WO2000034141A1

WO2000034141A1 - Reversible tamper evident cap and container

Info

Publication number: WO2000034141A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/001068
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Paul May
Original assignee: Specialised Packaging Concepts Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-12-04
Filing date: 1999-12-02
Publication date: 2000-06-15
Also published as: AUPP749098A0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cap, as well as a cap and container combination, adapted to indicate or provide evidence of tampering, suitable for indicating tampering with a container both before and after contents have been added to the container. The invention provides a cap and container combination including a container having an opening defined by a rim, and a cap for covering the container opening and being receivable on the container in at least two closure positions, the cap including a lid portion having a first side and a second side, wherein, in the first closure position, the first side of the lid portion is in opposed relation to the rim and the container opening, and wherein, in the second closure position, the second side of the lid portion is in opposed relation to the rim and container opening. Tamper indicating means are provided on at least one side of the cap to indicate whether or not the cap has been removed from the corresponding closure position.

Description

REVERSIBLE TAMPER EVIDENT CAP AND CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a cap and container configuration adapted to indicate or provide evidence of tampering. More particularly, the invention relates to a cap-container combination, and to a cap itself, which is suitable for indicating tampering with a container both before and after contents have been added to the container.

Cap-container configurations which are tamper evident are increasingly important for modern society. This is particularly the case where the container is for medical samples or medical products. The present invention provides a tamper evident cap and container combination which is suitable for sample and specimen collections for medical purposes and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in this context. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular application but is suitable for a whole range of uses where tamper evidence is required. When providing specimens or samples (eg. blood or urine) for medical or chemical analysis, it is important to ensure that the sample is placed in a clean receptacle or container that has not previously been subject to tampering and that the container can then be sealed against contamination and/or subsequent tampering with that sample. That is, the cap-container combination which encloses the sample should be designed to provide evidence of any subsequent tampering.

Different kinds of cap-container combinations are known. Unfortunately most of these do not provide ease of use to the medical laboratory technicians nor to persons providing samples. In addition, evidence of tampering can often be disguised in many of the known cap-container configurations. Moreover, many of the known arrangements are also generally relatively complex to manufacture.

There is therefore a need to provide an improved cap and container combination which addresses drawbacks in the known configurations.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a cap and container combination for indicating tampering with the container both before and after contents have been placed in the container, the combination including: a container having an opening defined by a rim; and a cap for covering the container opening and being receivable on the container in at least two closure positions, the cap including a lid portion having a first side and a second side; wherein in the first closure position the first side of the lid portion is in opposed relation to the rim and the container opening; and wherein in the second closure position the second side of the lid portion is in opposed relation to the rim and container opening.

The cap and container combination of the present invention includes a first tamper indicating means provided on either one of the cap and the container for engagement with the other in the first closure position such that the cap cannot be removed from the container without the first tamper indicating means indicating that the cap has been removed. This first tamper indicating means is preferably provided on the cap for engagement with the container. The first tamper indicating means preferably extends from the first side of the cap lid portion.

The cap and container combination of the present invention also includes a second tamper indicating means provided on the cap for engagement with the container in the second closure position such that the cap cannot be removed from the container without the second tamper indicating means indicating that the cap has been removed.

The invention also concerns a cap for use in the above cap and container combination. More particularly, according to this aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap receivable on a container in at least two closure positions for indicating tampering with the container both before and after contents have been placed therein, the cap including: a lid portion for covering an opening of the container defined by a container rim, the lid portion having a first side for opposed relation with the rim and container opening in the first closure position, and a second side for opposed relation with the rim and container opening in the second closure position; wherein the cap includes a first tamper indicating means provided at the first side of the lid portion for engagement with the container in the first closure position and wherein the cap includes a second tamper indicating means provided at the second side of the lid portion for engagement with the container in the second closure position.

In at least one form of this invention the container comprises a substantially cylindrical bottle or jar, the side walls of which terminate in a circular rim defining the container opening. Correspondingly, the cap of the invention may have a substantially circular configuration with a disc- or plate-like lid portion. In at least one form of this invention each of the tamper indicating means includes a band of material which depends from the cap lid portion, each of which bands includes a shoulder or instep on an inner surface thereof for engagement with a laterally outward locking projection of the container rim. The inner surface of each of the tamper indicating bands preferably has a tapered cross-section to facilitate its positioning over and engagement with the rim projection. The rim projection itself may also be similarly sloped or tapered.

In at least one form of this invention the first side and second side of the cap lid portion includes means for sealing with the container rim in the first and second closure positions, respectively. The first side of the lid portion is provided with first seal means while the second side of the lid portion is provided with second seal means. The first and second seal means are preferably integrally formed with the lid portion and are adapted to seal the container opening against the ingress of dust, moisture and gas.

The tamper indicating bands provided on the cap of the present invention preferably have a frangible connection with the lid portion along an edge of the band. The frangible connection preferably prohibits transmission of dust, moisture or gas between each band and the lid portion of the cap. When it is desired to remove the cap from either of its first or second closure positions, the tamper indicating band is separated from the lid portion along the line of its frangible connection. Each of the tamper indicating bands may include a tear-tab to facilitate that separation.

In at least one form of this invention the container includes tamper prevention means for preventing the tamper indicating bands from being stretched over the rim projection to remove the cap from either of the first and second closure positions. The tamper prevention means preferably includes a channel provided at an outer side of the container walls for receiving a free edge of the tamper indicating band when the cap is in one of the two closure positions. This prevents insertion of a tool or instrument between the tamper indicating band and the side wall of the container to prise or stretch the band over the rim projection. The present invention therefore provides a cap and container combination which is highly suited to use in providing secure samples or specimens for medical and/or chemical analysis. A person can be provided with a clean container tamper-evidently sealed at its manufacture against dust, moisture and gas by a cap in the first closure position. The person may then remove the first tamper indicating band to open the container and provide their sample. The person may then seal the container themselves by inverting the cap such that the previously upper second side of the lid portion of the cap is turned downwardly and pressed onto the container rim until the second tamper indicating band engages the rim projection to tamper-evidently seal the container in the second closure position. The container and its contents are then sealed for transport to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory technician can assess the contents of the container for analysis by removing the second tamper indicating band.

For assistance in arriving at an understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the following drawings which illustrate an example of the cap and container of the present invention. The preceding description may be read with reference to those drawings. However, as the drawings illustrate one example only, their particularity is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectioned side view of a cap according to a preferred form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectioned side view of a cap and container combination according to a preferred form of the present invention with the cap located on the container in the first closure position; Fig. 3 is a sectioned side view of a cap and container combination according to a preferred form of the present invention with the cap located on the container in the second closure position; and Fig. 4 is a sectioned side view of the cap and container of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 with the cap in a third closure position.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the drawings, the present invention provides a cap 1 having a substantially circular disc- or plate-like lid portion 2. The lid portion 2 of the cap is for covering an opening 3 of a container 4. The opening 3 is defined by a substantially circular rim 5 at the upper end of the cylindrical walls 6 of the jar or bottle-like container 4.

The lid portion 2 of the cap 1 has a first side 7 and a second side 8. Furthermore, the cap 1 includes a first tamper indicating means in the form of a circular band 9 and a second tamper indicating means in the form of a circular band 10. The first tamper indicating band 9 is attached to the first side 7 of the lid portion 2 by a frangible connection 11 along a circular edge of the first band 9. Similarly, the second tamper indicating band 10 is attached to the second side 8 of the lid portion 2 by a frangible connection 12 along a circular edge of the second band 10.

The cap 1 is receivable on the container 4 in a first closure position (as shown in Fig. 2) in which the first side 7 of the lid portion is in opposed relation to (i.e. facing) the opening 3 and container rim 5 and in which the first band 9 is in locked engagement with the container rim 5. The cap 1 is also receivable on the container 4 in a second closure position (as shown in Fig. 3) in which the cap 1 is inverted relative to the first closure position such that the second side 8 of the lid portion 2 is in opposed relation to the opening 3 and container rim 5, and in which the second tamper indicating band 10 is in locked engagement with the container rim. Referring again to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the cap 1 can be placed in the first closure position shown in Fig. 2 by pushing the first tamper indicating band 9 downwards over the container rim. The tapered or angled portion 13 on the inner side of the first band 9 facilitates the downward movement over the sloped lateral projection 14 of the container rim. When the cap is properly in its first closure position the shoulder or instep 15 on the inner side of the first band 9 snaps under the lateral projection 14 of the container rim to lock the cap in position. At the same time a sealing means in the form of a bevelled ring formation 16 on the first side 7 of the lid portion 2 engages with the container rim 5 to seal the opening 3 against the ingress of dust, moisture or gas in this first closure position.

The container 4 includes a tamper prevention member 17 which extends from the outside of the cylindrical sidewalls 6 to define a channel 18 for receiving the free edge 19 of the first tamper indicating band 9 when the cap is in the first closure position. This member 17 prevents any tool or implement from being inserted from below the band 9 to prise or stretch it out of engagement with the rim 5 when it is locked in the first closure position.

The first tamper indicating band 9 includes a pull tab 20 extending from a side thereof which is able to be grasped and pulled by a user to separate the band 9 from the lid portion 2 along its line of frangible connection 11. So separating the band 9 allows the container opening to be accessed to then deposit a sample or specimen in the container. Having done so, the person providing the sample can simply invert the cap 1 and press it down over the rim 5 of the container until the second tamper indicating band 10 snaps into locking engagement with the container rim in the second closure position as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now then to Fig. 3 of the drawings, in moving into the second closure position the sloped or tapered inner surface 21 of the second band 10 slides over the lateral projection 14 of the container rim 5 until the shoulder or instep 22 on the inner surface of the second band 10 snaps under the lateral projection 14. As with the first closure position, the free circular edge 23 of the second tamper indicating band 10 is received in the channel 18 created by tamper prevention member 17 when the cap is in the second closure position. Fig. 3 also shows the level 24 of the fluid sample now present in the container 4.

The second side 8 of the lid portion 2 includes an integral, tapered ring-like projection 25 which extends into the opening 3 and seals against the rim 5 to prevent ingress of dust, moisture and gas into the container when the cap is in the second closure position to prevent contamination of the sample. This sealing also prevents spillage or leakage of the sample during its transport to the laboratory for analysis. When the sample-containing jar or bottle reaches the laboratory, the technician can access the sample for analysis by removing the second tamper indicating band 10. The second band 10 (like the first band 9) includes a pull tab 26 for separating the band 10 from the lid portion 2 along its frangible line of connection 12. The lid portion 2 of the cap can then be removed from the container to access the sample for testing.

As is shown in Fig. 4, once the sample has been tested the lid portion 2 of the cap can be returned to the container in the same orientation as for the second closure position, i.e. with the second side 8 in opposed relation to the opening 3 and container rim 5. The tapered ring-like projection 25 can be wedged into the opening 3, in the manner of a bung or stopper, to again seal the container. This time, however, the cap is in a third, non tamper-evident closure position. It should be appreciated that it may also be desirable to cover the exposed second side 8 of the lid portion 2 with a removable membrane to prevent tampering with or contamination of that surface of the lid portion prior to provision of the sample. That membrane could be removed by the person providing the sample, before the cap is placed in its second closure position. Finally it is to be appreciated that various modifications, alterations and/or additions may be introduced into the particular construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A cap and container combination for indicating tampering with the container both before and after contents have been placed in the container, the combination including: a container having an opening defined by a rim; and a cap for covering the container opening and being receivable on the container in at least two closure positions, the cap including a lid portion having a first side and a second side; wherein in the first closure position the first side of the lid portion is in opposed relation to the rim and the container opening; and wherein in the second closure position the second side of the lid portion is in opposed relation to the rim and container opening.

2. A cap and container combination according to claim 1 , including a first tamper indicating means provided on either one of the cap and the container for engagement with the other in the first closure position such that the cap cannot be removed from the container without the first tamper indicating means indicating that the cap has been removed.

3. A cap and container combination according to claim 2, the first tamper indicating means being provided on the cap for engagement with the container.

4. A cap and container combination according to claim 3, the first tamper indicating means extending from the first side of the cap lid portion.

5. A cap and container combination according to any one of claims 2 to 4, including a second tamper indicating means provided on the cap for engagement with the container in the second closure position such that the cap cannot be removed from the container without the second tamper indicating means indicating that the cap has been removed.

6. A cap and container combination according to any preceding claim, wherein the container comprises a substantially cylindrical bottle or jar, the side walls of which terminate in a circular rim defining the container opening, whilst the cap has a substantially circular configuration with a disc- or plate-like lid portion.

7. A cap and container combination according to any preceding claim, wherein the tamper indicating means includes a band of material which depends from the cap lid portion, said band including a shoulder or instep on an inner surface thereof for engagement with a laterally outward locking projection of the container rim.

8. A cap and container combination according to claim 7, the inner surface of said tamper indicating band having a tapered cross-section to facilitate its positioning over and engagement with the rim projection.

9. A cap and container combination according to claim 8, wherein the rim projection itself is similarly sloped or tapered.

10. A cap and container combination according to any one of claims 7 to 9, said band having a frangible connection with the lid portion along an edge of the band, such that, when it is desired to remove the cap from either of its first or second closure positions, the tamper indicating band may be separated from the lid portion along the line of its frangible connection.

11. A cap and container combination according to claim 10 wherein said tamper indicating band includes a tear-tab.

12. A cap and container combination according to any one of claims 7 to 11 , wherein the container includes tamper prevention means for preventing the tamper indicating bands from being stretched over the rim projection to remove the cap from either of the first and second closure positions.

13. A cap and container combination according to claim 12, said tamper prevention means including a channel provided at an outer side of the container walls for receiving a free edge of the tamper indicating band when the cap is in one of the two closure positions.

14. A cap and container combination according to any preceding claim, wherein the first side and second side of the cap lid portion includes means for sealing with the container rim in the first and second closure positions, respectively, the first side of the lid portion being provided with first seal means and the second side of the lid portion being provided with second seal means.

15. A cap and container combination according to claim 14, said first and second seal means being integrally formed with the lid portion and being adapted to seal the container opening against the ingress of dust, moisture and gas.

16. A cap receivable on a container in at least two closure positions for indicating tampering with the container both before and after contents have been placed therein, the cap including: a lid portion for covering an opening of the container defined by a container rim, the lid portion having a first side for opposed relation with the rim and container opening in the first closure position, and a second side for opposed relation with the rim and container opening in the second closure position; wherein the cap includes a first tamper indicating means provided at the first side of the lid portion for engagement with the container in the first closure position and wherein the cap includes a second tamper indicating means provided at the second side of the lid portion for engagement with the container in the second closure position.

17. A cap and container combination substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A cap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.