GB2157262A - Security packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to provide security packaging in a soft plastics bag having a transparent front face 2, the bag is provided on a rear sheet 1 with an additional sheet 21 of opaque plastics material which forms a pocket for a security tag but which can be manually torn from the sheet 1 when desired. Alternatively or additionally the bag is provided with an integral flap 9 having apertures 16 and 17. The flap 9 is adapted to be folded down from the top of the bag and to terminate under a transverse band 18 to close a rear opening 5 to the bag and to terminate near the open end of the security tag pocket. The aperture 16 is provided to align with a hanging aperture 13, and the aperture 17 provides an alternative location for a security tag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security packaging This invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to security packaging for use in retail stores.

Many items are displayed for sale in packaging which is transparent on at least the exposed side.

Such packaging normally includes a location for a price label. Shoplifters normally attempt to leave the store with an item complete in its packaging, and to combat such larceny, resort may be had to security tagging. The essence of security tagging is that a tag is applied to the article to be protected, frequently on a loop of plastics material, and this is removed when the article has been paid for, normally at a check out point. If a customer attempts to go through an exit with an article which still has the tag attached, an alarm is activated, and the customer may be apprehended. This is commonly used with clothes and higher value items, but with smaller value items, and particularly those in blister packs, no satisfactory and economic tagging method has hitherto been available.

In addition to outright theft of goods, a form of fraud is prevalent, particularly where so-called tool bags of soft polyvinyl chloride are used, in which an article of high value is put into a bag intended for an item of lower value, and bearing the appropriate price label. When presented at a check out till, only the lower price is charged.

In accordance with a first form of the invention, there is provided security packaging comprising a bag of soft plastics material, such a polyvinyl chloride, having at least a front face of transparent material, the said bag having on a rear face thereof a pocket for the reception and concealment of a security tag, the pocket being formed by an additional layer of opaque soft plastics material separable from the rear face by manual tearing.

The tag is thus concealed from the customer and does not obscure his view of the goods displayed.

A casual thief may make the error of not removing the tag before leaving the store, leading to detection. Also, the tag is readily removable when required from the appearance or utility of the pack.

However, removal is detectable by simple inspection, and potential shoplifters in possession of packages without the pocket are in need of a convincing story.

The rear face may include an opening for access to the interior of the bag for insertion of mechandise to be displayed, and the opening is preferably located adjacent one end of the pocket.

The bag may include an integral flap at the end adjacent to the opening, the said flap being adapted to be turned over to cover the opening and to be tucked under a band for retention.

Such a flap makes nefarious entry to the bag a time-consuming matter, and therefore acts as a deterrent to a casual thief.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided security packaging comprising a bag of soft plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride, having at least a front face of transparent material, wherein the rear face includes an opening for access to the interior of the bag for insertion of merchandise to be displayed, and in which the bag includes an integral flap at the end adjacent to the opening, the said flap being adapted to be turned over to cover the opening and to be tucked under a band for retention.

The flap when turned over should terminate near the open end of the pocket.

The bag preferably has a hanging aperture in a reinforced zone thereof, and the flap may have an aperture alignable with the hanging aperture.

The hanging aperture is conventiently spaced from the end of the bag by a reinforced area having a pocket to receive a descriptive and/or price label.

The flap may have an additional aperture located, when the flap is turned over, in the region of the retaining band, whereby a loop of plastics material for a security tag may be passed through the additional aperture and a hole pierced in the band.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a form of tool bag constituting security packaging in accordance with one form of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the tool bag of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a flap tucked in; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

The bag shown in Figures 1 to 4 is manufactured of polyvinyl chloride or similar pliable plastics material. The bag itself is formed between a rear sheet 1 and a front sheet 2 which are welded together along the sides 3 and the base 4 to form a bag. The rear sheet may be opaque or transparent, and the front sheet 2 is transparent so that goods stored within the bag may be seen by potential customers.

The rear sheet 1 terminates at an upper boundary 5, well below the top of the bag so that articles may be inserted at the boundary 5, which thus defines an opening in the rear face of the bag. A secondary and upper front sheet 6 has a lower boundary 7 and continues, doubled with the sheet 2 and welded thereto along the sides, so as to form a reinforced area, as far as an upper weld 8, beyond which the secondary front sheet 6 continues alone and constitutes a flap 9. The sheets 2 and 6 are also transversely welded together along lines 11 and 12. Between the weld lines 11 and 12 there is formed a reinforced hanging area with a hanging aperture 13.

Between the weld lines 8 and 11 the double sheet is supplemented by a transparent sheet 14 formng a pocket having an upper edge 15. The sheet 14 is welded to the subjacent sheet 9 along the sides and weld 11. The pocket formed by the sheet 14 may be used for a descriptive and/or price label. The proximity of the edge 15 to the top of the reinforced area defined by the two sheets and terminating in the weld line 8 means that the inser tion of labels with in the pocket is simplified as compared with the conventional arrangement in which the hanging aperture is above the pocket.

Also, the hanging area is stronger for being further from the end of the bag.

The flap 9 continuing above the weld line is pro vided with a large aperture 16 and a small aperture 17. When an article has been inserted in the bag, the flap 9 may be turned down over the back of the bag and tucked beneath a transverse band 18 so as to cover the entrance to the bag marked by the line 5. In this position, the aperture 17 is partly visible beneath the band 18, and if desired a loop carrying a security tag may be passed through a pierced hole in the band 18 and the aperture 17.

Also, the aperture 16 partially coincides with the hanging aperture 13 so that the flap does not inter fere with the hanging of the bag.

It is also to be noted that the rear sheet 1 carried an opaque sheet 21 which is welded to the rear sheet 1 to form a pocket having its open end 22 closely adjacent the band 18. This pocket may be used for carrying a concealed security tag, and the material of which it is formed is sufficiently thin for the pocket to be readily ripped away at the check out when the article is paid for so that the security tag may be removed from the torn away pocket, which separates from the sheet 1 along the weld lines.

The bag described is such as to provide at least two alternative locations for security tags, namely in the pocket or on a loop passing through the ap erture 17 and band 18, and in neither case is the security tag located so as to obscure the view of the article within the bag. Also the provision of the flap tucked in beneath the band means that nefar ious access to the contents of the bag becomes a troublesome operation, such as to deter a casual thief, particularly is the flap is stuck down with ad hesive to provide a more permanent closure.

The bag thus presents considerable protection against removal of articles from the bag and sub stitution of others, and also provides alternative housings for a security tag for protection against shop lifting. The pocket 21 is made opaque so that the determined thief may not take steps to remove it before attempting to leave the premises.

It is also to be noted that the bag construction described and illustrated is suitable for manufac ture from reel fed sheets of plastics material and for assembly by a single welding operation.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. Thus while the security packaging has been shown on the form of an elon gate type of bag which is normally known as a tool bag, it may be applied to bags of widely varying shape and is not restricted to tool bags.

Claims (10)

1. Security packaging comprising a bag of soft plastics material, such a polyvinyl chloride, having at least a front face of transparent material, the said bag having on a rear face thereof a pocket for the reception and concealment of a security tag, the pocket being formed by an additional layer of opaque soft plastics material separable from the rear face by manual tearing.

2. Security packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the rear face includes an opening for access to the interior of the bag for insertion of merchandise to be displayed.

3. Security packaging as claimed in claim 2, in which the opening is located adjacent one end of the pocket.

4. Security packaging as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the bag includes an integral flap at the end adjacent to the opening, the said flap being adapted to be turned over to cover the opening and to be tucked under a band for retention.

5. Security packaging comprising a bag of soft plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride, having at least a front face of transparent material, wherein the rear face includes an opening for access to the interior of the bag for insertion of merchadise to be displayed, and in which the bag includes an integral flap at the end adjacent to the opening, the said flap being adapted to be turned over to cover the opening and to be tucked under a band for retention.

6. Security packaging as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the flap when turned over terminates near the open end of the pocket.

7. Security packaging as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the bag has a hanging aperture in a reinforced zone thereof, and in which the flap has an aperture alignable with the hanging aperture.

8. Security packaging as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, in which the hanging aperture is spaced from the end of the bag by a reinforced area having a pocket to receive a descriptive andi or price label.

9. Security packaging as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8. in which the flap has an additional aperture located, when the flap is turned over, in the region of the retaining band, whereby a lop of plastics material for a security tag may be passed through the additional aperture and a hole pierced in the band.

10. Security packaging substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.