NL2023143B1

NL2023143B1 - Packaging

Info

Publication number: NL2023143B1
Application number: NL2023143A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Johannes Hendrikus Ubbink Erik
Original assignee: Hordijk Verpakkingsindustrie Zaandam B V
Priority date: 2019-05-15
Filing date: 2019-05-15
Publication date: 2020-12-01

Abstract

Packaging (1) comprising a receptacle (2) and a lid (3), wherein the lid (3) is removably placeable on the recep— tacle (2), wherein the receptacle (2) and the lid (3) comprise cooperating tamper identification elements (4, 4’), which tam— per identification elements (4, 4’) are connectable to each other to form a connection (5) between the lid (3) and the re— ceptacle (2); and wherein the connection (5) is arranged to be irreversibly damaged by removing the lid (3) from the recepta— cle (2).

Description

Packaging

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a packaging compris- ing a receptacle and a lid, wherein the lid is removably placeable on the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such packagings with a removable lid are known from food packaging, wherein it is important to know whether the packaging has been closed all time since its production, or whether the packaging has been tampered with.

A problem with such known packagings is indeed that it is hard to establish whether a packaging has been opened before.

The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging comprising a receptacle and a lid which can be manu- factured with relatively low costs and which enables a user to establish whether or not access to the contents within the packaging has been gained, or in general whether the packaging has been tampered with.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a packaging, comprising a receptacle and a lid, wherein the lid is removably placeable on the receptacle, and the receptacle and the lid comprise cooperating tamper identi- fication elements, which tamper identification elements are connectable to each other to form a connection between the lid and the receptacle, and wherein the connection between the lid and the receptacle is arranged to be irreversibly damaged by removing the lid from the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The cooperating tamper identification elements pref- erably comprise a first tab connected to the receptacle and a second tab connected to the lid, wherein the connection be- tween the lid and the receptacle is formed by a connection of the first tab and the second tab. The tamper identification elements provide a visually observable indication whether or not the packaging has been opened or tampered with, that is when either the first tab or the second tab is no longer con- nected to the receptacle or lid, respectively.

Such tabs are relatively efficiently to manufacture at low cost. In the case of injection moulded packagings, the die used for injection moulding of the lid and/or the recepta- cle can be shaped such that in the resulting receptacle com- prises a first tab and the resulting lid comprises a second tab.

Preferably one of the cooperating elements comprises a protrusion and the other of the cooperating elements com- prises a recess; wherein the connection is formed by snugly fitting the protrusion into the recess. This snug fit of the protrusion in the recess ensures that the protrusion cannot be removed from the recess. The force applied when attempting to do so, results in breaking the connection between the recepta- cle and the lid.

Preferably the protrusion widens in a direction from a base of the protrusion to a top of the protrusion, and the recess is tapered in a direction from a base of the recess to an upper opening of the recess, wherein a diameter of the top of the protrusion is larger than a diameter of the opening of the recess. The widening protrusion and the complementary ta- pered recess secures the unbreakable connection between the protrusion and the recess.

In a preferred embodiment the cooperating tamper identification elements comprise a first support body and a second support body, respectively, wherein the first and sec- ond support bodies are provided with the protrusion and the recess and are connected to the lid and the receptacle respec- tively. In a preferred embodiment at least one of the first and second support bodies are connected to the lid and the re- ceptacle respectively via a film connection or a score line. The film connection or score line easily breaks when someone tries to remove the lid from the receptacle, thus providing a visual indication that the packaging has been opened or has been tampered with.

In another aspect of the invention which can be ap- plied independent from the abovementioned features or in addi-

tion thereto, the receptacle and the lid comprise two inter- locking elements, wherein the lid comprises one of the inter- locking elements and the receptacle comprises another of the interlocking elements, wherein one of the interlocking ele- ments 1s a circumferentially protruding ridge and another of the interlocking elements is a circumferentially recessed groove and wherein the ridge snugly fits into the groove.

The circumferential orientation of the ridge and the complementary groove ensures a relatively large contact area between ridge and groove, resulting in a very secure fit. Alt- hough the ridge circumferentially protrudes and the groove is circumferentially recessed, embodiments comprising a ridge that circumferentially protrudes in part and comprising a groove that is partly circumferentially recessed is possible as well.

Preferably the circumferentially protruding ridge is slightly oversized relative to the circumferentially recessed groove. This ensures that the circumferentially recessed groove has to be somewhat stretched before the circumferen- tially protruding ridge can be received therein. Once the cir- cumferentially recessed groove has received the circumferen- tially protruding ridge, the groove can return to its original shape and the ridge is secured within the groove. The forces exerted by the stretched groove on the ridge and vice versa ensure that the lid and the receptacle are securely held con- nected to each other.

In a preferred embodiment the lid comprises a central part, a rim part, and a staggered part located between the central part and the rim part, wherein the staggered part is offset relative to the central part and the rim part in a di- rection perpendicular to an upper surface of the lid. This offset ensures that the lid is somewhat squeezable enabling a ridge thereon to shrink a little when a user squeezes the lid. This enables the lid to be more easily placed on the recepta- cle, whereafter the resilient lid and its accompanying groove expands again to provide a secure fit between lid and recepta- cle.

Preferably the rim part comprises one of the circum- ferentially recessed groove and the circumferentially protrud-

ing ridge, which allows the rim of the lid to be located radi- ally outwards of both the circumferentially recessed groove and the circumferentially protruding ridge.

The rim of the lid can be placed on and over a rim of the receptacle to protect the secure fit, formed by the groove and the rim, from any un- wanted debris that the packaging is exposed to from entering the secure fit.

Preferably the packaging is made of plastic, such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyeth- ylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, poly-propylene, polysty- rene, polyvinyl chloride, bio-plastic, bisphenol A, or a com- bination thereof.

Plastic is a general economically viable and resilient packaging material.

The resilience of plastic pack- aging material promotes that the receptacle and/or the lid can be somewhat deformed such that the circumferentially protrud- ing ridge can be inserted into the circumferentially recessed groove to provide a tight and secure fit.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the packaging, which is not limiting as to the appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a packag- ing comprising a receptacle and a lid in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from below of the pack- aging shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front view of the lid shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a top view of the lid shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of a part of two identical lids shown in Figs. 4 and 6; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of a part of two re- ceptacles shown in Figs. 3 and 5; and Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a part of a pack- aging shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

In the figures, the following reference numerals are applied that de- 5 note the parts mentioned thereafter: 1 packaging 2 receptacle 3 lid 31 central part 32 rim part 33 staggered part 4 cooperating element 4’ cooperating element 5 breakable connection 6 first tab 6/ second tab 7 protrusion 71 base of the protrusion 72 top of the protrusion 8 recess 81 base of the recess 82 upper opening of the recess 9 first support body 9’ second support body 10 score line 11 interlocking element or circumferentially protruding ridge 11' interlocking element or circumferentially recessed groove Referring to Figs. 1 - 5, a packaging 1 is shown com- prising a receptacle 2 and a lid 3, wherein the lid 3 is re- movably placeable on the receptacle 2. The receptacle 2 and the lid 3 comprise cooperating tamper identification elements 4, 4’, which tamper identification elements 4, 4’ are connect- able to each other to form a connection 5 between the lid 3 and the receptacle 2, wherein the connection 5 is arranged to be irreversibly damaged by removing the lid 3 from the recep-

tacle 2.It is shown that the cooperating tamper identification elements 4, 4’ comprise a first tab 6 connected to the recep- tacle 2 and a second tab 6’ connected to the lid 3, wherein the connection 5 between the lid 3 and the receptacle 2 is formed by a connection of the first tab 6 and the second tab 6".

With reference to figures 3 and 4 it is shown that one of the cooperating elements 4 comprises a protrusion 7 and the other of the cooperating elements 4’ comprises a recess 8; wherein the connection 5 is formed by snugly fitting the pro- trusion 7 into the recess 8. The protrusion 7 widens in a di- rection from a base 71 of the protrusion 7 to a top 72 of the protrusion 7; and the recess 8 is tapered in a direction from a base 81 of the recess 8 to an upper opening 82 of the recess 8; such that a diameter of the top 72 of the protrusion 7 is larger than a diameter of the upper opening 82 of the recess

8.

Figure 2 and figure 5 show most clearly that each of the cooperating tamper identification elements 4, 4’ comprise a first support body 9 and a second support body 9’, respec- tively; wherein the first and second support bodies 9, 9’ are connected to the lid 3 and the receptacle 2, respectively.

Figure 5 shows that in this embodiment the second support body 9’ is connected to the receptacle 2 via a film connection or score line 10.

In Figure 4 a side view of the lid 3 is shown. A cir- cumferentially protruding ridge 11 is visible. This ridge is part of the rim part 32 of the lid 3 shown in Figure 6. The lid 3 also comprises a center part 31 and a staggered part 33.

The centre part 31, the staggered part 33, and the rim part 32 are shown in figures 7 and 9 as well. The staggered part 33 of the lid 3 carries the circumferentially protruding ridge 11. The three parts 31, 32, 33 function together to provide lat- eral compressibility to the lid 3. By slightly bending the lid 3, the circumference of the circumferentially protruding ridge 11 can be slightly reduced, enabling the ridge 11 to be placed in the groove 11', as can best be seen in Figure 9.

The rim 33 of the lid 3 can be seen to overlap an outer rim of the receptacle 2. The complementary shapes of the rim 33 of the lid 3 and the rim of the receptacle 2 allow for a tight seal between lid 3 and receptacle 2, shielding the connection between the circumferentially protruding ridge 11 and the circumferentially recessed groove 11' from the envi- ronment and keeping the contents of the packaging 1 clean.

The packaging can be manufactured from any material, provided that at least one of the materials of the lid 3 and the receptacle 2 is somewhat resilient to enable pressing the circumferentially protruding ridge 11 in the circumferentially recessed groove 11'.

The connection formed by the circumferentially pro- truding ridge 11 and the circumferentially recessed groove 11° as shown in figure 9 is easily maintained due to the groove 11' exerting an inward force directed towards the ridge 11 and the ridge 11 exerting a force directed in an opposite direc- tion. This results in a tight fit between lid 3 and receptacle

2.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the packaging of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the append- ed claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

Aspects of the invention are itemized in the follow- ing section.

1. Packaging (1) comprising a receptacle (2) and a lid (3), wherein the lid (3) is removably placeable on the recepta- cle (2), characterized in that the receptacle (2) and the lid (3) comprise cooperating tamper identification ele- ments (4, 47’), which tamper identification elements (4, 47) are connected to each other to form a connection (5) between the lid (3) and the receptacle (2), wherein the connection (5) between the lid (3) and the receptacle (2) is arranged to be irreversibly damaged by removing the lid (3) from the receptacle (2).

2. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooperating tamper identification elements (4, 47) comprise a first tab (6) connected to the receptacle (2) and a second tab (6’) connected to the lid (3), wherein the connection (5) between the lid (3) and the receptacle (2) is formed by a connection of the first tab (6) and the second tab (67).

3. Packaging (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that one of the cooperating tamper iden- tification elements (4, 4’) comprises a protrusion (7) and the other of the cooperating elements (4, 4’) comprises a recess (8), wherein the connection (5) is formed by snugly fitting the protrusion (7) into the recess (8).

4. Packaging (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the protrusion (7) widens in a direction from a base (71) of the protrusion (7) to a top (72) of the protrusion (7), and the recess (8) is tapered in a direction from a base (81) of the recess (8) to an upper opening (82) of the re- cess (8), wherein a diameter of the top (72) of the pro- trusion (7) is larger than a diameter of the upper opening (82) of the recess (8).

5. Packaging (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the cooperating tamper identifica- tion elements (4, 4’) comprise a first support body (9) and a second support body (97), respectively, wherein the first and second support bodies (9, 9’) are provided with the protrusion (7) and the recess (8), and are connected to the lid (3) and the receptacle (2), respectively.

6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the first and second support bodies (9, 97) are connected to the lid (3) and the receptacle (2) re- spectively via a film connection or score line (10).

7. Packaging (1) according to the preamble of claim 1 or ac- cording to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the receptacle (2) and the lid (3) comprise two interlock- ing closure elements (11, 11’), wherein the lid (3) com-

prises one of the interlocking closure elements (11, 117) and the receptacle (2) comprises another of the interlock- ing closure elements (11, 117), wherein one of the inter- locking closure elements (11, 11’) is a circumferentially protruding ridge (11) and another of the interlocking clo- sure elements (11, 11’) is a circumferentially recessed groove {117), and wherein the ridge (11) snugly fits into the groove (117).

8. Packaging (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the circumferentially protruding ridge (11) is slightly oversized relative to the circumferentially recessed groove (117).

9. Packaging (1) according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the lid (3) comprises a central part (31), a rim part (32), and a staggered part (33) located between the central part (31) and the rim part (32), wherein the staggered part (33) is offset relative to the central part (31) and relative to the rim part (32) in a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the lid (3).

10. Packaging (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the rim part (32) comprises one of the circumferentially recessed groove (117) and the circumferentially protruding ridge (11).

11. Packaging (1) according to any one of claims 7-10, charac- terized in that the packaging (1) is made of plastic, such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, poly-propylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, bio-plastic, bisphenol A, or a combination thereof.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

Packaging (1) comprising a container (2) and a lid (3), the lid (3) being removably placeable on the container (2), characterized in that the container (2) and the lid (3) ) include cooperating tamper identification elements (4, 4 '), which tamper identification elements (4, A4') are interconnected to establish a connection (5) between the lid (3) and the container (2). thereby irreparably damaging the connection {5) between the lid (3) and the container (2) by removing the lid (3) from the container (2).

A package (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooperating tamper identification elements (4, 4 ') comprise a first lip (6) connected to the container (2) and a second lip (6 ') connected to the lid (3), the connection (5) between the lid (3) and the container (2) being formed by a connection of the first lip (6) and the second lip (6') .

Packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the cooperating tamper identification elements (4, 4 ') comprises a protrusion (7) and the other of the cooperating elements (4, 4') ) comprises a recess (8), the connection (5) being formed by fitting the projection (7) tightly into the recess (8).

Package (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the protrusion (7) is wider in a direction from a base (71) of the protrusion (7) to a top (72) of the protrusion (7). ), and the recess (8) tapers in a direction from a base (81) of the recess (8) to an upper opening (82) of the recess (8), a diameter of the top (72) of the protrusion (7) is larger than a diameter of the top opening (82) of the recess (8).

Packaging (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cooperating tamper-identifying elements (4, 4 ') comprise a first support body (2) and a second support body (9'), wherein the first and second support bodies (8, 9 ') have the protrusion (7) and the recess (8), and are respectively connected to the cover (3) and the container (2).

Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the first and second support bodies (9, 9 ") is connected to the lid (3) and the container (2) respectively via a film joint or score line (10). .

Packaging (1) according to the preamble of claim 1 or according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the container (2) and the lid (3) comprise two interlocking closing elements (11, 11 '), wherein the lid (3) comprises one of the interlocking closing elements (11, 11 ') and the container (2) comprises another of the interlocking closing elements (11, 11'), one of the interlocking closing elements (11, 11 ') interlocking closure elements (11, 11 ') is a circumferentially protruding edge (11) and another of the intermeshing closing elements (11, 11') is a circumferentially recessed groove (11 '), and wherein the edge (11) fits snugly in the groove (11 ').

Packaging (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the circumferential protruding edge (11) is slightly too large with respect to the circumferentially recessed groove (117).

Packaging (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the lid (3) comprises a central part (31), an edge part (32) and a staggered part (33) located between the central part ( 31) and the rim portion (32), wherein the offset portion (33) is offset from the central portion (31) and from the rim portion (32) in a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the lid (3).

Packaging (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the edge portion (32) comprises one of the circumferentially recessed groove (11 ') and the circumferentially protruding edge (11).

Packaging (1) according to any one of claims 7-10, characterized in that the packaging (1) is made of plastic, such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, bioplastic, bisphenol A, or a combination thereof.