U.S. patent application number 13/273480 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-21 for container with tamper-evident locking means.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMHIL ENTERPRISES. The applicant listed for this patent is Michael MacDonald. Invention is credited to Michael MacDonald.
Application Number | 20130068654 13/273480 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47879614 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130068654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MacDonald; Michael |
March 21, 2013 |
CONTAINER WITH TAMPER-EVIDENT LOCKING MEANS
Abstract
A container for foodstuffs or other products has a
tamper-evident locking means which comprises a post and a
cooperating opening or recess. A fault zone is formed by a weakened
area provided by, for example, a plurality of perforations formed
in the post, or around the post, or around the opening or recess,
and fault zone is thus which is weaker than the material of the
container, and weaker than the locking means mechanism. As a
result, the fault zone will fail upon exertion of a force which is
less than the disengagement force otherwise required to unlock the
locking means, thus providing physical evidence of tampering.
Inventors: |
MacDonald; Michael;
(Waterloo, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MacDonald; Michael |
Waterloo |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
AMHIL ENTERPRISES
Mississauga
CA
|
Family ID: |
47879614 |
Appl. No.: |
13/273480 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.6 ;
220/268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/103 20130101;
B65D 47/043 20130101; B65D 2251/0062 20130101; B65D 49/04 20130101;
B65D 2251/0015 20130101; B65D 2251/0087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.6 ;
220/268 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/00 20060101
B65D050/00; B65D 17/32 20060101 B65D017/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 2011 |
CA |
2752612 |
Claims
1. A vacuum formed packaging container having an upper top member
and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are
adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a
closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; wherein
each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed
in an outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom members,
and an opening formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other of
said top and bottom members; wherein the post is configured so as
to have a lower stem portion, and an upper engagement portion
having an outwardly extending bead portion and a convex end,
whereby an engagement zone of said post is formed around the
periphery of said stem portion at least in the region immediately
below said bead portion; wherein the shape and size of each said
opening is sufficient to accommodate the stem portion of the
cooperating post when fitted therein; and wherein the outwardly
extending bead portion is larger than said opening, and at least
said bead portion of the post is temporarily deformable so as to
pass through said opening so that the engagement zone and said
opening are in cooperating relationship to each other, so as to
lock the container in a closed condition; wherein the engagement of
a post together with its cooperating opening may only be disengaged
by applying sufficient disengagement force so as to deform the bead
portion to permit it to pass back through said cooperating opening;
wherein a weakened area, and preferably one or a plurality of
perforations, are formed in a location which is chosen from the
group consisting of the region around the periphery of the stem
portion of each post, in the immediate region of the outwardly
extending lip in which the post is formed and circumscribing the
post, and in the immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in
which the opening is formed and circumscribing the opening; so that
the region where the plurality of perforations is formed is
weakened thereby, and so that any attempt to disengage a post from
its cooperating opening by exerting said disengagement force
thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the
package in the region of the weakened area; whereby such attempt to
disengage a post from its cooperating opening may be construed as
tampering, and so that the damaged material of the package in the
region of the plurality of perforations is evidence of
tampering.
2. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom
portions are connected to each other by a flexible hinge means, and
wherein there are at least two cooperating locking means.
3. The packaging container of claim 2, wherein the openings are
formed in the bottom portion thereof, and the upstanding posts are
formed in the top portion thereof.
4. The packaging container of claim 2, wherein the openings are
formed in the top portion thereof, and the upstanding posts are
formed in the bottom portion thereof.
5. The packaging container of claim 2, wherein there are at least
two perforations formed in the perforation location.
6. The packaging container of claim 5, wherein the perforation
location is in the stem portion of each post, whereby failure of
the material of the post upon tampering will result in the post
being broken near its end, and thereby a lack of integrity of the
post.
7. The packaging container of claim 5, wherein the perforation
location is in the region of the opening, whereby failure of the
material in the region of the opening upon tampering will result in
disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the opening from
the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
8. The packaging container of claim 5, wherein the perforation
location is in the region of the post, whereby failure of the
material in the region of the post upon tampering will result in
disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the post from
the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
9. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein the material thereof
is clear or transparent.
10. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein the material
thereof is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene
terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.
11. The packaging container of claim 1, wherein the material of
each outwardly extending lip is hatched in the region surrounding
the respective post or opening.
12. A vacuum formed packaging container having an upper top member
and a lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are
adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a
closed condition by at least one cooperating locking means; wherein
each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post formed
in and outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom
members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending
lip on the other of said top and bottom members; wherein the
engagement of a post together with its cooperating recess is by
friction fit so as to lock the container in a closed condition, and
may only be disengaged by applying sufficient disengagement force
so as to overcome the friction fit; wherein a weakened area, and
preferably one or a plurality of perforations, are formed in a
location which is chosen from the group consisting of the region
around the periphery of the stem portion of each post, in the
immediate region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post
is formed and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region
of the outwardly extending lip in which the opening is formed and
circumscribing the opening; so that the region where the plurality
of perforations is formed is weakened thereby, and so that any
attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating opening by
exerting said disengagement force thereto will result instead in
failure of the material of the package in the region of the
weakened area; whereby such attempt to disengage a post from its
cooperating recess may be construed as tampering, and so that the
damaged material of the package in the region of the plurality of
perforations is evidence of tampering.
13. The packaging container of claim 12, wherein said top and
bottom portions are connected to each other by a flexible hinge
means, and wherein there are at least two cooperating locking
means.
14. The packaging container of claim 12, wherein there are at least
two perforations formed in the perforation location.
15. The packaging container of claim 14, wherein the perforation
location is in the stem portion of each post, whereby failure of
the material of the post upon tampering will result in the post
being broken near its end, and thereby a lack of integrity of the
post.
16. The packaging container of claim 14, wherein the perforation
location is in the region of the cooperating recess, whereby
failure of the material in the region of the cooperating recess
upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the
lip surrounding the cooperating recess from the rest of the lip,
and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
17. The packaging container of claim 14, wherein the perforation
location is in the region of the post, whereby failure of the
material in the region of the post upon tampering will result in
disengagement of the region of the lip surrounding the post from
the rest of the lip, and thereby lack of integrity of the lip.
18. The packaging container of claim 12, wherein the material
thereof is clear or transparent.
19. The packaging container of claim 12, wherein the material
thereof is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene
terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and vinyl.
20. The packaging container of claim 12, wherein the material of
each outwardly extending lip is hatched in the region surrounding
the respective post or opening.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Canadian Patent App'n
Ser. No. "Unknown", filed 16 Sep. 2011, with the same title and
inventors as the present application. The complete contents of this
application is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to containers which are primarily
used for foodstuffs, but which may also be used for other products
such as medications and the like. The containers of the present
invention, especially when used with foodstuffs, are primarily of
the sort in which various foodstuffs will be placed into the
containers at the place of distribution, so that the containers are
packed when they are shipped to the retailer, and remain packed or
filled when they are purchased by the consumer. The primary purpose
of the present invention, however, is to assure the distributor,
the shipper, the receiver, the retailer, and/or the purchaser or
any other party, that at no time after the container was packed has
it been tampered with. This also can include containers which are
packaged by the retailer shortly before being purchased by the
consumer.
[0003] Thus, the present invention provides containers which have
special locking means to lock the containers in their closed
condition, and which are such that if there has been any tampering
with the container in any manner so as to try to disengage the
locking means, damage will occur to the locking means, and that
damage will be evidence of tampering. As a result, the present
invention provides containers with an integral tamper-evident
locking means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is found most often in retail stores, particularly those
selling foodstuffs, that many products being sold have been
pre-packaged at the source from which they have been distributed,
or even packaged by the retailer shortly before placing the goods
for sale. This is particularly true when the foodstuffs are
materials such as salads, baked goods, fruits and berries,
vegetables, cookies or cakes, pre-packaged fast food meals, and any
other foodstuffs which lend themselves to being pre-packaged.
Typically, such products will be pre-packaged at the farm site
where they have been grown, or at a farmers' cooperative, or in the
case of baked goods from the factory where they have been made.
However, other packaging points are not excluded from the present
invention.
[0005] Other pre-packaged materials can include materials other
than foodstuffs, such as, for example, nuts or bolts provided in
containers, or the like, and as such, the present invention is
preferably not limited to foodstuffs only.
[0006] In any event, one purpose for pre-packaging the goods is to
protect them from damage while in transit. Consumers are much more
likely to buy items when they are evidently in pristine quality.
Even more so, baked items such as cookies or cakes, must be seen to
be unbroken or otherwise undamaged in any way. As a result, these
types of products are typically pre-packaged prior to being shipped
to the retailer.
[0007] In general, typically, the materials and foodstuffs of the
sort contemplated herein are generally displayed for retail sale in
containers which are transparent and/or clear, or at least
translucent, so that the purchaser may inspect the product without
the necessity for opening the same. Indeed, the purpose of the
present invention is to allow the consumer to view the product,
while being assured that the package has not been opened, because
to do so requires that the package be tampered with. It will be
understood, of course, the packages of the sort described herein
are otherwise reclosable using conventional bead and recess means,
or the like, as are well known in the art. This, of course, means
that once the consumer has purchased the product, he or she will
purposely damage the locking means so as to gain access to the
product in the container; but in this case, such actions are not
tampering because they are purposeful on the part of the consumer.
Once the package has been opened though, the consumer can
preferably re-close it using the conventional bead and recess
closure means, or other closure means, without any adverse
interference or obstruction of the closure means. As such, the
tamper-evident feature of the present invention preferably does not
interfere with the normal container closure mechanism.
[0008] It will be understood, of course, that containers in keeping
with the present invention may vary considerably in size. For
example, a container into which a single portion of salad greens
has been placed is typically much smaller than one into which an
entire head of lettuce has been placed.
[0009] Still further, the present invention may lend itself to the
care giving industry, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Here,
individual medications intended for specific patients may be
dispensed into specific containers either by the pharmaceutical
company, or by such person as a pharmacist. Very clearly, it is
important that there shall be no tampering with specific
medications that are intended for specific patients, thereby so as
to assure that the intended patient receives the intended
medication.
[0010] The inventors herein have unexpectedly discovered that
typical containers for foodstuffs and the like, with which this
invention is particularly concerned, may be configured in such a
manner that the material from which the container is manufactured
can have a specific fault zone formed therein so as to assure that
forces which are less than the disengagement forces which would
otherwise be required to unlock a locking means in keeping with the
present invention will instead cause a failure of that material in
the fault zone. Thus, the locking means per se will remain in its
locked condition, but because of the damage which is done in the
fault zone in the immediate region of the locking means, evidence
of tampering with the container at any time prior to its opening by
the ultimate consumer, is observable by the user.
[0011] Moreover, a specific fault zone can be formed by the mere
act of creating perforations--which may take the form of small
holes, slits, or slots--through the thickness of the material in
the region where the specific fault zone is to be created. Other
mechanism for providing a fault zone can also be including, such as
providing a thinner material construction, which provides a
weakened area in the fault zone.
[0012] As will be seen hereafter, the locking means which are at
the heart of this present invention may generally comprise two
differing configurations. The usual configuration is for there to
be a post which has an outwardly extending bead portion near the
convex end thereof, where the material of the post, at least at the
bead portion, may be temporarily deformed so as to pass through a
cooperating opening. Due to the undercut which is formed beneath
the bead portion on the post, a locking engagement zone is formed
whereby the bead is precluded from passing back through the opening
without the exertion of a sufficient disengagement force by
momentarily deforming the bead portion and/or the region
immediately surrounding the cooperating opening. An alternative
configuration for a locking means is for a post and a cooperating
recess into which the post will be engaged and will remain therein
due to a friction fit. In that configuration, the post can only be
disengaged from the cooperating recess by the exertion of
sufficient disengagement force to overcome the friction fit.
[0013] However, in all cases, as noted hereafter, the material of
the container in the region of the post and/or its cooperating
opening or recess, has had perforations created therein, or is
otherwise weakened, so as to form a fault zone which will fail upon
the exertion of a force which is less than the disengagement
force.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0014] United States Patent Application Publication 2009/0134180
A1, describes a container which has a plurality of locking
mechanisms, where each locking mechanism includes an extending
latching portion and a corresponding circular opening for
engagement thereof. The locking mechanism is configured so as to
securely lock the lid to the base of the container, and an
appropriate amount of pulling force must be applied in order to
disengage the lid from the base. However, the container as it is
described in the publication requires that once the locking
mechanism has been disengaged, it must be reclosable. In other
words, there is no provision whatsoever to indicate whether or not
the container has been tampered with by having been opened prior to
purchase and consumption of the product contained therein.
[0015] While this described container has been shown to be of
utility, it would be desirable to modify this type of container to
provide tamper evidence. As such, the present invention is
described with particular focus on the container described in US
2009/0134180, but it will be clear to the skilled artisan that any
other suitable container might also be used in the practise of the
present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided in an exemplary implementation, a packaging
container having an upper top member and a lower bottom member,
wherein the top and bottom members are adapted to fit to one
another with an optional closure means, and also include a locking
device which can lock the container in a closed condition, by the
use of at least one cooperating locking means.
[0017] Moreover, each cooperating locking means preferably
comprises an upstanding post formed in an outwardly extending lip
on one of the top and bottom members, and a corresponding mated
opening which is formed in an outwardly extending lip on the other
of the top and bottom members.
[0018] The post is preferably configured so as to have a lower stem
portion, and an upper engagement portion having an outwardly
extending bead portion and a convex end, whereby an engagement zone
of the post is formed around the periphery of the stem portion at
least in the region immediately below the bead portion.
[0019] The shape and size of each the opening is sufficient to
accommodate the stem portion of the cooperating post when fitted
therein. The outwardly extending bead portion is preferably larger
than the opening, and as such, at least the bead portion of the
post is preferably temporarily deformable so as to pass through the
opening. As a result, the engagement zone and the opening are in
cooperating relationship to each other, so as to lock the container
in a closed condition.
[0020] Normally, the engagement of a post together with its
cooperating opening may only be disengaged by applying sufficient
disengagement force so as to deform the bead portion to permit it
to pass back through the cooperating opening.
[0021] However, in the practise of the present invention, a
weakened area, preferably provided by a plurality of perforations,
is formed in a location chosen from the group consisting of around
the periphery of the stem portion of each post, in the immediate
region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed
and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the
outwardly extending lip in which the opening is formed and
circumscribing the opening. By forming the plurality of
perforations, the region where the plurality of perforations is
formed, is thereby weakened. As a result, any attempt to disengage
a post from its cooperating opening by exerting the disengagement
force thereto will result instead in failure of the material of the
package in the region of weakened area, and more specifically, the
area of the plurality of perforations.
[0022] Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a post from its
cooperating opening will result in a breakage of the locking tab,
and this can be seen and construed by the consumer as evidence of
tampering.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a packaging container having an upper top member and a
lower bottom member, wherein the top and bottom members are adapted
to fit to one another so as to lock the container in a closed
condition by at least one cooperating locking means; but in this
case, each cooperating locking means comprises an upstanding post
formed in and outwardly extending lip on one of the top and bottom
members, and a cooperating recess formed in an outwardly extending
lip on the other of the top and bottom members.
[0024] Here, the engagement of a post together with its cooperating
recess is by friction fit so as to lock the container in a closed
condition, and may only be disengaged by applying sufficient
disengagement force so as to overcome the friction fit.
[0025] As before, a weakened area, such as an area with a plurality
of perforations, is formed in a location chosen from the group
consisting of around the periphery of each post, in the immediate
region of the outwardly extending lip in which the post is formed
and circumscribing the post, and in the immediate region of the
outwardly extending lip in which the cooperating recess is formed
and circumscribing the cooperating recess; so that the region where
the plurality of perforations is formed is weakened thereby, and so
that any attempt to disengage a post from its cooperating recess by
exerting the disengagement force thereto will result instead in
failure of the material of the package in the region of the
plurality of perforations.
[0026] Accordingly, any such attempt to disengage a post from its
cooperating recess may be construed as tampering, and so that the
damaged material of the package in the region of the weakened area,
is evidence of tampering.
[0027] Typically, top and bottom portions may be connected to each
other by a flexible hinge means, and wherein there are at least two
cooperating locking means.
[0028] The openings may be formed in the bottom portion thereof,
and the upstanding posts may be formed in the top portion thereof;
or alternatively, the openings may be formed in the top portion
thereof, and the upstanding posts may be formed in the bottom
portion thereof.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, at east two perforations are
formed so as to provide the a weakened area, and generally, there
are a plurality of perforations that are formed in the perforation
location.
[0030] In the usual embodiments of the present invention, the
perforation location is in the stem portion of each post, whereby
failure of the material of the post upon tampering will result in
the post being broken near its end, and thereby create a visible
lack of integrity of the post.
[0031] However, where the perforation location is located in the
region of the opening, failure of the material in the region of the
opening upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region
of the lip surrounding the opening from the rest of the lip, and
thereby create a visible lack of integrity of the lip.
[0032] Moreover, the perforation location may be in the region of
the post, whereby failure of the material in the region of the post
upon tampering will result in disengagement of the region of the
lip surrounding the post from the rest of the lip, and thereby
create a visible lack of integrity of the lip.
[0033] In order to improve visibility of the tamper-evident feature
of the present invention, the material of each outwardly extending
lip may be hatched in the region surrounding the respective post or
opening.
[0034] Typically, the material of any packaging container in
keeping with the present invention chosen from the group consisting
of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene, polypropylene,
and vinyl. Preferably, the containers are made by typical plastic
packaging techniques including injection moulding, blow moulding,
vacuum moulding, or the like, as will be known to those skilled in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way
of example only in association with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical container of the
sort used for produce, in keeping with the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a plan view from the top of the container of FIG.
1;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of
the post of a locking means in keeping with the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of a
opening adapted to receive a post of a locking means of the type
described in the present invention, with FIG. 6A showing an
enlarged view of the opening of FIG. 6; and
[0042] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-section of the locking means
according to another aspect of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use
and method of operation, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention
will now be illustrated by way of example only. In the drawings,
like reference numerals depict like elements.
[0044] It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are
for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not
intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Also,
unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the features described
herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any
combination.
[0045] In each of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a typical packaging container
in keeping with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The
container has an upper or top member 12 and a lower or bottom
member 14. As will be discussed hereafter, the top and bottom
members 12, 14 are preferably joined together with a flexible hinge
56, and are adapted to fit to one another so as to lock the
container in a closed condition by at least one cooperating locking
means shown generally at 16 and 18.
[0046] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in greater
detail in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cooperating locking means generally
comprises an upstanding post 16 and a cooperating opening 18. Each
upstanding post 16 is formed in an outwardly extending lip 20, and
each opening 18 is formed an outwardly extending lip 22. As shown,
the posts 16 are formed in outwardly extending lips 20 which are
formed on the top member 12, and the openings 18 are formed in the
outwardly extending lips 22 which are on the bottom member 14. It
will become very evident hereafter that the posts could be formed
on outwardly extending lips 22 in the bottom member 14, and the
openings could be formed in outwardly extending lips 20 in the top
member 12. However, the configuration shown is more general,
because it assures that the posts 16 when they are locked in place
as described hereafter extend downwardly and are therefore less
likely to be damaged in transit.
[0047] In any event, as can be determined from each of FIGS. 1 and
3, and as is shown in more detail in each of FIGS. 4 and 5, each
post 16 is configured so as to have a lower stem portion 26 and an
upper engagement portion 28. However, the upper engagement portion
28 is preferably configured so as to have an outwardly extending
bead portion 30 and a convex or conical end 32. By such
configuration, it is easily seen that there is an engagement zone
34 formed on each post 16 around the periphery of the stem portion
26 at least in the region immediately below the bead portion
30.
[0048] The shape and size of each opening 18 is such as to
accommodate the stem portion 26 of each cooperating post 16 when it
is fitted therein. However, it will be noted that the outwardly
extending bead portion 30 is larger than the opening 18. In order
for the cooperating post to be fitted into the respective
cooperating opening 18, at least the material of the bead portion
30 (or an angled sidewall of the receiving hole) is temporarily
deformable so as to pass through the opening 18. Once the bead
portion 30 has passed through the cooperating opening 18, then it
will be evident that the engagement zone 34 and the opening 18 are
in cooperating relationship to each other. The engagement of each
bead portion 30 with the underside of the outwardly extending lip
22 in the region immediately surrounding the respective cooperating
opening 18 thereby assures that the container 10 is locked in its
closed position.
[0049] However, it must be noted that the engagement of a post 16
with its cooperating opening 18 may only be disengaged by applying
sufficient disengagement force so as to once again deform the bead
portion 30 and so as to permit it to pass back through the
cooperating opening 18. Of course, there may also be some temporary
deformation of the region of the lip 22 immediately surrounding the
opening 18.
[0050] Since the purpose of the present invention is to assure that
a tamper-evident locking means is provided for any container 10, it
follows that there must be other means whereby any attempt to
disengage a post 16 from its cooperating opening 18 will result in
a physical evidence of such attempt. This is achieved by providing
a fault zone in which the material from which the container has
been manufactured is weakened in such a manner that the material
will fail in the fault zone. By failure of the fault zone it is
meant that the material of the container will tear or break.
[0051] The weakened area can be provided using any suitable method
including providing thinner areas of construction. Preferably,
failure in the weakened area is provided by a plurality of
perforations, and as such, a plurality of perforations is formed in
a chosen fault zone, which may be any one of (A) the periphery of
the stem portion 26 of a post 16, in a location below the bead
portion 30; (B) in the immediate region of the outwardly extending
lip 20 in which a post 16 is formed, and in such a manner so as to
circumscribe the post; and (C) in the immediate region of the
outwardly extending lip 22 in which an opening 18 is formed, and in
such a manner so as to circumscribe the opening.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of perforations 40 is shown
surrounding the periphery of the stem portion 26 of the post 16.
Here, the perforations are shown to take the form of small holes
42, thereby leaving unperforated regions 44 between the
perforations 42. As is well known to any person skilled in the art,
the region of the post 16 where the perforations 42 are formed will
become a weakened region in the material of the container 10, which
may thereby be considered to be a fault zone. Accordingly, any
attempt to disengage the post 16 from its cooperating opening 18
will result in failure of the material of the post in the region
where the perforations 42 have been formed, if such attempt is less
than the disengagement force required, but is sufficient to cause
failure of the material of the container 10 in the fault zone. That
being the case, the post 16 is broken, and in the embodiment shown
where the post is formed in the top member 12, the end of the post
will fall away. This, therefore, provides physical evidence of the
fact that the container 10 has been subject to an attempt to open
the same; and in the circumstances considered by the present
invention, the broken post 16 is evidence of tampering.
[0053] In other words, the exertion required to cause failure of
the post 16 in the region where the perforations 42 are formed is
less than the disengagement force that would be required to
disengage the post 16 from its cooperating opening 18.
[0054] Also, since the post 16 will fall away, this embodiment is
not as preferred as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein the
post is retained. However, the embodiment of FIG. 4 provide clear
evidence of tampering if post 16 is already removed.
[0055] It will be understood, of course, that the purchaser of the
product contained within container 10 will be required to overcome
the locking means by which the container has been locked in its
closed condition, but in that case the broken locking means is
deliberate, and any consideration of tampering will thereby be
disregarded. It will also be understood that once the container 10
has been opened, it preferably can still be opened and reclosed
multiple times, and will remain in a closed position by the
cooperation of an optional upstanding bead 50 and a cooperating
recess 52. Such closure means for container of the sort
contemplated herein, and variations thereof, are well known to
those skilled in the art and form no part of the present
invention.
[0056] It will also be understood that the configuration of the
container 10 as shown in each of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, is typical of
such a container but is not important to the present invention. The
container 10, as illustrated, is of the sort generally defined as a
clamshell container, having a flexible hinge 56 in the region 58
between the top member 12 and the bottom and 14. However, depending
on the size and configuration of the container 10, there may be as
few as one tamper-evident locking means 16, 18 (for example, if the
container is very small and/or is round), or there may be three or
more tamper-evident locking means 16, 18 if the container 10 is
exceptionally long as compared to its width. Still further, if the
top and bottom members 12, 14 are independent one from the other,
and the container 10 is generally rectangular as shown in the
drawings, then there will preferably be at least four
tamper-evident locking means 16, 18.
[0057] Referring now to FIG. 5, a plurality of perforations 60 is
shown having been formed in the outwardly extending lip 20 and
through the thickness of the same. Between each of the perforations
60 there is therefore an unperforated region 62. In this case, the
perforations 60 are shown as slits, and it will be seen that the
perforations 60 circumscribe the post 16 around its intersection
with the respective outwardly extending lip 20. Nonetheless, the
purpose of the perforations 60 and the unperforated region 62
therebetween is the same as described above; that is, upon
application of an exertion which is less than the disengagement
force to disengage the post 16 from its cooperating opening 18, the
fault zone formed by the perforations 60 and regions 62 will
fail.
[0058] The ring formed by perforations 60 will preferably have a
diameter larger than the diameter of opening 18 so that post 16
will be retained in opening 18 after perforations 60 have been
broken.
[0059] Likewise, as seen in FIG. 6, a plurality of perforations 70
surrounds and circumscribes an opening 18 in its respective
outwardly extending lip 22. Here, the perforations are shown as
slots, and regions 72 are formed between the slots 70. Once again,
it will be clearly understood that a weakened area fault zone has
been created by the presence of the perforations 70 and the
unperforated regions 72; so that upon application of an exertion
which is less than the disengagement force to disengage a post 16
from the cooperating opening 18, the fault zone formed by the
perforations 70 and the unperforated region 72 will fail.
[0060] The perforations described herein have been defined as being
small holes 42, slits 60, and slots 70. In each case, the presence
and formation of those perforations results in unperforated areas
being between the perforations; and in each case the material of
the container 10 in the region of the stem of the post, the post,
or the opening, is weakened and will thereby fail. Put in other
words, upon failure of the fault zone, there will result a
concomitant lack of integrity of the post or the outwardly
extending lip in which either the post or the opening has been
formed.
[0061] It should also be evident that the number of perforations
that is formed is immaterial, so long as the region of the
respective fault zones is weaker than the disengagement force
required to unlock the tamper-evident locking means. Thus, it is
possible that as few as a single or two perforations will meet the
requirements of the present invention. Otherwise, the number and
nature of the perforations may be an artifact of the size of the
post, the size of the hole, and the manufacturing equipment on
which containers in keeping with the present invention are
made.
[0062] It will be understood, of course, that the posts 16 and
their cooperating openings 18 need not be round, but that is the
usual configuration. They may be square or rectangular, or
otherwise, without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0063] Also, the area around hole 18 can be recessed in recessed
area 71, as shown in FIG. 6A, which is a cross-sectional view of an
alternative arrangement for opening 18. This arrangement permits
the hole to deform slightly when the post is inserted without
breaking the area around the perforations 70, and aids in forming a
lock onto an inserted post 16.
[0064] Turning now to FIG. 7, another form of tamper-evident
locking means for containers which are otherwise similar to or
identical to those described above, is shown at 80. Here, the
locking means comprises an upstanding post 82 formed in an
outwardly extending lip 84, and a cooperating recess 86 formed in
an outwardly extending lip 88. As will be evident from the above
discussion, the post and lip 82, 84, and the recess and lip 86, 88,
may be formed in either of the top or bottom members of a
container, and vice versa.
[0065] Here, the engagement of the post 82 is generally by friction
fit, whereby the container may be locked in its closed condition.
The friction fit may only be overcome, and the post disengage from
its cooperating recess, by applying sufficient disengagement force
so as to overcome the friction fit. Of course, in keeping with the
spirit and scope of the present invention, it will be understood
that the configuration of the post 82 and recess 86 may be round,
square or rectangular, or otherwise. Moreover, the friction fit may
be an enhanced by the provision of such as a laterally extending
bead on one of the post or recess, and a cooperating groove on the
other of the post or recess.
[0066] Once again, there are typically three options for the
formation of a fault zone in the locking means 80. They include (A)
forming a plurality of perforations in the region of the post
generally indicated at 90, which may be located anywhere along the
length of the post; (B) in the region generally indicated at 92,
and circumscribing the post 82; and (C) in the region generally
indicated at 94, and circumscribing the recess 86.
[0067] It will be very clear that failure in the fault zones 90,
92, and 94 will come as a consequence of a force being exerted to
the locking means 80 which is less than the necessary disengagement
force to disengage the post 82 from its friction fit with the
cooperating recess 86. Therefore, the nature of the tamper-evident
locking means 80 remains the same as has been described above with
reference to any of FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0068] Moreover, it follows that the materials and manufacturing
techniques required for production of a container having a locking
means 80 remain otherwise the same as described above, and are
well-known to those skilled in the art.
[0069] For purposes of easy and deliberate unlocking of the locking
means 16, 18, or 80, the material of the container in the region of
the outwardly extending lips 20, 22, 84, or 88, may be hatched in
the manner shown at 96 in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0070] There has been described containers having tamper-evident
locking means whereby the containers will remain locked in their
closed position until such time as they are purchased or otherwise
placed into the hands of the ultimate consumer. However, each
container in keeping with the present invention is such that if the
container has in any way been tampered with by an attempt to unlock
the tamper-evident locking means, physical evidence of that attempt
will be easily visible. Accordingly, the ultimate consumer may be
assured that the contents of the container have not been tampered
with or changed in any way since they were placed in the container
and the container was closed and locked using the locking means in
keeping with the present invention.
[0071] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in
accordance with the present invention, a packaging container which
fully satisfies the goals, objects, and advantages set forth
hereinbefore. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of
the present invention, it will be understood that alternatives,
modifications and variations thereof may be suggested to those
skilled in the art, and that it is intended that the present
specification embrace all such alternatives, modifications and
variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
[0072] Additionally, for clarity and unless otherwise stated, the
word "comprise" and variations of the word such as "comprising" and
"comprises", when used in the description and claims of the present
specification, is not intended to exclude other additives,
components, integers or steps. Further, the invention
illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the
absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed
herein.
[0073] Moreover, the words "substantially" or "essentially", when
used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope
of the particular characteristic; e.g., substantially planar is
intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting
characteristics associated with a planar element.
[0074] Further, use of the terms "he", "him", or "his", is not
intended to be specifically directed to persons of the masculine
gender, and could easily be read as "she", "her", or "hers",
respectively.
[0075] Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to
the inventor, it is not an admission that all art discussed is
citable against the present application.
* * * * *