GB2235187A

GB2235187A - Container

Info

Publication number: GB2235187A
Application number: GB9018096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Peter Sunman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-21
Filing date: 1990-08-17
Publication date: 1991-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-17
Also published as: GB8919028D0; GB9018096D0; GB2235187B

Abstract

So as to indicate that it has been tampered with, particularly if it has been injected by means of a hypodermic syringe, a container has a coating (20) of a reactive substance on either its inner or its outer surface, which substance reacts on exposure to the atmosphere to change colour, and a protective sealing layer (21) covering the reactive layer to seal it from the atmosphere. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER This invention relates to a container provided with means for indicating that it has been tampered with.

A problem which, from time to time, confronts manufacturers and retailers of packaged food products is tampering with the contents after they have left the factory so as to render the contents dangerous to the consumer.

One means by which products have been tampered with is the injection of a poisonous substance into a sealed container by means of a hypodermic syringe. The hole made is too small to be detected by eye.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container which will indicate if it has been tampered with by such a means.

According to the present invention a container has a coating of a reactive substance on a surface thereof, which substance reacts on exposure to the atmosphere to change colour, and a protective sealing cover layer covering the reactive layer and sealing it from the atmosphere.

Preferably the reactive layer and cover layer cover substantially the whole of either the inner or the outer surface of the container including any lid thereof.

Preferably the reactive substance is a dye which changes colour as it oxidizes. The cover layer and reactive substance are preferably non-toxic.

If a hypodermic syringe is passed through the container or any lid of the container to inject a poisonous/toxic substance into the contents, the small hole will be sufficient to allow oxygen to reach the reactive substance which immediately indicates the tampering by a colour change. If the reactive substance is on the outside surface of the container or is on the inside and the container is transparent, this will be seen immediately from the exterior of the container but even if the layer is on the inside and the container is not transparent it will be immediately obvious to anyone opening the container and emptying out the contents.

Embodiments of container, in accordance with the invention, will be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagramatic sketches which show sections through containers with the thickness of the coatings exaggerated for illustration.

A container, in this example in the form of a glass jar 12 with a metal lid 13, such as is conventional for containing baby foods, has a narrowed neck portion 15 ending in a lip 16 defining the opening of the container with the edge of the lid 13 sealed over the lip and engaging the neck.

As seen in Figure 1, the inside surface of the container, except at the neck portion which is covered by the lid, is coated with a layer 20 of reactive substance which rapidly changes colour on exposure to the atmosphere.

Suitable substances are Leucodyes such as Methylene Blue.

The coating 20 of reactive substance is covered by a sealing layer 21 of non-toxic plastics material, such as polytetrafluorethelene or polythene which is sealed to the neck of the jar so that the reactive substance is sealed from the atmosphere. The inside surface of the lid is similarly coated and covered.

As seen in Figure 2 the exterior surface of the jar and the lid are covered with a layer of reactive substance 22 and a sealing layer 23 which may be similar to the layers 20 and 21. The advantage of placing the layers on the inside surface of the container and lid is that they will not get accidentally damaged during handling. The advantage of having them on the exterior surface is that the change of colour will be more immediately obvious. Both surfaces could be so covered.

The containers should first be purged of all oxygen; for example the purging, coating and covering can all be done in a nitrogen environment, the reactive substance is then sprayed on the chosen surface of the container and the sealing layer is then blown onto the reactive layer and bonded to the neck and rim of the lid.

Any attempt to penetrate the container with a hypodermic syringe will immediately oxydize the reactive substance and indicate that the container has been tampered with.

Claims

1. A container having a coating of a reactive substance on a surface thereof, which substance reacts on exposure to the atmosphere to change colour, and a protective sealing layer covering the reactive layer and sealing it from the atmosphere.

2. A container according to Claim 1 in which the reactive layer and covering layer cover substantially the whole of either the inner or the outer surface of the container including any lid thereof.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the reactive layer and coating layer are on the inner surface of the container.

4. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the reactive layer and sealing layer are on the outer surface of the container.

5. A container according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the reactive substance is a dye which changes colour as it oxidizes.

6. A container substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.