GB2284201A

GB2284201A - Tamper evident taping of container and closure

Info

Publication number: GB2284201A
Application number: GB9423281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Hunter; John Snow
Original assignee: CONCORDE PACKAGING SPECIALISTS; SNOW HUNTER AUTOMATION Ltd; Sellotape GB Ltd
Current assignee: CONCORDE PACKAGING SPECIALISTS; SNOW HUNTER AUTOMATION Ltd; Sellotape GB Ltd
Priority date: 1993-11-30
Filing date: 1994-11-18
Publication date: 1995-05-31
Also published as: GB9423281D0

Abstract

A container 12A and its closure 14A are rendered tamper evident by applying a length of adhesive tape 16A over the joint between the container body and the closure and overlapping the tape ends, either a pattern being printed on the overlap (figure 1) or a delaminating tag 15 being attached to the tape. The tape is preferably of polythene and the tag of paper. The tag is preferably positioned in the area of the overlap, the tag being half under the overlap and half exposed or totally enclosed by the overlap or sitting over the overlap. The tape may include a tear tape (19A, figure 2B). Upon tampering with the tape, the tape material stretches and the tag delaminates, thus making it evident that the container has been tampered with. <IMAGE>

Description

TAMPER EVIDENT TAPING The present invention relates to a process for applying a tape to a container in such a manner as to render the container tamper evident.

With increasingly common incidents of intentional contamination of food or drink products, or pharmaceuticals, particularly those contained in metal, plastic or glass containers closed by a separate lid, various attempts have been made to make it obvious that a particular container has been tampered with, so that the prospective user may discard it or return it to the store where it was bought. The term "tamper evident" is commonly used to describe types of container incorporating some kind of mechanism for this purpose.

The present invention is concerned primarily with applying a seal around the neck of a container in the region where the lid is secured on to the container.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of rendering "tamper evident" a container of the type having a body and a lid secured thereto thus defining a neck joint, the method comprising the steps of applying a tag onto a sufficient length of tape to fit around the neck joint with the ends overlapping, and applying the tape to the neck joint.

Preferably, the tag is positioned in the region of the tape overlap.

The positioning of the tag may be anywhere within the tape, or, where the tag is positioned in the region of the tape overlap, any of the following: half of the tag being under the tape overlap and half is exposed, or the tag is totally enclosed by the tape overlap, or the tag sits over the tape overlap.

The tag is preferably made from tamper evident paper tape (for example, that currently manufactured by William Sessions Ltd and sold under the trade mark "TAMPROVE"). The tag has a number of features which indicate if it has been interfered with either mechanically or chemically, most importantly the base material is ultra destructible, resulting in obvious damage if any attempt is made to remove the seal after the adhesive used in the formation of the tag has cured.

Additionally, the surface of the tag is receptive to pencil, pen, ink ribbon etc for the addition of variable information.

Preferably, the tape is adhesive tape of polythene or similar material which stretches when used or tampered with. If the product has been tampered with the paper tag delaminates giving evidence of interference. When positioned in the region of the tape overlap, this also indicates the position for legitimate entry into the container.

Preferably, the tape is applied to the container, through the use of machinery, from spooled rolls of tape.

Conveniently, the application of the tag may be carried out by the use of other machinery.

Preferably, the paper tag has a pattern printed thereon, typically the name, trademark or logo of the manufacturer, using inks which easily run in the presence of ether or other solvents, such that it is clearly evident that the tape has been tampered with because delamination of the paper tag has occurred or solvents have been used to soften the adhesive resulting in running of the inks used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container of the type having a body and a lid, the container being provided with a tape fitted around the neck joint between the body and the lid, wherein the tape has a tag applied thereto and the ends of the tape are overlapped.

The tag may be positioned anywhere within the tape, but preferably it is positioned in the region of the tape overlap.

The invention also preferably encompasses the use of a tear tape under the polythene to provide easy consumer access to the product. In the case where a paper tag is used, the tear tape is trapped underneath the tag and the free end protrudes from tag enabling the user to grasp the tag and tear the seal.

Instead of using a separate tear tape, in the case where a paper tag is located half beneath and half on top of the joint, part of the tag representing approximately 20% of the total tag length may be left without adhesive and be of sufficient strength to open the seal, whereby the protruding portion of the tag itself acts as a kind of tear strip.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of rendering "tamper evident" a container of the type having a body and a lid, the method comprising the steps of applying a sufficient length of tape to the container to fit around the neck joint between the body and the lid with the ends overlapping, and subsequently printing a pattern on to the tape, the pattern extending over the overlap.

Preferably the tape is polythene or similar which stretches when used or tampered with, such that it would be impossible to rejoin the two parts of the pattern once the container has been opened.

Conveniently, the printing may be carried out by the use of other machinery, for example ink jet printers.

Typically, the pattern printed over the overlap might comprise the name, trademark or logo of the manufacturer, but it should be appreciated that exactly what pattern is printed is not important - only that it should be of a nature which makes it clearly evident that the tape has been tampered with because the two parts of the pattern are not aligned.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a container of the type having a body and a lid, the container being provided with a tape fitted around the neck joint between the body and the lid, wherein the ends of the tape are overlapped and a pattern is printed on the tape across the overlap.

The invention therefore provides more effective and cheaper ways of providing tamper evidence than other devices hitherto available.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 illustrates a container in accordance with the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, Figure la illustrates the use of a tear tape applied underneath the tape, to a container shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 illustrates a container in accordance with the first and second aspects of the present invention, Figure 2a illustrates the use of a protruding edge of the paper tag as a tear tape in a container shown in Figure 2, and Figure 2b illustrates the use of a tear tape applied underneath the tape and tag, to a container shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, a tamper evident container 10 is created when a container having a body 12 and a lid 14 has applied thereto in the region of the neck joint a polythene tape 16 the ends of which are overlapped to provide an overlap joint 18.

After the tape has been applied thus, a pattern, typically a name, logo or similar, is printed on to the tape, across the joint 18.

Any attempt to tamper with the container will involve stretching of the polythene or similar tape such that it would be impossible to re-align the two parts of the pattern in such a manner as to hide the fact that tampering had taken place.

As shown in Figure 1A, a narrow width tear tape 19 is applied underneath the tape 16 to provide a means for the user to open the seal.

Referring now to Figure 2, a tamper evident container 10A is created when a container having a body 12A and a lid 14A has applied thereto in the region of the neck joint a polythene tape 16A the ends of which are adhered to a small adhesive paper tag 15 (for example "TAMPROVE" (TM) tamper evident tape) such that the tag 15 is either half under the tape overlap 18A and half exposed, or is totally enclosed by the joint overlap 18A, or sits over the overlap joint. Alternatively, the tag 15 may be positioned anywhere within the tape.

A pattern, typically a name, logo or similar, is printed on to the paper tag which delaminates when interfered with.

Any attempt to tamper with the container will involve stretching of the polythene or similar tape and delamination of the paper tag 15 such that it would be impossible to hide the fact that tampering had taken place. The paper tag 15 would also be visibly damaged if an attempt had been made to lift the tag with a sharp instrument to break the adhesive bond, and the printing would run and thus indicate if a solvent had been used to soften the adhesive.

As illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the paper tag version also may have a tear tape applied, either a conventional narrow width tear tape 19A as shown in Figure 2B which is applied beneath the tape 16A and the tag 15, or alternatively a portion of the protruding edge 15A of the tag 15 as shown in Figure 2A is left free of adhesive and is of sufficient strength to act as a tear tape, to enable the user to break the seal.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A method of rendering "tamper evident" a container of the type having a body and a lid secured thereto thus defining a neck joint, the method comprising the steps of applying a tag onto a sufficient length of tape to fit around the neck joint with the ends overlapping, and applying the tape to the neck joint.

2. A method according to Claim 1 in which the tag is positioned in the region of the tape overlap.

3. A method according to Claim 2 in which the tag is positioned with half of the tag being under the tape overlap and half exposed.

4. A method according to Claim 2 in which the tag is totally enclosed by the tape overlap.

5. A method according to Claim 2 in which the tag sits over the tape overlap.

6. A method according to any of the preceding Claims in which the tag is made from tamper evident paper tape.

7. A method according to any of the preceding Claims in which the tape is adhesive tape of polythene.

8. A method according to any of the preceding Claims and further incorporating a tear tape under the polythene to provide easy consumer access to the product.

9. A method according to Claim 8 in which the tag itself acts as a tear strip, a portion of the tag protruding from the tape and being grasped by the user to tear the seal.

10. A method according to Claim 8 in which a separate tear tape is trapped underneath the tag and the free end protrudes from tag enabling the user to grasp the tag and tear the seal.

11. A container of the type having a body and a lid, the container being provided with a tape fitted around the neck joint between the body and the lid, wherein the tape has a tag applied thereto and the ends of the tape are overlapped.

12. A method of rendering "tamper evident" a container of the type having a body and a lid, the method comprising the steps of applying a sufficient length of tape to the container to fit around the neck joint between the body and the lid with the ends overlapping, and subsequently printing a pattern on to the tape, the pattern extending over the overlap.

13. A container of the type having a body and a lid, the container being provided with a tape fitted around the neck joint between the body and the lid, wherein the ends of the tape are overlapped and a pattern is printed on the tape across the overlap.

14. A method of rendering "tamper evident" a container having a neck and a lid secured thereto, the method being substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 2, 2A and 2B of the accompanying drawings.

15. A container substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 2, 2A and 2B of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of rendering 4'tamper evident" a container having a neck and a lid secured thereto, the method being substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 1A of the accompanying drawings.

17. A container substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 1A of the accompanying drawings.