
  • the flap 2 folds over the front of the envelope in a conventional fashion.
  • the flap 2 has an aperture 5 at a central position.
  • the aperture 5 extends through the material of the flap and is also defined by a first plate 6 which is glued to the outside of the flap (see Fig. 1b).
  • a second plate 7 is provided on the front of the envelope in a middle portion of which is formed a lock unit 8.
  • the second plate 7 is fitted on the inside of the envelope, with the lock unit extending through a hole in the front of the envelope (although it could be fitted on the outside if desired).
  • the second plate can be glued to the material of the envelope.
  • Fig. 1b shows the flap 2 of the envelope 1 in its closed position, with the flap 2 folded onto the front of the envelope.
  • the first and second plates 6,7 are positioned such that the aperture 5 on the flap 2 fits over the lock unit 8 on the front of the envelope.
  • FIG. 1c The closed position of the flap 2, with the first plate 6 lying over the second plate 7, and the lock unit 8 extending through the aperture5, is shown in Fig. 1c.
  • This Figure also shows a disposable locking member or seal 10 which is inserted in the lock unit 8 and fits on top of the first plate 6.
  • the seal 10 thus provides a locking of the envelope, which envelope can then only be opened by breaking the seal.
  • the seal 10 is pushed into the lock unit 8 from below, in a direction parallel to the plane of the envelope and to the plane of the first plate (and along the surface of the flap), rather being pushed or plugged into the lock unit from the front of the envelope.
  • Fig. 2a shows the first plate 6 which in plan view is substantially barrel shaped.
  • the central aperture 5 is clearly visible.
  • the plate also has a series of interconnecting ribs 13, which provide rigidity to the plate.
  • Fig. 2b shows the second plate 7, which is of a similar shape to the first plate 6.
  • the lock unit 8 is in the form of a raised enclosure or housing which on one side (the lower side as seen in Fig. 1c) has an opening 15.
  • the lock unit or chamber 8 has a closed roof 16 which prevents access to the head of the seal 10 from above.
  • the first plate In use, with the first plate 6 fitted to the flap of the envelope and the second plate 7 fitted to the front of the envelope, the first plate locates over the second plate, with the aperture 5 registering with the housing 8. In this position, the opening 15 is partly blocked by the first plate 6 (as viewed looking directly into the housing through the opening) but has still defines an open mouth which has height substantially the same as the thickness of the seal 10. The seal is then pushed into the mouth of the housing (from the lower right hand comer as seen in Fig. 2b), the seal 10 fitting over the border of the first plate 6 to lock the flap 2 in place.
  • Fig. 3 shows the disposable and frangible seal 10 which in this embodiment has a head part 21 and a body part 22.
  • the head part 21 has arrow-head configuration with barbs 23, in a known fashion.
  • the body part 22 is substantially square with rounded comers, but it could be of any other desired shape.
  • Between the body part 22 and the head part 21 is an elongate recess 24 which provides a reduced thickness and thus a weakened and breakable connection between the head and body parts.
  • the seal also has a central recessed portion 26 which reduces the use of material in the seal.
  • An important and preferred feature of the seal is that the head part has a groove 27 running along its length, for registration with the rib 20 on the roof of the housing 8.
  • the head of the seal may have an indent 28 at its end for locating on a lug inside the housing 8.
  • the first plate locates over the second plate and the seal 10 is locked in the housing 8, over part of the flap (or the plate on the flap).
  • the seal is pushed into the housing 8 with, the resilient barbs 23 locating behind the edges of the mouth 15 of the housing.
  • the seal cannot be removed without the breaking the body part 22 from the head part 21.
  • Fig. 4a and 4b show the seal 10 approaching the housing (Fig. 4a) and then the seal located within the housing (Fig. 4b).
  • the opening 15 of the housing is tapered, that is the edge of the roof of the housing above the opening is inclined with respect to the plane of the base of the housing, which allows a close tolerance to be achieved between the thickness of the seal and the top of the opening, while at the same time the tapered shape provides no hindrance to the seal being inserted.
  • the opening or mouth 15 of the housing has a height (when the first plate is not on the second plate) which is substantially greater than the thickness of the head 21 of the seal 10 (for example at least twice the thickness of the seal head). This means that after the seal is broken and the flap lifted, the head of the seal can easily fall into the bottom of the housing and out of the housing, through the opening.
  • the lock unit may be formed of a suitable material, such as hardened steel, but is preferably formed of plastics such as nylon, polypropylene, ABS, styrene or engineering plastics.
  • the disposable seals which will generally be supplied in bulk, are formed of a suitable resilient but frangible plastics material, such as styrene, ABS, nylon or polypropylene.
  • Typical dimensions for the seal are 25mm long, by 11mm wide, the seal having the thickness of from 2-3mm. However, it will be appreciated that it is the thickness of the head part of the seal which is critical, in that it needs to be consistent with the internal dimensions of the chamber when the plates are overlapping, and the body part of the seal could be of a greater thickness if desired.
  • the container may be a bag or pouch which is closed by means of a flap.
  • the container could be in the form of a box 1, for example as shown in Fig.5.
  • the box is closed by means of a lid 3 which has a flap 2 equivalent to the flap of the envelope of Fig.1.
  • the flap 2 fits over the front 4 of the box in a conventional fashion.
  • the aperture 5 extends through the material of the flap of the lid and is, as in Fig. 1, defined by a first plate 6 which in this embodiment is riveted to the flap (although it could be glued).
  • a first plate 6 which in this embodiment is riveted to the flap (although it could be glued).
  • the second plate 7 is provided on the front 4 of the box.
  • the second plate 7 is also riveted to the material of the box.
  • the first and second plates 6,7 are positioned such that the aperture 5 on the flap 3 fits over the lock unit 8 on the front of the box.
  • the box In the closed position of the flap 3, with the first plate 6 lying over the second plate 7, and the lock unit 8 extending through the aperture 5, the box can be locked by a disposable locking member or seal which is inserted in the lock unit 8 and fits on top of the first plate 6, in the same way as with the envelope described earlier.
  • the seal thus provides a locking of the box, which box can then only be opened by breaking the seal.
  • the seal is pushed into the lock unit 8 from below, in a direction parallel to the plane of the front 4 of the box and to the plane of the first plate.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Verschließbarer Behälter (1) mit einer Öffnung, die durch eine Klappe (2) des Behälters geschlossen wird, wobei die Klappe eine Mündung (5) dadurch aufweist, die im Gebrauch mit einer an einer Wand oder Seite des Behälters ausgebildeten Schlosseinheit (8) zur Deckung kommt, wobei sich die Schlosseinheit durch die Mündung erstreckt, wobei die Schlosseinheit eine Öffnung (15) zur Aufnahme des Kopfs eines zerbrechbaren Verschlusses (10) aufweist, der so in der Öffnung verriegelt wird, dass er ohne Zerbrechen nicht entfernt werden kann, wobei der Verschluss in seiner eingesetzten Position die Klappe (2) auf originalitätssichernde Weise auf der Schlosseinheit verriegelt, wobei die Öffnung (15) der Schlosseinheit auf einer Seite der Schlosseinheit angeordnet ist, wodurch der Verschluss im Gebrauch im Wesentlichen parallel zur Ebene der Klappe eingeführt wird.
  2. Behälter nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Mündung (5) in einer an der Klappe angeordneten ersten Platte (6) ausgebildet ist, die auf der Schlosseinheit (8) angeordnet wird, und die Schlosseinheit vorzugsweise an einer zweiten Platte (7) ausgebildet ist.
  3. Behälter nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Schlosseinheit (8) ein Dach aufweist, auf dessen Innenseite eine Rippe (20) oder eine Nut zum Indeckungbringen mit einer entsprechenden Nut (27) oder Rippe am Kopfteil des Verschlusses ausgebildet ist.
  4. Behälter nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, der in Form eines Kastens mit einem Deckel mit einer Klappe vorliegt.
  5. Behälter nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, wobei der Behälter ein Beutel, eine Tasche oder ein Umschlag mit einer Faltklappe ist.
EP04257826A 2004-01-20 2004-12-16 Verschliessbarer Behälter Not-in-force EP1557368B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0401241.5A GB0401241D0 (en) 2004-01-20 2004-01-20 Closable container
GB0401241 2004-01-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1557368A1 EP1557368A1 (de) 2005-07-27
EP1557368B1 true EP1557368B1 (de) 2007-11-14

Family

ID=31971170

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04257826A Not-in-force EP1557368B1 (de) 2004-01-20 2004-12-16 Verschliessbarer Behälter

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20050156019A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1557368B1 (de)
CN (1) CN1644462A (de)
AU (1) AU2005200150B2 (de)
DE (1) DE602004010057D1 (de)
GB (1) GB0401241D0 (de)
ZA (1) ZA200500429B (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7201410B1 (en) * 2005-01-28 2007-04-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The National Security Agency Reusable tamper evident security device
US9272808B2 (en) * 2012-03-13 2016-03-01 Multi Packaging Solutions, Inc. Packaging and integrated utility item
US9145236B2 (en) * 2013-07-11 2015-09-29 Hallmark Cards, Incorporated Article with a latching mechanism
CN104085602A (zh) * 2014-07-17 2014-10-08 朱瑞清 一种采用子母扣锁定的防盗纸箱
CN108750347A (zh) * 2018-04-16 2018-11-06 蔡思杰 一种免胶纸可多次循环使用的环保快递袋
CN114030731B (zh) * 2020-10-17 2024-05-10 深圳市摩码赢联科技有限公司 一种具有防伪扣体结构的包装盒

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US522007A (en) * 1894-06-26 Fastening device for package-wrappers
US1455803A (en) * 1921-07-01 1923-05-22 Frank B Nofsinger Cartridge box
US1814773A (en) * 1927-10-29 1931-07-14 Ancira Lock & Seal Corp Seal
US1950803A (en) * 1930-12-12 1934-03-13 Gen Seal & Lock Corp Safety lock
US2015013A (en) * 1932-09-10 1935-09-17 Horsley John Envelope, box, container, and such like
US2053491A (en) * 1934-07-13 1936-09-08 Smithe Machine Co Inc F L Envelope fastener
US2214169A (en) * 1939-03-09 1940-09-10 Kubinyi Joseph Safety envelope
US2252813A (en) * 1939-10-05 1941-08-19 Paoly Cassianus Seal
US5651652A (en) * 1996-09-19 1997-07-29 Williams; David J. Breakaway tamperproof fastener

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2005200150A1 (en) 2005-08-04
CN1644462A (zh) 2005-07-27
EP1557368A1 (de) 2005-07-27
US20050156019A1 (en) 2005-07-21
DE602004010057D1 (de) 2007-12-27
GB0401241D0 (en) 2004-02-25
AU2005200150B2 (en) 2006-09-28
ZA200500429B (en) 2005-09-28

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