GB2239866A

GB2239866A - Tamper-evident container

Info

Publication number: GB2239866A
Application number: GB9000703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henryk Dudzik
Original assignee: Lawson Mardon USA Inc
Current assignee: Amcor Specialty Cartons Americas LLC
Priority date: 1990-01-12
Filing date: 1990-01-12
Publication date: 1991-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-12
Also published as: GB2239866B; GB9000703D0

Abstract

A container having a body (11, Fig 1) with a peripheral flange (14 Fig. 4) and a lid which engages over the flange, is provided with tamper indicating projecting members on the lid frangibly secured in positions overlying the flange. Preferably the projecting members are in the form of spaced buttons 20 integrally moulded with the lid and secured thereto by frangible tabs 30. The flange (14) may have integrally moulded sleeves (40 Fig. 4), which receive corresponding buttons, and formations 31, 34, 42 may lock each button to its sleeve. Each sleeve may be secured to the flange by frangible tabs 41. In the preferred embodiment the container cannot be opened without pressing out the buttons and sleeves and breaking the labs 30, 41. <IMAGE>

Description

TAMPER-EVIDENT CONTAINER The present invention relates to a tamper-evident container.

The invention is applicable to the type of container in which a lid is fitted over a rim around the mouth of the container body and is especially useful for thinwalled, plastics containers of the type used for holding margarine.

Tamper-evidence in such containers is sometimes provided by adhering a metal foil around the rim of the container so that the mouth is covered. This is an expensive system, however and it is not difficult to lift a short length of the cover in order to contaminate the contents, and to re-adhere the cover.

An alternative is to use a cover which is fused to the container, but the same problem arises. It may also be possible in both alternatives to contaminate through the foil with a needle, without the access point being readily visible.

The present invention is concerned with a tamperevident container, which is cheap to manufacture and which provides clear evidence, if access to the container interior is attempted.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tamper-evident container comprising a body having an open mouth defined within a rim, externally projecting flange portions at spaced positions around the rim, a lid having a peripheral skirt. and adapted to engage over the rim and the flange portions to secure the lid to the body around the rim in covered relation to the mouth, projecting members being provided on the lid adjacent the skirt in positions overlying said flange portions, the projecting members being frangibly secured to the flange portions, whereby separation of the projecting members from the flange portions provides tamper evidence.

Preferably, the container is generally rectangular in section, with radiussed corners and a said projecting member is provided at each corner of the container.

The invention also resides in a lid for a tamperevident container, comprising a one-piece plastics moulding including a peripheral lip, projecting members in the form of pressable buttons integral with the lid and located adjacent the rim at spaced intervals around the rim, each button being secured within an aperture in the lid by frangible elements, integral with the lid, and each button having formations for securance to a container body.

The invention also resides in a container body for use with a lid as defined above, the body comprising a one-piece plastics moulding having externally projecting flange portions around the mouth each provided with an aperture, sleeve elements carried, one in each aperture, by frangible elements integral with the body and the corresponding buttons, and formations in the sleeve for engaging the formations on the lid for securing the buttons to the body.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing a tamperevident button being pressed from the container; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of the container; and Figure 4 is a sectional view of a part of the container prior to engagement of the lid with the container body.

The container, as shown in Figure 1, is of generally rectangular form with radiussed corners and comprises a hollow body 11 and a lid 12. Both the body and the lid are plastics mouldings and are thin-walled and flexible.

Containers of this type are currently used for holding margarine.

Adjacent each corner of the lid is provided a projecting member, or button 20, secured to the lid and the body. In order to remove the lid, it is necessary to press the buttons through the lid and a flange of the body, as illustrated in Figure 2. The presence of all of the buttons is clear evidence that there has been no tampering with the container, whereas, if any button is missing, there is a risk that the contents may have been contaminated.

Referring additionally to Figures 3 and 4, it can be seen that the container body has a skirt 13 and an outturned continuous peripheral flange 14 around the rim of its mouth, the flange terminating in a down-turned peripheral lip 15. Adjacent each corner of the body, the flange is provided with an aperture 17.

The lid 12 comprises a main portion 18 surrounded by an inverted channel-shaped portion 19 including a top surface 21 and an outer skirt 22. The channel-shaped portion closely receives the flange 14 and lip 15 of the body to secure the lid to the body and form a seal.

The lid is provided in the top surface 21 with apertures 23, the apertures being located adjacent to the outer skirt at each corner of the lid. Each lid aperture 23 aligns with a corresponding body aperture 17, with the lid fitted on the body, as shown in Figure 3.

Each button 20 comprises a hollow cylinder, closed at the upper end and integrally moulded in one piece with the lid 12. Each button is located within a corresponding aperture 23 and is secured to the lid by frangible, radial tabs 30 spaced around the button and also moulded in one piece with the lid.

The outer periphery of the button is provided with circumferentially spaced cam projections 31 having radial faces 32 facing upwardly towards the top surface 21.

Further projections 34 are provided having radial faces 35 which face downwardly in the opposite direction. The projections 31, 34 and tabs 30 are all offset circumferentially to facilitate moulding.

A sleeve 40 is mounted in each aperture 17 in the body flange 14. The sleeve terminates at the flange and is dependent from the flange. The sleeve is secured to the lid by frangible, radial tabs 41 spaced around the exterior of the sleeve and moulded in one piece with the body 11 and with the sleeve. The sleeve is dimensioned to receive closely a corresponding button 20.

The interior of the sleeve is provided with circumferentially spaced cam projections 42 having downwardly facing radial faces 43, i.e. facing away from the flange 14.

The arrangement is such that, with the lid fitted on the body, each cam projection 31 on the lid aligns with a corresponding cam projection 42 on the body and each tab 30 on the lid aligns with a corresponding tab 41 on the body.

In placing the lid on the body, a mandrel (not shown) is used which is shaped to conform to the top of the lid, including the buttons 20. As the inverted channel-shaped portion 19 engages the flange 14 and lip 15 of the body, each button 20 enters a corresponding sleeve 40 and there is sufficient resilience for the respective cam projections 31, 42 to pass over each other and snap into positions in which the faces 32, 43 of the projections face each other and co-operate to prevent withdrawal of the button from the sleeve (Figure 3).

In this position, the frangible tabs 30 on the lid seat on the tabs 41 on the body. Pressure exerted on the button causes the tabs to break so that both the button and the sleeve separate from the container and fall through the apertures, as shown in Figure 2.

The further projections 34 on the buttons ensure that each button is locked to its corresponding sleeve and cannot be pushed through the sleeve. It is conceivable that it may be possible to re-position a button, if this were to happen, so as to hide that the container has been opened. This is prevented by the faces 35 on each button engaging with the upper end of the corresponding sleeve 40, so that the sleeve is captivated on the button between the faces 32 and 35 of the projections on the button.

It is impossible for the lid to be removed from the body without breaking of the tabs and release of at least one button. The inverted channel-shaped portion 19 of the lid is made sufficiently rigid to prevent prising up of the lid between the buttons.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident container comprising a body having an open mouth defined within a rim, externally projecting flange portions at spaced positions around the rim, a lid having a peripheral skirt and adapted to engage over the rim and the flange portions to secure the lid to the body around the rim in covered relation to the mouth, projecting members being provided on the lid adjacent the skirt in positions overlying said flange portions, the projecting members being frangibly secured to the flange portions, whereby separation of the projecting members from the flange portions provides tamper evidence.

2. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 1, wherein the flange portions form parts of a continuous peripheral flange.

3. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 2, wherein the container is generally rectangular in section, with radiussed corners and a said projecting member is provided at each corner of the container.

4. A tamper-evident container according to any preceding claim, wherein each projecting member is integrally moulded in one piece with the lid.

5. A tamper-evident container. according to Claim 4, wherein each projecting member is located in an aperture in the lid and is secured to the lid by frangible elements, whereby separation of the lid from the body causes the frangible elements to break to separate the member from the lid.

6. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 5, wherein each projecting member is in the form of a pressable button and is engaged in an aperture in the corresponding flange portion, whereby pressing of the button causes release of the button from the lid and from the body, so that the button can pass through the apertures in the lid and the body.

7. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 6, wherein sleeves are integrally moulded with the body, each sleeve being located in a respective aperture in each flange portion and being secured to the body by frangible elements, and wherein the corresponding button engages in the sleeve, formations being provided to prevent withdrawal of the button from the sleeve.

8. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 7, including further formations serving to lock the button to the sleeve so as to prevent the button passing through the sleeve.

9. A container body for use with a lid according to Claim 8 and comprising a one-piece plastics moulding having externally projecting flange portions around the mouth each provided with an aperture, sleeve elements carried, one in each aperture, by frangible elements integral with the body and the corresponding buttons, and formations in the sleeve for engaging the formations on the lid for securing the buttons to the body.

9. A tamper-evident container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A lid for a tamper-evident container according to Claim 1 and comprising a one-piece plastics moulding including a peripheral lip, projecting members in the form of pressable buttons integral with the lid and located adjacent the rim at spaced intervals around the rim, each button being secured within an aperture in the lid by frangible elements, integral with the lid, and each button having formations for securance to a container body.

11. A container body for use with a lid according to Claim 10 and comprising a one-piece plastics moulding having externally projecting flange portions around the mouth each provided with an aperture, sleeve elements carried, one in each aperture, by frangible elements integral with the body and the corresponding buttons, and formations in the sleeve for engaging the formations on the lid for securing the buttons to the body.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A tamper-evident container comprising a body having an open mouth defined within a rim, externally projecting flange portions at spaced positions around the rim, a lid adapted to engage over the rim to secure the lid to the body around the rim in covered relation to the mouth, the lid having surface portions which overlie the flange portions and projecting members provided in respective apertures in said surface portions of the lid and being secured to said surface portions by frangible means, the projecting members being in push-fitted engagement with formations of the flange portions resisting withdrawal of the members, whereby separation of the lid from the body causes the frangible means to break to separate the members from the lid and the body.

2. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 1, wherein the members are locked to the formations and the formations are connected to the flange portions by frangible means, whereby separation of the lid from the body causes both frangible means to break to separate units, comprising the locked members and formations, from the lid and the body.

3. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 2, wherein each projecting member is in the form of a pressable button and each formation is a sleeve integrally moulded with the body, each sleeve being located in a respective aperture in each flange portion and being secured to the body by frangible elements, the exterior of each button and the interior of each sleeve having complementary formations for locking each button in its corresponding sleeve.

4. A tamper-evident container according to any preceding claim, wherein the flange portions form parts of a continuous peripheral flange.

5. A tamper-evident container according to Claim 4, wherein the container is generally rectangular in section, with radiussed corners and a said projecting member is provided at each corner of the container.

6. A tamper-evident container according to any preceding claim, wherein each projecting member is integrally moulded in one piece with the lid.

7. A tamper-evident container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A lid for a tamper-evident container according to Claim 1 and comprising a one piece plastics moulding including a peripheral lip, projecting members in the form of pressable buttons integral with the lid and located adjacent the rim at spaced intervals around the rim, each button being secured within an aperture in the lid by frangible elements, integral with the lid, and each button having formations for securance to a container body.