Tamper Evident Container

Abstract

A tamper evident container (10) for the display and storage of items has an elongated pouch (16) with a closed end (26) and an open end (28). There is a collar (18, 20) connected to the open end of the pouch, and a lid (22) pivotally connected to the collar (18, 20) for closing the open end (28). The lid (22) has a flange (40) extending over a portion of the collar. A strap (24) extends around the collar (18, 20) and the flange (40) so as to prevent the lid (22) from being opened whilst the strap is in place.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to a tamper evident container for the display or storage of items.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Hair care items such bobby pins and elastic bands for pony tails are often sold in small transparent plastic containers. One form of prior art container includes an elongated pouch which is closed at one end and open at the other end, an inner collar connected to the inside of the open end of the pouch, an outer collar connected to the outside of the open end of the pouch around the inner collar and a lid pivotally connected to the inner collar so as to seal the items within the container. The pouch is often made from a single sheet of transparent plastic in order to display the items which are stored within the container to prospective purchasers. Such a form of prior art container may be used to store a variety of items other than hair care items, including, but not limited to, keys, jewellery, coins, memory sticks, digital storage devices for cameras, stationary, nuts, washers and bolts.

[0003] This form of prior art container may be readily opened and closed to allow purchasers to access the items stored therein. However, a common problem is that shoplifters often open such containers and steal one or more items from within the containers, without purchasing the entire container of items. Given that there are often over twenty items stored in such containers, the absence of one or two items from the container would not be readily noticed by a prospective purchaser of the container.

[0004] A common solution to this problem is to place transparent plastic shrink wrap around the opening of the container. However, it has been found that the shrink wrap is readily removed by hand, so that shoplifters may continue to steal one or more items from within the containers. Because of the transparent nature of the shrink wrap, it is often not evident to purchasers of such prior art containers that the prior art containers have been tampered with and items have been removed therefrom.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the aforementioned problems of the prior art containers, or at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a tamper evident container for the display and storage of items, the container comprising [0007] (a) an elongated pouch having a closed end and an open end, [0008] (b) a collar connected to the open end of the pouch, [0009] (c) a lid pivotally connected to the collar for closing the open end, wherein the lid has a flange extending over a portion of the collar, and [0010] (d) a strap extending around the collar and the flange, so as to prevent the lid from being opened whilst the strap is in place.

[0011] In a preferred form of the invention, the collar comprises an inner collar connected to the inside of the open end of the pouch, and an outer collar connected to the outside of the open end of the pouch around the inner collar.

[0012] More preferably, the lid is pivotally connected to the inner collar.

[0013] It is also preferred that the strap extends around the outer collar.

[0014] It is preferred that the flange has a channel for receiving the strap, so that the strap may not be pulled downwardly off the container.

[0015] It is also preferred that the inner collar and the outer collar are adapted to be mateably connected through one or more apertures in the elongated pouch.

[0016] Preferably, the strap is joined at both ends by a buckle. More preferably, the strap is not adapted to be removed by hand without the aid of a tool.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a backing card is attached to the strap of the container, the arrangement being such that if the strap is removed, the card will no longer be attached to the container and this will serve as evidence of tampering.

[0018] Preferably, the backing card may have retail information printed thereon about the product stored within the container.

[0019] It is also preferred that the backing card has a hanger aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing Figures in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a tamper evident container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention along with a backing card attached thereto for marketing purposes,

[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container shown in FIG. 1,

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid of the container shown in FIG. 1,

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inner collar of the container shown in FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 5 is a front perspective close up view of the bottom of the container and attached backing card of FIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the container and attached backing card of FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective close up view of the bottom of the container and attached backing card of FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottom of the container shown in FIG. 1, with the lid opened,

[0029] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a tamper evident container according to another preferred embodiment of the invention along with an alternative backing card arrangement, and

[0030] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of a similar container to that shown in FIG. 9 along with another alternative backing card arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a tamper evident container 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A backing card 12 is attached to the container 10. The backing card 12 is used to display retail information regarding a product (not shown) which is stored within the container 10. The backing card 12 may have a hanger aperture 14 in order to enable the container 10 to be hung from a hook or in a shelf (not shown).

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the components of the container 10. The container 10 has an elongated pouch 16, inner collar 18, an outer collar 20, a lid 22 and a strap 24. The elongated pouch 16 has a closed end 26 and an open end 28. The elongated pouch 16 may be constructed from 0.5 mm thick Poly-vinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic sheet material which has been formed by a longitudinal heat weld (not shown) and then sealed flat at the closed end 26 by heat welding. High frequency radio welding or other suitable process may be used. The sheet material is generally transparent in order to display the items which are stored within the container 10 to prospective purchasers, but the sheet material may also have a pattern thereon for aesthetic appeal.

[0033] Towards the open end 28 of the pouch 16 there are apertures 30. Six apertures 30 are depicted in the Figures, but there may be any number of apertures 30 according to the present invention. The inner collar 18 also has apertures 32 which correspond to the position of the apertures 30 of the pouch 16. A ridge 34 on the inner collar 18 limits the entry of inner collar 18 into the pouch 16 and vertically aligns the apertures 30 of the pouch 16 with the apertures 32 of the inner collar 18. The apertures 30 and 32 are penetrated by lugs 36 of the outer collar 20 which mate with the apertures 32 of the inner collar 18. The inner collar 18 is connected to the inside of the open end 28 of the pouch 16 and the outer collar 20 is connected to the outside of the pouch 16 around the inner collar 18.

[0034] The lid 22 has a flange 40 which extends over the outer collar 20 (see FIG. 5). The strap 24 extends around both the outer collar 20 and the flange 40 of the lid 22 so as to bind the flange 40 to the outer collar 20 (see FIG. 5). The flange 40 may have a channel 42 for the strap 24, so that the strap 24 may not be pulled downwardly off the container 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

[0035] The lid 22 has nodules 44 to engage a rim 46 of the inner collar 18. The lid 22 also has hinge components 48, 50 and 52 to engage corresponding hinge components 54, 56 and 58 (respectively) on the inner collar 18 (see FIG. 4), so as to enable the lid 22 to pivot on the inner collar 18 (see FIG. 8).

[0036] The strap 24 is joined at both ends by a buckle 60 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The strap 24 also fastens the backing card 12 to the container 10. The strap 24 is made of a hard form of plastic and is thereby adapted to be removed by a cutting tool (not shown). The effort required to remove the strap 24 is enough to deter shoplifters from opening the container 10 and stealing the items contained therein. Generally, the backing card 12 has a security tag (not shown) attached thereto. The security tag is adapted to activate an alarm if the shoplifter tries to steal the container 10 from a shop.

[0037] The containers with backing cards shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 represent alternative arrangements. Like features between the containers of FIGS. 1 to 8 and the containers of FIGS. 9 and 10 are identified by like numerals. Other arrangements may not include a backing card or may include an alternative device to a backing card, in a variety of configurations.

[0038] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in the details of the design and construction of the tamper evident container described above without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tamper evident container for the display and storage of items, the container comprising: (a) an elongated pouch having a closed end and an open end, (b) a collar connected to the open end of the pouch, (c) a lid pivotally connected to the collar for closing the open end, wherein the lid has a flange extending over a portion of the collar, and (d) a strap extending around the collar and the flange, so as to prevent the lid from being opened whilst the strap is in place.

2. The tamper evident container of claim 1 wherein the collar comprises an inner collar connected to the inside of the open end of the pouch, and an outer collar connected to the outside of the open end of the pouch around the inner collar.

3. The tamper evident container of claim 2 wherein the lid is pivotally connected to the inner collar.

4. The tamper evident container of claim 3 wherein the strap extends around the outer collar.

5. The tamper evident container of claim 4 wherein the flange has a channel for receiving the strap, so that the strap may not be pulled downwardly off the container.

6. The tamper evident container of claim 5 wherein the inner collar and the outer collar are adapted to be mateably connected through one or more apertures in the elongated pouch.

7. The tamper evident container of claim 6 wherein the strap is joined at both ends by a buckle.

8. The tamper evident container of claim 7 wherein a backing card is attached to the strap of the container.

9. The tamper evident container of claim 8 wherein the backing card has a hanger aperture.